Ah, Lisandro, Lisandro, how will the friendship of Carino cost your life, since it is not possible that the grief of my having lost it for thee will end it. Oh cruel brother, that without hearing my exculpations, is it possible you would make me pay the penalty of my error?

When I heard this reasoning, by the voice I recognised directly that of Leonida, and the presage of my misfortune; and with this emotion I groped about to find where Leonida was involved in her own blood, and, discovering the spot, I fell immediately on her corpse in extremity of suffering, saying, "What woe is this, my beloved? Oh, my soul ! what hand was it that respected not so much loveliness !" By these sounds I was recognised by Leonida, and raising with vast trouble her exhausted arms, I fixed them round my neck, and fastening them as best I could, joining her mouth to mine, with weak and ill-enunciated reasons, she spoke only thus to me-"My brother has slain me-Carino sold-Libeo is lifeless; may God give you, Lisandro mine, long and happy years, and permit me to enjoy in another life the repose which has been denied me here." And again joining her mouth to mine, having closed her lips to confer on me her first and last kiss, she re-opened them only to exhale her soul, and she was left dead in my arms. When

I felt this, abandoning myself on the corpse, I remained motionless, and if I was yet alive it were as dead. Who seeing us in this predicament would not call to mind the woeful story of Pyramus and Thisbe? However, returning to my self-possession, I opened my mouth to fill the air with my lamentations and sighs, and I perceived some one advancing with quickened steps, and on his approach, though the night was obscure, the eyes of my soul gave me to understand that it was Crisalvo, and so it was. He turned round to certify if by chance it was Leonida his sister whom he had killed. So soon as I was sure it was him, and while he did not regard it, I fell on him like a wrathful lion, and giving him two wounds I heaved him to the earth, and before he breathed his last I dragged him where Leonida was, and putting in the dead hand of Leonida a dagger which her brother had, the same that murdered her, helping her to it, thrice was it plunged into his heartand so, consoling myself with Crisalvo's death without

delay, I took on my shoulders Leonida's body, and bore it to the village where her parents dwelt, and, recounting the mischance, solicited for the corpse honourable burial; and then I resolved to execute vengeance on Carino, as I had done on Crisalvo, and as that occurred by his absence from the village, my just wrath was delayed till I found him at the wood, though six months have intervened since the event, and now he has paid the price of his treason, and no longer further vengeance rests within me, save on myself, as against a life which I breathe unwillingly. This shepherd is the cause of the lamentations you have heard. If it seems to you reason good for such sentiments, I leave them to your judgment. And so he ended the discourse, and gave vent to such copious tears that Elicio could not restrain the flux of his own; but when in time the grief of one which oppressed him was mitigated and softened into sighs, and in the other the sense of compassion, Elicio began with the soundest reason to console Lisandro, though his grief was so far beyond counsel as its success had evinced, so that among other things he said to him, and what concurred with Lisandro's feelings, was, that ills without remedy should be without regard, and that from the very high and virtuous condition of Leonida it was to be believed that she had enjoyed a calm existence, and that one should rather rejoice at the good she had attained, than be wretched at what she had lost.

To this replied Lisandro-"I know your reason carries force enough with it to cause me to accept such conclusions, yet do neither they nor what the world could say, suffice to assuage me; with Leonida's decease begin my misfortunes, and these will cease not till I go to her, and since this can only be by my death, he who shall procure me that alternative will be my truest friend." Elicio, however, did not wish to superinduce more mental anguish by his advice, though he did not so reckon them, only he adjured him to accompany him to his cabin, in which what he might wish would be found, proffering his friendship in aught that could serve him. To this Lisandro agreed, and though he desired not to visit Elicio, yet he consented, swayed by his importunities. Thus they both arose and wended towards Elicio's cabin, where they passed the remainder of the night.

