nisida-第4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！


observation；　〃O　laziness；　but　for　the　sin　of　Adam　you　would　be　a
virtue！〃

The　young　girl　could　not　close　her　eyes　during　the　whole　night　after
the　conversation　that　she　had　held　with　the　stranger。　　His　sudden
appearance；　his　strange　dress　and　odd　speech；　had　awakened　in　her　an
uncertain　feeling　that　had　been　lying　asleep　in　the　bottom　of　her
heart。　　She　was　at　this　time　in　all　the　vigour　of　her　youth　and　of
her　resplendent　beauty。　　Nisida　was　not　one　of　the　weak　and　timid
natures　that　are　broken　by　suffering　or　domineered　over　by　tyranny。
Far　otherwise：　everything　around　her　had　contributed　towards　shaping
for　her　a　calm　and　serene　destiny；　her　simple；　tender　soul　had
unfolded　in　an　atmosphere　of　peace　and　happiness。　　If　she　had　not
hitherto　loved；　it　was　the　fault；　not　of　her　coldness　but　of　the
extreme　timidity　shown　by　the　inhabitants　of　her　island。　　The　blind
depth　of　respect　that　surrounded　the　old　fisherman　had　drawn　around
his　daughter　a　barrier　of　esteem　and　submission　that　no　one　dared　to
cross。　　By　means　of　thrift　and　labour　Solomon　had　succeeded　in
creating　for　himself　a　prosperity　that　put　the　poverty　of　the　other
fishermen　to　the　blush。　　No　one　had　asked　for　Nisida　because　no　one
thought　he　deserved　her。　　The　only　admirer　who　had　dared　to　show　his
passion　openly　was　Bastiano；　the　most　devoted　and　dearest　friend　of
Gabriel；　but　Bastiano　did　not　please　her。　　So；　trusting　in　her
beauty；　upheld　by　the　mysterious　hope　that　never　deserts　youth；　she
had　resigned　herself　to　wait；　like　some　princess　who　knows　that　her
betrothed　will　come　from　a　far　country。

On　the　day　of　the　Assumption　she　had　left　her　island　for　the　first
time　in　her　life；　chance　having　chosen　her　among　the　maidens　of　the
kingdom　vowed　by　their　mothers　to　the　special　protection　of　the
Virgin。　　But；　overwhelmed　by　the　weight　of　a　position　so　new　to　her；
blushing　and　confused　under　the　eyes　of　an　immense　crowd；　she　had
scarcely　dared　to　raise　her　wondering　looks；　and　the　splendours　of
the　town　had　passed　before　her　like　a　dream；　leaving　but　a　vague
remembrance。

When　she　perceived　the　presence　of　this　handsome　young　man；　so
slenderly　and　elegantly　built；　whose　noble　and　calm　demeanour
contrasted　with　the　timidity　and　awkwardness　of　her　other　admirers；
she　felt　herself　inwardly　disturbed；　and　no　doubt　she　would　have
believed　that　her　prince　had　come；　if　she　had　been　unpleasantly
struck　by　the　poverty　of　his　dress。　　She　had；　nevertheless；　allowed
herself　to　listen　to　him　longer　than　she　ought　to　have　done；　and　she
drew　back　with　her　bosom　heavy；　her　cheek　on　fire；　and　her　heart　rent
by　an　ache　that　was　both　dull　and　sharp。

〃If　my　father　does　not　wish　me　to　marry　him；〃　she　said　to　herself；
tormented　by　the　first　remorseful　feeling　of　her　life。　　〃I　shall　have
done　wrong　to　speak　to　him。　　And　yet　he　is　so　handsome！〃

Then　she　knelt　before　the　Virgin；　who　was　her　only　confidante；　the
poor　child　having　never　known　her　mother；　and　tried　to　tell　her　the
torments　of　her　soul；　but　she　could　not　achieve　her　prayer。　　The
thoughts　became　entangled　within　her　brain；　and　she　surprised　herself
uttering　strange　words。　　But；　assuredly；　the　Holy　Virgin　must　have
taken　pity　upon　her　lovely　devotee；　for　she　rose　with　the　impression
of　a　consoling　thought；　resolved　to　confide　everything　to　her　father。

