登陆注册
15482700000045

第45章 PAUL AND VIRGINIA(37)

This imposing funeral solemnity had been ordered by the administration of the country, which was desirous of doing honour to the virtues of Virginia. But when the mournful procession arrived at the foot of this mountain, within sight of those cottages of which she had been so long an inmate and an ornament, diffusing happiness all around them, and which her loss had now filled with despair, the funeral pomp was interrupted, the hymns and anthems ceased, and the whole plain resounded with sighs and lamentations. Numbers of young girls ran from the neighbouring plantations, to touch the coffin of Virginia with their handkerchiefs, and with chaplets and crowns of flowers, invoking her as a saint. Mothers asked of heaven a child like Virginia; lovers, a heart as faithful; the poor, as tender a friend; and the slaves as kind a mistress.

When the procession had reached the place of interment, some negresses of Madagascar and Caffres of Mozambique placed a number of baskets of fruit around the corpse, and hung pieces of stuff upon the adjoining trees, according to the custom of their several countries. Some Indian women from Bengal also, and from the coast of Malabar, brought cages full of small birds, which they set at liberty upon her coffin. Thus deeply did the loss of this amiable being affect the natives of different countries, and thus was the ritual of various religions performed over the tomb of unfortunate virtue.

It became necessary to place guards round her grave, and to employ gentle force in removing some of the daughters of the neighbouring villagers, who endeavoured to throw themselves into it, saying that they had no longer any consolation to hope for in this world, and that nothing remained for them but to die with their benefactress.

On the western side of the church of the Shaddock Grove is a small copse of bamboos, where, in returning from mass with her mother and Margaret, Virginia loved to rest herself, seated by the side of him whom she then called her brother. This was the spot selected for her interment.

At his return from the funeral solemnity, Monsieur de la Bourdonnais came up here, followed by part of his numerous retinue. He offered Madame de la Tour and her friend all the assistance it was in his power to bestow. After briefly expressing his indignation at the conduct of her unnatural aunt, he advanced to Paul, and said every thing which he thought most likely to soothe and console him. "Heaven is my witness," said he, "that I wished to insure your happiness, and that of your family. My dear friend, you must go to France; I will obtain a commission for you, and during your absence I will take the same care of your mother as if she were my own." He then offered him his hand; but Paul drew away and turned his head aside, unable to bear his sight.

I remained for some time at the plantation of my unfortunate friends, that I might render to them and Paul those offices of friendship that were in my power, and which might alleviate, though they could not heal the wounds of calamity. At the end of three weeks Paul was able to walk; but his mind seemed to droop in proportion as his body gathered strength. He was insensible to every thing; his look was vacant; and when asked a question, he made no reply. Madame de la Tour, who was dying said to him often,--"My son, while I look at you, I think I see my dear Virginia." At the name of Virginia he shuddered, and hastened away from her, notwithstanding the entreaties of his mother, who begged him to come back to her friend. He used to go alone into the garden, and seat himself at the foot of Virginia's cocoa-tree, with his eyes fixed upon the fountain. The governor's surgeon, who had shown the most humane attention to Paul and the whole family, told us that in order to cure the deep melancholy which had taken possession of his mind, we must allow him to do whatever he pleased, without contradiction: this, he said, afforded the only chance of overcoming the silence in which he persevered.

I resolved to follow this advice. The first use which Paul made of his returning strength was to absent himself from the plantation. Being determined not to lose sight of him I set out immediately, and desired Domingo to take some provisions and accompany us. The young man's strength and spirits seemed renewed as he descended the mountain. He first took the road to the Shaddock Grove, and when he was near the church, in the Alley of Bamboos, he walked directly to the spot where he saw some earth fresh turned up; kneeling down there, and raising his eyes to heaven, he offered up a long prayer. This appeared to me a favourable symptom of the return of his reason; since this mark of confidence in the Supreme Being showed that his mind was beginning to resume its natural functions. Domingo and I, following his example, fell upon our knees, and mingled our prayers with his. When he arose, he bent his way, paying little attention to us, towards the northern part of the island. As I knew that he was not only ignorant of the spot where the body of Virginia had been deposited, but even of the fact that it had been recovered from the waves, I asked him why he had offered up his prayer at the foot of those bamboos. He answered,--"We have been there so often."

