In losing sight of his guardian1, whom he had quitted, gazing after him in front of the royal basilican, Raoul spurred on his horse, in order not only to escape from his own melancholy2 reflections, but also to hide from Olivain the emotion his face might betray.
One hour’s rapid progress, however, sufficed to disperse3 the gloomy fancies that had clouded the young man’s bright anticipations4; and the hitherto unfelt pleasure of freedom--a pleasure which is sweet even to those who have never known dependence--seemed to Raoul to gild5 not only Heaven and earth, but especially that blue but dim horizon of life we call the future.
Nevertheless, after several attempts at conversation with Olivain he foresaw that many days passed thus would prove exceedingly dull; and the count’s agreeable voice, his gentle and persuasive6 eloquence7, recurred8 to his mind at the various towns through which they journeyed and about which he had no longer any one to give him those interesting details which he would have drawn9 from Athos, the most amusing and the best informed of guides. Another recollection contributed also to sadden Raoul: on their arrival at Sonores he had perceived, hidden behind a screen of poplars, a little chateau10 which so vividly11 recalled that of La Valliere to his mind that he halted for nearly ten minutes to gaze at it, and resumed his journey with a sigh too abstracted even to reply to Olivain’s respectful inquiry12 about the cause of so much fixed13 attention. The aspect of external objects is often a mysterious guide communicating with the fibres of memory, which in spite of us will arouse them at times; this thread, like that of Ariadne, when once unraveled will conduct one through a labyrinth14 of thought, in which one loses one’s self in endeavoring to follow that phantom15 of the past which is called recollection.
Now the sight of this chateau had taken Raoul back fifty leagues westward16 and had caused him to review his life from the moment when he had taken leave of little Louise to that in which he had seen her for the first time; and every branch of oak, every gilded17 weathercock on roof of slates18, reminded him that, instead of returning to the friends of his childhood, every instant estranged19 him further and that perhaps he had even left them forever.
With a full heart and burning head he desired Olivain to lead on the horses to a wayside inn, which he observed within gunshot range, a little in advance of the place they had reached.
As for himself, he dismounted and remained under a beautiful group of chestnuts20 in flower, amidst which were murmuring a multitude of happy bees, and bade Olivain send the host to him with writing paper and ink, to be placed on a table which he found there, conveniently ready. Olivain obeyed and continued on his way, whilst Raoul remained sitting, with his elbow leaning on the table, from time to time gently shaking the flowers from his head, which fell upon him like snow, and gazing vaguely21 on the charming landscape spread out before him, dotted over with green fields and groups of trees. Raoul had been there about ten minutes, during five of which he was lost in reverie, when there appeared within the circle comprised in his rolling gaze a man with a rubicund22 face, who, with a napkin around his body, another under his arm, and a white cap upon his head, approached him, holding paper, pen and ink in hand.
“Ha! ha!” laughed the apparition23, “every gentleman seems to have the same fancy, for not a quarter of an hour ago a young lad, well mounted like you, as tall as you and of about your age, halted before this clump24 of trees and had this table and this chair brought here, and dined here, with an old gentleman who seemed to be his tutor, upon a pie, of which they haven’t left a mouthful, and two bottles of Macon wine, of which they haven’t left a drop, but fortunately we have still some of the same wine and some of the same pies left, and if your worship will but give your orders----”
“No, friend,” replied Raoul, smiling, “I am obliged to you, but at this moment I want nothing but the things for which I have asked--only I shall be very glad if the ink prove black and the pen good; upon these conditions I will pay for the pen the price of the bottle, and for the ink the price of the pie.”
“Do as you like,” said Raoul, who was beginning his apprenticeship25 with that particular class of society, who, when there were robbers on the highroads, were connected with them, and who, since highwaymen no longer exist, have advantageously and aptly filled their vacant place.
The host, his mind at ease about his bill, placed pen, ink and paper upon the table. By a lucky chance the pen was tolerably good and Raoul began to write. The host remained standing26 in front of him, looking with a kind of involuntary admiration27 at his handsome face, combining both gravity and sweetness of expression. Beauty has always been and always will be all-powerful.
“He’s not a guest like the other one here just now,” observed mine host to Olivain, who had rejoined his master to see if he wanted anything, “and your young master has no appetite.”
“My master had appetite enough three days ago, but what can one do? he lost it the day before yesterday.”
And Olivain and the host took their way together toward the inn, Olivain, according to the custom of serving-men well pleased with their place, relating to the tavern-keeper all that he could say in favor of the young gentleman; whilst Raoul wrote on thus:
“Sir,--After a four hours’ march I stop to write to you, for I miss you every moment, and I am always on the point of turning my head as if to reply when you speak to me. I was so bewildered by your departure and so overcome with grief at our separation, that I am sure I was able to but very feebly express all the affection and gratitude28 I feel toward you. You will forgive me, sir, for your heart is of such a generous nature that you can well understand all that has passed in mine. I entreat29 you to write to me, for you form a part of my existence, and, if I may venture to tell you so, I also feel anxious. It seemed to me as if you were yourself preparing for some dangerous undertaking30, about which I did not dare to question you, since you told me nothing. I have, therefore, as you see, great need of hearing from you. Now that you are no longer beside me I am afraid every moment of erring31. You sustained me powerfully, sir, and I protest to you that to-day I feel very lonely. Will you have the goodness, sir, should you receive news from Blois, to send me a few lines about my little friend Mademoiselle de la Valliere, about whose health, when we left, so much anxiety was felt? You can understand, honored and dear guardian, how precious and indispensable to me is the remembrance of the years that I have passed with you. I hope that you will sometimes, too, think of me, and if at certain hours you should miss me, if you should feel any slight regret at my absence, I shall be overwhelmed with joy at the thought that you appreciate my affection for and my devotion to yourself, and that I have been able to prove them to you whilst I had the happiness of living with you.”
After finishing this letter Raoul felt more composed; he looked well around him to see if Olivain and the host might not be watching him, whilst he impressed a kiss upon the paper, a mute and touching32 caress33, which the heart of Athos might well divine on opening the letter.
Olivain dared offer no opposition37 to this determination but he followed his master, grumbling38.
“Go on, go on,” said he, between his teeth, “expend your ardor39 the first day; tomorrow, instead of journeying twenty leagues, you will travel ten, the day after tomorrow, five, and in three days you will be in bed. There you must rest; young people are such braggarts.”
It was easy to see that Olivain had not been taught in the school of the Planchets and the Grimauds. Raoul really felt tired, but he was desirous of testing his strength, and, brought up in the principles of Athos and certain of having heard him speak a thousand times of stages of twenty-five leagues, he did not wish to fall far short of his model. D’Artagnan, that man of iron, who seemed to be made of nerve and muscle only, had struck him with admiration. Therefore, in spite of Olivain’s remarks, he continued to urge his steed more and more, and following a pleasant little path, leading to a ferry, and which he had been assured shortened the journey by the distance of one league, he arrived at the summit of a hill and perceived the river flowing before him. A little troop of men on horseback were waiting on the edge of the stream, ready to embark40. Raoul did not doubt this was the gentleman and his escort; he called out to him, but they were too distant to be heard; then, in spite of the weariness of his beast, he made it gallop41 but the rising ground soon deprived him of all sight of the travelers, and when he had again attained42 a new height, the ferryboat had left the shore and was making for the opposite bank. Raoul, seeing that he could not arrive in time to cross the ferry with the travelers, halted to wait for Olivain. At this moment a shriek43 was heard that seemed to come from the river. Raoul turned toward the side whence the cry had sounded, and shaded his eyes from the glare of the setting sun with his hand.
“Oh, heavens!” continued Olivain, in despair, “what would the count say if he only saw you now!”
During this time Olivain had finished his bottle and eaten his pie; the horses were also refreshed. Raoul motioned to the host to approach, threw a crown upon the table, mounted his horse, and posted his letter at Senlis. The rest that had been thus afforded to men and horses enabled them to continue their journey at a good round pace. At Verberie, Raoul desired Olivain to make some inquiry about the young man who was preceding them; he had been observed to pass only three-quarters of an hour previously34, but he was well mounted, as the tavern-keeper had already said, and rode at a rapid pace.
