" Ah, ladies, my dear
ladies, a man like this might well make some little confusion in the
head and heart of a poor young girl, tender and unsuspicious!
Flodoardo took Rosabella's hand, and led her into the ball-room.
Here all was mirth and splendour, the roofs re-echoed with the full
swell of harmony, and the floor trembled beneath the multitude of
dancers, who formed a thousand beautiful groups by the blaze of
innumerable lustres. Yes, Flodoardo and Rosabella passed on in
silence till they reached the extreme end of the great saloon. Here
they stopped, and remained before an open window. Some minutes
passed, and still they spoke not. Sometimes they gazed on each
other, sometimes on the dancers, sometimes on the moon; and then
again they forgot each other, the dancers, and the moon, and were
totally absorbed in themselves.
"Lady," said Flodoardo, at length, "can there be a greater
misfortune?"
"A misfortune?" said Rosabella, starting as if suddenly awaking from
a dream; "what misfortune, signor? Who is unfortunate?"
"He who is doomed to behold the joys of Elysium and never to possess
them. He who dies of thirst and sees a cup stand full before him,
but which he knows is destined for the lips of another."
"And are you, my lord, this outcast from Elysium? Are you the
thirsty one who stands near the cup which is filled for another? Is
it thus that you wish me to understand your speech?"
"You understand it as I meant: and now tell me, lovely Rosabella,
am I not indeed unfortunate?"
"And where, then, is the Elysium which you must never possess?"
"Where Rosabella is, there is indeed Elysium.
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