“Be just and fear not.
Let all the ends thou aim’st at be
Thy God’s, and Truth’s; then, when thou fall’st,
Shakespeare.
Hewahewa had been a silent witness of the two interviews. His curiosity was excited by what Olmedo had said of his religion to Pohaku, and he desired to know more of a faith so new to him. From the first, Tolta had been an object of jealousy2 and suspicion, as likely to cross his own ambition; but the wily Mexican in winning the confidence of Pohaku, had also paid such court to him, in his character of high-priest, that he could find no positive cause of distrust. He had supported his schemes, therefore, because they enlarged his own field, relying upon his own cautious and calculating policy to reap the harvest of which the other two would sow the seeds. Without comprehending a word of what had passed between the Mexican and Spaniard, the deportment of the latter, as he rejected Tolta’s double treachery, attracted his attention, and he determined3 to know for himself the actual relations between them.
When Tolta left Olmedo, Hewahewa went out[211] also, saying to his associate, “Thanks, Mexican; a rare festival you have provided for us to-morrow. An offering like this is a new event in Hawaii. Sweet will be your revenge. May Pele prosper4 you,” and touching5 noses, according to the national mode of salutation, they parted.
No sooner, however, was Tolta fairly out of sight, than Hewahewa retraced6 his steps to Olmedo’s prison. The guards were his own men, because the prisoner was in his custody7, preparatory to the solemn rites8 of the next day. He alone, besides Tolta, had the right of access at any hour, for the victim once consecrated9 to the gods was tabu, but permitted to feast, if he could, in view of his terrible destiny.
Olmedo was on his knees, with crucifix uplifted, praying for strength for himself, and that Beatriz might be spared the fate to which she seemed doomed10. “Not our will, but thine be done, our Saviour11 and our God; yet if this trial and death be necessary that we may enter Paradise, O grant that I, the enlisted12 soldier of the cross, may alone bear the torment13. Accept my sacrifice, Queen of Heaven, pity and save thy daughter. Let not these heathens triumph in her agony, but take her peacefully to thy bosom14, Virgin15 Mother,” and his eyes overflowed16 with grief as he thought of his utter helplessness to aid her. With his prayer, however, a calm gradually came to his spirit. It could not be called hope, but it brought peace, and renewed his trust in divine aid. A demeanor17 so unlike the dogged despair, or frantic18 fear to[212] which he had been accustomed in his victims for the altar, surprised the high-priest, and imbued19 him with a respect for his prisoner, that he had never before felt for any one. Olmedo was so wrapped in his own emotions, that his entrance had been unnoticed. Tapping him on the shoulder as he still knelt, Hewahewa said to him, “You pray then, brother priest. Who to?”
“I am an unworthy servant of the Holy Church. Have you heard of the Christian20’s God? I pray to Him.”
“Nothing but what Tolta tells. He must be more fiendish than is our Pele in her anger, if he delights in such deeds as your countrymen have done in Mexico. But I believe in neither. There is no God but what we make for ourselves. Tell me your thought. I would know what makes you so calm, in sight of a death so terrible?”
“Willingly. First tell me, who created Hawaii?”
“Something from nothing. Do you believe this? Where does a man go when he dies?”
“Back to night, or everlasting23 sleep.”
“Then, you think, that man and the earth came by chance out of nothing, and return to nothing?”
“That is my thought. We must make the most of life. There is no other. I believe in what I have, in what I feel and see, but in nothing more. Death finishes all. Do you not fear to go back to nothing?”
[213]
“If I thought as you think, I should. But the earth you love, and the life you covet24 teach differently. Can the canoe live on the ocean without a pilot? Does the taro25 ripen26 without the sun? Think you that this earth drifts at random27 in space, without a hand to guide it? No! the Supreme28 Being made this world and man to dwell therein. He has made also a heaven for the good, and a hell for the evil. He governs all, and sent his Son ages gone by to tell us there was eternal life, and we should be happy or miserable29 as we obeyed the commands he left. Among other things, he told us white men to go abroad over the earth and tell to all nations the glad tidings. I am one of his soldiers. But we carry no arms. We fight not, we teach as he taught, and if we are put to death, we pray for those who kill our bodies, that they may believe as we do. Then will they see that death is but a portal to a more glorious life. There are bad men among us white as among you, who love evil and commit the crimes Tolta tells of. Our mission is as much to them as to you. We preach love and faith in the Great God to all, and it is because we know that he will receive us into Paradise that we dread30 not death.”
