One fate shall attend
us both. And if you are called to calamity, to torture, and to death,
Edwin will not be supine and inactive." "Oh, now," cried she, her eyes
moistened with rapture, "I recognize my noble and gallant swain. Come
then, and let us fly. If we must encounter peril and disaster, what
avails it to suspend the trial for a few niggard hours? This, my friend,
my guardian,--this is the time--Now the master dragon sleeps--Roderic is
now unconscious and distant--and I fear him too much to apprehend any
thing from a meaner adversary--Let us fly--let us escape--let our speed
outstrip the rapid winds!"
During their conversation, the heavens had been covered with clouds, and
the rain descended with violence. But the change had not been noticed by
Imogen. "Well then, my fair one, we will depart. What though the wind
whistles along the heath, and the rain patters among the elms? We will
defy their fury. Let us go! But, ah, my Imogen, look there! The hinds
are flying across the plain for shelter; and see! two of them approach
to the clump of trees directly before us on the outside of the garden.
No, shepherdess, it is in vain that we resolve, and in vain that we
struggle: we cannot escape."
The mind of Imogen was now wrought up to the extremest distress.
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