Traducción
Original
Capítulo XIX
Cosas que el lector no aprobará ciertamente
Acabó su narración Moris y Arabela, movida hasta llorar, la dio gracias del trabajo que se había tomado y la prometió el secreto.
—La suerte de vuestra ama –la dijo– es seguramente lastimosa y aun hallo que tiene mucha relación con la de Cleopatra, a quien Julio César dio secretamente la mano, protestándola declarar que era su esposa, luego que fuese pacífico poseedor del Imperio romano, pero abandonó a aquella gran reina cuando iba a dar a luz el fruto de sus amores, exponiéndola inhumanamente a los tiros de la calumnia.
Viendo Moris que Arabela recibía la historia de su ama bajo un punto de vista favorable, se guardó bien de desengañarla y salió mortificadísima de no haber tocado la recompensa que aguardaba. En aquel instante llegó la inglesa Groves. Sorprendiose de encontrar allí a su criada y ya iba a preguntarla cuando Arabela la salió al encuentro diciendo:
—Os aseguro que me han hecho mucha impresión...
La Groves se sonrojó de oír tales palabras y su criada Moris perdió el color. Arabela, que no sospechaba que pudieran ofenderse de una curiosidad inspirada por la bondad de su corazón, continuó disertando sencillamente sobre la narración que Moris acababa de hacerla y recapituló las circunstancias que más la habían parado. Pero la dama inglesa, desatentada46, levantó la voz, preguntó, centelleándola los ojos, que desde cuándo era permitido corromper a un criado para que revelara los secretos de su amo... Pasmada Arabela de una pregunta hecha en un tono tan indecente, respondió con mucha dulzura:
—¿Creéis, señora, que sea yo menos discreta que la princesa Leontina, a quien Clelia confió sus secretos, aunque no había entre ellas un conocimiento más extenso que el nuestro47? No me juzgo con las perfecciones de Leontina, pero no cedo a nadie en sensibilidad y en retentiva; tened en mí, señora, la misma confianza y no me veréis menos celosa por vuestros intereses.
La Groves no entendió ni una palabra de aquel bello discurso y Moris por poco no suelta una carcajada.
—No puedo –dijo con ademán imperioso– atribuir vuestra curiosidad impertinente a otra cosa que a una crianza rústica. Liwenton no es el único hombre de mala fe y verisímilmente llegará tiempo en que tengáis peor suerte que la mía, porque ni sois tan hermosa ni tan discreta que merezcáis homenajes verdaderos y puros. p. 83
Dicho esto, llamó a su criada vieja y se fue apresuradamente. Arabela, que no tenía idea de semejantes furores, se quedó como un mármol, pero, algo recobrada, creyó que la Groves estaba frenética y fue corriendo a socorrerla. Alcanzola a la puerta de la quinta y empleó, sin éxito, las expresiones más halagüeñas para calmarla. La Groves, que continuaba enfurecida, no la dio oídos.
—Aguardad, pues, señora –la dijo Arabela–, que pongan los caballos al coche.
—Ni quiero aguardar ni vuestro coche, sino irme.
No pudiendo Arabela otra cosa, mandó que dos de sus lacayos la siguieran a lo lejos. Moris fue tan astuta que convenció a su ama de que Arabela sabía ya sus aventuras y, de vuelta a su casa la señora Groves, se contentó con decir que la dama, con quien había casualmente tratado, era la criatura más ridícula que se encontraba debajo de la capa del cielo.
Chapter VI
Containing what a judicious reader will hardly approve.
Mrs. Morris ending her narration, Arabella, who had not been able to restrain her tears at some parts of it, thanked her for the trouble she had been at, and assured her of her secrecy.
“Your lady’s case,” said she, “is much to be lamented, and greatly resembles the unfortunate Cleopatra’s, whom Julius Cæsar privately marrying, with a promise to own her for his wife, when he should be peaceable master of the Roman Empire, left that great queen big with child. And, never intending to perform his promise, suffered her to be exposed to the censures the world has so freely cast upon her, and which she so little deserved.”
