the vicar of wakefield-第8节
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e guest：
And spread his vegetable store； And gayly prest； and smil'd； And skill'd in legendary lore； The lingering hours beguil'd。
Around in sympathetic mirth Its tricks the kitten tries； The cricket chirrups in the hearth； The crackling faggot flies。
But nothing could a charm impart To sooth the stranger's woe； For grief was heavy at his heart； And tears began to flow。
His rising cares the hermit spy'd； With answering care opprest： 'And whence； unhappy youth；' he cry'd； 'The sorrows of thy breast？
'From better habitations spurn'd； Reluctant dost thou rove； Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd； Or unregarded love？
'Alas！ the joys that fortune brings； Are trifling and decay； And those who prize the paltry things； More trifling still than they。
'And what is friendship but a name； A charm that lulls to sleep； A shade that follows wealth or fame； But leaves the wretch to weep？
'And love is still an emptier sound； The modern fair one's jest： On earth unseen； or only found To warm the turtle's nest。
'For shame fond youth thy sorrows hush And spurn the sex；' he said： But while he spoke a rising blush His love…lorn guest betray'd。
Surpriz'd he sees new beauties rise； Swift mantling to the view； Like colours o'er the morning skies； As bright； as transient too。
The bashful look； the rising breast； Alternate spread alarms： The lovely stranger stands confest A maid in all her charms。
'And； ah；'forgive a stranger rude； A wretch forlorn；' she cry'd； 'Whose feet unhallowed thus intrude Where heaven and you reside。
'But let a maid thy pity share； Whom love has taught to stray； Who seeks for rest； but finds despair Companion of her way。
'My father liv'd beside the Tyne； A wealthy Lord was he； And all his wealth was mark'd as mine； He had but only me。
'To win me from his tender arms； Unnumber'd suitors came； Who prais'd me for imputed charms； And felt or feign'd a flame。
'Each hour a mercenary crowd； With richest proffers strove： Among the rest young Edwin bow'd； But never talk'd of love。
'In humble simplest habit clad； No wealth nor power had he； Wisdom and worth were all he had； But these were all to me。
'The blossom opening to the day； The dews of heaven refin'd； Could nought of purity display； To emulate his mind。
'The dew； the blossom on the tree； With charms inconstant shine； Their charms were his； but woe to me； Their constancy was mine。
'For still I try'd each fickle art； Importunate and vain； And while his passion touch'd my heart； I triumph'd in his pain。
'Till quite dejected with my scorn； He left me to my pride； And sought a solitude forlorn； In secret where he died。
'But mine the sorrow； mine the fault； And well my life shall pay； I'll seek the solitude he sought； And stretch me where he lay。
'And there forlorn despairing hid； I'll lay me down and die： 'Twas so for me that Edwin did； And so for him will I。'
'Forbid it heaven！' the hermit cry'd； And clasp'd her to his breast： The wondering fair one turn'd to chide； 'Twas Edwin's self that prest。
'Turn； Angelina； ever dear； My charmer； turn to see； Thy own； thy long…lost Edwin here； Restor'd to love and thee。
'Thus let me hold thee to my heart； And ev'ry care resign： And shall we never； never part； My life；my all that's mine。
'No； never； from this hour to part； We'll live and love so true； The sigh that tends thy constant heart； Shall break thy Edwin's too。'
While this ballad was reading； Sophia seemed to mix an air of tenderness with her approbation。 But our tranquillity was soon disturbed by the report of a gun just by us； and immediately after a man was seen bursting through the hedge； to take up the game he had killed。 This sportsman was the 'Squire's chaplain； who had shot one of the blackbirds that so agreeably entertained us。 So loud a report； and so near； startled my daughters； and I could perceive that Sophia in the fright had thrown herself into Mr Burchell's arms for protection。 The gentleman came up； and asked pardon for having disturbed us； affirming that he was ignorant of our being so near。 He therefore sate down by my youngest daughter； and； sportsman like； offered her what he had killed that morning。 She was going to refuse； but a private look from her mother soon induced her to correct the mistake； and accept his present； though with some reluctance。 My wife； as usual； discovered her pride in a whisper； observing； that Sophy had made a conquest of the chaplain； as well as her sister had of the 'Squire。 I suspected； however； with more probability； that her affections were placed upon a different object。 