transparent, or an eye so expressive. Her vermeil-tinctured lips were
new-blown roses that engrossed the sight, and seemed to solicit to be
plucked. His heart was caught in the tangles of her hair. Such an
unaffected bashfulness, and so modest a blush; such an harmonious and
meaning tone of voice, that expressed in the softest accents, the most
delicate sense and the most winning simplicity, could not but engage the
attention of a swain so versed in the science of the fair as Roderic.
From that distinguished moment, though he still felt uneasiness, it was
no longer vacuity, it was no longer an uneasiness irrational and
unaccountable. He had now an object to pursue. He was not now subjected
to the fatigue of forming wishes for the sake of having them instantly
gratified. When he reflected upon the present object of his desires, new
obstacles continually started in his mind. Unused to encounter
difficulty, he for a time imagined them insurmountable. Had his desires
been less pressing, had his passion been less ardent, he would have
given up the pursuit in despair. But urged along by an unintermitted
impulse, he could think of nothing else, he could not abstract his
attention to a foreign subject. He determined at least once again to
behold the peerless maiden. He descended to the feast of Ruthyn; and
though the interval had been but short, from the time in which he had
first observed her, in the eye of love she seemed improved. The charms
that erst had budded, were now full blown. Her beauties were ripened,
and her attractions spread themselves in the face of day. Nor was this
all. He beheld with a watchful glance her slight and silent intercourse
with the gallant Edwin; an intercourse which no eye but that of a lover
could have penetrated. Hence his mind became pregnant with all the
hateful brood of dark suspicions; he was agitated with the fury of
jealousy. Jealousy evermore blows the flame it seems formed to
extinguish. The passion of Roderic was more violent than ever. His
impatient spirit could not now brook the absence of a moment. Luxury