Much after this manner did Olmedo talk to Hewahewa, who listed attentively31 to words which opened to him new trains of thought. He felt a desire to save him from his impending32 fate, that he might hear more. But the whole population were assembling to witness a sacrifice such as had never before been offered in Hawaii, and he dared not[214] disappoint them. Besides, Tolta and Pohaku were not to be easily balked33. Musing34 for a few moments he abruptly35 said to Olmedo, “I would see more of you. You must not die. I will provide a substitute; give me your garments for him and you shall be secreted36, while the howling mob will think you have been thrown to Pele.”
“Not so! I would not purchase my life at the expense of an innocent victim. I thank you for your intended kindness to me, but this must not be.”
“Are you mad? What is the life of a slave to you! He will be but too much honored to take your place. Refuse me not. I am determined on this.”
“Never! My religion forbids even evil thoughts, much more deeds. Free me if you will, for that I would be most grateful. But you know not the spirit of a Christian, if you think him so base as to purchase his safety by a crime.”
“Strange being, what means this? Soon the sacred drums will sound, and the criers announce that the solemn festival has begun. Then it will be beyond my power to make the exchange. Yield before it be too late. Hast thou no daughter, no wife to live for?”
“Daughter! alas37 I have a daughter. Think of me no longer. Take her from the toils38 of that Mexican, and I will even bless you, and pray the Son for you in heaven to which I am going. She would despise me, more if possible than I should myself, could I accept my life on your terms. Mention[215] not that again. Have you a daughter? I see by your face you have. By the love you bear her, as you would not have her dishonored by a villain39, or see her a mangled40 corpse41, save her. You can: will you not?” and he grasped the hand of Hewahewa and wrung42 it in his anguish43.
He had struck the only chord of feeling in his gaoler. “Where is this woman,” he asked; “for your sake I will see her.”
Olmedo then detailed44 their capture and subsequent history up to the time he was violently separated from Beatriz, and finally the offer of Tolta to redeem45 them both, and his contemplated46 treason to Pohaku, provided he would assent47 to his designs upon her. Hewahewa listened eagerly to every word by which the thread of his rival’s projects was unravelled48 to him. He now saw clearly the game he was pursuing, and without betraying his intention, simply said, “If not too late, I will do as you wish. She shall be a sister to my daughter. Courage. Farewell.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
martyr
|
|
| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
prosper
|
|
| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
retraced
|
|
| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
custody
|
|
| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
rites
|
|
| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
consecrated
|
|
| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
doomed
|
|
| 命定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
saviour
|
|
| n.拯救者，救星 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
enlisted
|
|
| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
torment
|
|
| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
virgin
|
|
| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
overflowed
|
|
| 溢出的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
demeanor
|
|
| n.行为；风度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
frantic
|
|
| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
imbued
|
|
| v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
chaos
|
|
| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
bards
|
|
| n.诗人( bard的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
everlasting
|
|
| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
covet
|
|
| vt.垂涎；贪图(尤指属于他人的东西) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
taro
|
|
| n.芋，芋头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
ripen
|
|
| vt.使成熟；vi.成熟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
random
|
|
| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
attentively
|
|
| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
impending
|
|
| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
balked
|
|
| v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
musing
|
|
| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
secreted
|
|
| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
toils
|
|
| 网 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
villain
|
|
| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
mangled
|
|
| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
corpse
|
|
| n.尸体，死尸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
wrung
|
|
| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
detailed
|
|
| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
redeem
|
|
| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
contemplated
|
|
| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
assent
|
|
| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
unravelled
|
|
| 解开，拆散，散开( unravel的过去式和过去分词 )； 阐明； 澄清； 弄清楚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |