clandestinely sent them presents.... "and so well were my good offices managed,.........the parties did not "know their benefactor. 66 "Time, however,.....in defiance of "precaution,....disclosed the secret.... "These new proofs.....of what their "gratitude termed the nobility of my sentiments........completed the impression my attentions had long "before made on the simple......confiding....heart of this artless beauty. "I soon read a tender confession " in the eyes of my adored Musarion "........her trembling lips yielded to my fond importunity,......and con"firmed my happiness. "There were, however, obstacles "to our union, which nought but "love could attempt to surmount. "At last it was my good fortune "to discover Musarion to be an un" doubted denizen of Athens,.....born "of poor, but honest parents......Her "father lost his life.....honorably...... "in the Peleponnesian war. "I flew to my father......revealed my passion.......and conjured him, 66 as he valued my future peace......to "bless our union......But the old man was not in love;........he saw my lovely Musarion with different eyes “from mine;......and, though he ad"mitted her virtues.......would by no " means admit that they counterba"lanced her want of fortune. "He was inexorable! "To relinquish my soul's treasure ".....to barter the chaste joys of innocent......unsuspecting.....love, for worldly gain...........was a system "which even obedience to my father "could not force me to adopt.......As 66 66 new difficulties sprang up....our af "fection seemed to renovate.....The passion which had been calm du દ 1 ring the three years it nestled in "the bosom of hope........now suddenly found strength, and burst "into action. "The heart........deluded by the "sweet fascination of all-conquering love......loses every power to "resist.......We swore eternal constancy......sealed the vow with a passionate embrace.....and......were completely happy. 66 "This tender intercourse, so far " from diminishing our mutual trans"ports, added fuel to the bright flame "which sparkled in our bosoms....... "and you, my dear Agathon, soon "increased our felicity. "While we thus lived in each "other's smiles....and borrowed new "existence from increasing love...... a small estate.....at some little dis"tance from Athens......most oppor"tunely fell to me by the death of "an uncle......and to this charming "retreat I led your adored mother. "This spot had given me birth..... "and was thereby endeared to my "sweet Musarion......For three years "our bliss was enviable........when it pleased heaven to give you a sister, " and rob me of her amiable mother 66 at the same moment. "I was now indifferent to life;..... "but the reflection of what I owed "to the dear pledges of our past en"dearments, recalled me from the grave, to which I was hastening.... " and appealed to me in behalf of an unprotected offspring, whom I dare "not openly acknowledge. "I sent you to the Temple at "Delphos.........which I considered a "safe asylum.......where you might "have the advantage of a liberal "education. "I confided you to a particular friend, whom I enjoined to keep you in absolute ignorance of your birth.....intending, when my father "died, to avow my marriage with your mother, and publicly declare you to be my Son and Heir. 66 Your grandfather is lately dead; "........but I was obliged by very urgent business to defer the execu"tion of my designs.” 66 When my father had concluded his narrative, he again embraced me ;...... an old servant was called.....whose face was familiar to me.......he immediately recognised me......having been employed by my father, frequently, to visit me at Delphos, and report my improvements. A general joy took place in the family....The servants crowded round me, to celebrate the arrival of their young master. This was a sudden change........and |