CHAPTER XIII.

 

"Notwithstanding this," said the other, "I must have the picture if only for curiosity, and that France may be made acquainted with this new miracle of beauty."

So saying, they took leave of each other, and Periander wished to quit the place directly, that the painter might not have time to take Auristella's portrait. Bartholomew had to get the mule¹ ready afresh, and again began to be out of sorts with Periander for being in such a hurry to move.

The duke's servant, seeing that Periander meant to depart immediately, came to him and said, "I would fain, sir, have entreated² you to stay a short time in this place, if but until night, that my painter might have time and space to take the likeness³ of your sister; but you may go in peace, for the painter assures me that though he has only seen her once, her image is so fixed⁴ in his imagination that he can paint her by himself quite as well as if he was looking at her."

Periander cursed the rare skill of the artist in his heart, but not the less for this did he wish to be gone; taking leave directly of the three charming Frenchwomen, who embraced Auristella and Constance warmly, and offered to take them to Rome along with their party, if they pleased. Auristella thanked them in the most polite manner she knew, telling them that she obeyed her brother Periander in all things, and that neither she nor Constance could stay behind, since her brother Antonio and Periander were going. So they departed, and in about a week they arrived at a place in Provence; what happened there will be told in the next chapter.

1 mule   

n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人

参考例句：

• A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。
• He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。

2 entreated   

恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They entreated and threatened, but all this seemed of no avail. 他们时而恳求，时而威胁，但这一切看来都没有用。
• 'One word,' the Doctor entreated. 'Will you tell me who denounced him?' “还有一个问题，”医生请求道，“你可否告诉我是谁告发他的？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

3 likeness   

n.相像，相似（之处）

参考例句：

• I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
• She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。

4 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。