\"Ger。Lib。,\"c。viii。xli。
Betterdefencethanshieldorbreastplateisholyinnocencetothenakedbreast。
Andtheyburiedthemusicianandhisbarbitontogether,inthesamecoffin。ThatfamousSteiner——primevalTitanofthegreatTyroleserace——oftenhastthousoughttoscaletheheavens,andthereforemustthou,likethemeanerchildrenofmen,descendtothedismalHades!Harderfatefortheethanthymortalmaster。
ForTHYsoulsleepswiththeeinthecoffin。AndthemusicthatbelongstoHIS,separatefromtheinstrument,ascendsonhigh,tobeheardoftenbyadaughter\'spiousearswhentheheavenissereneandtheearthsad。Forthereisasenseofhearingthatthevulgarknownot。Andthevoicesofthedeadbreathesoftandfrequenttothosewhocanunitethememorywiththefaith。
AndnowViolaisaloneintheworld,——aloneinthehomewherelonelinesshadseemedfromthecradleathingthatwasnotofnature。Andatfirstthesolitudeandthestillnesswereinsupportable。Haveyou,yemourners,towhomthesesibylleaves,weirdwithmanyadarkenigma,shallbeborne,haveyounotfeltthatwhenthedeathofsomebest-lovedonehasmadethehearthdesolate,——haveyounotfeltasifthegloomofthealteredhomewastooheavyforthoughttobear?——youwouldleaveit,thoughapalace,evenforacabin。Andyet,——sadtosay,——
whenyouobeytheimpulse,whenyouflyfromthewalls,wheninthestrangeplaceinwhichyouseekyourrefugenothingspeakstoyouofthelost,haveyenotfeltagainayearningforthatveryfoodtomemorywhichwasjustbeforebutbitternessandgall?Isitnotalmostimpiousandprofanetoabandonthatdearhearthtostrangers?Andthedesertionofthehomewhereyourparentsdwelt,andblessedyou,upbraidsyourconscienceasifyouhadsoldtheirtombs。
BeautifulwastheEtruscansuperstitionthattheancestorsbecomethehouseholdgods。DeafisthehearttowhichtheLarescallfromthedesolatefloorsinvain。AtfirstViolahad,inherintolerableanguish,gratefullywelcomedtherefugewhichthehouseandfamilyofakindlyneighbour,muchattachedtoherfather,andwhowasoneoftheorchestrathatPisanishallperplexnomore,hadprofferedtotheorphan。Butthecompanyoftheunfamiliarinourgrief,theconsolationofthestranger,howitirritatesthewound!Andthen,tohearelsewherethenameoffather,mother,child,——asifdeathcamealonetoyou,——toseeelsewherethecalmregularityofthoselivesunitedinloveandorder,keepingaccountofhappyhours,theunbrokentimepieceofhome,asifnowhereelsethewheelswerearrested,thechainshattered,thehandsmotionless,thechimestill!No,thegraveitselfdoesnotremindusofourlosslikethecompanyofthosewhohavenolosstomourn。Gobacktothysolitude,youngorphan,——gobacktothyhome:thesorrowthatmeetstheeonthethresholdcangreetthee,eveninitssadness,likethesmileuponthefaceofthedead。Andthere,fromthycasement,andthere,fromwithoutthydoor,thouseeststillthetree,solitaryasthyself,andspringingfromthecleftsoftherock,butforcingitswaytolight,——as,throughallsorrow,whiletheseasonsyetcanrenewtheverdureandbloomofyouth,strivestheinstinctofthehumanheart!Onlywhenthesapisdriedup,onlywhenagecomeson,doesthesunshineinvainformanandforthetree。
Weeksandmonths——monthssadandmany——againpassed,andNapleswillnotlongersufferitsidoltosecludeitselffromhomage。
Theworldeverplucksusbackfromourselveswithathousandarms。AndagainViola\'svoiceishearduponthestage,which,mysticallyfaithfultolife,isinnoughtmorefaithfulthanthis,thatitistheappearancesthatfillthescene;andwepausenottoaskofwhatrealitiestheyaretheproxies。WhentheactorofAthensmovedallheartsasheclaspedtheburialurn,andburstintobrokensobs;howfew,there,knewthatitheldtheashesofhisson!Gold,aswellasfame,wasshoweredupontheyoungactress;butshestillkepttohersimplemodeoflife,toherlowlyhome,totheoneservantwhosefaults,selfishastheywere,Violawastooinexperiencedtoperceive。AnditwasGionettawhohadplacedherwhenfirstborninherfather\'sarms!Shewassurroundedbyeverysnare,wooedbyeverysolicitationthatcouldbesetherunguardedbeautyandherdangerouscalling。Buthermodestvirtuepassedunsulliedthroughthemall。Itistruethatshehadbeentaughtbylipsnowmutethemaidendutiesenjoinedbyhonourandreligion。Andalllovethatspokenotofthealtaronlyshockedandrepelledher。Butbesidesthat,asgriefandsolituderipenedherheart,andmadehertrembleattimestothinkhowdeeplyitcouldfeel,hervagueandearlyvisionsshapedthemselvesintoanidealoflove。Andtilltheidealisfound,howtheshadowthatitthrowsbeforeitchillsustotheactual!Withthatideal,everandever,unconsciously,andwithacertainaweandshrinking,cametheshapeandvoiceofthewarningstranger。NearlytwoyearshadpassedsincehehadappearedatNaples。Nothinghadbeenheardofhim,savethathisvesselhadbeendirected,somemonthsafterhisdeparture,tosailforLeghorn。BythegossipsofNaples,hisexistence,supposedsoextraordinary,waswellnighforgotten;buttheheartofViolawasmorefaithful。Oftenheglidedthroughherdreams,andwhenthewindsighedthroughthatfantastictree,associatedwithhisremembrance,shestartedwithatremorandablush,asifshehadheardhimspeak。
Butamongstthetrainofhersuitorswasonetowhomshelistenedmoregentlythantotherest;partlybecause,perhaps,hespokeinhermother\'snativetongue;partlybecauseinhisdiffidencetherewaslittletoalarmanddisplease;partlybecausehisrank,nearertoherownthanthatoflordlierwooers,preventedhisadmirationfromappearinginsult;partlybecausehehimself,eloquentandadreamer,oftenutteredthoughtsthatwerekindredtothoseburieddeepestinhermind。Shebegantolike,perhapstolovehim,butasasisterloves;asortofprivilegedfamiliaritysprungupbetweenthem。IfintheEnglishman\'sbreastarosewildandunworthyhopes,hehadnotyetexpressedthem。Istheredangertotheehere,loneViola,oristhedangergreaterinthyunfoundideal?
