m, - // fWt / ( •> A W im gm \ ■■ ■■■ THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA LIBRARY PRESENTED BY THE WILLIAM A. WHITAKER FOUNDATION Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill https://archive.org/details/leopoldwarndorfn01summ LEOPOLD WARNDORF. A NOVEL. # * i 1 “BS * -1 **’ IJST TWO WO LU ME S. n r HENRY SUMMERSETT, • # . ' AUTHOR OF V THE MAD -MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN, &c. ©V. ©V. Imogen. Po/ibumus. te Why did you throw me from you ? ** Think that you are upon a rock, and now tf Throw me again !’* “ Hang thei-e, like fruit, my foul, i{ Till the tree perilh !” CYMBEIINE, VOL. I. L 0 ND 0 Ns PRINTED AT THE ^tttert>a*S5ref0 t FOR WILLIAM LANE, LEADENHALL-STREET. 1300 . . i- V PREFACE, THE author of the following fheets is unwilling to obtrude on the public any fuperfluous mat-' ter; but he conceives that his reputation, if any has, or ever Jthall II PREFACE. fhall be awarded him, demands / a few words by way of preface. 1 • \ Leopold Warndorf w T as, about two years ago, caft in a dramatic- mould 5 it contained characters which have fince been put afide, and attempts at humour which will not be found in thefe vo¬ lumes .—“ Oh! that I could fee the inimitable Kemble affuming the paffions of the Marquis—that 1 - could hear the exquiiite tones of Mrs. Siddons fwelling with the rage Ill PREFACE. rape and refentment of Victoria : o and the alinoft magic voice of Mrs. Jordan repeating the hopes and the forrows of the fimple \ r Antoinette !”—Thefe words I have not unfrequently uttered. The reader may fmile at my vanity y — I have fmiled at it myfelf. My ambition faded : the fancied laugh of the Manager was a death- blow; and I put afide my papers, becaufe I would not he reminded of my own folly and preemp¬ tion. A 2 At J ' -v * I IV PREFACE. At length I brought them to the light again, and at intervals began to form them into a Novel. I changed the fcene of adtion from France to Germany, gave / new names and titles to my cha¬ racters, and had actually written the iirft volume, when I went to fee the reprefentation of a new Play, which defervedly became a favourite with the town. I was agitated by the excellence of the performance : and when I left the Theatre, Ifancied there was a great fimilitude PREFACE, V fimilitude between the drama and what I had then written and de¬ signed. Self-affured, however, of my honefty, I proceeded in my work, which I completed in the manner as it is now prefented to the public ; and I {hall never think myfelf more indebted to the German poet, than he is to me* Indeed the likenefs has lince ap¬ peared to me very faint:; and I v tm perfuaded that my book con¬ tains not a fentence that may be traced I wVi PREFACE, \ .traced in the author to whom I have alluded. It may he faid by fome, that, even in this ftiort appeal, there is much ado about nothing ; and the fenfe of my own fceblenefs pre¬ vents me from aiming at fuch a O ftupendous giant as Kotzebue. But I know the prejudices arifing from comparifon ; and I do not think it improbable, but that a cer¬ tain fet of monthly critics (I fpeak not of the Monthly Reviewers ), •may. i PREFACE. Vll may, in fome after feafon, affure their readers that my book bears a refemblance, though fuch an one as by no means is favour able to the imitator , to Peregrine Pickle, or to the facetious Humphry Clinker. Hamlet. Methinks it is like a weafel, Folonius. It is back’d like a weafel.. Hamlet. Or, like a whale ? Folonius. Very like a whale. Some of the inconiiftencies of the Daniih Courtier may be found o m Vlii PREFACE* in the ingenious critics of the eighteenth century ; among whom I fhall not be furprifed to difcover thofe who will confider me as a pigmy, too diminutive to be bound on the wheel of torture,, i \ LEOPOLD WARNDORF. ii — - Ifabdla to Baron Altcnburg . Allow me to offer you my con¬ gratulations on a late happy occafion— congratulations which flow from the heart, not merely from the tongue. Coming from me, and on fuch cir- cumflances.they fhould be unbounded, vol. I, e many. 4 LEOPOLD WARNDORF, ^ '' ' ' , • , remember, Sir, who I was, and who I am ? I facrificed the opinion of the world and every thing to you ; and when the finger of derifion and con- I tempt has been pointed to me, I have fcorned it on your account, and gloried in that connection with you which the world loudly called my fhame. < % What if I had deferted you, and fled to the arms of another, would you not have upbraided, fcorned, curfed me ? Why then fhould hnot upbraid, fcorn, and curfe you for your trea¬ chery and hypocrify? But my lips fhall be fealed on this fubjeCt for ever. Remember, however, that my i enmity LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 5 enmity will not fleep: at fome future day I will be revenged, amply re¬ venged. My malice will ever be wakings reft not, therefore, in fecu- rity : I will plot mifehief, and execute it. The law., (hall not reach me s your power fliall dwindle into impo¬ tence s and if any horrid difafter t fhould befal you, regard it as the revenge of Isabella Marilli . The Baron to I fab ell a . YOUR frantic letter has reached me the language of it (hocks me. I b 3 am. / 6 LEOPOLD WARN DOR F. am, however, inclined to view it as ai burft of frenzy, and cannot think but that, when reafon