登陆注册
5227500000064

第64章 DRYDEN.(6)

"You will find it difficult to believe that, during the whole time of this protracted and distressing ceremony, not a tear or a sigh escaped to relieve my agony. The state of profound affliction in which I was, and the deep settled resolution I had taken to die, had silenced the sighs of despair, and effectually dried up the ordinary channels of grief. It was thus impossible for me, in this posture upon the grave, to continue for any time in possession of my faculties.

"After what you have listened to, the remainder of my own history would ill repay the attention you seem inclined to bestow upon it. Synnelet having been carried into the town and skilfully examined, it was found that, so far from being dead, he was not even dangerously wounded. He informed his uncle of the manner in which the affray had occurred between us, and he generously did justice to my conduct on the occasion. I was sent for; and as neither of us could be found, our flight was immediately suspected. It was then too late to attempt to trace me, but the next day and the following one were employed in the pursuit.

"I was found, without any appearance of life, upon the grave of Manon: and the persons who discovered me in this situation, seeing that I was almost naked and bleeding from my wounds, naturally supposed that I had been robbed and assassinated. They carried me into the town. The motion restored me to my senses.

The sighs I heaved on opening my eyes and finding myself still amongst the living, showed that I was not beyond the reach of art: they were but too successful in its application.

"I was immediately confined as a close prisoner. My trial was ordered; and as Manon was not forthcoming, I was accused of having murdered her from rage and jealousy. I naturally related all that had occurred. Synnelet, though bitterly grieved and disappointed by what he heard, had the generosity to solicit my pardon: he obtained it.

"I was so reduced, that they were obliged to carry me from the prison to my bed, and there I suffered for three long months under severe illness. My aversion from life knew no diminution.

I continually prayed for death, and obstinately for some time refused every remedy. But Providence, after having punished me with atoning rigour, saw fit to turn to my own use its chastisements and the memory of my multiplied sorrows. It at length deigned to shed upon me its redeeming light, and revived in my mind ideas worthy of my birth and my early education.

"My tranquillity of mind being again restored, my cure speedily followed. I began only to feel the highest aspirations of honour, and diligently performed the duties of my appointment, whilst expecting the arrival of the vessels from France, which were always due at this period of the year. I resolved to return to my native country, there to expiate the scandal of my former life by my future good conduct. Synnelet had the remains of my dear mistress removed into a more hallowed spot.

"It was six weeks after my recovery that, one day walking alone upon the banks of the river, I saw a vessel arrive, which some mercantile speculation had directed to New Orleans. I stood by whilst the passengers landed. Judge my surprise on recognising Tiberge amongst those who proceeded towards the town. This ever-faithful friend knew me at a distance, in spite of the ravages which care and sorrow had worked upon my countenance. He told me that the sole object of his voyage had been to see me once more, and to induce me to return with him to France; that on receipt of the last letter which I had written to him from Havre, he started for that place, and was himself the bearer of the succour which I solicited; that he had been sensibly affected on learning my departure, and that he would have instantly followed me, if there had been a vessel bound for the same destination; that he had been for several months endeavouring to hear of one in the various seaport towns, and that, having at length found one at St. Malo which was weighing anchor for Martinique, he embarked, in the expectation of easily passing from thence to New Orleans; that the St. Malo vessel having been captured by Spanish pirates and taken to one of their islands, he had contrived to escape; and that, in short, after many adventures, he had got on board the vessel which had just arrived, and at length happily attained his object.

"I was totally unable adequately to express my feelings of gratitude to this generous and unshaken friend. I conducted him to my house, and placed all I possessed at his service. I related to him every circumstance that had occurred to me since I left France: and in order to gladden him with tidings which I knew he did not expect, I assured him that the seeds of virtue which he had in former days implanted in my heart, were now about to produce fruit, of which even he should be proud. He declared to me, that this gladdening announcement more than repaid him for all the fatigue and trouble he had endured.

"We passed two months together at New Orleans whilst waiting the departure of a vessel direct to France; and having at length sailed, we landed only a fortnight since at Havre-de-Grace. On my arrival I wrote to my family. By a letter from my elder brother, I there learned my father's death, which, I dread to think, the disorders of my youth might have hastened. The wind being favourable for Calais, I embarked for this port, and am now going to the house of one of my relations who lives a few miles off, where my brother said that he should anxiously await my arrival."

同类推荐
  • 韵语阳秋

    韵语阳秋

    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。
  • 灵树远禅师云岩集

    灵树远禅师云岩集

    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。
  • 東征紀行錄

    東征紀行錄

    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。
  • 九章算经

    九章算经

    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。
  • 净土指归集

    净土指归集

    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。
热门推荐
  • 残皇非你不可

    残皇非你不可

    身为21世纪的调香师,一朝醒来竟穿成将军之女,更是重伤初愈的七王妃。身为诏月最出色的七皇子,因战事成为被禁锢他国多年的质子,再度回国时物似人已非,当年风清月朗的男子已不复,落下一身病痛与残疾。正谋划离开王府,床榻上躺着的男子眉眼如画面容却显苍白,一把握住她的手腕,气息带着几分虚弱:“不要……走。”?那一刻,她在他如墨的眸光中失了神……?是谁道归国后的七王是温顺无害的白兔?又是谁道如今的七王淡漠寡情?众人明明亲眼所见的,是那人对七王妃的盛宠呵护。??她的心愿不过与所爱之人闲度浮生,种种草,养养花,却牵扯在这动荡异世漩涡中心,走不了回头路。-已签约出版:《再嫁,慕少的神秘娇妻》
  • 你的老婆很傲娇

