Страница 566 из 788

"How much beauty is there even in this simple scene, when the

soul of the shepherdess and the soul of the warrior, like a boat

and a ship during a storm at sea, must at last be parted! In very

truth nothing so kindles the feelings in the heart as when heart

separates from heart. Time is like a blast of wind; it

extinguishes only the little candle; a great flame it fans to an

even mightier conflagration. And my heart also is capable of

loving even more mightily at a distance. Pan Soplica, I regarded

you as my rival; that mistake was one of the causes of our

lamentable quarrel, which forced me to draw the sword against

your household. I perceive my mistake, for you sighed to the

little shepherdess, while I had given my heart to this fair

nymph. Let our differences be drowned in the blood of our

country's enemies; we will no longer fight each other with the

murderous steel! Let our amorous strife be settled otherwise; let

us contend which shall surpass the other in the feeling of love!