returns, you will . regard it with horror and repentance. Were you not fearful of having your hand fliffened by the anger of Heaven when it was employed in giving cha¬ racters to your dreadful execrations ? Bid the hyena poffefs the powers of the human voice, it could not, even in its mod lavage moments, e.xprefa any thing more (hocking and atro¬ cious, Isabella, I know the ftrength of your mind, the fervour of yourpafTions, and the irritability of your difpofition : but LEOPOLD W4RND0RF. „ J but there have been times when your ientiments have charmed me—when love has been predominant in your bofom, and when your temper has followed mine through all its mazes, and {hewn itfelf with fuperiorlty. - * V Hear me, Ifabella—I entreat you to hear me with patience. I think I can extenuate the crime- of which I am accufed, for my own conference has already acquitted me of it. s, ' « You will remember that feventeen years have paffed fince we firft met in Italy. Finding you regardlefs of cer¬ tain forms and eftablifh ments obferved in fociety, I began an acquaintance b 4 with S LEOPOLD WARNDORF. with you of fuch a nature, I conceived, as the dilFatisfadtion of either of u& might readily diifolve. I admit that 1 was the firft objed of your choice, and alfo that I have never had any reafon to fuppofe that I was only a fharer of your affedions •—you yielded to me, and furely I made equal facri- \ declare that my connedion with you had been the moll fevere of his afflic¬ tions? Bid not my uncle, his fur liv¬ ing brother, difpofe of his immenfe property to enrich fhrines, and to fatten Monks, in order that he might reduce to poverty the man who refuted to LEOPOLD WARNDORF, 9 \ to abandon you ? After that, limited as [ 'was, did I not for feveral years attach myfeif tO'you, fupport you with elegance, refent each injury that was offered to you, and'make you an objebt of greater confideration than myfeif? My condudt and propenfities have been of a very faulty nature ; they led me into fuch extravagances, that I lately found ruin flaring at and me¬ nacing me. My fortune was reduced to the lowed date, and I was almoft wild when thinking on the means of re-edablifhing it. I thought of mar¬ riage, but at the fame time thought of you, Ifabella, and was pained. I Irad many internal druggies, and the combat between love and neceflity was b 5 obdinate 5 10 LEOPOLD WARNDORF. obfiinate j—the latter, however, con¬ vincing me that it were better to place you in Tingle independence, than plunge you into the did refs that threatened me, I refolved to perfevere in my new-formed intention ; and, during my abfence from you, which you To forcibly urged me to account for, and which the want of fortitude prevented me from doing, I feledted a woman, young, beautiful, and rich. I married her ; and I confefs to you that I love her. The paflion which I entertained for you muft, if I wifh for happinefs, be fuppreiTed—it is my duty to con¬ quer it : but if you will in its place allow me to fubftitute friend fir ip, it ill all attend you till my heart grows sold in my bofom. Your LEOPOLD WARNDORF. II Your threats, Ifabella, are futile ; made in a moment of paffion, they are, I hope, already forgotten. Retire from Vienna, and you fhall receive an annual fum fufficient for your fupport: make a propofal yourfelf; let me / know your withes on the fubjedt, and I will readily, cheerfully accede to them. Remember, however, that you mult retire from Vienna ; Ifabella and Chriftiana muft not be near to me at one time, left my new-formed prin¬ ciples fnould be deftroyed, and my old habits again imperceptibly ideal on me. Your cool judgment, not your paf- fions, muft direct you 3 and I think, b 6 Ifabella, 12 LEOPOLD WARNDORP. Ifabella, however fevere are your hi¬ ve (dives, I think it is not poffible for you to hate me—to curfe me twice l NeceiTity has of late been my direc- trefs ; and, as my heart did not wil¬ fully dray from you, pity and forgive me. One fubjedl l have not yet touched upon—our daughter, the child of our love:—God blefs her ! I am indeed her father—1 feel it, I feel it this moment ✓ in my foul. She is now hxteen— flveet, blooming, beautiful ! Ifabella,, yield her up to me ; I will place her with an accomplifhed lady, who, I am convinced, will give the fined polifh to this rich diamond. 3 \ I will > LEOPOLD WARNDORF. IJ I will lee her often—you fhall fee her at certain periods; and when (he ar~ rives at the age of twenty, Chrifttana’s dowery fhall provide a fortune for Ifabella’s daughter. Think of this ferioufly. Kifs my dear girl for me, and prepare her to accompany the perfon whom I fhall fend for her in the ccurfe of a few days. And now, Ifabella, I am writing a painful word—Farewel! I fee you at this moment; your rage is h\ifhed ? you are fad, dejedted } you pity, you love * • Alteriburg . Ifabella 14 LEOPOLD WARNDORF. Jfabella to the Baron. IT was my intention, Baron, to have remained filent after having written my lad letter to you ; but it is neceflary I fhould addrefs you again. The winds laugh at the poplar that bows at their palling ; you, probably, exult with the idea of having bent me down with your confequence : but you are deceived in refpedt to my date ; my foul is dill great in its monarchy, and as much as ever defpifes your perfidy and hypocrify. Your LEOPOLD