It is possible for young heads to conceive proper plans of action, and occasionally, by sheer force of will, to check the wild horses that are ever fretting1 to gallop2 off with them. But when they have given the reins3 and the whip to another, what are they to do? They may go down on their knees, and beg and pray the furious charioteer to stop, or moderate his pace. Alas4! each fresh thing they do redoubles his ardour. There is a power in their troubled beauty women learn the use of, and what wonder? They have seen it kindle5 Ilium to flames so often! But ere they grow matronly in the house of Menelaus, they weep, and implore6, and do not, in truth, know how terribly two-edged is their gift of loveliness. They resign themselves to an incomprehensible frenzy7; pleasant to them, because they attribute it to excessive love. And so the very sensible things which they can and do say, are vain.
I reckon it absurd to ask them to be quite in earnest. Are not those their own horses in yonder team? Certainly, if they were quite in earnest, they might soon have my gentleman as sober as a carter. A hundred different ways of disenchanting him exist, and Adrian will point you out one or two that shall be instantly efficacious. For Love, the charioteer, is easily tripped, while honest jog-trot Love keeps his legs to the end. Granted dear women are not quite in earnest, still the mere8 words they utter should be put to their good account. They do mean them, though their hearts are set the wrong way. ’Tis a despairing, pathetic homage9 to the judgment10 of the majority, in whose faces they are flying. Punish Helen, very young, lightly. After a certain age you may select her for special chastisement11. An innocent with Theseus, with Paris she is an advanced incendiary.
The fair young girl was sitting as her lover had left her; trying to recall her stunned12 senses. Her bonnet13 was unremoved, her hands clasped on her knees; dry tears in her eyes. Like a dutiful slave, she rose to him. And first he claimed her mouth. There was a speech, made up of all the pretty wisdom her wild situation and true love could gather, awaiting him there; but his kiss scattered14 it to fragments. She dropped to her seat weeping, and hiding her shamed cheeks.
By his silence she divined his thoughts, and took his hand and drew it to her lips.
He bent15 beside her, bidding her look at him.
“Keep your eyes so.”
She could not.
“Do you fear me, Lucy?”
A throbbing16 pressure answered him.
“Do you love me, darling?”
She trembled from head to foot.
“Then why do you turn from me?”
She wept: “O Richard, take me home! take me home!”
“Look at me, Lucy!”
Her head shrank timidly round.
“Keep your eyes on me, darling! Now speak!”
But she could not look and speak too. The lover knew his mastery when he had her eyes.
“You wish me to take you home?”
She faltered17: “O Richard? it is not too late.”
“You regret what you have done for me?”
“Dearest! it is ruin.”
“You weep because you have consented to be mine?”
“Not for me! O Richard!”
“For me you weep? Look at me! For me?”
“How will it end! O Richard!”
“You weep for me?”
“Dearest! I would die for you!”
“Would you see me indifferent to everything in the world? Would you have me lost? Do you think I will live another day in England without you? I have staked all I have on you, Lucy. You have nearly killed me once. A second time, and the earth will not be troubled by me. You ask me to wait, when they are plotting against us on all sides? Darling Lucy! look on me. Fix your fond eyes on me. You ask me to wait when here you are given to me — when you have proved my faith — when we know we love as none have loved. Give me your eyes! Let them tell me I have your heart!”
Where was her wise little speech? How could she match such mighty18 eloquence19? She sought to collect a few more of the scattered fragments.
“Dearest! your father may be brought to consent by and by, and then — oh! if you take me home now”——
The lover stood up. “He who has been arranging that fine scheme to disgrace and martyrize20 you? True, as I live! that’s the reason of their having you back. Your old servant heard him and your uncle discussing it. He! — Lucy! he’s a good man, but he must not step in between you and me. I say God has given you to me.”
He was down by her side again, his arms enfolding her.
She had hoped to fight a better battle than in the morning, and she was weaker and softer.
Ah! why should she doubt that his great love was the first law to her? Why should she not believe that she would wreck21 him by resisting? And if she suffered, oh sweet to think it was for his sake! Sweet to shut out wisdom; accept total blindness, and be led by him!
The hag Wisdom annoyed them little further. She rustled22 her garments ominously23, and vanished.
“Oh, my own Richard!” the fair girl just breathed.
He whispered, “Call me that name.”
She blushed deeply.
“Call me that name,” he repeated. “You said it once today.”
“Dearest!”
“Not that.”
“O darling!”
“Not that.”
“Husband!”
She was won. The rosy24 gate from which the word had issued was closed with a seal.
Ripton did not enjoy his introduction to the caged bird of beauty that night. He received a lesson in the art of pumping from the worthy25 landlady26 below, up to an hour when she yawned, and he blinked, and their common candle wore with dignity the brigand’s hat of midnight, and cocked a drunken eye at them from under it.
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1
fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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2
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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3
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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4
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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5
kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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6
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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7
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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8
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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9
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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10
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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11
chastisement
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| n.惩罚 | |
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12
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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13
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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14
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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15
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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16
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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17
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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18
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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19
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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20
martyrize
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| v.使殉难，把…作牺牲，使受难n.殉难，成为烈士 | |
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21
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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22
rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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24
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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25
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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26
landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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