the vicar of wakefield-第22章

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ath；　but　particularly　the　husband　of　the　unfortunate　Matilda；　as　he　was　principally　instrumental　in　protracting　the　siege。　Their　determinations　were；　in　general；　executed　almost　as　soon　as　resolved　upon。　The　captive　soldier　was　led　forth；　and　the　executioner；　with　his　sword；　stood　ready；　while　the　spectators　in　gloomy　silence　awaited　the　fatal　blow；　which　was　only　suspended　till　the　general；　who　presided　as　judge；　should　give　the　signal。　It　was　in　this　interval　of　anguish　and　expectation；　that　Matilda　came　to　take　her　last　farewell　of　her　husband　and　deliverer；　deploring　her　wretched　situation；　and　the　cruelty　of　fate；　that　had　saved　her　from　perishing　by　a　premature　death　in　the　river　Volturna；　to　be　the　spectator　of　still　greater　calamities。　The　general；　who　was　a　young　man；　was　struck　with　surprize　at　her　beauty；　and　pity　at　her　distress；　but　with　still　stronger　emotions　when　he　heard　her　mention　her　former　dangers。　He　was　her　son；　the　infant　for　whom　she　had　encounter'd　so　much　danger。　He　acknowledged　her　at　once　as　his　mother；　and　fell　at　her　feet。　The　rest　may　be　easily　supposed：　the　captive　was　set　free；　and　all　the　happiness　that　love；　friendship；　and　duty　could　confer　on　each；　were　united。'

In　this　manner　I　would　attempt　to　amuse　my　daughter；　but　she　listened　with　divided　attention；　for　her　own　misfortunes　engrossed　all　the　pity　she　once　had　for　those　of　another；　and　nothing　gave　her　ease。　In　company　she　dreaded　contempt；　and　in　solitude　she　only　found　anxiety。　Such　was　the　colour　of　her　wretchedness；　when　we　received　certain　information；　that　Mr　Thornhill　was　going　to　be　married　to　Miss　Wilmot；　for　whom　I　always　suspected　he　had　a　real　passion；　tho'　he　took　every　opportunity　before　me　to　express　his　contempt　both　of　her　person　and　fortune。　This　news　only　served　to　encrease　poor　Olivia's　affliction；　such　a　flagrant　breach　of　fidelity；　was　more　than　her　courage　could　support。　I　was　resolved；　however；　to　get　more　certain　information；　and　to　defeat；　if　possible；　the　completion　of　his　designs；　by　sending　my　son　to　old　Mr　Wilmot's；　with　instructions　to　know　the　truth　of　the　report；　and　to　deliver　Miss　Wilmot　a　letter；　intimating　Mr　Thornhill's　conduct　in　my　family。　My　son　went；　in　pursuance　of　my　directions；　and　in　three　days　returned；　assuring　us　of　the　truth　of　the　account；　but　that　he　had　found　it　impossible　to　deliver　the　letter；　which　he　was　therefore　obliged　to　leave；　as　Mr　Thornhill　and　Miss　Wilmot　were　visiting　round　the　country。　They　were　to　be　married；　he　said；　in　a　few　days；　having　appeared　together　at　church　the　Sunday　before　he　was　there；　in　great　spiendour；　the　bride　attended　by　six　young　ladies；　and　he　by　as　many　gentlemen。　Their　approaching　nuptials　filled　the　whole　country　with　rejoicing；　and　they　usually　rode　out　together　in　the　grandest　equipage　that　had　been　seen　in　the　country　for　many　years。　All　the　friends　of　both　families；　he　said；　were　there；　particularly　the　'Squire's　uncle；　Sir　William　Thornhill；　who　bore　so　good　a　character。　He　added；　that　nothing　but　mirth　and　feasting　were　going　forward；　that　all　the　country　praised　the　young　bride's　beauty；　and　the　bridegroom's　fine　person；　and　that　they　were　immensely　fond　of　each　other；　concluding；　that　he　could　not　help　thinking　Mr　Thornhill　one　of　the　most　happy　men　in　the　world。

'Why　let　him　if　he　can；'　returned　I：　'but；　my　son；　observe　this　bed　of　straw；　and　unsheltering　roof；　those　mouldering　walls；　and　humid　floor；　my　wretched　body　thus　disabled　by　fire；　and　my　children　weeping　round　me　for　bread；　you　have　come　home；　my　child；　to　all　this；　yet　here；　even　here；　you　see　a　man　that　would　not　for　a　thousand　worlds　exchange　situations。　O；　my　children；　if　you　could　but　learn　to　commune　with　your　own　hearts；　and　know　what　noble　company　you　can　make　them；　you　would　little　regard　the　elegance　and　splendours　of　the　worthless。　Almost　all　men　have　been　taught　to　call　life　a　passage；　and　themselves　the　travellers。　The　similitude　still　may　be　improved　when　we　observe　that　the　good　are　joyful　and　serene；　like　travellers　that　are　going　towards　home；　the　wicked　but　by　intervals　happy；　like　travellers　that　are　going　into　exile。'

