relates the story of the murder of Romano's wife, as he had heard it, imputing of course the crime to the husband. His situation is well imagined, and gives rise to a scene of embarrasment and emotion highly dramatic.

'Lor. He woo'd a royal virgin to his bed.

'Rom. No lack of fortune, then? no lack of rank?
'Lor. Rich, noble, liberal, and approved; and yet,
The midnight murderer of the wife that loved him.

Rom. That is a compound, which the world ne'er
dreamt of.

'Lor. Rich, noble, liberal, and yet—an assassin !
Rom. (starting up.) It is impossible, I say.

Fra. (to ROMANO.)

These words,

These looks and gestures, will betray thee, signor.

Rom. When the soul's rack'd, there's no discretion.—

Thanks.

The world is all mine enemy :-Thou knowest it.
Untouch'd, unsullied, I was once a MAN;

Not in the form and symmetry alone,

But in the honest sanctuary of the heart.

This cursed charge! Mine ears are all obedience.
'Lor. A few short years-(a child had graced their

'Fra. Yet if you wish to hear a tale, unvarnished, Clear in the mirror of its own report,

"Twere best to listen patiently.

That is, if possible. The saw draws blood
At every stroke:-No weeping. I disdain
Tales, that appear improbable and vain.
Once more permit me, lady,-to be seated.

Lor. If I speak false, correct me. If you know

This history well, why ask me to relate it?

'Rom. Sardo! why, man, thou hast a horse's face!
What can'st thou mean?

For heaven's sake,

Never make

Such a horse's face again!

Nay, my good signor, never mind my nonsense.

I may laugh, when I can laugh; since I laugh but seldom.
I've no bad meaning, I assure thee, sir.

Proceed I'll interrupt no more.
:

All tales

All tales of horror have some humour in them;

And Sardo put on so grotesque a face,

And look'd so like a horse-Proceed, proceed.

Lor. You've put me out. I know not where I was.

Rom. You said, Schidoni had received some tokens• Lor. Soon after that, Romano gave a banquet,

And many a noble slept within his palace;

'Mongst whom was Signor Angelo, my father.

Rom. (aside.) Curious and strange! I well remember him.

He was thy father, was he?

Fra. (whispering.)

Signor-signor!

'Rom. I knew Romano; and I loved him-therefore'Lor. Loved him or not; you ask the truth :-I tell it. If aught there shall be of offence in that,

Say so:-I cease. At dead of night, as all—

Rom. He had a child, I think, you said:-still living? 'Lor. The child was miss'd, and has not since been heard of.

'Rom. (aside.) I am the most, most hapless man that lives!

Go on ;-I shall not interrupt again.

'Lor. At dead of night, as all asleep they lay, Romano stole into the armoury.

Such is the tale; and such is my belief.

[ROMANO turns from LORENZo; and moves behind one of the columns, where he stands, unseen by any one, except FRACASTRO, a few moments; caressing his hawk with one hand, and striking his breast, in great agony, with the other.

Fra. The hawk's entangled. He'll return this moment. Go on;-he'll hear.

• Lor.

As all asleep they lay,

Romano stole into the armoury.

Schidoni saw him. For, on that sad night,

The villain slept,-by artful invitation

'Rom. Oh, then, you will confess he was a villain?
'Lor. Confess! There never lived a greater; never:

If we except the man of whom we're speaking.

Rom. (to FRACASTRO.) Take thou this dagger: he afflicts me sorely.

Take it; or else I may disgrace myself.

Now, sir,

Lep. (to FRACASTRO.) He smiles! I never saw a
smile-

'Fra.

Were bliss-nay rapture-to a smile like that.

'Rom. He saw Romano's shadow on the wall

A tear

'Lor. Then he beheld him stealing to the chamber, Where his wife lay; as if, distrusting silence,

He fear'd his shadow should betray, and act

As a sure evidence of the horrid deed

His thought had compass'd; and 'fore all the world,
Stamp him the model of a fiend.

'Rom.

Romano?

'Lor. Ay;-e'en Romano:- -once pronounced the best, Bravest, and noblest of the sons of Venice.

Fra. Oft have I heard my mother say so too.

'Rom. May the great gods deliver me! Thy mother? The grave's a palace, when the soul's a dungeon.

She died, for which I thank the gods above !

She died, unconscious of her brother's wrong.

'Fra. (aside.) My soul weeps balm to hear him speak so fondly Of my poor mother.

• Rom.

Well-the shadow! Nay

'Lor. He saw him shut the chamber door; and then

Rom. What then? Be brief-He racks my soul! What then?
Lor. Loud shrieks of murder echoed through the palace.

The guests all rush'd upon the corridor :

Alarm and horror in each face.

Rom.

The sequel!

(Aside.) That is, if rage permit my soul to listen.

Lor. The guests all rush'd upon the corridor;
Where, like a statue, they beheld Romano,
Holding a bleeding dagger in his hand :

That fatal dagger, which had pierced the breast
Of one, who loved him as her life.

