\"Formerly,whenIwastoappearuponthestage,myheartbeatmoreloudly。Itrembledtoencountertheaudience,whosebreathgaveshameorrenown;andnowIhavenofearofthem。Iseethem,heedthem,hearthemnot!Iknowthattherewillbemusicinmyvoice,foritisahymnthatIpourtothee。Thounevercomesttothetheatre;andthatnolongergrievesme。Thouartbecometoosacredtoappearapartofthecommonworld,andI
feelgladthatthouartnotbywhencrowdshavearighttojudgeme……
\"AndhespoketomeofANOTHER:toanotherhewouldconsignme!
No,itisnotlovethatIfeelforthee,Zanoni;orwhydidI
heartheewithoutanger,whydidthycommandseemtomenotathingimpossible?Asthestringsoftheinstrumentobeythehandofthemaster,thylookmodulatesthewildestchordsofmyhearttothywill。Ifitpleasethee,——yes,letitbeso。Thouartlordofmydestinies;theycannotrebelagainstthee!IalmostthinkIcouldlovehim,whoeveritbe,onwhomthouwouldstshedtheraysthatcircumfusethyself。Whateverthouhasttouched,I
love;whateverthouspeakestof,Ilove。Thyhandplayedwiththesevineleaves;Iweartheminmybosom。Thouseemesttomethesourceofalllove;toohighandtoobrighttobelovedthyself,butdartinglightintootherobjects,onwhichtheeyecangazelessdazzled。No,no;itisnotlovethatIfeelforthee,andthereforeitisthatIdonotblushtonourishandconfessit。ShameonmeifIloved,knowingmyselfsoworthlessathingtothee!……
\"ANOTHER!——mymemoryechoesbackthatword。Another!DostthoumeanthatIshallseetheenomore?Itisnotsadness,——itisnotdespairthatseizesme。Icannotweep。Itisanuttersenseofdesolation。Iamplungedbackintothecommonlife;andI
shuddercoldlyatthesolitude。ButIwillobeythee,ifthouwilt。ShallInotseetheeagainbeyondthegrave?Ohowsweetitweretodie!
\"WhydoInotstrugglefromthewebinwhichmywillisthusentangled?Hastthouarighttodisposeofmethus?Givemeback——givemebackthelifeIknewbeforeIgavelifeitselfawaytothee。Givemebackthecarelessdreamsofmyyouth,——mylibertyofheartthatsungaloudasitwalkedtheearth。Thouhastdisenchantedmeofeverythingthatisnotofthyself。Wherewasthesin,atleast,tothinkofthee,——toseethee?Thykissstillglowsuponmyhand;isthathandminetobestow?Thykissclaimedandhallowedittothyself。Stranger,IwillNOTobeythee……
\"Anotherday,——onedayofthefatalthreeisgone!Itisstrangetomethatsincethesleepofthelastnight,adeepcalmhassettleduponmybreast。Ifeelsoassuredthatmyverybeingisbecomeapartofthee,thatIcannotbelievethatmylifecanbeseparatedfromthine;andinthisconvictionIrepose,andsmileevenatthywordsandmyownfears。Thouartfondofonemaxim,whichthourepeatestinathousandforms,——thatthebeautyofthesoulisfaith;thatasideallovelinesstothesculptor,faithistotheheart;thatfaith,rightlyunderstood,extendsoveralltheworksoftheCreator,whomwecanknowbutthroughbelief;
thatitembracesatranquilconfidenceinourselves,andaserenereposeastoourfuture;thatitisthemoonlightthatswaysthetidesofthehumansea。ThatfaithIcomprehendnow。Irejectalldoubt,allfear。IknowthatIhaveinextricablylinkedthewholethatmakestheinnerlifetothee;andthoucanstnottearmefromthee,ifthouwouldst!Andthischangefromstruggleintocalmcametomewithsleep,——asleepwithoutadream;butwhenIwoke,itwaswithamysterioussenseofhappiness,——anindistinctmemoryofsomethingblessed,——asifthouhadstcastfromafaroffasmileuponmyslumber。AtnightIwassosad;
notablossomthathadnotcloseditselfup,asifnevermoretoopentothesun;andthenightitself,intheheartasontheearth,hasripenedtheblossomsintoflowers。Theworldisbeautifuloncemore,butbeautifulinrepose,——notabreezestirsthytree,notadoubtmysoul!\"
CHAPTER3。VI。
TuveggaoperviolenziaoperingannoPatireodisonoreomortaldanno。
\"OrlandoFurioso,\"Cant。xlii。i。
Thouartabout,eitherthroughviolenceorartifice,tosuffereitherdishonourormortalloss。
Itwasasmallcabinet;thewallswerecoveredwithpictures,oneofwhichwasworthmorethanthewholelineageoftheownerofthepalace。Oh,yes!Zanoniwasright。ThepainterISamagician;thegoldheatleastwringsfromhiscrucibleisnodelusion。AVenetiannoblemightbeafribble,oranassassin,——
ascoundrel,oradolt;worthless,orworsethanworthless,yethemighthavesattoTitian,andhisportraitmaybeinestimable,——afewinchesofpaintedcanvasathousandtimesmorevaluablethanamanwithhisveinsandmuscles,brain,will,heart,andintellect!
