Supposing that,
for reasons good and wise, he had introduced her into a strange place,
she could not be persuaded that those reasons subsisted for detaining
her contrary to her inclination. And independently of any individual
circumstances, there is a native and inexplicable antipathy between
virtue and vice. It is not in the nature of things, it is not within the
range of possibility, that they should coalesce and unite where both of
them exist in a decided manner, or an eminent degree. It was not the
babble of ignorance, it was by an unalterable law of her nature, that
Imogen had been displeased with the looks of him, who meaned her
destruction. The animation that dwells in the features of virtue, is
mild and friendly and lambent; but the sparkles that flash from the eye
of enterprising guilt, are momentary, and unrelenting, and impetuous.
The gentle and the inoffensive instantly feel how uncongenial they are
to their dispositions, and start back from them with aversion and
horror. Such were in some measure the sensations of Imogen, upon the
re-appearance of her betrayer. She turned from him with unfeigned
dislike, and was reluctantly kept in the same situation till he ascended
the terrace. As he drew nearer, Roderic seized the hand of the lovely
captive.
Pages:
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114