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immutable laws of progress , the pacified empire 

 of ihe Titans has been confided. Not to be over- 

 whelmed by such vast méditations, the pious poet, 

 retired inlo the depths of foresls or on the solilary 

 sea shore , and there he essayed on his creating 

 and plaintive lyre, more powerful strains. His con- 

 templative soul lost itself in the immensity of the 

 spectacle of nature. In such solitude , he sought 

 the tie that exists between beings , the laws of pro- 

 vidence , the types of beauty , the secret of man. 

 Thus the uncertain thought which unknown to him 

 had reposed on Eurydice , already became for him 

 the harmonious bond of ail his thoughts. When 

 he felt this , it was as a positive révélation of ail 

 that till then he had felt confusedly. He neverthe- 

 less feared to give himself up to a dangerous illu- 

 sion , and the rule he had prescribed to himself, 

 ïnade his conscience utter an austère cry c< Alas ! 

 said he , but not wilhout sorrow, what have I to 

 offer the daughter of Talaon? a vulgàr life and exile! 

 Ah ! let me alone remain misérable. » 



« However he perceived that Eurydice had gues- 

 sed the secret, he had vainly endeavoured to hide 

 in his breast ; so impossible was it to avoid the al- 

 lurements of a sympathy , in some manner idéal , 

 ihe indeseribable charm of the fancy , and of the 

 heart , become the enchanting form under which 

 the new desiinies of humanity envelop themselves. 

 When Orpheus with his lyre accompanied the soft 

 voice of the innocent maid , the song of Eurydice 

 assumed a heavenly expression , and both their 



