ON the two last leaves, and written in another hand, are some stanzas in the romance or ballad measure of the Spaniards. The subject is an adventure soon related. M M Thy lonely watch-tower, Larenille, And loud and long from hill to hill When Hernan, rising on his oar, Shot like an arrow from the shore. Home by his dangerous path he went; Two Strangers at the Convent-gate. They ascended by steps hewn out in the rock; and, having asked for admittance, were lodged there. Brothers in arms the Guests appeared; The Youngest with a Princely grace! His velvet cap a medal bore, And ermine fringed his broidered vest; *The Convent of La Rábida. And, ever sparkling on his breast, The Eldest had a rougher aspect, and there was craft in his eye. He stood a little behind in a long black mantle, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword; and his white hat and white shoes glittered in the moon-shine. + "Not here unwelcome, tho' unknown. The moon, that thro' the portal shone, Thro' many a court and gallery dim When other sounds had died away, * See Bernal Diaz, c. 203; and also a well-known portrait of Cortes, ascribed to Titian. Cortes was now in the 43rd, Pizarro in the 60th year of his age. + Augustin Zarate, lib. iv. c. 9. Where God was worshipped, night and day, "Now stand we where COLUMBUS stood!" "PEREZ, † thou good old man," they cried, The supper in the chamber done, + Late Superior of the House. * In the chancel of the cathedral of St. Domingo. The words of the epitaph. "A Castilia y a Leon nuevo Mundo $ Mexico. dio Colon." Of seven kings in chains of gold * The Eldest swore by our Lady, + the Youngest by his conscience; by in his grey habit, self again and again. he at last," the work It tells of things you have mentioned; and, were Cortes and Pizarro here, it might perhaps make them reflect for a moment." The Youngest smiled as he took it into his hand. He read it aloud to his companion with an unfaltering voice; but, when he laid it down, a silence ensued; nor was he seen to smile again that night. "The curse is heavy," said he at parting, "but Cortes may live to disappoint it."'Ay, and Pizarro too!" while the Franciscan, sitting turned away and crossed him"Here is a little book," said of him in his shroud below. 66 * Afterwards the arms of Cortes and his descendants. + Fernandez, lib ii. c. 63. B. Diaz, c. 203. || "After the death of Guatimotzin," says B. Diaz, "he became gloomy and restless; rising continually from his bed, and wandering about in the dark."-" Nothing prospered with him; and it was ascribed to the curses he was loaded with." *.* A circumstance, recorded by Herera, renders this visit not improbable. "In May, 1528, Cortes |