the governess-第8部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


oomy　cave；　and　on　the　top　of　one　of　our　highest　mountains；　fixed　on　a　pole；　will　I　set　up　this　joyful　spectacle；　that　all　the　country　round　may　know　themselves　at　liberty　to　pursue　their　rural　business　or　amusements；　without　the　dread　of　any　annoyance　from　a　devouring　vile　tormentor。　　And　when　his　treasures；　which　justly　all　belong　to　the　good　patient　Mignon；　are　removed；　we　will　shut　up　the　mouth　of　this　abominable　dwelling；　and；　casting　on　the　door　a　heap　of　earth；　we'll　hope；　in　time；　that　both　place　and　remembrance　of　this　cruel　savage　may　in　time　be　lost。'

Every　one　readily　cried　out；　that　to　Benefico；　the　good　Benefico；　alone　belonged　the　tyrant's　treasures；　that　Benefico　should　ever　be；　as　heretofore；　their　governor；　their　father；　and　their　kind　protector。

The　beneficent　heart　of　the　good　giant　was　quite　melted　with　this　their　kind　confidence　and　dependence　upon　him；　and　assured　them；　he　should　ever　regard　them　as　his　children：　　and　now；　exulting　in　the　general　joy　that　must　attend　the　destruction　of　this　savage　monster；　when　the　whole　country　should　find　themselves　freed　from　the　terror　his　rapine　and　desolation；　he　sent　before　to　his　castle；　to　give　intelligence　to　all　within　that　happy　place　of　the　grim　monster's　fall；　and　little　Mignon's　triumph；　giving　in　charge　to　the　harbinger　of　these　tidings；　that　it　should　be　his　first　and　chiefest　care　to　glad　the　gentle　bosom　of　a　fair　disconsolate　（who　kept　herself　retired　and　pent　up　within　her　own　apartment）　with　the　knowledge　that　the　inhuman　monster　was　no　more；　and　that　henceforth　sweet　peace　and　rural　innocence　might　reign　in　all　their　woods　and　groves。　　The　hearts　of　all　within　the　castle　bounded　with　joy；　on　hearing　the　report　of　the　inhuman　monster's　death；　and　the　deliverance　of　all　his　captives；　and　with　speedy　steps　they　hastened　to　meet　their　kind　protector；　nor　did　the　melancholy　fair　one；　lest　she　should　seem　unthankful　for　the　general　blessing；　refuse　to　join　the　train。

It　was　not　long　after　the　messenger　that　Benefico；　and　those　his　joyful　friends；　arrived：　　but　the　faithful　Fidus　alone；　of　all　this　happy　company；　was　tortured　with　the　inward　pangs　of　a　sad　grief　he　could　not　conquer；　and　his　fond　heart　remained　still　captivated　to　a　melting　sorrow：　　nor　could　even　the　tender　friendship　of　the　gentle　Mignon　quite　remove；　though　it　alleviated；　his　sadness；　but　the　thoughts　of　his　loved　lost　amata　embittered　every　joy；　and　overwhelmed　his　generous　soul　with　sorrow。

When　the　company　from　the　castle　joined　Benefico；　he　declared　to　them　in　what　manner　their　deliverance　was　effected；　and；　as　a　general　shout　of　joy　resounded　through　the　neighbouring　mountains；　Fidus；　lifting　up　his　eyes；　beheld　in　the　midst　of　the　multitude；　standing　in　a　pensive　posture；　the　fair　disconsolate。　　Her　tender　heart　was　at　the　instant　overflowing　in　soft　tears；　caused　by　a　kind　participation　of　their　present　transport；　yet　mixed　with　the　deep　sad　impression　of　a　grief　her　bosom　was　full　fraught　with。　　Her　face；　at　first；　was　almost　hid　by　her　white　handkerchief；　with　which　she　wiped　away　the　trickling　drops；　which　falling；　had　bedewed　her　beauteous　cheeks：　　but　as　she　turned　her　lovely　face　to　view　the　joyful　conquerors；　and　to　speak　a　welcome　to　her　kind　protector；　what　words　can　speak　the　raptures；　the　astonishment；　that　swelled　the　bosom　of　the　faithful　youth；　when　in　this　fair　disconsolate　he　saw　his　loved；　his　constant；　his　long…lost　Amata！　　Their　delighted　eyes　in　the　same　instant　beheld　each　other；　and；　breaking　on　each　side　from　their　astonished　friends；　they　flew　like　lightning　into　each　other's　arms。

