the door was fastened without; and the unlucky merchant was left a solitary prey to his own increasing terror. Casting his eyes around him in despair, he distinguished two dead men hanging by the arms from the ceiling. This shocking circumstance so agonized him, that the cold sweat dropped from his brow, and of rest he was morally incapable. In the morning, he got up, but with augmented apprehensions. "Alas!" cried he, " they will assuredly hang me by the side of these murdered wretches. What will become of me?" When the Prince had risen, he commanded the merchant to be brought into his presence. "Friend," said he, "what portion of my family establishment best pleases you?" The man answered, "I am well pleased with every thing, my lord, except that my food was served to me out of a human head,—a sight so sickening that I could touch nothing. And when I would have slept, my repose was destroyed by the terrific objects which were exhibited to me. And, therefore, for the love of God, suffer me to depart." "Friend," replied the Prince," the head out of which

you were served, and which stood exactly opposite to my wife-my beautiful, but wicked wife is the head of a certain duke. I will tell you why it was there. He whom I have punished in so exemplary a manner, I perceived in the act of dishonoring my bed. Instantly prompted by an uncontrollable desire of vengeance, I separated his head from his body. To remind the woman of her shame, each day, I command this memento to be placed before her, in the hope that her repentance and punishment may equal her crime. But the misfortunes of my family end not here; a son of the deceased duke slew two of my kindred, whose bodies you ob served hanging in the chamber which had been appropriated to you. Every day, I punctually visit their corpses, to keep alive the fury which ought to animate me to revenge their deaths. And recalling the adultery of my wife, and the miserable slaughter of my kindred, I feel that there is no joy reserved for me in this world.. Now then go in peace; and forget not the useful lesson which I have wished to impart. Remember that

external appearances are deceitful; and that human life, in its most gorgeous condition, is still accompanied by the revolting emblems of mortality. The merchant gladly availed himself of the permission to depart; and returned with greater satisfaction to the toils of traffic. (56)

APPLICATION.

My beloved, the Prince is intended to represent any good Christian, whose wife is the soul that sins, and being punished, remembers its iniquity and amends. The adulterer is the devil; to cut off his head, is to destroy our vices. The slain kinsmen of the Prince, are love to God and to our neighbour, which the sin of our first parent annihilated. The merchant is any good prelate or confessor, to whom the truth should always be exposed.

TALE LVII.

OF PERFECT LIFE.

WHEN Titus was Emperor of Rome, he made a decree that the natal day of his first-born son should be held sacred; and that, whosoever violated it by any kind of labor, should be put to death. This edict being promulgated, he called Virgil (57) to him, and said, "Good friend, I have established a certain law; but as offences may frequently be committed without being discovered by the ministers of justice, we desire you to frame some curious piece of art, which may reveal to us every transgressor of the law." Virgil acquiesced, and immediately commenced his operations. He constructed a magic statue, and caused it to be erected in the midst of the city. By virtue of the secret powers with

which it was invested, it communicated to the Emperor whatever was done amiss. And thus, by the accusation of the statue, an infinite number of persons were convicted and punished. Now there was a certain carpenter, called Focus, who pursued his occupation every day alike. Once, as he lay in bed, his thoughts turned upon the accusations of the statue, and the multitudes which it had caused to perish. In the morning, he clothed himself, and proceeded to the statue, which he addressed in the following manner: "0 statue! statue! because of thy informations, many of our citizens have been apprehended and slain. I vow to my God, that if thou accusest me, I will break thy head." Having so said, he returned home. About the first hour, the Emperor, as he was wont, despatched sundry messengers to the statue, to enquire if the edict had been strictly com plied with. After they had arrived, and delivered the Emperor's pleasure, the statue exclaimed-" Friends, look up; what see ye written upon my forehead?" They looked, and beheld three sentences which ran thus: