And asks no power but that of pleasing most.”
On Sunday evening a large company assembled at our heroine’s summons. They were all seated in due form: the reader with his book open, and waiting for the arrival of the bride, for whom a conspicuous1 place was destined2, where the spectators, and especially Mrs. Nettleby and our Griselda, could enjoy a full view of her countenance3.
“Lord bless me! it is getting late: I am afraid — I am really afraid Mrs. Granby will not come.”
The ladies had time to discuss who and what she was: as she had lived in the country, few of them had seen, or could tell any thing about her; but our heroine circulated her opinion in whispers, and every one was prepared to laugh at the pattern wife, the original Griselda revived, as Mrs. Nettleby sarcastically4 called her.
Mrs. Granby was announced. The buzz was hushed and the titter suppressed; affected5 gravity appeared in every countenance, and all eyes turned with malicious6 curiosity upon the bride as she entered. — The timidity of Emma’s first appearance was so free both from awkwardness and affectation, that it interested at least every gentleman present in her favour. Surrounded by strangers, but quite unsuspicious that they were prepared to consider her as an object of ridicule7 or satire8, she won her way to the lady of the house, to whom she addressed herself as to a friend.
“Is not she quite a different person from what you had expected?” whispered one of the ladies to her neighbour, as Emma passed. Her manner seemed to solicit9 indulgence rather than to provoke envy. She was very sorry to find that the company had been waiting for her; she had been detained by the sudden illness of Mr. Granby’s mother.
Whilst Emma was making this apology, some of the audience observed that she had a remarkably10 sweet voice; others discovered that there was something extremely feminine in her person. A gentleman, who saw that she was distressed11 at the idea of being seated in the conspicuous place to which she was destined by the lady of the house, got up, and offered his seat, which she most thankfully accepted.
“Oh, my dear Mrs. Granby, I cannot possibly allow you to sit there,” cried the lady of the house. “You must have the honours of the day,” added she, seizing Emma’s hand to conduct her to the place of honour.
“Pray excuse me,” said Mrs. Granby, “honours are so little suited to me: I am perfectly12 well here.”
“But with that window at your back, my dear madam!” said Mrs. Nettleby.
“I do not feel the slightest breath of air. But perhaps I crowd these ladies.”
“Not in the least, not in the least,” said the ladies, who were on each side of her: they were won by the irresistible13 gentleness of Emma’s manner. Our heroine was vexed14 to be obliged to give up her point; and relinquishing15 Mrs. Granby’s hand, returned to her own seat, and said in a harsh tone to her husband,
“Well! my dear, if we are to have any reading to-night, you had better begin.”
The reading began; and Emma was so completely absorbed, that she did not perceive that most of the audience were intent upon her. Those who act any part may be ridiculous in the playing it, but those are safe from the utmost malignity17 of criticism who are perfectly unconscious that they have any part to perform. Emma had been abashed18 at her first appearance in an assembly of strangers, and concerned by the idea that she had kept them waiting; but as soon as this embarrassment19 passed over, her manners resumed their natural ease — a degree of ease which surprised her judges, and which arose from the persuasion20 that she was not of sufficient consequence to attract attention. Our heroine was provoked by the sight of this insolent21 tranquillity22, and was determined23 that it should not long continue. The reader came to the promise which Gualtherus exacts from his bride:—
“Swear that with ready will, and honest heart,
Like or dislike, without regret or art,
In presence or alone, by night or day,
All that I will, you fail not to obey;
All I intend to forward, that you seek,
Nor ever once object to what I speak.
Nor yet in part alone my wish fulfil;
Nor though you do it, do it with ill-will;
Nor with a forced compliance24 half refuse;
And acting25 duty, all the merit lose.
To strict obedience26 add a willing grace,
And let your soul be painted in your face;
No reasons given, and no pretences27 sought,
To swerve28 in deed or word, in look or thought.”
“Well, ladies!” cried the modern Griselda, “what do you think of this?”
Shrill29 exclamations30 of various vehemence31 expressed with one accord the sentiments, or rather feelings, of almost all the married ladies who were present.
“Abominable! Intolerable! Insufferable! Horrible! I would rather have seen the man perish at my feet; I would rather have died: I would have remained unmarried all my life rather than have submitted to such terms.”
A few young unmarried ladies who had not spoken, or who had not been heard to speak in the din16 of tongues, were appealed to by the gentlemen next them. They could not be prevailed upon to pronounce any distinct opinion: they qualified33, and hesitated, and softened34, and equivocated35, and “were not positively36 able to judge, for really they had never thought upon the subject.”
Upon the whole, however, it was evident that they did not betray that natural horror which pervaded37 the more experienced matrons. All agreed that the terms were “hard terms,” and ill expressed: some added, that only love could persuade a woman to submit to them: and some still more sentimental38 maidens39, in a lower voice, were understood to say, that as nothing is impossible to Cupid, they might be induced to such submission40; but that it must be by a degree of love which they solemnly declared they had never felt or could imagine as yet.
“For my part,” cried the modern Griselda, “I would sooner have lived an old maid to the days of Methusalem than have been so mean as to have married any man on earth upon such terms. But I know there are people who can never think ‘marriage dear-bought.’ My dear Mrs. Granby, we have not yet heard your opinion, and we should have had yours first, as bride.”
“I forgot that I was bride,” said Emma.
“Forgot! Is it possible?” cried Mrs. Nettleby: “now this is an excess of modesty41 of which I have no notion.”
