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05-the enemy conquered-第4部分

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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 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
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