Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-04-07

cunning NV VI 10 sHO wv ThhuSOhN" VI
thy own land
The slave Frustrated herself at the feet Of
her mistress /; then rising revcren.ly kissed
her hand and glided from the chamber;-
while the lovely EylIa, her virgin bosom tor
tured and bewildercd by a thousand new
and strange thoughts, yet all pleasing, reseat-
ed herself in the window and gazed vacant
ly upon a range Of gardens, villas, fountains,
towers and domes, all mingled in gorgeous
confusion, and lying like a magic scene be-
meath the radiance of the moon, which flood
ed all with a light so mellow that the whole
seemed TO be seen through a sea of transpa-
rent silver.
In the door of a lowly hut of reeds and
mats, in a remote quarter of the capital, sat
an aged man mending nets by the light OF
the moon the beams of which rested like
snow flakes on his white head. Suddenly a
shadow passed between him and his light,a nd
he looked up.
Welcome, Montezuma, my child. have
beguiled the hours waiting thy coming, by
putting a stitch, as well as my old eyes will
let me-, here, and there in the net. You are
PALE
Il have need to be pale, SIR said the
youth, casting himself upon IA settee beside
the door. He who carries the ruddy cheek
of a careless heart, at this time, loves not
his country, and has no manhood. We are
a nation of slaves, father-but light has broke
in upon us. The tyrant shall die and mans
blood shall no longer be counted watcr.'
Hush, boy said the old man, lifting his
shaking finger.
There has been blood spilled this day,
and were it not that the tyrant was the father
of the fair princess Eylla, | would Stay the
slayer with my own hand
Hist, SONNY child, STENCIL Speak
not such words Ere this thy words have
been caught up, and swift wings are bearing
them to the emperor's ears. What aile,h
thee =
Il have whispered rebellion continued
the young man, needless ofhis fathers words,
: in the willing ears of thirty thousand of my
fellow slaves
'Son, son-see, we are not alone he
wears the emperor's livery. Thou art lost
-lost-lost! Did l not bid thee keep 81
lcnce : And the parent flung himself dis
tractedly on the neck of his son.
The young man rose quickly as he saw a
stranger approach the howell, and placed his
hand upon his bosom. But without making
further demonstrations of preparation for a
hostile meeting, he proudly and calmly await.
ed him.
Is this the abode of Nclef, the net-ma-
ker 2 demanded the stranger, hauphtily ad.
dressing the old man.
1T is what would you with my father?
replied the young man.
Then thou art Montezuma, his son.
have an order to guide thee to the palace
Lead on. l am ready to dic-for my
blood will turn to fire and kindle "A flame
that the tyrant's blood can alone extinguish.
'Ha, this is languagc!'
'Plain enough for a courtier's cars
Farewell, father
Farewell, old man. he said feelinely a.
he laid the %fainting form of his parent on til,
settce he had himself just occupied. Nov
sir, lead on to the emperor
The moon rode high towards midnirh,
scarce touching with its nearly vertical beam,
the outer verge of the window in the apart.
mcnt of the princess, when the door opened
and the slave Ophiel softly entered and stol,
to the feet of her mistress.
We'll, Ophpel!'
lie is without
Who went for him =
sIcal.'
'Thy lover
The slave blushed and hung her head.
what said he when bidden?'
THAT he would obey the emperor's com
mands, and spoke some other words of fear
ful import
otis well. l would that he, as well a
the messenger, should think It's my father
commands. Admit him.
The princess arranged her robes in NOR,
graceful folds, and with an air of mingle,
majesty and condescension, prepared to re-
celve the young man, as the slave u%slere,
BIN into her presence. As he entered, hi
port was naughty, and his eye flashed roun,
defiance, as he seemed to seek the person o
the emperor. But the lovely form of tn
princess meeting, instead, his glance, hi
whole bearing change ; the eye lost its fir
and assumed a softer light /; the lip its curl
and the aspect and port of defiance was con
verted into one of devotion and gentIeness
and he kneeled reverently before her, wi,
his hands on his breast. The princess mark
ed the instant change, and a blush of pleasur
, increased her loveliness.
Thou art called Montezuma, the son {
Nelcf, the net-maker =
| Il am the low born sInve thou hast named
l lovely princess he answered with as niue
, of proud scorn as the presence of bis ROY;
mistress would permit him to assume. Til
, expression of his feeling did not escape he
notice.
t 'Methinks thou art the cause of a certai
! tumult in the streets to-dayH
Noble princess, inasmuch as YOU iudq
l me to have done wrong, | confess my erro
But neither l, nor those who died to protcc
my poor life, have done wrong to the tyrar
, Forgive me, LADY, had forgotten, lookin
= on the gentle face, thou was his daughter
D But If l offend, thou hast only to order me |
the block--and death from thy hand wer
9 better than life, with thy fathers foot upo
my neck
: You reever hasty Montezuma. Iwoul