THE sky was suffused1 with opalescent2 vapors3 rising from the golden bowl of the sea. Joan Gildersedge, with a page of Spenser unread upon her lap, was sitting under the pine-tree on the half-moon of grass in Burnt House garden, looking out towards the south. It was her especial curtilage, her garden of gems4, arabesques5 of brilliant color burning amid the green. Towards the west a screen of purple clematis ran like a frieze6 above a bank of fuchsias, red, amethyst7, and white. Over the warm bosom8 of the low brick wall a passion-flower clambered to hear the rhapsodies of a rose. To the east Canterbury-bells, a gracious company, wove wondrous9 textures10 of purple and snow. Amid the enamelled faces of a myriad11 pansies, night-stock dowered the evening with a subtle fragrance12.
Joan’s heart had opened to the thousand voices of her flowers. She was in a golden mood, sad, yet happy—the mood of one who lives in dreams and forgets the present. The greater burden of the day had been passed with her father; she had found him more human for the nonce, less gray and barbarous. Bodily he was much like a withered13 leaf that had mouldered14 to a lacelike skeleton, a traceried image of itself. During the early summer he had weakened, maintaining none the less his mercenary acumen15 of mind, that like a red spark fed still upon the rotten tinder of the flesh. He was much abed now; his cottages at Rilchester had not tumbled their rents into his leather bag these many months. An agent fingered the blue-leaved ledger16 and harvested pence in that provincial17 slum.
Joan had been reading of Britomart, that woman queening it in the pages of romance. This British heroine had ever had a strong hold on the child Joan’s heart, an idyllic18 foster-mother, pure and fearless. Even now, in the deeper wisdom of her wounded days, the girl had found in this fair woman of legendary19 lore20 a sister quickened with a kindred sympathy.
Perhaps there was a suggestive moral in the legend that had startled Joan like the sudden voice of one singing in the woods. She remembered that Artegal the Just had proved vincible, a god of clay with a heart of gold. Despite his manhood, he had fallen into unheroic jeopardy21, even to the quaint22 ignominy of wearing women’s gear. And it had needed Britomart to end his shame.
Whatever mysterious philosophies were moving in her heart, the girl was doomed23 to discover scope for heroism24 that evening. Up the narrow lane circling the hill-side a man was urging a jaded25 horse, slouching low in the saddle. The western light smote26 upon his face, making it white and ethereal, like the face of one who had risen from a sick-bed.
Drawing rein27 before the iron gate and rolling out of the saddle, he tethered his horse and passed up the darkening drive. The gravel28 complained beneath his feet. Reaching the porch, he set the bell clanging through the solitary29 house, mocking, metallic30 laughter that died in a rattling31 chuckle32. Anon, as he stamped restlessly to and fro, the door opened, and Mrs. Primmer’s stony33 face stared at him out of the dusk of the hall. Gabriel saw her lips tighten34 as she looked him over. There was a new significance for him in the steel of her observant eyes. She snapped the words out of her narrow mouth, forestalling35 his question with an intelligence that was almost insolent36.
“Miss Joan’s in the garden.”
The man turned away with a clinched37 jaw38 and a hot color. There was something sinister39 even in the tone of the woman’s voice, a hint at knowledge that brimmed his cup of bitterness the more. The children of Mammon had proved wiser than he in their generation. Like an idealist in hades, he was mocked by the scoffing40 shades of the grossly wise dead.
Gabriel passed the rank lawns, the arbor41 of yews42, and the tall acacia, glanced at the dial-plate, ineffectual at that hour of the decline. Plunging43 through Joan’s arch of roses, he came by a bank of cypresses44 to the full mountainous glory of the west. Clouds, red of bosom, sailed solemn over the sea. The valley beneath was veiled in splendor45.
