The shower had been heavy, but it had not dispersed4 the crowds that were gathered in the great square in front of the Parliament House. It was welcome, but it had not altered their anxious and angry looks; it had drenched5 them without cooling their excitement. Evidently an event of consequence was taking place. The fine building, where the representatives of the people were wont6 to meet, wore an aspect of sombre importance that the trophies7 and statues, with which an ancient and an art-loving people had decorated its fa?ade, did not dispel8. A squadron of Lancers of the Republican Guard was drawn9 up at the foot of the great steps, and a considerable body of infantry10 kept a broad space clear in front of the entrance. Behind the soldiers the people filled in the rest of the picture. They swarmed11 in the square and the streets leading to it; they had scrambled12 on to the numerous monuments, which the taste and pride of the Republic had raised to the memory of her ancient heroes, covering them so completely that they looked like mounds13 of human beings; even the trees contained their occupants, while the windows and often the roofs, of the houses and offices which overlooked the scene were crowded with spectators. It was a great multitude and it vibrated with excitement. Wild passions surged across the throng14, as squalls sweep across a stormy sea. Here and there a man, mounting above his fellows, would harangue15 those whom his voice could reach, and a cheer or a shout was caught up by thousands who had never heard the words but were searching for something to give expression to their feelings.
It was a great day in the history of Laurania. For five long years since the Civil War the people had endured the insult of autocratic rule. The fact that the Government was strong, and the memory of the disorders16 of the past, had operated powerfully on the minds of the more sober citizens. But from the first there had been murmurs18. There were many who had borne arms on the losing side in the long struggle that had ended in the victory of President Antonio Molara. Some had suffered wounds or confiscation19; others had undergone imprisonment20; many had lost friends and relations, who with their latest breath had enjoined21 the uncompromising prosecution22 of the war. The Government had started with implacable enemies, and their rule had been harsh and tyrannical. The ancient constitution to which the citizens were so strongly attached and of which they were so proud, had been subverted23. The President, alleging24 the prevalence of sedition25, had declined to invite the people to send their representatives to that chamber26 which had for many centuries been regarded as the surest bulwark27 of popular liberties. Thus the discontents increased day by day and year by year: the National party, which had at first consisted only of a few survivors28 of the beaten side, had swelled29 into the most numerous and powerful faction30 in the State; and at last they had found a leader. The agitation31 proceeded on all sides. The large and turbulent population of the capital were thoroughly32 devoted33 to the rising cause. Demonstration34 had followed demonstration; riot had succeeded riot; even the army showed signs of unrest. At length the President had decided35 to make concessions36. It was announced that on the first of September the electoral writs37 should be issued and the people should be accorded an opportunity of expressing their wishes and opinions.
This pledge had contented39 the more peaceable citizens. The extremists, finding themselves in a minority, had altered their tone. The Government, taking advantage of the favourable40 moment, had arrested several of the more violent leaders. Others, who had fought in the war and had returned from exile to take part in the revolt, fled for their lives across the border. A rigorous search for arms had resulted in important captures. European nations, watching with interested and anxious eyes the political barometer41, were convinced that the Government cause was in the ascendant. But meanwhile the people waited, silent and expectant, for the fulfilment of the promise.
At length the day had come. The necessary preparations for summoning the seventy thousand male electors to record their votes had been carried out by the public officials. The President, as the custom prescribed, was in person to sign the necessary writ38 of summons to the faithful citizens. Warrants for election would be forwarded to the various electoral divisions in the city and the provinces, and those who were by the ancient law entitled to the franchise42 would give their verdict on the conduct of him whom the Populists in bitter hatred43 had called the Dictator.
It was for this moment that the crowd was waiting. Though cheers from time to time arose, they waited for the most part in silence. Even when the President had passed on his way to the Senate, they had foreborne to hoot44; in their eyes he was virtually abdicating45, and that made amends46 for all. The time-honoured observances, the long-loved rights would be restored, and once more democratic government would be triumphant47 in Laurania.
