Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/88

 "Oh, my friends," exclaimed he, "in what place in the world could be found, better than here, all that makes life worth living? Women of Italy, if love did not exist since the beginning of the world, you would have invented it! But thou, Erasmus, why then didst thou come here alone? Why alone dost thou not partake of our joy? Why dost thou sadden us by the melancholy of thy face?"

"What shall I say to you, oh my friends," answered Erasmus; "my heart does not partake of your joy, because my mind does not place its joy in the pleasures of the senses. Besides, I have left in our country a faithful wife, whose confidence I must not deceive. You are free, but I have a family that I must think of unceasingly."

The young people laughed at the virtue of Erasmus, whose youthful physiognomy seemed as yet so little fitted for the cares of a household. Frederick's mistress had the discourse of Spicker translated into Italian for her, then she said, smilingly—"Here is a wise man, whom Giulietta could make lose his soul."

As she said this, a woman of marvellous beauty entered the room. You would have thought, to have seen her, that she was one of Rubens' or Mieris' virgins.

"Giulietta!" exclaimed the young girls.

Giulietta threw a malicious look around among the guests. "Brave Germans," said she to them, "will you give me a place at your joyous banquet? Hold! there is just one of you who appears to be alone and sad; I will go and try to smooth his wrinkles."

Taking a place with ravishing coquetry near Erasmus, she made, by her caresses, all the young men jealous of the good fortune of Spicker.

Erasmus had felt, at the sight of Giulietta, a devouring fire circulate in his veins. When he felt her near him, the pleasure of desire exalted his imagination. The beautiful Italian rose, took a goblet and offered it to him. Hardly had he swallowed a draught of the perfidious beverage, when he fell on his