按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Forgotten； lady？ Never； neverevery word and look of yours is
stamped on my memory； never to be effaced。 I cannot forget a
transaction in which YOU bore a part： I cannot forget the scene
that passed between us； every circumstance is too precious and
sacred。 As to PARDON〃he took her extended hand and pressed it
respectfully to his lips〃I would to Heaven； dear lady； that you
had in truth injured me much； that I might have much to forgive you。
Alas！ I have at present nothing to pardon。〃
Both were now silent。 At length Rosabella resumed the conversation
by saying〃You have made a long absence from Venice； did you travel
far？〃
〃I did。〃
〃And received much pleasure from your journey？〃
〃Much； for everywhere I heard the praises of Rosabella。〃
〃Count Flodoardo；〃 she interrupted him with a look of reprehension；
but in a gentle voice； 〃would you again offend me？〃
〃That will soon be out of my power。 Perhaps you can guess what are
my present intentions。〃
〃To resume your travels soon？〃
〃Exactly so； and the next time that I quit Venice； to return to it
no more。〃
〃No more？〃 she repeated； eagerly。 〃Oh； not so； Flodoardo！ Ah； can
you leave me？〃She stopped； ashamed of her imprudence。 〃Can you
leave my uncle？ I meant to say。 You do but jest； I doubt not。〃
〃By my honour； lady； I never was more in earnest。〃
〃And whither； then； do you mean to go？〃
〃To Malta； and assist the knights in their attacks upon the corsairs
of Barbary。 Providence； perhaps； may enable me to obtain the
command of a galley； then will I call my vessel 'Rosabella；' then
shall the war…cry be still 'Rosabella；' that name will render me
invincible。〃
〃Oh！ this is a mockery； Count。 I have not deserved that you should
sport with my feelings so cruelly。〃
〃It is to SPARE your feelings； signora； that I am now resolved to
fly from Venice； my presence might cause you some uneasy moments。 I
am not the happy man whose sight is destined to give you pleasure； I
will； at least； avoid giving you pain。〃
〃And you really can resolve to abandon the Doge； whose esteem for
you is so sincere； whose friendship has always been so warm？〃
〃I value his friendship highly； but it is not sufficient to make me
happy； and could he lay kingdoms at my feet； still would his
friendship be insufficient to make me happy。〃
〃Does； then； your happiness require so much？〃
〃It doesmuch more than I have mentioned； infinitely more。 But one
boon can make me happy； I have begged for it on my knees。〃 He
caught her hand and pressed it eagerly to his lips。 〃I have begged
for it； Rosabella； and my suit has been rejected。〃
〃You are a strange enthusiast；〃 she said with difficulty； and
scarcely knew what she said； while Flodoardo drew her gently nearer
to him； and murmured in a supplicating voice； 〃Rosabella！〃
〃What would you of me？〃
〃My happiness！〃
She gazed upon him for a moment undecided； then hastily drew away
her hand； and exclaimed； 〃Leave me； this moment； I command you。
Leave me； for Heaven's sake！〃
Flodoardo clasped his hands together in despair and anguish。 He
bowed his head in token of obedience。 He left her with slow steps
and a melancholy air； and as he passed the threshold； turned to bid
her farewell for ever。 Suddenly she rushed towards him； caught his
hand； and pressed it to her heart。
〃Flodoardo；〃 she cried； 〃I am thine！〃 and sank motionless at his
feet。
CHAPTER II： A DANGEROUS PROMISE。
And now who was so blessed as the fortunate Flodoardo？ The victory
was his own； he had heard the wished…for sentence pronounced by the
lips of Rosabella。 He raised her from the ground； and placed her on
a sofa。 Her blue eyes soon unclosed themselves once more； and the
first object which they beheld was Flodoardo kneeling at her feet；
while with one arm he encircled her waist。 Her head sank upon the
shoulder of the man for whom she had breathed so many sighs； who had
occupied so many of her thoughts by day； who had been present in so
many of her dreams by night。
As they gazed in silent rapture on each other； they forgot that they
were mortals； they seemed to be transported to a happier； to a
better world。 Rosabella thought that the chamber in which she sat
was transformed into an earthly Paradise； invisible seraphs seemed
to hallow by their protecting presence the indulgence of her
innocent affection； and she poured forth her secret thanks to Him
who had given her a heart susceptible of love。
Through the whole course of man's existence； such a moment as this
occurs but once。 Happy is he who sighs for its arrival； happy is he
who； when it arrives； has a soul worthy of its enjoyment； happy is
even he for whom that moment has long been passed； so it passed not
unenjoyed； for the recollection of it still is precious。 Sage
philosophers； in vain do you assure us that the raptures of a moment
like this are mere illusions of a heated imagination； scarcely more
solid than an enchanting dream； which fades before the sunbeams of
truth and reason。 Alas！ does there exist a happiness under the moon
which owes not its charms in some degree to the magic of
imagination！
〃You are dear to me； Flodoardo；〃 murmured Rosabella； for Camilla and
her counsels were quite forgotten； 〃oh； you are very； very dear！〃
The youth only thanked her by clasping her still closer to his
bosom； while； for the first time； he sealed her coral lips with his
own。
At that moment the door was suddenly thrown open。 The Doge Andreas
re…entered the apartment： the expected stranger had been suddenly
taken ill； and Andreas was no sooner at liberty than he hastened to
rejoin his favourite。 The rustling of his garments roused the
lovers from their dream of bliss。 Rosabella started from
Flodoardo's embrace with a cry of terror； Flodoardo quitted his
kneeling posture； yet seemed by no means disconcerted at the
discovery。
Andreas gazed upon them for some minutes； with a look which
expressed at once anger； melancholy； and the most heartfelt
disappointment。 He sighed deeply； cast his eyes towards heaven； and
in silence turned to leave the apartment。
〃Stay yet one moment； noble Andreas；〃 cried the Florentine。
The Doge turned； and Flodoardo threw himself at his feet。 Andreas
looked down with calm and serious dignity on the kneeling offender；
by whom his friendship had been so unworthily rewarded； and by whom
his confidence had been so cruelly betrayed。
〃Young man；〃 said he； in a stern voice； 〃the attempt to excuse
yourself must be fruitless。〃
〃Excuse myself！〃 interrupted Flodoardo； boldly； 〃no； my lord； I need
no excuses for loving Rosabella； 'twere for him to excuse himself
who had seen Rosabella and NOT loved her； yet； if it is indeed a
crime in me that I adore Rosabella； 'tis a crime of which Heaven
itself will absolve me； since it formed Rosabella so worth