Be sober—for thou art not there!”
Keble.
“The sacred pages of God’s own book
In whose holy mirror, night and day,
Thou’lt study heaven’s reflected ray.
With gloomy wing to seek thee there,
Thou will see how dark their shadows lie,
Between heaven and thee, and trembling fly.”
Moore.
“Ida Aumerle,” began the dark narrator, “at the age of twelve had the misfortune to lose her mother, and was left, with a sister several years younger than herself, to the sole care of a tender and indulgent father. Ever on the watch to strengthen my interests amongst the children of men, I sounded the dispositions4 of the sisters, to know what chance I possessed5 of making them prisoners of Pride. Mabel, clever, impulsive6, fearless in character, with a mind ready to receive every impression, and a spirit full of energy and emulation7, I knew to be one who was likely readily to come under the power of my spell. Ida was less easily won; she was a more thoughtful, contemplative girl, her temper was less quick, he[17] passions were less easily roused, and I long doubted where lay the weak point of character on which Pride might successfully work.
“As Ida grew towards womanhood my doubts were gradually dispelled8. I marked that the fair maiden9 loved to linger opposite the mirror which reflected her tall, slight, graceful10 form, and that the gazelle eyes rested upon it with secret satisfaction. There was much time given to braiding the hair and adorning11 the person; and the fashion of a dress, the tint12 of a ribbon, became a subject for grave consideration. There are thousands of girls enslaved by the pride of beauty with far less cause than Ida Aumerle.”
“But this folly,” observed Intemperance13, “was likely to give you but temporary power. Beauty is merely skin-deep, and passes away like a flower!”
“But often leaves the pride of it behind,” replied his companion. “There is many a wrinkled woman who can never forget that she once was fair,—nay, who seems fondly to imagine that she can never cease to be fair; and who makes herself the laughing-stock of the world by assuming in age the attire14 and graces of youth. It will never be thus with Ida Aumerle.
“I thought that my chain was firmly fixed15 upon her, when one evening I found it suddenly torn from her wrist, and trampled16 beneath her feet! The household at the Vicarage had retired17 to rest; Ida[18] had received her father’s nightly blessing18, and was sitting alone in her own little room. The lamp-light fell upon a form and face that might have been thought to excuse some pride, but Ida’s reflections at that moment had nothing in common with me. She was bending eagerly over that Book which condemns19, and would destroy me,—a book which she had ofttimes perused20 before, but never with the earnest devotion which was then swelling21 her heart. Her hands were clasped, her dark eyes swimming in joyful22 tears, and her lips sometimes moved in prayer,—not cold, formal prayer, such as I myself might prompt, but the outpouring of a spirit overflowing23 with grateful love. That was the birthday of a soul! I stood gloomily apart; I dared not approach one first conscious of her immortal24 destiny, first communing in spirit with her God!”
“You gave up your designs, then, in despair?”
“You would have done so,” answered Pride with haughtiness25; “I do not despair, I only delay. I found that pride of beauty had indeed given way to a nobler, more exalting26 feeling. Ida had drunk at the fountain of purity, and the petty rill of personal vanity had become to her insipid27 and distasteful. She was putting away the childish things which amuse the frivolous28 soul. Ida’s time was now too well filled up with a succession of pious29 and charitable occupations, to leave a superfluous30 share to the toilette. The maiden’s dress became simple, because[19] the luxury which she now esteemed31 was that of assisting the needy32. Many of her trinkets were laid aside, not because she deemed it a sin to wear them, but because her mind was engrossed33 by higher things. One whose first object and desire is to please a heavenly Master by performing angels’ offices below, is hardly likely to dwell much on the consideration that her face and her figure are comely34.”
“Ida is, I know, reckoned a model of every feminine virtue,” said Intemperance. “I can conceive that your grand design was now to make her think herself as perfect as all the rest of the world thought her.”
“Ay, ay; to involve her in spiritual pride! But the maiden was too much on her knees, examined her own heart too closely, tried herself by too lofty a standard for that. When the faintest shadow of that temptation fell upon her, she started as though she had seen the viper35 lurking36 under the flowers, and cast it from her with abhorrence37! ‘A sinner, a weak, helpless sinner, saved only by the mercy, trusting only in the strength of a higher power;’ this Ida Aumerle not only calls herself, but actually feels herself to be. The power of Grace in her heart is too strong on that point for Pride.”
“And yet you hope to subject her to your sway?
“About two years after the night which I have mentioned,” resumed Pride, “after Ida had attained38 the age of eighteen, she resided for some time at[20] Aspendale, the home of her uncle, Augustine Aumerle.”
“One of your prisoners?” inquired Intemperance.
