Among the various impressions indelibly marked on my mind....I found none so pungent, as the image of my lost Psyche,.......pointing to the Temple of Delphos; whose sacred groves had so often witnessed the chaste rapture of our loves, and bore testimony of the inviolable faith we swore.....mutually....to preserve. These remembrances harrowed my feelings;....but when I again reflected on the disinterested affection of Danae.....I felt myself justified in loving so much perfection. The innocent joys of my first inexperienced love, had been sublime;.... but the melting arms of the toobeauteous Danae, rendered all comparison insipid. My heated imagination soon touched the string which set every fibre in motion.....rapture again occupied my whole soul........happiness came smilingly towards me.....and I yielded to her invitation. The only thought that now disturbed me was the recollection of my infidelity to Psyche, whom I once loved most tenderly...Yet the irresistible power of Danae over my heart.... added to the uncertainty if I ever should see Psyche again.........calmed the voice of reproach. But in order to remove all symptoms of remorse, I argued myself into a belief, that my connection with Psyche was an affection of the soul .....natural between brother and sister ...rather than the passion which might be denominated love......And, so ingenious was I in adducing arguments to confirm my opinion......that at length it appeared an incontestible fact. Every shady bower in the garden... every flowery bank.....every grotto.... pleaded for Danae; till false reasoning reestablished my tranquillity..But, like a lunatic.....who, in the paroxysm of fever thinks he is in perfect health ;........ so did I partake deceitful repose. Psyche and Virtue....who had long been the blended inmates of my heart ......perpetually presented themselves ....hand in hand.....before me.....In vain did I fly to dissipation.......these lovely phantoms mocked my giddy pursuits....their influence increased.... and, yet........wretched mortal!.........I could not see, this was a fatal proof that my conduct was more reprehensible than I chose to admit. Danae loved too tenderly, not to take alarm at the melancholy symptoms which fed upon my faded cheek. ..She "pined in thought....." True love is diffident ;...She had been accustomed to read in my happy eyes, the certain effects of her all-conquering charms....She feared.....but was too delicate to complain, till she gradually became the victim of consuming grief. One evening....when I had been absent some hours, and stolen to the most solitary part of the gardens..... Danae surprised me with her presence....I was laying with my face downwards on a green bank....and lost in thought....when the light tiptap of her footsteps induced me to look up. "Thou art unhappy...my Callias.” .....She spoke with the soothing voice of love. Unhappy!"........I replied......... "Can Agathon be unhappy, when so near his Danae ?...A sigh followed." She made no reply ;........her beauteous eyes.....full of sensibility.....remained intent upon me......the tear started....it bedewed her lovely check. I gazed in return....my glance was penetrating.....our eyes were interpreters of our mutual feelings. "Danae !....dost thou love me?"... As I faultered out the question...... I arose.....threw my fond arms about her neck.....and burst into tears. "Do I love thee!....." answered Danae, and silently appealed to heaven, as the witness of her truth.... She could not utter another syllable... but her mute eloquence excelled the finest periods of Demosthenes. 66 Affected by her manner, I replied... Oh, my Danae! I do not ask..... "because I doubt....I ask...because "the repetition from your lovely lips, "renews the happiest moments of my "life...Should you ever cease to love "me...I......" 66 fair Stop, for mercy's sake.....my be"loved Callias..." interrupted my tempter....." What would become of "me, if these were really thy sen |