Fear not now the death-bed groan1;
Pangs2 that torture, pains that tire
Bed-rid age with feeble moan.
MASON
‘The first examination of Isidora was conducted with the circumspective formality that has always been known to mark the proceedings3 of that tribunal. The second and the third were alike strict, penetrating4 and inoperative, and the holy office began to feel its highest functionaries5 were no match for the extraordinary prisoner who stood before them, who, combining the extremes of simplicity6 and magnanimity, uttered every thing that might criminate herself, but evaded7 with skill that baffled all the arts of inquisitorial examination, every question that referred to Melmoth.
‘In the course of the first examination, they hinted at the torture. Isidora, with something of the free and nature-taught dignity of her early existence, smiled as they spoke8 of it. An official whispered one of the inquisitors, as he observed the peculiar9 expression of her countenance10, and the torture was mentioned no more.
‘A second — a third examination followed at long intervals11 — but it was observed, that every time the mode of examination was less severe, and the treatment of the prisoner more and more indulgent — her youth, her beauty, her profound simplicity of character and language, developed strongly on this singular emergency, and the affecting circumstance of her always appearing with her child in her arms, whose feeble cries she tried to hush12, while she bent13 forward to hear and answer the questions addressed to her — all these seemed to have wrought14 powerfully on the minds of men not accustomed to yield to external impressions. There was also a docility15, a submission16, about this beautiful and unfortunate being — a contrite17 and bending spirit — a sense of wretchedness for the misfortunes of her family — a consciousness of her own, that touched the hearts even of inquisitors.
‘After repeated examinations, when nothing could be extorted18 from the prisoner, a skilful19 and profound artist in the school of mental anatomy20, whispered to the inquisitor something about the infant whom she held in her arms. ‘She has defied the rack,’ was the answer. ‘Try her on that rack,’ was rejoined, and the hint was taken.
‘After the usual formalities were gone through, Isidora’s sentence was read to her. She was condemned21, as a suspected heretic, to perpetual confinement22 in the prison of the Inquisition — her child was to be taken from her, and brought up in a convent, in order to —
‘Here the reading of the sentence was interrupted by the prisoner, who, uttering one dreadful shriek23 of maternal24 agony, louder than any other mode of torture had ever before extorted, fell prostrate25 on the floor. When she was restored to sensation, no authority or terror of the place or the judges, could prevent her pouring forth26 those wild and piercing supplications, which, from the energy with which they are uttered, appear to the speaker himself like commands, — that the latter part of her sentence might be remitted27 — the former appeared to make not the least impression on her — eternal solitude28, passed in eternal darkness, seemed to give her neither fear or pain, but she wept, and pleaded, and raved29, that she might not be separated from her infant.
‘The judges listened with fortified30 hearts, and in unbroken silence. When she found all was over, she rose from her posture31 of humiliation32 and agony — and there was something even of dignity about her as she demanded, in a calm and altered voice, that her child might not be removed from her till the following day. She had also self-possession enough to enforce her petition by the remark, that its life might be the sacrifice if it was too suddenly deprived of the nourishment33 it was accustomed to receive from her. To this request the judges acceded34, and she was remanded to her cell.
‘The time elapsed. The person who brought her food departed without uttering a word; nor did she utter a word to him. It was about midnight that the door of her cell was unlocked, and two persons in official habits appeared at it. They seemed to pause, like the heralds35 at the tent of Achilles, and then, like them, forced themselves to enter. These men had haggard and livid faces — their attitudes were perfectly36 stony37 and automaton-like — their movements appeared the result of mere38 mechanism39 — yet these men were touched. The miserable40 light within hardly shewed the pallet on which the prisoner was seated; but a strong red light from the torch the attendant held, flared41 broadly on the arch of the door under which the figures appeared. They approached with a motion that seemed simultaneous and involuntary — and uttered together, in accents that seemed to issue from one mouth, ‘Deliver your child to us.’ In a voice as hoarse42, dry, and natureless, the prisoner answered, ‘Take it!’
