Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/82

 We now sat down to a frugal repast, which some veiled females served up on the green, and spent the day in inexhaustible transports of love. Towards evening she clapped her hands as a signal, and twelve beautiful damsels assembled on the lawn, and began a mystic dance, whose voluptuous attitudes revived my desires. No sooner had they disappeared, than I again lockt my Rosalia in my arms, where we tasted in long draughts the inexpressible sweets of connubial bliss, The soft symphony of the flutes then rocked us into a sound sleep, from which we did not awake till late at night.

—"Now, Carlos, said Rosalia, producing a dagger, "hear my oath, on this festive night, and repeat it on your knees."

I obeyed with frightful astonishment, when Rosalia made me repeat the following words:

—"We swear everlasting fidelity to the covenant that has protected our union; no being shall ever divide us; we will be one in thought and action; whoever of us proves unfaithful, the other shall haunt and persecute him with nameless torments, nor shall