Forgotten Stories.

m unda , supposing as I did , that I knew your virtue aud sincerity , it would never have occurred to me that you could have deitmed to g ive up your honour to any man ; nay , that you could ever have thou "hi of such a thing : this you have

done , and the small remainder of my life is now embittered by the reflection of my having outlived the modesty of my child . I wish , indeed , to God , that at least you had selected for your lover some man of

illustrious rank ; but now , amidst all the various princes and nobles of my court , you have p icked out this Guiscard , whom I myself brought up from infancy ancl rescued from poverty , and Avho hath never been emancipated from a servile condition . With him—for know that I have taken

him and have him in confinement—I am resolved how to act ; but with you , God knows , I am at a loss what to do . On one side love draws me , for no father ever loved his child more than I did ; on the other , a most just anger at your great crime : tho one bids me pardon ; the other orders

me , against my nature , to behave cruelly to you . But before I take one part or the other , I desire to hear what you yourself have to say ;" . and having thus spoken , he bent clown his face , and wept so violentl y , that you might almost , have supposed him a corrected child .

Sigismunda hearing her fathers Avords , and perceiving that not only her secret We was discovered , but that Guiscard was also in prison , was penetrated with a thrilling pang of despair Avhich nearly overwhelmed her , and she Avas many times at

| 'ie point of bursting into lamentations and tears , as most women are accustomed to ™ J but soon her lofty spirit quelled this inclination to Aveakness , ancl recomposing , countenance and repressing the start-¦ g tear instead of having to

, recourse l" ' ayer and entreaty , she determined at j ; to die herself , since she considered , ! ° Guiscard as now already dead also . lerefore not as a sorrowing female , or ie caught in a fault , but as one reeardless

^ * e and courageous in misfortune , with j i !' * lo ° k and steady voice , she thus ( 1 . PHecl to her father : — " Tancred , I am not one - i deny or su PP lieafce ; since the iitvJF not avail me > ancl l do not ^ t wish that the other should avail > neither do I , by any act of mine

intend to appease your anger , or render you propitious to my . voice ; but , confessing the truth , I will defend my reputation with reason , and then , as by my deeds shall appear , will unalterably execute the fixed purpose of my soul . It is true , that I iuwe lovedand do loveGuiscardancl

, , , as long as I live , which noAV will he but short , I will love him , and if in death it be conceded me to love , even there Avill I love him still . That I have forfeited my claim to innocence I deny . I am not the mistress—I am the consecrated wife of

Guiscard . Love called us , but religion joined us and blessed us . Pure as the robe that UOAV veils it , is the heart that beats Avithin me : if to love be a crime , I yield and oAvn myself an offender without redemption . But where learned you that doctrine 1 not , 0 Tancred , Avheu you fought

to save and win my mother , as I have heard you oft relate Avith mixed triumph and sorrow ! And have you forgotten that I am young ? But agiin you say , that Guiscard is ignoble ancl base , and that I mig ht have selected a noble of your court upon whom to confer my heart . Your nobles are not so noble as Guiscard .

God created all mankind equal ; he gave them , and does now , although the Avorld think differently , give them courage , and genius , and virtue , without reference to title or riches . He Avho is most eminently endoAved with these gifts—he is the noblest of all ; and can you deny to Guiscard now

, Avhat so often you have allowed to him formerly 1 It was you who first taught me to love him by extolling his modesty , ancl valour , ancl gentleness , and wit , ' ancl yet you call him ignoble ! You speak not the truth ! But he is poor—let it be

so ! It Avas your fault that , knowing his Avorth , you did not heap riches upon him ; but let him be poor— -kings have become beggars , and beggars ere UOAV have lived to be the greatest of kings . You doubt , you say , Avhat you should do Avith me

!dispel that doubt ; for if noAV , in your old age , you are determined to do that Avhich in your youth you would abhorred , that is , be unjust and cruel—proceedtorture me I I will not shrink or pray to you ; and if left to myself , I SAvear to inflict upon myself , by my OAVU hand , Avhatever you shall do , or have alread y done , to Guiscard . Go , then , and shed