Nicolas Ridley

 

AMANDUS & AMANDA

From THE LIFE AND OPINIONS OF TRISTRAM SHANDY, GENTLEMAN by Laurence Sterne

***

A story read of two fond lovers,

separated from each other by cruel parents,

and by still more cruel destiny …

Amandus: He

Amanda: She

Each ignorant of the other's course,

He => East

She => West

Amandus taken captive by the Turks,

and carried to the emperor of Morocco's court,

where the princess of Morocco,

falling in love with him,

keeps him twenty years in prison for the love of his Amanda.

She (Amanda) all the time wandering barefoot

and with dishevell'd hair, o'er rocks and mountains,

enquiring for Amandus!

Amandus! Amandus!

Making every hill and valley to echo back his name …

Amandus! Amandus!

at every town and city, sitting down forlorn at the gate

Has Amandus!—has my Amandus enter'd?

Till — going round, and round, and round the world

chance unexpected bringing them at the same moment of the night

(though by different ways)

to the gate of Lyons, their native city,

and each in well-known accents calling out aloud,

Is Amandus …?

Is my Amanda still alive?

They fly into each other's arms

and both drop down dead for joy!