The Conclusion of Mrs. Heartfree’s Adventures.
“If I mistake not, I was interrupted just as I was beginning to repeat some of the compliments made me by the hermit1.” “Just as you had finished them, I believe, madam,” said the justice. “Very well, sir,” said she; “I am sure I have no pleasure in the repetition. He concluded then with telling me, though I was in his eyes the most charming woman in the world, and might tempt2 a saint to abandon the ways of holiness, yet my beauty inspired him with a much tenderer affection towards me than to purchase any satisfaction of his own desires with my misery3; if therefore I could be so cruel to him to reject his honest and sincere address, nor could submit to a solitary4 life with one who would endeavour by all possible means to make me happy, I had no force to dread5; for that I was as much at my liberty as if I was in France, or England, or any other free country. I repulsed6 him with the same civility with which he advanced; and told him that, as he professed7 great regard to religion, I was convinced he would cease from all farther solicitation8 when I informed him that, if I had no other objection, my own innocence9 would not admit of my hearing him on this subject, for that I was married. He started a little at that word, and was for some time silent; but, at length recovering himself, he began to urge the uncertainty10 of my husband’s being alive, and the probability of the contrary. He then spoke11 of marriage as of a civil policy only, on which head he urged many arguments not worth repeating, and was growing so very eager and importunate12 that I know not whither his passion might have hurried him had not three of the sailors, well armed, appeared at that instant in sight of the cave. I no sooner saw them than, exulting13 with the utmost inward joy, I told him my companions were come for me, and that I must now take my leave of him; assuring him that I would always remember, with the most grateful acknowledgment, the favours I had received at his hands. He fetched a very heavy sigh, and, squeezing me tenderly by the hand, he saluted14 my lips with a little more eagerness than the European salutations admit of, and told me he should likewise remember my arrival at his cave to the last day of his life, adding, O that he could there spend the whole in the company of one whose bright eyes had kindled15 — but I know you will think, sir, that we women love to repeat the compliments made us, I will therefore omit them. In a word, the sailors being now arrived, I quitted him with some compassion16 for the reluctance17 with which he parted from me, and went forward with my companions.
“We had proceeded but a very few paces before one of the sailors said to his comrades, ‘D— n me, Jack18, who knows whether yon fellow hath not some good flip19 in his cave?’ I innocently answered, The poor wretch20 hath only one bottle of brandy. ‘Hath he so?’ cries the sailor; ”fore George, we will taste it;’ and so saying they immediately returned back, and myself with them. We found the poor man prostrate22 on the ground, expressing all the symptoms of misery and lamentation23. I told him in French (for the sailors could not speak that language) what they wanted. He pointed24 to the place where the bottle was deposited, saying they were welcome to that and whatever else he had, and added he cared not if they took his life also. The sailors searched the whole cave, where finding nothing more which they deemed worth their taking, they walked off with the bottle, and, immediately emptying it without offering me a drop, they proceeded with me towards the town.
“In our way I observed one whisper another, while he kept his eye stedfastly fixed25 on me. This gave me some uneasiness; but the other answered, ‘No, d — n me, the captain will never forgive us: besides, we have enough of it among the black women, and, in my mind, one colour is as good as another.’ This was enough to give me violent apprehensions26; but I heard no more of that kind till we came to the town, where, in about six hours, I arrived in safety.
“As soon as I came to the captain he enquired27 what was become of my friend, meaning the villanous count. When he was informed by me of what had happened, he wished me heartily28 joy of my delivery, and, expressing the utmost abhorrence29 of such baseness, swore if ever he met him he would cut his throat; but, indeed, we both concluded that he had died of the blow which the hermit had given him.
