Glyndonrecoveredhimself,andspedonward。Below,heheardthevoiceofMervalecallingonhim,thoughhenolongersawhisform。Thesoundservedasaguide。Dizzyandbreathless,heboundedforward;when——hark!——asullen,slowrollingsoundedinhisear!Hehalted,——andturnedbacktogaze。Thefirehadoverfloweditscourse;ithadopeneditselfachannelamidstthefurrowsofthemountain。Thestreampursuedhimfast——fast;andthehotbreathofthechasingandpreternaturalfoecamecloserandcloseruponhischeek!Heturnedaside;heclimbeddesperatelywithhandsandfeetuponacragthat,totheright,brokethescathedandblastedlevelofthesoil。Thestreamrolledbesideandbeneathhim,andthentakingasuddenwindroundthespotonwhichhestood,interposeditsliquidfire,——abroadandimpassablebarrierbetweenhisresting-placeandescape。Therehestood,cutofffromdescent,andwithnoalternativebuttoretracehisstepstowardsthecrater,andthenceseek,withoutguideorclew,someotherpathway。
Foramomenthiscouragelefthim;hecriedindespair,andinthatoverstrainedpitchofvoicewhichisneverheardafaroff,totheguide,toMervale,toreturntoaidhim。
Noanswercame;andtheEnglishman,thusabandonedsolelytohisownresources,felthisspiritandenergyriseagainstthedanger。Heturnedback,andventuredasfartowardsthecraterasthenoxiousexhalationwouldpermit;then,gazingbelow,carefullyanddeliberatelyhechalkedoutforhimselfapathbywhichhetrustedtoshunthedirectionthefire-streamhadtaken,andtrodfirmlyandquicklyoverthecrumblingandheatedstrata。
Hehadproceededaboutfiftyyards,whenhehaltedabruptly;anunspeakableandunaccountablehorror,nothithertoexperiencedamidstallhisperil,cameoverhim。Heshookineverylimb;hismusclesrefusedhiswill,——hefelt,asitwere,palsiedanddeath-stricken。Thehorror,Isay,wasunaccountable,forthepathseemedclearandsafe。Thefire,aboveandbehind,burnedclearandfar;andbeyond,thestarslenthimtheircheeringguidance。Noobstaclewasvisible,——nodangerseemedathand。
Asthus,spell-bound,andpanic-stricken,hestoodchainedtothesoil,——hisbreastheaving,largedropsrollingdownhisbrow,andhiseyesstartingwildlyfromtheirsockets,——hesawbeforehim,atsomedistance,graduallyshapingitselfmoreandmoredistinctlytohisgaze,acolossalshadow;ashadowthatseemedpartiallyborrowedfromthehumanshape,butimmeasurablyabovethehumanstature;vague,dark,almostformless;anddiffering,hecouldnottellwhereorwhy,notonlyfromtheproportions,butalsofromthelimbsandoutlineofman。
Theglareofthevolcano,thatseemedtoshrinkandcollapsefromthisgiganticandappallingapparition,neverthelessthrewitslight,redlyandsteadily,uponanothershapethatstoodbeside,quietandmotionless;anditwas,perhaps,thecontrastofthesetwothings——theBeingandtheShadow——thatimpressedthebeholderwiththedifferencebetweenthem,——theManandtheSuperhuman。
Itwasbutforamoment——nay,forthetenthpartofamoment——
thatthissightwaspermittedtothewanderer。Asecondeddyofsulphureousvapoursfromthevolcano,yetmorerapidly,yetmoredenselythanitspredecessor,rolledoverthemountain;andeitherthenatureoftheexhalation,ortheexcessofhisowndread,wassuch,thatGlyndon,afteronewildgaspforbreath,fellsenselessontheearth。
CHAPTER3。XI。
Washab\'ich,WennichnichtAlleshabe?——sprachderJungling。
\"DasVerschleierteBildzuSais。\"
\"WhathaveI,ifIpossessnotAll?\"saidtheyouth。
MervaleandtheItaliansarrivedinsafetyatthespotwheretheyhadleftthemules;andnottilltheyhadrecoveredtheirownalarmandbreathdidtheythinkofGlyndon。Butthen,astheminutespassed,andheappearednot,Mervale,whoseheartwasasgoodatleastashumanheartsareingeneral,grewseriouslyalarmed。Heinsistedonreturningtosearchforhisfriend;andbydintofprodigalpromisesprevailedatlastontheguidetoaccompanyhim。Thelowerpartofthemountainlaycalmandwhiteinthestarlight;andtheguide\'spractisedeyecoulddiscernallobjectsonthesurfaceataconsiderabledistance。Theyhadnot,however,goneveryfar,beforetheyperceivedtwoformsslowlyapproachingthem。
Astheycamenear,Mervalerecognisedtheformofhisfriend。
\"ThankHeaven,heissafe!\"hecried,turningtotheguide。
\"Holyangelsbefriendus!\"saidtheItalian,trembling,——\"beholdtheverybeingthatcrossedmelastFridaynight。Itishe,buthisfaceishumannow!\"
\"SignorInglese,\"saidthevoiceofZanoni,asGlyndon——pale,wan,andsilent——returnedpassivelythejoyousgreetingofMervale,——\"SignorInglese,Itoldyourfriendthatweshouldmeetto-night。YouseeyouhaveNOTfoiledmyprediction。\"
\"Buthow?——butwhere?\"stammeredMervale,ingreatconfusionandsurprise。
\"Ifoundyourfriendstretchedontheground,overpoweredbythemephiticexhalationofthecrater。Iborehimtoapureratmosphere;andasIknowthemountainwell,Ihaveconductedhimsafelytoyou。Thisisallourhistory。Yousee,sir,thatwereitnotforthatprophecywhichyoudesiredtofrustrate,yourfriendwoulderethistimehavebeenacorpse;oneminutemore,andthevapourhaddoneitswork。Adieu;goodnight,andpleasantdreams。\"
\"But,mypreserver,youwillnotleaveus?\"saidGlyndon,anxiously,andspeakingforthefirsttime。\"Willyounotreturnwithus?\"
Zanonipaused,anddrewGlyndonaside。\"Youngman,\"saidhe,gravely,\"itisnecessarythatweshouldagainmeetto-night。Itisnecessarythatyoushould,erethefirsthourofmorning,decideonyourownfate。Iknowthatyouhaveinsultedherwhomyouprofesstolove。Itisnottoolatetorepent。Consultnotyourfriend:heissensibleandwise;butnotnowishiswisdomneeded。Therearetimesinlifewhen,fromtheimagination,andnotthereason,shouldwisdomcome,——this,foryou,isoneofthem。Iasknotyouranswernow。Collectyourthoughts,——
recoveryourjadedandscatteredspirits。Itwantstwohoursofmidnight。BeforemidnightIwillbewithyou。\"
\"Incomprehensiblebeing!\"repliedtheEnglishman,\"Iwouldleavethelifeyouhavepreservedinyourownhands;butwhatIhaveseenthisnighthassweptevenViolafrommythoughts。Afiercerdesirethanthatofloveburnsinmyveins,——thedesirenottoresemblebuttosurpassmykind;thedesiretopenetrateandtosharethesecretofyourownexistence——thedesireofapreternaturalknowledgeandunearthlypower。Imakemychoice。
Inmyancestor\'sname,Iadjureandremindtheeofthypledge。
Instructme;schoolme;makemethine;andIsurrendertotheeatonce,andwithoutamurmur,thewomanwhom,tillIsawthee,I
wouldhavedefiedaworldtoobtain。\"
\"Ibidtheeconsiderwell:ontheonehand,Viola,atranquilhome,ahappyandserenelife;ontheotherhand,allisdarkness,——darkness,thateventheseeyescannotpenetrate。\"
\"Butthouhasttoldme,thatifIwedViola,Imustbecontentedwiththecommonexistence,——ifIrefuse,itistoaspiretothyknowledgeandthypower。\"
\"Vainman,knowledgeandpowerarenothappiness。\"
\"Buttheyarebetterthanhappiness。Say!——ifImarryViola,wiltthoubemymaster,——myguide?Saythis,andIamresolved。
\"Itwereimpossible。\"
\"ThenIrenounceher?Irenouncelove。Irenouncehappiness。
Welcomesolitude,——welcomedespair;iftheyaretheentrancestothydarkandsublimesecret。\"
\"Iwillnottakethyanswernow。Beforethelasthourofnightthoushaltgiveitinoneword,——ayorno!Farewelltillthen。\"
Zanoniwavedhishand,and,descendingrapidly,wasseennomore。
Glyndonrejoinedhisimpatientandwonderingfriend;butMervale,gazingonhisface,sawthatagreatchangehadpassedthere。
Theflexileanddubiousexpressionofyouthwasforevergone。
Thefeatureswerelocked,rigid,andstern;andsofadedwasthenaturalbloom,thatanhourseemedtohavedonetheworkofyears。
CHAPTER3。XII。
Wasist\'sDashinterdiesemSchleiersichverbirgt?
\"DasVerschleierteBildzuSais。\"
Whatisitthatconcealsitselfbehindthisveil?
OnreturningfromVesuviusorPompeii,youenterNaplesthroughitsmostanimated,itsmostNeapolitanquarter,——throughthatquarterinwhichmodernlifemostcloselyresemblestheancient;
andinwhich,when,onafair-day,thethoroughfareswarmsalikewithIndolenceandTrade,youareimpressedatoncewiththerecollectionofthatrestless,livelyracefromwhichthepopulationofNaplesderivesitsorigin;sothatinonedayyoumayseeatPompeiithehabitationsofaremoteage;andontheMole,atNaples,youmayimagineyoubeholdtheverybeingswithwhomthosehabitationshadbeenpeopled。
Butnow,astheEnglishmenrodeslowlythroughthedesertedstreets,lightedbutbythelampsofheaven,allthegayetyofdaywashushedandbreathless。Hereandthere,stretchedunderaporticooradingybooth,weresleepinggroupsofhouselessLazzaroni,——atribenowmergingitsindolentindividualityamidstanenergeticandactivepopulation。
TheEnglishmanrodeoninsilence;forGlyndonneitherappearedtoheednorhearthequestionsandcommentsofMervale,andMervalehimselfwasalmostaswearyasthejadedanimalhebestrode。
Suddenlythesilenceofearthandoceanwasbrokenbythesoundofadistantclockthatproclaimedthequarterprecedingthelasthourofnight。Glyndonstartedfromhisreverie,andlookedanxiouslyround。Asthefinalstrokedied,thenoiseofhoofsrungonthebroadstonesofthepavement,andfromanarrowstreettotherightemergedtheformofasolitaryhorseman。HenearedtheEnglishmen,andGlyndonrecognisedthefeaturesandmienofZanoni。
\"What!dowemeetagain,signor?\"saidMervale,inavexedbutdrowsytone。
\"YourfriendandIhavebusinesstogether,\"repliedZanoni,ashewheeledhissteedtothesideofGlyndon。\"Butitwillbesoontransacted。Perhapsyou,sir,willrideontoyourhotel。\"
\"Alone!\"
\"Thereisnodanger!\"returnedZanoni,withaslightexpressionofdisdaininhisvoice。
\"Nonetome;buttoGlyndon?\"
\"Dangerfromme!Ah,perhapsyouareright。\"
\"Goon,mydearMervale,\"saidGlyndon;\"Iwilljoinyoubeforeyoureachthehotel。\"
Mervalenodded,whistled,andpushedhishorseintoakindofamble。
\"Nowyouranswer,——quick?\"
\"Ihavedecided。TheloveofViolahasvanishedfrommyheart。
Thepursuitisover。\"
\"Youhavedecided?\"
\"Ihave;andnowmyreward。\"
\"Thyreward!Well;erethishourto-morrowitshallawaitthee。\"
Zanonigavethereintohishorse;itsprangforwardwithabound:thesparksflewfromitshoofs,andhorseandriderdisappearedamidsttheshadowsofthestreetwhencetheyhademerged。
Mervalewassurprisedtoseehisfriendbyhisside,aminuteaftertheyhadparted。
\"WhathaspassedbetweenyouandZanoni?\"
\"Mervale,donotaskmeto-night!Iaminadream。\"
\"Idonotwonderatit,forevenIaminasleep。Letuspushon。\"
Intheretirementofhischamber,Glyndonsoughttorecollecthisthoughts。Hesatdownonthefootofhisbed,andpressedhishandstightlytohisthrobbingtemples。Theeventsofthelastfewhours;theapparitionofthegiganticandshadowyCompanionoftheMystic,amidstthefiresandcloudsofVesuvius;thestrangeencounterwithZanonihimself,onaspotinwhichhecouldnever,byordinaryreasoning,havecalculatedonfindingGlyndon,filledhismindwithemotions,inwhichterrorandawetheleastprevailed。Afire,thetrainofwhichhadbeenlonglaid,waslightedathisheart,——theasbestos-firethat,oncelit,isnevertobequenched。Allhisearlyaspirations——hisyoungambition,hislongingsforthelaurel——weremergedinonepassionateyearningtosurpasstheboundsofthecommonknowledgeofman,andreachthatsolemnspot,betweentwoworlds,onwhichthemysteriousstrangerappearedtohavefixedhishome。
Farfromrecallingwithrenewedaffrighttheremembranceoftheapparitionthathadsoappalledhim,therecollectiononlyservedtokindleandconcentratehiscuriosityintoaburningfocus。Hehadsaidaright,——LOVEHADVANISHEDFROMHISHEART;therewasnolongeraserenespaceamidstitsdisorderedelementsforhumanaffectiontomoveandbreathe。Theenthusiastwasraptfromthisearth;andhewouldhavesurrenderedallthatmortalbeautyeverpromised,thatmortalhopeeverwhispered,foronehourwithZanonibeyondtheportalsofthevisibleworld。
Herose,oppressedandfeveredwiththenewthoughtsthatragedwithinhim,andthrewopenhiscasementforair。Theoceanlaysuffusedinthestarrylight,andthestillnessoftheheavensnevermoreeloquentlypreachedthemoralityofreposetothemadnessofearthlypassions。ButsuchwasGlyndon\'smoodthattheirveryhushonlyservedtodeepenthewilddesiresthatpreyeduponhissoul;andthesolemnstars,thataremysteriesinthemselves,seemed,byakindredsympathy,toagitatethewingsofthespiritnolongercontentedwithitscage。Ashegazed,astarshotfromitsbrethren,andvanishedfromthedepthofspace!
CHAPTER3。XIII。
O,begone!
