Leaves From My Library.

LEAVES FROM MY LIBRARY .

. BY MARMADUKE MAKEPEACE . ( Continued from page 170 . ) As he spoke , he pressed Ipsibod ' s hand in one of his—not observing that he had inclined the other , which held the torch , against the partition of the dark passage , where a quantity of sulphur ,

saltpetre , resin , and other bituminous substances had been heaped up . The fire caught them ; and , owing to some of them being confined , a detonation ensued . Ipsibod uttered a loud shriek ; the gauze which floated around , her was instantly in flames ; she fled towards the hall hung with black , and fell

almost senseless into the arms of a group of monks , who then filled the cavern . Alamdde also fled , but by an opposite passage , * he-shut one of the doors of the passage upon the Invisibles , and carefully drew the long bolts ; almost blinded by the smoke , blackened by the fire ,

stunned by the explosion , he reached the entrancehall . Here he found , to his mortification and surprise , that a strong current of air had shut the outer door , and the fastening was a secret one . Alamdde could not open it , and his exit seemed utterly hopeless .

His eye fell upon an axe , which he immediately seized ; and violently striking at the strong oaken door which barred his passage , he made the vaults echo with the noise . The priests and soldiers were almost at his heels , and trying to burst the bolted door which separated them from him . The

shrieks of the Lady of thc Morass had drawn all the members of thc secret assembly to the vault . Axe and hammer rang on every side , and the echoes of the cavern multiplied the blows until they mimicked thc thunder . The voices of the monks and the threats of the knights were mingled

with them . The clamour resembled that of a place taken by assault ; and the youth of Aiguemar , in the utmost disorder , hammering the door as violently as a Cyclop on the anvils of / Etna , repeated at each blow , " I can creep noiselessly along the damp green vaults ; thc worm which glides

through the lone tomb shall be less silent in its progress than I in mine . " At length the door yielded to his efforts Alamdde was without the cavern . He soon passed the ruins over which he had before fallen ; he leaped over the ravines , swam across the lake ,

forced through thc brambles , and made his passage across the thickets ; and at length , wounded , panting , wet and bloody , covered with mud , his clothes burned , and almost in rags , he reached the cottage of Izorin with an air of triumph . Alamdde took off his clothes ; he changed part of them , and dried thc others .

" To-morrow , at day-break , wc must set off for Monterolles ; and visit , by the way , the Ruins of Marius . " " The Ruins of Marius ' why , that is thc resort of thieves . " " A noble lady is to await mc there , " said

Alamdde , mysteriously ; " I have an assignation . " Imposed upon by Alnmdcle ' s affected gravity , Izorin thought he meant an amorous interview . He smiled ; but afterwards , changing the expression of his countenance

" But why , " he said , " choose such a place for a tender conference ? Who ever heard of making love in ruins ?" " Ruins ! " repeated thc youth , in a tone of which it was difficult to say whether it was enthusiastic or ironical . "Ah , to a contemplative and sensitive

mind , what can be more enchanting ? How could a better place of meeting be chosen ? The mysterious powers of tenderness , the solemn and soft feelings of the heart , are best developed in such a scene ; a place which discovers thc secrets of the creation to the philosopher , ancl to the poet the

clue of the harmonics of Heaven . In such places , man feels the divinity of his soul beam through his mortal weakness . There should lovers meet : for there , thc uncongenial realities of thc world shut out , they would seem to live only for each other . Ruins stand upon the earth like revelations of the

past , wholesome lessons for thc present , and prophetic annunciations of the future . They gratify , besides , that love for reverses which seem to be a part of man ' s nature . Poets , kings , conquerors , lawgivers , priests , artists , what is your fame—but ruins ? What remains of your glories—but ruins ?

Hail , then , thc wrecks of time ; yc visible illustrations of the fate of the moral world , hail ! You form the shadows of the great picture of the universe ; and so powerful and beneficial is your effect , that when the first man wandered sadly in the Garden of Eden , he committed the folly and the

sin by which he lost Heaven—only because there were no ruins , " The sun had risen , when Alamdde and his companion , descending the mountains of Aiguemar , tool : the road to Monterolles . The air was heavy , the road fatiguing , and thc heat most oppressive . "

Leaves From My Library.

I wish we had a pair of good horses . " said Alamdde , sighing . " The Lord of Venous , " replied Izorin , " gave a proof of his magnificence at the last tournament , by burning thirty ; I was present at the spectacle , and should have been delighted to save a couple . They all perished beneath the flames , like Pharoah ' s

host under the waves of the Red Sea . " " An admirable simile ;—but see , what is this troop advancing towards us ?" " The Brothers of the Agnus Dei . " " Holy Virgin , what a masquerade !" " Not so loud " said Izorin , " you have uttered a

blasphemy . Think of the tax which is imposed upon swearing ; have some regard to the lean condition of our purses . I tremble to think of the consequences if they had heard you . Taking in vain the name of the Virgin is a twenty sous matter . " " And how mnch for a saint ?"

