As through the enchanted ear they rove,
Its seraph sounds breathe notes of love:
But, ah! they speak a mutual flame,
Which I, alas! can never claim.
Then, sure such heavenly harmony,
Lady, was never meant for me:
But yet, should tender pity move
Thy feeling heart to bless my love,
Should ere the fire that glows through me,
Impart a kindred flame to thee,

And bid thy tongue recal the doom
That weighs me down to sorrow's tomb,
Then, lady, only tune for me

Thy harp's enchanting minstrelsy.

Jnne 30, 1821.

C. P. P.

TO IDA.

IF one soft tender thought of me,
Should dwell one moment on thy mind,
Oh add not to my misery,

Nor chase, unblest, that thought so kind.
I cannot think thou wouldst destroy
All thoughts of him, who once was dear,
Or that the memory of our joy

Can be forgot without a tear.

FRANCIS.

A NEW TURN GIVEN TO MILTON. "SWEET is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest birds-then silent night, With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon, And these the gems of heaven, her starry train!" But neither breath of morn, when she ascends With charm of earliest birds-nor silent night, With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon Is sweet, in thy society, at all.

B. O. N.

GHIOTTO; OR, TREASON DISCOVERED. A Tragedy in two acts.

BY THOMAS HALL, ESQ.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

THE KING.

GHIOTTO.

MANFRED.

ORSINO and HUGO, Banditti.

Nobles, Inquisitors, &c.

Scene, MADRID. ACT I. SCENE I.

The House of GHIOTTO: he is discovered in profound meditation; a small lamp burning before him. Orsino asleep at one corner of the stage. Ghiotto. This trash suits not my melancholy mood. Farewell thou bauble; vile insinuator,

Lie there and rot. (throws away his book.)

I hate thee as I hate

Man, and his worthless race; yon drunken wretch
No. 46.

R

Does but obey me for the love of gold:
But yet he's faithful to my secrets, therefore
Do I retain him. Oh! cursed, cursed Manfred !
Hadst thou not lived I always had been happy:
For thou hast robbed me of my darling treasure-
The favour of my king! Implacable resentment
Henceforth shall fill my mind: and Isabinda,
Seeming, before thou camest, to love me, slights me.
The very children, as I pass the street,

Hoot me, and cry, there goes deformed Ghiotto.
Well, let them rail, I heed them not. No more!
But Manfred, cursed Manfred, still survives
The cause of all my shame, my hated cousin.
By hell, he lives not long; this villain here,
Orsino, with his comrade Hugo, shall destroy him;
Him who compelled me to seek this abode,
To hide my wretched head from human sight.
But morning dawun. What ho! Orsino;"
Beast! drunken fool! Ghiotto calls, awake.
Ho! there.

Orsino. Hold! who goes there? Signor I crave your

pardon.

Ghiotto. Tis well; you have it. Hark ye, Sir,

Orsino,

You see this casket, and these splendid gems;
This be your prize, if you perform my mandates.
Go, seek your comrade Hugo; bring him here:
Await my orders. What is't o'clock, Orsino?
Orsino. "Tis almost five. I will be back anon.
[Exit.
Ghiotto (looking scornfully after him.) So guld
is powerful here: this man for money

Would sacrifice a fellow creature's life!
I'm glad to think on't; in my present mood
I hate alike the whole of human kind.

[A knocking is heard. But who comes here so early! (goes to the door,) Ha! it is Manfred. Villain! hypocrite!

Now must I hail the semblance of content,

Aud try my plan.

Cousin, this visit,

Enter MANFRED.

So unexpected, does delight me more

Than one I had required. But why so early?

Manfred. Have you not heard this day a grand reAt early dawn, is to be shewn the king?

I there will meet him; and I pray that you

Will go with me to see it, good Ghiotto.

[view,

Ghiotto. Cousin, I am not gamesome; my more solid mind

Delights to ponder o'er the depths of books,
Rather than view yon gaudy pageantry.

Society I loathe; it charms not me.

Manfred. But once, methought, you loved it, gentle Once did I think you courted public favour;

And once I think you bore the foremost rank
Of all the favourites of my king.

Ghiotto. Hold, wretch!

Manfred. How! What?

Ghiotto. I pray you pardon me. You inadvertently did touch a chord

[coz.

Which pierced me to the heart; like poison darted
With rapid vehemence through all my limbs.
But now 'tis o'er, I am myself again.

Manfred. Forgive, Ghiotto, I without design
Did thus offend thee; and believe me, that
1 dearly love you. Will you go with me,
And view the splendid pageant of to-day?

Ghiotto. I hold those pomps as trifles light as air!
Sir, pray ye hold me excused unto the king:
I am engaged, deeply engaged to-day.
Yet hold, I've one commission; late last night
Repeated knocks I at the portals heard.

I quickly rose to learn the cause; when, lo!
By the pale glimpses of the shrouded moon,
A coal-black steed appeared, down from whose back
A squire alighted, at whose ghastly looks
Alarmed I started; scarce had I recovered,
When, with a voice that froze my soul with horror,
He gave a billet to me, saying, Sir,

As thou regardest thy eternal welfare, quick
Let this be given to Manfred, thy good cousin,
Soon as the dawn doth rise." Then, mounting quick'
Ere I could question him, he vanished strait.
Musing, I took it up, and marvelled much
What its contents could be. But here it is.
(gives him a letter:

Manfred. By heaven! it is my uncle Juan's hand. Ghiotto. Juan's! But ah, that look! What news? Manfred. Oh listen! 'tis a tale of woe. (reads.) Ere this may reach thee, Manfred, I may be Numbered with those in heaven; but haste, my son, While life still trembles in my veins, to come, And close my dying eyes.

Alas! Ghiotto, fare thee well. I'll go

Like lightning to the king.

JUAN."

[Exit.

Ghiotto. Well then I hit it. He believes it all.

Oh that my next plot may succeed as well!

Why, 'twas but fiction, yet he took't for truth.
That letter is a cord, or I'm mistaken,

Shall drag him headlong to his own destructiou.
When Hugo comes I shall dispatch him
With papers instantly unto the king.

SCENE II. A WOOD.

Enter HUGO.

[Exit.

Still must I haunt this place; yet no soul comes. But hark! I hear approaching footsteps near; Yes, they advance. (retires.)

Enter ORSINO.

Orsino. This place was wont to be his haunt: he In ambuscade beneath these knotted oaks,

Which form a secret and a safe retreat,

Deep hidden from the common eye: and hence,

Like a fierce tiger, lacking food, he springs

To seize the poor and weary traveller.

HUGO rushes out.

Hugo. Deliver, or you die.

Orsino. Hold, Hugo, hold!

Know you not me? I am Orsino, Sir.

[lurks

Hugo. I knew you not; give me your hand, old

You're welcome to the forest.

[boy,

Orsino. Don't you feel rather cold in this dark place, With all these trees and brooks? But I've no doubt

You keep carousals and good jolly times.

Now I'll be bound if you will search that trunk,
That wallet which I see beneath yon tree,
You'll find some dainty fare. Ha! ha! ha!
Methinks you've eased the heavy laden mule