ByHeaven,Ilovetheebetterthanmyself,ForIcamehitherarmedagainstmyself。
\"RomeoandJuliet。\"
TheyoungactressandGionettahadreturnedfromthetheatre;andViolafatiguedandexhausted,hadthrownherselfonasofa,whileGionettabusiedherselfwiththelongtresseswhich,releasedfromthefilletthatboundthem,half-concealedtheformoftheactress,likeaveilofthreadsofgold。Asshesmoothedtheluxuriantlocks,theoldnurserangossipingonaboutthelittleeventsofthenight,thescandalandpoliticsofthescenesandthetireroom。Gionettawasaworthysoul。Almanzor,inDryden\'stragedyof\"Almahide,\"didnotchangesideswithmoregallantindifferencethantheexemplarynurse。ShewasatlastgrievedandscandalisedthatViolahadnotselectedonechosencavalier。
Butthechoicesheleftwhollytoherfaircharge。ZegriorAbencerrage,GlyndonorZanoni,ithadbeenthesametoher,exceptthattherumoursshehadcollectedrespectingthelatter,combinedwithhisownrecommendationsofhisrival,hadgivenherpreferencetotheEnglishman。SheinterpretedilltheimpatientandheavysighwithwhichViolagreetedherpraisesofGlyndon,andherwonderthathehadoflatesoneglectedhisattentionsbehindthescenes,andsheexhaustedallherpowersofpanegyricuponthesupposedobjectofthesigh。\"Andthen,too,\"shesaid,\"ifnothingelseweretobesaidagainsttheothersignor,itisenoughthatheisabouttoleaveNaples。\"
\"LeaveNaples!——Zanoni?\"
\"Yes,darling!InpassingbytheMoleto-day,therewasacrowdroundsomeoutlandish-lookingsailors。Hisshiparrivedthismorning,andanchorsinthebay。Thesailorssaythattheyaretobepreparedtosailwiththefirstwind;theyweretakinginfreshstores。They——\"
\"Leaveme,Gionetta!Leaveme!\"
ThetimehadalreadypassedwhenthegirlcouldconfideinGionetta。Herthoughtshadadvancedtothatpointwhentheheartrecoilsfromallconfidence,andfeelsthatitcannotbecomprehended。Alonenow,intheprincipalapartmentofthehouse,shepaceditsnarrowboundarieswithtremulousandagitatedsteps:sherecalledthefrightfulsuitofNicot,——theinjurioustauntofGlyndon;andshesickenedattheremembranceofthehollowapplauseswhich,bestowedontheactress,notthewoman,onlysubjectedhertocontumelyandinsult。Inthatroomtherecollectionofherfather\'sdeath,thewitheredlaurelandthebrokenchords,rosechillinglybeforeher。Hers,shefelt,wasayetgloomierfate,——thechordsmaybreakwhilethelaurelisyetgreen。Thelamp,waninginitssocket,burnedpaleanddim,andhereyesinstinctivelyturnedfromthedarkercorneroftheroom。Orphan,bythehearthofthyparent,dostthoufearthepresenceofthedead!
AndwasZanoniindeedabouttoquitNaples?Shouldsheseehimnomore?Oh,fool,tothinkthattherewasgriefinanyotherthought!Thepast!——thatwasgone!Thefuture!——therewasnofuturetoher,Zanoniabsent!ButthiswasthenightofthethirddayonwhichZanonihadtoldherthat,comewhatmight,hewouldvisitheragain。Itwas,then,ifshemightbelievehim,someappointedcrisisinherfate;andhowshouldshetellhimofGlyndon\'shatefulwords?Thepureandtheproudmindcanneverconfideitswrongstoanother,onlyitstriumphsanditshappiness。ButatthatlatehourwouldZanonivisither,——couldshereceivehim?Midnightwasathand。Stillinundefinedsuspense,inintenseanxiety,shelingeredintheroom。Thequarterbeforemidnightsounded,dullanddistant。Allwasstill,andshewasabouttopasstohersleeping-room,whensheheardthehoofsofahorseatfullspeed;thesoundceased,therewasaknockatthedoor。Herheartbeatviolently;butfeargavewaytoanothersentimentwhensheheardavoice,toowellknown,callingonhername。Shepaused,andthen,withthefearlessnessofinnocence,descendedandunbarredthedoor。
Zanonienteredwithalightandhastystep。Hishorseman\'scloakfittedtightlytohisnobleform,andhisbroadhatthrewagloomyshadeoverhiscommandingfeatures。
Thegirlfollowedhimintotheroomshehadjustleft,tremblingandblushingdeeply,andstoodbeforehimwiththelampsheheldshiningupwardonhercheekandthelonghairthatfelllikeashoweroflightoverthehalf-cladshouldersandheavingbust。
\"Viola,\"saidZanoni,inavoicethatspokedeepemotion,\"Iambythysideoncemoretosavethee。Notamomentistobelost。
Thoumustflywithme,orremainthevictimofthePrincedi。
IwouldhavemadethechargeInowundertakeanother\'s;thouknowestIwould,——thouknowestit!——butheisnotworthyofthee,thecoldEnglishman!Ithrowmyselfatthyfeet;havetrustinme,andfly。\"
Hegraspedherhandpassionatelyashedroppedonhisknee,andlookedupintoherfacewithhisbright,beseechingeyes。
\"Flywiththee!\"saidViola,scarcebelievinghersenses。
\"Withme。Name,fame,honour,——allwillbesacrificedifthoudostnot。\"
\"Then——then,\"saidthewildgirl,falteringly,andturningasideherface,——\"thenIamnotindifferenttothee;thouwouldstnotgivemetoanother?\"
Zanoniwassilent;buthisbreastheaved,hischeeksflushed,hiseyesdarteddarkandimpassionedfire。
\"Speak!\"exclaimedViola,injealoussuspicionofhissilence。
\"Indifferenttome!No;butIdarenotyetsaythatIlovethee。\"
\"Thenwhatmattersmyfate?\"saidViola,turningpale,andshrinkingfromhisside;\"leaveme,——Ifearnodanger。Mylife,andthereforemyhonour,isinmineownhands。\"
\"Benotsomad,\"saidZanoni。\"Hark!doyouheartheneighofmysteed?——itisanalarmthatwarnsusoftheapproachingperil。