WARxNDOF.F. IJ Your laft epifble has caufed me to X • fmile, but not to weep; no, Sir, I have done with borrow iflmufl be tormented, it {hall be by active pain not by that dull anguifh which makes' the fufferer contemptible. You have not yet convinced me but that you are a proud, infulting monfter—a felfifh being, who, for his own prefervation, or for the pleafures of a dainty mind, fcruples not to facrifice his honour, and the peace of thofe to whom he is forfworn. A fpider, hideous and venomous as your- felf, would fpin a ftronger web than that of your arguments; flimfy in its texture, and forry in its conftruc- tion, I I 6 LEOPOLD WARNDORF. tion, a breath, a vapour will deflroy ' ✓ it. Baron, I once loved as much as I now defpile you. I have blefled you a thoufand and a thoufand times; why have you given me caufe to curfe you eternally ? From a palTage in your letter, it might be inferred that you ftepped from poverty by your late pleafing gradations, merely to fave me from it. Worthy man ! I want a new heart to thank you for it. i * f' To be near you was once to be happy. In the days of our acquaint¬ ance, had you, in conference of crime, been fent to anydiftant country * to \ t . 3 / LEOPOLD WARN DOR F. tj to be made a common drudge, or to the galiies, or to the mines, I would have been your affociate prifoner. In the winter, I would have retained only one of my coverings, and warmed your limbs with the others: and in the fummer, my hand fhould have re- 7 j moved each drop of fweat as foon as * % it darted upon your brow. Thefe are not the boadings of romance but whatever they are, they (hall fink, and be forgotten. You have been very elaborate in dating your compulfions and your motives for withdrawing yourfelf from my lociety, and given yourfelf much unneceffary trouble in repeating dale incidents. iS LEOPOLD WARNDORF. incidents. Sir, did you conceive yourfelf as appealing an incenfed pro- flitute, or as pleading to the ear of / ignorance and ftupidity ? Infulting man ! do you not remem- ' % her that I am allied to a family, the honour of which was not blemifhed till I foolifhly attached myfelf to you and your fortunes ? My father curled me, my mother abhorred me, my filler turned from me, my friends contemned me 1 —Wretch, wretch ! all this they did, and thus was I loll to them, be- caufe 1 loved, and fo madly gave my- - felf up to you. Preach no more, then, on neceffity—my dare was the greater | but your’s is the triumph LEOPOLD WARNI)ORF.' I g triumph over mifplaced love and infa¬ tuation. Baron, I will leave Vienna when I pleafe ; I will have no ftipulations. If my continuance here can either pain or perplex you, I will be rooted.—You will provide for my neceffities! — You ! 1 would hunt with dogs in the ftreet for food, beg it from door to door, fupplicate every palling ffranger for charity, rather than receive the foniefl pittance from you—famifh, peri ill firft. I reject all your fervices ; and again avow tnyfelf your implacable enemy. Out I 20 ' LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 9 Our daughter !~Think you I will give her up to you—that I will entruft her with the man who betrayed and deierted her mother, in order that (lie may receive a provifion from the dowery of Chriftiana ? Pitiful man! to kiil her would be better than to betray her. On hearing the news of your mar- t r «i 1 n r v a H h AM • j » I lcni insi ) _ (T» ^ r\ rl I'x & *vv/v>.r uvtv/u v me as a mark of my fhame: (lie at that moment ieemed to bear a (tronger likenefs to you than ever, 1 (truck her with violence, and made her bleed 1—Oh my beloved child ! par¬ don the action of a frenzied mother ! 1 biffed off all the blood, and died my lips* \ \ LEOPOLD WARNDORF. lips. I love her fifty thoufand times more than ever. You fliould have my heart from my bofo'm rather than my adored chiid. What if I had murdered her ? God would have made /. j you anfwerable for the crime, and ac¬ quitted me. I ftruck my daughter!— Oh I fhall remember it on mv death- bed ! Altenburg, you are deceived ; I have no more love for you than for any ofthebrutecreation. My paffions may, in fome degree, fubfide ; but the fpirit of revenge I will not attempt to con¬ quer. - * Isabella • Baron £2 LEOPOLD W'ARNDORF. Baron Altenburg to Count StcndaL SOME few years ago, clear Count, I fent you my congratulations on your having attained a wife ; and in your anfwer ,you laughingly wifhsd tnat 1 would afford you the opportunity of fliewing to me an equal civility on a fimilar occation ;—tire time to felici¬ tate me is arrived, for I am married. About a week has eiapfed fince I became the hufband or a charming woman, with whom I hope to live in true happinefs and enjoyment, forget- ful of the errors of youth, and of the lollies LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 23 follies of riper years, and in dire&ing my views towards fuch objects as an imoroved and corrected confciencefhall X point out to me. So have I refolved and (worn myfelf to do, and I daily di(cover a growing (lability in my v. / mind, which aflids me in my bed pro¬ jects ; and from which I infer that I (liall be enabled to tread the paths of honour and of rectitude without de¬ viating into thofe of diilipation and extravagance, in which I have too long been an unwary and idle tra¬ veller. Many of my