despotic power, to thy brutal outrage, and I will not murmur."

But his words were given to the winds of heaven. Roderic fled far, far
away. The heart of Edwin was wrung with anguish. "Ye kind and merciful
Gods!" exclaimed he, "grant but this one prayer, and the voice of Edwin
shall no more importune you with presumptuous vows. Blot from the book
of fate the tedious interval. Give me to find the potent villain. Though
he be hemmed in with guards behind guards; though his impious mansion
strike its foundations deep to the centre, and rear its head above the
clouds; though all the powers of hell combine on his side, I will search
him out, I will penetrate into his most hidden recess. I can but die.
Oh, if I am to be deprived of Imogen, how sweet, how solacing is the
thought of death! Let me die in her cause. That were some comfort yet.
Let me die in her presence, let her eyes witness the fervour of my
attachment, and I will die without a groan."

Having thus poured forth the anguish of his bosom, he resumed the
pursuit. But how could Edwin, alone, on foot, and wearied with the
journey of the day, hope to overtake the winged steeds of Roderic? And
indeed had his speed been tenfold greater than it was, it had been
exerted to no purpose. As the ravisher arrived at the edge of the
mountain, he struck into a narrow and devious path that led directly to
his mansion. But Edwin, who had for some time lost sight of the chariot,
took no notice of a way, covered with moss and overgrown with bushes;
and pursued the more beaten road. Swift was his course; but the swifter
he flew, the farther still he wandered from the object of his search. A
rapid brook flowed across his path, which the descending rains had
swelled into a river. Without a moment's hesitation, accoutered as he
was, he plunged in. Instantly he gained the opposite bank, and divided
the air before him, like an arrow in its flight.