214 80PHBKE AKO SOPHOCLES. 



quoth she ; " but you will pity us when you are made acquainted with 

 the cause of it. Sophocles is my brother ! Separated from one an- 

 other by the rigour of fate, we had not even hoped to meet one another 

 again — so seemingly improbable did it appear to either of us. But, 

 alas ! indulge our tears, and partake of our unutterable sorrow. The 

 condition we are both in embitters our pleasures, which otherwise 

 would be entirely pure !" 



Rhodope relented — her suspicions vanished — she congratulated me 

 upon having been restored to so charming a sister, and, as she did not 

 question but the hope of her liberty would impel Sylla to favour the 

 love she bore towards me, she heaped caresses upon her in a remarkable 

 degree. Sophene dissembled, and promised every thing. Their con- 

 versation was long. I did not hear it ; they were not within the reach 

 of my hearing. I only perceived them at a distance. 



How handsome they were both ! Sophene could not take offence 

 at it ; — nobody but myself could make any distinction between them. A 

 beautiful girl in love is easily discovered by appearances. Rhodope 

 conceived that her happiness was at hand. Contentment and self- 

 complacency increased her peerless charms. She looked into my eyes for 

 some " passionate glances" which might betray her conquest — she 

 could find none. She inclined to complain of it : a reminiscent sense of 

 modesty checked her — she suddenly departed, and left us by ourselves. 



I pressed my own Sophene to my tumultuous breast with exquisite 

 ardour. " Do I see— do I embrace my Sophene .-'" I cried. " Is it my 

 life, my soul's true happiness ? I had thought you lost to me for ever, 

 Sophene ; and now I find, to my full delight, that you live — even to 

 bless Sophocles!" 



The warmest transports of the fondest lovers surpassed not ours — 

 they never could have equalled them ! When we had given vent to the 

 first raptures of our joy, I intreated Sophene to tell me by what 

 fortuitous and happy means she had escaped from the raging sea, and 

 how she had become a slave in the house of Sostrates. " I will satisfy 

 you," answered the benevolent Sophene. " Do you remember that, 

 though we were too much taken up with the pleasure of making a 

 soft exchange of our tender sentiments — when we set sail for Eurycone 

 — to heed what passed above us, we could not but take notice of a young 

 sailor on board of our vessel. Though he was in rags — though his 

 dishevelled hair hung loosely upon his shoulders and shaded a part of 

 his face, the paleness of it, joined to his sad looks, that did not impair 

 the regularity of his features, announced a dejected but sensible soul, 

 and a youth born in a condition far above his station. Whether there 

 be a sympathy between roble souls, or whether misfortune recommends 

 to feeling hearts a sweet and consoling sympathy — I pitied him. He, 

 on his side, guessed who we were ; and I am bound to say, that either 

 some attracting graces in me — my youth — or the rigours of fate that 

 condemned me to lose my life — moved him to compassion : he appeared 

 eager to offer himself to throw me into the deep, only to plunge to 

 rescue — or to perish with me. Indeed, he did not quit my girdle, but 

 kept me above water ; and as the storm subsided immediately after the 

 sea had received its victim, the wind served only to convey us in safety - 

 to this not far distant coast, where we landed. When I had recovered 



