United States or Isle of Man ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !


Lie under my pillow, bright spirit, and give me happy dreams! So saying, she placed the potion under her pillow. Nydia's heart beat violently. 'Why dost thou drink that unmixed water, Nydia? Take the wine by its side. 'I am fevered, replied the blind girl, 'and the water cools me.

Yet, should Nydia's letter contain something more than what she had said should it speak of her imprisonment, as he shrewdly conjectured it would do what then! It need never be known to Arbaces that he had carried the letter. At the worst the bribe was enormous the risk light the temptation irresistible. He hesitated no longer he assented to the proposal.

I leave that to my betters. With this Sosia withdrew, carefully passing the heavy bolt athwart Nydia's door carefully locking its wards: and, hanging the key to his girdle, he retired to his own den, enveloped himself from head to foot in a huge disguising cloak, and slipped out by the back way undisturbed and unseen. The streets were thin and empty. He soon gained the house of Sallust.

After having discharged his commission with respect to Ione's attendants, he sought the worthy Sosia. He found him not in the little cell which was apportioned for his cubiculum; he called his name aloud, and from Nydia's chamber, close at hand, he heard the voice of Sosia reply: 'Oh, Callias, is it you that I hear? the gods be praised! Open the door, I pray you!

The roaring of the terrified lion is heard, and, best touch of all, under the fury of the scene persists the calm chant of the Nazarenes, written in one of the ancient modes. The rout gives way to the sea-voyage of Glaucus and Ione, and Nydia's swan-song dies away in the gentle splash of ripples. The work is altogether one of superb imagination and scholarly achievement.

'Will you that I should sing of love? said she, fixing those eyes upon Glaucus. 'Yes, replied he, looking down. She moved a little way from the arm of Ione, still cast round her, as if that soft embrace embarrassed; and placing her light and graceful instrument on her knee, after a short prelude, she sang the following strain: NYDIA'S LOVE-SONG

Now a torrent of broken, incoherent, insane words gushed from his lips, and, to Nydia's horror, he passed the portico with a bound, and rushed down the starlit streets, striking fear into the hearts of all who saw him. IV. The Day of Ghastly Night Anxious to learn if the drug had taken effect, Arbaces set out for Julia's house on the morrow. On his way he encountered Apaecides.

I told thee, girl, at first, that it was not the Athenian whom I loved: but I see now that I may trust thee wholly it is the beautiful Greek! What then were Nydia's emotions! she had connived, she had assisted, in tearing Glaucus from Ione; but only to transfer, by all the power of magic, his affections yet more hopelessly to another.

'I know her well. Nydia drew back and shuddered. 'Thou hast been at my house, methinks! said he, approaching his voice to Nydia's ear; 'thou knowest the oath! Silence and secrecy, now as then, or beware! 'Yet, he added, musingly to himself, 'why confide more than is necessary, even in the blind Julia, canst thou trust thyself alone with me?

Nydia's quick ear detected my voice a few words sufficed to make me the companion of Apaecides; I told not my associates why I left them could I trust thy name to their light tongues and gossiping opinion? Nydia led us to the garden gate, by which we afterwards bore thee we entered, and were about to plunge into the mysteries of that evil house, when we heard thy cry in another direction.