Haste,oryouarelost!\"
\"Whydostthoucareforme?\"saidthegirl,bitterly。\"Thouhastreadmyheart;thouknowestthatthouartbecomethelordofmydestiny。Buttobeboundbeneaththeweightofacoldobligation;tobethebeggarontheeyesofindifference;tocastmyselfononewholovesmenot,——THATwereindeedthevilestsinofmysex。Ah,Zanoni,ratherletmedie!\"
Shehadthrownbackherclusteringhairfromherfacewhileshespoke;andasshenowstood,withherarmsdroopingmournfully,andherhandsclaspedtogetherwiththeproudbitternessofherwaywardspirit,givingnewzestandcharmtohersingularbeauty,itwasimpossibletoconceiveasightmoreirresistibletotheeyeandtheheart。
\"Temptmenottothineowndanger,——perhapsdestruction!\"
exclaimedZanoni,infalteringaccents。\"Thoucanstnotdreamofwhatthouwouldstdemand,——come!\"and,advancing,hewoundhisarmroundherwaist。\"Come,Viola;believeatleastinmyfriendship,myhonour,myprotection——\"
\"Andnotthylove,\"saidtheItalian,turningonhimherreproachfuleyes。Thoseeyesmethis,andhecouldnotwithdrawfromthecharmoftheirgaze。Hefeltherheartthrobbingbeneathhisown;herbreathcamewarmuponhischeek。Hetrembled,——HE!thelofty,themysteriousZanoni,whoseemedtostandalooffromhisrace。Withadeepandburningsigh,hemurmured,\"Viola,Ilovethee!Oh!\"hecontinuedpassionately,and,releasinghishold,hethrewhimselfabruptlyatherfeet,\"Inomorecommand,——aswomanshouldbewooed,Iwoothee。Fromthefirstglanceofthoseeyes,fromthefirstsoundofthyvoice,thoubecamesttoofatallydeartome。Thouspeakestoffascination,——itlivesanditbreathesinthee!IfledfromNaplestoflyfromthypresence,——itpursuedme。Months,yearspassed,andthysweetfacestillshoneuponmyheart。I
returned,becauseIpicturedtheealoneandsorrowfulintheworld,andknewthatdangers,fromwhichImightsavethee,weregatheringneartheeandaround。BeautifulSoul!whoseleavesI
havereadwithreverence,itwasforthysake,thinealone,thatIwouldhavegiventheetoonewhomightmaketheehappieronearththanIcan。Viola!Viola!thouknowestnot——nevercanstthouknow——howdearthouarttome!\"
Itisinvaintoseekforwordstodescribethedelight——theproud,thefull,thecomplete,andtheentiredelight——thatfilledtheheartoftheNeapolitan。Hewhomshehadconsideredtooloftyevenforlove,——morehumbletoherthanthoseshehadhalf-despised!Shewassilent,buthereyesspoketohim;andthenslowly,asaware,atlast,thatthehumanlovehadadvancedontheideal,sheshrankintotheterrorsofamodestandvirtuousnature。Shedidnotdare,——shedidnotdreamtoaskhimthequestionshehadsofearlesslymadetoGlyndon;butshefeltasuddencoldness,——asensethatabarrierwasyetbetweenloveandlove。\"Oh,Zanoni!\"shemurmured,withdowncasteyes,\"askmenottoflywiththee;temptmenottomyshame。Thouwouldstprotectmefromothers。Oh,protectmefromthyself!\"
\"Poororphan!\"saidhe,tenderly,\"andcanstthouthinkthatI
askfromtheeonesacrifice,——stilllessthegreatestthatwomancangivetolove?AsmywifeIwoothee,andbyeverytie,andbyeveryvowthatcanhallowandendearaffection。Alas!theyhavebeliedlovetotheeindeed,ifthoudostnotknowthereligionthatbelongstoit!Theywhotrulylovewouldseek,forthetreasuretheyobtain,everybondthatcanmakeitlastingandsecure。Viola,weepnot,unlessthougivestmetheholyrighttokissawaythytears!\"
Andthatbeautifulface,nomoreaverted,droopeduponhisbosom;
andashebentdown,hislipssoughttherosymouth:alongandburningkiss,——danger,life,theworldwasforgotten!SuddenlyZanonitorehimselffromher。
\"Hearestthouthewindthatsighs,anddiesaway?Asthatwind,mypowertopreservethee,toguardthee,toforeseethestorminthyskies,isgone。Nomatter。Haste,haste;andmaylovesupplythelossofallthatithasdaredtosacrifice!Come。\"
Violahesitatednomore。Shethrewhermantleoverhershoulders,andgatheredupherdishevelledhair;amoment,andshewasprepared,whenasuddencrashwasheardbelow。
\"Toolate!——foolthatIwas,toolate!\"criedZanoni,inasharptoneofagony,ashehurriedtothedoor。Heopenedit,onlytobebornebackbythepressofarmedmen。Theroomliterallyswarmedwiththefollowersoftheravisher,masked,andarmedtotheteeth。
Violawasalreadyinthegraspoftwoofthemyrmidons。HershrieksmotetheearofZanoni。Hesprangforward;andViolaheardhiswildcryinaforeigntongue。Shesawthebladesoftheruffianspointedathisbreast!Shelosthersenses;andwhensherecovered,shefoundherselfgagged,andinacarriagethatwasdrivenrapidly,bythesideofamaskedandmotionlessfigure。Thecarriagestoppedattheportalsofagloomymansion。
Thegatesopenednoiselessly;abroadflightofsteps,brilliantlyillumined,wasbeforeher。ShewasinthepalaceofthePrincedi。
CHAPTER3。XIV。
Malasciamo,perDio,Signore,ormaiDiparlard\'ira,edicantardimorte。
\"OrlandoFurioso,\"Cantoxvii。xvii。
Butleaveme,Isolemnlyconjurethee,signor,tospeakofwrath,andtosingofdeath。
Theyoungactresswasledto,andleftaloneinachamberadornedwithalltheluxuriousandhalf-EasterntastethatatonetimecharacterisedthepalacesofthegreatseigneursofItaly。HerfirstthoughtwasforZanoni。Washeyetliving?Hadheescapedunscathedthebladesofthefoe,——hernewtreasure,thenewlightofherlife,herlord,atlastherlover?
