chapter 60

-chapter 60-

Great God!  If for one instant I had thought what might be the hellish

intention of my fiendish adversary, I would rather have banished myself

for ever from my native country and wandered a friendless outcast over

the earth than have consented to this miserable marriage.  But, as if

possessed of magic powers, the monster had blinded me to his real

intentions; and when I thought that I had prepared only my own death, I

hastened that of a far dearer victim.

As the period fixed for our marriage drew nearer, whether from cowardice or

a prophetic feeling, I felt my heart sink within me. But I concealed my

feelings by an appearance of hilarity that brought smiles and joy to the

countenance of my father, but hardly deceived the ever-watchful and nicer

eye of Elh. She looked forward to our union with placid contentment,

not unmingled with a little fear, which past misfortunes had impressed,

that what now appeared certain and tangible happiness might soon dissipate

into an airy dream and leave no trace but deep and everlasting regret.

Preparations were made for the event, congratulatory visits were received,

and all wore a smiling appearance. I shut up, as well as I could, in my own

heart the anxiety that preyed there and entered with seeming earnestness

into the plans of my father, although they might only serve as the

decorations of my tragedy. Through my father’s exertions a part of

the inheritance of Elh had been restored to her by the Austrian

government. A small possession on the shores of Como belonged to her. It

was agreed that, immediately after our union, we should proceed to Villa

Lavenza and spend our first days of happiness beside the beautiful lake

near which it stood.

In the meantime I took every precaution to defend my person in case the

fiend should openly attack me.  I carried pistols and a dagger

constantly about me and was ever on the watch to prevent artifice, and

by these means gained a greater degree of tranquillity.  Indeed, as the

period approached, the threat appeared more as a delusion, not to be

regarded as worthy to disturb my peace, while the happiness I hoped for

in my marriage wore a greater appearance of certainty as the day fixed

for its solemnisation drew nearer and I heard it continually spoken of

as an occurrence which no accident could possibly prevent.

Elh seemed happy; my tranquil demeanour contributed greatly to

calm her mind.  But on the day that was to fulfil my wishes and my

destiny, she was melancholy, and a presentiment of evil pervaded her;

and perhaps also she thought of the dreadful secret which I had

promised to reveal to her on the following day.  My father was in the

meantime overjoyed, and, in the bustle of preparation, only recognised in

the melancholy of his niece the diffidence of a bride.

After the ceremony was performed a large party assembled at my

father’s, but it was agreed that Elh and I should commence our

journey by water, sleeping that night at Evian and continuing our

voyage on the following day.  The day was fair, the wind favourable;

all smiled on our nuptial embarkation.

Those were the last moments of my life during which I enjoyed the

feeling of happiness.  We passed rapidly along; the sun was hot, but we

were sheltered from its rays by a kind of canopy while we enjoyed the

beauty of the scene, sometimes on one side of the lake, where we saw

Mont Salêve, the pleasant banks of Montalègre, and at a distance,

surmounting all, the beautiful Mont Blanc, and the assemblage of snowy

mountains that in vain endeavour to emulate her; sometimes coasting the

opposite banks, we saw the mighty Jura opposing its dark side to the

ambition that would quit its native country, and an almost

insurmountable barrier to the invader who should wish to enslave it.

I took the hand of Elh.  “You are sorrowful, my love.  Ah!  If

you knew what I have suffered and what I may yet endure, you would

endeavour to let me taste the quiet and freedom from despair that this

one day at least permits me to enjoy.”

“Be happy, my dear Victor,” replied Elh; “there is, I hope,

nothing to distress you; and be assured that if a lively joy is not

painted in my face, my heart is contented.  Something whispers to me

not to depend too much on the prospect that is opened before us, but I

will not listen to such a sinister voice.  Observe how fast we move

along and how the clouds, which sometimes obscure and sometimes rise

above the dome of Mont Blanc, render this scene of beauty still more

interesting.  Look also at the innumerable fish that are swimming in

the clear waters, where we can distinguish every pebble that lies at

the bottom.  What a divine day!  How happy and serene all nature

appears!”

Thus Elh endeavoured to divert her thoughts and mine from all

reflection upon melancholy subjects.  But her temper was fluctuating;

joy for a few instants shone in her eyes, but it continually gave place

to distraction and reverie.

The sun sank lower in the heavens; we passed the river Drance and

observed its path through the chasms of the higher and the glens of the

lower hills.  The Alps here come closer to the lake, and we approached

the amphitheatre of mountains which forms its eastern boundary.  The

spire of Evian shone under the woods that surrounded it and the range

of mountain above mountain by which it was overhung.

The wind, which had hitherto carried us along with amazing rapidity,

sank at sunset to a light breeze; the soft air just ruffled the water

and caused a pleasant motion among the trees as we approached the

shore, from which it wafted the most delightful scent of flowers and

hay.  The sun sank beneath the horizon as we landed, and as I touched

the shore I felt those cares and fears revive which soon were to clasp

me and cling to me for ever.

（1038）

今日短语

1. in case 万一，假使

2. on the watch 提防着，守候着

3. by water 乘船

4. shelter ... from... 躲避，为...提供庇护

5. endeavour to do sth. 奋力，努力

6. depend on sth. 依靠，依赖

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