story　of　a　King　of　England　whose　prison　was　discovered　by　a
  Minstrel；　and　He　hoped　that　the　same　scheme　would　enable　him　to
  discover　Agnes；　should　She　be　in　the　Convent。　　He　chose　a　Ballad
  which　She　had　taught　him　herself　in　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg：　She
  might　possibly　catch　the　sound；　and　He　hoped　to　hear　her　replying
  to　some　of　the　Stanzas。　　His　Guitar　was　now　in　tune；　and　He
  prepared　to　strike　it。
  'But　before　I　begin；'　said　He　'it　is　necessary　to　inform　you；
  Ladies；　that　this　same　Denmark　is　terribly　infested　by　Sorcerers；
  Witches；　and　Evil　Spirits。　　Every　element　possesses　its
  appropriate　Daemons。　　The　Woods　are　haunted　by　a　malignant　power；
  called　''the　Erl…　or　Oak…King：''　　He　it　is　who　blights　the　Trees；
  spoils　the　Harvest；　and　commands　the　Imps　and　Goblins：　　He
  appears　in　the　form　of　an　old　Man　of　majestic　figure；　with　a
  golden　Crown　and　long　white　beard：　　His　principal　amusement　is　to
  entice　young　Children　from　their　Parents；　and　as　soon　as　He　gets
  them　into　his　Cave；　He　tears　them　into　a　thousand　piecesThe
  Rivers　are　governed　by　another　Fiend；　called　''the　Water…King：''
  His　province　is　to　agitate　the　deep；　occasion　ship…wrecks；　and
  drag　the　drowning　Sailors　beneath　the　waves：　　He　wears　the
  appearance　of　a　Warrior；　and　employs　himself　in　luring　young
  Virgins　into　his　snare：　　What　He　does　with　them；　when　He　catches
  them　in　the　water；　Reverend　Ladies；　I　leave　for　you　to
  imagine''The　Fire…King''　seems　to　be　a　Man　all　formed　of
  flames：　　He　raises　the　Meteors　and　wandering　lights　which
  beguile　Travellers　into　ponds　and　marshes；　and　He　directs　the
  lightning　where　it　may　do　most　mischiefThe　last　of　these
  elementary　Daemons　is　called　''the　Cloud…King；''　His　figure　is
  that　of　a　beautiful　Youth；　and　He　is　distinguished　by　two　large
  sable　Wings：　　Though　his　outside　is　so　enchanting；　He　is　not　a
  bit　better　disposed　than　the　Others：　　He　is　continually　employed
  in　raising　Storms；　tearing　up　Forests　by　the　roots；　and　blowing
  Castles　and　Convents　about　the　ears　of　their　Inhabitants。　　The
  First　has　a　Daughter；　who　is　Queen　of　the　Elves　and　Fairies；　The
  Second　has　a　Mother；　who　is　a　powerful　Enchantress：　Neither　of
  these　Ladies　are　worth　more　than　the　Gentlemen：　　I　do　not
  remember　to　have　heard　any　family　assigned　to　the　two　other
  Daemons；　but　at　present　I　have　no　business　with　any　of　them
  except　the　Fiend　of　the　Waters。　　He　is　the　Hero　of　my　Ballad；　but
  I　thought　it　necessary　before　I　began；　to　give　you　some　account
  of　his　proceedings'
  Theodore　then　played　a　short　symphony；　After　which；　stretching
  his　voice　to　its　utmost　extent　to　facilitate　its　reaching　the　ear
  of　Agnes；　He　sang　the　following　Stanzas。
  THE　WATER…KING
  A　DANISH　BALLAD
  With　gentle　murmur　flowed　the　Tide；
  While　by　the　fragrant　flowery　side
  The　lovely　Maid　with　carols　gay
  To　Mary's　Church　pursued　her　way。
  The　Water…Fiend's　malignant　eye
  Along　the　Banks　beheld　her　hie；
  Straight　to　his　Mother…witch　He　sped；
  And　thus　in　suppliant　accents　said：
  'Oh！　Mother！　Mother！　now　advise；
