the governess-第24章

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not　ask　Mrs。　Wilson　any　questions；　because　you　have　taught　me；　madam；　carefully　to　avoid　the　least　appearance　of　impertinent　curiosity。'

'You　was　very　right；　my　dear；'　said　Mrs。　Teachum；　'in　asking　no　farther　questions；　nor　would　she；　I　dare　say；　as　she　is　a　prudent　woman；　have　gratified　you　if　you　had；　for　though　the　unhappy　story　is　too　well　known　all　over　the　country；　yet　it　would　have　been　very　unbecoming　in　one　of　the　family　to　have　published　it。'　　Mrs。　Teachum　saw　in　her　little　scholars'　eyes；　a　secret　wish　of　knowing　what　this　story　was；　and；　after　a　short　pause；　she　said；　'Since　I　find　you　disposed；　my　good　girls；　to　make　the　proper　use　of　what　you　hear；　I　will　indulge　your　curiosity。

'Lord　X　and　his　lady　have　been　married　seven　years；　Lord　X　is　the　wretchedest　creature　breathing；　because　he　has　no　children；　and　therefore　no　heir　to　his　title　and　large　estate。　　He　was　naturally　of　a　haughty　impetuous　temper；　and　impatient　of　any　the　least　disappointment；　and　this　disposition　not　being　subdued　in　his　youth；　has　led　him　into　all　sort　of　excesses。　　His　lady　is　not　much　better　tempered　than　himself；　and　valuing　herself　highly　upon　her　beauty；　and　the　large　fortune　she　brought　him；　greatly　resents　his　sometimes　insolent；　and　always　neglectful　usage　of　her。　　They　have　hitherto　lived　on　in　the　most　jarring；　disputing　manner；　and　took　no　care　to　conceal　their　quarrels　from　the　world；　but　at　last　they　have　agreed　to　part　by　consent；　and　the　different　journeys　they　this　morning　took；　I　suppose；　was　with　an　intent　of　final　separation。

'That　grandeur　and　happiness　do　not　always　go　together　（as　Mrs。　Wilson　observed　to　you）　is　seen　by　this　story；　which　I　was　the　more　willing　to　tell　you；　as　it　was　a　proper　introduction　to　a　fable　I　have　been　collecting　together　from　others；　for　your　use。　　You　know　that　all　my　endeavours　to　make　you　good；　are　only　intended　to　make　you　happy；　and　if　you　thoroughly　reflect　upon　the　truth　of　this　maxim；　which　I　so　often　endeavour　to　inculcate；　you　will　doubtless　reap　no　small　advantage　from　it。'

Here　Mrs。　Teachum　ceased　speaking；　and；　giving　Miss　Jenny　Peace　a　paper；　she　bid　her　read　it　aloud；　which　she　did；　and　it　contained　the　following　fable：



THE　ASSEMBLY　OF　THE　BIRDS。　A　　FABLE。

In　ancient　days；　there　was　a　great　contention　amongst　the　birds；　which；　from　his　own　perfections；　and　peculiar　advantages；　had　the　strongest　title　to　happiness；　and　at　last　they　agreed　to　refer　the　decision　of　the　debate　to　the　eagle。

A　day　was　appointed　for　their　meeting；　the　eagle　took　his　seat；　and　the　birds　all　attended　to　give　in　their　several　pleas。

First　spoke　the　parrot。　　Her　voice　so　dearly　resembling　human　speech；　and　which　enabled　her　to　converse　with　such　a　superior　race；　she　doubted　not　（she　said）　would　have　its　just　weight　with　the　eagle；　and　engage　him　to　grant　a　decree　in　her　favour；　and　to　this　plea　she　also　added；　that　she　dwelt　in　a　fine　cage　adorned　with　gold；　and　was　fed　every　day　by　the　hands　a　fair　lady。

'And　pray；　Mrs。　Poll；'　said　the　eagle；　'how　comes　it；　since　you　fare　so　sumptuously；　that　you　are　so　lean　and　meagre；　and　seem　scarcely　able　to　exert　that　voice　you　thus　make　your　boast　of？'　　'Alas！'　replied　the　parrot；　'poor　Poll's　lady　has　kept　her　bed　almost　this　week；　the　servants　have　all　forgot　to　feed　me；　and　I　am　almost　starved。'　　'Pray　observe；'　said　the　eagle；　'the　folly　of　such　pride！　　Had　you　been　able　to　have　conversed　only　with　your　own　kind；　you　would　have　fared　in　common　with　them；　but　it　is　to　this　vaunted　imitation　of　the　human　voice；　that　you　owe　your　confinement；　and　consequently　（though　living　in　a　golden　cage）　your　dependence　upon　the　will　and　memory　of　others；　even　for　common　necessary　food。'

