Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/81

 At these words she visibly grew pale and attempted to conceal her embarrassment.—"Yes," added she, "I once saw her, I believe, at Madrid."

—"Elmira never was there."

—"Then it was at Alcantara—one forgets such things. And dost thou not think, that we perhaps know thy story better than thyself?—But promise me, Carlos, to renounce every woman for my sake, even thy Elmira, if she still were alive?"

—"I will gladly renounce every one, but Elmira."

—"So thou wouldst abandon me, traitor, if she were to appear again among the living?"

—"I would carry you both in my heart."

—"No woman, Carlos, will content herself with half a heart. Now choose, me or Elmira."

—"Elmira is dead, I choose thee."

"Now I thank thee, Carlos, and fly to thy bosom a faithful, devoted bride! May the powers that surround us invisible, shower blessings on this union!"