  How　I　may　yonder　Maid　surprize：
  Oh！　　Mother！　　Mother！　　Now　explain；
  How　I　may　yonder　Maid　obtain。'
  The　Witch　She　gave　him　armour　white；
  She　formed　him　like　a　gallant　Knight；
  Of　water　clear　next　made　her　hand
  A　Steed；　whose　housings　were　of　sand。
  The　Water…King　then　swift　He　went；
  To　Mary's　Church　his　steps　He　bent：
  He　bound　his　Courser　to　the　Door；
  And　paced　the　Church…yard　three　times　four。
  His　Courser　to　the　door　bound　He；
  And　paced　the　Church…yard　four　time　three：
  Then　hastened　up　the　Aisle；　where　all
  The　People　flocked；　both　great　and　small。
  The　Priest　said；　as　the　Knight　drew　near；
  'And　wherefore　comes　the　white　Chief　here？'
  The　lovely　Maid　She　smiled　aside；
  'Oh！　would　I　were　the　white　Chief's　Bride！'
  He　stept　o'er　Benches　one　and　two；
  'Oh！　lovely　Maid；　I　die　for　You！'
  He　stept　o'er　Benches　two　and　three；
  'Oh！　lovely　Maiden；　go　with　me！'
  Then　sweet　She　smiled；　the　lovely　Maid；
  And　while　She　gave　her　hand；　She　said；
  'Betide　me　joy；　betide　me　woe；
  O'er　Hill；　o'er　dale；　with　thee　I　go。'
  The　Priest　their　hands　together　joins：
  They　dance；　while　clear　the　moon…beam　shines；
  And　little　thinks　the　Maiden　bright；
  Her　Partner　is　the　Water…spright。
  Oh！　had　some　spirit　deigned　to　sing；
  'Your　Partner　is　the　Water…King！'
  The　Maid　had　fear　and　hate　confest；
  And　cursed　the　hand　which　then　She　prest。
  But　nothing　giving　cause　to　think；
  How　near　She　strayed　to　danger's　brink；
  Still　on　She　went；　and　hand　in　hand
  The　Lovers　reached　the　yellow　sand。
  'Ascend　this　Steed　with　me；　my　Dear；
  We　needs　must　cross　the　streamlet　here；
  Ride　boldly　in；　It　is　not　deep；
  The　winds　are　hushed；　the　billows　sleep。'
  Thus　spoke　the　Water…King。　　The　Maid
  Her　Traitor…Bride…groom's　wish　obeyed：
  And　soon　She　saw　the　Courser　lave
  Delighted　in　his　parent　wave。
  'Stop！　　Stop！　my　Love！　　The　waters　blue
  E'en　now　my　shrinking　foot　bedew！'
  'Oh！　lay　aside　your　fears；　sweet　Heart！
  We　now　have　reached　the　deepest　part。'
  'Stop！　Stop！　my　Love！　　For　now　I　see
  The　waters　rise　above　my　knee。'
  'Oh！　lay　aside　your　fears；　sweet　Heart！
  We　now　have　reached　the　deepest　part。'
  'Stop！　Stop！　for　God's　sake；　stop！　For　Oh！
  The　waters　o'er　my　bosom　flow！'
  Scarce　was　the　word　pronounced；　when　Knight
  And　Courser　vanished　from　her　sight。
  She　shrieks；　but　shrieks　in　vain；　for　high
  The　wild　winds　rising　dull　the　cry；
  The　Fiend　exults；　The　Billows　dash；
  And　o'er　their　hapless　Victim　wash。
  Three　times　while　struggling　with　the　stream；
  The　lovely　Maid　was　heard　to　scream；
  But　when　the　Tempest's　rage　was　o'er；
  The　lovely　Maid　was　seen　no　more。
  Warned　by　this　Tale；　ye　Damsels　fair；
  To　whom　you　give　your　love　beware！
  Believe　not　every　handsome　Knight；
  And　dance　not　with　the　Water…Spright！
  The　Youth　ceased　to　sing。　　The　Nuns　were　delighted　with　the
  sweetness　of　his　voice　and　masterly　manner　of　touching　the
  Instrument：　　But　however　acceptable　this　applause　would　have　been
  at　any　other　time；　at　present　it　was　insipid　to　Theodore。　　His
  artifice　had　not　succeeded。　He　paused　in　vain　between　the