Inthiscabinetsatamanofaboutthree-and-forty,——dark-eyed,sallow,withshort,prominentfeatures,amassiveconformationofjaw,andthick,sensual,butresolutelips;thismanwasthePrincedi。Hisform,abovethemiddleheight,andratherinclinedtocorpulence,wascladinaloosedressing-robeofrichbrocade。Onatablebeforehimlayanold-fashionedswordandhat,amask,diceanddice-box,aportfolio,andaninkstandofsilvercuriouslycarved。
\"Well,Mascari,\"saidtheprince,lookinguptowardshisparasite,whostoodbytheembrasureofthedeep-setbarricadoedwindow,——\"well!theCardinalsleepswithhisfathers。Irequirecomfortforthelossofsoexcellentarelation;andwhereamoredulcetvoicethanViolaPisani\'s?\"
\"IsyourExcellencyserious?SosoonafterthedeathofhisEminence?\"
\"Itwillbethelesstalkedof,andIthelesssuspected。Hastthouascertainedthenameoftheinsolentwhobaffledusthatnight,andadvisedtheCardinalthenextday?\"
\"Notyet。\"
\"SapientMascari!Iwillinformthee。ItwasthestrangeUnknown。\"
\"TheSignorZanoni!Areyousure,myprince?\"
\"Mascari,yes。Thereisatoneinthatman\'svoicethatInevercanmistake;soclear,andsocommanding,whenIhearitIalmostfancythereissuchathingasconscience。However,wemustridourselvesofanimpertinent。Mascari,SignorZanonihathnotyethonouredourpoorhousewithhispresence。Heisadistinguishedstranger,——wemustgiveabanquetinhishonour。\"
\"Ah,andtheCypruswine!Thecypressisaproperemblemofthegrave。\"
\"Butthisanon。Iamsuperstitious;therearestrangestoriesofZanoni\'spowerandforesight;rememberthedeathofUghelli。Nomatter,thoughtheFiendwerehisally,heshouldnotrobmeofmyprize;no,normyrevenge。\"
\"YourExcellencyisinfatuated;theactresshasbewitchedyou。\"
\"Mascari,\"saidtheprince,withahaughtysmile,\"throughtheseveinsrollsthebloodoftheoldVisconti——ofthosewhoboastedthatnowomaneverescapedtheirlust,andnomantheirresentment。Thecrownofmyfathershasshrunkintoagewgawandatoy,——theirambitionandtheirspiritareundecayed!Myhonourisnowenlistedinthispursuit,——Violamustbemine!\"
\"Anotherambuscade?\"saidMascari,inquiringly。
\"Nay,whynotenterthehouseitself?——thesituationislonely,andthedoorisnotmadeofiron。\"
\"Butwhatif,onherreturnhome,shetellthetaleofourviolence?Ahouseforced,——avirginstolen!Reflect;thoughthefeudalprivilegesarenotdestroyed,evenaViscontiisnotnowabovethelaw。\"
\"Ishenot,Mascari?Fool!inwhatageoftheworld,eveniftheMadmenofFrancesucceedintheirchimeras,willtheironoflawnotbenditself,likeanosiertwig,tothestronghandofpowerandgold?Butlooknotsopale,Mascari;Ihaveforeplannedallthings。Thedaythatsheleavesthispalace,shewillleaveitforFrance,withMonsieurJeanNicot。\"
BeforeMascaricouldreply,thegentlemanofthechamberannouncedtheSignorZanoni。
Theprinceinvoluntarilylaidhishandupontheswordplacedonthetable,thenwithasmileathisownimpulse,rose,andmethisvisitoratthethreshold,withalltheprofuseandrespectfulcourtesyofItaliansimulation。
\"Thisisanhonourhighlyprized,\"saidtheprince。\"Ihavelongdesiredtoclaspthehandofonesodistinguished。\"
\"AndIgiveitinthespiritwithwhichyouseekit,\"repliedZanoni。
TheNeapolitanbowedoverthehandhepressed;butashetoucheditashivercameoverhim,andhisheartstoodstill。Zanonibentonhimhisdark,smilingeyes,andthenseatedhimselfwithafamiliarair。
\"Thusitissignedandsealed;Imeanourfriendship,nobleprince。AndnowIwilltellyoutheobjectofmyvisit。Ifind,Excellency,that,unconsciouslyperhaps,wearerivals。Canwenotaccommodateoutpretensions!\"
\"Ah!\"saidtheprince,carelessly,\"you,then,werethecavalierwhorobbedmeoftherewardofmychase。Allstratagemsfairinlove,asinwar。Reconcileourpretensions!Well,hereisthedice-box;letusthrowforher。Hewhocaststhelowestshallresignhisclaim。\"
\"Isthisadecisionbywhichyouwillpromisetobebound?\"
\"Yes,onmyfaith。\"
\"Andforhimwhobreakshiswordsoplighted,whatshallbetheforfeit?\"
\"Theswordliesnexttothedice-box,SignorZanoni。Lethimwhostandsnotbyhishonourfallbythesword。\"
\"Andyouinvokethatsentenceifeitherofusfailhisword?Beitso;letSignorMascaricastforus。\"
\"Wellsaid!——Mascari,thedice!\"
Theprincethrewhimselfbackinhischair;and,world-hardenedashewas,couldnotsuppresstheglowoftriumphandsatisfactionthatspreaditselfoverhisfeatures。Mascaritookupthethreedice,andrattledthemnoisilyinthebox。Zanoni,leaninghischeekonhishand,andbendingoverthetable,fixedhiseyessteadfastlyontheparasite;Mascariinvainstruggledtoextricatefromthatsearchinggaze;hegrewpale,andtrembled,heputdownthebox。
\"IgivethefirstthrowtoyourExcellency。SignorMascari,bepleasedtoterminateoursuspense。\"
