“I did.”
“And what did you think of it?”
“It filled me with so much amazement1 that I have hardly begun to think.”
“And Bertram never gave a hint of such things!”
“Let us believe they are quite untrue.”
“I hope Bertram is in no danger,” said his sister.
“Heaven forbid!” exclaimed the mother, with unaffected alarm.
“I know not how it is,” said Lady Corisande, “but I frequently feel that some great woe2 is hanging over our country.”
“You must dismiss such thoughts, my child; they are fanciful.”
“But they will come, and when least expected—frequently in church, but also in the sunshine; and when I am riding too, when, once, every thing seemed gay. But now I often think of strife3, and struggle, and war—civil war: the stir of our cavalcade4 seems like the tramp of cavalry5.”
“You indulge your imagination too much, dear Corisande. When you return to London, and enter the world, these anxious thoughts will fly.”
“Is it imagination? I should rather have doubted my being of an imaginative nature. It seems to me that I am rather literal. But I cannot help hearing and reading things, and observing things, and they fill me with disquietude. All seems doubt and change, when it would appear that we require both faith and firmness.”
“The duke is not alarmed about affairs,” said his wife.
“And, if all did their duty like papa, there might be less, or no cause,” said Corisande. “But, when I hear of young nobles, the natural leaders of the land, going over to the Roman Catholic Church, I confess I lose heart and patience. It seems so unpatriotic, so effeminate.”
“It may not be true,” said the duchess.
“It may not be true of him, but it is true of others,” said Lady Corisande. “And why should he escape? He is very young, rather friendless, and surrounded by wily persons. I am disappointed about Bertram too. He ought to have prevented this, if it be true. Bertram seemed to me to have such excellent principles, and so completely to feel that he was born to maintain the great country which his ancestors created, that I indulged in dreams. I suppose you are right, mamma; I suppose I am imaginative without knowing it; but I have, always thought, and hoped, that when the troubles came the country might, perhaps, rally round Bertram.”
“I wish to see Bertram in Parliament,” said the duchess. “That will be the best thing for him. The duke has some plans.”
This conversation had been occasioned by a paragraph in the Morning Post, circulating a rumor6 that a young noble, obviously Lothair, on the impending7 completion of his minority, was about to enter the Roman Church. The duchess and her daughter were sitting in a chamber8 of their northern castle, and speculating on their return to London, which was to take place after the Easter which had just arrived. It was an important social season for Corisande, for she was to be formally introduced into the great world, and to be presented at court.
In the mean while, was there any truth in the report about Lothair?
After their meeting at their lawyer’s, a certain intimacy9 had occurred between the cardinal10 and his ward11. They met again immediately and frequently, and their mutual12 feelings were cordial. The manners of his eminence13 were refined and affectionate; his conversational14 powers were distinguished15; there was not a subject on which his mind did not teem16 with interesting suggestions; his easy knowledge seemed always ready and always full; and whether it were art, or letters, or manners, or even political affairs, Lothair seemed to listen to one of the wisest, most enlightened, and most agreeable of men. There was only one subject on which his eminence seemed scrupulous17 never to touch, and that was religion; or so indirectly18, that it was only when alone that Lothair frequently found himself musing19 over the happy influence on the arts, and morals, and happiness of mankind—of the Church.
In due time, not too soon, but when he was attuned20 to the initiation21, the cardinal presented Lothair to Lady St. Jerome. The impassioned eloquence22 of that lady germinated23 the seed which the cardinal had seemed so carelessly to scatter24. She was a woman to inspire crusaders. Not that she ever: condescended25 to vindicate26 her own particular faith, or spoke27 as if she were conscious that Lothair did not possess it. Assuming that religion was true, for otherwise man would be in a more degraded position than the beasts of the field, which are not aware of their own wretchedness, then religion should be the principal occupation of man, to which all other pursuits should be subservient28. The doom29 of eternity30, and the fortunes of life, cannot be placed in competition. Our days should be pure, and holy, and heroic—full of noble thoughts and solemn sacrifice. Providence31, in its wisdom, had decreed that the world should be divided between the faithful and atheists; the latter even seemed to predominate. There was no doubt that, if they prevailed, all that elevated man would become extinct. It was a great trial; but happy was the man who was privileged even to endure the awful test. It might develop the highest qualities and the most sublime32 conduct. If he were equal to the occasion, and could control and even subdue33 these sons of Korah, he would rank with Michael the Archangel.
This was the text on which frequent discourses34 were delivered to Lothair, and to which he listened at first with eager, and soon with enraptured35 attention. The priestess was worthy36 of the shrine37. Few persons were ever gifted with more natural eloquence: a command of language, choice without being pedantic38; beautiful hands that fluttered with irresistible39 grace; flashing eyes and a voice of melody.
Lothair began to examine himself, and to ascertain40 whether he possessed41 the necessary qualities, and was capable of sublime conduct. His natural modesty42 and his strong religious feeling struggled together. He feared he was not an archangel, and yet he longed to struggle with the powers of darkness.
One day he ventured to express to Miss Arundel a somewhat hopeful view of the future, but Miss Arundel shook her head.
“I do not agree with my aunt, at least as regards this country,” said Miss Arundel; “I think our sins are too great. We left His Church, and God is now leaving us.”
Lothair looked grave, but was silent.
Weeks had passed since his introduction to the family of Lord St. Jerome, and it was remarkable43 how large a portion of his subsequent time had passed under that roof. At first there were few persons in town, and really of these Lothair knew none; and then the house in St. James’s Square was not only an interesting but it was an agreeable house. All Lady St. Jerome’s family connections were persons of much fashion, so there was more variety and entertainment than sometimes are to be found under a Roman Catholic roof. Lady St. Jerome was at home every evening before Easter. Few dames44 can venture successfully on so decided45 a step; but her saloons were always attended, and by “nice people.” Occasionally the cardinal stepped in, and, to a certain degree, the saloon was the rendezvous46 of the Catholic party; but it was also generally social and distinguished. Many bright dames and damsels, and many influential47 men, were there, who little deemed that deep and daring thoughts were there masked by many a gracious countenance48. The social atmosphere infinitely49 pleased Lothair. The mixture of solemn duty and graceful50 diversion, high purposes and charming manners, seemed to realize some youthful dreams of elegant existence. All, too, was enhanced by the historic character of the roof and by the recollection that their mutual ancestors, as Clare Arundel more than once intimated to him, had created England. Having had so many pleasant dinners in St. James’s Square, and spent there so many evening hours, it was not wonderful that Lothair had accepted an invitation from Lord St. Jerome to pass Easter at his country-seat.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
woe
|
|
| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
strife
|
|
| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
cavalcade
|
|
| n.车队等的行列 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
cavalry
|
|
| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
rumor
|
|
| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
impending
|
|
| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
intimacy
|
|
| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
cardinal
|
|
| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
ward
|
|
| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
mutual
|
|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
eminence
|
|
| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
conversational
|
|
| adj.对话的，会话的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
teem
|
|
| vi.(with)充满，多产 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
scrupulous
|
|
| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
indirectly
|
|
| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
musing
|
|
| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
attuned
|
|
| v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
initiation
|
|
| n.开始 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
eloquence
|
|
| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
germinated
|
|
| v.（使）发芽( germinate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
scatter
|
|
| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
condescended
|
|
| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
vindicate
|
|
| v.为…辩护或辩解，辩明；证明…正确 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
subservient
|
|
| adj.卑屈的，阿谀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
doom
|
|
| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
eternity
|
|
| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
sublime
|
|
| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
subdue
|
|
| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
discourses
|
|
| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
enraptured
|
|
| v.使狂喜( enrapture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
shrine
|
|
| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
pedantic
|
|
| adj.卖弄学问的；迂腐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
ascertain
|
|
| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
modesty
|
|
| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
dames
|
|
| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
rendezvous
|
|
| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
influential
|
|
| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
infinitely
|
|
| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |