酷兔英语
    当前位置:
  1. 首页
  2. 文章
  3. 娱乐英语
  4. 原版小说
  5. 正文

Beauty and The Beast-Part7_Bayard Taylor(1825-1878)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

0 收藏 0 分享 0 赞

章节正文
文章总共2页
taken the wise precaution to summon a physician and a priest,

provided with the utensils for extreme unction. Both of these



persons had been smuggled in through a rear entrance, and were kept

concealed until their services should be required.



The noise of wheels was heard outside the gate, which stood

invitingly open. Prince Alexis clutched his whip with iron



fingers, and unconsciously took the attitude of a wild beast about

to spring from its ambush. Now the hard clatter of hoofs and the



rumbling, of wheels echoed from the archway, and the kibitka rolled

into the courtyard. It stopped near the foot of the grand



staircase. Boris, who sat upon the farther side, rose to

alight, in order to hand down his wife; but no sooner had he made



a movement than Prince Alexis, with lifted whip and face flashing

fire, rushed down the steps. Helena rose, threw back her veil, let



her mantle (which Boris had grasped, in his anxiety to restrain her

action,) fall behind her, and stepped upon the pavement.



Prince Alexis had already reached the last step, and but a few feet

separated them. He stopped as if struck by lightning,--his body



still retaining, in every limb, the impress of motion. The whip

was in his uplifted fist; one foot was on the pavement of the



court, and the other upon the edge of the last step; his head was

bent forward, his mouth open, and his eyes fastened upon the



Princess Helena's face.

She, too, stood motionless, a form of simple and perfect grace, and



met his gaze with soft, imploring, yet courageous and trustful

eyes. The women who watched the scene from the galleries above



always declared that an invisible saint stood beside her in that

moment, and surrounded her with a dazzling glory. The few moments



during which the suspense of a hundred hearts hung upon those

encountering eyes seemed an eternity.



Prince Alexis did not move, but he began to tremble from head to

foot. His fingers relaxed, and the whip fell ringing upon the



pavement. The wild fire of his eyes changed from wrath into an

ecstasy as intense, and a piercing cry of mingled wonder,



admiration and delight burst from his throat. At that cry Boris

rushed forward and knelt at his feet. Helena, clasping her



fairest hands, sank beside her husband, with upturned face, as if

seeking the old man's eyes, and perfect the miracle she had



wrought.

The sight of that sweet face, so near his own, tamed the last



lurking ferocity of the beast. His tears burst forth in a shower;

he lifted and embraced the Princess, kissing her brow, her cheeks,



her chin, and her hands, calling her his darling daughter, his

little white dove, his lambkin.



"And, father, my Boris, too!" said she.

The pure liquid voice sent thrills of exquisite delight through his



whole frame. He embraced and blessed Boris, and then, throwing an

arm around each, held them to his breast, and wept passionately



upon their heads. By this time the whole castle overflowed with

weeping. Tears fell from every window and gallery; they hissed



upon the hot saucepans of the cooks; they moistened the oats in the

manger; they took the starch out of the ladies' ruffles, and



weakened the wine in the goblets of the guests. Insult was changed

into tenderness in a moment. Those who had barked or stuck out



their tongues at Boris rushed up to kiss his boots; a thousand

terms of endearment were showered upon him.



Still clasping his children to his breast, Prince Alexis mounted

the steps with them. At the top he turned, cleared his throat,



husky from sobbing, and shouted--

"A feast! a feast for all Kinesma! Let there be rivers of vodki,



wine and hydromel! Proclaim it everywhere that my dear son

Boris and my dear daughter Helena have arrived, and whoever fails



to welcome them to Kinesma shall be punished with a hundred

stripes! Off, ye scoundrels, ye vagabonds, and spread the news!"



It was not an hour before the whole sweep of the circling hills

resounded with the clang of bells, the blare of horns, and the






文章总共2页
文章标签:名著  

章节正文
Copyright © 2023 Qeto All rights reserved.
商务合作 | 联系我们 | 关于我们 | 版权声明 | 隐私条款 | 如果智培

京ICP备05059198号-1 京公网安备 11011202003401号