volume02- 第15部分

'You　mistake　my　meaning。　　As　I　said　before；　they　have　pleased　me　much；　But　my　regard　for　you　makes　me　partial；　and　Others　might　judge　them　less　favourably。　　I　must　still　remark　that　even　my　prejudice　in　your　favour　does　not　blind　me　so　much　as　to　prevent　my　observing　several　faults。　　For　instance；　you　make　a　terrible　confusion　of　metaphors；　You　are　too　apt　to　make　the　strength　of　your　lines　consist　more　in　the　words　than　sense；　Some　of　the　verses　only　seem　introduced　in　order　to　rhyme　with　others；　and　most　of　the　best　ideas　are　borrowed　from　other　Poets；　though　possibly　you　are　unconscious　of　the　theft　yourself。　　These　faults　may　occasionally　be　excused　in　a　work　of　length；　But　a　short　Poem　must　be　correct　and　perfect。'

'All　this　is　true；　Segnor；　But　you　should　consider　that　I　only　write　for　pleasure。'

'Your　defects　are　the　less　excusable。　　Their　incorrectness　may　be　forgiven　in　those　who　work　for　money；　who　are　obliged　to　compleat　a　given　task　in　a　given　time；　and　are　paid　according　to　the　bulk；　not　value　of　their　productions。　　But　in　those　whom　no　necessity　forces　to　turn　Author；　who　merely　write　for　fame；　and　have　full　leisure　to　polish　their　compositions；　faults　are　impardonable；　and　merit　the　sharpest　arrows　of　criticism。'

The　Marquis　rose　from　the　Sopha；　the　Page　looked　discouraged　and　melancholy；　and　this　did　not　escape　his　Master's　observation。

'However'　added　He　smiling；　'I　think　that　these　lines　do　you　no　discredit。　　Your　versification　is　tolerably　easy；　and　your　ear　seems　to　be　just。　　The　perusal　of　your　little　poem　upon　the　whole　gave　me　much　pleasure；　and　if　it　is　not　asking　too　great　a　favour；　I　shall　be　highly　obliged　to　you　for　a　Copy。'

The　Youth's　countenance　immediately　cleared　up。　　He　perceived　not　the　smile；　half　approving；　half　ironical；　which　accompanied　the　request；　and　He　promised　the　Copy　with　great　readiness。　　The　Marquis　withdrew　to　his　chamber；　much　amused　by　the　instantaneous　effect　produced　upon　Theodore's　vanity　by　the　conclusion　of　his　Criticism。　　He　threw　himself　upon　his　Couch；　Sleep　soon　stole　over　him；　and　his　dreams　presented　him　with　the　most　flattering　pictures　of　happiness　with　Agnes。

On　reaching　the　Hotel　de　Medina；　Lorenzo's　first　care　was　to　enquire　for　Letters。　　He　found　several　waiting　for　him；　but　that　which　He　sought　was　not　amongst　them。　　Leonella　had　found　it　impossible　to　write　that　evening。　　However；　her　impatience　to　secure　Don　Christoval's　heart；　on　which　She　flattered　herself　with　having　made　no　slight　impression；　permitted　her　not　to　pass　another　day　without　informing　him　where　She　was　to　be　found。　　On　her　return　from　the　Capuchin　Church；　She　had　related　to　her　Sister　with　exultation　how　attentive　an　handsome　Cavalier　had　been　to　her；　as　also　how　his　Companion　had　undertaken　to　plead　Antonia's　cause　with　the　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas。　　Elvira　received　this　intelligence　with　sensations　very　different　from　those　with　which　it　was　communicated。　　She　blamed　her　Sister's　imprudence　in　confiding　her　history　to　an　absolute　Stranger；　and　expressed　her　fears　lest　this　inconsiderate　step　should　prejudice　the　Marquis　against　her。　　The　greatest　of　her　apprehensions　She　concealed　in　her　own　breast。　　She　had　observed　with　inquietude　that　at　the　mention　of　Lorenzo；　a　deep　blush　spread　itself　over　her　Daughter's　cheek。　　The　timid　Antonia　dared　not　to　pronounce　his　name：　　Without　knowing　wherefore；　She　felt　embarrassed　when　He　was　made　the　subject　of　discourse；　and　endeavoured　to　change　the　conversation　to　Ambrosio。　　Elvira　perceived　the　emotions　of　this　young　bosom：　　In　consequence；　She　insisted　upon　Leonella's　breaking　her　promise　to　the　Cavaliers。　　A　sigh；　which　on　hearing　this　order　escaped　from　Antonia；　confirmed　the　wary　Mother　in　her　resolution。

