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Enjoy serene the well-earned meed
To early diligence decreed ;-
No race degenerate should succeed

The forest pioneers.

Who led, who followed, one by one,

Home to eternal rest pass on,

Each field a monument,

How deep they furrowed, wide they cleared,
What cattle tended, offspring reared,

Laws human framed, divine revered,-
So was the blessing sent.

Such the life-stirring, genial ways

O' the staunch old sylvan tribe, in days
Of peace with plenty crown'd;
The hunter's song, for war-whoop wild,
The wilderness a garden smiled—
Each stubborn task anon beguiled,

With rifle, horse, and hound.

Gaily the circling Seasons run,
From sugar-camp till autumn's sun,
'Mid varying works and quick;
And now and then a wedding treat,
In fair, with every frolic meet,
Husking, or quilting,-tranquil feat!
Or watch of nightly lick.

Thus hand in hand go care and mirth,
Like grateful incense from the earth
Their blended offerings rise;
And when Virginian bosom warms
At manly worth in arts and arms,
At matron grace or maiden charms,-
'Tis Hampshire's honest prize.

September, 1838.

GEORGE PADDISON.

VINCENZIO THE VENETIAN.

(Concluded from page 187.)

CHAPTER III.

BEFORE reaching his thirtieth year, man desires to grow old, but that age once attained, he would stay the march of time. An attentive observer would have remarked that nothing was wanting to Vincenzio but the power of suspending the progress of the years, for every thing else was possible to him.

At the period of our story the nobles of Venice devoted themselves to commerce, and the world was tributary to them. Vincenzio held the first rank among these princely merchants. His coffers overflowed with gold, his warehouses were piled with rich fabrics, while the sea was covered with his ships. His library, his jewels, his antiques, and his paintings, were esteemed unique of their kind. He was thirty-five and had not yet married,-though why should he entangle himself in the fetters of marriage when the most famous beauties of Italy regarded it as an honor to behold him at their feet? Rich in health and happiness, what could he desire? If he played, fortune abandoned his antagonists, and their gold seemed to fall of its own accord into his coffers.

It must not, however, be supposed that he sank into the arms of luxury and inaction. Throughout the wars that Venice maintained with the Ottomans, no knight had fought more valiantly for the cross against the crescent.

The passions of our hero, who had now attained the age of maturity, had always the impetuosity of a volcano; but he knew how, at will, to arrest their eruption. Ambition opened before him a new and boundless career. He was soon appointed a member of the Council of the Five; and next, shortly after, he was even elected to the dignity of Doge. But having never been able to endure marriage, he declined even the honor of an union with the State, whatever taste he might have for its daughters.

It was a subject of great astonishment to all the world, the perseverance of Vincenzio in cultivating Chess. His emissaries traversed all the countries of the globe to find players worthy of contending with him. In his spacious palace there was a gallery which bore the name of the Hall of Chess, and which was consecrated exclusively to that game. There were to be seen a hundred tables of marble around which sat and played the first players of the world. His gates were open to the most skilful, but never

could Vincenzio find his master, none of these players having, like him, so great an interest in penetrating all the depths of the game. The skill of our Venetian was beyond all conception. He knew openings and stratagems of which we have now not the slightest idea. Devoted without relaxation to his favorite study, and endowed with an indefatigable patience, he appeared to have exhausted the science of the chess-board; and what was still more surprising was that he could never weary of it; but no one could guess the motives of so devoted a perseverance. Alas, the hour was again at hand of the second visit of Astaroth!

"I have initiated myself in all the secrets of the game," said Vincenzio with a sigh, on a beautiful summer's night when, in his gondola, he was cleaving the blue waves of the Adriatic. "But human science cannot struggle against a superhuman intelligence!" and he again sighed deeply. Was it repentance that impelled those sighs? No-they had their source in the bitter regret of his impotence.

"Astaroth has certainly," said Vincenzio, "honorably fulfilled all his engagements. My slightest desire is anticipated, and along every path I meet with no greater difficulties than just suffice to give some interest to success. What advantage then can he deive from this contract? Did not my mode of life place me under his sway before as well as after this accursed compact? Doubtless but the mercy of the Saviour is infinite; perhaps it may yet deign to redeem me !-inexplicable mystery! Should I quit Venice, would Astaroth follow me? Certainly, and it is now too late to dream of flight-my lot is cast! Is it not already sufficiently evident that nothing is impossible to him, and that he has the power of transporting himself wherever he pleases! Nothing, then, remains but to prepare, with the courage of despair, for our approaching interview!"

"To-morrow I will be with you!" murmured a voice in Vincenzio's ear; and those acccents, too well known, pierced his heart like the cold steel of a dagger. Vincenzio shuddered as he rose, as if he had experienced the convulsion of an electric shock; but he was alone in his gondola on the deep blue waters.

On the morrow Astaroth was faithful to the appointment. During the twenty years that had elapsed no change was apparent in his person; not a single wrinkle furrowed his brow, his eye had lost none of its brilliancy, nor was his vigor in the least degree diminished. The same sardonic smile played over his pale lips.

