按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
manuscripts；〃 （here the speaker produced a note…book in which several
pages appeared to have been freshly written；） 〃that at the very
period in which you fancied these things amid the hills； I was
engaged in detailing them upon paper here at home。〃
In about a week after this conversation； the following paragraphs
appeared in a Charlottesville paper：
〃We have the painful duty of announcing the death of Mr。 Augustus
Bedlo； a gentleman whose amiable manners and many virtues have long
endeared him to the citizens of Charlottesville。
〃Mr。 B。； for some years past； has been subject to neuralgia； which
has often threatened to terminate fatally； but this can be regarded
only as the mediate cause of his decease。 The proximate cause was one
of especial singularity。 In an excursion to the Ragged Mountains； a
few days since； a slight cold and fever were contracted； attended
with great determination of blood to the head。 To relieve this； Dr。
Templeton resorted to topical bleeding。 Leeches were applied to the
temples。 In a fearfully brief period the patient died； when it
appeared that in the jar containing the leeches； had been introduced；
by accident； one of the venomous vermicular sangsues which are now
and then found in the neighboring ponds。 This creature fastened
itself upon a small artery in the right temple。 Its close resemblance
to the medicinal leech caused the mistake to be overlooked until too
late。
〃N。 B。 The poisonous sangsue of Charlottesville may always be
distinguished from the medicinal leech by its blackness； and
especially by its writhing or vermicular motions； which very nearly
resemble those of a snake。〃
I was speaking with the editor of the paper in question； upon the
topic of this remarkable accident； when it occurred to me to ask how
it happened that the name of the deceased had been given as Bedlo。
〃I presume；〃 I said； 〃you have authority for this spelling； but I
have always supposed the name to be written with an e at the end。〃
〃Authority？ no；〃 he replied。 〃It is a mere typographical error。
The name is Bedlo with an e； all the world over； and I never knew it
to be spelt otherwise in my life。〃
〃Then；〃 said I mutteringly； as I turned upon my heel； 〃then indeed
has it come to pass that one truth is stranger than any fiction
for Bedloe； without the e； what is it but Oldeb conversed！ And this
man tells me that it is a typographical error。〃
~~~ End of Text ~~~
THE SPECTACLES
MANY years ago； it was the fashion to ridicule the idea of 〃love at
first sight；〃 but those who think； not less than those who feel
deeply； have always advocated its existence。 Modern discoveries；
indeed； in what may be termed ethical magnetism or magnetoesthetics；
render it probable that the most natural； and； consequently； the
truest and most intense of the human affections are those which arise
in the heart as if by electric sympathy in a word； that the
brightest and most enduring of the psychal fetters are those which
are riveted by a glance。 The confession I am about to make will add
another to the already almost innumerable instances of the truth of
the position。
My story requires that I should be somewhat minute。 I am still a very
young man not yet twenty…two years of age。 My name； at present； is
a very usual and rather plebeian one Simpson。 I say 〃at present；〃
for it is only lately that I have been so called having
legislatively adopted this surname within the last year in order to
receive a large inheritance left me by a distant male relative；
Adolphus Simpson； Esq。 The bequest was conditioned upon my taking the
name of the testator； the family； not the Christian name； my
Christian name is Napoleon Bonaparte or； more properly； these are
my first and middle appellations。
I assumed the name； Simpson； with some reluctance； as in my true
patronym； Froissart； I felt a very pardonable pride believing that
I could trace a descent from the immortal author of the 〃Chronicles。〃
While on the subject of names； by the bye； I may mention a singular
coincidence of sound attending the names of some of my immediate
predecessors。 My father was a Monsieur Froissart； of Paris。 His wife
my mother； whom he married at fifteen was a Mademoiselle
Croissart； eldest daughter of Croissart the banker； whose wife；
again； being only sixteen when married； was the eldest daughter of
one Victor Voissart。 Monsieur Voissart； very singularly； had married
a lady of similar name a Mademoiselle Moissart。 She； too； was
quite a child when married； and her mother； also； Madame Moissart；
