catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第42部分
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London。
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Catherine： A Story
CHAPTER XII。 TREATS OF
LOVE； AND PREPARES FOR
DEATH。
And to begin this chapter； we cannot do better than quote a part of a
letter from M。 l'Abbe O'Flaherty to Madame la Comtesse de X… at
Paris：
〃MADAM；The little Arouet de Voltaire； who hath come 'hither to
take a turn in England；' as I see by the Post of this morning； hath brought
me a charming pacquet from your Ladyship's hands； which ought to
render a reasonable man happy； but； alas！ makes your slave miserable。 I
think of dear Paris （and something more dear than all Paris； of which；
Madam； I may not venture to speak further）I think of dear Paris； and find
myself in this dismal Vitehall； where； when the fog clears up； I can catch a
glimpse of muddy Thames； and of that fatal palace which the kings of
England have been obliged to exchange for your noble castle of Saint
Germains； that stands so stately by silver Seine。 Truly； no bad bargain。 For
my part； I would give my grand ambassadorial saloons； hangings； gildings；
feasts； valets； ambassadors and all； for a bicoque in sight of the Thuilleries'
towers； or my little cell in the Irlandois。
〃My last sheets have given you a pretty notion of our ambassador's
public doings； now for a pretty piece of private scandal respecting that
great man。 Figure to yourself； Madam； his Excellency is in love； actually
in love； talking day and night about a certain fair one whom he hath
picked out of a gutter； who is well nigh forty years old； who was his
mistress when he was in England a captain of dragoons； some sixty；
seventy； or a hundred years since； who hath had a son by him； moreover； a
sprightly lad； apprentice to a tailor of eminence that has the honour of
making his Excellency's breeches。
〃Since one fatal night when he met this fair creature at a certain place
of publique resort； called Marylebone Gardens； our Cyrus hath been an
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altered creature。 Love hath mastered this brainless ambassador； and his
antics afford me food for perpetual mirth。 He sits now opposite to me at a
table inditing a letter to his Catherine； and copying it fromwhat do you
think？from the 'Grand Cyrus。' 'I swear； madam； that my happiness would
be to offer you this hand； as I have my heart long ago； and I beg you to
bear in mind this declaration。' I have just dictated to him the above tender
words； for our Envoy； I need not tell you； is not strong at writing or
thinking。
〃The fair Catherine； I must tell you； is no less than a carpenter's wife； a
well…to…do bourgeois； living at the Tyburn； or Gallows Road。 She found
out her ancient lover very soon after our arrival； and hath a marvellous
hankering to be a Count's lady。 A pretty little creature is this Madam
Catherine。 Billets； breakfasts； pretty walks； presents of silks and satins；
pass daily between the pair； but； strange to say； the lady is as virtuous as
Diana； and hath resisted all my Count's cajoleries hitherto。 The poor
fellow told me； with tears in his eyes； that he believed he should have
carried her by storm on the very first night of their meeting； but that her
son stepped into the way； and he or somebody else hath been in the way
ever since。 Madam will never appear alone。 I believe it is this wondrous
chastity of the lady that has elicited this wondrous constancy of the
gentleman。 She is holding out for a settlement； who knows if not for a
marriage？ Her husband； she says； is ailing； her lover is fool enough； and
she herself conducts her negotiations； as I must honestly own； with a
pretty notion of diplomacy。〃
* * *
This is the only part of the reverend gentleman's letter that directly
affects this history。 The rest contains some scandal concerning greater
personages about the Court； a great share of abuse of the Elector of
Hanover； and a pretty description of a boxing…match at Mr。 Figg's
amphitheatre in Oxford Road； where John Wells； of Edmund Bury （as by
the papers may be seen）； master of the noble science of self…defence； did
engage with Edward Sutton； of Gravesend； master of the said science； and
the issue of the combat。
〃N。 B。〃adds the Father； in a postscript〃Monsieur Figue gives a hat
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to be cudgelled for before the Master mount； and the whole of this
fashionable information hath been given me by Monseigneur's son；
Monsieur Billings； garcon…tailleur； Chevalier de Galgenstein。〃
Mr。 Billings was； in fact； a frequent visitor at the Ambassador's house；
to whose presence he； by a general order； was always admitted。 As for the
connection between Mrs。 Catherine and her former admirer； the Abbe's
history of it is perfectly correct； nor can it be said that this wretched
woman； whose tale now begins to wear a darker hue； was； in anything but
SOUL； faithless to her husband。 But she hated him； longed to leave him；
and loved another： the end was coming quickly； and every one of our
unknowing actors and actresses were to be implicated； more or less； in the
catastrophe。
It will be seen that Mrs。 Cat had followed pretty closely the injunctions
of Mr。 Wood in regard to her dealings with the Count； who grew more
heart…stricken and tender daily； as the completion of his wishes was
delayed； and his desires goaded by contradiction。 The Abbe has quoted
one portion of a letter written by him； here is the entire performance；
extracted； as the holy father said； chiefly from the romance of the 〃Grand
Cyrus〃。
〃Unhappy Maximilian unto unjust Catherina。
〃MADAM；It must needs be that I love you better than any ever did；
since； notwithstanding your injustice in calling me perfidious； I love you
no less than I did before。 On the contrary； my passion is so violent； and
your unjust accusation makes me so sensible of it； that if you did but know
the resentments of my soule； you would confess your selfe the most cruell
and unjust woman in the world。 You shall； ere long； Madam； see me at
your feete； and as you were my first passion； so you will be my last。
〃On my knees I will tell you； at the first handsom opportunity； that the
grandure of my passion can only be equalled by your beauty； it hath
driven me to such a fatall necessity； as that I cannot hide the misery which
you have caused。 Sure； the hostil goddes have； to plague me； ordayned that
fatal marridge； by which you are bound to one so infinitly below you in
degree。 Were that bond of ill…omind Hymen cut in twayn witch binds you；
I swear； Madam； that my happiniss woulde be to offer you this hande； as I
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have my harte long agoe。 And I praye you to beare in minde this
declaracion； which I here sign with my hande； and witch I pray you may
one day be called upon to prove the truth on。 Beleave me； Madam； that
there is none in the World who doth more honor to your vertue than
myselfe； nor who wishes your happinesse with more zeal than
MAXIMILIAN。
〃From my lodgings in Whitehall； this 25th of February。
〃To the incomparable Catherina； these； with a scarlet satten petticoat。〃
The Count had debated about the sentence promising marriage in
event of Hayes's death； but the honest Abbe cut these scruples very short；
by saying； justly； that； because he wrote in that manner； there was no need
for him to act so； that he had better not sign and address the note in full；
and that he presumed his Excellency was not quite so timid as to fancy
that the woman would follow him all the way to Germany； when his
diplomatic duties would be ended； as they would soon。
The receipt of this billet caused such a flush of joy and exultation to
unhappy happy Mrs。 Catherine； that Wood did not fail to remark it； and
speedily learned the contents of the letter。 Wood had no need to bid the
poor wretch guard it very carefully： it never from that day forth left her； it
was her title of nobility；her pass to rank； wealth； happiness。 She began to
look down on her neighbours； her manner to her husband grew more than
ordinarily scornful； the poor vain wretch longed to tell her secret； and to
take her place openly in the world。 She a Countess； and Tom a Count's son！
She felt that she should royally become the title！
About this timeand
