\"Disposeofmeasthouwilt!\"
Zanonistoodinsilenceforsomemoments:hesawthestrugglewhichthegirlthoughtsheconcealedsowell;hemadeaninvoluntarymovementtowardsher,andpressedherhandtohislips;itwasthefirsttimehehadeverdepartedevensofarfromacertainausteritywhichperhapsmadeherfearhimandherownthoughtstheless。
\"Viola,\"saidhe,andhisvoicetrembled,\"thedangerthatIcanavertnomore,ifthoulingerstillinNaples,comeshourlynearandneartothee!Onthethirddayfromthisthyfatemustbedecided。Iacceptthypromise。Beforethelasthourofthatday,comewhatmay,Ishallseetheeagain,HERE,atthineownhouse。Tillthen,farewell!\"
CHAPTER3。IV。
Betweentwoworldslifehoverslikeastar\'Twixtnightandmorn。
Byron。
WhenGlyndonleftViola,asrecordedintheconcludingchapteroftheseconddivisionofthiswork,hewasabsorbedagaininthosemysticaldesiresandconjectureswhichthehauntingrecollectionofZanonialwaysservedtocreate。Andashewanderedthroughthestreets,hewasscarcelyconsciousofhisownmovementstill,inthemechanismofcustom,hefoundhimselfinthemidstofoneofthenoblecollectionsofpictureswhichformtheboastofthoseItaliancitieswhosegloryisinthepast。Thitherhehadbeenwont,almostdaily,torepair,forthegallerycontainedsomeofthefinestspecimensofamasterespeciallytheobjectofhisenthusiasmandstudy。There,beforetheworksofSalvator,hehadoftenpausedindeepandearnestreverence。Thestrikingcharacteristicofthatartististhe\"VigourofWill;\"voidoftheelevatedideaofabstractbeauty,whichfurnishesamodelandarchetypetothegeniusofmoreillustriousorder,thesingularenergyofthemanhewsoutoftherockadignityofhisown。Hisimageshavethemajesty,notofthegod,butthesavage;utterlyfree,likethesublimerschools,fromthecommon-placeofimitation,——apart,withthem,fromtheconventionallittlenessoftheReal,——hegraspstheimagination,andcompelsittofollowhim,nottotheheaven,butthroughallthatismostwildandfantasticuponearth;asorcery,notofthestarrymagian,butofthegloomywizard,——amanofromancewhoseheartbeatstrongly,gripingartwithahandofiron,andforcingittoidealisethescenesofhisactuallife。Beforethispowerfulwill,GlyndondrewbackmoreawedandadmiringthanbeforethecalmerbeautywhichrosefromthesoulofRaphael,likeVenusfromthedeep。
Andnow,asawakingfromhisreverie,hestoodoppositetothatwildandmagnificentgloomofNaturewhichfrownedonhimfromthecanvas,theveryleavesonthosegnome-like,distortedtreesseemedtorustlesibyllinesecretsinhisear。ThoseruggedandsombreApennines,thecataractthatdashedbetween,suited,morethantheactualsceneswouldhavedone,themoodandtemperofhismind。Thestern,uncouthformsatrestonthecragsbelow,anddwarfedbythegiantsizeoftheMatterthatreignedaroundthem,impressedhimwiththemightofNatureandthelittlenessofMan。Asingeniusofthemorespiritualcast,thelivingman,andthesoulthatlivesinhim,arestudiouslymadetheprominentimage;andthemereaccessoriesofscenekeptdown,andcastback,asiftoshowthattheexilefromparadiseisyetthemonarchoftheoutwardworld,——so,inthelandscapesofSalvator,thetree,themountain,thewaterfall,becometheprincipal,andmanhimselfdwindlestotheaccessory。TheMatterseemstoreignsupreme,anditstruelordtocreepbeneathitsstupendousshadow。Inertmattergivinginteresttotheimmortalman,nottheimmortalmantotheinertmatter。Aterriblephilosophyinart!
Whilesomethingofthesethoughtspassedthroughthemindofthepainter,hefelthisarmtouched,andsawNicotbyhisside。
\"Agreatmaster,\"saidNicot,\"butIdonotlovetheschool。\"
\"Idonotlove,butIamawedbyit。Welovethebeautifulandserene,butwehaveafeelingasdeepaslovefortheterribleanddark。\"
\"True,\"saidNicot,thoughtfully。\"Andyetthatfeelingisonlyasuperstition。Thenursery,withitstalesofghostsandgoblins,isthecradleofmanyofourimpressionsintheworld。
Butartshouldnotseektopandertoourignorance;artshouldrepresentonlytruths。IconfessthatRaphaelpleasesmeless,becauseIhavenosympathywithhissubjects。Hissaintsandvirginsaretomeonlymenandwomen。\"
\"Andfromwhatsourceshouldpainting,then,takeitsthemes?\"
\"Fromhistory,withoutdoubt,\"returnedNicot,pragmatically,——
\"thosegreatRomanactionswhichinspiremenwithsentimentsoflibertyandvalour,withthevirtuesofarepublic。IwishthecartoonsofRaphaelhadillustratedthestoryoftheHoratii;butitremainsforFranceandherRepublictogivetoposteritythenewandthetrueschool,whichcouldneverhaveariseninacountryofpriestcraftanddelusion。\"
\"AndthesaintsandvirginsofRaphaelaretoyouonlymenandwomen?\"repeatedGlyndon,goingbacktoNicot\'scandidconfessioninamaze,andscarcelyhearingthedeductionstheFrenchmandrewfromhisproposition。
\"Assuredly。Ha,ha!\"andNicotlaughedhideously,\"doyouaskmetobelieveinthecalendar,orwhat?\"
\"Buttheideal?\"
\"Theideal!\"interruptedNicot。\"Stuff!TheItaliancritics,andyourEnglishReynolds,haveturnedyourhead。Theyaresofondoftheir\'gustogrande,\'andtheir\'idealbeautythatspeakstothesoul!\'——soul!——ISthereasoul?Iunderstandamanwhenhetalksofcomposingforarefinedtaste,——foraneducatedandintelligentreason;forasensethatcomprehendstruths。Butasforthesoul,——bah!——wearebutmodificationsofmatter,andpaintingismodificationofmatteralso。\"
GlyndonturnedhiseyesfromthepicturebeforehimtoNicot,andfromNicottothepicture。Thedogmatistgaveavoicetothethoughtswhichthesightofthepicturehadawakened。Heshookhisheadwithoutreply。
\"Tellme,\"saidNicot,abruptly,\"thatimposter,——Zanoni!——oh!I
havenowlearnedhisnameandquackeries,forsooth,——whatdidhesaytotheeofme?\"
\"Ofthee?Nothing;buttowarnmeagainstthydoctrines。\"
\"Aha!wasthatall?\"saidNicot。\"Heisanotableinventor,andsince,whenwemetlast,Iunmaskedhisdelusions,Ithoughthemightretaliatebysometaleofslander。\"
\"Unmaskedhisdelusions!——how?\"
\"Adullandlongstory:hewishedtoteachanolddotingfriendofminehissecretsofprolongedlifeandphilosophicalalchemy。
Iadvisetheetorenouncesodiscreditableanacquaintance。\"
WiththatNicotnoddedsignificantly,and,notwishingtobefurtherquestioned,wenthisway。
Glyndon\'smindatthatmomenthadescapedtohisart,andthecommentsandpresenceofNicothadbeennowelcomeinterruption。
HeturnedfromthelandscapeofSalvator,andhiseyefallingonaNativitybyCoreggio,thecontrastbetweenthetworanksofgeniusstruckhimasadiscovery。Thatexquisiterepose,thatperfectsenseofbeauty,thatstrengthwithouteffort,thatbreathingmoralofhighart,whichspeakstothemindthroughtheeye,andraisesthethoughts,bytheaidoftendernessandlove,totheregionsofaweandwonder,——ay!THATwasthetrueschool。
Hequittedthegallerywithreluctantstepsandinspiredideas;
hesoughthisownhome。Here,pleasednottofindthesoberMervale,heleanedhisfaceonhishands,andendeavouredtorecallthewordsofZanoniintheirlastmeeting。Yes,hefeltNicot\'stalkevenonartwascrime;itdebasedtheimaginationitselftomechanism。Couldhe,whosawnothinginthesoulbutacombinationofmatter,prateofschoolsthatshouldexcelaRaphael?Yes,artwasmagic;andasheownedthetruthoftheaphorism,hecouldcomprehendthatinmagictheremaybereligion,forreligionisanessentialtoart。Hisoldambition,freeingitselffromthefrigidprudencewithwhichMervalesoughttodesecrateallimageslesssubstantialthanthegoldencalfoftheworld,revived,andstirred,andkindled。Thesubtledetectionofwhatheconceivedtobeanerrorintheschoolhehadhithertoadopted,mademoremanifesttohimbythegrinningcommentaryofNicot,seemedtoopentohimanewworldofinvention。Heseizedthehappymoment,——heplacedbeforehimthecoloursandthecanvas。Lostinhisconceptionsofafreshideal,hismindwasliftedaloftintotheairyrealmsofbeauty;
darkthoughts,unhalloweddesires,vanished。Zanoniwasright:
thematerialworldshrunkfromhisgaze;heviewedNatureasfromamountain-topafar;andasthewavesofhisunquietheartbecamecalmandstill,againtheangeleyesofViolabeamedonthemasaholystar。
Lockinghimselfinhischamber,herefusedeventhevisitsofMervale。Intoxicatedwiththepureairofhisfreshexistence,heremainedforthreedays,andalmostnights,absorbedinhisemployment;butonthefourthmorningcamethatreactiontowhichalllabourisexposed。Hewokelistlessandfatigued;andashecasthiseyesonthecanvas,thegloryseemedtohavegonefromit。Humiliatingrecollectionsofthegreatmastersheaspiredtorivalforcedthemselvesuponhim;defectsbeforeunseenmagnifiedthemselvestodeformitiesinhislanguidanddiscontentedeyes。
Hetouchedandretouched,buthishandfailedhim;hethrewdownhisinstrumentsindespair;heopenedhiscasement:thedaywithoutwasbrightandlovely;thestreetwascrowdedwiththatlifewhichiseversojoyousandaffluentintheanimatedpopulationofNaples。Hesawthelover,ashepassed,conversingwithhismistressbythosemutegestureswhichhavesurvivedallchangesoflanguages,thesamenowaswhentheEtruscanpaintedyonvasesintheMuseoBorbonico。Lightfromwithoutbeckonedhisyouthtoitsmirthanditspleasures;andthedullwallswithin,latelylargeenoughtocompriseheavenandearth,seemednowcabinedandconfinedasafelon\'sprison。HewelcomedthestepofMervaleathisthreshold,andunbarredthedoor。
\"Andisthatallyouhavedone?\"saidMervale,glancingdisdainfullyatthecanvas。\"IsitforthisthatyouhaveshutyourselfoutfromthesunnydaysandmoonlitnightsofNaples?\"
\"Whilethefitwasonme,Ibaskedinabrightersun,andimbibedthevoluptuousluxuryofasoftermoon。\"
\"Youownthatthefitisover。Well,thatissomesignofreturningsense。Afterall,itisbettertodaubcanvasforthreedaysthanmakeafoolofyourselfforlife。Thislittlesiren?\"
\"Bedumb!Ihatetohearyounameher。\"
MervaledrewhischairnearertoGlyndon\'s,thrusthishandsdeepinhisbreeches-pockets,stretchedhislegs,andwasabouttobeginaseriousstrainofexpostulation,whenaknockwasheardatthedoor,andNicot,withoutwaitingforleave,obtrudedhisuglyhead。
\"Good-day,moncherconfrere。Iwishedtospeaktoyou。Hein!
