Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. IX.—February, 1851.—Vol. II.Various
General
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. IX.—February, 1851.—Vol. II.
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
for thy life," prepared themselves (I doubt not) for rescuing me, if any
recapture should be effected.
But this was _not_ effected, although attempted with an energy that
alarmed me, and even perplexed me with a vague thought (far too
ambitious for my years, but growing out of my chivalrous studies) that
one, perhaps, if not two of the pursuing party might be possessed by
some demon of jealousy, since he might have seen me reveling among the
lips of that fair girlish and womanish bevy, kissed and kissing, loving
and being loved; in which case from all that ever I had read about
jealousy (and I had read a great deal--viz, "Othello," and Collins's
"Ode to the Passions"), I was satisfied that, if again captured, I had
very little chance for my life. That jealousy was a green-eyed monster,
nobody could know better than _I_ did. "Oh, my lord, beware of
jealousy!" Yes; and my lord couldn't possibly beware of it more than
myself; indeed, well it would have been for _him_ had his lordship run
away from all the ministers of jealousy--Iago, Cassio, Desdemona--and
embroidered handkerchiefs--at the same pace of six miles an hour which
kept me ahead of my infuriated pursuers. Ah, that maniac, white as a
leper with flakes of cotton, can I ever forget him, that ran so far in
advance of his party? What passion, but jealousy, could have sustained
him in so hot a chase? There were some lovely girls in the fair company
that had so condescendingly caressed me; but, doubtless, upon that sweet
creature his love must have settled, who suggested, in her low, soft,
relenting voice, a penitence in me that, alas! had not dawned, saying,
"_Yes; but perhaps he will do so no more_." Thinking, as I ran, of her
beauty, I felt that this jealous demoniac must fancy himself justified
in committing seven times seven murders upon me, if he should have it in
his power. But, thank heaven, if jealousy can run six miles an hour,
there are other passions, as for instance, fear, that can run, upon
occasion, six and a half; so, as I had the start of him (you know,
reader), and not a very short start--thanks be to the expanded
petticoats of my dear female friends! naturally it happened that the
green-eyed monster came in second best. Time luckily was precious with
_him_; and therefore, when he had chased me into the by-road leading
down to Greenhay, he turned back; and I, with somewhat sorrowful steps,
on the consideration that this scene might need to be all acted over
again, when Green-eyes might happen to have better luck, and being
unhappy, besides, at having to number so many kind-hearted girls among
Philistines and daughters of Gath, pensively pursued my way to the gates
of Greenhay. _Pensively_ is not the word that meets the realities of the
case. I was unhappy, in the profoundest sense, and not from any
momentary accident of distress that might pass away and be forgotten,
but from deep glimpses which now, as heretofore, had opened themselves,
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