Count Fathom1 Unmasks His Battery; is Repulsed3; and Varies His Operations Without Effect.
Every necessary preparation being made, Renaldo, accompanied by our adventurer, took the road to Dover, where he embarked4 in a packet-boat for Calais, after having settled a correspondence with his dear Ferdinand, from whom he did not part without tears. He had before solicited5 him to be his fellow-traveller, that he might personally enjoy the benefit of his conversation and superior sagacity; but these entreaties6 he strenuously7 opposed, on pretence8 of his being determined10 to push his fortune in England, which he considered as his native country, and as the land in which, of all others, a man of merit has the best encouragement. Such were the reasons he alleged11 for refusing to attend his benefactor12, who was himself eagerly desirous of attaining13 a settlement in the island of Great Britain. But our hero’s real motives14 for staying were of a very different complexion15.— The reader is already informed of his aim upon the fair orphan16, which, at present, was the chief spring of his conduct. He may also recollect17 such passages of his life, as were sufficient to deter9 him from reappearing at Presburg or Vienna. But, besides these reflections, he was detained by a full persuasion18 that Renaldo would sink under the power and influence of his antagonist19, consequently be rendered incapable20 to provide for his friends; and that he himself, fraught21 with wiles22 and experience as he was, could not fail to make himself amends23 for what he had suffered among a people equally rich and unthinking.
Melvil, having embraced our adventurer, and with a deep sigh bid him take care of the unfortunate Monimia, committed himself to the sea, and, by the assistance of a favourable24 gale25, was in four hours safely landed on the French shore; while Fathom took post-horses for London, where he arrived that same night, and next day, in the forenoon, went to visit the beauteous mourner, who had as yet received no intimation of Renaldo’s departure or design. He found her in the attitude of writing a letter to her inconstant lover, the contents of which the reader will be acquainted with in due time. Her countenance26, notwithstanding the veil of melancholy27 by which it was overcast28, seemed altogether serene29 and composed; she was the picture of pious30 resignation, and sat like PATIENCE on a monument, smiling at grief. After having paid the compliment of the morning, Fathom begged pardon for having omitted to visit her during three days, in which, he said, his time had been wholly engrossed31 in procuring32 a proper equipage for Count Melvil, who had at last bid an eternal adieu to the island of Great Britain.
At this information the hapless Monimia fell back in her chair, and continued some minutes in a swoon; from which being recovered, “Excuse me, Mr. Fathom,” cried she with a deep sigh; “this, I hope, is the last agony I shall feel from my unhappy passion.”— Then wiping the tears from her lovely eyes, she retrieved33 her tranquillity35, and desired to know by what means Renaldo had been enabled to undertake his journey into the empire. Our hero, upon this occasion, assumed the whole merit of having promoted the interest of his friend, by giving her to understand, that he, in consequence of an unforeseen windfall, had defrayed the expense of the Count’s equipment; though he observed, that it was not without reluctance36 he saw Renaldo make a wrong use of his friendship.
“Although I was happy,” proceeded this artful traitor37, “in being able to discharge my obligations to the house of Melvil, I could not help feeling the most sensible chagrin38, when I saw my assistance rendered subservient39 to the triumphs of the youth’s baseness and infidelity; for he chose, as the companion of his travels, the abandoned woman for whom he had forsaken40 the all-perfect Monimia, whose virtue41 and accomplishments42 did not preserve her sacred from his ungrateful sarcasms43 and unmannerly ridicule44. Believe me, madam, I was so shocked at his conversation on that subject, and so much incensed45 at his want of delicacy46, that my temper was scarce sufficient for the ceremony of parting. And, now that my debt to his family is over-paid, I have solemnly renounced47 his correspondence.”
When she heard that, instead of betraying the least symptom of regret or compassion48 for her unhappy fate, the perfidious49 youth had exulted50 over her fall, and even made her a subject for his mirth, the blood revisited her faded cheeks, and resentment51 restored to her eyes that poignancy52 which sorrow had before overcome. Yet she scorned to give speech to her indignation; but, forcing a smile, “Why should I repine,” said she, “at the mortifications of a life which I despise, and from which, I hope, Heaven speedily will set me free!”
Fathom, fired by her emotion, which had recalled all the graces of her beauty, exclaimed in a rapture53, “Talk not so contemptuously of this life, which hath still a fund of happiness in store for the amiable54, the divine Monimia. Though one admirer hath proved an apostate55 to his vows56, your candour will not suffer you to condemn57 the whole sex. Some there are, whose bosoms58 glow with passion equally pure, unalterable, and intense. For my own part, I have sacrificed to a rigid59 punctilio of honour the dearest ideas of my heart. I beheld60 your unrivalled charms, and deeply felt their power. Yet, while a possibility of Melvil’s reformation remained, and while I was restrained by my niggard fortune from making a tender worthy61 of your acceptance, I combated with my inclinations62, and bore without repining the pangs63 of hopeless love. But, now that my honour is disengaged, and my fortune rendered independent, by the last will of a worthy nobleman, whose friendship I was favoured with in France, I presume to lay myself at the feet of the adorable Monimia, as the most faithful of admirers, whose happiness or misery64 wholly depends upon her nod. Believe me, madam, these are not the professions of idle gallantry — I speak the genuine, though imperfect, language of my heart. Words, even the most pathetic, cannot do justice to my love. I gaze upon your beauty with ravishment; but I contemplate65 the graces of your soul with such awful veneration66, that I tremble while I approach you, as if my vows were addressed to some superior being.”
