But when she approached the meeting of the roads where the Por’ Santa Maria would be on her right hand and the Ponte Vecchio on her left, she found herself involved in a crowd who suddenly fell on their knees; and she immediately knelt with them. The Cross was passing — the Great Cross of the Duomo — which headed the procession. Romola was later than she had expected to be, and now she must wait till the procession had passed. As she rose from her knees, when the Cross had disappeared, the return to a standing3 posture4, with nothing to do but gaze, made her more conscious of her fatigue5 than she had been while she had been walking and occupied. A shopkeeper by her side said, —
‘Madonna Romola, you will be weary of standing: Gian Fantoni will be glad to give you a seat in his house. Here is his door close at hand. Let me open it for you. What! he loves God and the Frate as we do. His house is yours.’
Romola was accustomed now to be addressed in this fraternal way by ordinary citizens, whose faces were familiar to her from her having seen them constantly in the Duomo. The idea of home had come to be identified for her less with the house in the Via de’ Bardi, where she sat in frequent loneliness, than with the towered circuit of Florence, where there was hardly a turn of the streets at which she was not greeted with looks of appeal or of friendliness6. She was glad enough to pass through the open door on her right hand and be led by the fraternal hose-vender to an upstairs-window, where a stout7 woman with three children, all in the plain garb8 of Piagnoni, made a place for her with much reverence9 above the bright hanging draperies. From this corner station she could see, not only the procession pouring in solemn slowness between the lines of houses on the Ponte Vecchio, but also the river and the Lung’ Arno on towards the bridge of the Santa Trinita.
In sadness and in stillness came the slow procession. Not even a wailing10 chant broke the silent appeal for mercy: there was only the tramp of footsteps, and the faint sweep of woollen garments. They were young footsteps that were passing when Romola first looked from the window — a long train of the Florentine youth, bearing high in the midst of them the white image of the youthful Jesus, with a golden glory above his head, standing by the tall cross where the thorns and the nails lay ready.
After that train of fresh beardless faces came the mysterious-looking Companies of Discipline, bound by secret rules to self-chastisement, and devout12 praise, and special acts of piety13; all wearing a garb which concealed14 the whole head and face except the eyes. Every one knew that these mysterious forms were Florentine citizens of various ranks who might be seen at ordinary times going about the business of the shop, the counting-house, or the State; but no member now was discernible as son, husband, or father. They had dropped their personality, and walked as symbols of a common vow15. Each company had its colour and its badge, but the garb of all was a complete shroud16, and left no expression but that of fellowship.
In comparison with them, the multitude of monks17 seemed to be strongly distinguished18 individuals, in spite of the common tonsure19 and the common frock. First came a white stream of reformed Benedictines; and then a much longer stream of the Frati Minori, or Franciscans, in that age all clad in grey, with the knotted cord round their waists, and some of them with the zoccoli, or wooden sandals, below their bare feet; — perhaps the most numerous order in Florence, owning many zealous20 members who loved mankind and hated the Dominicans. And after the grey came the black of the Augustinians of San Spirito, with more cultured human faces above it — men who had inherited the library of Boccaccio, and had made the most learned company in Florence when learning was rarer; then the white over dark of the Carmelites; and then again the unmixed black of the Servites, that famous Florentine order founded by seven merchants who forsook21 their gains to adore the Divine Mother.
And now the hearts of all on-lookers began to beat a little faster, either with hatred22 or with love, for there was a stream of black and white coming over the bridge — of black mantles23 over white scapularies; and every one knew that the Dominicans were coming. Those of Fiesole passed first. One black mantle24 parted by white after another, one tonsured25 head after another, and still expectation was suspended. They were very coarse mantles, all of them, and many were threadbare, if not ragged26; for the Prior of San Marco had reduced the fraternities under his rule to the strictest poverty and discipline. But in the long line of black and white there was at last singled out a mantle only a little more worn than the rest, with a tonsured head above it which might not have appeared supremely27 remarkable28 to a stranger who had not seen it on bronze medals, with the sword of God as its obverse; or surrounded by an armed guard on the way to the Duomo; or transfigured by the inward flame of the orator29 as it looked round on a rapt multitude.
As the approach of Savonarola was discerned, none dared conspicuously30 to break the stillness by a sound which would rise above the solemn tramp of footsteps and the faint sweep of garments; nevertheless his ear, as well as other ears, caught a mingled31 sound of slow hissing32 that longed to be curses, and murmurs33 that longed to be blessings34. Perhaps it was the sense that the hissing predominated which made two or three of his disciples35 in the foreground of the crowd, at the meeting of the roads, fall on their knees as if something divine were passing. The movement of silent homage36 spread: it went along the sides of the streets like a subtle shock, leaving some unmoved, while it made the most bend the knee and bow the head. But the hatred, too, gathered a more intense expression; and as Savonarola passed up the Por’ Santa Maria, Romola could see that some one at an upper window spat37 upon him.
