“Indeed, dear Nic?|us,” she said, “my anxiety to see my father, or hear from him, is so great, that there is scarcely any danger which I would not encounter to gratify my wish. I feel that I have already taxed your endurance too much. But we are no longer in a hostile land, and guards and guides are to be engaged. Let me then depart alone!”
“Iduna!” exclaimed Nic?|us, reproachfully. “Alas! Iduna, you are cruel, but I did not expect this!”
“Dear Nic?|us!” she answered, “you always misinterpret me! It would infinitely11 delight me to be restored to Hunniades by yourself, but these are no common times, and you are no common person. You forget that there is one that has greater claims upon you even than a forlorn maiden12, your country. And whether Iskander be at Croia or not, Greece requires the presence and exertions of the Prince of Athens.”
“I have no country,” replied Nic?|us, mournfully, “and no object for which to exert myself.”
“Alas! Iduna, yesterday you were my muse2. I do not wonder you are wearied of this castle!” continued the prince in a melancholy15 tone. “This spot contains nothing to interest you; but for me, it holds all that is dear, and, O! gentle maiden, one smile from you, one smile of inspiration, and I would not envy Themistocles, and might perhaps rival him.”
They were walking together in the hall of the castle; Iduna stepped aside and affected16 to examine a curious buckler, Nic?|us followed her, and placing his arm gently in hers, led her away.
“Dearest Iduna,” he said, “pardon me, but men struggle for their fate. Mine is in your power. It is a contest between misery17 and happiness, glory and perhaps infamy18. Do not then wonder that I will not yield my chance of the brighter fortune without an effort. Once more I appeal to your pity, if not to your love. Were Iduna mine, were she to hold out but the possibility of her being mine, there is no career, solemnly I avow19 what solemnly I feel, there is no career of which I could not be capable, and no condition to which I would not willingly subscribe20. But this certainty, or this contingency21, I must have: I cannot exist without the alternative. And now upon my knees, I implore22 her to grant it to me!”
“Nic?|us,” said Iduna, “this continued recurrence23 to a forbidden subject is most ungenerous.”
“Alas! Iduna, my life depends upon a word, which you will not speak, and you talk of generosity24. No! Iduna, it is not I that I am ungenerous.”
“Let me say then unreasonable25, Prince Nic?|us.”
“Say what you like, Iduna, provided you say that you are mine.”
“Pardon me, sir, I am free.”
“Free! You have ever underrated me, Iduna. To whom do you owe this boasted freedom?”
“This is not the first time,” remarked Iduna, “that you have reminded me of an obligation, the memory of which is indelibly impressed upon my heart, and for which even the present conversation cannot make me feel less grateful. I can never forget that I owe all that is dear to yourself and your companion.”
“My companion!” replied the Prince of Athens, pale and passionate26. “My companion! Am I ever to be reminded of my companion?”
“Nic?|us!” said Iduna; “if you forget what is due to me, at least endeavour to remember what is due to yourself?”
“Beautiful being!” said the prince, advancing and passionately27 seizing her hand; “pardon me! pardon me! I am not master of my reason; I am nothing, I am nothing while Iduna hesitates!”
“She does not hesitate, Nic?|us. I desire, I require, that this conversation shall cease; shall never, never be renewed.”
“And I tell thee, haughty28 woman,” said the Prince of Athens, grinding his teeth, and speaking with violent action, “that I will no longer be despised with impunity29. Iduna is mine, or is no one else’s.”
“Is it possible?” exclaimed the daughter of Hunniades. “Is it, indeed, come to this? But why am I surprised! I have long known Nic?|us. I quit this castle instantly.”
“You are a prisoner,” replied the prince very calmly, and leaning with folded arms against the wall.
“A prisoner!” exclaimed Iduna, a little alarmed. “A prisoner! I defy you, sir. You are only a guest like myself. I will appeal to the Seneschal in the absence of his lord. He will never permit the honour of his master’s flag to be violated by the irrational30 caprice of a passionate boy.”
“What lord?” inquired Nic?|us.
“Your friend, the Lord Justinian,” answered Iduna. “He could little anticipate such an abuse of his hospitality.”
“My friend, the Lord Justinian!” replied Nic?|us, with a malignant31 smile. “I am surprised that a personage of the Lady Iduna’s deep discrimination should so easily be deceived by ‘a passionate boy!’ Is it possible that you could have supposed for a moment that there was any other lord of this castle, save your devoted32 slave?”
“What!” exclaimed Iduna, really frightened.
“I have, indeed, the honour of finding the Lady Iduna my guest,” continued Nic?|us, in a tone of bitter raillery. “This castle of Kallista, the fairest in all Epirus, I inherit from my mother. Of late I have seldom visited it; but, indeed, it will become a favourite residence of mine, if it be, as I anticipate, the scene of my nuptial33 ceremony.”
Iduna looked around her with astonishment34, then threw herself upon a couch, and burst into tears. The Prince of Athens walked up and down the hall with an air of determined35 coolness.
“Lady Iduna,” said the prince; and he seated himself by her side. “I will not attempt to palliate a deception37 which your charms could alone inspire and can alone justify38. Hear me, Lady Iduna, hear me with calmness. I love you; I love you with a passion which has been as constant as it is strong. My birth, my rank, my fortunes, do not disqualify me for an union with the daughter of the great Hunniades. If my personal claims may sink in comparison with her surpassing excellence39, I am yet to learn that any other prince in Christendom can urge a more effective plea. I am young; the ladies of the court have called me handsome; by your great father’s side I have broken some lances in your honour; and even Iduna once confessed she thought me clever. Come, come, be merciful! Let my beautiful Athens receive a fitting mistress! A holy father is in readiness dear maiden. Come now, one smile! In a few days we shall reach your father’s camp, and then we will kneel, as I do now, and beg a blessing40 on our happy union.” As he spoke41, he dropped upon his knee, and stealing her hand, looked into her face. It was sorrowful and gloomy.
“It is in vain, Nic?|us,” said Iduna, “to appeal to your generosity; it is useless to talk of the past; it is idle to reproach you for the present. I am a woman, alone and persecuted42, where I could least anticipate persecution43. Nic?|us, I never can be yours; and now I deliver myself to the mercy of Almighty44 God.”
“‘Tis well,” said Nic?|us. “From the tower of the castle you may behold45 the waves of the Ionian Sea. You will remain here a close prisoner, until one of my galleys46 arrive from Pir?|us to bear us to Italy. Mine you must be, Iduna. It remains47 for you to decide under what circumstances. Continue in your obstinacy48, and you may bid farewell for ever to your country and to your father. Be reasonable, and a destiny awaits you, which offers everything that has hitherto been considered the source or cause of happiness.” Thus speaking, the prince retired49, leaving the Lady Iduna to her own unhappy thoughts.
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1
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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muse
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| n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感 | |
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hawking
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| 利用鹰行猎 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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7
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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8
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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9
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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infamy
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| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
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avow
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| v.承认，公开宣称 | |
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subscribe
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| vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助 | |
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contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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23
recurrence
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| n.复发，反复，重现 | |
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24
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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29
impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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irrational
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| adj.无理性的，失去理性的 | |
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malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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32
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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nuptial
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| adj.婚姻的，婚礼的 | |
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34
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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36
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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38
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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40
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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41
spoke
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| 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 | |
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42
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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43
persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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44
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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45
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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46
galleys
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| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
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47
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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48
obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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49
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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