This was Lisa, the pretty young hostess of the village inn, who having once received attentions herself from the handsome Elvino, had felt slighted when he fixed5 his affections upon Amina, whose beauty and sweet winning ways had made her the belle6 of the village; and now, as she mingled7 with the merry throng8 on the green, she was filled with envy for the happy fate of the bride-elect, and could do nothing but make spiteful remarks about her rival, declaring her to be a mere9 nobody, and not worthy10 of so great a piece of fortune.
bellini
BELLINI
For Amina was but a poor orphan11, who had been brought up by Dame12 Teresa of the Mill, a worthy woman who had loved and cared for her as though she were her own child; but in spite of her unknown birth and dependent position, Amina was beloved by all the villagers, whose hearts she had won by her many deeds of kindness. But Lisa's jealousy13 would not allow her to see any perfection in the gentle Amina; and so full of envy and disappointment did she feel just now that to all the remarks made to her by her devoted14 admirer, Alessio, she only returned snappish replies, which, however, disconcerted her swain but little. For Alessio was a merry, lively fellow, full of fun, and not easily discouraged; and having conceived a great admiration15 for the pretty but sharp-tongued Lisa, he was for ever coaxing16 her to marry him, and in spite of her many snubs, still felt confident of success in the end.
As they walked about the green this evening, he said again; "Come, Lisa, let us also sign our marriage contract whilst the Notary17 is here, and save him the trouble of coming again!"
But to this cool suggestion, however, Mistress Lisa merely tossed her head, and turned impatiently away; and Alessio, nothing daunted18, began to join heartily19 in the merry wedding song he had himself composed in honour of the day, which the villagers had just raised as the pretty Amina appeared on the green, accompanied by Dame Teresa.
When the song came to an end Amina thanked her friends in a gentle voice for their kindly20 wishes; and then, turning to Alessio and Lisa, she mischievously21 suggested that they should follow her example and plight22 their troth with her that night.
"'Tis just what I have been saying!" cried the irrepressible Alessio, gleefully. "Come, Lisa, say that you will, for I feel I must get married to-day, and if you won't have me, I'll have to marry Dame Teresa!"
All laughed merrily at this; but Lisa sulkily refused to join in the fun, for Elvino had now arrived, and the sight of his devoted attentions to Amina caused her jealousy and disappointment to smart afresh. The Notary having also now arrived with the marriage contract, the guests gathered around a table which had been placed beneath the trees outside Dame Teresa's house; and Elvino and Amina, having signed their names to the paper, their betrothal was thus formally concluded.
Just as the happy pair were receiving the congratulations of their friends, a strange cavalier—whose gay attire23, aristocratic bearing, and deferential24 attendants proclaimed him to be a person of rank—approached the inn, and inquired of the bystanders if the landlord's chateau25 was near at hand; and on being informed that it was some little distance away, he announced his intention of passing the night at the inn.
On hearing this, Lisa, mindful of her duties as hostess, hurried forward officiously, and offered her best accommodation to the stranger; and then, having received some gallant26 compliments from her guest, who had an appreciative27 eye for a pretty face, she hastened within doors to make all ready, beaming with pleasure.
The stranger was, however, more greatly struck with the beauty of Amina, to whom he next addressed himself, declaring that she reminded him of someone whom he had long since loved and lost; and so intense was his gaze, that after he had departed within the inn, Elvino, seized with a sudden pang28 of jealousy, reproached the maiden29 for having thus spoken with the newcomer. But Amina tenderly reassured31 her anxious lover, declaring that she loved but him alone; and the little cloud that had threatened to gather, now quickly vanished.
As they moved away happily together, Alessio presently came running out to announce that he had discovered the stranger to be none other than the Count Rodolpho, their own Lord of the Soil, whose chateau overlooked the village, and who had not visited his native place since he was a child; and upon hearing this interesting news, the villagers were all filled with great excitement, and, as they trooped away to their homes arranged to proceed to the inn at break of day to sing a song of welcome to their Seigneur, and to show their joy at his arrival.
