The first object that greeted his sight was Lenora, seated at her table beneath the well-known catalpa, with her head resting on the board, evidently absorbed in sorrow. Her back was turned toward him as he approached; and, although he advanced with the utmost caution, the sound of his footsteps disturbed her in the intense silence of the spot, and she leaped to her feet, while the name of Gustave broke in surprised accents from her lips. She was evidently anxious to escape into the house; but her lover threw himself on his knees, and, grasping her hand, poured forth5 a passionate6 appeal:—
"Listen to me, Lenora! listen to me! If you fly and refuse me the consolation7 of telling you with my last farewell, all I have suffered and all I hope, I will either die here at your feet, or I will go hence forever, a broken-hearted wanderer over the face of the earth! Listen to me! listen to me! Listen to me, Lenora, my sister, my beloved, my betrothed8! By our pure and holy love, I beseech9 you not to repulse10 me!"
Though Lenora trembled in every limb, her features assumed an expression of wounded pride, as she answered, with cold decision,—
"Your boldness surprises me, sir! You are indeed a daring man, to appear again at Grinselhof after your uncle's insulting conduct to my father! He is ill in bed; his soul is crushed by the outrage11. Is this the reward of all my affection for you?"
"Oh, God! oh, God! Lenora, do I hear you accuse me? Alas12! what have I done, and what could I prevent?"
"There is nothing, sir, any longer, in common between us," said the girl. "If we are not as rich as you, the blood that runs in our veins13 cannot suffer by comparison. Arise! begone! I will see you no more!"
"Mercy! pity!" exclaimed Gustave, lifting his clasped hands toward her; "mercy, Lenora, for I am innocent!"
The maiden14 dashed away the tears that began to start in her eyes, and, turning her back on him, was about to depart.
"Cruel, cruel!" exclaimed Gustave, in broken tones. "Can you leave me without a farewell?—without a word of consolation? Will you remain insensible to my grief and deaf to my prayers? 'Tis well; I will submit to my lot, for you have decided15 it! You, Lenora, my love, have sentenced me! I forgive you: be happy on earth without me, and farewell forever!"
As he uttered those words his strength seemed utterly16 to fail him, and, sinking into the chair which Lenora had quitted, his head and arms fell lifeless on the table.
The determined17 girl had made a few steps in her retreat to the house, when she suddenly halted on hearing the agonized18 tones of Gustave's farewell and the sudden sound of his fall on the table. As she glanced backward at the convulsed frame of her lover, a spasm19 that denoted the violent conflict between duty and affection passed over her beautiful face; and, as her heart appeared gradually to conquer in the fight, the tears began to pour in showers from her eyes. Step by step and slowly she retraced20 the path to the table, and leaning over the sufferer, took one of his hands tenderly in hers:—
"Are we not wretched, Gustave? Are we not wretched?"
At the touch of that gentle hand and the sound of that beloved voice, life seemed once more to stir in his veins, and, raising his eyes languidly to hers, he gazed mournfully into them as he half said, half sighed,—
"Lenora, dear Lenora, have you come back to me? Have you taken pity on my agony? You do not hate me, do you?" "Is a love like ours extinguished in a day?" returned Leonora, with a sigh.
"Oh, no, no!" cried Gustave aloud; "it is eternal! Is it not eternal, Lenora, and omnipotent22 against every ill as long as the hearts beat in our bosoms23?"
Lenora bowed her head and cast down her eyes.
"Do not imagine, Gustave," said she, solemnly, "that our separation causes me less grief than it does you; and, if the assurance of my love can assuage24 the pangs25 of absence, let it strengthen and encourage you. My lonely heart will keep your image sacred in its holiest shrine26; I will follow you in spirit wherever you go, and I will love you till death shall fill up the gulf27 that separates us. We shall meet again above, but never more on earth."
"You are mistaken, Lenora," cried Gustave, with a feeble expression of joy; "you are mistaken! There is still hope; my uncle is not inexorable, and his compassionate28 heart must yield to my despair."
"That may be," replied Lenora, in sad but resolute29 tones; "that may be, Gustave; but my father's honor is inflexible30. Leave me, Gustave; I have already disobeyed my father's orders too long, and slighted my duty in remaining with a man who cannot become my husband. Go now; for, if we should be surprised by some one, my poor, wretched father would die of shame and anger."
