In vain fquall'd the cook-maid, and pray'd not to wed; Cinder craunch'd in her mouth, cinder rain'd on her

head,

She fank in the coffin with cinders ftrewn o'er,

And coffin nor Betty faw man any more.

No. LII.

THE BLEEDING NUN.

I am not at liberty to publish the name of the author of this Ballad: it is founded on the fourth chapter of the Romance of "Ambrofio, or the Monk."

WHERE yon proud turrets crown the rock,

Seeft thou a warrior stand?
He fighs to hear the caftle clock
Say midnight is at hand.

It strikes, and now his lady fair
Comes tripping from her hall,
Her heart is rent by deep despair,
And tears in torrents fall.

"Ah! woe is me, my love," she cried,

"What anguish wrings my heart:

"Ah! woe is me,” she said, and figh'd,

"We must for ever part.

"Know,

"Know, ere three days are paft and flown,
"(Tears choak the piteous tale ')
"A parents vow, till now unknown,
"Devotes me to the veil."-

"Not fo, my Agnes !" Raymond cried, "For leave thee will I never; "Thou art mine, and I am thine, "Body and foul for ever!

"Then quit thy cruel father's bower,
"And fly, my love, with me.”-
"Ah! how can I escape his power,
"Or who can fet me free.

"I cannot leap yon wall so high,

"Nor fwim the foffe with thee; "I can but wring my hands, and figh "That none can fet me free."

"Oft have you heard old Ellinore,

"Your nurse, with horror tell,

"How, robed in white, and ftain'd with gore,

"Appears a fpectre fell.

"And

"And each fifth year, at dead of night,
"Stalks through the castle gate,
"Which, by an ancient folemn rite,
"For her muft open wait.

"Soon as to fome far diftant land,
"Retires to-morrow's fun,
"With torch and dagger in her hand,
"Appears the Bleeding Nun.

"Now you shall play the bleeding Nun,
"Array'd in robes fo white,

"And at the folemn hour of one,
"Stalk forth to meet your knight-

"Our steeds fhall bear us far away,
"Beyond your father's power,
"And Agnes, long ere break of day,
"Shall rest in Raymond's bower."

"My heart confents, it must be done, Father, 'tis your decree,

"And I will play the Bleeding Nun, "And fly, my love, with thee.

"For I am thine,” fair Agnes cried,
"And leave thee will I never;
"I am thine, and thou art mine,

Body and foul for ever!"

Fair

Fair Agnes fat within her bower,
Array'd in robes fo white,

And waited the long wifh'd-for hour,
When she should meet her knight.

And Raymond, as the clock ftruck one,
Before the caftle stood;

And foon came forth his lovely Nun,
Her white robes ftain'd in blood.

He bore her in his arms away,
And placed her on her steed;

And to the maid he thus did fay,
As on they rode with speed:

"Oh Agnes! Agnes! thou art mine

"And leave thee will I never;

"Thou art mine, and I am thine, "Body and foul for ever!"

"Oh Raymond! Raymond! I am thine, "And leave thee will I never; "I am thine, and thou art mine, Body and foul for ever!"

At length,-"We're fafe!"-the warrior cried; "Sweet love abate thy fpeed;"

But madly still fhe onwards hied

Nor feem'd his call to heed.

Through