ABSTRACT
The female who has once erred, and who does not hate the author of her error, should beware of confiding in her own strength, or relying on the firmness of repentant virtue; – for her, there is no safety but in flight; and if she desire to retrieve her path, she should never behold him who caused her to wander aside. This, without further comment, may be sufficient to illustrate, that the protracted residence of Gabrielle, beneath the roof of her lover, was attended with those fatal consequences against which no human foresight or resolution could have shielded her, who lingered in so much danger. Gabrielle knew not the extent of the hazard she ran, till that knowledge became useless, and bitter self-reproach, and horror, roused her from her delusive security. When the mind is unwarily led to the commission of deep and irretrievable error, it seeks, naturally seeks, to reconcile itself to what is past recall. Thus was it with the unhappy Gabrielle. She sought to persuade herself, when the first sensations of remorseful agony were somewhat abated, that Angelo was now altered; that, indelibly impressed with the remembrance of the misfortunes that he had heaped upon her, he would never more neglect or forsake her; but, in endeavours to expiate the past, remain for ever fond, faithful, and sincere. Yet, still something remained behind which would not bear the touchstone of argument, or reflection; why, if such were his feelings towards her, hesitated he to bind his fate eternally to hers? Ah! This was a thought which, like an intrusive creditor, was hastily dispatched with an evasive reply; – but, independently of such refinement of scrutiny, the conduct of Angelo was such, certainly, as to allow the indulgence of sanguine hope.
