added to the effect of his singular figure, his rapid and Italian, were immediately on foot, and courteously movements and unnatural agility. lowered their lances in honor of their superiors. Then mingling and exchanging military greetings, they followed the princes.

Such were the principal personages who divided the attention of the crowd. The train of Charles consisted, as we have mentioned, of twelve Knights completely armed, magnificently adorned according to the taste of that period, their brilliant armor and decorations shining yet more brilliantly in the beams of the setting sun. Each carried his lance leaning against his side, and rode as if proud of forming the guard of a monarch so illustrious, not less than vain of the addition made by his own figure to the cavalcade.

Ludovico led his royal visitor into the magnificent apartments of the palace, which the bustling servitors had already fitted up with unusual splendor for his reception. Tapestries of the finest wool, fringed with gold, covered the walls, and paintings from famous pencils served to relieve the vastness of the lofty ceilings. All the windows were illuminated; the torches of pure wax, and the huge lamps of wrought gold, were in a blaze, though darkness had scarcely fallen upon the city. Banners hung from the casements, or streamed from posts in the street; trumpets and cymbals were pealing forth a note of welcome, and the tumultuous tread of guards and serving men, announced the suddenness of the occasion, and their zeal in endeavoring to do honor to the distinguished guest.

The banquet prepared for the king and his chevaliers in one of the halls, bore evidence of the same profusion and magnificence. The massive plate, wrought with the richest devices and designs of art, the pitchers and flasks of gold and of Venetian crystal, the vases of alabaster, exhibiting also the triumphs of the artistwith other articles of table furniture equally splendid and expensive-the cushioned seats hastily covered with furs and velvet, and decorated with flowers, the

Nor were the subjects of the duke of Milan destitute of anxiety to receive with becoming respect a sovereign who in reliance on their friendly hospitality, entered their city with so slight an escort, wearing the aspect not of an ambitious superior, but of an equal and cordial ally. The balconies were thronged with spectators of both sexes, who gazed admiringly on the stately train; and wreaths of flowers were thrown from the windows upon the Knights as they passed. Two files of Italian soldiers, at the head of whom rode the Regent himself, accompanied the royal cavalcade towards the castle; their very horses seemed to have received new spirit from the music and the presence of the multitude, and swept proudly along the street-while the waving of plumes, and the floating of rich mantles, and the glittering of steel, increased the gay splendor of the scene, illumed by the picturesque glory of sun-perfumers and the radiant lights, heightened in dazzling set. All was festivity and exultation in outward show, but the secret minds of the spectators were occupied with other thoughts than those of unmixed admiration and delight. National feelings caused them to look with jealousy upon a sovereign who expected to build his glory on the conquest and devastation of the fairest portion of Italy;-at the moment, the narrow feelings of self-interest, that could shut out sympathy for the misfortunes of a neighboring province, separated by arbitrary lines of division, but heir to the same great inheritance of freedom, were swept away-and many who gazed upon the scene felt as Italians and as men. Nor were those wanting whose penetrating vision discerned the gilded snare into which they were falling; who failed not to foresee the probable consequences of a step which joined them in league with the natural enemies of their country.

Dark and tumultuous were the emotions that thronged the breast of Ludovico Sforza, as he passed at the head of his guards conducting the French monarch to the castle; yet fearful of awakening suspicion, he smothered the expression of his disquiet, and strove to assume an aspect of bland satisfaction; his outward gaiety gloomily contrasting with the apprehensions that had taken possession of his inmost soul. He bowed low and repeatedly in reply to the cheers of the people, but the consciousness of his own purposes made him fancy every eye fixed on him with an expression of distrust. His dress had undergone some alteration; a rich robe of black velvet lined with white and ornamented with ermine about the neck and shoulders, was worn by him in common with the chief nobles of the ducal court, who rode at his side.

Arrived at the castle, the Regent hastened to assist bis illustrious guest in dismounting, and welcomed him with ostentatious cordiality. The Knights, both French

effect by the gorgeous reflection of the mirrors of polished metal,-all were arranged to the best possible advantage by the servitors, themselves of no mean rank, moving under the direction of the major domo. This personage, clad in a black dress, the sleeves of which were garnished with lace ruffles, moved as gravely about his task of superintending the preparations of the board, as if he had the care of sacred vessels or instruments destined to the sacrifice of a hecatomb to the infernal deities.

Sforza performed more gracefully the part of host at the feast; but when it was ended-when the rich and delicate viands, which, brought from remote countries, had lately graced the board, were laid waste in ministering to the soldierlike appetites of the noble guestshe was startled and dismayed to hear the monarch drink the health of his "fair cousin the duke;" and express his desire to be led presently to his chamber, "that he might comfort him with the assurance of a kinsman's love." This proposal was doubly disagreeable to the Regent, as it recalled to observation his own subordinate rights, and as it awakened his ever ready apprehensions.

