Traducción
Original
Capítulo II
Descripción del vestido de una mujer de moda y principio de una aventura que parece que promete mucho
Entraba Arabela en los diez y siete años de su edad con la imaginación, que era vivísima, ya ocupada de ideas novelescas. Pásanse en silencio los sucesos de su infancia, porque nada tienen de importante. Comenzaba a padecer su amor propio de no tener más admiradores que unas gentes groseras y nada la mortificaba tanto como el que sus atractivos estuviesen ignorados.
La casualidad trajo por allí a un extranjero cuyo concepto podía lisonjear su vanidad: era un joven airoso y de bello personal; llegaba de Londres con intención de pasar algún tiempo en casa de un pariente que tenía en aquella vecindad. La primera vista recíproca se verificó en la iglesia donde Arabela oía misa los domingos. Llegó antes el extranjero y pasó indiferentemente la vista por todas las mozas aldeanas; pero, así que se presentó Arabela, tuvo mucho que violentarse para ocultar la impresión que la hizo. También nuestra heroína, por su parte, sintió una fortísima conmoción al aspecto de un hombre de mundo y conoció los movimientos de su amor propio. Atravesó por entre una turba de aldeanos y de aldeanas, ridículamente respetuosos, recibió con dignidad sus homenajes y fue a sentarse en un sillón de terciopelo ricamente adornado.
Hervey (así se llamaba el joven) quedó prendado de la hermosura de Arabela, pero notó, con admiración, el modo extraño con que iba vestida: su garganta de alabastro y todas las proporciones de su persona se presentaban ventajosamente a la vista; llevaba aquel día una sultana muy ceñida al cuerpo y unida por delante con una presilla de rubíes2; sus cabellos, negros como el ébano, ondeaban sobre su cuello en rizos desiguales y formaban varias trenzas graciosamente distribuidas; su peinado era una especie de velo transparente de que se servía cuando la miraban con sobrada atención. Nunca le fue aquel mueble tan necesario como entonces. Los ojos de Hervey se fijaron en ella y, acabada la misa, se informó inmediatamente del nombre y de las circunstancias de aquella hermosa mujer. Mucha fue su sorpresa así que supo que era hija del famoso marqués de... No podía comprender por qué aquel señor retirado de la corte ocultaba en la obscuridad a una joven muy capaz de defender su causa delante del Rey.
Llegado a casa de su pariente, expresó su admiración de manera que no dejó duda de la impresión que Arabela había hecho en su alma: su primo le dio mucha vaya3, pero le añadió, con seriedad, que si amaba a aquella señorita no le parecía imposible entablar con ella una correspondencia de afecto. p. 43
Tanto tiempo ha que está cautiva –continuó diciendo– que no debe ser difícil hacerla desear la libertad bajo la máscara del matrimonio: ninguno hasta ahora la ha hablado de amor y es probable que el primero que se presente consiga agradarla.
Aunque Hervey se persuadió dificultosamente a que su primo le propusiese de buena fe el obsequiar a la hija de un hombre de la primera distinción y única heredera de inmensos bienes, con todo, admitió el consejo gustoso y se determinó a aventurar algunas tentativas, pero como no quiso exponerse al disgusto de verse ridiculizado, tomó el partido de ocultar sus intenciones.
2 La sultana es una especie de cinta que las mujeres de aquel tiempo se ponían al cuello como adorno; se había introducido en España treinta años antes (según la información proporcionada por Terreros y Pando en su diccionario [NTLLE]); la sultana estaría sujetada por una presilla, esto es, un botón o corchete para tal propósito.
3 ‘el señorito le hizo mucha burla o mofa’.
Chapter II
Contains a description of a lady’s dress, in fashion not much above two thousand
years ago. The beginning of an adventure which seems to promise a great deal.
Arabella had now entered into her seventeenth year, with the regret of seeing herself the object of admiration to a few rustics only, who happened to see her, when, one Sunday, making use of the permission the marquis sometimes allowed her, to attend divine service at the church belonging to the village near which they lived, her vanity was flattered with an adorer not altogether unworthy of her notice.
This gentleman was young, gay, handsome and very elegantly dressed; he was just* come* from London with an intention to pass some weeks with a friend in that part of the country; and at the time Arabella entered the church, his eyes, which had wandered from one rural fair to another, were in an instant fixed upon her face. She blushed with a very becoming modesty; and, pleased with [7] the unusual appearance of so fine a gentleman and the particular notice he took of her, passed on to her seat through* a double row of country people, who, with a profusion of awkward bows and curtsies, expressed their respect.
Mr. Hervey, for that was the stranger’s name, was no less surprised at her beauty, than the singularity of her dress; and the odd whim* of being followed into the church by three women attendants, who, as soon as she was seated, took their places behind her.
Her dress, though* singular, was far from being unbecoming. All the beauties of her neck and shape were set off to the greatest advantage by the fashion of her gown, which, in the manner of a robe, was made to sit tight to her body and fastened on the breast with a knot of diamonds. Her fine black hair hung upon her neck in curls, which had so much the appearance of being artless, that all but her maid, whose employment it was to give them that form, imagined they were so. Her headdress was only a few knots advantageously disposed, over which she wore a white sarcenet* hood, somewhat in the form of a veil, with which she sometimes wholly covered her fair face, when she saw herself beheld with too much attention.
This veil had never appeared to her so necessary before. Mr. Hervey’s eager glances threw her into so much confusion that, pulling it over her face as much as she was able, she remained invisible to him all the time they afterwards stayed in the church. This action, by which she would have had him understand [8] that she was displeased at his gazing on her with so little respect, only increased his curiosity to know who she was. p. 45
When the congregation was dismissed, he hastened to the door, with an intention to offer her his hand to help her to her coach; but seeing the magnificent equipage* that waited for her and the number of servants that attended it, he conceived a much higher idea of her quality than he had at first; and, changing his design, contented himself with only bowing to her as she passed; and as soon as her coach drove away, enquired of some persons nearest him, who she was.
These rustics, highly delighted with the opportunity of talking to the gay Londoner, whom they looked upon as a very extraordinary person, gave him all the intelligence they were able, concerning the lady he enquired after; and filled him with an inconceivable surprise at the strange humour of the marquis, who buried so beautiful a creature in obscurity.
At his return home, he expressed his admiration of her in terms that persuaded his friend she had made some impression on his heart; and, after rallying him a little upon this suspicion, he assumed a more serious air, and told him if he really liked Lady Bella, he thought it not impossible but he might obtain her. “The poor girl,” added he, “has been kept in confinement so long that I believe it would not be difficult to persuade her to free herself by marriage. She never had a lover in her life, and therefore the first person who addresses her has the fairest chance for succeeding.”
[9] Mr. Hervey, though he could not persuade himself his cousin was in earnest when he advised him to court the only daughter of a man of the marquis’s quality, and heiress to his vast estates, yet relished the scheme, and resolved to make some attempt upon her before he left the country. However, he concealed his design from his cousin, not being willing to expose himself to be ridiculed if he did not succeed; and, turning the advice he had given him into a jest, left him in the opinion that he thought no more of it.
i just] Very recently.
iiwas just come] The perfect of intransitive verbs, especially verbs of motion, was frequently formed with to be rather than to have.
iii through] All instances of thro’ have been expanded.
ivwhim] A capricious idea.
vthough] tho’ and though have been regularised as though.
visarcenet] A dress made of very fine and soft silk material.
viiequipage] obs. Train of attendants.