Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-09-29

HAMILTON.
| The moon shonc with rcsplendcnt lus-
ire over the city Of Florence: the all
,iquc towers OF rough stone, and the
gli,cring marble palaces, were bu,hcd IN
It's soft and silvcry light, not a cloud
passed over the clear blue arch OF heav-
en-, not Il zephyr stirred the blossoms of
the clustering myrtlcs: all was still and
calm, so profoundly tranquil that it was
difficult even to Imagine grief and misery
in scene OF such gentle and surprising
loycliness. One solitary spectator gaz-
cd upon the beauties Of the most splcn-
did quarter OF Florence, thus revealed
hy the radiant moon-bcams, as he sat up
on broken column concealed in the
aecp shade ofthc dark and massive walls
OF IN uninhabiied building, which rose
lrowningly behind him. Schoolcd TO.
the silent endurance Of his suhern.s,
not sigh or murmer escaped his lips;
I but Il pang OF mortal agony wruug his
! heart, as he contemplated his native city,
and busy memory recalled the affections
which had been crowded into his short
but eventual life. The spot on which the
I weary form Of the stranger reposed had
sustained II sricvous alteration since he
had last bChcld it: the castle Of his an
ceStors was then the proudcst that the
city boasied: the strong walls had sus-
tanned siege Of fifteen days continu.
ahcc, ho'ding out against opposing fac
tioNs until foreign succours poured III 10
their fc!lct. Now they were disnan;lcd,
and open 10 the winds of heaven; the in
terror, bare and lonely wilderness,
where the bat nursed her dark brood in
'ho mouidering tapestry, and the owl flap
ped her heavy wing as she flew Shrek
inS through the open lattice, oncc shiu-
ing with the curious woof of foreign
looms. The costly furniture Of bar
barousyet magnificent period vas spread
throughout tho spacious apartments,
stately vessels Of tho precious metals
g!i'torcd upon marble slabs, and the
pompous display cvinccd the taste and
the wealth OF the owners. A few years
only had elapsed, but the hand OF power
had passed with devastating violence,
and all was ruin and decay.
Painful and melancholy as were the
feelings which sprang up in Agostino
Alviano's breast at the utter desolation
which surrounded him, these sensations
were happiness compared to the horrors
he had sustained when last his streaming
eyes were fixed upon his patcrnal inheri-
tance. 1t was in the broad blaze ofday:
the banners and cscu,cheons wrought
with armorial bearings, had been rudely
and freshly torn down from their lofty
abiding places; the mu!iied bell of the
cathedral to!!ed solemn requiem for
departing soul; the scaiiold in the neigh
| bouring square was hung with black;
and, sick, dizzy, rccling, exhausted,
with limbs attennated by the rack, scarce
ly supporting his omaciatcd body, the
once naughty and powerful Count D.
Alviano moved in the midst of his guards
10 the place Of execution. Asostino
was at this dreadful period only fourteen
years old; yet he had attained an age to
feel and comprehend the extent of his
misery. Aflliction for the loss his on
ly surviving parent, by so cruel catas-
trophe, hatred to the eXulting pcrsecu-
tors--,hc triumphant family Of della Mi
randola--and despair at the biishtcd for
tunes Of his once princcly house, filed
the young heart Of Agostino with unut.
torrab!o anguish. His only sister, a
child who had scarcely attained her scy.
entecnth year, was turn from his arms TO
be immnrcd in q convent; and ho him
self, exi!cd by the iniquitous decree OF
the Guelph party, condemned to life
OF uncertain wandering, TO indisen
and to obscurity. Nainly Agostino
prayed that he might not be scnaratcd
from his beloved play-iellow, the gentle
ELala. The tyronts were incyoroblc
Snntched from each others embrace. the
fair child was consigned to stern look.
ing monk; and the unfortunate heir O,
the murdered D'Alviano, thrust out OF
the gates Of the city, saw wide and
dreary world before him, and hurried
forward on his path with the biitcrest
anticI?ations Of future evil. The exile
directed his course to Lucca. whore be
was received into the bosom of Glib
ellino family; and, as the page of re-
nowned knight, he commenced his ca
rccr i: arms. Gifted with courare ne
desperate as his fortune, Agostino soon
won his golden spurs; but lie had at
tached himselfto an unfortunate cause
every effort to raise the fallen hopes OF
those who clung to the imperial interests
ia'lcdi the young cavalier acquired hon
our IN his campaigns, yet remained poor
and powcrless.
len years of disappointment passed
away; ana Agostno anxious 10 behold
his only relative, the fair sister ,vbon, ho