    你的老婆很傲娇

    俗话说:牙医虐我千百遍,我待牙医如初恋。婚前被牙医虐,她白芷千算万算没算到婚后还要被牙医虐。问白芷婚前怕什么,答:天不怕地不怕,就怕老妈逼相亲。问白芷婚后怕什么,答:天不怕地不怕,就怕腹黑男王臣。第一话,白芷:“你是不是喜欢我?”王臣:“不喜欢。”白芷:“那还好,我也不喜欢你,如果你喜欢我,我会很内疚的。”王臣脸上流过几道黑线。第二话,白芷:“老实交代,上次在你休息室里坐着的漂亮姐姐和你什么关系。”王臣:“没关系。”白芷:“你骗人,我都看见她对你眉来眼去了,还不承认。”王臣:“我的整颗心都被你占的满满的,装不下别人了。”白芷得意的拍了拍他的头,像对小孩一样说:“乖,睡觉吧。”第三话,王臣想要躺床上休息,白芷死活不让。拽着被子占了一大半的地方。“白芷,你又抽什么疯?”掀开被子就躺到里面。“什么味道?”白芷特别尴尬。“我刚刚放了个臭屁。”看着脸越来越黑的王臣,白芷心虚的说:“我都让你先别进来了。”总之白芷自从遇到王医生以后,老虎变成猫。都市,甜宠,总之是一个腹黑牙医与糊涂女作家的故事
  • 狂医丹帝

    狂医丹帝

    丹药幻化日月星辰,手术衍变无尽神域!最强军医化身镇妖王第七子叶青阳,武魂大到撑破天!神丹灵药收尽天材异宝,妙手医术揽尽世间美人;无敌神功杀世子,诛豪门,火融万里江山,怒焚诸天圣境!PS:以完成三百万字都市修真小说《绝品仙医》,完本有保障,求收藏,推荐,好评,打赏。
  • 杂纂之纂得确

    杂纂之纂得确

    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。
  • 彪悍娘子娇弱夫

    彪悍娘子娇弱夫

    夫妻交拜时,她袖中无意间飞出的菜刀差点砍死她的夫君洞房花烛时,她的夫君手拿血帕差点咳死在她的面前*初见他时,他白衣若仙,俊颜无双再见他时,他身着吉服用秤干挑起了她的盖头红烛下,他笑得宛若谪仙白皙的容颜渐渐变红,他低眉浅笑道:“咳咳,娘子,为夫为你宽衣解带可好?咳咳……”她为他的倾世容颜所折服,可是那一声好字还未出口只见她的夫君已经口吐鲜血,压在她身上若死人般毫无声息……*成亲那日,他丰神俊朗,骑着高头大马替他二哥迎她过门看见的不是身着凤冠霞帔的她而是腰别菜刀一脸视死如归的她银白月光下,他曾对她说:“总有一天,我会带你离开这里。”不想,有一天,这个诺言竟然实现了……*他是垚国的皇子权势滔天,却对她有着莫名其妙的恨他曾告诫她:“离他远一点,否则你会生不如死。”然而,沧海桑田斗转星移,那个生不如死的人好像却是他自己……*她——远近驰名的鱼贩西施将如何用一把菜刀驾驭众美男---------------------------推荐自己的完结文:《小妾是这样炼成的》为何她一穿越就脱了她家夫君的裤子?《英雄难过囧女关》十五岁那年,她在哥哥的碗里下了药,让自己成为了哥哥的人《傻妾》一个傻女竟然也敢红杏出墙,还不知廉耻地怀了身孕
  • 红楼梦(最爱读国学书系)

    红楼梦(最爱读国学书系)

    《红楼梦》塑造了众多的人物形象,他们各自具有自己独特而鲜明的个性特征,成为不朽的艺术典型,在中国文学史和世界文学史上永远放射着奇光异彩。 《红楼梦》是一部具有高度思想性和高度艺术性的伟大作品,从《红楼梦》反映的思想倾向来看,作者具有初步的民主主义思想,他对现实社会包括宫廷及官场的黑暗,封建贵族阶级及其家庭的腐朽,封建的科举制度、婚姻制度、奴婢制度、等级制度,以及与此相适应的社会统治思想即孔孟之道和程朱理学、社会道德观念等等,都进行了深刻的批判并且提出了朦胧的带有初步民主主义性质的理想和主张。这些理想和主张正是当时正在滋长的资本主义经济萌芽因素的曲折反映。 "
  • 捡了个天帝系统

    捡了个天帝系统

    买了个天帝玉雕来辟邪,没想到居然穿越了。随即金手指归位,在天帝系统的培养下,成为称霸修仙界的仙帝。二郎神孙悟空天蓬元帅三太子八仙钟馗满天神佛随我征战,带着修仙者小弟征服诸天万界。从此诸天万界传播着吾的神名:礼赞太上开天至高执符光明含真清灵玄天上帝~一切从修仙界开始……QQ群:578940368
  • 金园集

    金园集

    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。
  • 蜗牛的心开始想你了

    蜗牛的心开始想你了

    林夕落五岁那年,妈妈收养了一名弃婴鹿鹿。鹿鹿有自闭症,为了给鹿鹿治病,林家蝴蝶效应般发生了一系列的灾难和不幸。十八岁的林夕落忍无可忍,一怒之下,抛弃了鹿鹿,而母亲因为这件事间接被气死。从此林夕落就像蜗牛一样,背负着丢弃弟弟的沉重忏悔,没办法再接受爱情的重量。她如坐牢狱,坦然接受荆棘的命运:下跪,赎罪,入狱......
  • 剧谈录

    剧谈录

    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。