“Let us try and overtake this gentleman,” said Raoul to Olivain; “like ourselves he is on his way to join the army and may prove agreeable company.”
It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when Raoul arrived at Compiegne; there he dined heartily35 and again inquired about the young gentleman who was in advance of them. He had stopped, like Raoul, at the Hotel of the Bell and Bottle, the best at Compiegne; and had started again on his journey, saying that he should sleep at Noyon.
“Well, let us sleep at Noyon,” said Raoul.
“Sir,” replied Olivain, respectfully, “allow me to remark that we have already much fatigued36 the horses this morning. I think it would be well to sleep here and to start again very early tomorrow. Eighteen leagues is enough for the first stage.”
“The Comte de la Fere wished me to hasten on,” replied Raoul, “that I might rejoin the prince on the morning of the fourth day; let us push on, then, to Noyon; it will be a stage similar to those we traveled from Blois to Paris. We shall arrive at eight clock. The horses will have a long night’s rest, and at five clock tomorrow morning we can be again on the road.”
“The Comte de la Fere wished me to hasten on,” replied Raoul, “that I might rejoin the prince on the morning of the fourth day; let us push on, then, to Noyon; it will be a stage similar to those we traveled from Blois to Paris. We shall arrive at eight clock. The horses will have a long night’s rest, and at five clock tomorrow morning we can be again on the road.”
Olivain dared offer no opposition37 to this determination but he followed his master, grumbling38.
“Go on, go on,” said he, between his teeth, “expend your ardor39 the first day; tomorrow, instead of journeying twenty leagues, you will travel ten, the day after tomorrow, five, and in three days you will be in bed. There you must rest; young people are such braggarts.”
It was easy to see that Olivain had not been taught in the school of the Planchets and the Grimauds. Raoul really felt tired, but he was desirous of testing his strength, and, brought up in the principles of Athos and certain of having heard him speak a thousand times of stages of twenty-five leagues, he did not wish to fall far short of his model. D’Artagnan, that man of iron, who seemed to be made of nerve and muscle only, had struck him with admiration. Therefore, in spite of Olivain’s remarks, he continued to urge his steed more and more, and following a pleasant little path, leading to a ferry, and which he had been assured shortened the journey by the distance of one league, he arrived at the summit of a hill and perceived the river flowing before him. A little troop of men on horseback were waiting on the edge of the stream, ready to embark40. Raoul did not doubt this was the gentleman and his escort; he called out to him, but they were too distant to be heard; then, in spite of the weariness of his beast, he made it gallop41 but the rising ground soon deprived him of all sight of the travelers, and when he had again attained42 a new height, the ferryboat had left the shore and was making for the opposite bank. Raoul, seeing that he could not arrive in time to cross the ferry with the travelers, halted to wait for Olivain. At this moment a shriek43 was heard that seemed to come from the river. Raoul turned toward the side whence the cry had sounded, and shaded his eyes from the glare of the setting sun with his hand.
“Olivain!” he exclaimed, “what do I see below there?”
A second scream, more piercing than the first, now sounded.
“Oh, sir!” cried Olivain, “the rope which holds the ferryboat has broken and the boat is drifting. But what do I see in the water--something struggling?”
“Oh, yes,” exclaimed Raoul, fixing his glance on one point in the stream, splendidly illumined by the setting sun, “a horse, a rider!”
“They are sinking!” cried Olivain in his turn.
It was true, and Raoul was convinced that some accident had happened and that a man was drowning; he gave his horse its head, struck his spurs into its sides, and the animal, urged by pain and feeling that he had space open before him, bounded over a kind of paling which inclosed the landing place, and fell into the river, scattering44 to a distance waves of white froth.
“Ah, sir!” cried Olivain, “what are you doing? Good God!”
Raoul was directing his horse toward the unhappy man in danger. This was, in fact, a custom familiar to him. Having been brought up on the banks of the Loire, he might have been said to have been cradled on its waves; a hundred times he had crossed it on horseback, a thousand times had swum across. Athos, foreseeing the period when he should make a soldier of the viscount, had inured45 him to all kinds of arduous46 undertakings47.
