volume01-第1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！





VOLUME　I

CHAPTER　I

Lord　Angelo　is　precise；　Stands　at　a　guard　with　envy；　Scarce　confesses　That　his　blood　flows；　or　that　his　appetite　Is　more　to　bread　than　stone。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Measure　for　Measure。　


Scarcely　had　the　Abbey　Bell　tolled　for　five　minutes；and　already　was　the　Church　of　the　Capuchins　thronged　with　Auditors。　　Do　not　encourage　the　idea　that　the　Crowd　was　assembled　either　from　motives　of　piety　or　thirst　of　information。　　But　very　few　were　influenced　by　those　reasons；　and　in　a　city　where　superstition　reigns　with　such　despotic　sway　as　in　Madrid；　to　seek　for　true　devotion　would　be　a　fruitless　attempt。　　The　Audience　now　assembled　in　the　Capuchin　Church　was　collected　by　various　causes；　but　all　of　them　were　foreign　to　the　ostensible　motive。　　The　Women　came　to　show　themselves；　the　Men　to　see　the　Women：　　Some　were　attracted　by　curiosity　to　hear　an　Orator　so　celebrated；　Some　came　because　they　had　no　better　means　of　employing　their　time　till　the　play　began；　Some；　from　being　assured　that　it　would　be　impossible　to　find　places　in　the　Church；　and　one　half　of　Madrid　was　brought　thither　by　expecting　to　meet　the　other　half。　　The　only　persons　truly　anxious　to　hear　the　Preacher　were　a　few　antiquated　devotees；　and　half　a　dozen　rival　Orators；　determined　to　find　fault　with　and　ridicule　the　discourse。　　As　to　the　remainder　of　the　Audience；　the　Sermon　might　have　been　omitted　altogether；　certainly　without　their　being　disappointed；　and　very　probably　without　their　perceiving　the　omission。

Whatever　was　the　occasion；　it　is　at　least　certain　that　the　Capuchin　Church　had　never　witnessed　a　more　numerous　assembly。　　Every　corner　was　filled；　every　seat　was　occupied。　　The　very　Statues　which　ornamented　the　long　aisles　were　pressed　into　the　service。　　Boys　suspended　themselves　upon　the　wings　of　Cherubims；　St。　Francis　and　St。　Mark　bore　each　a　spectator　on　his　shoulders；　and　St。　Agatha　found　herself　under　the　necessity　of　carrying　double。　　The　consequence　was；　that　in　spite　of　all　their　hurry　and　expedition；　our　two　newcomers；　on　entering　the　Church；　looked　round　in　vain　for　places。

However；　the　old　Woman　continued　to　move　forwards。　　In　vain　were　exclamations　of　displeasure　vented　against　her　from　all　sides：　　In　vain　was　She　addressed　with'I　assure　you；　Segnora；　there　are　no　places　here。'　'I　beg；　Segnora；　that　you　will　not　crowd　me　so　intolerably！''Segnora；　you　cannot　pass　this　way。　　Bless　me！　　How　can　people　be　so　troublesome！'The　old　Woman　was　obstinate；　and　on　She　went。　　By　dint　of　perseverance　and　two　brawny　arms　She　made　a　passage　through　the　Crowd；　and　managed　to　bustle　herself　into　the　very　body　of　the　Church；　at　no　great　distance　from　the　Pulpit。　　Her　companion　had　followed　her　with　timidity　and　in　silence；　profiting　by　the　exertions　of　her　conductress。

'Holy　Virgin！'　exclaimed　the　old　Woman　in　a　tone　of　disappointment；　while　She　threw　a　glance　of　enquiry　round　her；　'Holy　Virgin！　　What　heat！　　What　a　Crowd！　I　wonder　what　can　be　the　meaning　of　all　this。　　I　believe　we　must　return：　　There　is　no　such　thing　as　a　seat　to　be　had；　and　nobody　seems　kind　enough　to　accommodate　us　with　theirs。'