My　compassion　for　my　poor　daughter；　overpowered　by　this　new　disaster；　interrupted　what　I　had　farther　to　observe。　I　bade　her　mother　support　her；　and　after　a　short　time　she　recovered。　She　appeared　from　that　time　more　calm；　and　I　imagined　had　gained　a　new　degree　of　resolution；　but　appearances　deceived　me；　for　her　tranquility　was　the　langour　of　over…wrought　resentment。　A　supply　of　provisions；　charitably　sent　us　by　my　kind　parishioners；　seemed　to　diffuse　new　cheerfulness　amongst　the　rest　of　the　family；　nor　was　I　displeased　at　seeing　them　once　more　sprightly　and　at　ease。　It　would　have　been　unjust　to　damp　their　satisfactions；　merely　to　condole　with　resolute　melancholy；　or　to　burthen　them　with　a　sadness　they　did　not　feel。　Thus；　once　more；　the　tale　went　round　and　the　song　was　demanded；　and　cheerfulness　condescended　to　hover　round　our　little　habitation。



CHAPTER　24

Fresh　calamities


The　next　morning　the　sun　rose　with　peculiar　warmth　for　the　season；　so　that　we　agreed　to　breakfast　together　on　the　honeysuckle　bank：　where；　while　we　sate；　my　youngest　daughter；　at　my　request；　joined　her　voice　to　the　concert　on　the　trees　about　us。　It　was　in　this　place　my　poor　Olivia　first　met　her　seducer；　and　every　object　served　to　recall　her　sadness。　But　that　melancholy；　which　is　excited　by　objects　of　pleasure；　or　inspired　by　sounds　of　harmony；　sooths　the　heart　instead　of　corroding　it。　Her　mother　too；　upon　this　occasion；　felt　a　pleasing　distress；　and　wept；　and　loved　her　daughter　as　before。　'Do；　my　pretty　Olivia；'　cried　she；　'let　us　have　that　little　melancholy　air　your　pappa　was　so　fond　of；　your　sister　Sophy　has　already　obliged　us。　Do　child；　it　will　please　your　old　father。'　She　complied　in　a　manner　so　exquisitely　pathetic　as　moved　me。


When　lovely　woman　stoops　to　folly；　And　finds　too　late　that　men　betray；　What　charm　can　sooth　her　melancholy；　What　art　can　wash　her　guilt　away？

The　only　art　her　guilt　to　cover；　To　hide　her　shame　from　every　eye；　To　give　repentance　to　her　lover；　And　wring　his　bosomis　to　die。


As　she　was　concluding　the　last　stanza；　to　which　an　interruption　in　her　voice　from　sorrow　gave　peculiar　softness；　the　appearance　of　Mr　Thornhill's　equipage　at　a　distance　alarmed　us　all；　but　particularly　encreased　the　uneasiness　of　my　eldest　daughter；　who；　desirous　of　shunning　her　betrayer；　returned　to　the　house　with　her　sister。　In　a　few　minutes　he　was　alighted　from　his　chariot；　and　making　up　to　the　place　where　I　was　still　sitting；　enquired　after　my　health　with　his　usual　air　of　familiarity。　'Sir；'　replied　I；　'your　present　assurance　only　serves　to　aggravate　the　baseness　of　your　character；　and　there　was　a　time　when　I　would　have　chastised　your　insolence；　for　presuming　thus　to　appear　before　me。　But　now　you　are　safe；　for　age　has　cooled　my　passions；　and　my　calling　restrains　them。'

'I　vow；　my　dear　sir；'　returned　he；　'I　am　amazed　at　all　this；　nor　can　I　understand　what　it　means！　I　hope　you　don't　think　your　daughter's　late　excursion　with　me　had　any　thing　criminal　in　it。'

'Go；'　cried　I；　'thou　art　a　wretch；　a　poor　pitiful　wretch；　and　every　way　a　lyar；　but　your　meanness　secures　you　from　my　anger！　Yet　sir；　I　am　descended　from　a　family　that　would　not　have　borne　this！　And　so；　thou　vile　thing；　to　gratify　a　momentary　passion；　thou　hast　made　one　poor　creature　wretched　for　life；　and　polluted　a　family　that　had　nothing　but　honour　for　their　portion。'

