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needs be happier as a widow than she had ever been as a wife. As for what he had promised, her kinsman faithfully kept his word, sending her from time to time a portion of his gains; so that, with her old trade of sempstress, and the property of Kolmarr, she was maintained in comfort, and never knew want all the rest of her days.

THE TWO

FAITHFUL LOVERS OF SICILY.

Our bark at length has found a quiet harbour,

And the unspotted progress of our loves

Ends not alone in safety but reward.

THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY.

THE TWO

FAITHFUL LOVERS OF SICILY.

In the Island of Sicily, there lived a beautiful girl called Biancafiore, whose father was a farmer of the imposts in that kingdom; she had several lovers, but the happiest one was Tebaldo Zanche, a young person of gentle birth but of indifferent estate, which caused him to be more favourably regarded by Bianca than her father desired, who had set his heart upon matching her with a certain wealthy merchant of Palermo. The power of a parent in those days being much more despotic than in our temperate times, the poor wretched girl was finally compelled to

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bestow her hand on the merchant, whereupon Tebaldo instantly took leave of his country, and with a hopeless passion at heart wandered over Europe.

As soon as she was married, Bianca was taken by her husband to his country-house, which was situated on the sea-coast, towards Girgenti, his chief delight being to watch the ships, as they fared to and fro on their mercantile embassies, whereas they only recalled to Bianca the small white sail which had disappeared with the unfortunate Tebaldo. This prospect of itself was sufficient to aggravate her melancholy, but her residence on the sea-shore was yet to expose her to still greater miseries.

It was not uncommon in those days, for the Barbary cruisers, those hawks of the Mediterranean, to make a sudden stoop upon our coasts, and carry off with them, besides other plunder, both men and women, whom they sold into slavery amongst the Moors, in default of ransom. In this manner, making a descent by night

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