Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-02-19


MORE LAST WoRDs-Buckingham the itinerant
leaer having twice notified his closing lecture is going
to give another dose still He must have picked up
something handsome in these hard times.
Fine Suhject for n Melodrame.
In the commencement, of the seventeenth century,
young noble, of whom the chronicle gives only the
bapusmal name, Leonardo, returned to his country
from Paris, whittier he had accompanied the Venetian
ambassador. The chronicle adds, that he of
most ancient and powerful family. Gifted with gener-
Gus soul adorned with polished manners, surrounded
BY powerful friends, eloquent, brave and humane, he
soon became the object OF love the people, Of envy
the aged arisocras and of imitation to the youthful no.
bles, who nonored him as their chief
Venice had honorable Office, no brilliant dignity
which Leonardo, yet thirty years of age might
aspire He led gay life, however amidst ambitious
projects and of state and had in accordance with
the custom OF the day, his casnoa temple consecrated
10 mystery and pleasure
One day his most intimate friend enueared him to
grant him the use OF this Tor few hours, order that
he might conduct thher secretly young lady, with
whom he wished for conversation, and of whom
he drew, with all the eoenence of love, a en-
chanting picture Leonardo consented striving in vain
TO learn the and condition of the lady, Urged by
curiosity, he resolved at last conceal himself in one
OF the rooms through which the unknown fair must
pass, and in which, when she laid down her zendado
mantle Of thin silk he could see her, unseen and
lire without being observed His plan was successful
The lovers entered this towards idnight-the
youth murmuring few words in the ear of his mis-
tress took from her. after slight resistance the close
wrapping zendado. More perfect beauty had
met the eyes of Leonardo mixed expression of can
dor virtue and sweetness the great attraction of
this almost divine face Her hair fair, her eyes
vivid blue Such the force of the impression that
Leonardo. TO disspate 1t, obliged W keep in mind
who was her comp anton, and for what purpose they
were there then, this simple and pure expression was
to him only of nature hypocrtical mask and
he conceived towards this beautiful creature only re-
pucnance and disgust. These feelings, united with as
constituent her marvellous beauty, stamped her fea.
lures ndebly on his memory. uF8
Many months passed away, and Leonardo. in the vi
gor OF his age beautiful in person. conspicuous for his
endowments and honors, desired as a sonn law by
the most ilasrious of the aristocracy.
He yielded TO the representations of aged friend
who proposed his marriage with the only daughter and
heiress oil powerful senator Leonardo obtained the
consent Of her father. and permission to present his
homage to the beautiful Elsa-that is lre was allowed
pass beReath her balconies three times in the
course Of each day. She frequently showed herself
there but her form and features ALWAYS totally
concealed by an invdious veil Leonardo was in des-
pair at this extraordinary reserve, which seemed to
him could proceed only from dislike and contempt but
he was told that vow to the Virgin forbade the maiden
to uncover her face any but her father. II is
easy to imagine with what enchan,inent this mystery
nddecacy enveoped Elisa In the eyes other admirer
We know how powerful is the influence Of the ina
ton in love and how feeds i,selfon the indefinite aud
indeterminate. AT length the day Of the nuptias ar
rived the friends and relations of both families assem-
beh at setting sun in the house "f the aged
Leonardo after the Of his country received the
guests at the door Of the palace He the last en-
the grand saloon. and his emotion was for a time
suspended by the imposing spectacle before him. The
mobiles occupied seats raised above each ether around
the hall in the Of an anuhiiheaire; at the end
of priest clad in pontIfcsl robes kneeng be.
fore magnificent altar Warlike trophies, arms and
weapons of every variety. hung from the walls black
ened oy age and the splendor Ct the lights was not
sufficient TO dssipate the gloom which reigned in the
vast circle. When Leonardo Feared the bridesman
threw open the doors of the interior apartments which
Ill. LrsrA ,Ioz IL, r.
ed the moment of the ceremony. All eyes were di.
recied towards them and these Of the bridegroom with
inezpressble impotence. After a moment Of hes,a.
ton the bride advanced. The cry which burst from
the lips of Of Leonardo lost amidst the shouts of ad
miration and enthusiasm which raised all sides
al her extraordinary beauty but to the eyes of the
miserable Leonardo this pure and lovely maiden, who
advanced halfveiled in white. symbol Of a spotless
life, other than the mistress of his friend He
her again with that eternal mask Of ingenious in.
nocence which had already much provoked his dis.
gust; thick cloud obscured his sight-terrble, but
short was this moment OF weakness! lie regained
power enough to IL he would with public shame
her, who had dared be willing bring him infar,y as
dower but the sight of her aged father the thought Of
his desperation pity for the fair who stood be-
fore him. the generosity OF his SOUL oil determined him
to incur rather the reproach of inconsistency and ca.
price in the eyes Of his fellow citizens and when tae
maiseu having received the paterna benedciiop, ad-
vanced towards him, he went backwards two PAGES,
and commanding silence by gesture exclaimed I" She
never be my wife Never shall be her husbandp'
Elisa raised 10 him for a moment her be wdered gaze
tell mooness his feet and carried 10 her own
apartments Excess Of aston shincnt had held the as.
scmbly mute but the fanting Of Elisa was the signal
for nese and confusion The seats were vacated In an
nssn-all rushed into the middle Of the hail. demand
ing explana,ionthe aged senator alone remained in his
place He made a violent movement when he heard
the unexpected words of Leonardo and afterwards fol-
cwed his daughter with his eyes she borne from
the saloon. II might have been almost imagined that
this tranquility was disturbed but for his fixed
look, aRd the trembling Of his convulsed lips All at
once putting aside the crowd, he advanced close to
Leonardo. and graspng his with force-"Hast thou
then resolved said he, TO disgrace me- and all be-
longing hurl contempt all that the republic
holds mos, worthy Speak Is this madness to have
end T.
"Neverl" replied the other. with firm voice. AT
this word cries of vengeance resouudcd through the
hall. The friends and relations OF Leonardo were furi
ously assaulted by those Of Elsa-insu defiance the
cang Of s'eel. the cries OF women and priests who
sought safety in flight, drowned the few concatory
voices which still spoke Of peace; when the aged sen
ator, bridlng his anger, employed all the force of
his eloquence and authority to prevent effussn Of
blood-whei he had succeeded Go" said he. to Lee
onardo. IL renouncc vengeance Il commit TO Him
who Furnishes the injuries offered to grey hairs."
lew DAYS after THE, Leonardo persisted by the hand
of assassin lie found pierced by twenty strokes
Of dagger.
THr e9d HrcHLssDEns.-T gallant regiment,