A Sicilian Romance

There they were detained till after the clock had

struck one by a low noise, which returned at intervals, and convinced

them that some part of the family was not yet retired to rest. This

noise was undoubtedly occasioned by the people whom the marquis had

employed to watch, and whose vigilance was too faithful to suffer the

fugitives to escape. The very caution of Ferdinand defeated its

purpose; for it is probable, that had he attempted to quit the castle

by the common entrance, he might have escaped. The keys of the grand

door, and those of the courts, remaining in the possession of Robert,

the marquis was certain of the intended place of their departure; and

was thus enabled to defeat their hopes at the very moment when they

exulted in their success.

When the marchioness learned the fate of Hippolitus, the resentment of

jealous passion yielded to emotions of pity. Revenge was satisfied,

and she could now lament the sufferings of a youth whose personal

charms had touched her heart as much as his virtues had disappointed

her hopes. Still true to passion, and inaccessible to reason, she

poured upon the defenceless Julia her anger for that calamity of which

she herself was the unwilling cause. By a dextrous adaptation of her

powers, she had worked upon the passions of the marquis so as to

render him relentless in the pursuit of ambitious purposes, and

insatiable in revenging his disappointment. But the effects of her

artifices exceeded her intention in exerting them; and when she meant

only to sacrifice a rival to her love, she found she had given up its

object to revenge.