BOOK THE THIRD

PURPOSES OF RODERIC.--THE CARRIAGE OF IMOGEN.--HER CONTEMPT OF RICHES.


The fatigue which Imogen had undergone in the preceding day, prepared
her to rest during the night with more tranquility than could otherwise
have been expected. The scenes to which she had successively been
witness, and the objects that now surrounded her, were too novel and
extraordinary in their character, to allow much room for the severity of
reflection, and the coolness of meditation. Her frame was tired with the
various exercises in which she had engaged; her mind was hurried and
perplexed without knowing upon what to fix, or in what manner to account
for the events that had befallen her: she therefore sunk presently into
a sweet and profound sleep; and while every thing seemed preparing for
her destruction, while a thousand enchantments were essayed, and a
thousand schemes revolved in the busy mind of Roderic, she remained
composed and unapprehensive. Innocence was the sevenfold shield that
protected her from harm; her eyes were closed in darkness, and a smile
of placid benignity played upon the lovely features of her countenance.

Roderic in the mean time had retired to his chamber. His mind was turbid
and unquiet. So restless are the waves of the ocean before the coming
tempest. They assume a darker hue, and reflect a more cloudy heaven.
They roll this way and that in a continual motion, and yet without any
direction, till the loud and hoarse-echoing wind determines their course
and carries them in mountains to the sounding shore. The mind of the
victim was all quiet and unruffled; such is the kindly influence of
conscious truth. The mind of the ravisher exhibited nothing but