Galercio, brother of Artidoro.-Teolinda addresses Galatea.—A piece of paper falls from the bosom of the suicide, which was placed on a tree to dry.-Gelasia's cruelty was the cause of the sad attempt.She sings some verses with marked apathy.-Lenio also recites verses.- Galatea inquires about Artidoro, on which some explanation ensues.-Teolinda melts in tears.-Songs of Galercio to Gelasia.Interlocution of Thirsis and Elicio.-Galatea disconcerted at her friend's farewell.-Letter of Galatea to Elicio, and his reply, which was entrusted to Maurisa. Swains propose addressing Galatea's father about the forced marriage of his daughter.-Elicio's song.— In the morning Elicio receives his friends.-They agree, if Aurelio did not consent to revoke his decree respecting Galatea's marriage, that they would use violence to counterwork it, for they could not tolerate that she should be wedded to a stranger.

SCARCELY had the rays of the golden Phoebus began to display themselves on the lowest line of our horizon when the ancient and venerable Telesio caused the inhabitants of the hamlet to hear the melancholy sound of his cornet; a signal which moved all who heard it to quit the repose of their pastoral couches, and assist at what Tilesio requested.

But the first who gave effect to it were Elicio, Aurelio, Daranio, and all the shepherds there congregated of both sexes, not omitting the lovely Nisida and Blanca, and the venturesome Timbrio and Silerio, with divers other cheerful country inhabitants, who joined them to the number of thirty. Among the which went the incomparable Galatea, new miracle of beauty, and the late espoused Silveria, who was accompanied by the fair and disdainful Belisa, for whom the shepherd Marsilio suffered such amorous and mental anguish. Belisa had come on a visit to Silveria, to give her a greeting on her new state, and she hoped to find herself assisting in the celebrated obsequies which she trusted the many and famous shepherds would celebrate. All, however, sallied forth from the hamlet, where they found Telesio, with other shepherds, their friends, clothed so that they looked as if some melancholy business was on foot. Immediately, Telesio ordered, with the purest intentions, and the most subdued thought, that on that day should be celebrated solemn sacrifices, that all the swains should join the cortège, but separated from the females, and it was so; so that the few were content, and the more satisfied, especially the signite Marsilio, who caught a view of the love-repudiating

pas

MB

Belisa, at whose sight he was so bewildered and beside himself that his friends Orompo, Crisio, and Orfenio noted it, and, seeing him thus, approached him, and Orompo said to him, "Courage, friend Marsilio, courage, and give no reason by your faintheartedness to reveal your want of valour; know you, as if heaven, moved to compassion at your woe, has conducted to these banks the shepherdess Belisa for your relief?" "Quite the opposite, it is to overthrow me, as I believe," said Marsilio, "she is arrived here, and this is fear enough. But I will do what you suggest, if, peradventure, in this hard trial, there dwell with me more reason than feeling." With this Marsilio recovered his serenity, and the shepherds and the women, each assuming their own order, as Telesio had commanded, began to enter the valley of the cypresses, guarding a singular silence, until Timbrio, astonished at seeing the freshness and loveliness of the pellucid Tagus, on whose banks they walked, turning to Elicio, who was at his side, said to him, "Not a little wonder does it cause me to note the incomparable beauty of these fresh banks, and reasonably, too, for he who has seen, as I have, the spaciousness of the renowned Betis, and those which clothe and adorn the famous Ebro, and the well-known Pisuerga; and in remote lands has passed the sacred Tiber's shores, and the amenity of the Po, celebrated for the fall of that temerarious youth, to say nothing of having traversed the fresh borders of the peaceful-running Lebetus, reason good why wonder should move me to see other spots."

"You deflect not so far from the straight road in your remark, as I think, prudent Timbrio," replied Elicio, "that you see not with eyes the reason of your opinion, for in verity you may believe that the amenity and freshness of the river's banks give a notorious and recognised advantage to all you have cited, though we should annex thereto those of the far separated Xanthus, the memorable Anfriso, and the enamoured Alpheus. For experience ratifies the fact, that, in almost line direct on the greater part of these river-sides there is a shining climate, and, with an extensive area and brightness, it seems to invite to a rejoicing of the heart, however averse to it. Now, if this be true, and that the constellations and sun are supported from the nether wae as

I positively give credence to the idea that this river is instrumental in creating the beauty which environs it, as I shall believe that God, who, for a like reason dwells in the heavens, in this section has also made his habitation the earth which embraces it, vested in an infinity of verdure, seems to create festivals, and to delight in the possession of a donative so rare and delectable, and the golden stream, as if in exchange in the embraces of it, sweetly intertwining itself, fashions a thousand entries and outgoings, which, to him who admires, surcharge the soul with pleasure ineffable; whence it occurs, that, though the eyes turn and return countless times to view, yet new joy is ever found, and wonders without end. Turn now your orbs, valorous Timbrio, and mark how hamlets and rich cottages embellish these banks, which seem established for them.

