the governess-第6节

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oned；　and　of　a　very　good…natured　turn　of　mind。　　His　delight　was　no　less　in　acts　of　goodness　and　benevolence　than　the　other's　was　in　cruelty　and　mischief。　　His　constant　care　was　to　endeavour　if　possible　to　repair　the　injuries　committed　by　this　horrid　tyrant；　which　he　had　sometimes　an　opportunity　of　doing；　for　though　Barbarico　was　much　larger　and　stronger　than　Benefico；　yet　his　coward　mind　was　afraid　to　engage　with　him；　and　always　shunned　a　meeting；　leaving　the　pursuit　of　any　prey；　if　he　himself　was　pursued　by　Benefico：　　nor　could　the　good　Benefico　trust　farther　to　this　coward　spirit　of　his　base　adversary；　than　only　to　make　the　horrid　creature　fly；　for　he　well　knew　that　a　close　engagement　might　make　him　desperate；　and　fatal　to　himself　might　be　the　consequence　of　such　a　brutal　desperation；　therefore　he　prudently　declined　any　attempt　to　destroy　this　cruel　monster；　till　he　should　gain　some　sure　advantage　over　him。

It　happened　on　a　certain　day；　that　as　the　inhuman　Barbarico　was　prowling　along　the　side　of　a　craggy　mountain　overgrown　with　brambles　and　briery　thickets；　taking　most　horrid　strides；　rolling　his　ghastly　eyes　around　in　quest　of　human　blood；　and　having　his　breast　tortured　with　inward　rage　and　grief；　that　he　had　been　so　unhappy　as　to　live　one　whole　day　without　some　act　of　violence；　he　beheld；　in　a　pleasant　valley　at　a　distance；　a　little　rivulet　winding　its　gentle　course　through　rows　of　willows　mixed　with　flowery　shrubs。　　Hither　the　giant　hasted；　and　being　arrived；　he　gazed　about　to　see　if　in　this　sweet　retirement　any　were　so　unhappy　as　to　fall　within　his　power；　but　finding　none；　the　disappointment　set　him　in　a　flame　of　rage；　which；　burning　like　an　inward　furnace；　parched　his　throat。　　And　now　he　laid　him　down　on　the　bank；　to　try　if　in　the　cool　stream；　that　murmured　as　it　flowed；　he　could　assuage　or　slack　the　fiery　thirst　that　burnt　within　him。

He　bent　him　down　to　drink；　and　at　the　same　time　casting　his　baleful　eyes　towards　the　opposite　side；　he　discovered　within　a　little　natural　arbour　formed　by　the　branches　of　a　spreading　tree；　within　the　meadow's　flowery　lawn；　the　shepherd　Fidus　and　his　loved　Amata。

The　gloomy　tyrant　no　sooner　perceived　this　happy　pair；　than　his　heart　exulted　with　joy；　and；　suddenly　leaping　up　on　the　ground；　he　forgot　his　thirst；　and　left　the　stream　untasted。　　He　stood　for　a　short　space　to　view　them　in　their　sweet　retirement；　and　was　soon　convinced　that；　in　the　innocent　enjoyment　of　reciprocal　affection；　their　happiness　was　complete。　　His　eyes；　inflamed　with　envy　to　behold　such　bliss；　darted　a　fearful　glare；　and　his　breast　swelling　with　malice　and　envenomed　rage；　he　with　gigantic　pace　approached　their　peaceful　seat。

The　happy　Fidus　was　at　that　time　busy　in　entertaining　his　loved　Amata　with　a　song　which　he　had　that　very　morning　composed　in　praise　of　constancy；　and　the　giant　was　now　within　one　stride　of　them；　when　Amata；　perceiving　him；　cried　out　in　a　trembling　voice；　'Fly；　Fidus；　fly；　or　we　are　lost　for　ever；　we　are　pursued　by　the　hateful　Barbarico！'　　She　had　scarce　uttered　these　words；　when　the　savage　tyrant　seized　them　by　the　waist　n　either　hand；　and　holding　up　to　his　nearer　view；　thus　said：　　'Speak；　miscreants；　and；　if　you　would　avoid　immediate　death；　tell　me　who　you　are；　and　whence　arises　that　tranquility　of　mind；　which　even　at　a　distance　was　visible　in　your　behaviour。'