Monks again — Frati Umiliati, or Humbled38 Brethren, from Ognissanti, with a glorious tradition of being the earliest workers in the wool-trade; and again more monks — Vallombrosan and other varieties of Benedictines, reminding the instructed eye by niceties of form and colour that in ages of abuse, long ago, reformers had arisen who had marked a change of spirit by a change of garb; till at last the shaven crowns were at an end, and there came the train of untonsured secular39 priests.
Then followed the twenty-one incorporated Arts of Florence in long array, with their banners floating above them in proud declaration that the bearers had their distinct functions, from the bakers40 of bread to the judges and notaries41. And then all the secondary officers of State, beginning with the less and going on to the greater, till the line of secularities was broken by the Canons of the Duomo, carrying a sacred relic42 — the very head, enclosed in silver, of San Zenobio, immortal43 bishop44 of Florence, whose virtues45 were held to have saved the city perhaps a thousand years before.
Here was the nucleus46 of the procession. Behind the relic came the archbishop in gorgeous cope, with canopy47 held above him; and after him the mysterious hidden Image — hidden first by rich curtains of brocade enclosing an outer painted tabernacle, but within this, by the more ancient tabernacle which had never been opened in the memory of living men, or the fathers of living men. In that inner shrine48 was the image of the Pitying Mother, found ages ago in the soiI of L’Impruneta, uttering a cry as the spade struck it. Hitherto the unseen Image had hardly ever been carried to the Duomo without having rich gifts borne before it. There was no reciting the list of precious offerings made by emulous men and communities, especially of veils and curtains and mantles. But the richest of all these, it was said, had been given by a poor abbess and her nuns49, who, having no money to buy materials, wove a mantle of gold brocade with their prayers, embroidered50 it and adorned51 it with their prayers and, finally, saw their work presented to the Blessed Virgin52 in the great Piazza53 by two beautiful youths who spread out white wings and vanished in the blue.
But to-day there nere no gifts carried before the tabernacle: no donations were to be given to-day except to the poor. That had been the advice of Fra Girolamo, whose preaching never insisted on gifts to the invisible powers, but only on help to visible need; and altars had been raised at various points in front of the churches, on which the oblations for the poor were deposited. Not even a torch was carried. Surely the hidden Mother cared less for torches and brocade than for the wail11 of the hungry people. Florence was in extremity54: she had done her utmost, and could only wait for something divine that was not in her own power.
The Frate in the torn mantle had said that help would certainly come, and many of the faint-hearted were clinging more to their faith in the Frate’s word, than to their faith in the virtues of the unseen Image. But there were not a few of the fierce-hearted who thought with secret rejoicing that the Frate’s word might be proved false.
Slowly the tabernacle moved forward, and knees were bent55. There was profound stillness; for the train of priests and chaplains from L’Impruneta stirred no passion in the on-lookers. The procession was about to close with the Priors and the Gonfaloniere: the long train of companies and symbols, which have their silent music and stir the mind as a chorus stirs it, was passing out of sight, and now a faint yearning56 hope was all that struggled with the accustomed despondency.
Romola, whose heart had been swelling57, half with foreboding, half with that enthusiasm of fellowship which the life of the last two years had made as habitual58 to her as the consciousness of costume to a vain and idle woman, gave a deep sigh, as at the end of some long mental tension, and remained on her knees for very languor59; when suddenly there flashed from betveen the houses on to the distant bridge something bright-coloured. In the instant, Romola started up and stretched out her arms, leaning from the window, while the black drapery fell from her head, and the golden gleam of her hair and the flush in her face seemed the effect of one illumination. A shout arose in the same instant; the last troops of the procession paused, and all faces were turned towards the distant bridge.
But the bridge was passed now: the horseman was pressing at full gallop60 along by the Arno; the sides of his bay horse, just streaked61 with foam62, looked all white from swiftness; his cap was flying loose by his red becchetto, and he waved an olive branch in his hand. It was a messenger a messenger of good tidings! The blessed olive branch spoke63 afar off. But the impatient people could not wait. They rushed to meet the on-comer, and seized his horse’s rein64, pushing and trampling65.
And now Romola could see that the horseman was her husband, who had been sent to Pisa a few days before on a private embassy. The recognition brought no new flash of joy into her eyes. She had checked her first impulsive66 attitude of expectation; but her governing anxiety was still to know what news of relief had come for Florence.
