Strona 824 z 1118

Donna Prassede, who was not a woman to be satisfied with such an

answer, replied, "that she wanted actions, not words." Discussing

at length, the tendencies of young girls, she said, "When they

have once given their heart to a libertine, it is impossible to

withdraw their affections. If their love for an honest man is, by

whatever means, unfortunate, they are soon comforted, but love

for a libertine is an incurable wound." And then beginning the

panegyric of poor Renzo, of this rascal, who wished to deluge

Milan in blood, and reduce it to ashes, she concluded, by

insisting that Lucy should confess the crimes of which he had

been guilty in his own country.