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Original
Capítulo X
Recóbrase de su pasmo la heroína
Carlota, menos mirada que su hermano, no pudo ocultar lo que pasaba en su corazón así que anunciaron a Belmur.
—Prima mía –la preguntó con tono chocarrero–, ¿es él? ¿O será, por ventura, su espíritu, que, antes de ir a la morada de las sombras, viene a despedirse de ti?
—Sí, el mismo es –replicó Arabela–y presumo que viene con intención de ejecutar a mi vista su resolución fatal.
—¡Ay, Dios mío, prima! ¡Qué ideas formas tan raras! ¡Me hielas de espanto!
—Sosiégate, porque con facilidad se remedia una desgracia que se prevé.
Tan admirada quedó Carlota de la desarreglada imaginación de Arabela que la escuchó, sin chistar, la historia de Agilmundo y un sin número de citas92. Belmur, entretanto, aguardaba impaciente el momento de ver a Arabela. Lisonjeábase de que su carta se había recibido favorablemente. Después de una breve visita al barón, pidió licencia para saludar a las damas y lo introdujo Glanville. Fingió Belmur un exterior humilde, un rostro melancólico y un mirar vago y feroz. Arabela hizo señas a Glanville para que le quitara la espada, pero, viendo que no la entendía, se acercó ella a Belmur y le dijo:
—Conozco que venís a que yo presencie alguna escena trágica, pero os mando que no deis oídos a las sugestiones de vuestro despecho.
No aguardaba Belmur aquel recibimiento en presencia de Glanville y de su hermana. Pero como su imaginación era vivísima y su entendimiento astuto y, como, además, no quería descomponerse con Carlota ni salir desafiado con su hermano, resolvió continuar su tema burlesco, dándolo así a entender.
—No os engañáis, señora –dijo a Arabela levantando al cielo los ojos, en que se veía la expresión del dolor–; sí, el criminal, que ciertamente os ha ofendido, venía resuelto a morir a vuestros pies para desenojaros, pero ya que, usando de una bondad cruel, ¡oh Arabela divina!, os dignáis de conservarle una vida, que sin cesar envenenará el arrepentimiento, os obedecerá, si puede, y procurará emplearla en daros más y más pruebas de su respeto y sumisión.
—No menos esperaba yo de vuestro valor y pues imitáis tan bien a Lisimaco, no seré menos agradecida que Parisatis: contad con una estimación, de parte mía, proporcionada a la heroica virtud que manifestáis. p. 143
Belmur la hizo una profunda reverencia y, volviéndose a Glanville, le dijo, con tono y gravedad majestuosa:
—¡Oh vos, el más afortunado de los nacidos: no intentéis disminuir el corto alivio que siento, no me envidiéis una estimación sin la que me sería insoportable el peso de la vida y básteos poseer el corazón de la divina Arabela y ser competidor de los mayores monarcas del mundo!
Bien que la escena fuese originalmente cómica, Glanville no estaba divertido; la estratagema de Belmur destruía ciertamente sus sospechas, pero lo tenía indignado el ver a su prima tan ridículamente mofada. Formalizose mucho, dijo al oído a Belmur que deseaba hablarle y se retiró un instante después, y su amigo, luego que tuvo pretexto para salir, lo fue a buscar a los jardines. Glanville le salió al paso, sin rebajar nada de su seriedad.
—¡Cruel y sobradamente feliz amante! –le dijo Belmur continuando su chiste–, ¿qué siniestro nublado advierto en vuestro rostro? ¿Será dable que tengáis celos? ¿No estáis satisfecho con las gloriosas ventajas que sobre mí tenéis? ¿Quisierais todavía quitarme el frío aprecio que la divina Arabela se digna concederme?
—Os pido, Belmur, que dejéis ese pomposo estilo; he deseado hablaros a solas para deciros que es indecente que elijáis a mi prima para objeto de vuestras bufonadas y que lo llevo muy a mal: deberíais conocer que no es de aquella especie de mujeres con quienes pueden ligeramente aventurarse semejantes libertades. Os digo, pues, bajo el doble título de amante y de pariente, que no lo sufriré de nadie.