follies, which my late father fo much lamented, and which, in his latter days, added poignancy to his V 24 LEOPOLD WARN DORP* Ins afflictions, originated even from bis own inattention ; for when I was a mere boy, he not only allowed me a free command of money, but prompted me to a profufe expenditure, unwifely thinking that the liberality of the hand would create liberality of heart. Sent into the world at a very early age, the good precepts which had been laid down for my edification, were foon put to flight; and my young companions laughed at my mo¬ rality, till I myfelf began to ridicule it. Italy is not the (oil for virtue, and thither I was lent, under the direc¬ tion of a tutor, who frequented the bath of Venus more often than the temple LEOPOLD WARNDORF, 13 temple of Minerva; and who would rather ftepinto the fteamy refectory of Epicurus, than into the fchools of phi- lofophy, though to my father he had fhewn himfelf a lloic, and animad¬ verted on the practice of morality as earneftly as on the culpability of the minor and elder vices. A punifhment of the greatefl feverity ought to be inilibtedon fuch dangerous hypocrites; fo, however, at that time I did not think. I regarded him as an obliging, accommodating perfon, and was glad that he would not only allow, but alfo partake of the gaieties of life. I was fcarcely nineteen when I be¬ came acquainted with Ifabella, who vol. i. c from c Forming an excufe of bufinefs, I quitted Ifabella for two months, and retired into the country, having pre- vioufly, but with confiderable diffi¬ culty^ bound my moft ferious credi¬ tors to a temporary forbearance and fecrecy. An \ t Leopold warndorf. 31 An accufing confcience haunted me : my eyes were no longer mifty 5 and the conduct of my father and my uncle now appeared to me to be the refult of caution, rather than of vin¬ dictive malice. I went to the houfe of a friend, at fome diftance from Vienna, and to that friend I made known all my indifcretions, which created pain, and even drew tears from me. He pitied me when he found my repentance fincere, and endea¬ voured to confole me with good hopes. His fortune was not very large, but he generoudy tendered me a part of it and having begged me to pardon him for his freedom, he cenfured many of my paft faults, and c 4 laid LEOPOLD WARNDORF. laid down to me a regular plan of life*, to which I ferioufly attended. V , Headvifed me tore-eftablifh my for¬ tune by marriage, and introduced me toalady of birth and education,ferioufly advifing me to make myfelf as agree¬ able to her as pofTible. I thought of Ifabella with pain, and at firft could not liflen to his advice ; but my ideas wandering again into their late per¬ plexing track, I agreed to endeavour to in {innate myfelf into the favour of Chriftiana, and to aim at fecuring her affedions. This talk, however, I was fcarcely equal to s —Ifabella oppofed it, ho¬ nour LEOPOLD WARNDORF. JJ nour oppofed it: (till I carried on my defigns with all poffible ingenuity. I confefs I ufed many little artifices; * f which, in the courfe of two months, I difcovered had fecured me her heart. I now really loved her, and refolved to offer myfelf to her;—I did fo, and was accepted. But before I could do this, I had a thoufand internal ftruggles ; neceffity, however, urged me on, and my friend applauded and encouraged me. Chriftrana r s fortune was very large, and at her free difpofal. Unwilling that fo young and excellent a woman fhould be deceived in her objedt, I ftated to her my reduced wealth, c 5 laid 34 LEOPOLD WARNDORF. laid my heart and its tranfgrellions open to her, and ingenuouily (hewed myfelf as I had been, and then was. She thanked me for my opennefs with a fweetnefs that reached, and almoft melted my foul; fmilingly offered to countenance the daughter of Ifabella after fhe had been brought into notice- by an amiable female friendj and en¬ treated me to appropriate a fund for the ufe of her mother, my late com* panion. The fentiments of Chrifliana raifed my admiration ; thefe truths which^ as a man of honour, I thought proper to make known to her, and which i many women would have fhut their ears LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 3 £ ears againft, fhe placidly liftened to ; and in the plan of her own gratifica¬ tion, fhe did not negledt the happinefs of thofe with whom I had been fo long, fo intimately, and I may add, fo dearly connected, * ■ ' , . \ I married ; received the congratu¬ lations of my friend, and carried my lovely bride to Vienna juft four months after I had left it; and, at her earned: requeft, immediately paid thofe creditors, the fear of whom had driven me from that city. 1 I was preparing to apprize Ifabella of my marriage, and to make fuch* pecuniary arrangements for her as my c 6 friend fib ip 36 LEOPOLD WARNDORF. friend (hip prompted me —(friendjkip f perhaps it was fomething more), when I received from her a letter, written in a ftyle of frenzy, and not only inti¬ mating a knowledge of my union, but alfo a rooted hatred to me, expreff- ing many curfes, and declaring eter¬ nal enmity. Though her letter led me aim oft to fuppofe that (lie had been deprived of reafon, I immediately anfwered it. Feeling moft fenfibly for her fituation, I endeavoured to footh and tranquil¬ lize her ; and, after making fome pro- pofals