“I remained for twenty-four hours without taking my lips from the still beauteous countenance and hands of my adored Manon.  My intention was to await my own death in that position; but at the beginning of the second day, I reflected that, after I was gone, she must of necessity become the prey of wild beasts.  I then determined to bury her, and wait my own doom upon her grave.  I was already, indeed, so near my end from the combined effect of long fasting and grief, that it was with the greatest difficulty I could support myself standing.  I was obliged to have recourse to the liquors which I had brought with me, and these restored sufficient strength to enable me to set about my last sad office.  From the sandy nature of the soil there was little trouble in opening the ground.  I broke my sword and used it for the purpose; but my bare hands were of greater service.  I dug a deep grave, and there deposited the idol of my heart, after having wrapt around her my clothes to prevent the sand from touching her.  I kissed her ten thousand times with all the ardour of the most glowing love, before I laid her in this melancholy bed.  I sat for some time upon the bank intently gazing on her, and could not command fortitude enough to close the grave over her.  At length, feeling that my strength was giving way, and apprehensive of its being entirely exhausted before the completion of my task, I committed to the earth all that it had ever contained most perfect and peerless.  I then lay myself with my face down upon the grave, and closing my eyes with the determination never again to open them, I invoked the mercy of Heaven, and ardently prayed for death.

“You will find it difficult to believe that, during the whole time of this protracted and distressing ceremony, not a tear or a sigh escaped to relieve my agony.  The state of profound affliction in which I was, and the deep settled resolution I had taken to die, had silenced the sighs of despair, and effectually dried up the ordinary channels of grief.  It was thus impossible for me, in this posture upon the grave, to continue for any time in possession of my faculties.

“After what you have listened to, the remainder of my own history would ill repay the attention you seem inclined to bestow upon it.  Synnelet having been carried into the town and skilfully examined, it was found that, so far from being dead, he was not even dangerously wounded.  He informed his uncle of the manner in which the affray had occurred between us, and he generously did justice to my conduct on the occasion.  I was sent for; and as neither of us could be found, our flight was immediately suspected.  It was then too late to attempt to trace me, but the next day and the following one were employed in the pursuit.

“I was found, without any appearance of life, upon the grave of Manon:  and the persons who discovered me in this situation, seeing that I was almost naked and bleeding from my wounds, naturally supposed that I had been robbed and assassinated.  They carried me into the town.  The motion restored me to my senses.  The sighs I heaved on opening my eyes and finding myself still amongst the living, showed that I was not beyond the reach of art:  they were but too successful in its application.