The ship was, as I have said, buried in the waters, and within her were the dead bodies sepulchred, as it seemed without a hope, and destitute1 of aid. But pitying Heaven, which sometimes helps the unfortunate, when at the last extremity2, so ordered it, that the vessel3 was cast ashore4 by the waves in an open bay, which seemed as if it served as a safe harbour, from its tranquillity5. Not far off was a port capable of containing many vessels6, and in these waters, as in a clear mirror, might be seen reflected the buildings of a large and populous7 city, which reared its head on the summit of a lofty hill.
The people in the city saw the wreck8, and thought that it was a whale or some other large fish that had been encountered by the tempest. A good number sallied forth9 to see, and ascertaining10 it to be a ship, the news reached the ears of the King Polycarp, for he was the lord of this city; and accompanied by many persons, amongst whom were his two beautiful daughters, Polycarpa and Sinforosa, he went out to give orders that with capstanes, windlass, and with boats to row round the ship, she should be brought into port. Several men jumped upon the wreck, and told the king that they could plainly hear a sound of knocking within, and they almost fancied of human voices. An old knight11, who was standing12 near the king, said, "I remember, Sire, having once seen in the Mediterranean13 Sea, in the Gulf14 of Genoa, a Spanish galley15, that in shortening sail had upset like this vessel before us, and remained bottom upwards16. Before they turned her over, having first heard a noise, as they say they hear in this, they sawed an opening in the hull17, so that they might look into the inside; and upon the light being admitted, they discovered the captain of the vessel and four of his crew all alive therein. I saw this, myself, and the details of the story are given in many Spanish histories. The persons who were thus brought into the world a second time, from the womb of the vessel, are yet living, and if here the same thing should happen, it need not be esteemed18 a miracle, but a mystery, for miracles are events that occur out of the order of nature, and mysteries are things that seem to be miracles, but yet are not so, only of very rare occurrence."
"What then do we wait for?" said the king. "Let us open this vessel instantly, and see the mystery, but if this should disgorge anything living, a miracle I shall consider it to be." Great was the haste they made to open the hull, and great the anxiety of all present to see the bringing forth. At last a pretty wide opening was made,—many bodies, seemingly dead, lay within; but one man laid his hands on the body of a woman whose heart still beat, and showed symptoms of life; others did the same, and each man brought out a body, some dead, some living. All the fishermen were not equally lucky. Those who yet breathed when brought into the air and light, and their faces washed and restoratives given, began to move their limbs and gaze around them, as if awakened19 from a deep sleep. Auristella found herself in the arms of Arnoldo, Transila in those of Clodio; Ricla and Constance were carried out by Rutilio and the elder Antonio. As for Antonio, the son, nobody carried him, for he walked out by himself, and Maurice did the like. Arnoldo was more full of surprise and wonder than even the newly-restored ones, and almost as senseless as the dead corpses20. Auristella looked at him, but without recognition. The first words she uttered were, (and she it was who first broke the universal silence,) "Is the beautiful Sinforosa here by chance among these persons, O my brother?"
"Great Heavens! what is this I hear?" said Arnoldo to himself; "what means this strange inquiry21 after Sinforosa, at a moment when she ought only to be thinking of returning thanks to Heaven for her wonderful preservation22?" Nevertheless he answered that she was there present, and asked how she knew anything about her, for of course he was ignorant of all that Auristella had learned from the captain of the vessel touching23 Periander and his success at the games; and he could not divine the reason of Auristella inquiring for Sinforosa. Had he divined it, such is the force of jealousy24, that it would have pierced into the inmost recesses25 of his enamoured heart like a knife, and would almost have separated soul and body.
As soon as the resuscitated26 ones had a little recovered from their terror, and those around from their astonishment27, they began confusedly asking questions one of another; how those they found on land had come there; and they in their turn, how these had been in the wrecked28 vessel. Polycarp, seeing that she had filled with water through the aperture29 which had been made, now commanded that she should be towed into the harbour, and drawn30 ashore by means of machinery31, which was speedily done. All the people who had been in the hull now came ashore, and were received by the king and his daughters, and all the principal citizens, with as much joy as admiration32; but what chiefly excited this, especially in Sinforosa, was the incomparable loveliness of Auristella. Transila, too, was very much admired; and the odd, but becoming dress, the youth and grace of the fair barbarian33, Constance, (not to mention the comeliness34 of her mother, Ricla,) did not pass unnoticed.
The city being near, without more ado they all went thither35 on foot.
Periander had, during this time, found an opportunity of speaking to Auristella, Ladislaus to Transila, and Antonio to his wife and children; all were relating their adventures to one another; only Auristella was silent, occupied entirely36 in looking at Sinforosa. But at length she said to Periander, "Is that very beautiful lady, who is walking yonder, by chance the king's daughter; and is her name Sinforosa?"
"She is," answered Periander, "one in whom beauty and courtesy unite."
"Very courteous37 she ought to be," replied Auristella, "for she is very beautiful."
"Even if she were not so much so," he rejoined, "the obligations I owe to her, my sweet sister, would make her seem fair in my eyes."
"If you go by obligations, and if they help to enhance beauty, mine must then seem the greatest on earth to you, according to those you owe me."
"We cannot," said Periander, "compare things divine with things human. Praise and hyperbole, however excessive, has each its limit. When one says a woman is more beautiful than an angel, it is a kind of exaggeration by courtesy; in thy case alone, O sweetest sister mine, rules fail, and truth only gathers strength from speaking of thy beauty."