‘Good news!’ ‘Best news!’ ‘News to be paid with hose (novelle da calze)! “ were the vague answers with which Tito met the importunities of the crowd, until he had succeeded in pushing on his horse to the spot at the meeting of the ways where the Gonfaloniere and the Priors were awaiting him. There he paused, and bowing low, said ‘Magnificent Signori! I have to deliver to you the joyful67 news that the galleys68 from France, laden69 with corn and men, have arrived safely in the port of Leghorn, by favour of a strong wind, which kept the enemy’s fleet at a distance.’
The words had no sooner left Tito’s lips than they seemed to vibrate up the streets. A great shout rang through the air, and rushed along the river; and then another, and another; and the shouts were heard spreading along the line of the procession towards the Duomo; and then there were fainter answering shouts, like the intermediate plash of distant waves in a great lake whose waters obey one impulse.
For some minutes there was no attempt to speak further: the Signoria themselves lifted up their caps, and stood bare-headed in the presence of a rescue which had come from outside the limit of their own power — from that region of trust and resignation which has been in all ages called divine.
At last, as the signal was given to move forward, Tito said, with a smile —
‘I ought to say, that any hose to be bestowed70 by the Magnificent Signoria in reward of these tidings are due, not to me, but to another man who had ridden hard to bring them, and would have been here in my place if his horse had not broken down just before he reached Signa. Meo di Sasso will doubtless be here in an hour or two, and may all the more justly claim the glory of the messenger, because he has had the chief labour and has lost the chief delight.’
It was a graceful71 way of putting a necessary statement, and after a word of reply from the Proposto, or spokesman of the Signoria, this dignified72 extremity of the procession passed on, and Tito turned his horse’s head to follow in its train, while the great bell of the Palazzo Vecchio was already beginning to swing, and give a louder voice to the people’s joy.
In that moment, when Tito’s attention had ceased to be imperatively73 directed, it might have been expected that he would look round and recognise Romola; but he was apparently74 engaged with his cap, which, now the eager people were leading his horse, he was able to seize and place on his head, while his right hand was still encumbered75 by the olive branch. He had a becoming air of lassitude after his exertions76; and Romola, instead of making any effort to be recognised by him, threw her black drapery over her head again, and remained perfectly77 quiet. Yet she felt almost sure that Tito had seen her; he had the power of seeing everything without seeming to see it.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
dreaded
|
|
| 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) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
forsaking
|
|
| 放弃( forsake的现在分词 )； 弃绝； 抛弃； 摒弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
posture
|
|
| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
fatigue
|
|
| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
friendliness
|
|
| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
garb
|
|
| n.服装，装束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
reverence
|
|
| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
wailing
|
|
| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
wail
|
|
| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
devout
|
|
| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
piety
|
|
| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
vow
|
|
| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
shroud
|
|
| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
monks
|
|
| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
tonsure
|
|
| n.削发；v.剃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
zealous
|
|
| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
forsook
|
|
| forsake的过去式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
mantles
|
|
| vt.&vi.覆盖（mantle的第三人称单数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
mantle
|
|
| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
tonsured
|
|
| v.剃( tonsure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
ragged
|
|
| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
supremely
|
|
| adv.无上地，崇高地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
orator
|
|
| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
conspicuously
|
|
| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
hissing
|
|
| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
murmurs
|
|
| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
blessings
|
|
| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
disciples
|
|
| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
homage
|
|
| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
spat
|
|
| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
humbled
|
|
| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
secular
|
|
| n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
bakers
|
|
| n.面包师( baker的名词复数 )；面包店；面包店店主；十三 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
notaries
|
|
| n.公证人，公证员( notary的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
relic
|
|
| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
immortal
|
|
| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
bishop
|
|
| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
nucleus
|
|
| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
canopy
|
|
| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
shrine
|
|
| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
nuns
|
|
| n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
embroidered
|
|
| adj．绣花的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
adorned
|
|
| [计]被修饰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
virgin
|
|
| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
piazza
|
|
| n.广场；走廊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
extremity
|
|
| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
yearning
|
|
| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
swelling
|
|
| n.肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
habitual
|
|
| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
languor
|
|
| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
gallop
|
|
| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
streaked
|
|
| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
foam
|
|
| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
rein
|
|
| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
trampling
|
|
| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
impulsive
|
|
| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
joyful
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
galleys
|
|
| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
laden
|
|
| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
bestowed
|
|
| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
imperatively
|
|
| adv.命令式地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
encumbered
|
|
| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
exertions
|
|
| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |