While I, then, in this way looked at a few, and that sparingly, I was myself looked at by many, and that exceedingly, and while I believed that my beauty was dazzling others, it came to pass that the beauty of another dazzled me, to my great tribulation.  And now, being already close on the dolorous moment, which was fated to be the occasion either of a most assured death or of a life of such anguish that none before me has ever endured the like, prompted by I know not what spirit, I raised my eyes with decent gravity, and surveyed with penetrating look the crowds of young men who were standing near me.  And I discerned, more plainly than I saw any of the others, a youth who stood directly in front of me, all alone, leaning against a marble column; and, being moved thereto by irresistible fate, I began to take thought within my mind of his bearing and manners, the which I had never before done in the case of anyone else.  I say, then, that, according to my judgment, which was not at that time biased by love, he was most beautiful in form, most pleasing in deportment, and apparently of an honorable disposition.  The soft and silky locks that fell in graceful curls beside his cheeks afforded manifest proof of his youthfulness.  The look wherewith he eyed me seemed to beg for pity, and yet it was marked by the wariness and circumspection usual between man and man.  Sure I am that I had still strength enough to turn away my eyes from his gaze, at least for a time; but no other occurrence had power to divert my attention from the things already mentioned, and upon which I had deeply pondered.  And the image of his form, which was already in my mind, remained there, and this image I dwelt upon with silent delight, affirming within myself that those things were true which seemed to me to be true; and, pleased that he should look at me, I raised my eyes betimes to see whether he was still looking at me.  But anon I gazed at him more steadily, making no attempt to avoid amorous snares.  And when I had fixed my eyes on his more intently than was my wont, methought I could read in his eyes words which might be uttered in this wise: 

  “O lady, thou alone art mine only bliss!”

Certainly, if I should say that this idea was not pleasing to me, I should surely lie, for it drew forth a gentle sigh from my bosom, accompanied by these words:  “And thou art mine!” unless, perchance, the words were but the echo of his, caught by my mind and remaining within it.  But what availed it whether such words were spoken or not?  The heart had good understanding within itself of that which was not expressed by the lips, and kept, too, within itself that which, if it had escaped outside, might, mayhap, have left me still free.  And so, from that time forward, I gave more absolute liberty to my foolish eyes than ever they had possessed before, and they were well content withal.  And surely, if the gods, who guide all things to a definite issue, had not deprived me of understanding, I could still