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looks of crabbed old age； which should continually reflect dignity
upon those around； and treat unfortunate as well as the fortunate
with a graceful mien； he continued to use diligence and perseverance。
All this lighted a spark in his heart that changed his whole character；
and like the unyielding Deity that follows the storm to check its
rage in the forest； he resolves for the first time to shake off
his embarrassment and return where he had before only worshiped。
It could not escape Ambulinia's penetrating eye that he sought
an interview with her； which she as anxiously avoided； and assumed
a more distant calmness than before； seemingly to destroy all hope。
After many efforts and struggles with his own person； with timid
steps the Major approached the damsel； with the same caution
as he would have done in a field of battle。 〃Lady Ambulinia；〃
said he； trembling； 〃I have long desired a moment like this。
I dare not let it escape。 I fear the consequences； yet I hope
your indulgence will at least hear my petition。 Can you not
anticipate what I would say； and what I am about to express？
Will not you； like Minerva； who sprung from the brain of Jupiter；
release me from thy winding chains or cure me〃 〃Say no more；
Elfonzo；〃 answered Ambulinia； with a serious look； raising her hand
as if she intended to swear eternal hatred against the whole world；
〃another lady in my place would have perhaps answered your question
in bitter coldness。 I know not the little arts of my sex。
I care but little for the vanity of those who would chide me；
and am unwilling as well as shamed to be guilty of anything
that would lead you to think 'all is not gold that glitters'；
so be not rash in your resolution。 It is better to repent now than
to do it in a more solemn hour。 Yes； I know what you would say。
I know you have a costly gift for methe noblest that man can make
YOUR HEART！ you should not offer it to one so unworthy。
Heaven； you know； has allowed my father's house to be made a house
of solitude； a home of silent obedience； which my parents say
is more to be admired than big names and high…sounding titles。
Notwithstanding all this； let me speak the emotions of an honest heart；
allow me to say in the fullness of my hopes that I anticipate
better days。 The bird may stretch its wings toward the sun；
which it can never reach； and flowers of the field appear to
ascend in the same direction； because they cannot do otherwise；
but man confides his complaints to the saints in whom he believes；
for in their abodes of light they know no more sorrow。 From your
confession and indicative looks； I must be that person； if so；
deceive not yourself。〃
Elfonzo replied； 〃Pardon me； my dear madam； for my frankness。
I have loved you from my earliest days； everything grand and beautiful
hath borne the image of Ambulinia； while precipices on every hand
surrounded me； your GUARDIAN ANGEL stood and beckoned me away from
the deep abyss。 In every trial； in every misfortune； I have met
with your helping hand； yet I never dreamed or dared to cherish
thy love till a voice impaired with age encouraged the cause；
and declared they who acquired thy favor should win a victory。
I saw how Leos worshipped thee。 I felt my own unworthiness。
I began to KNOW JEALOUSYa strong guest； indeed； in my bosom
yet I could see if I gained your admiration Leos was to be my rival。
I was aware that he had the influence of your parents； and the wealth
of a deceased relative； which is too often mistaken for permanent
and regular tranquillity； yet I have determined by your permission
to beg an interest in your prayersto ask you to animate my dropping
spirits by your smiles and your winning looks； for if you but speak
I shall be conqueror； my enemies shall stagger like Olympus shakes。
And though earth and sea may tremble； and the charioteer of the sun
may forget his dashing steed； yet I am assured that it is only
to arm me with divine weapons which will enable me to complete my
long…tried intention。〃
〃Return to your self； Elfonzo；〃 said Ambulinia； pleasantly； 〃a dream
of vision has disturbed your intellect； you are above the atmosphere；
dwelling in the celestial regions； nothing is there that urges
or hinders； nothing that brings discord into our present litigation。
I entreat you to condescend a little； and be a man； and forget it all。
When Homer describes the battle of the gods and noble men fighting
with giants and dragons； they represent under this image our struggles
with the delusions of our passions。 You have exalted me； an unhappy girl；
to the skies； you have called me a saint； and portrayed in your
imagination an angel in human form。 Let her remain such to you；
let her continue to be as you have supposed； and be assured that she
will consider a share in your esteem as her highest treasure。
Think not that I would allure you from the path in which your
conscience leads you； for you know I respect the conscience of others；
as I would die for my own。 Elfonzo； if I am worthy of thy love；
let such conversation never again pass between us。 Go； seek a nobler
theme！ we will seek it in the stream of time as the sun set in
the Tigris。〃 As she spake these words she grasped the hand of Elfonzo；
saying at the same time； 〃Peace and prosperity attend you； my hero：
be up and doing！' Closing her remarks with this expression；
she walked slowly away； leaving Elfonzo astonished and amazed。
He ventured not to follow or detain her。 Here he stood alone；
gazing at the stars； confounded as he was； here he stood。 The rippling
stream rolled on at his feet。 Twilight had already begun to draw
her sable mantle over the earth； and now and then the fiery smoke
would ascend from the little town which lay spread out before him。
The citizens seemed to be full of life and good…humor； but poor Elfonzo
saw not a brilliant scene。 No； his future life stood before him；
stripped of the hopes that once adorned all his sanguine desires。
〃Alas！〃 said he； 〃am I now Grief's disappointed son at last。〃
Ambulinia's image rose before his fancy。 A mixture of ambition
and greatness of soul moved upon his young heart； and encouraged
him to bear all his crosses with the patience of a Job；
notwithstanding he had to encounter with so many obstacles。
He still endeavored to prosecute his studies； and reasonable
progressed in his education。 Still； he was not content； there was
something yet to be done before his happiness was complete。
He would visit his friends and acquaintances。 They would invite him
to social parties； insisting that he should partake of the amusements
that were going on。 This he enjoyed tolerably well。 The ladies
and gentlemen were generally well pleased with the Major； as he
delighted all with his violin； which seemed to have a thousand chords
more symphonious than the Muses of Apollo and more enchanting
than the ghost of the Hills。 He passed some days in the country。
During that time Leos had made many calls upon Ambulinia； who was
generally received with a great deal of courtesy by the family。
They thought him to be a young man worthy of attention； though he
had but little in his soul to attract the attention or even win
the affections of her whose graceful manners had almost made
him a slave to every bewitching look that fell from her eyes。
Leos made several attempts to tell her of his fair prospects
how much he loved her； and how much it would add to his bliss if he
could but think she would be willing to share these blessings
with him； but； choked by his undertaking； he made himself more like an
inactive drone than he did like one who bowed at beauty's shrine。
Elfonzo again wends his way to the stately walls and new…built village。
He now determines to see the end of the prophesy which had been
foretold to him。 The clouds burst from his sight； he believes
if he can but see his Ambulinia； he can open to her view the bloody
altars that have been misrepresented to stigmatize his name。
He knows that her breast is transfixed with the sword of reason；
and ready at all times to detect the hidden villainy of her enemies。
He resolves to see her in her own home； with the consoling theme：
〃'I can but perish if I go。' Let the consequences be what they may；〃
said he； 〃if I die； it shall be contending and struggling for my
own rights。〃
Night had almost overtaken him when he arrived in town。 Colonel Elder；
a noble…hearted； high…minded； and independent man； met him at
his door as usual； and seized him by the hand。 〃Well； Elfonzo；〃
said the Colonel； 〃how does the world use you in your efforts？〃
〃I have no objection to the world；〃 said Elfonzo； 〃but the people
are rather singular in some of their opinions。〃 〃Aye； well；〃
said the Colonel； 〃you must remember that creation is made up of
many mysteries； just take things by the right handle； be always sure
you know which is the smooth si