Page:ThePrincessofCleves.djvu/183

Rh spread too far to hope a cure; nor indeed did I endeavour at it. I apprized Lorenzo, by letter, of what had happened, and appointed to meet him the next day at the house of a person whom I made the confidant of this affair. He failed not to come; and instead of fulfilling the dictates of my duty in taking an eternal leave of him, I suffered myself to be swayed wholly by those of my love, and entered into the most solemn obligation that vows could form, never to be but his. That ceremony which is called Marriage, is infinitely less binding than the repeated oaths I kneeling made, and the curses I imprecated on myself if ever I swerved from them: death itself was not to dissolve the contract; but the survivor swore to pay the same regard to the memory of the deceased as when living, and in a condition to know and to return those proofs of fidelity. Not long after this, my father unhappily incurred the displeasure of the senate to so high a degree, that he stood in need of all the interest he had, to preserve his estate from being forfeited, and himself sent into banishment: of all the friends that appeared for him, count Caprera was the most serviceable; and indeed it was wholly owing to his great power, and steady adherence to the cause he had espoused, that my father was acquitted. So important a service required the most grateful retributions; nor was my father deficient in paying them: he offered him the half of that estate he had preserved; but he would accept no other recompence than Anziana: he declared himself possest of the most violent passion for me, and that he had been prevented from discovering it but by the apprehensions  of his unworthiness, till the lucky opportunity offered of conferring an obligation on my family, which, as he said, might give some presence to hope he should not be refused. Had my farther never experienced his friendfhip, it is highly improbable there would have been any occasion for such a fear; the count, I must acknowledge, notwithstanding the little effect his charms