The thrill of her young life, strung like a wild animal's, had entered into me; the force of soul that had looked out from her eyes and conquered mine, mantled about my heart and sprang to my lips in singing.

She passed through my veins: she was one with me.
I will not say that this enthusiasm declined; rather my soul held out in its ecstasy as in a strong castle, and was there besieged by cold and sorrowful considerations.

I could not doubt but that I loved her at first sight, and already with a quivering ardour that was strange to my experience.

What then was to follow?
She was the child of an afflicted house, the Senora's daughter, the sister of Felipe; she bore it even in her beauty.

She had the lightness and swiftness of the one, swift as an arrow, light as dew; like the other, she shone on the pale background of the world with the brilliancy of flowers.