"Let me 'pray your grace," urged he, "add not to this day's fatigues. To-morrow morning we will visit my nephew, who will be better prepared by his night's slumbers to receive you."

"To-night," answered Charles, "we must be far on our march to Piacenza. Nay-noble Sforza, we thank you for your hospitable reluctance to part with us,but necessity is imperative. Lead on, then, to our cousin's chamber."

Far different from the brilliant scene of festivity was that which presented itself in the apartment of the young prince. The rooms occupied by him and his attendants were separated by a narrow gallery from the

ture in one of the phials, and raising the prince's head, administered it; the effect seemed for the moment salutary: the duke opened his eyes, and fixing them on the agonized face of his wife, bending over him, moved his lips as if he would speak, while an expression of gratitude and fondness lighted up for an instant his pale and emaciated countenance.

"Now God be praised!" exclaimed Isabel, clasping her hands, "he knows me once again! The crisis is past. Look up, mine own beloved! that glance brings me health and peace once more! Look up-Giovanni!"

rest of the castle; his chamber, the remotest of all, I timed merriment smote on her ear; at the moment a was large and gloomy, its only light during the day child, three or four years old, crossed from the antechamadmitted through two high stained windows, the heavy ber with cautious footsteps, for even infancy had learned folds of the curtains contributing still more to diminish consideration for the repose of the sick, and glided to the effect of the feeble rays. At present a sufficient the mother. The tears of the hapless lady flowed light was afforded by large torches of wax in tall iron afresh as she gazed on the little partner of her anguish, candlesticks, that flared in the night wind, which found and in convulsive grief she strained the child to her its way through the ill-constructed casements; while bosom. from wood smouldering in the antique chimney, the Presently an unusual bustle in the courts below, the smoke reeked upwards to the bare and blackened raf- trampling of horses and the shouts of grooms, announcters of the roof. Yet notwithstanding the want of neat-ed the departure of the French to be at hand. Malness or taste displayed in the arrangement of the apart-vezzi left his place by the bed, and walked to the winment, and the rude and old fashioned style of architec-dow, hoping to hear, if he could not see, what might ture, there were traits of magnificence which contrasted give him more certain information. But he was soon strangely with the general want of that appearance of recalled by a shriek from the Lady Isabel; a frightful comfort which in modern days the humblest peasant's change had taken place in the countenance of the invadwelling would present. There were tapestries of silk lid; the calm stillness of sleep was replaced by distortoo rich to be in keeping with the time worn and mas-tion, and a death-like rigidity had settled on the feasive oaken furniture, on which were wrought pictures,tures. The physician poured a few drops from a mixwhich if not life-like, were vaster and more startling than life; gigantic warriors wielding ponderous maces, with bushy beards and muscular limbs; there were carpets of velvet, and mirrors of steel reflected the light of the torches and the figures on the tapestry. The bedstead was of black oak, its spiral posts ornamented with flowers wrought in gold; it was constructed after a former fashion in a triangular form, the base forming the head and the point serving for the foot. Three columns supported a canopy from which depended fringed curtains, fastened back by brass nails;—the bed itself showed none of the luxury of modern times; a scanty mattress, sheets of muslin, for linen in those days was rare even in the chambers of princes,--and a silken coverlet, completed its furniture. A brazen stand in front, projecting from the wall, supported a bronze candlestick whose torch threw a faint light on the countenance of the princely invalid. The silken coverlet but ill concealed the attenuated proportions of a frame wasted by disease and suffering; and there was a ghastly paleness on his face, which too surely betokened that the springs of life were exhausted. The young duke had fallen into a quiet slumber; so deep and quiet indeed, that but for the occasional stirring of a portion of the light drapery, it might have been deemed a breathless one. The physician Malvezzi, leaned against one of the columns at the foot of the bed, surveying his patient with a look of intense anxiety, which he vainly strove to hide beneath his usual cold and indifferent expression. At a little distance, before a table on which were placed books of devotion, knelt a lady of noble air and figure, yet whose beauty was clouded by sorrow. She was robed in black, not above the middle height, yet her lovely features, combined with their natural aspect of gentleness, an expression of heroic pride that might have been nourished or developed by the unhappy circumstances of her condition. She was not apparently occupied in devotion, but remained kneeling on the cushion, her head bent on her hands, as if engrossed by the most painful reflections. Here in the deep silence that reigned through the apartment could be distinctly heard the festive tumult from the great hall; the echoed laugh of the guests, the bustling of servants, and the music that welcomed the revellers. Isabel raised her head, and glanced un- Without reply, Charles approached the couch where easily and impatiently around, as the sounds of ill-still knelt Isabel; she rose on perceiving him, whom