“Of him anon,” replied the dark one, “our present subject is his niece. At his dwelling39 Ida met with one who had been Augustine’s college companion, Reginald, Earl of Dashleigh. You can just discern the towers of his mansion40 faint in the blue distance yonder.”
“I know it,” replied Intemperance; “I frequented the place in his grandfather’s time. The present earl, as I understand, is your votary41 rather than mine.”
“Puffed up with pride of rank,” said the stern spirit; “but pride of rank could not withstand a stronger passion, or prevent him from laying his fortune and title at the feet of Ida Aumerle.”
“An opportunity for you!” suggested Intemperance.
“A golden opportunity I deemed it. What woman is not dazzled by a coronet? what girl is insensible to the flattering attentions of him who owns one, even if he possess no other recommendation, which, with Dashleigh, is far from being the case? There was a struggle in the mind of Ida. I whispered to her of all those gilded42 baubles43 for which numbers have eagerly bartered44 happiness here, and forfeited45 happiness hereafter. I set before her grand images of earthly greatness, the pomp and trappings[21] of state, the homage46 paid by the world to station. I strove to inflame47 her mind with ambition. But here Ida sought counsel of the All-wise, and she saw through my glittering snare48. The earl, though of character unblemished in the eyes of man, and far from indifferent to religion, is not one whom a heaven-bound pilgrim like Ida would choose as a companion for life. Dashleigh’s spirit is too much clogged49 with earth; he is too much divided in his service; he wears too openly my chain, as if he deemed it an ornament50 or distinction. Ida prayed, reflected, and then resolved. She declined the addresses of her uncle’s guest, and returned home at once to her father.”
“The wound which she inflicted51 was not a deep one,” remarked Intemperance. “Dashleigh was speedily consoled, without even seeking comfort from me.”
“I poisoned his wound,” exclaimed Pride, “and drove him to seek instant cure. Dashleigh’s rejection52 aroused in his breast as much indignation as grief; and I made the disappointed and irritated man at once offer his hand to one who was not likely to decline it, Annabella, the young cousin of Ida.”
“And what said the high-souled Ida to the sudden change in the object of his devotion?”
“I breathed in her ear,” answered Pride, “the suggestion, ‘He might have waited a little longer.’ I called up a flush to the maiden’s cheek when she[22] received tidings of the hasty engagement. But still I met with little but repulse53. With maidenly54 reserve Ida concealed55 even from her own family a secret which pride might have led her to reveal, and none more affectionately congratulated the young countess on her engagement, than she who might have worn the honours which now devolved upon another.”
“Ida Aumerle appears to be gifted with such a power of resisting your influence and repelling56 your temptations, that I can scarcely imagine,” quoth Intemperance, “upon what you can ground your assurance that you hold her captive at length. Pride of beauty, pride of conquest, pride of ambition, she has subdued57; to spiritual pride she never has yielded. What dart58 remains59 in your quiver when so many have swerved60 from the mark?”
“Or rather, have fallen blunted from the shield of faith,” gloomily interrupted Pride. “Ida’s real danger began when she thought the dart too feeble to render it needful to lift the shield against it. Ida, on her return home, found her father on the point of contracting a second marriage with a lady who had been one of his principal assistants in arranging and keeping in order the machinery61 of his parish. Miss Lambert, by her activity and energy, seemed a most fitting help-meet for a pastor62. She was Aumerle’s equal in fortune and birth, and not many years his junior in age. She had been always[23] on good terms with his family, and the connection appeared one of the most suitable that under the circumstances could have been formed. And so it might have proved,” continued Pride, “but for me!”
“Is Mrs. Aumerle, then, under your control?”
“She is somewhat proud of her good management, of her clear common sense, of her knowledge of the world,” was the dark one’s reply; “and this is one cause of the coldness between her and the daughters of her husband. Ida, from childhood, had been accustomed to govern her own actions and direct her own pursuits. Steady and persevering63 in character, she had not only pursued a course of education by herself, but had superintended that of her more impetuous sister. Since her mother’s death Ida had been subject to no sensible control, for her father looked upon her as perfection, and left her a degree of freedom which to most girls might have been highly dangerous. Thus her spirit had become more independent, and her opinions more formed than is usual in those of her age. On her father’s marriage Ida found herself dethroned from the position which she so long had held. She was second where she had been first,—second in the house, second in the parish, second in the affections of a parent whom she almost idolatrously loved. I saw that the moment had come for inflicting64 a pang65; you will believe that the opportunity was not trifled[24] away! Ida had been accustomed to lead rather than to follow. She exercised almost boundless66 influence over her sister Mabel, and was regarded as an oracle67 by the poor. Another was now taking her place, and another whose views on many subjects materially differed from her own, who saw various duties in a different light, and whose character disposed her to act in petty matters the part of a zealous68 reformer. I marked Ida’s annoyance69 at changes proposed, improvements resolved on, and I silently pushed my advantage. I have now placed Ida in the position of an independent state, armed to resist encroachments from, and owning no allegiance to a powerful neighbour. There is indeed no open war; decency70, piety71, and regard for the feelings of a husband and father alike forbid all approach to that; but there is secret, ceaseless, determined72 opposition73. I never suffer Ida to forget that her own tastes are more refined, her ideas more elevated than those of her step-mother; and I will not let her perceive that in many of the affairs of domestic life, Mrs. Aumerle, as she had wider experience, has also clearer judgment74 than herself. I represent advice from a step-mother as interference, reproof75 from a step-mother as persecution76, and draw Ida to seek a sphere of her own as distinct as possible from that of the woman whom her father has chosen for his wife.”
