LETTERS ON MYTHOLOGY. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF C. A. DEMOUSTIER. LETTER XVIII. (Continued from Page 124.) VULCAN, the only legitimate offspring of Jupiter and Juno, was boru so deformed, that, enraged at his ugliness, his father cast him down from heaven. The celestial abortion was tossed a whole day on the waves of the aerial ocean; falling from whirlwind to whirlwind, he reached at night the isle of Lemnos. The inhabitants of which received him very humanely. The poor infant had broken one of his thighs, but the sea-nymphs took care of him, and tenderly educated him, though he remained lame ever after his fall. Nature, who had refused him exterior graces, was prodigal to him of the gifts of genius. From his earliest youth he established immense forges in the mountains of Lemnos. It was there that for the first time fate with that of the God who produces it; but hardly has Zephyr chased away the clouds than my happiness vanishes quicker than the lightning which produced it. The talents of Vulcan were already celebrated, when the Titans undertook to scale the heavens. Jupiter, abandoned by all the Gods, had then recourse to his son. For. getting the disobliging manner in which his father had dismissed him from Olympus, Vulcan forged the thunderbolts, and the Titans, were destroyed: in acknowledgment of this important service, Jupiter received Vulcan at his court, and reinstated him in all bis rights. The lame God, willing to revenge himself upon Juno for having brought him into the celestial world with so ugly an exterior, prcsented her with a golden throne, upon which, the Goddess once seated, could not rise again. She complained loudly of this unjust vengeance, exclaiming, "You are ugly, and I am your mother-1 bear the shame of that misfortune but for why?-if you are thus af myself?" gold, iron, and brass were polished into beauty. He rapidly constructed new workshops in the caverns of Mount Etna; and he laboured there incessantly with his black Cyclops. The principal of these gentlemen were Brontes, Steropes, Pyracmou, and Poly-flicted, is not your father as much to blame as phemus. These giants, sons of Heaven and Earth, had but one eye in the middle of their foreheads. Their nervous arms raised, without ceasing, ponderous hammers; Etna resounded with their reiterated blows, and vomited from her vast chimnies a black and burning smoke. At length the son of Jupiter reached the hoyour of forging his father's bolts, and it is asserted that this gloomy cavern is still the store-house of thunder. How often have I rendered thanks to Vulcan, my sweet Emilia, when your heart refused to listen to the sighing of mine!— a flash of lightning has rendered you timid and tender at the same moment; you have turned your imploring eyes on me, while pressing my hand; your love has grown with danger. While a thunder-storm thus brightens your eyes, I would not change my No. XXIV. Vol. IV.-N. S. Struck with the truth of this remonstrance, Vulcan delivered Juno, and went to seek Jupiter, of whom he demanded Minerva in marriage. The sovereign of Gods and men called Minerva, and presented to her his presumptive heir.-" Goddess," he said, " it is time to submit to the laws of Hymen; it is time, in fine, to give heirs to Wisdom. This is my son; you already know his works and his genius; yield to his wishes; unite the arts with philosophy." At sight of her intended, Minerva, who who had hitherto sworn to preserve her virginity, felt more disposed than ever to keep her promise; she recalled to Jupiter the irrevocable oath which he had given her of never bestowing her hand in marriage. Jupiter's reply was as follows:— Zi "I have sworn by Styx, not to force you to form an irrevocable engagement; but I may not answer for events. I know very well that a young virgin who feels her heart relenting, would sometimes have no objection to be forced to give her hand to her vanquisher.—| The occasion now presents itself; you, my son, may attack; you, my daughter, may resist; thus I proclaim open war between you." Eager to triumph over Minerva, Vulcan, in place of attempting to interest her, acted like a vulgar blacksmith; the Goddess defended herself most courageously; but the fruit of this unprofitable love was Erischthonius, who being born with the lower extremities like the train of a serpent, invented that species of carriage which is called a car. To indemnify his son for the disgrace of his passion, Jupiter raised him to the summit of honour, and made him God of fire. Several temples were then erected to him, in which he is represented supported upon an anvil, with Jupiter's eagle at his feet bearing the thunder. The most famous of these temples was raised on the top of Mount Etna; in order to approach it, it was necessary to be chaste and pure. Dogs guarded the sanctuary, who, by a miraculous instinct, caressed true worthics, and devoured hypocrites! If these faithful guardians still watched at the gates of temples, after over-long pilgrimages, over-long