Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-06-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Forget Me NotJ
THE MAGECIAN'S VISITER.
BY HENRY NEELE, ESQ.

Ii was AT the close of an autumnal day,
and the shades of evening were begin
nlng to gather over the city of Florence.
when low quick rap was heard at the
door OF Cornelius Agrippa, and shortly
afterwards stranger was introduced in
to the apartment in which the philoso-
pher was sitting at his studies.
The stranger, although finely formed
and of courteous demeanour, had a GER
tain indefinable air ofmystery about him,
which excited awe, if, indeed it had not
repellent effect. His years it was diff
tlcult to guess, for the marks of youth
and age were blended in his features in n
most extraordinary manner. There was
not furrow in his cheek, or wrinkle
on his brow, and his large black eve
beamed with all the briiancy and vivaci-
ty OF youth; but his stately figure was
bent, apparently beneath the weight of
years; his hair, although thick and clus-
lserering, was gray and his voice was
feeble and tremulous, yet its tones were
OF the most ravishing and soul-searcbinp
melody. His costume was that of q
Florentine gentleman but he held n
staff like that ola palmer in his hand, and
a sIlken sash, inscribed with Oriental
characters, was bound around his waist.
His face was deadly pale, but every fea-
ture was singularly beautiful, and its ex-
preston was that of profound wisdom
mingled with poignant sorrow.
Pardon me, learned sir" said he. adj
dressing the philosopher, Z" but your fame
has travelled into all lands, and has reach
ed all ears, and | could not leave the fair
city OF Florence without seeking an inter-
view with one who is its greatest boast
and ornament"
You aTaright welcome, sir, "returned
Agrippa !" but | fear that your trouble
and curle ~ will be but i'll repaid. |
am sim o-,e,'vho, instead of devoting
my days as do wise, to the ACQUIRE
ment of wealS ,or honor, have passed
long years in pal".ul and Improbable stu
dy, In endeavouring to unraveI the secrets
of nature, and initiating myself in the
mystery of the ocult sciences"
lakest thou OF long years !" echoed
the stranger, and a melancholy smile
played over his features ;" thou hast
scarcely seen fourscore since thou leti'st
tiny cradle, and for whomlhe quiet grave
is now waiting, eager to clasp thee in her
shelterlng arms Twas among the tombs
TO day; the still and solemn tombs.
saw them smiling in the last beams ofthe
setting sun. When was boy, used
to- wish to be like that sun, her career
was SO long, so bright, so glorious. But
tonight thought " it is better to slumber
among those tombs than to be like him. y
10 night he sunk behind the hills, appar-
emily to repose, but to morrow he must
renew his course, and run the same dull
and unweried, but toilsome and unouiet
race. There is no grave for him, and the
night and morning dews are the tears that
he sheds over bis tyrannous destiny
| Agrlppa was deep observer and adj
mlrer OF external nature and of all her
phenomena, and had often gazed upon
the scene which the stranger described
but the feelings and ideas it awakened If
the mind of the latter were so different
from any thing he had himself experien-
ced, that he could not help, for season
gazing upon him in speechIess wonder
Ills guest, however, speedily resumed
the discourse.
But L trouble you ito my purpose in
making you this visit. have heard strange
tales OF wondrous mirror, which Won,
potent art has enabled you to construct
IN which whosoever look may see the
distant and the dead, on whom he is de-
sIrlous again to fix his gaze. My eyes
see nothing in this outward visible world
which can be pleasing to their sight,
The grave has closed over all | loved
lime has carried down its stream every
thlng that once contributed to my enioy-
ment. The world is a vale of tears. bn,
among all the tears which water that sad
valley, not one is shed for me-the foun-
tam in my own heart, too, is dried up.-
l would once again look upon the face
which | loved. ] would see thar eve
more bright, and that step more stately
than the antelope's; that brow, the broad
smooth page on which God bad inscribed
his iaIrest characters. would gaze on
all loved, and all lost. Such a gaze
would be dearer to my heart than all
that the world has TO offer me-except
the grave, except the grave
The passionate pleading of the stran-
ger had such an effect upon Agrippa