Have trust, my soul, that thou wilt find in Him a Father kinder
than was the lover for whose sake thou hast so often forgotten Him. O my
God, my Creator, Thou who art the true and perfect love, by whose grace
the love I bore to my beloved has been stained by no blemish save
that of too great an affection, I implore Thee in mercy to receive the
soul-and spirit of one who repents that she has broken thy first and
most just commandment. And, through the merits of Him whose love passeth
all understanding, forgive the error into which excess of love has led
me, for in Thee alone do I put my perfect trust. And farewell, O my
beloved, whose empty name doth break my very heart."
With these words she fell backward, and her face grew pallid, her lips
blue, and her extremities cold.
Just at this moment the gentleman she loved came into the hall, and,
seeing the Duchess dancing with the ladies, looked everywhere for his
sweetheart. Not finding her, he went into the chamber of the Duchess,
and there found the Duke, who was walking up and down, and who, guessing
his purpose, whispered in his ear--
"She went into that closet, and methought she was ill.
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