THE PAINTER OF SEVILLE.

He touched the brow-the lip-it seemed
His pencil had some magic power;
The eye with deeper feeling beamed,-
Sebastian forgot the hour!

Forgot his master, and the threat

Of punishment still hanging o'er him; For, with each touch, new beauties met And mingled in the face before him.

169

At length 'twas finished; rapturously
He gazed-could aught more beauteous be!—
Awhile absorbed, entranced he stood,
Then started;-horror chilled his blood!
His master and the pupils all

Were there e'en at his side!

The terror-stricken slave was mute;
Mercy would be denied,

E'en could he ask it;-so he deemed,
And the poor boy half lifeless seemed.

Speechless, bewildered,―for a space
They gazed upon that perfect face,
Each with an artist's joy;
At length Murillo silence broke,
And with affected sternness spoke-
"Who is your master, boy?"

170

THE PAINTER OF SEVILLE.

"You, Señor," said the trembling slave. "Nay, who, I mean, instruction gave, Before that Virgin's head you drew?" Again he answered, "Only you."

"I gave you none." Murillo cried!— "But I have heard," the boy replied, "What you to others said."

"And more than heard," in kinder tone, The painter said; "'tis plainly shown That you have profited."

"What (to his pupils) is his meed?
Reward or punishment?"

"Reward, reward!" they warmly cried,
(Sebastian's ear was bent

To catch the sounds he scarce believed,
But with imploring look received.)
"What shall it be?" They spoke of gold
And of a splendid dress;

But still unmoved Sebastian stood,
Silent and motionless.

"Speak!" said Murillo kindly; "choose
Your own reward-,what shall it be?
Name what you wish, I'll not refuse:
Then speak at once and fearlessly."

THE PAINTER OF SEVILLE.

"Oh! if I dared!"-Sebastian knelt,
And feelings he could not control,
(But feared to utter even then,)

With strong emotion shook his soul.

171

"Courage" his master said, and each Essayed, in kind, half-whispered speech, To soothe his overpow'ring dread. He scarcely heard, till some one said, "Sebastian,-ask,-you have your choice, Ask for your freedom!"—At the word, The suppliant strove to raise his voice: At first, but stifled sobs were heard, And then his prayer,-breathed fervently— "Oh! master, make my father free!"

"Him and thyself, my noble boy!"
Warmly the painter cried.
Raising Sebastian from his feet,
He pressed him to his side.
"Thy talents rare, and filial love,
E'en more have fairly won;
Still be thou mine by other bonds,-
My pupil and my son."

Murillo knew, e'en when the words
Of generous feeling passed his lips,

L

172

THE CLOUDS.

Sebastian's talents soon must lead

To fame, that would his own eclipse;
And, constant to his purpose still,
He joyed to see his pupil gain,
Beneath his care, such matchless skill
As made his name the pride of Spain.

The Clouds.

BY MARY ANN BROWNE.

"Clouds now softly sailing

Along the deep blue sky-now fixed and still."-MITFORD.

THE clouds, the clouds! they are beautiful
When they sleep on the soft spring sky,
As if the sun to rest could lull

Their snowy company;

And as the wind springs up, they start
And career o'er the azure plain;

And before the course of the breezes dart,
To scatter their balmy rain.

THE CLOUDS.

173

The clouds, the clouds! how change their forms

With every passing breath.

And now a glancing sunbeam warms,

And now they look cold as death.
Oh! often and often have I escaped
From the stir of the noisy crowd,
And a thousand fanciful visions shaped
On the face of a passing cloud!

The clouds, the clouds! round the sun at night
They come like a band of slaves,
Who are only bright in their master's sight,
And each in his glory laves.
Oh, they are lovely—lovely, then!

Whilst the heaven around them glows;
Now touched with a purple or amber stain,
And now with the hue of a rose.

The clouds, the clouds! in the starlit sky,
How they fly on the light wind's wings!
Now resting an instant, then glancing by
In their fickle wanderings;

Now they hide the deep blue firmament,
Now it shows their folds between,

As if a silver veil were rent

From the jewelled brow of a queen.