登陆注册
5248000000023

第23章 SCENE II.--Julia's Chamber(2)

Most certainly he loved you--so did I;

Ay! well as I had been myself your father!

[His hand is resting upon his knee, JULIA attempts to take it--he withdraws it--looks at her--she hangs her head.]

Well; you may take my hand! I need not say How fast you grew in knowledge, and in goodness, -That hope could scarce enjoy its golden dreams So soon fulfilment realised them all!

Enough. You came to womanhood. Your heart, Pure as the leaf of the consummate bud, That's new unfolded by the smiling sun, And ne'er knew blight nor canker!

[JULIA attempts to place her other hand on his shoulder--he leans from her--looks at her--she hangs her head again.]

Put it there!

Where left I off? I know! When a good woman Is fitly mated, she grows doubly good, How good soe'er before! I found the man I thought a match for thee; and, soon as found, Proposed him to thee. 'Twas your father's will, Occasion offering, you should be married Soon as you reached to womanhood.--You liked My choice, accepted him.--We came to town;Where, by important matter summoned thence, I left you an affianced bride!

Julia. You did!

You did! [Leans her head upon her hand and weeps.]

Wal. Nay, check thy tears! Let judgment now, Not passion, be awake. On my return, I found thee--what? I'll not describe the thing I found thee then! I'll not describe my pangs To see thee such a thing! The engineer Who lays the last stone of his sea-built tower, It cost him years and years of toil to raise -And, smiling at it, tells the winds and waves To roar and whistle now--but, in a night, Beholds the tempest sporting in its place -May look aghast, as I did!

Julia. [Falling on her knees.] Pardon me!

Forgive me! pity me!

Wal. Resume thy seat. [Raises her.]

I pity thee; perhaps not thee alone It fits to sue for pardon.

Julia. Me alone!

None other!

Wal. But to vindicate myself, I name thy lover's stern desertion of thee.

What wast thou then with wounded pride? A thing To leap into a torrent! throw itself From a precipice! rush into a fire! I saw Thy madness--knew to thwart it were to chafe it -And humoured it to take that course, I thought, Adopted, least 'twould rue!

Julia. 'Twas wisely done.

Wal. At least 'twas for the best.

Julia. To blame thee for it Was adding shame to shame! But Master Walter, These nuptials!--must they needs go on?

Servant. [Entering.] More guests Arrive.

Wal. Attend to them. [Servant goes out.]

Julia. Dear Master Walter!

Is there no way to escape these nuptials?

Wal. Know'st not What with these nuptials comes? Hast thou forgot?

Julia. What?

Wal. Nothing!--I did tell thee of a thing.

Julia. What was it?

Wal. To forget it was a fault!

Look back and think.

Julia. I can't remember it.

Wal. Fathers, make straws your children! Nature's nothing, Blood nothing! Once in other veins it runs, It no more yearneth for the parent flood, Than doth the stream that from the source disparts.

Talk not of love instinctive--what you call so Is but the brat of custom! Your own flesh By habit cleaves to you--without, Hath no adhesion. [Aside.] So; you have forgot You have a father, and are here to meet him!

Julia. I'll not deny it.

Wal. You should blush for't.

Julia. No!

No! no: hear, Master Walter! what's a father That you've not been to me? Nay, turn not from me, For at the name a holy awe I own, That now almost inclines my knee to earth!

But thou to me, except a father's name, Hast all the father been: the care--the love -The guidance--the protection of a father.

Canst wonder, then, if like thy child I feel, -And feeling so, that father's claim forget Whom ne'er I knew save by the name of one?

Oh, turn to me, and do not chide me! or If thou wilt chide, chide on! but turn to me!

Wal. [Struggling with emotion.] My Julia!

[Embraces her.]

Julia. Now, dear Master Walter, hear me!

Is there no way to 'scape these nuptials?

Wal. Julia, A promise made admits not of release, Save by consent or forfeiture of those Who hold it--so it should be pondered well Before we let it go. Ere man should say I broke the word I had the power to keep, I'd lose the life I had the power to part with!

Remember, Julia, thou and I to-day Must, to thy father, of thy training render A strict account. While honour's left to us, We have something--nothing, having all but that.

Now for thy last act of obedience, Julia!

Present thyself before thy bridegroom! [She assents.] Good!

My Julia's now herself! Show him thy heart, And to his honour leave't to set thee free Or hold thee bound. Thy father will be by!

同类推荐
  • Looking Backward From 2000 to 1887

    Looking Backward From 2000 to 1887

    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。
  • 六十种曲彩毫记

    六十种曲彩毫记

    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。
  • 旧闻证误

    旧闻证误

    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。
  • 戏中戏

    戏中戏

    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。
  • 大乘掌珍论

    大乘掌珍论

    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
  • 六门教授习定论

    六门教授习定论

    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。
  • 网游之射破苍穹

    网游之射破苍穹

    title:网游之射破苍穹----这是一段传奇……
  • 仙戒

    仙戒

    欲铸三千轮回,创造神尊之路!惊心动魄的修行之路!踏上巅峰!断气回肠的千年绝恋!至死不渝!不可分割的兄弟情义!患难与共!爱人死去,化成本命法器的器灵。修筑基、领悟五行术决,吞噬凝元兽珠,修为不断突破,一步一步走向巅峰,凭一己之力,扬名修真界!
  • 草医肖老爷

    草医肖老爷

    乡间药草,是过去乡下人贱命的守护神,等闲识得,用心去做,便是此生莫大的造化。住在山里边的人,得了病,没得地方看,也没得钱看,就扯些草药熬成汤来喝,还算管用。秦巴腹地的凤凰山间里,到处都是树木野草,于是在一条河一道沟一坡梁里,就有一些懂得草木药用道理的人,常给人看病祛痛,山里的人们就把他们叫作草医生。南山人,吃五谷杂粮,住茅草矮屋,做蛮力苦活,就爱得些疾难杂症,尤其是长疱疖灌痈的多。过去这南山的响洞子沟原有一位草医生,名叫肖德愁,最善好治疱疖这些杂症,大家都叫他肖疱疖。
  • 人间蒸发

    人间蒸发

    (Rawson,1906—1971)克雷顿·罗森堪称不可能犯罪故事的大师,他在舞台表演戏法为职,说得更精确些,罗森是位魔术师,而且后来还写了一系列以梅林尼(Merlini)为主角的小说和短篇故事。梅林尼是魔术家,常被警方找去帮忙解决罕见的命案。该系列首部作品《飞出礼帽之死》(Death froma TopHat,1938)被拍成电影《出售奇迹》(Miracles for Sale,1939),描述一连串涉及魔术的犯罪事件。罗森因为这部小说而展开作家及编辑的第二个职业生涯。罗森和约翰·狄克逊·卡尔很喜欢挑战彼此的创作功力。
  • 每天懂点买房风水学·居家装修学·生活创意学

    每天懂点买房风水学·居家装修学·生活创意学

    如果你手里有2000万以上,买房前可以不看这本书;如果你不介意装修后处处都是遗憾,装修前可以不看这本书;如果你家里有保姆为你收拾得窗明几净,你可以不看这本书!否则,这是你的必读书!
  • 世界著名CEO与青少年的对话

    世界著名CEO与青少年的对话

    在人生的征途上,每一个人都渴望拥有成功,可多数人却总在成功的大门外徘徊不定,让我们走近世界著名CEO,从他们的身上得到更多有关人生的启迪与成功的感悟,引领我们从平凡迈向卓越。滴滴墨水皆可引发你的思考,一本好书即能改变你的一生。
  • 山国轨

    山国轨

    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。
  • 台上台下都是戏

    台上台下都是戏

    伊家河的故事清新顺畅,本书为其作品精选集,所选作品均公开发表过。内容涵盖古今,都是通过故事讲述做人的道理,给人启迪。名篇《穿乡过府卖味儿》通过财主故意显露自己的财产,引盗匪上门,从而消灭贪官的故事,讲述了做人需要正义的道理。《每天要早起》通过年轻人听从长辈要早起、勤奋的忠告,最终获得事业成功的故事,讲述了年轻人须踏实肯干、脚踏实地才能取得成功的启示。
  • 中国楹联

    中国楹联

    “中国文化知识读本”丛书是由吉林文史出版社和吉林出版集团有限责任公司组织国内知名专家学者编写的一套旨在传播中华五千年优秀传统文化,提高全民文化修养的大型知识读本。《中国文化知识读本:中国楹联》为丛书之一,系统全面介绍了对联相关知识。《中国文化知识读本:中国楹联》中优美生动的文字、简明通俗的语言、图文并茂的形式,把中国文化中的物态文化、制度文化、行为文化、精神文化等知识要点全面展示给读者。