Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/41

 My astonishment naturally led me to ask Elmira, how she came to know all this?

"It has already been my lot," said she, "to feel their fatal influence; to relate the particulars now, would cost me my life; but depend on hearing them fully some day, and be not alarmed, as it has nothing to do with you or our reputation."

I now told her my adventure on the preceding night. She exclaimed marvelling: "I think the whole is a plot to part us. They could not foresee, that our meeting would terminate in this manner. They speculated rather upon my fear than the strength of my affection. Give me thy hand, Carlos, and let us swear, that nothing, not even death itself shall ever disunite us."

We both took the oath, with enthusiastic rapture, and dwelt, for some minutes, tranced with delight, in each other's arms.

"I have a proposal to make Carlos," whispered Elmira, with a look of celestial of frankness. "Let us now join these hands for ever. I have plenty of jewels and dresses; I'll follow thee any where, nay to the world's end if you