Poor　Fidus；　with　looks　that　would　have　melted　the　hardest　heart；　innocently　replied；　that　they　were　wandering　that　way　without　designing　offence　to　any　creature　on　earth。　　That　they　were　faithful　lovers；　and；　with　the　consent　of　all　their　friends　and　relations；　were　soon　to　be　married；　therefore　he　entreated　him　not　to　part　them。

The　giant　now　no　sooner　perceived；　from　the　last　words　of　the　affrighted　youth；　what　was　most　likely　to　give　them　the　greatest　torment；　than　with　a　spiteful　grin　which　made　his　horrible　face　yet　more　horrible；　and　in　a　hollow　voice；　as　loud　as　thunder；　he　tauntingly　cried　out；　'Ho…hoh！　　You'd　not　be　parted；　would　you？　　For　once　I'll　gratify　thy　will；　and　thou　shalt　follow　this　thy　whimpering　fondling　down　my　capatious　maw。'　　So　saying；　he　turned　his　ghastly　visage　on　the　trembling　Amata　who；　being　now　no　longer　able　to　support　herself　under　his　cruel　threats；　fainted　away；　and　remained　in　his　hand　but　as　a　lifeless　corpse。　　When　lifting　up　his　eyes　towards　the　hill　on　the　opposite　side；　he　beheld　Benefico　coming　hastily　towards　him。　　This　good　giant　having　been　that　morning　informed　that　Barbarico　was　roaming　in　the　mountains　after　prey；　left　his　peaceful　castle；　in　hopes　of　giving　protection　to　whatever　unfortunate　creature　should　fall　into　the　clutches　of　this　so　cruel　a　monster。

Barbarico；　at　the　sight　of　the　friendly　Benefico；　started　with　fear；　for　although　in　bulk　and　stature　he　was；　as　we　have　said；　the　superior：　　yet　that　cowardice；　which　ever　accompanies　wickedness；　now　wrought　in　him　in　such　a　manner　that　he　could　not　bear　to　confront　him；　well　knowing　the　courage　and　fortitude　that　always　attend　the　good　and　virtuous；　and　therefore　instantly　putting　Fidus　into　the　wallet　that　hung　over　his　shoulder；　he　flung　the　fainting　Amata；　whom　he　took　to　be　quite　expired；　into　the　stream　that　ran　hard　by；　and　fled　to　his　cave；　not　daring　once　to　cast　his　eyes　behind　him。

The　good　Benefico　perceiving　the　monster's　flight；　and　not　doubting　but　he　had　been　perpetrating　some　horrid　mischief；　immediately　hastened　to　the　brook；　where　he　found　the　half…expiring　Amata　floating　down　the　stream；　for　her　clothes　had　yet　borne　her　up　on　the　surface　of　the　water。　　He　speedily　stepped　in；and　drew　her　out；　and　taking　her　in　his　arms；　pressed　her　to　his　warm　bosom；　and　in　a　short　space　perceiving　in　her　face　the　visible　marks　of　returning　life；　his　heart　swelled　with　kind　compassion；　and　he　thus　bespoke　the　tender　maid：　　'Unhappy　damsel；　lift　up　thy　gentle　eyes；　and　tell　me　by　what　hard　fate　thou　hast　fallen　into　the　power　of　that　barbarous　monster；　whose　savage　nature　delights　in　nothing　but　ruin　and　desolation。　　Tremble　not　thus；　but　without　fear　or　terror　behold　one　who　joys　in　the　thought　of　having　saved　thee　from　destruction；　and　will　bring　thee　every　comfort　his　utmost　power　can　procure。'