“I was now introduced to the chief magistrate30 of this country, who was desirous of seeing me. I will give you a short description of him. He was chosen (as is the custom there) for his superior bravery and wisdom. His power is entirely31 absolute during his continuance; but, on the first deviation32 from equity33 and justice, he is liable to be deposed34 and punished by the people, the elders of whom, once a year assemble to examine into his conduct. Besides the danger which these examinations, which are very strict, expose him to, his office is of such care and trouble that nothing but that restless love of power so predominant in the mind of man could make it the object of desire, for he is indeed the only slave of all the natives of this country. He is obliged, in time of peace, to hear the complaint of every person in his dominions35 and to render him justice; for which purpose every one may demand an audience of him, unless during the hour which he is allowed for dinner, when he sits alone at the table, and is attended in the most public manner with more than European ceremony. This is done to create an awe36 and respect towards him in the eye of the vulgar; but lest it should elevate him too much in his own opinion, in order to his humiliation37 he receives every evening in private, from a kind of beadle, a gentle kick on his posteriors; besides which he wears a ring in his nose, somewhat resembling that we ring our pigs with, and a chain round his neck not unlike that worn by our aldermen; both which I suppose to be emblematical38, but heard not the reasons of either assigned. There are many more particularities among these people which, when I have an opportunity, I may relate to you. The second day after my return from court one of his officers, whom they call SCHACH PIMPACH, waited upon me, and, by a French interpreter who lives here, informed me that the chief magistrate liked my person, and offered me an immense present if I would suffer him to enjoy it (this is, it seems, their common form of making love). I rejected the present, and never heard any further solicitations; for, as it is no shame for women here to consent at the first proposal, so they never receive a second.
“I had resided in this town a week when the captain informed me that a number of slaves, who had been taken captives in war, were to be guarded to the sea-side, where they were to be sold to the merchants who traded in them to America; that if I would embrace this opportunity I might assure myself of finding a passage to America, and thence to England; acquainting me at the same time that he himself intended to go with them. I readily agreed to accompany him. The chief, being advertised of our designs, sent for us both to court, and, without mentioning a word of love to me, having presented me with a very rich jewel, of less value, he said, than my chastity, took a very civil leave, recommending me to the care of heaven, and ordering us a large supply of provisions for our journey.
“We were provided with mules39 for ourselves and what we carried with us, and in nine days reached the sea-shore, where we found an English vessel40 ready to receive both us and the slaves. We went aboard it, and sailed the next day with a fair wind for New England, where I hoped to get an immediate21 passage to the Old: but Providence41 was kinder than my expectation; for the third day after we were at sea we met an English man-of-war homeward bound; the captain of it was a very good-natured man, and agreed to take me on board. I accordingly took my leave of my old friend, the master of the shipwrecked vessel, who went on to New England, whence he intended to pass to Jamaica, where his owners lived. I was now treated with great civility, had a little cabin assigned me, and dined every day at the captain’s table, who was indeed a very gallant42 man, and at first, made me a tender of his affections; but, when he found me resolutely43 bent44 to preserve myself pure and entire for the best of husbands, he grew cooler in his addresses, and soon behaved in a manner very pleasing to me, regarding my sex only so far as to pay me a deference45, which is very agreeable to us all.
“To conclude my story; I met with no adventure in this passage at all worth relating, till my landing at Gravesend, whence the captain brought me in his own boat to the Tower. In a short hour after my arrival we had that meeting which, however dreadful at first, will, I now hope, by the good offices of the best of men, whom Heaven for ever bless, end in our perfect happiness, and be a strong instance of what I am persuaded is the surest truth, THAT PROVIDENCE WILL SOONER OR LATER PROCURE46 THE FELICITY OF THE VIRTUOUS47 AND INNOCENT.”
Mrs. Heartfree thus ended her speech, having before delivered to her husband the jewels which the count had robbed him of, and that presented her by the African chief, which last was of immense value. The good magistrate was sensibly touched at her narrative48, as well on the consideration of the sufferings she had herself undergone as for those of her husband, which he had himself been innocently the instrument of bringing upon him. That worthy49 man, however, much rejoiced in what he had already done for his preservation50, and promised to labour with his utmost interest and industry to procure the absolute pardon, rather of his sentence than of his guilt51, which he now plainly discovered was a barbarous and false imputation52.
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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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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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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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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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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solicitation
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| n.诱惑；揽货；恳切地要求；游说 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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10
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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11
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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12
importunate
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| adj.强求的；纠缠不休的 | |
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13
exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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flip
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| vt.快速翻动；轻抛；轻拍；n.轻抛；adj.轻浮的 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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27
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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28
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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29
abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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30
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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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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deviation
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| n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题 | |
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equity
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| n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票 | |
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deposed
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| v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证 | |
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dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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emblematical
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| adj.标志的，象征的，典型的 | |
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39
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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40
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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41
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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42
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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43
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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44
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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45
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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46
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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47
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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48
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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49
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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50
preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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51
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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52
imputation
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| n.归罪，责难 | |
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