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IEP asinilo of98 7 ; 
a SONGS OF A SUMMER NIGHT. 
rman? . : 
On, the happy days of our forefathers! Have they past away for ever ? 
- Must we only read of their tournaments, their troubadours, and their 
gallantries? Must we only read their songs and their exploits, and sigh 
over the daring deeds and passionate loves of the old time—when, as we 
read, we think the days must have been so fine and long, the ladies so 
sweet and fair, the lovers so gay and so devoted, the warriors so tall and 
mighty in their helms and plumes—and the nights, too, must have been 
such gentle, love-inspiring nights, and all so kind and so merry withal, 
that'we are angry with our destinies that we were not breathing in those 
times of love and chivalry; when there were such stately castles and 
such bold vassals to protect them,—when there were such warm hearts 
and such gallant garbs over them. Ah, those were the days of grace- 
fulness and a proper fashion: not in costume alone, but in manners and 
noble bearing ; when the wanderer was welcomed every where, and if he 
could trill a lay in praise of his lady-love, or sing a jovial strain of wine 
or wassail, he was the idol of the happy hour. Well, those days have 
gone, and all that we can do is to wonder how meanness and suspicion, 
and love of gain, and cold reserve and selfishness, could ever thrust 
aside such kindness, good-fellowship, and hospitality ! 
In that gallant time, when a still and breathless night had succeeded 
the hot sunny day of an Italian July, it chanced that a singular group of 
persons were stretched on the green ground of an embowering wood, 
reposing from the fatigues of a journey, and preferring the canopies of 
branches and leaves, and the cool grass and moss that formed their gene- 
ral couch, to the draperied apartments or more convenient accommoda- 
tion of castle or hostel. A clear blue sky shone above them through 
the foliage, and a few solitary stars twinkled faintly there, as though a great 
festival had called away all their merry shining companions, and those 
few had chosen rather to remain behind and meditate in sweet loneliness, 
than join their gay brethren, who might be supposed to have assembled 
in‘some far-off field of air, beaming in all their splendours, and revelling, 
right brilliantly. Perhaps those few who remained in the forsaken’ sk 
were philosophers, poets, or lovers, whom we all know have little heed 
of merriments ; but, whatever they might be, there they were palely 
glimmering far away from each other, and looking as melancholy and. 
misanthropical as such high-minded stars might be supposed to look. 
. The party amounted to upwards of twenty persons, including three or 
four attendants, who were only distinguished from their superiors by 
their humbler garbs, and their occasionally performing trifling acts of 
attendance, but all equally enjoyed the coolness and quiet of the time; 
while the hostess and mother Nature accommodated the one no better 
than the other, but spread the green carpet, prepared her mossy couch; 
and hung her quivering and drooping curtains over all alike: for she, 
dame, cannot comprehend subordination and respect for persons, 
t warms and chills her children without distinction; though some, 
more cunning than others, may artfully contrive protection from her 
chidings and screens for her over-kindness. 
Their horses were browsing near them, and the goodly company were 
merrily discoursing ; while ever and anon the loud laugh of the gallants 
and the titter of the ladies so mingled and quavered in the air; that the 
birds, the legal inhabitants of the place, were seen flitting from tree to 
M.M. New Series.—Vor. 11. No.12. 4G 
