Divers1 Stratagems2 are invented and put in practice, in order to overcome the obstinacy5 of Trunnion, who, at length, is teased and tortured into the Noose6 of Wedlock7.
This abrupt8 departure and unkind declaration affected9 Mrs. Grizzle so much, that she fell sick of sorrow and mortification10; and after having confined herself to her bed for three days, sent for her brother, told him she perceived her end drawing near, and desired that a lawyer might be brought, in order to write her last will. Mr. Pickle11, surprised at her demand, began to act the part of a comforter, assuring her that her distemper was not at all dangerous, and that he would instantly send for a physician, who would convince her that she was in no manner of jeopardy12; so that there was no occasion at present to employ any officious attorney in such a melancholy13 task. Indeed, this affectionate brother was of opinion that a will was altogether superfluous14 at any rate, as he himself was heir-in-law to his sister’s whole real and personal estate. But she insisted on his compliance15 with such determined16 obstinacy, that he could no longer resist her importunities; and, a arriving, she dictated17 and executed her will, in which she bequeathed to Commodore Trunnion one thousand pounds, to purchase a mourning ring, which she hoped he would wear as a pledge of her friendship and affection. Her brother, though he did not much relish18 this testimony19 of her love, nevertheless that same evening gave an account of this particular to Mr. Hatchway, who was also, as Mr. Pickle assured him, generously remembered by the testatrix.
The lieutenant20, fraught21 with this piece of intelligence, watched for an opportunity; and as soon as he perceived the commodore’s features a little unbended from that ferocious22 contraction23 they had retained so long, ventured to inform him that Pickle’s sister lay at the point of death, and that she had left him a thousand pounds in her will. This piece of news overwhelmed him with confusion; and Mr. Hatchway, imputing24 his silence to remorse25, resolved to take advantage of that favourable26 moment, and counselled him to go and visit the poor young woman, who was dying for love of him. But his admonition happened to be somewhat unseasonable. Trunnion no sooner heard him mention the cause of her disorder27, than his morosity recurring28, he burst out into a violent fit of cursing, and forthwith betook himself again to his hammock, where he lay, uttering, in a low growling29 tone of voice, a repetition of oaths and imprecations, for the space of four-and-twenty hours, without ceasing. This was a delicious meal to the lieutenant, who, eager to enhance the pleasure of the entertainment, and at the same the conduce to the success of the cause he had espoused30, invented a stratagem3, the execution of which had all the effect he could desire. He prevailed on Pipes, who was devoted31 to his service, to get on the top of the chimney, belonging to the commodore’s chamber32, at midnight, and lower down by a rope a bunch of stinking33 whitings, which being performed, he put a speaking-trumpet to his mouth, and hallooed down the vent4, in a voice like thunder, “Trunnion! Trunnion! turn out and be spliced34, or he still and be d —.”
This dreadful note, the terror of which was increased by the silence and darkness of the night, as well as the cello36 of the passage through which it was conveyed, no sooner reached the ears of the astonished commodore, than turning his eyes towards the place from whence this solemn address seemed to proceed, he beheld37 a glittering object that vanished in an instant. Just as his superstitious38 fear had improved the apparition39 into some supernatural messenger clothed in shining array, his opinion was confirmed by a sudden explosion, which he took for thunder, though it was no other than the noise of a pistol fired down the chimney by the boatswain’s mate, according to the instructions he had received; and he had time enough to descend40 before he was in any danger of being detected by his commodore, who could not for an hour recollect41 himself from the amazement42 and consternation43 which had overpowered his faculties44.
At length, however, he got up, and rang his bell with great agitation45. He repeated the summons more than once; but no regard being paid to this alarm, his dread35 returned with double terror, a cold sweat bedewed his limbs, his knees knocked together, his hair bristled46 up, and the remains47 of his teeth were shattered in pieces in the convulsive vibrations48 of his jaws49.
In the midst of this agony he made one desperate effort, and, bursting open the door of apartment, bolted into Hatchway’s chamber, which happened to be on the same floor. There he found the lieutenant in a counterfeit50 swoon, who pretended to wake from his trance in an ejaculation of “Lord have mercy upon us!” and being questioned by the terrified commodore with regard to what had happened, assured him he had heard the same voice and clap of thunder by which Trunnion himself had been discomposed.
Pipes, whose turn it was to watch, concurred51 in giving evidence to the same purpose; and the commodore not only owned that he had heard the voice, but likewise communicated his vision, with all the aggravation52 which his disturbed fancy suggested.
A consultation53 immediately ensued, in which Mr. Hatchway gravely observed that the finger of Heaven was plainly perceivable in those signals, and that it would be both sinful and foolish to disregard its commands, especially as the match proposed was, in all respects, more advantageous54 than any that one of his years could reasonably expect; declaring that for his own part he would not endanger his soul and body by living one day longer under the same roof with a man who despised the will of Heaven; and Tom Pipes adhered to the same pious55 resolution.
