"And I have loved thee! Ocean! and my joy
Of youthful sports was on thy breast to be
Borne like thy bubbles onward1."
* * * * *
"Pull away! yo ho! boys!"
Delme continued to reside with his brother, whose health seemed to amend2 daily. George generally managed to accompany him in his sight-seeing, from which Henry derived3 great gratification.
He mused4 over the antique tombs of some of the departed knights5; and admired the rich mosaics6 in that splendid church, dedicated7 to Saint John; than which the traveller may voyage long, and meet nothing worthier8 his notice. He visited the ancient armoury--dined at the palace, and at the different messes--inspected the laborious9 travailings of the silkworm at the boschetto--conversed with the original of Byron's Leila--a sweet creature she is!--looked with wondering eye on the ostrich10 of Fort Manuel--and heard the then commandant's wife relate her tale thereanent. He went to Gozzo too--shot rabbits--and crossed in a basket to the fungus11 rock. He saw a festa in the town, and a festa in the country--rode to St. Antonio, and St. Paul's Bay--and was told he had seen the lions. Nor must we pass over that most interesting of spectacles; viz., some figures enveloped12 in monkish13 cowl, and placed in convenient niches14; but beneath the close hood15, the blood mounts not with devotion's glow, nor do eyes glare from sockets16 shrunk by abstinence. Skeletons alone are there!
These, curious reader, are the bodies of saintly Capuchins; thus exhibited--dried and baked--to excite beholders to a life of virtue17!
One morning, George said he felt rather unwell, and would stay at home. An oar18 happened to be wanted in the regimental gig, which Sir Henry offered to take. He was soon accoutred in the dress of an absent member, and in a short time was discharging the duties of his office to the satisfaction of all; for he knew every secret of feathering, and had not caught a crab20 for years.
It was a beautifully calm day--not a speck21 in the azure22 heaven. It was hot too--but for this they cared not. They had porter; and on such occasions, what better beverage23 would you ask? Swiftly and gaily24 did the slim bark cleave25 through the glassy sea. Its hue26 was a dark crimson27, with one black stripe--its nom de guerre, the Spitfire.
As the ------ regiment19 particularly prided itself on its aquatic28 costume, we shall describe it. Small chased pearl buttons on the blue jacket and white shirt; a black band round the neck, to match the one on the narrow-brimmed thick straw hat; white trousers; couleur de rose silk collar, fastened to the throat by a golden clasp; and stockings of the same colour. How joyously29 did the gig hold her course! What a thrilling sensation expanded the soul, as the steersman, a handsome little fellow with large black whiskers, gave the encouraging word, "Stroke! my good ones!" Then were exerted all the energies of the body--then was developed each straining muscle--then were the arms thrown back in sympathy, to give a long pull, and a strong pull--till the bark reeled beneath them, and shot through the wave.
The tall ship--the slender mole--the busy deck--the porticoed palace--the strong fort--the bristling30 battery--the astonished fisher's bark as it sluggishly31 crept on--were all cheeringly swept by, as the bending oars32 in perfect unison33, kissed the erst slumbering34 water. What sensation can be more glorious? The only thing to compete with it, is the being in a crack coach on the western road; the opposition35 slightly in front--a knowing whip driving--when the horses are at their utmost speed--the traces tight as traces can be--the ladies inside pale and screaming--one little child cramming36 out her head, her mouth stuffed with Banbury cakes, adding her shrill37 affetuoso--whilst the odd-looking man in the white hat, seated behind, is blue from terror, and with chattering38 teeth, mumbles39 undistinguishable sentences of furious driving and prosecution40. Surely such moments half redeem41 our miseries42! What bitter thought can travel twelve miles an hour?
And ever and anon would the Spitfire dart43 into some little creek44, and the thirsty rowers would rest on their oars, whose light drip fell on purple ocean, tinged45 by a purple sky. And now would the jovial46 steersman introduce the accommodating corkscrew, first into one bottle and then into another, as these were successively emptied, and thrown overboard, to give the finny philosophers somewhat to speculate on.
Delme landed weary; but it was a beneficial weariness. He felt he had taken manly47 exercise, and that it would do him good. He was walking towards the barrack, with his jacket slung48 over his shoulder, when he was met by George's servant.
"Oh, Sir!" said the man, "I am so glad you are come. The Signora is terribly afraid for my young master. I fear, Sir, he is in one of his fits."
Delme hurried forward, and entered his brother's room. George held a riding whip in his hand. He had thrown off his cravat--his throat was bare--his eyes glanced wildly.
"And who are you, Sir?" said he, as Henry entered.
"What! not know me, dearest George?" replied his brother, in agony.
"I do not understand your insolence49, Sir; but if you are a dun, go to my servant. Thompson," continued he, "give me my spurs! I shall ride."
"Ride!" said Delme.
Thompson made him a quiet sign. "I am very sorry, Sir," said he, "but the Arab is quite lame50, and is not fit for the saddle."