  Stanzas：　　No　voice　replied　to　his；　and　He　abandoned　the　hope　of
  equalling　Blondel。
  The　Convent　Bell　now　warned　the　Nuns　that　it　was　time　to
  assemble　in　the　Refectory。　　They　were　obliged　to　quit　the　Grate；
  They　thanked　the　Youth　for　the　entertainment　which　his　Music　had
  afforded　them；　and　charged　him　to　return　the　next　day。　　This　He
  promised：　The　Nuns；　to　give　him　the　greater　inclination　to　keep
  his　word；　told　him　that　He　might　always　depend　upon　the　Convent
  for　his　meals；　and　each　of　them　made　him　some　little　present。
  One　gave　him　a　box　of　sweetmeats；　Another；　an　Agnus　Dei；　Some
  brought　reliques　of　Saints；　waxen　Images；　and　consecrated
  Crosses；　and　Others　presented　him　with　pieces　of　those　works　in
  which　the　Religious　excel；　such　as　embroidery；　artificial
  flowers；　lace；　and　needlework。　　All　these　He　was　advised　to
  sell；　in　order　to　put　himself　into　better　case；　and　He　was
  assured　that　it　would　be　easy　to　dispose　of　them；　since　the
  Spaniards　hold　the　performances　of　the　Nuns　in　high　estimation。
  Having　received　these　gifts　with　seeming　respect　and　gratitude；
  He　remarked　that；　having　no　Basket；　He　knew　not　how　to　convey
  them　away。　　Several　of　the　Nuns　were　hastening　in　search　of　one；
  when　they　were　stopped　by　the　return　of　an　elderly　Woman；　whom
  Theodore　had　not　till　then　observed：　　Her　mild　countenance；　and
  respectable　air　prejudiced　him　immediately　in　her　favour。
  'Hah！'　said　the　Porteress；　'Here　comes　the　Mother　St。　Ursula　with
  a　Basket。'
  The　Nun　approached　the　Grate；　and　presented　the　Basket　to
  Theodore：　　It　was　of　willow；　lined　with　blue　satin；　and　upon　the
  four　sides　were　painted　scenes　from　the　legend　of　St。　Genevieve。
  'Here　is　my　gift；'　said　She；　as　She　gave　it　into　his　hand；　'Good
  Youth；　despise　it　not；　Though　its　value　seems　insignificant；　it
  has　many　hidden　virtues。'
  She　accompanied　these　words　with　an　expressive　look。　It　was　not
  lost　upon　Theodore；　In　receiving　the　present；　He　drew　as　near　the
  Grate　as　possible。
  'Agnes！'　She　whispered　in　a　voice　scarcely　intelligible。
  Theodore；　however；　caught　the　sound：　　He　concluded　that　some
  mystery　was　concealed　in　the　Basket；　and　his　heart　beat　with
  impatience　and　joy。　　At　this　moment　the　Domina　returned。　　Her　air
  was　gloomy　and　frowning；　and　She　looked　if　possible　more　stern
  than　ever。
  'Mother　St。　Ursula；　I　would　speak　with　you　in　private。'
  The　Nun　changed　colour；　and　was　evidently　disconcerted。
  'With　me？'　She　replied　in　a　faltering　voice。
  The　Domina　motioned　that　She　must　follow　her；　and　retired。　　The
  Mother　St。　Ursula　obeyed　her；　Soon　after；　the　Refectory　Bell
  ringing　a　second　time；　the　Nuns　quitted　the　Grate；　and　Theodore
  was　left　at　liberty　to　carry　off　his　prize。　　Delighted　that　at
  length　He　had　obtained　some　intelligence　for　the　Marquis；　He　flew
  rather　than　ran；　till　He　reached　the　Hotel　de　las　Cisternas。　　In
  a　few　minutes　He　stood　by　his　Master's　Bed　with　the　Basket　in　his
  hand。　　Lorenzo　was　in　the　chamber；　endeavouring　to　reconcile　his
  Friend　to　a　misfortune　which　He　felt　himself　but　too　s