Shehadshorttimeforreflection。Sheheardstepsapproachingthechamber;shedrewback,buttremblednot。Acouragenotofherself,neverknownbefore,sparkledinhereyes,anddilatedherstature。Livingordead,shewouldbefaithfulstilltoZanoni!Therewasanewmotivetothepreservationofhonour。
Thedooropened,andtheprinceenteredinthegorgeousandgaudycustumestillwornatthattimeinNaples。
\"Fairandcruelone,\"saidhe,advancingwithahalf-sneeruponhislip,\"thouwiltnottooharshlyblametheviolenceoflove。\"
Heattemptedtotakeherhandashespoke。
\"Nay,\"saidhe,assherecoiled,\"reflectthatthouartnowinthepowerofonethatneverfalteredinthepursuitofanobjectlessdeartohimthanthouart。Thylover,presumptuousthoughhebe,isnotbytosavethee。Minethouart;butinsteadofthymaster,suffermetobethyslave。\"
\"Prince,\"saidViola,withasterngravity,\"yourboastisinvain。Yourpower!IamNOTinyourpower。Lifeanddeathareinmyownhands。Iwillnotdefy;butIdonotfearyou。I
feel——andinsomefeelings,\"addedViola,withasolemnityalmostthrilling,\"thereisallthestrength,andallthedivinityofknowledge——IfeelthatIamsafeevenhere;butyou——you,Princedi——,havebroughtdangertoyourhomeandhearth!\"
TheNeapolitanseemedstartledbyanearnestnessandboldnesshewasbutlittlepreparedfor。Hewasnot,however,amaneasilyintimidatedordeterredfromanypurposehehadformed;and,approachingViola,hewasabouttoreplywithmuchwarmth,realoraffected,whenaknockwasheardatthedoorofthechamber。
Thesoundwasrepeated,andtheprince,chafedattheinterruption,openedthedooranddemandedimpatientlywhohadventuredtodisobeyhisorders,andinvadehisleisure。Mascaripresentedhimself,paleandagitated:\"Mylord,\"saidhe,inawhisper,\"pardonme;butastrangerisbelow,whoinsistsonseeingyou;and,fromsomewordsheletfall,Ijudgeditadvisableeventoinfringeyourcommands。\"
\"Astranger!——andatthishour!Whatbusinesscanhepretend?
Whywasheevenadmitted?\"
\"Heassertsthatyourlifeisinimminentdanger。ThesourcewhenceitproceedshewillrelatetoyourExcellencyalone。\"
Theprincefrowned;buthiscolourchanged。Hemusedamoment,andthen,re-enteringthechamberandadvancingtowardsViola,hesaid,——
\"Believeme,faircreature,Ihavenowishtotakeadvantageofmypower。Iwouldfaintrustalonetothegentlerauthoritiesofaffection。Holdyourselfqueenwithinthesewallsmoreabsolutelythanyouhaveeverenactedthatpartonthestage。
To-night,farewell!Mayyoursleepbecalm,andyourdreamspropitioustomyhopes。\"
Withthesewordsheretired,andinafewmomentsViolawassurroundedbyofficiousattendants,whomsheatlength,withsomedifficulty,dismissed;and,refusingtoretiretorest,shespentthenightinexaminingthechamber,whichshefoundwassecured,andinthoughtsofZanoni,inwhosepowershefeltanalmostpreternaturalconfidence。
Meanwhiletheprincedescendedthestairsandsoughttheroomintowhichthestrangerhadbeenshown。
Hefoundthevisitorwrappedfromheadtofootinalongrobe,half-gown,half-mantle,suchaswassometimeswornbyecclesiastics。Thefaceofthisstrangerwasremarkable。Sosunburntandswarthywerehishues,thathemust,apparently,havederivedhisoriginamongsttheracesofthefarthestEast。
Hisforeheadwaslofty,andhiseyessopenetratingyetsocalmintheirgazethattheprinceshrankfromthemasweshrinkfromaquestionerwhoisdrawingforththeguiltiestsecretofourhearts。
\"Whatwouldyouwithme?\"askedtheprince,motioninghisvisitortoaseat。
\"Princeof——,\"saidthestranger,inavoicedeepandsweet,butforeigninitsaccent,——\"sonofthemostenergeticandmasculineracethateverappliedgodlikegeniustotheserviceofHumanWill,withitswindingwickednessanditsstubborngrandeur;
descendantofthegreatViscontiinwhosechroniclesliesthehistoryofItalyinherpalmyday,andinwhoserisewasthedevelopmentofthemightiestintellect,ripenedbythemostrestlessambition,——Icometogazeuponthelaststarinadarkeningfirmament。Bythishourto-morrowspaceshallknowitnot。Man,unlessthywholenaturechange,thydaysarenumbered!\"
