The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

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Ki a a ae at “Rien gt > _ mee ee A ae ie tune * . . oa » —— —— oe eee ee OF ew eek 8 eee ate I eee -—? ap ~ 4 - * —— ae -. 7. ' 122 THE BRONZE STATUE. vehemence, ‘what conflict rages within thy soul? what cause for terrible agi- tation hast thou. now? Speak, I con- jure thee, Satanais, speak, and leave | me not a prey to the cruellest sus- pense !’ Lhe dark houri raised her head and fixed her gaze upon the countenance.of De Colmar, from whose half-embrace she did not, however, extricate herself. Her luminous eyes flashed a moment; ahd then their expression melted into a softness which subdued their glorious! light more completely than ever he had | observed before—so that her looks be- came full of a winning tenderness, and all that was usually sublime, and splen- | did, and awe-inspiring in her beauty changed into the caressing blandish- ments of voluptuousness. and passion. But this appearance vanished again al- most in‘an instant; and recovering all, the wonted dignity and magnificence of her looks,; while the supernal flood of living light poured back into her eyes and the moonbeams played as if in cir- cling glory with the jet and.gloss of her hair; she said in a tone of profound gravity, ‘Pardon this weakness, my dear friend,—a weakness of which | am ashamed. For heaven knows that it is for me to be courageous now, since the hope of salvation from the thraldom of Satan has assumed shape your noble chivalry.’ ‘It rends my soul tosee you give way to despair,’ exclaimed Sir Ernest de Colmar, as he once more led her gently along the moon-lit terrace. ‘Put your faith in heaven, and all will be well.— For myself, I know not fear; I harbor notapprehension. But you were about rious affair would assume in the event of my defeat by the Enemy of Man- kind. Speak frankly, Satanais,—-hesi- tate not to unburthen your bosom fully and completely to him who is proud of becoming your champion and who re- joices at being placed in a position to serve you.’ ‘ Listen, then, Ernest—dear Ernest,’ said the lady, ‘for thou art indeed a dear and invaluable friend to me. But. it is still with a shudder sweeping | to explain the aspect which this = and substance in the championship | combat which on the seventh night hence thou wilt wage for my sake, then must thou either yield and assent to any conditions which Satan may choose to dictate; or else, dread alternative! he will be enabled to claim thee as hig own; bear thee away from earth and all its enjoyments; and plunge thee in- to the unknown but terrible depths ‘of his fiery realms !’ And again did Satanais, shuddering convulsively from head to foot, cling to her companion for support, and give vent to those sobs which she could not stifle. 3 ‘And now, my dearest friend,’ said the knight, in a tone that trembled not, and which was re-assuring and firm, though fraught with tenderness; ‘and now you have finished your explanations, and your instructions are complete ?” ‘I have naught more to say,’ mut mured Satanais : * would to heaven,” she added with passionate vehemence, ‘ that my terrible destiny had not compelled me to say so much.’ . ‘Take courage, tranquillize yourself, be comforted!’ exclaimed the knight, pressing her to his bosom, and imprint- ing a fervent kiss on her dark but grand- ly beautiful forehead. ‘I am not dis-- mayed by aught that has fallen from your lips. Accustomed to look danger in the face, I am not alarmed by its presence, much less when it is still afar off. On the night which is to decide your fate, Satanais,’? he continued, his tone assuming a gravity suitable to the observation he was about to make, ‘ you will pray for me, you will pass the hour of my ordeal upon your knees, and you will implore the succor of heaven for that cause which is now both yours and mine, And if I prove successful in this fight against the Prince of Darkness—’ ‘Oh! some secret influence will make the result known to me—some mysterious voice will whisper in my ear the event of the combat!’ murmured Satanais. ‘The instant that the shock of strife shall have passed, an inspira- tion will tell me whether thou hast war- red successfully, or whether Satan has prevailed. Then, either a knell- will sound in my heart—or a hymn of re- throughout my entire frame that Ieven|joicing and thanksgiving will raise its for a moment fix my mental vision upon| the terrible alternative which you have | mamed. Nevertheless, ’tis necessary | to touch uponthat point. If, therefore, | heaven should desert thee and the power of hell should triumph in this music in my soul!’ ‘ Let us trust that it will be the lat- ter,’ said De Colmar, in a tone full of hope, but in which there was nothing. vain-glorious, boastful, or presumptu- OuS. comicbooks.com