"If my sufferings and my miseries38 have not injured mine, O my brother, I might perhaps believe that the praises you bestow39 upon it are true; but I put my hope in a compassionate40 Heaven, that my sorrows may at last be one day turned into joy, and my troubles into prosperity. Meanwhile, I implore41 you, never to let what you owe to me be erased42 from your memory by any other charms or obligations whatsoever43; but that mine may satisfy your heart, and fill the vacuum there, if you find that the beauty of my mind and person, such as it is, offers a compound of charms that can satisfy your wishes."
Periander was confounded to hear Auristella speak thus. He saw that she was jealous, a new thing in her; since in all his experience of her character, he had never known her before to depart from the bounds of politeness: never before had her lips opened to express any but the purest and most modest thoughts. Never had she uttered a word, that might not have been spoken to a brother, in public as well as in private.
Arnoldo, on his side, was discontented and jealous of Periander. Ladislaus was rejoiced to have again his betrothed45 Transila; Maurice was satisfied with his daughter and son-in-law; Antonio happy to be restored to his wife and children; Rutilio, with the reunion of the whole party; and the gossip-loving Clodio with the fair opportunity that offered itself of having a fine and marvellous story to tell, wherever he went, of such remarkable46 events as these.
They reached the city, and the generous Polycarp treated his new guests royally, and lodged47 them all in his palace; honouring most Arnoldo, whom he now knew to be the heir of Denmark, who had left his country for love of Auristella; and as soon as he had looked upon her lovely face, he confessed that he found there full and sufficient excuse for him.
Polycarpa and Sinforosa assigned to Auristella a lodging48 in their own apartments; Sinforosa could never take her eyes off from looking at her, thanking Heaven that she was the sister, and not the beloved, of Periander; and adoring her, both on account of her excessive beauty and of her relationship to him. She could not bear her to be out of her sight a single instant; she watched closely her every action, attended to every word she spoke44, admired her graceful49 motions, and took delight even in the very tones of her voice.
In the same manner, and as closely did Auristella watch and observe Sinforosa, but with very different feelings. Auristella's observations were excited by her jealousy, Sinforosa's by simple benevolence50 and love.
They remained in the city many days, reposing51 after all their sufferings; and Arnoldo was now beginning to plan a return to Denmark, or wherever Auristella and Periander might approve, showing as he had always done, that he had no will but theirs.
Clodio, always idle and inquisitive52, had watched Arnoldo closely, and saw how much he had at heart the love of Auristella. One day, being alone with him, he said, "I, who have always been accustomed to find fault with princes publicly, without preserving the respect due to their high rank, would now fain, in private, speak my mind freely to you. What I ask of you is, that you will hear patiently the advice I am about to give, and let my motive53 plead my excuse, if it is unpleasing to you." Arnoldo was puzzled, not knowing what Clodio was going to say; however, he determined54 to hear him, and so told him he might say freely what he pleased; and Clodio, satisfied with this safe conduct, proceeded thus:—"My lord, you love Auristella. I may say more, you adore her; and, as I understand, you know no more of her history, nor who she is, than what she has been pleased to tell you; and that is—nothing! You have kept her in your power more than two years, during which, I have heard, you took all the pains possible to conquer her severity, and gain her heart, wishing to make her yours by lawful55 marriage, and yet that she is as cold and immoveable now, as she was the first day you spoke to her; whence I argue, that she is as deficient56 in understanding, as you are superabundant in patience; and it is worthy57 of consideration, whether there may not exist some great mystery, causing a woman thus to refuse a kingdom, and reject a prince so worthy of being loved. Likewise, it is mysterious to see a wandering damsel, her rank unknown, accompanied only by a youth, who though he calls himself her brother, may yet not be so, going about from one country to another, from island to island, exposed to the inclemency58 of the weather, and to the rude treatment and dangers of the land, as well as of the ocean. Honour is dearer than life itself. A wise man should permit reason to moderate his pleasures, and ought not to give way to his own desires." Clodio was here about to enter upon a philosophical59 and serious tirade60, when Periander came in, and interrupted his oration61, greatly to his annoyance62, and also to that of Arnoldo, who wished to hear him out. Maurice, Ladislaus, and Transila also came in, and with them Auristella, supported by Sinforosa, so ill, that it was necessary to convey her to her bed; her illness causing such agonies of alarm in the bosoms63 of Periander and Arnoldo, that they stood nearly as much in need of a physician as Auristella.
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1
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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3
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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13
Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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15
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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16
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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18
esteemed
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| 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 | |
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19
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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20
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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21
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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22
preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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25
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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26
resuscitated
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| v.使（某人或某物）恢复知觉，苏醒( resuscitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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28
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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30
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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32
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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33
barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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34
comeliness
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| n. 清秀, 美丽, 合宜 | |
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35
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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36
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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37
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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38
miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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39
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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40
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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41
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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42
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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43
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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44
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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45
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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46
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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47
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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48
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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49
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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50
benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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51
reposing
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的现在分词 ) | |
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52
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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53
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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54
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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55
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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56
deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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57
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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58
inclemency
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| n.险恶，严酷 | |
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59
philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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60
tirade
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| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
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61
oration
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| n.演说，致辞，叙述法 | |
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62
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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63
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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