Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/83

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his vengeance stop, till his bones are dust, his memory is destroyed, and every offspring or member of his family cut off."

Having made me repeat this dreadful vow, she sank speechless in my arms, and unperceived run the dagger into one of them a little above the elbow, sucking the blood with her own lips. She then repeated the same painful operation upon herself, and presenting to me the bleeding limb, cried: "May such be the mixture of our hearts!"—Soon after the loss of blood made her faint, and having dressed the wound as well as I was able, she at last recovered. This moment was the signal of the same ailment in myself, having forgotten that the same case required on my part, the same remedy I had afforded to her. All grew dark before my eyes, and I felt myself in a momentary torpitude. Rosalia called for help; and the same female attendants appeared, supported, and led me to the castle: I was here put half-senseless on a bed, where a comfortable slumber, which lasted till late in the morn-