persuaded to recruit myself after my fatigues in a neighbouring and
little-frequented watering-place.


I must now pass rapidly over one period of my history, on which how
gladly would I dwell, could I conjure up your lively powers of
delineation! But the vivid hues which are at your command, and
which alone can give life and animation to the picture, have left no
trace within me; and were I now to endeavour to recall the joys, the
griefs, the pure and enchanting emotions, which once held such
powerful dominion in my breast, it would be like striking a rock
which yields no longer the living spring, and whose spirit has fled
for ever. With what an altered aspect do those bygone days now
present themselves to my gaze!

In this watering-place I acted an heroic character, badly studied;
and being a novice on such a stage, I forgot my part before a pair
of lovely blue eyes.

All possible means were used by the infatuated parents to conclude
the bargain; and deception put an end to these usual artifices. And
that is all--all.

The powerful emotions which once swelled my bosom seem now in the
retrospect to be poor and insipid, nay, even terrible to me.

Alas, Minna! as I wept for thee the day I lost thee, so do I now
weep that I can no longer retrace thine image in my soul.

Am I, then, so far advanced into the vale of years? O fatal effects