Unclosed　the　book　of　Fate　to　see；
  To　read　the　fixed　resolves　of　heaven；
  And　dive　into　futurity。
  I　guide　the　pale　Moon's　silver　waggon；
  The　winds　in　magic　bonds　I　hold；
  I　charm　to　sleep　the　crimson　Dragon；
  Who　loves　to　watch　o'er　buried　gold：
  Fenced　round　with　spells；　unhurt　I　venture
  Their　sabbath　strange　where　Witches　keep；
  Fearless　the　Sorcerer's　circle　enter；
  And　woundless　tread　on　snakes　asleep。
  Lo！　Here　are　charms　of　mighty　power！
  This　makes　secure　an　Husband's　truth
  And　this　composed　at　midnight　hour
  Will　force　to　love　the　coldest　Youth：
  If　any　Maid　too　much　has　granted；
  Her　loss　this　Philtre　will　repair；
  This　blooms　a　cheek　where　red　is　wanted；
  And　this　will　make　a　brown　girl　fair！
  Then　silent　hear；　while　I　discover
  What　I　in　Fortune's　mirror　view；
  And　each；　when　many　a　year　is　over；
  Shall　own　the　Gypsy's　sayings　true。
  'Dear　Aunt！'　said　Antonia　when　the　Stranger　had　finished；　'Is　She
  not　mad？'
  'Mad？　　Not　She；　Child；　She　is　only　wicked。　　She　is　a　Gypsy；　a
  sort　of　Vagabond；　whose　sole　occupation　is　to　run　about　the
  country　telling　lyes；　and　pilfering　from　those　who　come　by　their
  money　honestly。　　Out　upon　such　Vermin！　　If　I　were　King　of　Spain；
  every　one　of　them　should　be　burnt　alive　who　was　found　in　my
  dominions　after　the　next　three　weeks。'
  These　words　were　pronounced　so　audibly　that　they　reached　the
  Gypsy's　ears。　　She　immediately　pierced　through　the　Crowd　and
  made　towards　the　Ladies。　　She　saluted　them　thrice　in　the　Eastern
  fashion；　and　then　addressed　herself　to　Antonia。
  THE　GYPSY
  'Lady！　gentle　Lady！　　Know；
  I　your　future　fate　can　show；
  Give　your　hand；　and　do　not　fear；
  Lady！　gentle　Lady！　hear！'
  'Dearest　Aunt！'　said　Antonia；　'Indulge　me　this　once！　Let　me　have
  my　fortune　told　me！'
  'Nonsense；　Child！　　She　will　tell　you　nothing　but　falsehoods。'
  'No　matter；　Let　me　at　least　hear　what　She　has　to　say。　Do；　my　dear
  Aunt！　　Oblige　me；　I　beseech　you！'
  'Well；　well！　Antonia；　since　you　are　so　bent　upon　the　thing；　。　。　。
  Here；　good　Woman；　you　shall　see　the　hands　of　both　of　us。　　There
  is　money　for　you；　and　now　let　me　hear　my　fortune。'
  As　She　said　this；　She　drew　off　her　glove；　and　presented　her　hand；
  The　Gypsy　looked　at　it　for　a　moment；　and　then　made　this　reply。
  THE　GYPSY
  'Your　fortune？　　You　are　now　so　old；
  Good　Dame；　that　'tis　already　told：
  Yet　for　your　money；　in　a　trice
  I　will　repay　you　in　advice。
  Astonished　at　your　childish　vanity；
  Your　Friends　alltax　you　with　insanity；
  And　grieve　to　see　you　use　your　art
  To　catch　some　youthful　Lover's　heart。
  Believe　me；　Dame；　when　all　is　done；
  Your　age　will　still　be　fifty　one；
  And　Men　will　rarely　take　an　hint
  Of　love；　from　two　grey　eyes　that　squint。
  Take　then　my　counsels；　Lay　aside
  Your　paint　and　patches；　lust　and　pride；
  And　on　the　Poor　those　sums　bestow；
  Which　now　are　spent　on　useless　show。
  Think　on　your　Maker；　not　a　Suitor；
  Think　on　your　past　faults；　not　on　future；
  And　think　Time's　Scythe　will　quickly　mow
  The　few　red　hairs；　which　deck　your　brow。
