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The heart bow'd down by weight of woe, To weakest hope will cling, To tho't and impulse while they flow, That can no comfort bring, that can, that can no comfort bring, With those exciting scenes will blend, O'er pleasure's pathway thrown; But mem'ry is the only friend, That grief can call its own, That grief can call its own, That grief can call its own. The mind will in its worst despair, Still ponder o'er the past, On moments of delight that were Too beautiful to last. To long departed years extend Its visions with them flown; For mem'ry is the only friend That grief can call its own. |
Thus, while the old Count's mind was lingering sadly over the past, calling up visions of the hopes that had fled with his daughter, she was being brought to him charged with a crime of which she was innocent. Soon the Count heard a noise near his apartment, and the captain of the guard burst in to tell him a robbery had been committed in the square. No sooner had Arnheim seated himself in his official place than the people hustled in Arline. Florestein was in the midst of the mob; going at once to his uncle he cried:
"Your lordship, it is I who have been robbed!"
"Ah! some more of your trouble-making. Why are you forever bringing the family name into some ill-sounding affair?"
"But, uncle, it is true that I am a victim. There is the very girl who robbed me!" he cried, pointing to Arline. The Count looked pityingly at her.