WANDERINGS

ог

CHILDE HAROLDE.

CHAP. I.

Arrival at Palermo, in Sicily.-Journey to Trapani.—Governor Darley. The Princess of H--Lady Abbess of Palmerosa Convent-founded by the noble family of Carvacioli.--An Admiral hanged at the yard-arm, unjustly, by Nelson's order. -Interesting description of nuns and nunnery.--An Irish cook.-History of General Darley-his debût in the royal marines-noticed by the Duke of Clarence-a bon vivant and a wit-narrow escapes, disguised as a mountaineer, in Calabria-kills his master-joins Cardinal Ruffo's army-victories gained by his valour and ability—is knighted, &c. &c. -A voluptuous night in a pavilion.-The nuns unbending.— Harolde and his companions are lost for days in debauchery. -A trial at excuses.-Leave Trapani.-Encounter a tempest. -Harolde jesting in the jaws of death.-Nearly wrecked on VOL. III.

B

the

the Island of Ithaca.-Occupy the only good house in the place.-Arrival of another vessel, the yacht of Count St. Florian, a Sardinian noble.

THE Gut of Gibraltar was passed for the last time, and every league the vessel advanced towards her destination, was a step more distant from his native land, Harolde was destined never to retrace. It may appear strange, that a man so firmly attached to Old England should be driven from it for ever, by the whimsies of a weak, intemperate woman: to account for this, it is necessary to recollect, that women were the goddesses of his idolatry; they were the Baal to which he bowed the knee; he saw in them all that was heavenly, and could have used the words of Tommy Moore with sincerity of heart,

66 I devoutly believe there's a heaven on earth,
And believe that this heaven's in thee."

He

He could not bear to tread the same soil with one he loved, and who loved him not in return. In all his attachments, no sooner did he perceive that the beloved object had changed her mind, or grew cool in her caresses, than he also changed, and assumed an indifference perseverance soon made him really feel-the case of his wife, to his credit be it spoken, was the only exception; he never ceased to deplore his separation from her, and blamed his own rashness without any cause. His daughter was the slender chain that bound his heart to the mother in fetters of adamant, and a noble heart was made completely miserable through the power of a foolish woman.

Harolde landed at Palermo, in Sicily, the hotbed of vice and immorality. The island was then protected by a British army,

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army, who, instead of importing British morals, and setting the natives an example of good, had adopted all their vices, and practised evil without shame or reflection.

Harolde and Freeman travelled on

horseback, attended by one faithful servant, over the island to Trapani, in the extremity of the isle, where they halted, in expectation of some vessel sailing for the Ægean Sea.

Trapani is a strong fortress, possessing a fine harbour, and carries on considerable traffic with Malta, which it supplies with fruits, bullocks, and wine, Malta not producing sufficient to supply its inhabitants for one year; and Sicily, the granary of the Mediterranean, with idle millions in her bosom, can support them for six years on a single year's harvest.

It was necessary to wait on the Gover

nor,