Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/399

 which myself cut was much inferior to his own.

Without the least envy I let him follow his brilliant fortunes. Only on some occasions, when I thought: Caroline's rights too much invaded, I strove to keep him within bounds. He loved me so well as to have subjected himself entirely to my control, had I wished for it. Nevertheless his extreme susceptibility, made him commit many excesses, from which I would have found it very difficult to restrain him. Indeed I often wished him a genius, that might have accompanied him to those secret haunts, whither my looks were unable to penetrate.

The Dutchess de F** ultimately captivated his taste. She combined all those qualifications, which the count loved to find in a woman. He frankly owned his passion to me. I was rather glad to hear, that one serious attachment should restrain him from committing other excesses, "The count saw nothing else in that lady than a woman of sensibility, who was prepared to bless him with her friendship. I confirmed him in his opinion of the purity