160 Luck and Ill-Luck. [FEB. 



fortune or chance guided by the subaltern causes which occasioned your 

 misfortunes seconded by my wart, my name, my country, the colour of 

 inyskinj the suppers of my dancing-girl I have honestly arrived at this 

 pitch of prosperity. I was always at your heels, to gather the fragments 

 of your shipwrecks and always disposed to aid and succour you, if I had 

 known of your existence and misfortunes. You ran after glory and for- 

 tune they ran after me. Henceforth let us hope that their favours will 

 be more impartially distributed, and that, so far from being an injury to 

 you, I shall be at the post, to keep you out of the ditch and near the 

 harbour, to warn you of the rock a-head." 



On this they embraced, as if to reconcile their contrary destinies. M. 

 Pigafet was ashamed of the unjust opinion which he had hitherto enter- 

 tained of a man so honourable and compassionate. '* What was it brought 

 you to Versailles ?" asked the Comte. "The Minister had promised 

 me," said Pigafet, ' the place of Counsellor of State, just vacant." 



The Comte looked astonished. " The place of Counsellor of State! 11 

 cried he ; " alas ! the .Minister himself gave it to me this very morning." 

 And Monsieur Pigafet replied quite tranquilly, " I only expected as much 

 every thing is as it should be." 



THE LEGEND OF ST. VALENTINE. 



FROM Britain's realm, in olden time, 

 By the strong power of truths sublime, 



The pagan rites were banish'd ; 

 And, spite of Greek and Roman lore, 

 Each god and goddess, famed of yore, 



From grove and altar vanish'd. 



And they "(as sure became them best) 

 To Austin and Paulinius' hest 



Obediently submitted, 

 And left the land without delay 

 Save Cupid, who still held a sway 

 Too strong to passively obey, 



Or be by saints outwitted. 



For well the boy-god knew that he 

 Was far too potent, e'er to be 

 Depos'd and exil'd quietly 



From his belov'd dominion ; 

 And sturdily the urchin swore 

 He ne'er, to leave the British shore, 



Would move a single pinion. 



