"The seal Love's dimpling finger hath impress'd,
Denotes how soft that chin which bears his touch,
Her lips whose kisses pout1 to leave their nest,
Bid man be valiant2 ere he merit such;
Her glance how wildly beautiful--how much
Hath Phoebus woo'd in vain to spoil her cheek,
Which grows yet smoother from his amorous3 clutch,
Who round the north for paler dames4 would seek?
How poor their forms appear! how languid, wan5, and weak."
Love! Heavenly love! by Plato's mind conceived, and Sicyon's artist chiselled6! not thou! night's offspring, springing on golden wing from the dark bosom7 of Erebus! the first created, and the first creating: but thou! immaculate deity8; effluence of unspotted thought, and child of a chaster age! where, oh where is now thy resting place?
Pensile in mid-heaven, gazest thou yet with seraphic sorrow on this, the guilty abode9 of guilty man?--with pity's tear still mournest thou, as yoked10 to the car of young desire, we bow the neck in degrading and slavish bondage11? Or dost thou, the habitant of some bright star, where frailty12 such as ours is yet unknown, lend to lovers a rapture13 unalloyed by passion's grosser sense; as, symphonious with the tremulous zephyr14, chastened vows15 of constancy are there exchanged? Ah! vainly does one solitary16 enthusiast17, in his balmy youth, for a moment conceive he really grasps thee! 'tis but a fleeting18 phantasy, doomed19 to fade at the first sneer20 of derision--and for ever vanish, as a false and fascinating world stamps its dogmas on his heart! Celestial21 love! oh where may he yet find thee? and a clear voice whispers, ETERNITY22!
Hope! guide the fainting pilgrim! undying soul! shield him from the world's venomed23 darts24, as he painfully wends his toilsome way!
When Delme returned to his brother, he found the latter anxiously expecting him, and desirous of ascertaining26 the impression, which his conversation with the surgeon had created.
But Delme thought it more prudent27, to defer28 the discussion of those points, till he had heard from George himself, as to many circumstances connected with Acme29's history, and had been able to form some personal opinion regarding the health of the invalid30. He therefore begged George, if he felt equal to the task, to avail himself of the opportunity of Acme's absence, to tell him how he had first met her. To this George willingly assented31; and as there is ever a peculiarity32 in foreign scenes and habits, which awakens33 interest, we give his story in his own language.
"There are some old families here, Henry," began the invalid, "whose names are connected with some of the proudest, which the annals of the Knights34 of St. John of Jerusalem can boast. They are for the most part sunk in poverty, and possess but little of the outward trappings of rank. But their pride is not therefore the less; and rather than have it wounded, by being put in collision with those with whom in worldly wealth they are unable to compete, they prefer the privacy of retirement35; and are rarely seen, and more rarely known, by any of the English residents, whom they distrust and dislike. It is true, there are a few families, some of the male members of which have accepted subordinate situations under government: and these have become habituated to English society, and meet on terms of tolerable cordiality, the English whose acquaintance they have thus made. But there are others, as I have said, whose existence is hardly recognised, and who vegetate36 in some lone37 palazzo; brooding over the decay of their fortunes--never crossing the threshold of their mansions--except when religious feelings command them to attend a mass, or public procession. Of such a family was Acme a member. By birth a Greek, she was a witness to many of the bloody38 scenes which took place at the commencement of the struggle for Grecian freedom. She was herself present at the murder of both her parents. Her beauty alone saved her from sharing their fate. One of the Turks, struck with, her expression of childish sorrow, interfered39 in her behalf, and permitted a friend and neighbour to save her life and his own, by taking shipping40 for one of the islands in our possession. After residing in Corfu for some months, she received an invitation from her father's brother-in-law, a member of an ancient Maltese family; and for the last few years has spent a life, if not gay, at least free from a repetition of those sanguinary scenes, which have lent their impress to a sensitive mind, and at moments impart a melancholy41 tinge42, to a disposition43 by nature unusually joyous44. It was on a festa day, dedicated45 to the patron saint of the island, when no Maltese not absolutely bed-ridden, but would deem it a duty, to witness the solemn and lengthy46 procession which such a day calls forth47; that I first met Acme Frascati.
"I was alone in the Strada Reale, and strolling towards the Piazza48, when my attention was directed to what struck me as the loveliest face I had ever seen.
