THE KING OF THE HARTZ. 9
fully preserved one very fine turnip, which she changed into a rapid courser, ready saddled ; and, as soonas the Gnome’s back was turned, she leaped on her steed, and directed him towards the valley of May, whither he carried her with the velocity of the wind. Rubezahl returned with his account of the turnips, and wondered at not finding Emma ready to meet him. He called her aloud; and, receiving no answer, began to look for her through the apartments of the palace. After along and vain search it occurred to him that he had been duped ; and, instantly divesting himself of his human shape, he flew inta the air, and discovered the fugitive just as she was reaching the limits of his domain. In a transport of rage he dashed twoclovds together, and directed the lightning which issued from them towards Emma. The fluid struck an oak which marked the boundary, but Emma had passed it ihe iat before ; and, beyond this, the thunder of Rubezahl was impotent.
he Gnome king returned home, and, having spent himself in exclamations of rage and despair, he de- stroyed the palace and gardens; and buried himself thousands of fathoms deep in the solid earth, to forget for awhile his disappointed passion.
Emma was in the arms of her Ratibor, who Jed her to her father’s palace, where their nuptials were so- Jemnized with a royal splendour. ‘The memory of Emma's adventure is still preserved in Silesia. Ar- tifices of a similar kind are even now resorted to for getting rid of disagreeable suitors; and the people who don’t know the name of the Gnome king, call him to this day,
“ Tue Turnip Counter.
THE CAUSE OF SPAIN. BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORGE CANNING. ? Mip the tempest that o’er her horizon is spread,
- Mid the bolts that around her in thunder are hurl’d,
Behold where Britannia raises her head, And stands like a tower, the last hope of the world.