On the half-circle of grass he saw Joan sitting with the book in her lap, her face turned from him towards the west. The boughs46 of the pine-tree overshadowed her. Her dress ran a faint blue streak47 in the grass. He stood and watched her a moment, shading his eyes with his hand, with an expression half of despair upon his face. He was a coward no longer in the meaner sense, yet his heart sickened when he remembered the words that were poised48 upon his tongue.
Crossing the lawn he called the girl by name. She turned with a strange swiftness, rose up from under the tree like one wakened out of a dream. Her face was afire, her eyes full of a sudden recognition. It was easy to define the feeling that was uppermost in her heart.
They stood some paces apart and looked at each other in silence. The girl’s attitude was that of wistful appeal, generous ignorance thirsting for the truth. Gabriel saw her standing49 before him, enshrined by the gold of the west, pure and infinitely50 gracious. The very beauty of her innocence51 smote his courage as with fire. All the glib52 and tragic53 pathos54 he had conjured55 into his heart was shrivelled, parched56 into inarticulate fear. The horror of sacrilege possessed57 him. He stood as one palsied, stricken mute like Zacharias by his vision in the temple.
“Gabriel.”
Of a sudden she ran to him, stooping and looking in his face. From the warmth of her thoughtless joy she had gone white, strangely earnest and eager. Gazing in Gabriel’s eyes, she read the fear therein, the haggard, strained look upon his face that declared deep dread58 within.
“Gabriel,” she said again, almost in a whisper.
“Ah, do not look at me like this.”
“What is it—tell me?”
“The worst.”
“Ah no, not that!”
He threw up his arm with a gesture of anguish59 and covered his face.
“My God, how can I tell you the truth!”
Joan caught him by the wrists, drew down his hand, stared in his face, one deep, tragic look. The man’s eyes shirked hers. His lips were quivering like the lips of one in peril60 of tears.
Joan drew a sudden, deep breath, loosed her hold, and stood back from him with her hands pressed over her heart.
“Gabriel.”
He could not answer her. Her words came to him with a passionate61 breathlessness born of despair.
“I understand—yes, yes, do not speak—I can bear it—let it come slowly. I understand now.”
She stood with her head thrown back, her throat showing, her eyes closed as in prayer. Her face was as pale as the petals62 of the passion-flower upon the wall. Gabriel, with lips twitching63, paced to and fro like one in physical anguish. A hand of ice seemed contracting about his heart. Suddenly, as by some superhuman instinct, he fell down with a half-muffled cry at the girl’s feet, caught her by the knees, and buried his face in her dress.
“Joan, Joan.”
She still stood with eyes closed, her body quivering, her hands over her heart.
“Joan, curse me, for God’s sake curse me!”
“No, no.”
“That I should have brought this upon you!”
“No, no.”
“Curse me.”
She slipped suddenly to her knees as though her soul failed her, wound her arms about the man’s neck, and hid her face upon his shoulder. They kneeled thus for some moments, wrapped in each other’s arms like two children. Neither spoke64. It was a merging65 of their common woe66 into one deep flux67 of silent sympathy.
The fall of tears on her cheek roused Joan, like the touch of a child’s hand bestirs a mother. She lifted her head, held the man at arm’s-length, looked in his face with a great flash of womanly tenderness.
“Gabriel.”
“Girl—”
“Weep not for me.”
“You shame me too utterly68.”
“Ah no, do not think that of me. God knows, I shall help you by being strong.”
She passed her hand over his forehead, smiled with an infinite wistfulness, lifted up her mouth to his, and kissed him.
“Courage,” she said.
For the first time he looked in her eyes, steadily69, yet with an incredulous awe70 that was not of earth. Had Christ spoken He could not have breathed a diviner love.
“You shame me,” was all he said.
“No, no.”
“What am I, that you should treat me thus?”
“Ah, is it so strange?”
“It is marvellous, beyond belief.”
She put his hands from her very gently, rose up, and stood at her full height, looking out towards the sea. The blood had risen again from her heart; her lips were no longer tremulous; her eyes shone more bright with hope. Gabriel watched her, holding close under the pine-tree so that he stood in shadow, while Joan breathed in the sun. The scene was figurative to him of her finer beauty of soul.
