Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/190

 willing to part with the favourite animal, till one forenoon he promised to surrender him the same evening. Some time previous to the hour in which my visitors were wont to pay me their homage, I took a walk towards the large bower in the garden, when softly tripping behind the verdure, I perceived the young suitor at the entrance of the former, busily employed with his little dog. Curiosity made me stop and peep through the thick foliage, when I observed him in the act of tying a collar round the creature's neck, and having done this part of the business, he kissed him, softly whispering these words: "Poor Corrulla; so you and. I must part for a while: but always will I love thee better than the prey I shall catch by the means of thy decoying."

These words penetrated my feelings with the keenness of a dagger; insulted honor bled, and offended self-love called aloud far vengeance: but prudence hastening to my assistance, prevented me from breaking out in a torrent of invectives and reproaches against the atrocious villain who meditated nothing