The crisis was indeed past. The powers of nature that had rallied for a last effort, were fast sinking forever. The prince could not again raise his eyes to meet the fond glance of affection; the lids closed heavily, no longer obedient to the will; the breast heaved irregularly once or twice-then a deep calmness settled on the face, where a smile yet lingered-though the struggles of nature were over! Not for many minutes did the knowledge of the fatal truth enter the mind of the bereaved lady. When at length it flashed upon her, not by shrieks or outcries would she disturb the awful solemnity of the scene. Sunk on her knees at the bedside, her lifted hands and tearless countenance gave evidence of the extremity of her wo; yet forgetful of her own sufferings and fate, her lips moved in prayer for the departed. The child awed, though unconscious of its loss, knelt by the side of the mother; and two or three female attendants who had entered from the antechamber, formed a group in the back ground, where they stood in wondering silence.

It was at this moment, when DEATH in his majesty and solemnity was present as it were in bodily form, striking terror to the hearts of the living—that the door opened to admit the King of France, accompanied by Ludovico. Not a movement was produced by this addition to the inmates of the apartment, except on the part of the leech, who gliding with a noiseless step across the room, whispered in the ear of his master.

"Sire," said Ludovico in a low voice to the king, half averting his face at the same time, "a more potent and terrible visitor hath forestalled your highness. The prince has just breathed his last. Will it please you— retire with me?"

she knew to be no other than the monarch, and with | Milanese nobles without dark surmises concerning the dignity that shone through her ineffable grief, extended mysterious illness and death of their young sovereign; her hand, which the king took in reverence, while he strove to console her by whispering words of comfort. The Regent hung aloof, for he dared not approach the person of the woman he had so grievously injured. Charles expressed in cordial terms his sorrow and sympathy-offering aught in his power to administer to the comfort of herself and her infant son. Commonplace words-prompted by indifferent pity!

"Much-much you might do, sire"-cried Isabel, while the tears that refused to flow at the stroke of anguish, rained from her eyes at the first accent of kind-person of the Regent. The announcement of the deness-"alas! we can do nought for ourselves! The heir of this wide dukedom is a helpless pensioner on the charity of his kinsman; he commands nought in the realm he was born to rule!"

"If-noble madam-you would accept our protec- music of cymbals and trumpets, that the heralds protion"— claimed LUDOVICO SFORZA-DUKE OF Milan.

was at war with the Swiss; the king of Spain had concluded a friendly treaty with France, in which no stipulations were made in favor of any of the Italian States; Florence was attached to Louis; and though the king of Naples, the descendant of the monarch the duke had so basely injured, promised to lend him as-trieving his fortunes; he had lost the good will of the sistance in repelling the invader, he well knew such multitude by the unreasonable imposition of burthens, aid must be inefficient, since the kingdom of Frederic and his efforts to regain their allegiance by concessions was so exhausted by recent struggles that he was una- only provoked their contempt. In like manner his duble to provide for his own security. In his extremity plicity and false shows of friendship had secured the Ludovico turned his eyes to the enemies of Christen- enmity and scorn of the neighboring republics, who dom, and persuaded the Turkish sultan to attack the rejoiced unanimously in his downfall. republic of Venice; but this diversion in his favor could not turn aside the fate that was pursuing him with hasty strides; nor could all his preparations for resistance retard the moment in which it was to overtake him.

was the reproach uttered against his native land by a Give me the paper!" Rising hastily, the duke snatched

the pacquet from the governor's hands, and read eagerly, while his eyes glared on it as if they would devour the lines. Then, as the certainty of his favorite's treachery forced itself on him, he let fall the letter, and sank again into his chair.

"Your highness was warned of him." "True-Bernadino-but who could suspect him? so young, so devoted, so loaded with benefits? Ah! those are the weights that sink me downward! He was jealous of his brother's promotion to the command."

"Here is news that will disturb your highness yet more deeply," said Bernadino, showing a few hurried lines from one of the commanders of the Milanese forces at Alexandria. "Alexandria is lost. Galeazzo himself hath deserted his post, and fled with a party of horse. Pavia hath declared for the foe! I grieve to say it, my lord, but we can no longer hold out this city against the arms of Louis, thus deserted by our confederates."

The duke made no reply, but paced the apartment with rapid strides, apparently laboring to make up his mind to some speedy and decisive resolution. At length he stopped, speaking in a determined tone.

