I was bewildered by the fumes of wine and the astonishment of your sudden appearance, or I should have rescued her from your anger, ere it was too late! The events which have passed this morning, confused though they were, have yet convinced me that I had mistaken you both.

I now know that your child was too pure to be an object fitted for my pursuit; and I believe that in secluding her as you did, however ill-advised you might appear, you were honest in your design! Never in my pursuit of pleasure did I commit so fatal an error, as when I entered the doors of your house!' In pronouncing these words, Vetranio but gave expression to the sentiments by which they were really inspired.

As we have before observed, profligate as he was by thoughtlessness of character and license of social position, he was neither heartless nor criminal by nature.

Fathers had stormed, but his generosity had hitherto invariably pacified them.

Daughters had wept, but had found consolation on all previous occasions in the splendour of his palace and the amiability of his disposition.