Page:Popular Tales of the Germans (Volume 1).djvu/236

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218
THE STEALING

opened her lovely mouth with the accents of an anxious ſuppliant: the young hermit heard a melodious voice ſoothe his ear, but underſtood not a word of her diſcourſe, for the maiden’s language was ſtrange to him. He, however, eaſily gueſſed that the ſubſtance of her addreſs amounted to an heartfelt petition for the reſtoration of her veil: but the malicious hermit purpoſely miſunderſtood her geſtures, and only tried to make her comprehend, that in this aſylum of piety ſhe had nothing to fear for her virtue. He ſhewed her a cleanly couch in a ſeparate apartment, ſet before her choice fruit and ſweetmeats, and exerted all his hermit’s addreſs to gain her confidence. The afflicted beauty ſeemed however to take no notice of his attentions. She ſate down in a corner, gave herſelf up to ſorrow, wrung her lily-white hands, wept and ſobbed without remiſſion, which the pious Friedbert took ſo much to heart, that he could not refrain from tears. Inthis