ſhe has choſen for her bridegroom.’ ‘If ſo,’ interrupted Friedbert, ‘her grave ſhall be mine. My life is in my own hand; who ſhall hinder me from dying with the beautiful Calliſta? I only requeſt one favour, that my body may be interred near her; ſo ſhall my ſhade watch over her grave. Yet indulge me firſt with the melancholy conſolation of declaring to her that ſhe is the lady of my heart; I will deliver her the ring as the pledge of my fidelity, in order to be abſolved from my vow; and you may then receive it as the inheritance of your daughter.’
Mother Zoe was ſo affected by this pathetic declaration on the part of the youthful knight, that ſhe refrained not from tears. And ſhe ſet ſo high a value on the ring, that ſhe could not refuſe his requeſt. She was only afraid that in the preſent ſituation of her heart the young lady would not receive ſo ambiguous a preſent. Friedbert, however, wasable
