Then seeing
that he vainly endeavoured to answer her, her head drooped upon her
breast, and her voice sank lower as she continued:--
'I have striven for patience under much sorrow and pain through the long
night that is past; my eyes were heavy and my spirit was faint; I could
have rendered up my soul willingly in my loneliness and feebleness to
God who gave it, but that it was my duty to struggle for my life and my
father's, now that I was restored to him after I had lost all beside! I
could not think, or move, or weep, as, looking forth upon your palace, I
watched and waited through the hours of darkness. But, as morning
dawned, the heaviness at my heart was lightened; I remembered that the
palace I saw before me was yours; and, though the gates were closed, I
knew that I could reach it through your garden that joins to my father's
land. I had none in Rome to ask mercy of but you; so I set forth
hastily, ere my weakness should overpower me, remembering that I had
inherited much misery at your hands, but hoping that you might pity me
for what I had suffered when you saw me again.
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