I soon found her absence gave me an uneasiness not easy to be borne or to remove.

I now first applied to diversions (of the graver sort, particularly to music), but in vain; they rather raised my desires and heightened my anguish.

My passion at length grew so violent, that I began to think of satisfying it.

As the first step to this, I cautiously inquired into the circumstances of Ariadne's parents, with which I was hitherto unacquainted: though, indeed, I did not apprehend they were extremely great, notwithstanding the handsome appearance of their daughter at Rome.

Upon examination, her fortune exceeded my expectation, but was not sufficient to justify my marriage with her, in the opinion of the wise and prudent.