"One moment more, beloved Lenora! Hear what I have to tell you. My uncle refused me your hand; I wept, I besought31 him, but nothing could change his determination. In despair I was transported beyond myself; I rebelled against my benefactor32; and, treating him like an ungrateful wretch21, I said a thousand things for which I begged his pardon on my knees when reason resumed her empire over my excited soul. My uncle is goodness itself to me: he pardoned my sin; but he imposed the condition that I should instantly undertake a journey with him to Italy, which he has long designed making. He idly hopes that travel may obliterate33 your image from my mind; but think not, Lenora, that I can ever forget you! A sudden thought flashed through my fancy, and I accepted his terms with a secret joy. For months and months I will be alone with my uncle; and, watching him ever with the love and gratitude34 I feel for all his kindness, I will gradually wear away his objections, and, conquering his heart, return, my love, to place the bridal wreath upon your brow, and claim you, before the altar of God, as the companion of my choice!"
For an instant a gentle smile overspread the maiden's face, and her clear, earnest gaze was full of rapture35 at the vision of future happiness; but the gleam disappeared almost as quickly as it arose, and she answered him, with bitter sadness,—
"Alas! my dear friend, it is cruel to destroy this last hope of your heart; and yet I must do it. Your uncle might consent; but my father—"
"Your father, Lenora? Your father would pardon all and receive me like a long-lost son."
"No, no; believe it not, Gustave; for his honor has been too deeply wounded. As a Christian37 he might pardon it; but as a gentleman he will never forget the outrage."
"Oh, Lenora, you are unjust to your father. If I return with my uncle's consent, and say to him, 'I will make your child happy; give her to me for my wife; I will surround her path with all the joys a husband has ever bestowed38 on woman;'—if I tell him this, think you he will deny me?"
Lenora cast down her eyes.
"You know his infinite goodness, Gustave," said she. "My happiness is his only thought on earth; he will thank God and bless you."
"Yes, yes; he will consent," continued Gustave, with ardor39; "and all is not lost. A blessed ray lightens our future, and let it rekindle40 your hope, beloved of my heart! Yield not to grief; let me go forth on this dreary41 journey, but let me bear along with me the assurance that you await my return with trust in God. Remember me in your prayers; utter my name as you stray through these lonely paths which witnessed the dawn of our love and where for two months I drained the cup of perfect bliss42. The knowledge that I am not forgotten by you will sustain my heart and enable me to endure the pangs of separation."
Lenora wept in silence. Her lover's eloquence43 had extinguished every spark of her pride; and the rebellious44 heart which so lately was ready to cast off its rosy45 fetters46 had no longer a place for any thing but love and sadness. Gustave saw that he had conquered.
"I go, Lenora," said he, "strong in your affection. I quit my country and my loved one with a confident hope. Whatever may happen to me, I will never be downcast. You will think of me daily, Lenora, will you not?"
"Alas! I have promised my father that I will forget you!" sobbed47 the maiden, as her hand trembled in his.
"Forget me!" exclaimed Gustave. "Can you force yourself to forget me?"
"No, Gustave; NO!" said she, firmly, fixing her large eyes on him with an intense and lingering gaze. "No: for the first time in my life I will disobey my father. I feel that I have net the strength to keep my idle word. I cannot forget you: till the last hour of my life I will love you; for it is my fate, and I cannot resist."
"Thanks, thanks, a thousand thanks, Lenora!" exclaimed Gustave, in a transport. "Thy tender love strengthens me against destiny. Beloved of my heart, rest here under the guardian48 eye of God. Thy image will follow me in my journey like a protecting angel; in joy and grief, by day and night, in health and sickness, thou, Lenora, wilt49 ever be present to me! This cruel separation wounds my heart beyond expression; but duty commands, and I must obey. Farewell, farewell!"
"Gustave!" sobbed the poor girl, as she sank on the chair and allowed the pent-up passion of her soul to burst forth in tears.
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1
moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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loom
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| n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近 | |
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3
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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4
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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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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beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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12
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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13
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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14
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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15
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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16
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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18
agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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20
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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21
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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omnipotent
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| adj.全能的，万能的 | |
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23
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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24
assuage
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| v.缓和，减轻，镇定 | |
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25
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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26
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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28
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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31
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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32
benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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33
obliterate
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| v.擦去，涂抹，去掉...痕迹，消失，除去 | |
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34
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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35
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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36
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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37
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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38
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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40
rekindle
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| v.使再振作；再点火 | |
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41
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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42
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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43
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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44
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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45
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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46
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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47
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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48
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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49
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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50
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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