"Acme, for it was her, was drest in the costume of the island; and, although a faldette is not the best dress for exhibiting a figure, there was a grace and lightness in her carriage, that would have arrested my attention, even had I not been riveted49 by her countenance50. She was on the opposite side of the street to myself, and was attended by an old Moorish51 woman, who carried an illumined missal. Of these women, several may yet be seen in Malta, looking very Oriental and duenna-like. As I stopped to admire her, she suddenly attempted to cross to the side of the street where I stood. At the same moment, I observed a horse attached to a caleche galloping52 furiously towards her. It was almost upon her ere Acme saw her danger. The driver, anxious to pass before the procession formed, had whipped his horse till it became unmanageable, and it was now in vain that he tried to arrest its progress. A natural impulse induced me to rush forward, and endeavour to save her. She was pale and trembling, as I caught her and placed her out of the reach of danger; but before I could touch the pavement, I felt myself struck by the wheel of the carriage, was thrown down, and taken up insensible. When consciousness returned, I found they had conveyed me to a neighbouring shop, and that medical attendance had been procured53. But more than all, I noticed the solicitude54 of Acme. Until the surgeon had given a favourable55 report, she could not address me, but when this had been pronounced, she overwhelmed me with thanks, begged to know where I would wish to be taken, and rested not until her own family caleche came up, and she saw me, attended by the Moorish woman, on the road to Floriana.
"My accident, though not a very serious one, proved of sufficient consequence, to confine me to my room for some time; and during that period, not a day passed, that did not give me proof of the anxiety of the young Greek for my restoration. I need not say that one of my first visits was to her. Her family received me as they would an absent brother. The obligations they considered I had conferred, outweighed56 all prejudices which they might have imbibed57 against my nation. On my part, charmed with my adventure, delighted with Acme, and gratified by the kindness of her relations, I endeavoured to increase their favourable opinion by all the means in my power. Acme and myself were soon more than friends, and I found my visits gave and imparted pleasure.
"I now arrive at the unhappy part of my narrative58. How do I wish it were effaced59 from my memory. You may remember how, in all my letters to Delme, I made mention of my dear friend Delancey. We were indeed dear friends. We joined at the same time, lived together in England, embarked60 together, and when, one dreadful night off the African coast, the captain of the transport thought we must inevitably62 drift on the lee shore, we solaced63 each other, and agreed that, if it came to the worst, on one plank64 would we embark61 our fortunes. On our landing in Malta, we were inseparable, and my first impulse was to inform Delancey of all that had occurred, and to introduce him to a house where I felt so happy. I must here do him the justice to state, that whether I was partly unaware65 of the extent of my own feelings towards Acme, or whether I felt a morbid66 sense of delicacy67, in alluding68 to what I knew to be the first attachment69 I had ever formed, I am unable to inform you! but the only circumstance I concealed70 from my friend was my attachment to the young Greek. Perhaps to this may be mainly attributed what happened. God, who knows all secrets, knows this; but I may now aver71, that my friend, with many faults, has proved himself to have as frank and ingenuous72 a spirit, as noble ideas of friendship, as can exist in the human breast. For some time, matters continued thus. We were both constant visitors at Acme's house. With unparalleled blindness, I never mistrusted the feelings of my friend. I never contemplated73 that he also might become entangled74 with the young beauty. I considered her as my own prize, and was more engaged in analysing my own sensations, and in vainly struggling against a passion, which I was certain could not meet my family's approval, than at all suspicious that fresh causes of uneasiness might arise in another quarter. As Acme's heart opened to mine, I found her with feelings guileless and unsuspecting as a child's; although these were warm, and their expression but little restrained. There was a confiding75 simplicity76 in her manner, that threw an air over all she said or did, which quite forbade censure77, and excited admiration78. My passion became a violent and an all-absorbing one. I had made up my mind, to throw myself on the kindness of my family, and endeavour to obtain all your consents. Thus was I situated79, when one day Acme came up to me with frankness of manner, but a tremulous voice, to beg I would use my interest with my friend, to prevent his coming to see her.
"'Indeed, indeed,' said she, 'I have tried to love him as a friend, as the friend of my life's preserver, but ever since he has spoken as he now does, his visits are quite unpleasant. My family begged me to tell you. They would have asked him to come no more, but were afraid you might be angry. Will you still come to us, and love us all, if they tell him this? If you will not, he shall still come; for indeed we could not offend one to whom we owe so much.'
"'I, too,' said I to Acme, 'I, too, dearest, ought perhaps to leave you, I, too'--
"'Oh, never! never!' said she, as she turned to me her dark eyes, bright with humid radiance. 'We cannot thus part!'
"She did, then, love me! I clasped her to my arms--our lips clung together in one rapturous intoxicating80 embrace.
