Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Mariamne.
Oh ! there is not a thing , that hath being or life , From the emmet ' s small form , to the Ocean ' s wild strife , The dew on the stem , or the life giving shower , But are pledges alike of His wisdom and power .
After receiving the benediction of their host , they parted for the night—Eli to indulge in intoxicating dreams of pleasure , and Mariamne , for the first time in her life , to an unquiet couch . Who can read the human heart—Man ?—He is the slave of its devices . Woman ?—She is the victim of its weakness . It is a mystery even to the angels who stand before the throne of the eternal . His wisdom who framed can alone unravel it . Mariamne ' s innocent and
unsuspicious nature , guileless itself , suspected not guile in others ; her heart was easily captivated by the gifted form and eloquent tongue of the idolater , who , beneath the veil of seeming virtue , concealed the consummate art of the refined seducer . His first attempt was to prevail on her to conceal from her venerable parent the knowledge of their passion , pleading , in excuse for such a breach of duty , that the rank and pride of the High Priest would reject so poor a suitor . The young mind , trembling over the secret of its earliest love , is easily convinced by the tongue most dear to it . After an internal struggle with her sense of duty , the maiden promised .
By the most tender assiduity , by the most unremitting attention , he succeeded in possessing her affections so entirely , that her being became wrapt up in his . Had Eli escaped heart whole ? No , the passion glowed in his own bosom with intense ardour ; more than honour was now pledged for the success of his impious scheme—his happiness , his life—both he felt depended on the smile of Mariamne;—his thoughts , his dreams , were of her . " How much longer is this irresolution to last ? " impatiently demanded
Aran , whom a residence of several weeks in Jerusalem had rendered impatient ; " ere this I might have performed my vow , had I not waited for thee , loiterer . You boast that this paragon loves you—hath at your bidding concealed it from her father ; yet , " he added , scornfully , "I see no proof of your success . " " You know not the purity I have to cope with , " replied the lover . " She is a woman , " answered his companion , with a sneer ; " one of a sex with whom till now Eli hath held his arts invincible . "
" And they shall prove so , ' answered the youth , stung by the sarcastic manner of his brother ; " this night both our designs shall be accomplished ! if I have power to move her , this night shall she meet me in the temple . " " I will station our concealed followers near , " added Aran ; " our triumph once secured , farewell Jerusalem ! " ivith this understanding they parted . To dwell upon the arrs , the tears , and entreaties , by which Eli
prevailed upon the confiding girl to grant him the required meeting , were to delay the interest of my readers—sufficient , that his eloquence was successful , and Mariamne was pledged to meet her lover at midnight . " What have I done , " she exclaimed , when alone , " and her feelings , which had been artfully excited , became more subdued ; " promised to quit my fathers roof , to hold a meeting with my suitor—alas ! it is not thus that Israel ' s daughter should be woed ; there must he wrong in this , and sin ! " she added , as her naturally tine sense pictured the ap-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Mariamne.
Oh ! there is not a thing , that hath being or life , From the emmet ' s small form , to the Ocean ' s wild strife , The dew on the stem , or the life giving shower , But are pledges alike of His wisdom and power .
After receiving the benediction of their host , they parted for the night—Eli to indulge in intoxicating dreams of pleasure , and Mariamne , for the first time in her life , to an unquiet couch . Who can read the human heart—Man ?—He is the slave of its devices . Woman ?—She is the victim of its weakness . It is a mystery even to the angels who stand before the throne of the eternal . His wisdom who framed can alone unravel it . Mariamne ' s innocent and
unsuspicious nature , guileless itself , suspected not guile in others ; her heart was easily captivated by the gifted form and eloquent tongue of the idolater , who , beneath the veil of seeming virtue , concealed the consummate art of the refined seducer . His first attempt was to prevail on her to conceal from her venerable parent the knowledge of their passion , pleading , in excuse for such a breach of duty , that the rank and pride of the High Priest would reject so poor a suitor . The young mind , trembling over the secret of its earliest love , is easily convinced by the tongue most dear to it . After an internal struggle with her sense of duty , the maiden promised .
By the most tender assiduity , by the most unremitting attention , he succeeded in possessing her affections so entirely , that her being became wrapt up in his . Had Eli escaped heart whole ? No , the passion glowed in his own bosom with intense ardour ; more than honour was now pledged for the success of his impious scheme—his happiness , his life—both he felt depended on the smile of Mariamne;—his thoughts , his dreams , were of her . " How much longer is this irresolution to last ? " impatiently demanded
Aran , whom a residence of several weeks in Jerusalem had rendered impatient ; " ere this I might have performed my vow , had I not waited for thee , loiterer . You boast that this paragon loves you—hath at your bidding concealed it from her father ; yet , " he added , scornfully , "I see no proof of your success . " " You know not the purity I have to cope with , " replied the lover . " She is a woman , " answered his companion , with a sneer ; " one of a sex with whom till now Eli hath held his arts invincible . "
" And they shall prove so , ' answered the youth , stung by the sarcastic manner of his brother ; " this night both our designs shall be accomplished ! if I have power to move her , this night shall she meet me in the temple . " " I will station our concealed followers near , " added Aran ; " our triumph once secured , farewell Jerusalem ! " ivith this understanding they parted . To dwell upon the arrs , the tears , and entreaties , by which Eli
prevailed upon the confiding girl to grant him the required meeting , were to delay the interest of my readers—sufficient , that his eloquence was successful , and Mariamne was pledged to meet her lover at midnight . " What have I done , " she exclaimed , when alone , " and her feelings , which had been artfully excited , became more subdued ; " promised to quit my fathers roof , to hold a meeting with my suitor—alas ! it is not thus that Israel ' s daughter should be woed ; there must he wrong in this , and sin ! " she added , as her naturally tine sense pictured the ap-