'So, then,' thought he, 'the storm of fate has broken and blown over—the evil which my lore6 predicted, threatening life itself, has chanced—and yet I live! It came as the stars foretold7; and now the long, bright, and prosperous career which was to succeed that evil, if I survived it, smiles beyond: I have passed—I have subdued8 the latest danger of my destiny. Now I have but to lay out the gardens of my future fate—unterrified and secure. First, then, of all my pleasures, even before that of love, shall come revenge! This boy Greek—who has crossed my passion—thwarted my designs—baffled me even when the blade was about to drink his accursed blood—shall not a second time escape me! But for the method of my vengeance9? Of that let me ponder well! Oh! Ate, if thou art indeed a goddess, fill me with thy direst Inspiration!' The Egyptian sank into an intent reverie, which did not seem to present to him any clear or satisfactory suggestions. He changed his position restlessly, as he revolved10 scheme after scheme, which no sooner occurred than it was dismissed: several times he struck his breast and groaned11 aloud, with the desire of vengeance, and a sense of his impotence to accomplish it. While thus absorbed, a boy slave timidly entered the chamber.
A female, evidently of rank from her dress, and that of the single slave who attended her, waited below and sought an audience with Arbaces.
'A female!' his heart beat quick. 'Is she young?'
'Admit her,' said the Egyptian: for a moment his vain heart dreamed the stranger might be Ione.
The first glance of the visitor now entering the apartment sufficed to undeceive so erring13 a fancy. True, she was about the same height as Ione, and perhaps the same age—true, she was finely and richly formed—but where was that undulating and ineffable14 grace which accompanied every motion of the peerless Neapolitan—the chaste15 and decorous garb16, so simple even in the care of its arrangement—the dignified17 yet bashful step—the majesty18 of womanhood and its modesty19?
'Pardon me that I rise with pain,' said Arbaces, gazing on the stranger: 'I am still suffering from recent illness.'
'Do not disturb thyself, O great Egyptian!' returned Julia, seeking to disguise the fear she already experienced beneath the ready resort of flattery; 'and forgive an unfortunate female, who seeks consolation20 from thy wisdom.'
'Draw near, fair stranger,' said Arbaces; 'and speak without apprehension21 or reserve.'
Julia placed herself on a seat beside the Egyptian, and wonderingly gazed around an apartment whose elaborate and costly22 luxuries shamed even the ornate enrichment of her father's mansion23; fearfully, too, she regarded the hieroglyphical24 inscriptions25 on the walls—the faces of the mysterious images, which at every corner gazed upon her—the tripod at a little distance—and, above all, the grave and remarkable26 countenance27 of Arbaces himself: a long white robe like a veil half covered his raven28 locks, and flowed to his feet: his face was made even more impressive by its present paleness; and his dark and penetrating30 eyes seemed to pierce the shelter of her veil, and explore the secrets of her vain and unfeminine soul.
'And what,' said his low, deep voice, 'brings thee, O maiden31! to the house of the Eastern stranger?'
'His fame,' replied Julia.
'In what?' said he, with a strange and slight smile.
'Canst thou ask, O wise Arbaces? Is not thy knowledge the very gossip theme of Pompeii?'
'Some little lore have I indeed, treasured up,' replied Arbaces: 'but in what can such serious and sterile32 secrets benefit the ear of beauty?'
'Alas33!' said Julia, a little cheered by the accustomed accents of adulation; 'does not sorrow fly to wisdom for relief, and they who love unrequitedly, are not they the chosen victims of grief?'
'Ha!' said Arbaces, 'can unrequited love be the lot of so fair a form, whose modelled proportions are visible even beneath the folds of thy graceful34 robe? Deign35, O maiden! to lift thy veil, that I may see at least if the face correspond in loveliness with the form.'
Not unwilling36, perhaps, to exhibit her charms, and thinking they were likely to interest the magician in her fate, Julia, after some slight hesitation37, raised her veil, and revealed a beauty which, but for art, had been indeed attractive to the fixed38 gaze of the Egyptian.
'Thou comest to me for advice in unhappy love,' said he; 'well, turn that face on the ungrateful one: what other love-charm can I give thee?'
'Oh, cease these courtesies!' said Julia; 'it is a love-charm, indeed, that I would ask from thy skill!'
'Fair stranger!' replied Arbaces, somewhat scornfully, 'love-spells are not among the secrets I have wasted the midnight oil to attain39.'
'Is it indeed so? Then pardon me, great Arbaces, and farewell!'
'Stay,' said Arbaces, who, despite his passion for Ione, was not unmoved by the beauty of his visitor; and had he been in the flush of a more assured health, might have attempted to console the fair Julia by other means than those of supernatural wisdom.
'Stay; although I confess that I have left the witchery of philtres and potions to those whose trade is in such knowledge, yet am I myself not so dull to beauty but that in earlier youth I may have employed them in my own behalf. I may give thee advice, at least, if thou wilt40 be candid41 with me. Tell me then, first, art thou unmarried, as thy dress betokens42?'
'Yes,' said Julia.
'Strange and more strange! And thou lovest him who loves not thee?'
'I know not if I love him,' answered Julia, haughtily45; 'but I know that I would see myself triumph over a rival—I would see him who rejected me my suitor—I would see her whom he has preferred in her turn despised.'
'A natural ambition and a womanly,' said the Egyptian, in a tone too grave for irony46. 'Yet more, fair maiden; wilt thou confide47 to me the name of thy lover? Can he be Pompeian, and despise wealth, even if blind to beauty?'
'He is of Athens,' answered Julia, looking down.