“But for which Mr. Granby,” continued our heroine, turning to Mr. Granby, who at this moment entered the room, “ought to make his best bow. Here is your lady, sir, who has just assured us that she forgot she was a bride: bow to this exquisite42 humility43.”
“Exquisite vanity!” cried Mr. Granby; “she knows
“‘How much the wife is dearer than the bride.’”
“She will be a singularly happy woman if she knows that this time twelvemonth,” replied our heroine, darting44 a reproachful look at her silent husband. “In the mean time, do let us hear Mrs. Granby speak for herself; I must have her opinion of Griselda’s promise to obey her lord, right or wrong, in all things, no reasons given, to submit in deed, and word, and look, and thought. If Mrs. Granby tells us that is her theory, we must all reform our practice.”
Every eye was fixed45 upon Emma, and every ear was impatient for her answer.
“I should never have imagined,” said she, smiling, “that any person’s practice could be influenced by my theory, especially as I have no theory.”
“No more humility, my dear; if you have no theory, you have an opinion of your own, I hope, and we must have a distinct answer to this simple question: Would you have made the promise that was required from Griselda?”
“No,” answered Emma; “distinctly no; for I could never have loved or esteemed46 the man who required such a promise.”
Disconcerted by this answer, which was the very reverse of what she expected; amazed at the modest self-possession with which the timid Emma spoke32, and vexed by the symptoms of approbation47 which Emma’s words and voice excited, our heroine called upon her husband, in a more than usually authoritative48 tone, and bid him — read on.
He obeyed. Emma became again absorbed in the story, and her countenance showed how much she felt all its beauties, and all its pathos49. Emma did all she could to repress her feelings; and our heroine all she could to make her and them ridiculous. But in this attempt she was unsuccessful; for many of the spectators, who at her instigation began by watching Emma’s countenance to find subject for ridicule, ended by sympathizing with her unaffected sensibility.
When the tale was ended, the modern Griselda, who was determined to oppose as strongly as possible the charms of spirit to those of sensibility, burst furiously forth50 into an invective51 against the meanness of her namesake, and the tyranny of the odious52 Gualtherus.
“Could you have forgiven him, Mrs. Granby? could you have forgiven the monster?”
“He repented,” said Emma; “and does not a penitent53 cease to be a monster?”
“Oh, I never, never would have forgiven him, penitent or not penitent; I would not have forgiven him such sins.”
“I would not have put it into his power to commit them,” said Emma.
“I confess the story never touched me in the least,” cried our heroine.
“Perhaps for the same reason that Petrarch’s friend said that he read it unmoved,” replied Mrs. Granby: “because he could not believe that such a woman as Griselda ever existed.”
“No, no, not for that reason: I believe many such poor, meek54, mean-spirited creatures exist.”
Emma was at length wakened to the perception of her friend’s envy and jealousy55; but —
“She mild forgave the failing of her sex.”
“I cannot admire the original Griselda, or any of her imitators,” continued our heroine.
“There is no great danger of her finding imitators in these days,” said Mr. Granby. “Had Chaucer lived in our enlightened times, he would doubtless have drawn56 a very different character.”
The modern Griselda looked “fierce as ten furies.” Emma softened her husband’s observation by adding, “that allowance should certainly be made for poor Chaucer, if we consider the times in which he wrote. The situation and understandings of women have been so much improved since his days. Women were then slaves, now they are free. My dear,” whispered she to her husband, “your mother is not well; shall we go home?”
Emma left the room; and even Mrs. Nettleby, after she was gone, said, “Really she is not ugly when she blushes.”
“No woman is ugly when she blushes,” replied our heroine; “but, unluckily, a woman cannot always blush.”
Finding that her attempt to make Emma ridiculous had failed, and that it had really placed Mrs. Granby’s understanding, manners, and temper in a most advantageous57 and amiable58 light, Griselda was mortified59 beyond measure. She could scarcely bear to hear Emma’s name mentioned.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
conspicuous
|
|
| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
sarcastically
|
|
| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
malicious
|
|
| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
ridicule
|
|
| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
satire
|
|
| n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
solicit
|
|
| vi.勾引；乞求；vt.请求，乞求；招揽(生意) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
distressed
|
|
| 痛苦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
vexed
|
|
| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
relinquishing
|
|
| 交出，让给( relinquish的现在分词 )； 放弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
din
|
|
| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
malignity
|
|
| n.极度的恶意，恶毒；（病的）恶性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
abashed
|
|
| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
embarrassment
|
|
| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
persuasion
|
|
| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
insolent
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
tranquillity
|
|
| n. 平静, 安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
compliance
|
|
| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
pretences
|
|
| n.假装( pretence的名词复数 )；作假；自命；自称 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
swerve
|
|
| v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
shrill
|
|
| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
exclamations
|
|
| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
vehemence
|
|
| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
qualified
|
|
| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
softened
|
|
| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
equivocated
|
|
| v.使用模棱两可的话隐瞒真相( equivocate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
pervaded
|
|
| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
sentimental
|
|
| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
maidens
|
|
| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
submission
|
|
| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
modesty
|
|
| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
exquisite
|
|
| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
humility
|
|
| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
darting
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
esteemed
|
|
| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
approbation
|
|
| n.称赞；认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
authoritative
|
|
| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
pathos
|
|
| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
invective
|
|
| n.痛骂，恶意抨击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
odious
|
|
| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
penitent
|
|
| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
meek
|
|
| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
advantageous
|
|
| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
mortified
|
|
| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |