The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-01-27
OF SPAIN IN A SEpuLCHRE.
A Thrilling Sketch.

suiutcs uOu represent 10 tue monarch the
fatal effects which might be consequent up.
on such spectacle in his impaired health
the influence Of, this morbid longing WINS too
powerful 10 bc controlled; and Tic .ombs Of
tho three illus,rious personagcs whom he
indicated, were accordingly opened, fact
which was no sooner announced to Charles,
than leaning upon the arm Of the Cardinel
Porto Carcro, supported on tho other side
by tho Count dc Monterey, and followed
by his conlessor, he slowly proceeded to.
wards the gloomy vaults tcnantcd by his
ancestors. The way wound down an al
most impcrccptitlc path, archcd over
head; and along tho high road TO tho faded
glories Of tho past, the monarch was soon
to lay his own among them, he passed slowly
aud teebly with trembling knees aud labor
ing breath, sinking beneath vague sense
Of terror, which bcnumbcd tho slight re-
mains Of his already failing strength; bu,
atlcngth the pilgrimage was ended; and no
stood among the shadows Of past centuries
among shivcred sccp.rcs and shivcred
shields. A score Of enamcllcd lamps, sus-
pended above tho long line Of monuments,
surmountcd by their knccling or reclining
eiiigies; cas-. pnlc and sepulchral CLEAN
over the sepnlchred,marbc! and close md
tctid odor--that SAVIOR of death which not
even the gums Of Arabia or the spices OF
the East can wholly counterfeit, aud which
brcathcs into the nostrils Of the living the
atmosphere Of mortality 10 float
about the pendent lights, aad to cling in
vapory clouds around tho lofty toml,s.
Charles II, painting, pale, and awe struck,
ultimately paused before sarcophagus in
Dictated by his conicssor, who said in n
hoarsc whisper:
'Sirc, you desired to look once more up
on Philip Nv. lie lies bciorc you.'
The dying king bent fnr an instan, over
the wthcred body Of his father, Gre he gasp
cd out -
MAY your rest he indeed deep rs il up.
pears. Pcrchance may have irri,atcd
your spirit, by bcquea,hing inconsidcratcly
tho kingdom which inherit from your
hand. Speak, Philip, arc you satisfied with
me?'-
'Charlesn exclaimed the stern monk al
his side, beware Of sacrilcgc. Ask oqucs.
tions ii the dead. Silence is the privilege
of the tomb; which must speak only to the
eyes and 10 the soul. It's best lessen is the
nothingncss OF human vanity which you
now see before sou. Profit by it, aud
pray
q humble myself before Gnd,' replied III,
king submissivcly; aud then, after having
embraced the body of his father, he muir
mnred-'Now lead me TO my mother.'-
She sleeps beneath this arcb,' said tho con
lessor.
Again Charles bent down TO gnze upon
dead parent but this time he started bacl
appalled,, and covering his eyes with hi,
hands, gasped OUT
'Merciiul Heaven she yet scowls upon
me? Her face still bears the impress q
tho anger with which she first heard inc
aver that WIS about to transfer tho sccp
ire Of SPUN to her own family, unhappii,
become her enemies, Mother forgive me
| have indeed obcycd your will; but the
Prince Of Bavaria is now like yourself, the
tenant Of tho tomb. Farewell, mothcr!--
May your troubled spirit be nppcased.'
Aud the unfortunate prince pressed hi,
pale lips on the ileshless check Of the skclo
ton, Gre hc turned toward the next tomb
before which his confessor paused. Il wa,
that ofihc ilI-fntcd Maria Louise OF Orlcn rs
who had been cut of in her youth, hel
beauty and her tenderness, by the hand O
a secret assassin; and who now lay WASTED
and CHASTITY in her shroud'
And this, them said Charles, ns ho lift
cd from the livid brow portion of the GOV
ering, SIS all that is left Of the lovelinesl
aud beauty by which was once thrallcd
or tho wife who was my idol!
As he continued to gaze earnestly upor
the Numbering remains, n convulsivc shud
der passed over his framc, md raising him
self suddenly he asked in hoarse whisper
who talked Of poisonr
mo one, decidedly, sir eagerly answer
cd the Cardinal with blanchcd lip. III
the name of heaven lie, mc enircat your ma
jesty to leave this place, and return to tht
palace
'No, no. said Charles, whose agitntiol
vsibIy increased; i hcnrd the word dis
tinctly, fearful rcproach was murmurct
from the coffin If my wife. Leave INC Il
tell her how | loved hcr-l,ow much
mourned fnr hcr--lct me crnbalm her colo
remains with tears, aud yield up my owl
spirit by her sidc'
Forgct not that although monarch 70,
are still christian said his confessor, il
a cold, hard accent, which formed strnngt
contrast with the impassioncd anguish q
the unhappy king: 'proianc no. the dwell
ing Of tho dead with the thoughts ant
words Of SIM and he grasped the nrm O
his pcnitent to lead him away.
Close the tomb nf my mother! cxclaim
al Cha ,lee ne In ehr,<,k sA' Tho ci..,