"Let the cardinal remove the young princes this night, to Como. I myself will follow in a few days." “Your highness—and whither ?"

"To Maximilian! From him came the investiture of this Duchy-let him protect the sovereign he has created!" and with a laugh of bitterness, Sforza sate down to the table; with unsteady hands traced a few lines, which he folded, and summoning a servant, delivered the letter into his hands.

"This to the cardinal-my brother Ascanio-with speed-varlet-with speed! Let him see to this-I will speak with him further on the morrow."

Flight was the only resource remaining to the fallen duke; and he was resolved to embrace this last alternative. Germany was open to the fugitive, and thither he despatched his sons, intending soon to claim with them the protection of the Emperor.

The watch was set; and dismissing his minister, the duke retired to his chamber;-flinging himself half dressed upon his couch to seek the repose necessary for his flight on the morrow. But though wearied and harassed in spirit, he wooed in vain the sleep which came unsought to his meanest soldier! The events of past years crowded thickly before him-those years which had only recorded his breaches of trust, and the selfish manœuvreings of his policy. He had been ruined by the very measures he had adopted for his aggrandizement: the spells he had labored to weave with so much art, had wrought to his own destruction. Yet he felt not remorse in this moment of partial retribution; disappointed and dismayed he was, but he looked not to his own ambitious selfishness as the cause of all his disasters. He lay wrapped in gloomy reflections, as the occasional flourish of trumpets and the clash of arms without announced the change of the guard-and told that hour after hour was elapsingbringing nearer the dreaded dawn, in which he was to consummate his misfortunes by the abandonment of his dominions to his victorious enemy! The lights grew paler, and the duke sank gradually into a state of partial unconsciousness, rather than slumber, in which his feverish phantasies were embodied in shape, and present to his excited imagination. The phantom of the

mother of his murdered nephew seemed to rise to his view; her dark hair dishevelled, her eyes flashing fire, her lips uttering imprecations against the destroyer of her son. Then appeared the leering visage of the physician, Malvezzi, the instrument of his atrocious designs-whom the duke had sent to Germany-his face wearing its usual expression of impudent cunningleading by the hand, with a meaning smile, the hapless youth who had fallen a victim to Sforza's ambition. The ghastly eyes of this apparition were fixed full on the face of Ludovico, who chilled with horror, had no power to avert his gaze. He half sprang, in convulsive agony, from the couch ;-he grasped the bed clothing and held it up before him, as if striving to shut out the vision; still those stony and immoveable eyes were upon him, and he felt his heart wither beneath them. Then the three seemed, encircling him, to approach more closely; he almost felt the touch of cold and clammy hands;-shivering with terror, he shrunk backward but had no strength to withdraw from them;—then the near clash of armor, and the hoarse peal of the drum, burst on his ear, and he heard the insulting shouts of Frenchmen-and knew he was about to be delivered, a bound and helpless victim into the hands of his foes, by the superhuman avengers who seemed to have the control of his destiny. Bursting with a mighty effort the spell, which had held his senses in horrid thrall-the duke sprang to his feet; but though now fully awake, strove in vain to collect his faculties. The same sounds he had seemed to hear were still in his ears; the roar of musquetry, distant shouts, and the peal of warlike music. The whole palace was in tumult. Presently the door of the royal closet was burst open with impetuous haste, and a figure strode in-whom the bewildered duke might deem at the moment the avenger of his vision. Crouched helplessly beside the couch, his hands clasped and raised upwards as if imploring mercy-in supernatural terror Ludovico awaited the intruder.

"It is well you are awakened," cried Ascanio-for it was he; "away-for the love of heaven! Away--and for life! Ha, brother! forgive my abruptness—but you have not a moment to lose!"

"What hath chanced ?" at length faltered the duke. "The French are upon us! in this town-beneath these very walls! Hark!" as the heavy sweep of ordnance, and the peal of drums and trumpets came nearer and nearer-" they are coming down the square. They were encamped at sunset within six miles of the city.'

Sforza listened in a stupor of dismay.

"Philip del Fresco knew of it! Would to heaven you had never trusted the base traitor!"

"Philip! hath he too betrayed me?" cried the unfortunate sovereign, roused to energy as he heard the name of his most cherished favorite coupled with treachery-" then all is gone! I am ready to depart― but where is the governor? We will not leave this castle the prey of the invaders, without striking a blow in its defence. He can occupy them here, while we make good our retreat."

"Brother," cried Ascanio-" this castle is already surrendered! Bernadino is false! The keys of this impregnable citadel he hath laid already at the feet of the French general."