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blood which flows in my veins the cause , the 

 hidden cause of this courage , or is it not rather 

 Ihe genius of poetry alone which troubles ail my 

 sensés. In fine , like you illustrions old man , I 

 hâve remarked the mystery and forlornness that 

 lies in my name, a name that I heard vibrating 

 around me , as soon as I could hear , and which 

 has neither been given me by a tender father nor 

 an adored mother. This négative signification is 

 perhaps only due to the loneliness of my infancy ; 

 but perhaps also it is a woeful prophecy of the 

 little I am destined to fulfil. I own I often fear', 

 that the vv^hole of my destiny may not be accom-^ 

 plished , and in that, lies the mystery which we 

 ineffectually seek to unveil. 



» But ^. if I must tell you my thoughts , O my fa- 

 ther , the name of Eurydice ought to remove our 

 fears. Eurydice without doubt will be for Orpheus 

 the marvellous vision which henceforth is to illu- 

 minale my whole life. Without her , ail that is to 

 distinguish me from other men could never be rea- 

 lized. The old man smiled at such a foreboding , 

 which wouldl bave been far from satisfying bis 

 prudence , had be not elsewhere had olher inspi- 

 rations , then he spoke in thèse terms to the divine 

 poet : 



» The gods owe us no account of the forebodings 

 they send us. Let then Eurydice be for the forlorn 

 one , the maid of the vision , the bving dream of 

 Jupiter. Without her, I own , thou wouldst be but 

 an extinguished lamp ; well ! with her mayst thou 



