uperabundance, together with Don Lope's unusually amorous disposition,
were constantly in opposition with the nicety of Roque's conscience, by
reason of the difficulties they gave rise to, in the fulfilment of the
natural law of self-preservation.

It is an averred fact that Roque never wilfully put himself in the way
of infringing so rational a precept, and most fortunately he was endowed
with a quality highly favorable to the observance thereof. A quality
which other individuals not blessed with the same scruples, would
denominate cowardice.

This is not all: the valet was far from being of a romantic turn of
mind; he evinced no taste whatever for moonlit scenery, and nocturnal
adventure; and he was vulgar enough to prefer the gross advantages of a
sound slumber to all the sentimental beauties of the silvered moon and
its appendages.

These considerations dwelt strongly on the mind of Roque, and he had
accordingly several times resolved to quit his master, but such was the
dominion which Gomez Arias held over him, that the valet's resolutions
fell to the ground, whenever he attempted to put them in practice.

CHAPTER VI.

Ma chi'l vede e non l'ama?
Ardito umano cor, nobil fierezza,
Sublime ingegno--Ah! perche tal ti fero
Natura e il cielo?

_Alfieri._

The bloom of op'ning flowers, unsullied beauty,
Softness and sweetest innocence she wears,
And looks like nature in the world's first spring.

_Rowe._

Don Lope Gomez Arias was a man whose will had seldom been checked, and
he placed the most unbounded confidence in the magnitude of his
resources, physical and intellectual. Nature had indeed been lavished in
conferring on this individual her choicest favors. To the most undaunted
courage and quickness of resolve, he united the greatest powers of mind,
and brilliancy of talent, but he was unfortunately divested of those
genuine feelings of the heart, which alone can render these qualities
desirable.

His courage, talents, and abilities, had rendered him an object of
dread, not only to the enemies of his country, but to the rivals of his
love or ambition. By the men he was generally disliked, feared or
envied. Unfortunately the softer sex entertained for him far different
sentiments.--Alas! they could not discover the void within his heart,
through the dazzling splendour of his outward form, and habitua