During this declaration, which was pronounced in the most emphatic67 manner, Monimia was successively agitated68 with shame, anger, and grief; nevertheless, she summoned her whole philosophy to her aid, and, with a tranquil34, though determined air, begged he would not diminish the obligations he had already conferred, by disturbing with such unseasonable addresses a poor unhappy maid, who had detached all her thoughts from earthly objects, and waited impatiently for that dissolution which alone could put a period to her misfortunes.
Fathom, imagining that these were no other than the suggestions of a temporary disappointment and despondence, which it was his business to oppose with all his eloquence69 and art, renewed his theme with redoubled ardour, and, at last, became so importunate70 in his desires, that Monimia, provoked beyond the power of concealing71 her resentment, said, she was heartily72 sorry to find herself under the necessity of telling him, that, in the midst of her misfortunes, she could not help remembering what she had been. Then, rising from her seat, with all the dignity of displeasure, “Perhaps,” added she, “you have forgot who was the father of the once happy Monimia.”
With these words she retired73 into another chamber74, leaving our adventurer confounded by the repulse2 he had sustained. Not that he was discouraged from prosecuting75 his aim — on the contrary, this rebuff seemed to add fresh vigour76 to his operations. He now thought it high time to bring over Madam la Mer to his interest; and, to facilitate her conversion77, took an opportunity of bribing78 her with some inconsiderable presents, after having amused her with a plausible79 tale of his passion for Monimia, with whom she undertook the office of his mediatrix, on the supposition that his intentions were honourable80, and highly advantageous81 to her lodger82.
She was, first of all, invested with the office of obtaining pardon for the offence he had given; and, in this negotiation83 she succeeded so well, as to become an advocate for his suit; accordingly, she took all occasions of magnifying his praise. His agreeable person was often the subject of her discourse84 to the fair mourner. Her admiration85 dwelt upon his politeness, good sense, and winning deportment; and she every day retailed86 little stories of his benevolence87 and greatness of soul. The defect in his birth she represented as a circumstance altogether foreign from the consideration of his merit; especially in a nation where such distinctions are as little respected as they will be in a future state. She mentioned several persons of note, who basked88 in the sunshine of power and fortune, without having enjoyed the least hereditary89 assistance from their forefathers90. One, she said, sprung from the loins of an obscure attorney; another was the grandson of a valet-de-chambre; a third was the issue of an accountant; and a fourth the offspring of a woollen draper. All these were the children of their own good works, and had raised themselves upon their personal virtues91 and address; a foundation certainly more solid and honourable than a vague inheritance derived92 from ancestors, in whose deserts they could not be supposed to have borne the least share.
Monimia listened to all these arguments with great patience and affability, though she at once dived into the source from which all such insinuations flowed. She joined in the commendations of Fathom, and owned herself a particular instance of that benevolence which the old lady had so justly extolled93; but, once for all, to prevent the supplication94 which Madam la Mer was about to make, she solemnly protested that her heart was altogether shut against any other earthly engagement, and that her thoughts were altogether employed upon her eternal salvation95.
The assiduous landlady96, perceiving the steadiness of her disposition97, thought proper to alter her method of proceeding98, and, for the present, suspended that theme by which she found her fair lodger disobliged. Resolved to reconcile Monimia to life, before she would again recommend Ferdinand to her love, she endeavoured to amuse her imagination, by recounting the occasional incidents of the day, hoping gradually to decoy her attention to those sublunary objects from which it had been industriously99 weaned. She seasoned her conversation with agreeable sallies; enlarged upon the different scenes of pleasure and diversion appertaining to this great metropolis100; practised upon her palate with the delicacies101 of eating; endeavoured to shake her temperance with repeated proffers102 and recommendations of certain cordials and restoratives, which she alleged were necessary for the recovery of her health; and pressed her to make little excursions into the fields that skirt the town, for the benefit of air and exercise.
While this auxiliary103 plied104 the disconsolate105 Monimia on one hand, Fathom was not remiss106 on the other. He now seemed to have sacrificed his passion to her quiet; his discourse turned upon more indifferent subjects. He endeavoured to dispel107 her melancholy with arguments drawn108 from philosophy and religion. On some occasions, he displayed all his fund of good humour, with a view to beguile109 her sorrow; he importuned110 her to give him the pleasure of squiring her to some place of innocent entertainment; and, finally, insisted upon her accepting a pecuniary111 reinforcement to her finances, which he knew to be in a most consumptive condition.
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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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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solicited
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| v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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strenuously
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| adv.奋发地，费力地 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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deter
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| vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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attaining
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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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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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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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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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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overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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retrieved
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| v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息） | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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subservient
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| adj.卑屈的，阿谀的 | |
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Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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sarcasms
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，挖苦( sarcasm的名词复数 ) | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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renounced
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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perfidious
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| adj.不忠的，背信弃义的 | |
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exulted
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| 狂喜，欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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poignancy
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| n.辛酸事，尖锐 | |
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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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apostate
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| n.背叛者，变节者 | |
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vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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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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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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veneration
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| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
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emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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importunate
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| adj.强求的；纠缠不休的 | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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conversion
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| n.转化，转换，转变 | |
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bribing
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| 贿赂 | |
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plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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lodger
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| n.寄宿人，房客 | |
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negotiation
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| n.谈判，协商 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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retailed
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| vt.零售（retail的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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basked
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的过去式和过去分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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91
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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derived
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| 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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extolled
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| v.赞颂，赞扬，赞美( extol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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industriously
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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101
delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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102
proffers
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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auxiliary
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| adj.辅助的，备用的 | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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105
disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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remiss
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| adj.不小心的，马虎 | |
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107
dispel
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| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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beguile
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| vt.欺骗，消遣 | |
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importuned
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| v.纠缠，向（某人）不断要求( importune的过去式和过去分词 )；（妓女）拉（客） | |
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111
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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