“Doubtless you occasionally remind the fair maid,” suggested Intemperance, “that but for her[25] own heroic unworldliness she might have been a peeress of the realm.”
“I neglect nothing,” answered Pride, “that can serve to elevate the spirit of one whom I seek to enslave. I have need of caution and reserve, though hitherto I have met with success, for it is no easy task thoroughly77 to blind a conscience once enlightened like that of Ida. She does even now in hours of self-examination reproach herself for a feeling towards Mrs. Aumerle which almost approaches dislike. She feels that her own peace is disturbed; for the lightest breath of sin can cloud the bright mirror of such a soul. But in such hours I hover78 near. I draw the penitent’s attention from her own faults to those of the woman she loves not, till I make her pity herself where she should blame, and account the burden which I have laid upon her as a cross appointed by Heaven.”
“O Pride, Pride!” exclaimed Intemperance with a burst of admiration79, “I am a child in artifice80 compared with you!”
“Rest assured that when any young mortal is disposed to look down upon one placed above her by the will of a higher power, that pride is lingering near.”
“And by what name may you be known in this particular phase of your being?” inquired Intemperance.
“The pride of self-will in the language of truth; but Ida would call me sensitiveness,” replied the dark spirit with a gloomy smile.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
brook
|
|
| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
foes
|
|
| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
virtue
|
|
| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
dispositions
|
|
| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
impulsive
|
|
| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
emulation
|
|
| n.竞争；仿效 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
dispelled
|
|
| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
maiden
|
|
| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
adorning
|
|
| 修饰，装饰物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
tint
|
|
| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
intemperance
|
|
| n.放纵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
attire
|
|
| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
trampled
|
|
| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
blessing
|
|
| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
condemns
|
|
| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
perused
|
|
| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
swelling
|
|
| n.肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
joyful
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
overflowing
|
|
| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
immortal
|
|
| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
haughtiness
|
|
| n.傲慢；傲气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
exalting
|
|
| a.令人激动的，令人喜悦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
insipid
|
|
| adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
frivolous
|
|
| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
pious
|
|
| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
superfluous
|
|
| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
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： |
|
|
|
|
32
needy
|
|
| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
engrossed
|
|
| adj.全神贯注的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
comely
|
|
| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
viper
|
|
| n.毒蛇；危险的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
abhorrence
|
|
| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
attained
|
|
| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
mansion
|
|
| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
votary
|
|
| n.崇拜者；爱好者；adj.誓约的，立誓任圣职的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
gilded
|
|
| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
baubles
|
|
| n.小玩意( bauble的名词复数 )；华而不实的小件装饰品；无价值的东西；丑角的手杖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
bartered
|
|
| v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
forfeited
|
|
| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
homage
|
|
| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
inflame
|
|
| v.使燃烧；使极度激动；使发炎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
snare
|
|
| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
clogged
|
|
| （使）阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 )； 淤滞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
ornament
|
|
| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
inflicted
|
|
| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
rejection
|
|
| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
repulse
|
|
| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
maidenly
|
|
| adj. 像处女的, 谨慎的, 稳静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
repelling
|
|
| v.击退( repel的现在分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
dart
|
|
| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
swerved
|
|
| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
machinery
|
|
| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
pastor
|
|
| n.牧师，牧人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
persevering
|
|
| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
inflicting
|
|
| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
pang
|
|
| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
boundless
|
|
| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
oracle
|
|
| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
zealous
|
|
| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
annoyance
|
|
| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
decency
|
|
| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
piety
|
|
| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
opposition
|
|
| n.反对，敌对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
reproof
|
|
| n.斥责，责备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
persecution
|
|
| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
hover
|
|
| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
artifice
|
|
| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |