登陆注册
15490300000011

第11章 CHAPTER 2(4)

Happily, I may say that I utter nothing but the thoughts and the wishes of the King of Israel himself; for though the times may call for some slight changes, yet does this version which we use in the colonies of New England so much exceed all other versions, that, by its richness, its exactness, and its spiritual simplicity, it approacheth, as near as may be, to the great work of the inspired writer. Inever abid in any place, sleeping or waking, without an example of this gifted work. 'Tis the six-and-twentieth edition, promulgated at Boston, Anno Domini 1744; and is entitled, 'The Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New Testaments; faithfully translated into English Metre, for the Use, Edification, and Comfort of the Saints, in Public and Private, especially in New England'."During this eulogium on the rare production of his native poets, the stranger had drawn the book from his pocket, and fitting a pair of iron-rimmed spectacles to his nose, opened the volume with a care and veneration suited to its sacred purposes. Then, without circumlocution or apology, first pronounced the word "Standish," and placing the unknown engine, already described, to his mouth, from which he drew a high, shrill sound, that was followed by an octave below, from his own voice, he commenced singing the following words, in full, sweet, and melodious tones, that set the music, the poetry, and even the uneasy motion of his ill-trained beast at defiance; "How good it is, O see, And how it pleaseth well, Together e'en in unity, For brethren so to dwell. "It's like the choice ointment, From the head to the beard did go; Down Aaron's head, that downward went His garment's skirts unto."The delivery of these skillful rhymes was accompanied, on the part of the stranger, by a regular rise and fall of his right hand, which terminated at the descent, by suffering the fingers to dwell a moment on the leaves of the little volume; and on the ascent, by such a flourish of the member as none but the initiated may ever hope to imitate. It would seem long practice had rendered this manual accompaniment necessary; for it did not cease until the preposition which the poet had selected for the close of his verse had been duly delivered like a word of two syllables.

Such an innovation on the silence and retirement of the forest could not fail to enlist the ears of those who journeyed at so short a distance in advance. The Indian muttered a few words in broken English to Heyward, who, in his turn, spoke to the stranger; at once interrupting, and, for the time, closing his musical efforts.

"Though we are not in danger, common prudence would teach us to journey through this wilderness in as quiet a manner as possible. You will then, pardon me, Alice, should Idiminish your enjoyments, by requesting this gentleman to postpone his chant until a safer opportunity.""You will diminish them, indeed," returned the arch girl;"for never did I hear a more unworthy conjunction of execution and language than that to which I have been listening; and I was far gone in a learned inquiry into the causes of such an unfitness between sound and sense, when you broke the charm of my musings by that bass of yours, Duncan!""I know not what you call my bass," said Heyward, piqued at her remark, "but I know that your safety, and that of Cora, is far dearer to me than could be any orchestra of Handel's music." He paused and turned his head quickly toward a thicket, and then bent his eyes suspiciously on their guide, who continued his steady pace, in undisturbed gravity. The young man smiled to himself, for he believed he had mistaken some shining berry of the woods for the glistening eyeballs of a prowling savage, and he rode forward, continuing the conversation which had been interrupted by the passing thought.

Major Heyward was mistaken only in suffering his youthful and generous pride to suppress his active watchfulness. The cavalcade had not long passed, before the branches of the bushes that formed the thicket were cautiously moved asunder, and a human visage, as fiercely wild as savage art and unbridled passions could make it, peered out on the retiring footsteps of the travelers. A gleam of exultation shot across the darkly-painted lineaments of the inhabitant of the forest, as he traced the route of his intended victims, who rode unconsciously onward, the light and graceful forms of the females waving among the trees, in the curvatures of their path, followed at each bend by the manly figure of Heyward, until, finally, the shapeless person of the singing master was concealed behind the numberless trunks of trees, that rose, in dark lines, in the intermediate space.

同类推荐
  • 谏书稀庵笔记

    谏书稀庵笔记

    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。
  • The Bravo of Venice

    The Bravo of Venice

    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。
  • 薜荔园诗集

    薜荔园诗集

    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。
  • 君子堂日询手镜

    君子堂日询手镜

    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。
  • 石初集

    石初集

    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。
热门推荐
  • 元魔劫

    元魔劫

    他,只是家族一名弃子,因为出生下来就被当作妖魔看待。是魔,那又怎样!!!我照样美女在怀,正道,那又怎样,我照样杀个血流成河。看他如何从一弱小少年成为叱咤大陆的风云豪杰。
  • 白色眷恋