processions, how many devout personages would be the prey of their jaws! ⚫ Solemn feasts were in process of time instituted in memory of Vulcan; the Athenians celebrated these with much pomp; they established courses, called Lompodophoses, and offered rewards to the conquerors; the competitors bore lighted torches; he who suffered his light to go out before he reached the goal,|| ceded it to his rival, and retired. The worship of Vulcan extended over all the earth, and master-pieces of art multiplied under his hands. Vanity, and a passion for the fine arts, in fine, emancipated him from the inquietude of a more tender sentiment; he promised himself eternal freedom, but Venus appeared, and his resolution vanished. — Such, Emilia, is the fate of men and of Gods; and LETTER XIX. Alarmed at the favourable sentiment of Jupiter for Vulcan, Mars sought to gain by address the heart of her whom he could not obtain by influence. Persuaded that vanity is often the surest road to a woman's heart, and that notoriety always flatters vanity, he peresented himself to Venus in the formidable apparel of his awful power. He came seated in a brazen car, drawn by thundering chargers, their manes widely scattered, their eyes blazing, their mouths foaming blood, their nos trils breathing vengeance; such coursers deservedly bore the names of Terror and Fear ; in front of the car was seated Bellona, darting furious looks through the thick masses of her firey hair; with one hand she held the reins, with the other a whip dyed in gore. Mars himself, his brows covered with a golden helmet sursal frame upon a lance; his nervous limbs were mounted by lofty plumes, supported his collosinvested by armour of sparkling steel; his left arm resting on the hilt of a sword, brandished a huge buckler. Impatience and rage were by visage, deepening the frown of his swarthy turns painted on his rude and war-marked brows. Discord and Fury, with eyes of fire and livid checks, armed with a poignard and a flaming torch, accompanied the car, dragging after them in chains, Innocence and Feebleness.-Despair, Lamentation, and Want, their eyes bathed in tears, their wounded limbs covered with tatters, followed with faultering steps, and closed the sad procession. More alarmed than flattered, Venus took to flight, but her lover followed; and laying at her feat both his pride and his arms, he exclaimed: "Ah! turn not away those eyes from a God who is proud of his power for your sake alone! Alas! if he is odious to you, hatred is then the reward of love." Enchanted with his soft address, Venus listened and smiled. For some time Mars continued his plaintive tone, for which he was paid by tender looks; then secure of victory, he retook the military air, and cried aloud: "Iam told that Vulcan does imitate my ste pa, and even aspires to the band of her I love; [[ him only to leave her time to reflect on the but let him approach, I expect him-But subject. Falling at her feet, Mars replied:why that severe glance; are you of the "I see too plainly that you will be my death! old school? will you have my martyrdom? be Ah, well! I resign myself: I go to meet fate; I it so; I die. But if you require not that, haste leave you one quarter of an hour in which to deto pay my love with a just esteem. Spring termine on my life or my destruction." At these will bring back war, and I must away; I have words he went suddenly out, and Venus shut not time to make love as I ought; yet we herself up in her closet to recover herself and understand each other; you love me; I adore consult her own inclinations. you; you have my faith, I see you are about to give me yours-the rest remains in your power." Disconcerted by the volubility and the arrogance of her lover, Venus found herself in a state of inexpressible difficulty; she disengaged her trembling hands from Mars, who was covering them with kisses, and, deeply blushing, she composed the disorder of her tresses and her veil. At length she conjured Meanwhile Jupiter, informed of the designs of Mars, pressed the marriage of Vulcan, and secretly dispatched Mercury to the temple of Hymen; but ere I recount to you what passed at the nuptial fete, I must say something of the God just mentioned His history will furnish the subject of another letter.-Adieu. (To be continued.) THE CHATEAU OF ROUSSILLON. (Continued from Page 93.) WHAT sensible heart may not paint to || bore to speak of her sudden intention; she itself the emotions of Julie when she read only sunk into her mother's arms, repeating, as the narrative of Bertolini? How much bliss she laid her blushing cheek upon her breast:-and agony were mingled, as she dwelt on "I am happy, dearest mother, as happy as a the confession of his attachment, and the de-mortal should expect to be." Madame tentail of his engagements with Aldonga!