Andnow,astheoverturetosomestrangeandwizardspectacle,closesthisopeningprelude。Wiltthouhearmore?Comewiththyfaithprepared。Iasknottheblindedeyes,buttheawakenedsense。AstheenchantedIsle,remotefromthehomesofmen,——
\"OvealcunlegnoRado,ononmaivadallenostresponde,\"——
\"Ger。Lib。,\"cant。xiv。69。
Whereshipseldomornevercomesfromourcoasts。
isthespaceinthewearyoceanofactuallifetowhichtheMuseorSibylancientinyears,buteveryounginaspect,offerstheenounhallowedsail,——
\"QuinciellaincimaaunamontagnaascendeDisabitata,ed\'ombreoscuraebruna;
EparincantoaleinevoserendeLespalleeifianchi;esensanevealcunaGlilasciailcapoverdeggianteevago;
Evifondaunpalagioappressounlago。\"
There,sheamountain\'sloftypeakascends,Unpeopled,shady,shagg\'dwithforestsbrown,Whosesides,bypowerofmagic,half-waydownSheheapswithslipperyiceandfrostandsnow,ButsunshinyandverdantleavesthecrownWithorange-woodsandmyrtles,——speaks,andlo!
Richfromtheborderinglakeapalacerisesslow。
Wiffin\'s\"Translation。\"
BOOKII。
ART,LOVE,ANDWONDER。
Diversiaspettiinunconfusiemisti。
\"Ger。Lib,\"cant。iv。7。
Differentappearances,confusedandmixtinone。
CHAPTER2。I。
Centauri,eSfingi,epallideGorgoni。
\"Ger。Lib。,\"c。iv。v。
CentaursandSphinxesandpallidGorgons。
Onemoonlitnight,intheGardensatNaples,somefourorfivegentlemanwereseatedunderatree,drinkingtheirsherbet,andlistening,intheintervalsofconversation,tothemusicwhichenlivenedthatgayandfavouriteresortofanindolentpopulation。OneofthislittlepartywasayoungEnglishman,whohadbeenthelifeofthewholegroup,butwho,forthelastfewmoments,hadsunkintoagloomyandabstractedreverie。Oneofhiscountrymenobservedthissuddengloom,and,tappinghimontheback,said,\"Whatailsyou,Glyndon?Areyouill?Youhavegrownquitepale,——youtremble。Isitasuddenchill?Youhadbettergohome:theseItaliannightsareoftendangeroustoourEnglishconstitutions。\"
\"No,Iamwellnow;itwasapassingshudder。Icannotaccountforitmyself。\"
Aman,apparentlyofaboutthirtyyearsofage,andofamienandcountenancestrikinglysuperiortothosearoundhim,turnedabruptly,andlookedsteadfastlyatGlyndon。
\"IthinkIunderstandwhatyoumean,\"saidhe;\"andperhaps,\"headded,withagravesmile,\"Icouldexplainitbetterthanyourself。\"Here,turningtotheothers,headded,\"Youmustoftenhavefelt,gentlemen,eachandallofyou,especiallywhensittingaloneatnight,astrangeandunaccountablesensationofcoldnessandawecreepoveryou;yourbloodcurdles,andtheheartstandsstill;thelimbsshiver;thehairbristles;youareafraidtolookup,toturnyoureyestothedarkercornersoftheroom;youhaveahorriblefancythatsomethingunearthlyisathand;presentlythewholespell,ifImaysocallit,passesaway,andyouarereadytolaughatyourownweakness。HaveyounotoftenfeltwhatIhavethusimperfectlydescribed?——ifso,youcanunderstandwhatouryoungfriendhasjustexperienced,evenamidstthedelightsofthismagicalscene,andamidstthebalmywhispersofaJulynight。\"
\"Sir,\"repliedGlyndon,evidentlymuchsurprised,\"youhavedefinedexactlythenatureofthatshudderwhichcameoverme。
Buthowcouldmymannerbesofaithfulanindextomyimpressions?\"
\"Iknowthesignsofthevisitation,\"returnedthestranger,gravely;\"theyarenottobemistakenbyoneofmyexperience。\"
Allthegentlemanpresentthendeclaredthattheycouldcomprehend,andhadfelt,whatthestrangerhaddescribed。
\"Accordingtooneofournationalsuperstitions,\"saidMervale,theEnglishmanwhohadfirstaddressedGlyndon,\"themomentyousofeelyourbloodcreep,andyourhairstandonend,someoneiswalkingoverthespotwhichshallbeyourgrave。\"
\"Thereareinalllandsdifferentsuperstitionstoaccountforsocommonanoccurrence,\"repliedthestranger:\"onesectamongtheArabiansholdsthatatthatinstantGodisdecidingthehoureitherofyourdeath,orofsomeonedeartoyou。TheAfricansavage,whoseimaginationisdarkenedbythehideousritesofhisgloomyidolatry,believesthattheEvilSpiritispullingyoutowardshimbythehair:sodotheGrotesqueandtheTerribleminglewitheachother。\"
\"Itisevidentlyamerephysicalaccident,——aderangementofthestomach,achilloftheblood,\"saidayoungNeapolitan,withwhomGlyndonhadformedaslightacquaintance。
\"Thenwhyisitalwayscoupledinallnationswithsomesuperstitiouspresentimentorterror,——someconnectionbetweenthematerialframeandthesupposedworldwithoutus?Formypart,Ithink——\"
\"Ay,whatdoyouthink,sir?\"askedGlyndon,curiously。
