Phantasmion stood before Zelneth; his words were drowned in the hubbub of the waters; but he presented a letter cased in ivory, which the spouse of Magnart, to try his dispositions toward the dark-eyed maid, had charged him to lay before her. Zelneth had forgotten all men but one, and dreamed not that what he held in his hand reported of any heart but his own. With feigned reserve she turned away to caress a graceful bird in mantle of silver grey, which seemed to imitate some stately damsel as it trod the margin of the pool. "Pretty crane," said Zelneth, stroking its silky plumage, “what hast thou to say of thy fair mistress, Iarine? Has she never a thought to bestow upon the living! Wert thou not given to Karadan as an earnest of a better gift hereafter?" The letter in its carved case fell from Phantasmion's hand; his heart throbbed fast; he fell on his knees before the lady, and seizing her robe, exclaimed, "O! Zelneth, Zelneth, this is but one of thy jests? Karadan has not indeed won the heart of Iarine?" Zelneth looked upon his face, where passion was plainly pictured; but now she knew that not for her his cheek. glowed, his lip quivered; and, when her eye sought the ground, she espied upon the ivory case, the letters of an unloved name. Pale and speechless she turned away, her heart swelling with sorrow. Midway between the pool and the flowery lawn she joined Leucoia, who, having seen Phantasmion throw himself at her sister's feet, expected to behold the maiden's face beaming with happiness. "I am weary," said Zelneth, in a languid tone; "let me lean on thee. O, sister he loves Iarine !" Then Leucoia saw that her first guesses were true, and became on a sudden right eloquent, whispering a thousand

consolations which she herself had a thousand times rejected. Phantasmion followed them to Arzene's bower, paid many abrupt courtesies to the sorrowful maiden, placed a lute in her hand, and scarce knowing what he said in his confusion, entreated her to sing. Zelneth swept the chords with hurried finger, then accompanied their expressive chime with these words :—

While the storm her bosom scourges,
What can calm a troubled sea?
Will the heaving, dashing surges,
Tranquil through persuasion be?
Rest, my soul, like frozen ocean!
Let thy wavy tumult sleep!
Rise no more in vexed commotion,
Heedless where the gale may sweep.

Clouds that have the light partaken,
Round yon radiant planet rolled,
Lingering in the west forsaken,
Soon shall glimmer, wan and cold:
All our thoughts are gay and golden,
While the sun of hope they shroud;
Those bright beams no more beholden,
Turn again to watery cloud.

He that scorns the smiling valley,
Fragrant copse and gentle stream,
Forth for distant heights to sally,
Whence deceptive colours gleam;
Late shall find that cold and dreary,
"Tis but from afar they glow,

Shall not when his feet are weary,
Win the blossomed vale below.

Having stolen a glance at Phantasmion, who was leaning against the arbour with his eyes fixed on the ground, Zelneth gave him back the lute, when all the

company looked eagerly towards him. The prince played a soft prelude, then sang thus:—

"Here is Karadan coming from the wood!" cried Arzene, rising, and Phantasmion, glad to leave the arbour, hastened away with her. Magnart, who had now come forth to see his guest, followed with the children, but Zelneth had fallen fainting among the branches of the bower, and Leucoia remained by her side. Ere the company returned to the spot they had left, the dark

eyed maid was weeping on her sister's bosom in that apartment where, from childhood, they had nightly reposed together. "O Leucoia!" she cried, "thy channel was once full, though now the stream is dried at the fountain: but mine has ever been despised, unvisited; the current winds another way, and will not flow there."

CHAPTER XII.

AFTER MEETING WITH ADVENTURES IN THE WOOD,
PHANTASMION GOES TO SEEK PENSELIMER.

"THOU hast not found the panther yet my son !" cried Magnart, as he met Karadan coming from the wood with a train of dogs at his heels, and the spoils of a wild beast hanging over his shoulder, "This is the hide of an ounce," pursued he, "I know it by the white ground. "The panther shall not escape me to-morrow," answered the youth, looking as if he would fain have avoided the company that greeted him, as he emerged from the outskirts of the forest. "Semiro will hunt with thee to-morrow," said his father, "Thou wilt not withstand this plea?" added he, turning to his guest, whom he had been urging to prolong his stay in Polyanthida. Upon that Karadan looked sternly at Phantasmion, and striking his spear on the ground, he said in a low, deep voice; "I pray thee, noble stranger, to accept my father's hospitality, but endanger not thy life by pursuing the same game with me." Noble Karadan,” rejoined Phantasmion, with a kindling eye and cheek, "I will pursue no game which I am not as free to follow as thou art; but danger to my life will never deter me from my just enterprise." Then checking himself at sight of Arzene's anxious face and Magnart's uplifted eyebrow, he added in a lighter tone, "surely I have some right