—¡Oh, suerte cruel! –exclamó Belmur levantando sus ojos al cielo–. ¿He de ser siempre objeto de tus persecuciones? ¿He de ver en mi amigo, sin causa alguna, un competidor y un contrario? ¿Ha de disputarme, aun a vista de mi resignación, una felicidad, que en nada perjudica a sus intereses?... Pero ya que así es –continuó diciendo enfurecido– ¡hiere, amigo inhumano, hiere este pecho donde está estampada la imagen de la sobrehumana Arabela y no creas que me sea posible defenderme del que ella ama!
—Todo eso es bellísimo –replicó Glanville, violentándose para no reír–, pero no viene al caso.
—Sea, pues, lo que tú quisieres, querido Glanville; mas no pretendas comunicarme tu risible gravedad.
—Dos palabras no más tengo que deciros, Belmur: o comportaos diferentemente con mi prima o pensad en haberlas conmigo por lo que la insultáis.
—Ya, ya lo entiendo: queréis decirme que, porque se os antoja ofenderos de una cosa que nada importa, es necesario correr el riego de que me paséis de una estocada. Gran locura sin duda alguna, pero pues la costumbre ha hecho ya de ello una necesidad, sigámosla, Glanville, y que sea ahora mismo, si queréis. Con todo eso, os aseguro que gime mi corazón de medir la espada con mi amigo y con mi compañero de colegio, por una niñería.
—No es necesario reñir –dijo Glanville, convencido de lo que acababa de exponerle la amistad–. He puesto una alternativa y extraño –esto lo añadió con sentimiento– que elijáis el partido que debe seros más costoso. El flanco de mi prima, que alimentáis, no puede, a lo más, proporcionaros sino un entretenimiento proscripto por todos los de buen corazón y a mí me resulta un verdadero pesar: sed justo y conoceréis que nada puede mortificarme más que el mantener en sus ridículas ideas a una persona que ha de ser mi mujer, haciéndola un objeto despreciable. p. 144
—Más que yo faltáis vos mismo a vuestra prima, Glanville: no es de maravillar que una mujer sola y educada en el campo haya leído muchas novelas y modelado por ellas su modo de pensar: ella sabe la historia de los héroes y heroínas como debiera saber la de los personajes merecidamente ilustres, pero encuentro sus rarezas menos desagradables que las que se toleran a las mujeres en la sociedad general.
—Luego sería perfecta sin esas quimeras –replicó Glanville–. No la afirméis, pues, en sus ideas y, al contrario, ayudadme a destruírselas; debéis hacerlo como amigo e interesaros en ello como su vecino.
—Pues que ya no se habla de amenazas, mi estimado Glanville, os prometo hacer cuanto queráis, pero es menester que mi heroísmo disminuya por grados y que yo recobre con decencia mi carácter, pues, de otro modo, se la haría mi presencia odiosa.
Arabela y Carlota se presentaron, después de esta conversación y convenio, y Belmur y Glanville las salieron al encuentro. Arabela se desvió hacia un paseo separado y Glanville iba a seguirla cuando advirtió que su padre dirigía sus pasos hacia ella.
92 La historia de Agilmundo, rey de Lombardía, quien intenta darse muerte con su espada ante su amada Gilismenes al ser acusado por esta de perfidia, aunque sobrevive, se hallará en Faramond X.2 (Dalziel 403).
Chapter IV
Where the lady extricates* herself out of her former confusion, to the great
astonishment, we will suppose, of the reader.
Miss Glanville, not having so much delicacy as her brother, could not help exulting a little upon this occasion.
“After the terrible fright you have been in, madam,” said she, “upon Sir George’s account, I wonder you do not rather think it is his ghost than himself that is come to see us.”
“There is no question, but it is himself that is come,” said Arabella, who had already reconciled this visit to her first thoughts of him. “And it is, haply, to execute his fatal design in my presence that has brought him here; and, like the unfortunate Agilmond, he means to convince me of his fidelity and love, by falling upon his sword before my eyes.”