\"Ithink,\"continuedthestranger,\"thatitistherepugnanceandhorrorwithwhichourmorehumanelementsrecoilfromsomething,indeed,invisible,butantipathetictoourownnature;andfromaknowledgeofwhichwearehappilysecuredbytheimperfectionofoursenses。\"
\"Youareabelieverinspirits,then?\"saidMervale,withanincreduloussmile。
\"Nay,itwasnotpreciselyofspiritsthatIspoke;buttheremaybeformsofmatterasinvisibleandimpalpabletousastheanimalculaeintheairwebreathe,——inthewaterthatplaysinyonderbasin。Suchbeingsmayhavepassionsandpowerslikeourown——astheanimalculaetowhichIhavecomparedthem。Themonsterthatlivesanddiesinadropofwater——carnivorous,insatiable,subsistingonthecreaturesminuterthanhimself——isnotlessdeadlyinhiswrath,lessferociousinhisnature,thanthetigerofthedesert。Theremaybethingsaroundusthatwouldbedangerousandhostiletomen,ifProvidencehadnotplacedawallbetweenthemandus,merelybydifferentmodificationsofmatter。\"
\"Andthinkyouthatwallnevercanberemoved?\"askedyoungGlyndon,abruptly。\"Arethetraditionsofsorcererandwizard,universalandimmemorialastheyare,merelyfables?\"
\"Perhapsyes,——perhapsno,\"answeredthestranger,indifferently。
\"Butwho,inanageinwhichthereasonhaschosenitsproperbounds,wouldbemadenoughtobreakthepartitionthatdivideshimfromtheboaandthelion,——torepineatandrebelagainstthelawwhichconfinesthesharktothegreatdeep?Enoughoftheseidlespeculations。\"
Herethestrangerrose,summonedtheattendant,paidforhissherbet,and,bowingslightlytothecompany,soondisappearedamongthetrees。
\"Whoisthatgentleman?\"askedGlyndon,eagerly。
Therestlookedateachother,withoutreplying,forsomemoments。
\"Ineversawhimbefore,\"saidMervale,atlast。
\"NorI。\"
\"NorI。\"
\"Iknowhimwell,\"saidtheNeapolitan,whowas,indeed,theCountCetoxa。\"Ifyouremember,itwasasmycompanionthathejoinedyou。HevisitedNaplesabouttwoyearsago,andhasrecentlyreturned;heisveryrich,——indeed,enormouslyso。A
mostagreeableperson。Iamsorrytohearhimtalksostrangelyto-night;itservestoencouragethevariousfoolishreportsthatarecirculatedconcerninghim。\"
\"Andsurely,\"saidanotherNeapolitan,\"thecircumstancethatoccurredbuttheotherday,sowellknowntoyourself,Cetoxa,justifiesthereportsyoupretendtodeprecate。\"
\"Myselfandmycountryman,\"saidGlyndon,\"mixsolittleinNeapolitansociety,thatwelosemuchthatappearswellworthyoflivelyinterest。MayIenquirewhatarethereports,andwhatisthecircumstanceyoureferto?\"
\"Astothereports,gentlemen,\"saidCetoxa,courteously,addressinghimselftothetwoEnglishmen,\"itmaysufficetoobserve,thattheyattributetotheSignorZanonicertainqualitieswhicheverybodydesiresforhimself,butdamnsanyoneelseforpossessing。TheincidentSignorBelgiosoalludesto,illustratesthesequalities,andis,Imustown,somewhatstartling。Youprobablyplay,gentlemen?\"HereCetoxapaused;
andasbothEnglishmenhadoccasionallystakedafewscudiatthepublicgaming-tables,theybowedassenttotheconjecture。
Cetoxacontinued。\"Well,then,notmanydayssince,andontheverydaythatZanonireturnedtoNaples,itsohappenedthatI
hadbeenplayingprettyhigh,andhadlostconsiderably。Irosefromthetable,resolvednolongertotemptfortune,whenI
suddenlyperceivedZanoni,whoseacquaintanceIhadbeforemadeandwho,Imaysay,wasundersomeslightobligationtome,standingby,aspectator。EreIcouldexpressmygratificationatthisunexpectedrecognition,helaidhishandonmyarm。\'Youhavelostmuch,\'saidhe;\'morethanyoucanafford。Formypart,Idislikeplay;yetIwishtohavesomeinterestinwhatisgoingon。Willyouplaythissumforme?theriskismine,——thehalfprofitsyours。\'Iwasstartled,asyoumaysuppose,atsuchanaddress;butZanonihadanairandtonewithhimitwasimpossibletoresist;besides,Iwasburningtorecovermylosses,andshouldnothaverisenhadIhadanymoneyleftaboutme。ItoldhimIwouldaccepthisoffer,providedwesharedtheriskaswellasprofits。\'Asyouwill,\'saidhe,smiling;\'weneedhavenoscruple,foryouwillbesuretowin。\'Isatdown;
Zanonistoodbehindme;myluckrose,——Iinvariablywon。Infact,Irosefromthetablearichman。\"
\"Therecanbenofoulplayatthepublictables,especiallywhenfoulplaywouldmakeagainstthebank?\"ThisquestionwasputbyGlyndon。