'If　she　or　you；'　returned　he；　'are　resolved　to　be　miserable；　I　cannot　help　it。　But　you　may　still　be　happy；　and　whatever　opinion　you　may　have　formed　of　me；　you　shall　ever　find　me　ready　to　contribute　to　it。　We　can　marry　her　to　another　in　a　short　time；　and　what　is　more；　she　may　keep　her　lover　beside；　for　I　protest　I　shall　ever　continue　to　have　a　true　regard　for　her。'

I　found　all　my　passions　alarmed　at　this　new　degrading　proposal；　for　though　the　mind　may　often　be　calm　under　great　injuries；　little　villainy　can　at　any　time　get　within　the　soul；　and　sting　it　into　rage。'Avoid　my　sight；　thou　reptile；'　cried　I；　'nor　continue　to　insult　me　with　thy　presence。　Were　my　brave　son　at　home；　he　would　not　suffer　this；　but　I　am　old；　and　disabled；　and　every　way　undone。'

'I　find；'　cried　he；　'you　are　bent　upon　obliging　me　to　talk　in　an　harsher　manner　than　I　intended。　But　as　I　have　shewn　you　what　may　be　hoped　from　my　friendship；　it　may　not　be　improper　to　represent　what　may　be　the　consequences　of　my　resentment。　My　attorney；　to　whom　your　late　bond　has　been　transferred；　threatens　hard；　nor　do　I　know　how　to　prevent　the　course　of　justice；　except　by　paying　the　money　myself；　which；　as　I　have　been　at　some　expences　lately；　previous　to　my　intended　marriage；　is　not　so　easy　to　be　done。　And　then　my　steward　talks　of　driving　for　the　rent：　it　is　certain　he　knows　his　duty；　for　I　never　trouble　myself　with　affairs　of　that　nature。　Yet　still　I　could　wish　to　serve　you；　and　even　to　have　you　and　your　daughter　present　at　my　marriage；　which　is　shortly　to　be　solemnized　with　Miss　Wilmot；　it　is　even　the　request　of　my　charming　Arabella　herself；　whom　I　hope　you　will　not　refuse。'

'Mr　Thornhill；'　replied　I；　'hear　me　once　for　all：　as　to　your　marriage　with　any　but　my　daughter；　that　I　never　will　consent　to；　and　though　your　friendship　could　raise　me　to　a　throne；　or　your　resentment　sink　me　to　the　grave；　yet　would　I　despise　both。　Thou　hast　once　wofully；　irreparably；　deceived　me。　I　reposed　my　heart　upon　thine　honour；　and　have　found　its　baseness。　Never　more；　therefore；　expect　friendship　from　me。　Go；　and　possess　what　fortune　has　given　thee；　beauty；　riches；　health；　and　pleasure。　Go；　and　leave　me　to　want；　infamy；　disease；　and　sorrow。　Yet　humbled　as　I　am；　shall　my　heart　still　vindicate　its　dignity；　and　though　thou　hast　my　forgiveness；　thou　shalt　ever　have　my　contempt。'

'If　so；'　returned　he；　'depend　upon　it　you　shall　feel　the　effects　of　this　insolence；　and　we　shall　shortly　see　which　is　the　fittest　object　of　scorn；　you　or　me。'Upon　which　he　departed　abruptly。

My　wife　and　son；　who　were　present　at　this　interview；　seemed　terrified　with　the　apprehension。　My　daughters　also；　finding　that　he　was　gone；　came　out　to　be　informed　of　the　result　of　our　conference；　which；　when　known；　alarmed　them　not　less　than　the　rest。　But　as　to　myself；　I　disregarded　the　utmost　stretch　of　his　malevolence：　he　had　already　struck　the　blow；　and　now　I　stood　prepared　to　repel　every　new　effort。　Like　one　of　those　instruments　used　in　the　art　of　war；　which；　however　thrown；　still　presents　a　point　to　receive　the　enemy。

We　soon；　however；　found　that　he　had　not　threatened　in　vain；　for　the　very　next　morning　his　steward　came　to　demand　my　annual　rent；　which；　by　the　train　of　accidents　already　related；　I　was　unable　to　pay。　The　consequence　of　my　incapacity　was　his　driving　my　cattle　that　evening；　and　their　being　appraised　and　sold　the　next　day　for　less　than　half　their　value。　My　wife　and　children　now　therefore　entreated　me　to　comply　upon　any　terms；　rather　than　incur　certain　destruction。　They　even　begged　of　me　to　admit　his　visits　once　more；　and　used　all　their　little　eloquence　to　paint　the　calamities　I　was　going　to　endure。　The　terrors　of　a　prison；　in　so　rigorous　a　season　as　the　present；　with　the　danger；　that　threatened　my　health　from　the　late　ac