wayward,notintemper,forthatwassweetanddocile;butinhermoods,which,asIbeforehinted,changedfromsadtogayandgaytosadwithoutanapparentcause。Ifcausetherewere,itmustbetracedtotheearlyandmysteriousinfluencesIhavereferredto,whenseekingtoexplaintheeffectproducedonherimaginationbythoserestlessstreamsofsoundthatconstantlyplayedaroundit;foritisnoticeablethattothosewhoaremuchalivetotheeffectsofmusic,airsandtunesoftencomeback,inthecommonestpursuitsoflife,tovex,asitwere,andhauntthem。Themusic,onceadmittedtothesoul,becomesalsoasortofspirit,andneverdies。Itwandersperturbedlythroughthehallsandgalleriesofthememory,andisoftenheardagain,distinctandlivingaswhenitfirstdisplacedthewaveletsoftheair。Nowattimes,then,thesephantomsofsoundfloatedbackuponherfancy;ifgay,tocallasmilefromeverydimple;
ifmournful,tothrowashadeuponherbrow,——tomakeherceasefromherchildishmirth,andsitapartandmuse。
Rightly,then,inatypicalsense,mightthisfaircreature,soairyinhershape,soharmoniousinherbeauty,sounfamiliarinherwaysandthoughts,——rightlymightshebecalledadaughter,lessofthemusicianthanthemusic,abeingforwhomyoucouldimaginethatsomefatewasreserved,lessofactuallifethantheromancewhich,toeyesthatcansee,andheartsthatcanfeel,glideseveralongWITHtheactuallife,streambystream,totheDarkOcean。
AndthereforeitseemednotstrangethatViolaherself,eveninchildhood,andyetmoreasshebloomedintothesweetseriousnessofvirginyouth,shouldfancyherlifeordainedforalot,whetherofblissorwoe,thatshouldaccordwiththeromanceandreveriewhichmadetheatmosphereshebreathed。FrequentlyshewouldclimbthroughthethicketsthatclothedtheneighbouringgrottoofPosilipo,——themightyworkoftheoldCimmerians,——and,seatedbythehauntedTombofVirgil,indulgethosevisions,thesubtlevaguenessofwhichnopoetrycanrenderpalpableanddefined;forthePoetthatsurpassesallwhoeversang,istheheartofdreamingyouth!Frequentlythere,too,besidethethresholdoverwhichthevine-leavesclung,andfacingthatdark-blue,wavelesssea,shewouldsitintheautumnnoonorsummertwilight,andbuildhercastlesintheair。Whodothnotdothesame,——notinyouthalone,butwiththedimmedhopesofage!Itisman\'sprerogativetodream,thecommonroyaltyofpeasantandofking。Butthoseday-dreamsofhersweremorehabitual,distinct,andsolemnthanthegreaterpartofusindulge。TheyseemedliketheOramaoftheGreeks,——prophetswhilephantasma。
CHAPTER1。II。
Fustupor,fuvaghezza,fudiletto!
\"Gerusal。Lib。,\"cant。ii。xxi。
\"Desireitwas,\'twaswonder,\'twasdelight。\"
Wiffen\'sTranslation。
Nowatlasttheeducationisaccomplished!Violaisnearlysixteen。TheCardinaldeclaresthatthetimeiscomewhenthenewnamemustbeinscribedintheLibrod\'Oro,——theGoldenBooksetaparttothechildrenofArtandSong。Yes,butinwhatcharacter?——towhosegeniusisshetogiveembodimentandform?
Ah,thereisthesecret!RumoursgoabroadthattheinexhaustiblePaisiello,charmedwithherperformanceofhis\"Nelcorpiunonmesento,\"andhis\"IosonLindoro,\"willproducesomenewmasterpiecetointroducethedebutante。Othersinsistuponitthatherforteisthecomic,andthatCimarosaishardatworkatanother\"MatrimoniaSegreto。\"Butinthemeanwhilethereisacheckinthediplomacysomewhere。TheCardinalisobservedtobeoutofhumour。Hehassaidpublicly,——andthewordsareportentous,——\"Thesillygirlisasmadasherfather;whatsheasksispreposterous!\"Conferencefollowsconference;theCardinaltalkstothepoorchildverysolemnlyinhiscloset,——
allinvain。Naplesisdistractedwithcuriosityandconjecture。
Thelectureendsinaquarrel,andViolacomeshomesullenandpouting:shewillnotact,——shehasrenouncedtheengagement。
Pisani,tooinexperiencedtobeawareofallthedangersofthestage,hadbeenpleasedatthenotionthatone,atleast,ofhisnamewouldaddcelebritytohisart。Thegirl\'sperversenessdispleasedhim。However,hesaidnothing,——heneverscoldedinwords,buthetookupthefaithfulbarbiton。Oh,faithfulbarbiton,howhorriblythoudidstscold!Itscreeched,itgabbled,itmoaned,itgrowled。AndViola\'seyesfilledwithtears,forsheunderstoodthatlanguage。Shestoletohermother,andwhisperedinherear;andwhenPisaniturnedfromhisemployment,lo!bothmotheranddaughterwereweeping。Helookedatthemwithawonderingstare;andthen,asifhefelthehadbeenharsh,heflewagaintohisFamiliar。Andnowyouthoughtyouheardthelullabywhichafairymightsingtosomefretfulchangelingithadadoptedandsoughttosoothe。Liquid,low,silvery,streamedthetonesbeneaththeenchantedbow。Themoststubborngriefwouldhavepausedtohear;andwithal,attimes,outcameawild,merry,ringingnote,likealaugh,butnotmortallaughter。Itwasoneofhismostsuccessfulairsfromhisbelovedopera,——theSirenintheactofcharmingthewavesandthewindstosleep。