The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 102: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

eae 100 THE BRONZE STATUE. aa versation which passed between us{when last we met—a promise that I eam eight days ago, when we walked hand} would breathe to your ears the legend | jn hand-along this same terrace, and| of mystery and horror which contains id lighted by a moon as lovely as that the narrative of my birth. Oh! my | which now treads so softly and fairly in dear friend,’ she cried, in a tone that that zone of night’s eternal gems? Do} seemed stricken with a sudden anguish, you not remember that we pledged to|‘it is a history so painful—a tale, the a each other a lasting friendship—and| mere recital of which is calculated to rit : . . . , we : . 2 . | tha, I vowed to become your champion, | arouse feelings ot such poignant grief in | your vindicator, and your defender in| my soul, that had you not established : any emergency which the vicissitudes | the strongest claims on my confidence, of this life might raise up in your|I could never induce my lips to frame path 7’ the words which it will still cost me s0 ‘Yes—all this has been treasured up | vast an effort to utter.’ . in my memory,’ answered Satanais,| ‘It rends my soul to think that the in a tone full of melting softness,—‘and | narrative whicu | seek from your tongue never can be obliterated. In that ori- can distress you thus profoundly, Sata- ental clime which gave me birth, there nais,’ said the knight; ‘ but I call hea- are tales and legends of palaces shut up ven to witness that I am prompted by for a thousand years, and cities where| no idle and impertinent curlosity.— the inhabitants have been turned to| When last we met, and when you were stone as a punishment for their crimes; | about to enter on the mysterious recital, but when the palaces have been enter-| you declared that I might. assist you } ed again and the spell-bound people | with my advice, my counsel. Sincere- have awakened to life once more at the| ly, oh! most sincerely, do I hope that expiration of centuries, it has been|such may prove the case. For there is found that Time has passed harmlessly | no task which your narrative can sug- over them, leaving the flowers untaded | gest, no claim which your misfortunes and the jewels undimmed. Thus it is|or griefs can establish upon my friend- with my memory. Years may pass| ship, that will not meet with prompt at- over it, but the rose of friendship| tention at my hands. Yes, by heaven” which you have planted there, will re-_ he exclaimed, with passionate vehe- main unwithered, and the gems of chi-| mence, as all the incidents of the for- valrous sentiment with which you have| mer night of meeting crowded in upon decked it, will shine on in unimpaired| his memory ; ‘were Satan himself to — enn lustre to the end.’ | start up as your enemy, he should find ‘Oh ! beauteous and mysterious crea-| a foe in me ? ip ture,’ exclaimed De Colmar, ‘how cap- ‘Merciful God!’ cried the splendid tivating is thy language, how enchant-j| creature, clinging convulsively to his ing thy words! Sunny and glowing as| arm, ‘ you know not what you say i the land of thy birth, thy thou,hts are| ‘Full well do comprehend the mean- all fervour and romance, and the golden| ing of my own words,’ said Sir Ernest richness of thy voice flows upon my}de Colmar, sustaining Satanais in his ears like a harmony which no sound on| arms, for she trembled from head to foot earth can imitate.’ as if about to fall upon the pavement of ‘It is dangerous to listen to thy flat-| the terrace ; ‘ and now am | more than tering tongue,’ murmured Satanais, and| ever convinced that there is a deeper the knight felt her hand tremble in his| significancy in thy name than [ at first own. | supposed.’ ‘I mean no flattery,’ he responded,; ‘There is—O heaven! there is in- in an impassioned tone, ‘for he who}deed!’ murmured Satanais, reclining flatters speaks not the truth, and there | her glorious head upon his shoulder, so is guile upon his lips. For myself, [| that her glossy hair touched, and her scorn a falsehood, Satanais—and when | fragrant breath fanned his eheek. ‘ But { praise thee, ‘tis because thou art a-| I am to be pitied, and not blamed,’ she dorable beyond all earthly beings. But) continued, in a voice that was low, pa ——— ees ; os ath Bn ell av * oo — mA ae there are many things that I seek to| thetic, and tremulously mournful; ‘the ah ies know concerning thee, and thou hast| rashness—for I will not call it crime— Hy much to reveal to my ears.’ | of my royal father ——’ rt Cie Si ‘Ah!’ ejaculated Satanais, with aj *'y'ell me this dreadful narrative, Sa- slight start; and, throwing a rapid look} tanais,’ interrupted Sir Ernest de Col- around, she observed, ‘ You would fain! mar, tortured by suspense to an ex- if remind me of that promise which I gave | treme that became intolerable; ‘and I — ~ - —_ 2! a ee OE 6 ee 2. Oa Se ee ae te ~ ~~ - a am . ee Ps — ~~ comicbooks.com