"Here we observe, in each season of the year, that the laughing spring unites with the lovely Venus, in short and amorous garment, and Zephyr, the companion, with Flora, mother of all, beyond diffusing, with liberal hand various and odoriferous flowers; and mark what the industry of the dwellers has done, that nature married to art, constitutes a sort of turn, a third nature, to which as yet no name is assigned. With its well-cultivated gardens, before which even the Hesperides, and those of Alcinous, (which one day bloomed, and fruitful were the next') should be silent. The dense woods, the peaceful olive, laurels green, and myrtles rounded like to cups. Its fertile pastures, cheerful vales, and well-clothed hillocks, founts and rivulets, which these banks can boast, I need add no more, but that, if the Elysian plains are extant, here they must be.

"What shall I subjoin of the mechanism of those lofty wheels which in endless revolution draw the liquid element from the profound waters, and humectate the arable, which is disjoined from the pasture land?

"And, above all, let us add to this the bevies of fair shepherdesses which in this vicinity do dwell. For whose testimony, segregating what experience teaches, and what you, O Timbrio, who are an indweller here, and hast seen, it suffices to adduce that shepherdess whom you see here."

And, so saying, he made signals with his crook to Galatea; and, adding no more, he left Timbrio to discern the

prudence and language which he had employed in praise of Tagus' banks, and the fascinations of Galatea.

So, in reply, as no one could gainsay the remarks, in these and others he beguiled the weariness of the way, until they caught sight of the cypress valley, where they observed to sally forth as many more shepherds, and their female train, as were in their own band.

All coming together, and with subdued pace, they began their entry to the holy valley, whose site was so unspeakably lovely, that even to them, accustomed to its view, it engendered new taste, and novel wonder. There arose on one side of the far-famed Tagus' banks in four different and opposed quarters four green and pasture-clothed spots, as walls and fortifications to this enchanting vale, which lay in the centre, an approach to which by four ways was made, which same hillocks stretched out so, that they formed four huge and pasture-provided ways, constituting a wall on all sides of lofty and countless cypresses, so beautifully arranged, that their boughs interwoven so did grow that none dared traverse the other, or project at all.

In the closely-occupied space between the cypresses appeared roses and sweet jessamines, blended as are in the well-protected vineyards, the thorny brambles, and the prickly briars. At intervals from these fertile accesses through the green and slender grass are seen brooks of clear and salubrious water, which owe their origin to the niches in the hills. At the termination of these paths is a narrow round spot, which the rising ground and the cypresses form, in whose centre stands an artificial fountain, fabricated of white but precious marble, and so artfully constructed that the rarities of the renowned Tivoli, and the grandeurs of ancient Sicily can scarce hold comparison. With the water of this marvellous fountain are moistened and sustained the fresh flowrets of this delicious locality, and what superadds to the site worthy estimation and reverence, is its being appropriated to the sensitive palates of simple lambs and gentle sheep, and all kinds of herds, serving as warders and treasurers, of the honoured remains of some celebrated shepherds, which, by the general decree of their survivors all round these banks, is assigned to them as a worthy place of sepulture.

So there are seen between many and various trees which grow at the back of the cypresses, in the place and distance, into the skirts of the hillock, some graves, some of jasper, some of wrought marble, and on white stones are visible the inscriptions of those interred within.

But what exceeds all other beauty, and is more patent to the eye, is the monument of the shepherd Meliso, aside from the rest, adjacent to a narrow spot of polished and dark stones, and made of white and well-chiselled alabaster. At the very time that Telesio caught this, turning his eyes towards his agreeable company, in a subdued tone and plaintive accent, spoke

"You here see, worthy swains, prudent and graceful shepherdesses. Here I repeat it; you see the mournful sepulture where rest the honoured bones of Meliso, once renowned the honour and glory of our shores. Let us now lift up our hearts in humility to heaven, and with pure purpose, much tears and deep sighs, intone the holy hymns and devout prayers, and beseech it to receive, in the starry mansion, the blessed soul of him who lies here." So saying, he advanced towards a cypress, and cutting off some boughs he made a sorrowful garland wherewith to encircle his time-honoured brows, making signs to the others to follow his example. This moved all the rest, and they crowned themselves with melancholy boughs, and, led by Telesio, reached the cemetery, in which place the first thing done by him was to bend on their knees and salute the dull, cold marble. This did they all, and so softened were they at his memory, that their tears bedewed the stone as they kissed it.

This ended, Telesio ordered the consecrated fire to be kindled, and in a brief time they heaped up hearths in which the cypress only was consumed, while the venerable Telesio, with grave and quiet steps, walked round the pyre, precipitating into the burning flames a quantity of sacred and sweet-smelling incense. At each act he uttered a short and holy orison to pray for the departed soul of Meliso; at the close, he lifted up his tremulous voice, while all the bystanders, in a mournful accent, responded amen at three different times, at whose lamentable emission all the neighbouring hillocks and separated valleys re-echoed, while the boughs of the lofty cypresses, and the many trees which