Seite 463 von 788

"Telimena, so may God's bright lightning strike me, if it be not

true that I have been fond of you-yes, that I have loved you

deeply; short were the moments that we spent together, but so

sweetly and so tenderly did they pass that for long, forever,

will they be present to my thoughts, and Heaven knows that I

shall never forget you!"

With a bound Telimena fell upon his neck:-

"This is what I have hoped for; you love me, so I still live! For

to-day I was going to end my life by my own hand! Since you love

me, my dear one, can you abandon me? To you I have given my

heart, and to you I will give my worldly goods; I will follow you

everywhere; with you each corner of the world will be charming;

of the wildest wilderness love, believe me, will make a

paradise!"

Thaddeus tore himself from her embrace by force. "What?" said he,

"are you mad? Follow me? Where? How? Shall I, being a common

soldier, drag you after me, as a sutleress?"

"Then we will be espoused," said Telimena.