\"Certainlynot,\"repliedthecount。\"Butourgoodfortunewas,indeed,marvellous,——soextraordinarythataSiciliantheSiciliansareallill-bred,bad-temperedfellowsgrewangryandinsolent。\'Sir,\'saidhe,turningtomynewfriend,\'youhavenobusinesstostandsoneartothetable。Idonotunderstandthis;youhavenotactedfairly。\'Zanonireplied,withgreatcomposure,thathehaddonenothingagainsttherules,——thathewasverysorrythatonemancouldnotwinwithoutanothermanlosing;andthathecouldnotactunfairly,evenifdisposedtodoso。TheSiciliantookthestranger\'smildnessforapprehension,andblusteredmoreloudly。Infact,herosefromthetable,andconfrontedZanoniinamannerthat,tosaytheleastofit,wasprovokingtoanygentlemanwhohassomequicknessoftemper,orsomeskillwiththesmall-sword。\"
\"And,\"interruptedBelgioso,\"themostsingularpartofthewholetomewas,thatthisZanoni,whostoodoppositetowhereIsat,andwhosefaceIdistinctlysaw,madenoremark,showednoresentment。HefixedhiseyessteadfastlyontheSicilian;nevershallIforgetthatlook!itisimpossibletodescribeit,——itfrozethebloodinmyveins。TheSicilianstaggeredbackasifstruck。Isawhimtremble;hesankonthebench。Andthen——\"
\"Yes,then,\"saidCetoxa,\"tomyinfinitesurprise,ourgentleman,thusdisarmedbyalookfromZanoni,turnedhiswholeangeruponme,THE——butperhapsyoudonotknow,gentlemen,thatIhavesomereputewithmyweapon?\"
\"ThebestswordsmaninItaly,\"saidBelgioso。
\"BeforeIcouldguesswhyorwherefore,\"resumedCetoxa,\"Ifoundmyselfinthegardenbehindthehouse,withUghellithatwastheSicilian\'snamefacingme,andfiveorsixgentlemen,thewitnessesoftheduelabouttotakeplace,around。Zanonibeckonedmeaside。\'Thismanwillfall,\'saidhe。\'Whenheisontheground,gotohim,andaskwhetherhewillbeburiedbythesideofhisfatherinthechurchofSanGennaro?\'\'Doyouthenknowhisfamily?\'Iaskedwithgreatsurprise。Zanonimademenoanswer,andthenextmomentIwasengagedwiththeSicilian。Todohimjustice,hisimbrogliatowasmagnificent,andaswifterloungernevercrossedasword;nevertheless,\"addedCetoxa,withapleasingmodesty,\"hewasrunthroughthebody。I
wentuptohim;hecouldscarcelyspeak。\'Haveyouanyrequesttomake,——anyaffairstosettle?\'Heshookhishead。\'Wherewouldyouwishtobeinterred?\'HepointedtowardstheSiciliancoast。\'What!\'saidI,insurprise,\'NOTbythesideofyourfather,inthechurchofSanGennaro?\'AsIspoke,hisfacealteredterribly;heutteredapiercingshriek,——thebloodgushedfromhismouth,andhefelldead。Themoststrangepartofthestoryistocome。WeburiedhiminthechurchofSanGennaro。
Indoingso,wetookuphisfather\'scoffin;thelidcameoffinmovingit,andtheskeletonwasvisible。Inthehollowoftheskullwefoundaveryslenderwireofsharpsteel;thiscausedsurpriseandinquiry。Thefather,whowasrichandamiser,haddiedsuddenly,andbeenburiedinhaste,owing,itwassaid,totheheatoftheweather。Suspiciononceawakened,theexaminationbecameminute。Theoldman\'sservantwasquestioned,andatlastconfessedthatthesonhadmurderedthesire。Thecontrivancewasingenious:thewirewassoslenderthatitpiercedtothebrain,anddrewbutonedropofblood,whichthegreyhairsconcealed。Theaccomplicewillbeexecuted。\"
\"AndZanoni,——didhegiveevidence,didheaccountfor——\"
\"No,\"interruptedthecount:\"hedeclaredthathehadbyaccidentvisitedthechurchthatmorning;thathehadobservedthetombstoneoftheCountUghelli;thathisguidehadtoldhimthecount\'ssonwasinNaples,——aspendthriftandagambler。
Whilewewereatplay,hehadheardthecountmentionedbynameatthetable;andwhenthechallengewasgivenandaccepted,ithadoccurredtohimtonametheplaceofburial,byaninstinctwhichheeithercouldnotorwouldnotaccountfor。\"
\"Averylamestory,\"saidMervale。
\"Yes!butweItaliansaresuperstitious,——theallegedinstinctwasregardedbymanyasthewhisperofProvidence。Thenextdaythestrangerbecameanobjectofuniversalinterestandcuriosity。Hiswealth,hismannerofliving,hisextraordinarypersonalbeauty,haveassistedalsotomakehimtherage;
besides,Ihavehadthepleasureinintroducingsoeminentapersontoourgayestcavaliersandourfairestladies。\"
\"Amostinterestingnarrative,\"saidMervale,rising。\"Come,Glyndon;shallweseekourhotel?Itisalmostdaylight。Adieu,signor!\"
\"Whatthinkyouofthisstory?\"saidGlyndon,astheyoungmenwalkedhomeward。
\"Why,itisveryclearthatthisZanoniissomeimposter,——somecleverrogue;andtheNeapolitansharesthebooty,andpuffshimoffwithallthehackneyedcharlatanismofthemarvellous。Anunknownadventurergetsintosocietybybeingmadeanobjectofaweandcuriosity;heismorethanordinarilyhandsome,andthewomenarequitecontenttoreceivehimwithoutanyotherrecommendationthanhisownfaceandCetoxa\'sfables。\"
\"Icannotagreewithyou。Cetoxa,thoughagamblerandarake,isanoblemanofbirthandhighreputeforcourageandhonour。
Besides,thisstranger,withhisnoblepresenceandloftyair,——