AgainMascaritookupthebox;againhishandshooksothatthedicerattledwithin。Hethrew;thenumbersweresixteen。
\"Itisahighthrow,\"saidZanoni,calmly;\"nevertheless,SignorMascari,Idonotdespond。\"
Mascarigatheredupthedice,shookthebox,androlledthecontentsoncemoreonthetable:thenumberwasthehighestthatcanbethrown,——eighteen。
Theprincedartedaglanceoffireathisminion,whostoodwithgapingmouth,staringatthedice,andtremblingfromheadtofoot。
\"Ihavewon,yousee,\"saidZanoni;\"maywebefriendsstill?\"
\"Signor,\"saidtheprince,obviouslystrugglingwithangerandconfusion,\"thevictoryisyours。Butpardonme,youhavespokenlightlyofthisyounggirl,——willanythingtemptyoutoyieldyourclaim?\"
\"Ah,donotthinksoillofmygallantry;and,\"resumedZanoni,withasternmeaninginhisvoice,\"forgetnottheforfeityourownlipshavenamed。\"
Theprinceknithisbrow,butconstrainedthehaughtyanswerthatwashisfirstimpulse。
\"Enough!\"hesaid,forcingasmile;\"Iyield。LetmeprovethatIdonotyieldungraciously;willyoufavourmewithyourpresenceatalittlefeastIproposetogiveinhonour,\"headded,withasardonicmockery,\"oftheelevationofmykinsman,thelateCardinal,ofpiousmemory,tothetrueseatofSt。
Peter?\"
\"Itis,indeed,ahappinesstohearonecommandofyoursIcanobey。\"
Zanonithenturnedtheconversation,talkedlightlyandgayly,andsoonafterwardsdeparted。
\"Villain!\"thenexclaimedtheprince,graspingMascaribythecollar,\"youbetrayedme!\"
\"IassureyourExcellencythatthedicewereproperlyarranged;
heshouldhavethrowntwelve;butheistheDevil,andthat\'stheendofit。\"
\"Thereisnotimetobelost,\"saidtheprince,quittinghisholdofhisparasite,whoquietlyresettledhiscravat。
\"Mybloodisup,——Iwillwinthisgirl,ifIdieforit!Whatnoiseisthat?\"
\"Itisbuttheswordofyourillustriousancestorthathasfallenfromthetable。\"
CHAPTER3。VII。
Ilnefautappeleraucunordresicen\'estentemsclairetserein。
\"LesClaviculesduRabbiSalomon。\"
Noorderofspiritsmustbeinvokedunlesstheweatherbeclearandserene。
LetterfromZanonitoMejnour。
Myartisalreadydimandtroubled。Ihavelostthetranquillitywhichispower。IcannotinfluencethedecisionsofthosewhomI
wouldmostguidetotheshore;Iseethemwanderfartheranddeeperintotheinfiniteoceanwhereourbarkssailevermoretothehorizonthatfliesbeforeus!AmazedandawedtofindthatI
canonlywarnwhereIwouldcontrol,Ihavelookedintomyownsoul。Itistruethatthedesiresofearthchainmetothepresent,andshutmefromthesolemnsecretswhichIntellect,purifiedfromallthedrossoftheclay,alonecanexamineandsurvey。Thesternconditiononwhichweholdournobleranddivinergiftsdarkensourvisiontowardsthefutureofthoseforwhomweknowthehumaninfirmitiesofjealousyorhateorlove。
Mejnour,allaroundmeismistandhaze;Ihavegonebackinoursublimeexistence;andfromthebosomoftheimperishableyouththatbloomsonlyinthespirit,springsupthedarkpoison-flowerofhumanlove。
Thismanisnotworthyofher,——Iknowthattruth;yetinhisnaturearetheseedsofgoodandgreatness,ifthetaresandweedsofworldlyvanitiesandfearswouldsufferthemtogrow。
Ifshewerehis,andIhadthustransplantedtoanothersoilthepassionthatobscuresmygazeanddisarmsmypower,unseen,unheard,unrecognised,Icouldwatchoverhisfate,andsecretlyprompthisdeeds,andministertoherwelfarethroughhisown。
Buttimerusheson!Throughtheshadowsthatencircleme,Isee,gatheringroundher,thedarkestdangers。Nochoicebutflight,——noescapesavewithhimorme。Withme!——therapturousthought,——theterribleconviction!Withme!Mejnour,canstthouwonderthatIwouldsaveherfrommyself?Amomentinthelifeofages,——abubbleontheshorelesssea。Whatelsetomecanbehumanlove?Andinthisexquisitenatureofhers,——morepure,morespiritual,eveninitsyoungaffectionsthaneverheretoforethecountlessvolumesoftheheart,raceafterrace,havegiventomygaze:thereisyetadeep-buriedfeelingthatwarnsmeofinevitablewoe。ThouaustereandremorselessHierophant,——thouwhohastsoughttoconverttoourbrotherhoodeveryspiritthatseemedtotheemosthighandbold,——eventhouknowest,byhorribleexperience,howvainthehopetobanishFEARfromtheheartofwoman。
Mylifewouldbetoheronemarvel。Evenif,ontheotherhand,Isoughttoguideherpaththroughtherealmsofterrortothelight,thinkoftheHaunteroftheThreshold,andshudderwithmeattheawfulhazard!IhaveendeavouredtofilltheEnglishman\'sambitionwiththetruegloryofhisart;buttherestlessspiritofhisancestorstillseemstowhisperinhim,andtoattracttothespheresinwhichitlostitsownwanderingway。Thereisamysteryinman\'sinheritancefromhisfathers。Peculiaritiesofthemind,asdiseasesofthebody,restdormantforgenerations,toreviveinsomedistantdescendant,bafflealltreatmentandeludeallskill。CometomefromthysolitudeamidstthewrecksofRome!Ipantforalivingconfidant,——foronewhointheoldtimehashimselfknownjealousyandlove。IhavesoughtcommunewithAdon-Ai;buthispresence,thatonceinspiredsuchheavenlycontentwithknowledge,andsosereneaconfidenceindestiny,nowonlytroublesandperplexesme。FromtheheightfromwhichI
