s covered with costly red tapestry; purple curtains of heavy silk
hung down before the windows: a bed of brilliant scarlet embroidered
with gold rose in the middle of the room. Everything was still; no
sound was heard from the street; the windows lookt into a small
garden.

A painful anxiety came over the youth as he stood in the midst of the
chamber; he listened attentively, and at length seemed to hear the low
whisper of a breath, as from a sleeper. With throbbing heart he turned
round, and went forward, to spy whether any one was upon the bed; he
spread open the silken hangings, and ... he thought he must be in a
dream; for before him lay, pale as a corpse, but in a sweet slumber,
the form of his beloved Crescentia. Her bosom heaved visibly;
something like a slight blush had tinged her pale lips, which were
softly closed, quivering imperceptibly as a gentle smile ever and anon
flitted over them. Her hair was loose and lay in its dark heavy locks
upon her shoulders. Her dress was white, with a golden clasp at her
girdle. For a long time Antonio stood lost in gazing; at last as if
driven by a supernatural power he snatcht the lovely white hand, and
began to pull up the sleeper by force. She darted a plaintive cry
forth; and frightened by it he let go the arm again, which dropt
languidly upon the pillow.

But the dream, so seemed it, had flown away; the net of sleep which
had held the wonderous form inclosed, was rent asunder: and as clouds
and mists move along the side of the hills on the gentle morning
breeze in wavy forms and now rise and now sink again, so the slumberer
began to stir, stretcht herself as if powerless, and in slow and
graceful motions seemed striving to emerge from her sleep. Her arms
raised themselves, so that the broad sleeves fell back and displayed
their full beauteous roundness; her hands folded themselves, and then
dropt down again; the head arose, and the bright neck lifted itself
freely up; but the eyes were still fast closed; the black tresses fell
over the face, but the long taper fingers stroaked them back; now the
fair one was sitting quite upright; she crost her arms over her
breast, heaved a hard sigh, and on a sudden her large eyes stood wide
open and glancing.

She gazed at the youth; but it was as though she saw him not; she
shook her head; then she graspt the gold tassel which was fastened to
the top of the bed, lifted herself strongly up, and the tall slender
form was now stand