She had just begun to renew her representations upon this head, when
Roderic approached. While he was yet at a distance, he appeared graceful
and gay, as the messenger of the God that grasps the lightning in his
hand. His stature was above the common size. His limbs were formed with
perfect symmetry; the fall of his shoulders was graceful, and the whole
contour of his body was regular and pleasing. Such was the general
effect of his shape, that though his advance was hesitating and
respectful, it was impossible to contemplate his person without the
ideas being suggested of velocity and swiftness. His presence and air
had the appearance of frankness, ingenuousness, and manly confidence.
The natural fire and haughtiness of his eye were carefully subdued, and
he seemed, at least to a superficial view, the very model of good-nature
and disinterested complaisance. His bright and flowing hair parted on
his brow, and formed into a thousand ringlets, waved to the zephyrs as
he passed along. There was something so delicate and enchanting in his
whole figure, as to tempt you to compare it to the unspotted beauty of
the hyacinth; at the same time that you rejoiced, that it was not a
beauty, frail and transient, as the tender flower, but which promised a
manly ripeness and a protracted duration.
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