"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 for
the better, and Theodore and Alida were again in possession of more than
former felicity, after their long separation. Alida soon began to
recover in some degree her native cheerfulness, soothing the bosom of
her lover with her grief-dispersing smile. The unpleasant fears that had
such a length of time harrassed her mind, were now happily terminated by
the return of Theodore and the clearing up of all doubts and suspicions
concerning him, to the utter confusion of Bonville. All her corroding
anxieties were now removed, and recent events had made her happy in
comparison to what she was a few weeks before, and her present
consolation fully compensated for all the preceding months of
unhappiness.
[_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 sweetness
of her manner, her innate goodness, and amiability, which had attracted
and secured the early affections of his heart, and made impressions that
could never be obliterated. He gave a minute account of all that had
happened, 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 been
concerned in business, and he found as he 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 had fled to
England; he had them arrested, and they had given up their effects to
much more than the amount of their debts. He therefore procured a
reversion 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 were
joyfully surprised at his arrival. He stayed the night and related a
long narrative to his friend. Early next day he proceeded from thence to
his father's house, where he arrived after a considerable journey.
Theodore found his parents more happy than he expected. With abundant
joy 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 happened
in England, minutely particularizing his conduct with regard to the
merchants with whom his father had been connected, and then presented
him with the reversion of the estate.
The old gentleman fell on his knees, and with tears streaming down his
cheeks, 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 alarming
degree. He sent for Theodore. He thought it his duty to attend the
summons. When he arrived at the house of Bonville he was shown
immediately into his apartment. He was surprised to see him stretched on
a mattrass, his visage pale and emaciated, his countenance haggard, his
eyes inexpressive and glaring. He held out his hand and feebly beckoned
to 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 have
but a short time to continue in this world." He evidently appeared to
have suffered much from the remembrance of his ungenerous conduct
towards 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," said
Bonville, "to which you will scarcely think it possible that I was
designedly accessory." He then confessed to Theodore that he had
intercepted his letters, and begged his forgiveness. "I could say much
more on the subject would my strength admit," said he, "but it is
needless." Here Bonville ceased. Theodore found he wanted rest; medical
aid 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 first
indignant, 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 parental
attachment and nature had graced her with every charm and
accomplishment. He at length determined to cast a veil of pity over the
actions of Bonville, and not to upbraid him, but to treat his past
conduct with silent contempt, and endeavour as far as possible, to bury
the 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 alteration
in his appearance. He was cold--a chilling sweat stood upon his face,
his respiration was short and interrupted, his pulse weak and
intermitting. He took the hand of Theodore and feebly pressed it. He
soon fell into a stupor; sensation became suspended. Sometimes a partial
revival would take place, when he would fall into incoherent muttering,
calling on the names of his deceased father, mother, and Alida. Towards
night he lay silent, and only continued to breathe with difficulty, when
a slight convulsion gave his freed spirit to the unknown regions of
existence. Theodore attended his funeral, and then journeyed on to the
dwelling of Albert. He informed Alida of the death of Bonville, and of
his 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," said
she, "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 the
remembrance of his own baseness.