    白色眷恋

    因为不满皇马6比2的比分,中国青年律师沈星怒砸啤酒瓶,结果电光火石间,他穿越成了佛罗伦蒂诺的儿子,且看来自09年的小伙子如何玩转03年的欧洲足坛
  • 笨蛋的人生史

    笨蛋的人生史

    藤堂念来到吉井明久的面前,用手捂住吉井明久的额头。坂本雄二叹息的说道。“孩子发烧老不好!八成是废了!”藤堂念镇静的回答:“扭一扭,舔一舔,再泡一泡,这病就全好啦!”坂本雄二望着藤堂念出神。“那……孩子智力怎么办?”“那还不简单!买个步步高打火机!哪里不懂点哪里!Soeasy!再也不用担心我的学习了!”离开后的藤堂念发现坂本雄二在后面追着,出于安全,藤堂念跑了起来。“你为什么追我!”“因为……我要你!”笨蛋的人生史与价值观!
  • 宠魅外传:另一个世界

    宠魅外传:另一个世界

    莫邪出现之前的世界,双乾坤尚未形成。在另一个世界,形形色色的魂宠纵横天地。故事,从那个卑微渺小的青魇魔岛开始......——————————————————PS:封面感谢《宠魅后记:魔神归来》的作者羽梦~~~=w=PS的PS:本书可以看成是《宠魅》的同人性质作品,原本打算发贴吧的……总之……不喜勿喷,我与诸位一样也是某书的忠粉呢~
  • 国际传播受众研究

    国际传播受众研究

    《国际传播受众研究》是国内第一本系统探讨国际传播受众理论、方法和实务的专门著作,也是一本综合性、理论性和实用性较强的专业教材。《国际传播受众研究》有三大特点:一、对中外国际传播受众的概念、特点、研究演进等进行了全面系统的梳理;二、详细介绍定量与定性受众调研方法,并对互联网受众测量和调研方法进行了创新性探讨;三、总结归纳国际传播媒体受众工作的特点、原则和反馈等管理机制,并对其在新媒体环境下的新动向进行了前瞻性分析。对于从事或有志于从事受众研究、国际传播受众研究、国际传播研究或相关领域工作的研究人员、实务工作者,以及相关专业的研究生和本科生,均具有较强的理论指导意义和实践参考价值。
  • 微风凉,你温暖心房

    微风凉,你温暖心房

    阳光正好,微风不燥。那一年,我遇见你,久后重逢,会擦出什么样的火花?
  • 豆蔻年华的美好爱恋

    豆蔻年华的美好爱恋

    乔念念与他分散多年,原以为爱情会随着岁月而变淡泊,没想到他确一次次接近她,努力撼动她的心灵,让她重新接纳自己。他就一直在她身旁,再次见面时,乔念念误以为他回来了,魔征了在原地,可她却不知道夏唯希早已认出了她……作者大大也是第一次写书,喜欢的可以留言,投推荐票,打赏哦
  • PS:我爱你

    PS:我爱你

    臣向北笑容轻浅,眼中一抹促狭:“我真的有这么可怕?”臣向北淡淡看她一眼,脸部略僵硬:“在一起,如何?”臣向北死死攥住她的胳膊,眼神灼灼:“我们……真的分手了?”万佑礼严肃认真:“我都想好了,这四年,好好照顾你。把你养胖一点,然后……领证儿结婚。”万佑礼贼笑:“你倒是说说,谁这么没眼光,竟看上了你?”万佑礼轻拍她的肩,语带哽咽:“西曼,哭出来,哭出来就好了。”李子涵看一看对面的她,缓缓吐出四个字:“一堆垃圾。”李子涵朝听众席扬了扬下巴:“最后一排,靠门坐的那位同学,没有问题要问?”李子涵背对安检口,把机票递给她:“跟我走。”
  • 妖尾之吸血鬼

    妖尾之吸血鬼

    新人新书,不足之处请大家多多指点。一睁眼,发现自己成了吸血鬼,还进入了一个乱糟糟的魔法公会,天,这是让老子从工科男变成绅(bian)士(tai)吗?还好有好多漂亮妹子,我的水晶宫马上就要建立了,哇哈哈哈哈.......
  • 夺池

    夺池

    不打牌的时候,你可以试着体会一下生活中的其他乐趣,比如选一本喜欢的书,静静的读一下午;或者约上三五好友聊聊天,喝喝茶,聊聊生活工作中的事;当然,你也可以选择一条安静的林荫道悠闲的散步,或是去健身房打打球,拉一会儿器械。等你做完了这些,你就会发现,还是打牌有意思。