Pagina 570 di 788

"Alas!" said Telimena with a mournful glance, "I see that nothing

will restrain you! My knight, when you enter the lists of battle,

turn a feeling gaze on the colours of your beloved." (Here she

tore a ribbon from her dress, made a cockade, and pinned it on

the Count's bosom.) "May these colours guide you against fiery

cannon, against shining spears and sulphurous rains; and when you

make yourself famous by warlike deeds, and when you shade with

immortal laurels your blood-stained helmet and your casque, bold

in victory, even then look once more on this cockade! Remember

whose hand pinned upon you these colours!"

Here she offered him her hand. The Count knelt and kissed it;

Telimena raised her handkerchief to one eye, but with the other

eye she looked down on the Count, who was bidding her farewell

with deep emotion. She sighed, but shrugged her shoulders.