The Daughter of an Empress

Since Paulo had left her, and she found herself alone, Natalie felt sad,

solitary, in the paradise that surrounded her. No longer did she sing in

emulation of the birds, no longer did she hop with youthful delight and

the impetuosity of a young roe through the charming alleys. Sadly,

and with downcast eyes, sat she under the myrtle bush by the murmuring

fountains, and frequent heavy sighs heaved her laboring breast.

"All is changed, all!" she often thoughtfully said to herself. "A great

and terrible secret has been unveiled within me--the secret of my utter

abandonment! I have no one on earth to whom I belong! Once I never

thought of that. Paulo was all to me, my friend, my father, my brother;

but Paulo has abandoned me, I belong not to him, and hence I could not

go with him. And who is left to me? Carlo!" she answered herself in a

low tone, and with a melancholy smile. "But Carlo has not filled the

void that Paulo's absence has left in my heart. At first I thought he

could, but that was only a short deception. Carlo is good and kind,

always devoted, always ready to serve me. He always conforms himself

to my will, is all subjection, all obedience. But that is terrible,

unbearable!" exclaimed the almost weeping young maiden. "Who, then,

shall I obey, before whom shall I tremble, when all obey me and tremble

before me? And yet Carlo is a man. No," said she, quite low; "were he so

I should then obey him, and not he me; then would he give me commands,

and not I him! No, Carlo is no man--Paulo was so! Where art thou, my

friend, my father?"

And the young maiden yearningly spread her arms in the air, calling

upon her distant friend with tender, low-whispered words and heartfelt

longings.

But the days slowly passed, and still no news came from him. Natalie

dreamily and sadly sank deeper into herself; her cheeks paled, her step

became less light and elastic. In vain did her true friends, Marianne

and Carlo, exhaust themselves in projects and propositions for her

distraction and amusement.

"You should go into the world and amuse yourself in society, princess,"

said Carlo.

"I hate the world and society," said Natalie. "People are all bad, and I

abominate them. What had I done to these people, how had I offended them

even in thought, and yet they would have murdered me the very first time

I appeared among them? No, no, leave me here in my solitude, where I at

least have not to tremble for my life, where I have Carlo to guard and

protect me."

The singer pressed the proffered hand to his lips.

"Then let us at least make some excursions in the environs of Rome,"

said he.