THE ORPHAN OF THE RHINE
PART 27
Chapter 12
Swift o'er the lyre's harmonious strings
His magic hand the minstrel flings;
Obedient to the sprightly sound
The dancers' quivering feet rebound:
Diffusing wide their silver rays.
Aloft the sparkling lustres blare:
While milder emanations flow
From love-enkindling orbs below.
--SALMAGUNDI
The
Marchesa and Laurette did not neglect, amid the newly-acquired happiness that
surrounded them, to visit their amiable acquaintance, the Abbess of the Order
of Penitents, who received them with every proof of the sincerest affection. To
her society they devoted many of the intervening hours passed in the absence of
Enrico and his venerable friend, finding in her conversation all that elegance
of expression, and delicacy of sentiment, which rendered her as charming as
respectable, even in the midst of age and infirmities.
It was now
the latter end of May, and the season remarkably fine. The groves and the woods
were again clothed in the most delightful verdure, whilst the hedgerows, which
displayed that luxuriance of foliage ever perceptible in this fertile country,
were now beautifully embroidered with honeysuckles, and overhung with the
blushing wreaths of the rosa canina; all Nature seemed to have awakened to joy
and harmony! With what emotions of delight did Laurette now wander along the
borders of that river, whose bank had formerly been the scene of infant
pastime, recalling fondly to her recollection the years that were past, and
alternately weeping and smiling at the vicissitudes of fortune! How charming
was it to bring back, with the aid of memory, every interesting event in that
uninformed period of existence, when hope revelled in the heart unchecked by
disappointment, and joy suffered no decrease from gloomy retrospection! It was
after one of these sweet lonely excursions, which she had commenced in the
absence of the Marchesa, who had taken an early walk to the convent, that she
observed at some distance four horsemen advancing towards the castle, which on
a nearer view she discovered to be Enrico and the Conte della Croisse, attended
by Anselmo and another of the domestics.
Tremblingly
alive to every sensation of pleasure, she bounded swiftly from the mountains,
and before the travellers alighted, arrived at the portico. As soon as Enrico
observed her, his eyes beamed with inexpressible rapture, whilst love, in the
most lively colours, was depicted on his countenance.
The usual
expressions of congratulation on meeting again being over, which were
accompanied, on the part of Enrico and Laurette, with those melting looks of
unspeakable affection which lovers only understand, they were joined in the
terrace-parlour by the Marchesa, and soon afterwards by the Signora d'Orfo.
When the
travellers had partaken of a little refreshment, they were requested to relate
the success of their journey, which, they soon convinced their hearers had been
every way fortunate; since proofs of the legitimacy of Enrico's birth had
appeared sufficient to silence the claim of any other person, should an attempt
to discountenance the justice and truth of the fact be hereafter made.
'Yet my
happiness is at present incomplcte,' cried Enrico, casting a look of tenderness
upon the timid blushing Laurette; 'will not she then, who has it exclusively in
her power to bestow on me the felicity I ask, deign to confer it? Can she doubt
the strength of my affection, or refuse to reward it, after having received so
many testimonies of its permanency?'
'She does
not mean to prevent, or even to procrastinate your happiness,' replied the Marchesa.
'She is above dissimulation; and as I have hitherto been allowed to influence
her actions under the character of a preceptress, she will grant me the
privilege of naming the day. Will you not, my lovely pupil,' resumed the
Marchesa, with a smile of ineffable tenderness, 'give me this new proof of your
dutiful acquiescence, the last I may have cause to demand?'
Laurette
blushed deeply; and, having assured her beloved friend that any request of
her's would have the force of a command, permitted her, after a little gentle
reluctance, to name the same day on the following week.
Enrico's
joy on this occasion could only discover itself in tears; every wish of his
soul was gratified, and it now appeared impossible, to his delighted
imagination, that sorrow could ever again become an inmate of his breast.
The week
now passed rapidly towards the close, which was employed by the Marchesa and
the Signora in preparing for the intended marriage, which was to be attended
with all that diffusive hospitality, so strikingly exhibited in the character
of the former, and which she had now the power, as well as the inclination, to
display.