for her future accommodation, entreated her to yield her child up to me. This has only ferved to ftrengthen. her 3 LEOPOLD WARN DOR F. 1 37 1 her refentment. She replies that fhe detefts me, that fhe defpifes afiifi¬ ance, and that fhe will not part from her daughter. Her letters agitated and affedted me 5 for my own tran¬ quillity I put them into the flames, I fear, Count, that I have-1 ought not to proceed. - > I trufl that the prefent ftorm will foon be hufhed by ferenity, and that I and Chriftiana fhall be uninterrupt¬ edly happy :—fhe is a noble creature, and I cannot love her too well fhe wins upon me in a moment, and in an hour fhe abfolutely fafcinates. I mufl be compounded of all the different vices i I g8 LEOPOLD WARNDORF. vices if ever I abufe her love and gene- rofity. Oh dear Stendal! X think I am f now fecure in virtue and in happinefs. The fea-boy falling from the talleft maft, and caught midway by a fellow- mariner, cannot more rejoice at his prefervation than X do. And yet poor Ifabella !—my fweet daughter! j Count, furely I may, in fome degree, ftill love the former; for what is the difference between love and friend- fhip ? and as to the latter, not even Chrifliana is dearer to the heart of Altenburg . Count LEOPOLD WARNDORF. Count Stendal to Baron Altenburg AN account of your wedding, dear Altenburg, had reached me before I received your letter ; which, however, does not prevent me from wifhing you every poflible felicity, and much permanent happinefs. Rumour has been of late very bufy with your name ; and in the loquacity of her goffipings, I mud add, fhe has not been tender of your reputation. Hex accufations againfl you are numerous, and (he has given out that with your miftrefs you have been cruel and per- fidious 3 i 40 LEOPOLD WARNDORF* fidious, and with your wife defigning and hypocritical. Thefe are the journeying ftories of the day—the tales of thofe who are better pieafed in attending to the con¬ cerns of other people than to their own. You mud not be angry with me for introducing them here, nor regard me with refentment till I join the gabbling party of your cenfurers. And yet I am tempted to rifk your difpleafure in fpeaking of the fubjedt to which you have led me i you have not, it is true, enquired the nature of my fentiments ; the tenor of your own language, however, encourages me to treat LEOPOLD -WARNDORF. 41 «’ • » treat you with little ceremony, and to fpeak freely of thofe matters con¬ cerning which you have been fo unre- ferved. You have indeed, Altenburg, laid yourfelf very open to me ; the caufes that you affign for your early deviations, have confiderable weight; and the character of your tutor I hold to be odious, and alfo know to be juft. I have at different periods taken •» fome pains in examining the qualities of which you are compofed, and many times lamented that habit fnould have deftroyed what Nature had fo well and generoufly executed. I mufi not for¬ get that I am addrefling a man equal to I 4'2 LEOPOLD WARNDORF. to me in years and underftanding~ who was my fchoolfellow, my earlieft aUbciate, and the merry companion of my iivelieft days. I neverthelefs wi(h to deal frankly with you, and to fpeak in the fame manner that you have in paft times freely fan&ioned. Your firft acquaintance with Ifabella was unfortunate, your clofer connec- tion ftill more unhappy. To begin 9 \ at the age of nineteen too 1—mere boy and girl ; and yet, forfooth, in your own opinions you were philofo- phers ! Ifabella was a deluded wo¬ man j but though (he continued fo long in concubinage, I cannot rimple my brows at her according to the rules % LEOPOLD WARNPORF. 4 ^ * rules of our rigid moralifts-— I cannot help pitying her. Altenburg, you fhould not have deferted her : your errors were mu¬ tual, your pleafures mutual; and your diftreffes ought to have been the lame. You Hepped together into guilt ; you did not take her ftained from its fchool. You admit her tide* lity for fixteen years—that Ihe was wife, tender, affectionate, and chat fhe brought you a lovely daughter. Such a woman I cannot call a proftitute, and fuch a woman you ought not to have wronged. I wonder 44 LEOPOLD WARNDORF. I wonder not at her prefent diffrac¬ tion. Remember, Altenburg, that you admit (lie has never offended you fince you offered to make her your wife, and which propofal the did not catch at, merely becaufe floe was fe- cure in your love and honour. You have done wrong:—marry to remove your embarraffments ! Why did you not apply to me ? Did I not once accept of a loan from you, remain a ]onp*ti^° wphfnr nnrl even oav vuin uCUlui , »-«•.