SOPHENE AND SOPHOCLES. 137 



my heart was ready to break ; I could scarce breathe ; and, to 

 complete my anguish, I was obliged to dissemble in so violent a 

 crisis. Sosthenes was looking for us ; but Imlacca held him in dis- 

 course, to give me time to compose myself, at least apparently, as 

 well as I could. Whether Sosthenes was taken up with other things, 

 or whether I acted my part well, it seemed he had not noticed my 

 emotion. The repast was served up. I came in with a fixed reso- 

 lution of not casting even a glance at Sophene. Some god surely 

 fave me strength, and I was calm. I applauded myself for it ; nay, 

 know not in my false security, if I went not so far as to defy Love. 

 The supper was yet more sumptuous than the first. It was easy for 

 me to see from the delicacy and excellency of the entertainment, 

 that Sosthenes had been taken unawares the night before. I had 

 leisure to examine the arrangement of it. Sophene was absent ; I 

 did not long so much to see her, but accustomed myself to that 

 privation. I was easy : at least, I believed I was. Jupiter, said I 

 to myself, I give thee thanks ; thou hast wrought within me a sud- 

 den, a happy change. Alas ! Jupiter himself made a joke of my 

 weakness. Such was the character of my dream. 



Two hours had passed away, and I had shown no sensible emo- 

 tion or disquietude. Already I hoped the danger was over. The 

 entertainment drew towards an end ; we were ready to rise froir 

 table. Fatal moment ! behold, Sophene, at the head of the most 

 beautiful maidens of Aulycone, entered with a modest countenance. 

 Her artless hand had tied her fair tresses, part of which were rolled 

 on her head in ringlets ; part waved on her shoulders, which were 

 more white than new-fallen snow. Every one burst into acclama- 

 tions. Their eyes wander in doubt amidst so many ravishing ob- 

 jects. Mine were fixed, with my whole soul in them: they were 

 bent upon Sophene. At the harmonious sound of her lyre, her 

 companions instantly formed an elegant dance ; broke off; resumed 

 their measure ; and, directed and actuated by her, executed all that 

 the art of dancing, and genuine graces are capable of attaining. 



In the mean time, Sosthenes bade his daughter sing all was 

 silent gods ! what melody, what sweetness, what extent, what 

 taste, what " soul" in her voice ! Is it Philomela, or the Syrens who 

 sing ? No, it is Sophene. My senses were ravished. Imlacca 

 remarked it but too much ; and, with a low voice, said to me, Shall 

 we still go back to Eurycone ? Scarce did I hear him. Ah ! se- 

 ducing pleasures, how dear I have paid for you I Every one now 

 retired ; the sky was serene ; a dead calm reigned throughout 

 nature. I alone was agitated. In vain I called for rest ; my trouble 

 increased with my endeavours to remove it ; it rose to the highest 

 pitch ; it could increase no more : and, though oppressed by it, I 

 felt it no less sensibly. Fool that I was, I yet strove to hide from 

 myself the cause of it. I arose, walked with great strides ; stopt, 

 went to bed again ; and again leaped out of it as from a burning pile. 

 Thus a roebuck, that one of Diana's nymphs has wounded in the 

 woods of Cynthia, strives in vain to force out the arrow that galls 

 him ; he fills the air with his screams ; he rambles about as his 

 pain leads him ; it attends him every where, and nothing allays it. 



M.M. No. 8. S 



