The Tales of the Castle Volume 3; Or, Stories of Instruction and Delight

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1819 Excerpt: ... my father? While labouring under the malediction of an irritated parent, could I expect that heaven would give me a grateful child? Such were my afflicting thoughts; but I had soon another and a fearful ill, by which I was taught there were pangs yet superior to all I had hitherto suffered. Olympia's health was visibly on the decline; though still preserving her accustomed mildness, she never complained, but constantly replied she felt nothing that ailed her. 1 sent for a physician from Utrecht, who, at first, eased my fears. At the end of three months, however, he began to be alarmed, and at last pronounced the terrible sentence, which entailed on me eternal grief. Olympia had long known her situation, but religion and misfortune taught her to look with serenity on death. A priest, who lived at Utrecht, came secretly to see her, and I even kept him three days in my chamber. Oh who shall ever efface the fearful horrors of these three deplorable days--I have not the fortitude to repeat what 1 felt, my father, and yet I live--But Olympia herself commanded me! My life was nesessary to our child.--Here, sir, read this letter to me: it is sacred, it contains the last wishes of Olympia; it was given me by her confessor, and at the very moment when, no doubt, despair would have driven me to some fatal excess. Here the unfortunate Theophilus opened his pocketbook, and took out a letter which Olympia had written the day before her death. The Baron, suffocated by his tears, threw himself into the arms of his unhappy son, and thus they remained for a considerable time, unable to express those sensations that rent their very hearts, except by sobs and groans.--At last, the Baron tpok Olympia's letter, and, after various efforts to calm his troubled mind, read as f...