240 SOPHENE AND SOPHOCLES. 



from me. I ran over all the walks, all the windings ; I stopped, I 

 listened, I heard nothing. I called upon Sophene, but she answered 

 not. I grew anxious and impatient. 



I had seen her just the moment before ; but can one see too much 

 of her we love? I was to depart with her the next day; but that 

 day seemed to be too far off. 



I accused the gods, I accused Sophene, but soon in order to clear 

 her, I said to myself, She knows not that thou art looking for her ; 

 but at the same moment I said again, Ought she not to guess it? 



At last, after many useless complaints, I thought she had retired 

 into the house ; I was mistaken ; she told me since she had heard 

 me ; but, though she was conscious of the purity of her heart, never- 

 theless, fearing me and herself, she so far got the better of her 

 inclination as to withstand the hints of Love, who might have 

 proved a dangerous adviser. 



I did not close my eyelids all night, 



A confused noise of voices warned me that it was time to rise. 

 Sosthenes, entering my chamber, started at finding me still in bed. 

 Sophocles, said he, all is ready for your departure ! Put on your 

 clothes, and come to the temple. I found the inhabitants of Auly- 

 cone waiting for us at the gate of it. We went thither amidst uni- 

 versal acclamations. The solemnity of this day was equal to that 

 of our arrival ; I received the same honours ; they could not be 

 greater: Sophene had no possibility of speaking to me ; but I read 

 her content in her eyes, and that she appropriated those honours to 

 herself. Love makes all common between lovers. 



The sacrifice being over, we embarked ; the navigation was 

 happy. Our citizens discovered our ship from afar. Sophene 

 excited the surprise and admiration of all that saw her. 



I presented my guests to my father, and with an expressive look, 

 I told him how welcome I had been to them. Themisteus thanked 

 them for it in so pathetical a manner, that they thought he did more 

 for them, than they had done for me. 



Dianthea made much of Sophene ; she could not forbear kissing 

 and caressing her ; I was jealous of it ; but she was only the 

 momentary trustee of those kisses ; I took them all from her. 



While I was complimented on my return, my father showed 

 Sosthenes his house and garden. The models of them both were of 

 his own composition. In them were not to be found those striking 

 beauties which we admire in those magnificent palaces wherein the 

 voluptuous Greek equals, if not surpasses, the luxury of the kings of 

 Asia. Every thing there was plain and convenient, without either 

 ostentation or prodigality. The taste and wisdom of the proprietor 

 made up for the want of ornaments. Sosthenes, accustomed in his 

 own abode to stateliness and marvellous pomp, sighed at his mistake. 

 O Themisteus, said he, how many treasures have I lavished in 

 building a house infinitely less pleasant than yours ! That reflection 

 gave room to many others which deceived the time till supper. 

 They sat down to table. I shall not describe the entertainment. 



The austerity of Themisteus' manners had banished profusion 