youhavebeenatwork,Isee。Thisiswell,——verywell!Aboldoutline,——greatfreedominthatrighthand。But,hold!isthecompositiongood?Youhavenotgotthegreatpyramidalform。
Don\'tyouthink,too,thatyouhavelosttheadvantageofcontrastinthisfigure;sincetherightlegisputforward,surelytherightarmshouldbeputback?Peste!butthatlittlefingerisveryfine!\"
MervaledetestedNicot。Forallspeculators,Utopians,alterersoftheworld,andwanderersfromthehighroad,wereequallyhatefultohim;buthecouldhavehuggedtheFrenchmanatthatmoment。HesawinGlyndon\'sexpressivecountenanceallthewearinessanddisgustheendured。Aftersowrappedastudy,tobepratedtoaboutpyramidalformsandrightarmsandrightlegs,theaccidenceoftheart,thewholeconceptiontobeoverlooked,andthecriticismtoendinapprovalofthelittlefinger!
\"Oh,\"saidGlyndon,peevishly,throwingtheclothoverhisdesign,\"enoughofmypoorperformance。Whatisityouhavetosaytome?\"
\"Inthefirstplace,\"saidNicot,huddlinghimselftogetheruponastool,——\"inthefirstplace,thisSignorZanoni,——thissecondCagliostro,——whodisputesmydoctrines!nodoubtaspyofthemanCapetIamnotvindictive;asHelvetiussays,\'ourerrorsarisefromourpassions。\'Ikeepmineinorder;butitisvirtuoustohateinthecauseofmankind;IwouldIhadthedenouncingandthejudgingofSignorZanoniatParis。\"AndNicot\'ssmalleyesshotfire,andhegnashedhisteeth。
\"Haveyouanynewcausetohatehim?\"
\"Yes,\"saidNicot,fiercely。\"Yes,IhearheiscourtingthegirlImeantomarry。\"
\"You!Whomdoyouspeakof?\"
\"ThecelebratedPisani!Sheisdivinelyhandsome。Shewouldmakemyfortuneinarepublic。Andarepublicweshallhavebeforetheyearisout。\"
Mervalerubbedhishands,andchuckled。Glyndoncolouredwithrageandshame。
\"DoyouknowtheSignoraPisani?Haveyoueverspokentoher?\"
\"Notyet。ButwhenImakeupmymindtoanything,itissoondone。IamabouttoreturntoParis。Theywritemewordthatahandsomewifeadvancesthecareerofapatriot。Theageofprejudiceisover。Thesublimervirtuesbegintobeunderstood。
IshalltakebackthehandsomestwifeinEurope。\"
\"Bequiet!Whatareyouabout?\"saidMervale,seizingGlyndonashesawhimadvancetowardstheFrenchman,hiseyessparkling,andhishandsclenched。
\"Sir!\"saidGlyndon,betweenhisteeth,\"youknownotofwhomyouthusspeak。DoyouaffecttosupposethatViolaPisaniwouldacceptYOU?\"
\"Notifshecouldgetabetteroffer,\"saidMervale,lookinguptotheceiling。
\"Abetteroffer?Youdon\'tunderstandme,\"saidNicot。\"I,JeanNicot,proposetomarrythegirl;marryher!Othersmaymakehermoreliberaloffers,butnoone,Iapprehend,wouldmakeonesohonourable。Ialonehavepityonherfriendlesssituation。
Besides,accordingtothedawningstateofthings,onewillalways,inFrance,beabletogetridofawifewheneveronewishes。Weshallhavenewlawsofdivorce。DoyouimaginethatanItaliangirl——andinnocountryintheworldaremaidens,itseems,morechastethoughwivesmayconsolethemselveswithvirtuesmorephilosophical——wouldrefusethehandofanartistforthesettlementsofaprince?No;IthinkbetterofthePisanithanyoudo。Ishallhastentointroducemyselftoher。\"
\"Iwishyouallsuccess,MonsieurNicot,\"saidMervale,rising,andshakinghimheartilybythehand。
Glyndoncastatthembothadisdainfulglance。
\"Perhaps,MonsieurNicot,\"saidhe,atlength,constraininghislipsintoabittersmile,——\"perhapsyoumayhaverivals。\"
\"Somuchthebetter,\"repliedMonsieurNicot,carelessly,kickinghisheelstogether,andappearingabsorbedinadmirationatthesizeofhislargefeet。
\"ImyselfadmireViolaPisani。\"
\"Everypaintermust!\"
\"Imayofferhermarriageaswellasyourself。\"
\"Thatwouldbefollyinyou,thoughwisdominme。Youwouldnotknowhowtodrawprofitfromthespeculation!Cherconfrere,youhaveprejudices。\"
\"Youdonotdaretosayyouwouldmakeprofitfromyourownwife?\"
\"ThevirtuousCatolenthiswifetoafriend。Ilovevirtue,andIcannotdobetterthanimitateCato。Buttobeserious,——Idonotfearyouasarival。Youaregood-looking,andIamugly。
Butyouareirresolute,andIdecisive。Whileyouareutteringfinephrases,Ishallsay,simply,\'Ihaveabonetat。Willyoumarryme?\'Sodoyourworst,cherconfrere。Aurevoir,behindthescenes!\"
