Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-02

49,
and i, is a question whether he himself was We
nv solici,ous 20 obtain ii. His attac hment 10
Rosina, which was her name, resembled more
the thoughtless levity Of caprice than The gene
rous ardor Of ~yirtuous love; at least 1t was a
subject ON which he bad not Intercepted his
heart. Like his friend Lelio, however, he was
obliged to be secret in his visits, on account Of
the relations al Rosina, who might have put
some embarrassing questions concerning his
intentions.
Ourtwo friends had communicated in comb
dencc their amorous adventures to each other.
Indispensable business obliged Lelio to be alb
sent som time. Nor was it without the most
evident demonstrations of concern that he con-
veyed this intelligence TO Lauretta, which was
the name Of his mistress. He had need himself
of that consolation which he endeavored' TO ad-
minister to her. 'His friend Martino,' he said,
would come privately TO deliver his letters, and
would likewise take the charge OF her answers
Laure,,a, who was acquainted with their mu-
,ual friendship, was happy in this assurance;
and with a charming frankness said, that she
should enjoy only Two pleasures in his absence
that of reading his letters, and convcrsing with
Martina. Lelio, on leav.' < his mistress, has
tened 10 MARITIME, and requested him to take
charge Of the correspondence between him and
his dear Lauretta. He was the only person, he
said, 10 whom he could entrust a commission Of
such moment 10 his happiness. He said, Qor
he was passionately fond, and love naturally in
spires pastoral idcas) that his Lauretta was like
a ~favori,e lamb whom he had placed under the
crook of friendship, and that he pade him her
shepherd. Such shepherds are sometimes
wolves. But not 10 anticipate events, Martina
was profuse in his promises, and Lelio Sc: out
on his journey.
Martina consoled himself in the company Of
his mistress, for the absence Of his friend, when
he received from him a letter for Lauretta. He
could no, deliver the letter without speaking 10
her: he could not speak without admiring her;
he saw that she was beautiful; he discovered in
tellectual chafms; he conversed with her with
pleasure; and he left her with regret. Two
days after, he returned to receive her letter.
Their conversation was now longer; and Mar
tino found Lauretta still more amiable than at
first By dint of talking Of love for his friend,
he conceived the idea Of making some amorous
professions for himself: he had an inclination
absolutely to replace his friend. This, indeed,
was CARRYING friendship rather too far. Per-
haps, in endeavoring to make himself agreeable
to Lau-et,a, he had no intention 10 deprive his
friend Of her, but merely TO attach himself TO
her till his return in fact said he to him
SELF, y shall only have KEEP: up the tender SEN
timent in Lauretta's bosom. 1t is still serving
my friend; and il, al his return, | restore what
he has con6ded to me, provided he is ignorant
Of il, l shall have done him no injury
With this curious reasoning he silenced his
conscience, which certainly could not have been
very scrupulous nor very delicate He %continu-
ed his visits; and what with delivering his
friends letters, and receiving Lauretta's answers,
he had at length the presumption , nT lost TO
Observation-Disclosures & fidelity found Lauret-
Ia as ~virtaous as she was beautiful. She answer
ed him with such an air and voice Of indiena-
ton, that MARITIME, who had scarce time to f.
nish his declaration, burst not venture to repea,
it. Overwhelmed with shame at the recollec.
ton Of his dishonorabie conduct, he earnestly
besought her TO forget the presumption of
which he had been guilty, and he implored her
silence on the subject. She could not speak of
il, he said, TO Lelio, without embroiling them
together, and subjec,ing them both to the most
imminent danger. This last represe ntation had
great weight wi'hLauretta, who promised to con-
ceal what had passed, and TO conceal il from her
lover. But she forbid him to see her again, if he
wv PiSSuihSu ~ HoIupI SuSU uiSnOuOi aux SCU-
timents, MARITIME protested, that his veneration
For her virtue had quite extinguished his guilty
passion: he threw hiNself at her feet: he extoll-
ed her behaviour, which, perhaps, in his hear,
he cursed: and when he thought he mad atoned
for his misc onduct by the most humiliating ex-
p~ressions of repentance he took his leave. He
returned, a few days after with some letters
from Lelio; but he now kept within those bounds
of respect which insuited virtue had taught
him 10 observe.
Lslio, at length, returned 10 Milan. MARITIME
no sooner heard of his friends arrival than he
FASTENED 10 embrace him The impatient lover,
it may be supposed, delayed not a moment to
enquire after his dear Lauret,a. His friend an
swered, that she continued as beautiful as ever,
that her conversation had necessarily turned
upon her beloved Lelio. However, no,with-
standing Lauretta's promise, he was apprehen-
sive that she would relate to Lelio what had
passed; and he thought, therefore, that it would
be more discreet to mention it first himself
He told Lelio then, that having been DESTROYS
OF proving the fidelity Of his Mistress, he had
ventured 10 maze a feigned declaration; but that
he had discovered with extreme satisfaction,
that Lauretta's heart was a model ofhdelity and
tenderness, aud that her virtue, was equal 10 her
BEAUTY.
This confidence, Notwithstanding the eulogy
that seasoned il, was not much relisbea by Lee