Now when the brilliant Aurora had left the couch of her jealous husband, and gave tokens of the coming day, Erastro arose and commenced putting in order the cattle of Elicio and his own, to conduct them to their usual pasture. Elicio invited Lisandro to join him, and the three shepherds coming with the gentle flock of sheep to a watercourse below, on mounting one side they heard the sound of a dulcet pipe, which by the enamoured shepherds, Elicio and Erastro, was recognised for that of Galatea, and in brief space from the hill top they discerned some sheep, and near them Galatea herself, whose attractiveness was such that it were better to imagine it, as words were inadequate to do it justice. She came, vested in mountaineer's attire, with hair floating in the wind, so that Apollo might envy her, for casting his light on her, it was somewhat obscured, and the rays which darted from the obscuration represented another sun. Erastro was dumb with astonishment, nor could Elicio avert his eyes. Now, as Galatea saw the flocks of Elicio and Erastro were blended with hers, evinced no disposition to continue with them all that day, she called to the tender ewe-lamb in her hand, and to the others which followed behind, to go to another part, where the shepherds were not. Hence Elicio, seeing what Galatea did, without tolerating such disdainful conduct, approaching the spot where the shepherdess was, said to her "Suffer, beautiful Galatea, that your flock unite with ours; but if you dislike the company, select what you do like, that by thy absence our sheep may not lack pasture, for I, who am born to serve thee, think more of them than my own; and so despise me not thus overtly, for my free will towards you deserves it not, as your course was towards the pebble fountain, and now you see me you turn aside; and if this be, as I have a shrewd idea it is, tell me where, now and henceforth, you would pasture your flock, and then I swear I will never there obtrude mine." "I promise you," said Galatea, "that it is not to avoid your company or that of Erastro, that I have changed the course which you imagined I had pursued, for my purpose is to pass here the evening with my companion, Florisa, who attends me, near to the brook of palms, for only yesterday we agreed so to do, and feed our flocks, and as I came along thoughtlessly tuning my pipe, the gentle ewe took the road

towards the pebble stream, as the most accustomed. For the good will you bear me, and your considerate offers, thanks; but do not infer that your suspicions are wellgrounded." "Alas, Galatea !" answered Elicio," and how do you feign it should appear, having so little need for artifice, for in fact I entertain no other desire than what you desire. Go now, then, to the stream near the palm-trees, to the wood of counsel (al soto de consejo) or to the fountain of pebbles, and be assured you will not go alone, for my heart will bear you company, and if you see it not it is because you desire it not, as having no wish to furnish balm to it." "Until now," replied Galatea, "I think I see the first heart, and so I conclude I have incurred no wrong in not supplying a remedy." "I know not how you can allege this," replied Elicio, "heavenly Galatea, for you see it to wound it, and not to cure." "You remove evidence from me," rejoined Galatea, "in saying that I am armed (for to women no arms are allowed), have wounded no one." Yes, discreet Galatea," said Elicio, "how you play with that which makes my heart suffer, and what invisibly inflicts wounds, and with your beauty alone for weapons. Still I murmur not so much at the woe you have caused me, as at your indifference to my pain." "I should consider it less even if I found it more again," retorted Galatea. Now, at this juncture of time arrived Erastro, and observing that Galatea went away and left them, said to her—" Whither go you, or rather fly, handsome Galatea? If from us who adore you, you fly, who can hope your company? Oh, enemy! how volatile you make off, triumphing over our ardent wishes; may heaven destroy the good I entertain for you if I do not long to see you in love with one who esteems your complaints as you requite mine; and do you smile, Galatea? I weep at your acts." Galatea could not reply to Erastro, because she was engaged in conducting her flock to the brook of palms, and lowering her head from afar, in token of taking leave, she retired, and when she found herself alone, and had reached the spot where her companion Florisa thought she would be, with the consummate voice which nature gave her, she warbled this sonnet :

GALATEA.

Far off from fire, noose, cold, or from the dart
Of love, which burns, presses, enflames and chills,
For such flame no proclivities has my heart,

Or with such knot will e'er rest satisfied.
Consume, bind, freeze, slay, press,
Take any wish you choose,

But as for arrow, snow, or net, hope not
My soul in any such a heat to melt;
Its fire will petrify my chaste purpose,
The knot will break by force or art,
Snow will dissolve my burning zeal,
The arrow my thoughts will blunt;
And thus I shall not, in security, fear

The blaze of love, the snare, the dart, the cold.

With juster reason may you stop brutes, move trees, and force stones to listen to the sweet song and delicious har-" mony of Galatea, as when to the harp of Orpheus, the lyre of Apollo, and the music of Amphion, Troy walls and those of Thebes founded themselves without the artificer's intervention, and the Sisters, dark indwellers of profound Chaos, were softened at the exquisite voice of the incautious lover. When Galatea finished her song, and reached the place where Florisa was, by whom she was welcomed with a smile, and to whom Galatea imparted her meditations, and as they let the cattle move at their own free will to feed on the verdant spot, invited by the clearness of the liquid element, they resolved to refresh their beauteous countenances (though such a proceeding did not contribute to enhance their beauties, as in many persons such alternatives are adopted, whereby nature's claims are martyrised for the semblance of beauty). Equally beautiful after the bathing did they remain as before, save that by applying their hands to their cheeks they became of a more roseate hue, so that an indescribable beauty supervened, and chiefly to Galatea, in whom were concentrated the three graces whom the ancients depicted in a state of nature, as being the mistresses of beauty. Now began they to cull various flowers from the green meadows, wherewith to weave chaplets to arrest the wanderings of their dishevelled hair, which floated on their alabaster