216 SOFHBKS AKD SOPHOCLES. 



an unexceptionable situation in life. In brief, they are now united, and 

 incomparably happy ; and I do not question but love, who seems to be 

 pleased to make us amends for the woes he has made us suffer, will soon 

 reward our constancy by binding fast the indissoluble ties of our so-long- 

 wished-for union." 



Now that I have told you how unexpectedly I was rescued, let us 

 think on the same means of shaking off our present chains. Do you 

 begin by feigning to love Rhodope : humour an inclination that may 

 turn out useful to us : do not love her — but let her believe that you do. 

 The gods will order the remainder. What you say is true ; but be 

 mindful that necessity acknowledges no law ; and since happiness de- 

 pends upon it, you must of course behave to her as I shall behave to 

 Sostrates. " But does Sostrates love you indeed, and in truth ?" said 

 I. " How much I fear the consequences of that passion ! How power- 

 ful a master is Virtue's slave ! You are his — " " You frighten me even 

 unto death, Sophocles !" continued she, energetically, " why should we 

 suffer green-eyed jealousy to rob us of all we love and value on earth ? 

 I am not afraid of Rhodope — and you have nothing to fear from Sos- 

 trates." As we were in danger of being taken unawares, we then broke 

 off our discourse. One good fortune comes upon the back of another. 

 This very day I found Imlacca again. Our joy was equal to our surprise 

 — love did not rob friendship of its raptures — we related to each other 

 our mutual distresses — he inquired anxiously of me whether I had writ- 

 ten to Temistheus: "No," said I, "I had lost Sophene — all my 

 thoughts were irreconcilably bent on death. It is but to-day that we 

 have met again." He was stunned at my speech ; he had thought that 

 Sophene's loss had distracted my mind — he strove to comfort me — I 

 undeceived him. " No, dear Imlacca, no ; Sophene is not dead — but 

 she is a slave— make haste- go, and tell our parents that we are indeed 

 living — but under slavery." He promised to work a speedy reconciliation 

 among our common relations, and to engage them to come and redeem 

 us, and after the tenderest and most sincere protestations as from two 

 friends united by sympathy and virtue, we separated. 



I could no longer live without Sophene ; I looked for her everywhere ; 

 I lost no opportunity of speaking to her. The confidence that Rhodophe 

 reposed in us, the various occupations of Sostrates — obliged to go abroad 

 with Dymas — permitted our seeing each other often. Nevertheless, So- 

 phene told me that we ought to behave more prudently : I felt that she 

 was wise, discreet, and discerning : but prudence is seldom the attendant 

 of love, and her " reason" did not prevent her from remaining in my 

 company. The ease of the heart sharpens the natural wit of the under- 

 standing : we enjoyed those dehcious interviews, the value of which is 

 only known to lovers. I acquainted her with what had passed between 

 Imlacca and me. Hope rendered us forgetful of our bondage; we 

 thought we were free already. The appeased gods made us feel before- 

 hand, and in all their peerless purity, the delicious sweets, they were at 

 this time preparing for us. 



Sometimes we spoke of Rhodope. Sophene imparted to me the en- 

 gaging things he said to her, as from me ; we reproached ourselves with 

 our deceits — and, moreover, fabricated new ones. If I plundered a 

 thrilling kiss from her — and I often did— she would softly inquire 



