Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/92

 But suddenly it seemed to him that a distant voice called to him sadly; it is the voice of his dear wife; Erasmus shudders; he is ashamed of himself. The words die upon his lips—but a kiss from Giulietta renews his madness. "Adored angel!" exclaimed he, "I will not separate myself from thee; why can we not be united from this hour by eternal bonds?"

At this moment, two candelabras filled with wax candles, lighted at the end of the boudoir a superb Venice glass.

"Friend," said Giulietta, pressing Erasmus to her heart, "what thou desirest is impossible; but at least leave me thy reflection, oh my beloved, in order that I may not remain alone forever, deprived of thee."

"What do you say?" exclaimed Erasmus, "my reflection?"

And at the same time he drew Giulietta before the glass, which reproduced their amorous position.

"How," said he to her, "couldst thou keep my reflection?"

"Friend," answered Giulietta, "the fugitive appearance that is called reflection, and that is traced upon all polished surfaces, can be detached from thy person, and become the property of the being that thou lovest most in the world. Dost thou refuse to leave me this memento? Wilt thou deprive me cruelly of this trifling pledge, which might recall to me the too fleeting happiness of our tenderness?"

"To thee! to thee now and forever!" exclaimed Erasmus, a prey to a delirium of frenzied love. "Take my reflection; and may no power of heaven or hell be able to separate it from thee!"

This exclamation having exhausted his strength, he panted in the embrace of the beautiful Italian. It seemed to him that his image detached itself from him, from his individuality, and that uniting itself closely to that of Giulietta, who held out her arms to it, both fled back into the perspective created by the mirror, and lost themselves in a fantastic vapor!

A mysterious terror nearly took away from Erasmus the use of his senses. One moment he thought he was alone;