Heavenknowswhatnextwouldhavecome,buthisarmwasarrested。Violahadthrownherselfonhisbreast,andkissedhim,withhappyeyesthatsmiledthroughhersunnyhair。Atthatverymomentthedooropened,——amessagefromtheCardinal。ViolamustgotohisEminenceatonce。Hermotherwentwithher。Allwasreconciledandsettled;Violahadherway,andselectedherownopera。OyedullnationsoftheNorth,withyourbroilsanddebates,——yourbustlinglivesofthePnyxandtheAgora!——youcannotguesswhatastirthroughoutmusicalNapleswasoccasionedbytherumourofanewoperaandanewsinger。Butwhosetheopera?Nocabinetintrigueeverwassosecret。Pisanicamebackonenightfromthetheatre,evidentlydisturbedandirate。Woetothineearshadstthouheardthebarbitonthatnight!Theyhadsuspendedhimfromhisoffice,——
theyfearedthatthenewopera,andthefirstdebutofhisdaughterasprimadonna,wouldbetoomuchforhisnerves。Andhisvariations,hisdiablerieofsirensandharpies,onsuchanight,madeahazardnottobecontemplatedwithoutawe。Tobesetaside,andontheverynightthathischild,whosemelodywasbutanemanationofhisown,wastoperform,——setasideforsomenewrival:itwastoomuchforamusician\'sfleshandblood。
Forthefirsttimehespokeinwordsuponthesubject,andgravelyasked——forthatquestionthebarbiton,eloquentasitwas,couldnotexpressdistinctly——whatwastobetheopera,andwhatthepart?AndViolaasgravelyansweredthatshewaspledgedtotheCardinalnottoreveal。Pisanisaidnothing,butdisappearedwiththeviolin;andpresentlytheyheardtheFamiliarfromthehouse-topwhither,whenthoroughlyoutofhumour,themusiciansometimesfled,whiningandsighingasifitsheartwerebroken。
TheaffectionsofPisaniwerelittlevisibleonthesurface。Hewasnotoneofthosefond,caressingfatherswhosechildrenareeverplayingroundtheirknees;hismindandsoulweresothoroughlyinhisartthatdomesticlifeglidedbyhim,seeminglyasifTHATwereadream,andtheheartthesubstantialformandbodyofexistence。Personsmuchcultivatinganabstractstudyareoftenthus;mathematiciansproverbiallyso。WhenhisservantrantothecelebratedFrenchphilosopher,shrieking,\"Thehouseisonfire,sir!\"\"Goandtellmywifethen,fool!\"saidthewiseman,settlingbacktohisproblems;\"do_I_evermeddlewithdomesticaffairs?\"Butwhataremathematicstomusic——music,thatnotonlycomposesoperas,butplaysonthebarbiton?DoyouknowwhattheillustriousGiardinisaidwhenthetyroaskedhowlongitwouldtaketolearntoplayontheviolin?Hear,anddespair,yewhowouldbendthebowtowhichthatofUlysseswasaplaything,\"Twelvehoursadayfortwentyyearstogether!\"Canaman,then,whoplaysthebarbitonbealwaysplayingalsowithhislittleones?No,Pisani;often,withthekeensusceptibilityofchildhood,poorViolahadstolenfromtheroomtoweepatthethoughtthatthoudidstnotloveher。Andyet,underneaththisoutwardabstractionoftheartist,thenaturalfondnessflowedallthesame;andasshegrewup,thedreamerhadunderstoodthedreamer。Andnow,shutoutfromallfamehimself;tobeforbiddentohailevenhisdaughter\'sfame!——andthatdaughterherselftobeintheconspiracyagainsthim!Sharperthantheserpent\'stoothwastheingratitude,andsharperthantheserpent\'stoothwasthewailofthepityingbarbiton!
Theeventfulhouriscome。Violaisgonetothetheatre,——hermotherwithher。Theindignantmusicianremainsathome。
Gionettaburstsintotheroom:myLordCardinal\'scarriageisatthedoor,——thePadroneissentfor。Hemustlayasidehisviolin;hemustputonhisbrocadecoatandhislaceruffles。
Heretheyare,——quick,quick!Andquickrollsthegildedcoach,andmajesticsitsthedriver,andstatelilyprancethesteeds。
PoorPisaniislostinamistofuncomfortableamaze。Hearrivesatthetheatre;hedescendsatthegreatdoor;heturnsroundandround,andlooksabouthimandabout:hemissessomething,——
whereistheviolin?Alas!hissoul,hisvoice,hisselfofself,isleftbehind!Itisbutanautomatonthatthelackeysconductupthestairs,throughthetier,intotheCardinal\'sbox。
Butthen,whatburstsuponhim!Doeshedream?Thefirstactisovertheydidnotsendforhimtillsuccessseemednolongerdoubtful;thefirstacthasdecidedall。HefeelsTHATbytheelectricsympathywhichevertheonehearthasatoncewithavastaudience。Hefeelsitbythebreathlessstillnessofthatmultitude;hefeelsitevenbytheliftedfingeroftheCardinal。
HeseeshisViolaonthestage,radiantinherrobesandgems,——
hehearshervoicethrillingthroughthesingleheartofthethousands!Butthescene,thepart,themusic!Itishisotherchild,——hisimmortalchild;thespirit-infantofhissoul;hisdarlingofmanyyearsofpatientobscurityandpininggenius;hismasterpiece;hisoperaoftheSiren!
This,then,wasthemysterythathadsogalledhim,——thisthecauseofthequarrelwiththeCardinal;thisthesecretnottobeproclaimedtillthesuccesswaswon,andthedaughterhadunitedherfather\'striumphwithherown!
