Book-bot.com - read famous books online for free

Imogen - A Pastoral Romance by William Godwin
page 38 of 146 (26%)
scourge of war never blasted his smiling fields; the terror of invasion
never banished him from the peaceful cot. You too are young and uninured
even to the misfortunes of the shepherd. No contagion has destroyed your
flock; no wolf has broken its slender barriers: you have felt the
anguish of no wound, and been witness to the death of no friend. Say
then, my son, why art thou thus dejected and forlorn?"

"Alas," replied Edwin, "our equal lot undoubtedly removes us from the
stroke of many misfortunes; but even to us adversity extends its rod. I
have been exposed to the ravages of an invader, more fearful than the
wolf, more detested than the conqueror. From an affliction like mine, no
occupation, no rank, no age can exempt. Sawest thou not the descending
storm? Did not the rain beat upon thy cavern, and the thunder roar among
the hills?" "It did," cried Madoc, "and I was struck with reverence, and
worshipped the God who grasps the thunder in his mighty hand. Wast thou,
my son, exposed to its fury?" "I was upon the bleak and wide extended
heath. With Imogen, the fairest and most constant of the daughters of
Clwyd, I returned from the feast of Ruthyn. But alas," added the
shepherd, "the storm had no terrors, when compared with the scenes that
accompanied it. I beheld, Madoc, nor are the words I utter the words of
shameless imposition, or coward credulity; I beheld a phantom, that
glided along the air, and rode among the clouds. At his command, a wolf
from the forest, with horrid tusks, and eyes of fire, burst upon me. I
advanced towards it, that I might defend the fairest of her sex from its
fury, and plunged my javelin in its heart. But, oh! while I was thus
engaged, a chariot advanced on the opposite side! Its course was
directed by the spectre. The rider descended on the plain, and seized
the spotless, helpless Imogen; and never, never shall these eyes behold
her more! Such, O thou servant of the Gods, has been my adversity. The
powers of darkness have arrayed themselves against me. For me the storm
DigitalOcean Referral Badge