  The　audience　rang　with　laughter　during　the　Gypsy's　address；
  and'fifty　one；''squinting　eyes；'　'red　hair；'　'paint　and
  patches；'　&c。　were　bandied　from　mouth　to　mouth。　　Leonella　was
  almost　choaked　with　passion；　and　loaded　her　malicious　Adviser
  with　the　bitterest　reproaches。　　The　swarthy　Prophetess　for　some
  time　listened　to　her　with　a　contemptuous　smile：　at　length　She
  made　her　a　short　answer；　and　then　turned　to　Antonia。
  THE　GYPSY
  'Peace；　Lady！　　What　I　said　was　true；
  And　now；　my　lovely　Maid；　to　you；
  Give　me　your　hand；　and　let　me　see
  Your　future　doom；　and　heaven's　decree。'
  In　imitation　of　Leonella；　Antonia　drew　off　her　glove；　and
  presented　her　white　hand　to　the　Gypsy；　who　having　gazed　upon　it
  for　some　time　with　a　mingled　expression　of　pity　and　astonishment；
  pronounced　her　Oracle　in　the　following　words。
  THE　GYPSY
  'Jesus！　what　a　palm　is　there！
  Chaste；　and　gentle；　young　and　fair；
  Perfect　mind　and　form　possessing；
  You　would　be　some　good　Man's　blessing：
  But　Alas！　This　line　discovers；
  That　destruction　o'er　you　hovers；
  Lustful　Man　and　crafty　Devil
  Will　combine　to　work　your　evil；
  And　from　earth　by　sorrows　driven；
  Soon　your　Soul　must　speed　to　heaven。
  Yet　your　sufferings　to　delay；
  Well　remember　what　I　say。
  When　you　One　more　virtuous　see
  Than　belongs　to　Man　to　be；
  One；　whose　self　no　crimes　assailing；
  Pities　not　his　Neighbour's　Failing；
  Call　the　Gypsy's　words　to　mind：
  Though　He　seem　so　good　and　kind；
  Fair　Exteriors　oft　will　hide
  Hearts；　that　swell　with　lust　and　pride！
  Lovely　Maid；　with　tears　I　leave　you！
  Let　not　my　prediction　grieve　you；
  Rather　with　submission　bending
  Calmly　wait　distress　impending；
  And　expect　eternal　bliss
  In　a　better　world　than　this。
  Having　said　this；　the　Gypsy　again　whirled　herself　round　thrice；
  and　then　hastened　out　of　the　Street　with　frantic　gesture。　　The
  Crowd　followed　her；　and　Elvira's　door　being　now　unembarrassed
  Leonella　entered　the　House　out　of　honour　with　the　Gypsy；　with　her
  Niece；　and　with　the　People；　In　short　with　every　body；　but　herself
  and　her　charming　Cavalier。　　The　Gypsy's　predictions　had　also
  considerably　affected　Antonia；　But　the　impression　soon　wore　off；
  and　in　a　few　hours　She　had　forgotten　the　adventure　as　totally　as
  had　it　never　taken　place。
  CHAPTER　II
  Forse　se　tu　gustassi　una　sol　volta
  La　millesima　parte　delle　gioje；
  Che　gusta　un　cor　amato　riamando；
  Diresti　ripentita　sospirando；
  Perduto　e　tutto　il　tempo
  Che　in　amar　non　si　sponde。
  Tasso。
  Hadst　Thou　but　tasted　once　the　thousandth　part
  Of　joys；　which　bless　the　loved　and　loving　heart；
  Your　words　repentant　and　your　sighs　would　prove；
  Lost　is　the　time　which　is　not　past　in　love。
  The　monks　having　attended　their　Abbot　to　the　door　of　his　Cell；　He
  dismissed　them　with　an　air　of　conscious　superiority　in　which
  Humility's　semblance　combated　with　the　reality　of　pride。
  He　was　no　sooner　alone；　than　He　gave　free　loose　to　the　indulgence
  of　his　vanity。　　When　He　remembered　the　Enthusiasm　which　his
  discourse　had　excited；　his　heart　swelled　with　rapture；　and　his
