shades stole on, when Melledine dismissed her gloom, and joined insensibly in the general mirth. Next Malderyl rose, and with meaning glances, besought the Lady of the Sunless Vale for that oblivious charm which her kinsman stood in need of; at the same time she placed a chalice in her hand, and Melledine, taking forth a vial, poured the contents therein, and delivered the cup to Ulander. But he fixed his eyes on Leucoia, as she sate considering the coronal which now she held in her hand, and, declaring that he had no flames in his bosom which he desired to extinguish, poured out the liquor on the marble floor. Then Malderyl complimented the bashful maid on having gained a most experienced suitor, one so well seasoned to love's variable clime that he might now endure its worst vicissitudes; and, flinging stones that rebounded from one point to another, annoyed all present by hints at Ulander's passion for Zelneth, and his worship of Iarine. While the youth himself maintained a blushing silence, Melledine pretended to take his part. "Methinks I can spy good reasons for his last change," said she, "I know of a song which fits this case well "-" A song!" cried Malderyl ; let us hear it; thy voice may have more persuasion than thy words." Phantasmion was absorbed in thought of Iarine, and Leucoia engaged by the silent courtship of her sylvan lover, when this wily proposal was made; so, without opposition from them, the veiled lady held up her fettered arms, where she stood in the midst of the hall, and, with expressive gestures, began to sing thus in the person of Ulander :

Methought I wander'd dimly on,

But few faint stars above me shone,
When Love drew near;

"The night,” said he, "is dark and damp,
To guide thy steps receive this lamp
Of crystal clear."

Love lent his torch,-with ready hand
The splendid lamp, by his command,
I strove to light;

But strove in vain ; no flame arose,
Unchanged, unfired as moonlit snows,
It sparkled bright.

Again on wings as swift as thought
The boy a glittering cresset brought
Of sunny gold:

Full sure 'twas worth a monarch's gaze,
And how I toil'd to make it blaze
Can scarce be told.

Depriv'd of hope I stood perplex'd,
And, through my tears, what offer'd next
Obscurely floated:

One other lamp Love bade me take,
Mine eyes its colour, size, or make,
But little noted;

Till soon (what joys my soul inspire!)
From far within a steady fire
Soft upward steals;

And O how many a tender hue,
What lines to loveliest nature true,
That beam reveals!

Now what reck I of burnish'd gold,
Or crystal cast in statelier mould ?–
This lamp be mine,

Which makes my path where'er I go,
With warm reflected colours glow,
And light divine.

Gradually Melledine's voice, together with the fumes of the liquor which had been spilled upon the floor,

infected the hearers with drowsiness, and, as the song proceeded, the scenes it pictured stole upon their misted eyes first dim star-light, then Love with a torch and lamp and beamy smile emerging from a wood, till at last a crowd of witching faces, and bright torches, and lamps of a thousand shapes and colours, lit and unlit, waved along before them in endless succession. Even the enamoured chief could no longer look upon the very face of Leucoia, but beheld a lucid image of it with closed lids. The maid herself scarce inquired whether she were indeed the lamp that was kindling at Ulander's touch, and, though lately proof against Melledine's charm, now nodded under the influence of this doubly potent spell. Phantasmion kept his eyes open longer than the rest, and perceived that Malderyl was loosing the fetters from his captive's feet and hands, but was too fast held in drowsy bands to prevent her liberation, and, ere it was fully effected, he too lay slumbering on the floor. A new sun had just dawned when he started up and saw its rays brightening the crimson cushions around, and the fair faces which reclined on them; but the enchantresses were gone. With small hope of recovering his prisoner he rushed into the garden, and, passing toward the chief entrance through a shady avenue, beheld the traces of panthers' feet on the humid soil. But beyond the trees and the gate, in open sunshine, not a foot-mark was to be seen upon the firm dry earth; and, when he looked at the contracted shadows of cattle on the verdurous plain, and saw the broad blue sky, where a carolling bird was the only speck of darkness, he felt as if drowsy charms, and sunless vales, and sable visages were but dreams of a long dim night.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

ULANDER CONDUCTS LEUCOIA TO THE FOREST.

THERE was something in the face of the huntsman chief which brought to Leucoia's mind young Dariel of Tigridia. The maid had loved and suffered silently, so that, when she listened to the suit of Ulander, Arzene thought she gave her hand to him who had first touched her heart. The nuptials of Zelneth and Leucoia were celebrated in their native vale, and Sanio, Penselimer's trusty minister, being present at the festivities, was the first to inform the king of Palmland that Glandreth had invaded his dominions, and was now occupying them with a powerful army. Forthwith a league was struck betwixt the three sovereigns, who resolved to unite hand and heart against the common enemy, to drive the invaders from Palmland, to free Almaterra from dependence on the Land of Rocks, to protect the right of Albinian's son, and to place Ulander on the throne of his ancestors. Phantasmion resolved on secretly entering Gemmaura, that district which had been annexed to Palmland by the union of Zalia and Dorimant, for the sake of raising the spirits of the inhabitants by his presence and stirring them against the foe. It was settled that Penselimer, meantime, should divide his forces, that one part, in company with the foresters of Nemorosa, should fall upon Rockland, while the other,

having joined Phantasmion in Gemmaura, which was yet free from the foreign troops, should unite with such an army as he could muster to drive the invaders from the Land of Palms. With these allies Phantasmion would have felt sure to triumph but for the lack of metal armour, which damped his subjects' martial prowess. Neither could the king of Almaterra supply the deficiency, for all the steel and brass which his people had in use they derived from Rockland, having neither mines nor skilful smiths among themselves. Magnart could not be called upon to fulfil his big promises, for he had entered Rockland with all the men he had at command, under pretence of securing Albinian's throne, against his brother's selfish schemes, for the boy Albinet. He desired to have his eldest son with him in this expedition, and to bring about his marriage with Iarine; but the youth and the maid were both missing, and no one could inform him where to seek for either. Penselimer's queen was eager to raise a powerful army in behalf of Phantasmion, not from any lingering remnant of love for him, but that her kingly spouse might appear important in the eyes of all men: Leucoia dreaded warfare, but from gratitude to her deliverer she felt anxious that he should be enabled to regain his kingdom.

While Phantasmion journeyed on towards his mother's country, which lay betwixt Almaterra and Palmland, full of grief to think that he must again travel away from Iarine, Penselimer conducted Zelneth to his castle with regal pomp, and Ulander's gentle bride accompanied her spouse to Nemorosa. The wife of Magnart went with Leucoia on her journey; for having heard Penselimer's tale, she could not doubt that the youth who carried a