As for Vincenzio, the Senator, he was then forty years of age. His features were entirely developed, and a few gray hairs only began to whiten over his brow. But, incomprehensible madness of a mortal! Vincenzio saluted the demon with the same boldness

which Astaroth assumed himself; he would have blushed to ac knowledge his inferiority.

"I am curious to see your Hall of Chess," said Astaroth, "unless it is disagreeable to you to play before so large an assembly." For sole reply, Vincenzio bowed politely, and led the way. "It shall never be said," were his thoughts, "that demon or angel could intimidate the powerful Vincenzio. That is a triumph that I will yield to none, were hell itself to yawn at my feet!"

On their entrance into the gallery a crowd of curious witnesses surrounded them; and as they seated themselves at a table, the most skilful players present, by a natural impulse of curiosity, abandoned their own games to watch their play. They felt a presentiment that Vincenzio had met his match.

"Is there any of these gentlemen that knows how to play?" asked Astaroth with an ironical air.

"Silence! I entreat you," answered Vincenzio, who dreaded every thing that might betray his secret. Alas! how often is it not seen that the fear of detection is stronger than the fear of crime ! "The move is yours, my lord," said Astaroth. "No," replied Vincenzio, "all shall be equal; let us draw!"

Chance decided in favor of the demon, and the struggle commenced. The spectators drew closer, and there were several that offered to bet that Vincenzio would win; but no one would accept.

As the game advanced, strange! an indefinable uneasiness penetrated gradually into the spirits of the spectators. Every look was fixed on Astaroth, as by a species of fascination; they felt ill at ease, and each in his heart wished the stranger at the devil, without daring to express it aloud.

Vincenzio, however, talked and smiled, as in defiance of fate, while Astaroth laughed and chatted with every body.

"The devil take the puppy's impudence," whispered the young Alonzo di Ortégano to his friend Lucentio di Razzoli. "I should be delighted to send him to take a walk in the bottom of the canal! Who can he be?"

"Satan himself, I imagine!" was the prompt answer of Lucentio. A number of moves were played. Vincenzio did his best; but, at the bottom of his heart, he was profoundly convinced that he must infallibly lose. The play of Astaroth was admirable! He never made a false play. Our hero remained afterwards convinced that he could give the odds of a piece to any player. The despair of Vincenzio was in proportion to the importance of the game; but his courage increased with the danger. He fought for his life in this world, and his soul in the other.

A considerable number of moves succeeded; and on both sides, the action closing in more and more, the issue became uncertain. To judge by appearances, and according to human science, our

hero s game was unquestionably the better; yet Vincenzio was sad, for he knew by experience that the demon was but mocking him. He felt exactly in the situation of a mouse between the claws of a cat, which suffers it to escape, and all but reach its hole; then, by a rapid bound, seizes it, and cuts short all hope of escape. Astaroth had not the advantage of numbers; he had the White, and it was his play. The following was the position of the game:

WHITE.-King at Queen's Rook's square; Queen at Queen's Bishop's second; Bishop at King's seventh.

BLACK.-King at Queen's Knight's third square; Queen at King's Rook's sixth; Rooks at King's Rook's second, and King's Bishop's second; Pawns at Queen's Rook's third-Queen's Knight's second-Queen's Knight's fourth, and King's Bishop's third.

"My new gondola to five hundred gold sequins, on the Black," whispered the young Alonzo to his friend.

"The Blacks seem to have the advantage; but the Whites can give some checks with their Queen and Bishop. I would not bet," replied Lucentio.

"And what good will those checks be to him? The King, after those checks, will retire behind his pawns, and there will laugh, at his leisure, at the devil and all his wiles."

"There can be no doubt," continued Alonzo; "Vincenzio has strength enough to crush him. I cannot imagine why that stupid fool has exposed his pieces in that way, to lose them one after the other!"

Astaroth cast a rapid glance over the group of the spectators, and his sardonic laugh struck upon the ear of his adversary like the funereal stroke of a death knell.

"If you play all the moves correctly, my dear Vincenzio, you will not be checkmated till the seventh move." And such, in fact, proved the case.

The amazement of the spectators was at its height. They were astonished that Vincenzio did not ask his revenge, and all tumult uously pressed the stranger to return on the morrow. Vincenzio took no part in their solicitations; he knew too well that his conqueror would come but too soon. Astaroth bowed, and left the apartment with a noble and majestic step. Alonzo followed him, resolved if possible to make his acquaintance. But, by the time our young madcap reached the marble steps of the palace, Astaroth had disappeared from his sight.

The friends of Vincenzio surrounded him, seeking to console him for his defeat. To their great astonishment, they found him quite composed;-in everything certainty is always better than doubt. Our hero was content to know his fate; and when Astaroth relieved him from his detested presence, it seemed to poor Vincenzio that the earth and heaven smiled again, and that the the gates of hell were once more closed to him,

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