第 40 节
作者:吹嘻      更新:2021-11-05 20:37      字数:9322
  represented beautifully tortured; writhing and howling; and
  〃Mahomet! Mahomet!〃 issuing out of their mouths; as they called on
  him in their burning agonies;you could almost hear them scream。
  At the upper end of the room; under a splendid estrade; over which
  was an image of the blessed Virgin; sat Donna Isabella de Cardoza;
  mother to the bride; and near her Donna Ines; the bride; on rich
  almohadas; the bridegroom sat opposite to her; and though they
  never spoke to each other; their eyes; slowly raised; but suddenly
  withdrawn (those eyes that blushed); told to each other the
  delicious secret of their happiness。  Don Pedro de Cardoza had
  assembled a large party in honor of his daughter's nuptials; among
  them was an Englishman of the name of MELMOTH; a traveler; no one
  knew who had brought him there。  He sat silent like the rest; while
  the iced waters and the sugared wafers were presented to the
  company。  The night was intensely hot; and the moon glowed like a
  sun over the ruins of Saguntum; the embroidered blinds flapped
  heavily; as if the wind made an effort to raise them in vain; and
  then desisted。
  (Another defect in the manuscript occurred here; but it was soon
  supplied。)
  。        。        。        。        。
  The company were dispersed through various alleys of the garden;
  the bridegroom and bride wandered through one where the delicious
  perfume of the orange trees mingled itself with that of the myrtles
  in blow。  On their return to the ball; both of them asked; Had the
  company heard the exquisite sounds that floated through the garden
  just before they quitted it?  No one had heard them。  They
  expressed their surprise。  The Englishman had never quitted the
  hall; it was said he smiled with a most particular and
  extraordinary expression as the remark was made。  His silence had
  been noticed before; but it was ascribed to his ignorance of the
  Spanish language; an ignorance that Spaniards are not anxious
  either to expose or remove by speaking to a stranger。  The subject
  of the music was not again reverted to till the guests were seated
  at supper; when Donna Ines and her young husband; exchanging a
  smile of delighted surprise; exclaimed they heard the same
  delicious sounds floating round them。  The guests listened; but no
  one else could hear it;everyone felt there was something
  extraordinary in this。  Hush! was uttered by every voice almost at
  the same moment。  A dead silence followed;you would think; from
  their intent looks; that they listened with their very eyes。  This
  deep silence; contrasted with the splendor of the feast; and the
  light effused from torches held by the domestics; produced a
  singular effect;it seemed for some moments like an assembly of
  the dead。  The silence was interrupted; though the cause of wonder
  had not ceased; by the entrance of Father Olavida; the Confessor of
  Donna Isabella; who had been called away previous to the feast; to
  administer extreme unction to a dying man in the neighborhood。  He
  was a priest of uncommon sanctity; beloved in the family; and
  respected in the neighborhood; where he had displayed uncommon
  taste and talents for exorcism;in fact; this was the good
  Father's forte; and he piqued himself on it accordingly。  The devil
  never fell into worse hands than Father Olavida's; for when he was
  so contumacious as to resist Latin; and even the first verses of
  the Gospel of St。 John in Greek; which the good Father never had
  recourse to but in cases of extreme stubbornness and difficulty;
  (here Stanton recollected the English story of the Boy of Bilson;
  and blushed even in Spain for his countrymen);then he always
  applied to the Inquisition; and if the devils were ever so
  obstinate before; they were always seen to fly out of the
  possessed; just as; in the midst of their cries (no doubt of
  blasphemy); they were tied to the stake。  Some held out even till
  the flames surrounded them; but even the most stubborn must have
  been dislodged when the operation was over; for the devil himself
  could no longer tenant a crisp and glutinous lump of cinders。  Thus
  Father Olavida's fame spread far and wide; and the Cardoza family
  had made uncommon interest to procure him for a Confessor; and
  happily succeeded。  The ceremony he had just been performing had
  cast a shade over the good Father's countenance; but it dispersed
  as he mingled among the guests; and was introduced to them。  Room
