the governess-第6部分
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oned； and of a very good…natured turn of mind。 His delight was no less in acts of goodness and benevolence than the other's was in cruelty and mischief。 His constant care was to endeavour if possible to repair the injuries committed by this horrid tyrant； which he had sometimes an opportunity of doing； for though Barbarico was much larger and stronger than Benefico； yet his coward mind was afraid to engage with him； and always shunned a meeting； leaving the pursuit of any prey； if he himself was pursued by Benefico： nor could the good Benefico trust farther to this coward spirit of his base adversary； than only to make the horrid creature fly； for he well knew that a close engagement might make him desperate； and fatal to himself might be the consequence of such a brutal desperation； therefore he prudently declined any attempt to destroy this cruel monster； till he should gain some sure advantage over him。
It happened on a certain day； that as the inhuman Barbarico was prowling along the side of a craggy mountain overgrown with brambles and briery thickets； taking most horrid strides； rolling his ghastly eyes around in quest of human blood； and having his breast tortured with inward rage and grief； that he had been so unhappy as to live one whole day without some act of violence； he beheld； in a pleasant valley at a distance； a little rivulet winding its gentle course through rows of willows mixed with flowery shrubs。 Hither the giant hasted； and being arrived； he gazed about to see if in this sweet retirement any were so unhappy as to fall within his power； but finding none； the disappointment set him in a flame of rage； which； burning like an inward furnace； parched his throat。 And now he laid him down on the bank； to try if in the cool stream； that murmured as it flowed； he could assuage or slack the fiery thirst that burnt within him。
He bent him down to drink； and at the same time casting his baleful eyes towards the opposite side； he discovered within a little natural arbour formed by the branches of a spreading tree； within the meadow's flowery lawn； the shepherd Fidus and his loved Amata。
The gloomy tyrant no sooner perceived this happy pair； than his heart exulted with joy； and； suddenly leaping up on the ground； he forgot his thirst； and left the stream untasted。 He stood for a short space to view them in their sweet retirement； and was soon convinced that； in the innocent enjoyment of reciprocal affection； their happiness was complete。 His eyes； inflamed with envy to behold such bliss； darted a fearful glare； and his breast swelling with malice and envenomed rage； he with gigantic pace approached their peaceful seat。
The happy Fidus was at that time busy in entertaining his loved Amata with a song which he had that very morning composed in praise of constancy； and the giant was now within one stride of them； when Amata； perceiving him； cried out in a trembling voice； 'Fly； Fidus； fly； or we are lost for ever； we are pursued by the hateful Barbarico！' She had scarce uttered these words； when the savage tyrant seized them by the waist n either hand； and holding up to his nearer view； thus said： 'Speak； miscreants； and； if you would avoid immediate death； tell me who you are； and whence arises that tranquility of mind； which even at a distance was visible in your behaviour。'
Poor Fidus； with looks that would have melted the hardest heart； innocently replied； that they were wandering that way without designing offence to any creature on earth。 That they were faithful lovers； and； with the consent of all their friends and relations； were soon to be married； therefore he entreated him not to part them。
The giant now no sooner perceived； from the last words of the affrighted youth； what was most likely to give them the greatest torment； than with a spiteful grin which made his horrible face yet more horrible； and in a hollow voice； as loud as thunder； he tauntingly cried out； 'Ho…hoh！ You'd not be parted； would you？ For once I'll gratify thy will； and thou shalt follow this thy whimpering fondling down my capatious maw。' So saying； he turned his ghastly visage on the trembling Amata who； being now no longer able to support herself under his cruel threats； fainted away； and remained in his hand but as a lifeless corpse。 When lifting up his eyes towards the hill on the opposite side； he beheld Benefico coming hastily towards him。 This good giant having been that morning informed that Barbarico was roaming in the mountains after prey； left his peaceful castle； in hopes of giving protection to whatever unfortunate creature should fall into the clutches of this so cruel a monster。