"Yet, even in that moment of delirium81, Henry, I told her of you, and of the many obstacles which still presented themselves to retard82 or even prevent our union. I sought my friend Delancey, and remonstrated83 with him. He appeared to doubt my right to question his motives84. Success made me feel still more injured. I showered down reproaches. He could not have acted differently. We met! and I saw him fall! Till then, I had considered myself as the injured man; but as I heard him on the ground name his mother, and one dearer still--as he took from his breast the last gift she had made him--as he begged of me to be its bearer; I then first felt remorse85. He was taken to his room. Even the surgeon entertained no hopes. He again called me to his side; I heard his noble acknowledgment, his reiterated86 vows of friendship, the mournful tones of his farewell. I entered this room a heart-broken man. I felt my pulse throb87 fearfully, a gasping88 sensation was in my throat, my head swam round, and I clung to the wall for support. The next thing of which I have any recollection, was the dawn of reason breaking through my troubled dreams. It was midnight--all was still. The fitful lamp shone dimly through my chamber89. I turned on my side--and, oh! by its light, I saw the face I most loved--that face, whose gentle lineaments, were each deeply and separately engraven on my heart. I saw her bending over me with a maiden's love and a mother's solicitude. As I essayed to speak--as my conscious eye met her's--as the soft words of affection were involuntarily breathed by my feeble lips--how her features lit up with joy! Oh, say not, Henry, till you have experienced such a moment of transport, say not that the lips which then vowed90 eternal fidelity91, that the young hearts which then plighted92 their truth, and vowed to love for ever--oh call not these guilty!
"Since that time my health has been extremely precarious93. Whether the events crowded too thickly on me, or that I have not fully25 recovered my health, or--which I confess I think is the case--that my compunctions for my conduct to Acme weigh me down, I know not; but it is not always, my dear Henry, that I can thus address you. There are hours when I am hardly sensible of what I do, when my brain reels from its oppression. At such times, Acme is my guardian94 angel--my tender nurse--my affectionate attendant! In my lucid95 intervals96, she is what you see her--the gentle companion--the confiding friend. I love her, Henry, more than I can tell you! I shall never be able to leave her! From Acme you may learn more of those dreary97 hours, which appear to me like waste dreams in my existence. She has watched by my bed of sickness, till she knows every turn of the disorder98. From her, Henry, may you learn all."
Thus did George conclude his tale of passion; which Delme mused99 over, but refrained from commenting on.
Soon afterwards, George's caleche, in which he daily took exercise, was announced as being at the door. The brothers entered, and left Floriana.
收听单词发音 |
1
pout
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| v.撅嘴；绷脸；n.撅嘴；生气，不高兴 | |
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2
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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3
amorous
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| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
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4
dames
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| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
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5
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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6
chiselled
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| adj.凿过的，凿光的； （文章等）精心雕琢的v.凿，雕，镌( chisel的过去式 ) | |
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7
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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8
deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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9
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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10
yoked
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| 结合（yoke的过去式形式） | |
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11
bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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12
frailty
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| n.脆弱；意志薄弱 | |
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13
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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14
zephyr
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| n.和风，微风 | |
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15
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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16
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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17
enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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18
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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19
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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20
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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21
celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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22
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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23
venomed
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| adj.恶毒的，含有恶意的 | |
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24
darts
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| n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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25
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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26
ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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27
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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28
defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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29
acme
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| n.顶点，极点 | |
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30
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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31
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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33
awakens
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的第三人称单数 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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34
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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35
retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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36
vegetate
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| v.无所事事地过活 | |
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37
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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38
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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39
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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40
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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41
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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42
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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43
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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44
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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45
dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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46
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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47
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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48
piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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49
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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50
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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51
moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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52
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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53
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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54
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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55
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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56
outweighed
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| v.在重量上超过( outweigh的过去式和过去分词 )；在重要性或价值方面超过 | |
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57
imbibed
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| v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 )；喝；吸取；吸气 | |
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58
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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59
effaced
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| v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；超越；使黯然失色 | |
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60
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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61
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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62
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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63
solaced
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| v.安慰，慰藉( solace的过去分词 ) | |
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64
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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65
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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66
morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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67
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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68
alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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69
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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70
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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71
aver
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| v.极力声明；断言；确证 | |
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72
ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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73
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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74
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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76
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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79
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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80
intoxicating
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| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
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81
delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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82
retard
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| n.阻止，延迟；vt.妨碍，延迟，使减速 | |
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83
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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85
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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86
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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87
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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88
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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89
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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90
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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92
plighted
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| vt.保证，约定（plight的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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94
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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95
lucid
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| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
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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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97
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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