Page:The Literary Magnet 1824 vol 2.djvu/238

 ment made upon Maredata, was as unexpected as wonderful. Her eyes sparkled with delight, she spread out her arms, uttered a cry of joy, and threw herself into the waves. Giulio stood amazed, but soon he beheld her, who rose smiling and nodding at him, and swimming with an astonishing agility and grace. Her slender form appearing through the floods and the silver light of the moon, seemed not to be that of a mortal. Love and anxiety filled her husband’s bosom, and he followed her into the sea to protect her in the dangerous element. If ever the waters had appeared sweet to him, it was now. He thought a soft music sounded from the depths; alluring voices invited the couple to sink in the mysterious bosom of the floods, and indeed, in the arms of Maredata, he sunk deeper and deeper, till he almost lost his senses, when Maredata suddenly threw out a cry of despair, and seizing him with both her arms, moved towards the shore, where she deposited him on the very spot he once had placed her. Soon her endeavours and her caresses called him again to life. “Who art thou?” cried he, “wonderful being, who art thon?” But Maredata, taking his hand, fled with quick steps, and encircled her veil fast round her ears as if to avoid the seducing sound of the roaring waves, which rose higher and higher, pursuing the beautiful fugitive. Arrived at the castle, he repeated his entreaties to her to solve this mystery. But Maredata clasped her lily arms round him, and her soft expressive eye asked him, “Am I not thine? Art thou not happy? Why askest thou more?” And indeed Giulio seemed to be satisfied: he even promised, he never would ask her again, and consented to lead her shortly to another castle in the heart of the country, where she would not be troubled by the sight of the sea. The joy which sparkled at this assurance in her eyes, was his sweet reward, and once more a happy husband, he pressed his happy wife to his heart.

But next day his parents requested his company, and his father addressed him thus: “My son, we were walking yesterday on the border of the sea, when we beheld the extraordinary scene which happened with Maredata. You easily see that you never saved her out of the waves, since she possesses such a wonderful power over the element. Manuela has told us, she has heard her sing, and notwithstanding your entreaties, she maintains an obstinate silence. This must be broke, for the sake of your immortal soul: conjure her, command her to speak, and if she still remains silent, you must separate.” Giulio, on the contrary, after having discoursed a long time with his parents, asserted, that he was himself perfectly happy, that such a soft affectionate being as Maredata, could never endanger his soul, and finished by asking his parents’ leave to go with his family to their castle in the interior of the country. After some reflection, the Count granted his request: but, added he, before you depart for the country, you will accompany me to Naples, where I want to present you to the king, afterwards you may go. Giulio promised to obey, and in the space of a few days the Count and his family, Giulio, Maredata, and their child, proceeded to Naples.

Soon after their arrival, Giulio was presented to the king; his reception was not according to his expectations. The old Count, seeing that