1826.] The Rat-2'rap. 65 



" Calcagno !" the provost came forward — " liang these wretclies upon 

 the bouglis which aided your conceahuent ; and, within this hour, let 

 not a vestige of their accursed retreat be still remaining. Bring up my 

 horse I — and bear that goblet along — for it was filled to the fortune of 

 my successors in office, and it shall be placed among the archives of 

 our realm. Count Perugino ! last night you were my chamberlain — 

 for to night, and a short while longer, Seignor Calcagno shall be yours. 

 Bonfoi !" continued the cardinal, addressing a Trench officer of his 

 guard familiarly, " run thou ever into danger if thou wouldst seek 

 security ; my rashness to night has saved my life. Midnight was tlie 

 hour for the execution of tliis notable plot ; it were a pity to disappoint 

 one soul concerned in it. — We will still reach Ravenna," cried the 

 legate — leaj)ing ui)on his horse, and signing to a squadron to follow 

 him — " in time for the event." 



It was passed the tenth hour, dark, chill and stormy, when the 

 squadron turned their horses" heads from the ostcria of evil. . As they 

 climbed the rocky ascent that led from the deep glen to the high road 

 above, the cardinal rode foremost of the party, and no trooper there 

 shewed taller of his hands, or reined his steed more boldly. But when 

 they gained the height, there was gloom no longer, for Calcagno had 

 remained behind. A fierce red light glared on their dark equipments 

 — the hut was burning ; and some who looked back turned away from 

 another spectacle, which the blaze shewed in too much horror. 



The next day's sun shone upon the blackened and distorted visages 

 of Pezzali and his associates ; and, on the ground where the osteria had 

 stood, a heap of ashes only remained. The bodies of the thieves were 

 left unguarded, for the spirit of their trade was broken ; they had no 

 friends left to steal them away. Centuries have passed, and their 

 crimes, if not their fate, have been forgotten ; but a patch of ground, 

 cleared as it were in the centre of close thickets, and almost arched 

 over by the elms which grow around it — is the spot on which their 

 favourite habitation stood, and is still known among the peasantry by 

 the appellation of " the hat-trap." 



STANZAS TO AUTUMN. 



Hail, fading groves, and leaves that withering fall ! 



Ye soothe my gloomy soul and peace impart : 

 Hail, fair autumnal days, that thus recall 



The grief that pleases and yet wrings my heart ! 



Wrapt in sad thoughts, with lingering steps I rove, 

 To watch the clouded sun's declining ray 

 ' Piercing wuh feeble light the darkened grove, 



And gleaming o'er my solitary way. 



Ah, yes ! when fainting nature seems to die, 

 And every object wears a mournful hue, 



I think I hear a friend's expiring sigh. 



While his last smile fades slowly from my view. 



Though mourning, hope destroy' d, and prospects drear, 



Prepar'd to quit a ht'e too full of pain ; 

 Still must I pay the tribute of a tear 



To charms which soon will bloom for me in vain ! 



T.P. 



M. M. Netv Series.— y Oh. I. No. 1. K 