socalm,sounobtrusive,——hasnothingincommonwiththeforwardgarrulityofanimposter。\"
\"MydearGlyndon,pardonme;butyouhavenotyetacquiredanyknowledgeoftheworld!Thestrangermakesthebestofafineperson,andhisgrandairisbutatrickofthetrade。Buttochangethesubject,——howadvancestheloveaffair?\"
\"Oh,Violacouldnotseemeto-day。\"
\"Youmustnotmarryher。Whatwouldtheyallsayathome?\"
\"Letusenjoythepresent,\"saidGlyndon,withvivacity;\"weareyoung,rich,good-looking;letusnotthinkofto-morrow。\"
\"Bravo,Glyndon!Hereweareatthehotel。Sleepsound,anddon\'tdreamofSignorZanoni。\"
CHAPTER2。II。
Prende,giovineaudaceeimpaziente,L\'occasioneoffertaavidamente。
\"Ger。Lib。,\"c。vi。xxix。
Take,youth,boldandimpatient,theofferedoccasioneagerly。
ClarenceGlyndonwasayoungmanoffortune,notlarge,buteasyandindependent。Hisparentsweredead,andhisnearestrelationwasanonlysister,leftinEnglandunderthecareofheraunt,andmanyyearsyoungerthanhimself。Earlyinlifehehadevincedconsiderablepromiseintheartofpainting,andratherfromenthusiasmthananypecuniarynecessityforaprofession,hedeterminedtodevotehimselftoacareerinwhichtheEnglishartistgenerallycommenceswithraptureandhistoricalcomposition,toconcludewithavariciouscalculationandportraitsofAldermanSimpkins。Glyndonwassupposedbyhisfriendstopossessnoinconsiderablegenius;butitwasofarashandpresumptuousorder。Hewasaversefromcontinuousandsteadylabour,andhisambitionrathersoughttogatherthefruitthantoplantthetree。Incommonwithmanyartistsintheiryouth,hewasfondofpleasureandexcitement,yieldingwithlittleforethoughttowhateverimpressedhisfancyorappealedtohispassions。HehadtravelledthroughthemorecelebratedcitiesofEurope,withtheavowedpurposeandsincereresolutionofstudyingthedivinemasterpiecesofhisart。Butineach,pleasurehadtoooftenalluredhimfromambition,andlivingbeautydistractedhisworshipfromthesenselesscanvas。Brave,adventurous,vain,restless,inquisitive,hewaseverinvolvedinwildprojectsandpleasantdangers,——thecreatureofimpulseandtheslaveofimagination。
Itwasthentheperiodwhenafeverishspiritofchangewasworkingitswaytothathideousmockeryofhumanaspirations,theRevolutionofFrance;andfromthechaosintowhichwerealreadyjarringthesanctitiesoftheWorld\'sVenerableBelief,arosemanyshapelessandunformedchimeras。NeedIremindthereaderthat,whilethatwasthedayforpolishedscepticismandaffectedwisdom,itwasthedayalsoforthemostegregiouscredulityandthemostmysticalsuperstitions,——thedayinwhichmagnetismandmagicfoundconvertsamongstthedisciplesofDiderot;whenprophecieswerecurrentineverymouth;whenthesalonofaphilosophicaldeistwasconvertedintoanHeraclea,inwhichnecromancyprofessedtoconjureuptheshadowsofthedead;whentheCrosierandtheBookwereridiculed,andMesmerandCagliostrowerebelieved。InthatHeliacalRising,heraldingthenewsunbeforewhichallvapoursweretovanish,stalkedfromtheirgravesinthefeudalagesallthephantomsthathadflittedbeforetheeyesofParacelsusandAgrippa。DazzledbythedawnoftheRevolution,Glyndonwasyetmoreattractedbyitsstrangeaccompaniments;andnaturalitwaswithhim,aswithothers,thatthefancywhichranriotamidstthehopesofasocialUtopia,shouldgraspwithavidityallthatpromised,outofthedustytracksofthebeatenscience,thebolddiscoveriesofsomemarvellousElysium。
Inhistravelshehadlistenedwithvividinterest,atleast,ifnotwithimplicitbelief,tothewonderstoldofeachmorerenownedGhost-seer,andhismindwasthereforepreparedfortheimpressionwhichthemysteriousZanoniatfirstsighthadproduceduponit。
Theremightbeanothercauseforthisdispositiontocredulity。
AremoteancestorofGlyndon\'sonthemother\'sside,hadachievednoinconsiderablereputationasaphilosopherandalchemist。
Strangestorieswereafloatconcerningthiswiseprogenitor。Hewassaidtohavelivedtoanagefarexceedingtheallottedboundariesofmortalexistence,andtohavepreservedtothelasttheappearanceofmiddlelife。Hehaddiedatlength,itwassupposed,ofgriefforthesuddendeathofagreat-grandchild,theonlycreaturehehadeverappearedtolove。Theworksofthisphilosopher,thoughrare,wereextant,andfoundinthelibraryofGlyndon\'shome。TheirPlatonicmysticism,theirboldassertions,thehighpromisesthatmightbedetectedthroughtheirfigurativeandtypicalphraseology,hadearlymadeadeepimpressionontheyoungimaginationofClarenceGlyndon。Hisparents,notalivetotheconsequencesofencouragingfancieswhichtheveryenlightenmentoftheageappearedtothemsufficienttopreventordispel,werefond,inthelongwinternights,ofconversingonthetraditionalhistoryofthisdistinguishedprogenitor。AndClarencethrilledwithafearfulpleasurewhenhismotherplayfullydetectedastrikinglikenessbetweenthefeaturesoftheyoungheirandthefadedportraitofthealchemistthatoverhungtheirmantelpiece,andwastheboastoftheirhouseholdandtheadmirationoftheirfriends,——thechildis,indeed,moreoftenthanwethinkfor,\"thefatheroftheman。\"
