She entered
late--she was and wore the crown. She followed modestly her parents,
and seemed not to know that she was the loveliest of all. They were
presented to me as Mr. Forest-master, his lady and their daughter.
I found many agreeable and obliging things to say to the old people;
before the daughter I stood like a rebuked boy, and could not bring
out one word. I begged her, at length, with a faltering tone, to
honor this feast by assuming the office whose insignia she graced. She
entreated with blushes and a moving look to be excused; but blushing
still more than herself in her presence, I paid her as her first
subject my homage, with a most profound respect, and the hint of the
Count became to all the guests a command which every one with emulous
joy hastened to obey. Majesty, innocence, and grace presided in
alliance with beauty over a rapturous feast. Mina's happy parents
believed their child thus exalted only in honor of them. I myself was
in an indescribable intoxication. I caused all the jewels which yet
remained of those which I had formerly purchased, in order to get rid
of burthensome gold, all the pearls, all the precious stones, to
be laid in two covered dishes, and at the table, in the name of
the queen, to be distributed round to her companions and to all
the ladies. Gold, in the meantime, was incessantly strewed over the
encompassing ropes among the exulting people.
Pages:
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455