Containing Various Matters.
The day was now come when poor Heartfree was to suffer an ignominious1 death. Friendly had in the strongest manner confirmed his assurance of fulfilling his promise of becoming a father to one of his children and a husband to the other. This gave him inexpressible comfort, and he had, the evening before, taken his last leave of the little wretches2 with a tenderness which drew a tear from one of the keepers, joined to a magnanimity which would have pleased a stoic3. When he was informed that the coach which Friendly had provided for him was ready, and that the rest of the prisoners were gone, he embraced that faithful friend with great passion, and begged that he would leave him here; but the other desired leave to accompany him to his end, which at last he was forced to comply with. And now he was proceeding4 towards the coach when he found his difficulties were not yet over; for now a friend arrived of whom he was to take a harder and more tender leave than he had yet gone through. This friend, reader, was no other than Mrs. Heartfree herself, who ran to him with a look all wild, staring, and frantic5, and having reached his arms, fainted away in them without uttering a single syllable6. Heartfree was, with great difficulty, able to preserve his own senses in such a surprize at such a season. And indeed our good-natured reader will be rather inclined to wish this miserable7 couple had, by dying in each other’s arms, put a final period to their woes8, than have survived to taste those bitter moments which were to be their portion, and which the unhappy wife, soon recovering from the short intermission of being, now began to suffer. When she became first mistress of her voice she burst forth9 into the following accents:— “O my husband! Is this the condition in which I find you after our cruel separation? Who hath done this? Cruel Heaven! What is the occasion? I know thou canst deserve no ill. Tell me, somebody who can speak, while I have my senses left to understand, what is the matter?” At which words several laughed, and one answered, “The matter! Why no great matter. The gentleman is not the first, nor won’t be the last: the worst of the matter is, that if we are to stay all the morning here I shall lose my dinner.” Heartfree, pausing a moment and recollecting10 himself, cryed out, “I will bear all with patience.” And then, addressing himself to the commanding officer, begged he might only have a few minutes by himself with his wife, whom he had not seen before since his misfortunes. The great man answered, “He had compassion11 on him, and would do more than he could answer; but he supposed he was too much a gentleman not to know that something was due for such civility.” On this hint, Friendly, who was himself half dead, pulled five guineas out of his pocket, which the great man took, and said he would be so generous to give him ten minutes; on which one observed that many a gentleman had bought ten minutes with a woman dearer, and many other facetious12 remarks were made, unnecessary to be here related. Heartfree was now suffered to retire into a room with his wife, the commander informing him at his entrance that he must be expeditious13, for that the rest of the good company would be at the tree before him, and he supposed he was a gentleman of too much breeding to make them wait.
This tender wretched couple were now retired14 for these few minutes, which the commander without carefully measured with his watch; and Heartfree was mustering15 all his resolution to part with what his soul so ardently16 doated on, and to conjure17 her to support his loss for the sake of her poor infants, and to comfort her with the promise of Friendly on their account; but all his design was frustrated18. Mrs. Heartfree could not support the shock, but again fainted away, and so entirely19 lost every symptom of life that Heartfree called vehemently20 for assistance. Friendly rushed first into the room, and was soon followed by many others, and, what was remarkable21, one who had unmoved beheld22 the tender scene between these parting lovers was touched to the quick by the pale looks of the woman, and ran up and down for water, drops, &c., with the utmost hurry and confusion. The ten minutes were expired, which the commander now hinted; and seeing nothing offered for the renewal23 of the term (for indeed Friendly had unhappily emptied his pockets), he began to grow very importunate24, and at last told Heartfree he should be ashamed not to act more like a man. Heartfree begged his pardon, and said he would make him wait no longer. Then, with the deepest sigh, cryed, “Oh, my angel!” and, embracing his wife with the utmost eagerness, kissed her pale lips with more fervency25 than ever bridegroom did the blushing cheeks of his bride. He then cryed, “The Almighty26 bless thee! and, if it be his pleasure, restore thee to life; if not, I beseech27 him we may presently meet again in a better world than this.” He was breaking from her, when, perceiving her sense returning, he could not forbear renewing his embrace, and again pressing her lips, which now recovered life and warmth so fast that he begged one ten minutes more to tell her what her swooning had prevented her hearing. The worthy28 commander, being perhaps a little touched at this tender scene, took Friendly aside, and asked him what he would give if he would suffer his friend to remain half-an-hour? Friendly answered, anything; that he had no more money in his pocket, but he would certainly pay him that afternoon. “Well, then, I’ll be moderate,” said he; “twenty guineas.” Friendly answered, “It is a bargain.” The commander, having exacted a firm promise, cryed, “Then I don’t care if they stay a whole hour together; for what signifies hiding good news? the gentleman is reprieved;” of which he had just before received notice in a whisper. It would be very impertinent to offer at a description of the joy this occasioned to the two friends, or to Mrs. Heartfree, who was now again recovered. A surgeon, who was happily present, was employed to bleed them all. After which the commander, who had his promise of the money again confirmed to him, wished Heartfree joy, and, shaking him very friendly by the hands, cleared the room of all the company, and left the three friends together.
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1
ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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stoic
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| n.坚忍克己之人，禁欲主义者 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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7
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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13
expeditious
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| adj.迅速的，敏捷的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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mustering
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的现在分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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conjure
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| v.恳求，祈求；变魔术，变戏法 | |
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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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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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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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22
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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23
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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24
importunate
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| adj.强求的；纠缠不休的 | |
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25
fervency
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| n.热情的；强烈的；热烈 | |
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26
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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28
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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