Through　this　resolution　Leonella　was　determined　to　break：　　She　conceived　it　to　be　inspired　by　envy；　and　that　her　Sister　dreaded　her　being　elevated　above　her。　　Without　imparting　her　design　to　anyone；　She　took　an　opportunity　of　dispatching　the　following　note　to　Lorenzo；　It　was　delivered　to　him　as　soon　as　He　woke。

'Doubtless；　Segnor　Don　Lorenzo；　you　have　frequently　accused　me　of　ingratitude　and　forgetfulness：　　But　on　the　word　of　a　Virgin；　it　was　out　of　my　power　to　perform　my　promise　yesterday。　　I　know　not　in　what　words　to　inform　you　how　strange　a　reception　my　Sister　gave　your　kind　wish　to　visit　her。　　She　is　an　odd　Woman；　with　many　good　points　about　her；　But　her　jealousy　of　me　frequently　makes　her　conceive　notions　quite　unaccountable。　　On　hearing　that　your　Friend　had　paid　some　little　attention　to　me；　She　immediately　took　the　alarm：　　She　blamed　my　conduct；　and　has　absolutely　forbidden　me　to　let　you　know　our　abode。　　My　strong　sense　of　gratitude　for　your　kind　offers　of　service；　and　。　。　。　　Shall　I　confess　it？　my　desire　to　behold　once　more　the　too　amiable　Don　Christoval；　will　not　permit　my　obeying　her　injunctions。　　I　have　therefore　stolen　a　moment　to　inform　you；　that　we　lodge　in　the　Strada　di　San　Iago；　four　doors　from　the　Palace　d'Albornos；　and　nearly　opposite　to　the　Barber's　Miguel　Coello。　　Enquire　for　Donna　Elvira　Dalfa；　since　in　compliance　with　her　Father…in…law's　order；　my　Sister　continues　to　be　called　by　her　maiden　name。　　At　eight　this　evening　you　will　be　sure　of　finding　us：　　But　let　not　a　word　drop　which　may　raise　a　suspicion　of　my　having　written　this　letter。　　Should　you　see　the　Conde　d'Ossorio；　tell　him　。　。　。　　I　blush　while　I　declare　it　。　。　。

Tell　him　that　his　presence　will　be　but　too　acceptable　to　the　sympathetic　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Leonella。

The　latter　sentences　were　written　in　red　ink；　to　express　the　blushes　of　her　cheek；　while　She　committed　an　outrage　upon　her　virgin　modesty。

Lorenzo　had　no　sooner　perused　this　note　than　He　set　out　in　search　of　Don　Christoval。　　Not　being　able　to　find　him　in　the　course　of　the　day；　He　proceeded　to　Donna　Elvira's　alone；　to　Leonella's　infinite　disappointment。　　The　Domestic　by　whom　He　sent　up　his　name；　having　already　declared　his　Lady　to　be　at　home；　She　had　no　excuse　for　refusing　his　visit：　　Yet　She　consented　to　receive　it　with　much　reluctance。　　That　reluctance　was　increased　by　the　changes　which　his　approach　produced　in　Antonia's　countenance；　nor　was　it　by　any　means　abated　when　the　Youth　himself　appeared。　　The　symmetry　of　his　person；　animation　of　his　features；　and　natural　elegance　of　his　manners　and　address；　convinced　Elvira　that　such　a　Guest　must　be　dangerous　for　her　Daughter。　　She　resolved　to　treat　him　with　distant　politeness；　to　decline　his　services　with　gratitude　for　the　tender　of　them；　and　to　make　him　feel；　without　offence；　that　his　future　visits　would　be　far　from　acceptable。

