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[58] Pressa refovisti pectora nostra tuis. The whole scene, as here represented, is extremely affecting. Canace was conscious of her guilt, and therefore could not pretend to vindicate herself. Her chief concern therefore was to move compassion; and in this it must be owned she has succeeded wonderfully. By her pathetic representation of her distress, the reader's attention is drawn off from the view of her guilt, and he feels his compassion insensibly rise, until he is brought over, if not wholly to exense, yet at least very much to commiserate and favor her.

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