登陆注册
5188000000015

第15章

"I hope it will be a nice benefice," said the Princess to him, with a pretty smile, as he was going out; then, shaking her head with an air of solemn misgiving, "but you had better have been Bishop of Liege."Gerard followed his new conductor, his heart warm with gratitude;but ere he reached the banquet-hall a chill came over him.The mind of one who has led a quiet, uneventful life is not apt to take in contradictory feelings at the same moment and balance them, but rather to be overpowered by each in turn.While Gerard was with the Countess, the excitement of so new a situation, the unlooked-for promise.the joy and pride it would cause at home, possessed him wholly; but now it was passion's turn to be heard again.What! give up Margaret, whose soft hand he still felt in his, and her deep eyes in his heart? resign her and all the world of love and joy she had opened on him to-day? The revulsion, when it did come, was so strong that he hastily resolved to say nothing at home about the offered benefice."The Countess is so good,"thought he, "she has a hundred ways of aiding a young man's fortune: she will not compel me to be a priest when she shall learn I love one of her sex: one would almost think she does know it, for she cast a strange look on me, and said, 'A priest gives up much, too much.' I dare say she will give me a place about the palace." And with this hopeful reflection his mind was eased, and, being now at the entrance of the banqueting hall, he thanked his conductor, and ran hastily with joyful eyes to Margaret.He came in sight of the table- she was gone.Peter was gone too.Nobody was at the table at all; only a citizen in sober garments had just tumbled under it dead drunk, and several persons were raising him to carry him away.Gerard never guessed how important this solemn drunkard was to him: he was looking for "Beauty," and let the "Beast" lie.He ran wildly round the hall, which was now comparatively empty.She was not there.He left the palace:

outside he found a crowd gaping at two great fan-lights just lighted over the gate.He asked them earnestly if they had seen an old man in a gown, and a lovely girl pass out.They laughed at the question."They were staring at these new lights that turn night into day.They didn't trouble their heads about old men and young wenches, every-day sights." From another group he learned there was a Mystery being played under canvas hard by, and all the world gone to see it.This revived his hopes, and he went and saw the Mystery.

In this representation divine personages, too sacred for me to name here, came clumsily down from heaven to talk sophistry with the cardinal Virtues, the nine Muses, and the seven deadly sins, all present in human shape, and not unlike one another.To enliven which weary stuff in rattled the Prince of the power of the air, and an imp that kept molesting him and buffeting him with a bladder, at each thwack of which the crowd were in ecstasies.When the Vices had uttered good store of obscenity and the Virtues twaddle, the celestials, including the nine Muses went gingerly back to heaven one by one; for there was but one cloud; and two artisans worked it tip with its supernatural freight, and worked it down with a winch, in full sight of the audience.These disposed of, the bottomless pit opened and flamed in the centre of the stage; the carpenters and Virtues shoved the Vices in, and the Virtues and Beelzebub and his tormentor danced merrily round the place of eternal torture to the fife and tabor.

This entertainment was writ by the Bishop of Ghent for the diffusion of religious sentiment by the aid of the senses, and was an average specimen of theatrical exhibitions so long as they were in the hands of the clergy.But, in course of time, the laity conducted plays, and so the theatre, I learn from the pulpit, has become profane.

Margaret was nowhere in the crowd, and Gerard could not enjoy the performance; he actually went away in Act 2, in the midst of a much-admired piece of dialogue, in which Justice out-quibbled Satan.He walked through many streets, but could not find her he sought.At last, fairly worn out, he went to a hostelry and slept till daybreak.All that day, heavy and heartsick, he sought her, but could never fall in with her or her father, nor ever obtain the slightest clue.Then he felt she was false or had changed her mind.He was irritated now, as well as sad.More good fortune fell on him; he almost hated it.At last, on the third day, after he had once more been through every street, he said, "She is not in the town, and I shall never see her again.I will go home." He started for Tergou with royal favour promised, with fifteen golden angels in his purse, a golden medal on his bosom, and a heart like a lump of lead.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 神棍都市行

    神棍都市行

    新书《膨胀了地球》,欢迎新老朋友移步一观,感激不尽!!!———————————————————系统少年,踏足都市,逆天崛起,一路向前!2019.5.20签约悬疑灵异新作,带你开启不一样的灵异之旅……书友扣扣群号:777-818-418
  • 奇迹的穿越外传之神奇宝贝外传