Sosaying,Nicotrose,stretchedhislongarmsandshortlegs,yawnedtillheshowedallhisraggedteethfromeartoear,presseddownhiscaponhisshaggyheadwithanairofdefiance,andcastingoverhisleftshoulderaglanceoftriumphandmaliceattheindignantGlyndon,saunteredoutoftheroom。
Mervaleburstintoaviolentfitoflaughter。\"SeehowyourViolaisestimatedbyyourfriend。Afinevictory,tocarryherofffromtheugliestdogbetweenLaplandandtheCalmucks。\"
Glyndonwasyettooindignanttoanswer,whenanewvisitorarrived。ItwasZanonihimself。Mervale,onwhomtheappearanceandaspectofthispersonageimposedakindofreluctantdeference,whichhewasunwillingtoacknowledge,andstillmoretobetray,noddedtoGlyndon,andsaying,simply,\"MorewhenI
seeyouagain,\"leftthepainterandhisunexpectedvisitor。
\"Isee,\"saidZanoni,liftingtheclothfromthecanvas,\"thatyouhavenotslightedtheadviceIgaveyou。Courage,youngartist;thisisanescapefromtheschools:thisisfulloftheboldself-confidenceofrealgenius。YouhadnoNicot——noMervale——atyourelbowwhenthisimageoftruebeautywasconceived!\"
Charmedbacktohisartbythisunlooked-forpraise,Glyndonrepliedmodestly,\"Ithoughtwellofmydesigntillthismorning;
andthenIwasdisenchantedofmyhappypersuasion。\"
\"Say,rather,that,unaccustomedtocontinuouslabour,youwerefatiguedwithyouremployment。\"
\"Thatistrue。ShallIconfessit?Ibegantomisstheworldwithout。Itseemedtomeasif,whileIlavishedmyheartandmyyouthuponvisionsofbeauty,Iwaslosingthebeautifulrealitiesofactuallife。AndIenviedthemerryfisherman,singingashepassedbelowmycasement,andtheloverconversingwithhismistress。\"
\"And,\"saidZanoni,withanencouragingsmile,\"doyoublameyourselfforthenaturalandnecessaryreturntoearth,inwhicheventhemosthabitualvisitoroftheHeavensofInventionseekshisrelaxationandrepose?Man\'sgeniusisabirdthatcannotbealwaysonthewing;whenthecravingfortheactualworldisfelt,itisahungerthatmustbeappeased。Theywhocommandbesttheideal,enjoyevermostthereal。Seethetrueartist,whenabroadinmen\'sthoroughfares,everobservant,everdivingintotheheart,everalivetotheleastastothegreatestofthecomplicatedtruthsofexistence;descendingtowhatpedantswouldcallthetrivialandthefrivolous。Fromeverymeshinthesocialweb,hecandisentangleagrace。Andforhimeachairygossamerfloatsinthegoldofthesunlight。Knowyounotthataroundtheanimalculethatsportsinthewaterthereshinesahalo,asaroundthestarThemonasmica,foundinthepurestpools,isencompassedwithahalo。Andthisisfrequentamongstmanyotherspeciesofanimalcule。thatrevolvesinbrightpastimethroughthespace?Trueartfindsbeautyeverywhere。Inthestreet,inthemarket-place,inthehovel,itgathersfoodforthehiveofitsthoughts。Inthemireofpolitics,DanteandMiltonselectedpearlsforthewreathofsong。
\"WhoevertoldyouthatRaphaeldidnotenjoythelifewithout,carryingeverywherewithhimtheoneinwardideaofbeautywhichattractedandimbeddedinitsownambereverystrawthatthefeetofthedullmantrampledintomud?Assomelordoftheforestwandersabroadforitsprey,andscentsandfollowsitoverplainandhill,throughbrakeandjungle,but,seizingitatlast,bearsthequarrytoitsunwitnessedcave,——soGeniussearchesthroughwoodandwaste,untiringlyandeagerly,everysenseawake,everynervestrainedtospeedandstrength,forthescatteredandflyingimagesofmatter,thatitseizesatlastwithitsmightytalons,andbearsawaywithitintosolitudesnofootstepcaninvade。Go,seektheworldwithout;itisforarttheinexhaustiblepasture-groundandharvesttotheworldwithin!\"
\"Youcomfortme,\"saidGlyndon,brightening。\"Ihadimaginedmywearinessaproofofmydeficiency!ButnotnowwouldIspeaktoyouoftheselabours。Pardonme,ifIpassfromthetoiltothereward。Youhaveuttereddimpropheciesofmyfuture,ifIwedonewho,inthejudgmentofthesoberworld,wouldonlydarkenitsprospectsandobstructitsambition。Doyouspeakfromthewisdomwhichisexperience,orthatwhichaspirestoprediction?\"
\"Aretheynotallied?Isitnothebestaccustomedtocalculationwhocansolveataglanceanynewprobleminthearithmeticofchances?\"
\"Youevademyquestion。\"
\"No;butIwilladaptmyanswerthebettertoyourcomprehension,foritisuponthisverypointthatIhavesoughtyou。Listentome!\"Zanonifixedhiseyesearnestlyonhislistener,andcontinued:\"Fortheaccomplishmentofwhateverisgreatandlofty,theclearperceptionoftruthsisthefirstrequisite,——
