05-the enemy conquered-第4章

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The　nearer　he　approached　the　spot；　the　more　anxious　he　became。　

At　the　moment　a　tall　female　figure　flitted　across　his　path；　with　a

bunch　of　roses　in　her　hand；　her　countenance　showed　uncommon　vivacity；

with　a　resolute　spirit；　her　ivory　teeth　already　appeared　as　she

smiled　beautifully；　promenadingwhile　her　ringlets　of　hair　dangled

unconsciously　around　her　snowy　neck。　　Nothing　was　wanting　to　complete

her　beauty。　　The　tinge　of　the　rose　was　in　full　bloom　upon　her　cheek；

the　charms　of　sensibility　and　tenderness　were　always　her　associates。。

In　Ambulinia's　bosom　dwelt　a　noble　soulone　that　never　faded

one　that　never　was　conquered。　　Her　heart　yielded　to　no　feeling

but　the　love　of　Elfonzo；　on　whom　she　gazed　with　intense　delight；

and　to　whom　she　felt　herself　more　closely　bound　；because　he　sought

the　hand　of　no　other。　　Elfonzo　was　roused　from　his　apparent　reverie。　

His　books　no　longer　were　his　inseparable　companionshis　thoughts

arrayed　themselves　to　encourage　him　in　the　field　of　victory。　

He　endeavored　to　speak　to　his　supposed　Ambulinia；　but　his　speech

appeared　not　in　words。　　No；　his　effort　was　a　stream　of　fire；

that　kindled　his　soul　into　a　flame　of　admiration；　and　carried

his　senses　away　captive。　　Ambulinia　had　disappeared；　to　make　him

more　mindful　of　his　duty。　　As　she　walked　speedily　away　through

the　piny　woods　she　calmly　echoed：　　〃O！　　Elfonzo；　thou　wilt

now　look　from　thy　sunbeams。　　Thou　shalt　now　walk　in　a　new　path

perhaps　thy　way　leads　through　darkness；　but　fear　not；　the　stars

foretell　happiness。〃



Not　many　days　afterward；　as　surrounded　by　fragrant　flowers　she　sat

one　evening　at　twilight；　to　enjoy　the　cool　breeze　that　whispered

notes　of　melody　along　the　distant　groves；　the　little　birds　perched

on　every　side；　as　if　to　watch　the　movements　of　their　new　visitor。　

The　bells　were　tolling　when　Elfonzo　silently　stole　along　by　the　wild

wood　flowers；　holding　in　his　hand　his　favorite　instrument　of　music

his　eye　continually　searching　for　Ambulinia；　who　hardly　seemed

to　perceive　him；　as　she　played　carelessly　with　the　songsters

that　hopped　from　branch　to　branch。　　Nothing　could　be　more　striking

than　the　difference　between　the　two。　　Nature　seemed　to　have　given

the　more　tender　soul　to　Elfonzo；　and　the　stronger　and　more　courageous

to　Ambulinia。　　A　deep　feeling　spoke　from　the　eyes　of　Elfonzo

such　a　feeling　as　can　only　be　expressed　by　those　who　are　blessed

as　admirers；　and　by　those　who　are　able　to　return　the　same　with

sincerity　of　heart。　　He　was　a　few　years　older　than　Ambulinia：　

she　had　turned　a　little　into　her　seventeenth。　　He　had　almost　grown

up　in　the　Cherokee　country；　with　the　same　equal　proportions　as　one

of　the　natives。　　But　little　intimacy　had　existed　between　them　until

the　year　forty…onebecause　the　youth　felt　that　the　character　of　such

a　lovely　girl　was　too　exalted　to　inspire　any　other　feeling　than

that　of　quiet　reverence。　　But　as　lovers　will　not　always　be　insulted；

at　all　times　and　under　all　circumstances；　by　the　frowns　and　cold

looks　of　crabbed　old　age；　which　should　continually　reflect　dignity

upon　those　around；　and　treat　unfortunate　as　well　as　the　fortunate

with　a　graceful　mien；　he　continued　to　use　diligence　and　perseverance。　

All　this　lighted　a　spark　in　his　heart　that　changed　his　whole　character；

and　like　the　unyielding　Deity　that　follows　the　storm　to　check　its

rage　in　the　forest；　he　resolves　for　the　first　time　to　shake　off

his　embarrassment　and　return　where　he　had　before　only　worshiped。



It　could　not　escape　Ambulinia's　penetrating　eye　that　he　sought

an　interview　with　her；　which　she　as　anxiously　avoided；　and　assumed

a　more　distant　calmness　than　before；　seemingly　to　destroy　all　hope。　

After　many　efforts　and　struggles　with　his　own　person；　with　timid

steps　the　Major　approached　the　damsel；　with　the　same　caution

as　he　would　have　done　in　a　field　of　battle。　　〃Lady　Ambulinia；〃

said　he；　trembling；　〃I　have　long　desired　a　moment　like　this。　