Suddenly, at the top of the steps in the full view of the people, a young man appeared, his dress disordered and his face crimson48 with excitement. It was Moret, one of the Civic49 Council. He was immediately recognised by the populace, and a great cheer arose. Many who could not see him took up the shout, which re-echoed through the square, the expression of a nation's satisfaction. He gesticulated vehemently50, but his words, if he spoke51 at all, were lost in the tumult52. Another man, an usher53, followed him out hurriedly, put his hand on his shoulder, appeared to speak with earnestness, and drew him back into the shadow of the entrance. The crowd still cheered.
A third figure issued from the door, an old man in the robes of municipal office. He walked, or rather tottered54 feebly down the steps to a carriage, which had drawn up to meet him. Again there were cheers. "Godoy! Godoy! Bravo, Godoy! Champion of the People! Hurrah55, hurrah!"
It was the Mayor, one of the strongest and most reputable members of the party of Reform. He entered his carriage and drove through the open space, maintained by the soldiery, into the crowd, which, still cheering, gave way with respect.
The carriage was open and it was evident that the old man was painfully moved. His face was pale, his mouth puckered56 into an expression of grief and anger, his whole frame shaken with suppressed emotion. The crowd had greeted him with applause, but, quick to notice, were struck by his altered appearance and woeful looks. They crowded round the carriage crying: "What has happened? Is all well? Speak, Godoy, speak!" But he would have none of them, and quivering with agitation bade his coachman drive the faster. The people gave way slowly, sullenly57, thoughtfully, as men who make momentous58 resolutions. Something had happened, untoward59, unforeseen, unwelcome; what this was, they were anxious to know.
And then began a period of wild rumour60. The President had refused to sign the writs; he had committed suicide; the troops had been ordered to fire; the elections would not take place, after all; Savrola had been arrested,—seized in the very Senate, said one, murdered added another. The noise of the multitude changed into a dull dissonant61 hum of rising anger.
At last the answer came. There was a house, overlooking the square, which was separated from the Chamber of Representatives only by a narrow street, and this street had been kept clear for traffic by the troops. On the balcony of this house the young man, Moret, the Civic Councillor, now reappeared, and his coming was the signal for a storm of wild, anxious cries from the vast concourse. He held up his hand for silence and after some moments his words became audible to those nearest. "You are betrayed—a cruel fraud—the hopes we had cherished are dashed to the ground—all has been done in vain— Cheated! cheated! cheated!" The broken fragments of his oratory62 reached far into the mass of excited humanity, and then he shouted a sentence, which was heard by thousands and repeated by thousands more. "The register of citizenship63 has been mutilated, and the names of more than half the electors have been erased64. To your tents, oh people of Laurania!"
For an instant there was silence, and then a great sob17 of fury, of disappointment, and of resolve arose from the multitude.
At this moment the presidential carriage, with its four horses, its postilions in the Republican livery, and an escort of Lancers, moved forward to the foot of the steps, as there emerged from the Parliament House a remarkable65 figure. He wore the splendid blue and white uniform of a general of the Lauranian Army; his breast glittered with medals and orders; his keen strong features were composed. He paused for a moment before descending66 to his carriage, as if to give the mob an opportunity to hiss67 and hoot to their content, and appeared to talk unconcernedly with his companion, Se?or Louvet, the Minister of the Interior. He pointed68 once or twice towards the surging masses, and then walked slowly down the steps. Louvet had intended to accompany him, but he heard the roar of the crowd and remembered that he had some business to attend to in the Senate that could not be delayed; the other went on alone. The soldiers presented arms. A howl of fury arose from the people. A mounted officer, who sat his horse unmoved, an inexorable machine, turned to a subordinate with an order. Several companies of foot-soldiers began defiling69 from the side street on the right of the Chamber, and drawing up in line in the open space which was now partly invaded by the mob.
The President entered his carriage which, preceded by an entire troop of Lancers, immediately started at a trot70. So soon as the carriage reached the edge of the open space, a rush was made by the crowd. The escort closed up; "Fall back there!" shouted an officer, but he was unheeded. "Will you move, or must we move you?" said a gruffer voice. Yet the mob gave not an inch. The danger was imminent71. "Cheat! Traitor72! Liar73! Tyrant74!" they shouted, with many other expressions too coarse to be recorded. "Give us back our rights—you, who have stolen them!"