  imagination　presented　him　with　splendid　visions　of
  aggrandizement。　　He　looked　round　him　with　exultation；　and　Pride
  told　him　loudly　that　He　was　superior　to　the　rest　of　his
  fellow…Creatures。
  'Who；'　thought　He；　'Who　but　myself　has　passed　the　ordeal　of
  Youth；　yet　sees　no　single　stain　upon　his　conscience？　　Who　else
  has　subdued　the　violence　of　strong　passions　and　an　impetuous
  temperament；　and　submitted　even　from　the　dawn　of　life　to
  voluntary　retirement？　　I　seek　for　such　a　Man　in　vain。　　I　see　no
  one　but　myself　possessed　of　such　resolution。　　Religion　cannot
  boast　Ambrosio's　equal！　　How　powerful　an　effect　did　my　discourse
  produce　upon　its　Auditors！　　How　they　crowded　round　me！　　How　they
  loaded　me　with　benedictions；　and　pronounced　me　the　sole
  uncorrupted　Pillar　of　the　Church！　　What　then　now　is　left　for　me
  to　do？　　Nothing；　but　to　watch　as　carefully　over　the　conduct　of　my
  Brothers　as　I　have　hitherto　watched　over　my　own。　　Yet　hold！　　May
  I　not　be　tempted　from　those　paths　which　till　now　I　have　pursued
  without　one　moment's　wandering？　　Am　I　not　a　Man；　whose　nature　is
  frail；　and　prone　to　error？　　I　must　now　abandon　the　solitude　of　my
  retreat；　The　fairest　and　noblest　Dames　of　Madrid　continually
  present　themselves　at　the　Abbey；　and　will　use　no　other　Confessor。
  I　must　accustom　my　eyes　to　Objects　of　temptation；　and　expose
  myself　to　the　seduction　of　luxury　and　desire。　　Should　I　meet　in
  that　world　which　I　am　constrained　to　enter　some　lovely　Female；
  lovely　。　。　。　　as　you；　Madona。　。　。　。！'
  As　He　said　this；　He　fixed　his　eyes　upon　a　picture　of　the　Virgin；
  which　was　suspended　opposite　to　him：　　This　for　two　years　had　been
  the　Object　of　his　increasing　wonder　and　adoration。　　He　paused；
  and　gazed　upon　it　with　delight。
  'What　Beauty　in　that　countenance！'　　He　continued　after　a　silence
  of　some　minutes；　'How　graceful　is　the　turn　of　that　head！　　What
  sweetness；　yet　what　majesty　in　her　divine　eyes！　　How　softly　her
  cheek　reclines　upon　her　hand！　　Can　the　Rose　vie　with　the　blush　of
  that　cheek？　　Can　the　Lily　rival　the　whiteness　of　that　hand？　Oh！
  if　such　a　Creature　existed；　and　existed　but　for　me！　Were　I
  permitted　to　twine　round　my　fingers　those　golden　ringlets；　and
  press　with　my　lips　the　treasures　of　that　snowy　bosom！　　Gracious
  God；　should　I　then　resist　the　temptation？　　Should　I　not　barter
  for　a　single　embrace　the　reward　of　my　sufferings　for　thirty
  years？　　Should　I　not　abandon。　。　。　。　　Fool　that　I　am！　　Whither　do
  I　suffer　my　admiration　of　this　picture　to　hurry　me？　　Away；　impure
  ideas！　　Let　me　remember　that　Woman　is　for　ever　lost　to　me。
  Never　was　Mortal　formed　so　perfect　as　this　picture。　But　even　did
  such　exist；　the　trial　might　be　too　mighty　for　a　common　virtue；
  but　Ambrosio's　is　proof　against　temptation。　　Temptation；　did　I
  say？　　To　me　it　would　be　none。　　What　charms　me；　when　ideal　and
  considered　as　a　superior　Being；　would　disgust　me；　become　Woman
  and　tainted　with　all　the　failings　of　Mortality。　　It　is　not　the
  Woman's　beauty　that　fills