“The count would do as I do,” replied Raoul, urging his horse vigorously forward.
“But I--but I,” cried Olivain, pale and disconsolate48 rushing about on the shore, “how shall I cross?”
“Leap, coward!” cried Raoul, swimming on; then addressing the traveler, who was struggling twenty yards in front of him: “Courage, sir!” said he, “courage! we are coming to your aid.”
Olivain advanced, retired49, then made his horse rear--turned it and then, struck to the core by shame, leaped, as Raoul had done, only repeating:
“I am a dead man! we are lost!”
In the meantime, the ferryboat had floated away, carried down by the stream, and the shrieks50 of those whom it contained resounded51 more and more. A man with gray hair had thrown himself from the boat into the river and was swimming vigorously toward the person who was drowning; but being obliged to go against the current he advanced but slowly. Raoul continued his way and was visibly gaining ground; but the horse and its rider, of whom he did not lose sight, were evidently sinking. The nostrils52 of the horse were no longer above water, and the rider, who had lost the reins53 in struggling, fell with his head back and his arms extended. One moment longer and all would disappear.
“Courage!” cried Raoul, “courage!”
“Too late!” murmured the young man, “too late!”
Raoul sprang from his horse, to which he left the charge of its own preservation55, and in three or four strokes was at the gentleman’s side; he seized the horse at once by the curb56 and raised its head above water; the animal began to breathe again and, as if he comprehended that they had come to his aid, redoubled his efforts. Raoul at the same time seized one of the young man’s hands and placed it on the mane, which it grasped with the tenacity57 of a drowning man. Thus, sure that the rider would not release his hold, Raoul now only directed his attention to the horse, which he guided to the opposite bank, helping58 it to cut through the water and encouraging it with words.
“Saved!” exclaimed the man with gray hair, who also touched bottom.
“Saved!” mechanically repeated the young gentleman, releasing the mane and sliding from the saddle into Raoul’s arms; Raoul was but ten yards from the shore; there he bore the fainting man, and laying him down upon the grass, unfastened the buttons of his collar and unhooked his doublet. A moment later the gray-headed man was beside him. Olivain managed in his turn to land, after crossing himself repeatedly; and the people in the ferryboat guided themselves as well as they were able toward the bank, with the aid of a pole which chanced to be in the boat.
Thanks to the attentions of Raoul and the man who accompanied the young gentleman, the color gradually returned to the pale cheeks of the dying man, who opened his eyes, at first entirely60 bewildered, but who soon fixed his gaze upon the person who had saved him.
“Ah, sir,” he exclaimed, “it was you! Without you I was a dead man--thrice dead.”
“But one recovers, sir, as you perceive,” replied Raoul, “and we have but had a little bath.”
“Oh! sir, what gratitude I feel!” exclaimed the man with gray hair.
“Ah, there you are, my good D’Arminges; I have given you a great fright, have I not? but it is your own fault. You were my tutor, why did you not teach me to swim?”
“Oh, monsieur le comte,” replied the old man, “had any misfortune happened to you, I should never have dared to show myself to the marshal again.”
“But how did the accident happen?” asked Raoul.
“Oh, sir, in the most natural way possible,” replied he to whom they had given the title of count. “We were about a third of the way across the river when the cord of the ferryboat broke. Alarmed by the cries and gestures of the boatmen, my horse sprang into the water. I cannot swim, and dared not throw myself into the river. Instead of aiding the movements of my horse, I paralyzed them; and I was just going to drown myself with the best grace in the world, when you arrived just in time to pull me out of the water; therefore, sir, if you will agree, henceforward we are friends until death.”
“Sir,” replied Raoul, bowing, “I am entirely at your service, I assure you.”
“I am called the Count de Guiche,” continued the young man; “my father is the Marechal de Grammont; and now that you know who I am, do me the honor to inform me who you are.”
“I am the Viscount de Bragelonne,” answered Raoul, blushing at being unable to name his father, as the Count de Guiche had done.
“Viscount, your countenance61, your goodness and your courage incline me toward you; my gratitude is already due. Shake hands--I crave62 your friendship.”
