for Elswitha; I can die, and have encountered death, but I cannot conceal how unhappy I should consider myself if Elswitha could disdain me."

"I know the merits of Wulf," modestly continued Elswitha, "my father honours in him a warrior who has shed his blood for the rescue of the Saxons. It is not disdain, if I must avoid conversations which cannot make any impression. It is not for me to abolish the difference which the wise have made between various classes of men: Wulf will find in his own rank a beauty, who can listen to his love, and reward it."

"Well! my sentence is pronounced,” said Alfred, with a dissimulation in his features expressive of the deepest sorrow; "I unwillingly leave this castle, but Elswitha will not prevent me from bearing with me an unfortunate love; in the danger to which my rank leads me, she will not prevent her image from being present in my last moments, and her name from being my last word."

"But, Wulf," said the innocent maiden, quite terrified, "can a modest and deserving youth be so unreasonable as to require of a maiden concessions which she cannot grant, without being undeserving of him? Can he hope that Ethelred will approve

of his love? Can he require of Elswitha to disobey her venerable father? Did I, at least, know to whom Wulf owes his birth, and how great the distance is between himself and Elswitha?"

"Wulf," replied Alfred, "is not of mean birth, but fortune hath refused him her gifts. He is poor, and was obliged by an inevitable accident to leave his country. Honour has forced him to shed a blood which called for vengeance, and the sword of the law hangs over him."

Elswitha's pride became a little calmed as she learned that Wulf's birth would not give occasion to insurmountable obstacles. "The gifts of fortune she disdains! Thousands of noble Saxons have lost their wealth by the hands of the conquering robbers, and only preserved their sword, without losing the esteem due to their origin." The heart of the damsel felt relieved, but she was too virtuous to give herself up to hopes which secretly and fearfully rose in her. "Our conversation is too long," said she, "we cannot, this time, prolong it."

Alfred considered these words as a token of assent, which promised him much, and he thought himself justified in remaining some days longer at the castle. The earl soon after ordered a heron

chase, which was to the Saxon noble the most agreeable pastime; he honoured the courageous Wulf too sincerely to deprive him of this pleasure. Falconry having been the chief diversion of his youth, Alfred could very ably govern that bird ;24 from this knowledge Elswitha concluded, and that with pleasure, that Wulf must be of noble origin, as that occupation was only practised amongst the higher classes.

His falcon captured a rare bird; he brought it with the noblest attitude to the lady, and begged permission to take his leave. This news was painful, and the more she looked into her heart the more she found it filled with the image of the warrior. Alfred visited her on the following day, and, after some general formalities, said to her, in an unobserved moment, "I go where my duty calls me; for ever will I venerate the lovely Elswitha; for ever will I deplore my misfortune, which will not allow my love to disclose itself!" She sighed; his approaching departure aroused in her a painful sensation, which she could not conceal. "Oh! why are such merits banished within a low situation? Why is Elswitha not rather the daughter of a herdsman?"

Alfred replied in an eager tone, "Wulf would

never have declared his love, had he thought it impossible that Elswitha should be happy with him. His rank is not yet lofty enough to flatter a princely maiden; but if she loved me, my arm might raise me to a station, in which I should be less unworthy of her. Can I flatter myself that the difference of fortune is the only cause of my rejection? Can I hope that Elswitha will love me if I raise myself nearer to her rank?"

Blushingly, and with down-cast eyes, the maiden responded: "How can Wulf require that I should give an answer on suppositions almost impossible to realize? How can he awaken deceitful hopes in me? Amid the din of war, he will easily forget a young maiden, with whom accident alone has made him acquainted; but a lady living in a retired castle, without diversion, would be but too unhappy if she gave herself up to a love only admissible in a supposed case: Farewell, my worthy Wulf! become as great as thou art virtuous; my best wishes accompany thee."

Not satisfied with this kind answer, Alfred endeavoured to move the maiden to a more explicit avowal of her love for him: "Yes, then, I go; the fire which devours me daily increases, and I must quench it. If Elswitha did not disdain me, the dif

ference of rank would soon vanish before her; love would guide her down to me, and she would feel that the possession of a true heart has some worth even for the proudest beauty. But Wulf not only awakens no love in her, he does not even excite compassion. Did Elswitha think Wulf's fate worthy of that, she would alleviate it with one word-with one innocent word."

"The word I am to say," said the blushing countess, "is a word too difficult to pronounce. I well perceive that Wulf will not be satisfied until I have confessed that I love him. But he will not be so unreasonable as not to perceive that my hand depends on a father, and my love shall never be parted from my hand. He who loves virtue, will not require of me an unvirtuous action; but he will be satisfied when I avow to him that I myself wish that fate would equal our stations; and that I might then pronounce that word which he requires." She modestly held out her hand, willingly allowed him to kiss it, and moved to leave him.

"No," said the generous Alfred, "Elswitha shall not nourish the painful thought that she loves one undeserving of her. No! she shall not let her heart be torn between a fond inclination, and the resist