Barbarico； at the sight of the friendly Benefico； started with fear； for although in bulk and stature he was； as we have said； the superior： yet that cowardice； which ever accompanies wickedness； now wrought in him in such a manner that he could not bear to confront him； well knowing the courage and fortitude that always attend the good and virtuous； and therefore instantly putting Fidus into the wallet that hung over his shoulder； he flung the fainting Amata； whom he took to be quite expired； into the stream that ran hard by； and fled to his cave； not daring once to cast his eyes behind him。
The good Benefico perceiving the monster's flight； and not doubting but he had been perpetrating some horrid mischief； immediately hastened to the brook； where he found the half…expiring Amata floating down the stream； for her clothes had yet borne her up on the surface of the water。 He speedily stepped in；and drew her out； and taking her in his arms； pressed her to his warm bosom； and in a short space perceiving in her face the visible marks of returning life； his heart swelled with kind compassion； and he thus bespoke the tender maid： 'Unhappy damsel； lift up thy gentle eyes； and tell me by what hard fate thou hast fallen into the power of that barbarous monster； whose savage nature delights in nothing but ruin and desolation。 Tremble not thus； but without fear or terror behold one who joys in the thought of having saved thee from destruction； and will bring thee every comfort his utmost power can procure。'
The gentle Amata was now just enough recovered to open her eyes： but finding herself in a giant's arms； and still retaining in her mind the frightful image of the horrid Barbarico； she fetched a deep sigh； crying out in broken accents； 'Fly； Fidus； fly；' and again sunk down upon the friendly giant's breast。 On hearing these words； and plainly seeing by the anguish of her mind that some settled grief was deeply rooted at her heart； and therefore despairing to bring her to herself immediately； the kind Benefico hastened with her to his hospitable castle； where every imaginable assistance was administered to her relief； in order to recover her lost sense； and to reconcile her to her wretched fate。
The cruel Barbarico was no sooner arrived at his gloomy cave； than he called to him his little page； who； trembling to hear the tyrant now again returned； quickly drew near to attend his stern commands： when drawing out of the wallet the poor Fidus； more dead than alive； the monster cried out； 'Here； caitiff； take in charge this smoothed…faced miscreant； and； d'ye hear me？ see that his allowance be no more than one small ounce of mouldy bread and half a pint of standing water； for each day's support； till his now blooming skin be withered； his flesh be wasted from his bones； and he dwindle to a meagre skeleton。' So saying he left them； as he hoped； to bewail each other's sad condition。 But the unhappy Fidus； bereft of his Amata； was not to be appalled by any of the most horrid threats； for now his only comfort was the hopes of a speedy end to his miserable life； and to find a refuge from his misfortunes in the peaceful grave。 With this reflection the faithful Fidus was endeavouring to calm the inward troubles of his mind； when the little page； with looks of the most tender compassion； and in gentle words； bid him be comforted； and with patience endure his present affliction； adding that he himself had long suffered the most rigorous fate； yet despaired not but that one day would give them an opportunity to free themselves from the wicked wretch； whose sole delight was in others' torments。 'As to his inhuman commands；' continued he； 'I will sooner die than obey them； and in a mutual friendship perhaps we may find some consolation； even in this dismal cave。'
This little page the cruel Barbarico had stolen from his parents at five years old； ever since which time he had tortured and abused him； till he had now attained the age of one…and…twenty。 His mother had given him the name of Mignon； by which name the monster always called him； as it gratified his insolence to make use of that fond appellation whilst he was abusing him； only when he said Mignon he would in derision add the word Dwarf； for； to say the truth； Mignon was one of the least men that was ever seen； though at the same time one of the prettiest： his limbs； though small； were exactly proportioned； his countenance was at once sprightly and soft； and whatever his head thought； or his heart felt； his eyes by their looks expressed； and his temper was as sweet as h