Trunnion’s perseverance56 could not resist the number and diversity of considerations that assaulted it; he revolved57 in silence all the opposite motives58 that occurred to his reflection; and after having been, to all appearance, bewildered in the labyrinth59 of his own thoughts, he wiped the sweat from his forehead, and, heaving a piteous groan60, yielded to their remonstrances61 in these words: “Well, since it must be so, I think we must ev’n grapple. But d — my eyes! ’tis a d — d hard case that a fellow of my years should be compelled, d’ye see, to beat up to windward all the rest of my life against the current of my own inclination62.”
This important article being discussed, Mr. Hatchway set out in the morning to visit the despairing shepherdess, and was handsomely rewarded for the enlivening tidings with which he blessed her ears. Sick as she was, she could not help laughing heartily63 at the contrivance, in consequence of which her swain’s assent64 had been obtained, and gave the lieutenant ten guineas for Tom Pipes, in consideration of the part he acted in the farce65.
In the afternoon the commodore suffered himself to be conveyed to her apartment, like a felon66 to execution, and was received by her in a languishing67 manner, and genteel dishabille, accompanied by her sister-in-law, who was, for very obvious reasons, extremely solicitous68 about her success. Though the lieutenant had tutored him touching69 his behaviour it this interview, he made a thousand wry70 faces before he could pronounce the simple salutation of “How d’ye?” to his mistress; and after his counsellor had urged him with twenty or thirty whispers, to each of which he had replied aloud, “D— your eyes, I won’t,” he got up, and halting towards the couch on which Mrs. Grizzle reclined in a state of strange expectation, he seized her hand and pressed it to his lips; but this piece of gallantry he performed in such a reluctant, uncouth71, indignant manner, that the nymph had need of all her resolution to endure the compliment without shrinking; and he himself was so disconcerted at what he had done, that he instantly retired72 to the other end of the room, where he sat silent, and broiled73 with shame and vexation.
Mrs. Pickle, like a sensible matron, quitted the place, on pretence74 of going to the nursery; and Mr. Hatchway, taking the hint, recollected75 that he had left his tobacco-pouch76 in the parlour, whither he descended77, leaving the two lovers to their mutual78 endearments79. Never had the commodore found himself in such a disagreeable dilemma80 before. He sat in an agony of suspense81, as if he every moment dreaded82 the dissolution of nature; and the imploring83 sighs of his future bride added, if possible, to the pangs84 of his distress85. Impatient of this situation, he rolled his eye around in quest of some relief, and, unable to contain himself, exclaimed, “D— n seize the fellow and his pouch too! I believe he has sheered off, and left me here in the stays.”
Mrs. Grizzle, who could not help taking some notice of this manifestation86 of chagrin87, lamented88 her unhappy fate in being so disagreeable to him, that he could not put up with her company for a few moments without repining; and began in very tender terms to reproach him with his inhumanity and indifference89. To this expostulation he replied, “Zounds! what would the woman have? Let the parson do his office when he wool: here I am ready to be reeved in the matrimonial block, d’ye see, and d — all nonsensical palaver90.” So saying, he retreated, leaving his mistress not at all disobliged at his plain dealing91. That same evening the treaty of marriage was brought upon the carpet, and, by means of Mr. Pickle and the lieutenant, settled to the satisfaction of all parties, without the intervention92 of lawyers, whom Mr. Trunnion expressly excluded from all share in the business; making that condition the indispensable preliminary of the whole agreement. Things being brought to this bearing, Mrs. Grizzle’s heart dilated93 with joy; her health, which, by the bye, was never dangerously impaired94. she recovered as if by enchantment95; and, a day being fixed96 for the nuptials97, employed the short period of her celibacy98 in choosing ornaments99 for the celebration of her entrance into the married state.
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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stratagems
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| n.诡计，计谋( stratagem的名词复数 )；花招 | |
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stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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wedlock
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| n.婚姻，已婚状态 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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pickle
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| n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡 | |
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jeopardy
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| n.危险；危难 | |
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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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superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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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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ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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contraction
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| n.缩略词，缩写式，害病 | |
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imputing
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的现在分词 ) | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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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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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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recurring
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| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
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growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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espoused
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| v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...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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stinking
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| adj.臭的，烂醉的，讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
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spliced
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| adj.（针织品）加固的n.叠接v.绞接( splice的过去式和过去分词 )；捻接（两段绳子）；胶接；粘接（胶片、磁带等） | |
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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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cello
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| n.大提琴 | |
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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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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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counterfeit
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| vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的 | |
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concurred
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| 同意（concur的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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aggravation
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| n.烦恼，恼火 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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farce
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| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
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felon
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| n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的 | |
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languishing
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| a. 衰弱下去的 | |
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solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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wry
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| adj.讽刺的；扭曲的 | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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broiled
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| a.烤过的 | |
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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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recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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endearments
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| n.表示爱慕的话语，亲热的表示( endearment的名词复数 ) | |
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dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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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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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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palaver
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| adj.壮丽堂皇的；n.废话，空话 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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92
intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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93
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
impaired
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| adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
enchantment
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| n.迷惑，妖术，魅力 | |
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96
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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97
nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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98
celibacy
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| n.独身(主义) | |
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99
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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