Jean-François Marmontel

“ Madam, said Adelaide, whilst Fonrose embraced his father’s knees, you would not so long have been a prey to grief, had I discovered sooner your dear son. After the first effusions of nature were over, Fonrose relapsed into his former melancholy. Come, said the Countess, let us go and repose ourselves in the cabin, and forget the woes this young madman has plunged us in. It is very true, said Fonrose, to his father, who led him by the hand; what else but the deprivation of my reason could suspend the emotions of nature, and make me forget the most sacred duties? What but madness? ”

“ Hcar me, said Adelaide, Heaven has made us acquainted to be a mutual support to each other's woes! mine is a burthen under which my heart sinks down even to dispondency. Whoever you be, if you are unhappy, you are compassionate—I believe you are worthy the confidence I shall repose in you; but you must promise me that the promise will be reciprocal Alas! said Fonrose, my woes are of a nature perhaps never to be relieved! Meet me to-morrow, said Adelaide, at the foot of this hill, under the spreading oak, where you heard me moan. ”

“ He is not conscious, said she, of the pleasure he communicates around: ho is not the least vain of his perfection; he does not expect the praises I owe, which are so justly his due. Such are the sweets of music! it is the only talent that finds enjoyment in itself: all others must have witnesses, or else partakers. Music was a gift from heaven, bestowed upon man in his state of innocence: it is purest of all pleasures, and the only one that I can yield to. I look upon this as an echo, that comes to repeat my grief.
Fonrose, in his turn, affected to avoid her. Adelaide was concerned at it. ”

“ If the recital of my imprudent conduct has altered your opinion of me; tell me, I eonjure you, the cause of your afflietions.
Ah! madam, let me end my deplorable life without leaving you to reproach yourself with having shortened it. O heaven! she cried, what I? Can I have contributed to increase the woes under whieh you perish? Ease my tortured heart, and tell me what I have said? What have I done to aggrivate your afflictions? Speak, I say—you have revealed too mueh to hide yourself any longer—I do insist upon knowing who you are. ”

“ I’ll be your constant companion: I’ll endeavour to mitigate your sorrows, and help to ease you in an employment too laborious for your delicate frame. Let me be a partaker of your grief; and when I behold you weeping over the tomb, I shall mix my tears with yours. You never will have cause to repent having deposited your secret in an unfortunate heart, that feels all the value of its trust. I do repent it already, said Adelaide, with some confusion, and retired without further discourse. In her abrupt departure, she saw in Fonrose’s countenance all the marks of an affected mind. ”

“ You are very good, answered Fonrose; does it become you to tax nature for bestowing her favours with a sparing hand on those of your condition— you, whom she has formed more for a queen than a shepherdess. Adelaide blushed and waved the discourse. The other day, said she, your hautboy accompanied my voice with such a masterly art, as must seem a prodigy in one brought up to feed the flocks. It is to your singing, replied Fonrose, that is so rare in a simple Shepherdess. ”

“ Fonrose, moved to his inmost soul, with her complained, so melodiously expressed, could not refrain from taking up his hautboy. She continued, and accompanied her sweet voice.
Never was unison more harmonious. Is this an enchantment? said Adelaide. May I believe my sense? 'Tis no mean shepherd! 'tis some supernatural being that I have been listening to! Nature may give a bent, but great masters and constant practice only can reach to such perfection. As she was thus musing, the valley resounded with a rural or rather a divinc symphony. ”

“ Adelaide came to receive her commands. Without desiring to penetrate into the secret of your birth, said the Countess, or into whatever is the cause of your distress, I feel that I am sensibly interested in all that concerns your welfare. It is evident that your courage raises you above your misfortunes, and that you conform your behaviour suitably to your present circumstances. It is true, your charms and your virtues render your condition designed for you. ”

“ He sent in word, that the old man of the valley of Savoy was eomo to wait on them. Ah! cried the Countess, perhaps some misfortune has befallen our lovely shepherdess! Bid the old man enter, said the Count; who knows but Adelaide consents to come and live with us! It would be, replied the Countess, the only comfort I can taste after the loss of my son. The old man is introduced, he embraced their knees— they raise him to their arms. ”

“ During their journey, their conversation was taken up with this strange adventure, which appeared to thom like a romance. They arrived at Turin, their imagination full of it; and you may be sure their desired silence could not be observed. The charms and virtues of this unknown shepherdess was an inexhaustible source of reflection and conjectures. Young Fonrose, their only son, was often present at their conversation, and never lot a single circumstance escape his memory. Ho was of that age when imagination is most lively, and the heart most susceptible of receiving tender impressions ”

“ Impatient to put in execution the design she had formed, arrived at the hut. Father, said she to the old Pastor, do you think yourself able to take a journey to Turin? I want a person that I can rely on, to carry the Count and Countess Fonrose intelligence of what concerns their whole happiness. My zeal said the old man, to serve them, will give me strength equal to my inclination. Go then, continued she, you will find them at present lamenting the death of their only child. Inform them that he is living, and that it is their poor Adelaide that will restore him to their arms. ”

“ Adelaide felt herself somewhat touched with Fonrose’s youth and comeliness, nor could she help reflecting on tho capricious turns of fortuno. For what end, thought she, has nature endowed this young shepherd with such graces! Alas! those gifts, haply useless in his station of life, might prove a source of misery in a higher station. What is outward form! what is beauty! wretched as I am, is it for me to fix their value? This reflection imbittered the little rising pleasure she had indulged. ”

