Now because it is possible this at some time or other may happen to be
read by some Malicious or Ignorant Person, (no Reflection upon the
present Reader) who will not admit, or does not understand that Silence
should make a Man start; and have the same Effect, in provoking his
Attention, with its opposite Noise; I will illustrate this matter, to
such a diminutive Critick, by a Parallel Instance of Light; which
though it does chiefly entertain the Eyes, and is indeed the prime
Object of the Sight, yet should it immediately cease, to have a Man
left in the Dark by a suddain deficiency of it, would make him stare
with his Eyes, and though he could not see, endeavour to look about
him. Why just thus did it fare with our Adventurer; who seeming to have
wandred both into the Dominions of Silence and of Night, began to have
some tender for his own Safety, and would willingly have groped his Way
back again; when he heard a Voice, as from a Person whose Breath had
been stopp’d by some forcible Oppression, and just then, by a violent
Effort, was broke through the Restraint.—‘Yet—Yet—(again reply’d the
Voice, still struggling for Air,) ‘Forbear—and I’ll forgive what’s
past—I have done nothing yet that needs a Pardon, (says another) and
what is to come, will admit of none.
Here the Person who seemed to be the Oppressed, made several Attempts
to speak, but they were only inarticulate Sounds, being all interrupted
and choaked in their Passage.
Aurelian was sufficiently astonish’d, and would have crept nearer to
the Place whence he guessed the Voice to come; but he was got among the
Runes of an Old Monastery, and could not stir so silently, but some
loose Stones he met with made a rumbling. The Noise alarm’d both
Parties; and as it gave Comfort to the one, it so Terrified the
t’other, that he could not hinder the Oppressed from calling for help.
Aurelian fancy’d it was a Woman’s Voice, and immediately drawing his
Sword, demanded what was the Matter; he was answered with the
Appearance of a Man, who had opened a Dark Lanthorn which he had by
him, and came toward him with a Pistol in his Hand ready cock’d.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account