Andthereshestands,asallsoulsbowbeforeher,——fairerthantheverySirenhehadcalledfromthedeepsofmelody。Oh,longandsweetrecompenseoftoil!Whereisonearththerapturelikethatwhichisknowntogeniuswhenatlastitburstsfromitshiddencavernintolightandfame!
Hedidnotspeak,hedidnotmove;hestoodtransfixed,breathless,thetearsrollingdownhischeeks;onlyfromtimetotimehishandsstillwanderedabout,——mechanicallytheysoughtforthefaithfulinstrument,whywasitnottheretosharehistriumph?
Atlastthecurtainfell;butonsuchastormanddiapasonofapplause!Uprosetheaudienceasoneman,aswithonevoicethatdearnamewasshouted。Shecameon,trembling,pale,andinthewholecrowdsawbutherfather\'sface。Theaudiencefollowedthosemoistenedeyes;theyrecognisedwithathrillthedaughter\'simpulseandhermeaning。ThegoodoldCardinaldrewhimgentlyforward。Wildmusician,thydaughterhasgiventheebackmorethanthelifethougavest!
\"Mypoorviolin!\"saidhe,wipinghiseyes,\"theywillneverhisstheeagainnow!\"
CHAPTER1。III。
Frasicontrarietempreinghiaccioeinfoco,Inrisoeinpianto,efrapauraespemeL\'ingannatriceDonna——
\"Gerusal。Lib。,\"cant。iv。xciv。
Betweensuchcontrariousmixturesoficeandfire,laughterandtears,——fearandhope,thedeceivingdame。
Nownotwithstandingthetriumphbothofthesingerandtheopera,therehadbeenonemomentinthefirstact,and,consequently,BEFOREthearrivalofPisani,whenthescaleseemedmorethandoubtful。Itwasinachorusrepletewithallthepeculiaritiesofthecomposer。AndwhentheMaelstromofCapricciwhirledandfoamed,andtoreearandsensethrougheveryvarietyofsound,theaudiencesimultaneouslyrecognisedthehandofPisani。A
titlehadbeengiventotheoperawhichhadhithertopreventedallsuspicionofitsparentage;andtheovertureandopening,inwhichthemusichadbeenregularandsweet,hadledtheaudiencetofancytheydetectedthegeniusoftheirfavouritePaisiello。
LongaccustomedtoridiculeandalmosttodespisethepretensionsofPisaniasacomposer,theynowfeltasiftheyhadbeenundulycheatedintotheapplausewithwhichtheyhadhailedtheovertureandthecommencingscenas。Anominousbuzzcirculatedroundthehouse:thesingers,theorchestra,——electricallysensitivetotheimpressionoftheaudience,——grew,themselves,agitatedanddismayed,andfailedintheenergyandprecisionwhichcouldalonecarryoffthegrotesquenessofthemusic。
Therearealwaysineverytheatremanyrivalstoanewauthorandanewperformer,——apartyimpotentwhileallgoeswell,butadangerousambushtheinstantsomeaccidentthrowsintoconfusionthemarchofsuccess。Ahissarose;itwaspartial,itistrue,butthesignificantsilenceofallapplauseseemedtoforebodethecomingmomentwhenthedispleasurewouldgrowcontagious。Itwasthebreaththatstirredtheimpendingavalanche。AtthatcriticalmomentViola,theSirenqueen,emergedforthefirsttimefromheroceancave。Asshecameforwardtothelamps,thenoveltyofhersituation,thechillingapathyoftheaudience,——
whicheventhesightofsosingularabeautydidnotatthefirstarouse,——thewhispersofthemalignantsingersonthestage,theglareofthelights,andmore——farmorethantherest——thatrecenthiss,whichhadreachedherinherconcealment,allfrozeupherfacultiesandsuspendedhervoice。And,insteadofthegrandinvocationintowhichsheoughtrapidlytohaveburst,theregalSiren,retransformedintothetremblinggirl,stoodpaleandmutebeforethestern,coldarrayofthosecountlesseyes。
Atthatinstant,andwhenconsciousnessitselfseemedabouttofailher,assheturnedatimidbeseechingglancearoundthestillmultitude,sheperceived,inaboxnearthestage,acountenancewhichatonce,andlikemagic,producedonhermindaneffectnevertobeanalysednorforgotten。Itwasonethatawakenedanindistinct,hauntingreminiscence,asifshehadseenitinthoseday-dreamsshehadbeensowontfrominfancytoindulge。Shecouldnotwithdrawhergazefromthatface,andasshegazed,theaweandcoldnessthathadbeforeseizedher,vanishedlikeamistfrombeforethesun。
Inthedarksplendouroftheeyesthatmetherowntherewasindeedsomuchofgentleencouragement,ofbenignandcompassionateadmiration,——somuchthatwarmed,andanimated,andnerved,——thatanyone,actorororator,whohaseverobservedtheeffectthatasingleearnestandkindlylookinthecrowdthatistobeaddressedandwon,willproduceuponhismind,mayreadilyaccountforthesuddenandinspiritinginfluencewhichtheeyeandsmileofthestrangerexercisedonthedebutante。
Andwhileyetshegazed,andtheglowreturnedtoherheart,thestrangerhalfrose,asiftorecalltheaudiencetoasenseofthecourtesyduetoonesofairandyoung;andtheinstanthisvoicegavethesignal,theaudiencefolloweditbyaburstofgenerousapplause。Forthisstrangerhimselfwasamarkedpersonage,andhisrecentarrivalatNapleshaddividedwiththenewoperathegossipofthecity。Andthenastheapplauseceased,clear,full,andfreedfromeveryfetter,likeaspiritfromtheclay,theSiren\'svoicepouredforthitsentrancingmusic。FromthattimeViolaforgotthecrowd,thehazard,thewholeworld,——exceptthefairyoneoverwithshepresided。Itseemedthatthestranger\'spresenceonlyservedstillmoretoheightenthatdelusion,inwhichtheartistseesnocreationwithoutthecircleofhisart,shefeltasifthatserenebrow,andthosebrillianteyes,inspiredherwithpowersneverknownbefore:and,asifsearchingforalanguagetoexpressthestrangesensationsoccasionedbyhispresence,thatpresenceitselfwhisperedtoherthemelodyandthesong。
