(98) 



wreck. The oak soon kindled, crackling hoarsely like 

 tumultuous voices , spread afar its immense light ; 

 and the unforlunate voyager, suspended over so many 

 gulphs ready to swallow him up , was able to 

 direct his efforts towards the succouring light. 



In effect , the skiff neared : it roUed , preeipi- 

 tated from surge to surge , and creaking in its 

 disjointed planks. Then was seen the noble figure 

 of a young hero who agitated with force and 

 calm his half broken oars. His soûl , which seemed 

 to overrule the éléments, and command the bil- 

 lows, remained undisturbed in the midst of this 

 dreadful chaos. A lyre was at his feet. At last the 

 tempest subsided , and in a few instants the cou- 

 rageous stranger set foot on the shore. With a 

 waving of his hand he saluted Ihe vénérable old 

 man who had directed his course on the stormy 

 sea , and taking his lyre, he smilingly offered it 

 to Eurydice who was fiUed with the deepest émo- 

 tions. Before leaving the bark shattered by the 

 violence of the waves , he wiU merit the gift of 

 hospitality. 



(( Eurydice , who had fell ail the torments of 

 anxiety , and who w^as hardly recovered , let 

 fall a soft look on the bold navigator , brilliant 

 with youth and beauty. He , without any other 

 émotion but the poetical inspiration which swells 

 his generous bosom , inflames ail his sensés and 

 is both his soûl and his life , runs his rapid fingers 

 over the divine lyre and produces ravishing 

 sounds , floods of harmony. He seems , as it 



