ABBESS (from the altar.) Sister Louise! before the eternal grate Becomes thy barrier from the living world, It is allowed the once more to behold The face of men, and bid farewell to friendship. BRAGELONE (aside.) Why do I shudder? why shrinks back my being (The crowd give way, the Duchess de La Vallière, in the habit of the Carmelite nuns, passes down the steps of the altar, led by the Abbess-As she pauses to address those whom she recognises in the crowd, the chorus chaunts)— Sister, look and speak thy last, From the world thou'rt dying fast; Dead already to the living. DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE (coming to the front of the stage, sees Lauzun ! thou serv'st a King, whate'er his faults, Or sorrow, kings need love. Be faithful, Lauzun ! And, far from thy loud world, one lowly voice Shall not forget thee. BRAGELONE (aside.) All the strife is hushed! My heart's wild sea lies mute, and o'er the waves The Saviour walks. DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE (approaching Bragelone, and kneeling to him.) And now, oh! friend and father, Bless the poor Nun! BRAGELONE. As Duchess of La Vallière Thou wert not happy; as the Carmelite Sister, Say-art thou happy? DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE. Yes! BRAGELONE (laying his hand on her head.) CHORUS. Hark! in heaven is mirth! Jubilate ! Grief leaves guilt on earth! Jubilate ! Joy for sin forgiven! Jubilate ! Come, O Bride of Heaven! Jubilate ! Curtain falls slowly. END. (2) A SERIES OF PAPERS. Edward BY E. E. BULWER, Litton. AUTHOR OF "EUGENE ARAM," " ENGLAND AND THE ENGLISH," &c. &c. "The situation of the most enchanted enthusiast is preferable to that of a philosopher who, from continual apprehensions of being mistaken, at length dares neither affirm nor deny any thing." WIELAND'S AGATHON. SOLD ALSO BY AMYOT, RUE DE LA PAIX; TRUCHY, BOULEVARD DES ITALIENS; THEOPHILE BARROIS, JUN., RUE RICHELIEU, LIBRAIRIE DES ETRANGERS, RUE NEUVE-SAINT-AUGUSTIN; AND FRENCH AND ENGLISH LIBRARY, RUE VIVIENNE. CONTENTS. The universality of Evil in the World-Is no less visible in the lesser creatures than in man-The hope of perfectibility-Change in the temperament of L- -What is pleasant when recalled is often weari- some when acted-Love-The influence of Custom on the connubial state-Society exacts in proportion as it is prepared to admire- L's sadness-Distinctions between Wit and Humour-Love of conversational argument less in vogue than formerly-Our inability to conceive the nature of our happiness hereafter — Anecdote of Fuseli-Plato-Quotation from Lord Herbert of Cherbury-The sentiment that our faculties cannot content themselves in this life, visible in the works of genius-This sentiment more common in the English than the Continental Poets-The spirituality of Goethe's genius-Observations in the Wilhelm Meister-Scott's poetry greater |