strivetosearchintotheshadowsofthingstocome,Iseeconfusedspectresofmenaceandwrath。MethinksIbeholdaghastlylimittothewondrousexistenceIhaveheld,——methinksthat,afteragesoftheIdealLife,IseemycoursemergeintothemoststormywhirlpooloftheReal。Wherethestarsopenedtometheirgates,thereloomsascaffold,——thicksteamsofbloodriseasfromashambles。Whatismorestrangetome,acreaturehere,averytypeofthefalseidealofcommonmen,——bodyandmind,ahideousmockeryoftheartthatshapestheBeautiful,andthedesiresthatseekthePerfect,everhauntsmyvisionamidsttheseperturbedandbrokencloudsofthefatetobe。Bythatshadowyscaffolditstandsandgibbersatme,withlipsdroppingslimeandgore。Come,Ofriendofthefar-time;forme,atleast,thywisdomhasnotpurgedawaythyhumanaffections。
Accordingtothebondsofoursolemnorder,reducednowtotheeandmyself,lonesurvivorsofsomanyhaughtyandgloriousaspirants,thouartpledged,too,towarnthedescendantofthosewhomthycounselssoughttoinitiateintothegreatsecretinaformerage。ThelastofthatboldViscontiwhowasoncethypupilistherelentlesspersecutorofthisfairchild。Withthoughtsoflustandmurder,heisdigginghisowngrave;thoumayestyetdaunthimfromhisdoom。AndIalsomysteriously,bythesamebond,ampledgedtoobey,ifhesocommand,alessguiltydescendantofabaffledbutnoblerstudent。Ifherejectmycounsel,andinsistuponthepledge,Mejnour,thouwilthaveanotherneophyte。Bewareofanothervictim!Cometome!Thiswillreachtheewithallspeed。AnsweritbythepressureofonehandthatIcandaretoclasp!
CHAPTER3。VIII。
IllupoFerito,credo,miconobbee\'ncontroMivenneconlaboccasanguinosa。
\"Aminta,\"At。iv。Sc。i。
Thewoundedwolf,Ithink,knewme,andcametomeetmewithitsbloodymouth。
AtNaples,thetombofVirgil,beetlingoverthecaveofPosilipo,isreverenced,notwiththefeelingsthatshouldhallowthememoryofthepoet,buttheawethatwrapsthememoryofthemagician。Tohischarmstheyascribethehollowingofthatmountainpassage;andtraditionyetguardshistombbythespiritshehadraisedtoconstructthecavern。Thisspot,intheimmediatevicinityofViola\'shome,hadoftenattractedhersolitaryfootsteps。Shehadlovedthedimandsolemnfanciesthatbesetherasshelookedintothelengthenedgloomofthegrotto,or,ascendingtothetomb,gazedfromtherockonthedwarfedfiguresofthebusycrowdthatseemedtocreeplikeinsectsalongthewindingsofthesoilbelow;andnow,atnoon,shebentthitherherthoughtfulway。Shethreadedthenarrowpath,shepassedthegloomyvineyardthatclambersuptherock,andgainedtheloftyspot,greenwithmossandluxuriantfoliage,wherethedustofhimwhoyetsoothesandelevatesthemindsofmenisbelievedtorest。FromafarrosethehugefortressofSt。
Elmo,frowningdarklyamidstspiresanddomesthatglitteredinthesun。LulledinitsazuresplendourlaytheSiren\'ssea;andthegreysmokeofVesuvius,inthecleardistance,soaredlikeamovingpillarintothelucidsky。Motionlessonthebrinkoftheprecipice,Violalookeduponthelovelyandlivingworldthatstretchedbelow;andthesullenvapourofVesuviusfascinatedhereyeyetmorethanthescatteredgardens,orthegleamingCaprea,smilingamidstthesmilesofthesea。Sheheardnotastepthathadfollowedheronherpathandstartedtohearavoiceathand。
Sosuddenwastheapparitionoftheformthatstoodbyherside,emergingfromthebushesthatcladthecrags,andsosingularlydiditharmoniseinitsuncouthuglinesswiththewildnatureofthesceneimmediatelyaroundher,andthewizardtraditionsoftheplace,thatthecolourlefthercheek,andafaintcrybrokefromherlips。
\"Tush,prettytrembler!——donotbefrightenedatmyface,\"saidtheman,withabittersmile。\"Afterthreemonths\'marriage,thereisnodifferentbetweenuglinessandbeauty。Customisagreatleveller。IwascomingtoyourhousewhenIsawyouleaveit;so,asIhavemattersofimportancetocommunicate,I
venturedtofollowyourfootsteps。MynameisJeanNicot,anamealreadyfavourablyknownasaFrenchartist。Theartofpaintingandtheartofmusicarenearlyconnected,andthestageisanaltarthatunitesthetwo。\"
Therewassomethingfrankandunembarrassedintheman\'saddressthatservedtodispelthefearhisappearancehadoccasioned。Heseatedhimself,ashespoke,onacragbesideher,and,lookingupsteadilyintoherface,continued:——