With eyes

Instinct with fury, and with voice scarce human,
"Where is the fiend, the matchless fiend, Schidoni ?”
Rung and re-echoed through the palace.

Frantic with guilt, at length he saw him.
Fierce as a Caffre in the burning zone

Of ebon Afric, when a hideous asp,
As he lies panting in the sultry shade,

Lost,
Fierce,

Has pierced his veins; and poison'd blood descends
Down from his temples to his matted loins,

In many an agonizing stream;-Rumano,
Fierce as the Caffre, sprang upon Schidoni,

Dragg'd him, all breathless, to the fatal chamber;

And, in the presence of the bleeding body,

Laid the foul charge of murder upon him.

' Rom. (aside.) Ye mighty powers! I hope ye listen. WellLor. Lost in amazement at the frightful scene,

My father rush'd to wrong'd Schidoni's aid,

VOL. XIV.

G

Wrested the dagger from Romano's hand,
And, with the aid of others, who were present,
Gave him, all reeking with his wife's warm blood,
Mix'd with large drops of agonizing sweat,"

Which burst, all copious, from his breast and forehead,
Into the hands of th' officers of justice.

Rom. Seize him, I charge ye! Bind him fast. He is
Of that proud, worthless, miserable, harlot,
Naples the curst. All mercy, therefore, dies,
Pity and hope, and every humane feeling.

Lav. What has he done? what utter'd to offend?
He has said nothing but the sacred truth ;

And that, too, at thine own express'd command.

'Rom. Art thou, too, turn'd accuser? Thou—a woman ! 'Lav. What, in the name of fortune, canst thou mean? Rom. Mean? Said he not, I stabb'd my wife? Deny it? Said he not that? deny ye that?—He said it. I'd stake my life upon the word.

Fracastro,

Did he not say, I slew my wife? You know it.

' Rom. I;—I ;-the outcast; the condemn'd, scorn'd, outcast; The fugitive, the murderer;-the fiend, Let loose from hell to assassinate an angel. Yes I'm Romano; and I love the name; Although 'tis hiss'd and hooted at in Naples. On the vile race-how I abhor them !-Gods; I have no language to describe the horror, With which my soul regards them. Past all speech: Past all conception. Had they heard my tale, And through blind error judged me guilty; then, Although most cruelly, and most fatally wrong'd; Then, then, indeed, I had respected, pardon'd; And, in the anguish of affliction, wept O'er human judgments. As it is, may earthMay earthquakes, wars, both foreign and domestic, Famine and Pestilence, visit them for ages! Haste;-do your duty;-I have said;-it shall be.

[Strikes the earth with great violence.

'Lor. Lions, and pards, and caracals, I've heard of; Tigers and serpents; but I never yet

Heard of a man, who—

• Rom.

Out! The furies! What-
What cares Romano, what you, or any one,
Hears, or has heard? He is a man so wrong'd,
He cares for none;-an empire to himself!

Can hear instructions, if ye murmur thus?

Once more, good signor.-It is done: it shall be,

(To LORENZO.) You must with me, sir: ay, indeed you must. Nay, sir, 'tis vain :-too many for your strength.

You must with us; the signor wills it so.

Lav. They shall not part us; we will die together.

€ Rom. Take the maid hence: I war not with a woman.'

A terrible storm ensues, upon the clearing away of which, the music of a distant choir of monks is heard. The organ ceases, and the chapel is presented to our view, Romano wandering among the monuments. The purpose of all this, however, is scarcely adequate to the machinery, for it ends in Romano's confessing himself to the abbot, when it appears that he had no crime to accuse himself of, save an attempt, or rather an intention which he had conceived, to put an end to his existence. The King, Fontano, and Floranthe next appear. These are soon followed by Schidoni in the disguise of a minstrel, who knowing that the King had discovered his villainies, consummates his wickedness, by offering to give possession of Naples to Romano. His proposals being declined, he then attempts to stab Romano in the back. We have no room for this scene, which is well imagined, and full of interest. Eventually the wretch falls upon his own poisoned dagger and dies. The drama then draws rapidly to a conclusion; Lavinia and Floranthe are recognised; the character of Romano vindicated, his feelings in some degree appeased by the recovery of his child, his peace is made with the king, and the whole party proceed in triumph to Naples.

We have freely spoken our opinion upon the merits of this composition. It has some monstrous faults, faults of such a character as would cause it to be laughed at, if it were represented on a stage. But monstrous though they be, we think they would be redeemed in the contemplation of any man reading this work in his closet, by the many beauties and eloquent and highly poetical passages which it contains.

ART. VII.-Notices of Brazil in 1823 and 1829. By the Reverend R. Walsh, LL.D. M.R.S.A. Author of "a Journey from Constantinople," &c. &c. &c. In two volumes. 8vo. London: Westley and Davis. 1830. IT is with the greatest satisfaction that we again meet with Dr. Walsh in the paths of literature. His " Journey from Constanti