Paul et Virginie. English Read online

Domingo kindled a fire: andhaving found among the rocks a particular kind of twisted wood, calledbois de ronde, which burns when quite green, and throws out a greatblaze, he made a torch of it, which he lighted. But when they preparedto continue their journey, a new difficulty occurred; Paul and Virginiacould no longer walk, their feet being violently swollen and inflamed.Domingo knew not what to do; whether to leave them and go in search ofhelp, or remain and pass the night with them on that spot. "There wasa time," said he, "when I could carry you both together in my arms!But now you are grown big, and I am grown old." When he was in thisperplexity, a troop of Maroon negroes appeared at a short distance fromthem. The chief of the band, approaching Paul and Virginia, said tothem,--"Good little white people, do not be afraid. We saw you pass thismorning, with a negro woman of the Black River. You went to ask pardonfor her of her wicked master; and we, in return for this, will carry youhome upon our shoulders." He then made a sign, and four of the strongestnegroes immediately formed a sort of litter with the branches of treesand lianas, and having seated Paul and Virginia on it, carried them upontheir shoulders. Domingo marched in front with his lighted torch, andthey proceeded amidst the rejoicings of the whole troop, who overwhelmedthem with their benedictions. Virginia, affected by this scene, saidto Paul, with emotion,--"Oh, my dear brother! God never leaves a goodaction unrewarded."

  It was midnight when they arrived at the foot of their mountain, on theridges of which several fires were lighted. As soon as they began toascend, they heard voices exclaiming--"Is it you, my children?" Theyanswered immediately, and the negroes also,--"Yes, yes, it is." A momentafter they could distinguish their mothers and Mary coming towards themwith lighted sticks in their hands. "Unhappy children," cried Madamede la Tour, "where have you been? What agonies you have made ussuffer!"--"We have been," said Virginia, "to the Black River, where wewent to ask pardon for a poor Maroon slave, to whom I gave our breakfastthis morning, because she seemed dying of hunger; and these Maroonnegroes have brought us home." Madame de la Tour embraced her daughter,without being able to speak; and Virginia, who felt her face wet withher mother's tears, exclaimed, "Now I am repaid for all the hardships Ihave suffered." Margaret, in a transport of delight, pressed Paul inher arms, exclaiming, "And you also, my dear child, you have done agood action." When they reached the cottages with their children, theyentertained all the negroes with a plentiful repast, after which thelatter returned to the woods, praying Heaven to shower down everydescription of blessing on those good white people.

  Every day was to these families a day of happiness and tranquillity.Neither ambition nor envy disturbed their repose. They did not seekto obtain a useless reputation out of doors, which may be procuredby artifice and lost by calumny; but were contented to be the solewitnesses and judges of their own actions. In this island, where, asis the case in most colonies, scandal forms the principal topic ofconversation, their virtues, and even their names were unknown. Thepasser-by on the road to Shaddock Grove, indeed, would sometimes ask theinhabitants of the plain, who lived in the cottages up there? andwas always told, even by those who did not know them, "They are goodpeople." The modest violet thus, concealed in thorny places sheds allunseen its delightful fragrance around.

  Slander, which, under an appearance of justice, naturally inclinesthe heart to falsehood or to hatred, was entirely banished from theirconversation; for it is impossible not to hate men if we believe themto be wicked, or to live with the wicked without concealing that hatredunder a false pretence of good feeling. Slander thus puts us ill at easewith others and with ourselves. In this little circle, therefore, theconduct of individuals was not discussed, but the best manner of doinggood to all; and although they had but little in their power, theirunceasing good-will and kindness of heart made them constantly ready todo what they could for others. Solitude, far from having blunted thesebenevolent feelings, had rendered their dispositions even morekindly. Although the petty scandals of the day furnished no subject ofconversation to them, yet the contemplation of nature filled their mindswith enthusiastic delight. They adored the bounty of that Providence,which, by their instrumentality, had spread abundance and beauty amidthese barren rocks, and had enabled them to enjoy those pure and simplepleasures, which are ever grateful and ever new.