\"Youareverybeautiful,ViolaPisani,andIamnotsurprisedatthenumberofyouradmirers。IfIpresumetoplacemyselfinthelist,itisbecauseIamtheonlyonewholovestheehonestly,andwoostheefairly。Nay,looknotsoindignant!Listentome。
HasthePrincedi——everspokentotheeofmarriage;orthebeautifulimposterZanoni,ortheyoungblue-eyedEnglishman,ClarenceGlyndon?Itismarriage,——itisahome,itissafety,itisreputation,thatIoffertothee;andtheselastwhenthestraightformgrowscrooked,andthebrighteyesdim。Whatsayyou?\"andheattemptedtoseizeherhand。
Violashrunkfromhim,andsilentlyturnedtodepart。Heroseabruptlyandplacedhimselfonherpath。
\"Actress,youmusthearme!Doyouknowwhatthiscallingofthestageisintheeyesofprejudice,——thatis,ofthecommonopinionofmankind?Itistobeaprincessbeforethelamps,andaPariahbeforetheday。Nomanbelievesinyourvirtue,nomancreditsyourvows;youarethepuppetthattheyconsenttotrickoutwithtinselfortheiramusement,notanidolfortheirworship。Areyousoenamouredofthiscareerthatyouscorneventothinkofsecurityandhonour?Perhapsyouaredifferentfromwhatyouseem。Perhapsyoulaughattheprejudicethatwoulddegradeyou,andwouldwiselyturnittoadvantage。Speakfranklytome;Ihavenoprejudiceeither。Sweetone,Iamsureweshouldagree。Now,thisPrincedi——,Ihaveamessagefromhim。ShallIdeliverit?\"
NeverhadViolafeltasshefeltthen,neverhadshesothoroughlyseenalltheperilsofherforelornconditionandherfearfulrenown。Nicotcontinued:——
\"Zanoniwouldbutamusehimselfwiththyvanity;Glyndonwoulddespisehimself,ifheofferedtheehisname,andthee,ifthouwouldstacceptit;butthePrincedi——isinearnest,andheiswealthy。Listen!\"
AndNicotapproachedhislipstoher,andhissedasentencewhichshedidnotsufferhimtocomplete。Shedartedfromhimwithoneglanceofunutterabledisdain。Ashestrovetoregainhisholdofherarm,helosthisfooting,andfelldownthesidesoftherocktill,bruisedandlacerated,apine-branchsavedhimfromtheyawningabyssbelow。Sheheardhisexclamationofrageandpainassheboundeddownthepath,and,withoutonceturningtolookbehind,regainedherhome。BytheporchstoodGlyndon,conversingwithGionetta。Shepassedhimabruptly,enteredthehouse,and,sinkingonthefloor,weptloudandpassionately。
Glyndon,whohadfollowedherinsurprise,vainlysoughttosootheandcalmher。Shewouldnotreplytohisquestions;shedidnotseemtolistentohisprotestationsoflove,tillsuddenly,asNicot\'sterriblepictureoftheworld\'sjudgmentofthatprofessionwhichtoheryoungerthoughtshadseemedtheserviceofSongandtheBeautiful,forceditselfuponher,sheraisedherfacefromherhands,and,lookingsteadilyupontheEnglishman,said,\"Falseone,dostthoutalkofmeoflove?\"
\"Bymyhonour,wordsfailtotelltheehowIlove!\"
\"Wiltthougivemethyhome,thyname?Dostthouwoomeasthywife?\"Andatthatmoment,hadGlyndonansweredashisbetterangelwouldhavecounselled,perhaps,inthatrevolutionofherwholemindwhichthewordsofNicothadeffected,whichmadeherdespiseherveryself,sickenofherloftydreams,despairofthefuture,anddistrustherwholeideal,——perhaps,Isay,inrestoringherself-esteem,——hewouldhavewonherconfidence,andultimatelysecuredherlove。Butagainstthepromptingofhisnoblernatureroseupatthatsuddenquestionallthosedoubtswhich,asZanonihadsowellimplied,madethetrueenemiesofhissoul。Washethussuddenlytobeentangledintoasnarelaidforhiscredulitybydeceivers?Wasshenotinstructedtoseizethemomenttoforcehimintoanavowalwhichprudencemustrepent?Wasnotthegreatactressrehearsingapremeditatedpart?Heturnedround,asthesethoughts,thechildrenoftheworld,passedacrosshim,forheliterallyfanciedthatheheardthesarcasticlaughofMervalewithout。Norwashedeceived。
Mervalewaspassingbythethreshold,andGionettahadtoldhimhisfriendwaswithin。Whodoesnotknowtheeffectoftheworld\'slaugh?Mervalewasthepersonationoftheworld。Thewholeworldseemedtoshoutderisioninthoseringingtones。Hedrewback,——herecoiled。Violafollowedhimwithherearnest,impatienteyes。Atlast,hefalteredforth,\"Doallofthyprofession,beautifulViola,exactmarriageasthesoleconditionoflove?\"Oh,bitterquestion!Oh,poisonedtaunt!Herepenteditthemomentafter。Hewasseizedwithremorseofreason,offeeling,andofconscience。Hesawherformshrink,asitwere,athiscruelwords。Hesawthecolourcomeandgo,toleavethewrithinglipslikemarble;andthen,withasad,gentlelookofself-pity,ratherthanreproach,shepressedherhandstightlytoherbosom,andsaid,——
\"Hewasright!Pardonme,Englishman;Iseenow,indeed,thatI
amthePariahandtheoutcast。\"
\"Hearme。Iretract。Viola,Viola!itisforyoutoforgive!\"
ButViolawavedhimfromher,and,smilingmournfullyasshepassedhimby,glidedfromthechamber;andhedidnotdaretodetainher。
CHAPTER3。IX。
Dafne:Ma,chilung\'ed\'Amor?