The chaplain's errand was to inform us； that Mr Thornhill had provided music and refreshments； and intended that night giving the young ladies a ball by moon…light； on the grass…plot before our door。 'Nor can I deny；' continued he； 'but I have an interest in being first to deliver this message； as I expect for my reward to be honoured with miss Sophy's hand as a partner。' To this my girl replied； that she should have no objection； if she could do it with honour： 'But here；' continued she； 'is a gentleman；' looking at Mr Burchell； 'who has been my companion in the task for the day； and it is fit he should share in its amusements。' Mr Burchell returned her a compliment for her intentions； but resigned her up to the chaplain； adding that he was to go that night five miles； being invited to an harvest supper。 His refusal appeared to me a little extraordinary； nor could I conceive how so sensible a girl as my youngest； could thus prefer a man of broken fortunes to one whose expectations were much greater。 But as men are most capable of distinguishing merit in women； so the ladies often form the truest judgments of us。 The two sexes seem placed as spies upon each other； and are furnished with different abilities； adapted for mutual inspection。
CHAPTER 9
Two ladies of great distinction introduced。 Superior finery ever seems to confer superior breeding
Mr Burchell had scarce taken leave； and Sophia consented to dance with the chaplain； when my little ones came running out to tell us that the 'Squire was come； with a crowd of company。 Upon our return； we found our landlord； with a couple of under gentlemen and two young ladies richly drest； whom he introduced as women of very great distinction and fashion from town。 We happened not to have chairs enough for the whole company； but Mr Thornhill immediately proposed that every gentleman should sit in a lady's lap。 This I positively objected to； notwithstanding a look of disapprobation from my wife。 Moses was therefore dispatched to borrow a couple of chairs； and as we were in want of ladies to make up a set at country dances； the two gentlemen went with him in quest of a couple of partners。 Chairs and partners were soon provided。 The gentlemen returned with my neighbour Flamborough's rosy daughters； flaunting with red top…knots； but an unlucky circumstance was not adverted to； though the Miss Flamboroughs were reckoned the very best dancers in the parish； and understood the jig and the round…about to perfection； yet they were totally unacquainted with country dances。' This at first discomposed us： however； after a little shoving and dragging； they at last went merrily on。 Our music consisted of two fiddles； with a pipe and tabor。 The moon shone bright； Mr Thornhill and my eldest daughter led up the ball； to the great delight of the spectators； for the neighbours hearing what was going forward； came flocking about us。 My girl moved with so much grace and vivacity； that my wife could not avoid discovering the pride of her heart； by assuring me； that though the little chit did it so cleverly； all the steps were stolen from herself。 The ladies of the town strove hard to be equally easy； but without success。 They swam； sprawled； languished； and frisked； but all would not do： the gazers indeed owned that it was fine； but neighbour Flamborough observed； that Miss Livy's feet seemed as pat to the music as its echo。 After the dance had continued about an hour； the two ladies； who were apprehensive of catching cold； moved to break up the ball。 One of them； I thought； expressed her sentiments upon this occasion in a very coarse manner； when she observed； that by the living jingo； she was all of a muck of sweat。 Upon our return to the house； we found a very elegant cold supper； which Mr Thornhill had ordered to be brought with him。 The conversation at this time was more reserved than before。 The two ladies threw my girls quite into the shade； for they would talk of nothing but high life； and high lived company； with other fashionable topics； such as pictures； taste； Shakespear； and the musical glasses。 'Tis true they once or twice mortified us sensibly by slipping out an oath； but that appeared to me as the surest symptom of their distinction； （tho' I am since informed that swearing is perfectly unfashionable。） Their finery； however； threw a veil over any grossness in their conversation。 My daughters seemed to regard their superior accomplishments with envy； and what appeared amiss was ascribed to tip…top quality breeding。 But the condescension of the ladies was still superior to their other accomplishments。 One of them observed； that had miss Olivia seen a