truthsadaptedtotheobjectdesired。Thewarriorthusreducesthechancesofbattletocombinationsalmostofmathematics。Hecanpredictaresult,ifhecanbutdependuponthematerialsheisforcedtoemploy。Atsuchalosshecancrossthatbridge;insuchatimehecanreducethatfort。Stillmoreaccurately,forhedependslessonmaterialcausesthanideasathiscommand,canthecommanderofthepurerscienceordivinerart,ifheonceperceivethetruthsthatareinhimandaround,foretellwhathecanachieve,andinwhatheiscondemnedtofail。Butthisperceptionoftruthsisdisturbedbymanycauses,——vanity,passion,fear,indolenceinhimself,ignoranceofthefittingmeanswithouttoaccomplishwhathedesigns。Hemaymiscalculatehisownforces;hemayhavenochartofthecountryhewouldinvade。Itisonlyinapeculiarstateofthemindthatitiscapableofperceivingtruth;andthatstateisprofoundserenity。
Yourmindisfeveredbyadesirefortruth:youwouldcompelittoyourembraces;youwouldaskmetoimparttoyou,withoutordealorpreparation,thegrandestsecretsthatexistinNature。
Buttruthcannomorebeseenbythemindunpreparedforit,thanthesuncandawnuponthemidstofnight。Suchamindreceivestruthonlytopolluteit:tousethesimileofonewhohaswanderedneartothesecretofthesublimeGoetiaorthemagicthatlieswithinNature,aselectricitywithinthecloud,\'Hewhopourswaterintothemuddywell,doesbutdisturbthemud。\'\"
\"Iamb。deVit。Pythag。\"
\"Whatdoyoutendto?\"
\"This:thatyouhavefacultiesthatmayattaintosurpassingpower,thatmayrankyouamongthoseenchanterswho,greaterthanthemagian,leavebehindthemanenduringinfluence,worshippedwhereverbeautyiscomprehended,whereverthesoulissensibleofahigherworldthanthatinwhichmatterstrugglesforcrudeandincompleteexistence。
\"Buttomakeavailablethosefaculties,needIbeaprophettotellyouthatyoumustlearntoconcentreupongreatobjectsallyourdesires?Theheartmustrest,thatthemindmaybeactive。
Atpresentyouwanderfromaimtoaim。Astheballasttotheship,sotothespiritarefaithandlove。Withyourwholeheart,affections,humanity,centredinoneobject,yourmindandaspirationswillbecomeequallysteadfastandinearnest。Violaisachildasyet;youdonotperceivethehighnaturethetrialsoflifewilldevelop。Pardonme,ifIsaythathersoul,purerandloftierthanyourown,willbearitupward,asasecrethymncarriesaloftthespiritsoftheworld。Yournaturewantstheharmony,themusicwhich,asthePythagoreanswiselytaught,atonceelevatesandsoothes。Iofferyouthatmusicinherlove。\"
\"ButamIsurethatshedoesloveme?\"
\"Artist,no;shelovesyounotatpresent;heraffectionsarefullofanother。ButifIcouldtransfertoyou,astheloadstonetransfersitsattractiontothemagnet,thelovethatshehasnowforme,——ifIcouldcausehertoseeinyoutheidealofherdreams——\"
\"Issuchagiftinthepowerofman?\"
\"Iofferittoyou,ifyourlovebelawful,ifyourfaithinvirtueandyourselfbedeepandloyal;ifnot,thinkyouthatI
woulddisenchantherwithtruthtomakeheradoreafalsehood?\"
\"Butif,\"persistedGlyndon,——\"ifshebeallthatyoutellme,andifsheloveyou,howcanyourobyourselfofsopricelessatreasure?\"
\"Oh,shallowandmeanheartofman!\"exclaimedZanoni,withunaccustomedpassionandvehemence,\"dostthouconceivesolittleofloveasnottoknowthatitsacrificesall——loveitself——forthehappinessofthethingitloves?Hearme!\"AndZanoni\'sfacegrewpale。\"Hearme!Ipressthisuponyou,becauseIloveher,andbecauseIfearthatwithmeherfatewillbelessfairthanwithyourself。Why,——asknot,forIwillnottellyou。
Enough!Timepressesnowforyouranswer;itcannotlongbedelayed。Beforethenightofthethirddayfromthis,allchoicewillbeforbidyou!\"
\"But,\"saidGlyndon,stilldoubtingandsuspicious,——\"butwhythishaste?\"
\"Man,youarenotworthyofherwhenyouaskme。AllIcantellyouhere,youshouldhaveknownyourself。Thisravisher,thismanofwill,thissonoftheoldVisconti,unlikeyou,——
steadfast,resolute,earnesteveninhiscrimes,——neverrelinquishesanobject。Butonepassioncontrolshislust,——itishisavarice。ThedayafterhisattemptonViola,hisuncle,theCardinal——,fromwhomhehaslargeexpectationsoflandandgold,sentforhim,andforbadehim,onpainofforfeitingallthepossessionswhichhisschemesalreadyhadparcelledout,topursuewithdishonourabledesignsonewhomtheCardinalhadheededandlovedfromchildhood。Thisisthecauseofhispresentpausefromhispursuit。Whilewespeak,thecauseexpires。Beforethehandoftheclockreachesthehourofnoon,theCardinal——willbenomore。Atthisverymomentthyfriend,JeanNicot,iswiththePrincedi。\"