“Sir,” said Raoul, returning the count’s pressure of the hand, “I like you already, from my heart; pray regard me as a devoted63 friend, I beseech64 you.”
“And now, where are you going, viscount?” inquired De Guiche.
“To join the army, under the prince, count.”
“And I, too!” exclaimed the young man, in a transport of joy. “Oh, so much the better, we will fire the first shot together.”
“It is well; be friends,” said the tutor; “young as you both are, you were perhaps born under the same star and were destined65 to meet. And now,” continued he, “you must change your clothes; your servants, to whom I gave directions the moment they had left the ferryboat, ought to be already at the inn. Linen66 and wine are both being warmed; come.”
The young men had no objection to this proposition; on the contrary, they thought it very timely.
They mounted again at once, whilst looks of admiration passed between them. They were indeed two elegant horsemen, with figures slight and upright, noble faces, bright and proud looks, loyal and intelligent smiles.
De Guiche might have been about eighteen years of age, but he was scarcely taller than Raoul, who was only fifteen.
点击收听单词发音
1 guardian | |
n.监护人;守卫者,保护者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 disperse | |
vi.使分散;使消失;vt.分散;驱散 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 anticipations | |
预期( anticipation的名词复数 ); 预测; (信托财产收益的)预支; 预期的事物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 gild | |
vt.给…镀金,把…漆成金色,使呈金色 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 persuasive | |
adj.有说服力的,能说得使人相信的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 eloquence | |
n.雄辩;口才,修辞 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 recurred | |
再发生,复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 ); 治愈 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 chateau | |
n.城堡,别墅 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 vividly | |
adv.清楚地,鲜明地,生动地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 inquiry | |
n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 labyrinth | |
n.迷宫;难解的事物;迷路 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 phantom | |
n.幻影,虚位,幽灵;adj.错觉的,幻影的,幽灵的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 westward | |
n.西方,西部;adj.西方的,向西的;adv.向西 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 slates | |
(旧时学生用以写字的)石板( slate的名词复数 ); 板岩; 石板瓦; 石板色 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 estranged | |
adj.疏远的,分离的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 chestnuts | |
n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 );栗色;栗树;栗色马 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 vaguely | |
adv.含糊地,暖昧地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 rubicund | |
adj.(脸色)红润的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 apparition | |
n.幽灵,神奇的现象 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 clump | |
n.树丛,草丛;vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 apprenticeship | |
n.学徒身份;学徒期 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 entreat | |
v.恳求,恳请 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 undertaking | |
n.保证,许诺,事业 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 erring | |
做错事的,错误的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 caress | |
vt./n.爱抚,抚摸 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 heartily | |
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 fatigued | |
adj. 疲乏的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 grumbling | |
adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 ardor | |
n.热情,狂热 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 embark | |
vi.乘船,着手,从事,上飞机 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 gallop | |
v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔;飞速发展 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 attained | |
(通常经过努力)实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 ); 达到; 获得; 达到(某年龄、水平、状况) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 shriek | |
v./n.尖叫,叫喊 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 scattering | |
n.[物]散射;散乱,分散;在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的;分散在不同范围的;广泛扩散的;(选票)数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式);散布;驱散 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 inured | |
adj.坚强的,习惯的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 arduous | |
adj.艰苦的,费力的,陡峭的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 undertakings | |
企业( undertaking的名词复数 ); 保证; 殡仪业; 任务 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 disconsolate | |
adj.忧郁的,不快的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 shrieks | |
n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 resounded | |
v.(指声音等)回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 );产生回响;(指某处)回荡着声音 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 nostrils | |
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 reins | |
感情,激情; 缰( rein的名词复数 ); 控制手段; 掌管; (成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的)保护带 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 stifled | |
(使)窒息, (使)窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 ); 镇压,遏制; 堵 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 preservation | |
n.保护,维护,保存,保留,保持 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 curb | |
n.场外证券市场,场外交易;vt.制止,抑制 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 tenacity | |
n.坚韧 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 helping | |
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 ridge | |
n.山脊;鼻梁;分水岭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 crave | |
vt.渴望得到,迫切需要,恳求,请求 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 beseech | |
v.祈求,恳求 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 destined | |
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 linen | |
n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |