Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and the Chevalier Des Grieux.djvu/58

Rh cording to the aspect under which Manon presented herself to my mind. At one moment I thought of her only as the loveliest of women, and pined to see her once more ; at another I saw in her nothing but a heartless and unfaithful mistress, and registered vow upon vow that I would seek her out only to punish her. I was furnished with books, and they served to restore my peace of mind to some degree. I read once more through all my favorite authors, and extended my attain- ments into fresh branches of learning. My eager delight in study was reawakened in me ; and you will see of what use it proved to me in the sequel. The new insight which I owed to love illummated for me a number of passages in Horace and Virgil which had formerly been obscure to me. I composed an Amatory Commentary on the fourth book of the .^^Sneid. I intend that it shall see the light some day, and I am not without hopes that it will be favorably received by the public. "Alas! " I would sigh, while writing it, "it was for such a heart as mine that the constant Dido longied in vain ! " Tiberge came to see me one day while I was still in con- finement. I was surprised at the affectionate warmth with which he greeted me; for I had not hitherto re-