The maiden1 kept her silent promise; faithfully she obeyed the hest of Hadassah. Seldom as possible did she enter the room which communicated with the hiding-place of Lycidas, and never save in the company of her aged3 relative. Zarah's wheel was carried to her sleeping apartment; heat and discomfort4 were made no excuse for leaving the more secluded5 portions of the small and inconvenient6 dwelling7. Zarah, a voluntary prisoner, avoiding seeing him who appeared to her to be an embodiment of all that was beautiful in form, and brilliant in mind, one whose society resembled the light which glorifies8 every object on which it may fall.
And Zarah did not, as many maidens9 in her place might have done, punish Hadassah for throwing her influence into the scale of duty, by showing her the extent of the sacrifice which she had required. The young girl, while her heart was bleeding, struggled to maintain a serene10 and placid11 mien12. Hadassah never heard Zarah sigh, never surprised her in tears. No duty was neglected, no work left undone13; nay14, Zarah spun15 more busily than ever, for the support of the stranger was a drain on the scanty16 resources of Hadassah, and to work for him and pray for him was the sole indulgence which Zarah could allow herself without self-reproach. She tried--how arduous17 was the effort!--even to turn her thoughts from the subject which was to her as the forbidden fruit was to Eve. The chasm18 which divided Abraham's daughter from the heathen was one over which, as Zarah knew, it would be sinful to throw even the rainbow bridge of imagination. She must force her mind from approaching the dangerous brink19. How many of the Psalms20 of David, always those most mournful in their tone, Zarah repeated to herself, to bring solace21 to her spirit by day, or sleep to her eyelids22 by night. While Judas Maccabeus was maintaining a gallant23 struggle against the enemies of his country, conquering, but through much stern endurance, Zarah, with the same faith and obedience24 as animated25 the warrior26, was keeping up a more painful fight against the heathen in her own gentle heart.
There was one subject of thought, and that a distressing28 one, to which Zarah's mind most readily reverted29 when she would turn it from the channel into which it was ever naturally flowing. This was the mystery connected with the fate of Abner her father. The few words which had escaped Hadassah in an unguarded moment, were as the dull red light which a torch might throw on the sides of some yawning pit, whose depths are left in profound darkness. Often had Zarah yearned30 to know more of her father, how he had died, for she had once deemed him dead, where his dear remains31 had been laid,--all that concerned him was of deep interest to his only child. But any attempt to break through the reserve which sealed the lips of Hadassah had evidently occasioned such acute distress27 that Zarah had long since given up the hope of gaining information from her. Anna had entered the service of Hadassah, since the Hebrew lady had quitted Bethsura; the attendant knew nothing, and therefore could tell nothing, of what had previously32 occurred in the family. Solomona, when she had paid occasional visits to her kinswomen, had never given Zarah an opportunity of speaking on so delicate a subject. Once when Zarah had ventured to ask the question, "Did you know my father?" Solomona had appeared not to hear it, and had instantly started some quite irrelevant33 topic of conversation. Abishai doubtless knew much about the brother of his wife, but Zarah shrank from questioning him; from his fierce impetuosity of character, he was not one to draw out the confidence of a gentle and timid girl. Zarah almost felt as if her uncle disliked, and for some reason which she understood not, regarded her with mingled34 pity and contempt. Thus the daughter of Abner, cut off from all means of gaining reliable information, was thrown back on her own conjectures35. A vague doubt which had lately arisen in Zarah's mind, but which had always heretofore been repelled36 as treason to a parent's memory, was given form and substance by the faint exclamation37 which grief had wrung38 from Hadassah, "Must I know that misery39 twice." Many slight circumstances then recurred40 to Zarah's memory to confirm her suspicions, especially the anguish41 which Hadassah had betrayed at the burial of Solomona, when a strange pang42 of envy had seemed to intensify43 that of bereavement44. Zarah was as one bending lower and lower over that pit of which she longed, yet dreaded45, to sound the depths, straining her eyes to penetrate46 the darkness, while trembling to think what horrors that darkness might hide.
"Is it possible that my father may yet be breathing on earth, living--the life of an apostate47!" The idea haunted Zarah like a spectre. There was only one hope which had power to lay it: "If living, he may be spared for repentance48. God is merciful; He judgeth not severely50; He delighteth in receiving His wanderers back. Did not Nathan say to penitent51 David, 'Thou shalt not surely die;' was not even the guilty Manasseh restored to his throne? Oh, the son of the pious52 Hadassah, a woman of such faith and prayer, can never be lost!" After such meditations53, the burdened heart of Zarah would find relief in fervent54 supplications for her father. Her filial affection came to the aid of her religious obedience. "God will not hear prayers," thought Zarah, "from one in whose heart an idol55 is enshrined. For my father's sake, as well as my own, let me strive to give unreserved obedience to my Lord."
