05-the enemy conquered-第11章

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to　have　battled　against　a　man　who　was　armed　with　deadly　weapons；

and　besides；　he　could　not　resist　the　request　of　such　a　pure　heart。　

Ambulinia　concealed　herself　in　the　upper　story　of　the　house；　fearing

the　rebuke　of　her　father；　the　door　was　locked；　and　no　chastisement

was　now　expected。　　Esquire　Valeer；　whose　pride　was　already　touched；

resolved　to　preserve　the　dignity　of　his　family。　　He　entered　the　house

almost　exhausted；　looking　wildly　for　Ambulinia。　　〃Amazed　and　astonished

indeed　I　am；〃　said　he；　〃at　a　people　who　call　themselves　civilized；

to　allow　such　behavior　as　this。　　Ambulinia；　Ambulinia！〃　he　cried；

〃come　to　the　calls　of　your　first；　your　best；　and　your　only　friend。　

I　appeal　to　you；　sir；〃　turning　to　the　gentleman　of　the　house；

〃to　know　where　Ambulinia　has　gone；　or　where　is　she？〃　　〃Do　you　mean

to　insult　me；　sir；　in　my　own　house？〃　inquired　the　gentleman。　

〃I　will　burst；〃　said　Mr。　V。；　〃asunder　every　door　in　your　dwelling；

in　search　of　my　daughter；　if　you　do　not　speak　quickly；　and　tell　me

where　she　is。　　I　care　nothing　about　that　outcast　rubbish　of　creation；

that　mean；　low…lived　Elfonzo；　if　I　can　but　obtain　Ambulinia。　

Are　you　not　going　to　open　this　door？〃　said　he。　　〃By　the　Eternal

that　made　Heaven　and　earth！　　I　will　go　about　the　work　instantly；

if　this　is　not　done！〃　　The　confused　citizens　gathered　from　all

parts　of　the　village；　to　know　the　cause　of　this　commotion。　

Some　rushed　into　the　house；　the　door　that　was　locked　flew　open；

and　there　stood　Ambulinia；　weeping。　　〃Father；　be　still；〃　said　she；

〃and　I　will　follow　thee　home。〃　　But　the　agitated　man　seized　her；

and　bore　her　off　through　the　gazing　multitude。　　〃Father！〃　she　exclaimed；

〃I　humbly　beg　your　pardonI　will　be　dutifulI　will　obey　thy　commands。　

Let　the　sixteen　years　I　have　lived　in　obedience　to　thee　by　my

future　security。〃　　〃I　don't　like　to　be　always　giving　credit；

when　the　old　score　is　not　paid　up；　madam；〃　said　the　father。　　The　mother

followed　almost　in　a　state　of　derangement；　crying　and　imploring

her　to　think　beforehand；　and　ask　advice　from　experienced　persons；

and　they　would　tell　her　it　was　a　rash　undertaking。　　〃Oh！〃　said　she；

〃Ambulinia；　my　daughter；　did　you　know　what　I　have　suffered

did　you　know　how　many　nights　I　have　whiled　away　in　agony；

in　pain；　and　in　fear；　you　would　pity　the　sorrows　of　a　heartbroken

mother。〃



〃Well；　mother；〃　replied　Ambulinia；　〃I　know　I　have　been　disobedient；

I　am　aware　that　what　I　have　done　might　have　been　done　much　better；

but　oh！　what　shall　I　do　with　my　honor？　it　is　so　dear　to　me；

I　am　pledged　to　Elfonzo。　　His　high　moral　worth　is　certainly　worth

some　attention；　moreover；　my　vows；　I　have　no　doubt；　are　recorded

in　the　book　of　life；　and　must　I　give　these　all　up？　must　my　fair

hopes　be　forever　blasted？　　Forbid　it；　father；　oh！　forbid　it；　mother；

forbid　it；　Heaven。〃　　〃I　have　seen　so　many　beautiful　skies　overclouded；〃

replied　the　mother；　〃so　many　blossoms　nipped　by　the　frost；

that　I　am　afraid　to　trust　you　to　the　care　of　those　fair　days；

which　may　be　interrupted　by　thundering　and　tempestuous　nights。　

You　no　doubt　think　as　I　didlife's　devious　ways　were　strewn　with

sweet…scented　flowers；　but　ah！　how　long　they　have　lingered　around　me

and　took　their　flight　in　the　vivid　hope　that　laughs　at　the　drooping

victims　it　has　murdered。〃　　Elfonzo　was　moved　at　this　sight。　

The　people　followed　on　to　see　what　was　going　to　become　of　Ambulinia；

while　he；　with　downcast　looks；　kept　at　a　distance；　until　he　saw

them　enter　the　abode　of　the　father；　thrusting　her；　that　was　the

sigh　of　his　soul；　out　of　his　presence　into　a　solitary　apartment；

when　she　exclaimed；　〃Elfonzo！　　Elfonzo！　oh；　Elfonzo！　where　art　thou；

with　all　thy　heroes？　haste；　oh！　haste；　come　thou　to　my　relief。　

Ride　on　the　wings　of　the　wind！　　Turn　thy　force　loose　like　a　tempest；

and　roll　on　thy　army　like　a　whirlwind；　over　this　mountain　of　trouble

and　confusion。　　Oh；　friends！　if　any　pity　me；　let　your　last　efforts