“Gabriel,” she said at last, turning her head so that he saw her pure, strong profile and then the sunlight in her eyes.
“I am listening.”
“Can you believe me? but I had half prayed for this.”
“Joan!”
“It is the truth.”
He left the shadows of the tree and stood again at the girl’s side. His fingers touched Joan’s. Standing hand in hand, they looked out over the sea at the sun sinking in a whorl of lambent fire.
“I am no longer afraid.”
“Nor I, save for your sake.”
“Ah, Gabriel, what is sacrifice but love transfigured?”
The clouds were paling in the west; a glamour71 of light still poured upward into the heavens.
“Had I been less a fool,” he said, “I could have saved all this. Thank God, I am no longer clay, to be thumbed by circumstance!”
“And yet,” she said, with a deep inrush of heroism.
“Well?”
“I would not have had it otherwise. It is the fire that refines and tempers. It is by battle that we overcome the world.”
“Yes, men still need the sword.”
“Well spoken.”
“I draw mine for our liberty, your honor.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
suffused
|
|
| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
opalescent
|
|
| adj.乳色的，乳白的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
vapors
|
|
| n.水汽，水蒸气，无实质之物( vapor的名词复数 )；自夸者；幻想 [药]吸入剂 [古]忧郁（症）v.自夸，（使）蒸发( vapor的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
gems
|
|
| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
arabesques
|
|
| n.阿拉伯式花饰( arabesque的名词复数 )；错综图饰；阿拉伯图案；阿拉贝斯克芭蕾舞姿（独脚站立，手前伸，另一脚一手向后伸） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
6
frieze
|
|
| n.(墙上的)横饰带，雕带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
amethyst
|
|
| n.紫水晶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
wondrous
|
|
| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
textures
|
|
| n.手感( texture的名词复数 )；质感；口感；（音乐或文学的）谐和统一感 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
myriad
|
|
| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
fragrance
|
|
| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
withered
|
|
| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
mouldered
|
|
| v.腐朽( moulder的过去式和过去分词 )；腐烂，崩塌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
acumen
|
|
| n.敏锐，聪明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
ledger
|
|
| n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
provincial
|
|
| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
idyllic
|
|
| adj.质朴宜人的，田园风光的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
legendary
|
|
| adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
lore
|
|
| n.传说；学问，经验，知识 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
jeopardy
|
|
| n.危险；危难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
quaint
|
|
| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
doomed
|
|
| 命定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
heroism
|
|
| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
jaded
|
|
| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
smote
|
|
| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
rein
|
|
| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
gravel
|
|
| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
metallic
|
|
| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
rattling
|
|
| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
chuckle
|
|
| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
stony
|
|
| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
tighten
|
|
| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
forestalling
|
|
| v.先发制人，预先阻止( forestall的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
36
insolent
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
clinched
|
|
| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
jaw
|
|
| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
scoffing
|
|
| n. 嘲笑, 笑柄, 愚弄 v. 嘲笑, 嘲弄, 愚弄, 狼吞虎咽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
arbor
|
|
| n.凉亭；树木 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
yews
|
|
| n.紫杉( yew的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
plunging
|
|
| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
cypresses
|
|
| n.柏属植物，柏树( cypress的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
splendor
|
|
| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
boughs
|
|
| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
streak
|
|
| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
poised
|
|
| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
infinitely
|
|
| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
innocence
|
|
| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
glib
|
|
| adj.圆滑的，油嘴滑舌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
tragic
|
|
| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
pathos
|
|
| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
conjured
|
|
| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
parched
|
|
| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
passionate
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
petals
|
|
| n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
twitching
|
|
| n.颤搐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
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： |
|
|
|
|
65
merging
|
|
| 合并（分类） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
woe
|
|
| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
flux
|
|
| n.流动；不断的改变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
awe
|
|
| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
glamour
|
|
| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |