Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/109

 celestial being. A deadly pale distinguished her cold mien, a cloud of melancholy encircled her beauteous exes; she turned dubious from my embraces, and seemed to ask with all the eloquence of silent anxiety: "Who is that Francisca after whom you thus eagerly enquired?"—I felt my heart in a glow, and endeavoured to pacify her by dint of caresses, but my tongue denied its office, and I was unable to utter a single word.

—"Does thy Elmira," began she at last, "still find thee as tender to her, as when she left thee?"

—"Yes, yes,"—replied I in faltering accents—"this sudden surprize has almost deprived me of my senses—How, my love, hast thou escaped from the tomb? Or art thou bur the spirit of my angelic spouse sent to administer momentary consolation to a widowed wretch?"

—"Let this embrace tell thee; fond husband, who I am. There's no such ardor in departed spirits. But art thou, too, as faith-