\"He!wherefore?\"
\"ToaskwhatdowershallgowithViolaPisani,themorningthatsheleavesthepalaceoftheprince。\"
\"Andhowdoyouknowallthis?\"
\"Fool!Itelltheeagain,becausealoverisawatcherbynightandday;becauseloveneversleepswhendangermenacesthebelovedone!\"
\"AndyouitwasthatinformedtheCardinal——?\"
\"Yes;andwhathasbeenmytaskmightaseasilyhavebeenthine。
Speak,——thineanswer!\"
\"Youshallhaveitonthethirddayfromthis。\"
\"Beitso。Putoff,poorwaverer,thyhappinesstothelasthour。Onthethirddayfromthis,Iwillasktheethyresolve。\"
\"Andwhereshallwemeet?\"
\"Beforemidnight,whereyoumayleastexpectme。Youcannotshunme,thoughyoumayseektodoso!\"
\"Stayonemoment!Youcondemnmeasdoubtful,irresolute,suspicious。HaveInocause?CanIyieldwithoutastruggletothestrangefascinationyouexertuponmymind?Whatinterestcanyouhaveinme,astranger,thatyoushouldthusdictatetomethegravestactioninthelifeofman?Doyousupposethatanyoneinhissenseswouldnotpause,anddeliberate,andaskhimself,\'Whyshouldthisstrangercarethusforme?\'\"
\"Andyet,\"saidZanoni,\"ifItoldtheethatIcouldinitiatetheeintothesecretsofthatmagicwhichthephilosophyofthewholeexistingworldtreatsasachimera,orimposture;ifI
promisedtoshowtheehowtocommandthebeingsofairandocean,howtoaccumulatewealthmoreeasilythanachildcangatherpebblesontheshore,toplaceinthyhandstheessenceoftheherbswhichprolonglifefromagetoage,themysteryofthatattractionbywhichtoawealldangeranddisarmallviolenceandsubduemanastheserpentcharmsthebird,——ifItoldtheethatalltheseitwasminetopossessandtocommunicate,thouwouldstlistentomethen,andobeymewithoutadoubt!\"
\"Itistrue;andIcanaccountforthisonlybytheimperfectassociationsofmychildhood,——bytraditionsinourhouseof——\"
\"Yourforefather,who,intherevivalofscience,soughtthesecretsofApolloniusandParacelsus。\"
\"What!\"saidGlyndon,amazed,\"areyousowellacquaintedwiththeannalsofanobscurelineage?\"
\"Tothemanwhoaspirestoknow,nomanwhohasbeenthemeaneststudentofknowledgeshouldbeunknown。YouaskmewhyIhaveshownthisinterestinyourfate?ThereisonereasonwhichI
havenotyettoldyou。Thereisafraternityastowhoselawsandwhosemysteriesthemostinquisitiveschoolmenareinthedark。Bythoselawsallarepledgedtowarn,toaid,andtoguideeventheremotestdescendantsofmenwhohavetoiled,thoughvainly,likeyourancestor,inthemysteriesoftheOrder。
Weareboundtoadvisethemtotheirwelfare;nay,more,——iftheycommandustoit,wemustacceptthemasourpupils。Iamasurvivorofthatmostancientandimmemorialunion。Thisitwasthatboundmetotheeatthefirst;this,perhaps,attractedthyselfunconsciously,SonofourBrotherhood,tome。\"
\"Ifthisbeso,Icommandthee,inthenameofthelawsthouobeyest,toreceivemeasthypupil!\"
\"Whatdoyouask?\"saidZanoni,passionately。\"Learn,first,theconditions。Noneophytemusthave,athisinitiation,oneaffectionordesirethatchainshimtotheworld。Hemustbepurefromtheloveofwoman,freefromavariceandambition,freefromthedreamsevenofart,orthehopeofearthlyfame。Thefirstsacrificethoumustmakeis——Violaherself。Andforwhat?
Foranordealthatthemostdaringcourageonlycanencounter,themostetherealnaturesalonesurvive!Thouartunfitforthesciencethathasmademeandotherswhatweareorhavebeen;forthywholenatureisonefear!\"
\"Fear!\"criedGlyndon,colouringwithresentment,andrisingtothefullheightofhisstature。
\"Fear!andtheworstfear,——fearoftheworld\'sopinion;fearoftheNicotsandtheMervales;fearofthineownimpulseswhenmostgenerous;fearofthineownpowerswhenthygeniusismostbold;
fearthatvirtueisnoteternal;fearthatGoddoesnotliveinheaventokeepwatchonearth;fear,thefearoflittlemen;andthatfearisneverknowntothegreat。\"