After　they　had　given　a　short　account　of　what　had　passed　in　their　separation；　Fidus　presented　to　his　loved　Amata　the　kind；　the　gentle　Mignon；　with　lavish　praises　of　his　generous　friendship；　and　steady　resolution；　in　hazarding　his　life　by　disobeying　the　injunctions　of　the　cruel　tyrant。　　No　sooner　had　Amata　heard　the　name　of　Mignon；　but　she　cried　out；　'Surely　my　happiness　is　now　complete；　and　all　my　sorrows；　by　this　joyful　moment；　are　more　than　fully　recompensed；　for；　in　the　kind　preserver　of　my　Fidus；　I　have　found　my　brother。　　My　mother　lost　her　little　Mignon　when　he　was　five　years　old；　and　pining　grief；　after　some　years　vain　search；　ended　her　wretched　life。'

The　generous　hearts　of　all　who　were　present　shared　the　raptures　of　the　faithful　Fidus；　the　lovely　Amata；　and　gentle　Mignon；　on　this　happy　discovery；　and　in　the　warmest　congratulations　they　expressed　their　joy。

Benefico　now　led　all　the　delighted　company　into　his　castle；　where　freedom　was　publicly　proclaimed；　and　every　one　was　left　a　liberty　either　to　remain　there　with　Benefico；　or；　loaded　with　wealth　sufficient　for　their　use；　to　go　where　their　attachments　or　inclinations　might　invite　them。

Fidus；　Amata；　and　the　little　Mignon；　hesitated　not　one　moment　to　declare　their　choice　of　staying　with　the　generous　Benefico。

The　nuptials　of　the　faithful　Fidus；　and　his　loved　Amata；　were　solemnized　in　the　presence　of　all　their　friends。

Benefico　passed　the　remainder　of　his　days　in　pleasing　reflections　on　his　well…spent　life。

The　treasures　of　the　dead　tyrant　were　turned　into　blessings　by　the　use　they　were　now　made　of：　　little　Mignon　was　loved　and　cherished　by　all　his　companions。　　Peace；　harmony　and　love　reigned　in　every　bosom；　dissension；　discord；　and　hatred　were　banished　from　this　friendly　dwelling；　and　that　happiness；　which　is　the　natural　consequence　of　goodness；　appeared　in　every　cheerful　countenance　throughout　the　castle　of　the　good　Benefico；　and　as　heretofore　affright　and　terror　spread　itself　from　the　monster's　hateful　cave；　so　now　from　this　peaceful　castle　was　diffused　tranquility　and　joy　through　all　the　happy　country　round。



Thus　ended　the　story　of　the　two　giants：　　and　Miss　Jenny　being　tired　with　reading；　they　left　the　arbour　for　that　night；　and　agreed　to　meet　there　again　the　next　day。

As　soon　as　they　had　supped；　Mrs。　Teachum　sent　for　Miss　Jenny　Peace　into　her　closet；　and　desired　an　exact　account　from　her　of　this　their　first　day's　amusement；　that　she　might　judge　from　thence　how　far　they　might　be　trusted　with　the　liberty　she　had　given　them。

Miss　Jenny　showed　her　governess　the　story　she　had　read；and　said；　'I　hope；　madam；　you　will　not　think　it　an　improper　one；　for　it　was　given　me　by　my　mamma；　and　she　told　me；　that　she　thought　it　contained　a　very　excellent　moral。'

