The Prose Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, Vol. 2 [of 2]Shelley, Percy Bysshe
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The Prose Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, Vol. 2 [of 2]
Shelley, Percy Bysshe
English prose literature
Miles Andrews, a friend of Lord Lyttelton, was sitting one night alone
when Lord Lyttelton came in, and informed him that he was dead, and
that this was his ghost which he saw before him. Andrews pettishly told
him not to play any ridiculous tricks upon him, for he was not in a
temper to bear them. The ghost then departed. In the morning Andrews
asked his servant at what hour Lord Lyttelton had arrived. The servant
said he did not know that he had arrived, but that he would inquire.
On inquiry it was found that Lord Lyttelton had not arrived, nor had
the door been opened to any one during the whole night. Andrews sent to
Lord Lyttelton, and discovered, that he had died precisely at the hour
of the apparition.
IV.
A gentleman on a visit to a friend who lived on the skirts of an
extensive forest in the east of Germany, lost his way. He wandered
for some hours among the trees, when he saw a light at a distance. On
approaching it, he was surprised to observe, that it proceeded from the
interior of a ruined monastery. Before he knocked he thought it prudent
to look through the window. He saw a multitude of cats assembled round
a small grave, four of whom were letting down a coffin with a crown
upon it. The gentleman, startled at this unusual sight, and imagining
that he had arrived among the retreats of fiends or witches, mounted
his horse and rode away with the utmost precipitation. He arrived at
his friend’s house at a late hour, who had sat up for him. On his
arrival his friend questioned as to the cause of the traces of trouble
visible in his face. He began to recount his adventure, after much
difficulty, knowing that it was scarcely possible that his friends
should give faith to his relation. No sooner had he mentioned the
coffin with a crown upon it, than his friend’s cat, who seemed to have
been lying asleep before the fire, leaped up, saying--“Then I am the
King of the Cats!” and scrambled up the chimney, and was seen no more.
* * * * *
Thursday, 29th August.--We depart from Geneva, at nine in the morning.
The Swiss are very slow drivers; besides which we have Jura to
mount; we, therefore, go a very few posts to-day. The scenery is very
beautiful, and we see many magnificent views. We pass Les Rousses,
which, when we crossed in the spring, was deep in snow. We sleep at
Morrez.
* * * * *
Friday, 30th.--We leave Morrez, and arrive in the evening at Dole,
after a various day.
* * * * *
Saturday, 31st.--From Dole we go to Rouvray, where we sleep. We pass
through Dijon; and, after Dijon, take a different route than that which
we followed on the two other occasions. The scenery has some beauty
and singularity in the line of the mountains which surround the Val de
Suzon. Low, yet precipitous hills, covered with vines or woods, and
with streams, meadows, and poplars, at the bottom.
* * * * *
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