WiththesewordsZanoniabruptlylefttheartist,humbled,bewildered,andnotconvinced。Heremainedalonewithhisthoughtstillhewasarousedbythestrikingoftheclock;hethensuddenlyrememberedZanoni\'spredictionoftheCardinal\'sdeath;and,seizedwithanintensedesiretolearnitstruth,hehurriedintothestreets,——hegainedtheCardinal\'spalace。FiveminutesbeforenoonhisEminencehadexpired,afteranillnessoflessthananhour。Zanoni\'svisithadoccupiedmoretimethantheillnessoftheCardinal。Awedandperplexed,heturnedfromthepalace,andashewalkedthroughtheChiaja,hesawJeanNicotemergefromtheportalsofthePrincedi。
CHAPTER3。V。
TwolovesIhaveofcomfortanddespair,Whichliketwospiritsdosuggestmestill。
Shakespeare。
VenerableBrotherhood,sosacredandsolittleknown,fromwhosesecretandpreciousarchivesthematerialsforthishistoryhavebeendrawn;yewhohaveretained,fromcenturytocentury,allthattimehassparedoftheaugustandvenerablescience,——thankstoyou,ifnow,forthefirsttime,somerecordofthethoughtsandactionsofnofalseandself-styledluminaryofyourOrderbegiven,howeverimperfectly,totheworld。Manyhavecalledthemselvesofyourband;manyspuriouspretendershavebeenso-calledbythelearnedignorancewhichstill,baffledandperplexed,isdriventoconfessthatitknowsnothingofyourorigin,yourceremoniesordoctrines,norevenifyoustillhavelocalhabitationontheearth。ThankstoyouifI,theonlyoneofmycountry,inthisage,admitted,withaprofanefootstep,intoyourmysteriousAcademeThereaderwillhavethegoodnesstorememberthatthisissaidbytheauthoroftheoriginalMS。,notbytheeditor。,havebeenbyyouempoweredandinstructedtoadapttothecomprehensionoftheuninitiated,somefewofthestarrytruthswhichshoneonthegreatShemaiaoftheChaldeanLore,andgleameddimlythroughthedarkenedknowledgeoflatterdisciples,labouring,likePsellusandIamblichus,torevivetheembersofthefirewhichburnedintheHamarinoftheEast。
ThoughnottousofanagedandhoaryworldisvouchsafedtheNAMEwhich,sosaytheearliestoraclesoftheearth,\"rushesintotheinfiniteworlds,\"yetisitourstotracetherevivingtruths,througheachnewdiscoveryofthephilosopherandchemist。Thelawsofattraction,ofelectricity,andoftheyetmoremysteriousagencyofthatgreatprincipaloflife,which,ifdrawnfromtheuniverse,wouldleavetheuniverseagrave,werebutthecodeinwhichtheTheurgyofoldsoughttheguidesthatledittoalegislationandscienceofitsown。Torebuildonwordsthefragmentsofthishistory,itseemstomeasif,inasolemntrance,Iwasledthroughtheruinsofacitywhoseonlyremainsweretombs。FromthesarcophagusandtheurnIawakethegeniusTheGreekGeniusofDeath。oftheextinguishedTorch,andsocloselydoesitsshaperesembleEros,thatatmomentsI
scarcelyknowwhichofyedictatestome,——OLove!ODeath!
Anditstirredinthevirgin\'sheart,——thisnew,unfathomable,anddivineemotion!Wasitonlytheordinaryaffectionofthepulseandthefancy,oftheeyetotheBeautiful,oftheeartotheEloquent,ordiditnotjustifythenotionsheherselfconceivedofit,——thatitwasbornnotofthesenses,thatitwaslessofearthlyandhumanlovethantheeffectofsomewondrousbutnotunholycharm?Isaidthat,fromthatdayinwhich,nolongerwithaweandtrembling,shesurrenderedherselftotheinfluenceofZanoni,shehadsoughttoputherthoughtsintowords。Letthethoughtsattesttheirownnature。
THESELFCONFESSIONAL。
\"Isitthedaylightthatshinesonme,orthememoryofthypresence?WhereverIlook,theworldseemsfullofthee;ineveryraythattremblesonthewater,thatsmilesupontheleaves,Ibeholdbutalikenesstothineeyes。Whatisthischange,thataltersnotonlymyself,butthefaceofthewholeuniverse?……
Howinstantaneouslyleapedintolifethepowerwithwhichthouswayestmyheartinitsebbandflow。Thousandswerearoundme,andIsawbutthee。ThatwasthenightinwhichIfirstenteredupontheworldwhichcrowdslifeintoadrama,andhasnolanguagebutmusic。Howstrangelyandhowsuddenlywiththeebecamethatworldevermoreconnected!Whatthedelusionofthestagewastoothers,thypresencewastome。Mylife,too,seemedtocentreintothoseshorthours,andfromthylipsI
heardamusic,mutetoallearsbutmine。Isitintheroomwheremyfatherdwelt。Here,onthathappynight,forgettingwhyTHEYweresohappy,Ishrunkintotheshadow,andsoughttoguesswhatthouwerttome;andmymother\'slowvoicewokeme,andI
crepttomyfather\'sside,close——close,fromfearofmyownthoughts。
\"Ah!sweetandsadwasthemorrowtothatnight,whenthylipswarnedmeofthefuture。Anorphannow,——whatistherethatlivesformetothinkof,todreamupon,torevere,butthou!