同类推荐
  • 阿毗昙心论

    阿毗昙心论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 江月松风集

    江月松风集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 阿难四事经

    阿难四事经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 困学纪闻

    困学纪闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 释肇序

    释肇序

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 放牧大非洲

    放牧大非洲

    因为失恋选择了去非洲散心的周泰山,在万里高空之中与神灵相识,从此,他发现自己拥有了神奇的能力:左手一挥,秃鹫空骑遮天蔽日;右手一舞,猩猩军团制霸丛林;保护雨林,丛林战士神出鬼没;抢占金矿,黑白双煞部落臣服。且看少年周泰山如何在非洲部落,西国金矿集团,西国军火商的争斗之中,纵横捭阖,虎口夺食,鹰嘴夺利!
  • 域途

    域途

    我要这地,予我驱使,铸我登天之梯;我要这天,俯首称臣,任我呼风唤雨。
  • 谋妃逆天:冥王宠妻无限

    谋妃逆天:冥王宠妻无限

    “妖孽,提起你的亵裤,历史有多远,你给我滚多远。”某女,冲着躺在她床上寸缕未着的妖孽喊道。某男妖孽一笑,飞扑某女滚到床上,“娘子遵命……”她,21世纪铁血女杀手,魂穿异世,成为宰相府被继母庶妹害死的大小姐。十年归来,毒行天下,江湖传言毒仙一出百无活物。他,月璃国残暴嗜血的九皇叔,邪魅霸道冷酷无情,据闻,身有隐疾心理变态,杀人如麻,饮食人血,令人闻风丧胆,被称为冥王。当毒仙对冥王,强者撞强者,是天下大乱,还是风云际合?是谁征服谁?谁甘愿被驯?一对一女强男强。强强联手,天下在手!
  • 当我爱上你的那一天

    当我爱上你的那一天

    这个小说讲述了陈玉轩和李殊涵两个人在校园里的爱情,他们的爱情经历了无数的挫折,但最后还是走在了一起
  • 倾世覆王朝

    倾世覆王朝

    北方有佳人,绝出而独立,一顾倾人城,再顾倾人国,倾城复倾国,佳人难再得!她是国内资深的造型设计师啊,却因为一段不堪的回忆夜夜被那个与她有着同样脸庞的梦中女子纠缠.跟着剧组来到一座不知名的古城拍摄工作,居然就莫名奇妙的穿越到一个连历史上都没有记载的朝代,梦中的女子到底是谁?在这个朝代究竟发生了什么故事?
  • 三国大混乱

    三国大混乱

    课堂上睡觉的小强,一觉醒来发现自己身在汉朝,主角凭着一本三国指南金手指勇闯三国。文能提笔定天下,武能力压镇群雄。李白醉酒戏貂蝉,小强三英战吕布。主角穿越造成时空扭曲,各朝代的名人不幸卷入这场风暴。动荡的汉朝,混乱的三国,小强该如何书写,敬请期待!(曹老板,别开打!给劳资一分钟时间我看看三国指南!)
  • 恋爱娃娃亲:少爷别缠我了

    恋爱娃娃亲:少爷别缠我了

    (这是彩憬的好闺蜜写的书,希望大家多多支持哦~)5岁那年,家里来了一个陌生的阿姨和一位叔叔还有一位跟女主年纪差不多的小男孩。妈妈很热情的款待他们,还提起了娃娃亲。还小的女主并不知道娃娃亲是什么意思,这件事情很快就抛之脑后了,可是没想到,未婚夫居然找上门了!找上门之后到底发生了什么事呢?快点点进来看看吧!
  • 网游之战将生涯

    网游之战将生涯

    如果一个职业玩家,
  • 绝世无双:恶棍女王

    绝世无双:恶棍女王

    肖叮当一时热血救了一个熊孩子。却被车撞飞了出去!然后,她重生在异世。附身的这具身体的主人其丑无比,是个花痴不说还是个废材。敢动她的家人朋友,她灭对方一窝。敢说她废材,就用变态的实力碾轧过去。不过,谁来告诉她,这个老是耍宝,萌萌哒的兔子,实则是一个大帅哥的家伙。真的是传说中的饕餮?还有她身边的这几个小伙伴又是怎么回事?(本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。)
  • 无生峡域

    无生峡域

    三界之中,蕴藏一神秘之地,阴冷可怖。赤纭受命前往凡间捉拿妖孽,无奈发现自己陷入一个巨大的棋局。为了找回迷失的自己,为了了解自己的宿命,赤纭必须与天为敌。发誓铲除整个妖界!迷失,苏醒,找寻,痛并快乐着,究竟有多少人要为此牺牲。无生峡域,无人永生。