Mrs. Morris, seeing the favourable light in which Arabella viewed the actions of her lady, did not think proper to say anything to undeceive her; but went out of the closet, not a little mortified at her disappointment. For she saw she was likely to receive nothing for betraying her lady’s secrets, from Arabella, who seemed so little sensible of the pleasure of scandal, as to be wholly ignorant of its nature, and not to know it when it was told her.
Miss Groves, who was just come to Lady Bella’s chamber door, to enquire for her, was surprised to see her woman come out of it; [115] and who, upon meeting her, expressed great confusion. As she was going to ask her some questions concerning her business there, Arabella came out of her* closet; and, seeing Miss Groves in her chamber, asked her pardon for staying so long from her.
“I have been listening to your history,” said she, with great frankness, “which your woman has been relating, and I assure you I am extremely sensible of your misfortunes.”
Miss Groves, at these words, blushed with extreme confusion, and Mrs. Morris turned pale with astonishment and fear. Arabella, not sensible that she had been guilty of any indiscretion, proceeded to make reflections upon some part of her story, which, though they were not at all disadvantageous to that young lady, she received as so many insults, and asked Lady Bella if she was not ashamed to tamper with a servant to betray the secrets of her mistress.
Arabella, a little surprised at so rude a question, answered, however, with great sweetness; and protested to her that she would make no ill use of what she had learned of her affairs.
“For, in fine, madam,” said she, “do you think I am less fit to be trusted with your secrets than the princess of the Leontines was with those of Clelia, between whom there was no greater amity and acquaintance than with us? And you must certainly know that the secrets which that admirable person entrusted with Lysimena were of a nature to be more dangerous, if revealed, than yours. The happiness of Clelia depended upon Lysimena’s fidelity. And the [116] liberty, nay, haply, the life of Aronces would have been in danger if she had betrayed them. Though I do not intend to arrogate to myself the possession of those admirable qualities which adorned the princess of the Leontines, yet I will not yield to her, or anyone else, in generosity and fidelity. And if you will be pleased to repose as much confidence in me, as those illustrious lovers did in her, you shall be convinced I will labour as earnestly for your interest, as that fair princess did for those of Aronces and Clelia.”p. 98
Miss Groves was so busied in reflecting upon the baseness of her woman in exposing her that she heard not a word of this fine harangue (at which Mrs. Morris, notwithstanding the cause she had for uneasiness, could hardly help laughing); but, assuming some of that haughtiness in her looks, for which she used to be remarkable, she told Lady Bella that she imputed her impertinent curiosity to her country ignorance and ill-breeding; and she did not doubt but she would be served in her own kind, and meet with as bad fortune as she had done. And, perhaps, deserve it worse than she did; for there are more false men in the world besides Mr. L…, and she was no handsomer than other people.
Saying this, she flung out of the room, her woman following, leaving Arabella in such confusion at a behaviour of which she had never before had an idea that for some moments she remained immovable.
Recollecting herself, at last, and conceiving that civility required she should endeavour to appease this incensed lady, she went downstairs [117] after her; and, stopping her just as she was going out of the house, entreated her to be calm, and suffer her to vindicate herself from the imputation of being impertinently curious to know her affairs.
Miss Groves, quite transported with shame and anger, refused absolutely to stay.
“At least, madam,” said Arabella, “stay till my coach can be got ready; and don’t think of walking home, so slightly attended.”
This offer was as sullenly answered as the other. And Arabella, finding she was determined to venture home, with no other guard than her woman, who silently followed her, ordered two of her footmen to attend her at a small distance; and to defend her if there should be occasion.
“For who knows,” said she to Lucy, “what accident may happen? Someone or other of her insolent lovers may take this opportunity to carry her away, and I should never forgive myself for being the cause of such a misfortune to her.”
Mrs. Morris having found it easy to reconcile herself to her lady by assuring her that Lady Bella was acquainted with great part of her story before; and that what she told her tended only to justify her conduct, as she might have been convinced by what Lady Bella said. They both went home with a resolution to say nothing of what had passed, with relation to the cause of the disgust Miss Groves had received, but only said, in general, that Lady Bella was the most ridiculous creature in the world, and [118] was so totally ignorant of good breeding that it was impossible to converse with her.
iher] the 1752 (1st).