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Capítulo XXVIII
Descripción de un vestido de baile
La indiferencia con que Tíncel miraba a Arabela convenció a Carlota de que las prendas de su prima no eran tan peligrosas como se lo había creído y por eso no tuvo celos de verla hacer sus preparativos para el baile. Arabela había comprado una pieza de tela riquísima, envió a llamar a una modista y la mandó hacer un vestido como el de la princesa Julia. La modista, que creyó perder su buen concepto si confesaba que no entendía lo que era un vestido a la Julia, dijo, con seguridad, que ya no era de moda, pero que había llegado una nuevamente de París, ventajosísima para las damas123.
—No me persuadiréis a que pueda haber vestido más airoso que el de la princesa Julia, nadie supo sacar mejor partido que ella de sus perfecciones personales; bien es cierto que desde dos mil años acá puede estar olvidada dicha moda.
—¡Dos mil años, señora! –exclamó pasmada la modista–. Entendí que hablabais de la de este mes pasado, de que ya nadie se acuerda.
—Sean las modas las que fueren, yo me quiero vestir como la hija de Augusto.
—No he logrado el honor de ver a esa señora y, así, suplícoos que me digáis el género de vestido que usaba.
—La descripción sería algo larga… Acaso ignoráis que la princesa Julia era hija de un emperador.
—Verdad es, señora, que lo ignoraba y que… p. 185
Arabela pagó generosamente a la modista el tiempo que había perdido y resolvió que sus criadas la hicieran el vestido. Carlota quedó sorprendida, por la tarde, de ver entrar a su prima con un traje extraordinario: estaba abierto por el pecho y seguía exactamente todas las proporciones del cuerpo; un encaje de plata riquísimo y unos lazos de perlas, colocados con mucho arte, servían de guarnición; las mangas eran cortas, anchas y abiertas, en términos de dejar ver, casi del todo, un brazo torneado y hermoso; el peinado no era menos visible, porque una lindísima melena, repartida en rizos sueltos, acompañaba hermosamente al busto angelical de Arabela, ondeando sobre su seno, y unos nudos de diamantes separaban los rizos y daban al tocado mucho realce y gracia; finalmente, en su total era extraño el vestido, pero no podía ser más a propósito para dar valor a las facciones, al talle y a las gracias de nuestra heroína. Aunque Carlota estaba contentísima de lo que se ridiculizaba su prima, la causaba celos el efecto que producía; pero la tranquilizaba la esperanza de oírla criticar universalmente. Llegó la hora del baile y Arabela fue a él en compañía de su prima, de Glanville, de Silven y de Tíncel. Así que se presentó en la sala se oyó repetir de boca en boca:«Hela allí, hela allí la princesa Julia». Glanville se quedó parado, como que ignoraba el suceso de la modista; esta había divulgado por todas partes que la dama recién llegada la acababa de despedir porque ignoraba cómo iba vestida la princesa Julia, hija de Augusto. Hízose pública la cosa y motivó infinitas chuladas, e hizo aguardar a Arabela con impaciencia. Después que la preocupación hubo hecho su efecto124, empezaron los ojos a mirar como debían. El porte noble de Arabela, la hermosura de su cara, algo de majestuoso en su aire, una gracia natural de que participaban todos sus movimientos y una sonrisa amable trocaron el tumulto en silencio y la crítica en admiración, de manera que nadie reparó ya más en su vestido. Carlota, que oyó con gusto las sátiras, vio con pesar los miramientos y las atenciones. Para vengarse, tomó el pretexto de mostrarse admirada del recibimiento que la habían hecho y preguntó irónicamente: «¿Por qué la llamaban la princesa Julia?».
—Tan admirada estoy como tú –replicó Arabela–; he observado que todos me miraban y creí que aguardaban a alguna dama llamada Julia o que me hacían el favor de hallar alguna relación de semejanza entre mi rostro y el de la hija de Augusto.
—En todo caso –dijo Silven, siempre ansioso de mostrar su erudición– la comparación no os es favorable, porque sois tan superior a aquella princesa licenciosa en las prendas del cuerpo cuanto en las del alma.
