She was a young and noble maiden21, perfect in form and face; her virtues22 scarce sullied by a stain of earth, although, from the spirit of Poetry, the living fount of Genius, dwelling24 within, open to grief and trial, even from the faintest breath too rudely jarring on the heavenly-strung chords with which her heart was filled. A deep, lowly, clinging piety25 was ever ready to check the first impulse of impatience26, to turn to the sweet joys of sympathy and universal love the too vivid sense of sorrow either for herself or others. Humility27 was there, to lift up that young spirit in thankfulness to its Creator, and to devote that powerful intellect, ever seeming to bear all difficulties before it, to His service in the good of her fellow-creatures.
Zephon saw that the praise of man was a source of pure, inspiring pleasure; but instead of filling her soul with pride, it ever bore it up in increased devotion to its God. He marked her graceful28 form, sporting to and fro amid the stately domains29 of her lordly ancestors. He marked the love of parents, brothers, friends, that ever thronged30 around her, and the fulness of joy that love bestowed31. He saw, too, the impassionate longings32 for yet stronger love, the yearnings for fame; appreciation33, not alone from the noble and the gay, but from the gifted and the good: the desire to awake, by the magic touch of genius, the same thrilling chords in other hearts, as the spell of others had revealed in hers.
The seraph looked long and earnestly. Suddenly he saw her standing34 in the centre of a lordly room, and loving and admiring friends around her; her lip, her eye, her heart breathed joy, well-nigh as full and shadowless as the blessedness of heaven. After awhile the angel spake.
“There is nought35 here to call for Faith,” he said. “Yon favourite child of genius but awakens36 deeper yet more adoring love. Her lot is blessedness; her heart so pure, earth hath scarce power to stain that bliss37. But now look yonder, Zephon. Seest thou amidst the multitude a being equally, though differently lovely—equally powerful in intellect, equally the child of genius, as richly gifted, alike in wisdom as in virtue23, as fully38 susceptible39 of joy and sorrow; the same feelings, the same desires, the same deep yearnings for love on which to rest, for appreciation, fame; the same strung heart, thrilling to melody as keenly as to neglect. Mark well, young brother, and thou wilt40 trace these things.”
Anxiously the seraph gazed, and again he was conscious of sufficient power to read the human heart. Again, amidst the multitude, one gentle being stood unveiled before him; and, save for the difference in form and face, he had thought perchance it was the same on whom he had gazed before, so similar were their virtues, powers, temperament41, and genius;—similar in all things, save that the sense of bliss in the one already appeared more chastened, more timid than in the other. He looked, then turned inquiringly towards his companion.
“The will of the Eternal,” he said, in answer, “produced at the same instant these lovely beings, and breathed into both the spirit which thou seest. Their souls are twin-born—TWIN-BORN in sensation, in power, in beauty, formed of the highest, most ethereal essence, and thus creating that which earth terms genius; destined at the same moment to animate42 the beautiful habitation formed for each, and at the same moment depart from it. Until now, their fate hath been, with little variation, the same, differing only according to their station; the one standing amidst the highest and noblest of her land, findeth fit companions for that nobleness and refinement43 indivisible from genius; the other already feeleth there is that within her incomprehensible to those around her; yet is the consciousness of little moment, for freely and joyously44 she roams amid the varied scenes of nature. She mingles45 but with those eager and anxious to enhance her innocent pleasures—to give to her exalted47 mind and gentle virtues the homage48 naturally their due. She looks on the world from a distance, and hath peopled it with all things fond, and bright, and beautiful, which take their exquisite10 colouring from her own lovely and loving mind. She yearns49 for appreciation, as thou seest—for the praise of the multitude won by her talents, but she asks not to mingle46 with them. She seeks but the love of one, and the proud consciousness of doing good to many. She demands not a statelier home, a prouder station. Thus, then, thou seest the earthly fate of these twin-born spirits hath rolled on the same; but now it is the will of the All-wise, All-merciful, All-just, that a shadowy change should pass over the one, and bliss, fuller, dearer, perfect as earth may feel, be dawning for the other. Thou hast marked the quick throb18 of joy now playing on the heart of the noble child of genius. She beholds50 her first triumph in the book she clasps. The thoughts that breathe, the words that burn, have found their echo in the multitude, and loving friends throng15 around to proclaim her dawning fame. There are tears in those lovely eyes; but ’tis a mother’s voice of love, of tenderness, that calls them there. See, clasped to a parent’s bosom51, the swelling52 fulness of the spirit finds vent53 in tears, for joy, that pure, stainless54 joy, which is sent as the dim whisperings of heaven, ever turns to pain on earth, and had it not relief in tears, would bear the soul away to that world of which it speaks. She hath flown from the detaining throng, and hark!—hearest thou not the hymn55 of thanksgiving ascending56 upon high, till the tumultuous joy subsides57, and peace is gained once more?”
He ceased; a brighter radiance passed over his benignant brow, and the voice of the seraph spontaneously flowed forth58 in kindred harmony with the hymn of earth, bearing it on the wings of melody to the realms of song. ’Twas hushed, and the Hierarch again spake.
“Behold!” he said, the music of his voice subdued59 and softened60, “behold, yet murmur61 not! It is the will of the Eternal, and therefore it is well.”
