05-the enemy conquered-第7部分

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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　character？　　My　only　wish　is；　sir；　that　you

may　calmly　and　dispassionately　look　at　the　situation　of　the　case；

and　if　your　better　judgment　should　dictate　otherwise；　my　obligations

may　induce　me　to　pluck　the　flower　that　you　so　diametrically　opposed。　

We　have　sword　by　the　saintsby　the　gods　of　battle；　and　by　that

faith　whereby　just　men　are　made　perfectto　be　united。　　I　hope；

my　dear　sir；　you　will　find　it　convenient　as　well　as　agreeable

to　give　me　a　favorable　answer；　with　the　signature　of　Mrs。　Valeer；

as　well　as　yourself。





With　very　great　esteem；



your　humble　servant；



J。　I。　Elfonzo。







The　moon　and　stars　had　grown　pale　when　Ambulinia　had　retired

to　rest。　　A　crowd　of　unpleasant　thoughts　passed　through　her　bosom。　

Solitude　dwelt　in　her　chamberno　sound　from　the　neighboring

world　penetrated　its　stillness；　it　appeared　a　temple　of　silence；

of　repose；　and　of　mystery。　　At　that　moment　she　heard　a　still　voice

calling　her　father。　　In　an　instant；　like　the　flash　of　lightning；

a　thought　ran　through　her　mind　that　it　must　be　the　bearer

of　Elfonzo's　communication。　　〃It　is　not　a　dream！〃　she　said；

〃no；　I　cannot　read　dreams。　　Oh！　　I　would　to　Heaven　I　was　near

that　glowing　eloquencethat　poetical　languageit　charms　the

mind　in　an　inexpressible　manner；　and　warms　the　coldest　heart。〃　

While　consoling　herself　with　this　strain；　her　father　rushed　into

her　room　almost　frantic　with　rage；　exclaiming：　　〃Oh；　Ambulinia！　

Ambulinia！！　undutiful；　ungrateful　daughter！　　What　does　this　mean？　

Why　does　this　letter　bear　such　heart…rending　intelligence？　

Will　you　quit　a　father's　house　with　this　debased　wretch；　without　a

place　to　lay　his　distracted　head；　going　up　and　down　the　country；

with　every　novel　object　that　many　chance　to　wander　through　this　region。　

He　is　a　pretty　man　to　make　love　known　to　his　superiors；　and　you；

Ambulinia；　have　done　but　little　credit　to　yourself　by　honoring

his　visits。　　Oh；　wretchedness！　can　it　be　that　my　hopes　of　happiness

are　forever　blasted！　　Will　you　not　listen　to　a　father's　entreaties；

and　pay　some　regard　to　a　mother's　tears。　　I　know；　and　I　do　pray　that　God

will　give　me　fortitude　to　bear　with　this　sea　of　troubles；　and　rescue

my　daughter；　my　Ambulinia；　as　a　brand　from　the　eternal　burning。〃　

〃Forgive　me；　father；　oh！　forgive　thy　child；〃　replied　Ambulinia。　

〃My　heart　is　ready　to　break；　when　I　see　you　in　this　grieved　state

of　agitation。　　Oh！　think　not　so　meanly　of　me；　as　that　I　mourn

for　my　own　danger。　　Father；　I　am　only　woman。　　Mother；　I　am　only

the　templement　of　thy　youthful　years；　but　will　suffer　courageously

whatever　punishment　you　think　proper　to　inflict　upon　me；　if　you　will

but　allow　me　to　comply　with　my　most　sacred　promisesif　you　will　but

give　me　my　personal　right　and　my　personal　liberty。　　Oh；　father！　if

your　generosity　will　but　give　me　these；　I　ask　nothing　more。　

When　Elfonzo　offered　me　his　heart；　I　gave　him　my　hand；　never　to

forsake　him；　and　now　may　the　mighty　God　banish　me　before　I　leave　him

in　adversity。　　What　a　heart　must　I　have　to　rejoice　in　prosperity

with　him　whose　offers　I　have　accepted；　and　then；　when　poverty　comes；

haggard　as　it　may　be；　for　me　to　trifle　with　the　oracles　of　Heaven；

and　change　with　every　fluctuation　that　may　interrupt　our　happiness

like　the　politician　who　runs　the　political　gantlet　for　office　one　day；

and　the　next　day；　because　the　horizon　is　darkened　a　little；　he　is

seen　running　for　his　life；　for　fear　he　might　perish　in　its　ruins。　

Where　is　the　philosophy；　where　is　the　consistency；　where　is　the　charity；

in　conduct　like　this？　　Be　happy　then；　my　beloved　father；　and　forget　me；

let　the　sorrow　of　parting　break　down　the　wall　of　separation　and　make

us　equal　in　our　feeling；　let　me　now　say　how　ardently　I　love　you；

let　me　kiss　that　age…worn　cheek；　and　should　my　tears　bedew　thy　face；

I　will　wipe　them　away。　　Oh；　I　never　can　forget　you；　no；　never；　never！〃



〃Weep　not；〃　said　the　father；　〃Ambulinia。　　I　will　forbid　Elfonzo

my　house；　and　desire　that　you　may　keep　retired　a　few　days。　　I　will

let　him　know　that　my　friendship　for　my　family　is　not　linked　together

by　cankered　chains；　and　if　he　ever　enters　upon　my　premises　again；

I　will　send　him　to　his　long　home。〃　　〃Oh；　father！　let　me　entreat　you

to　be　calm　upon　this　occasion；　and　though　Elfonzo　may　be　the　sport

of　the　clouds　and　winds；　yet　I　feel　assured　that　no　fate　will　send

him　to　the　silent　tomb　until　the　God　of　the　Universe　calls　him

hence　with　a　triumphant　voice。〃



Here　the　father　turned　away；　exclaiming：　　〃I　will　answer　his　letter

in　a　very　few　words；　and　you；　madam；　will　have　the　goodness　to　stay

at　home　with　your　mother；　and　remember；　I　am　determined　to　protect

you　from　the　consuming　fire　that　looks　so　fair　to　your　view。〃







Cumming；　January　22；　1844。





SirIn　regard　to　your　request；　I　am　as　I　ever　have　been；　utterly　opposed

to　your　marrying　into　my　family；　and　if　you　have　any　regard　for　yourself；

or　any　gentlemanly　feeling；　I　hope　you　will　mention　it　to　me　no　more；

but　seek　some　other　one　who　is　not　so　far　superior　to　you　in　standing。





W。　W。　Valeer。







When　Elfonzo　read　the　above　letter；　he　became　so　much　depressed

in　spirits　that　many　of　his　friends　thought　it　advisable　to　use

other　means　to　bring　about　the　happy　union。　　〃Strange；〃　said　he；

〃that　the　contents　of　this　diminutive　letter　should　cause　me　to　have

such　depressed　feelings；　but　there　is　a　nobler　theme　than　this。　　I　know

not　why　my　MILITARY　TITLE　is　not　as　great　as　that　of　SQUIRE　VALEER。　

For　my　life　I　cannot　see　that　my　ancestors　are　inferior　to　those

who　are　so　bitterly　opposed　to　my　marriage　with　Ambulinia。　　I　know

I　have　seen　huge　mountains　before　me；　yet；　when　I　think　that　I　know

gentlemen　will　insult　me　upon　this　delicate　matter；　should　I　become

angry　at　fools　and　babblers；　who　pride　themselves　in　their　impudence

and　ignorance？　　No。　My　equals！　　I　know　not　where　to　find