05-the enemy conquered-第5章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



conscience　leads　you；　for　you　know　I　respect　the　conscience　of　others；

as　I　would　die　for　my　own。　　Elfonzo；　if　I　am　worthy　of　thy　love；

let　such　conversation　never　again　pass　between　us。　　Go；　seek　a　nobler

theme！　we　will　seek　it　in　the　stream　of　time　as　the　sun　set　in

the　Tigris。〃　　As　she　spake　these　words　she　grasped　the　hand　of　Elfonzo；

saying　at　the　same　time；　〃Peace　and　prosperity　attend　you；　my　hero：　

be　up　and　doing！'　　Closing　her　remarks　with　this　expression；

she　walked　slowly　away；　leaving　Elfonzo　astonished　and　amazed。　

He　ventured　not　to　follow　or　detain　her。　　Here　he　stood　alone；

gazing　at　the　stars；　confounded　as　he　was；　here　he　stood。　　The　rippling

stream　rolled　on　at　his　feet。　　Twilight　had　already　begun　to　draw

her　sable　mantle　over　the　earth；　and　now　and　then　the　fiery　smoke

would　ascend　from　the　little　town　which　lay　spread　out　before　him。　

The　citizens　seemed　to　be　full　of　life　and　good…humor；　but　poor　Elfonzo

saw　not　a　brilliant　scene。　　No；　his　future　life　stood　before　him；

stripped　of　the　hopes　that　once　adorned　all　his　sanguine　desires。　

〃Alas！〃　said　he；　〃am　I　now　Grief's　disappointed　son　at　last。〃　

Ambulinia's　image　rose　before　his　fancy。　　A　mixture　of　ambition

and　greatness　of　soul　moved　upon　his　young　heart；　and　encouraged

him　to　bear　all　his　crosses　with　the　patience　of　a　Job；

notwithstanding　he　had　to　encounter　with　so　many　obstacles。　

He　still　endeavored　to　prosecute　his　studies；　and　reasonable

progressed　in　his　education。　　Still；　he　was　not　content；　there　was

something　yet　to　be　done　before　his　happiness　was　complete。　

He　would　visit　his　friends　and　acquaintances。　　They　would　invite　him

to　social　parties；　insisting　that　he　should　partake　of　the　amusements

that　were　going　on。　　This　he　enjoyed　tolerably　well。　　The　ladies

and　gentlemen　were　generally　well　pleased　with　the　Major；　as　he

delighted　all　with　his　violin；　which　seemed　to　have　a　thousand　chords

more　symphonious　than　the　Muses　of　Apollo　and　more　enchanting

than　the　ghost　of　the　Hills。　　He　passed　some　days　in　the　country。　

During　that　time　Leos　had　made　many　calls　upon　Ambulinia；　who　was

generally　received　with　a　great　deal　of　courtesy　by　the　family。　

They　thought　him　to　be　a　young　man　worthy　of　attention；　though　he

had　but　little　in　his　soul　to　attract　the　attention　or　even　win

the　affections　of　her　whose　graceful　manners　had　almost　made

him　a　slave　to　every　bewitching　look　that　fell　from　her　eyes。　

Leos　made　several　attempts　to　tell　her　of　his　fair　prospects

how　much　he　loved　her；　and　how　much　it　would　add　to　his　bliss　if　he

could　but　think　she　would　be　willing　to　share　these　blessings

with　him；　but；　choked　by　his　undertaking；　he　made　himself　more　like　an

inactive　drone　than　he　did　like　one　who　bowed　at　beauty's　shrine。



Elfonzo　again　wends　his　way　to　the　stately　walls　and　new…built　village。　

He　now　determines　to　see　the　end　of　the　prophesy　which　had　been

foretold　to　him。　　The　clouds　burst　from　his　sight；　he　believes

if　he　can　but　see　his　Ambulinia；　he　can　open　to　her　view　the　bloody

altars　that　have　been　misrepresented　to　stigmatize　his　name。　

He　knows　that　her　breast　is　transfixed　with　the　sword　of　reason；

and　ready　at　all　times　to　detect　the　hidden　villainy　of　her　enemies。　

He　resolves　to　see　her　in　her　own　home；　with　the　consoling　theme：　

〃'I　can　but　perish　if　I　go。'　　Let　the　consequences　be　what　they　may；〃

said　he；　〃if　I　die；　it　shall　be　contending　and　struggling　for　my

own　rights。〃



Night　had　almost　overtaken　him　when　he　arrived　in　town。　　Colonel　Elder；

a　noble…hearted；　high…minded；　and　independent　man；　met　him　at

his　door　as　usual；　and　seized　him　by　the　hand。　　〃Well；　Elfonzo；〃

said　the　Colonel；　〃how　does　the　world　use　you　in　your　efforts？〃　

〃I　have　no　objection　to　the　world；〃　said　Elfonzo；　〃but　the　people

are　rather　singular　in　some　of　their　opinions。〃　　〃Aye；　well；〃

said　the　Colonel；　〃you　must　remember　that　creation　is　made　up　of