—Caballero –repuso Arabela– me parecéis atrevido en vuestros epítetos; la hija de Augusto amaba ciertamente los obsequios y permitía que la tuviesen amor, pero, en mi dictamen, no se la pueden reprochar más que indiscreciones.
—¡Qué es lo que decís, señora! –repuso Silven–. Julia era hija de un gran emperador, pero, perdonadme la expresión, está pintada por todos los historiadores como una prostituta indigna de su nacimiento: sus manejos ocultos son conocidos y no necesito más que citar el que tuvo con Ovidio: seguramente no ignoráis que fue causa del destierro de este poeta125.
123 La princesa Julia, como se ha indicado en una nota anterior, es un personaje de la Cléopâtre, donde figura como la hija de Augusto, tal y como se dice en el propio texto unas líneas más abajo; debe entenderse que Arabela lleva un vestido al estilo de los de las nobles romanas de la época de aquel emperador, imaginables a partir de los testimonios artísticos de aquel tiempo.
124 ‘Después de que la primera impresión hiciera su efecto’.
125 El destierro del poeta de las Metamorfosis se explica aquí como consecuencia de la acción de Julia, la hija del emperador Augusto, siguiendo a La Calprenède, Cléopâtre (VII.3). Las causas parecen más complejas y no están del todo aclaradas; vid. Esteban Bérchez Castaño, El destierro de Ovidio en Temis: realidad y ficción (Institució Alfons el Magnànim, 2016).
Chapter VII
In which the author condescends to be very minute in the description of our
heroine’s dress.
The indifference of Mr. Tinsel convincing Miss Glanville that Arabella was less to be dreaded than she imagined, she had no reluctance at seeing her prepare for her public appearance the next ball-night.
Having consulted her fancy in a rich silver stuff she had bought for that purpose, a person was sent for to make it; and Arabella, who followed no fashion but her own taste, which was formed on the manners of the heroines, ordered the woman to make her a robe after the same model as the princess Julia’s.
The mantua-maker,* who thought it might do her great prejudice with her new customer to acknowledge she knew nothing of the princess Julia, or the fashion of her gown, replied at random, and with great pertness, that that taste was quite out, and she would advise her ladyship to have her clothes made in the present mode, which was far more becoming.
“You can never persuade me,” said Arabella, “that any fashion can be more becoming than that of the princess Julia’s, who was the most gallant princess upon earth, and knew better than any other, how to set off her charms. It may indeed be a little obsolete now,” pursued [147] she, “for the fashion could not but alter a little in the compass of near two thousand years.”
“Two thousand years, madam!” said the woman, in a great surprise. “Lord help us tradespeople if they did not alter a thousand times in as many days! I thought your ladyship was speaking of the last month’s taste, which, as I said before, is quite out now.”
“Well,” replied Arabella, “let the present mode be what it will, I insist upon having my clothes made after the pattern of the beautiful daughter of Augustus, being convinced that none other can be half so becoming.”
“What fashion was that, pray, madam?” said the woman. “I never saw it.”
“How!” replied Arabella. “Have you already forgot the fashion of the princess Julia’s robe, which you said was worn but last month? Or are you ignorant that the princess Julia and the daughter of Augustus is the same person?”
“I protest, madam,” said the woman, extremely confused, “I had forgot that till you called it to my mind.”
“Well,” said Arabella, “make me a robe in the same taste.”
The mantua-maker was now wholly at a loss in what manner to behave; for, being conscious that she knew nothing of the princess Julia’s fashion, she could not undertake to make it without directions, and she was afraid of discovering her ignorance by asking for any; so that her silence and embarrassment persuading Arabella she knew nothing of the matter, she dismissed her with a small present for the trouble she had given her, and had recourse [148] to her usual expedient, which was to make one of her women, who understood a little of the mantua-making business, make a robe for her after her own directions.p. 252
Miss Glanville, who imagined she had sent for workwomen in order to have clothes made in the modern taste, was surprised, at her entrance into her chamber, to see her dressing for the ball in a habit singular to the last degree.*
She wore no hoop, and the blue and silver stuff of her robe, was only kept by its own richness from hanging close about her. It was quite open round her breast, which was shaded with a rich border of lace; and clasping close to her waist by small knots of diamonds, descended in a sweeping train on the ground.
