face with an execration from his mother: the good lady drew up the flood-gates of her eloquence, and a cataract of reproach and abuſe daſhed down upon him. Suſpecting immediately what had happened, he began to rave like a madman; and would have compleated the tragedy by killing both his mother and himſelf, if the loud ſtorm raiſed by her voice had not brought the whole houſhold together in time to diſarm the furious Orlando.
When the firſt burſt of violence had blown over, they fell to calm explanations. Friedbert endeavoured to free himſelf from the ſuſpicion of being an exorciſer of ſpirits, or an adept in the black art: in order to clear himſelf from the imputation of attempting to impoſe upon his orthodox mother, for a daughter-in-law a ſhe-devil in diſguiſe, he related the whole progreſs of his adventure with the beautiful Greek, and explained the quality of her flying garment. Evidence, however, commonly labours invain