So, endeavouring to overcome one grief by the help of another, and to cast a veil over both, Zarah passed weary day after day, letting no murmur56 mar57 her offering of meek58 submission59. She would even speak cheerfully to Hadassah, and sing to her songs of Zion, which the aged lady delighted to hear. There was one song especially dear, in which Hadassah had herself woven prophetic promises into verse. The rhymes might be rude, and altogether unworthy of their theme; but when softly warbled by Zarah's melodious60 voice, they appeared to the aged listener like the very breathing of hope.
LAY OF ZION.
"Jerusalem, thou sittest in the dust,
God's heavy judgment61 on thy children lies;
But He in whom their fathers put their trust
Shall bid thee yet, as from the grave, arise.[1]
Oh, Zion, discrowned Queen!
A throne awaits for thee;[2]
For glorious thou hast been,
All glorious shalt thou be.[3]
"Behold62 the white-winged ships from Tarshish strand,[4]
Shall bear thy sons and daughters o'er the wave;
All nations call thee blessed, delightsome land,[5]
Which God of old to faithful Abraham gave.[6]
Oh, Zion, &c.
"Ephraim with Judah God shall then restore,[7]
The Hand that severed63, now uniteth them;
Ephraim shall envy, Judah, vex64 no more,[8]
All shall rejoice in thee, Jerusalem.
Oh, Zion, &c.
"Assyria, Egypt, shall with Israel join,[9]
(The land where Daniel trod the lion's den2,
The land where Pharaohs bowed at Apis' shrine),
Oppressors once--but more than sisters then.
Oh, Zion, &c.
"God shall a wall of fire round thee abide,[10]
To guard thee as the apple of the eye;[11]
Rejoicing as the bridegroom o'er the bride.[12]
For He hath pardoned thine iniquity65.[13]
Oh, Zion, &c.
"The mountains may depart, the hills may shake,[14]
But nought66 thy Saviour's love from thee shall sever49,
The mother may her sucking child forsake67,
God thy Redeemer shall forsake thee never.[15]
Oh, Zion, discrowned Queen!
A throne still waits for thee;
For glorious thou hast been,
All glorious shalt thou be."
[1] Isa. lx. 1.
[2] Isa. xxii. 23.
[3] Isa. lx. 13, 14.
[4] Isa. lx. 9.
[5] Mal. iii. 12
[6] Gen. xiii. 15.
[7] Ezek. xxxvii. 16, 17.
[8] Isa. xi. 13.
[9] Isa. xix. 24.
[10] Zech. ii. 5.
[11] Zech. ii. 8.
[12] Isa. lxii. 5.
[13] Isa. xliv. 22.
[14] Isa. liv. 10.
[15] Isa. xlix. 15.
收听单词发音 |
1
maiden
|
|
| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
den
|
|
| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
aged
|
|
| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
discomfort
|
|
| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
secluded
|
|
| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
inconvenient
|
|
| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
glorifies
|
|
| 赞美( glorify的第三人称单数 )； 颂扬； 美化； 使光荣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
maidens
|
|
| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
serene
|
|
| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
placid
|
|
| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
mien
|
|
| n.风采；态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
undone
|
|
| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
spun
|
|
| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
scanty
|
|
| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
arduous
|
|
| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
chasm
|
|
| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
brink
|
|
| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
psalms
|
|
| n.赞美诗( psalm的名词复数 )；圣诗；圣歌；(中的) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
solace
|
|
| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
eyelids
|
|
| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
animated
|
|
| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
warrior
|
|
| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
distressing
|
|
| a.使人痛苦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
reverted
|
|
| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
yearned
|
|
| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
previously
|
|
| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
irrelevant
|
|
| adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
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： |
|
|
|
|
35
conjectures
|
|
| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
repelled
|
|
| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
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） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
recurred
|
|
| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
pang
|
|
| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
intensify
|
|
| vt.加强；变强；加剧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
bereavement
|
|
| n.亲人丧亡，丧失亲人，丧亲之痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
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： |
|
|
|
|
46
penetrate
|
|
| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
apostate
|
|
| n.背叛者，变节者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
repentance
|
|
| n.懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
sever
|
|
| v.切开，割开；断绝，中断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
severely
|
|
| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
penitent
|
|
| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
pious
|
|
| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
meditations
|
|
| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
fervent
|
|
| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
idol
|
|
| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
murmur
|
|
| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
mar
|
|
| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
meek
|
|
| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
submission
|
|
| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
melodious
|
|
| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
severed
|
|
| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
vex
|
|
| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
iniquity
|
|
| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
nought
|
|
| n.／adj.无，零 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
forsake
|
|
| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |