Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War.
Page 72
CHAPTER XXXIII.
"On punit plus severement un ennemi par le mepris et par l'oubli, que par les chatimens les plus rigorieux: c'est, pour ainsi dire, le reduire au neant."
[De Vernage:
On punit plus severement un ennemi par le mepris et par l'oubli, que par les chatiments les plus rigoureux. C'est pour ainsi dire le reduire au neant....]
The disagreeable facts so long in detail, had now taken a new turn forthe better, and Theodore and Alida were again in possession of more thanformer felicity, after their long separation. Alida soon began torecover in some degree her native cheerfulness, soothing the bosom ofher lover with her grief-dispersing smile. The unpleasant fears that hadsuch a length of time harrassed her mind, were now happily terminated bythe return of Theodore and the clearing up of all doubts and suspicionsconcerning him, to the utter confusion of Bonville. All her corrodinganxieties were now removed, and recent events had made her happy incomparison to what she was a few weeks before, and her presentconsolation fully compensated for all the preceding months ofunhappiness.
[_A&M_ (Alonzo speaking):
.... come in all thy native loveliness, and cheer the bosom of wretchedness by thy grief dispersing smile!]
Theodore was again happy in the society of Alida, the pensive sweetnessof her manner, her innate goodness, and amiability, which had attractedand secured the early affections of his heart, and made impressions thatcould never be obliterated. He gave a minute account of all that hadhappened, from the time they had parted until they had met again.
[_A&M_:
.... that pensive sweetness, those unrivalled virtues and matchless worth, which he found in Melissa, and which attracted, fixed, and secured the youngest affections of his soul?... ... .... your ingenuous conduct has left impressions in my bosom which can never be obliterated.... ... Alonzo then gave Melissa a minute account of all that happened to him from the time of their parting ... until he met with her the day before.]
He had visited the merchants in England with whom his father had beenconcerned in business, and he found as he expected, that he had beenoverreached by swindlers and sharpers. The pretended failure of themerchants with whom he was in company, was all a sham, as, also, thereported loss of the ships in their employ. The merchants had fled toEngland; he had them arrested, and they had given up their effects tomuch more than the amount of their debts. He therefore procured areversion of his father's losses, with costs, damages and interests,when legally stated.
[_A&M_ (Benjamin Franklin speaking to Alonzo):
.... I wrote to my correspondent in England, and found, as I expected, that he had been overreached by swindlers and sharpers. The pretended failure of the merchants with whom he was in company, was all a sham, as also the reported loss of the ships in their employ. The merchants fled to England; I have had them arrested, and they have given up their effects, to much more than the amount of their debts. I have therefore procured a reversion of your father's losses, which, with costs, damages, and interests, when legally stated, he will receive of my agent in Philadelphia....]
Theodore then made his next visit to Raymond's. His friends werejoyfully surprised at his arrival. He stayed the night and related along narrative to his friend. Early next day he proceeded from thence tohis father's house, where he arrived after a considerable journey.Theodore found his parents more happy than he expected. With abundantjoy they welcomed him whom they had given up for lost.
[_A&M_:
The friends of Alonzo and Melissa were joyfully surprised at their arrival....
Alonzo found his parents in penurious circumstances indeed, his father having, the preceding summer, been too indisposed to manage his little farm with attention, and being unable to hire labourers, his crops had yielded but a scanty supply, and he had been compelled to sell most of his stock to answer pressing demands. With great joy they welcomed Alonzo, whom they had given up as lost.]
Theodore then related to his father all the incidents that had happenedin England, minutely particularizing his conduct with regard to themerchants with whom his father had been connected, and then presentedhim with the reversion of the estate.
The old gentleman fell on his knees, and with tears streaming down hischeeks, offered devout thanks to the great Dispenser of all mercies.
[_A&M_:
.... Alonzo then related to his father all the incidents of his travels, minutely particularizing the disinterested conduct of Franklin, and then presented his father with the reversion of his estate. The old man fell on his knees, and, with tears streaming down his withered cheeks, offered devout thanks to the great Dispenser of all mercies.]
In the meantime, the illness of Bonville had increased to an alarmingdegree. He sent for Theodore. He thought it his duty to attend thesummons. When he arrived at the house of Bonville he was shownimmediately into his apartment. He was surprised to see him stretched ona mattrass, his visage pale and emaciated, his countenance haggard, hiseyes inexpressive and glaring. He held out his hand and feebly beckonedto Theodore, who immediately approached the bed-side.