Some hours later, Count Rodolpho was conducted to the finest chamber32 which the old-fashioned inn afforded, and which, though it had the reputation of being haunted, he had laughingly insisted upon occupying, finding it quaint33 and comfortable; and before retiring for the night, though it was already late, Lisa appeared at the door, to ask if all his wishes had been attended to, and also to offer her respects to him as her Seigneur.
The Count, being a gay cavalier, and accustomed to making conquests wherever he went, invited her to enter, thinking that a flirtation34 with his pretty hostess would pass the time pleasantly; and Lisa, nothing loath35, but delighted at the impression she imagined she had made on her guest, was willing enough to accept his attentions. The Count's pretty speeches pleased her very well, nor did she object when he snatched a kiss or two; but, not daring to remain longer, since the night was advancing, she was just about to depart, when a strange interruption came. Just at that moment, a slight female figure, clad in a long white robe, softly entered the room, and walked slowly across the floor, speaking aloud, as though holding a conversation with some unseen person; and to the great amazement36 of the Count and Lisa, they saw that this mysterious nocturnal visitor was Amina, who, although her eyes were wide open, saw them not, since she was walking in her sleep. For, though unknown to anyone, and still less to herself, Amina was a somnambulist, and had quite unconsciously walked from her own home and entered through the unfastened door of the inn; and as Count Rodolpho now gazed in astonishment37 upon the maiden, whose lovely face had so interested him earlier in the evening, he was filled with a strange, deep emotion, and listened eagerly to the words she said, from which he gathered that she imagined herself speaking to Elvino, since she spoke30 reproachfully of his having for a moment doubted her faithful heart.
But Lisa, though at first alarmed, quickly saw in this unforeseen circumstance, a means for satisfying her petty spite against the orphan she despised; and, quickly making her escape from the room, she determined38 to seek out Elvino, and prove to him that his betrothed39 was base and unfaithful to him, since she had found her in the chamber of the Count Rodolpho.
Meanwhile, Amina continued to speak in tender accents of her love for Elvino; and, unconsciously taking the Count's hand in hers, she softly caressed40 it, repeatedly avowing41 her passion.
Count Rodolpho watched the sleeping maiden with increasing emotion, feeling the charm of her ethereal beauty creeping over him like a spell; and at last, fearful of awakening43 her, and not daring to trust himself longer in her sweet presence, since, though her helplessness appealed to his chivalry44, he felt drawn45 towards her by a strange attraction, he hastily left the room, and, leaving the inn at once, made his way to his own chateau.
After he had gone, Amina ceased to speak; and, presently sinking upon a couch, remained there in peaceful slumber46.
It was now day-break; and the peasants, in accordance with the arrangement of the evening before, assembled in the inn, and, making their way to the Count's chamber, began to sing a joyous47 song of welcome, which they hoped would presently arouse him from his slumbers48. Soon afterwards, Lisa entered the room with Elvino, whom she had brought to behold49 for himself his betrothed slumbering50 in the chamber of the stranger, cruelly and unjustly keeping from him the fact that Amina had walked there in her sleep.
Elvino, who had indignantly refused to believe her story, now uttered an exclamation51 of grief and despair on beholding52 what appeared to him the proof of Lisa's statement; and at that moment Amina, awakened53 by the singing, opened her eyes, and was quickly filled with amazement on beholding her unaccustomed surroundings. As she rose from the couch in bewilderment, Elvino burst forth54 into angry reproaches, declaring her to be faithless and base; and in spite of poor Amina's piteous assurances of innocence55, since she could not explain how she came to be found in such a compromising situation, he spurned57 her with scorn, and, thrusting aside her clinging arms, departed in anger.
Amina, overcome with grief and despair, sank sobbing58 into the arms of Dame Teresa, who, though not understanding the mystery, yet believed her to be innocent, and led her away with great tenderness; and the peasants then sadly dispersed59, loath to think ill of the pretty maiden they loved so well, yet compelled to admit the evidence of their own eyes. But they were not satisfied; and later on in the day they set off to seek out Count Rodolpho in his chateau, and to learn what he knew of this strange matter, and if he had indeed enticed60 the poor girl to her ruin.
