My wife and my babes have gone before.

Happy wretches! I have sent you to repose, and ought not to linger behind." These words had a meaning sufficiently intelligible.

I looked at the open knife in his hand and shuddered, but knew not how to prevent the deed which I dreaded.

He quickly noticed my fears, and comprehended them.

Stretching towards me his hand, with an air of increasing mildness: "Take it," said he: "Fear not for thy own sake, nor for mine.
The cup is gone by, and its transient inebriation is succeeded by the soberness of truth.
"Thou angel whom I was wont to worship! fearest thou, my sister, for thy life?
Once it was the scope of my labours to destroy thee, but I was prompted to the deed by heaven; such, at least, was my belief.