صفحة 620 من 1118

And here he recalled, without much difficulty, many an instance

when neither prayers nor tears were able to make him swerve from

his atrocious purposes; but instead of deriving augmented

resolution, as he had hoped, from the recollection, he

experienced an emotion of alarm, of consternation; so that even,

as a relief from the torment of retrospection, he thought of

Lucy. "She lives still," said he, "she is here; there is yet

time. I have it in my power to say to her, Go in peace! I can

also ask her forgiveness. Forgiveness! I ask forgiveness of a

woman! Ah, if in that word existed the power to drive this demon

from my soul, I would say it; yes, I feel that I would say it. To

what am I reduced? I am no longer myself! Well, well! many a time

have such follies passed through my head; this will take its

flight also."