-__ _ _ o j * you by mftalments ? Why then, in the days of my profperity, could you not condefcend to alk me for a fimilar % affiftance ? I can fcarcely pardon this pride. Dear LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 45 I Dear Altenburg, whatever harfhnefs • this letter befpeaks, I am mo ft truly your friend ; I wifh fincerely for your happinefs, and for the happinefs of Chriftiana, of whom you have drawn « fo lovely a picture. Your fituation is peculiar, and you muft cautioxifly frame your actions according to it, or your felicity will pafsover as a vition. You muft not truft yourfelf with Ifabella even for a moment ; there would be moft imminent danger in it. Do her juftice as far as you can ; and retire for a while with your wife into the country. Though you have forgotten your old vows, remember, I conjure you, your 46 LEOPOLD WARNDO^F, your new ones; thofe which are made <0 in the open air, ought to be as reli- gioufly obferved as thofe uttered at the altar. I hope you are firm, my friend, in your refolutions; and yet I am almoft afraid to truft fuch a heart as your’s. I again entreat you to leave Vienna: I (hall be prevented by a vifit that I am going to make, to offer you an invitation ; but 1 wifh you to write to me frequently, and to direct to me at W——. Happinefs to the friend of StendaU To XEOPOLO WARNDORF, To Ifabclla . THEenclofed bills areprefented to Signora Marilli with all poffible re- fpedt; and the perfon who has taken the prefent liberty, entreats her to do him the honour of accepting them. He hopes he fhall not be accufed of indelicacy in mentioning the name of Altenburg, and in alluring her that the Baron has no knowledge of, or Intereft in the tranfaftion. Stranger as the writer of this is to Signora Marilli, he feels a more than common intereft in her fate, and in that OPOLD' WARN DOR F. that of her lovely daughter—an inte- reft which no felfifli or improper view has created, and from which nothing more than their accommodation and happinefs is expected. If the Signora ftiould be returning to Italy before her fupplies from that country arrive, and will ftill further oblige an unknown friend by allowing him to do away that inconvenience, , * ...✓ i •> * . * he will be moft truly happy, and any fum may be readily commanded by her. She is entreated to give the ftranger an anfwer, dire&ing it to Mr, H——, at the poft-office at B—— ; and again affined that her acquiefcence to his requeft will be in the greateft degree pleafing, LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 49 pleafing, and alfo that the obligation will be ever confidered to reft on him alone. » ' -r a; • To Count Stendal. ABOUT two years ago, you, my Lord, fpent a few days with Baron Altenburg, a man who was once known, and dearly loved by me. 1 was then an inmate of the fame houfe; and whenever in your company, the goodnefs of your heart, the richnefs of your mind, and the delicacy of your manners could not fail to imprefs, and to ihew me your genuine merit. yol. i, d The 5° LEOPOLD WARNEORF. The peculiarity of my fituation quickened my remarks on fociety; I endeavoured to diferiminate as juftly as poffible, and I think it was not often that I looked with the eyes of prejudice. I deal not in flattery. Count, but muft fay that your man- ners and deportment excited the ad¬ miration of Altenburg’s miftrefs, which was my worldly appellation. You may, perhaps, remember that you once prefented me with a written copy of fome beautiful verfes; it was made by your own hand, and conjec¬ turing it was alfo your own mufe that gave birth to the ideas, J have till this hour preferved the lines, and very 5 often I u LEOPOLD WARN DOR F. 5 I often read them with increafing ad¬ miration. Some few days ago I received an anonymous letter, encloling notes of value, and fpeaking, I think, the lan¬ guage of Count Stendal. My furprife at firft was more than common ; and it was not till after many readings that I thought the characters of the hand familiar to my eye. Feruling it ftiil more ferioufly, and thinking of your verfes, I immediately compared them, difcovered them to be the fame, and knew that he who ftyled himfelf a Gran¬ ger, was the generous Count Stendah / D 2 1 52 LEOPOLD WARNDORF. My Lord, my Lord ! your kind- nefs has found a paflage to my heart, » \ which is impatient to pour its whole Lore of gratitude before you. I cannot feled words, 1 cannot ftudy a drefs for language—but indeed I thank you, moft fincerely thank you. You muft, however, pardon me for returning that part of your packet which I hold the lead valuable : the bills you will receive again with this, but your letter I retain ; and having damped it on my memory, fliail place it foremod in the depofitory of friendfhip. I may hereafter be very poor 3 and if poverty can make me * 5 humble / LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 53 humble,I may then probably apply to fo excellent a friend and benefactor. My daughter—Oh thefe foolifh tears!—my daughter will cheer me in every diftrefs} her fmiles will irra¬ diate the cells of want; and her fweet- nefs, her innocence-Dear my Lord, beware of the profeffed friend- iliip of the Baron. He who can aCt as Altenburg has done, can ftep be¬ yond the devil in villanv, can flur religion, violate fanCfity, fpread cor¬ ruption, and blow a peftilence around him. Deny not,- my Lord, your generous impofition, for i am fure my fufp-icions p 3 do 1 4 V. \ 54 LEOPOLD WARN DOR F. do not deceive me; and though I decline your friendly ferviees, I blefs you for the motives that prompted you to offer them. I am not return¬ ing to Italy—I have no country, no friends 1 I am an outcafl, a forlorn and miferable alien ! The perfidy and cruel defertion of Altenburg may corrupt my heart, and caufe it to¬ ad: defperately, but lliall never make it infenfible to fuch a friend as your \r ' Lord (li ip. Isabella Marillu LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 55 Baron Alienlurg to Count StendaL STENDAL, what a letter have you