〃I　cannot　have　a　moment's　doubt；〃　she　said　to　herself；　as　she　unlaced
her　bodice；　〃of　my　father's　affection。　　Well；　then；　if　he　forbids　me
to　speak　to　him；　it　will　be　for　my　good。　　And　indeed；　I　have　seen　him
but　this　once；〃　she　added；　as　she　threw　herself　upon　the　bed；　〃and
now　I　think　of　it；　I　consider　him　very　bold　to　dare　to　speak　to　me。
I　am　almost　inclined　to　laugh　at　him。　　How　confidently　he　brought　out
his　nonsense；　how　absurdly　he　rolled　his　eyes！　　They　are　really　very
fine；　those　eyes　of　his；　and　so　is　his　mouth；　and　his　forehead　and
his　hair。　　He　does　not　suspect　that　I　noticed　his　hands；　which　are
really　very　white；　when　he　raised　them　to　heaven；　like　a　madman；　as
he　walked　up　and　down　by　the　sea。　　Come；　come；　is　he　going　to　prevent
my　sleeping？　　I　will　not　see　him　again！〃　she　cried；　drawing　the　sheet
over　her　head　like　an　angry　child。　　Then　she　began　to　laugh　to
herself　over　her　lover's　dress；　and　meditated　long　upon　what　her
companions　would　say　to　it。　　Suddenly　her　brow　contracted　painfully；
a　frightful　thought　had　stolen　into　her　mind；　she　shuddered　from　head
to　foot。　　〃Suppose　he　were　to　think　someone　else　prettier　than　me？
Men　are　so　foolish！　　Certainly；　it　is　too　hot；　and　I　shall　not　sleep
to…night。〃

Then　she　sat　up　in　her　bed；　and　continued　her　monologuewhich　we
will　spare　the　readertill　the　morning。　　Scarcely　had　the　first　rays
of　light　filtered　through　the　interlacing　branches　of　jasmine　and
wavered　into　the　room；　when　Nisida　dressed　herself　hurriedly；　and
went　as　usual　to　present　her　forehead　to　her　father's　kiss。　　The　old
man　at　once　observed　the　depression　and　weariness　left　by　a　sleepless
night　upon　his　daughter's　face；　and　parting　with　an　eager　and　anxious
hand　the　beautiful　black　hair　that　fell　over　her　cheeks；　he　asked
her；　〃What　is　the　matter；　my　child？　　Thou　hast　not　slept　well？〃

〃I　have　not　slept　at　all；〃　answered　Nisida；　smiling；　to　reassure　her
father；　〃I　am　perfectly　well；　but　I　have　something　to　confess　to
you。〃

〃Speak　quickly；　child；　I　am　dying　with　impatience。〃

〃Perhaps　I　have　done　wrong；　but　I　want　you　to　promise　beforehand　not
to　scold　me。〃

〃You　know　very　well　that　I　spoil　you；〃　said　the　old　man；　with　a
caress　；　〃I　sha11　not　begin　to　be　stern　to…day。〃

〃A　young　man　who　does　not　belong　to　this　island；　and　whose　name　I　do
not　know；　spoke　to　me　yesterday　evening　when　I　was　taking　the　air　at
my　window。〃

〃And　what　was　he　so　eager　to　say　to　you；　my　dear　Nisida？〃

〃He　begged　me　to　speak　to　you　in　his　favour。〃

〃I　am　listening。　　What　can　I　do　for　him？〃

〃Order　me　to　marry　him。〃

〃And　should　you　obey　willingly？〃

〃I　think　so；　father；〃　the　girl　candidly　replied。　　〃As　to　other
things；　you　yourself　must　judge　in　your　wisdom；　for　I　wanted　to　speak
to　you　before　coming　to　know　him；　so　as　not　to　go　on　with　a
conversation　that　you　might　not　approve。　　But　there　is　a　hindrance。〃

〃You　know　that　I　do　not　recognise　any　when　it　is　a　question　of　making
my　daughter　happy。〃

〃He　is　poor；　father。〃

〃Well；　all　the　more　reason　for　me　to　like　him。　　There　is　work　here
for　everybody；　and　my　table　can　spare　a　place　for　another　son。　　He　is
young；　he　has　arms；　no　doubt　he　has　some　calling。〃

〃He　is　a　poet。〃

〃No　matter；　tell　him　to　come　and　speak　to　me；　and　if　he　is　an　honest
lad；　I　promise　you；　my　child；　that　I　will　do　anything　in　the　world　to
promote　your　happiness。〃

Nisida　embraced　her　father　effusively；　and　was　beside　herself　with
joy　all　day；　waiting　impatiently　for　the　evening　in　order　to　give　the
young　man　such　splendid　news。　　Eligi　Brancaleone　was　but　moderately
flattered；　as　you　will　easily　believe；　by　the　fisherman's　magnanimous
intentions　towards　him；　but　like　the　finished　seducer　that　he　was；　he
appeared　enchanted　at　them。　　Recollecting　his　character　as　a
fantastical　student　and　an　out…at…elbows　poet；　he　fell　upon　his　knees
and　shouted　a　thanksgiving　to　the　planet　Venus；　then；　addressing　the
young　girl；　he　added；　in　a　calmer　voice；　that　he　was　going　to　write
immediately　to　his　own　father；　who　in　a　week's　time　would　come　to
make　his　formal　proposal；　until　then；　he　begged；　as　a　favour；　that　he
might　not　present　himself　to　Solomon　nor　to　any　person　at　all　in　the
island；　and　assigned　as　a　pretext　a　certain　degree　of　shame　which　he
felt　on　account　of　his　old　clothes；　assuring　his　beloved　that　his
father　would　bring　him　a　complete　outfit　for　the　wedding…day。

