(seq. 51)

[92]

Corinne By Madam De Stael

Page 26th

Corinne - Ah! if I have but power
to do you any service, believe not
that I will ever renounce it.

Oswald - Take heed, be careful of what
benefit you confer on me.

For two long years an iron grasp
has pressed upon my...If feel some
relief while breathing your sweet pres-
ence, what will become of me when
thrown back upon mine own fate!
What shall I be then? __

Corinne -- Let us leave that to time & chance,
they will decide whether the impression
of an hour shall last beyond to day.
If our souls commune, our mutual
affection will not be fugitive; be
that as it may, let us admire together
all that can elevate our minds;
We shall thus at least secure some
happy moments. ____

I do not think the heart
is so constituted, that it must either
feel no love at all, or the most
unconquerable passion. There are
early symptoms which may vanish
before self-examination. We flatter
we deceive ourselves; and the very

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enthusiasm of which we are sus-
ceptible, if it renders the enchantment
more rapid, may also bring the
re-action more promptly. --

Oswald You have reflected much on this
sentiment madame --

Corinne I suppose no woman of heart
ever reached the age of twenty-six
without having known the illustions
of love; __ but if never to have been
happy, never to have met an
object worthy of her full affections, is
a claim on sympathy I have a
right to yours.

Corinne Dear Oswald, let us mingle
then blend love, religion, genius
sunshine, odors, music, poetry.

There is no no Atheism, but cold
selfish baseness. -- Christ has
said, when two or three are gath-
ered together in my name, I
will be amongst them?? and what
oh God! - is assembling in thy
name, if we do not so, while
enjoying the Charms of Nature,
therein praising and thanking thee
for our life; above all, when some
other heart, created by thy hands,
responds entirely to our own. --