Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-07-07

tres are said to visit the earth, go and
terrify this guardian Of the dead, and en-
deavour to make him quit his post
But remember to maintain yourself res
olutely in your own, whatever may
happen; for by this l shall form my
judgment Of the ardour Of your passi, n
Tor me-"
"What! adorable lady, is such infant
sport US this all that you require as a
proof OF my bravery and love! No mat
ter, your pleasure is my law; and, since
it has taken this turn, should Lucifer
himself guard the coffin, l would make
him yield his post to me-"
As soon as night set in, large coffin,
covered with black, was brought into
the castle hall. Wax tapers, and all the
appointments Of death, were placed
around. The knight to whom the par;
had been assigned, arrayed in linen
shroud, placed himself in the coffin in
the presence of the lady, and cIasped
his hands firmly together; crucifx was
laid upon his breast, and his head,
which rested on pillow, was crowned
with flowers. The liyid tint of death
disguised his countenance; and the la
dy, alter considering him in this posit-
ion, aud ieigning to shudder with horror
at the spectacle, gave him strict injunc-
:ions not to open his eyes, or to give the
slightest signs Of animation.
The second knight began by doing
ample honour to the splendid supper to
which he had been invited. He was
full Of gayety and spirits, and laughed
heartily with the rest of the guests at all
the current tales of sorcerers and spirits,
swearing that from his very youth he had
scolied at the idea of ghosts When
the appointed hour arrived, he walked
courageously towards the hall, where
the lady was awaiting his arrival with
the old warder of the castle. She in
Quoted to him his post, giving, how
ever, at the same time, full liberty
TO walk or 1T still-tc read-in word,
10 employ himself in any way he thought
proper, providing only that he should
not lose sight Of the corpse, and that he
should defend it from whoever might
the coffin
When the lady and the warder had
retired, the most profound silence reign
cd throughout the hall The knight be-
gan to scrutinize it in every part, and
at last exclaimed "What will not love
render man capable Off then, throw
ing himself into chair near the coffin,
he fixed his eyes upon the corpse. The
sight Of this object caused an involunta-
~ shudder TO pervade his whole frame,
Tor his brother suitor, who countorieited |
he dead man, played his part SO well,
md his pale and livid countenance re-
'embled so exactly that Of one in whom
ife had become extinct, that the most
iistrustful eye would have been deceiv-
ed. His head too, half raised, appcar- !
ed as though it woull advance towards
the rash man who stared so fixedly upon
him, and drag him with him to the tomb
which already gaped for all that death
had left him Of mortality. The knight
withdrew his gaze from the hideous OBJ
iect before him, snuffed the lights, and
began to read an ancient family chroni-
Gle; and in this occupation he became
80 busird in the relation Of siege of
some town in Italy, that he forgot the
dead man in the coffin; and sharing the
heroic sentiments of the brave knights,
whose deeds rivetted his attention, he be-
came, like the first knight, prepared to
push the adventure to its close.
The lady, who, with her lover and the
Did warder, was observing, from neigh
bouring apartment, what passed in the
hall, began to entertain some m'sgivings
the success of her stratagem,
when the hour of one struck loudly on
her ear. Instantly the knight was heard
10 approach the hall.
He struck tremendous blow upon
The door of the hall at the very moment
when the knight who was poring over
The chronicle was engaged, in his imag-
ination, in cutting his way through
breach by the side of his gallant ances-
tors. The noise made hun leap instantly
from lis chair as though the nd of him
who struck had caught him suddenly by
the hair. "Who goes there?" he eX-
No answer was returned; and
The silence which had followed since the
blow was only interrupted by the echo
Of his voice. The guardian knight seiz-
ed taper, and drew near the door with
a design of opening it; but, changing his
purpose, he stopped, listened attentiveIy,
and was about to repeat his question,
when second blow, louder than the
first, was heard. "Come in | tell you,
exclaimed the guardian knight, and then
stepped back few PAGES, in order that
he might keep his eye upon the corse
which remained tranquil and motionless,