embittered every joy, and overwhelmed his generous soul with
sorrow.

When the company from the castle joined Benefico, he declared to
them in what manner their deliverance was effected; and, as a
general shout of joy resounded through the neighbouring mountains,
Fidus, lifting up his eyes, beheld in the midst of the multitude,
standing in a pensive posture, the fair disconsolate. Her tender
heart was at the instant overflowing in soft tears, caused by a
kind participation of their present transport, yet mixed with the
deep sad impression of a grief her bosom was full fraught with.
Her face, at first, was almost hid by her white handkerchief, with
which she wiped away the trickling drops, which falling, had
bedewed her beauteous cheeks: but as she turned her lovely face
to view the joyful conquerors, and to speak a welcome to her kind
protector, what words can speak the raptures, the astonishment,
that swelled the bosom of the faithful youth, when in this fair
disconsolate he saw his loved, his constant, his long-lost Amata!
Their delighted eyes in the same instant beheld each other, and,
breaking on each side from their astonished friends, they flew
like lightning into each other's arms.

After they had given a short account of what had passed in their
separation, Fidus presented to his loved Amata the kind, the
gentle Mignon, with lavish praises of his generous friendship, and
steady resolution, in hazarding his life by disobeying the
injunctions of the cruel tyrant. No sooner had Amata heard the
name of Mignon, but she cried out, 'Surely my happiness is now
complete, and all my sorrows, by this joyful moment, are more than
fully recompensed; for, in the kind preserver of my Fidus, I have