Enrico and
Laurette, in the meantime, found an inexhaustible source of delight in
traversing those sublimc and beautiful regions in which the castle was
situated. The trackless mountain, whose rocky glens were encrusted with moss or
enamelled with wildflowers; the impenetrable forest, sacred to the foot of the
adventurer, were objects of curiosity and wonder, which they were never weary
of contemplating or admiring, among which every day presented, from the variety
of their productions, some new subject for investigation.
At last
the long-expected day, which was to ratify these solemn vows already registered
in heaven, arrived. The officiating priest was the Father Benedicta, who, at
his own request, had the felicity of receiving the lovely bride at the hand of
Father Andrea, in the chapel of the castle, by the name of Laurette Contessa
della Cano, and of bestowing her upon Enrico Marchese de Montferrat.
The
ceremony being performed in the morning, the remaining part of the day was
dedicated to rural festivity; and every luxury was procured in honour of this
event, that the country, within some leagues of the mansion, could afford. The
nuptials were, indeed, not celebrated with the lofty appearance of courtly
personages, as none, except the family at the castle, could boast of a noble
origin; the rest of the company being composed of the tenantry and uninformed
inhabitants of those humble cottages, which were--variously dispersed on the
banks of the Rhine, who concluded the evenirig of this joyful day with a dance
upon the lawn, to the lively notes of the guitar and the hautboy; each
returning laden with presents to their homes, and pouring out blessings upon
their hospitable entertainers.
Nothing
could exceed the happiness of Father Andrea, when he beheld the felicity of his
children thus hourly increasing. He seemed to have forgotten already all his
sorrows, and looked up to Heaven with pious gratitude, which had thus
recompensed his patience and sufferings, long after lie had ceased to expect a
temporal reward.
Inured to
solitude, and naturally attached to it, the young Marchesa never wished to
stray beyond her native mountains; she had formed no ideas of happiness beyond
them, and it was not without some reluctance that she quitted the castle of
Elfinbach, the abode of her childhood, to repair to the mansion on the
Saltzburg estate till the former one was rendered more habitable. This was,
however, a necessary measure, as a considerable part of the fabric was so much
decayed as to form but an uncomfortable asylum. On this expedition she was
attended by the whole of the family, except the Conte della Croisse and the
Fathers, as the former had determined upon visiting his daughter at Augsberg
during their absence from the castle, and the Monks were obliged to remain in
the convent of St Angelo.
In this
modern and luxurious mansion, which to the elder Marchesa had all the charms of
novelty to recommend it, they prolonged their stay till the castle of Elfinbach
was made fit for their residence, which seemed, from having been long known as
well as from the circumstance of its having been the seat of Father Andrea when
dignified by the title of Baron Neuburg, and of the late Contessa della Caro,
to have a prior claim to their regard. Laurette had already resolved to return
to it, and quit it no more; and Enrico, whose every wish centered in her
happiness, had adopted a similar resolution, being not less attached to it than
the beautiful Marchesa.
During
their continuance at the castle of Lunenburg, the generosity of this noble
family was so unbounded, that on leaving it they were followed for a
considerable way by a large number of the peasantry, who crowded about their
carriages with tearful eyes, showering blessings upon them as they repeated
their adicus. How delightful were these simple effusions of gratitude to those
on whom they were bestowed! And who that has a mind capable of reflection, and
a heart of feeling, would exchange those noble impulses of our nature, which direct
us to acts of Godlike benevolence, for the chillness of unsocial grandeur? And
how can it be truly estimated what they lose, who suffer themselves to be
deluded into an opinion that the bold pre-eminence of rank and state can
compensate for the absence of those amiable aflections, which teach us to
conciliate and to deserve the love of others?
As the
weather was more than usually favourable, they travelled leisurely towards the
castle, Enrico and Laurette occupying one of the carriages, and the elder Marchesa
and the Signora the other, frequently stopping, and sometimes alighting; when
any thing particularly attracted their attention.
On the
evening of the third day they arrived at the castle of Elfinbach, which wore a
much more comfortable appearance than when they quitted it last. The
rampart-walls, the turrets, and buttresses, were repaired, and the fallen
fragments, which before were only partially removed, were cleared from the
courts, which, with the whole of the grounds, were new mown for their reception.
