The fellness of a gloomy hurricane but faintly resembled the discord that reigned in my mind.  To omit this sacrifice must not be; yet my sinews had refused to perform it.  No alternative was offered.  To rebel against the mandate was impossible; but obedience would render me the executioner of my wife.  My will was strong, but my limbs refused their office.

That accents and looks so winning should disarm me of my resolution was to be expected.  My thoughts were thrown anew into anarchy.  I spread my hand before my eyes that I might not see her, and answered only by groans.  She took my other hand between hers, and pressing it to her heart, spoke with that voice which had ever swayed my will and wafted away sorrow:—­

“My friend! my soul’s friend! tell me thy cause of grief.  Do I not merit to partake with thee in thy cares?  Am I not thy wife?”

This was too much.  I broke from her embrace and retired to a corner of the room.  In this pause, courage was once more infused into me.  I resolved to execute my duty.  She followed me, and renewed her passionate entreaties to know the cause of my distress.  I raised my head and regarded her with steadfast looks.  I muttered something about death, and the injunctions of my duty.  At these words she shrunk back, and looked at me with a new expression of anguish.  After a pause, she clasped her hands, and exclaimed:—–­

“O Wieland!  Wieland!  God grant that I am mistaken! but something surely is wrong.  I see it; it is too plain; thou art undone—­lost to me and to thyself.”  At the same time she gazed on my features with intensest anxiety, in hope that different symptoms would take place.  I replied to her with vehemence:—­

“Undone!  No; my duty is known, and I thank my God that my cowardice is now vanquished and I have power to fulfill it.  Catharine, I pity the weakness of thy nature; I pity thee, but must not spare.  Thy life is claimed from my hands; thou must die!”

Fear was now added to her grief.  “What mean you?  Why talk you of death?  Bethink yourself, Wieland; bethink yourself, and this fit will pass.  Oh, why came I hither?  Why did you drag me hither?”

“I brought thee hither to fulfill a divine command.  I am appointed thy destroyer, and destroy thee I must.”  Saying this, I seized her wrists.  She shrieked aloud, and endeavored to free herself from my grasp; but her efforts were vain.

“Surely, surely, Wieland, thou dost not mean it.  Am I not thy wife? and wouldst thou kill me?  Thou wilt not; and yet—­I see—­thou art Wieland no longer!  A fury resistless and horrible possesses thee.  Spare me—­spare—­help—­help—­”