The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-04-13

From he .Nei0 YORK. .nbto
THE SpAEWIFE.

from me .NtW lOfh .DDtOH.
THE SPAEWIFE.
The scene of this Interesting novel is laid
in Scotland, aud the period of the events is
! IN the reign of James the frst who WAS for
several years detained a prisoner IN Wind
scr Castle. During his absence the Duke
of Albany Ibis unclc) WAS made regent oI
| Scotland, which filed the breast Of the
Earl If Atholl Ia half brother Of the Duke,
with fixed envy aud hatred. T9lese feel
ings, however, he is compelled for som,
time 10 conceal-and he returns 10 his pro
| Ninciai hahtaf0n, 10 brood over his dark
and revengeinl designs. In the cOuIse 0l
his journey through Glrnpcarg, (in the
month of May,) the SPacwitc aCcosts
him, and commences herprophccics. lirr
interruption of the gloomy Earl is well dc
scribed.
The Duke Of Albany and his son Mur-
doch. during the twelve years of their re
geacy, have ruled the Kingdom in most
dsgracelul and irregular manner, SO that
when King James is ransomcd, he fluids no
thing but fcuds and discomfort, arising
from the INSTRUMENTATION Of Justice
| lie Immediately searches Cor the authors
of these civil discords, in consequence ol
| WHICH ltt tfhkt tlll1 ullflf anu wv w ms
Sons are tried. found guilty, aud brhradcd ;
another sou of the above escapes, and en-
| deayors to rise a party Ia oppose the
! King, who however, defeats his rebcllIous
wishes This son Lord Jamcs) is ardent
| ly attached to Lady S'blla Macdonald,
who proves herself model Of cOnstancy
aud nobleness Of mind. The most pow
erfully affecting scene in the Novel is the
following account of her supplicalion tO
the King for her hetrolhed husbands fami-
~, and her state Of feeling during the eNecu.
| ton
After dropping on his hand few tears,
she cried
i" Oh no ! not yet your Majesty; hear
| first what | would say,-Whcn your bnsi-
ness is iinlshed-alas it may then bc too
! late
| cannot bnt divine the suit you 50
earnestly desire to advocate, replied the
King but sweet Lady, it were TO suppose
some i'll fault IL great splcmnity, 10 say
that it should he suspended for any parti-
cnlar solicitation or affection 4 speak to
YOU as one whose eminent qualities | do
not lightly esteem; aud that you are III
this matter borne forward lay no common
motive. B-l till the trial is over, my klugly
obligations forbid inc 10 listen 10 any plea
Of mcrcyt"
did not come Cor mercy" exclaimed
SibIlla, " but 10 petition your Majesty ~
tshnlr of justice, which, in this matter
stands in imminent danger of being here
after condemned as cruelty. doubt not
the grcyoHs guilt of the unfortunate Prin-
ces bat | would supplicate your Maicsly
To consider what boon shall by their death
r.sut to your loving people; for unless
good all tlerrlrom arise, there can he
no Justice, bat only vengeance, in COM
lnandiug more blood 70 Cow than has al
ready stained the scafi'od."
Thr king stood in wonder ~ hear her
speak after this manner 4; for, aItho' he was
well acquainted with her lofty spirit, be
yet thought, from her bctl othmcnt I" the
ou:lawed james, that she was come 10 en-
treat him with feminine importantly for me-
tisaiion and pardon.
Seeing him .ached BY What she had said
Sibila continued
"ANh.n The Earl Of LcnnoX stands be-
fore you, | humbIy supplcatc your males
~ to call 10 mind that he is more than tom
score years old. do not, however, ask
that pity should be- allowed to plead for
his grey hairs. No, my gracious S"re-
reign, but only thai you will note how
plainly Heaven has by lis own officer Old
| Agc--scrycd the warrant by which he will
SOON indeed be taken 10 answer for his
manifold sins aud treasops. That h. has
offended his country and your Majesty
may not be- doubted, bat what better ludS"
tan arbiirate the sad question OF his quit,
than the Ancient Of Daye, who, with shin.
! ing hand, opens the everlasting clasps OF
the book of LID Z"
The hing, moved by thc tend'r cs' OF
] This plteous adj, 0cacy, seemed Tor mo-
IN. nj Ia relent from his stern suhllmity +
but at that juncture solemn peal FROM the
! trumIrts without recalled him 10 the awful
sense ofhs regal task, and he laid his hand
on his heart, and bowng his head TO the
suppIicant, moved mournfully and slowly
TO the hall ofJodgmcnt.
CHAPTER XIV.
| the trial lasted all day, during which
the Lady Syhllla, afflicted with grief aud
| fear, aud many a fiery sting of despair,
sequestered hrrsrlfin an an upper chamber
of the castle, inaccessible To i'll but her mai
drns- w HON, ever aud anon, she sent I"
enquire how the Court was proceeding.
Sometime she rec, wed for answers, That
the witnesses prevaricated ard that II was
thought the prisoners would be- assoIl'zeu, al
| others the poor damsrls returned weeping,
and sat down beside her ia sielce, and
then her heart beat audibly, aud She sP' ka
not 10 them ill after season had pass