IhavesaidthatGlyndonwasfondofpleasure。Facile,asgeniusevermustbe,tocheerfulimpression,hiscarelessartist-life,ereartist-lifesettlesdowntolabour,hadwanderedfromflowertoflower。Hehadenjoyed,almosttothereactionofsatiety,thegayrevelriesofNaples,whenhefellinlovewiththefaceandvoiceofViolaPisani。Buthislove,likehisambition,wasvagueanddesultory。Itdidnotsatisfyhiswholeheartandfilluphiswholenature;notfromwantofstrongandnoblepassions,butbecausehismindwasnotyetmaturedandsettledenoughfortheirdevelopment。Asthereisoneseasonfortheblossom,anotherforthefruit;soitisnottillthebloomoffancybeginstofade,thattheheartripenstothepassionsthatthebloomprecedesandforetells。Joyousalikeathislonelyeaseloramidsthisbooncompanions,hehadnotyetknownenoughofsorrowtolovedeeply。Formanmustbedisappointedwiththelesserthingsoflifebeforehecancomprehendthefullvalueofthegreatest。ItistheshallowsensualistsofFrance,who,intheirsalon-language,calllove\"afolly,\"——love,betterunderstood,iswisdom。Besides,theworldwastoomuchwithClarenceGlyndon。HisambitionofartwasassociatedwiththeapplauseandestimationofthatmiserableminorityofthesurfacethatwecallthePublic。
Likethosewhodeceive,hewaseverfearfulofbeinghimselfthedupe。HedistrustedthesweetinnocenceofViola。HecouldnotventurethehazardofseriouslyproposingmarriagetoanItalianactress;butthemodestdignityofthegirl,andsomethinggoodandgenerousinhisownnature,hadhithertomadehimshrinkfromanymoreworldlybutlesshonourabledesigns。Thusthefamiliaritybetweenthemseemedratherthatofkindnessandregardthanpassion。Heattendedthetheatre;hestolebehindthescenestoconversewithher;hefilledhisportfoliowithcountlesssketchesofabeautythatcharmedhimasanartistaswellaslover;anddayafterdayhefloatedonthroughachangingseaofdoubtandirresolution,ofaffectionanddistrust。Thelast,indeed,constantlysustainedagainsthisbetterreasonbythesoberadmonitionsofMervale,amatter-of-factman!
Thedayfollowingthateveonwhichthissectionofmystoryopens,GlyndonwasridingalonebytheshoresoftheNeapolitansea,ontheothersideoftheCavernofPosilipo。Itwaspastnoon;thesunhadlostitsearlyfervour,andacoolbreezesprungupvoluptuouslyfromthesparklingsea。Bendingoverafragmentofstoneneartheroadside,heperceivedtheformofaman;andwhenheapproached,herecognisedZanoni。
TheEnglishmansalutedhimcourteously。\"Haveyoudiscoveredsomeantique?\"saidhe,withasmile;\"theyarecommonaspebblesonthisroad。\"
\"No,\"repliedZanoni;\"itwasbutoneofthoseantiquesthathavetheirdate,indeed,fromthebeginningoftheworld,butwhichNatureeternallywithersandrenews。\"Sosaying,heshowedGlyndonasmallherbwithapale-blueflower,andthenplaceditcarefullyinhisbosom。
\"Youareanherbalist?\"
\"Iam。\"
\"Itis,Iamtold,astudyfullofinterest。\"
\"Tothosewhounderstandit,doubtless。\"
\"Istheknowledge,then,sorare?\"
\"Rare!Thedeeperknowledgeisperhapsrather,amongthearts,LOSTtothemodernphilosophyofcommonplaceandsurface!Doyouimaginetherewasnofoundationforthosetraditionswhichcomedimlydownfromremoterages,——asshellsnowfoundonthemountain-topsinformuswheretheseashavebeen?WhatwastheoldColchianmagic,buttheminutestudyofNatureinherlowliestworks?WhatthefableofMedea,butaproofofthepowersthatmaybeextractedfromthegermandleaf?ThemostgiftedofallthePriestcrafts,themysterioussisterhoodsofCuth,concerningwhoseincantationsLearningvainlybewildersitselfamidstthemazeoflegends,soughtinthemeanestherbswhat,perhaps,theBabylonianSagesexploredinvainamidsttheloftieststars。Traditionyettellsyouthatthereexistedarace\"Plut。Symp。\"l。5。c。7。whocouldslaytheirenemiesfromafar,withoutweapon,withoutmovement。Theherbthatyetreadonmayhavedeadlierpowersthanyourengineerscangivetotheirmightiestinstrumentsofwar。CanyouguessthattotheseItalianshores,totheoldCircaeanPromontory,cametheWisefromthefarthestEast,tosearchforplantsandsimpleswhichyourPharmacistsoftheCounterwouldflingfromthemasweeds?
