punishment, which were formerly given in detail, and turns the reader's attention upon the novel effect produced by it, upon the assembled guests, which is admirably described, as "a mute scene of sorrow mixed with fear." The interrupted banquet, the appalled gallants, and the terrified women, grouped with the felon knight, his meagre mastiffs, and mangled victim, displays the hand of the master poet. The conclusion of the story is defective from the cause already hinted at. The machinery is too powerful for the effect produced by it; a lady's hard heart might have been melted without so terrible an example of the punishment of obduracy. It is scarcely worth while to mention, that Dryden has changed the Italian names into others better adapted to English heroic verse. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 216: _Manni Della Illustrazione del Boccario_, p. 355.] [Footnote 217: There is a copy in the late Duke John of Roxburghe's library, under the title of "Nastagio and Traversari."] THEODORE AND HONORIA. Of all the cities in Romanian lands, The chief, and most renowned, Ravenna stands; Adorned in ancient times with arms and arts, And rich inhabitants, with generous hearts. But Theodore the brave, above the rest, With gifts of fortune and of nature blessed, The foremost place for wealth and honour held, And all in feats of chivalry excelled. This noble youth to madness loved a dame, Of high degree, Honoria was her name; Fair as the fairest, but of haughty mind, And fiercer than became so soft a kind: Proud of her birth, (for equal she had none;) The rest she scorned, but hated him alone. His gifts, his constant courtship, nothing gained; For she, the more he loved, the more disdained. He lived with all the pomp he could devise, } At tilts and tournaments obtained the prize, } But found no favour in his lady's eyes: } Relentless as a rock, the lofty maid Turned all to poison that he did or said: Nor prayers, nor tears, nor offered vows, could move. } The work went backward; and the more he strove } To advance his suit, the farther from her love. } Wearied at length, and wanting remedy, He doubted oft, and oft resolved to die. But pride stood ready to prevent the blow, For who would die to gratify a foe? His generous mind disdained so mean a fate; That passed, his next endeavour was to hate. But vainer that relief than all the rest; } The less he hoped, with more desire possessed; } Love stood the siege, and would not yield his breast. } Change was the next, but change deceived his care; He sought a fairer, but found none so fair. He would have worn her out by slow degrees, } As men by fasting starve the untamed disease; } But present love required a present ease. } Looking, he feeds alone his famished eyes, Feeds lingering death; but, looking not, he dies. Yet still he chose the longest way to fate,