The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-08-05
Miscellaneous.
APELLES.
RoMANCEoF GREEK HISTORY.

dvb, can be the cause of lhis?" soliloqu sed the
.i,,., Apeles, as he sat alone one morning before
=. .,.e on which appeared the half finished SEM
n,o,e Or A beautiful female countenance. "What in
,,n,Io's name can be the cause Of this ? Hath my
tsh hand utterly lost its cunning, that cannot COM
DIss this portrait? A full hour have | now been
Is,e and vet my work stands precisely where it did
Yesterday. Nothing nothing can do but cit like
Di]s dreamer and gaze on these lovely eyes! Cam
,o,,Oc has been most kind most patient with me,
housh she might well have complained Of my delay,
0Ne having sal here thrice day for so long time.
Oh had but left those eyes those glowing smiling
sves-O the last moment must dash them on, yet.
There is no other way to break the strange charm
bey haze cast upon me. Yes! they must he effaced'
SOspakmg, the painter took his brush, dipt into his
darkest uOrs, and raised his hand 10 effect his medi-
tailed pupsse. For a minute he gazod on the basalisl,
like OrG OoSng upon him from the canvass, and
then, With Ae exclamation, eft would be sacriIege''
thew die brush aside, and began hastily to pace the
&Nofhs painting room,
fora time he walked with his arms folded and his
eyes cast on the ground. "Can il be possible, ''con
lmed he, "thal my heart has been mad as to
attach itself the object Of my sovereign's-of the
generous Aexander's love! No, no, surely not,
surely not Bes ides, have not sat face to face with
The ms este Oympas-nay, have not figured forth
Inducements orVcnus herself, and in such man
NWlhh men have knel before the portraiture, and
confessed the visible presence of the immortal queen
dOye-hvc not done this, and felt no harm
@RY head COOL my hand steady, and my heart
Of aH' md can mere ,VOman-a girl-have
alaatme, whom divinity and queen have failed
DMOve, No, no, it is impossible! it is impossible!
Cahnde 10 my master alone would have prevented
H. Let me eEdear0r, at once, them TO throw of this
nApNcObe fancy or rather phrenzy, and proceed
Hhh my laSk.' With these words he resumed his
seal before his enseI, still n,tering, with tone of
dye'mned conviction, the words. at is impossibleI
@@e smiling, charming eyes again met his gaze,
ag@@ank back in his char, still mutterng, sit is
impossible" hut in fainter and fainter tone at each
Successive repetition.
"HIa is impossible, Apelles?" said a remarkably
wi voice at his ear. The painter started from his
''eVee and behed the owner Of the enchanting orbs
S'adng behind him. "Campasper' said the con-
'Nea arlsli "l-l was--" "You wore idlng,
HpeIIes, you would say, you spoke the TRUTH" re-
EHd The beautiful visitor; "ook at the canvas; not
enc touch added since was here, yesterday! Why
!OO O'' mdoIent of painters, what have you to say
@!'rrseIr'" al deserve your sovcrcst dispeas-
We Ca"paspe,' said the painter, looking sadly on
ground "Nay, Apees, mean not to chide or
angry with you" returned the lady, approaching
"'"' and laying her hand on his arm; 'truth TO say,
'p'es' care not although the portrait were never
'"'"u' Never were these poor features put on can
'~ OtOe' and, somehow or other, I love to sit SO
w 'O'' run away from every thing to come here"
NV A'dc@' look which The artist turned upon the
r''cF ingenious countenance at these Words,
"'u OIush to rise upon her cheek, and her eye
VT" !" u'OP lis gaze the floor. "But come,
"P''eS' continued she after pause, "let us re-
''' our sitting; Alexander hath ordered this paint
~ '"u Ills "'II-(a gentle sigh here interrupted her
", must be obeyed." The name of the Mac
Co.," '" mug struck chill through the painters
1"u served to recall him once more TO his
,. ''e sat down at his easel, while the beaute-
. v60a OF his half completed ske,c CHI took her al
''eu seat by its side
NJ. considerable period the artist retained his
r,' surviving mnnfully to commi, to the canvas the
IsS.r ''"'yed neaments of the lovely countenance
bma ,.." " put by degrees he becnme agitated his
Itn,. s"O,0'' and his eye grew dim. Atlength ex-
4, No, no, it is vain-t is iropossibler, he
his, L..
n,.. WV" us brush and fell back in his seat in
Sda. "a S Campaspe sPrang in an instant to
aIv :, "pe'les, dear Apees!'' she cried sooth-
brow nd '11 arc "'-you are fevered; your hand and
nm.h. "'"s hot; you have overtasked your
Gamma. "eSe midnight abors at the ease!'' s'No,
co,ro ~ ~ exclaimed the painter, as, losing all
sMD5 "''se'i' he fell at her feet, and retained
kdv I'm, IT. "' own "no, Campaspe! am well in
I'D ,v,i,., e-i adore you. In vain have strug-
Nav m,o Il, "'S passion, and but now, before your
htnv h.." apartment, declared it impossible |
Aa 1r s'a'' should have fallen into this SNARE
ya-,b,, -: mat 1t is impossible 10 resist loving
Unless ..a., impossible for me to pursue this task,
gsm TI TT, 10 done without your being before my
&Aen dn,; p'O' painter let go the hand which he
ahs ,a,, "'S speech, and again threw himself
4 Fpe Mao "a"'yng his face in his hands Cam
"C,DD, ,'''@h'Ie stood motionsss and snoanh,o.s
Ssr, "von '1u The painter, raising himself once
D"gry with me for this madness ~