Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/44

 drew near, and we began to think more seriously of the preparations for enjoying the the first hymeneal repose. Elmira made an hundred proposals, each did away each, and we agreed on none. I was all compliance, and feasted my ravished eyes with the spectacle of the rich treasure, that had crowned my fervent passion.

Quite lost in contemplating the graces and attractions of my heavenly consort, I remarked, that she became somewhat pale; her eyes grew languid, and the ruby of her lips began to lose its incarnate hue. I gazed on her with astonishment, but ascribed this change, either to the reverberation of the tapers, or to my own illusion. Soon, however, the paleness augmented visibly, the fire of her eyes became suddenly extinct, her upper lip moved in convulsive tremor, her whole face seered to lengthen, and I exclaimed in broken and incoherent words, Heavens! Elmira, what ails thee?"—"I'm very well, my love:" returned she faltering. At the same moment her eyes grew quite dim, her teeth gnashed, and she wound herself towards me, in an