The two young Gentlemen display their talents for Gallantry, in the course of which they are involved in a ludicrous circumstance of Distress1, and afterwards take Vengeance2 on the Author of their Mishap3.
Meanwhile our hero and his new friend, together with honest Jack4 Hatchway, made daily excursions into the country, visited the gentlemen in the neighbourhood, and frequently accompanied them to the chase; all three being exceedingly caressed5 on account of their talents, which could accommodate themselves with great facility to the tempers and turns of their entertainers. The lieutenant6 was a droll7 in his way, Peregrine possessed8 a great fund of sprightliness9 and good-humour, and Godfrey, among his other qualifications already recited, sang a most excellent song; so that the company of this triumvirate was courted in all parties, whether male or female: and if the hearts of our young gentlemen had not been pre-engaged, they would have met with opportunities in abundance of displaying their address in the art of love: not but that they gave loose to their gallantry without much interesting their affections, and amused themselves with little intrigues10, which, in the opinion of a man of pleasure, do not affect his fidelity11 to the acknowledged sovereign of his soul.
In the midst of these amusements, our hero received an intimation from his sister, that she should be overjoyed to meet him next day, at five o’clock in the afternoon, at the house of her nurse, who lived in a cottage hard by her father’s habitation, she being debarred from all opportunity of seeing him in any other place by the severity of her mother, who suspected her inclination12. He accordingly obeyed the summons, and went at the time appointed to the place of rendezvous13, where be met this affectionate young lady, who when he entered the room, ran towards him with all the eagerness of transport, flung her arms about his neck, and shed a flood of tears in his bosom14 before she could utter one word, except a repetition of My dear, dear brother! He embraced her with all the piety15 of fraternal tenderness, wept over her in his turn, assured her that this was one of the happiest moments of his life, and kindly16 thanked her for having resisted the example, and disobeyed. the injunctions, of his mother’s unnatural17 aversion.
He was ravished to find, by her conversation, that she possessed a great share of sensibility and prudent18 reflection; for she lamented19 the infatuation of her parents with the most filial regret, and expressed such abhorrence20 and concern at the villainous disposition21 of her younger brother as a humane22 sister may be supposed to have entertained. He made her acquainted with all the circumstances of his own fortune; and, as he supposed she spent her time very disagreeably at home, among characters which must be shockingly interesting, professed23 a desire of removing her into some other sphere, where she could live with more tranquility and satisfaction.
She objected to this proposal as an expedient24 that would infallibly subject her to the implacable resentment25 of her mother, whose favour and affection she at present enjoyed but in a very inconsiderable degree; and they had canvassed26 divers27 schemes of corresponding for the future, when the voice of Mrs. Pickle28 was heard at the door. Miss Julia (that was the young lady’s name), finding herself betrayed, was seized with a violent agitation29 of fear; and Peregrine scarce had time to encourage her with a promise of protection, before the door of the apartment being flung open, this irreconcilable30 parent rushed in, and, with a furious aspect, flew directly at her trembling daughter, when, the son interposing, received the first discharge of her fury.
Her eyes gleamed with all the rage of indignation, which choked up her utterance31, and seemed to convulse her whole frame: she twisted her left hand in his hair, and with the other buffeted32 him about the face till the blood gushed33 from his nostrils34 and mouth; while he defended his sister from the cruelty of Gam, who assaulted her from another quarter, seeing his brother engaged. This attack lasted several minutes with great violence, till at length Peregrine, finding himself in danger of being overpowered if he should remain any longer on the defensive35, laid his brother on his back; then he disentangled his mother’s hand from his own hair, and, having pushed her gently out of the room, bolted the door on the inside; finally, turning to Gam, he threw him out at the window, among a parcel of hogs36 that fed under it. By this time Julia was almost quite distracted with terror: she knew she bad offended beyond all hope of forgiveness, and from that moment considered herself as an exile from her father’s house: in vain did her brother strive to console her with fresh protestations of love and protection; she counted herself extremely miserable37 in being obliged to endure the eternal resentment of a parent with whom she had hitherto lived; and dreaded38 the censure39 of the world, which, from her mother’s misrepresentation, she was sensible would condemn40 her unheard. That she might not, however, neglect any means in her power of averting41 this storm, she resolved to appease42, if possible, her mother’s wrath43 with humiliation44, and even appeal to the influence of her father, weak as it was, before she would despair of being forgiven. But the good lady spared her this unnecessary application, by telling her, through the keyhole, that she must never expect to come within her father’s door again; for, from that hour, she renounced45 her as unworthy of her affection and regard. Julia, weeping bitterly, endeavoured to soften46 the rigour of this sentence by the most submissive and reasonable remonstrances47; but as, in her vindication48, she of necessity espoused49 her elder brother’s cause, her endeavours, instead of soothing50, served only to exasperate51 her mother to a higher pitch of indignation, which discharged itself in invectives against Peregrine, whom she reviled52 with the epithets53 of a worthless, abandoned reprobate54.
The youth, hearing these unjust aspersions, trembled with resentment through every limb, assuring the upbraider that he considered her as an object of compassion55; “for without all doubt,” said he, “your diabolical56 rancour must be severely57 punished by the thorns of your own conscience, which this very instant taxes you with the malice58 and falsehood of your reproaches. As for my sister, I bless God that you have not been able to infect her with your unnatural prejudice, which, because she is too just, too virtuous59, too humane to imbibe60, you reject her as an alien to your blood, and turn her out unprovided into a barbarous world. But even there your vicious purpose shall be defeated: that same Providence61, that screened me from the cruelty of your hate, shall extend its protection to her, until I shall find it convenient to assert by law that right of maintenance which Nature, it seems, hath bestowed62 upon us in vain. In the mean time, you will enjoy the satisfaction of paying an undivided attention to that darling son, whose amiable63 qualities have so long engaged and engrossed64 your love and esteem65.”
