按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
intended to do； and therefore he fell in with her idea so readily
and promptly that between them they made the imposture look more
true than truth； so he answered her thus： 〃I did not think； fair
Camilla； that thou wert calling me to ask questions so remote from the
object with which I come； but if it is to defer the promised reward
thou art doing so； thou mightst have put it off still longer； for
the longing for happiness gives the more distress the nearer comes the
hope of gaining it； but lest thou shouldst say that I do not answer
thy questions； I say that I know thy husband Anselmo； and that we have
known each other from our earliest years； I will not speak of what
thou too knowest； of our friendship； that I may not compel myself to
testify against the wrong that love； the mighty excuse for greater
errors； makes me inflict upon him。 Thee I know and hold in the same
estimation as he does； for were it not so I had not for a lesser prize
acted in opposition to what I owe to my station and the holy laws of
true friendship； now broken and violated by me through that powerful
enemy； love。〃
〃If thou dost confess that；〃 returned Camilla； 〃mortal enemy of
all that rightly deserves to be loved； with what face dost thou dare
to come before one whom thou knowest to be the mirror wherein he is
reflected on whom thou shouldst look to see how unworthily thou him？
But； woe is me； I now comprehend what has made thee give so little
heed to what thou owest to thyself； it must have been some freedom
of mine； for I will not call it immodesty； as it did not proceed
from any deliberate intention； but from some heedlessness such as
women are guilty of through inadvertence when they think they have
no occasion for reserve。 But tell me； traitor； when did I by word or
sign give a reply to thy prayers that could awaken in thee a shadow of
hope of attaining thy base wishes？ When were not thy professions of
love sternly and scornfully rejected and rebuked？ When were thy
frequent pledges and still more frequent gifts believed or accepted？
But as I am persuaded that no one can long persevere in the attempt to
win love unsustained by some hope； I am willing to attribute to myself
the blame of thy assurance； for no doubt some thoughtlessness of
mine has all this time fostered thy hopes； and therefore will I punish
myself and inflict upon myself the penalty thy guilt deserves。 And
that thou mayest see that being so relentless to myself I cannot
possibly be otherwise to thee； I have summoned thee to be a witness of
the sacrifice I mean to offer to the injured honour of my honoured
husband； wronged by thee with all the assiduity thou wert capable
of； and by me too through want of caution in avoiding every
occasion； if I have given any； of encouraging and sanctioning thy base
designs。 Once more I say the suspicion in my mind that some imprudence
of mine has engendered these lawless thoughts in thee； is what
causes me most distress and what I desire most to punish with my own
hands； for were any other instrument of punishment employed my error
might become perhaps more widely known； but before I do so； in my
death I mean to inflict death； and take with me one that will fully
satisfy my longing for the revenge I hope for and have； for I shall
see； wheresoever it may be that I go； the penalty awarded by
inflexible； unswerving justice on him who has placed me in a
position so desperate。〃
As she uttered these words； with incredible energy and swiftness she
flew upon Lothario with the naked dagger； so manifestly bent on
burying it in his breast that he was almost uncertain whether these
demonstrations were real or feigned； for he was obliged to have
recourse to all his skill and strength to prevent her from striking
him； and with such reality did she act this strange farce and
mystification that； to give it a colour of truth； she determined to
stain it with her own blood； for perceiving； or pretending； that she
could not wound Lothario； she said； 〃Fate； it seems； will not grant my
just desire complete satisfaction； but it will not be able to keep
me from satisfying it partially at least；〃 and making an effort to
free the hand with the dagger which Lothario held in his grasp； she
released it； and directing the point to a place where it could not
inflict a deep wound； she plunged it into her left side high up
close to the shoulder； and then allowed herself to fall to the
ground as if in a faint。
Leonela and Lothario stood amazed and astounded at the
catastrophe； and seeing Camilla stretched on the ground and bathed
in her blood they were still uncertain as to the true nature of the
act。 Lothario； terrified and breathless； ran in haste to pluck out the
dagger； but when he saw how slight the wound was he was relieved of
his fears and once more admired the subtlety； coolness； and ready
wit of the fair Camilla； and the better to support the part he had
to play he began to utter profuse and doleful lamentations over her
body as if she were dead； invoking maledictions not only on himself
but also on him who had been the means of placing him in such a
position： and knowing that his friend Anselmo heard him he spoke in
such a way as to make a listener feel much more pity for him than
for Camilla； even though he supposed her dead。 Leonela took her up
in her arms and laid her on the bed； entreating Lothario to go in
quest of some one to attend to her wound in secret； and at the same
time asking his advice and opinion as to what they should say to
Anselmo about his lady's wound if he should chance to return before it
was healed。 He replied they might say what they liked； for he was
not in a state to give advice that would be of any use； all he could
tell her was to try and stanch the blood； as he was going where he
should never more be seen； and with every appearance of deep grief and
sorrow he left the house； but when he found himself alone； and where
there was nobody to see him； he crossed himself unceasingly； lost in
wonder at the adroitness of Camilla and the consistent acting of
Leonela。 He reflected how convinced Anselmo would be that he had a
second Portia for a wife； and he looked forward anxiously to meeting
him in order to rejoice together over falsehood and truth the most
craftily veiled that could be imagined。
Leonela； as he told her； stanched her lady's blood； which was no
more than sufficed to support her deception； and washing the wound
with a little wine she bound it up to the best of her skill； talking
all the time she was tending her in a strain that； even if nothing
else had been said before； would have been enough to assure Anselmo
that he had in Camilla a model of purity。 To Leonela's words Camilla
added her own； calling herself cowardly and wanting in spirit； since
she had not enough at the time she had most need of it to rid
herself of the life she so much loathed。 She asked her attendant's
advice as to whether or not she ought to inform her beloved husband of
all that had happened； but the other bade her say nothing about it； as
she would lay upon him the obligation of taking vengeance on Lothario；
which he could not do but at great risk to hims