Page:The Monk, A Romance - Lewis (1796, 1st ed., Volume 1).djvu/68

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the gipsy's address; and—"fifty-one,"—squinting eyes,—red hair,—paint and patches,"—&c. were bandied from mouth to mouth. Leonella was almost choaked with passion, and loaded her malicious adviser with the bitterest reproaches. The swarthy prophetess for some time listened to her with a contemptuous smile: at length she made her a short answer, and then turned to Antonia.

THE GIPSY.

"Peace, lady! What I said was true.
And now, my lovely maid, to you;
Give me your hand, and let me see
Your future doom, and heaven's decree."

In imitation of Leonella, Antonia drew off her glove, and presented her white hand to the gipsy, who, having gazed upon it for some time with a mingled expression of pity and astonishment, pronounced her oracle in the following words:

THE GIPSY.

"Jesus! what a palm is there!
Chaste, and gentle, young and fair,

Perfect