the works of edgar allan poe-3-第51部分

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discoursing？　Your　years　surpass　in　some　measure　my　own。　But　what
then？　The　customs　of　the　world　are　so　many　conventional　follies。　To
those　who　love　as　ourselves；　in　what　respect　differs　a　year　from　an
hour？　I　am　twenty…two；　you　say；　granted：　indeed；　you　may　as　well　call
me；　at　once；　twenty…three。　Now　you　yourself；　my　dearest　Eugenie；　can
have　numbered　no　more　than　　can　have　numbered　no　more　than　　no
more　than　　than　　than　　than…〃

Here　I　paused　for　an　instant；　in　the　expectation　that　Madame　Lalande
would　interrupt　me　by　supplying　her　true　age。　But　a　Frenchwoman　is
seldom　direct；　and　has　always；　by　way　of　answer　to　an　embarrassing
query；　some　little　practical　reply　of　her　own。　In　the　present
instance；　Eugenie；　who　for　a　few　moments　past　had　seemed　to　be
searching　for　something　in　her　bosom；　at　length　let　fall　upon　the
grass　a　miniature；　which　I　immediately　picked　up　and　presented　to
her。

〃Keep　it！〃　she　said；　with　one　of　her　most　ravishing　smiles。　〃Keep　it
for　my　sake　　for　the　sake　of　her　whom　it　too　flatteringly
represents。　Besides；　upon　the　back　of　the　trinket　you　may　discover；
perhaps；　the　very　information　you　seem　to　desire。　It　is　now；　to　be
sure；　growing　rather　dark　　but　you　can　examine　it　at　your　leisure
in　the　morning。　In　the　meantime；　you　shall　be　my　escort　home
to…night。　My　friends　are　about　holding　a　little　musical　levee。　I　can
promise　you；　too；　some　good　singing。　We　French　are　not　nearly　so
punctilious　as　you　Americans；　and　I　shall　have　no　difficulty　in
smuggling　you　in；　in　the　character　of　an　old　acquaintance。〃

With　this；　she　took　my　arm；　and　I　attended　her　home。　The　mansion　was
quite　a　fine　one；　and；　I　believe；　furnished　in　good　taste。　Of　this
latter　point；　however；　I　am　scarcely　qualified　to　judge；　for　it　was
just　dark　as　we　arrived；　and　in　American　mansions　of　the　better　sort
lights　seldom；　during　the　heat　of　summer；　make　their　appearance　at
this；　the　most　pleasant　period　of　the　day。　In　about　an　hour　after　my
arrival；　to　be　sure；　a　single　shaded　solar　lamp　was　lit　in　the
principal　drawing…room；　and　this　apartment；　I　could　thus　see；　was
arranged　with　unusual　good　taste　and　even　splendor；　but　two　other
rooms　of　the　suite；　and　in　which　the　company　chiefly　assembled；
remained；　during　the　whole　evening；　in　a　very　agreeable　shadow。　This
is　a　well…conceived　custom；　giving　the　party　at　least　a　choice　of
light　or　shade；　and　one　which　our　friends　over　the　water　could　not　do
better　than　immediately　adopt。

The　evening　thus　spent　was　unquestionably　the　most　delicious　of　my
life。　Madame　Lalande　had　not　overrated　the　musical　abilities　of　her
friends；　and　the　singing　I　here　heard　I　had　never　heard　excelled　in
any　private　circle　out　of　Vienna。　The　instrumental　performers　were
many　and　of　superior　talents。　The　vocalists　were　chiefly　ladies；　and
no　individual　sang　less　than　well。　At　length；　upon　a　peremptory　call
for　〃Madame　Lalande；〃　she　arose　at　once；　without　affectation　or
demur；　from　the　chaise　longue　upon　which　she　had　sat　by　my　side；　and；
accompanied　by　one　or　two　gentlemen　and　her　female　friend　of　the
opera；　repaired　to　the　piano　in　the　main　drawing…room。　I　would　have
escorted　her　myself；　but　felt　that；　under　the　circumstances　of　my
introduction　to　the　house；　I　had　better　remain　unobserved　where　I
was。　I　was　thus　deprived　of　the　pleasure　of　seeing；　although　not　of
hearing；　her　sing。