Tirsi:Chitemeefugge。
Dafne:Echegiovafuggirdaluich\'hal\'ali?
Tirsi:AMORNASCENTEHACORTEL\'ALI!
\"Aminta,\"At。ii。Sc。ii。
Dafne:But,whoisfarfromLove?
Tirsi:Hewhofearsandflies。
Dafne:Whatusetofleefromonewhohaswings?
Tirsi:ThewingsofLove,whileheyetgrows,areshort。
WhenGlyndonfoundhimselfwithoutViola\'shouse,Mervale,stillloiteringatthedoor,seizedhisarm。Glyndonshookhimoffabruptly。
\"Thouandthycounsels,\"saidhe,bitterly,\"havemademeacowardandawretch。ButIwillgohome,——Iwillwritetoher。
Iwillpouroutmywholesoul;shewillforgivemeyet。\"
Mervale,whowasamanofimperturbabletemper,arrangedhisruffles,whichhisfriend\'sangrygesturehadalittlediscomposed,andnottillGlyndonhadexhaustedhimselfawhilebypassionateexclamationsandreproaches,didtheexperiencedanglerbegintotightentheline。HethendrewfromGlyndontheexplanationofwhathadpassed,andartfullysoughtnottoirritate,butsoothehim。Mervale,indeed,wasbynomeansabadman;hehadstrongermoralnotionsthanarecommonamongsttheyoung。Hesincerelyreprovedhisfriendforharbouringdishonourableintentionswithregardtotheactress。\"BecauseI
wouldnothaveherthywife,Ineverdreamedthatthoushouldstdegradehertothymistress。Betterofthetwoanimprudentmatchthananillicitconnection。Butpauseyet,donotactontheimpulseofthemoment。\"
\"Butthereisnotimetolose。IhavepromisedtoZanonitogivehimmyanswerbyto-morrownight。Laterthanthattime,alloptionceases。\"
\"Ah!\"saidMervale,\"thisseemssuspicious。Explainyourself。\"
AndGlyndon,intheearnestnessofhispassion,toldhisfriendwhathadpassedbetweenhimselfandZanoni,——suppressingonly,hescarceknewwhy,thereferencetohisancestorandthemysteriousbrotherhood。
ThisrecitalgavetoMervalealltheadvantagehecoulddesire。
Heavens!withwhatsound,shrewdcommon-sensehetalked。Howevidentlysomecharlataniccoalitionbetweentheactress,andperhaps,——whoknows?——herclandestineprotector,satedwithpossession!Howequivocalthecharacterofone,——thepositionoftheother!Whatcunninginthequestionoftheactress!HowprofoundlyhadGlyndon,atthefirstsuggestionofhissoberreason,seenthroughthesnare。What!washetobethusmysticallycajoledandhurriedintoarashmarriage,becauseZanoni,amerestranger,toldhimwithagravefacethathemustdecidebeforetheclockstruckacertainhour?
\"Dothisatleast,\"saidMervale,reasonablyenough,——\"waittillthetimeexpires;itisbutanotherday。BaffleZanoni。Hetellstheethathewillmeettheebeforemidnightto-morrow,anddefiestheetoavoidhim。Pooh!letusquitNaplesforsomeneighbouringplace,where,unlesshebeindeedtheDevil,hecannotpossiblyfindus。Showhimthatyouwillnotbeledblindfoldevenintoanactthatyoumeditateyourself。Defertowritetoher,ortoseeher,tillafterto-morrow。ThisisallI
ask。Thenvisither,anddecideforyourself。\"
Glyndonwasstaggered。Hecouldnotcombatthereasoningsofhisfriend;hewasnotconvinced,buthehesitated;andatthatmomentNicotpassedthem。Heturnedround,andstopped,ashesawGlyndon。
\"Well,anddoyouthinkstillofthePisani?\"
\"Yes;andyou——\"
\"Haveseenandconversedwithher。SheshallbeMadameNicotbeforethisdayweek!Iamgoingtothecafe,intheToledo;andharkye,whennextyoumeetyourfriendSignorZanoni,tellhimthathehastwicecrossedmypath。JeanNicot,thoughapainter,isaplain,honestman,andalwayspayshisdebts。\"
\"Itisagooddoctrineinmoneymatters,\"saidMervale;\"astorevenge,itisnotsomoral,andcertainlynotsowise。ButisitinyourlovethatZanonihascrossedyourpath?Howthat,ifyoursuitprospersowell?\"
\"AskViolaPisanithatquestion。Bah!Glyndon,sheisaprudeonlytothee。ButIhavenoprejudices。Oncemore,farewell。\"
\"Rousethyself,man!\"saidMervale,slappingGlyndonontheshoulder。\"Whatthinkyouofyourfaironenow?\"
\"Thismanmustlie。\"
\"Willyouwritetoheratonce?\"
\"No;ifshebereallyplayingagame,Icouldrenounceherwithoutasigh。Iwillwatchherclosely;and,atallevents,Zanonishallnotbethemasterofmyfate。Letus,asyouadvise,leaveNaplesatdaybreakto-morrow。\"
CHAPTER3。X。
Ochiunquetusia,chefuord\'ogniusoPieghiNaturaadoprealtereestrane,E,spiandoisegreti,entrialpiuchiusoSpazi\'atuavogliadellementiumane——
Deh,Dimmi!
