ELIZABETH OF TORRENBURG.
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PART THE EIGHTH.
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Elizabeth, Countess of Torrenburg, to Conrad, Abbot of Cloister-Curwald.
Conrad! Conrad! how was it possible for me to mistake for a moment the characters of your pen, for those of any other? Of that pen, which like its master’s persuasive tongue, knows how to blend truth, raillery, and praise together so artfully, that the heart feels itself irresistibly subdued, irresistibly compelled to follow, whither-soever it is your pleasure to conduct it!
I was aware of your power: it was therefore that I fled from your presence, that I shunned your conversation, that I declined your correspondence. I knew well, that your eloquence could give a fair appearance even to the worst cause; and at that time Ida’s cause was believed by me to be one of the worst, otherwise I would not have fled from its discussion.
But now how are my sentiments changed! Helen, sainted Helen! now then the time is arrived for my imitating thy glorious example: Ida is a second Amalberga: Elizabeth shall be a second Helen!
No: Helen’s curse shall not fall upon my head: I will not hate those, whom she has blest; I will not rob her beloved ones of their inheritance. Look down on me, fair saint! Behold; I sacrifice to Ida that, which is most precious to me, the affection of my heart, the happiness of my life, the hand of Henry: and can you doubt, whether I will restore to her that which I prize so little, a few handfuls of sordid earth?