The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, Volume 1 (of 3)Le Sage, Alain René
General
The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, Volume 1 (of 3)
Le Sage, Alain René
Adventure and adventurers -- Fiction; Blas, Gil (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
the very thought of losing you, of which I had almost a supernatural
foreboding. Why did you lull my apprehensions to sleep! To what
purpose was that delusive mockery? I might else have accused Fate
rather than yourself, and you would at least have retained an
interest in my heart, though unaccompanied by a hand which no other
suitor could ever have obtained. As we are now circumstanced, your
justification is out of season. I am married to the constable. To
relieve me from the continuance of an interview which casts a shade
over my purity hitherto unsullied, permit me, my lord, without
failing in due respect, to withdraw from the presence of a prince to
whose addresses I am even no longer at liberty to listen.
With these words, she darted away from Enriquez in as hurried a step
as the agitation of her spirits would allow. Stop, madam, exclaimed
he; drive not to despair a prince inclined to overturn a throne which
you reproach him for having preferred to yourself, rather than yield
to the importunities of his new subjects. That sacrifice is under
present circumstances superfluous, rejoined Blanche. The bond must
be broken between the constable and me, before any effect can be
produced by these generous transports. Since I am not my own
mistress, little would it avail that Sicily should be embroiled, nor
does it concern me to whom you give your hand. If I had betrayed my
own weakness, and suffered my heart to be surprised, at least shall I
muster fortitude enough to suppress every soft emotion, and prove to
the new king of Sicily, that the wife of the constable is no longer
the mistress of Prince Enriquez. While this conversation was
passing, they reached the park gate. With a sudden spring she and
Nisa got within the walls. As they took care to fasten the wicket
after them, the prince was left in a state of melancholy and
stupefaction. He could not recover from the stunning sensation
occasioned by the intelligence of Blanche's marriage. Unjust may I
well call you! exclaimed he. You have buried all remembrance of our
solemn engagement! Spite of my protestations and your own, our fates
are rent asunder! The long-cherished hope of possessing those charms
was an empty phantom! Ah! cruel as you are, how dearly have I
purchased the distinction of compelling you to acknowledge the
constancy of my love!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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