I do not know that I can positively5 affirm that Maurice, and some others among his hearers, were glad when Periander came to the end of his history; but very often those extremely long stories, although they may be of great importance, are nevertheless somewhat tiresome6. It is even possible that Auristella was herself of this opinion, for she was not disposed to follow up his hint and begin the story of her adventures, although they could not have been many between the period of her being carried off from Arnoldo, and her being discovered by Periander in the barbarous isle7, yet still she wished to wait for some other opportunity; and as it happened, she would have been prevented if she had wished it, for a ship in full sail appeared in the open sea, evidently making for the island; and very soon she had entered one of the little bays already described, and was recognized by Renato, who said, "This, sirs, is the ship in which my servants and friends occasionally visit me;" and, in fact, they heard the singing out of the seamen8, as they let go their anchor, and a boat full of people directly after left the ship, and made for the shore, where Renato and all his guests were awaiting them. About twenty persons landed, among whom was one of noble appearance, who seemed master of the rest. As soon as he saw Renato, he came up to him with open arms, saying, "Embrace me, brother, in reward for the good news I bring you!" Renato embraced him, for he had recognised his brother Sinibald, and he said, "No news can be pleasanter to me, dear brother, than your presence, for there is nothing that can give me joy in my unhappy situation, only the sight of thee is always an exception to the common rule of my misfortunes." Sinibald then turned to embrace Eusebia, saying, "You too, lady, must permit me to embrace you, for you also owe me a reward for the news I bring, and I will delay no longer telling you what it is, to put you out of suspense9. Know, then, that your enemy is dead, of an illness, which deprived him for several days of speech, but Heaven mercifully restored it for a few hours before he died, during which space he expressed a deep repentance11, and confessed the sin he had committed of having falsely accused you. He confessed that envy and jealousy12 were the cause, and finally made all the declarations possible to avow13 his crime. He said it was owing to the hidden secrets of Providence14 that his unjust cause had gained the victory over your good one, and was not satisfied only with this spoken confession16, but had a written declaration and acknowledgment made, which he signed; and when this became known to the king, he also had a similar instrument published, openly declaring your innocence17 and untarnished honour, and also acknowledging Eusebia's perfect innocence and purity. He then gave orders to have you sought for, and when found, to bring you into his presence, that he might try and make you some amends18 for all you have suffered, by ample and magnificent bounties20. If these are tidings likely to give you pleasure or no, I leave to your own consideration."
"They are such," said Arnoldo, "that nothing else in life can surpass, nor any acquisition of the most unhoped for riches approach; for honour lost, and so fully10 and perfectly21 restored, is a blessing22 the whole earth can never offer the equal of. May you, my lord Renato, enjoy it for many long years, and may the peerless Eusebia enjoy it with you, like the ivy23 to the wall, the mirror of your delight and the pattern of virtue24 and excellence25."
Then all the others, though in different words, paid the like compliments to the hermits26, and afterwards proceeded to inquire what news there was in Europe, or in other places, which they, having been so long on the seas, were ignorant of.
Sinibald answered, "That the news most talked of was, the calamity27 which threatened the old King of Denmark, by means of the King of Norway, and other allies who favoured him." He also told how people murmured that by the absence of the Prince Arnoldo, the heir of Denmark, his father was in danger of losing his crown. It was said of the prince, that he was fluttering, butterfly-like, in the sunshine of the bright eyes of some fair captive of his, so utterly28 unknown as to family and birth, that no one knew whose daughter she was. He told also of wars in Transylvania, and of some movements made by the Turks, the common enemy of the human race. He also gave an account of the glorious death[L] of Charles the Fifth, King of Spain, and Emperor of the Romans,—the terror of all the enemies of the church, and dread29 of the followers30 of Mahomet. Other matters he spoke15 of, more trifling31, some amusing, and some surprising, all of which gave great satisfaction to everybody except the pensive32 Arnoldo, who, from the moment that he heard of his father's trouble, sat with his cheek resting in his hand, and his eyes fixed33 on the ground. After remaining in this attitude for a considerable space, he raised his eyes from the earth and looked up towards Heaven, saying aloud, "O love! O honour! O filial duty! what a struggle ye make within my soul! Love, if I depart and leave thee, can I be forgiven? Honour, ought I to cease to follow thee, because I love. Thou, O my father, desirest my return, and ye, my vassals34, expect me; for love does not render a man a coward, nor will I prove myself one in defending you, although I am the most enamoured of all mortal men. For my peerless Auristella's sake I go to regain35 that which is mine own; for being a king I may seem more deserving of her than I can hope to be simply as a lover. The poor suitor unfavoured by fortune's gifts, has little chance; as a king I may pretend to her, as a king I may serve her, as a simple lover I can only adore her; but should I fail with all united to win her, I shall blame my own ill fate, and not her."
