sanditon(桑底顿)-第12章
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evidently disregarding his Sister’s motion to go； and persisting in
his station and his discourse。—I make no apologies for my
Heroine’s vanity。—If there are young Ladies in the World at her
time of Life； more dull of Fancy and more careless of pleasing； I
know them not； and never wish to know them。—At last； from the
low French windows of the Drawing room which commanded the
road and all the Paths across the Down； Charlotte and Sir Edward
as they sat； could not but observe Lady D。 and Miss B。 walking
by—and there was instantly a slight change in Sir Edward’s
countenance—with an anxious glance after them as they
proceeded—followed by an early proposal to his Sister—not
merely for moving； but for walking on together to the Terrace—
which altogether gave an hasty turn to Charlotte’s fancy； cured
her of her halfhour’s fever； and placed her in a more capable state
of judging； when Sir Edward was gone； of how agreable he had
actually been。—‘Perhaps there was a good deal in his Air and
Address； And his Title did him no harm。’ She was very soon in his
company again。 The first object of the Parkers； when their House
was cleared of morning visitors was to get out themselves；—the
Terrace was the attraction to all；—Every body who walked； must
begin with the Terrace； and there； seated on one of the two Green
Benches by the Gravel walk； they found the united Denham
Party；—but though united in the Gross； very distinctly divided
again—the two superior Ladies being at one end of the bench； and
Sir Edward and Miss B。 at the other。—Charlotte’s first glance told
her that Sir Edward’s air was that of a Lover。—There could be no
doubt of his Devotion to Clara。—How Clara received it； was less
obvious—but she was inclined to think not very favourably； for
tho’ sitting thus apart with him （which probably she might not
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have been able to prevent） her air was calm and grave。—That the
young Lady at the other end of the Bench was doing Penance； was
indubitable。 The difference in Miss Denham’s countenance； the
change from Miss Denham sitting in cold Grandeur in Mrs。
Parker’s Drawing…room to be kept from silence by the efforts of
others； to Miss D。 at Lady D。’s Elbow； listening and talking with
smiling attention or solicitous eagerness； was very striking—and
very amusing—or very melancholy； just as Satire or Morality
might prevail。 Miss Denham’s Character was pretty well decided
with Charlotte。 Sir Edward’s required longer Observation。 He
surprised her by quitting Clara immediately on their all joining
and agreeing to walk； and by addressing his attentions entirely to
herself。—Stationing himself close by her； he seemed to mean to
detach her as much as possible from the rest of the Party and to
give her the whole of his Conversation。 He began； in a tone of
great Taste and Feeling； to talk of the Sea and the Sea shore—and
ran with Energy through all the usual Phrases employed in praise
of their Sublimity； and descriptive of the undescribable Emotions
they excite in the Mind of Sensibility。—The terrific Grandeur of
the Ocean in a Storm； its glassy surface in a calm； its Gulls and its
Samphire； and the deep fathoms of its Abysses； its quick
vicissitudes； its direful Deceptions； its Mariners tempting it in
Sunshine and overwhelmed by the sudden Tempest； All were
eagerly and fluently touched；—rather commonplace perhaps—but
doing very well from the Lips of a handsome Sir Edward；—and
she could not but think him a Man of Feeling—till he began to
stagger her by the number of his Quotations； and the
bewilderment of some of his sentences。—‘Do you remember；’ said
he； ‘Scotts’ beautiful Lines on the Sea？—Oh！ what a description
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they convey！—They are never out of my Thoughts when I walk
here。—That Man who can read them unmoved must have the
nerves of an Assassin！—Heaven defend me from meeting such a
Man un…armed。’—‘What description do you mean？’—said
Charlotte。 ‘I remember none at this moment； of the Sea； in either
of Scotts’ Poems。’—‘Do not you indeed？—Nor can I exactly recall
the beginning at this moment—But—you cannot have forgotten
his description of Woman。—
“Oh！ Woman in our Hours of Ease —”
Delicious！ Delicious！—Had he written nothing more； he would
have been Immortal。 And then again； that unequalled； unrivalled
address to Parental affection—
“Some feelings are to Mortals given
With less of Earth in them than Heaven” &c
But while we are on the subject of Poetry； what think you Miss H。
of Burns’s Lines to his Mary？—Oh！ there is Pathos to madden
one！—If ever there was a Man who felt； it was Burns。—
Montgomery has all the Fire of Poetry； Wordsworth has the true
soul of it—Campbell in his pleasures of Hope has touched the
extreme of our Sensations—“Like Angel’s visits； few and far
between。” Can you conceive any thing more subduing； more
melting； more fraught with the deep Sublime than that Line？—
But Burns—I confess my sense of his Pre…eminence Miss H。—If
Scott has a fault； it is the want of Passion。 Tender； Elegant；
Descriptive—but Tame。—The Man who cannot do justice to the
attributes of Woman is my contempt。—Sometimes indeed a flash
of feeling seems to irradiate him—as in the Lines we were
speaking of—“Oh！ Woman in our hours of Ease”—。 But Burns is
always on fire。—His Soul was the Altar in which lovely Woman sat
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enshrined； his Spirit truly breathed the immortal Incence which is
her Due。—’ ‘I have read several of Burns’ Poems with great
delight；’ said Charlotte as soon as she had time to speak； ‘but I am
not poetic enough to separate a Man’s Poetry entirely from his
Character；—and poor Burns’s known Irregularities； greatly
interrupt my enjoyment of his Lines。—I have difficulty in
depending on the Truth of his Feelings as a