written to me ! I read it with horror, remorfe, and anguith ; and fearing to trail my eyes with it too often, I put it into the fire, and en¬ deavoured to forget all that it con- tained : but every fentence, every word was impreifed firmly on my mind ; I alternately thought you cruel and juft, unmerciful and candid. Surely, my friend, you deal too hardly with me, and make me more culpable than 1 really am. You know D 4 not 56 LEOPOLD WARN DOR F. not the nature and extent of my late pecuniary obligations ; they were too heavy and too many for friendship to bear, nor could I have applied to you to be the witnefs of fuch immenfe follies. Had not the demands of my creditors been immediately attended to, I muff have refigned my liberty, and entered a prifon ; and in fuch a Hate, what could 1 poflibly have done for the fupport of Ifabella and her v y, daughter? Nothing;—diftrefs mud inevitably have fallen on them, and they might have been even the vic¬ tims of want. If my arguments are fallacious, for God’s lake do not endeavour to crufh them ! LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 57 them ! Some fenfe of the propriety of my conduct it is abfolutely neceffary to retain, or I fhall be wretched in¬ deed. I mud enter no accufations again ft myfelf; ftiould I do fo, my prefent ftate of content, which I admit is not perfect, would be fatally dif- turbed, and the lines of mifery would be drawn over the plan that happinefs has begun to fketch. \ If I am deceived in myfelf, let the illufion continue ; the veil withdrawn, my eyes might ever thereafter be open only to wretch- ednefs and forrow. You cannot conceive, Stendal, in what {hocking language Ifabella has expreffed her fentiments on my mar- d 5 . riage 5 5& LEOPOLD WARN DOR F* riage ; it is fo ungovernably wild, fb rude and favage, that l am fearful h£r intellects are affected : and yet now and then a foftnels glides in unde- lignedly, which diffolves my foul, and gives her again to my imagination, not as a friend, but as the woman who fafcinated and held me in a long and willing bondage. Still (he vows o o eternal refentment, talks of bringing fottie thing fatal on me, and obflinately reiufes all manner of affiftance, pre¬ ferring poverty and pain, beggary and contempt, to any fervices which I have offered her! Oh how miserable fhould I be were ilie to experience the horrors of want! and LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 59 and I know not what means (lie has of keeping; them from her; for (lie has religned every valuable to me, even her trinkets and clothes! and thofe diamonds which, in the moments of love, I purchafed to give brilliancy to charms that I adored, (lie has fent back to me—back to, as Die flyles me, £C the venal Baron of Altenburg.” s Count, in talking of this woman, I 1 almofl ftart from reafon ; and if I do not foon put her from my memory, I 4 4 fhall be unworthy of the love of Chrifliana, whofe gentlenefs of con¬ duct, and mildnefs of fentiment, en¬ title her to admiration. Is it not un¬ common that a wife fhould be inte- d 6 refledj 6 O LEOPOLD WARNDORF. reded, and even plead for the aif- carded miftrefs of her hufband ? Chridlana has done it with great fer¬ vour 3 but the fubjedt didradting me, and an apparent indifference to the object being on my part neceffary, I have entreated her to fpeak no more # on the fubjedt, and fhe promifes to obey me. The refentment of Ifabella I find to be implacable 3 and your advifing me to fly from her is judicious, and has been attended to. I mud indulge no criminal affedtions; but it follows not that I mud perforce hate where I ought not to love. I cannot do it, though fhe curfes me fo dreadfully; and as to LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 6s to her daughter —my daughter—Oh Stendal, Stendal! have I reared this lovely flower merely to blaft it 3 and tread it to the earth ? / I fhall leave Vienna in the courfe of a few davs : the Baronefs has an j eftate near Brinn ; I have propofed to retire thither for a fhort time, and to this (lie readily acceded. Indeed, my dear Count, the is an exemplary woman, and I wifh I could bring her to your acquaintance. I muft, and will do juftice to her virtues; and when I ceafe to love her, may I in- ftantly ceafe to breathe ! < % i In > » 62 LEOPOLD WARNDORP. In our propofed retirement, I fball have leifureto make my arrangements, to regulate my addons, and, I hope, to mould my heart anew. If you love me, upbraid me no more ; ad vile me how to ad: in what is to come—cen¬ tre me not for what is paft. There is an accufer fufficiently fevere in my own breaft: add not, therefore, to my torture; but rather, by your better and cooler judgment, foften the diftrefies of your friend Alteriburg « Augujia I liopold warndorf. 63 Augujla Marllll to the Baron. FATHER! Father! my dear, cruel Father! have you really deferted, and left us for ever ? No, I am fure you have not : I know you will come to us again, and foon; and then, Oh how happy we fhall all be! You cad us from your heart !—you never return again !