The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-03-06

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tate is come at las,i'
| The banqaet commenced. but all obser-
we'd that Orgilus and Ithocles were absent.
The old courtier, Croloion, answered the
princess inquiries, saying his SON had
| told him he had gone to prepare some
new device of pleasure for the princess.
and he supposed Lord Ithocles was with
him, as they had been seen together.
The dance commenced, but as Calantha
! hnlshed the first movement, old Arnos-
ties came out from the kings sick-cham
Der, and with countenance of wo, whis-
pered to the princess that her father had
just breather his last breath.
"On TO the other movement of tbe
dance," said Caiantha, without needing
the sad news. AS they finished the Sc.
COMO change, poor Bassanes entered, and
| In low, teartu! tones told the princess that
his poor Penthea had just died of slarva-
| tion.
LEAD on to the next measure" ex-
Claimed the princess, and they did so;
but while she danced, the fearful news
was brought her Of her loved lthocles'
cruel murder at his sisters death-bed.
How dull the music sounds" she
SAID. ''Strike up more sprightly strains I"
The courtiers all looked amazed at this
apparently unnatural conduct of the prin.
cess, and thought 1t strange such fearful
tragedies should not arouse the woman
In her. After the dance was over she
received with stately pride the congratu-
laiions OF her courtiers, and the acknowl-
edgments of her queeniy right; heard
calmly the self-condemnation of Orgilus,
replying to it that she would begin her
reign with an act of justice; and ordered
| him TO instant executions; then gave d.
recLions for her coronation, which she re-
quested should be speedily attended to.
The temple was prepared for the great
ceremony forthwith; the altar clothed in
white, with burning tapers of virgin wax
| The people and the courtiers assembled
there, awaiting the arrival of the new
queen; but all started with surprise when
| they saw brought in, and placed on one
side OF the altar, hearse bearing the
dead llhocles clothed in royal robes, with
| glltterlng crown upon his head; then
came the beautiful Calantha surrounded
By her maidens, cold, pale and fearless,
clothed in white and also crowned. She
knelt before the altar for awhile; after
and said in calm and quiet voice, that as
1t was necessary she would for the veal
of her kirgdom choose a husband, she
should do so; and as her cousin of Argos
stood next in right of succession to the
throne, she would select him for her lord;
but before wedding him she wonld first
make some requests. The prince with
tenderness begged her to name them. She
then pcrtioned out offices; asked that her
fathers old counsellor Armostes should be
viceroy of Argos; and Crotolon, Orgilius'
father, should govern Messene: and Bas-
sanes, poor Pen,hea's husband, be Sparta's
marshal. Then she bestowed pensions
and arranged some marriages Of her
maid s-of-honor, and lastly, requested that
Prophilus should be speedily invested
with all the bonors, tilles and preferments
belonging TO his dear friend and her neg
lected husband.
All murmured TO each other that these
requests sounded like a testament, rather
than conditions of marriage, and Prince
Nearchus asked of the princess half-re-
proachlully, what meant the word meg
lected husband"
Calantha looked sadly at him, and re-
piled
"Forsive me, Nearchus. Then turning
toward the hearse on which the dead
Ithocles was placed, took his cold hand,
and removing from her own ring, placed
it on one of his fingers, saying
Bear witness all, put my mother
vedding-ring upon the finger Of Ithocles;
it was my fathers last bequest. Thus l
new-marry him whose wife | am. Death
shall not separate us. Oh my lords, L
but deceived your eyes with antlc gesture,
when one news straight came huddllng on
another, OF death and death I! and death
Sill danced forward, but il struck home
and here-and in an instant. Some women
can with shrieks and outcries vow a pres
ent end TO all their sorrows, yet live to
court new pleasures and outlive their
troubles; but there are silent griefs which
cut the heart-strings."
She then gave orders for the voices at
the altar TO sing the dirge she had prepared.
The music swelled out in mournful har-
monies, and low, sweet voices chanied-
Glories. pleasures. pomps, delights and ease.
Can but please
The outward senses, whon the mind
| Is ntroubled. or by peace re- fined.
Crowns may flourish and decay
! Beauties shine. but fade away.
Youth may revel, yet it mus.
Lie down in bed Of dust
| Earthly honors flow and waste.
limo alone doth change and last,