While　the　ill…starred　girl　was　thus　walking　in　terrifying　security　at
the　edge　of　the　precipice；　Trespolo；　following　his　master's　wishes；
had　established　himself　in　the　island　as　a　pilgrim　from　Jerusalem。
Playing　his　part　and　sprinkling　his　conversation　with　biblical
phrases；　which　came　to　him　readily；　in　his　character　of　ex…sacristan；
he　distributed　abundance　of　charms；　wood　of　the　true　Cross　and　milk
of　the　Blessed　Virgin；　and　all　those　other　inexhaustible　treasures　on
which　the　eager　devotion　of　worthy　people　daily　feeds。　　His　relics
were　the　more　evidently　authentic　in　that　he　did　not　sell　any　of
them；　and；　bearing　his　poverty　in　a　holy　manner；　thanked　the　faithful
and　declined　their　alms。　　Only；　out　of　regard　for　the　established
virtue　of　Solomon；　he　had　consented　to　break　bread　with　the
fisherman；　and　went　to　take　meals　with　him　with　the　regularity　of　a
cenobite。　　His　abstinence　aroused　universal　surprise：　a　crust　dipped
in　water；　a　few　nuts　or　figs　sufficed　to　keep　this　holy　man　aliveto
prevent　him；　that　is　to　say；　from　dying。　　Furthermore；　he　entertained
Nisida　by　his　tales　of　his　travels　and　by　his　mysterious　predictions。
Unfortunately；　he　only　appeared　towards　evening；　for　he　spent　the
rest　of　the　day　in　austerities　and　in　prayersin　other　words；　in
drinking　like　a　Turk　and　snoring　like　a　buffalo。

On　the　morning　of　the　seventh　day；　after　the　promise　given　by　the
prince　to　the　fisherman's　daughter；　Brancaleone　came　into　his
servant's　room；　and；　shaking　hint　roughly；　cried　in　his　ear；　〃Up；
odious　marmot！〃

Trespolo；　awakened　suddenly；　rubbed　his　eyes　in　alarm。　　The　dead；
sleeping　peacefully　at　the　bottom　of　their　coffins；　will　be　less
annoyed　at　the　last　day　when　the　trump　of　Judgment　comes　to　drag　them
from　their　slumbers。　　Fear　having；　however；　immediately　dispersed　the
dark　clouds　that　overspread　his　countenance；　he　sat　up；　and　asked
with　an　appearance　of　bewilderment

〃What　is　the　matter；　your　excellency？〃

〃The　matter　is　that　I　will　have　you　flayed　alive　a　little　if　you　do
not　leave　off　that　execrable　habit　of　sleeping　twenty　hours　in　the
day。〃

〃I　was　not　asleep；　prince！〃　cried　the　servant　boldly；　as　he　sprang
out　of　bed；　〃I　was　reflecting…〃

〃Listen　to　me；〃　said　the　prince　in　a　severe　tone；　〃you　were　once
employed；　I　believe；　in　a　chemist's　shop？〃

〃Yes；　my　lord；　and　I　left　because　my　employer　had　the　scandalous
barbarity　to　make　me　pound　drugs；　which　tired　my　arms　horribly。〃

〃Here　is　a　phial　containing　a　solution　of　opium。〃

〃Mercy！〃　cried　Trespolo；　falling　on　his　knees。

〃Get　up；　idiot；　and　pay　great　attention　to　what　I　am　going　to　say　to
you。　　This　little　fool　of　a　Nisida　persists　in　wanting　me　to　speak　to
her　father。　　I　made　her　believe　that　I　was　going　away　this　evening　to
fetch　my　papers。　　There　is　no　time　to　lose。　　They　know　you　very　well
at　the　fisherman's。　　You　will　pour　this　liquid　into　their　wine；　your
life　will　answer　for　your　not　giving　them　a　larger　dose　than　enough
to　produce　a　deep　sleep。　　You　will　take　care　to　prepare　me　a　good
ladder　for　to…night；　after　which　you　will　go　and　wait　for　me　in　my
boat；　where　you　will　find　Numa　and　Bonaroux。　　They　have　my　orders。
I　shall　not　want　you　in　scaling　the　fortress；　I　have　my　Campo　Basso
dagger。〃

〃But；　my　lord…〃　stammered　Trespolo；　astounded。

〃No　difficulties！〃　cried　the　prince；　stamping　his　foot　furiously；
〃or；　by　my　father's　death；　I　will　cure　you；　once　for　all；　of　your
scruples。〃　　And　he　turned　on　his　heel　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　is