Volume IV Part 41 (1/2)
As ere going away the duke made several observations on what moral philosophers call prejudices There is no philosopher ould maintain or even advance the thesis that the union of a father and daughter is horrible naturally, for it is entirely a social prejudice; but it is so widespread, and education has graven it so deeply in our hearts, that only a man whose heart is utterly depraved could despise it It is the result of a respect for the laws, it keeps the social scheer a prejudice, it is a principle
I went to bed, but as usual, after the violent eone, I could not sleep The rapid transition from carnal to paternal love cast my physical and mental faculties into such a state of excitele that was taking place inI fell asleep for a short ti as exhausted as two lovers who have been spending a long and voluptuous winter's night
When I got up I told the duke that I intended to set out from Naples the next day; and he observed that as everybody kneas on the eve of my departure, this haste would make people talk
”Come and have some broth with e project as one of the ed We will spend the three or four days pleasantly together, and perhaps e have thought over all this for so it ood as the daughter; recollection is often better than hope; console yourself with Lucrezia I don't think you can see any difference between her present appearance and that of eighteen years ago, for I don't see how she can ever have been handsohtI could do would be to forget the illusion which had amused me for four or five days, and as ht not to be a difficult task; but yet I was in love and unable to satisfy my love
Love is not likefor another when one cannot have what one wants Love is a sentiment, only the object who has kindled the flame can soothe the heat thereof
We went to call onpale, depressed, weary, and like a boy going to receive the rod
I was extremely surprised when I caay, but this helped onhter's freedo arded her attentively, and I was forced to confess that the eighteen years that had passed away had done little ill to her charlance, that fresh complexion, those perfect shapes, those beautiful lips--in fine, all that had charmed my youthful eyes
We ave and received the tenderest kisses without seeht cause to arise; no doubt she knew that as her father I should have strength to resist, and she was right One gets used to everything, and I was ashaer
I told Donna Lucrezia of the curious welcoiven hter We reht at Tivoli, and these recollections softened our hearts Fros to love is but a short way; but neither place nor ti of it
After a few moments of silence I told her that if she cared to coelique, I would take her back to Naples at the beginning of Lent She pro day
I sat between her and Leonilda at dinner; and as I could no longer think of the daughter, it was natural that my old flame for Lucrezia should rekindle; and whether froaiety and beauty, or from my need of someone to love, or from the excellence of the wine, I found myself in love with her by the dessert, and asked her to take the place which her daughter was to have filled
”I will o to Rohter I do not like to leave her at Naples”
At this the three guests looked at each other and said nothing I did not repeat my proposal, but led the conversation to some other topic
After dinner I felt sleepy and lay down on a bed, and did not wake till eight o'clock, when to my surprise I found thatShe heard me stir, and came up to me and said affectionately,--
”My dear friend, you have slept for five hours; and as I did not like to leave you alone I would not go with the duke and our daughter to the opera”
The memory of former loves awakens when one is near the once beloved object, and desires rapidly become irresistible if the beauty still remain The lovers feel as if they were once s to the deprived by unfortunate incidents These were our feelings, and without delay, without idle discussion, and above all, without false modesty, we abandoned ourselves to love, the only true source of nature
In the first interval, I was the first to break the silence; and if aof a wit, is he the less so at that delicious moment of repose which follows on an aain, then,” said I, ”I a land which I entered for the first time to the noise of the drum and the rattle of h, and recalled past events to her ht all the pleasures we had enjoyed at Testaccio, Frascati, and Tivoli We reminded each other of these events, only to hter but a pretext for renewing the sweet sacrifice of the Goddess of Cythera?
At the end of the second act, full of the enthusiasm of the fortunate lover, I said,--
”Let us be united for life; we are of the sae, we love each other, our means are sufficient for us, we may hope to live a happy life, and to die at the sa wish of my heart,” Lucrezia replied, ”but let us stay at Naples and leave Leonilda to the duke We will see company, find her a worthy husband, and our happiness will be complete”