Meanwhile, Lisa was triumphant61; and, having thus succeeded in bringing disgrace and ignominy upon her rival, she sought out Elvino, who had wandered into the woods near the chateau, and tenderly offered words of comfort to him, and by encouraging his rage against Amina, led him artfully to think of renewing his vows62 to herself; and then wisely refraining from becoming too importunate63, she left him to his own reflections again, and wandered alone down another glade64. Here she was joined by the lively Alessio, who, after first bewailing the sad fate of Amina, made the brilliant suggestion that Lisa should marry him at once, so that the wedding decorations should not be wasted, a suggestion, however, which was again disdainfully flouted65 by the captious66 Lisa, who informed him that she already felt assured of eventually securing the more prosperous Elvino as a husband. Alessio, well used to such rebuffs, and not the least disconcerted by this surprising announcement, still pressed his own claims; and then seeing that the peasants were approaching from the chateau, the wrangling67 pair set off to join them.
Meanwhile, Amina, accompanied by the sympathetic Dame Teresa, had also sought solace68 for her woe69 in the woods; and presently coming face to face with the unhappy Elvino, she once more besought70 him to believe in her innocence. Elvino, though filled with emotion at beholding the maiden whom he believed had wronged him, still refused, however, to listen to her pleadings, and again turning from her with scorn and anger, hurried quickly away; and as Dame Teresa vainly endeavoured to comfort the now heart-broken girl, the peasants came in sight, headed by Count Rodolpho, who, having heard from them of Amina's sad plight, had now come to prove her innocence.
Full of compassion71, he approached the half-fainting girl; and, seeing that she was utterly72 exhausted73 by the strain that had been put upon her, he bade Dame Teresa to take her into a neighbouring mill, and make her rest for a while, promising56 that in the meantime, he would seek out Elvino and try to convince him of the innocence of his betrothed.
When Dame Teresa had led the weary Amina into the mill, the peasants went to seek Elvino; and when they had at length found and persuaded him to return with them, the Count bade him be of good comfort and cease to mourn, since Amina was still worthy of his love. He then described to him that the maiden had entered his room the night before in her sleep, explaining that she was a somnambulist, and, as such, utterly unconscious of her actions at the time; but Elvino and the simple peasants, never before having heard of this strange phenomenon, were scarcely yet convinced, finding it difficult to realize such a curious circumstance, which had not come within their experience before. But whilst they were still wondering at the story that had been told to them, they saw Amina softly approaching from the mill, passing them with wide-open, unseeing eyes, and uttering Elvino's name in loving accents; and, seeing that the maiden was again walking in her sleep, the Count explained this fact to the peasants, and bade them remain quiet until she should awaken42.
Elvino, overjoyed at this final proof of his beloved one's innocence, could scarcely restrain his happy feelings, watching the lovely maiden's movements with eager interest; and when she presently awakened to full consciousness, he clasped her in his arms with joy, beseeching74 her to forgive him for doubting her faith.
Amina, full of happiness at thus learning that Elvino still loved her, and no longer believed her to be false, was soon restored to her accustomed gaiety; and so the reunited pair were wedded75 that same day ere the sun went down, amidst the great rejoicings of the villagers, who were filled with delight that the fair maiden they loved so well was now cleared from all reproach.
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1
betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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notary
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| n.公证人，公证员 | |
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daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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20
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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23
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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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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30
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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31
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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32
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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38
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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39
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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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
avowing
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| v.公开声明，承认( avow的现在分词 ) | |
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42
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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43
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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44
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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45
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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46
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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47
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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48
slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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49
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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50
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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51
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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52
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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53
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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54
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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55
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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56
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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57
spurned
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| v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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59
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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60
enticed
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| 诱惑，怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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importunate
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| adj.强求的；纠缠不休的 | |
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64
glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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flouted
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| v.藐视，轻视( flout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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captious
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| adj.难讨好的，吹毛求疵的 | |
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wrangling
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| v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 ) | |
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solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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70
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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71
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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72
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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74
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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75
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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