The Gods--the Gods have joined us. It is guilt and
malignity alone that oppose their purpose.--Let us beat them
down--trample them under our feet--employ worthily the moment that yet
remains."--
As the magician pronounced these words, he advanced towards his captive,
and endeavoured to seize her in his arms. But she thrust him from her
with the warmest indignation; and contemplating him with an eye of
infinite disdain, "Base unworthy swain!"--she cried--"Insidious
traitor!--abhorred destroyer!--And is it thus that you would approach
me?--Is it thus that you would creep into the weakness of my heart?--But
fly--I know you not--One mark of compassion I will yet exhibit, which
you little deserve--Fly--I will not deliver you into the hands of your
rival, whom yet my soul does not so much loath and abhor--Fly--Live to
be pointed at as an example of degeneracy--Live to blush for and repent
of that crime, which, Edwin!--cannot be expiated."
Roderic had advanced too far to be thus deterred. He did not wish to
manage the character under which he appeared. His passions by this
interview, more private, and in which his captive had beheld him with an
eye of greater complacency than ever, were inflamed to the extremest
degree.
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