SuchmadeasmallpartofthenumerousconversationsMejnourheldwithhispupil,——conversationsthat,whiletheyappearedtoaddressthemselvestothereason,inflamedyetmorethefancy。
ItwastheverydisclaimingofallpowerswhichNature,properlyinvestigated,didnotsufficetocreate,thatgaveanairofprobabilitytothosewhichMejnourassertedNaturemightbestow。
Thusdaysandweeksrolledon;andthemindofGlyndon,graduallyfittedtothissequesteredandmusinglife,forgotatlastthevanitiesandchimerasoftheworldwithout。
Oneeveninghehadlingeredaloneandlateupontheramparts,watchingthestarsas,onebyone,theybrokeuponthetwilight。
Neverhadhefeltsosensiblythemightypoweroftheheavensandtheearthuponman;howmuchthespringsofourintellectualbeingaremovedandacteduponbythesolemninfluencesofNature。Asapatientonwhom,slowlyandbydegrees,theagenciesofmesmerismarebroughttobear,heacknowledgedtohisheartthegrowingforceofthatvastanduniversalmagnetismwhichisthelifeofcreation,andbindstheatomtothewhole。
Astrangeandineffableconsciousnessofpower,oftheSOMETHING
GREATwithintheperishableclay,appealedtofeelingsatoncedimandglorious,——likethefaintrecognitionsofaholierandformerbeing。Animpulse,thathecouldnotresist,ledhimtoseekthemystic。Hewoulddemand,thathour,hisinitiationintotheworldsbeyondourworld,——hewaspreparedtobreatheadivinerair。Heenteredthecastle,andstrodetheshadowyandstarlitgallerywhichconductedtoMejnour\'sapartment。
CHAPTER4。III。
Manistheeyeofthings——Euryph,\"deVit。Hum。\"……Thereis,therefore,acertainecstaticalortransportingpower,which,ifatanytimeitshallbeexcitedorstirredupbyanardentdesireandmoststrongimagination,isabletoconductthespiritofthemoreoutwardeventosomeabsentandfar-distantobject——VonHelmont。
TheroomsthatMejnouroccupiedconsistedoftwochamberscommunicatingwitheachother,andathirdinwhichheslept。
Alltheseroomswereplacedinthehugesquaretowerthatbeetledoverthedarkandbush-grownprecipice。ThefirstchamberwhichGlyndonenteredwasempty。Withanoiselessstephepassedon,andopenedthedoorthatadmittedintotheinnerone。Hedrewbackatthethreshold,overpoweredbyastrongfragrancewhichfilledthechamber:akindofmistthickenedtheairratherthanobscuredit,forthisvapourwasnotdark,butresembledasnow-
cloudmovingslowly,andinheavyundulations,waveuponwaveregularlyoverthespace。AmortalcoldstrucktotheEnglishman\'sheart,andhisbloodfroze。Hestoodrootedtothespot;andashiseyesstrainedinvoluntarilythroughthevapour,hefanciedforhecouldnotbesurethatitwasnotthetrickofhisimaginationthathesawdim,spectre-like,butgiganticformsfloatingthroughthemist;orwasitnotratherthemistitselfthatformeditsvapoursfantasticallyintothosemoving,impalpable,andbodilessapparitions?Agreatpainterofantiquityissaid,inapictureofHades,tohaverepresentedthemonstersthatglidethroughtheghostlyRiveroftheDead,soartfully,thattheeyeperceivedatoncethattheriveritselfwasbutaspectre,andthebloodlessthingsthattenantedithadnolife,theirformsblendingwiththedeadwaterstill,astheeyecontinuedtogaze,itceasedtodiscernthemfromthepreternaturalelementtheyweresupposedtoinhabit。Suchwerethemovingoutlinesthatcoiledandfloatedthroughthemist;butbeforeGlyndonhadevendrawnbreathinthisatmosphere——forhislifeitselfseemedarrestedorchangedintoakindofhorridtrance——hefelthishandseized,andhewasledfromthatroomintotheouterone。Heheardthedoorclose,——hisbloodrushedagainthroughhisveins,andhesawMejnourbyhisside。Strongconvulsionsthensuddenlyseizedhiswholeframe,——hefelltothegroundinsensible。Whenherecovered,hefoundhimselfintheopenairinarudebalconyofstonethatjuttedfromthechamber,thestarsshiningserenelyoverthedarkabyssbelow,andrestingcalmlyuponthefaceofthemystic,whostoodbesidehimwithfoldedarms。
\"Youngman,\"saidMejnour,\"judgebywhatyouhavejustfelt,howdangerousitistoseekknowledgeuntilpreparedtoreceiveit。
Anothermomentintheairofthatchamberandyouhadbeenacorpse。\"
\"Thenofwhatnaturewastheknowledgethatyou,oncemortallikemyself,couldsafelyhavesoughtinthaticyatmosphere,whichitwasdeathformetobreathe?Mejnour,\"continuedGlyndon,andhiswilddesire,sharpenedbytheverydangerhehadpassed,oncemoreanimatedandnervedhim,\"Iampreparedatleastforthefirststeps。IcometoyouasofoldthepupiltotheHierophant,anddemandtheinitiation。\"
Mejnourpassedhishandovertheyoungman\'sheart,——itbeatloud,regularly,andboldly。Helookedathimwithsomethingalmostlikeadmirationinhispassionlessandfrigidfeatures,andmuttered,halftohimself,\"Surely,insomuchcouragethetruediscipleisfoundatlast。\"Then,speakingaloud,headded,\"Beitso;man\'sfirstinitiationisinTRANCE。Indreamscommencesallhumanknowledge;indreamshoversovermeasurelessspacethefirstfaintbridgebetweenspiritandspirit,——thisworldandtheworldsbeyond!Looksteadfastlyonyonderstar!\"
