thought of Mela was a dagger to his heart; for he saw no longer, even the shadow of a possibility, to rise once more from the whirlpool, in which he had sunk. Indeed, had he succeeded to get his head once more above water, he knew, that she was on her side, perfectly unable to assist him farther.
A silent despair took possession of his heart; he had no other wish but to die, and thus to end his torments. He did, in fact, make an attempt to starve himself to death, but that is not in every body’s power; a healthy young stomach does not so easily submit to the decrees of the head or the heart. After having abstained for two days from all food, such a violent hunger seized him, that it was impossible to withstand its dictates; and his resolution was conquered by the sight of a crust of bread.
It was not, however, the intention of the hard-hearted citizens of Antwerp, to get money from their pretended debtor, but only to make him give up his claims on their money, as they could not deny the justice of his demands. Either the prayers from the pulpit at Bremen
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