stories by english authors in italy(旅意英国作家的故事)-第25节
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sorely even to this hour； from Nero down to Pio Nono； the days of thine
oppression are over。 Gone from thy enfranchised ways for ever is the
clang of the praetorian cohorts and the more odious drone of meddling
monks！〃 And yet； as Mackinnon observed； there still stood the dirty friars
and the small French soldiers； and there still toiled the slow priests；
wending their tedious way up to the church of the Ara Coeli。 But that was
the mundane view of the matter； a view not regarded by Mrs。 Talboys in
her ecstasy。 〃O Italia；〃 she continued； 〃O Italia una； one and indivisible in
thy rights； and indivisible also in thy wrongs！ to us is it given to see the
accomplishment of thy glory。 A people shall arise around thine altars
greater in the annals of the world than thy Scipios； thy Gracchi； or thy
Caesars。 Not in torrents of blood or with screams of bereaved mothers
shall thy new triumphs be stained； but mind shall dominate over matter；
and； doomed together with popes and Bourbons； with cardinals；
diplomatists； and police spies； ignorance and prejudice shall be driven
from thy smiling terraces。 And then Rome shall again become the fair
capital of the fairest region of Europe。 Hither shall flock the artisans of the
world； crowding into thy marts all that God and man can give。 Wealth；
beauty； and innocence shall meet in thy streets〃
〃There will be a considerable change before that takes place；〃 said
Mackinnon。
〃There shall be a considerable change；〃 she answered。 〃Mackinnon； to
thee it is given to read the signs of the time； and hast thou not read？ Why
have the fields of Magenta and Solferino been piled with the corpses of
dying heroes？ Why have the waters of the Mincio run red with the blood
of martyrs？ That Italy might be united and Rome immortal。 Here； standing
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on the Capitolium of the ancient city； I say that it shall be so； and thou；
Mackinnon； who hearest me knowest that my words are true。〃
There was not then in RomeI may almost say there was not in Italy
an Englishman or an American who did not wish well to the cause for
which Italy was and is still contending； as also there is hardly one who
does not now regard that cause as well…nigh triumphant； but nevertheless it
was almost impossible to sympathise with Mrs。 Talboys。 As Mackinnon
said； she flew so high that there was no comfort in flying with her。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃Brown and the rest of them are down below。 Shall we
go and join them？〃
〃Poor Brown！ How was it that in speaking of his troubles we were led
on to this heart…stirring theme？ Yes； I have seen them； the sweet angels；
and I tell you also that I have seen their mother。 I insisted on going to her
when I heard her history from him。〃
〃And what was she like； Mrs。 Talboys？〃
〃Well； education has done more for some of us than for others； and
there are those from whose morals and sentiments we might thankfully
draw a lesson； whose manners and outward gestures are not such as
custom has made agreeable to us。 You； I know； can understand that。 I have
seen her； and feel sure that she is pure in heart and high in principle。 Has
she not sacrificed herself； and is not self…sacrifice the surest guarantee for
true nobility of character？ Would Mrs。 Mackinnon object to my bringing
them together？〃
Mackinnon was obliged to declare that he thought his wife would
object； and from that time forth he and Mrs。 Talboys ceased to be very
close in their friendship。 She still came to the house every Sunday evening；
still refreshed herself at the fountains of his literary rills； but her special
prophecies from henceforth were poured into other ears； and it so
happened that O'Brien now became her chief ally。 I do not remember that
she troubled herself much further with the cherub angels or with their
mother； and I am inclined to think that； taking up warmly as she did the
story of O'Brien's matrimonial wrongs； she forgot the little history of the
Browns。 Be that as it may； Mrs。 Talboys and O'Brien now became strictly
confidential； and she would enlarge by the half…hour together on the
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miseries of her friend's position to any one whom she could get to hear
her。
〃I'll tell you what； Fanny；〃 Mackinnon said to his wife one dayto his
wife and to mine； for we were all together〃we shall have a row in the
house if we don't take care。 O'Brien will be making love to Mrs。 Talboys。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 said Mrs。 Mackinnon； 〃you are always thinking that
somebody is going to make love to some one。〃
〃Somebody always is；〃 said he。
〃She's old enough to be his mother；〃 said Mrs。 Mackinnon。
〃What does that matter to an Irishman？〃 said Mackinnon。 〃Besides； I
doubt if there is more than five years' difference between them。〃
〃There must be more than that；〃 said my wife。 〃Ida Talboys is twelve； I
know； and I am not quite sure that Ida is the eldest。〃
〃If she had a son in the Guards it would make no difference；〃 said
Mackinnon。 〃There are men who consider themselves bound to make love
to a woman under certain circumstances； let the age of the lady be what it
may。 O'Brien is such a one； and if she sympathises with him much oftener
he will mistake the matter and go down on his knees。 You ought to put him
on his guard；〃 he said； addressing himself to his wife。
〃Indeed； I shall do no such thing；〃 said she； 〃if they are two fools they
must； like other fools； pay the price of their folly。〃 As a rule there could be
no softer creature than Mrs。 Mackinnon； but it seemed to me that her
tenderness never extended itself in the direction of Mrs。 Talboys。
Just at this time； toward the end； that is； of November； we made a party
to visit the tombs which lie along the Appian Way beyond that most
beautiful of all sepulchres； the tomb of Cecilia Metella。 It was a delicious
day； and we had driven along this road for a couple of miles beyond the
walls of the city； enjoying the most lovely view which the neighborhood
of Rome affords； looking over the wondrous ruins of the old aqueducts up
toward Tivoli and Palestrina。 Of all the environs of Rome this is； on a fair
day； the most enchanting； and here perhaps； among a world of tombs；
thoughts and almost memories of the old； old days come upon one with
the greatest force。 The grandeur of Rome is best seen and understood from
beneath the walls of the Colosseum； and its beauty among the pillars of the
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Forum and the arches of the Sacred Way； but its history and fall become
more palpable to the mind and more clearly realised out here among the
tombs； where the eyes rest upon the mountains； whose shades were cool to
the old Romans as to us； than anywhere within the walls of the city。 Here
we look out at the same Tivoli and the same Praeneste glittering in the
sunshine； embowered among the far…off valleys； which were dear to them；
and the blue mountains have not crumbled away into ruins。 Within Rome
itself we can see nothing as they saw it。
Our party consisted of some dozen or fifteen persons； and； as a hamper
with luncheon in it had been left on the grassy slope at the base of the
tomb of Cecilia Metella； the expedition had in it something of the nature
of a picnic。 Mrs。 Talboys was of course with us； and Ida Talboys。 O'Brien
also was there。 The hamper had been prepared in Mrs。 Mackinnon's room
under the immediate eye of Mackinnon himself； and they therefore were
regarded as the dominant spirits of the party。 My wife was leagued with
Mrs。 Mackinnon； as was usually the case； and there seemed to be a general
opinion； among those who were closely in confidence together； that
something would happen in the O'Brien… Talboys matter。 The two had
been inseparable on the previous evening； for Mrs。 Talboys had be