‘The men looked about the cell — it seemed as if they knew not where to find the offspring of humanity amid the cells of the Inquisition. The prisoner was silent and motionless during their search. It was not long — the narrow apartment, the scanty43 furniture, afforded little room for the investigation44. When it was concluded, however, the prisoner, bursting into a wild laugh, exclaimed, ‘Where would you search for a child but in its mother’s bosom45? Here — here it is — take it — take it!’ And she put it into their hands. ‘Oh what fools ye were to seek my child any where but on its mother’s bosom! It is your’s now!’ she shrieked46 in a voice that froze the officials. — ‘Take it — take it from me!’
‘The agents of the holy office advanced; and the technicality of their movements was somewhat suspended when Isidora placed in their hands the corse of her infant daughter. Around the throat of the miserable infant, born amid agony, and nursed in a dungeon47, there was a black mark, which the officials made their use of in representing this extraordinary circumstance to the holy office. By some it was deemed as the sign impressed by the evil one at its birth — by others as the fearful effect of maternal despair.
‘It was determined48 that the prisoner should appear before them within four-and-twenty hours, and account for the death of her child.
‘Within less than half that number of hours, a mightier49 arm than that of the Inquisition was dealing50 with the prisoner — an arm that seemed to menace, but was indeed stretched out to save, and before whose touch the barriers of the dreaded51 Inquisition itself were as frail52 as the fortress53 of the spider who hung her web on its walls. Isidora was dying of a disease not the less mortal because it makes no appearance in an obituary54 — she was dying of that internal and incurable55 wound — a broken heart.
‘When the inquisitors were at last convinced that there was nothing more to be obtained by torture, bodily or mental torture, they suffered her to die unmolested, and granted her last request, that Fra Jose might be permitted to visit her.
‘It was midnight, but its approach was unknown in that place, where day and night are the same. A dim lamp was substituted for that weak and struggling beam that counterfeited56 day-light. The penitent57 was stretched on her bed of rest — the humane58 priest sat beside her; and if his presence gave no dignity to the scene, it at least softened59 it by the touches of humanity.
‘My father,’ said the dying Isidora, ‘you pronounced me forgiven.’ — ‘Yes, my daughter,’ said the priest, ‘you have assured me you are innocent of the death of your infant.’ — ‘You never could have believed me guilty,’ said Isidora, raising herself on her pallet at the appeal — ‘the consciousness of its existence alone would have kept me alive, even in my prison. Oh, my father, how was it possible it could live, buried with me in this dreadful place almost as soon as it respired? Even the morbid60 nourishment it received from me was dried up when my sentence was read. It moaned all night — towards morning its moans grew fainter, and I was glad — at last they ceased, and I was very — happy!’ But, as she talked of this fearful happiness, she wept.
‘My daughter, is your heart disengaged from that awful and disastrous61 tie that bound it to misfortune here, and to perdition hereafter?’ It was long before she could answer; at length she said in a broken voice, ‘My father, I have not now strength to search or to struggle with my heart. Death must very soon break every tie that was twined with it, and it is useless to anticipate my liberation; the effort would be agony — fruitless agony, for, while I live, I must love my destroyer! Alas62! in being the enemy of mankind, was not his hostility63 to me inevitable64 and fatal? In rejecting his last terrible temptation — in resigning him to his destiny, and preferring submission to my own, I feel my triumph complete, and my salvation65 assured.’ — ‘Daughter, I do not comprehend you,’ — ‘Melmoth,’ said Isidora, with a strong effort, ‘Melmoth was here last night — within the walls of the Inquisition — within this very cell!’ The priest crossed himself with marks of the profoundest horror, and, as the wind swept hollowly through the long passage, almost expected the shaken door would burst open, and disclose the figure of the Wanderer.