  was soon made for him; and he happened accidentally to be seated
  opposite the Englishman。  As the wine was presented to him; Father
  Olavida (who; as I observed; was a man of singular sanctity)
  prepared to utter a short internal prayer。  He hesitated;
  trembled;desisted; and; putting down the wine; wiped the drops
  from his forehead with the sleeve of his habit。  Donna Isabella
  gave a sign to a domestic; and other wine of a higher quality was
  offered to him。  His lips moved; as if in the effort to pronounce a
  benediction on it and the company; but the effort again failed; and
  the change in his countenance was so extraordinary; that it was
  perceived by all the guests。  He felt the sensation that his
  extraordinary appearance excited; and attempted to remove it by
  again endeavoring to lift the cup to his lips。  So strong was the
  anxiety with which the company watched him; that the only sound
  heard in that spacious and crowded hall was the rustling of his
  habit as he attempted to lift the cup to his lips once morein
  vain。  The guests sat in astonished silence。  Father Olavida alone
  remained standing; but at that moment the Englishman rose; and
  appeared determined to fix Olavida's regards by a gaze like that of
  fascination。  Olavida rocked; reeled; grasped the arm of a page;
  and at last; closing his eyes for a moment; as if to escape the
  horrible fascination of that unearthly glare (the Englishman's eyes
  were observed by all the guests; from the moment of his entrance;
  to effuse a most fearful and preternatural luster); exclaimed; 〃Who
  is among us?Who?I cannot utter a blessing while he is here。  I
  cannot feel one。  Where he treads; the earth is parched!Where he
  breathes; the air is fire!Where he feeds; the food is poison!
  Where he turns his glance is lightning!WHO IS AMONG US?WHO?〃
  repeated the priest in the agony of adjuration; while his cowl
  fallen back; his few thin hairs around the scalp instinct and alive
  with terrible emotion; his outspread arms protruded from the
  sleeves of his habit; and extended toward the awful stranger;
  suggested the idea of an inspired being in the dreadful rapture of
  prophetic denunciation。  He stoodstill stood; and the Englishman
  stood calmly opposite to him。  There was an agitated irregularity
  in the attitudes of those around them; which contrasted strongly
  the fixed and stern postures of those two; who remained gazing
  silently at each other。  〃Who knows him?〃 exclaimed Olavida;
  starting apparently from a trance; 〃who knows him? who brought him
  here?〃
  The guests severally disclaimed all knowledge of the Englishman;
  and each asked the other in whispers; 〃who HAD brought him there?〃
  Father Olavida then pointed his arm to each of the company; and
  asked each individually; 〃Do you know him?〃  No! no! no!〃 was
  uttered with vehement emphasis by every individual。  〃But I know
  him;〃 said Olavida; 〃by these cold drops!〃 and he wiped them off;
  〃by these convulsed joints!〃 and he attempted to sign the cross;
  but could not。  He raised his voice; and evidently speaking with
  increased difficulty;〃By this bread and wine; which the faithful
  receive as the body and blood of Christ; but which HIS presence
  converts into matter as viperous as the suicide foam of the dying
  Judas;by all theseI know him; and command him to be gone!He
  ishe is〃 and he bent forward as he spoke; and gazed on the
  Englishman with an expression which the mixture of rage; hatred;
  and fear rendered terrible。  All the guests rose at these words;
  the whole company now presented two singular groups; that of the
  amazed guests all collected together; and repeating; 〃Who; what is
  he?〃 and that of the Englishman; who stood unmoved; and Olavida;
  who dropped dead in the attitude of pointing to him。
  。        。        。        。        。
  The body was removed into another room; and the departure of the
  Englishman was not noticed till the company returned to the hall。
  They sat late together; conversing on this extraordinary
  circumstance; and finally agreed to remain in the house; lest the
  evil spirit (for they believed the Englishman no better) should
  take certain liberties with the corse by no means agreeable to a
  Catholic; particularly as he had manifestly died without the
  benefit of the last sacraments。  Just as this laudable resolution
  was formed; they were roused by cries of horror and agony from the
  bridal chamber; where the young pair had retired。
  They hurried to the door; but the father was first。  They burst it
  open