Pagina 502 van 1118

Before, however, throwing himself on the bed Providence had

provided for him, he kneeled, and returned thanks for the

blessing, and for all the assistance which had been this day

afforded him, and then implored forgiveness for the errors of the

previous day; then gathering the straw around him as some defence

against the cold, he closed his eyes to sleep; but sleep was not

so soon to visit our poor traveller. Confused images began to

throng his fancy; the merchant, the notary, the bailiffs, the

cutler, the host, Ferrer, the superintendent, the company at the

inn, the crowds in the streets, assailed his imagination by

turns; then came the thought of Don Abbondio, Roderick, Lucy,

Agnes, and the good friar. He remembered the paternal counsels of

the latter, and reflected with shame and remorse on his neglect

of them; and what bitter retrospection did the image of Lucy

produce! and Agnes! poor Agnes! how ill had she been repaid for

her motherly solicitude on his behalf!