This freedom of expostulation exalted66 his mother’s ire to mere67 frenzy68: she cursed him with the bitterest imprecations, and raved69 like a bedlamite at the door, which she attempted to burst open. Her efforts were seconded by her favourite son, who denounced vengeance against Peregrine, and made furious assaults against the lock, which resisted all their applications, until our hero espying70 his friends Gauntlet and Pipes stepping over a stile that stood about a furlong from the window, called them to his assistance: giving them to understand how he was besieged71, he desired they would keep off his mother, that he might the more easily secure his sister Julia’s retreat. The young soldier entered accordingly, and, posting, himself between Mrs. Pickle and the door, gave the signal to his friend, who, lifting up his sister in his arms, carried her safe without the clutches of this she-dragon, while Pipes, with his cudgel, kept young master at bay.
The mother, being thus deprived of her prey72, sprang upon Gauntlet like a lioness robbed of her whelps; and he must have suffered sorely in the flesh, had he not prevented her mischievous73 intent by seizing both her wrists, and so keeping her at due distance. In attempting to disengage herself from his grasp, she struggled with such exertion74, and suffered such agony of passion at the same time, that she actually fell into a severe fit, during which she was put to bed, and the confederates retired75 without further molestation76.
In the mean time, Peregrine was not a little perplexed77 about the disposal of his sister, whom he had rescued. He could not endure the thoughts of saddling the commodore with a new expense; and he was afraid of undertaking78 the charge of Julia, without his benefactor’s advice and direction: for the present, however, he carried her to the house of a gentleman in the neighbourhood, whose lady was her godmother, where she was received with great tenderness and condolence; and he purposed to inquire for some creditable house, where she might be genteelly boarded in his absence; resolving to maintain her from the savings79 of his own allowance, which he thought might very well bear such reduction. But this intention was frustrated80 by the publication of the whole affair, which was divulged81 next day, and soon reached the ears of Trunnion, who chid82 his godson for having concealed83 the adventure; and, with the approbation84 of his wife, ordered him to bring Julia forthwith to the garrison85. The young gentleman, with tears of gratitude86 in his eyes, explained his design of maintaining her at his own expense, and earnestly begged that he might not be deprived of that satisfaction. But his uncle was deaf to all his entreaties87, and insisted upon her living in the garrison, though for no other reason than that of being company to her aunt, who, he observed, was lost for want of conversation.
Julia was accordingly brought home, and settled under the tuition of Mrs. Trunnion, who, whatever face she might put on the matter, could have dispensed88 with the society of her niece, though she was not without hope of gratifying her pique89 to Mrs. Pickle, by the intelligence she would receive from the daughter of that lady’s economy and domestic behaviour. The mother herself seemed conscious of this advantage which her sister-in-law had now gained over her, being as much chagrined90 at the news of Julia’s reception in the garrison, as if she had heard of her own husband’s death. She even tortured her invention to propagate calumnies91 against the reputation of her own daughter, whom she slandered92 in all companies; she exclaimed against the commodore as an old ruffian, who spirited up rebellion among her children, and imputed93 the hospitality of his wife, in countenancing94 them, to nothing else but her inveterate95 enmity to their mother, whom they had disobliged. She now insisted, in the most peremptory96 terms, upon her husband’s renouncing97 all commerce with the old lad of the castle and his adherents98; and Mr. Gamaliel, having by this time contracted other friendships, readily submitted to her will; nay99, even refused to communicate with the commodore one night, when they happened to meet by accident at the public-house.
收听单词发音 |
1
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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3
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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4
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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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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sprightliness
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| n.愉快，快活 | |
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intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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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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rendezvous
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| 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 | |
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14
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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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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abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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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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humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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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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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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canvassed
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| v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的过去式和过去分词 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查 | |
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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pickle
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| n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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irreconcilable
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| adj.（指人）难和解的，势不两立的 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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32
buffeted
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| 反复敲打( buffet的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续猛击； 打来打去； 推来搡去 | |
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33
gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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35
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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hogs
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| n.（尤指喂肥供食用的）猪( hog的名词复数 )；（供食用的）阉公猪；彻底地做某事；自私的或贪婪的人 | |
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37
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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38
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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39
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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40
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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41
averting
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| 防止，避免( avert的现在分词 )； 转移 | |
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42
appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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43
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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44
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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45
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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46
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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47
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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48
vindication
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| n.洗冤，证实 | |
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49
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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50
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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51
exasperate
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| v.激怒，使（疾病）加剧，使恶化 | |
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52
reviled
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| v.辱骂，痛斥( revile的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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54
reprobate
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| n.无赖汉；堕落的人 | |
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55
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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56
diabolical
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| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
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57
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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58
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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59
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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60
imbibe
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| v.喝，饮；吸入，吸收 | |
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61
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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62
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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65
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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68
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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69
raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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70
espying
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| v.看到( espy的现在分词 ) | |
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71
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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73
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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75
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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76
molestation
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| n.骚扰，干扰，调戏；折磨 | |
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77
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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80
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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81
divulged
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| v.吐露，泄露( divulge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
chid
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| v.责骂，责备( chide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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84
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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85
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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86
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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87
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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88
dispensed
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| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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89
pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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90
chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
calumnies
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| n.诬蔑，诽谤，中伤（的话）( calumny的名词复数 ) | |
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92
slandered
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| 造谣中伤( slander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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93
imputed
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
countenancing
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| v.支持，赞同，批准( countenance的现在分词 ) | |
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95
inveterate
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| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
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96
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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97
renouncing
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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98
adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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