many　mysteries；　just　take　things　by　the　right　handle；　be　always　sure

you　know　which　is　the　smooth　side　before　you　attempt　your　polish；

be　reconciled　to　your　fate；　be　it　what　it　may；　and　never　find　fault

with　your　condition；　unless　your　complaining　will　benefit　it。　

Perseverance　is　a　principle　that　should　be　commendable　in　those　who　have

judgment　to　govern　it。　　I　should　never　had　been　so　successful　in　my

hunting　excursions　had　I　waited　till　the　deer；　by　some　magic　dream；

had　been　drawn　to　the　muzzle　of　the　gun　before　I　made　an　attempt　to　fire

at　the　game　that　dared　my　boldness　in　the　wild　forest。　　The　great

mystery　in　hunting　seems　to　bea　good　marksman；　a　resolute　mind；

a　fixed　determination；　and　my　world　for　it；　you　will　never　return

home　without　sounding　your　horn　with　the　breath　of　a　new　victory。　

And　so　with　every　other　undertaking。　　Be　confident　that　your　ammunition

is　of　the　right　kindalways　pull　your　trigger　with　a　steady　hand；

and　so　soon　as　you　perceive　a　calm；　touch　her　off；　and　the　spoils

are　yours。〃



This　filled　him　with　redoubled　vigor；　and　he　set　out　with　a　stronger

anxiety　than　ever　to　the　home　of　Ambulinia。　　A　few　short　steps　soon

brought　him　to　the　door；　half　out　of　breath。　　He　rapped　gently。　

Ambulinia；　who　sat　in　the　parlor　alone；　suspecting　Elfonzo　was　near；

ventured　to　the　door；　opened　it；　and　beheld　the　hero；　who　stood

in　an　humble　attitude；　bowed　gracefully；　and　as　they　caught　each

other's　looks　the　light　of　peace　beamed　from　the　eyes　of　Ambulinia。　

Elfonzo　caught　the　expression；　a　halloo　of　smothered　shouts　ran

through　every　vein；　and　for　the　first　time　he　dared　to　impress　a　kiss

upon　her　cheek。　　The　scene　was　overwhelming；　had　the　temptation

been　less　animating；　he　would　not　have　ventured　to　have　acted

so　contrary　to　the　desired　wish　of　his　Ambulinia；　but　who　could

have　withstood　the　irrestistable　temptation！　　What　society　condemns

the　practice　but　a　cold；　heartless；　uncivilized　people　that　know

nothing　of　the　warm　attachments　of　refined　society？　　Here　the　dead

was　raised　to　his　long…cherished　hopes；　and　the　lost　was　found。　

Here　all　doubt　and　danger　were　buried　in　the　vortex　of　oblivion；

sectional　differences　no　longer　disunited　their　opinions；　like　the　freed

bird　from　the　cage；　sportive　claps　its　rustling　wings；　wheels　about

to　heaven　in　a　joyful　strain；　and　raises　its　notes　to　the　upper　sky。　

Ambulinia　insisted　upon　Elfonzo　to　be　seated；　and　give　her　a　history

of　his　unnecessary　absence；　assuring　him　the　family　had　retired；

consequently　they　would　ever　remain　ignorant　of　his　visit。　

Advancing　toward　him；　she　gave　a　bright　display　of　her　rosy　neck；

and　from　her　head　the　ambrosial　locks　breathed　divine　fragrance；

her　robe　hung　waving　to　his　view；　while　she　stood　like　a　goddess

confessed　before　him。



〃It　does　seem　to　me；　my　dear　sir；〃　said　Ambulinia；　〃that　you　have

been　gone　an　age。　　Oh；　the　restless　hours　I　have　spent　since　I　last

saw　you；　in　yon　beautiful　grove。　　There　is　where　I　trifled　with　your

feelings　for　the　express　purpose　of　trying　your　attachment　for　me。　

I　now　find　you　are　devoted；　but　ah！　　I　trust　you　live　not　unguarded

by　the　powers　of　Heaven。　　Though　oft　did　I　refuse　to　join　my　hand

with　thine；　and　as　oft　did　I　cruelly　mock　thy　entreaties　with

borrowed　shapes：　　yes；　I　feared　to　answer　thee　by　terms；　in　words

sincere　and　undissembled。　　O！　could　I　pursue；　and　you　have　leisure

to　hear　the　annals　of　my　woes；　the　evening　star　would　shut　Heaven's

gates　upon　the　impending　day　before　my　tale　would　be　finished；

and　this　night　would　find　me　soliciting　your　forgiveness。〃



〃Dismiss　thy　fears　and　thy　doubts；〃　replied　Elfonzo。



〃Look；　O！　look：　　that　angelic　look　of　thinebathe　not　thy　visage

in　tears；　banish　those　floods　that　are　gathering；　let　my　confession

and　my　presence　being　thee　some　relief。〃　　〃Then；　indeed；　I　will

be　cheerful；〃　said　Ambulinia；　〃and　I　think　if　we　will　go　to　the

exhibition　this　evening；　we　certainly　will　see　something　worthy

of　our　attention。　　One　of　the　most　tragical　scenes　is　to　be　acted

that