356 SOPIIENE AND SOPHOCLES. 



soon as full-blown, his love flies away with your beauty ; but ours 

 will be everlasting-. I do not know, replied she, what are the 

 dreams that Morpheus intends for me, but if they must be the repre- 

 sentation of what pleased me during- day-light, Sophene will have 

 nothing to complain of. Sovereign of my soul, said I, you pour into 

 it both pleasure and comfort. Would to the gods that we might be 

 united together ! What is life for me without you '? Nothing but a 

 troublesome burden, infinitely worse than death itself. My father 

 cherishes me ; my happiness is near his heart. Far from finding- 

 fault with my passion, he will omit nothing to obtain your parents' 

 acquiescence. Themisteus is well born ; he is rich ; he is not to be 

 despised ; but if Sosthenes does not consider me a proper match for you, 

 then (witness those charms which I worship !) never shall Sophocles 

 burn but for Sophene. Were Jupiter to leave me the master of my 

 destiny, and to allow me to choose among all the goddesses, I would 

 make more account of you than of them all together. If Venus her- 

 self should offer me both her favours and immortality, I would ra- 

 ther die with Sophene than be immortal with the goddess. 



I have opened my soul to you, said she, equally as unable to dis- 

 semble, as to resist the will of the gods, who are pleased to kindle in 

 the heart of a simple maiden a flame which cannot but be innocent, 

 since the object of it is the minister of Jove. I am far from repining"at 

 it ; but let us break off a discourse that we must not out of prudence and 

 decency spin out any longer. Our parents will soon return, perhaps 

 they are now on their way hornet May they be favourable to our 

 vows ! So saying, she wished me a good night ; I echoed it ? in all 

 the exultation of my heart. 



We separated in good time. Hardly had I reached my chamber, 

 when the company returned. I retired to bed, and never had a 

 calmer sleep. Let nobody say that we find in our dreams happy or 

 fatal presages either of the good or the evil that is to befal us; mine 

 were pleasant. 



Sure of the heart of Sophene, a soft serenity beamed in my face; 

 Cratisthenes complimented me upon it; but my joy did not last long. 

 Sosthenes, coming up to my father before us all, said to him, " Wise 

 Themisteus, it is not to us but to Jupiter that are to be referred the 

 honours you have paid us. As the first cause of your kindness 

 toward us, he will reward you for it. Let us make haste, and thank 

 him by a new sacrifice. A business of moment calls me back to 

 Aulycone. Though unknown to my daughter, it concerns her. 



Convinced as I am of her dutifulness, I have promised her in 

 marriage. The young man I design for her is amiable ; he has 

 morals, birth, and sense; he is " affectionately" attached to me. I 

 shall have in him a son, rather than a son-in-law. He urges me to 

 keep my word, and I am going to fulfil it. There will be nothing 

 wanting to the young people's happiness, if you will honour their 

 nuptials with your presence ; and you, charming Sophene, come to 

 embellish the pomp of it. 



What was my situation when I heard him pronounce these words ! 

 A deadly chill ran through my whole frame. Whether it was 

 noticed, or unnoticed, I cannot tell : T know that it was extreme. 