\"Whatmeansthisjargon?\"saidtheprince,invisibleastonishmentandsecretawe。\"Comestthoutomenacemeinmyownhalls,orwouldstthouwarnmeofadanger?Artthousomeitinerantmountebank,orsomeunguessed-offriend?Speakout,andplainly。Whatdangerthreatensme?\"
\"Zanoniandthyancestor\'ssword,\"repliedthestranger。
\"Ha!ha!\"saidtheprince,laughingscournfully;\"I
half-suspectedtheefromthefirst。Thouartthentheaccompliceorthetoolofthatmostdexterous,but,atpresent,defeatedcharlatan?AndIsupposethouwilttellmethatifIweretoreleaseacertaincaptiveIhavemade,thedangerwouldvanish,andthehandofthedialwouldbeputback?\"
\"Judgeofmeasthouwilt,Princedi。IconfessmyknowledgeofZanoni。Thou,too,wiltknowhispower,butnottillitconsumethee。Iwouldsave,thereforeIwarnthee。Dostthouaskmewhy?Iwilltellthee。Canstthouremembertohaveheardwildtalesofthygrandsire;ofhisdesireforaknowledgethatpassesthatoftheschoolsandcloisters;ofastrangemanfromtheEastwhowashisfamiliarandmasterinloreagainstwhichtheVaticanhas,fromagetoage,launcheditsmimicthunder?
Dostthoucalltomindthefortunesofthyancestor?——howhesucceededinyouthtolittlebutaname;how,afteracareerwildanddissoluteasthine,hedisappearedfromMilan,apauper,andaself-exile;how,afteryearsspent,noneknewinwhatclimesorinwhatpursuits,heagainrevisitedthecitywherehisprogenitorshadreigned;howwithhimcamethewisemanoftheEast,themysticMejnour;howtheywhobeheldhim,beheldwithamazeandfearthattimehadploughednofurrowonhisbrow;thatyouthseemedfixed,asbyaspell,uponhisfaceandform?Dostthounotknowthatfromthathourhisfortunesrose?Kinsmenthemostremotedied;estateuponestatefellintothehandsoftheruinednoble。Hebecametheguideofprinces,thefirstmagnateofItaly。Hefoundedanewthehouseofwhichthouartthelastlinealupholder,andtransferredhissplendourfromMilantotheSicilianrealms。Visionsofhighambitionwerethenpresentwithhimnightlyanddaily。Hadhelived,Italywouldhaveknownanewdynasty,andtheViscontiwouldhavereignedoverMagna-
Graecia。Hewasamansuchastheworldrarelysees;buthisends,tooearthly,wereatwarwiththemeanshesought。Hadhisambitionbeenmoreorless,hehadbeenworthyofarealmmightierthantheCaesarsswayed;worthyofoursolemnorder;
worthyofthefellowshipofMejnour,whomyounowbeholdbeforeyou。\"
Theprince,whohadlistenedwithdeepandbreathlessattentiontothewordsofhissingularguest,startedfromhisseatathislastwords。\"Imposter!\"hecried,\"canyoudarethustoplaywithmycredulity?Sixtyyearshaveflownsincemygrandsiredied;wereheliving,hehadpassedhishundredandtwentiethyear;andyou,whoseoldageiserectandvigorous,havetheassurancetopretendtohavebeenhiscontemporary!Butyouhaveimperfectlylearnedyourtale。Youknownot,itseems,thatmygrandsire,wiseandillustriousindeed,inallsavehisfaithinacharlatan,wasfounddeadinhisbed,intheveryhourwhenhiscolossalplanswereripeforexecution,andthatMejnourwasguiltyofhismurder。\"
\"Alas!\"answeredthestranger,inavoiceofgreatsadness,\"hadhebutlistenedtoMejnour,——hadhebutdelayedthelastandmostperilousordealofdaringwisdomuntiltherequisitetrainingandinitiationhadbeencompleted,——yourancestorwouldhavestoodwithmeuponaneminencewhichthewatersofDeathitselfwasheverlastingly,butcannotoverflow。Yourgrandsireresistedmyferventprayers,disobeyedmymostabsolutecommands,andinthesublimerashnessofasoulthatpantedforsecrets,whichhewhodesiresorbsandsceptresnevercanobtain,perished,thevictimofhisownfrenzy。\"
\"Hewaspoisoned,andMejnourfled。\"
\"Mejnourflednot,\"answeredthestranger,proudly——\"Mejnourcouldnotflyfromdanger;fortohimdangerisathinglongleftbehind。Itwasthedaybeforetheduketookthefataldraftwhichhebelievedwastoconferonthemortaltheimmortalboon,that,findingmypoweroverhimwasgone,Iabandonedhimtohisdoom。Butatrucewiththis:Ilovedyourgrandsire!Iwouldsavethelastofhisrace。OpposenotthyselftoZanoni。Yieldnotthysoultothineevilpassions。Drawbackfromtheprecipicewhilethereisyettime。Inthyfront,andinthineeyes,Idetectsomeofthatdivinerglorywhichbelongedtothyrace。Thouhastintheesomegermsoftheirhereditarygenius,buttheyarechokedupbyworsethanthyhereditaryvices。
