The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-03-20
uTIsCELG Al

RIOS ARlO.
A TALE nv NAroLLo" BuoNAPARfL.
Tgaasinied from the French


circumstances, when led 10 an eAeieise o' us
inventive powers -
gnonaparte. during the first year that he
was emperor was accustomed TO pass his eve
pngs in the society OF his wite and her ladies OF
honnr. here he amused himself by recltng dit
fcrenI stories the immediate product OF his own
Imagination aud wis never 50 Pleased, as
when he could alarn or agitntc those around
him by his recital IheoxpresSion of his coun-
teranee was most striking, and every passion
was so faithfully depicted on II, thai he who
had once heard him could never forget II. The
present tale WAS one of his fayorite production
Madame de Bemuzi. who heard him relate IT,
committed II to paper the same evening, pre-
seryng as nsar as possible, the same sent.
ruents and the same expressions.
at will be difficult. perhaps, TO make the
world believe, thai he AT whose name surround
ing nations uembled aud whose time ambition
claimed tue greatest portion of, should dedicate
any part OF II to the occupation OF novelist :;
1.-The only answer that can be given 10 the scep-
DC IS that many who are StIll living, could fully
attest TO the tact"
b. this true or fabulous, the tale is one which,
il may believed, Il person Of Napoleon cast OF
mud would tell upon an occasion such as rs
here alluded to. II has ITS foundation III that
sort Of superstition by which alone he iniec
red II is IN It's progress wrought up with couSi.
derabe power 10 affect the auditors and IT'S
termmation is Of that abrupt and nariiicial
kind, which might be expected from an lmpru-
vlsator who had fulfilled his design of asilatlng
his hearers, aud. not caring for any thing fur
ther, came TO his conclusion without ceremony
or regard 10 consistency. novel writer,
would N all probability have taken especial
means to render the catastrophe more decided
4.
instance II is ON the mere will OF the principal
motor. Bui TO the text -
a. Al the peli5d I've fmcy Buonhparie said,
70 winch tins tale relates, little else was spoken
of Rome, but the extraordinary talents OF
famous sorceress--Eyerv one was anxious TO
hear her predictions, and either from curiosity
or weakness all classes rcsorted TO her for her
diyinations.
"FabricIo, a young Italian noblomln, felt
desire 10 consult this prophecies, aud wished
that Rosario, his most intimate friend, should
accompany him the latter, rather Of weak
md tlmid character, at first refused moi Choos-
ing to try thu experiment he feared to see this
prophecies, test he should place any faith in her
divinatious, aud IL was not without considerable
difficulty. that this iudehnabe feeling was over
come, OF that tabricio could persuade him 10
accompany him. The day at length was fixed
ON dhu tntN Utpdlltu 1ldNIu. arrived AZ lnt
house Of the sorcess, who lived in a certain
street at Rome, The door opened Of itself, and
after passing through many apartments. with
out meeting any object, they at length found
themselves in gallery, al the end ofw hich hung
large curtain. with the following inscription
written on II -
~ u you wtyh 10 tpow you, fate, pray, BE-
tore goa pass tiis cWiain.'
a4ae pTh stgtf. tod k. ~
sell on his knees, unconscious of what he did
aud already seemed 10 feel himself. under the In
Huance of some mysterious power Alter some
moments of consideration, the tpn friends drew
aside the curtain, unsheRthed then swords, aud
pcuetAtcd Into the sanctuary. Here appeared
. beautiful young woman nabited IN black
her figure was remarkable, and the extreme
penetration of her counterauce forbid the eve
OF curiosity TO 6X itself on her she addressed
some questions to the two friends but was parti-
cularly occupied with Rosario she spoke t.
Fabricio, out not with the same interest In the
mean time the Inter begged his friend TO leave
him. and he was Immediately alone with her
Ana short ceHrersatlou, he returned 10 Rosa
rio, aud tonnd him sunk IN deep meditation
H. laughed a, him and begged him to be agsar
ed, thai he had heatd nothing terrible; that th,
sorceresS had Predicted that he should be mar
been decided ON, between the families OF Fabri
clio aud Rosario) aud though some little acci
dent ght retard It, still II must take place
Rosario, rs though urged on by some invlsibi,
power, went into the apartment OF the ,orceress
Eebrclo, during the time, walked backwards
ana forwards IN The gallery, until 90 d sudden
he heard dreadful cry, and distinguished thes,
words--" Murder, sacrilege, blood. AID RIDDEN
dealh he Immediately returned 10 his friend
and found him on his kuees, nj the foot Of iii,
sPonlBn who shook over his head a blood,
wand-he ran towards hIm--he hurried him a
way but in vain questioned him coucernin.
che scene Rosario, pale, and almost motion
less, was incapable of answering him. They a
length reached home, and after some hours
unhroken eIlence, he told his friend THAI the sor
sepess had Predicted 10 him, "a lmmeasurabl,
love, sacrilege, murder and violent death" ia
brcio was horror struck; bait not daring I,
seek any further lest he should distress hi
FREUD more, he determined TO see the prophet
essagain, and to know why she had made th
dreadful prediction he went 10 her house bu
1t was deserted-all had disappeared, and not {
trace of her remained.
" Some weeks had passed away, and the mar
riage oil Fabriclo was preparing. Rosario seem
ed Jaore calm, and the following day was fixed
on for its celebration when the Marq,is ofOsi
nj the father OF Rosario, fell from his horse. and
though he was not severely wounded, became
so i'll Las to obiige the parties 10 retard the cere
mony. Rosario, his sister the beautiful Rosaura
and Fabricio, were all lamcnting this unfortu
pate event, when the latter, suddenly calling
what had passsd Ito his recollection, exclaimed
a The prediction of the sorceress ie accomplish
ed" Rosario on hearing these words, was eY
ceedingly agitated, and from that day. chiefly
confined himselfto his own apartment; he a
voidcd all society, save that of one man, a re
spectacle monk: this man, whom he had chosen
was allowed to visit him atall times, and long
conferences passed between them, which nc
one could interpret the meaning OF.
Fabricio, occupied with his love, had no
seen Rosario, who seemed to have forgotten all
the world, aad lived in utter ,seclusion. The