Thus　reproved；　the　parrot；　with　shame；　hastily　retired　from　the　assembly。

Next　stood　forth　the　daw；　and；　having　tricked　himself　in　all　the　gay　feathers　he　could　muster　together；　on　the　credit　of　these　borrowed　ornaments；　pleaded　his　beauty；　as　a　title　to　the　preference　in　dispute。　　Immediately　the　birds　agreed　to　divest　the　silly　counterfeit　of　all　his　borrowed　plumes；　and；　more　abashed　than　the　parrot；　he　secretly　slunk　away。

The　peacock；　proud　of　native　beauty；　now　flew　into　the　midst　of　the　assembly。　　He　displayed　before　the　sun　his　gorgeous　tail。　　'Observe　（said　he）　how　the　vivid　blue　of　the　sapphire　glitters　in　my　neck；　and　when　thus　I　spread　my　tail；　a　gemmy　brightness　strikes　the　eye　from　a　plumage　varied　with　a　thousand　glowing　colours。'　　At　this　moment；　a　nightingale　began　to　chant　forth　his　melodious　lay；　at　which　the　peacock；　dropping　his　expanded　tail；　cried　out；　'Ah　what　avails　my　silent　unmeaning　beauty；　when　I　am　so　far　excelled　in　voice　by　such　a　little　russet…feathered　wretch　as　that！'　　And；　by　retiring；　he　gave　up　all　claim　to　the　contended…for　preference。

The　nightingale　was　so　delighted　with　having　got　the　better　of　the　peacock；　that　he　exerted　his　little　voice；　and　was　so　lost　in　the　conceit　of　his　own　melody；　that　he　did　not　observe　a　hawk；　who　flew　upon　him；　and　carried　him　off　in　his　claws。

The　eagle　then　declared；　'That　as　the　peacock's　envy　had　taken　away　all　his　claim；　so　no　less　had　the　nightingale's　self…conceit　frustrated　all　his　pretensions；　for　those　who　are　so　wrapped　up　in　their　own　perfections；　as　to　mind　nothing　but　themselves；　are　forever　liable　to　all　sorts　of　accidents。'　　And；　besides；　it　was　plain；　by　the　exultation　the　nightingale　expressed　on　his　imagined　glory　over　the　peacock；　that　he　would　have　been　equally　dejected　on　any　preference　given　to　another。

And　now　the　owl；　with　an　affected　gravity；　and　whooting　voice；　pleaded　his　well…known　wisdom；　and　said；　'He　doubted　not　but　the　preference　would　be　granted　to　him　without　contest；　by　all　the　whole　assembly　for　what　was　so　likely　to　produce　happiness　as　wisdom？'

The　eagle　declared；　'That；　if　his　title　to　wisdom　could　be　proved；　the　justice　of　his　claim　should　be　allowed；　and　then　asked　him；　how　he　could　convince　them　of　the　truth　of　what　he　had　advanced？'　　The　owl　answered；　'That　he　would　willingly　appeal　to　the　whole　assembly　for　their　decision　in　this　point；　for　he　was　positive　nobody　could　deny　his　great　superiority　as　to　wisdom。'　　Being　separately　asked；　they　most　of　them　declared；　that　they　knew　no　one　reason；　either　from　his　words　or　actions；　to　pronounce　him　a　wise　bird；　though　it　was　true；　that　by　an　affected　solemnity　in　his　looks；　and　by　frequent　declarations　of　his　own；　that　he　was　very　wife；　he　had　made　some　very　silly　birds　give　him　that　character；　but；　since　they　were　called　upon　to　declare　their　opinions；　they　must　say；　that　he　was　ever　the　object　of　contempt　to　all　those　birds　who　had　any　title　to　common　understanding。　　The　eagle　then　said；　'He　could　by　no　means　admit　a　plea；　which　as　plainly　appeared　to　be　counterfeit；　as　were　the　jay's　borrowed　feathers。'　　The　owl；　thus　disappointed；　flew　away；　and　has　ever　since　shunned　the　light　of　the　sun；　and　has　never　appeared　in　the　daytime；　but　to　be　scorned　and　wondered　at。



It　would　he　endless　to　repeat　all　the　several　pleas　brought　by　the　birds；　each　desiring　to　prove；　that　happiness　ought　to　be　his　own　peculiar　lot。　　But　the　eagle　observing　that　the　arguments　made　use　of　to　prove　their　point　were　chiefly　drawn　from　the　disadvantages　of　others；　rather　than　from　any　advantage　of　their　own；　told　them；　'There　was　too　much　envy　and　malice　amongst　them；　for　him　to　pronounce　any　of　them　deserving　or　capable　of　being　happy；　but　I　wonder；'　says　he；　'why　the　dove　alone　is　absent　from　this　meeting？'　　'I　know　of　one　in　her　nest　hard　by；'　answered　the　redbreast；　'shall　I　go　and　call　her？'　　'No；'　says　the　eagle；　'since　she　did　not　obey　our　general　summons；　'tis　plain　she　had　no　ambition　for　a　public　preference；　but　I　will　take　two　or　three　chosen　friends；　and　we　will　go　softly　to　her　nest；　and　see　in　what　manner　she　is　employing　herself；　for　from　our　own　observations　upon　the　actions　of　any　one；　we　are　more　likely　to　form　a　judgment　of　them；　than　by　any　boasts　they　can　make。'