Onlywhenallwasover,andshesawherfatherandfelthisjoy,didthiswildspellvanishbeforethesweeteroneofthehouseholdandfiliallove。Yetagain,assheturnedfromthestage,shelookedbackinvoluntarily,andthestranger\'scalmandhalf-melancholysmilesankintoherheart,——tolivethere,toberecalledwithconfusedmemories,halfofpleasure,andhalfofpain。
PassoverthecongratulationsofthegoodCardinal-Virtuoso,astonishedatfindinghimselfandallNapleshadbeenhithertointhewrongonasubjectoftaste,——stillmoreastonishedatfindinghimselfandallNaplescombiningtoconfessit;passoverthewhisperedecstasiesofadmirationwhichbuzzedinthesinger\'sear,asoncemore,inhermodestveilandquietdress,sheescapedfromthecrowdofgallantsthatchokedupeveryavenuebehindthescenes;passoverthesweetembraceoffatherandchild,returningthroughthestarlitstreetsandalongthedesertedChiajaintheCardinal\'scarriage;neverpausenowtonotethetearsandejaculationsofthegood,simple-heartedmother,——seethemreturned;seethewell-knownroom,venimusadlaremnostrumWecometoourownhouse。;seeoldGionettabustlingatthesupper;andhearPisani,asherousesthebarbitonfromitscase,communicatingallthathashappenedtotheintelligentFamiliar;harktothemother\'smerry,low,Englishlaugh。Why,Viola,strangechild,sittestthouapart,thyfaceleaningonthyfairhands,thineeyesfixedonspace?
Up,rousethee!Everydimpleonthecheekofhomemustsmileto-night。\"Ridetequidquidestdomicachinnorum。\"Catull。\"adSirm。Penin。\"
Andahappyreunionitwasroundthathumbletable:afeastLucullusmighthaveenviedinhisHallofApollo,inthedriedgrapes,andthedaintysardines,andtheluxuriouspolenta,andtheoldlacrimaapresentfromthegoodCardinal。Thebarbiton,placedonachair——atall,high-backedchair——besidethemusician,seemedtotakeapartinthefestivemeal。Itshonestvarnishedfaceglowedinthelightofthelamp;andtherewasanimpish,slydemurenessinitsverysilence,asitsmaster,betweeneverymouthful,turnedtotalktoitofsomethinghehadforgottentorelatebefore。Thegoodwifelookedonaffectionately,andcouldnoteatforjoy;butsuddenlysherose,andplacedontheartist\'stemplesalaurelwreath,whichshehadwovenbeforehandinfondanticipation;andViola,ontheothersideherbrother,thebarbiton,rearrangedthechaplet,and,smoothingbackherfather\'shair,whispered,\"CaroPadre,youwillnotletHIMscoldmeagain!\"
ThenpoorPisani,ratherdistractedbetweenthetwo,andexcitedbothbythelacrimaandhistriumph,turnedtotheyoungerchildwithsonaiveandgrotesqueapride,\"Idon\'tknowwhichtothankthemost。Yougivemesomuchjoy,child,——Iamsoproudoftheeandmyself。ButheandI,poorfellow,havebeensooftenunhappytogether!\"
Viola\'ssleepwasbroken,——thatwasnatural。Theintoxicationofvanityandtriumph,thehappinessinthehappinessshehadcaused,allthiswasbetterthansleep。Butstillfromallthis,againandagainherthoughtsflewtothosehauntingeyes,tothatsmilewithwhichforeverthememoryofthetriumph,ofthehappiness,wastobeunited。Herfeelings,likeherowncharacter,werestrangeandpeculiar。Theywerenotthoseofagirlwhoseheart,forthefirsttimereachedthroughtheeye,sighsitsnaturalandnativelanguageoffirstlove。Itwasnotsomuchadmiration,thoughthefacethatreflecteditselfoneverywaveofherrestlessfancieswasoftherarestorderofmajestyandbeauty;norapleasedandenamouredrecollectionthatthesightofthisstrangerhadbequeathed:itwasahumansentimentofgratitudeanddelight,mixedwithsomethingmoremysterious,offearandawe。Certainlyshehadseenbeforethosefeatures;butwhenandhow?Onlywhenherthoughtshadsoughttoshapeoutherfuture,andwhen,inspiteofalltheattemptstovisionforthafateofflowersandsunshine,adarkandchillforebodingmadeherrecoilbackintoherdeepestself。Itwasasomethingfoundthathadlongbeensoughtforbyathousandrestlessyearningsandvaguedesires,lessoftheheartthanmind;notaswhenyouthdiscoverstheonetobebeloved,butratheraswhenthestudent,longwanderingaftertheclewtosometruthinscience,seesitglimmerdimlybeforehim,tobeckon,torecede,toallure,andtowaneagain。Shefellatlastintounquietslumber,vexedbydeformed,fleeting,shapelessphantoms;
and,waking,asthesun,throughaveilofhazycloud,glintedwithasicklyrayacrossthecasement,sheheardherfathersettledbackbetimestohisonepursuit,andcallingforthfromhisFamiliaralowmournfulstrain,likeadirgeoverthedead。
\"Andwhy,\"sheasked,whenshedescendedtotheroombelow,——
\"why,myfather,wasyourinspirationsosad,afterthejoyoflastnight?\"
\"Iknownot,child。Imeanttobemerry,andcomposeanairinhonourofthee;butheisanobstinatefellow,this,——andhewouldhaveitso。\"
CHAPTER1。IV。
EcosiipigrietimididesiriSprona。
\"Gerusal。Lib。,\"cant。iv。lxxxviii。
Andthustheslowandtimidpassionsurged。
ItwasthecustomofPisani,exceptwhenthedutiesofhisprofessionmadespecialdemandonhistime,todevoteacertainportionofthemid-daytosleep,——ahabitnotsomuchaluxuryasanecessitytoamanwhosleptverylittleduringthenight。Infact,whethertocomposeortopractice,thehoursofnoonwerepreciselythoseinwhichPisanicouldnothavebeenactiveifhewould。Hisgeniusresembledthosefountainsfullatdawnandevening,overflowingatnight,andperfectlydryatthemeridian。
Duringthistime,consecratedbyherhusbandtorepose,thesignoragenerallystoleouttomakethepurchasesnecessaryforthelittlehousehold,ortoenjoyaswhatwomandoesnot?alittlerelaxationingossipwithsomeofherownsex。Andthedayfollowingthisbrillianttriumph,howmanycongratulationswouldshehavetoreceive!
