PAUL AND VIRGINIA, 163 



Oh, day of horror ! Alas ! all was fwallowed up. 

 The furge dathed far up the fliore, a part of the 

 fpeâ:ators, whom an emotion of humanity had 

 prompted to advance toward Firginia, as well as 

 the failor, who had attempted to preferve her by 

 fwimming. This man, efcaped from almoft cer- 

 tain death, kneeled down upon the ftrand, faying : 

 ** Oh, my God, thou haft preferved my life ; but 

 ** I would have facrificed it, willingly, to fave that 

 " of the excellent young lady, who, with all my 

 " perfuafion, would not be prevailed on to undrefs 

 " herfelf, as I did." Domingo and 1 drew out from 

 the waves the unfortunate Pauij entirely deprived 

 of recollecflion, whilft the blood gufhed from his 

 mouth and ears. The Governor put him under 

 the care of furgeons, while we traverfcd the fea- 

 fhore, to fee whether the billows had not borne 

 the body oï Virginia thither; but the wind having 

 fuddenly changed, as is very cuftomary in the cafe 

 of hurricanes, we had the mortification of refleâ:- 

 ing, that we {hould not have it in our power to 

 render to this unfortunate girl even the rites of fe- 

 pulture. We haftened from the fpot, overwhelmed 

 with forrow, our minds entirely engrofled with the 

 lofs of only one perfon, in a (hipwreck where fb 

 many had periflied ; the greater part doubting, 

 from an end fo difaftrous, befalling a young wo- 

 man of fuch exalted virtue, whether a Providence 

 exifted at all j for there are calamities, fo dreadful, 



M z and 