Three sous . " * ' Three sous ! " repeated Alamdde ; " that is not exorbitant for blasphemies at ready-money prices . If swearing should become fashionable , it will be a luxury which may be indulged at a reasonable expense . " " The Brotherhood of Agnus Dei marched slowly

by two and two—a carpenter was at the head of the troop . * He pretended to have received from Heaven a statue of the Virgin Mary , with a secret commission to found a new religious order , and to change the destiny of the world . Three banners , on which were painted the figures of saints , were borne with the troop . The persons composing it

had white linen round their heads ; and wore a leaden effigy of the Madonna on their bosoms , with this legend : Agnus Dei , qui tollis peccala Mundi , da nobis paccm . And in order to fulfil to the letter the injunction of the latter words of their sacred device—give us peace—they brandished naked swords in their hands ; had poignards in their

belts ; and pillaging , burning , and ravaging in their course , they excited the people against the enemies of the kingdom , the Toulousians , and thc heretics . The pious band had passed . "Ah ? "cried Alamdde ; "Deliverus , good Heaven , from thc brethren of the Agnus Dei !"

He pursued his journey ; and soon from a high mountain he discovered thc famous plain where Marius , an age before thc Christian era , had defeated an immense Teutonic army . " Observe those immense plains towards the north , " said the Troubadour to the J ongleur . "There , in less than two days , two hundred thousand

soldiers perished . Look at yonder river to the east . There it was that the wives of thc Teutons , seeing their vanquished husbands take to flight , rushed , armed with axes , knives , and lances , into the thickest of the battle . Striking , at once , the enemy to repulse them , and their husbands to urge them again to the combat , they seized in their hands the naked

swords of their adversaries , and turned them against themselves . The air was filled with the terrific cries of these wild heroines . Marius fell back before them . " " Delightful creatures ! " said Izorin ; but his applauding exclamation wns , in this instance , a little misplaced .

' •The following day , " continued Alamaddc , " Marius renewed the combat , ancl his victory was complete . The Amazons were made prisoners , and carried to thc Roman camp—they massacred all their children in the course of the . night , and then destroyed themselves . " " Incomparable charmers ! " cried the Shepherd , again .

" Ancl here , " said thc youth , who had now descended the mountain , and pointed out to his companion the ruins of a large building— " here are the remains of the triumphal arch , built by Marius , after the battle , to perpetuate the memory of so happy an event . " " In which , " said Izorin , continuing the sentence , " two hundred thousand men , to say nothing of their better halves , perished . "

* This man's name was Dtiratul ; he was of Ptiy-cn Velay . The sect , at first , had nothing liurlftil in it ; but soon criminals and men fleeing from justice joined it . The brethren declared war against thc nobility and priesthood , and with fire and sword pillaged Ihe castles , convents , ami rich houses . They carried their barbarity so far as to lumi infants before the faces of their inotlier- *

they tortured and mutilated their children ; burned castles ami cloisters ; shed torrents of blood ; and ravaged the South of France . Al length the nobility took up arms , and exterminated this ferocious horde . ( Vide Papon , torn . II . liv . iv . Hist , du Lang . lorn . III . p . 63 . Velly : Hist , de France , loin . III . p . 280 . Anquctil : Hist , de France , torn . II . p . S 9 . ) ( To be continued ) .

MESSRS . DEBENHAM , STORR AND SONS , of the Great Metropolitan Auction Mart in Covent Garden , announce by circular that Mr . PUTTICK , Auctioneer , late of No . 47 , Leicester-square , has joined their Firm as Partner .

Poetry.

Poetry .

v THE GREAT MASONIC BAND . BY MRS . L . A . CZARNECKI . There lives a band of men Whose precepts are divine ; Whose pure and worthy deeds With growing lustre shine . Though linked by bands of truth In a sacred brotherhood , Their faith has oft been tried

And many storms withstood . But they held fast the banner Of fidelity and love , Served well their Holy Master ,

The Eternal God above ; On their high path they walk , Rejoicing in their might , Rejoicing in united strength Of charity and right .

And one of their grand Order , The Prince of this proud land , * Hath nobly said their honour Shall upheld be in his hand . Where are those men of Mark That thus so steadfast stand ? They are found in every

clime—In the great Masonic Band . * From the speech of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at the 72 nd Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , celebrated March 30 th , 1870 .

OPENING HYMN .

Welcome , ye brothers dear , Once more assembled here In conclave grand ; Pleasant it is to meet In this revered retreat , Holding communion sweet , Joined heart and hand .

Brothers , in anthem raise , Join in one song of praise , With one accord ; Come , let our voices blend , Let earnest prayers ascend To him , our surest friend , Great God our Lord .

Hear Thou our humble prayer , Extend Thy loving care To Craftsmen here ; And , gracious God , ordain That in Thy sacred fane Sweet peace and concord reign Our toils to cheer .

Father , to Thee we owe All wc enjoy below , In mercy given By Thee our first and best , We are supremely blest , On Thee we humbly rest Our hopes of heaven . Hull , January 24 th , 1870 .

MASONIC MAXIM . Let us love one another— - The aged , thc youth—Let each man love his brother In spirit ancl truth .

Let us love one another—How pleasant to sec Men united together , As brethren should be . Let us love one

another—Kind words ne'er refuse , What e ' er they may gain They have nothing lo lose .

Let us love one another In peace , war , or storm ; When Jesus was hated He loved in return .

Let us love one another—Why frown on the poor ? Though their garments be tattered Their hearts may be pure .

Let us love one another—How pleasant to see All loving together , As Masons should be . Glasgow ( 360 ) . PHINAZMO .