The sleeves were short, wide and slashed, fastened in different places with diamonds, and her arms were partly hid by half a dozen falls of ruffles. Her hair, which fell in very easy ringlets on her neck, was placed with great care and exactness round her lovely face; and the jewels and ribbons, which were all her headdress, disposed to the greatest advantage.
Upon the whole, nothing could be more singularly becoming than her dress, or set off with greater advantage the striking beauties of her person.
Miss Glanville, though she was not displeased to see her persist in her singularity of dress, yet could not behold her look so lovely in it, without feeling a secret uneasiness; but consoling herself with the hopes of the ridicule she [149] would occasion, she assumed a cheerful air, approved her taste in the choice of her colours, and went with her at the usual hour to the rooms, attended by Mr. Glanville, Mr. Selvin, and the young beau we have formerly mentioned.
The surprise Arabella’s unusual appearance gave to the whole company was very visible to everyone but herself.
The moment she entered the room, everyone whispered the person next to them, and for some moments nothing was heard but the words “the princess Julia,” which was echoed at every corner, and at last attracted her observation.
Mr. Glanville and the rest of the company with her were in some confusion at the universal exclamation, which they imagined was occasioned by the singularity of her habit, though they could not conceive why they gave her that title. Had they known the adventure of the mantua-maker, it would doubtless have easily occurred to them; for the woman had no sooner left Arabella than she related the conference she had with a lady newly arrived, who had required her to make a robe in the manner of the princess Julia’s; and dismissed her, because she did not understand the fashions that prevailed two thousand years ago.
This story was quickly dispersed, and, for its novelty, afforded a great deal of diversion; everyone longed to see a fashion of such antiquity, and expected the appearance of the princess Julia with great impatience.
[150] It is not to be doubted but much mirth was treasured up for her appearance; and the occasional humourist* had already prepared his accustomed jest, when the sight of the devoted fair one repelled his vivacity, and the designed ridicule of the whole assembly.
Scarce had the tumultuous whisper escaped the lips of each individual, when they found themselves awed to respect by that irresistible charm in the person of Arabella, which commanded reverence and love from all who beheld her.p. 253
Her noble air, the native dignity in her looks, the inexpressible grace which accompanied all her motions, and the consummate loveliness of her form drew the admiration of the whole assembly.
A respectful silence succeeded, and the astonishment her beauty occasioned left them no room to descant on the absurdity of her dress.
Miss Glanville, who felt a malicious joy at the sneers she expected would be cast on her cousin, was greatly disappointed at the deference which seemed to be paid her; and to vent some part of her spleen took occasion to mention her surprise at the behaviour of the company on their entrance, wondering what they could mean by whispering ‘the princess Julia’ to one another.
“I assure you,” said Arabella, smiling, “I am not less surprised than you at it; and since they directed their looks to me at the same time, I fancy they either took me for some princess of the name of Julia, who is expected here tonight, [151] or else flatter me with some resemblance to the beautiful daughter of Augustus.”
“The comparison, madam,” said Mr. Selvin, who took all occasions to show his reading, “is too injurious to you, for I am of opinion you as much excel that licentious lady in the beauties of your person, as you do in the qualities of your mind.”
“I never heard licentiousness imputed to the daughter of Augustus Cæsar,” said Arabella. “And the most her enemies can say of her is that she loved admiration, and would permit herself to be beloved, and to be told so, without showing any signs of displeasure.”
“Bless me, madam!” interrupted Mr. Selvin. “How strangely do you mistake the character of Julia! Though the daughter of an emperor, she was, pardon the expression, the most abandoned prostitute in Rome. Many of her intrigues are recorded in history; but to mention only one, was not her infamous commerce with Ovid the cause of his banishment?”