[25] “Bless me, madam,” said Miss Glanville, “what horrid things come into your head! I vow you terrify me out of my wits, to hear you.”
“There is no occasion for your fears,” interrupted Arabella, “since we already suspect his designs, it will be very easy to prevent them. Had the princess of the Sarmatians known the fatal intentions of her despairing lover, doubtless, she would have used some precautions to hinder him from executing them, for want of which she saw the miserable Agilmond weltering in his blood at her feet, and with reason accused herself of being the cause of so deplorable a spectacle.”
The astonishment Miss Glanville was in, to hear her cousin talk in this manner, kept her from giving her any interruption, while she related several other terrible instances of despair.
In the meantime, Sir George, who was impatient to go up to Lady Bella’s apartment, having flattered himself into a belief* that his letter was favourably received; and that he should be permitted to hope at least, made a short visit to Sir Charles in his own room; and, accompanied by Mr. Glanville, who was resolved to see in what manner Arabella received him, went to her apartment.
As he had taken care, at his entrance, to accommodate his looks to the character he had assumed of a humble despairing lover, Arabella no sooner saw him than her countenance changed; and, making a sign to Mr. Glanville, who could not comprehend what she meant to seize upon the guard of his sword, she hastily stepped forward to meet him.
[26] “I am too well convinced,” said she to Sir George, “that the intent of your coming hither today is to commit some violence against yourself before my eyes. But listen not, I beseech you, to the dictates of your despair. Live, I command you, live; and since you say I have the absolute disposal of your life, do not deprive yourself of it, without the consent of her on whom you profess to have bestowed it.”
Sir George, who did not imagine Arabella would communicate his letter to her cousins, and only expected some distant hints from her concerning it, was so confounded at this reception before them that he was not able to reply. He blushed, and turned pale alternately; and, not daring to look either upon Miss Glanville or her brother, or to meet the eyes of the fair visionary, who with great impatience expected his answer, he hung down his head, in a very silly posture; and, by his silence, confirmed Arabella in her opinion.
As he did not want for wit and assurance, during that interval of silence and expectation from all parties, his imagination suggested to him the means of extricating himself out of the ridiculous perplexity he was in; and as it concerned him greatly to avoid any quarrel with the brother and sister, he determined to turn the whole matter into a jest. But if possible, to manage it so that Arabella should not enter into his meaning.p. 189
Raising therefore his eyes, and looking upon Arabella with a melancholy air:
[27] “You are not deceived, madam,” said he, “this criminal, with whom you are so justly offended, comes with an intention to die at your feet, and breathe out his miserable life, to expiate those crimes of which you accuse him. But since your severe compassion will oblige me to live, I obey, O most divine, but cruel Arabella! I obey your harsh commands; and, by endeavouring to live, give you a more convincing proof of that respect and submission I shall always have for your will.”
“I expected no less from your courage and generosity,” said Arabella, with a look of great complacency. “And since you so well know how to imitate the great Lysimachus in your obedience, I shall be no less acknowledging than the fair Parisatis, but will have for you an esteem equal to that virtue I have observed in you.”
Sir George, having received this gracious promise with a most profound bow, turned to Mr. Glanville, with a kind of chastened smile upon his countenance.
“And you, fortunate and deserving knight,” said he, “happy in the affections of the fairest person in the world! Grudge me not this small alleviation of my misfortunes; and envy me not that esteem which alone is able to make me suffer life, while you possess, in the heart of the divine Arabella, a felicity that might be envied by the greatest monarchs in the world.”
As diverting as this scene was, Mr. Glanville was extremely uneasy. For though Sir George’s stratagem took, and he believed he [28] was only indulging the gaiety of his humour by carrying on this farce, yet he could not endure he should divert himself at Arabella’s expense. The solemn speech he had made him did indeed force him to smile; but he soon assumed a graver look, and told Sir George, in a low voice, that when he had finished his visit, he should be glad to take a turn with him in the garden.
Sir George promised to follow him, and Mr. Glanville left the room, and went into the gardens, where the baronet, having taken a respectful leave of Arabella, and by a sly glance convinced Miss Glanville he had sacrificed her cousin to her mirth, went to join her brother.
