Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-08-22

! WIN 'hc most ravi-hing delight alternately
/ he stopped 10 gaze upon the miniature woi /,
around him, then Is ilb - lid amazcment On
his fax Conduciress, and could hardly believe
such u ;tanSccndant vision real al length hs
I paused before Venus of Leonar do, velet
in light pax drapery, so transparent ,hs, il
| served only 10 throw glowing !ustie owe.
/ The features OF tho goddess, ich as tho hues
/ al lilo. Behind lay stre,t bed far away The
/ groves OF Elyseum, from the PENCIL Of Raph
| aei, IN which the lovely uymphs lay recliu.
! ing IN the shade ycied only with the sol
/ blush 81 innocence, while Others spor,cd on
/ The banks of silver lake, aud seemed Ia
/ glsieo from suhmersion i'm the cooling
waters, as the crystal drops stood like bead.
on their rosy IorIns, or like reaiiy gems rol
led from their fair bodies 10 the Garth Bel
monte began To suspect that il was al en-
chdntment, aud in the midst OF his amaze
meni, aud ecstacv, once he cssayed TO speak;
lie TUNED TO look npun the isir being ~ lao
held his hand in heg delicate grasp, aud led
him Through these ravishing scenes, when
the wi,Chlng smile al her counienancc. J!en
died with the soft and lusrous EXPRESSION Of
her large, dark eyes, seemed 10 siifie every
effort, and withou; breathing a whisper, be
passively followed On. Soon they passcd
through long train OF attendants, and came
To aspaCIous aIchway, closed with folding
, doors. They had no sooner arrived ut this
spot, than Inc doors flew opep, and discover.
cd such blaze Of light as caused BeImonte
10 start back with alright, which circum
stance produced a loud hugh from his COM
raniun, accompanied with more frightened
grasp Of the hand.
" hen The first shock Of surprise had sub
sided, he again permitted himself TO he led
forward ,anh as lac passsd the splendid portals,
he saw Dim'eiI and his companion reflected
IN lar 10 1t
apartment, ard was nsionished 10 tir d him
self clad in the richest robes o The FiorenIine
nobility. How this change had been eflec,
ted, he knew not, but ere he had time TO re-
cover from this new surprise, he was led
forward and introduced 10 the ie males Of the
Medici, the PHI, the Cuponi, aud The Pazzi,
as the most distinguished CUES; Of the Siroz,
n, 10 oil OF whom he addressed himself with
becoming courtesy, and even wondered at
his own sell possession and ease in scene so
entirely new. He found himself lie lion of
the palace; and oil the ladies were eager 10
receive his attentions, and hung " ijh rapture
on his discourse, whilst all tie gentlemen
seemed auXIous 10 obtain his opinions on
matters OF stale.
Finally Lorenzo de Medici led him through
a long train Of nobility, up to the farther end
Of rhe chamber, aud seated him on a temroe
rary throne, saying
SIgnorI Belmonte, be chief Of this great
Republic; govern with wisdom and justice
you have been chosen by The nobility To re-
present The slate, and all the ,eoIle have
ratified tie choice in order 10 Strengthen
your administration, it is necessary lhai-a
bond be formed hcIw eeu the nobility ard The
Citizens, and to effect this, | would suggest
! Il matrimonial alliance with the S,IoZzi, as
the most agreeable ; she who conducted YOU
before this august assembly, is alone worthy
/ Of y0ur hand We saii your answer. ere
we Conduct you before the great council Of
The state the SignoriaD has already met to
receive you wiIh al! those h1nors due 10 the
chief magistrate Of lie tloran.ne republic"
" hen this salutaIion had ended, Belm m
te's surprise had Increased 20 the last degree
OF wonder and establishment, He cast has
~ glance over that brilliant assembly, goth
cred together in the most splendid apartment
Of the StroZZi palace to do him honor. aud
fell that Fortune, though tardy in admins
icr!ng Justice, had at length paid him back
her long arrears with more than interest
. Still he dis!tusled his powers to serve The
Stale as e!icc;uaIly he could wish, ard rose
from his seat With that mcdeSiy SO peculiar
/ 20 conscious virtue and integrity, Is hen sud
denly drawn from retirement aud thrust be-
fore an admiring world In express his graf
ituae for this distinguished mark of spr.o.
/
;ence, hc discovered lie crowd simultaneous,
/ ~ 10 pant i'll front OF his seat, and an omen
/ SPACE TO extend iD direct line dow u 60 the
/ bIaZen doOfs, which Weis thrown open ; u
man then hastily advanced up This avenue
= gOd WIS within ten feet Of The chair of stale
wiIc0 BelmonIe recognized the intruder a
. Francisco. The sight Of his old associate,
50 unlocked for, called up for moment a
( thousand reCoiccIions OF his former lie. aHd
J produced confusion ia his manners and az.
/ leGraDCe which il was impossible 10 conceal.
! lie TUNED first ON one SIDE then on the 9th.
cr, IN h;s seat, AID seemed utterly al loss
/ 80 proceed. Il lcu2 III lie resolved TO a.. cal
TO the nobility, and command them 10 re
( speCt his elevation, which he owed 90 tlcii
/ generosity, 50 idF as 10 id him Of the pres.
/ ence OF the impeIiincn, intruder
/ III Is CuT sovereign will and Pleasure, :
| said DeImDnte, chat The commencement OF
our administration bc distinguished by a
: sirict regard 10 the welfare Of the state; that
( wc s"crge rot from the most rigid examples
{ Of justice, therefore we Danish all pauuer
and ldlers from the Tuscan territory Scarce.
J iy had he uttered these wcras, when he felt
strange and chilling sensation creeping o.
ser his VIII lie frame, aCcompJ niaG viii
something like an electric shock in ihetigh
foot. The lights seemed gradually 10 fade
before his eyes; the assembly became mute
he attempted 10 go on, but only vented hi:
onkuish in hollow gToa1, and aw oke on
the cold steps beneath the marble lion, 4
: find that the day had already dswned, ant
That Francisco vas dragging bin by the
heel.
,,I,o a.. 4 T. ..;,i I,c