'Ha!' cried the Egyptian, impetuously, as the blood rushed to his cheek; 'there is but one Athenian, young and noble, in Pompeii. Can it be Glaucus of whom thou speakest!'
'Ah! betray me not—so indeed they call him.'
The Egyptian sank back, gazing vacantly on the averted48 face of the merchant's daughter, and muttering inly to himself: this conference, with which he had hitherto only trifled, amusing himself with the credulity and vanity of his visitor—might it not minister to his revenge?'
'I see thou canst assist me not,' said Julia, offended by his continued silence; 'guard at least my secret. Once more, farewell!'
'Maiden,' said the Egyptian, in an earnest and serious tone, 'thy suit hath touched me—I will minister to thy will. Listen to me; I have not myself dabbled49 in these lesser50 mysteries, but I know one who hath. At the base of Vesuvius, less than a league from the city, there dwells a powerful witch; beneath the rank dews of the new moon, she has gathered the herbs which possess the virtue51 to chain Love in eternal fetters52. Her art can bring thy lover to thy feet. Seek her, and mention to her the name of Arbaces: she fears that name, and will give thee her most potent53 philtres.'
'Alas!' answered Julia, I know not the road to the home of her whom thou speakest of: the way, short though it be, is long to traverse for a girl who leaves, unknown, the house of her father. The country is entangled54 with wild vines, and dangerous with precipitous caverns55. I dare not trust to mere56 strangers to guide me; the reputation of women of my rank is easily tarnished—and though I care not who knows that I love Glaucus, I would not have it imagined that I obtained his love by a spell.'
'Were I but three days advanced in health,' said the Egyptian, rising and walking (as if to try his strength) across the chamber, but with irregular and feeble steps, 'I myself would accompany thee. Well, thou must wait.'
'Wed!'
'Yes; in the early part of next month.'
'So soon! Art thou well advised of this?'
'From the lips of her own slave.'
'It shall not be!' said the Egyptian, impetuously. 'Fear nothing, Glaucus shall be thine. Yet how, when thou obtainest it, canst thou administer to him this potion?'
'My father has invited him, and, I believe, the Neapolitan also, to a banquet, on the day following to-morrow: I shall then have the opportunity to administer it.'
'So be it!' said the Egyptian, with eyes flashing such fierce joy, that Julia's gaze sank trembling beneath them. 'To-morrow eve, then, order thy litter—thou hast one at thy command?'
'Surely—yes,' returned the purse-proud Julia.
'Order thy litter—at two miles' distance from the city is a house of entertainment, frequented by the wealthier Pompeians, from the excellence57 of its baths, and the beauty of its gardens. There canst thou pretend only to shape thy course—there, ill or dying, I will meet thee by the statue of Silenus, in the copse that skirts the garden; and I myself will guide thee to the witch. Let us wait till, with the evening star, the goats of the herdsmen are gone to rest; when the dark twilight58 conceals59 us, and none shall cross our steps. Go home and fear not. By Hades, swears Arbaces, the sorcerer of Egypt, that Ione shall never wed with Glaucus.'
'And that Glaucus shall be mine,' added Julia, filling up the incompleted sentence.
'Thou hast said it!' replied Arbaces; and Julia, half frightened at this unhallowed appointment, but urged on by jealousy60 and the pique61 of rivalship, even more than love, resolved to fulfill62 it.
'Bright stars that never lie, ye already begin the execution of your promises—success in love, and victory over foes64, for the rest of my smooth existence. In the very hour when my mind could devise no clue to the goal of vengeance, have ye sent this fair fool for my guide?' He paused in deep thought. 'Yes,' said he again, but in a calmer voice; 'I could not myself have given to her the poison, that shall be indeed a philtre!—his death might be thus tracked to my door. But the witch—ay, there is the fit, the natural agent of my designs!'
He summoned one of his slaves, bade him hasten to track the steps of Julia, and acquaint himself with her name and condition. This done, he stepped forth into the portico. The skies were serene65 and clear; but he, deeply read in the signs of their various change, beheld66 in one mass of cloud, far on the horizon, which the wind began slowly to agitate67, that a storm was brooding above.
'It is like my vengeance,' said he, as he gazed; 'the sky is clear, but the cloud moves on.'
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收听单词发音
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1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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portico
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| n.柱廊，门廊 | |
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frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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fragrantly
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| adv.芬芳地；愉快地 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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lore
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| n.传说；学问，经验，知识 | |
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foretold
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| v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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subdued
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| 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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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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erring
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| 做错事的，错误的 | |
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ineffable
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| adj.无法表达的，不可言喻的 | |
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chaste
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| adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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hieroglyphical
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| n.象形文字，象形文字的文章 | |
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inscriptions
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| （作者）题词( inscription的名词复数 )； 献词； 碑文； 证劵持有人的登记 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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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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sterile
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| adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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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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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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40
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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41
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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42
betokens
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的第三人称单数 ) | |
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43
allure
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| n.诱惑力，魅力；vt.诱惑，引诱，吸引 | |
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44
disdains
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| 鄙视，轻蔑( disdain的名词复数 ) | |
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45
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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46
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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47
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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48
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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49
dabbled
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| v.涉猎( dabble的过去式和过去分词 )；涉足；浅尝；少量投资 | |
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50
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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51
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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52
fetters
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| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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53
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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54
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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55
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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56
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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58
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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conceals
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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60
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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62
fulfill
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| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
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63
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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64
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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65
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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66
beheld
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| 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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67
agitate
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| vi.(for,against)煽动，鼓动；vt.搅动 | |
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