John Frederick Stanford

“ How could I give that heart to thee, already sacred to another’s love?’ ‘Look,’ said Melechsala, ‘there are still blooming many other flowers besides her whom thou callest the flower of the world: they all refresh our eyes and sense with their varied hue and sweet perfume. ”

“ The seventh year still found the noble Count occupant of a gloomy dungeon, when, by a stratagem of the faithful Kurt, the closed doors were thrown open, and the Count was brought before the commander of the slaves, who addressed him thus:—‘Thy obstinacy is the cause of thy captivity, stubborn Frank; why didst thou conceal thy abilities? Thy fellow-prisoner hath reported thee to be skilled in the precious art of gardening. Execute the will of the most mighty Sultan ”

“ Ottilia is represented with a mirror in her hand, emblem of her prudence: on the right hand you see Angelica, with a coronet and symbols of her Eastern origin: between them is the Count. The nuptial couch is still shown to strangers, in the Junkern Kammer, as a precious relic. A splinter of it, worn instead of the busk, is said to destroy all jealousy in the female heart. ”

“ Now follows a description of Kurt’s arguments, who advises the Count to accept the brilliant offer. ‘For should the Countess Ottilia,’ said he, ‘still live, in your castle they believe you dead, and she most probably ere this is married to another. As to your belief, the man may show the way to heaven better than the wife. If the Princess love you, she will not mind to change her Paradise for Christendom.” The reasoning of Kurt, joined to a curious dream of Ottilia’s death, at length staggered the resolutions of the Count. ”