220 BOPHBNB AND SOfHOCLBS. 



whispered to me, without being heard by any one — "At least, sine 

 my father has adopted Sophene for his daughter, you will give me leave 

 to call you my brother," " With all my anxious heart," I exclaimed, 

 " beautiful Rhodope ! Happy man that I am, who shall boast of having 

 such a sister — and such a wife." We thanked the high priest for the 

 important service he had rendered us, and we set out for Artycome. 



Sophene insisted upon passing through that place, for the express 

 purpose of trying, a second time, the adventures of the fountain of Mi- 

 nerva : I opposed an experiment that delayed my happiness. She re- 

 ceived it kindly, and indulged my wishes ; but Sophene was, neverthe- 

 less, desirous of having fresh witnesses to her sublime — to her exalted 

 virtue. 



Arrived at Artycome, I sent for my dear Imlacca, just recovered from 

 a fit of the ague, that had hindered him from travelling to Daphnipolis. 

 Sostrates put the question to him. Amazed at so happy and unexpec- 

 ted a proposition — he poured out the generous overflowings of his manly 

 and generous heart, in expressions of the most lively and sympathetic 

 gratitude ; but before he would accept it, he desired to be assured of 

 Rhodope's acquiescence. She modestly blushed on hearing the commu- 

 nication which was made to her. His marriage was solemnized the 

 same day, in Sosthenes' gardens. 



Greece ! the lovely, had not seen a spectacle so magnificent : 

 and how long that bright day was to me ! How tiresome are feasts for 

 a lover who waits only their end to be happy ! " Will not the night 

 come ?" I said, softly and tenderly, to Sophene ; " shall we never be by 

 ourselves ?" Delicious night ! thou art over already. If all those that are 

 to follow, shall be like this — gods ! I envy not your supreme destiny. 



Some months after we returned to Eurycome, and although I had in- 

 curred the rigour of the law, by having fallen in love contrary to its for- 

 mal inhibition, I was, nevertheless, most heartily welcomed there. The 

 citizens held that this involuntary breach of mine had been more than 

 expiated by all the hardships I had endured : thereupon taking this 

 rigorousjlaw into consideration, they wisely and gladly repaled it as un- 

 just. Indeed, for a man whose feeling heart is ever in the right place, 

 is at one and the same time, tender and sensible, to love — is as natural as 

 to breathe. Like the fire that purifies even the most precious metals, 

 the high-born flame, that glows in a delicate spirit, contributes to raise, to 

 the highest degree of perfection and energy, all the virtues it is most 

 commonly endowed with 



