第209页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第209页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
in my bosom, lest my jewel I should tyne.'
He said this as he helped me to alight from the carriage, and while
he afterwards lifted out Adele, I entered the house, and made good
my retreat upstairs.
He duly summoned me to his presence in the evening. I had
prepared an occupation for him; for I was determined not to spend
the whole time in a tete-a-tete conversation. I remembered his fine
voice; I knew he liked to sing- good singers generally do. I was no
vocalist myself, and, in his fastidious judgment, no musician, either;
but I delighted in listening when the performance was good. No
sooner had twilight, that hour of romance, began to lower her blue and
starry banner over the lattice, than I rose, opened the piano, and
entreated him, for the love of heaven, to give me a song. He said I
was a capricious witch, and that he would rather sing another time;
but I averred that no time was like the present.
'Did I like his voice?' he asked.
'Very much.' I was not fond of pampering that susceptible vanity of
his; but for once, and from motives of expediency, I would e'en soothe
and stimulate it.
'Then, Jane, you must play the accompaniment.'
'Very well, sir, I will try.'
I did try, but was presently swept off the stool and denominated 'a
little bungler.' Being pushed unceremoniously to one side- which was
precisely what I wished- he usurped my place, and proceeded to
accompany himself: for he could play as well as sing. I hied me to the
window-recess. And while I sat there and looked out on the still trees
and dim lawn, to a sweet air was sung in mellow tones the following
strain:-
'The truest love that ever heart
Felt at its kindled core,
Did through each vein, in quickened start,
The tide of being pour.
Her coming was my hope each day,
Her parting was my pain;
The chance that did her steps delay
Was ice in every vein.
I dreamed it would be nameless bliss,
As I loved, loved to be;
And to this object did I press
As blind as eagerly.
But wide as pathless was the space
That lay our lives between,
And dangerous as the foamy race
Of ocean-surges green.
And haunted as a robber-path
Through wilderness or wood;
For Might and Right, and Woe and Wrath,
Between our spirits stood.
I dangers dared; I hindrance scorned;
I omens did defy:
Whatever menaced, harassed, warned,
I passed impetuous by.
On sped my rainbow, fast as light;
I flew as in a dream;
For glorious rose upon my sight