10 QUEEN INA, OR THE 



everlasting. When the captive is set free ; when 

 thy reign is begun, then will the race of Ina be seen 

 no more." " No more, no more/' murmured the 

 elfin train, until their voices died away in solemn 

 sweetness far from the heavenly throne. 



In silent admiration, Reason watched their down- 

 ward flight, then turned to execute the noble man- 

 date of the fairy queen. When the crescent moon 

 had gained her zenith, the fairies reached the 

 grotto at the fountain head. They lingered not in 

 this lovely retreat, but sought their tiny barks to 

 visit once more their beloved home. " Home, 

 home," sang the mournful voyagers, as each small 

 vessel dropped gently down the stream. The zephyrs 

 caught the sound as it fell, and mingled their sighs 

 with the murmuring strain. Onwards and onwards 

 floated those sailor fays. The flowers paid them 

 homage as they passed ; the stream hushed its me- 

 lody to listen to their song ; until the gallant fleet 

 was safely moored in the still waters of the well- 

 known pool. Ina revisited with her train all their 

 favorite haunts. They viewed again and again their 

 goodly palace ; they passed and repassed the magic 

 bridge; they wandered with unceasing regret through 

 the moonlit glades ; they climbed once more the 

 mossy hillock. Ina stood in the midst ; the golden 

 halo encircled her form, the beauty of her mind was 

 enshrined in glory ; she appeared, as she really was, 

 an image of perfection. Her right arm was raised 

 towards the blue sky, which faintly struggled through 

 the gloom of the impending trees. Again the strain 

 arose, swelling and falling with the fitful breeze. 

 Suddenly it stopped. " A change came o'er the 

 spirit of the dream." The clouds rolled back. A 

 blaze of light covered the expanse of heaven, and 

 visited the hidden recesses of the earth. Then arose 

 the sound of a million voices, rejoicing in the glori- 

 ous heavens. It was Man hailing the approach of 

 Reason; from her radiant throne the goddess des- 

 cended, while the votaries of Superstition trembled 