[_A&M_ (earlier):
.... As he passed along the different apartments he was surprised at hearing his name called by a faint voice. He turned to the place from whence it proceeded, and saw stretched on a mattress, a person who appeared on the point of expiring. His visage was pale and emaciated, his countenance haggard and ghastly, his eyes inexpressive and glazy. He held out his withered hand, and feebly beckoned to Alonzo, who immediately approached him....]
[[In _Alonzo and Melissa_, this episode takes place in an English prison hospital. Beauman has had a leg amputated.]]
"You behold me, Theodore," said he, "on the verge of eternity. I havebut a short time to continue in this world." He evidently appeared tohave suffered much from the remembrance of his ungenerous conducttowards Theodore.
[_A&M_:
"... you behold me on the verge of eternity; I have but a short time to continue in this world."]
"I have caused much unhappiness between you and your Alida," saidBonville, "to which you will scarcely think it possible that I wasdesignedly accessory." He then confessed to Theodore that he hadintercepted his letters, and begged his forgiveness. "I could say muchmore on the subject would my strength admit," said he, "but it isneedless." Here Bonville ceased. Theodore found he wanted rest; medicalaid had been applied, but without effect. Theodore then left him,promising to call again next morning.
[_A&M_:
"You are unhappy, Alonzo, [said Beauman] in the death of your Melissa, to which it is possible I have been undesignedly accessory. I could say much on the subject, would my strength permit; but it is needless--she is gone, and I must soon go also...."
Here Beauman ceased. Alonzo found he wanted rest: he enquired whether he was in want of any thing to render him more comfortable; Beauman replied he was not; "for the comforts of this life [said he] I have no relish; medical aid is applied, but without effect." Alonzo then left him, promising to call again in the morning.]
He was startled at the confession of Bonville; he felt at firstindignant, and meditated what course to pursue. After due reflection,he at length made the decision.
His devotions to Alida he did not wonder at. The pride of parentalattachment and nature had graced her with every charm andaccomplishment. He at length determined to cast a veil of pity over theactions of Bonville, and not to upbraid him, but to treat his pastconduct with silent contempt, and endeavour as far as possible, to burythe remembrance of his errors in oblivion.
[Amelia, or the Faithless Briton:
.... The pride of parental attachment had graced her with every accomplishment that depends upon tuition....]
He called to see him next morning; he perceived an alarming alterationin his appearance. He was cold--a chilling sweat stood upon his face,his respiration was short and interrupted, his pulse weak andinterm
itting. He took the hand of Theodore and feebly pressed it. Hesoon fell into a stupor; sensation became suspended. Sometimes a partialrevival would take place, when he would fall into incoherent muttering,calling on the names of his deceased father, mother, and Alida. Towardsnight he lay silent, and only continued to breathe with difficulty, whena slight convulsion gave his freed spirit to the unknown regions ofexistence. Theodore attended his funeral, and then journeyed on to thedwelling of Albert. He informed Alida of the death of Bonville, and ofhis confession.
[_A&M_:
When Alonzo called the next morning, he perceived an alarming alteration in Beauman. His extremities were cold, a chilling, clammy sweat stood upon his face, his respiration was short and interrupted, his pulse weak and intermitting. He took the hand of Alonzo, and feebly pressing it....
Beauman soon fell into a stupour; sensation became suspended; his eyes rolled up and fixed. Sometimes a partial revival would take place, when he would fall into incoherent mutterings, calling on the names of his deceased father, his mother and Melissa; his voice dying away in imperfect moanings, till his lips continued to move without sound. Towards night he lay silent, and only continued to breathe with difficulty, till a slight convulsion gave the freed spirit to the unknown regions of immaterial existence. Alonzo followed his remains to the grave; a natural stone was placed at its head, on which Alonzo, unobserved, carved the initials of the deceased's name, with the date of his death, and left him to moulder with his native dust.]
At the mention of Bonville's fate, she sighed deeply. "It is true," saidshe, "he has perplexed me with many vain fears, by misrepresentation,but could he have lived, I would freely have forgiven him."
[_A&M_ (later):
At the mention of Beauman's fate, Melissa sighed. "With how many vain fears (said she) was I perplexed, lest, by some means he should discover my existence and place of residence, after he, alas! was silent in the tomb!"]
He evidently fell a victim to disappointed pride and remorse at theremembrance of his own baseness.