  Paul, at twelve years of age, was stronger and more intelligent thanmost European youths are at fifteen; and the plantations, which Domingomerely cultivated, were embellished by him. He would go with the oldnegro into the neighbouring woods, where he would root up the youngplants of lemon, orange, and tamarind trees, the round heads of whichare so fresh a green, together with date-palm trees, which produce fruitfilled with a sweet cream, possessing the fine perfume of the orangeflower. These trees, which had already attained to a considerable size,he planted round their little enclosure. He had also sown the seed ofmany trees which the second year bear flowers or fruit; such as theagathis, encircled with long clusters of white flowers which hang fromit like the crystal pendants of a chandelier; the Persian lilac, whichlifts high in air its gray flax-coloured branches; the pappaw tree,the branchless trunk of which forms a column studded with greenmelons, surmounted by a capital of broad leaves similar to those of thefig-tree.

  The seeds and kernels of the gum tree, terminalia, mango, alligatorpear, the guava, the bread-fruit tree, and the narrow-leaved rose-apple,were also planted by him with profusion: and the greater number of thesetrees already afforded their young cultivator both shade and fruit.His industrious hands diffused the riches of nature over even the mostbarren parts of the plantation. Several species of aloes, the Indianfig, adorned with yellow flowers spotted with red, and the thorny torchthistle, grew upon the dark summits of the rocks, and seemed to aim atreaching the long lianas, which, laden with blue or scarlet flowers,hung scattered over the steepest parts of the mountain.

  I loved to trace the ingenuity he had exercised in the arrangement ofthese trees. He had so disposed them that the whole could be seen at asingle glance. In the middle of the hollow he had planted shrubs ofthe lowest growth; behind grew the more lofty sorts; then trees ofthe ordinary height; and beyond and above all, the venerable and loftygroves which border the circumference. Thus this extensive enclosureappeared, from its centre, like a verdant amphitheatre decorated withfruits and flowers, containing a variety of vegetables, some stripsof meadow land, and fields of rice and corn. But, in arranging thesevegetable productions to his own taste, he wandered not too far fromthe designs of Nature. Guided by her suggestions, he had thrown upon theelevated spots such seeds as the winds would scatter about, and nearthe borders of the springs those which float upon the water. Everyplant thus grew in its proper soil, and every spot seemed decorated byNature's own hand. The streams which fell from the summits of the rocksformed in some parts of the valley sparkling cascades, and in otherswere spread into broad mirrors, in which were reflected, set in verdure,the flowering trees, the overhanging rocks, and the azure heavens.

  Notwithstanding the great irregularity of the ground, these plantationswere, for the most part, easy of access. We had, indeed, all givenhim our advice and assistance, in order to accomplish this end. He hadconducted one path entirely round the valley, and various branches fromit led from the circumference to the centre. He had drawn some advantagefrom the most rugged spots, and had blended, in harmonious union, levelwalks with the inequalities of the soil, and trees which grow wild withthe cultivated varieties. With that immense quantity of large pebbleswhich now block up these paths, and which are scattered over most of theground of this island, he formed pyramidal heaps here and there, atthe base of which he laid mould, and planted rose-bushes, the Barbadoesflower-fence, and other shrubs which love to climb the rocks. In a shorttime the dark and shapeless heaps of stones he had constructed werecovered with verdure, or with the glowing tints of the most beautifulflowers. Hollow recesses on the borders of the streams shaded by theoverhanging boughs of aged trees, formed rural grottoes, imperviousto the rays of the sun, in which you might enjoy a refr
eshing coolnessduring the mid-day heats. One path led to a clump of forest trees, inthe centre of which sheltered from the wind, you found a fruit-tree,laden with produce. Here was a corn-field; there, an orchard; from oneavenue you had a view of the cottages; from another, of the inaccessiblesummit of the mountain. Beneath one tufted bower of gum trees,interwoven with lianas, no object whatever could be perceived: while thepoint of the adjoining rock, jutting out from the mountain, commandeda view of the whole enclosure, and of the distant ocean, where,occasionally, we could discern the distant sail, arriving from Europe,or bound thither. On this rock the two families frequently met in theevening, and enjoyed in silence the freshness of the flowers, the gentlemurmurs of the fountain, and the last blended harmonies of light andshade.

  Nothing could be more charming than the