denial which might have shrunk him down to the proper dimensions; the more he insisted on his own qualifications for entrance, the more impossible it became, for the bigger he grew. Finding that he must become quite another manner of man before he could hope to get in, he gave up the desire; and I now saw, that though when he set his face towards the happy land, he could not get an inch forward, yet the instant he made a motion to turn back into the world, his speed became rapid enough, and he soon got back into the Broad-Way.

Many, who for a time were brought from their usual bulk by some affliction, seemed to get in with ease. They now thought all their difficulties over, for, having been surfeited with the world, during their late disappointment, they turned their backs upon it willingly enough. A fit of sickness, perhaps, which is very apt to reduce, had for a time brought their bodies into subjection, so that they were able just to get in at the gate-way; but as soon as health and spirits returned, the way grew narrower and narrower to them; they could not get on, but turned short, and got back into the world. I saw many attempt to enter who were stopt short by a large burden of worldly cares; others by a load of idolatrous attachments; but I observed that nothing proved a more complete bar than that vast bundle of prejudices with which multitudes were loaded. Others were fatally obstructed by loads of bad habits which they would not lay down, though they knew it prevented their entrance. Some few, however, of most descriptions, who had kept their light alive, by craving constant supplies from the king's treasury, got through at last by a strength which they felt not to be their own. One poor man, who car

ried the largest bundle of bad habits I had seen, could not get on a step; he never ceased, however, to implore for light enough to see where his misery Jay; he threw down one of his bundles, then another, but all to little purpose; still he could not stir. At last striving as if in an agony (which is the true way of entering) he threw down the heaviest article in his pack; this was selfishness; the poor fellow felt relieved at once, his light burnt brightly, and the rest of his pack was as nothing.

Then I heard a great noise as of carpenters at work. I looked what this might be, and saw many sturdy travellers, who, finding they were too bulky to get through, took it into their heads not to reduce themselves, but to widen the gate; they hacked on this side, and hewed on that; but all their hacking, and hewing, and hammering, was to no purpose, they got only their labor for their pains; it was possible they might have reduced themselves, but they could not widen the way.

What grieved me most was, to observe that many who had got on successfully a good way, now stopped to rest, and to admire their own progress. While they were thus valuing themselves on their attainments, their light diminished. While these were boasting how far they had left others behind, who had set out much earlier, some slower travellers, whose beginning had not been so promising, but who had walked carefully, now outstripped them. These last walked, not as though they had already attained; but this one thing they did, forgetting the things which were behind, they pushed forward toward the mark for the prize of their high calling. These, though naturally weak, yet, by laying aside every weight, finished the race that was

set before them. Those who had kept their light burning, who were not wise in their own conceit, who laid their help on one that is mighty, who had chosen to suffer affliction rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin, came at length to the happy land. They had, indeed, the dark and shadowy valley to cross; but even there they found a rod and a staff to comfort them. Their light, instead of being put out by the damps of the valley of the shadow of death, often burnt with added brightness. Some, indeed, suffered the terrors of a short eclipse; but even then their light, like that of a dark lanthorn, was not put out; it was only hid for a while, and even these often finished their course with joy. But be that as it might, the instant they reached the happy land, all tears were wiped from their eyes, and the king himself came forth and welcomed them into his presence, and put a crown upon their heads, with these word, Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

Allegory V.-The Captive. By Glinka.

A BEAUTIFUL and noble maiden was once affianced to a youth of surpassing loveliness; when her father said to her, "It behoves, my child, that thy constancy be tried, that it be proved whether thou wilt remain faithful to thy betrothed, however thou mayst be assailed by temptation." He then commanded his servants to equip the young bride for a journey to a foreign and far distant land. This be

ing done, they brought her a golden cup filled with the water of oblivion. No sooner had she emptied the chalice than a lethargic sleep benumbed her senses, while some irresistible power, like that which is the property of the magnet, carried her away in her state of insensibility.-Scarcely was the farewell tear dry upon her cheek, ere the maiden awoke, and found herself beneath another heaven, and transported into an unknown region that seemed to her altogether another world.

She found herself no longer free as before, but a prisoner confined within a curiously constructed moving cage, fashioned by the hand of some skilful artificer-deprived of her liberty, but still retaining her will. Here she was given in charge to the guardianship of five attendants, who were appointed to be at once her gaolers and her slaves, and to act as the sole interpreters between her and all that surrounded her. Yet might she not trust them without extreme caution, as they were naturally inclined both to deceive and to be deceived. It was, however, the will of the maiden's father, that she should not regain her freedom before she clearly ascertained where she was, and understood for what purpose she had been sent thither. Another condition annexed to her present lot was, that she should not be liberated until such time as her prison-house should fall to pieces of itself, like ice that is thawed by the sunbeams; then-should she still retain the recollection of her former home, and of her destined bridegroom-who although born before the creation of time, was young and beauteous as the blush of morn;-should she still remember her noble origin and descent, awakening as from a deep slumber, she would find herself once more in the happy abode she

had quitted, and in the society of her beloved friends. Should she, on the contrary, forget all her former attachments, her pure and noble feelings, she would be doomed to endure still greater degradation.

Yet how was the poor captive to know either where she was, or for what purpose she was sent hither? so completely had the draught of oblivion effaced the recollection of her former glorious state. She had only some confused and indistinct reminiscence of what she had once been, and of that from which she was now separated-apparently for ever. For a long time she only gazed vacantly around her, scarcely seeing any object beyond herself every thing alarmed, every thing astonished her. At length she began to distinguish, although very imperfectly, such objects as were immediately, close to her; but perceived with grief that they only tended to strengthen and support the cage in which she was enclosed, and which now waxed firmer and firmer every day, as did likewise the fetters that bound her to this strange and unknown spot.

After a considerable interval, the captive became conscious of her power over her five attendants, and tried to fulfil one of the conditions attached to her banishment, namely, to discover, through their means, where it was that she was placed. She accordingly sent them out to explore in every direction, both high and low, and near and far. Obedient to her mandates, they flew away to execute them; but careless, or erring in their observations, and intent upon their own pleasures, they returned with false and deceitful intelligence. In order to obtain any trust worthy report, it was necessary that she should compare the testimony of one with that of another. What, too, tended greatly to impede