Page:Popular Tales of the Germans (Volume 1).djvu/273

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OF THE VEIL.
255

from his lurking-place, overtook the hindmoſt of the party, bore her on board his ſhip, and carried her away, while her light-heeled ſiſters eſcaped. He tried a thouſand arts to inſinuate himſelf into her good graces; and ſucceeded but too well in ſtealing away her heart: ſhe forgot the dignity of her birth, and was on the point of binding herſelf to the traitor by the indiſſoluble contract, when a propitious wind brought a boat to the ſtrand. The idea of her country, and the tears her mother was ſhedding on her account, ruſhed into her mind: ſhe gave ear to the voice of duty, and ſeized the oportunity of eſcaping from captivity. But the irreſiſtible paſſion, which had taken poſſeſſion of her heart, purſued her by land and ſea: it has ſunk deep traces of ſorrow in her breaſt, and baniſhed all the ſprightlineſs of youth. The ſpark of her pining eyes is ready to expire: and melancholy will ſoon unite her with the grave, whichſhe