sun-burnt, and her complexion was of a deep olive; her eyes looked fiery and strange; and in her hand she bore a long black rod, with which she at intervals traced a variety of singular figures upon the ground, round about which she danced in all the eccentric attitudes of folly and delirium. Suddenly she broke off her dance, whirled herself round thrice with rapidity, and after a moment’s pause she sung the following ballad:
THE GIPSY’S SONG.
Come, cross my hand! My art surpasses
All that did ever mortal know:
Come, maidens, come! My magic glasses
Your future husband’s form can show:
For ’Tis to me the power is given
Unclosed the book of fate to see;
To read the fixed resolves of heaven,
And dive into futurity.
I guide the pale moon’s silver waggon;
The winds in magic bonds I hold;
I charm to sleep the crimson dragon,
Who loves to watch o’er buried gold.
Fenced round with spells, unhurt I venture
Their sabbath strange where witches keep;
Fearless the sorcerer’s circle enter,
And woundless tread on snakes asleep.
Lo! here are charms of mighty power!
This makes secure an husband’s truth;
And this, composed at midnight hour,
Will force to love the coldest youth.
If any maid too much has granted,
Her loss this philtre will repair.
This blooms a cheek where red is wanted,
And this will make a brown girl fair;
Then silent hear, while I discover
What I in fortune’s mirror view;
And each, when many a year is over,
Shall own the Gipsy’s sayings true.
“Dear aunt!” said Antonia when the stranger had finished, “is she not mad?”
“Mad? Not she, child; she is only wicked. She is a gipsy, a sort of vagabond, whose sole occupation is to run about the country telling lyes, and pilfering from those who come by their money honestly. Out upon such vermin! If I were king of Spain, every one of them should be burnt alive, who was found in my dominions after the next three weeks.”
These words were pronounced so audibly, that they reached the gipsy’s ears. She immediately pierced through the crowd, and made towards the ladies. She saluted them thrice in the eastern fashion, and then addressed herself to Antonia.
THE GIPSY.
“Lady, gentle lady! know,
I your future fate can show;
Give your hand, and do not fear;
Lady, gentle lady! hear!”
“Dearest aunt!” said Antonia, “indulge me this once! let me have my fortune told me!”
“Nonsense, child! She will tell you nothing but falsehoods.”
“No matter; let me at least hear what she has to say. Do, my dear aunt, oblige me, I beseech you!”
“Well, well! Antonia, since you are so bent upon the thing——— Here, good woman, you shall see the hands of both of us. There is money for you, and now let me hear my fortune.”
As she said this, she drew off her glove, and presented her hand. The gipsy looked at it for a moment, and then made this reply:
THE GIPSY.
“Your fortune? You are now so old,
Good dame, that ’Tis already told:
Yet, for your money, in a trice
I will repay you in advice.
Astonished at your childish vanity,
Your friends all tax you with insanity,
And grieve to see you use your art
