Let neatness, and elegance, and beauty exhibit their proudest charms.
Let every path that leads to delight, let every gratification that
inebriates the soul be discovered. If at that moment temptation
approach, even a meaner and less potent temptation may then succeed. The
night advances with hasty feet. Night is the season of dissipation and
luxury. Be this the hour of experiment, and let the apprehensive mind of
Imogen be first assiduously lulled to repose. Here, Roderic, you must
rest your remaining hopes. There is not another instrument can be
discovered, to disarm and vanquish the human mind. If here you fail, the
Gods have decreed it--they will be obeyed--Imogen must be dismissed from
the enchanted halls of Rodogune."
With these words the goblin disappeared. The warning he had uttered
passed unheeded, but the magician immediately prepared to employ this
last of stratagems. Summoning the train of attendants of either sex that
resided in the castle, he directed them some to make ready the intended
feast, and some to repair to the apartment of Imogen. The preparations
of the enchanted castle were not like those of a vulgar entertainment.
Every thing was accelerated by invisible agents. The intervention of the
retinue of Roderic was scarcely admitted.
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