Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1847-11-17
Terms Of Advertising.
CHARLES OF SPAIN IN THE sEPUL-
5 81 s---~-.s.. CHRE.

CHARLES OF SPAIN IN THE sEPUL-
> -sr.. -4--~-.s.: CHRE.
A THRILLING SKETCH.
In vain did the court physicians exp0etti-
late, and represent to the monarch the fatal
effects which might be consequent upon
such spectacle in his impaired health: the
influence of this morbid longing was too
powerful to be CONTROLLED; and the tombs Of
the three illustrious personages whom he
indicated were accordingly opened--a fact
which was no sooner. announced to Charles,
than, leaning upon the arm of the Cardinal
Porto Carero, supported on the other eide
by the Count de Monterey, and followed by
his contessor, he slowly proceeded towards
the gloomy vaults tenanted by his ancestors.
The way wound down an almost impercep-
tible smoke, arched over head; and along
the high road to the faded glories Of the past.
the monarch was soon to lay bis own among
them, passed slowly and ieebly with trem-
bling knees and laboring breath, sinking
beneath vague sense OF terror, which be-
numbcd the slight remains Of his already
failing strength; but at length the pilgrim
age was ended; and he stood among the
shadows of past centuries; among shivered
sceptres end shivered shields A score Of
enamelled lamps. suspended above the long
line Of monuments, snrmouDted by their
knee]ing or reclining effigies; cast pale and
sepulchral CLEAN over the sepulchred mar
BILE! and close and fetid odor--that SAVIOR
of death which not even the gums ofArabin
or the spices Of the East can wholly coup.
teract, and which breathes into the nostris
of the living the atmosphere of mortality
appeared to float about the pendent lights,
and to cling III vapory clouds around the
lofty tombs.
Charles II, painting, pale, and awe struck,
ultimately paused before sarcophagus in
dictated by his confessor, who said in hoarse
whisper:
Sire. you desired to look once more upon
Philip ~. He lies before you.' ..y
The dying king bert for IN instant over
the withered body of his father, ere lie gasp
ed OUT
May your rest be indeed deep as it ap-
pears. Perchance l may have irritated
your spirit, by bequeathing inconsiderately
the kingdom which inherit from your hand.
Speak, Philip, are you satifed with me?'
'Charles!' exclaimed the stern monk Mt
bis eide, beware of sacrilege. Ask no ques-
tons of the dead. Silence is the privilege
of the tomb; which must speak only to the
eyes and to the soul. Its best lesson is tho
nothingness Of human vanity, Which you
now see before you. Profit by it, and pray.
Il humble myself before G 3D. replied tho
king submissively: and then, after having
embraced the body of his father, he murmur-
ed-'Now lead mo TO my mother She
sleeps beneath this ARCH said the confessor.
Again Charles bent down to gaze upona
dead parent; but this time he started back
appalled,, and covering his eyes with his
hands, gasped out:
'Mercful Heaven! she yet scowls upon
me! Her face still bears the impress of the
anger with which she first heard me aver
that was about to transfer the sceptre of
Spain to her own family, unhappily become
her enemies.-Mother, forgive me! have
indeed obeyed your will; but the Prince Of
bavaria is now like yourself, the tenant of
the tomb. Farewell, mother!--May your
troubled spirit be appeased.'
And the unfortunate prince pressed his
pale lips n,,the feshless cheek Of the skele-
ton, ere he turned toward the next tomb, be-
fore which his confcssor paused. 1t WAS
that Of the i'll fated Maria Louise of Orleans,
who had been cut off in her youth, her beau
ty and her tenderness, by the hand of Sc
cret assassin; and who now lay wasted and
ghastlv in her shroud.'
And this. them said Charles, as he lift
ed from the livid brow portion of the COW
ering, lis all that is left Of the loneliness
and beauty by which WIS once enthralled!
Of the wife who was once my idol!' .-J3
AS he continued to gaze earnestly upon
the moulderng remains, convulsive shud
der passed over his frame, and raising HIM
suddenly, he asked in hoarsc whisper,
who talked of poison!',
No one, decidedly, sir eagerly answer
cd the Cardinal with blanched lip. In
the name of heaven let nc cntreat your ma
jesty to leave this place, and return to tho
palace. aE"# r5
No, no. said Charles, whose agitation
visibly increased; Il heard the word dis
tincty, fearful reproach was murmured
from the coffin Of my wife. Leave me to
tell her how l loved her-how much mourn,
ed for her--let me embalm her cold remains
with tears, and yield up my spirit by her
side ...ar '... ..-...,t.. ..o D..
Forget not that although monarch. you
are still christian said his confessor, in
a cold, hard accent, which formed strange
the unhappy king: 'profane not the dwelling
SIM and he grasped the arm of his penitent
10 lead him away. -...., -..s II
'Close the tomb Of my mother!' cxclaim.
ed Charles, as he shook off the clasp. and
raised himself to his full height. Il will
look Oh her no more--Maria Louise! the
victim of hate--of poison. All! close my
mothers tomb!'
And as lie repeated these words in faint
L., 80, f.A.
emotion, he fell senseless over an empty
'arcophagus which yawned cold and void be-
tide him.
1t is his own,' said tho monk, unmoved
~ the spectacle; whilst the Cardinal, rais-
ng the insensible monarch in his arms, de-
tired the attendants to bear hin, carefully
rom the vault, and for few moments SUBJ
equently the melancholy procession retrod
he gloomy passage even more silently than
I had been previously traversed, and con-
,eved Charles To the chamber which he was