AtthesetimesitwasViola\'shabittoseatherselfwithoutthedoorofthehouse,underanawningwhichshelteredfromthesunwithoutobstructingtheview;andtherenow,withtheprompt-bookonherknee,onwhichhereyeroveslistlesslyfromtimetotime,youmaybeholdher,thevine-leavesclusteringfromtheirarchingtrellisoverthedoorbehind,andthelazywhite-sailedboatsskimmingalongtheseathatstretchedbefore。
Asshethussat,ratherinreveriethanthought,amancomingfromthedirectionofPosilipo,withaslowstepanddowncasteyes,passedclosebythehouse,andViola,lookingupabruptly,startedinakindofterrorassherecognisedthestranger。Sheutteredaninvoluntaryexclamation,andthecavalierturning,saw,andpaused。
Hestoodamomentortwobetweenherandthesunlitocean,contemplatinginasilencetooseriousandgentlefortheboldnessofgallantry,theblushingfaceandtheyoungslightformbeforehim;atlengthhespoke。
\"Areyouhappy,mychild,\"hesaid,inalmostapaternaltone,\"atthecareerthatliesbeforeyou?Fromsixteentothirty,themusicinthebreathofapplauseissweeterthanallthemusicyourvoicecanutter!\"
\"Iknownot,\"repliedViola,falteringly,butencouragedbytheliquidsoftnessoftheaccentsthataddressedher,——\"IknownotwhetherIamhappynow,butIwaslastnight。AndIfeel,too,Excellency,thatIhaveyoutothank,though,perhaps,youscarceknowwhy!\"
\"Youdeceiveyourself,\"saidthecavalier,withasmile。\"IamawarethatIassistedtoyourmeritedsuccess,anditisyouwhoscarceknowhow。TheWHYIwilltellyou:becauseIsawinyourheartanoblerambitionthanthatofthewoman\'svanity;itwasthedaughterthatinterestedme。PerhapsyouwouldratherI
shouldhaveadmiredthesinger?\"
\"No;oh,no!\"
\"Well,Ibelieveyou。Andnow,sincewehavethusmet,Iwillpausetocounselyou。Whennextyougotothetheatre,youwillhaveatyourfeetalltheyounggallantsofNaples。Poorinfant!
theflamethatdazzlestheeyecanscorchthewing。Rememberthattheonlyhomagethatdoesnotsullymustbethatwhichthesegallantswillnotgivethee。Andwhateverthydreamsofthefuture,——andIsee,whileIspeaktothee,howwanderingtheyare,andwild,——mayonlythosebefulfilledwhichcentreroundthehearthofhome。\"
Hepaused,asViola\'sbreastheavedbeneathitsrobe。Andwithaburstofnaturalandinnocentemotions,scarcelycomprehending,thoughanItalian,thegravenatureofhisadvice,sheexclaimed,——
\"Ah,Excellency,youcannotknowhowdeartomethathomeisalready。Andmyfather,——therewouldbenohome,signor,withouthim!\"
Adeepandmelancholyshadesettledoverthefaceofthecavalier。Helookedupatthequiethouseburiedamidstthevine-leaves,andturnedagaintothevivid,animatedfaceoftheyoungactress。
\"Itiswell,\"saidhe。\"Asimpleheartmaybeitsownbestguide,andso,goon,andprosper。Adieu,fairsinger。\"
\"Adieu,Excellency;but,\"andsomethingshecouldnotresist——ananxious,sickeningfeelingoffearandhope,——impelledhertothequestion,\"Ishallseeyouagain,shallInot,atSanCarlo?\"
\"Not,atleast,forsometime。IleaveNaplesto-day。\"
\"Indeed!\"andViola\'sheartsankwithinher;thepoetryofthestagewasgone。
\"And,\"saidthecavalier,turningback,andgentlylayinghishandonhers,——\"and,perhaps,beforewemeet,youmayhavesuffered:knownthefirstsharpgriefsofhumanlife,——knownhowlittlewhatfamecangain,repayswhattheheartcanlose;butbebraveandyieldnot,——noteventowhatmayseemthepietyofsorrow。Observeyontreeinyourneighbour\'sgarden。Lookhowitgrowsup,crookedanddistorted。Somewindscatteredthegermfromwhichitsprang,inthecleftsoftherock;chokedupandwalledroundbycragsandbuildings,byNatureandman,itslifehasbeenonestruggleforthelight,——lightwhichmakestothatlifethenecessityandtheprinciple:youseehowithaswrithedandtwisted;how,meetingthebarrierinonespot,ithaslabouredandworked,stemandbranches,towardstheclearskiesatlast。Whathaspreserveditthrougheachdisfavourofbirthandcircumstances,——whyareitsleavesasgreenandfairasthoseofthevinebehindyou,which,withallitsarms,canembracetheopensunshine?Mychild,becauseoftheveryinstinctthatimpelledthestruggle,——becausethelabourforthelightwontothelightatlength。Sowithagallantheart,througheveryadverseaccidentofsorrowandoffatetoturntothesun,tostrivefortheheaven;thisitisthatgivesknowledgetothestrongandhappinesstotheweak。Erewemeetagain,youwillturnsadandheavyeyestothosequietboughs,andwhenyouhearthebirdssingfromthem,andseethesunshinecomeaslantfromcragandhousetoptobetheplayfellowoftheirleaves,learnthelessonthatNatureteachesyou,andstrivethroughdarknesstothelight!\"