Thefirstherbalists——themasterchemistsoftheworld——werethetribethattheancientreverencecalledbythenameofTitans。
Syncellus,page14——\"ChemistrytheInventionoftheGiants。\"
Irememberonce,bytheHebrus,inthereignof——Butthistalk,\"saidZanoni,checkinghimselfabruptly,andwithacoldsmile,\"servesonlytowasteyourtimeandmyown。\"Hepaused,lookedsteadilyatGlyndon,andcontinued,\"Youngman,thinkyouthatvaguecuriositywillsupplytheplaceofearnestlabour?I
readyourheart。Youwishtoknowme,andnotthishumbleherb:
butpasson;yourdesirecannotbesatisfied。\"
\"Youhavenotthepolitenessofyourcountrymen,\"saidGlyndon,somewhatdiscomposed。\"SupposeIweredesiroustocultivateyouracquaintance,whyshouldyourejectmyadvances?\"
\"Irejectnoman\'sadvances,\"answeredZanoni;\"Imustknowthemiftheysodesire;butME,inreturn,theycannevercomprehend。
Ifyouaskmyacquaintance,itisyours;butIwouldwarnyoutoshunme。\"
\"Andwhyareyou,then,sodangerous?\"
\"Onthisearth,menareoften,withouttheirownagency,fatedtobedangeroustoothers。IfIweretopredictyourfortunebythevaincalculationsoftheastrologer,Ishouldtellyou,intheirdespicablejargon,thatmyplanetsatdarklyinyourhouseoflife。Crossmenot,ifyoucanavoidit。Iwarnyounowforthefirsttimeandlast。\"
\"Youdespisetheastrologers,yetyouutterajargonasmysteriousastheirs。Ineithergamblenorquarrel;why,then,shouldIfearyou?\"
\"Asyouwill;Ihavedone。\"
\"Letmespeakfrankly,——yourconversationlastnightinterestedandperplexedme。\"
\"Iknowit:mindslikeyoursareattractedbymystery。\"
Glyndonwaspiquedatthesewords,thoughinthetoneinwhichtheywerespokentherewasnocontempt。
\"Iseeyoudonotconsidermeworthyofyourfriendship。Beitso。Good-day!\"
Zanonicoldlyrepliedtothesalutation;andastheEnglishmanrodeon,returnedtohisbotanicalemployment。
Thesamenight,Glyndonwent,asusual,tothetheatre。HewasstandingbehindthesceneswatchingViola,whowasonthestageinoneofhermostbrilliantparts。Thehouseresoundedwithapplause。Glyndonwastransportedwithayoungman\'spassionandayoungman\'spride:\"Thisgloriouscreature,\"thoughthe,\"mayyetbemine。\"
Hefelt,whilethuswrappedindeliciousreverie,aslighttouchuponhisshoulder;heturned,andbeheldZanoni。\"Youareindanger,\"saidthelatter。\"Donotwalkhometo-night;orifyoudo,gonotalone。\"
BeforeGlyndonrecoveredfromhissurprise,Zanonidisappeared;
andwhentheEnglishmansawhimagain,hewasintheboxofoneoftheNeapolitannobles,whereGlyndoncouldnotfollowhim。
Violanowleftthestage,andGlyndonaccostedherwithanunaccustomedwarmthofgallantry。ButViola,contrarytohergentlehabit,turnedwithanevidentimpatiencefromtheaddressofherlover。TakingasideGionetta,whowasherconstantattendantatthetheatre,shesaid,inanearnestwhisper,——
\"Oh,Gionetta!Heishereagain!——thestrangerofwhomIspoketothee!——andagain,healone,ofthewholetheatre,withholdsfrommehisapplause。\"
\"Whichishe,mydarling?\"saidtheoldwoman,withfondnessinhervoice。\"Hemustindeedbedull——notworthathought。\"
TheactressdrewGionettanearertothestage,andpointedouttoheramaninoneoftheboxes,conspicuousamongstallelsebythesimplicityofhisdress,andtheextraordinarybeautyofhisfeatures。
\"Notworthathought,Gionetta!\"repeatedViola,——\"Notworthathought!Alas,nottothinkofhim,seemstheabsenceofthoughtitself!\"
ThepromptersummonedtheSignoraPisani。\"Findouthisname,Gionetta,\"saidshe,movingslowlytothestage,andpassingbyGlyndon,whogazedatherwithalookofsorrowfulreproach。
Thesceneonwhichtheactressnowenteredwasthatofthefinalcatastrophe,whereinallherremarkablepowersofvoiceandartwerepre-eminentlycalledforth。Thehousehungoneverywordwithbreathlessworship;buttheeyesofViolasoughtonlythoseofonecalmandunmovedspectator;sheexertedherselfasifinspired。Zanonilistened,andobservedherwithanattentivegaze,butnoapprovalescapedhislips;noemotionchangedtheexpressionofhiscoldandhalf-disdainfulaspect。Viola,whowasinthecharacterofonewholoved,butwithoutreturn,neverfeltsoacutelythepartsheplayed。Hertearsweretruthful;
herpassionthatofnature:itwasalmosttooterribletobehold。Shewasbornefromthestageexhaustedandinsensible,amidstsuchatempestofadmiringraptureasContinentalaudiencesalonecanraise。Thecrowdstoodup,handkerchiefswaved,garlandsandflowerswerethrownonthestage,——menwipedtheireyes,andwomensobbedaloud。
\"Byheavens!\"saidaNeapolitanofgreatrank,\"Shehasfiredmebeyondendurance。To-night——thisverynight——sheshallbemine!
Youhavearrangedall,Mascari?\"
\"All,signor。AndtheyoungEnglishman?\"
\"Thepresumingbarbarian!AsIbeforetoldthee,lethimbleedforhisfolly。Iwillhavenorival。\"
\"ButanEnglishman!ThereisalwaysasearchafterthebodiesoftheEnglish。\"
\"Fool!isnottheseadeepenough,ortheearthsecretenough,tohideonedeadman?Ourruffiansaresilentasthegraveitself;
andI!——whowoulddaretosuspect,toarraignthePrincedi——?