was only fourteen when led to the altar。 These early marriages are
usual in France。 Here； however； are Moissart； Voissart； Croissart；
and Froissart； all in the direct line of descent。 My own name；
though； as I say； became Simpson； by act of Legislature； and with so
much repugnance on my part； that； at one period； I actually hesitated
about accepting the legacy with the useless and annoying proviso
attached。
As to personal endowments； I am by no means deficient。 On the
contrary； I believe that I am well made； and possess what nine tenths
of the world would call a handsome face。 In height I am five feet
eleven。 My hair is black and curling。 My nose is sufficiently good。
My eyes are large and gray； and although； in fact they are weak a
very inconvenient degree； still no defect in this regard would be
suspected from their appearance。 The weakness itself； however； has
always much annoyed me； and I have resorted to every remedy short
of wearing glasses。 Being youthful and good…looking； I naturally
dislike these； and have resolutely refused to employ them。 I know
nothing； indeed； which so disfigures the countenance of a young
person； or so impresses every feature with an air of demureness； if
not altogether of sanctimoniousness and of age。 An eyeglass； on the
other hand； has a savor of downright foppery and affectation。 I have
hitherto managed as well as I could without either。 But something too
much of these merely personal details； which； after all； are of
little importance。 I will content myself with saying； in addition；
that my temperament is sanguine； rash； ardent； enthusiastic and
that all my life I have been a devoted admirer of the women。
One night last winter I entered a box at the P… Theatre； in
company with a friend； Mr。 Talbot。 It was an opera night； and the
bills presented a very rare attraction； so that the house was
excessively crowded。 We were in time； however； to obtain the front
seats which had been reserved for us； and into which； with some
little difficulty； we elbowed our way。
For two hours my companion； who was a musical fanatico； gave his
undivided attention to the stage； and； in the meantime； I amused
myself by observing the audience； which consisted； in chief part； of
the very elite of the city。 Having satisfied myself upon this point；
I was about turning my eyes to the prima donna； when they were
arrested and riveted by a figure in one of the private boxes which
had escaped my observation。
If I live a thousand years； I can never forget the intense emotion
with which I regarded this figure。 It was that of a female； the most
exquisite I had ever beheld。 The face was so far turned toward the
stage that； for some minutes； I could not obtain a view of it but
the form was divine； no other word can sufficiently express its
magnificent proportion and even the term 〃divine〃 seems
ridiculously feeble as I write it。
The magic of a lovely form in woman the necromancy of female
gracefulness was always a power which I had found it impossible to
resist； but here was grace personified； incarnate； the beau ideal of
my wildest and most enthusiastic visions。 The figure； almost all of
which the construction of the box permitted to be seen； was somewhat
above the medium height； and nearly approached； without positively
reaching； the majestic。 Its perfect fullness and tournure were
delicious。 The head of which only the back was visible； rivalled in
outline that of the Greek Psyche； and was rather displayed than
concealed by an elegant cap of gaze aerienne； which put me in mind of
the ventum textilem of Apuleius。 The right arm hung over the
balustrade of the box； and thrilled every nerve of my frame with its
exquisite symmetry。 Its upper portion was draperied by one of the
loose open sleeves now in fashion。 This extended but little below the
elbow。 Beneath it was worn an under one of some frail material；
close…fitting； and terminated by a cuff of rich lace； which fell
gracefully over the top of the hand； revealing only the delicate
fingers； upon one of which sparkled a diamond ring； which I at once
saw was of extraordinary value。 The admirable roundness of the wrist
was well set off by a bracelet which encircled it； and which also was
ornamented and clasped by a magnificent aigrette of jewels…telling；
in words that could not be mistaken； at once of the wealth and
fastidious taste of the wearer。
I gazed at this queenly apparition for at least half an hour； as if I
had been suddenly converted to stone； and； during this period； I felt
the full force and truth of all that has been said or sung concerning
〃love at first