Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-04-06

To whom the battle yell is breath,
10 look upon a wonians DEATH!
Cleopatra Non. Mag.
Il was already night-though the sum-
mi,s of the distant Apprentices yet glowed
with crimson rays, which, gradually passing
to the higher peaks, at length were lost
in the surrounding gloom. The moon was
rising behind Vesuvius. and poured at in
tervals. n partial light on tho waters OF the
Bav; while the soft breeze, fresh from It's
wanderlngs, amid the foliage of the orange
grove and tho aloe, mingled its murIhurlng
with the evening song of the Iaborer, as
he wendell his way homeward, or the hymn
of the fisherman on the seashore, IN graft
tude TO his patron saint for night 50 pro
pitious to his favoriie occupation.
A large and sumptuously decorated apart
ment in Castel Novo, the royal abode at
Naples, contained two inmates at the hour
we mention. Through the open easements
that overlooked the sea streamed the moons
rays. but they were half overpowered by
the brillancc of a silver lamp that stood
on table in the centre Of the room. The
opartmeni gave evidence in the usefulness
Of its ornaments, of female occupation q
drapery of damask broldered with silver
flowers and adorned with various devices,
hunr around the walls /; and lutte covered
with delicate net of gold and mother of
pearl, was fastened by green ribbon to
wrlting.,able Of polished wood, rich with
maruuetrv, on winch were carelcss'y thrown
books richly bound and casped with gold,
and parchment covered with muscal notes.
All was quiet, save the Incessant surging
of the waves against the old walls, or now
and then murmur of distant voices, or a
burst of laughter from the lower chambers,
where soldiers and pages were carousing
over their evening repast.
The chamber, as we observed was ten
anted by two females. bnt of very different
appearance. One of them in age approach
ed the verge of human life; but, though
deep lines in her speaking countenance be
tOkened the years with their won,ed burden
Of sorrow that had passed over her, there
was nothing in her form, yet stately.
though worn to almost super-human lean.
ness by the workings of the restless spirit
within-or in her eyes, dark, wild, and
often terrible in their strange lustre-to
mark the decripilude that generally accom-
panies extreme old age. 1t seemed as II
Time, which had blighted the beauty of
early years, had only strengthened and
hardened the fabric he strove to destroy.
The firmness o: spirit, more than mascu.
line in its courage, had safficed to resist
the nroads of the enemy, thus compelled
to exhaust his efforts upon the outworks OF
the APPARENTLY impregnable citadel. So we
have seen some aged oak, with foliage
long ago scattered by the wild winds OF
autumn. or buried in the SHOWS of winter,
still defylnt in its pride the power OF the
blust, that swept harmlessy over its with
cred head, 10 bow down many a stately
scion of the forest! Those striking fea-
lures were now oversprcad with shade OF
sadness; it might be from too vivid recol
lection of recent scenes; it might be from
an underlined presenllment of what the
future had in store.
Philippa, the Catanese--for it was no
other--reclined on couch the back of
which, shaped like a winged dragon OF
pold, supported the arm on which her head
was dropped. Her robe was of black vel
vet, with large sleeves; the flowing train;
that were the fashion OF the day, well be
came the majestic height of her person,
The other female young and beautiful
formed the most perfect contrast imag'n'
able to her companion. Her figure wa
slight and fragile, with that peculiar pill
ancy which marks youth and dellcacy o
nature, the more interesting from the as
pect of depend claiming az
from others, as conscious of weakness u
itself She wore robe of blue, bordere
with cloth of silver, and vesture Of velvet
her rich abundance of dark curls, partial
confined by ribbon, fell over neck
alabaster, If her features displayed no
the dignity of her companion, a conhdln
genlleness- tender sweetness. were Wis
ible in their expresson-a mldness beau
,iful as that which shines in the most char
ming pictures of Leonardo of ViBci, wher
maiden modesty renders more exquisite tn
por,rature Of feeling or of thought.
She was kneeling beside her aged rela
tive: one arm careessly rested ON he
shoulder, the other polne ed TO an open BRO
tina, Law on Phiippa's lap. Her accen
were those of remonstrance and entreaty
she was imporing the CantaNese to fl
! from dangers vaguely limited at in the wa
ming before them, which the kindness Of
friendly noble had sent.
Since the mysterious murder of Joanna
husband-Andrew Of Hungary-at Ayers
and the failure of government agents
detect the perpetrators, of the deed su
picon had been ar'fnlly excited again
those more immediately about the pers'
of the Queen. Information of the peril
which she stood, aud he probability tn
she would herself be impeached ere LOT
as the author OF the crime, had been CO
veyed to Phlppa; but she was too hIg
minded to shrink from danger.
! 1T may not be!' said she, at length; n
fight would but furnish proofto them; n
would |, to save my poor residue OF lille,