the governess-第7章

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rt　for　this　our　glad　deliverance。'

The　faithful　Fidus；　whose　heart　had　known　but　little　joy　since　he　had　lost　his　loved　Amata；　now　felt　a　dawning　hope　that　he　might　once　more　chance　to　find　her；　if　she　had　survived　their　fatal　separation；　and；　without　one　word　of　answer；　he　followed　Mignon　to　the　several　cells；　and　soon　released　all　the　astonished　captives。

Mignon　first　carried　them　to　behold　their　former　terror；　now；　to　appearance；　almost　a　lifeless　corpse；　who　on　seeing　them　all　surround　his　couch；　gave　a　most　hideous　roar；　which　made　them　tremble；　all　but　the　gentle　Mignon；　who　was　convinced　of　the　impotence　of　his　rage；　and　begged　them　to　give　him　their　attendance　in　the　hall；　where　they　were　no　sooner　assembled　than　he　showed　them　the　statue；　read　them　the　oracle；　and　told　them　every　circumstance　before　related。

They　now　began　to　bethink　themselves　of　what　method　was　to　be　taken　to　procure　their　entire　liberty；　for　the　influence　of　the　magic　fillet　extended　only　to　the　gates　of　the　hall；　and　still　they　remained　imprisoned　within　the　dismal　cave；　and　though　they　knew　from　the　oracle；　as　well　as　from　what　appeared；　that　the　monster's　power　was　at　an　end；　yet　still　were　they　to　seek　the　means　of　their　escape　from　this　his　horrid　abode。　　At　length　Mignon　again　ascended　the　couch　to　find　the　massy　key；　and　spying　one　end　of　it　peep　out　from　under　the　pillow；　he　called　to　Fidus；　who　first　stepped　up　to　his　friend's　assistance；　the　rest　by　his　example　quickly　followed；　and　now；　by　their　united　force；　they　dragged　the　ponderous　key　from　under　the　monster's　head；　and　then　descending　they　all　went　to　the　outer　door　of　the　cave；　where；　with　some　difficulty；　they　set　wide　open　the　folding　iron　gates。

They　now　determined　to　dispatch　a　messenger　to　the　good　Benefico　with　the　news；　which　they　knew　would　be　so　welcome　to　him　and　all　his　guests；　and　with　one　voice　agreed　that　Fidus　should　bear　the　joyful　tidings；　and　then　returned　to　observe　the　monster；　and　to　wait　the　coming　of　Benefico。　　The　nimble　Fidus　soon　reached　the　giant's　dwelling；　where；　at　a　little　distance　from　the　castle；　he　met　the　good　Benefico　with　a　train　of　happy　friends；　enjoying　the　pleasures　of　the　evening；　and　the　instructive　and　cheerful　conversation　of　their　kind　protector。　　Fidus　briefly　told　his　errand；　and　instantly　Benefico；　with　all　his　train；　joyfully　hastened　to　behold　the　wonders　he　had　related；　for　now　many　hearts　leapt　for　joy；　in　hopes　of　meeting　some　friend　of　whom　they　had　been　bereft　by　the　cruelty　of　the　savage　Barbarico。

They　were　not　long　before　they　arrived　at　the　horrid　cave；　where　Benefico；　proceeding　directly　to　the　monster's　chamber；　suddenly　appeared　to　him　at　the　side　of　his　couch。　　Barbarico；　on　seeing　him；　gave　a　hideous　yell；　and　rolled　his　glaring　eyes　in　such　a　manner　as　expressed　the　height　of　rage　and　envious　bitterness。

Benefico；　turning　to　all　the　company　present；　thus　spoke；　'How　shall　I　enough　praise　and　admire　the　gentle　Mignon　for　having　put　in　my　power　to　justice　on　this　execrable　wretch；　and　freeing　you　all　from　an　insufferable　slavery；　and　the　whole　country　from　their　terror？'　　Then　reaching　the　monster's　own　sword；　which　hung　over　his　couch；　his　hand　yet　suspended　over　the　impious　tyrant；　he　thus　said；　'Speak；　wretch；　if　yet　the　power　of　speech　is　left　thee；　and　with　thy　latest　breath　declare；　what　advantage　hast　thou　found　of　all　thy　wicked　life？'

Barbarico　well　knew　that　too　bad　had　been　that　life；　to　leave　the　least　room　for　hope　of　mercy；　and　therefore；　instead　of　an　answer；　he　gave　another　hideous　yell；　gnashing　his　horrid　teeth；　and　again　rolling　his　ghastly　eyes　on　all　around。

Benefico　seeing　him　thus　impenitent　and　sullen；　lifted　on　high　the　mighty　sword；　and　with　one　blow　severed　his　odious　head　from　his　enormous　body。

The　whole　assembly　gave　a　shout　for　joy；　and　Benefico　holding　in　his　hand　the　monster's　yet　grinning　head；　thus　addressed　his　half…astonished　companions：　　'See　here；　my　friends；　the　proper　conclusion　of　a　rapacious　cruel　life。　　But　let　us　hasten　from　this　monster's　gloomy　cave；　and　on　the　top　of　one　of　our　highest　mountains；　fixed　on　a　pole；　will　I　set　up　this　joyful　spectacle；　that　all　the　country　round　may　know　themselves　at　liberty　to　pursue　their　rural　business　or　amusements；　without　the　dread　of　any　annoyance　from　a　devouring　vile　tormentor。　　And　when　his　treasures；　which　justly　all　belong　to　the　good　patient　Mignon；　are　removed；　we　will　shut　up　the　mouth　of　this　abominable　dwelling；　and；　casting　on　the　door　a　heap　of　earth；　we'll　hope；　in　time；　that　both　place　and　remembrance　of　this　cruel　savage　may　in　time　be　lost。'

Every　one　readily　cried　out；　that　to　Benefico；　the　good　Benefico；　alone　belonged　the　tyrant's　treasures；　that　Benefico　should　ever　be；　as　heretofore；　their　governor；　their　father；　and　their　kind　protector。

The　beneficent　heart　of　the　good　giant　was　quite　melted　with　this　their　kind　confidence　and　dependence　upon　him；　and　assured　them；　he　should　ever　regard　them　as　his　children：　　and　now；　exulting　in　the　general　joy　that　must　attend　the　destruction　of　this　savage　monster；　when　the　whole　country　should　find　themselves　freed　from　the　terror　his　rapine　and　desolation；　he　sent　before　to　his　castle；　to　give　intelligence　to　all　within　that　happy　place　of　the　grim　monster's　fall；　and　little　Mignon's　triumph；　giving　in　charge　to　the　harbinger　of　these　tidings；　that　it　should　be　his　first　and　chiefest　care　to　glad　the　gentle　bosom　of　a　fair　disconsolate　（who　kept　herself　retired　and　pent　up　within　her　own　apartment）　with　the　knowledge　that　the　inhuman　monster　was　no　more；　and　that　henceforth　sweet　peace　and　rural　innocence　might　reign　in　all　their　woods　and　groves。　　The　hearts　of　all　within　the　castle　bounded　with　joy；　on　hearing　the　report　of　the　inhuman　monster's　death；　and　the　deliverance　of　all　his　captives；　and　with　speedy　steps　they　hastened　to　meet　their　kind　protector；　nor　did　the　melancholy　fair　one；　lest　she　should　seem　unthankful　for　the　general　blessing；　refuse　to　join　the　train。

It　was　not　long　after　the　messenger　that　Benefico；　and　those　his　joyful　friends；　arrived：　　but　the　faithful　Fidus　alone；　of　all　this　happy　company；　was　tortured　with　the　inward　pangs　of　a　sad　grief　he　could　not　conquer；　and　his　fond　heart　remained　still　captivated　to　a　melting　sorrow：　　nor　could　even　the　tender　friendship　of　the　gentle　Mignon　quite　remove；　though　it　alleviated；　his　sadness；　but　the　thoughts　of　his　loved　lost　amata　embittered　every　joy；　and　overwhelmed　his　generous　soul　with　sorrow。

When　the　company　from　the　castle　joined　Benefico；　he　declared　to　them　in　what　manner　their　deliverance　was　effected；　and；　as　a　general　shout　of　joy　resounded　through　the　neighbouring　mountains；　Fidus；　lifting　up　his　eyes；　beheld　in　the　midst　of　the　multitude；　standing　in　a　pensive　posture；　the　fair　disconsolate。　　Her　tender　heart　was　at　the　instant　overflowing　in　soft　tears；　caused　by　a　kind　participation　of　their　present　transport；　yet　mixed　with　the　deep　sad　impression　of　a　grief　her　bosom　was　full　fraught　with。　　Her　face；　at　first；　was　almost　hid　by　her　white　handkerchief；　with　which　she　wiped　away　the　trickling　drops；　which　falling；　had　bedewed　her　beauteous　cheeks：　　but　as　she　turned　her　lovely　face　to　view　the　joyful　conquerors；　and　to　speak　a　welcome　to　her　kind　protector；　what　words　can　speak　the　raptures；　the　astonishment；　that　swelled　the　bosom　of　the　faithful　youth；　when　in　this　fair　disconsolate　he　saw　his　loved；　his　constant；　his　long…lost　Amata！　　Their　delighted　eyes　in　the　same　instant　beheld　each　other；　and；　breaking　on　each　side　from　their　astonished　friends；　they　flew　like　lightning　into　each　other's　arms。

