n my heart.

At length I can no longer hide my weakness either from myself or from
you. I yield to the violence of my passion, and own that I adore you!
For three long months I stifled my desires; But grown stronger by
resistance, I submit to their impetuosity. Pride, fear, and honour,
respect for myself, and my engagements to the Baron, all are
vanquished. I sacrifice them to my love for you, and it still seems to
me that I pay too mean a price for your possession.'

She paused for an answer.--Judge, my Lorenzo, what must have been my
confusion at this discovery. I at once saw all the magnitude of this
obstacle, which I had raised myself to my happiness. The Baroness had
placed those attentions to her own account, which I had merely paid her
for the sake of Agnes: And the strength of her expressions, the looks
which accompanied them, and my knowledge of her revengeful disposition
made me tremble for myself and my Beloved. I was silent for some
minutes. I knew not how to reply to her declaration: I could only
resolve to clear up the mistake without delay, and for the present to
conceal from her knowledge the name of my Mistress. No sooner had She
avowed her passion than the transports which before were evident in my
features gave place to consternation and constraint. I dropped her
hand, and rose from my knees. The change in my countenance did not
escape her observation.

'What means this silence?' said She in a trembling voice; 'Where is
that joy which you led me to expect?'

'Forgive me, Segnora,' I answered, 'if what necessity forces from me
should seem harsh and ungrateful: To encourage you in an error, which,
however it may flatter myself, must prove to you the source of
disappointment, would make me appear criminal in every eye. Honour
obliges me to inform you that you have mistaken for the solicitude of
Love what was only the attention of Friendship. The latter sentiment
is that which I wished to excite in your bosom: To entertain a warmer,
respect for you forbids me, and gratitude for the Baron's generous
treatment. Perhaps these reasons would not be sufficient to shield me
from your attractions, were it not that my affections are already
bestowed upon another. You have charms, Segnora, which might captivate
the most insensible; No heart unoccupied could resist them. Happy is
it for me that mine is no longer in my possession; or I should have to
reproach myself for ever with having violated