( 96) 



and lo the sighing of the wind Avhicli agitâtes Ihe 

 leaves of Ihe trees. We ever surprise her wande- 

 ring over the skies wilh long gazings , as if in 

 searçh of immensity. She dreams of somelhing ujj- 

 known and mysterious. But, we must not deceive 

 ourselves , Eurydice is of too elevated a nature for 

 us easily to find a spouse worthy lo prolect her , 

 Tvorthy to dive into her soûl , worthy to be ail 

 for her. Many princes , said they again , would 

 perhaps consider themselves honoured by our al- 

 liance ; but among the numerous children who 

 grow up under the shade of the majestic oak of 

 Assaracus , there is not one to whom we would 

 confide so dear an existence. Nay that great re- 

 nown is not sufïicienlly pure , and misfortunes, too 

 well merited will doubtless assail and beat down 

 that tree which appears to us so powerfully rooted 

 in the earth. The daughter of a king whose reign 

 is finish ed would find a very frail support in the 

 son of a king whose reign is about to end. Ah ! 

 the days which bring new destinies into the world 

 are very cruel ! SufiFering is the progressive law^ of 

 the universe. » 



a Thus spoke the two spouses , and they turned 

 away to weep , when they beheld Eurydice. My 

 daughter , said they sometimes , open to us thy 

 heart , own the secret thoughts and desires that 

 thou formest. » a I form no désire , answered the 

 innocent virgin, and I hâve no secret thoughts.» 

 The young girl imagined that she said the truth , 

 and yet she wept as her virtuous parents. She 



