138 SOPHENK AND SOPHOCLES. 



I was in that unhappy condition, when towards the middle of the 

 night a glittering light struck my eyes ; I heard a dismal noise like 

 that of thunder. Placed upon a magnificent car, Love appeared 

 before me in all his majesty. His numerous train attended him, and 

 cried, " Sophocles, confess the sovereign of nature; prostrate thyself 

 and worship him." I fell down at his feet without knowing what I 

 did. Love, a bow in his hand, with a threatening look and a face 

 inflamed with wrath, rejected my involuntary homage. "Here is the 

 audacious mortal who opposes my authority. Thou alone hast a 

 mind to escape from me : that god whose minister thou entitlest thy- 

 self, that god himself cannot withstand me. Die, inconsiderate 

 wretch! I now reject a heart that rejected me I will have thy 

 blood." Like a victim that a priest is going to slay, I waited for the 

 mortal blow ; the arm was lifted up, the bow was bent, and the fatal 

 arrow was ready to fly ; his revenge was at the point of being sa- 

 tisfied, when on a sudden a thousand confused voices of admiration 

 arose'from every part; Love stopped, and wondered at the occasion 

 of it. A respectful silence seized his retinue; I also looked and 

 saw Sophene with a crown of roses upon her brow, and a wreath of 

 flowers in her hand. She came on with a timid aspect, though her 

 motions were regulated by the graces; she cast herself at the feet of 

 the god, and embraced his knees; she bedewed them with tears, but 

 durst not, could not speak. Love understood the meaning of that 

 " eloquent silence." " How, Sophene," said he, raising her from the 

 ground, " you have a concern, you shed tears for an ingrate who 

 braves both rny power and your charms. Let me punish him ; your 

 glory and mine require it." < Forbear, sovereign of the gods!" said 

 she, with a soft and modest accent; " Sophocles is no more a rebel ; 

 he is your slave, your votary ; he sighs, he loves. O Sophocles ! 

 you read in my heart." 



Surprised with my adventure, I could not say whether to complain 

 or rejoice at it. Freed from incertitude with regard to my situation, 

 I now knew my passion and the object of it. I gave way to pleasant 

 prospects. My fancy hurried me ; it soared on the wings of hope. 

 Flattering chimeras! why did you disappear? why did you leave me 

 to myself? The most impetuous agitations tossed my mind. I burned 

 with a fire that consumed me. My desires broke loose. " Sophene," 

 cried I, " come and share in my transports ; yield to my impatience ; 

 you love me, then? yes, you do ; I see my happiness in your eyes. 

 What can stop you ? But who are those monsters that bar my way 

 to you ? their cold poison chills me. Cruel vicissitude ! I can no 

 longer bear you." 



Awakened by my cries and my sobs, Imlacca came into my 

 chamber. " Friend," said I with a sigh, " Love has accomplished 

 his revenge ; he has just now exhausted upon my heart all the arrows 

 in his quiver, all the fires of his torch I love; but what avails that 

 acknowledgment? You knew it before, and had you not known it 

 my trouble would have told you. I love," said I, with a faltering 

 accent. "O Jupiter! O Venus! O Sophene !" 



Imlacca answered my complaints with a long fit of laughter. " I 

 feared your complaint was of a different nature," said he. " Compose 



