Page:The Literary Magnet 1825 vol 4.djvu/182

 time I felt as if surrounded by flames—the air was fire! In deadly fear I hastened into the closet; and it was not until a long time afterwards that I, by the assistance of the Queen and Master Lucas, recovered my senses.

The Queen endeavoured to cheer my spirits, and tried to persuade me that all had been but an optical illusion; but Master Lucas, with solemnity, remained silent, and only from time to time cast a look at me full of the deepest grief and melancholy. I have felt myself very ill ever since; last night my sleep was broken by wild and feverish dreams, and my imagination tormented by the most hideous phantasms. Methought that the threat pronounced by Master Lucas against the Queen, that she should live to be a witness of all the events pictured in the magical glass, had alighted upon myself; and that I was doomed to find no rest in the grave, until every thing was accomplished.—I am better to-day, but still very faint; however, I must make an effort, for the Queen sends unceasingly to inquire about me, and even wrote me a note, wherein she assures me, she could not be tranquil before she had beheld me again healthy and cheerful. Besides, to-morrow is the great tournament, in honour of the nuptials of the Princess Elizabeth; and the day after unites me for ever to my beloved Mongomery. A few hours of sleep will, I hope, completely restore me.—I forgot to mention, that I promised, to Master Lucas and the Queen, strictly to keep the secret about the magical scene. I shall keep my promise;—but with you, my dearest Mother, I never had, nor shall I ever have, a secret. In fact, how could I have kept concealed from you something that so strongly moved me? and besides, I know your secresy.

Dearest Mother,—You will receive these lines by an express. One horror follows close upon another. In dreadful and rapid succession, the prognostics which I detailed to you begin to be fulfilled. The King is dead! Thy poor Clara and her Mongomery must fly, in order to escape the vengeance which perhaps even now impends over its victims. To thy maternal bosom shall we fly for refuge.

My Beloved,—I have time but for two words. The King, before he died, declared my innocence, pardoned me, and acquitted me of all responsibility. And, Clara, indeed I am innocent. But still we are in danger; you equally with myself. You appear to be privy to some secret of the Queen’s: that is enough.—This night, a page will bring you a dress, in which you will disguise yourself; therefore, do you and your faithful Cecily arrange every thing accordingly, and be prepared to follow the page, who will conduct you by a secret and secure path to a chapel, where a holy priest will consecrate our union; and then, away for ever to the asylum of our love!

My dearest Mother,—I am still here. I send this by another express, in case the first should not have reached you in time. I am still here; but this evening will see me united for ever to Mongomery, and then