Mrs。　Teachum；　having　looked　it　over；　thus　spoke：　　'I　have　no　objection；　Miss　Jenny；　to　your　reading　any　stories　to　amuse　you；　provided　you　read　them　with　the　proper　disposition　of　mind　not　to　be　hurt　by　them。　　A　very　good　moral　may　indeed　be　drawn　from　the　whole；　and　likewise　from　almost　every　part　of　it；　and　as　you　had　this　story　from　your　mamma；　I　doubt　not　but　you　are　very　well　qualified　to　make　the　proper　remarks　yourself　upon　the　moral　of　it　to　your　companions。　　But　here　let　me　observe　to　you　（which　I　would　have　you　communicate　to　your　little　friends）　that　giants；　magic；　fairies；　and　all　sorts　of　supernatural　assistances　in　a　story；　are　only　introduced　to　amuse　and　divert：　　for　a　giant　is　called　so　only　to　express　a　man　of　great　power；　and　the　magic　fillet　round　the　statue　was　intended　only　to　show　you；　that　by　patience　you　will　overcome　all　difficulties。　　Therefore；　by　no　means　let　the　notion　of　giants　or　magic　dwell　upon　your　minds。　　And　you　may　farther　observe；　that　there　is　a　different　style　adapted　to　every　sort　of　writing；　and　the　various　sounding　epithets　given　to　Barbarico　are　proper　to　express　the　raging　cruelty　of　his　wicked　mind。　　But　neither　this　high…sounding　language；　nor　the　supernatural　contrivances　in　this　story；　do　I　so　thoroughly　approve；　as　to　recommend　them　much　to　your　reading；　except；　as　I　said　before；　great　care　is　taken　to　prevent　your　being　carried　away；　by　these　high…flown　things；　from　that　simplicity　of　taste　and　manners　which　it　is　my　chief　study　to　inculcate。'

Here　Miss　Jenny　looked　a　little　confounded；　and；　by　her　down…cast　eye；　showed　a　fear　that　she　had　incurred　the　disapprobation；　if　not　the　displeasure；　of　her　governess：　　upon　which　Mrs。　Teachum　thus　proceeded：

'I　do　not　intend　by　this；　my　dear；　to　blame　you　for　what　you　have　done；　but　only　to　instruct　you　how　to　make　the　best　use　of　even　the　most　trifling　things：　　and　if　you　have　any　more　stories　of　this　kind；　with　an　equal　good　moral；　when　you　are　not　better　employed；　I　shall　not　be　against　your　reading　them；　always　remembering　the　cautions　I　have　this　evening　been　giving　you。'

Miss　Jenny　thanked　her　governess　for　her　instructions；　and　kind　indulgence　to　her；　and　promised　to　give　her　an　exact　account　of　their　daily　amusements；　and；　taking　leave；　retired　to　her　rest。



TUESDAY。　THE　SECOND　DAY。

That　Miss　Jenny's　meeting　with　her　companions　in　the　morning；　after　school；　she　asked　them　how　they　liked　the　history　of　the　giants？　　They　all　declared　they　thought　it　a　very　pretty　diverting　story。　　Miss　Jenny　replied；　though　she　was　glad　they　were　pleased；　yet　she　would　have　them　look　farther　than　the　present　amusement：　　'for；'　continued　she；　'my　mamma　always　taught　me　to　understand　what　I　read；　otherwise；　she　said；　it　was　to　no　manner　of　purpose　to　read　ever　so　many　books；　which　would　only　stuff　my　brain；　without　being　any　improvement　to　my　mind。'

The　misses　all　agreed；　that　certainly　it　was　of　no　use　to　read；　without　understanding　what　they　read；　and　began　to　talk　of　the　story　of　the　giants；　to　prove　they　could　make　just　remarks　on　it。

Miss　Sukey　Jennett　said；　'I　am　most　pleased　with　that　part　of　the　story　where　the　good　Benefico　cuts　off　the　monster's　head；　and　puts　an　end　to　his　cruelty；　especially　as　he　was　so　sullen　he　would　not　confess　his　wickedness；　because；　you　know；　Miss　Jenny；　if　he　had　had　sense　enough　to　have　owned　his　error；　and　have　followed　the　example　of　the　good　giant；　he　might　have　been　happy。'

Miss　Lucy　Sly　delivered　the　following　opinion：　　'My　greatest　joy　was　whilst　Mignon　was　tying　the　magic　fillet　round　the　monster's　neck；　and　conquering　him。'

'Now　I　（said　Miss　Dolly　Friendly）　am　most　pleased　with　that　part　of　the　story；　were　Fidus　and　Amata　meet　the　reward　of　their　constancy　and　love；　when　they　find　each　other　after　all　their　sufferings。'

Miss　Polly　Suckling　said；　with　some　eagerness；　'My　greatest　joy　was　in　th