he pointed to these sad remains. ‘Will you be easily tempted after this
to promenade on the Lido or at Fusina with your beauty?’ I covered my
face with my hands, a vast ruin had taken place within me. I returned
to my presbytery, and the noble Lord Romuald, the lover of Clarimonde,
separated himself from the poor priest with whom he had kept such
strange company so long. But once only, the following night, I saw
Clarimonde. She said to me, as she had said the first time at the
portals of the church: ‘Unhappy man! Unhappy man! What hast thou done?
Wherefore have hearkened to that imbecile priest? Wert thou not happy?
And what harm had I ever done thee that thou shouldst violate my poor
tomb, and lay bare the miseries of my nothingness? All communication
between our souls and our bodies is henceforth for ever broken. Adieu!
Thou wilt yet regret me!’ She vanished in air as smoke, and I never saw
her more.
Alas! she spoke truly indeed. I have regretted her more than once, and I
regret her still. My soul’s peace has been very dearly bought. The
love of God was not too much to replace such a love as hers. And this,
brother, is the story of my youth. Never gaze upon a woman, and walk
abroad only with eyes ever fixed upon the ground; for however chaste and
watchful one may be, the error of a single moment is enough to make one
lose eternity.