Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-10-05

with look of the utmost horror and
loathing. The creature gave sharp
groan inwardiy. and after rolling her neck
iiantically on the ground. withdrew a
Il little back likewise, and seemed to be
looking another way. Guatier heard
two Or three little sounds as of person
weeping pitconsly, yet trying to subduc
is voice; and looking with brcalhles>
curiosity he saw The side of the loathly
creatures face bathcd in tears.
"Wly speakest thou, lady" said he,
: il lady thou art. of the curse of the false
goddess Diana, who never was, or only a
devil. cannot kiss thee," and he shud.
dercd with a horrible Shudder as he spoke;
''but will bless thee in the name of the
true God, and even mark thee with his
cross"
The serpent shook her head monrnfully,
still keeping it turned round. She then
faced him again, hanging her head in u
dreary and despo.ding manner. "Thou
knowcst not" said she, "what | know.
Diana both was. and never was; and there
are many other things on earth, which are
and yet arc not. 'rhou canst not COM
prehend if, even though thou art kind.
But the heavens alter not, neither the
sun nor the strength of nature; and if
thou vert kinder, | should be as once
was. happy and human. Suffice, that
nothing can Change me but what | said" )"
"Why vert thou changed, thou fearful
and mysterious thing? said Gualtier.
aBecausc denied DIANA as thou dost,"
answered the serpent; "and it was pro-
nounced an awful crime in me, though it
is none in thee; and was to be made a
thing loa,lsomc i'll mems eyes. Let me
not catch thine eye, ! bcseech thee; but
g. thy way and be safe, for feel cruel
thoug ght coming on me, which will shake
my inncrmost soul. though it shnllnot harm
thee. But | could make thee suffer for
the pleasure cf seeing thine anguish, even
as some tyrants do; and is that not dread
tui ?" Andethe monster openly shed tears
and sobbcd.
There was something III this mixture of
avowcd cruelty and weeping contradiction
TO it, which made GuaItier remain in
spite of himself: But fear was still up
pcrlnost in his mind, when he looked upon
the mouth that was to be kissed; and he
held fast round tree with one hand, and
his sword as fast in the other, watching
the movements of her neck as he conver.
sed. "IIow did thy father, the sage
IIippocrates," asked he, "sufer thee to
come to this p
"My father" replied she. Usage and
good as he was. was but Greek mortal;
and the great virgin was u worshipped
goddess. lpray thee, GO" She uttered
the last word in tone of loud anguish;
but the very horror of it made Gnaltier
hesitate, and he said, How can | know
that it is not thy destiny TO deceive the
-merciful into this horrible kiss, that then,
and then only, thou mayst deronr them Z"
But the serpent rose higher at this, and
looking around lotlily, said i'll mild and
majestic tone Of voice, go yc green and
happy woods, breathing like sleep; .
safe and quiet population of those leaf!y
places, dying brief death! o sea! Q
earth! q heavens never uttering syllable
to man! Is there no way to make better
known the meaning Of your gentle silence
of vomr long basking pleasures and brief
-pains and must the want of What is beau
tifnl and kind from others, ever remain dit
crcnt from what is beautiful and kind init
self2 and must form obscure essences 9 and