Lancaster's Choice — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Lancaster's Choice
John Stuart Mill · en
"Yes," answered the kind, indulgent soul; and Leonora set off at
a quick pace, following the sound of the nightingale's voice, and
repeating under her breath those exquisite lines to the nightingale
written by Sir Walter Scott.
"Beautiful nightingale, who shall portray
All the varying turns of thy flowing lay?
And where is the lyre whose chords shall reply
To the notes of thy changeful melody?
We may linger, indeed, and listen to thee,
But the linkéd chain of thy harmony
Is not for mortal hands to unbind,
Nor the clew of thy mazy music to find.
Thy home is the wood on the echoing hill,
Or the verdant banks of the forest rill;
And soft as the south wind the branches among,
Thy plaintive lament goes floating along."
She went on swiftly through the beautiful night, guided by the
nightingale's voice, and with a fast-beating heart; for, with all a
young girl's folly, she meant to look into the Magic Mirror to see,
perchance, the face of her future lord and master.
Louder and nearer grew the notes of the nightingale, as Leonora
hastened on. She thought she had never heard anything so sweet. At
first it had only been one bird, but now several had joined their notes
together in a medley of intoxicating music that swelled deliciously
upon the fragrant air of the night. She walked lightly, almost holding
her breath as she came upon the scene, for fear of frightening them
away.
She passed from the shadow of the grand oaks that had overhung her
path, out into an open space, and the Magic Mirror burst upon her
sight--a little limpid lake fringed with willows and sweet-brier and
water-lilies, and so clear that the full, white radiance of the moon
and stars was mirrored on its tranquil breast, while, hid in the
thicket of rose and willow, the night birds were pouring out their
hearts in song.
"Oh, how sweet!" cried the girl. She clasped her hands in an ecstasy.
Her heart was touched by the peaceful beauty and enchanting repose of
the scene. Scarce a ripple stirred the bosom of the quiet lake, and the
water-lilies, drooping to look at their fair reflections, were scarcely
ruffled by the soft, light breeze that played around the enchanting
spot.
Leonora moved softly forward to the verge of the Magic Mirror, and
bending forward, with a slightly quickened heart-beat, gazed down into
its crystal-clear depths. She saw her own face gazing back at her with
all its fresh young beauty, its eager eyes and parted lips, the dark
veil twisted carelessly about her head, and the loose tresses of her
hair flowing beneath it. She saw all this clearly as in a mirror, and
for a moment she remained intently gazing at it, wondering if the old
legend were indeed true, and if the face of her future husband would
indeed rise from those mysterious depths by the side of her own.