ry, with
hearts full of joy and with abundance of wealth. It is not from this,
nor from the recovery of my freedom, that springs the incomparable
pleasure I now experience, but from that which I imagine this sweet
enemy of mine in peace and in war enjoys on seeing herself restored to
freedom and to her birth-place. Yet, I rejoice in the general joy of
those who have been my companions in misery; and though grievous
disasters are apt to alter the disposition and debase worthy minds, it
has not been so with the fair destroyer of my hopes, for with more
fortitude and invincibility than can well be told, she has passed
through the wrecking sea of her disasters and the encounters of my
ardent though honourable importunities.

"But to return to the point from which I set out: I offered my fortune
for her ransom, and with it the surrender of my soul's desires; I strove
for her liberation, and ventured more for her than for my own life. All
these things might seem to be obligations of some moment, but I will
not have them regarded in that light; what I would have so considered,
is that which I now do;" and so saying, he raised his hand and
respectfully withdrew the veil from Leonisa's face--it was like removing
a cloud from before the sun--and then he continued: "See, Cornelio; here
I present to you the prize which you should value above all precious
things on earth; and here, beauteous Leonisa, I present to you him whom
you have always borne in memory. This is what I would have you all
esteem as generosity, in comparison with which to give fortune, life,
and honour, is nothing.

"Take her, O fortunate youth, take her; and if your understanding can
reach the height of comprehending the greatness of her worth, esteem
yourself the most fortunate of mankind. With her I will also give you my
whole share of what Heaven has bestowed on us all; it will exceed, as I
fully believe, thirty thousand crowns. You may enjoy it all freely and
at your ease, and Heaven grant you to do so for many happy years. For my
hapless self, since I am left without Leonisa, it is my pleasure to be
poor. To want Leonisa, is to find life superfluous."

Here he ceased speaking, as if his tongue clove to the roof of his
mouth, but soon afterwards, before any one else had spoken, he
exclaimed, "Good heavens! how toil and trouble confuse the
understanding! In the eagerness of my desire to do right, I have spoken
inconsiderately, for no one can be generous in