The　impression　she　produced　upon　the　company　seemed　electrical　but
the　effect　upon　myself　was　something　even　more。　I　know　not　how
adequately　to　describe　it。　It　arose　in　part；　no　doubt；　from　the
sentiment　of　love　with　which　I　was　imbued；　but　chiefly　from　my
conviction　of　the　extreme　sensibility　of　the　singer。　It　is　beyond　the
reach　of　art　to　endow　either　air　or　recitative　with　more　impassioned
expression　than　was　hers。　Her　utterance　of　the　romance　in　Otello　
the　tone　with　which　she　gave　the　words　〃Sul　mio　sasso；〃　in　the
Capuletti　　is　ringing　in　my　memory　yet。　Her　lower　tones　were
absolutely　miraculous。　Her　voice　embraced　three　complete　octaves；
extending　from　the　contralto　D　to　the　D　upper　soprano；　and；　though
sufficiently　powerful　to　have　filled　the　San　Carlos；　executed；　with
the　minutest　precision；　every　difficulty　of　vocal
composition…ascending　and　descending　scales；　cadences；　or　fiorituri。
In　the　final　of　the　Somnambula；　she　brought　about　a　most　remarkable
effect　at　the　words：

Ah！　non　guinge　uman　pensiero

Al　contento　ond　'io　son　piena。

Here；　in　imitation　of　Malibran；　she　modified　the　original　phrase　of
Bellini；　so　as　to　let　her　voice　descend　to　the　tenor　G；　when；　by　a
rapid　transition；　she　struck　the　G　above　the　treble　stave；　springing
over　an　interval　of　two　octaves。

Upon　rising　from　the　piano　after　these　miracles　of　vocal　execution；
she　resumed　her　seat　by　my　side；　when　I　expressed　to　her；　in　terms　of
the　deepest　enthusiasm；　my　delight　at　her　performance。　Of　my　surprise
I　said　nothing；　and　yet　was　I　most　unfeignedly　surprised；　for　a
certain　feebleness；　or　rather　a　certain　tremulous　indecision　of　voice
in　ordinary　conversation；　had　prepared　me　to　anticipate　that；　in
singing；　she　would　not　acquit　herself　with　any　remarkable　ability。

Our　conversation　was　now　long；　earnest；　uninterrupted；　and　totally
unreserved。　She　made　me　relate　many　of　the　earlier　passages　of　my
life；　and　listened　with　breathless　attention　to　every　word　of　the
narrative。　I　concealed　nothing　　felt　that　I　had　a　right　to　conceal
nothing　　from　her　confiding　affection。　Encouraged　by　her　candor
upon　the　delicate　point　of　her　age；　I　entered；　with　perfect
frankness；　not　only　into　a　detail　of　my　many　minor　vices；　but　made
full　confession　of　those　moral　and　even　of　those　physical
infirmities；　the　disclosure　of　which；　in　demanding　so　much　higher　a
degree　of　courage；　is　so　much　surer　an　evidence　of　love。　I　touched
upon　my　college　indiscretions　　upon　my　extravagances　　upon　my
carousals…　upon　my　debts　　upon　my　flirtations。　I　even　went　so　far
as　to　speak　of　a　slightly　hectic　cough　with　which；　at　one　time；　I　had
been　troubled　　of　a　chronic　rheumatism　　of　a　twinge　of　hereditary
gout…　and；　in　conclusion；　of　the　disagreeable　and　inconvenient；　but
hitherto　carefully　concealed；　weakness　of　my　eyes。

〃Upon　this　latter　point；〃　said　Madame　Lalande；　laughingly；　〃you　have
been　surely　injudicious　in　coming　to　confession；　for；　without　the
confession；　I　take　it　for　granted　that　no　one　would　have　accused　you
of　the　crime。　By　the　by；〃　she　continued；　〃have　you　any　recollection…〃
and　here　I　fancied　that　a　blush；　even　through　the　gloom　of　the
apartment；　became　distinctly　visible　upon　her　cheek　　〃have　you　any
recollection；　mon　cher　ami　of　this　little　ocular　assistant；　which　now
depends　from　my　neck？〃

As　she　spoke　she　twirled　in　her　fingers　the　identical　double
eye…glass　which　had　so　overwhelmed　me　with　confusion　at　the　opera。

