n instructed by her father
how to treat her, and in what manner, and to keep the anticipated visit
entirely secret. Elfonzo was watching the movements of everybody; some
friends had told him of the plot that was laid to carry off Ambulinia.
At night, he rallied some two or three of his forces, and went silently
along to the stately mansion; a faint and glimmering light showed
through the windows; lightly he steps to the door; there were many
voices rallying fresh in fancy's eye; he tapped the shutter; it was
opened instantly, and he beheld once more, seated beside several ladies,
the hope of all his toils; he rushed toward her, she rose from her seat,
rejoicing; he made one mighty grasp, when Ambulinia exclaimed, "Huzza
for Major Elfonzo! I will defend myself and you, too, with this
conquering instrument I hold in my hand; huzza, I say, I now invoke
time's broad wing to shed around us some dewdrops of verdant spring."

But the hour had not come for this joyous reunion; her friends struggled
with Elfonzo for some time, and finally succeeded in arresting her from
his hands. He dared not injure them, because they were matrons whose
courage needed no spur; she was snatched from the arms of Elfonzo, with
so much eagerness, and yet with such expressive signification, that he
calmly withdrew from this lovely enterprise, with an ardent hope that he
should be lulled to repose by the zephyrs which whispered peace to his
soul. Several long days and night passed unmolested, all seemed to have
grounded their arms of rebellion, and no callidity appeared to be going
on with any of the parties. Other arrangements were made by Ambulinia;
she feigned herself to be entirely the votary of a mother's care, and
she, by her graceful smiles, that manhood might claim his stern dominion
in some other region, where such boisterous love was not so prevalent.
This gave the parents a confidence that yielded some hours of sober joy;
they believed that Ambulinia would now cease to love Elfonzo, and that
her stolen affections would now expire with her misguided opinions. They
therefore declined the idea of sending her to a distant land. But oh!
they dreamed not of the rapture that dazzled the fancy of Ambulinia, who
would say, when alone, youth should not fly away on his rosy pinions,
and leave her to grapple in the conflict with unknown admirers.

No frowning age shall control

The constant current of my soul,

Nor a tear from pity