This　broad　hint　attracted　the　notice　of　two　Cavaliers；　who　occupied　stools　on　the　right　hand；　and　were　leaning　their　backs　against　the　seventh　column　from　the　Pulpit。　　Both　were　young；　and　richly　habited。　　Hearing　this　appeal　to　their　politeness　pronounced　in　a　female　voice；　they　interrupted　their　conversation　to　look　at　the　speaker。　　She　had　thrown　up　her　veil　in　order　to　take　a　clearer　look　round　the　Cathedral。　　Her　hair　was　red；　and　She　squinted。　　The　Cavaliers　turned　round；　and　renewed　their　conversation。

'By　all　means；'　replied　the　old　Woman's　companion；　'By　all　means；　Leonella；　let　us　return　home　immediately；　The　heat　is　excessive；　and　I　am　terrified　at　such　a　crowd。'

These　words　were　pronounced　in　a　tone　of　unexampled　sweetness。　　The　Cavaliers　again　broke　off　their　discourse；　but　for　this　time　they　were　not　contented　with　looking　up：　　Both　started　involuntarily　from　their　seats；　and　turned　themselves　towards　the　Speaker。

The　voice　came　from　a　female；　the　delicacy　and　elegance　of　whose　figure　inspired　the　Youths　with　the　most　lively　curiosity　to　view　the　face　to　which　it　belonged。　　This　satisfaction　was　denied　them。　　Her　features　were　hidden　by　a　thick　veil；　But　struggling　through　the　crowd　had　deranged　it　sufficiently　to　discover　a　neck　which　for　symmetry　and　beauty　might　have　vied　with　the　Medicean　Venus。　　It　was　of　the　most　dazzling　whiteness；　and　received　additional　charms　from　being　shaded　by　the　tresses　of　her　long　fair　hair；　which　descended　in　ringlets　to　her　waist。　　Her　figure　was　rather　below　than　above　the　middle　size：　　It　was　light　and　airy　as　that　of　an　Hamadryad。　　Her　bosom　was　carefully　veiled。　　Her　dress　was　white；　it　was　fastened　by　a　blue　sash；　and　just　permitted　to　peep　out　from　under　it　a　little　foot　of　the　most　delicate　proportions。　　A　chaplet　of　large　grains　hung　upon　her　arm；　and　her　face　was　covered　with　a　veil　of　thick　black　gauze。　　Such　was　the　female；　to　whom　the　youngest　of　the　Cavaliers　now　offered　his　seat；　while　the　other　thought　it　necessary　to　pay　the　same　attention　to　her　companion。

The　old　Lady　with　many　expressions　of　gratitude；　but　without　much　difficulty；　accepted　the　offer；　and　seated　herself：　　The　young　one　followed　her　example；　but　made　no　other　compliment　than　a　simple　and　graceful　reverence。　　Don　Lorenzo　（such　was　the　Cavalier's　name；　whose　seat　She　had　accepted）　placed　himself　near　her；　But　first　He　whispered　a　few　words　in　his　Friend's　ear；　who　immediately　took　the　hint；　and　endeavoured　to　draw　off　the　old　Woman's　attention　from　her　lovely　charge。

'You　are　doubtless　lately　arrived　at　Madrid；'　said　Lorenzo　to　his　fair　Neighbour；　'It　is　impossible　that　such　charms　should　have　long　remained　unobserved；　and　had　not　this　been　your　first　public　appearance；　the　envy　of　the　Women　and　adoration　of　the　Men　would　have　rendered　you　already　sufficiently　remarkable。'

He　paused；　in　expectation　of　an　answer。　　As　his　speech　did　not　absolutely　require　one；　the　Lady　did　not　open　her　lips：　　After　a　few　moments　He　resumed　his　discourse：

'Am　I　wrong　in　supposing　you　to　be　a　Stranger　to　Madrid？'