I　dare　not　let　it　escape。　　I　fear　the　consequences；　yet　I　hope

your　indulgence　will　at　least　hear　my　petition。　　Can　you　not

anticipate　what　I　would　say；　and　what　I　am　about　to　express？　

Will　not　you；　like　Minerva；　who　sprung　from　the　brain　of　Jupiter；

release　me　from　thy　winding　chains　or　cure　me〃　〃Say　no　more；

Elfonzo；〃　answered　Ambulinia；　with　a　serious　look；　raising　her　hand

as　if　she　intended　to　swear　eternal　hatred　against　the　whole　world；

〃another　lady　in　my　place　would　have　perhaps　answered　your　question

in　bitter　coldness。　　I　know　not　the　little　arts　of　my　sex。　

I　care　but　little　for　the　vanity　of　those　who　would　chide　me；

and　am　unwilling　as　well　as　shamed　to　be　guilty　of　anything

that　would　lead　you　to　think　'all　is　not　gold　that　glitters'；

so　be　not　rash　in　your　resolution。　　It　is　better　to　repent　now　than

to　do　it　in　a　more　solemn　hour。　　Yes；　I　know　what　you　would　say。　

I　know　you　have　a　costly　gift　for　methe　noblest　that　man　can　make

YOUR　HEART！　you　should　not　offer　it　to　one　so　unworthy。　

Heaven；　you　know；　has　allowed　my　father's　house　to　be　made　a　house

of　solitude；　a　home　of　silent　obedience；　which　my　parents　say

is　more　to　be　admired　than　big　names　and　high…sounding　titles。　

Notwithstanding　all　this；　let　me　speak　the　emotions　of　an　honest　heart；

allow　me　to　say　in　the　fullness　of　my　hopes　that　I　anticipate

better　days。　　The　bird　may　stretch　its　wings　toward　the　sun；

which　it　can　never　reach；　and　flowers　of　the　field　appear　to

ascend　in　the　same　direction；　because　they　cannot　do　otherwise；

but　man　confides　his　complaints　to　the　saints　in　whom　he　believes；

for　in　their　abodes　of　light　they　know　no　more　sorrow。　　From　your

confession　and　indicative　looks；　I　must　be　that　person；　if　so；

deceive　not　yourself。〃



Elfonzo　replied；　〃Pardon　me；　my　dear　madam；　for　my　frankness。　

I　have　loved　you　from　my　earliest　days；　everything　grand　and　beautiful

hath　borne　the　image　of　Ambulinia；　while　precipices　on　every　hand

surrounded　me；　your　GUARDIAN　ANGEL　stood　and　beckoned　me　away　from

the　deep　abyss。　　In　every　trial；　in　every　misfortune；　I　have　met

with　your　helping　hand；　yet　I　never　dreamed　or　dared　to　cherish

thy　love　till　a　voice　impaired　with　age　encouraged　the　cause；

and　declared　they　who　acquired　thy　favor　should　win　a　victory。　

I　saw　how　Leos　worshipped　thee。　　I　felt　my　own　unworthiness。　

I　began　to　KNOW　JEALOUSYa　strong　guest；　indeed；　in　my　bosom

yet　I　could　see　if　I　gained　your　admiration　Leos　was　to　be　my　rival。　

I　was　aware　that　he　had　the　influence　of　your　parents；　and　the　wealth

of　a　deceased　relative；　which　is　too　often　mistaken　for　permanent

and　regular　tranquillity；　yet　I　have　determined　by　your　permission

to　beg　an　interest　in　your　prayersto　ask　you　to　animate　my　dropping

spirits　by　your　smiles　and　your　winning　looks；　for　if　you　but　speak

I　shall　be　conqueror；　my　enemies　shall　stagger　like　Olympus　shakes。　

And　though　earth　and　sea　may　tremble；　and　the　charioteer　of　the　sun

may　forget　his　dashing　steed；　yet　I　am　assured　that　it　is　only

to　arm　me　with　divine　weapons　which　will　enable　me　to　complete　my

long…tried　intention。〃



〃Return　to　your　self；　Elfonzo；〃　said　Ambulinia；　pleasantly；　〃a　dream

of　vision　has　disturbed　your　intellect；　you　are　above　the　atmosphere；

dwelling　in　the　celestial　regions；　nothing　is　there　that　urges

or　hinders；　nothing　that　brings　discord　into　our　present　litigation。　

I　entreat　you　to　condescend　a　little；　and　be　a　man；　and　forget　it　all。　

When　Homer　describes　the　battle　of　the　gods　and　noble　men　fighting

with　giants　and　dragons；　they　represent　under　this　image　our　struggles

with　the　delusions　of　our　passions。　　You　have　exalted　me；　an　unhappy　girl；

to　the　skies；　you　have　called　me　a　saint；　and　portrayed　in　your

imagination　an　angel　in　human　form。　　Let　her　remain　such　to　you；

let　her　continue　to　be　as　you　have　supposed；　and　be　assured　that　she

will　consider　a　share　in　your　esteem　as　her　highest　treasure。　

Think　not　that　I　would　allure　you　from　the　path　in　which　your

conscience　leads　you；　for　you　know　I　respect　the　con