05-the enemy conquered-第12章

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and　the　poet　will　mingle　the　names　of　Elfonzo　and　Ambulinia

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

of　his　united　band；　〃to　the　wounded　heart　of　your　beloved。　

All　enemies　shall　fall　beneath　thy　sword。　　Fly　through　the　clefts；

and　the　dim　spark　shall　sleep　in　death。〃　　Elfonzo　rushes　forward

and　strikes　his　shield　against　the　door；　which　was　barricaded；

to　prevent　any　intercourse。　　His　brave　sons　throng　around　him。　

The　people　pour　along　the　streets；　both　male　and　female；　to　prevent　or

witness　the　melancholy　scene。



〃To　arms；　to　arms！〃　cried　Elfonzo；　〃here　is　a　victory　to　be　won；

a　prize　to　be　gained　that　is　more　to　me　that　the　whole　world　beside。〃　

〃It　cannot　be　done　tonight；〃　said　Mr。　Valeer。　　〃I　bear　the　clang

of　death；　my　strength　and　armor　shall　prevail。　　My　Ambulinia　shall

rest　in　this　hall　until　the　break　of　another　day；　and　if　we　fall；

we　fall　together。　　If　we　die；　we　die　clinging　to　our　tattered　rights；

and　our　blood　alone　shall　tell　the　mournful　tale　of　a　murdered

daughter　and　a　ruined　father。〃　　Sure　enough；　he　kept　watch　all　night；

and　was　successful　in　defending　his　house　and　family。　　The　bright

morning　gleamed　upon　the　hills；　night　vanished　away；　the　Major

and　his　associates　felt　somewhat　ashamed　that　they　had　not　been　as

fortunate　as　they　expected　to　have　been；　however；　they　still　leaned

upon　their　arms　in　dispersed　groups；　some　were　walking　the　streets；

others　were　talking　in　the　Major's　behalf。　　Many　of　the　citizen

suspended　business；　as　the　town　presented　nothing　but　consternation。　

A　novelty　that　might　end　in　the　destruction　of　some　worthy

and　respectable　citizens。　　Mr。　Valeer　ventured　in　the　streets；

though　not　without　being　well　armed。　　Some　of　his　friends　congratulated

him　on　the　decided　stand　he　had　taken；　and　hoped　he　would　settle

the　matter　amicably　with　Elfonzo；　without　any　serious　injury。　

〃Me；〃　he　replied；　〃what；　me；　condescend　to　fellowship　with　a　coward；

and　a　low…lived；　lazy；　undermining　villain？　no；　gentlemen；　this　cannot　be；

I　had　rather　be　borne　off；　like　the　bubble　upon　the　dark　blue　ocean；

with　Ambulinia　by　my　side；　than　to　have　him　in　the　ascending

or　descending　line　of　relationship。　　Gentlemen；〃　continued　he；

〃if　Elfonzo　is　so　much　of　a　distinguished　character；　and　is　so

learned　in　the　fine　arts；　why　do　you　not　patronize　such　men？　why

not　introduce　him　into　your　families；　as　a　gentleman　of　taste

and　of　unequaled　magnanimity？　why　are　you　so　very　anxious　that　he

should　become　a　relative　of　mine？　　Oh；　gentlemen；　I　fear　you　yet

are　tainted　with　the　curiosity　of　our　first　parents；　who　were

beguiled　by　the　poisonous　kiss　of　an　old　ugly　serpent；　and　who；

for　one　APPLE；　DAMNED　all　mankind。　　I　wish　to　divest　myself；　as　far

as　possible；　of　that　untutored　custom。　　I　have　long　since　learned

that　the　perfection　of　wisdom；　and　the　end　of　true　philosophy；

is　to　proportion　our　wants　to　our　possessions；　our　ambition　to

our　capacities；　we　will　then　be　a　happy　and　a　virtuous　people。〃　

Ambulinia　was　sent　off　to　prepare　for　a　long　and　tedious　journey。　

Her　new　acquaintances　had　been　instructed　by　her　father　how　to　treat　her；

and　in　what　manner；　and　to　keep　the　anticipated　visit　entirely　secret。　

Elfonzo　was　watching　the　movements　of　everybody；　some　friends

had　told　him　of　the　plot　that　was　laid　to　carry　off　Ambulinia。　

At　night；　he　rallied　some　two　or　three　of　his　forces；　and　went

silently　along　to　the　stately　mansion；　a　faint　and　glimmering　light

showed　through　the　windows；　lightly　he　steps　to　the　door；　there　were

many　voices　rallying　fresh　in　fancy's　eye；　he　tapped　the　shutter；

it　was　opened　instantly；　and　he　beheld　once　more；　seated　beside

several　ladies；　the　hope　of　all　his　toils；　he　rushed　toward　her；

she　rose　from　her　seat；　rejoicing；　he　made　one　mighty　grasp；

when　Ambulinia　exclaimed；　〃Huzza　for　Major　Elfonzo！　　I　will　defend

myself　and　you；　too；　with　this　conquering　instrument　I　hold　in　my　hand；

