“SHE’S BLACK IN THE FACE!”

 No wonder that thus drench’d, and wrench’d, and gall’d,
As soon as possible from syncope’s fetter¹
Her senses had the sense to be recall’d,
“I’m better—that will do—indeed I’m better,”
She cried to each importunate² besetter;
Meanwhile, escaping from the stir and smother³,
The prudent⁴ parent seized the lover’s letter,
(Daughters should have no secrets with a Mother)
And read it thro’ from one end to the other.
From first to last she never skipp’d a word—
For young Lorenzo of all youths was one
[Pg 314]
So wise, so good, so moral she averr’d,
So clever, quite above the common run—
She made him sit by her, and call’d him son,
No matrimonial suit, e’en Duke’s or Earl’s,
So flatter’d her maternal⁵ feelings—none!
For mothers always think young men are pearls
Who come and throw themselves before their girls.

1 fetter   

n./vt.脚镣，束缚

参考例句：

• This does not mean that we wish to fetter the trade union movement.这并不意味着我们想限制工会运动。
• Reform will be deepened to remove the institutional obstacles that fetter the development of productive forces.继续深化改革，突破束缚生产力发展的体制性障碍。

2 importunate   

adj.强求的；纠缠不休的

参考例句：

• I would not have our gratitude become indiscreet or importunate.我不愿意让我们的感激变成失礼或勉强。
• The importunate memory was kept before her by its ironic contrast to her present situation.萦绕在心头的这个回忆对当前的情景来说，是个具有讽刺性的对照。

3 smother   

vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息

参考例句：

• They tried to smother the flames with a damp blanket.他们试图用一条湿毯子去灭火。
• We tried to smother our laughter.我们强忍住笑。

4 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

5 maternal   

adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的

参考例句：

• He is my maternal uncle.他是我舅舅。
• The sight of the hopeless little boy aroused her maternal instincts.那个绝望的小男孩的模样唤起了她的母性。