\"Gerus。Lib。,\"Cant。x。xviii。
Othou,whoeverthouart,whothrougheveryusebendestNaturetoworksforeignandstrange;andbyspyingintohersecrets,enterestatthywillintotheclosestrecessesofthehumanmind,——Ospeak!Otellme!
EarlythenextmorningtheyoungEnglishmenmountedtheirhorses,andtooktheroadtowardsBaiae。Glyndonleftwordathishotel,thatifSignorZanonisoughthim,itwasintheneighbourhoodofthatoncecelebratedwatering-placeoftheancientsthatheshouldbefound。
TheypassedbyViola\'shouse,butGlyndonresistedthetemptationofpausingthere;andafterthreadingthegrottoofPosilipo,theywoundbyacircuitousroutebackintothesuburbsofthecity,andtooktheoppositeroad,whichconductstoPorticiandPompeii。Itwaslateatnoonwhentheyarrivedattheformeroftheseplaces。Heretheyhaltedtodine;forMervalehadheardmuchoftheexcellenceofthemacaroniatPortici,andMervalewasabonvivant。
Theyputupataninnofveryhumblepretensions,anddinedunderanawning。Mervalewasmorethanusuallygay;hepressedthelacrimauponhisfriend,andconversedgayly。
\"Well,mydearfriend,wehavefoiledSignorZanoniinoneofhispredictionsatleast。Youwillhavenofaithinhimhereafter。\"
\"Theidesarecome,notgone。\"
\"Tush!Ifhebethesoothsayer,youarenottheCaesar。Itisyourvanitythatmakesyoucredulous。ThankHeaven,IdonotthinkmyselfofsuchimportancethattheoperationsofNatureshouldbechangedinordertofrightenme。\"
\"ButwhyshouldtheoperationsofNaturebechanged?Theremaybeadeeperphilosophythanwedreamof,——aphilosophythatdiscoversthesecretsofNature,butdoesnotalter,bypenetrating,itscourses。\"
\"Ah,yourelapseintoyourhereticalcredulity;youseriouslysupposeZanonitobeaprophet,——areaderofthefuture;perhapsanassociateofgeniiandspirits!\"
Herethelandlord,alittle,fat,oilyfellow,cameupwithafreshbottleoflacrima。HehopedtheirExcellencieswerepleased。Hewasmosttouched——touchedtotheheart,thattheylikedthemacaroni。WeretheirExcellenciesgoingtoVesuvius?
Therewasaslighteruption;theycouldnotseeitwheretheywere,butitwaspretty,andwouldbeprettierstillaftersunset。
\"Acapitalidea!\"criedMervale。\"Whatsayyou,Glyndon?\"
\"Ihavenotyetseenaneruption;Ishouldlikeitmuch。\"
\"Butistherenodanger?\"askedtheprudentMervale。
\"Oh,notatall;themountainisverycivilatpresent。Itonlyplaysalittle,justtoamusetheirExcellenciestheEnglish。\"
\"Well,orderthehorses,andbringthebill;wewillgobeforeitisdark。Clarence,myfriend,——nuncestbibendum;buttakecareofthepedelibero,whichwillscarcedoforwalkingonlava!\"
Thebottlewasfinished,thebillpaid;thegentlemenmounted,thelandlordbowed,andtheybenttheirway,inthecoolofthedelightfulevening,towardsResina。
Thewine,perhapstheexcitementofhisthoughts,animatedGlyndon,whoseunequalspiritswere,attimes,highandbrilliantasthoseofaschoolboyreleased;andthelaughteroftheNortherntouristssoundedoftandmerrilyalongthemelancholydomainsofburiedcities。
HesperushadlightedhislampamidsttherosyskiesastheyarrivedatResina。Heretheyquittedtheirhorses,andtookmulesandaguide。Astheskygrewdarkerandmoredark,themountainfireburnedwithanintenselustre。Invariousstreaksandstreamlets,thefountainofflamerolleddownthedarksummit,andtheEnglishmenbegantofeelincreaseuponthem,astheyascended,thatsensationofsolemnityandawewhichmakestheveryatmospherethatsurroundstheGiantofthePlainsoftheAntiqueHades。
Itwasnight,when,leavingthemules,theyascendedonfoot,accompaniedbytheirguide,andapeasantwhoborearudetorch。
Theguidewasaconversable,garrulousfellow,likemostofhiscountryandhiscalling;andMervale,whopossessedasociabletemper,lovedtoamuseortoinstructhimselfoneveryincidentaloccasion。
\"Ah,Excellency,\"saidtheguide,\"yourcountrymenhaveastrongpassionforthevolcano。Longlifetothem,theybringusplentyofmoney!IfourfortunesdependedontheNeapolitans,weshouldstarve。\"
\"True,theyhavenocuriosity,\"saidMervale。\"Doyouremember,Glyndon,thecontemptwithwhichthatoldcountsaidtous,\'YouwillgotoVesuvius,Isuppose?Ihaveneverbeen;whyshouldI
go?Youhavecold,youhavehunger,youhavefatigue,youhavedanger,andallfornothingbuttoseefire,whichlooksjustaswellinabrazierasonamountain。\'Ha!ha!theoldfellowwasright。\"
