SOI'HENE AND SOPHOCLES. 2l1 



whether I would have her convey it to Rhodope ? " Yes," I said, press- 

 ing her to my stormy bosom ; " and would she kiss me in return for my 

 theft? I can refuse nothing to her ambassadress." " No," answered 

 she, making her escape ; " my instructions do not go so far." I had 

 not read her letter, I had not even unsealed it. Sophene desired to see 

 and peruse it — of consequence, I readily complied. I was full of hope, 

 ■wishes, and sensibilities. It had passion in it ; but it was expressed 

 with dignity, in such a Avay, that the most scrupulous observer of decency 

 would at once have admired and blamed at the same time. To 

 Sophene, I observed, " Rhodope might choose among the most illustrious 

 Greeks, and make the happiness of him whom she should prefer. Per- 

 haps, I am the only one that cannot love heij!, at the same time that I 

 am the only one she loves. O Rhodope ! how much I pity you ! 



She was listening to us. How shall I describe her grief — her indigna- 

 tion — her jealousy ? " Tacita," said she, " the gods were just towards 

 you : you deserve but to be a slave — fear my wrath : but, indeed, to glut 

 my revenge, I have nothing to do but to abandon you to your fate. Un- 

 grateful pair ! I will render your chains heavy upon you, and separate 

 you from one another ; No, you shall not enjoy together the ineffectual 

 satisfaction of laughing at my weakness. I will listen to nothing but 

 hatred ; and, if possible, make you as unhappy as you have rendered 

 me despicable in mine own eyes !" 



' Generous Rhodo^^e !" I exclaimed, falling on my knees, " we shall 

 not think of excuses," and taking from my breast the picture of Sophene, 

 which I had worn near my heart, since the moment I thought I had lost 

 her for ever ! " that picture declares my possession of her, long before I 

 met you. I had looked into the eyes of my own dear Sophene, long, 

 long ere I heard your name for the first time. Our ties are sacred ; if 

 we are guilty, love made us so. He alone can sue for our pardon : you 

 can either destroy or save us. The less we are worthy of your forgive- 

 ness, the more glorious it will be for you to forgive us ; to grant us par- 

 don ; to give us happiness, by insuring to us our liberty and peace. 

 Know ye not, Rhodope, that it is the glory of human nature — of august 

 or abject mortality — to pass by an offence ? It is a most holy and reve- 

 rend maxim, and worthy of all praise, as it is no less deserving the most 

 catholic practice. The gods have been pleased to unite us once more ; 

 make an end, I implore thee, of what they have so bountifully commanded 

 — render us happy." Sophene's silence bespoke the perplexity of her 

 mind ; at the same time that her eyes directed, by turns, upon her 

 picture and upon me, expressed her tender regard and secret gratitude 

 for the value I set upon, and the care I had taken of it. 



Rhodope did not say a word, she seemed to behold our tears unmoved ; 

 we expected, in a mortal agony, a sentence upon which depended our 

 life or death ; she went away without passing it upon ue. 



Irnlacca did not return ; we had but one day more to stay at Arty- 

 corae. Had Rhodope only said a word to Sostrates, we had been utterly 

 undone ; but she comported herself in a different manner ; we never met 

 afterwards with a more zealous protectress. O Rhodope ! may I cease 

 to be loved by Sophene, if I lose the delightful recollection of your 

 kindness ! 



We drew near the time of our deliverancei It took place when we 



M.M.— 3. Q 