The　eagle　was　obeyed；　and；　accompanied　only　by　the　linnet；　the　lark；　the　lapwing；　and　the　redbreast　for　his　guide；　he　stole　gently　to　the　place　where　the　dove　was　found　hovering　over　her　nest；　waiting　the　return　of　her　absent　mate；　and；　thinking　herself　quite　unobserved；


＇*＇　While　o'er　her　callow　brood　she　hung；　She　fondly　thus　address'd　her　young：　　　　　'Ye　tender　objects　of　my　care；　Peace！　peace！　ye　little　helpless　pair。　Anon！　he　comes；　your　gentle　sire；　And　brings　you　all　your　hearts　require；　For　us；　his　infants　and　his　bride；　For　us；　with　only　love　to　guide；　Our　lord　assumes　an　eagle's　speed；　And；　like　a　lion；　dares　to　bleed：　Nor　yet　by　wintry　skies　confin'd；　He　mounts　upon　the　rudest　wind；　From　danger　tears　the　vital　spoil；　And　with　affection　sweetens　toil。　Ah！　cease；　too　vent'rous；　cease　to　dare；　In　thine；　our　dearer　safety　spare。　From　him；　ye　cruel　falcons　stray；　And　turn；　ye　fowlers；　far　away；　All…giving　Pow'r；　great　source　of　life；　Oh！　hear　the　parent；　hear　the　wife：　That　life　thou　lendest　from　above；　Though　little；　make　it　large　in　love。　Oh！　bid　my　feeling　heart　expand　To　ev'ry　claim　on　ev'ry　hand；　To　those；　from　whom　my　days　I　drew；　To　these　in　whom　those　days　renew；　To　all　my　kin；　however　wide；　In　cordial　warmth　as　blood　allied。　To　friends　in　steely　fetters　twin'd　And　to　the　cruel　not　unkind；　But　chief　the　lord　of　my　desire；　My　life；　myself；　my　soul；　my　sire；　Friends；　children；　all　that　wish　can　claim；　Chaste　passion　clasp；　and　rapture　name。　Oh！　spare　him；　spare　him；　gracious　Pow'r：　Oh！　give　him　to　my　latest　hour；　Let　me　my　length　of　life　employ；　To　give　my　sole　enjoyment　joy。　His　love　let　mutual　love　excite；　Turn　all　my　cares　to　his　delight；　And　ev'ry　needless　blessing　spare；　Wherein　my　darling　wants　a　share。　Let　one　unruffled　calm　delight　The　loving　and　belov'd　unite；　One　pure　desire　our　bosoms　warm；　One　will　direct；　one　wish　inform；　Through　life　one　mutual　aid　sustain；　In　death　one　peaceful　grave　contain。'　While；　swelling　with　the　darling　theme；　Her　accents　pour'd　an　endless　stream。　The　well…known　wings　a　sound　impart　That　reach'd　her　ear；　and　touch'd　her　heart。　Quick　dropp'd　the　music　of　her　tongue；　And　forth；　with　eager　joy；　she　sprung。　As　swift　her　ent'ring　consort　flew；　And　plum'd；　and　kindled　at　the　view。　Their　wings；　their　souls；　embracing；　meet；　Their　hearts　with　answ'ring　measure　beat；　Half　lost　in　sacred　sweets；　and　bless'd　With　raptures　felt；　but　ne'er　express'd。　　　　　Strait　to　her　humble　roof　she　led　The　partner　of　her　spotless　bed；　Her　young；　a　flutt'ring　pair；　arise；　Their　welcome　sparkling　in　their　eyes；　Transported；　to　their　sire　they　bound；　And　hang；　with　speechless　action；　round。　In　pleasure　wrapt；　the　parents　stand；　And　see　their　little　wings　expand；　The　sire　his　life　sustaining　prize　To　each　expecting　bill　applies；　There　fondly　pours　the　wheaten　spoil；　With　transport　giv'n；　though　won　with　toil；　While；　all　collected　at　the　sight；　And　silent　through　supreme　delight；　The　fair　high　heav'n　of　bliss　beguiles；　And　on　her　lord　and　infants　smiles。


＇*＇　These　verses　are　a　quotation　from　that　tender　fable　of　the　Sparrow　and　the　Dove；　in　the　'Fables　for　the　Female　Sex。'


The　eagle　now；　without　any　hesitation；　pronounced　the　dove　to　be　deservedly　the　happiest　of　the　feathered　kind；　and　however　unwilling　the　res