huzza；　I　say；　I　now　invoke　time's　broad　wing　to　shed　around　us　some

dewdrops　of　verdant　spring。〃



But　the　hour　had　not　come　for　this　joyous　reunion；　her　friends

struggled　with　Elfonzo　for　some　time；　and　finally　succeeded

in　arresting　her　from　his　hands。　　He　dared　not　injure　them；

because　they　were　matrons　whose　courage　needed　no　spur；

she　was　snatched　from　the　arms　of　Elfonzo；　with　so　much　eagerness；

and　yet　with　such　expressive　signification；　that　he　calmly　withdrew

from　this　lovely　enterprise；　with　an　ardent　hope　that　he　should　be

lulled　to　repose　by　the　zephyrs　which　whispered　peace　to　his　soul。　

Several　long　days　and　night　passed　unmolested；　all　seemed　to　have

grounded　their　arms　of　rebellion；　and　no　callidity　appeared　to　be

going　on　with　any　of　the　parties。　　Other　arrangements　were　made

by　Ambulinia；　she　feigned　herself　to　be　entirely　the　votary　of　a

mother's　care；　and　she；　by　her　graceful　smiles；　that　manhood　might

claim　his　stern　dominion　in　some　other　region；　where　such　boisterous

love　was　not　so　prevalent。　　This　gave　the　parents　a　confidence

that　yielded　some　hours　of　sober　joy；　they　believed　that　Ambulinia

would　now　cease　to　love　Elfonzo；　and　that　her　stolen　affections

would　now　expire　with　her　misguided　opinions。　　They　therefore

declined　the　idea　of　sending　her　to　a　distant　land。　　But　oh！　they

dreamed　not　of　the　rapture　that　dazzled　the　fancy　of　Ambulinia；

who　would　say；　when　alone；　youth　should　not　fly　away　on　his　rosy

pinions；　and　leave　her　to　grapple　in　the　conflict　with　unknown　admirers。





No　frowning　age　shall　control



The　constant　current　of　my　soul；



Nor　a　tear　from　pity's　eye



Shall　check　my　sympathetic　sigh。





With　this　resolution　fixed　in　her　mind；　one　dark　and　dreary　night；

when　the　winds　whistled　and　the　tempest　roared；　she　received　intelligence

that　Elfonzo　was　then　waiting；　and　every　preparation　was　then　ready；

at　the　residence　of　Dr。　Tully；　and　for　her　to　make　a　quick　escape

while　the　family　was　reposing。　　Accordingly　she　gathered　her　books；

went　the　wardrobe　supplied　with　a　variety　of　ornamental　dressing；

and　ventured　alone　in　the　streets　to　make　her　way　to　Elfonzo；

who　was　near　at　hand；　impatiently　looking　and　watching　her　arrival。　

〃What　forms；〃　said　she；　〃are　those　rising　before　me？　　What　is

that　dark　spot　on　the　clouds？　　I　do　wonder　what　frightful　ghost

that　is；　gleaming　on　the　red　tempest？　　Oh；　be　merciful　and　tell　me

what　region　you　are　from。　　Oh；　tell　me；　ye　strong　spirits；　or　ye

dark　and　fleeting　clouds；　that　I　yet　have　a　friend。〃　　〃A　friend；〃

said　a　low；　whispering　voice。　　〃I　am　thy　unchanging；　thy　aged；

and　thy　disappointed　mother。　　Why　brandish　in　that　hand　of　thine

a　javelin　of　pointed　steel？　　Why　suffer　that　lip　I　have　kissed

a　thousand　times　to　equivocate？　　My　daughter；　let　these　tears　sink

deep　into　thy　soul；　and　no　longer　persist　in　that　which　may　be　your

destruction　and　ruin。　　Come；　my　dear　child；　retract　your　steps；

and　bear　me　company　to　your　welcome　home。〃　　Without　one　retorting　word；

or　frown　from　her　brow；　she　yielded　to　the　entreaties　of　her　mother；

and　with　all　the　mildness　of　her　former　character　she　went　along

with　the　silver　lamp　of　age；　to　the　home　of　candor　and　benevolence。　

Her　father　received　her　cold　and　formal　politeness〃Where　has

Ambulinia　been；　this　blustering　evening；　Mrs。　Valeer？〃　inquired　he。　

〃Oh；　she　and　I　have　been　taking　a　solitary　walk；〃　said　the　mother；

〃all　things；　I　presume；　are　now　working　for　the　best。〃



Elfonzo　heard　this　news　shortly　after　it　happened。　　〃What；〃　said　he；

〃has　heaven　and　earth　turned　against　me？　　I　have　been　disappointed

times　without　number。　　Shall　I　despair？must　I　give　it　over？　

Heaven's　decrees　will　not　fade；　I　will　write　againI　will　try　again；

and　if　it　traverses　a　gory　field；　I　pray　forgiveness　at　the　altar

of　justice。〃







Desolate　Hill；　Cumming；　Geo。；　1844。



Unconquered　and　Beloved　Ambulinia



I　have　only　time　to　say　to　you；　not　to　despair；　thy　fame　shall

not　perish；　my　visions　are　brightening