The seraph gazed on a changed and darkened scene.—As deep, as full as was the bliss from which his eye had that moment turned, so deep, so intense was the anguish62 he now beheld63. The gentle being in whom that twin-born spirit breathed, knelt beside the couch of the dead. He marked the wrung64 and bleeding heart; he read its utter loneliness, its agonized65 despair; he read it was a mother’s loss she mourned—a more than mother, for by her, by her alone, her child’s ethereal soul, her fond imaginings, her strong affections had been known, and loved, and fostered; to her, her beautiful had ever come, to seek and find that sympathy which she found not in another—and she was gone, and the dark troubled strivings of that desolate66 heart not yet could deem it love.
“She weeps, and shall we condemn67, young brother, that not yet her voice may join in the universal hymn? She weeps, yet knows not all her woe68. The stability, the honour, the strength of her father were derived69 from the mild counsels, the gentle unobtrusive virtues of her mother; in him they have no stay. That moral evil, too darkly prevalent on earth, once more will gain dominion70, and the joys of the innocent, the helpless, are blighted71 ’neath its poison. On earth she stands alone—yet hark! What means that burst of triumph in the skies?”
Ineffably72 brilliant was the smile on the countenance73 of the angel; and Zephon, startled, yet entranced, looked again on that bleeding heart. The dark and troubled waves within were stilled; there was no voice—no sign; but the lamp of faith was lit; her soul had murmured Love! and bowed, adoring and resigned.
点击收听单词发音
1 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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2 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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3 shrouding | |
n.覆盖v.隐瞒( shroud的现在分词 );保密 | |
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4 celestial | |
adj.天体的;天上的 | |
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5 hovered | |
鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫 | |
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6 abode | |
n.住处,住所 | |
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7 starry | |
adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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8 seraph | |
n.六翼天使 | |
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9 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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10 exquisite | |
adj.精美的;敏锐的;剧烈的,感觉强烈的 | |
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11 benevolence | |
n.慈悲,捐助 | |
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12 maker | |
n.制造者,制造商 | |
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13 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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14 destined | |
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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15 throng | |
n.人群,群众;v.拥挤,群集 | |
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16 thronging | |
v.成群,挤满( throng的现在分词 ) | |
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17 varied | |
adj.多样的,多变化的 | |
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18 throb | |
v.震颤,颤动;(急速强烈地)跳动,搏动 | |
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19 throbs | |
体内的跳动( throb的名词复数 ) | |
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20 inspection | |
n.检查,审查,检阅 | |
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21 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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22 virtues | |
美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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23 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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24 dwelling | |
n.住宅,住所,寓所 | |
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25 piety | |
n.虔诚,虔敬 | |
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26 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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27 humility | |
n.谦逊,谦恭 | |
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28 graceful | |
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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29 domains | |
n.范围( domain的名词复数 );领域;版图;地产 | |
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30 thronged | |
v.成群,挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31 bestowed | |
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32 longings | |
渴望,盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
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33 appreciation | |
n.评价;欣赏;感谢;领会,理解;价格上涨 | |
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34 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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35 nought | |
n./adj.无,零 | |
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36 awakens | |
v.(使)醒( awaken的第三人称单数 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
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37 bliss | |
n.狂喜,福佑,天赐的福 | |
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38 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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39 susceptible | |
adj.过敏的,敏感的;易动感情的,易受感动的 | |
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40 wilt | |
v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎;(指人)疲倦,衰弱 | |
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41 temperament | |
n.气质,性格,性情 | |
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42 animate | |
v.赋于生命,鼓励;adj.有生命的,有生气的 | |
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43 refinement | |
n.文雅;高尚;精美;精制;精炼 | |
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44 joyously | |
ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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45 mingles | |
混合,混入( mingle的第三人称单数 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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46 mingle | |
vt.使混合,使相混;vi.混合起来;相交往 | |
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47 exalted | |
adj.(地位等)高的,崇高的;尊贵的,高尚的 | |
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48 homage | |
n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
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49 yearns | |
渴望,切盼,向往( yearn的第三人称单数 ) | |
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50 beholds | |
v.看,注视( behold的第三人称单数 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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51 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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52 swelling | |
n.肿胀 | |
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53 vent | |
n.通风口,排放口;开衩;vt.表达,发泄 | |
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54 stainless | |
adj.无瑕疵的,不锈的 | |
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55 hymn | |
n.赞美诗,圣歌,颂歌 | |
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56 ascending | |
adj.上升的,向上的 | |
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57 subsides | |
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的第三人称单数 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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58 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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59 subdued | |
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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60 softened | |
(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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61 murmur | |
n.低语,低声的怨言;v.低语,低声而言 | |
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62 anguish | |
n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 | |
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63 beheld | |
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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64 wrung | |
绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 ); 握紧(尤指别人的手); 把(湿衣服)拧干; 绞掉(水) | |
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65 agonized | |
v.使(极度)痛苦,折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 );苦斗;苦苦思索;感到极度痛苦 | |
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66 desolate | |
adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂 | |
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67 condemn | |
vt.谴责,指责;宣判(罪犯),判刑 | |
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68 woe | |
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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69 derived | |
vi.起源;由来;衍生;导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 );(从…中)得到获得;源于;(从…中)提取 | |
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70 dominion | |
n.统治,管辖,支配权;领土,版图 | |
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71 blighted | |
adj.枯萎的,摧毁的 | |
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72 ineffably | |
adv.难以言喻地,因神圣而不容称呼地 | |
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73 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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