‘My father, I have had many dreams,’ answered the penitent, shaking her head at a suggestion of the priest’s, ‘many — many wanderings, but this was no dream. I have dreamed of the garden-land where I beheld66 him first — I have dreamed of the nights when he stood at my casement67, and trembled in sleep at the sound of my mother’s step — and I have had holy and hopeful visions, in which celestial68 forms appeared to me, and promised me his conversion69 — but this was no dream — I saw him last night. Father, he was here the whole night — he promised — he assured me — he adjured70 me to accept of liberation and safety, of life and of felicity. He told me, nor could I doubt him, that, by whatever means he effected his entrance, he could also effect my escape. He offered to live with me in that Indian isle72 — that paradise of ocean, far from human resort or human persecution73. He offered to love me alone, and for ever — and then I listened to him. Oh, my father, I am very young, and life and love sounded sweetly in my ears, when I looked at my dungeon, and thought of dying on this floor of stone! But — when he whispered the terrible condition on which the fulfilment of his promise depended — when he told me that’ —
‘Her voice failed with her failing strength, and she could utter no more. ‘Daughter,’ said the priest, bending over her bed, ‘daughter, I adjure71 you, by the image represented on this cross I hold to your dying lips — by your hopes of that salvation which depends on the truth you utter to me, your priest and your friend — the conditions proposed by your tempter!’ ‘Promise me absolution for repeating the words, for I should wish that my last breath might not be exhaled74 in uttering — what I must.’ — ’Te absolvo,’ &c. said the priest, and bent his ear to catch the sounds. The moment they were uttered, he started as from the sting of a serpent, and, seating himself at the extremity75 of the cell, rocked in dumb horror. ‘My father, you promised me absolution,’ said the penitent, ‘Jam tibi dedi, moribunda,’ answered the priest, in the confusion of thoughts using the language appropriated to the service of religion. ‘Moribunda indeed!’ said the sufferer, falling back on her pallet, ‘Father, let me feel a human hand in mine as I part!’ — ‘Call upon God, daughter!’ said the priest, applying the crucifix to her cold lips. ‘I loved his religion,’ said the penitent, kissing it devoutly76, ‘I loved it before I knew it, and God must have been my teacher, for I had no other! Oh!’ she exclaimed, with that deep conviction that must thrill every dying heart, and whose echo (would God) might pierce every living one — ‘Oh that I had loved none but God — how profound would have been my peace — how glorious my departure — now — his image pursues me even to the brink77 of the grave, into which I plunge78 to escape it!’
‘My daughter,’ said the priest, while the tears rolled fast down his cheeks — ‘my daughter, you are passing to bliss79 — the conflict was fierce and short, but the victory is sure — harps80 are tuned81 to a new song, even a song of welcome, and wreaths of palm are weaving for you in paradise!’
‘Paradise!’ uttered Isidora, with her last breath — ‘Will he be there!‘
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收听单词发音
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1
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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2
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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3
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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4
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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5
functionaries
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| n.公职人员，官员( functionary的名词复数 ) | |
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6
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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7
evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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8
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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9
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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10
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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11
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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12
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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13
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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14
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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15
docility
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| n.容易教，易驾驶，驯服 | |
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16
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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17
contrite
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| adj.悔悟了的，后悔的，痛悔的 | |
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18
extorted
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| v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 )；曲解 | |
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19
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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20
anatomy
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| n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织 | |
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21
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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22
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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23
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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24
maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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25
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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26
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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27
remitted
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| v.免除（债务），宽恕( remit的过去式和过去分词 )；使某事缓和；寄回，传送 | |
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28
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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29
raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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30
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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31
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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32
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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33
nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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34
acceded
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| v.（正式）加入( accede的过去式和过去分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职 | |
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35
heralds
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| n.使者( herald的名词复数 )；预报者；预兆；传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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36
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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37
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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38
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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39
mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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40
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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41
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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42
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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43
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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44
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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45
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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46
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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48
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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49
mightier
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| adj. 强有力的，强大的，巨大的 adv. 很，极其 | |
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50
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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51
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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52
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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53
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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54
obituary
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| n.讣告，死亡公告；adj.死亡的 | |
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55
incurable
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| adj.不能医治的，不能矫正的，无救的；n.不治的病人，无救的人 | |
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56
counterfeited
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| v.仿制，造假( counterfeit的过去分词 ) | |
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57
penitent
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| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
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58
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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59
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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60
morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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61
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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62
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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63
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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64
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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65
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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66
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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67
casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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68
celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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69
conversion
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| n.转化，转换，转变 | |
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70
adjured
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| v.（以起誓或诅咒等形式）命令要求( adjure的过去式和过去分词 )；祈求；恳求 | |
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71
adjure
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| v.郑重敦促(恳请) | |
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72
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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73
persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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74
exhaled
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| v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气 | |
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75
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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76
devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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77
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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78
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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79
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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80
harps
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| abbr.harpsichord 拨弦古钢琴n.竖琴( harp的名词复数 ) | |
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tuned
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| adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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