76 



rate him from his beloved princess 5 but the same 

 idea in Spenser's hands becomes a hundred times 

 more beautiful. The dove is represented as the 

 constant and tender companion of the youth who 

 had long languished in grief for the loss of his 

 Belphcebe; his ' dole' is soothed by the caresses 

 and sympathy of the bird ; and at last, in order 

 to gaze at a ruby heart, which she had given him 

 in happier times, he fastens it round its neck. 

 Away flies the kind-hearted dove, who gains the 

 notice of Belphcebe, and gently winning her for- 

 ward in pursuit of the well-known ruby, suc- 

 ceeds in restoring the long-parted lovers to each 

 other." 



Mrs. P. acknowledged that Mary's opinion was 

 more just than her own ; and my aunt, looking 

 at me, said, " I think I see in Bertha's counte- 

 nance that she has not read the Faerie Queene : 

 suppose, Caroline, you were to refresh our re- 

 collections, and read those pretty stanzas for 

 your cousin." 



Caroline did so ; and as I know you have not 

 Spenser among your books, and as his old- 

 fashioned style will amuse Marianne, I will 

 transcribe the two last stanzas, where Belphcebe, 

 attracted by her jewel, follows the benevolent 

 bird. 



She, her beholding with attentive eye, 



At length did marke about her purple brest 



That precious iuell, which she formerly 



Had knowne right well, with colourd ribbands drest : 