All the bystanders were much surprised at hearing these words from Arnoldo; but the most astonished of them was Sinibald. Maurice had told him that this was the Prince of Denmark, and had pointed36 out Auristella as the captive by whom he was said to be enslaved. Sinibald looked more particularly at her, and instantly decided37 that what had been called madness, in Arnoldo, was very good sense, for the beauty of Auristella, as I have often said before, was such, that it won the hearts of everybody who looked upon it, and therein found sufficient excuse for every fault or folly38 committed for her sake.
It was now decided that Renato and Eusebia should return to France, and take Arnoldo with them in their vessel, to leave him in his own country. He wished Maurice, Transila, and Ladislaus, to go with him, and that Periander and Auristella, the two Antonios, and Ricla and Constance should proceed to Spain in the vessel they had come in, and continue their voyage as they had desired. Rutilio was expecting to hear to which division he should belong; but before anything was settled, he went up to Renato, and kneeling before him, entreated39 that he would make him heir to his property in this island, and permit him to stay behind there, in order that there might never fail one to tend the light, which served as a guide to mariners40: for here it was his wish to end well, a life that had hitherto not been a very good one. His Christian-like petition met with a general approval, and the good Renato, who was as kind as he was generous, granted all he desired, saying that he only wished the property he left was of more value, seeing it consisted only of the necessaries of life.
Arnoldo promised that if he found things tolerably peaceful in his own country, he would send a ship yearly to his assistance. Rutilio would fain have thrown himself at the feet of his protectors and friends, but they would not suffer it, and embraced him; many of them even wept to see the pious41 disposition42 of the new hermit4, for although we may not be ourselves prepared to lead new lives and amend19 our ways, it nevertheless gives us pleasure to see others do so, unless our stubbornness has arrived at such a pitch that we desire to see all fall into the same abyss as ourselves.
Two days were spent in arranging and preparing for the voyages, and at the final parting they all took affectionate farewells of one another, especially Arnoldo, Periander, and Auristella: although there was great warmth in Arnoldo's manner, and although the excess of his affection was very evident, yet it was expressed in so graceful43 and delicate a way, that it did not offend Periander. Transila wept, nor were the eyes of old Maurice dry, nor those of Ladislaus; Ricla sighed, and Constance was much affected44, whilst her father and brother did not remain unmoved: Rutilio, already arrayed in his hermit robe, went from one to another, bidding adieu to each, and mingling45 his sobs46 and tears with theirs. At length, invited by the calm weather and favouring gales47, (for the wind served equally well for both the voyages,) they embarked48, set sail, and Rutilio, from the hermitage hill, watched their departure, and followed them with a thousand blessings49.
And here the author of this wandering story ends his second book.
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1
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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avow
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| v.承认，公开宣称 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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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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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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amend
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| vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿 | |
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bounties
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| （由政府提供的）奖金( bounty的名词复数 )； 赏金； 慷慨； 大方 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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hermits
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| （尤指早期基督教的）隐居修道士，隐士，遁世者( hermit的名词复数 ) | |
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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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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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vassals
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| n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 )；（封建时代）诸侯；从属者；下属 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mariners
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| 海员，水手（mariner的复数形式） | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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44
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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45
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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46
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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47
gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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48
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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49
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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