OR, THE LADY OF THE WEST COUNTRY. A Tale. IN THREE VOLUMES. BY REGINA MARIA ROCHE, AUTHOR OF THE CHILDREN OF THE ABBEY; DISCARDED SON; HOUSES OF TRECOTHICK BOWER. CHAP. I. re Friendship, of itself a holy tie, MORCAR, earl of Sebergham, was brave, generous, and humane, but withal, arrogant, irritable, and resentful; inclined to virtue, when not assailed by temptation, but easily induced to swerve, and prone, in consequence, to excesses-passions, which in infancy might, by due exertions, have been checked, the admonitions of wisdom, and restraint of education, were now, by indulgence and neglect, sprung to a height that overshadowed and eclipsed his nobler qua lities. While those interested in his actions saw, VOL. I. 3 from from many of them, what might have been expected from his virtues, if properly cultivated, they also beheld a proof of the sad imbecility of human nature-an imbecility that cannot be acknowledged without the arrogance of pride being checked, and the beseeching eye uplifted to Him who can alone prevent the foot from stumbling. To humble our pride, and restrain uncharitableness, nothing, indeed, will so effectually tend as the consciousness of our own weakness, a perfect knowledge of ourselves; since he that most clearly perceives his own imperfections will be the last to seek out, or be severe in his condemnation of those of others, and from those who are entirely free? The noblest of mankind will, by an impartial and minute inspection into themselves, by carefully viewing the mirror of their minds, discover failings sufficient to abate their self-exaltation. Yet none can desire the extirpation of the passions; they were implanted in our nature nature to conduce to our felicity, to vivify and enliven the moral atmosphere, to impel us to the attainment of greatness and glory; and he who should wish for more than their subjugation, would be an enemy to the happiness of his species. Virtue and vice thus blended in the disposition of Morcar, esteem and censure were alike his portion; of the former he might, perhaps, have proved himself more deserving, but for the example of licentiousness set him by his sovereign. Just as he emerged from boyhood, Edward the Fourth became established in his long-contested claim. The character of this prince is too well known to need expatiating on. Plunged in almost continual excesses, he appeared entirely forgetful of the slaughter through which he had waded to the throne. To be the scourge of iniquity, the encourager of virtue, the patron of li-. terature and the fine and beneficial arts, seemed to have no charms for him. The fatal beauty that led him to provoke the fierce B 2 |