nisida-第4节

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！


But　do　not　be　alarmed：　all　the　fishes　in　the　Mediterranean　will　be
drowned　before　any　harm　comes　to　him。　　Water　is　his　natural　element。
Good…day；　sister；　good…day；　father。〃

The　young　fisherman　kissed　Nisida　on　the　forehead；　drew　near　to　his
father；　and；　bowing　his　handsome　head　before　him；　took　off　his　red
cap　and　respectfully　kissed　the　old　man's　hand。　　He　came　thus　to　ask
his　blessing　every　evening　before　putting　out　to　sea；　where　he　often
spent　the　night　fishing　from　his　boat。

〃May　God　bless　thee；　my　Gabriel！〃　said　the　old　man　in　a　tone　of
emotion；　as　he　slowly　passed　his　hand　over　his　son's　black　curls；　and
a　tear　came　into　his　eye。　　Then；　rising　solemnly　and　addressing　the
groups　around　him；　he　added　in　a　voice　full　of　dignity　and　of
gentleness。　　〃Come；　my　children；　it　is　time　to　separate。　　The　young
to　work；　the　old　to　rest。　　There　is　the　angelus　ringing。〃

Everybody　knelt；　and　after　a　short　prayer　each　went　on　his　way。
Nisida；　after　having　given　her　father　the　last　daily　attentions；　went
up　to　her　room；　replenished　the　oil　in　the　lamp　that　burned　day　and
night　before　the　Virgin；　and；　leaning　her　elbow　on　the　window　ledge；
divided　the　branches　of　jasmine　which　hung　like　perfumed　curtains；
began　to　gaze　out　at　the　sea；　and　seemed　lost　in　a　deep；　sweet
reverie。

At　this　very　time；　a　little　boat；　rowed　silently　by　two　oarsmen；
touched　shore　on　the　other　side　of　the　island。　　It　had　become　quite
dark。　　A　little　man　first　landed　cautiously；　and　respectfully　offered
his　hand　to　another　individual；　who；　scorning　that　feeble　support；
leapt　easily　ashore。

〃Well；　knave；〃　he　cried；　〃are　my　looks　to　your　taste？〃

〃Your　lordship　is　perfect。〃

〃I　flatter　myself　I　am。　　It　is　true　that；　in　order　to　make　the
transformation　complete；　I　chose　the　very　oldest　coat　that　displayed
its　rags　in　a　Jew's　shop。〃

〃Your　lordship　looks　like　a　heathen　god　engaged　in　a　love　affair。
Jupiter　has　sheathed　his　thunderbolts　and　Apollo　has　pocketed　his
rays。〃

〃A　truce　to　your　mythology。　　And；　to　begin　with；　I　forbid　you　to　call
me　'　your　lordship。'〃

〃Yes；　your　lordship。〃

〃If　my　information　that　I　have　procured　during　the　day　is　correct；
the　house　must　be　on　the　other　side　of　the　island；　in　a　most　remote
and　lonely　spot。　　Walk　at　a　certain　distance；　and　do　not　trouble
yourself　about　me；　for　I　know　my　part　by　heart。'

The　young　Prince　of　Brancaleone；　whom；　in　spite　of　the　darkness　of
the　night；　our　readers　will　already　have　recognised；　advanced　towards
the　fisherman's　house；　with　as　little　noise　as　possible；　walked　up
and　down　several　times　upon　the　shore；　and；　after　having　briefly
reconnoitred　the　place　that　he　wished　to　attack；　waited　quietly　for
the　moon　to　rise　and　light　up　the　scene　that　he　had　prepared。　　He　was
not　obliged　to　exercise　his　patience　very　long；　for　the　darkness
gradually　disappeared；　and　Solomon's　little　house　was　bathed　in
silvery　light。　　Then　he　approached　with　timid　steps；　lifted　towards
the　casement　a　look　of　entreaty；　and　began　to　sigh　with　all　the　power
of　his　lungs。　　The　young　girl；　called　suddenly　from　her　meditations
by　the　appearance　of　this　strange　person；　raised　herself　sharply　and
prepared　to　close　the　shutters。