On　his　entrance　He　found　Elvira；　who　was　indisposed；　reclining　upon　a　Sopha：　　Antonia　sat　by　her　embroidery　frame；　and　Leonella；　in　a　pastoral　dress；　held　'Montemayor's　Diana。'　　In　spite　of　her　being　the　Mother　of　Antonia；　Lorenzo　could　not　help　expecting　to　find　in　Elvira　Leonella's　true　Sister；　and　the　Daughter　of　'as　honest　a　painstaking　Shoe…maker；　as　any　in　Cordova。'　　A　single　glance　was　sufficient　to　undeceive　him。　　He　beheld　a　Woman　whose　features；　though　impaired　by　time　and　sorrow；　still　bore　the　marks　of　distinguished　beauty：　　A　serious　dignity　reigned　upon　her　countenance；　but　was　tempered　by　a　grace　and　sweetness　which　rendered　her　truly　enchanting。　　Lorenzo　fancied　that　She　must　have　resembled　her　Daughter　in　her　youth；　and　readily　excused　the　imprudence　of　the　late　Conde　de　las　Cisternas。　　She　desired　him　to　be　seated；　and　immediately　resumed　her　place　upon　the　Sopha。

Antonia　received　him　with　a　simple　reverence；　and　continued　her　work：　　Her　cheeks　were　suffused　with　crimson；　and　She　strove　to　conceal　her　emotion　by　leaning　over　her　embroidery　frame。　　Her　Aunt　also　chose　to　play　off　her　airs　of　modesty；　She　affected　to　blush　and　tremble；　and　waited　with　her　eyes　cast　down　to　receive；　as　She　expected；　the　compliments　of　Don　Christoval。　　Finding　after　some　time　that　no　sign　of　his　approach　was　given；　She　ventured　to　look　round　the　room；　and　perceived　with　vexation　that　Medina　was　unaccompanied。　　Impatience　would　not　permit　her　waiting　for　an　explanation：　Interrupting　Lorenzo；　who　was　delivering　Raymond's　message；　She　desired　to　know　what　was　become　of　his　Friend。

He；　who　thought　it　necessary　to　maintain　himself　in　her　good　graces；　strove　to　console　her　under　her　disappointment　by　committing　a　little　violence　upon　truth。

'Ah！　Segnora；'　He　replied　in　a　melancholy　voice　'How　grieved　will　He　be　at　losing　this　opportunity　of　paying　you　his　respects！　　A　Relation's　illness　has　obliged　him　to　quit　Madrid　in　haste：　　But　on　his　return；　He　will　doubtless　seize　the　first　moment　with　transport　to　throw　himself　at　your　feet！'

As　He　said　this；　his　eyes　met　those　of　Elvira：　　She　punished　his　falsehood　sufficiently　by　darting　at　him　a　look　expressive　of　displeasure　and　reproach。　　Neither　did　the　deceit　answer　his　intention。　　Vexed　and　disappointed　Leonella　rose　from　her　seat；　and　retired　in　dudgeon　to　her　own　apartment。

Lorenzo　hastened　to　repair　the　fault；　which　had　injured　him　in　Elvira's　opinion。　　He　related　his　conversation　with　the　Marquis　respecting　her：　　He　assured　her　that　Raymond　was　prepared　to　acknowledge　her　for　his　Brother's　Widow；　and　that　till　it　was　in　his　power　to