    奇迹的穿越外传之神奇宝贝外传

    一次奇遇,让这位少年重新回到了他的“陌生”的世界,在这里结识了新的朋友,新的伙伴。但事情的表面却远不止那么简单,日常的生活却存在着更大的阴谋……(本作品不定时更新)了解更多请加入群,群号码:555263168
  • 为何当初那样的想法,现在却在做这样的事

    为何当初那样的想法,现在却在做这样的事

    职业规划师,给你量身定做,助你成功蜕变。他将告诉你:如何认识自己,找到钟爱一生的事业,确定自己的人生方向;如何认识别人,通过奋斗让自己的薪水翻倍,实现财务自由;如何正确对待工作,摆脱职业倦怠,让自己重新充满斗志与激情。让你在激烈的竞争中脱颖而出!
  • 心里住着九只猫

    心里住着九只猫

    帝都人都知道陆北深养了一只猫,也都知道他对这只猫过敏,但这只猫是她养的,所以每天吃过敏药也要养着猫,只为了有一天她回来的时候猫还在。……某天,陆北深抱着一个女人回璞园,众人惊掉了下巴,宗奇战战兢兢的问:“总裁,这位小姐是?”陆北深目光温和,略起薄唇:“我的猫。”
  • 史上最囧的穿越:腐女皇妃

    史上最囧的穿越:腐女皇妃

    言慧心洗澡的时候浴室的镜中发出一道刺眼的强光,言慧心就这样穿越了,而且压死了正在与皇上妖精打架的贵妃“你砸死了朕的贵妃,你就代替她吧。”辛睿看着从天而降的裸女微笑道。不是吧,言慧心是知道杀人要偿命,但是这种偿法也太离谱了吧,她可以不同意吗?“可以,你意图谋杀当今皇上,判死罪。”辛睿微笑道。这天下还有没有讲理的地方,穿越又不是她能控制的,压死人完全是意外,意外应该不会被判罪的吧,可是这个不讲理的色皇上,竟要给她安了个刺杀皇上的罪名。
  • 国际制造商

    国际制造商

    韩义在路上扫了个二维码,然后桌面上多了个应用。这个应用很奇怪,它可以捕捉到现实里的一切物品,通过解析来重组物品。【滴滴!!电路模块板-Dome-屏幕-前后盖-重组手机!】【滴滴!!75%纯棉-25%亚麻-磁性油墨-重组美元】--------普通群,512341036,VIP群,343892078,(需要全订截图)
  • 极品农家

    极品农家

    斗极品亲戚其乐无穷! 本文讲述一个穿越女逆袭斗极品的重生故事! 一个穿越女没有节操的霸道成功之路!。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 本文根据菊花茶亲的真实故事改编。 感谢葱娘主编大人,制作的封面~~~万分的感谢!!! 本书的扣扣群,请见作者信息。
  • 佛说申日儿本经

    佛说申日儿本经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 海底捞的经营哲学

    海底捞的经营哲学

    有人说火锅被分成了两类,一类是普通火锅,一类是海底捞火锅。“海底捞”三个字,不再仅仅是一家火锅店的名称,而是变成了一种现象。海底捞现象的本质是什么?海底捞靠什么在经营中赢得顾客、赢得员工?本书从其定位、发展、创新、管理、服务、品牌文化等多个方面为读者剖析海底捞成功的秘诀。
  • 拯救狼族特别行动(乔冬冬奇趣幻想系列)

    拯救狼族特别行动(乔冬冬奇趣幻想系列)

    乔冬冬是个五年级的男生,他调皮好动,对新鲜事物充满好奇,喜欢幻想,乐于助人,总是希望遭遇新奇有趣的事情,于是在他的生活中,便有了很多好玩刺激的故事,以及好多稀奇古怪又真诚善良的朋友,正是这些事情和朋友,帮助了他的成长。本系列丛书正是描写了这样一个城市中的普通男孩在成长过程中的奇幻故事,第一季出版4本,分别是《电脑骑士战记》、《变形校车魔法师》、《72变小女生》、《拯救狼族特别行动》。