\"Howtenderlythouhastrebukedmeforthegrievouswrongthatmythoughtsdidthee!WhyshouldIhaveshudderedtofeeltheeglancinguponmythoughtslikethebeamonthesolitarytree,towhichthoudidstoncelikenmesowell?Itwas——itwas,that,likethetree,Istruggledforthelight,andthelightcame。
Theytellmeoflove,andmyverylifeofthestagebreathesthelanguageofloveintomylips。No;againandagain,IknowTHAT
isnotthelovethatIfeelforthee!——itisnotapassion,itisathought!Iasknottobelovedagain。Imurmurnotthatthywordsaresternandthylooksarecold。IasknotifIhaverivals;Isighnottobefairinthineeyes。ItismySPIRIT
thatwouldblenditselfwiththine。Iwouldgiveworlds,thoughwewereapart,thoughoceansrolledbetweenus,toknowthehourinwhichthygazewasliftedtothestars,——inwhichthyheartpoureditselfinprayer。Theytellmethouartmorebeautifulthanthemarbleimagesthatarefairerthanallhumanforms;butIhaveneverdaredtogazesteadfastlyonthyface,thatmemorymightcomparetheewiththerest。Onlythineeyesandthysoft,calmsmilehauntme;aswhenIlookuponthemoon,allthatpassesintomyheartishersilentlight……
\"Often,whentheairiscalm,IhavethoughtthatIhearthestrainsofmyfather\'smusic;often,thoughlongstilledinthegrave,havetheywakedmefromthedreamsofthesolemnnight。
Methinks,erethoucomesttomethatIhearthemheraldthyapproach。MethinksIhearthemwailandmoan,whenIsinkbackintomyselfonseeingtheedepart。ThouartOFthatmusic,——itsspirit,itsgenius。Myfathermusthaveguessedattheeandthynativeregions,whenthewindshushedtolistentohistones,andtheworlddeemedhimmad!IhearwhereIsit,thefarmurmurofthesea。Murmuron,yeblessedwaters!Thewavesarethepulsesoftheshore。Theybeatwiththegladnessofthemorningwind,——
sobeatsmyheartinthefreshnessandlightthatmakeupthethoughtsofthee!……
\"OfteninmychildhoodIhavemusedandaskedforwhatIwasborn;andmysoulansweredmyheartandsaid,\'THOUWERTBORNTO
WORSHIP!\'Yes;Iknowwhytherealworldhaseverseemedtomesofalseandcold。Iknowwhytheworldofthestagecharmedanddazzledme。Iknowwhyitwassosweettositapartandgazemywholebeingintothedistantheavens。Mynatureisnotformedforthislife,happythoughthatlifeseemtoothers。Itisitsverywanttohaveeverbeforeitsomeimageloftierthanitself!
Stranger,inwhatrealmabove,whenthegraveispast,shallmysoul,hourafterhour,worshipatthesamesourceasthine?……
\"Inthegardensofmyneighbourthereisasmallfountain。I
stoodbyitthismorningaftersunrise。Howitsprungup,withitseagerspray,tothesunbeams!AndthenIthoughtthatI
shouldseetheeagainthisday,andsosprungmyhearttothenewmorningwhichthoubringestmefromtheskies……
\"IHAVEseen,IhaveLISTENEDtotheeagain。HowboldIhavebecome!Iranonwithmychildlikethoughtsandstories,myrecollectionsofthepast,asifIhadknowntheefromaninfant。
Suddenlytheideaofmypresumptionstruckme。Istopped,andtimidlysoughtthineeyes。
\"\'Well,andwhenyoufoundthatthenightingalerefusedtosing?\'——
\"\'Ah!\'Isaid,\'whattotheethishistoryoftheheartofachild?\'
\"\'Viola,\'didstthouanswer,withthatvoice,soinexpressiblycalmandearnest!——\'Viola,thedarknessofachild\'sheartisoftenbuttheshadowofastar。Speakon!Andthynightingale,whentheycaughtandcagedit,refusedtosing?\'
\"\'AndIplacedthecageyonder,amidstthevine-leaves,andtookupmylute,andspoketoitonthestrings;forIthoughtthatallmusicwasitsnativelanguage,anditwouldunderstandthatI
soughttocomfortit。\'
\"\'Yes,\'saidstthou。\'Andatlastitansweredthee,butnotwithsong,——inasharp,briefcry;somournful,thatthyhandsletfallthelute,andthetearsgushedfromthineeyes。Sosoftlydidstthouunbarthecage,andthenightingaleflewintoyonderthicket;andthouheardstthefoliagerustle,and,lookingthroughthemoonlight,thineeyessawthatithadfounditsmate。
Itsangtotheethenfromtheboughsalong,loud,joyousjubilee。Andmusing,thoudidstfeelthatitwasnotthevine-
leavesorthemoonlightthatmadethebirdgivemelodytonight,andthatthesecretofitsmusicwasthepresenceofathingbeloved。\'
\"HowdidstthouknowmythoughtsinthatchildliketimebetterthanIknewmyself!Howisthehumblelifeofmypastyears,withitsmeanevents,somysteriouslyfamiliartothee,brightstranger!Iwonder,——butIdonotagaindaretofearthee!……
\"Oncethethoughtofhimoppressedandweighedmedown。Asaninfantthatlongsforthemoon,mybeingwasonevaguedesireforsomethingnevertobeattained。NowIfeelratherasiftothinkoftheesufficedtoremoveeveryfetterfrommyspirit。Ifloatinthestillseasoflight,andnothingseemstoohighformywings,toogloriousformyeyes。Itwasmineignorancethatmademefearthee。Aknowledgethatisnotinbooksseemstobreathearoundtheeasanatmosphere。HowlittlehaveIread!——howlittlehaveIlearned!Yetwhenthouartbymyside,itseemsasiftheveilwereliftedfromallwisdomandallNature。I
startlewhenIlookevenatthewordsIhavewritten;theyseemnottocomefrommyself,butarethesignsofanotherlanguagewhichthouhasttaughtmyheart,andwhichmyhandtracesrapidly,asatthydictation。Sometimes,whileIwriteormuse,IcouldfancythatIheardlightwingshoveringaroundme,andsawdimshapesofbeautyfloatinground,andvanishingastheysmileduponme。Nounquietandfearfuldreamevercomestomenowinsleep,yetsleepandwakingarealikebutasonedream。
InsleepIwanderwiththee,notthroughthepathsofearth,butthroughimpalpableair——anairwhichseemsamusic——upwardandupward,asthesoulmountsonthetonesofalyre!TillIknewthee,Iwasasaslavetotheearth。Thouhastgiventomethelibertyoftheuniverse!Before,itwaslife;itseemstomenowasifIhadcommencedeternity!