sensible state, and just as the mariners of the Arch Druid's vessel were hauling on board the plank, Pudens party arrived, and mistaking the ship, and thinking that the Arch Druid, whom they saw on board, was the captain, they told him that they had brought another exile for the Isle of Patmos, and delivered up their prisoner to him.

The opportunity of a good stratagem immediately presented itself to the ready mind of the Arch Druid: telling the officers, therefore, that all was quite right, he hurried Pudens below deck, and ordered the sailors to crowd sail and make off as expeditiously as possible. All this was done with such haste that our hero was quite unconscious of his situation, and little dreamt that he was a fellow passenger with Claudia, and bound for Britain !

Events had succeeded each other with such rapidity, that he felt half stupified; and as far as he was capable of forming an opinion as to his present destination from what he had learnt from the lictor who had dragged him so hastily from prison, he doubted not but that he was soon to encounter the waves of the Egean! The Arch Druid, however, soon found an op

portunity of explaining to him his real situation, and, of course, inculcated the necessity of maintaining the most perfect secrecy until the termination of his voyage.

We will not attempt to describe the rapturous feelings of joy, and gratitude to heaven, which overflowed the hearts of the happy lovers on their mutual recognition as fellow passengers: suffice it to say, that they encountered no more perils until they reached the longed-for haven.

CHAPTER XXI.

O three times famous Isle, where is that place that might
Be with thyselfe compared for glorie and delight,

Whilst Glastonbury stood?

For rev'rence to that seat which hath ascribed beene

Trees yet in winter bloome and beare their summers greene! DRAYTON'S POLYOLBION.

THE wary Arch Druid would not allow Pudens to accompany him to court, lest it might lead to his discovery, or possibly involve Arviragus in a dispute with the Romans on account of his harbouring a person convicted of treason. Thither, however, he conducted Claudia; and there we must leave them, for the present, and return to our hero, who it was resolved should retire to the Isle of Avalon*

* Now Glastonbury; and is no longer an island, as it was when it afforded an asylum to Pudens, or in after days to the great Alfred. Its British name was Ynis Withrin."

until the Arch Druid had prepared the King for his reception.

As Pudens was seeking some place of shelter, in this little frequented island, he happened to see an aged pilgrim, whose long flowing beard gave him a singularly venerable appearance, toiling up a hill, supporting his weary and tottering steps with a staff. The old man having gained a little elevation paused to recover breath, and thrusting his staff into the ground, leaned upon it, to rest himself; when apparently some object struck his sight, which wounded his feelings; for he raised his hands in a desponding kind of manner, and uttered the words, "I am weary! I am weary!" On drawing nearer, Pudens perceived that he was of the Jewish nation; and concluding him to be one of those who had lately been banished from Rome, he addressed him in a soothing tone, telling him that he presumed that they were brother exiles. Having by his kindness and gentleness removed the alarm which his sudden appearance had at first excited, he continued the conversation until at length he had so far ingratiated himself with the pilgrim as to venture to ask him, what had caused the emotion of dejection which he had witnessed?

VOL. III.

L

The stranger, after a momentary hesitation, replied, that it had been called forth by a circumstance which probably would not interest him; for it was merely on account of having seen a man bow down before the branchless trunk of an old oak.

"And did this circumstance affect you so painfully?" asked Pudens, somewhat surprised: "that oak was the man's God; and whom would you have him worship?"

"I would have him worship," replied the stranger, as his countenance assumed a more resolute and animated expression,-I would have him worship, a God, mayhap unknown to you, but whom I will not shrink from declaring to you, be the consequences what they may. I would have him worship the God of Heaven and Earth!"

The old man looked steadfastly at his young companion, with a composure which seemed to have been prepared to receive a burst of contempt at the least, if not a more violent expression of contumely; but Pudens, to his astonishment, briefly and mildly replied:

"And so would I; for know, venerable pilgrim, that your God is my God!"

Tears of joy started from the old man's eyes,