stories by english authors in italy(旅意英国作家的故事)-第26节
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been inseparable on the previous evening； for Mrs。 Talboys had been
urging on the young Irishman her counsels respecting his domestic
troubles。 Sir Cresswell Cresswell； she had told him； was his refuge。 〃Why
should his soul submit to bonds which the world had now declared to be
intolerable？ Divorce was not now the privilege of the dissolute rich。
Spirits which were incompatible need no longer be compelled to fret
beneath the same couples。〃 In short； she had recommended him to go to
England and get rid of his wife； as she would with a little encouragement
have recommended any man to get rid of anything。 I am sure that； had she
been skilfully brought on to the subject； she might have been induced to
pronounce a verdict against such ligatures for the body as coats； waistcoats；
and trousers。 Her aspirations for freedom ignored all bounds； and in theory
there were no barriers which she was not willing to demolish。
Poor O'Brien； as we all now began to see； had taken the matter amiss。
He had offered to make a bust of Mrs。 Talboys； and she had consented；
expressing a wish that it might find a place among those who had devoted
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themselves to the enfranchisement of their fellow…creatures。 I really think
she had but little of a woman's customary personal vanity。 I know she had
an idea that her eye was lighted up in her warmer moments by some
special fire； that sparks of liberty shone round her brow； and that her
bosom heaved with glorious aspirations； but all these feelings had
reference to her inner genius； not to any outward beauty。 But O'Brien
misunderstood the woman； and thought it necessary to gaze into her face
and sigh as though his heart were breaking。 Indeed； he declared to a young
friend that Mrs。 Talboys was perfect in her style of beauty； and began the
bust with this idea。 It was gradually becoming clear to us all that he would
bring himself to grief； but in such a matter who can caution a man？
Mrs。 Mackinnon had contrived to separate them in making the carriage
arrangements on this day； but this only added fuel to the fire which was
now burning within O'Brien's bosom。 I believe that he really did love her
in his easy； eager； susceptible Irish way。 That he would get over the little
episode without any serious injury to his heart no one doubted； but then
what would occur when the declaration was made？ How would Mrs。
Talboys bear it？〃
〃She deserves it；〃 said Mrs。 Mackinnon。
〃And twice as much；〃 my wife added。 Why is it that women are so
spiteful to one another？
Early in the day Mrs。 Talboys clambered up to the top of a tomb； and
made a little speech； holding a parasol over her head。 Beneath her feet； she
said； reposed the ashes of some bloated senator； some glutton of the
empire； who had swallowed into his maw the provision necessary for a
tribe。 Old Rome had fallen through such selfishness as that； but new Rome
would not forget the lesson。 All this was very well； and then O'Brien
helped her down； but after this there was no separating them。 For her own
part； she would sooner have had Mackinnon at her elbow； but Mackinnon
now had found some other elbow。 〃Enough of that was as good as a feast；〃
he had said to his wife。 And therefore Mrs。 Talboys； quite unconscious of
evil； allowed herself to be engrossed by O'Brien。
And then； about three o'clock； we returned to the hamper。 Luncheon
under such circumstances always means dinner； and we arranged
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ourselves for a very comfortable meal。 To those who know the tomb of
Cecilia Metella no description of the scene is necessary； and to those who
do not no description will convey a fair idea of its reality。 It is itself a large
low tower of great diameter； but of beautiful proportion； standing far
outside the city； close on to the side of the old Roman way。 It has been
embattled on the top by some latter…day baron in order that it might be
used for protection to the castle which has been built on and attached to it。
If I remember rightly； this was done by one of the Frangipani； and a very
lovely ruin he has made of it。 I know no castellated old tumble…down
residence in Italy more picturesque than this baronial adjunct to the old
Roman tomb； or which better tallies with the ideas engendered within our
minds by Mrs。 Radcliffe and 〃The Mysteries of Udolpho。〃 It lies along the
road； protected on the side of the city by the proud sepulchre of the Roman
matron； and up to the long ruined walls of the back of the building
stretches a grassy slope； at the bottom of which are the remains of an old
Roman circus。 Beyond that is the long； thin； graceful line of the Claudian
aqueduct； with Soracte in the distance to the left； and Tivoli； Palestrina；
and Frascati lying among the hills which bound the view。 That Frangipani
baron was in the right of it； and I hope he got the value of his money out
of the residence which he built for himself。 I doubt； however； that he did
but little good to those who lived in his close neighbourhood。
We had a very comfortable little banquet seated on the broken lumps
of stone which lie about under the walls of the tomb。 I wonder whether the
shade of Cecilia Metella was looking down upon us。 We have heard much
of her in these latter days； and yet we know nothing about her； nor can
conceive why she was honoured with a bigger tomb than any other Roman
matron。 There were those then among our party who believed that she
might still come back among us； and； with due assistance from some
cognate susceptible spirit； explain to us the cause of her widowed
husband's liberality。 Alas； alas！ if we may judge of the Romans by
ourselves the true reason for such sepulchral grandeur would redound little
to the credit of the lady Cecilia Metella herself or to that of Crassus； her
bereaved and desolate lord。
She did not come among us on the occasion of this banquet； possibly
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because we had no tables there to turn in preparation for her presence； but
had she done so； she could not have been more eloquent of things of the
other world than was Mrs。 Talboys。 I have said that Mrs。 Talboys's eye
never glanced more brightly after a glass of champagne； but I am inclined
to think that on this occasion it may have done so。 O'Brien enacted
Ganymede； and was perhaps more liberal than other latter…day Ganymedes
to whose services Mrs。 Talboys had been accustomed。 Let it not； however；
be suspected by any one that she exceeded the limits of a discreet
joyousness。 By no means！ The generous wine penetrated； perhaps； to some
inner cells of her heart； and brought forth thoughts in sparkling words
which otherwise might have remained concealed； but there was nothing in
what she thought or spoke calculated to give umbrage either to an anchoret
or to a vestal。 A word or two she said or sung about the flowing bowl； and
once she called for Falernian； but beyond this her converse was chiefly of
the rights of man and the weakness of women； of the iron ages that were
past； and of the golden time that was to come。
She called a toast and drank to the hopes of the latter historians of the
nineteenth century。 Then it was that she bade O'Brien 〃fill high the bowl
with Samian wine。〃 The Irishman took her at her word； and she raised the
bumper and waved it over her head before she put it to her lips。 I am
bound to declare that she did not spill a drop。 〃The true 'Falernian grape；' 〃
she said； as she deposited the empty beaker on the grass beneath her elbow。
Viler champagne I do not think I ever swallowed； but it was the theory of
the wine； not its palpable body present there； as it were in the flesh； which
inspired her。 There was really something grand about her on that occasion；
and her enthusiasm al