—“ Oh! || derly embraced her, and applauding her vir. let me not repine," she repeated softly, presstuous submission to the will of Providence, ing the paper to her lips; "let me not repine at besought her not entirely to dismiss hope, even ought, since he loves me the conscious- while she strove to keep her mind prepared ness of that is bliss beyond my hopes. I too, for a courageous encounter with utter disapwill give up that world which he is forced to pointment. abandon. Yes, admirable Bertolini, the favoured creature whom thou hast distinguished with thy love, will never bestow herself upon another; God alone shall occupy the life she must not devote to thee." At this idea of reretiring into a convent, the tears of Julie flowed afresh; but a delicious sentiment mixed with the sadness of quitting the endearments of her kindred, and the pleasures of the world ; to make that sacrifice for Bertolini, seemed a duty, and felt a rapture. When Madame St. Hypolite returned into her daughter's apartm nt, she was surprised, yet consoled, by the divine calm that now spread over her countenance; Julie for || Cheered by the judicious encouragement of this affectionate mother, and animated with the joy of being beloved by one so generous and amiable as Bertolini, Julie refused herself any further indulgence of solitary reflection. Providence had made her almost happy, and it there fore seemed doubly her duty to think of the sufferings of others. She now threw on her veil and mantle, and accompanied by Madame, went forth to visit and assist a poor widow near the chateau, whose little cottage was filled with sorrow and sickness. When the St. Hypolite family met at breakfast the next morning, Francois appeared so abstracted, that his mother soon ceased to ad 180 dress him, and directed all her discourse to her daughter. Julie exerted herself to converse upon subjects once very interesting, but now trivial in comparison with that which engrossed her whole soul; yet now and then she cast a tender look upon her brother, whose varying countenance, and deeply-absorbed air, made her conscious that he was pondering upon the difficult circumstances of his friend. She loved him the better for this devoted friendship, and then sighed to think how soon that interesting friend would be lost to both of them. Breakfast was over, Julie gone to her musicroom, and Madame quietly settling her family accounts, when Francois suddenly started from his seat, advanced to a mirror, and looked steadfastly at his own image for some minutes. Madame St. Hypolite accidentally raised her eyes, while he was thus strangely occupied, and the incident appeared so ridiculous, that, bursting into a laugh, she exclaimed :-" Why, my dear boy, you must be very absent; do you know you are all this time looking at yourself in the glass." Francois turned quickly round, and with his usual vivacity replied:-" I have just been taking a very accurate inventory of all the good points in my person, and I am very serious in saying that I really wish to know whether I am handsome or ordinary; whether, in short, I have a sufficient stock of good looks to begin upon, with a determination to ruin Madame defended hera woman's heart?" self from answering so odd a question, by a thousand railleries, but Francois was not to be rallied out of his purpose; he repeated his inquiry so gravely and earnestly, that at last Madame St. Hypolite honestly confessed she thought him quite handsome enough to charm the eyes of half her sex. "If I could but persuade myself," he xclaimed, "that I was as handsome as Bertolini-Oh! that I could at this moment become as beautiful as Apollo himself, and remain so for six months; and by my commonplace visage I swear, I would be content to pass the remainder of my life with the shape of an Æsop." "Blessed Virgin! how he raves!" cried Madame, half-smiling, half-trembling-" My dear Francois, what fancy is this?-is it pos sible that your heart can affix any value upon one that is solely to be gained by personal endowments? You neither wish for more talent, nor more virtues, but languish for a finer outside. Do not shock me, my son, by acknowledging an attachment of so degrading a kind." Francois laid his band on his heart with a frank smile:-" All here," he said, “ is as safe and fastidious as ever; my heart is too full of friendship to have room for any other sentiment; but I have such a plan in idea! if it but succeed. Beauty is quite necessary to it, so once more I pray you, my sweet mother, to repeat to me that I am handsome. Pray have not I got very fine eyes! they are only dark-grey, to be sure; yet black eyes are so common in France and Italy-Confess that I beat Bertolini hollow in the article of complexion-none of your pale sentimental olives, but bright, huntsman's nut-brown, with the crimson of the peach!-Egad I have a good mind to fall in love with myself.—A Henri Quatre Rose, that's striking!-A devilish agreeable smile—a still better laugh, because then my white teeth are made manifest.Incomparable legs! and such a tournure of body!