i 



( m ) 



blood which flows in my veins the cause , the 

 hidden cause of this courage , or is it not rather 

 the genius of poetry alone which troubles ail my 

 sensés. In fine , like y ou illustrious old man , I 

 have remarked the mystery and forlornness that 

 lies in my name , a name that ï heard vibrating 

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

 bas neither been given me by a tender father nor 

 an adored mother. This négative signification is 

 perhaps only due to the loneîiness 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 whoîe 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- 

 minate my whole îife. Wilhout her , ail that is to 

 distinguish me from other men could never be rea- 

 lized. The old man smiled at such a foreboding , 

 which wouldj have been far from satisfying his 

 prudence , had he 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 living dream of 

 Jupiter. Wilhout her, I own, thou wouldst be but 

 an extinguished lamp ; well ! with her mayst thou 