And then some one at the back of the crowd fired a revolver into the air. The effect was electrical. The Lancers dropped their points and sprang forward. Shouts of terror and fury arose on all sides. The populace fled before the cavalry75; some fell on the ground and were trampled76 to death; some were knocked down and injured by the horses; a few were speared by the soldiers. It was a horrible scene. Those behind threw stones, and some fired random77 pistol shots. The President remained unmoved. Erect78 and unflinching he gazed on the tumult as men gaze at a race about which they have not betted. His hat was knocked off, and a trickle79 of blood down his cheek showed where a stone had struck. For some moments the issue seemed doubtful. The crowd might storm the carriage and then,—to be torn to pieces by a rabble80! There were other and more pleasant deaths. But the discipline of the troops overcame all obstacles, the bearing of the man appeared to cow his enemies, and the crowd fell back, still hooting81 and shouting.
Meanwhile the officer commanding the infantry by the Parliament House had been alarmed by the rushes of the mob, which he could see were directed at the President's carriage. He determined82 to create a diversion. "We shall have to fire on them," he said to the Major who was beside him.
"Excellent," replied that officer; "it will enable us to conclude those experiments in penetration83, which we have been trying with the soft-nosed bullet. A very valuable experiment, Sir," and then turning to the soldiers he issued several orders. "A very valuable experiment," he repeated.
"Somewhat expensive," said the Colonel dryly; "and half a company will be enough, Major."
There was a rattle84 of breech-blocks as the rifles were loaded. The people immediately in front of the troops struggled madly to escape the impending85 volley. One man, a man in a straw hat, kept his head. He rushed forward. "For God's sake don't fire!" he cried. "Have mercy! We will disperse3."
There was a moment's pause, a sharp order and a loud explosion, followed by screams. The man in the straw hat bent86 backwards87 and fell on the ground; other figures also subsided88 and lay still in curiously89 twisted postures90. Every one else except the soldiers fled; fortunately there were many exits to the square, and in a few minutes it was almost deserted91. The President's carriage made its way through the flying crowd to the gates of the palace, which were guarded by more soldiers, and passed through in safety.
All was now over. The spirit of the mob was broken and the wide expanse of Constitution Square was soon nearly empty. Forty bodies and some expended92 cartridges93 lay on the ground. Both had played their part in the history of human developement and passed out of the considerations of living men. Nevertheless the soldiers picked up the empty cases, and presently some police came with carts and took the other things away, and all was quiet again in Laurania.
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收听单词发音
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1
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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3
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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7
trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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dispel
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| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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11
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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12
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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13
mounds
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| 土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆 | |
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14
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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15
harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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16
disorders
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| n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调 | |
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sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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19
confiscation
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| n. 没收, 充公, 征收 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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21
enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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23
subverted
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| v.颠覆，破坏（政治制度、宗教信仰等）( subvert的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某人）道德败坏或不忠 | |
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24
alleging
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| 断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 ) | |
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sedition
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| n.煽动叛乱 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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bulwark
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| n.堡垒，保障，防御 | |
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survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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29
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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30
faction
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| n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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32
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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33
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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36
concessions
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| n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权 | |
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37
writs
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| n.书面命令，令状( writ的名词复数 ) | |
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writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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39
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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40
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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41
barometer
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| n.气压表，睛雨表，反应指标 | |
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42
franchise
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| n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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44
hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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45
abdicating
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| 放弃（职责、权力等）( abdicate的现在分词 )； 退位，逊位 | |
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46
amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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47
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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48
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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49
civic
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| adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的 | |
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50
vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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51
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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52
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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53
usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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54
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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55
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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56
puckered
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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58
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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untoward
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| adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的 | |
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60
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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61
dissonant
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| adj.不和谐的；不悦耳的 | |
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62
oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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citizenship
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| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
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64
erased
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| v.擦掉( erase的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；清除 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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67
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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defiling
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| v.玷污( defile的现在分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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70
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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71
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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75
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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76
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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79
trickle
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| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
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80
rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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81
hooting
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的现在分词 )； 倒好儿； 倒彩 | |
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82
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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83
penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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84
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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85
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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86
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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87
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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88
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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89
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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90
postures
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| 姿势( posture的名词复数 )； 看法； 态度； 立场 | |
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91
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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92
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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93
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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