Ashespokehemovedonslowly,andleftViolawondering,silent,saddenedwithhisdimprophecyofcomingevil,andyet,throughsadness,charmed。Involuntarilyhereyesfollowedhim,——
involuntarilyshestretchedforthherarms,asifbyagesturetocallhimback;shewouldhavegivenworldstohaveseenhimturn,——tohaveheardoncemorehislow,calm,silveryvoice;tohavefeltagainthelighttouchofhishandonhers。Asmoonlightthatsoftensintobeautyeveryangleonwhichitfalls,seemedhispresence,——asmoonlightvanishes,andthingsassumetheircommonaspectoftheruggedandthemean,herecededfromhereyes,andtheoutwardscenewascommonplaceoncemore。
Thestrangerpassedon,throughthatlongandlovelyroadwhichreachesatlastthepalacesthatfacethepublicgardens,andconductstothemorepopulousquartersofthecity。
Agroupofyoung,dissipatedcourtiers,loiteringbythegatewayofahousewhichwasopenforthefavouritepastimeoftheday,——
theresortofthewealthierandmorehigh-borngamesters,——madewayforhim,aswithacourteousinclinationhepassedthemby。
\"Perfede,\"saidone,\"isnotthattherichZanoni,ofwhomthetowntalks?\"
\"Ay;theysayhiswealthisincalculable!\"
\"THEYsay,——whoareTHEY?——whatistheauthority?HehasnotbeenmanydaysatNaples,andIcannotyetfindanyonewhoknowsaughtofhisbirthplace,hisparentage,or,whatismoreimportant,hisestates!\"
\"Thatistrue;buthearrivedinagoodlyvessel,whichTHEYSAY
ishisown。See,——no,youcannotseeithere;butitridesyonderinthebay。Thebankershedealswithspeakwithaweofthesumsplacedintheirhands。\"
\"Whencecamehe?\"
\"FromsomeseaportintheEast。MyvaletlearnedfromsomeofthesailorsontheMolethathehadresidedmanyyearsintheinteriorofIndia。\"
\"Ah,IamtoldthatinIndiamenpickupgoldlikepebbles,andthattherearevalleyswherethebirdsbuildtheirnestswithemeraldstoattractthemoths。Herecomesourprinceofgamesters,Cetoxa;besurethathealreadymusthavemadeacquaintancewithsowealthyacavalier;hehasthatattractiontogoldwhichthemagnethastosteel。Well,Cetoxa,whatfreshnewsoftheducatsofSignorZanoni?\"
\"Oh,\"saidCetoxa,carelessly,\"myfriend——\"
\"Ha!ha!hearhim;hisfriend——\"
\"Yes;myfriendZanoniisgoingtoRomeforashorttime;whenhereturns,hehaspromisedmetofixadaytosupwithme,andI
willthenintroducehimtoyou,andtothebestsocietyofNaples!Diavolo!butheisamostagreeableandwittygentleman!\"
\"Praytellushowyoucamesosuddenlytobehisfriend。\"
\"MydearBelgioso,nothingmorenatural。HedesiredaboxatSanCarlo;butIneednottellyouthattheexpectationofanewoperaah,howsuperbitis,——thatpoordevil,Pisani;whowouldhavethoughtit?andanewsingerwhataface,——whatavoice!——
ah!hadengagedeverycornerofthehouse。IheardofZanoni\'sdesiretohonourthetalentofNaples,and,withmyusualcourtesytodistinguishedstrangers,Isenttoplacemyboxathisdisposal。Heacceptsit,——Iwaitonhimbetweentheacts;heismostcharming;heinvitesmetosupper。Cospetto,whataretinue!Wesitlate,——ItellhimallthenewsofNaples;wegrowbosomfriends;hepressesonmethisdiamondbeforewepart,——isatrifle,hetellsme:thejewellersvalueitat5000
pistoles!——themerriesteveningIhavepassedthesetenyears。\"
Thecavalierscrowdedroundtoadmirethediamond。
\"SignorCountCetoxa,\"saidonegrave-lookingsombreman,whohadcrossedhimselftwoorthreetimesduringtheNeapolitan\'snarrative,\"areyounotawareofthestrangereportsaboutthisperson;andareyounotafraidtoreceivefromhimagiftwhichmaycarrywithitthemostfatalconsequences?Doyounotknowthatheissaidtobeasorcerer;topossessthemal-occhio;
to——\"
\"Prithee,spareusyourantiquatedsuperstitions,\"interruptedCetoxa,contemptuously。\"Theyareoutoffashion;nothingnowgoesdownbutscepticismandphilosophy。Andwhat,afterall,dotheserumours,whensifted,amountto?Theyhavenooriginbutthis,——asillyoldmanofeighty-six,quiteinhisdotage,solemnlyaversthathesawthissameZanoniseventyyearsagohehimself,thenarrator,thenamereboyatMilan;whenthisveryZanoni,asyouallsee,isatleastasyoungasyouorI,Belgioso。\"
\"Butthat,\"saidthegravegentleman,——\"THATisthemystery。OldAvellideclaresthatZanonidoesnotseemadayolderthanwhentheymetatMilan。HesaysthateventhenatMilan——markthis——
where,thoughunderanothername,thisZanoniappearedinthesamesplendour,hewasattendedalsobythesamemystery。AndthatanoldmanTHERErememberedtohaveseenhimsixtyyearsbefore,inSweden。\"