—aye, thofe who fry fo can have but little knowledge of you. Good God! how can people tell fuch / N wicked lies ? I fhall really defpife them for it. And t 64 LEOPOLD WARUnORF. And yet, Oh Heaven ! my mother fays it is true—Hie fays we (Ball never fee you more—that you are married, and that your love for us has perifhed ! Is this, can this be true ? She alfo fays that you hate us: do you indeed, indeed hate us? Very well, father— Baron, my mother now calls you : very well, Baron ! we can both die ; and then, you know, when the grave hides us, we fhall not feel your cruelty. Do as you pleafe, Baron ; do as—- Oh pray, pray come back to us! My mother has been deceived—I have been deceived ; and your abfence has been neceflary. But fo very long- well, that may be accounted for ; and I know / LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 6; I know there are not two people in the world that you love fo well as your Ifabella and her and your Augufta, for you have laid fo a thou- i fand times. My mother is coming; I mufl hide my paper, for fhe would hate me if ihe knew that I was writing to you; and fhe is the only perfon who is dearer to me than you are—I think fhe is a little more dear-no, no, flue isjrot. ■ # * # ■* # * i vfc * * * * $ Oh you have made my mother crazy! She is certainly diftrafted, and 66 LEOPOLD WARNDORF. and my terror will deftroy me. I am afraid to look at her t, her addons are growing more ftrange, and her words I am obliged to fhut my ears againfh 44 Augufta,” the fays, 44 curfe your father !’* 44 Madam—mother, did I under¬ hand you ?” 44 Curfe your father !” 44 Oh no ! I dare not.” 44 God—God will do it !” (lie ex¬ claimed 3 and then (lie fat a long time filent, flaring at me with diflorted features. Something which (lie had done to me before increafed my fear, and l was rifmg to fly from her; but I fire took me in her arms, and having kifled LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 6/ killed me aim oft a hundred times, told me I was the only link that bound her to life. Then (lie again relapfed into profound filence, and for a while fixed her eyes on your pic¬ ture, which fhe held in her trembling hand. She looked dejected—more mournful ftill—ftiil more miferable : fhe fighed, fhe w r ept, preffed the pic¬ ture to her breaft, and afterwards to her pale, quivering lips. Her paffions again changed ; her features fwelled with indignation; fhe gazed with horror on the painting, and throwing it into the fire, ran fhrieking out of the room, and locked herleif within her own chamber. 1 have not feen her Since; fhe refufes to admit me, but tells 6 $ LEOPOLD WARNDORF. tells me that Hie fhall loon be corn- poled again. Father, remove the anguifh of my mother, or I fear I fliall foon fee her raving in chains. Remove the an¬ guifh of your Augufta alfo by prov¬ ing that the afperfions of the world are falfe and malevolent—at lead: con* vince her ;—I want no affurances ; for I can almoft as foon believe that God himfelf were our foe, as that you, my dear parent, are. i How dull we were after you left us in the country 1 I neglected all my walks. The weather was gloomy, and the birds were mute; like inconfi- derate LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 69 derate man, the little ingrates forgot to carol their praifes to Nature be* caufe a temporary gloom fucceeded their joyous fummer days. Oh in¬ gratitude ! we find thee every where ; I wonder thou doft not vex Heaven out of its patience. Let me fee—when fliall I fee my dear father again ? I will give you three days, and I am fure that is a longtime. To-day is Monday—that mu ft be one ; then there is Tuefday and Wednefday—and then on Thurf- da)—Oh my heart is beating with pleafure i—on Thurfday I fliall be in the arms of my father, and my mo¬ ther’s fadnefs will difappear ! I will / 70 LEOPOLD WARNDORF. I will make fome little arrange¬ ments for the day :—you (hall fee my improvements in drawing ; and a piece, that I have juft fketched from my own imagination, I am anxious to place before you; it is a rude, winter feene, a wretched cottage, and two females of miferable appearance, each bearing in her arms a fcanty bundle of wood, and (landing near the door of the hovel. There is another ob~ je£l ; I have introduced a noble look¬ ing man, richly drefled, and comfort¬ ably clothed with fur ; he is gazing with companion on the ftrangers, and offering to the elder woman his purfe. But what do you think I have further done ? I am fure you will fay it is ingenious j V LEOPOLD WARNDORF. 7 I Ingenious;—to the man I have given your countenance, copied with exadl- nefs from the miniature you left with us; my mother appears as one of the cottagers, and I as the other : and the refemblance of each of us is fo ftrong, that I think you will be delighted with my performance. / I however fear there is a fmall fault in the eyes of my mother—they are not equal to thofe of the original; but you can compare them when you come to us, and direct me in giving . Y them a darker (hade. God blefs my dear father till he meets his Augusta . Baron LEOPOLD WARNDORF, 7 2 i Baron Altenburg to Count Stendal. SOON” after I had written my lad letter, I left Vienna, and with my lovely companion journied towards our country retirement, in which we have now been nearly a fortnight efta- blifhed. It is indeed a lovely place ; Nature has been profufe in adorning it, and made it a refidence where the philofopher might reflect unmolefted, and the poet quietly indulge himfelf in the beautiful excurfions of imagi- nation. LEOPOLD WARNDORF. yj ./