You did not see me; but I
was at Magdalen a few weeks ago, and I could not help asking who
you were, so young, so beautiful; and when I saw you so lonely
among all those learned men my heart went out to you, for I too
know what the learned are, and how often, when we are young, we
feel as if they were so cold, so remote. Ah, then there come
TEMPTATIONS, but they must be conquered.--We are not born to live
for ourselves only, we must learn to live for others--ah! not for
ANOTHER!
Some one {13} we both know, a lady, has spoken to me of you lately.
She too, though you did not know it, was in Magdalen Walk on Sunday
evening when the bells were chiming and the birds singing. She saw
you; you were not alone! Mr. Rivers (I am informed that is his
name) was with you. Ah, stop and think, and hear me before it is
too late. A word; I do not know--a word of mine may be listened
to, though I have no right to speak. But something forces me to
speak, and to implore you to remember that it is not for Pleasure
we live, but for Duty. We must break the dearest ties if they do
not bind us to the stake--the stake of all we owe to all! You will
understand, you will forgive me, will you not? You will forgive
another woman whom your beauty and sadness have won to admire and
love you. You WILL break these ties, will you not, and be free,
for only in Renunciation is there freedom? He MUST NOT come again,
you will tell him that he must not.
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