The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-02-19

worst toaTs being visionary.
The night came and a. the hour APP
pfoachtd when Vlysnz,o imagined he
might expec,the signs, he stood faxed and
silent as statue. He feared 10 breathe,
ALMOST, lest he might lose any sound
which would warn him on their coming.
While thus listening, with every faculty
OF mind and body strained to an agony
Of attention, it occurred to him he should
he more sensible of the motion, probably,
if he stretched himself along the iron
floor. He accordingly laid himself softly
down, and had not been long in that po-
sition-yes-he was certain of 1.-THE
floor moved under him He sprang up,
and in voice sufiocated nearly with e.
motion, called aloud. He paused-the
motion ceased-he felt no stream of air
all was hushed-no voice answered TO
his-he burst into tears; and as he sunk
to the ground, in renewed anguish, ex-
clalmed,-"Oh, my God my God you
alone have power to save me now, or
strengthen me for the trial you permit ~
Another morning dawned upon the
wretched captive, and the fatal index of
his doom met his eyes. Two windows!--
and t,0o days-and all would be over =
Fresh food-fresh water The myste-
rious visit had been paid, though he had
implored it in vain. But how awfulIy
was his prayer answered in what he now
saw The roof of the dungeon was with
in foot of his head The two ends
were so near, that in six PAGES he trod
the space between them. Vivenzio
shuddered as he gazed, and as his steps
traversed the narrowed area. But his
feelings no longer vented themselves in
frantic wailngs. With folded arms, and
clenched tee,h--wth eyes that were
bloodshot from much watching, and fixed
with vacant glare upon the ground
with a hard quick breathing, and hur-
ried walk, he strobe backwards and for
wards in silent musing for several hours.
What mind shall conceive, what tongue
utter, or what pen describe, the dark and
terrible character Of his thoughts Like
the fate that moulded them, they had no
similtude in the wide range Of this
worlds agony for man. Suddenly he
stopped, and his eyes were riveted upon
tha. part of the wall which was over his
bed of ofstraw.-Words are einscrbed there!
A human language, traced by a human
hand Ho rushed towards them but
his blood freezes as he roads,
81, LudOvicO Sforza, tempted by the
gold of the Prince of Tolf, spent three
years in contiiving ard executing this nc
cursed triumph of my art. When it was
completed, the perfidious Tolf, more
devil than man, who conducted me hither
one morning, to be witness, as he said,
of its perfection, doomed me to be the
first victim of my own pernicious skill !;
lest, as he declared, l should divulgc the
secret. or repeat the effort Of my ingenui-
~. May God pardon him, as hopo he
will me, that ministered to his unhallow-
cd purpose Miserable wretch, whoe'er
thou art, that readest these lines, fall OH
thy knees, and invoke. as have done.
His sustaining mercy, who alone can
nerve thee to meet the vengeance of
Tolfi, armed with his tremendous engine
which in few hours, must crush you, as
it will the needy wretch who made it J"
The deep groan burst from Vivenzio.
He stood, like one transfixod, with dilat-
ed eyes. expanded nostrils, and quivering
lips, gazing at this fatal inscription. II
was rs ifa voice from the sepulchre had
sounded in his ears. "Perhaps!" Hope
forsook him. There vas his sentence
recorded in those dismal words. The
future stood unveiled before him, ghastly
and appalling. His brain already feels
the descending horror-his bones seem
to crack and crumblc in the mighty
grasp of the iron walls Unknowng
what it is he does, he fumbles IL. his gar
ment for some weapon of sell elfdestructon.
He clenches his throat in his convulsive
grrpe, as though he would strangls him
self at once. He stares upon the walls
and his warning spiri. demands, "Will
they not anticipate their Office if dash
my head against them I" An hystcrical
laugh chokes him as he exclaims. "Why
shouldI! He was but man who died
FIRST in their fierce embrace and / should
be less than man not to do SO much"
The evening sun was descending, and
Vivenzio beheld the golden beams stream
ing through one ofthe windows. What
thrill Joy shot through his soul at the
sight! 1t was precious link, that united
him, for the moment, with :he world be-
yond. There was ecstacy in the thought.
AS he gazed, long and earnestly, it SEEM
ed as il the windows had lowered suffic-
iently for him to reach them. With one
bound he was beneath them--wth one
wild spring he clung to the bars. Wheth-
or it was so contrived, purposely to mad
den with delight the wretch who looked,
he knew not but, at the extremity Of a
long vista, cut through the solid rocks,
tho ocaan Sha aku the aaftinn sun oliya