Louis Lambert — Honoré de Balzac, trans. Katharine Prescott Wormeley

The soldier smiled. For the first time, perhaps for the only time in his life, Dante’s gloomy and solemn featuresp. 854 wore a look of joy; his eyes and brow expressed the happiness he has depicted so lavishly in his vision of Paradise. - He thought perhaps that he heard the voice of Beatrice.

A light step, and the rustle of a woman’s gown, were audible in the silence. Dawn was now showing its first streaks of light. The fair Comtesse de Mahaut came in and flew to Godefroid.

‘‘Come, my child, my son! I may at last acknowledge you. Your birth is recognized, your rights are under the protection of the King of France, and you will find Paradise in your mother’s heart.’’

‘‘T hear, I know, the voice of Heaven!”’ cried the youth in rapture.

The exclamation roused Dante, who saw the young man folded in the Countess’s arms. He took leave of them with a look, and left his young companion on his mother’s bosom.

‘‘Come away!’’ he cried in a voice of thunder.. ‘‘Death to the Guelphs!”’

Paris, October, 1831.

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