The　Lady　hesitated；　and　at　last；　in　so　low　a　voice　as　to　be　scarcely　intelligible；　She　made　shift　to　answer；　'No；　Segnor。'

'Do　you　intend　making　a　stay　of　any　length？'

'Yes；　Segnor。'

'I　should　esteem　myself　fortunate；　were　it　in　my　power　to　contribute　to　making　your　abode　agreeable。　I　am　well　known　at　Madrid；　and　my　Family　has　some　interest　at　Court。　　If　I　can　be　of　any　service；　you　cannot　honour　or　oblige　me　more　than　by　permitting　me　to　be　of　use　to　you。''Surely；'　said　He　to　himself；　'She　cannot　answer　that　by　a　monosyllable；　now　She　must　say　something　to　me。'

Lorenzo　was　deceived；　for　the　Lady　answered　only　by　a　bow。

By　this　time　He　had　discovered　that　his　Neighbour　was　not　very　conversible；　But　whether　her　silence　proceeded　from　pride；　discretion；　timidity；　or　idiotism；　He　was　still　unable　to　decide。

After　a　pause　of　some　minutes'It　is　certainly　from　your　being　a　Stranger；'　said　He；　'and　as　yet　unacquainted　with　our　customs；　that　you　continue　to　wear　your　veil。　Permit　me　to　remove　it。'

At　the　same　time　He　advanced　his　hand　towards　the　Gauze：　　The　Lady　raised　hers　to　prevent　him。

'I　never　unveil　in　public；　Segnor。'

'And　where　is　the　harm；　I　pray　you？'　interrupted　her　Companion　somewhat　sharply；　'Do　not　you　see　that　the　other　Ladies　have　all　laid　their　veils　aside；　to　do　honour　no　doubt　to　the　holy　place　in　which　we　are？　　I　have　taken　off　mine　already；　and　surely　if　I　expose　my　features　to　general　observation；　you　have　no　cause　to　put　yourself　in　such　a　wonderful　alarm！　　Blessed　Maria！　Here　is　a　fuss　and　a　bustle　about　a　chit's　face！　　Come；　come；　Child！　　Uncover　it；　I　warrant　you　that　nobody　will　run　away　with　it　from　you'

'Dear　aunt；　it　is　not　the　custom　in　Murcia。'

'Murcia；　indeed！　　Holy　St。　Barbara；　what　does　that　signify？　　You　are　always　putting　me　in　mind　of　that　villainous　Province。　　If　it　is　the　custom　in　Madrid；　that　is　all　that　we　ought　to　mind；　and　therefore　I　desire　you　to　take　off　your　veil　immediately。　　Obey　me　this　moment　Antonia；　for　you　know　that　I　cannot　bear　contradiction'

Her　niece　was　silent；　but　made　no　further　opposition　to　Don　Lorenzo's　efforts；　who；　armed　with　the　Aunt's　sanction　hastened　to　remove　the　Gauze。　　What　a　Seraph's　head　presented　itself　to　his　admiration！　　Yet　it　was　rather　bewitching　than　beautiful；　It　wasnot　so　lovely　from　regularity　of　features　as　from　sweetness　and　sensibility　of　Countenance。　　The　several　parts　of　her　face　considered　separately；　many　of　them　were　far　from　handsome；　but　when　examined　together；　the　whole　was　adorable。　　Her　skin　though　fair　was　not　entirely　without　freckles；　Her　eyes　were　not　very　large；　nor　their　lashes　particularly　long。　　But　then　her　lips　were　of　the　most　rosy　freshness；　Her　fair　and　undulating　hair；　confined　by　a　simple　ribband；　poured　itself　below　her　waist　in　a　profusion　of　ringlets；　Her　throat　was　full　and　beautiful　in　the　extreme；　Her　hand　and　arm　were　formed　with　the　most　perfect　symmetry；　Her　mild　blue　eyes　seemed　an　heaven　of　sweetness；　and　the　crystal　in　which　they　moved　sparkled　with　all