The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-04-01
Ernln - -. .Yinrlra.

bOluen NHts NNt}l lflH sni3S ant
/ daughters o. Arcadia were assem-
blcd II celebrate Il rural festival, il,
VAS determined 10 elect a Ouccn, 10
preserve derorum and direct the
rites Of the feast.
/ There was present, / Young nvmpi
Of uncommon beauty, Nho Ind been
accustomed IN associate with these
children Of nature and Tor lrer was
gwen the uranimous suffrage. Eut
she could uat be prevailed upon 10
ascend the chrome, until a venerable
shepherd, WIN WAS called the Priest
of Nature, assured them he had been
| taught in a dream, that this n'mph
was designrd for their sovereign
and then the blushrs that suGuNed
her face still increased cvioseiiucss.
The name Of this Arcadjan Queen
WAS Modcsty. She Mas believed II
be the daughter Of Jupiter. and her
mother. who MAS also of celestial
origin. was called Innocence. The
air OF native DIGNITY which she in
hrritcd FROM the former. was soften
ed by the mild y unassuming graces
derived from The latter. HE sccp-
ire of her power was IA blush, aud
the throne OF her dominion the heart.
She commanded with glance, or
Ipcrsaadcd with smile. and was o.
Bowed. not tlro' fear but love. Tn
dcl. her government the feast WIS
conducted With the utmost Wopncty
for, although the mildncs5 of her dis
position would not suffer her to IN
! llict severe paniShments on Offenders,
vet ST., Ii WAS the respect III which
she was held in those primitive
! times, that he who disobeycd her
laws was banShcd From the en-
ioymcnt of society. hut II was
not only during the continuance ol
the feast that she exercised her happy
influence. At all times, and IN all
places, she Wa3 5rcn miuglmg with
these children of simplicity, Ell
comaging their innocent sports aud
4 cling Their controversies. Though
sometimes seen III the company oi
the Young shepherds, she Mas more
accustomed To associate with The
maidens of Arcadia and II MAJ re
marked that they never looked 50
] lovely rs when IN The presence oi
/ thcir Queen. she seemed lend an
increased Iustrc 10 The tender cN-
preston at lhcir eyes, y a brighter
bloGm To the roses Of the cheeks
their smiles were more captNatmgo
and their gestures more graceful, 81
! thal instead Of fearing, they courted
! her soCiOty.
But as there las never been Il
throne without It's prttcndcrs. nor Il
valuable coin without its counterfeit,
even the Just claims and i"anscen-
dent charms Of this Arcadian Queen
did not preclude the professions 81 a
rival. whose name was Dliiidcnce.
She bore some resemblance 10 Mo
dcsty. aud WAS supposed by many
to have been born Of the same mo-
Their hut her entire want 81 dignity
Ibctraypd that she WAS not the daugh-
ter Of jupiter Although she never
descended the throne, she frequently
Idisplaycd a blush which was mista-
ken by some for the sccpIre OF Mo.
dcsty bat II WAS used so often, and
with 50 Iltllc discretion, that she soon
lost Rcr authority, and excited more
compassion fllan respect Modrsiy
was frequently attended by hand
maid called Perseverance, through
whose assistance she was enabled t.
overcome the most ardnoas diihcnl
ties. Nhila Ddliarncc was always
accompanied by Iimidily, whose
hcsitatin~ steps and Ilattcrins voice
imppdcd her progress. and blasted
. her designs. The former was res
pcctcd for her successful cntcrpri-
zcs, the latter comniscrated for her
unfortunate attcmpts.
At this period there appeared a
mong the Arcadians youth called
Ccaius.-Iiis disposition wa bold i
aspiring, and his heart fuIl Of cntho-
siasn. Even IN his chiIdhoodg he
was often found ciambcrlng up Tie
rocks. and plucking Covers on thf
. side Of Parnassus. lie would lie f0i
hours on the brink Of the mountain
riyulet, watching the eagles as they
" hpclcd in airy circles around tdf
cloaId capt summit, and wishing foi
their piuioas 10 beer him 10 region