Recollectthatbygeniusthyhouserose;byviceiteverfailedtoperpetuateitspower。Inthelawswhichregulatetheuniverse,itisdecreedthatnothingwickedcanlongendure。Bewise,andlethistorywarnthee。Thoustandestonthevergeoftwoworlds,thepastandthefuture;andvoicesfromeithershriekomeninthyear。Ihavedone。Ibidtheefarewell!\"
\"Notso;thoushaltnotquitthesewalls。Iwillmakeexperimentofthyboastedpower。What,hothere!——ho!\"
Theprinceshouted;theroomwasfilledwithhisminions。
\"Seizethatman!\"hecried,pointingtothespotwhichhadbeenfilledbytheformofMejnour。Tohisinconceivableamazeandhorror,thespotwasvacant。Themysteriousstrangerhadvanishedlikeadream;butathinandfragrantmistundulated,inpalevolumes,roundthewallsofthechamber。\"Looktomylord,\"
criedMascari。Theprincehadfallentothefloorinsensible。
Formanyhoursheseemedinakindoftrance。Whenherecovered,hedismissedhisattendants,andhisstepwasheardinhischamber,pacingtoandfro,withheavyanddisorderedstrides。
Nottillanhourbeforehisbanquetthenextdaydidheseemrestoredtohiswontedself。
CHAPTER3。XV。
Oime!comeposs\'ioAltritrovar,semetrovarnonposso。
\"Amint。,\"At。i。Sc。ii。
Alas!howcanIfindanotherwhenIcannotfindmyself?
ThesleepofGlyndon,thenightafterhislastinterviewwithZanoni,wasunusuallyprofound;andthesunstreamedfulluponhiseyesasheopenedthemtotheday。Heroserefreshed,andwithastrangesentimentofcalmnessthatseemedmoretheresultofresolutionthanexhaustion。Theincidentsandemotionsofthepastnighthadsettledintodistinctandclearimpressions。Hethoughtofthembutslightly,——hethoughtratherofthefuture。
HewasasoneoftheinitiatedintheoldEgyptianmysterieswhohavecrossedthegateonlytolongmoreardentlyforthepenetralia。
Hedressedhimself,andwasrelievedtofindthatMervalehadjoinedapartyofhiscountrymenonanexcursiontoIschia。Hespenttheheatofnooninthoughtfulsolitude,andgraduallytheimageofViolareturnedtohisheart。Itwasaholy——foritwasaHUMAN——image。Hehadresignedher;andthoughherepentednot,hewastroubledatthethoughtthatrepentancewouldhavecometoolate。
Hestartedimpatientlyfromhisseat,andstrodewithrapidstepstothehumbleabodeoftheactress。
Thedistancewasconsiderable,andtheairoppressive。Glyndonarrivedatthedoorbreathlessandheated。Heknocked;noanswercame。Heliftedthelatchandentered。Heascendedthestairs;
nosound,nosightoflifemethisearandeye。Inthefrontchamber,onatable,laytheguitaroftheactress,andsomemanuscriptpartsinthefavouriteoperas。Hepaused,and,summoningcourage,tappedatthedoorwhichseemedtoleadintotheinnerapartment。Thedoorwasajar;and,hearingnosoundwithin,hepusheditopen。Itwasthesleeping-chamberoftheyoungactress,thatholiestgroundtoalover;andwelldidtheplacebecomethepresidingdeity:noneofthetawdryfineryoftheprofessionwasvisible,ontheonehand;noneoftheslovenlydisordercommontothehumblerclassesoftheSouth,ontheother。Allwaspureandsimple;eventheornamentswerethoseofaninnocentrefinement,——afewbooks,placedcarefullyonshelves,afewhalf-fadedflowersinanearthenvase,whichwasmodelledandpaintedintheEtruscanfashion。Thesunlightstreamedoverthesnowydraperiesofthebed,andafewarticlesofclothingonthechairbesideit。Violawasnotthere;butthenurse!——wasshegonealso?HemadethehouseresoundwiththenameofGionetta,buttherewasnotevenanechotoreply。Atlast,ashereluctantlyquittedthedesolateabode,heperceivedGionettacomingtowardshimfromthestreet。
Thepooroldwomanutteredanexclamationofjoyonseeinghim;
but,totheirmutualdisappointment,neitherhadanycheerfultidingsorsatisfactoryexplanationtoaffordtheother。
Gionettahadbeenarousedfromherslumberthenightbeforebythenoiseintheroomsbelow;butereshecouldmustercouragetodescend,Violawasgone!Shefoundthemarksofviolenceonthedoorwithout;andallshehadsincebeenabletolearnintheneighbourhoodwas,thataLazzarone,fromhisnocturnalresting-