the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第44章
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prodigy unfit to be received among them on the usual terms of society； and
as vindicating the wisdom of his purpose in withdrawing himself from
among them。 On the faith and sincerity of two persons alone； he seemed
to rely implicitlyon that of his betrothed bride； and of a friend eminently
gifted in personal accomplishments； who seemed； and indeed probably
was； sincerely attached to him。 He ought to have been so at least； for he
was literally loaded with benefits by him whom you are now about to see。
The parents of the subject of my story died within a short space of each
other。 Their death postponed the marriage； for which the day had been
fixed。 The lady did not seem greatly to mourn this delay； perhaps that
was not to have been expected； but she intimated no change of intention；
when； after a decent interval； a second day was named for their union。
The friend of whom I spoke was then a constant resident at the Hall。 In
an evil hour； at the earnest request and entreaty of this friend； they joined a
general party； where men of different political opinions were mingled； and
where they drank deep。 A quarrel ensued； the friend of the Recluse drew
his sword with others； and was thrown down and disarmed by a more
powerful antagonist。 They fell in the struggle at the feet of the Recluse；
who； maimed and truncated as his form appears； possesses； nevertheless；
great strength； as well as violent passions。 He caught up a sword； pierced
the heart of his friend's antagonist； was tried； and his life； with difficulty；
redeemed from justice at the expense of a year's close imprisonment； the
punishment of manslaughter。 The incident affected him most deeply； the
more that the deceased was a man of excellent character； and had
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sustained gross insult and injury ere he drew his sword。 I think； from that
moment； I observedI beg pardonThe fits of morbid sensibility which
had tormented this unfortunate gentleman； were rendered henceforth more
acute by remorse； which he； of all men； was least capable of having
incurred； or of sustaining when it became his unhappy lot。 His
paroxysms of agony could not be concealed from the lady to whom he was
betrothed； and it must be confessed they were of an alarming and fearful
nature。 He comforted himself； that； at the expiry of his imprisonment； he
could form with his wife and friend a society； encircled by which he might
dispense with more extensive communication with the world。 He was
deceived； before that term elapsed； his friend and his betrothed bride were
man and wife。 The effects of a shock so dreadful on an ardent
temperament； a disposition already soured by bitter remorse； and loosened
by the indulgence of a gloomy imagination from the rest of mankind； I
cannot describe to you； it was as if the last cable at which the vessel rode
had suddenly parted； and left her abandoned to all the wild fury of the
tempest。 He was placed under medical restraint。 As a temporary
measure this might have been justifiable； but his hard…hearted friend； who；
in consequence of his marriage； was now his nearest ally； prolonged his
confinement； in order to enjoy the management of his immense estates。
There was one who owed his all to the sufferer； an humble friend； but
grateful and faithful。 By unceasing exertion； and repeated invocation of
justice； he at length succeeded in obtaining his patron's freedom； and
reinstatement in the management of his own property； to which was soon
added that of his intended bride； who having died without male issue； her
estates reverted to him； as heir of entail。 But freedom and wealth were
unable to restore the equipoise of his mind； to the former his grief made
him indifferentthe latter only served him as far as it afforded him the
means of indulging his strange and wayward fancy。 He had renounced
the Catholic religion； but perhaps some of its doctrines continued to
influence a mind； over which remorse and misanthropy now assumed； in
appearance； an unbounded authority。 His life has since been that
alternately of a pilgrim and a hermit； suffering the most severe privations；
not indeed in ascetic devotion； but in abhorrence of mankind。 Yet no
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man's words and actions have been at such a wide difference； nor has any
hypocritical wretch ever been more ingenious in assigning good motives
for his vile actions； than this unfortunate in reconciling to his abstract
principles of misanthropy； a conduct which flows from his natural
generosity and kindness of feeling。〃
〃Still； Mr。 Ratcliffestill you describe the inconsistencies of a
madman。〃
〃By no means；〃 replied Ratcliffe。 〃That the imagination of this
gentleman is disordered； I will not pretend to dispute； I have already told
you that it has sometimes broken out into paroxysms approaching to real
mental alienation。 But it is of his common state of mind that I speak； it is
irregular； but not deranged； the shades are as gradual as those that divide
the light of noonday from midnight。 The courtier who ruins his fortune
for the attainment of a title which can do him no good； or power of which
he can make no suitable or creditable use； the miser who hoards his
useless wealth； and the prodigal who squanders it； are all marked with a
certain shade of insanity。 To criminals who are guilty of enormities；
when the temptation； to a sober mind； bears no proportion to the horror of
the act； or the probability of detection and punishment； the same
observation applies； and every violent passion； as well as anger； may be
termed a short madness。〃
〃This may be all good philosophy； Mr。 Ratcliffe；〃 answered Miss Vere；
〃but； excuse me； it by no means emboldens me to visit； at this late hour； a
person whose extravagance of imagination you yourself can only palliate。〃
〃Rather； then；〃 said Ratcliffe； 〃receive my solemn assurances； that you
do not incur the slightest danger。 But what I have been hitherto afraid to
mention for fear of alarming you is； that now when we are within sight of
his retreat； for I can discover it through the twilight； I must go no farther
with you； you must proceed alone。〃
〃Alone？I dare not。〃
〃You must；〃 continued Ratcliffe； 〃I will remain here and wait for you。〃
〃You will not； then； stir from this place；〃 said Miss Vere 〃yet the
distance is so great； you could not hear me were I to cry for assistance。〃
〃Fear nothing；〃 said her guide； 〃or observe； at least； the utmost caution
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in stifling every expression of timidity。 Remember that his predominant
and most harassing apprehension arises from a consciousness of the
hideousness of his ap