throng　upon　the　green　hills；　and　come　to　the　relief　of　Ambulinia；

who　is　guilty　of　nothing　but　innocent　love。〃　　Elfonzo　called　out　with

a　loud　voice；　〃My　God；　can　I　stand　this！　arise　up；　I　beseech　you；

and　put　an　end　to　this　tyranny。　　Come；　my　brave　boys；〃　said　he；

〃are　you　ready　to　go　forth　to　your　duty？〃　　They　stood　around　him。　

〃Who；〃　said　he；　〃will　call　us　to　arms？　　Where　are　my　thunderbolts　of　war？　

Speak　ye；　the　first　who　will　meet　the　foe！　　Who　will　go　forward　with　me

in　this　ocean　of　grievous　temptation？　　If　there　is　one　who　desires

to　go；　let　him　come　and　shake　hands　upon　the　altar　of　devotion；

and　swear　that　he　will　be　a　hero；　yes；　a　Hector　in　a　cause　like　this；

which　calls　aloud　for　a　speedy　remedy。〃　　〃Mine　be　the　deed；〃

said　a　young　lawyer；　〃and　mine　alone；　Venus　alone　shall　quit　her

station　before　I　will　forsake　one　jot　or　tittle　of　my　promise　to　you；

what　is　death　to　me？　what　is　all　this　warlike　army；　if　it　is　not

to　win　a　victory？　　I　love　the　sleep　of　the　lover　and　the　mighty；

nor　would　I　give　it　over　till　the　blood　of　my　enemies　should　wreak

with　that　of　my　own。　　But　God　forbid　that　our　fame　should　soar

on　the　blood　of　the　slumberer。〃　　Mr。　Valeer　stands　at　his　door

with　the　frown　of　a　demon　upon　his　brow；　with　his　dangerous

weapon　ready　to　strike　the　first　man　who　should　enter　his　door。　

〃Who　will　arise　and　go　forward　through　blood　and　carnage　to　the　rescue

of　my　Ambulinia？〃　said　Elfonzo。　　〃All；〃　exclaimed　the　multitude；

and　onward　they　went；　with　their　implements　of　battle。　　Others；　of　a

more　timid　nature；　stood　among　the　distant　hills　to　see　the　result　of

the　contest。



Elfonzo　took　the　lead　of　his　band。　　Night　arose　in　clouds；

darkness　concealed　the　heavens；　but　the　blazing　hopes　that　stimulated

them　gleamed　in　every　bosom。　　All　approached　the　anxious　spot；

they　rushed　to　the　front　of　the　house　and；　with　one　exclamation；

demanded　Ambulinia。　　〃Away；　begone；　and　disturb　my　peace　no　more；〃

said　Mr。　Valeer。　　〃You　are　a　set　of　base；　insolent；　and　infernal　rascals。　

Go；　the　northern　star　points　your　path　through　the　dim　twilight　of

the　night；　go；　and　vent　your　spite　upon　the　lonely　hills；　pour　forth

your　love；　you　poor；　weak…minded　wretch；　upon　your　idleness　and　upon

your　guitar；　and　your　fiddle；　they　are　fit　subjects　for　your　admiration；

for　let　me　assure　you；　though　this　sword　and　iron　lever　are　cankered；

yet　they　frown　in　sleep；　and　let　one　of　you　dare　to　enter　my

house　this　night　and　you　shall　have　the　contents　and　the　weight

of　these　instruments。〃　　〃Never　yet　did　base　dishonor　blur　my　name；〃

said　Elfonzo；　〃mine　is　a　cause　of　renown；　here　are　my　warriors；

fear　and　tremble；　for　this　night；　though　hell　itself　should　oppose；

I　will　endeavor　to　avenge　her　whom　thou　hast　banished　in　solitude。　

The　voice　of　Ambulinia　shall　be　heard　from　that　dark　dungeon。〃　

At　that　moment　Ambulinia　appeared　at　the　window　above；　and　with　a

tremulous　voice　said；　〃Live；　Elfonzo！　oh！　live　to　raise　my　stone

of　moss！　why　should　such　language　enter　your　heart？　why　should　thy

voice　rend　the　air　with　such　agitation？　　I　bid　thee　live；　once　more

remembering　these　tears　of　mine　are　shed　alone　for　thee；　in　this　dark

and　gloomy　vault；　and　should　I　perish　under　this　load　of　trouble；

join　the　song　of　thrilling　accents　with　the　raven　above　my　grave；

and　lay　this　tattered　frame　beside　the　banks　of　the　Chattahoochee

or　the　stream　of　Sawney's　brook；　sweet　will　be　the　song　of　death　to

your　Ambulinia。　　My　ghost　shall　visit　you　in　the　smiles　of　Paradise；

and　tell　your　high　fame　to　the　minds　of　that　region；　which　is　far　more

preferable　than　this　lonely　cell。　　My　heart　shall　speak　for　thee　till

the　latest　hour；　I　know　faint　and　broken　are　the　sounds　of　sorrow；

yet　our　souls；　Elfonzo；　shall　hear　the　peaceful　songs　together。　

One　bright　name　shall　be　ours　on　high；　if　we　are　not　permitted　to　be

united　here；　bear　in　mind　that　I　still　cherish　my　old　sentiments；

and　the　poet　will　mingle　the　names　of　Elfonzo　and　Ambulinia

in　the　tide　of　other　days。〃　　〃Fly；　Elfonzo；　〃　said　the　voices

of　his　unit