The words of this song struck painfully on the sad mother's heart. Her face was bathed in tears, and, while she drooped forward, absorbed in bitter thought, the light-hearted shepherdess gathered her flock, and went away. After awhile, Arzene remembered that she had not where to take her rest that night, and strove to overtake the damsel, but, having followed her for some time, she became exhausted, and laid her down to sleep in a waste field. The sun had just risen, and turned the dew drops around Arzene's bed into diamonds, when Karadan entered the field where his mother slept. From the top of a lofty mullein a goldfinch piped beside her, and soon his new-fledged offspring, led by their other parent, alighted on tall plants around, buoyantly swaying back and forward as they pecked the winged seeds. Arzene saw not the gleeful group in dreams she had wandered back to her own deserted little ones, and knew not, that he for whose sake she had left them. was weeping over her. While the youth still gazed on his mother's face, Iarine came beside him. He started, and would have drawn her away, "Come," he said in a low voice," our path lies yonder. I bade thee wait till I had explored this field." But Iarine had recog

nized the features of her who slept, and wondering much at the behaviour of Karadan; "Wilt thou leave thy mother alone in this strange land?" she said. Anguish was depicted on his face, but he answered firmly, “We must leave Arzene, or thou may'st forego all hope of beholding Anthemmina.” "She is come in search of thee from her distant home," said the maid ; "wilt thou not stay till she wakes, and tell her thy purpose?" "Then it would never be effected,"

Karadan replied. "Take thy choice; return with Arzene, or seek Anthemmina." Iarine looked at the youth's countenance of woe, and guessed that if the mother beheld her son, she would never suffer him to pursue his journey. With a sorrowful heart she quitted the field, accompanied Karadan to the sea-shore, and there remained in a fisherman's hut, while he went in quest of a vessel. But Iarine knew only that she was to await the youth's return; for so strict a silence had he kept, and enjoined on her, concerning their errand, that she knew not whether her mother's abode were to be approached by sea or land.

After some hours he returned, placed her on the mule, and, holding the reins, led it by rugged paths over a ridge of rocks, from the top of which Iarine beheld a skiff anchored in a little bay. Still carefully guiding the mule, Karadan descended, and soon he had entered the vessel with his companion. "Does the

wind blow favourably?" inquired the maid, as she helped him to unfurl the sails. She heard not the reply, but a gurgling sound of laughter issued from under the waves, circling all round the vessel, and prolonged by a succession of fainter and fainter echoes. As a pebble, thrown by a dexterous hand, repeatedly touches the water, then sinks out of sight, even so the sounds were many times renewed till they died into silence. Iarine looked aghast, but heard no comment on that ill-boding mirth from her companion, whose countenance did not regain its gloomy composure ere the skiff had cleared the bay. Smoothly then it sailed, till land was again in sight, and Iarine's countenance glowed, while that of Karadan became livid as a corse.

On a sudden, however, an impetuous gale arose, and drove back the vessel from the point toward which the melancholy helmsman was steering; having impelled it far into mid-ocean the wind relented, but rose again as often as the skiff approached the shore. Karadan knew what power was frustrating his efforts, and in a presentiment of this delay, had stored the ship with provisions. The damsel prayed that the elemental strife might cease, but Karadan would have rejoiced could this state of things have lasted for ever.

Meantime Arzene tarried in the creek whence her son had sailed, vainly expecting his return. Scarce had the youth and maiden left the field where she lay, than the deserted mother awoke, and saw Feydeleen weeping by her side. Why weepest thou, fair one?" Arzene cried; "Shall I never again behold his face ? "Thou shalt behold his face again," the mild spirit answered; but still the tears were trickling from her soft blue eyes upon the flowery sod. "Where shall I find him?" exclaimed Arzene. Feydeleen replied, "Not far from hence there is a narrow bay, encircled by rocks, where a hermit dwells nigh the sea shore. There, after some days, thou shalt behold thy son. When that time comes I will again be with thee, and will bring my choicest gifts to preserve him from all future harm." The spirit vanished, and Arzene, going to the sea shore, learnt from an old man who dwelt in a cave of the rock, that a youth and damsel had lately sailed from the narrow bay in a skiff brought from another part of the coast. Confiding in Feydeleen's assurance, she took up her abode with the hermit, and, from morn till eve, continued to watch the restless ocean, oft revert

ing in thought to this strain, which had been sung in happier days amid the blooming bowers of Polyanthida.

See yon blithe child that dances in our sight?
Can gloomy shadows fall from one so bright?
Fond mother, whence these fears?
While buoyantly he rushes o'er the lawn,
Dream not of clouds to stain his manhood's dawn,
Nor dim that sight with tears.

No cloud he spies in brightly glowing hours,
But feels as if the newly vested bowers
For him could never fade :

Too well we know that vernal pleasures fleet,
But having him, so gladsome, fair, and sweet,
Our loss is overpaid.

Amid the balmiest flowers that earth can give
Some bitter drops distil, and all that live

A mingled portion share;

But, while he learns these truths which we lament,
Such fortitude as ours will sure be sent,

Such solace to his care.

CHAPTER XL.

THE ALLIED FORCES ARE EQUIPPED WITH ARMOUR IN THE HEART OF THE VOLCANIC MOUNTAIN.

WHILE Phantasmion was conducting his forces through Tigridia, Malderyl sate in her ancient tower full of angry thoughts. After the murder of Dorimant's queen, as she traversed Gemmaura in her chariot, she had fallen into the power of the Earth Spirit. But Valhorga, who hated Dorimant, released the witch that she might accomplish her projects against him: at the same time. he gave her two dwarfs, endowed with wondrous powers, intending on a future occasion, to fetch both her and them into slavery. Malderyl despatched an emissary to Palmland, who planted so many sweet but baleful herbs in Dorimant's domain, that the honey of the bees was infected with it, and the king, regaling himself thereon,was poisoned. But Phantasmion was now beyond the reach of her vengeful arm, while Zelneth and Leucoia, whom she once hoped to enslave, had both escaped her snares. Swartho crouched at the queen's feet, grinning maliciously as he viewed her knitted brows; for he knew that Valhorga had espoused the cause of Zalia's son, and that soon he should return to serve his ancient master.

That evening Malderyl went forth to visit the ancient castle where Phantasmion last beheld Oloola. Gloomy thoughts possessed her soul as she ascended the tower