“You are right, my lord,” said Corinne, “to wish that Christian subjects were divested of painful images; they do not require them.  But confess, however, that genius, and the genius of the soul, can triumph over every thing.  Behold that picture of the Communion of St Jerome, by Domenichino.  The body of the dying saint is livid and gaunt:  death has seized upon it; but in that look is eternal life, and every earthly misery seems produced here only to disappear before the pure lustre of a religious sentiment.  However, dear Oswald,” continued Corinne, “though I am not of your opinion in everything, I will shew you that even in differing from one another there is some analogy of sentiment between us.  I have endeavoured to accomplish what you desire, in the gallery of pictures which has been furnished me by those artists who were of my acquaintance, among which are some designs of my own sketching.  You will there see the defects and the advantages of those subjects which you prefer.  This gallery is at my country seat at Tivoli.  The weather is fine enough to visit it.—­Shall we go thither to-morrow?” As she awaited Oswald’s consent, he said to her:  “My love, have you any doubt of my answer?  Have I in this world, any other pleasure, any other thought, besides you?  And is not my life, too free perhaps from any occupation, as from every interest, solely taken up with the happiness of seeing and hearing you?”

FOOTNOTE: 

[26] In a journal entitled Europe, are to be found observations full of information on subjects relating to painting:  from this journal I have extracted many of these reflections, which have just been read; Mr Frederic Schlegel is the author of it, and this writer, as well as the German thinkers in general, is an inexhaustible mine.

Chapter iv.

They set out therefore the next day for Tivoli.  Oswald himself drove the four horses that drew them; he took pleasure in their swiftness, which seemed to increase the vivacity of thought and of existence; and such an impression is sweet by the side of the object we love.  He performed the office of whip with the most extreme attention, for fear the slightest accident should happen to Corinne.  He felt the duties of a protector which is the softest tie that binds man to woman.  Corinne was not, like most women, easily terrified by the possible dangers of a journey; but it was so sweet to remark the solicitude of Oswald, that she almost wished to be frightened, to enjoy the pleasure of, hearing him cheer and comfort her.

That which gave Lord Nelville, as will be seen in the sequel, so great an ascendancy over the heart of his mistress, was the unexpected contrasts which gave a peculiar charm to his manners.  Everybody admired his intellect and the gracefulness of his figure; but he must have been particularly interesting to one, who uniting in herself by a singular accord, constancy and mobility, took delight in impressions,