05-the enemy conquered-第8章
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F。 No; he will not say so now; because his mouth; I trust; is hushed
in death; and his body stretched to the four winds of heaven;
to be torn to pieces by carnivorous birds。
A。 What; he is dead; and gone to the world of spirits with that
declaration in his mouth? Oh; unhappy man! Oh; insupportable hour!
F。 Yes; and had all his sighs and looks and tears been lives; my great
revenge could have slain them all; without the least condemnation。
A。 Alas! he is ushered into eternity without testing the matter
for which I am abused and sentenced and condemned to die。
F。 Cursed; infernal woman! Weepest thou for him to my face? He that
hath robbed me of my peace; my energy; the whole love of my life?
Could I call the fabled Hydra; I would have him live and perish;
survive and die; until the sun itself would grow dim with age。
I would make him have the thirst of a Tantalus; and roll the
wheel of an Ixion; until the stars of heaven should quit their
brilliant stations。
A。 Oh; invincible God; save me! Oh; unsupportable moment! Oh; heavy
hour! Banish me;; Farcillosend me where no eye can ever see me; where
no sound shall ever great my ear; but; oh; slay me not; Farcillo; vent thy
rage and thy spite upon this emaciated frame of mine; only spare my life。
F。 Your petitions avail nothing; cruel Amelia。
A。 Oh; Farcillo; perpetrate the dark deed tomorrow; let me live
till then; for my past kindness to you; and it may be some kind
angel will show to you that I am not only the object of innocence;
but one who never loved another but your noble self。
F。 Amelia; the decree has gone forth; it is to be done; and that quickly;
thou art to die; madam。
A。 But half an hour allow me; to see my father and my only child;
to tell her the treachery and vanity of this world。
F。 There is no alternative; there is no pause: my daughter shall
not see its deceptive mother die; your father shall not know that his
daughter fell disgraced; despised by all but her enchanting Malos。
A。 Oh; Farcillo; put up thy threatening dagger into its scabbard;
let it rest and be still; just while I say one prayer for thee and
for my child。
F。 It is too late; thy doom is fixed; thou hast not confessed
to Heaven or to me; my child's protectorthou art to die。
Ye powers of earth and heaven; protect and defend me in this alone。
(STABS HER WHILE IMPLORING FOR MERCY。)
A。 Oh; Farcillo; Farcillo; a guiltless death I die。
F。 Die! die! die!
(Gracia enters running; falls on her knees weeping; and kisses Amelia。)
G。 Oh; Farcillo; Farcillo! oh; Farcillo!
F。 I am here; the genius of the age; and the avenger of my wrongs。
G。 Oh; lady; speak once more; sweet Amelia; on; speak again。
Gone; goneyes; forever gone! Farcillo; oh; cold…hearted Farcillo;
some evil fiend hath urged you to do this; Farcillo。
F。 Say not so again; or you shall receive the same fate。 I did
the glorious deed; madambeware; then; how you talk。
G。 I fear not your implements of war; I will let you know you have
not the power to do me harm。 If you have a heart of triple brass;
it shall be reached and melted; and thy blood shall chill thy veins
and grow stiff in thy arteries。 Here is the ring of the virtuous
and innocent murdered Amelia; I obtained it from Malos; who yet lives;
in hopes that he will survive the wound given him; and says he got
it clandestinelydeclares Amelia to be the princess of truth and virtue;
invulnerable to anything like forgetting her first devotion to thee。
The world has heard of your conduct and your jealousy; and with
one universal voice declares her to be the best of all in piety;
that she is the star of this great universe; and a more virtuous
woman never lived since the wheels of time began。 Oh; had you waited
till tomorrow; or until I had returned; some kind window would have
been opened to her relief。 But; alas! she is goneyes; forever gone;
to try the realities of an unknown world!
(Farcillo leaning over the body of Amelia。)
F。 Malos not dead; and here is my ring! Oh; Amelia! falsely murdered!
Oh; bloody deed! Oh; wretch that I am! Oh; angels forgive me! Oh; God;
withhold thy vengeance! Oh; Amelia! if Heaven would make a thousand
worlds like this; set with diamonds; and all of one perfect chrysolite;
I would not have done this for them all; I would not have frowned
and cursed as I did。 Oh; she was heavenly true; nursed in the very
lap of bright angels! Cursed slave that I am! Jealousy; oh! thou
infernal demon! Lost; lost to every sense of honor! Oh! Amelia
heaven…born Ameliadead; dead! Oh! oh! oh!then let me die with
thee。 Farewell! farewell! ye world that deceived me! (STABS HIMSELF。)
Soon after the excitement of this tragical scene was over;
and the enlisted feeling for Amelia had grown more buoyant with
Elfonzo and Ambulinia; he determined to visit his retired home;
and make the necessary improvements to enjoy a better day;
consequently he conveyed the following lines to Ambulinia:
Go tell the world that hope is glowing;
Go bid the rocks their silence break;
Go tell the stars that love is glowing;
Then bid the hero his lover take。
In the region where scarcely the foot of man hath ever trod;
where the woodman hath not found his way; lies a blooming grove;
seen only by the sun when he mounts his lofty throne; visited only
by the light of the stars; to whom are entrusted the guardianship
of earth; before the sun sinks to rest in his rosy bed。 High cliffs
of rocks surround the romantic place; and in the small cavity of
the rocky wall grows the daffodil clear and pure; and as the wind
blows along the enchanting little mountain which surrounds the
lonely spot; it nourishes the flowers with the dew…drops of heaven。
Here is the seat of Elfonzo; darkness claims but little victory over
this dominion; and in vain does she spread out her gloomy wings。
Here the waters flow perpetually; and the trees lash their tops
together to bid the welcome visitor a happy muse。 Elfonzo; during his
short stay in the country; had fully persuaded himself that it was
his duty to bring this solemn matter to an issue。 A duty that he
individually owed; as a gentleman; to the parents of Ambulinia;
a duty in itself involving not only his own happiness and his own
standing in society; but one that called aloud the act of the parties
to make it perfect and complete。 How he should communicate his
intentions to get a favorable reply; he was at a loss to know;
he knew not whether to address Esq。 Valeer in prose or in poetry;
in a jocular or an argumentative manner; or whether he should use
moral suasion; legal injunction; or seizure and take by reprisal;
if it was to do the latter; he would have no difficulty in deciding
in his own mind; but his gentlemanly honor was at stake; so he
concluded to address the following letter to the father and mother
of Ambulinia; as his address in person he knew would only aggravate
the old gentleman; and perhaps his lady。
Cumming; Ga。; January 22; 1844
Mr。 and Mrs。 Valeer
Again I resume the pleasing task of addressing you; and once more beg
an immediate answer to my many salutations。 From every circumstance
that has taken place; I feel in duty bound to comply with my obligations;
to forfeit my word would be more than I dare do; to break my pledge;
and my vows that have been witnessed; sealed; and delivered in the
presence of an unseen Deity; would be disgraceful on my part; as well
as ruinous to Ambulinia。 I wish no longer to be kept in suspense
about this matter。 I wish to act gentlemanly in every particular。
It is true; the promises I have made are unknown to any but Ambulinia;
and I think it unnecessary to here enumerate them; as they who
promise the most generally perform the least。 Can you for a moment
doubt my sincerity or my chara