The salute1 on both sides, land and sea, having passed as I already told, the ship came to an anchor and lowered her boat. The first person who got into it (after four sailors had arranged carpets and prepared their oars2) was an old man, apparently3 about seventy years of age, dressed in a robe of black velvet4 which reached to his feet, and girded round the waist with a silken sash; on his head he wore a high crowned hat, lined with plush. A lively graceful5 lad of about four-and-twenty, dressed like a sailor in black velvet, with a golden-hilted sword in his hand, and a dagger6 in his belt, leaped into the boat next, and seated himself. Immediately after, a man, heavily laden7 with chains, and a woman also bound with him, and entangled8 in the same fetters9, were flung down into it from the ship. The man seemed about forty years of age; the woman looked about fifty. He was of an animated10 and indignant aspect; she melancholy11 and dejected. The sailors plied12 their oars, and soon reached the shore. The old man, the youth, and the two prisoners, were carried to land by the seamen13 and archers14 who guarded the prisoners. Transila, who with the rest had attentively15 watched the arrival of the strangers, turning to Auristella, said, "I pray you, lady, to cover my face with the veil you have upon your arm; for, unless I greatly mistake, there are persons in yonder boat whom I know, and by whom I am known." Auristella did as she desired; at the same moment the strangers came up to them, and met with a very courteous16 reception from all. The old man, in velvet, walked straight up to Transila, saying: "If my science deceives me not, and fortune does not prove unkind, this meeting will show that I am favoured by her." So saying he lifted the veil from Transila's face, and fell fainting into the arms she extended to save him from falling to the ground. It cannot be doubted that an event, so new and so unexpected, struck the bystanders with wonder and amazement17. Still more, when they heard Transila say, "O my beloved father! what a meeting is this! what can have brought your venerable grey hairs and your great age into lands so distant from your own?"
"What should have brought him here," interposed the eager youth; "but to seek for the happiness he had lost with you. He and I, sweetest lady and my betrothed18 wife, came seeking in the north our only guide for a port wherein to rest. Thanks be to Heaven we have found it here! Hasten, lady, to recall your father Maurice to life, and make me a sharer in his joy, by acknowledging him as your father, and me as your lawful19 husband." Maurice revived, but only to see Transila in her turn sink down in a swoon. Auristella came to help her, for Ladislaus (so was the young stranger called) ventured not to assist, so great was the respect he owed to Transila. However, as swoons, caused by joy, are seldom of long duration, Transila soon recovered, and the master of the inn now said, "Come, sirs, and let me lead you to a place where, more conveniently and with less cold than here, you may give some account of your adventures." They took his advice and followed him to the house, which they found capacious enough to lodge20 a whole fleet.
The two chained prisoners were lifted on their feet, the archers who guarded them helped to support their fetters. Some persons hastened to the ships, and with as much haste as good will brought thence refreshments21, and all that was needed. They got lights, set the tables, and before anything else was thought of they all began to satisfy their hunger, more with various kinds of fish than meat, for of that there was none, except some birds which are found in these parts in great numbers, so numerous in fact, that being a wonderful and remarkable22 thing, I think it necessary to give some account of it.
They fix some sticks into the edge of the sea, and among the hidden rocks where the water covers them, which sticks, in a short space of time all that are covered by the water are converted into hard stone, and those that remain out of water are putrified and corrupted23, from which corruption24 is engendered25 a little bird, which, flying to land, becomes large, and is so savoury to eat that it is considered one of the best eatables known. They are most plentiful26 in the countries of Hibernia and Ireland.[E] The bird is called a barnacle.
The great desire which all felt to learn the history of the new arrivals, made them think the meal long; when it was finished, the old man, Maurice, gave a loud knock upon the table, as a signal to demand attention; all ceased speaking directly, silence sealed their lips, and curiosity opened their ears, which Maurice perceiving he raised his voice and spoke27 thus:
"In one of seven islands which are not far distant from Hibernia I was born; my family is as ancient in its origin as the Maurices, for in giving this name I enhance its antiquity28 as much as I can. I am a Catholic Christian29, and not one of those who go about denying the true faith. I was educated in the study of letters, as well as arms, if that may be called a study. I was fond of astrology, a science in which I have obtained some renown30. As soon as I was of age, I married a beautiful and well-born lady of the same city as myself, who brought me this daughter you now see here present. I followed the customs of my country, at least all those that seemed to me agreeable to reason, and such as were not I made a semblance31 of observing, since dissimulation32 is sometimes prudent33. This girl grew up under my care, for she lost that of her mother two years after her birth, and I lost her who should have been the companion of my old age, and the care of bringing up the daughter fell upon me. To relieve myself of this charge, which is a difficult one to the weary and the aged34, as soon as she was old enough to be married, I looked about in order to bestow35 upon her a companion, and a protector, and the youth I fixed36 upon was this brave lad you now see with me,—he is called Ladislaus,—first having consulted my daughter's inclinations37; for to me it appears both convenient and suitable that parents should marry their daughters according to their own liking38, since the companion we give them is not merely for a day, but for a whole life. And from not doing this, have followed, follow, and will follow, millions of inconveniences which often times end in disastrous39 accidents. Now you must know that in my country there is an old custom, which is, that when the marriage is settled and the wedding-day arrived, the bridegroom and his brothers, if he has any, with all his nearest relations, come to fetch away the bride.
"Now it happened that on this occasion among the kindred of the intended bridegroom were some who, having seen my daughter once or twice, had unhappily conceived for her an ardent40 passion. How it happened I do not rightly know, only that as this little band of young men were escorting the bride through the city, an attempt was made, on the part of one of her disappointed admirers, to carry her off by force. Upon this a tumult41 arose, and a fierce combat ensued. In the midst of which Transila, who had at the commencement of the confusion snatched a spear from the hands of an attendant, contrived42 to escape, and never from that hour have I been able to obtain the smallest tidings of her alive or dead."
At this part of the story Transila arose, and taking up the tale as her father paused, she spoke as you will read in the ensuing chapter.
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1
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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2
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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3
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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4
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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5
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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7
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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8
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
fetters
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| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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10
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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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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12
plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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13
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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archers
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| n.弓箭手，射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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15
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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16
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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17
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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18
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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21
refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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22
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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23
corrupted
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| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
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24
corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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25
engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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27
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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28
antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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29
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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30
renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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31
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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32
dissimulation
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| n.掩饰，虚伪，装糊涂 | |
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33
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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34
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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35
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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36
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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37
inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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38
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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39
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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40
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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41
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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42
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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