-Oh! my dear mother, I find to my inexpressible joy that I am formed for success! Not one word to disprove all these discoveries. I am perfectly satisfied in a madman's spirits, and will be off this very night." "Off! where-what is it you mean ?" "I mean to do a vast deal of good, and no harm. Trust me, dearest mother, trust me with myself, for two or three months? ask me no questions of whither I go, or what I would, but rely on my integrity and ingenuity. I am about to make an adventure for the happiness of Bertolini and Julie; if I succeed, I shall have gained every thing; if I fail, I shall lose nothing. Allow me to spare you both the pain of useless anxiety, and permit me to set forth on my romantic crusade without any remonstrauces." "You are distracted, my son !-what am I to understand by this strange rhapsody ?—Is it possible that you can be serious?" "Qate possible, and actually true. I shall quit home this evening, leave you an address to send me letters through my banker, be ab sent a few months, and return to you either triumphant or disappointed, but with unblemished houour. All I ask of you is to sanction a sort of untruth to Julie. I would not agitate her by a suspicion of my real plan, so as I really am going first to my godfather's, || do allow me to persuade her that I am going no further." Madame St. Hypolite was not easily induced to give her consent to a scheme of which she knew so little, but at length the earnestness of her son, his repeated assurances of his integrity, and her long experience of his truth and rectitude, wrung from her a slow leave, and he accepted it with transport. figure to be overlooked, his spirited countehance, his limbs, fresh with youth and strength, announced that brave and animated character which universally charms; the Marchioness Irivulzio threw on him more than one glauce of admiration. Francois approached; he took his silent stand behind the chair on which she sat, and while she was endeavouring to continue a lively dialogue with a young Venetian, he remained musing over the dream of succeeding in his project. Her glossy black hair but partly confined round her head, fell in long ringlets over her uncovered shoulders and bosom-these shoulders, that bosom were like breathing snow, and exquisitely lovely, but they wanted the shade of modesty; and as her bosom's palpitation grew stronger beneath the gaze of Francois, while no blush deepened her cheek, he rightly judged that an individual attachment to his friend dwelt not in her heart.— Animated with the hope of success, and armed with a virtuous contempt of her character, he soon managed to turn her whole at His arrangements were quickly made; he did not even take a servant with him; and ere the evening closed, he was already on his way to Italy. We shall leave Madame St. Hypolite to conjecture her son's plan, and Julie to lament that business, as she was told, required || his absence, and follow the footsteps of this romantic traveller. He stopped only two days at Collioure, intention upon him, and ere the evening's enterthe neighbourhood of which his godfather had a splendid mansion. The Comte Guiche gave him letters for the first nobility in Venice; Francois hired an accomplished valet, purchased some tasteful and expensive trinkets, and embarking in a vessel bound for the Adriatic, sailed for Venice. tainment was over, received from her the most flattering proofs of attention. Francois was resolved to have nothing wherewith to reproach himself; he therefore determined upon doing away all idea of his || having honourable intentions, and having already determined that all stratagems were fair in such circumstances, he did not scruple to invent a tale of his being married. On reaching that splendid republic, his first care was to hire a magnificent mansion, and give an entertainment to the nobility for whom he had brought letters from Collioure. This step made him known and spoken of, and he was immediately invited to all the first houses in Venice and its environs. Amongst these was the Palazzo of Signor Bertolini, the benefactor of his friend: this was to be the theatre of Francois success or disappointment; and at his first entrance into it, his heart "throbbed quicker than a feverish pulse." In || the midst of a circle of beauty he beheld and easily distinguished the peerless Aldonga; how exquisite was her beauty! but how unlike that of his sister!-purity, softness, tenderness, surrounded the one; voluptuousness and passion the other. Francois was not a He was walking by the side of the fair Marchioness through the illuminated gardens of Bertolini's palace, when he observed that the fragrant bowers, and the charms of the women, almost persuaded him he was in the gardens of Arcadia. Aldonga smiled enderly, and said, "Do you really think the Italian women as charming as your own country-women?"-"So much more so," replied he, drawing a profound sigh, and fixing his eyes with a look of passion on her face"that for the first time, I now feel the fatal bondage of that vow which imperious circumstances made me pledge at the altar.""You are married then!" observed the Marchioness; she too sighed, and her eyes, |