〃Full　well　　alas！　do　I　remember　it；〃　I　exclaimed；　pressing
passionately　the　delicate　hand　which　offered　the　glasses　for　my
inspection。　They　formed　a　complex　and　magnificent　toy；　richly　chased
and　filigreed；　and　gleaming　with　jewels；　which；　even　in　the　deficient
light；　I　could　not　help　perceiving　were　of　high　value。

〃Eh　bien！　mon　ami〃　she　resumed　with　a　certain　empressment　of　manner
that　rather　surprised　me　　〃Eh　bien！　mon　ami；　you　have　earnestly
besought　of　me　a　favor　which　you　have　been　pleased　to　denominate
priceless。　You　have　demanded　of　me　my　hand　upon　the　morrow。　Should　I
yield　to　your　entreaties　　and；　I　may　add；　to　the　pleadings　of　my
own　bosom　　would　I　not　be　entitled　to　demand　of　you　a　very　　a
very　little　boon　in　return？〃

〃Name　it！〃　I　exclaimed　with　an　energy　that　had　nearly　drawn　upon　us
the　observation　of　the　company；　and　restrained　by　their　presence
alone　from　throwing　myself　impetuously　at　her　feet。　〃Name　it；　my
beloved；　my　Eugenie；　my　own！　　name　it！　　but；　alas！　it　is　already
yielded　ere　named。〃

〃You　shall　conquer；　then；　mon　ami；〃　said　she；　〃for　the　sake　of　the
Eugenie　whom　you　love；　this　little　weakness　which　you　have　at　last
confessed　　this　weakness　more　moral　than　physical　　and　which；　let
me　assure　you；　is　so　unbecoming　the　nobility　of　your　real　nature　
so　inconsistent　with　the　candor　of　your　usual　character　　and　which；
if　permitted　further　control；　will　assuredly　involve　you；　sooner　or
later；　in　some　very　disagreeable　scrape。　You　shall　conquer；　for　my
sake；　this　affectation　which　leads　you；　as　you　yourself　acknowledge；
to　the　tacit　or　implied　denial　of　your　infirmity　of　vision。　For；　this
infirmity　you　virtually　deny；　in　refusing　to　employ　the　customary
means　for　its　relief。　You　will　understand　me　to　say；　then；　that　I
wish　you　to　wear　spectacles；　　ah；　hush！　　you　have　already
consented　to　wear　them；　for　my　sake。　You　shall　accept　the　little　toy
which　I　now　hold　in　my　hand；　and　which；　though　admirable　as　an　aid　to
vision；　is　really　of　no　very　immense　value　as　a　gem。　You　perceive
that；　by　a　trifling　modification　thus　　or　thus　　it　can　be　adapted
to　the　eyes　in　the　form　of　spectacles；　or　worn　in　the　waistcoat
pocket　as　an　eye…glass。　It　is　in　the　former　mode；　however；　and
habitually；　that　you　have　already　consented　to　wear　it　for　my　sake。〃

This　request　　must　I　confess　it？　　confused　me　in　no　little
degree。　But　the　condition　with　which　it　was　coupled　rendered
hesitation；　of　course；　a　matter　altogether　out　of　the　question。

〃It　is　done！〃　I　cried；　with　all　the　enthusiasm　that　I　could　muster　at
the　moment。　〃It　is　done　　it　is　most　cheerfully　agreed。　I　sacrifice
every　feeling　for　your　sake。　To…night　I　wear　this　dear　eye…glass；　as
an　eye…glass；　and　upon　my　heart；　but　with　the　earliest　dawn　of　that
morning　which　gives　me　the　pleasure　of　calling　you　wife；　I　will　place
it　upon　my　　upon　my　nose；　　and　there　wear　it　ever　afterward；　in
the　less　romantic；　and　less　fashionable；　but　certainly　in　the　more
serviceable；　form　which　you　desire。〃

Our　conversation　now　turned　upon　the　details　of　our　arrangements　for
the　morrow。　Talbot；　I　learned　from　my　betrothed；　had　just　arrived　in
town。　I　was　to　see　him　at　once；　and　procure　a　carriage。　The　soiree
would　scarcely　break　up　before　two；　and　by　this　hour　the　vehicle　was
to　be　at　the　door；　when；　in　the　confusion　occasioned　by　the　departure
of　the　company；　Madame　L。　could　easily　enter　it