Mr. Glanville, as soon as he saw him, walked to meet him with a very reserved air, which Sir George observing, and being resolved to keep up his humour:
“What, inhuman but too-happy lover,” said he, “what am I to understand by that cloud upon your brow? Is it possible that thou canst envy me the small comfort I have received? And, not satisfied with the glorious advantages thou possesses, wilt thou still deny me that esteem, which the divine Arabella has been pleased to bestow upon me?”
“Pray, Sir George,” said Mr. Glanville, “lay aside this pompous style: I am not disposed to be merry at present, and have not all the relish for this kind of wit that you seem to expect. I desired to see you here that I might tell you, without witnesses, I take it extremely ill you should presume to make my cousin [29] the object of your mirth. Lady Bella, sir, is not a person with whom such liberties ought to be taken; nor will I, in the double character of her lover and relation, suffer it from anyone whatever.”
“Cruel fortune!” said Sir George, stepping back a little, and lifting up his eyes. “Shall I always be exposed to thy persecutions? And must I, without any apparent cause, behold an enemy in the person of my friend, who, though, without murmuring, I resign to him the adorable Arabella is yet resolved to dispute with me a satisfaction which does not deprive him of any part of that glorious fortune to which he is destined? Since it is so, unjust and cruel friend,” pursued he, “strike this breast which carries the image of the divine Arabella; but think not that I will offer to defend myself, or lift my sword against a man beloved by her.”p. 190
“This is all very fine,” returned Mr. Glanville, hardly able to forbear laughing. “But it is impossible, with all your gaiety, to hinder me from being serious upon this business.”
“Then be as serious as thou wilt, dear Charles,” interrupted Sir George, “provided you will allow me to be gay, and not pretend to infect me with thy unbecoming gravity.”
“I have but a few words to say to you, then, sir,” replied Mr. Glanville, “either behave with more respect to my cousin, or prepare to give me satisfaction for the insults you offer her.”
“Oh! I understand you, sir,” said Sir George. “And because you have taken it into your head to [30] be offended at a trifle of no consequence in the world, I must give you a fair chance to run me through the body! There is something very foolish, faith, in such an extravagant expectation; but since custom has made it necessary that a man must venture his soul and body upon these important occasions, because I will not be out of the fashion, you shall command me whenever you think fit, though I shall fight with my schoolfellow with a very ill will, I assure you.”
“There is no necessity for fighting,” said Mr. Glanville, blushing at the ludicrous light in which the gay baronet had placed his challenge. “The concession I have required is very small, and not worth the contesting for on your side. Lady Bella’s peculiarity, to which you contribute so much, can afford you, at best but an ill-natured diversion, while it gives me a real pain; and sure you must acknowledge you are doing me a very great injury, when you endeavour to confirm a lady, who is to be my wife, in a behaviour that excites your mirth, and makes her a fit object for your ridicule and contempt.”
“You do Lady Bella a much greater injury than I do,” replied Sir George, “by supposing she can ever be an object of ridicule and contempt. I think very highly of her understanding; and though the bent of her studies has given her mind a romantic turn, yet the singularity of her manners is far less disagreeable than the lighter follies of most of her sex.”
[31] “But to be absolutely perfect,” interrupted Mr. Glanville, “I must cure her of that singularity; and therefore I beg you will not persist in assuming a behaviour conformable to her romantic ideas, but rather help me to banish them from her imagination.”
“Well,” replied Sir George, “since you no longer threaten, I’ll do what I can to content you; but I must quit my heroics* by degrees, and sink with decency into my own character; otherwise she will never endure me in her presence.”
Arabella and Miss Glanville appearing in the walk, broke off the conversation. The baronet and Mr. Glanville walked forward to meet them; but Arabella, who did not desire company, struck into another walk, whither Mr. Glanville following, proposed to join her, when he saw his father, who had been taking a turn there alone, make up to Arabella; and supposing he would take that opportunity to talk to her concerning him, he went back to his sister and Sir George, whose conversation he interrupted, to the great regret of Miss Glanville.