"Give me a glass of sangaree then, you rascal51! Port--do you hear?"
The glass was brought him. He drained its contents at a draught52.
"Now, kick that scoundrel out of the room, Thompson, and let me sleep."
He threw himself listlessly on the sofa. Acme53 was weeping bitterly, but he seemed not to notice her. It was late in the day. The surgeon had been sent for. He now arrived, and stated that nothing could be done; but recommended his being watched closely, and the removing all dangerous weapons. He begged Henry, however, to indulge him in all his caprices, in order that he might the better observe the state of his mind.
While George slept, Delme entered another room, and ordering the servant to inform him when he awoke, he sat down to dinner alone and dispirited; for Acme refused to leave George. It was indeed a sad, and to Sir Henry Delme an unforeseen shock.
In a couple of hours, Thompson came with a message from Acme. "Master is awake, Sir--knows the Signora--and seems much better. He has desired me to brush his cloak, as he intends going out. Shall I do so, Sir, or not?"
"Do so!" said Delme, "but fail not to inform me when he is about to go; and be yourself in readiness. We will watch him."
1 onward | |
adj.向前的,前进的;adv.向前,前进,在先 | |
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2 amend | |
vt.修改,修订,改进;n.[pl.]赔罪,赔偿 | |
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3 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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4 mused | |
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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5 knights | |
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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6 mosaics | |
n.马赛克( mosaic的名词复数 );镶嵌;镶嵌工艺;镶嵌图案 | |
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7 dedicated | |
adj.一心一意的;献身的;热诚的 | |
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8 worthier | |
应得某事物( worthy的比较级 ); 值得做某事; 可尊敬的; 有(某人或事物)的典型特征 | |
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9 laborious | |
adj.吃力的,努力的,不流畅 | |
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10 ostrich | |
n.鸵鸟 | |
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11 fungus | |
n.真菌,真菌类植物 | |
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12 enveloped | |
v.包围,笼罩,包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13 monkish | |
adj.僧侣的,修道士的,禁欲的 | |
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14 niches | |
壁龛( niche的名词复数 ); 合适的位置[工作等]; (产品的)商机; 生态位(一个生物所占据的生境的最小单位) | |
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15 hood | |
n.头巾,兜帽,覆盖;v.罩上,以头巾覆盖 | |
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16 sockets | |
n.套接字,使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 );孔( socket的名词复数 );(电器上的)插口;托座;凹穴 | |
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17 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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18 oar | |
n.桨,橹,划手;v.划行 | |
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19 regiment | |
n.团,多数,管理;v.组织,编成团,统制 | |
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20 crab | |
n.螃蟹,偏航,脾气乖戾的人,酸苹果;vi.捕蟹,偏航,发牢骚;vt.使偏航,发脾气 | |
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21 speck | |
n.微粒,小污点,小斑点 | |
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22 azure | |
adj.天蓝色的,蔚蓝色的 | |
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23 beverage | |
n.(水,酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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24 gaily | |
adv.欢乐地,高兴地 | |
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25 cleave | |
v.(clave;cleaved)粘着,粘住;坚持;依恋 | |
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26 hue | |
n.色度;色调;样子 | |
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27 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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28 aquatic | |
adj.水生的,水栖的 | |
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29 joyously | |
ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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30 bristling | |
a.竖立的 | |
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31 sluggishly | |
adv.懒惰地;缓慢地 | |
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32 oars | |
n.桨,橹( oar的名词复数 );划手v.划(行)( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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33 unison | |
n.步调一致,行动一致 | |
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34 slumbering | |
微睡,睡眠(slumber的现在分词形式) | |
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35 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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36 cramming | |
n.塞满,填鸭式的用功v.塞入( cram的现在分词 );填塞;塞满;(为考试而)死记硬背功课 | |
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37 shrill | |
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
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38 chattering | |
n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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39 mumbles | |
含糊的话或声音,咕哝( mumble的名词复数 ) | |
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40 prosecution | |
n.起诉,告发,检举,执行,经营 | |
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41 redeem | |
v.买回,赎回,挽回,恢复,履行(诺言等) | |
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42 miseries | |
n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 );痛苦的事;穷困;常发牢骚的人 | |
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43 dart | |
v.猛冲,投掷;n.飞镖,猛冲 | |
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44 creek | |
n.小溪,小河,小湾 | |
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45 tinged | |
v.(使)发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46 jovial | |
adj.快乐的,好交际的 | |
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47 manly | |
adj.有男子气概的;adv.男子般地,果断地 | |
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48 slung | |
抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 ); 吊挂; 遣送; 押往 | |
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49 insolence | |
n.傲慢;无礼;厚颜;傲慢的态度 | |
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50 lame | |
adj.跛的,(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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51 rascal | |
n.流氓;不诚实的人 | |
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52 draught | |
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 | |
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53 acme | |
n.顶点,极点 | |
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