The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. tuality,—such were the varieties of female charms and characteristics that furmed the assemblage so grandly brilliant and so ineflably enchanting. For a few minutes, we say, did Konrad and Lionel behold naught save this earthly galaxy which we have endeavored to des- cribe, but to convey an adequate idea of whose dazzling splendour Janguage is too feeble. At length they somewhat recovered their self-possession—awaking as it were from the intoxicating effect of the suddenness with which the matchless spectacle burst upon their view; and now, standing somewhat back, they proceeded to take a calmer and more comprehensive view of the entire scene. We have already said enough to con- vince the reader that the female portion of the company wasa perfect concentration of all-the fascinating charms, ceductive graces, and elegant characteristics which belong to the sex: and we may now ob- serve, as indeed we have above intimated, that the gentlemen were in every way worthy of such sweet companionship. For finer specimens of manly beauty it would have been hopeless to search; while noth- ing could exceed the richness of their attire, the ease and polish of their manners, and the devotedness of their attentions to the iadies. The ages of the members of this brilliant assembly were of every variety between sixteen or seventeen to forty ; and thus the nanscent cherms of the young girl con- trasted with the ripe beauties of the splen- did woman—and the gracefulness of the beardless stripling threw into relief the physical developement of the man in his vigorous prime. Some of the ladies were reclining on voluptuous ottomans, conversing with their gallants whose eyes shot forth amorous glances and were met by looks not less intense nor beaming with inferior passion : others were partaking of the refreshments which their attentive admirers handed to them;—and others, again, promenaded slowly with their elegant partners in the festive scene. At the moment when Lionel and Kon- rad so far recovered themselves as to be enabled to survey the dazzling spectacle with comparative calmness, a lady of queen- like beauty and a gentleman of noble mien were advancing down the room;,and the eyes of the two pages presently settled upon this couple with even attention more profound than they had bestowed upon the rest. For the lady and her companion to whom we are alluding were of an appear- ance which could not fail to attract espe- cial notice,—so full of a princely dignity . LL LAA LLL ee 73 was the mien of the latter, and so magni- ficent was the stvle of beauty which cha- ravterised the former. Moreover, by the smiles which she dispensed upon all sides as she moved slowly through the vast saloon, and by the extreme respect with which her courteous attentions were re- ceived, it was evident to Konrad and Lionel that the lady was the presiding cenius cf the revels—the superb queen of this dazzling assemblage! She was of mature aye—in her fortieth year ;—but her natural loveliness was on that grand scale which preserves the fresh- ness of youth even when passing the prime, and to which art may be rendered a gentie accessory though by no means adinitted asa necessi'y. Her figure was (nil and of Inxuriant contour; her broad shoulders, softly rounded, sloped gracefully and were of dazzling whitenes-: her bust was of splendid development and of snowy stainlessness ;—aud her waist, compressed by no unnatural means, was not of wasp- like thinness but of Hebe-like symmetry. Her hair was of a rich brown, arranged im tresses massive and glossy, and setting off her complexion which was dazzlingly fair: but upon her cheeks the mystertes of the toilette’s art had shed the tint of a softly blushing rose. She was in all re- spects a splendid woman—every movement of her hne form’ having its own peculiar charm, and every glance of her deep blue eye its spell: so that while commanding in her mien, she likewise fascinated and attracted—and while the Grecian outline of her features denoted strength of mind, her looks conveyed an expression of ten- derness and love, melting at times into an ineffable voluptuousness. Her companion was a man of about her own age, or it might be a year or two older: and his countenance, though not remarkably handsome, bore the impress of strong passions. His garb was of rich purple velvet; and suspended to his neck was a gold chain of the pecuitar work man- ship which in those times indicated the rank of a Marquis. But that he was not the husband of the lady who leant upon his arm, was apparent from the extheme cuur- tesy of his demeanor towards her —the attentions which he evinced being rather those of an impassioned admirer than of one enchained in matrimonial bonds. There was another person in the saloon who specially attracted the notice of the two pages, and of whom we must pause to say a few words. ‘This was a young lady of ravishing beauty—with blue eyes, brown hair, and a sylph-like figure. She was dressed in crimson velvet; and her stain- less neck, which shone fair in the roseate — ee comicbooks.com