The Monks
seized the first opportunity of welcoming them home, and a few days afterwards
the happiness of the whole partv was materially augmented by the presence of
the Conte della Croisse, who informed Enrico, soon after his arrival, that he had
long secretly formed a resolution of entering into the convent of St Angelo;
and having taken leave of his daughter, was come purposely to fulfil his
intention.
'The
crimes of my youth,' resumed the Conte, 'stand yet in terrible array before me,
and the only atonement I can now make for my offences, is to dedicate the
remaining part of my life to prayer and penitence. Hitherto I have been
irresistibly withheld from the execution of my intention; for the designations
of Providence are uncontroulable. It was the will of Heaven that I should
continue in society, to become an instrument of punishment to the guilty, and
to rescue innocence from the grasp of oppression, relieving myself by these
means from a debt of gratitude, which I should otherwise have found it
impossible to have discharged; but the end being accomplished, why should I
longer defer the prosecution of my purpose, since I am already bending with
years, and, in the common course of nature, cannot reasonably expect to
continue much longer an inhabitant of this world?'
Enrico
finding that his friend was bent upon this new project, and being secretly
gratified on his having fixed upon the convent of St Angelo for his future
abode, did not attempt to dissuade him from his design but gained, or rather
wrested a promise from him, that he would remain in the family for the space of
a month. Often in the society of Laurette and Enrico did the penitent Della
Croisse fix his eyes upon them with an expression of earnest tenderness, as he
witnessed their mutual affection, whilst busy memory reverted to the scenes of
his youth, and presented the image of his Helena, with all its amiable
accompaniments, to his mind. When reflecting upon her, his thoughts would
frequently glance upon Laurentina, she whose Circean charms had accomplished
his overthrow, arid dwell with painful regret upon the recollection of his
complicated enmes and misfortunes.
'Learn
from my fate, my children,' he would sometimes say, addressing himself to the
lovely pair, 'the danger of venturing on the borders of vice. I was once
virtuous as you are; but one fatal error, one unsubdued passion, plunged me
irito irremediable guilt; yet not aware of my danger, even when on the brink of
a precipice, I believed I could return at discretion to the path of rectitude;
but when once tempted to deviate from the principles of truth and honour, how
soon is every amiable impression obliterated from the heart, how soon does vice
by familiarity lose its deformity! Yet what an inexhaustible source of felicity
is an untainted conscience, and how eternally connected are guilt and misery!'
Often, as
he thus movingly addressed them, did he melt his audience into tears, who
endeavoured, with all those gentle assiduities, which sensibility like their's
knew so well how to bestow, to delude him into a transient forgetfulness of his
past crimes; and sometimes attempted to convince him that the purity of his
present conduct, aided by the sorrow he expressed for what could not be
recalled, was sufficient to atone for the errors of his youth; and that the
irregularities into which he had been precipitated through the artifice of
others, were not so much to be attributed to his faults as his misfortunes.
Anselmo,
whose faithful attachment to his master had rather increased than diminished,
was, in consideration of his former services, exalted to the rank of steward,
which the generous Marchese contrived to make both an easy and lucrative post.
Thus
restored to joy and tranquillity, the inhabitants of the castle of Elfinbach
enjoyed the most uninterrupted felicity.--Enrico, whose dutiful impulses
prompted him to the most benevolent exertions, set apart annually a third of
his princely income for charitable purposes; and his mother, following his
bright example, adopted a similar plan. None that entered the portals of this
hospitable mansion departed without calling down blessings from Heaven upon its
owners.
Della
Croisse, at the appointed time, repaired to the convent of St Angelo, and
entered into the severe order of the Carthusians, where he found, in the
purified conversation of his early companion, the pious Benedicta, and that of
Father Andrea, all the consolation he was capable of receiving.--Whilst blessed
with health, virtue, and innocence, the Marchese and Marchesa, in the bosom of
their amiable family, experienced the most refined sensations of happiness; and
anxious of possessing it themselves, felt a Godlike pleasure in dispensing it
to others. They were blessed with a numerous offspring, lovely as themselves,
and presented, in the whole of their lives to the reflecting mind of the
moralist, a striking instance of the imbecility of vice, and of the triumphant
power of virtue.
