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！
Ah！ Happy Swain！ He waits the accustomed hour；
When twilight…gloom obscures the closing sky；
Then gladly seeks his loved paternal bower；
And shares the feast his native fields supply：
Friendship and Love； his Cottage Guests； receive him
With honest welcome and with smile sincere；
No threatening woes of present joys bereave him；
No sigh his bosom owns； his cheek no tear。
Ah！ Happy Swain！ Such bliss to me denying；
Fortune thy lot with envy bids me view；
Me； who from home and Spain an Exile flying；
Bid all I value； all I love； adieu。
No more mine ear shall list the well…known ditty
Sung by some Mountain…Girl； who tends her Goats；
Some Village…Swain imploring amorous pity；
Or Shepherd chaunting wild his rustic notes：
No more my arms a Parent's fond embraces；
No more my heart domestic calm； must know；
Far from these joys； with sighs which Memory traces；
To sultry skies； and distant climes I go。
Where Indian Suns engender new diseases；
Where snakes and tigers breed； I bend my way
To brave the feverish thirst no art appeases；
The yellow plague； and madding blaze of day：
But not to feel slow pangs consume my liver；
To die by piece…meal in the bloom of age；
My boiling blood drank by insatiate fever；
And brain delirious with the day…star's rage；
Can make me know such grief； as thus to sever
With many a bitter sigh； Dear Land； from Thee；
To feel this heart must doat on thee for ever；
And feel； that all thy joys are torn from me！
Ah me！ How oft will Fancy's spells in slumber
Recall my native Country to my mind！
How oft regret will bid me sadly number
Each lost delight and dear Friend left behind！
Wild Murcia's Vales； and loved romantic bowers；
The River on whose banks a Child I played；
My Castle's antient Halls； its frowning Towers；
Each much…regretted wood； and well…known Glade；
Dreams of the land where all my wishes centre；
Thy scenes； which I am doomed no more to know；
Full oft shall Memory trace； my soul's Tormentor；
And turn each pleasure past to present woe。
But Lo！ The Sun beneath the waves retires；
Night speeds apace her empire to restore：
Clouds from my sight obscure the village…spires；
Now seen but faintly； and now seen no more。
Oh！ breathe not； Winds！ Still be the Water's motion！
Sleep； sleep； my Bark； in silence on the Main！
So when to…morrow's light shall gild the Ocean；
Once more mine eyes shall see the coast of Spain。
Vain is the wish！ My last petition scorning；
Fresh blows the Gale； and high the Billows swell：
Far shall we be before the break of Morning；
Oh！ then for ever； native Spain； farewell！
Lorenzo had scarcely time to read these lines； when Elvira
returned to him： The giving a free course to her tears had
relieved her； and her spirits had regained their usual composure。
'I have nothing more to say； my Lord；' said She； 'You have heard
my apprehensions； and my reasons for begging you not to repeat
your visits。 I have thrown myself in full confidence upon your
honour： I am certain that you will not prove my opinion of you
to have been too favourable。'
'But one question more； Segnora； and I leave you。 Should the
Duke of Medina approve my love； would my addresses be
unacceptable to yourself and the fair Antonia？'
'I will be open with you； Don Lorenzo： There being little
probability of such an union taking place； I fear that it is
desired but too ardently by my Daughter。 You have made an
impression upon her young heart； which gives me the most serious
alarm： To prevent that impression from growing stronger； I am
obliged to decline your acquaintance。 For me； you may be sure
that I should rejoice at establishing my Child so advantageously。
Conscious that my constitution； impaired by grief and illness；
forbids me to expect a long continuance in this world； I tremble
at the thought of leaving her under the protection of a perfect
Stranger。 The Marquis de las Cisternas is totally unknown to me：
He will marry； His Lady may look upon Antonia with an eye of
displeasure； and deprive her of her only Friend。 Should the
Duke； your Uncle； give his consent； you need not doubt obtaining
mine； and my Daughter's： But without his； hope not for ours。 At
all events； what ever steps you may take； what ever may be the
Duke's decision； till you know it let me beg your forbearing to
strengthen by your presence Antonia's prepossession。 If the
sanction of your Relations authorises your addressing her as your
Wife； my Doors fly open to you： If that sanction is refused； be
satisfied to possess my esteem and gratitude； but remember； that
we must meet no more。'
Lorenzo promised reluctantly to conform to this decree： But He
added that He hoped soon to obtain that consent which would give
him a claim to the renewal of their acquaintance。 He then
explained to her why the Marquis had not called in person； and
made no scruple of confiding to her his Sister's History。 He
concluded by saying that He hoped to set Agnes at liberty the
next day； and that as soon as Don Raymond's fears were quieted
upon this subject； He would lose no time in assuring Donna Elvira
of his friendship and protection。
The Lady shook her head。
'I tremble for your Sister；' said She； 'I have heard many traits
of the Domina of St。 Clare's character； from a Friend who was
educated in the same Convent with her。 She reported her to be
haughty； inflexible； superstitious； and revengeful。 I have since
heard that She is infatuated with the idea of rendering her
Convent the most regular in Madrid； and never forgave those whose
imprudence threw upon it the slightest stain。 Though naturally
violent and severe； when her interests require it； She well knows
how to assume an appearance of benignity。 She leaves no means
untried to persuade young Women of rank to become Members of her
Community： She is implacable when once incensed； and has too
much intrepidity to shrink at taking the most rigorous measures
for punishing the Offender。 Doubtless； She will consider your
Sister's quitting the Convent as a disgrace thrown upon it： She
will use every artifice to avoid obeying the mandate of his
Holiness； and I shudder to think that Donna Agnes is in the
hands of this dangerous Woman。'
Lorenzo now rose to take leave。 Elvira gave him her hand at
parting； which He kissed respectfully； and telling her that He
soon hoped for the permission to salute that of Antonia； He
returned to his Hotel。 The Lady was perfectly satisfied with the
conversation which had past between them。 She looked forward
with satisfaction to the prospect of his becoming her Son…in…
law； But Prudence bad her conceal from her Daughter's knowledge
the flattering hopes which Herself now ventured to entertain。
Scarcely was it day； and already Lorenzo was at the Convent of
St。 Clare； furnished with the necessary mandate。 The Nuns were
at Matins。 He waited impatiently for the conclusion of the
service； and at length the Prioress appeared at the Parlour
Grate。 Agnes was demanded。 The old Lady replied； with a
melancholy air； that the dear Child's situation grew hourly more
dangerous； That the Physicians despaired of her life； But that
they had declared the only chance for her recovery to consist in
keeping her quiet； and not to permit those to approach her whose
presence was likely to agitate her。 Not a word of all this was
believed by Lorenzo； any more than He credited the expressions of
grief and affection for Agnes； with which this account was
interlarded。 To end the business； He put the Pope's Bull into
the hands of the Domina； and insisted that； ill or in health； his
Sister should be delivered to him without delay。
The Prioress received the paper with an air of humility： But no
sooner had her eye glanced over the contents； than her resentment
baffled all the efforts of Hypocrisy。 A deep crimson spread
itself over her face； and She darted upon Lorenzo looks of rage
and menace。
'This order is positive；' said She in a voice of anger； which She
in vain strove to disguise； 'Willingly w