The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-23

frowns."
II was night ere the briganiine drew near
10 land. That day vasco Nunez had made
many discoveries, which filed his heart with
Joy ; but il needed not new discoveries to pro-
duce this sensation in his BOSOM, now that,
he found himself in possession Of the desired
power, and in the path Of his desired con-
quests.
10 YOU" he said to Nicer Codro, as in
the mild breath Of that lovely evening they
sat together by the sea shore, and looked up
wards and around, beholding in sky and ocean
no aspect but those of beauty and repose---
Lo, you, Nicer Codro, if err not, that evil
star OF which thou hast spoken TO me so oft.
still hangs red and ominous within the rim
OF my good planet Is il not so 7"
Behold them," continued the adelantado
with playful humor, - the wisdom Of those
who would suffer such predictions as thine to
battle them in their labors, and prevent them
in the performance of their most noble works.
Had | put faith in thy predictions Nicer
Codro, had gone to my prayers rather than
TO my work, and, perchance, had suffered the
defeats and death which lay within thy pro-
phecy. Even now, what error can be more
plainly shown than this of thine. Looking
on that star, which seems innocent enough to
mine eyes, as surely it hath so far shown It.
self harmless to my fortunes, thou would even
now declare that am in imminent peril OF my
life; yet, here | am within the reach of all
my wishes, sound in health, the favored Of
Pedrarias, with four briganlines and three
hundred brave men at my bidding. Nay,
more---the hopes Of my heart, which had
been SO long bafiled and denied, now made
sure in the acceptance and the avowcd love of
Teresa Dayila"
$ 1t is in the calm that the storm has its
birth, my son." replied the astrologer with in
creasing gravity" death follows life like a
shadow, and he only can fall far who is up
lifted high. | rejoice that thou hast so far
triumphed over the fate which has lain in
waiting for thee. II is my prayer that it may
yet be bafiled, and that thou mayest pass from
triumph to triumph, and from JOY to joy, with
heart and hope growing younger at every
step which thou takest. But when thou think
est the fate baflicd which has pursued thee, it
may be delayed only. All day the tiger, that
ever-hungry beast, pursueth with hot haste the
affrghied traveller, till, as he reachest him, he
crouchest low, and, for the first time, stays
him in the pursuil-not that he relenteth--
not that his limbs have grown weary, or his
tooth no longer gnasheth for the feast Of
bloody flesh. No!-he pauseth but to crouch,
and he crouches but 10 spring. Even such is
the pursuit Of the hounds of fate when once
they are set upon the footsteps Of the victim
she hath chosen Be not too bold, then, to
think--for that thou no longer hearkenest 10
their hungry bark---lhat she hath relented of
her hate, that she hath called them in to the
leash, and hath altered her resolution. If
han, ~ h.,
thy hope as to forget thy caution thy mode
ration, thy humility. He who would be great
enduringly, must never forget that he is hui
man. To secure Immortality it is condi-
ton that we should also feel our state TO be
some time mortal. Oh, Vasco Nunez, my
son, think not that speak TO discourage thee.
Though warn thee, would not thou shouldst
ever despond If speak to thee of gloomy
things, il is because look on gloomy sights.
Thou hast grown doubtful of the language Of
those blessed signs of heaven, which rever-
ence, and woulds, hear me with scornlul
smile, and give little heed, were to tell thee
now that thy hour approached -that---ha !"
The adelantado would have spoken---he
would have said in the language of depreca-
ton, that he did not scorn the science which
the old man loved but the other suffered but
few words TO escape ere he interrupted him
with vehemence, the result of a sudden i'm
pulse, of which he did not himself seem to be
conscious:
Ha what is it that | see The clouds
rise---they part--a curtain is drawn aside---I
hear cries and clamors. Holy Mother. Bless
ed Jesu what may this mean? What terror
grows before me---what danger waits | see
it now, as before, when | stood among the
iron mountains. Thy bloody signs are again
before my sight Oh Vasco Nunez, my son,
my son thou art again threatened with tho
smile and the dagger. The axe swings in air
above thee---thy knees bend--thy neck is bare
to The stroke. Spare him---Father of Mer-
cies be nigh to save him. 1t is not too late.
Let the arm be stayed--let the cruel Judge re-
lent---bid the headsman 90 down from the al
tar-place Of death Jesu the clouds roll back;
the curtain fals--I am blind---I can see no
more. Dos, thou yet live, Vasco Nunez---do
! see thee, do feel thee yet, my son Ha!
1t may be that the danger has gone by. Thou
mayest yet be spared"
may, Nicer Codro, thou dreamest. am
yet beside thee"
"Ha! ha! But indeed, saw thee not
That dreadful sight---ihat sudden danger---
my soul was tossed in terror---my mind was
gone. But | see it no more. 1t was bloody
vision"
Vasco Nunez arose from his recumbent po-
sition upon the grass as his ear caught the
sudden and wild accents of the excited astro-
Logger The transition from the grave and tenn
pcra,e speech with which the old man had
begun, to the impetuous torrent Of full and
fenzied rhapsody with which he concluded,
absolutely stunned him for the instant He