Seetoit,——thisnight。Itrusthimtoyou。Robbersmurderhim,youunderstand,——thecountryswarmswiththem;plunderandstriphim,thebettertofavoursuchreport。Takethreemen;therestshallbemyescort。\"
Mascarishruggedhisshoulders,andbowedsubmissively。
ThestreetsofNapleswerenotthensosafeasnow,andcarriageswerebothlessexpensiveandmorenecessary。Thevehiclewhichwasregularlyengagedbytheyoungactresswasnottobefound。
Gionetta,tooawareofthebeautyofhermistressandthenumberofheradmirerstocontemplatewithoutalarmtheideaoftheirreturnonfoot,communicatedherdistresstoGlyndon,andhebesoughtViola,whorecoveredbutslowly,toaccepthisowncarriage。Perhapsbeforethatnightshewouldnothaverejectedsoslightaservice。Now,forsomereasonorother,sherefused。
Glyndon,offended,wasretiringsullenly,whenGionettastoppedhim。\"Stay,signor,\"saidshe,coaxingly:\"thedearsignoraisnotwell,——donotbeangrywithher;Iwillmakeheracceptyouroffer。\"
Glyndonstayed,andafterafewmomentsspentinexpostulationonthepartofGionetta,andresistanceonthatofViola,theofferwasaccepted。Gionettaandherchargeenteredthecarriage,andGlyndonwasleftatthedoorofthetheatretoreturnhomeonfoot。ThemysteriouswarningofZanonithensuddenlyoccurredtohim;hehadforgottenitintheinterestofhislover\'squarrelwithViola。Hethoughtitnowadvisabletoguardagainstdangerforetoldbylipssomysterious。Helookedroundforsomeoneheknew:thetheatrewasdisgorgingitscrowds;theyhustled,andjostled,andpresseduponhim;butherecognisednofamiliarcountenance。Whilepausingirresolute,heheardMervale\'svoicecallingonhim,and,tohisgreatrelief,discoveredhisfriendmakinghiswaythroughthethrong。
\"Ihavesecuredyou,\"saidhe,\"aplaceintheCountCetoxa\'scarriage。Comealong,heiswaitingforus。\"
\"Howkindinyou!howdidyoufindmeout?\"
\"ImetZanoniinthepassage,——\'Yourfriendisatthedoorofthetheatre,\'saidhe;\'donotlethimgohomeonfootto-night;thestreetsofNaplesarenotalwayssafe。\'IimmediatelyrememberedthatsomeoftheCalabrianbravoshadbeenbusywithinthecitythelastfewweeks,andsuddenlymeetingCetoxa——buthereheis。\"
Furtherexplanationwasforbidden,fortheynowjoinedthecount。
AsGlyndonenteredthecarriageanddrewuptheglass,hesawfourmenstandingapartbythepavement,whoseemedtoeyehimwithattention。
\"Cospetto!\"criedone;\"thatistheEnglishman!\"Glyndonimperfectlyheardtheexclamationasthecarriagedroveon。Hereachedhomeinsafety。
ThefamiliarandendearingintimacywhichalwaysexistsinItalybetweenthenurseandthechildshehasreared,andwhichthe\"RomeoandJuliet\"ofShakespeareinnowayexaggerates,couldnotbutbedrawnyetcloserthanusual,inasituationsofriendlessasthatoftheorphan-actress。Inallthatconcernedtheweaknessesoftheheart,Gionettahadlargeexperience;andwhen,threenightsbefore,Viola,onreturningfromthetheatre,hadweptbitterly,thenursehadsucceededinextractingfromheraconfessionthatshehadseenone,——notseenfortwowearyandeventfulyears,——butneverforgotten,andwho,alas!hadnotevincedtheslightestrecognitionofherself。Gionettacouldnotcomprehendallthevagueandinnocentemotionsthatswelledthissorrow;butsheresolvedthemall,withherplain,bluntunderstanding,totheonesentimentoflove。Andhere,shewaswellfittedtosympathiseandconsole。ConfidantetoViola\'sentireanddeepheartshenevercouldbe,——forthatheartnevercouldhavewordsforallitssecrets。Butsuchconfidenceasshecouldobtain,shewasreadytorepaybythemostunreprovingpityandthemostreadyservice。
\"Haveyoudiscoveredwhoheis?\"askedViola,asshewasnowaloneinthecarriagewithGionetta。
\"Yes;heisthecelebratedSignorZanoni,aboutwhomallthegreatladieshavegonemad。Theysayheissorich!——oh!somuchricherthananyoftheInglesi!——notbutwhattheSignorGlyndon——\"
\"Cease!\"interruptedtheyoungactress。\"Zanoni!SpeakoftheEnglishmannomore。\"
ThecarriagewasnowenteringthatmorelonelyandremotepartofthecityinwhichViola\'shousewassituated,whenitsuddenlystopped。
Gionetta,inalarm,thrustherheadoutofthewindow,andperceived,bythepalelightofthemoon,thatthedriver,tornfromhisseat,wasalreadypinionedinthearmsoftwomen;thenextmomentthedoorwasopenedviolently,andatallfigure,maskedandmantled,appeared。
\"Fearnot,fairestPisani,\"saidhe,gently;\"noillshallbefallyou。\"Ashespoke,hewoundhisarmroundtheformofthefairactress,andendeavouredtoliftherfromthecarriage。ButGionettawasnoordinaryally,——shethrustbacktheassailantwithaforcethatastonishedhim,andfollowedtheshockbyavolleyofthemostenergeticreprobation。
Themaskdrewback,andcomposedhisdisorderedmantle。
\"BythebodyofBacchus!\"saidhe,halflaughing,\"sheiswellprotected。Here,Luigi,Giovanni!seizethehag!——quick!——whyloiterye?\"