Pagina 290 di 483

His tale had occupied the whole day, and the sun was upon the

verge of the horizon when he departed. I knew that I ought to

hasten my descent towards the valley, as I should soon be

encompassed in darkness; but my heart was heavy, and my steps

slow. The labour of winding among the little paths of the

mountain and fixing my feet firmly as I advanced perplexed me,

occupied as I was by the emotions which the occurrences of the

day had produced. Night was far advanced when I came to the

halfway resting-place and seated myself beside the fountain. The

stars shone at intervals as the clouds passed from over them; the

dark pines rose before me, and every here and there a broken tree

lay on the ground; it was a scene of wonderful solemnity and

stirred strange thoughts within me. I wept bitterly, and clasping

my hands in agony, I exclaimed, "Oh!