〃Stay；　charming　Nisida！〃　cried　the　prince；　in　the　manner　of　a　man
overcome　by　irresistible　passion。

〃What　do　you　want　with　me；　signor？〃　answered　the　maiden；　amazed　to
hear　herself　called　by　name。

〃To　adore　you　as　a　Madonna　is　adored；　and　to　make　you　aware　of　my
sighs。〃

Nisida　looked　at　him　steadily；　and；　after　a　moment　or　two　of
reflection；　asked　suddenly；　as　though　in　response　to　some　secret
thought；　〃Do　you　belong　to　this　country；　or　are　you　a　foreigner？〃

〃I　arrived　in　this　island；〃　replied　the　prince　without　hesitation；
〃at　the　moment　when　the　sun　was　writing　his　farewell　to　the　earth　and
dipping　the　rays　that　serves　as　his　pen　into　the　shadow　that　serves
as　his　inkstand。〃

〃And　who　are　you？〃　returned　the　young　girl；　not　at　all　understanding
these　strange　words。

〃Alas！　　I　am　but　a　poor　student；　but　I　may　become　a　great　poet　like
Tasso；　whose　verses　you　often　hear　sung　by　a　departing　fisherman　who
sends　his　thrilling　music　as　a　last　farewell　that　returns　to　die　on
the　beach。〃

〃I　do　not　know　whether　I　am　doing　wrong　to　speak　to　you；　but　at　least
I　will　be　frank　with　you；〃　said　Nisida；　blushing；　〃I　have　the
misfortune　to　be　the　richest　girl　on　the　island。〃

〃Your　father　will　not　be　inexorable；〃　returned　the　prince　ardently；
〃one　word　from　you；　light　of　my　eyes；　goddess　of　my　heart；　and　I　will
work　night　and　day；　never　pausing　nor　slackening；　and　will　render。
myself　worthy　to　possess　the　treasure　that　God　has　revealed　to　my
dazzled　eyes；　and；　from　being　poor　and　obscure　as　you　see　me；　I　will
become　rich　and　powerful。〃

〃I　have　stayed　too　long　listening　to　talk　that　a　maiden　should　not
hear；　permit　me；　signor；　to　withdraw。〃

〃Have　pity　on　me；　my　cruel　enemy！　　What　have　I　done　to　you　that　you
should　thus　leave　me　with　death　in　my　soul？　　You　do　not　know　that；
for　months　past；　I　have　been　following　you　everywhere　like　a　shadow；
that　I　prowl　round　your　home　at　night；　stifling　my　sighs　lest　they
should　disturb　your　peaceful　slumber。　　You　are　afraid；　perhaps；　to
let　yourself　be　touched；　at　a　first　meeting；　by　a　poor　wretch　who
adores　you。　　Alas！　　Juliet　was　young　and　beautiful　like　you；　and　she
did　not　need　many　entreaties　to　take　pity　on　Romeo。〃

Nisida　suffered　a　sad　and　thoughtful　look　to　fall　upon　this　handsome
young　man　who　spoke　to　her　in　so　gentle　a　voice；　and　withdrew　without
further　reply；　that　she　might　not　humiliate　his　poverty。

The　prince　made　great　efforts　to　suppress　a　strong　inclination
towards　laughter；　and；　very　well　satisfied　with　this　opening；　turned
his　steps　towards　the　spot　where　he　had　left　his　servant。　　Trespolo；
after　having　emptied　a　bottle　of　lacryma　with　which　he　had　provided
himself　for　any　emergency；　had　looked　long　around　him　to　choose　a
spot　where　the　grass　was　especially　high　and　thick；　and　had　laid
himself　down　to　a　sound　sleep；　murmuring　as　he　did　so；　this　sublime
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
utte