\"Tush,\"returnedCetoxa,\"thesamethinghasbeensaidofthequackCagliostro,——merefables。IwillbelievethemwhenIseethisdiamondturntoawispofhay。Fortherest,\"headdedgravely,\"Iconsiderthisillustriousgentlemanmyfriend;andawhisperagainsthishonourandreputewillinfuturebeequivalenttoanaffronttomyself。\"
Cetoxawasaredoubtedswordsman,andexcelledinapeculiarlyawkwardmanoeuvre,whichhehimselfhadaddedtothevariationsofthestoccata。Thegravegentleman,howeveranxiousforthespiritualwealofthecount,hadanequalregardforhisowncorporealsafety。Hecontentedhimselfwithalookofcompassion,and,turningthroughthegateway,ascendedthestairstothegaming-tables。
\"Ha,ha!\"saidCetoxa,laughing,\"ourgoodLoredanoisenviousofmydiamond。Gentlemen,yousupwithmeto-night。IassureyouI
nevermetamoredelightful,sociable,entertainingperson,thanmydearfriendtheSignorZanoni。\"
CHAPTER1。V。
QuelloIppogifo,grandeestranoaugelloLoportavia。
\"OrlandoFurioso,\"c。vi。xviii。
Thathippogriff,greatandmarvellousbird,bearshimaway。
Andnow,accompanyingthismysteriousZanoni,amIcompelledtobidashortfarewelltoNaples。Mountbehindme,——mountonmyhippogriff,reader;settleyourselfatyourease。Iboughtthepilliontheotherdayofapoetwholoveshiscomfort;ithasbeennewlystuffedforyourspecialaccommodation。So,so,weascend!Lookasweridealoft,——look!——neverfear,hippogriffsneverstumble;andeveryhippogriffinItalyiswarrantedtocarryelderlygentlemen,——lookdownontheglidinglandscapes!
There,neartheruinsoftheOscan\'soldAtella,risesAversa,oncethestrongholdoftheNorman;theregleamthecolumnsofCapua,abovetheVulturnianStream。Hailtoye,cornfieldsandvineyardsfamousfortheoldFalernian!Hailtoye,goldenorange-grovesofMoladiGaeta!Hailtoye,sweetshrubsandwildflowers,omniscopianarium,thatclothethemountain-skirtsofthesilentLautulae!ShallwerestattheVolscianAnxur,——
themodernTerracina,——wheretheloftyrockstandslikethegiantthatguardsthelastbordersofthesouthernlandoflove?Away,away!andholdyourbreathasweflitabovethePontineMarshes。
Drearyanddesolate,theirmiasmaistothegardenswehavepassedwhattherankcommonplaceoflifeistotheheartwhenithasleftlovebehind。
MournfulCampagna,thouopenestonusinmajesticsadness。Rome,seven-hilledRome!receiveusasMemoryreceivestheway-worn;
receiveusinsilence,amidstruins!Whereisthetravellerwepursue?Turnthehippogriffloosetograze:helovestheacanthusthatwreathesroundyonbrokencolumns。Yes,thatisthearchofTitus,theconquerorofJerusalem,——thattheColosseum!Throughonepassedthetriumphofthedeifiedinvader;inonefellthebutcheredgladiators。Monumentsofmurder,howpoorthethoughts,howmeanthememoriesyeawaken,comparedwiththosethatspeaktotheheartofmanontheheightsofPhyle,orbythylonemound,greyMarathon!Westandamidstweedsandbramblesandlongwavingherbage。WherewestandreignedNero,——herewerehistessellatedfloors;here,\"Mightyintheheaven,asecondheaven,\"
hungthevaultofhisivoryroofs;here,archuponarch,pillaronpillar,glitteredtotheworldthegoldenpalaceofitsmaster,——theGoldenHouseofNero。Howthelizardwatchesuswithhisbright,timorouseye!Wedisturbhisreign。Gatherthatwildflower:theGoldenHouseisvanished,butthewildflowermayhavekintothosewhichthestranger\'shandscatteredoverthetyrant\'sgrave;see,overthissoil,thegraveofRome,Naturestrewsthewildflowersstill!
Inthemidstofthisdesolationisanoldbuildingofthemiddleages。Heredwellsasingularrecluse。Intheseasonofthemalariathenativepeasantfliestherankvegetationround;buthe,astrangerandaforeigner,noassociates,nocompanions,exceptbooksandinstrumentsofscience。Heisoftenseenwanderingoverthegrass-grownhills,orsaunteringthroughthestreetsofthenewcity,notwiththeabsentbrowandincuriousairofstudents,butwithobservantpiercingeyesthatseemtodiveintotheheartsofthepassers-by。Anoldman,butnotinfirm,——erectandstately,asifinhisprime。Noneknowwhetherheberichorpoor。Heasksnocharity,andhegivesnone,——hedoesnoevil,andseemstoconfernogood。Heisamanwhoappearstohavenoworldbeyondhimself;butappearancesaredeceitful,andScience,aswellasBenevolence,livesintheUniverse。Thisabode,forthefirsttimesincethusoccupied,avisitorenters。ItisZanoni。
Youobservethosetwomenseatedtogether,conversingearnestly。
Yearslongandmanyhaveflownawaysincetheymetlast,——atleast,bodily,andfacetoface。Butiftheyaresages,thoughtcanmeetthought,andspiritspirit,thoughoceansdividetheforms。Deathitselfdividesnotthewise。ThoumeetestPlatowhenthineeyesmoistenoverthePhaedo。MayHomerlivewithallmenforever!
