Hippolyta returned home more full of confusion than repentance4, thoughtful, and more enamoured than ever, for although it is a fact, generally speaking, that disdain5 kills love in its first beginning, yet Periander's only added fuel to the flame that consumed her. She thought it impossible that a pilgrim could possess a heart of marble, and not soften6 with the gifts and kindnesses she intended to load him with: but in her heart she said to herself, if this pilgrim was poor he would not wear so rich a cross, the diamonds of which clearly denote his wealth, so that the fortress7 cannot be attacked on that side. Measures more bold and dexterous8 must be employed to subdue9 him. Is it not possible that his heart is elsewhere engaged? Is it not possible that this Auristella may not be his sister? Is it not possible that the force of the disdain he shows me may have its origin, and be set down to Auristella? By Heaven, if it be so, I have found my remedy. Auristella shall die,—we will discover this witchcraft10, at least we shall see the true sentiments of his heart. It shall be carried immediately into effect; Auristella shall grow sick; we will take away the light of Periander's eyes; we will see if, when her beauty fades, that first cause of love, the love itself will fade also. It may be that when he sees I possess what she has lost, he may leave her, and yield to my tenderness; at least I will try this; there is no harm in trying anything that may lead to the right track.
Somewhat comforted by these reflections, she arrived at her own house, where she found Zabulon, to whom she confided11 her intentions, knowing that he had a wife who was noted12 as the most skilful13 witch in Rome, and she asked him (after first loading him with gifts, and the promise of more) to assist her, not in changing Periander's inclinations14, since she knew that was hopeless, but in depriving Auristella of health, and if necessary, of life also.
Zabulon said, it would be an easy matter for a woman who possessed16 the skill and knowledge of his wife to effect this. He received, as the first payment, a large sum of money, and promised that Auristella's health should begin to fail on the following day. Hippolyta not only rewarded Zabulon, but threatened him besides; and threats and gifts together, would make a Jew perform impossibilities.
Periander told his friends and Auristella the history of his imprisonment17 and Hippolyta's love, and the present he had made the governor of Auristella's portrait. Auristella felt far from pleased to hear about Hippolyta's love, for she had heard of her being considered one of the most beautiful women in Rome, one of the freest manners, one of the richest, and one of the cleverest. To a jealous spirit, fear will represent the goblin it has conjured18 up, as bigger than Mount Olympus, although, in fact, it may be smaller than a fly; and when the tongue is restrained by decorum and modesty19, so as to repress all complaint, the heart torments20 itself within the bonds of silence, till soul and body are almost ready to part. As I have before observed, there is no other remedy for jealousy21 but to listen to exculpation22, and when this is not permitted there is no comfort in life, and life itself Auristella would lose a thousand times, before she would utter one complaint touching23 the fidelity24 of Periander.
That same evening Arnoldo paid the ladies a visit, and gave them an account of everything that had happened since they left him, and, on his return to search for them, he told how he had gone to the Hermit2's Isle, where he did not find Rutilio, but another hermit in his place, who informed him that Rutilio was gone to Rome. He told, too, how he had gone to the island of the fishermen, and found them free, happy, and contented25, both the newly-married couples and the others who had embarked26 with Periander. He told how he had heard it reported that Polycarpa was dead, and Sinforosa had resolved never to marry. Then he told about the Barbarous Isle, that it had been re-peopled, and its inhabitants were still confirmed in their belief of the false prophecy. He had heard that Maurice and Ladislaus, his son-in-law, with Transila, his daughter, had left their own country, and gone to live peacefully in England: then he related how he had been with Leopold, the king of Norway, after the war was ended; that he had married in order to have a successor to his kingdom, and that he had pardoned the two traitors27 whom he had taken prisoners when Periander and his fishermen fell in with his ship, and that he was very grateful for the courteous28 treatment he had received at their hands, and, amongst the names he mentioned in these details, sometimes the names of Periander's parents occurred, and sometimes those of Auristella, which made their hearts beat, and brought to their remembrance alike their grandeur29 and their misfortunes. He said, that in Portugal, and especially in Lisbon, their portraits were much valued. He spoke30 of the great fame of Constance's beauty in those parts of France she had travelled in, and also of the French ladies. He had heard, too, of Croriano, and the high character he had gained as noble, generous, and wise, in having taken the charming Ruperta to wife. In Lucca, he had heard the clever contrivance of Isabel Castrucho much talked about, and her quick falling in love with Andrew Marulo, and how, by feigning31 to be a demoniac, she had gained, as she believed, an angel's lot. He had heard of Periander's fall, which was considered a miracle, and had met on the road a young pilgrim, a poet, who did not wish to come on with him, but was taking his time and composing a play upon the adventures of Periander and Auristella, which he knew by heart, having seen a picture in Portugal, where it was all painted, and that he was firmly resolved to marry Auristella, if she pleased.
Auristella declared herself grateful for his kind intentions, and said she would give him a suit of clothes, should he require it, and if by chance his should be ragged32, for the kind wish of a good poet deserves reward.
Arnoldo further told them that he had been at the house of Antonio and Constance's parents, who were well, only uneasy in their minds at knowing nothing about the health or safety of their children, and longing33 for their return, and that they wished for Constance to become the wife of the late count's brother, her brother-in-law, who wanted to follow his brother's example and imitate his choice of a wife, either because he did not like to give her the twenty thousand ducats, or because of her own merits, which he thought was most likely.
This news rejoiced them much, especially Periander and Auristella, who loved Constance like a sister.
In the minds of all the hearers of this discourse34 fresh suspicions arose as to the high rank of the pilgrims. They heard now about counts and ducats, and thought the persons who belonged thereunto must needs be illustrious.
Among other things, Arnoldo mentioned having met Renato in France, the gentleman who had been vanquished35 in single combat against the right, and afterwards proved to have been wrongfully accused by the conscience of his enemy being awakened36. In fact, but few things remained to be mentioned of the many persons whose history has been related; he brought forward everything, up to the picture of Auristella, which Periander had retained greatly against his inclination15 and that of the duke, though, not to offend Periander, Arnoldo concealed37 his displeasure.
"I should have returned it to you, my Lord Arnoldo," said Periander, "if I had understood that it was yours. Accident, and his own exertions38, gave it to the duke, from whom you took it by force, and therefore have no right to complain. A man in love must not judge his cause through the medium of his wishes, which sometimes cannot satisfy him and reason; however, I will do what I hope will please and content both you and the duke: the picture shall remain in the hands of my sister Auristella, for it belongs more to her than any one else."
This decision satisfied Arnoldo, and also Auristella, and here the conversation ended. On the following day early, the witchcraft, venoms39 and incantations of the malignant40 Jewess began their work.
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1
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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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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repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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witchcraft
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| n.魔法，巫术 | |
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confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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21
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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exculpation
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| n.使无罪，辩解 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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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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traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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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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feigning
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| 假装，伪装( feign的现在分词 )； 捏造（借口、理由等） | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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36
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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37
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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38
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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39
venoms
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| n.（某些蛇、蝎子等分泌的）毒液( venom的名词复数 )；愤恨的感情或语言；毒物 | |
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40
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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