The　gentle　Amata　was　now　just　enough　recovered　to　open　her　eyes：　　but　finding　herself　in　a　giant's　arms；　and　still　retaining　in　her　mind　the　frightful　image　of　the　horrid　Barbarico；　she　fetched　a　deep　sigh；　crying　out　in　broken　accents；　'Fly；　Fidus；　fly；'　and　again　sunk　down　upon　the　friendly　giant's　breast。　　On　hearing　these　words；　and　plainly　seeing　by　the　anguish　of　her　mind　that　some　settled　grief　was　deeply　rooted　at　her　heart；　and　therefore　despairing　to　bring　her　to　herself　immediately；　the　kind　Benefico　hastened　with　her　to　his　hospitable　castle；　where　every　imaginable　assistance　was　administered　to　her　relief；　in　order　to　recover　her　lost　sense；　and　to　reconcile　her　to　her　wretched　fate。

The　cruel　Barbarico　was　no　sooner　arrived　at　his　gloomy　cave；　than　he　called　to　him　his　little　page；　who；　trembling　to　hear　the　tyrant　now　again　returned；　quickly　drew　near　to　attend　his　stern　commands：　　when　drawing　out　of　the　wallet　the　poor　Fidus；　more　dead　than　alive；　the　monster　cried　out；　'Here；　caitiff；　take　in　charge　this　smoothed…faced　miscreant；　and；　d'ye　hear　me？　see　that　his　allowance　be　no　more　than　one　small　ounce　of　mouldy　bread　and　half　a　pint　of　standing　water；　for　each　day's　support；　till　his　now　blooming　skin　be　withered；　his　flesh　be　wasted　from　his　bones；　and　he　dwindle　to　a　meagre　skeleton。'　　So　saying　he　left　them；　as　he　hoped；　to　bewail　each　other's　sad　condition。　　But　the　unhappy　Fidus；　bereft　of　his　Amata；　was　not　to　be　appalled　by　any　of　the　most　horrid　threats；　for　now　his　only　comfort　was　the　hopes　of　a　speedy　end　to　his　miserable　life；　and　to　find　a　refuge　from　his　misfortunes　in　the　peaceful　grave。　　With　this　reflection　the　faithful　Fidus　was　endeavouring　to　calm　the　inward　troubles　of　his　mind；　when　the　little　page；　with　looks　of　the　most　tender　compassion；　and　in　gentle　words；　bid　him　be　comforted；　and　with　patience　endure　his　present　affliction；　adding　that　he　himself　had　long　suffered　the　most　rigorous　fate；　yet　despaired　not　but　that　one　day　would　give　them　an　opportunity　to　free　themselves　from　the　wicked　wretch；　whose　sole　delight　was　in　others'　torments。　　'As　to　his　inhuman　commands；'　continued　he；　'I　will　sooner　die　than　obey　them；　and　in　a　mutual　friendship　perhaps　we　may　find　some　consolation；　even　in　this　dismal　cave。'

This　little　page　the　cruel　Barbarico　had　stolen　from　his　parents　at　five　years　old；　ever　since　which　time　he　had　tortured　and　abused　him；　till　he　had　now　attained　the　age　of　one…and…twenty。　　His　mother　had　given　him　the　name　of　Mignon；　by　which　name　the　monster　always　called　him；　as　it　gratified　his　insolence　to　make　use　of　that　fond　appellation　whilst　he　was　abusing　him；　only　when　he　said　Mignon　he　would　in　derision　add　the　word　Dwarf；　for；　to　say　the　truth；　Mignon　was　one　of　the　least　men　that　was　ever　seen；　though　at　the　same　time　one　of　the　prettiest：　　his　limbs；　though　small；　were　exactly　proportioned；　his　countenance　was　at　once　sprightly　and　soft；　and　whatever　his　head　thought；　or　his　heart　felt；　his　eyes　by　their　looks　expressed；　and　his　temper　was　as　sweet　as　h