“ A man under misfortune, replied Adelaide, may find a thousand means to extricate himself; but to a woman in such cases, has no resource but in the honest servitude; and in the choice of one's master, methinks 'tis best to prefer the good and virtuous. ”

“ The morn was overcast with clouds, as if nature had presaged their sorrowful conversation.— They seated themselves under the oak; when, after a profound sigh, Adelaide thus began
THE STORY OF HER WOES.
“Beneath those stones you see there, almost covered with the creeping grass, lie the remains of a most faithful and virtuous man, whom my love and imprudence brought to the grave. I was born in France, of a wealthy family, and of high distinction; too wealthy, to my misfortune. Count Oreston conceived for me the most passionate, tender love, to which my heart corresponded with equal warmth. ”

“ She rises with the sun, conducts the flock, and does not return till it sets, often shivering with cold. How is it possible, my dear parents, she would say, with all the tenderness of a loving child, how is it possible that I should consent to let you leave fireside, to be exposed, at your age, to the inclemency of the season, which I, young as I am, can scarce support? ”

“ But all of her charms, none struck him with so much admiration as her elegant shape and air. The charming image which love engraves in his heart, takes up his thoughts, & fills his soul with irrcsistable passions. ”

“ The grief that consumed him gave her much concern, as not being entrusted with what occasioned his trouble; it was out of her power to administer any comfort. She little knew that she was the cause of his distress. It is an observation founded on nature, that when the soul admits of two passions, they will of course weaken each other. Adelaide’s regret for the love of Oreston grew less in proportion as her pity increased for the young shepherd. ”

“ The similitude of our conditions will make us feel the more for each other. I look upon you as one whom heaven, moved with my afflietions, has sent into this solitude to save ne from despair. I look upon you as a sincere friend, capable of giving, if not satisfactory advice, at least a firm example of true resignation to the Divine will.
Ah! madam, said Fonrose, overwhelmed with what he heard, whatever tender sensibility my heart is prone to fecl, you are far from imagining with what deep concern the rccital of your woes has affccted me—the impression will remain as long as life. ”

“ She is an angel descended from heaven, to be the comfort of our age. What is she doing now in the sheepfold? asked the Countess. She milks the ewes and she-goats, fosters the young kids and lambs, and gives them fresh litter. The cheese she makes is thought delicious: no doubt for having been pressed with her neat hands. I carry it to the market, and have not near enough to supply all those that would be my customers. When the dear child is tending the sheep in the pasture, she employs herself in making works of plaited straw, which are admired by every body. ”

“ All the wonders he heard related of the valley of Savoy, raisod in his soul the most passionate desire of serving her. The object which his imagination has formed, is ever in his mind. He compares it to all ho sees, and all he soes is lost in the comparison. ”

“ His parents will never consent to the journey he intends: 'twill not be looked upon as the mere effects of curiosity, but be deemed a youthful folly that may have bad consequences: and the shepherdess may be alarmed at his presence, and shun his addresses; if it is discovered, he loses her for ever. ”

“ Drive from your thoughts the least shadow of dependance. You were not formed for servitude, and should my fond prejudice deceive me, I would rather lift you above your birth than leave you below it. In short, I seek a real friend, one that I can confide in. ”

“ Tho poor old folks, who were present, fell on their kness and kissed the Countess’ hand, then turning to Adelaide, they conjured her, in tho most pressing terms, to accept the lady’s generous proposal. Wo cannot, at our time of day, be far from tho grave, and as it has been your constant study to make our lives happy, so must our death leave you comfortless in this solitary place. The shepherdess embracing them, and mixing her tears with theirs, returned a thousand thanks to their noble guests, with a sweetness that inereased her charms. ”

“ I cannot believe that, interrupted Count Fonrose, not able any longer to hido his emotion; no—you wore not formed for such hardships. Fortune is unjust, or how is it possible that so lovely a person should bo reduced to live obscurely in so low and ordinary a dress. Fortune, replied Adelaide, (so was the shepherdess named,) is not to be blamed, but when she deprives us of what she has given us beforo. My condition has its sweets for one that knows no other state in life. Custom and example create wants for the wealthy, which the poor aro ignorant of. ”

“ Be not under any concern about these good people; I shall make up for their loss, at least as far as to enable them to pass the rcmainder of their days in peaee and plenty, & from your hands they shall reeeive my constant bounty. ”

“ You see with what sincerity I open to you my inmost soul.— Henceforth I may weep in your presence without restraint— a relief my overburdened heart stands much in need of— I expect you will put the same confidenco in me, as that I have reposed in you.— Don’t imagine that I am imposed upon. I am certain that you are no moro a shepherd, than I am a shepherdess. You are young, perhaps in love ”

“ I do; but it is a secret which she alone can reveal. Is she married? No; she is a widow; but her heart is not the less engaged, nay, it is rather bound with stronger chains. Madam, said the Count to Adelaide, as they had entered the cabin, you see how you turn tho heads, as well as captivato all that hear the name of Fonrose. Nothing could have justified my son’s extravagant passion, but so virtuous, so loving an object. My wife’s utmost wishes were to have you for a friend; my son cannot live without you for a wife ”

“ As our knowledgo of her good qualities increased, so did our respect; but the more we strove to show her that respect, the more she humbled herself bofore us. No, never had any child for its parents a more tender regard, a moro constant care. She cannot obey, because it is impossible for us to command; but she dives into our hearts, and prevents our wishes when they are scarcely formed. ”