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

The Two Brothers-Part44_Honore de Balzac(1799-1850)_Translated Works(翻译文学)-第2页

0 收藏 0 分享 0 赞

章节正文
文章总共2页
in her ear, "if you have children, you can revenge Max, for that will

disinherit the Bridaus."



Two months after the fatal duel in February, 1823, the sick woman,

urged by those about her, and implored by Rouget, consented to receive



Philippe, the sight of whose scars made her weep, but whose softened

and affectionate manner calmed her. By Philippe's wish they were left



alone together.

"My dear child," said the soldier. "It is I, who, from the start, have



advised your marriage with my uncle; if you consent, it will take

place as soon as you are quite recovered."



"So they tell me," she replied.

"Circumstances have compelled me to give you pain, it is natural



therefore that I should wish to do you all the good I can. Wealth,

respect, and a family position are worth more than what you have lost.



You wouldn't have been that fellow's wife long after my uncle's death,

for I happen to know, through friends of his, that he intended to get



rid of you. Come, my dear, let us understand each other, and live

happily. You shall be my aunt, and nothing more than my aunt. You will



take care that my uncle does not forget me in his will; on my side,

you shall see how well I will have you treated in the marriage



contract. Keep calm, think it over, and we will talk of it later. All

sensible people, indeed the whole town, urge you to put an end to your



illegal position; no one will blame you for receiving me. It is well

understood in the world that interests go before feelings. By the day



of your marriage you will be handsomer than ever. The pallor of

illness has given you an air of distinction, and on my honor, if my



uncle did not love you so madly, you should be the wife of Colonel

Bridau."



Philippe left the room, having dropped this hint into Flore's mind to

waken a vague idea of vengeance which might please the girl, who did,



in fact, feel a sort of happiness as she saw this dreadful being at

her feet. In this scene Philippe repeated, in miniature, that of



Richard III. with the queen he had widowed. The meaning of it is that

personal calculation, hidden under sentiment, has a powerful influence



on the heart, and is able to dissipate even genuine grief. This is

how, in individual life, Nature does that which in works of genius is



thought to be consummate art: she works by self-interest,--the genius

of money.



At the beginning of April, 1823, the hall of Jean-Jacques Rouget's

house was the scene of a splendid dinner, given to celebrate the



signing of the marriage contract between Mademoiselle Flore Brazier

and the old bachelor. The guests were Monsieur Heron, the four



witnesses, Messieurs Mignonnet, Carpentier, Hochon, and Goddet, the

mayor and the curate, Agathe Bridau, Madame Hochon, and her friend



Madame Borniche, the two old ladies who laid down the law to the

society of Issoudun. The bride was much impressed by this concession,



obtained by Philippe, and intended by the two ladies as a mark of

protection to a repentant woman. Flore was in dazzling beauty. The



curate, who for the last fortnight had been instructing the ignorant

crab-girl, was to allow her, on the following day, to make her first



communion. The marriage was the text of the following pious article in

the "Journal du Cher," published at Bourges, and in the "Journal de



l'Indre," published at Chateauroux:

Issoudun.--The revival of religion is progressing in Berry.



Friends of the Church and all respectable persons in this town

were yesterday witnesses of a marriage ceremony by which a leading



man of property put an end to a scandalous connection, which began

at the time when the authority of religion was overthrown in this



region. This event, due to the enlightened zeal of the clergy of

Issoudun will, we trust, have imitators, and put a stop to



marriages, so-called, which have never been solemnized, and were

only contracted during the disastrous epoch of revolutionary rule.



One remarkable feature of the event to which we allude, is the

fact that it was brought about at the entreaty of a colonel



belonging to the old army, sent to our town by a sentence of the

Court of Peers, who may, in consequence, lose the inheritance of



his uncle's property. Such disinterestedness is so rare in these

days that it deserves public mention.



By the marriage contract Rouget secured to Flore a dower of one




文章总共2页
文章标签:翻译  译文  翻译文  

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