After　they　had　given　a　short　account　of　what　had　passed　in　their　separation；　Fidus　presented　to　his　loved　Amata　the　kind；　the　gentle　Mignon；　with　lavish　praises　of　his　generous　friendship；　and　steady　resolution；　in　hazarding　his　life　by　disobeying　the　injunctions　of　the　cruel　tyrant。　　No　sooner　had　Amata　heard　the　name　of　Mignon；　but　she　cried　out；　'Surely　my　happiness　is　now　complete；　and　all　my　sorrows；　by　this　joyful　moment；　are　more　than　fully　recompensed；　for；　in　the　kind　preserver　of　my　Fidus；　I　have　found　my　brother。　　My　mother　lost　her　little　Mignon　when　he　was　five　years　old；　and　pining　grief；　after　some　years　vain　search；　ended　her　wretched　life。'

The　generous　hearts　of　all　who　were　present　shared　the　raptures　of　the　faithful　Fidus；　the　lovely　Amata；　and　gentle　Mignon；　on　this　happy　discovery；　and　in　the　warmest　congratulations　they　expressed　their　joy。

Benefico　now　led　all　the　delighted　company　into　his　castle；　where　freedom　was　publicly　proclaimed；　and　every　one　was　left　a　liberty　either　to　remain　there　with　Benefico；　or；　loaded　with　wealth　sufficient　for　their　use；　to　go　where　their　attachments　or　inclinations　might　invite　them。

Fidus；　Amata；　and　the　little　Mignon；　hesitated　not　one　moment　to　declare　their　choice　of　staying　with　the　generous　Benefico。

The　nuptials　of　the　faithful　Fidus；　and　his　loved　Amata；　were　solemnized　in　the　presence　of　all　their　friends。

Benefico　passed　the　remainder　of　his　days　in　pleasing　reflections　on　his　well…spent　life。

The　treasures　of　the　dead　tyrant　were　turned　into　blessings　by　the　use　they　were　now　made　of：　　little　Mignon　was　loved　and　cherished　by　all　his　companions。　　Peace；　harmony　and　love　reigned　in　every　bosom；　dissension；　discord；　and　hatred　were　banished　from　this　friendly　dwelling；　and　that　happiness；　which　is　the　natural　consequence　of　goodness；　appeared　in　every　cheerful　countenance　throughout　the　castle　of　the　good　Benefico；　and　as　heretofore　affright　and　terror　spread　itself　from　the　monster's　hateful　cave；　so　now　from　this　peaceful　castle　was　diffused　tranquility　and　joy　through　all　the　happy　country　round。



Thus　ended　the　story　of　the　two　giants：　　and　Miss　Jenny　being　tired　with　reading；　they　left　the　arbour　for　that　night；　and　agreed　to　meet　there　again　the　next　day。

As　soon　as　they　had　supped；　Mrs。　Teachum　sent　for　Miss　Jenny　Peace　into　her　closet；　and　desired　an　exact　account　from　her　of　this　their　first　day's　amusement；　that　she　might　judge　from　thence　how　far　they　might　be　trusted　with　the　liberty　she　had　given　them。

Miss　Jenny　showed　her　governess　the　story　she　had　read；and　said；　'I　hope；　madam；　you　will　not　think　it　an　improper　one；　for　it　was　given　me　by　my　mamma；　and　she　told　me；　that　she　thought　it　contained　a　very　excellent　moral。'

Mrs。　Teachum；　having　looked　it　over；　thus　spoke：　　'I　have　no　objection；　Miss　Jenny；　to　your　reading　any　stories　to　amuse　you；　provided　you　read　them　with　the　proper　disposition　of　mind　not　to　be　hurt　by　them。　　A　very　good　moral　may　indeed　be　drawn　from　the　whole；　and　likewise　from　almost　every　part　of　it；　and　as　you　had　this　story　from　your　mamma；　I　doubt　not　but　you　are　very　well　qualified　to　make　the　proper　remarks　yourself　upon　the　moral　of　it　to　your　companions。　　But　here　let　me　observe　to　you　（which　I　would　have　you　communicate　to　your　little　friends）　that　giants；　magic；　fairies；　and　all　sorts　of　supernatural　assistances　in　a　story；　are　only　introduced　to　amuse　and　divert：　　for　a　giant　is　called　so　only　to　express　a　man　of　great　power；　and　the　magic　fillet　round　the　statue　was　intended　only　to　show　you；　that　by　patience　you　will　ove