Theyconverse;theyconfesstoeachother;theyconjureupthepast,andrepeopleit;butnotehowdifferentlydosuchremembrancesaffectthetwo。OnZanoni\'sface,despiteitshabitualcalm,theemotionschangeandgo。HEhasactedinthepasthesurveys;butnotatraceofthehumanitythatparticipatesinjoyandsorrowcanbedetectedonthepassionlessvisageofhiscompanion;thepast,tohim,asisnowthepresent,hasbeenbutasNaturetothesage,thevolumetothestudent,——acalmandspirituallife,astudy,acontemplation。
Fromthepasttheyturntothefuture。Ah!atthecloseofthelastcentury,thefutureseemedathingtangible,——itwaswovenupinallmen\'sfearsandhopesofthepresent。
Atthevergeofthathundredyears,Man,theripestbornofTime,\"AndesJahrhundertsNeige,DerreifsteSohnderZeit。\"
\"DieKunstler。\"
stoodasatthedeathbedoftheOldWorld,andbeheldtheNewOrb,blood-redamidstcloudandvapour,——uncertainifacometorasun。Beholdtheicyandprofounddisdainonthebrowoftheoldman,——theloftyyettouchingsadnessthatdarkensthegloriouscountenanceofZanoni。Isitthatoneviewswithcontemptthestruggleanditsissue,andtheotherwithaweorpity?Wisdomcontemplatingmankindleadsbuttothetworesults,——compassionordisdain。Hewhobelievesinotherworldscanaccustomhimselftolookonthisasthenaturalistontherevolutionsofanant-hill,orofaleaf。WhatistheEarthtoInfinity,——whatitsdurationtotheEternal?Oh,howmuchgreateristhesoulofonemanthanthevicissitudesofthewholeglobe!Childofheaven,andheirofimmortality,howfromsomestarhereafterwiltthoulookbackontheant-hillanditscommotions,fromClovistoRobespierre,fromNoahtotheFinalFire。Thespiritthatcancontemplate,thatlivesonlyintheintellect,canascendtoitsstar,evenfromthemidstoftheburial-groundcalledEarth,andwhilethesarcophaguscalledLifeimmuresinitsclaytheeverlasting!
Butthou,Zanoni,——thouhastrefusedtoliveONLYintheintellect;thouhastnotmortifiedtheheart;thypulsestillbeatswiththesweetmusicofmortalpassion;thykindistotheestillsomethingwarmerthananabstraction,——thouwouldstlookuponthisRevolutioninitscradle,whichthestormsrock;thouwouldstseetheworldwhileitselementsyetstrugglethroughthechaos!
Go!
CHAPTER1。VI。
Precepteursignoransdecefaibleunivers——Voltaire。
Ignorantteachersofthisweakworld。
Nousetionsatablechezundenosconfreresal\'Academie,GrandSeigneurethommed\'esprit——LaHarpe。
WesuppedwithoneofourconfreresoftheAcademy,——agreatnoblemanandwit。
Oneevening,atParis,severalmonthsafterthedateofourlastchapter,therewasareunionofsomeofthemosteminentwitsofthetime,atthehouseofapersonagedistinguishedalikebynoblebirthandliberalaccomplishments。Nearlyallpresentwereoftheviewsthatwerethenthemode。For,ascameafterwardsatimewhennothingwassounpopularasthepeople,sothatwasthetimewhennothingwassovulgarasaristocracy。Theairiestfinegentlemanandthehaughtiestnoblepratedofequality,andlispedenlightenment。
AmongthemoreremarkableguestswereCondorcet,thenintheprimeofhisreputation,thecorrespondentofthekingofPrussia,theintimateofVoltaire,thememberofhalftheacademiesofEurope,——noblebybirth,polishedinmanners,republicaninopinions。There,too,wasthevenerableMalesherbes,\"l\'amouretlesdelicesdelaNation。\"Theidolanddelightofthenationso-calledbyhishistorian,Gaillard。ThereJeanSilvainBailly,theaccomplishedscholar,——theaspiringpolitician。Itwasoneofthosepetitssoupersforwhichthecapitalofallsocialpleasureswassorenowned。Theconversation,asmightbeexpected,wasliteraryandintellectual,enlivenedbygracefulpleasantry。Manyoftheladiesofthatancientandproudnoblesse——forthenoblesseyetexisted,thoughitshourswerealreadynumbered——addedtothecharmofthesociety;andtheirsweretheboldestcriticisms,andoftenthemostliberalsentiments。
Vainlabourforme——vainlabouralmostforthegraveEnglishlanguage——todojusticetothesparklingparadoxesthatflewfromliptolip。Thefavouritethemewasthesuperiorityofthemodernstotheancients。Condorcetonthisheadwaseloquent,andtosome,atleast,ofhisaudience,mostconvincing。ThatVoltairewasgreaterthanHomerfewthereweredisposedtodeny。
Keenwastheridiculelavishedonthedullpedantrywhichfindseverythingancientnecessarilysublime。
\"Yet,\"saidthegracefulMarquisde——,asthechampagnedancedtohisglass,\"moreridiculousstillisthesuperstitionthatfindseverythingincomprehensibleholy!Butintelligencecirculates,Condorcet;likewater,itfindsitslevel。Myhairdressersaidtomethismorning,\'ThoughIambutapoorfellow,Ibelieveaslittleasthefinestgentleman!\'\"
\"Unquestionably,thegreatRevolutiondrawsneartoitsfinalcompletion,——apasdegeant,asMontesquieusaidofhisownimmortalwork。\"