\"But,Excellency,\"saidtheguide,\"thatisnotall:somecavaliersthinktoascendthemountainwithoutourhelp。Iamsuretheydeservetotumbleintothecrater。\"
\"Theymustbeboldfellowstogoalone;youdon\'toftenfindsuch。\"
\"SometimesamongtheFrench,signor。Buttheothernight——I
neverwassofrightened——IhadbeenwithanEnglishparty,andaladyhadleftapocket-bookonthemountain,whereshehadbeensketching。Sheofferedmeahandsomesumtoreturnforit,andbringittoheratNaples。SoIwentintheevening。Ifoundit,sureenough,andwasabouttoreturn,whenIsawafigurethatseemedtoemergefromthecrateritself。TheairtherewassopestiferousthatIcouldnothaveconceivedahumancreaturecouldbreatheit,andlive。IwassoastoundedthatIstoodstillasastone,tillthefigurecameoverthehotashes,andstoodbeforeme,facetoface。SantaMaria,whatahead!\"
\"What!hideous?\"
\"No;sobeautiful,butsoterrible。Ithadnothinghumaninitsaspect。\"
\"Andwhatsaidthesalamander?\"
\"Nothing!Itdidnotevenseemtoperceiveme,thoughIwasnearasIamtoyou;butitseyesseemedtoemergepryingintotheair。Itpassedbymequickly,and,walkingacrossastreamofburninglava,soonvanishedontheothersideofthemountain。I
wascuriousandfoolhardy,andresolvedtoseeifIcouldbeartheatmospherewhichthisvisitorhadleft;butthoughIdidnotadvancewithinthirtyyardsofthespotatwhichhehadfirstappeared,Iwasdrivenbackbyavapourthatwellnighstifledme。
Cospetto!Ihavespatbloodeversince。\"
\"NowwillIlayawagerthatyoufancythisfire-kingmustbeZanoni,\"whisperedMervale,laughing。
Thelittlepartyhadnowarrivednearlyatthesummitofthemountain;andunspeakablygrandwasthespectacleonwhichtheygazed。Fromthecrateraroseavapour,intenselydark,thatoverspreadthewholebackgroundoftheheavens;inthecentrewhereofroseaflamethatassumedaformsingularlybeautiful。
Itmighthavebeencomparedtoacrestofgiganticfeathers,thediademofthemountain,high-arched,anddroopingdownward,withthehuesdelicatelyshadedoff,andthewholeshiftingandtremulousastheplumageonawarrior\'shelmet。
Theglareoftheflamespread,luminousandcrimson,overthedarkandruggedgroundonwhichtheystood,anddrewaninnumerablevarietyofshadowsfromcragandhollow。Anoppressiveandsulphureousexhalationservedtoincreasethegloomyandsublimeterroroftheplace。Butonturningfromthemountain,andtowardsthedistantandunseenocean,thecontrastwaswonderfullygreat;theheavenssereneandblue,thestarsstillandcalmastheeyesofDivineLove。ItwasasiftherealmsoftheopposingprinciplesofEvilandofGoodwerebroughtinoneviewbeforethegazeofman!Glyndon——oncemoretheenthusiast,theartist——wasenchainedandentrancedbyemotionsvagueandundefinable,halfofdelightandhalfofpain。
Leaningontheshoulderofhisfriend,hegazedaroundhim,andheardwithdeepeningawetherumblingoftheearthbelow,thewheelsandvoicesoftheMinistryofNatureinherdarkestandmostinscrutablerecess。Suddenly,asabombfromashell,ahugestonewasflunghundredsofyardsupfromthejawsofthecrater,andfallingwithamightycrashupontherockbelow,splitintotenthousandfragments,whichboundeddownthesidesofthemountain,sparklingandgroaningastheywent。Oneofthese,thelargestfragment,struckthenarrowspaceofsoilbetweentheEnglishmenandtheguide,notthreefeetfromthespotwheretheformerstood。Mervaleutteredanexclamationofterror,andGlyndonheldhisbreath,andshuddered。
\"Diavolo!\"criedtheguide。\"Descend,Excellencies,——descend!wehavenotamomenttolose;followmeclose!\"
Sosaying,theguideandthepeasantfledwithasmuchswiftnessastheywereabletobringtobear。Mervale,evermorepromptandreadythanhisfriend,imitatedtheirexample;andGlyndon,moreconfusedthanalarmed,followedclose。Buttheyhadnotgonemanyyards,before,witharushingandsuddenblast,camefromthecrateranenormousvolumeofvapour。Itpursued,——itovertook,itoverspreadthem。Itsweptthelightfromtheheavens。Allwasabruptandutterdarkness;andthroughthegloomwasheardtheshoutoftheguide,alreadydistant,andlostinaninstantamidstthesoundoftherushinggustandthegroansoftheearthbeneath。Glyndonpaused。Hewasseparatedfromhisfriend,fromtheguide。Hewasalone,——withtheDarknessandtheTerror。Thevapourrolledsullenlyaway;theformoftheplumedfirewasagaindimlyvisible,anditsstrugglingandperturbedreflectionagainshedaglowoverthehorrorsofthepath。