Glyndonobeyed,andMejnourretiredintothechamber,fromwhichtherethenslowlyemergedavapour,somewhatpalerandoffainterodourthanthatwhichhadnearlyproducedsofatalaneffectonhisframe。This,onthecontrary,asitcoiledaroundhim,andthenmeltedinthinspiresintotheair,breathedarefreshingandhealthfulfragrance。Hestillkepthiseyesonthestar,andthestarseemedgraduallytofixandcommandhisgaze。Asortoflanguornextseizedhisframe,butwithout,ashethought,communicatingitselftothemind;andasthiscreptoverhim,hefelthistemplessprinkledwithsomevolatileandfieryessence。
Atthesamemomentaslighttremorshookhislimbsandthrilledthroughhisveins。Thelanguorincreased,stillhekepthisgazeuponthestar,andnowitsluminouscircumferenceseemedtoexpandanddilate。Itbecamegraduallysofterandclearerinitslight;spreadingwiderandbroader,itdiffusedallspace,——allspaceseemedswallowedupinit。Andatlast,inthemidstofasilvershiningatmosphere,hefeltasifsomethingburstwithinhisbrain,——asifastrongchainwerebroken;andatthatmomentasenseofheavenlyliberty,ofunutterabledelight,offreedomfromthebody,ofbirdlikelightness,seemedtofloathimintothespaceitself。\"Whom,nowuponearth,dostthouwishtosee?\"
whisperedthevoiceofMejnour。\"ViolaandZanoni!\"answeredGlyndon,inhisheart;buthefeltthathislipsmovednot。
Suddenlyatthatthought,——throughthisspace,inwhichnothingsaveonemellowtranslucentlighthadbeendiscernible,——aswiftsuccessionofshadowylandscapesseemedtoroll:trees,mountains,cities,seas,glidedalonglikethechangesofaphantasmagoria;andatlast,settledandstationary,hesawacavebythegradualmargeofanoceanshore,——myrtlesandorange-treesclothingthegentlebanks。Onaheight,atadistance,gleamedthewhitebutshatteredrelicsofsomeruinedheathenedifice;andthemoon,incalmsplendour,shiningoverall,literallybathedwithitslighttwoformswithoutthecave,atwhosefeetthebluewaterscrept,andhethoughtthatheevenheardthemmurmur。Herecognisedboththefigures。Zanoniwasseatedonafragmentofstone;Viola,half-recliningbyhisside,waslookingintohisface,whichwasbentdowntoher,andinhercountenancewastheexpressionofthatperfecthappinesswhichbelongstoperfectlove。\"Wouldstthouhearthemspeak?\"
whisperedMejnour;andagain,withoutsound,Glyndoninlyanswered,\"Yes!\"Theirvoicesthencametohisear,butintonesthatseemedtohimstrange;sosubduedwerethey,andsounding,asitwere,sofaroff,thattheywereasvoicesheardinthevisionsofsomeholiermenfromadistantsphere。
\"Andhowisit,\"saidViola,\"thatthoucanstfindpleasureinlisteningtotheignorant?\"
\"Becausetheheartisneverignorant;becausethemysteriesofthefeelingsareasfullofwonderasthoseoftheintellect。Ifattimesthoucanstnotcomprehendthelanguageofmythoughts,attimesalsoIhearsweetenigmasinthatofthyemotions。\"
\"Ah,saynotso!\"saidViola,windingherarmtenderlyroundhisneck,andunderthatheavenlylightherfaceseemedlovelierforitsblushes。\"Fortheenigmasarebutlove\'scommonlanguage,andloveshouldsolvethem。TillIknewthee,——tillIlivedwiththee;tillIlearnedtowatchforthyfootstepwhenabsent:yeteveninabsencetoseetheeeverywhere!——Idreamednothowstrongandall-pervadingistheconnectionbetweennatureandthehumansoul!……
\"Andyet,\"shecontinued,\"IamnowassuredofwhatIatfirstbelieved,——thatthefeelingswhichattractedmetowardstheeatfirstwerenotthoseoflove。IknowTHAT,bycomparingthepresentwiththepast,——itwasasentimentthenwhollyofthemindorthespirit!Icouldnotheartheenowsay,\'Viola,behappywithanother!\'\"
\"AndIcouldnotnowtelltheeso!Ah,Viola,neverbewearyofassuringmethatthouarthappy!\"
\"Happywhilethouartso。Yetattimes,Zanoni,thouartsosad!\"
\"Becausehumanlifeissoshort;becausewemustpartatlast;
becauseyonmoonshinesonwhenthenightingalesingstoitnomore!Alittlewhile,andthineeyeswillgrowdim,andthybeautyhaggard,andtheselocksthatItoywithnowwillbegreyandloveless。\"
\"Andthou,cruelone!\"saidViola,touchingly,\"Ishallneverseethesignsofageinthee!Butshallwenotgrowoldtogether,andoureyesbeaccustomedtoachangewhichtheheartshallnotshare!\"
Zanonisighed。Heturnedaway,andseemedtocommunewithhimself。
Glyndon\'sattentiongrewyetmoreearnest。
\"Butwereitso,\"mutteredZanoni;andthenlookingsteadfastlyatViola,hesaid,withahalf-smile,\"HastthounocuriositytolearnmoreoftheloverthouoncecouldstbelievetheagentoftheEvilOne?\"
\"None;allthatonewishestoknowofthebelovedone,Iknow——
THATTHOULOVESTME!\"
\"Ihavetoldtheethatmylifeisapartfromothers。Wouldstthounotseektoshareit?\"
\"Ishareitnow!\"
\"Butwereitpossibletobethusyoungandfairforever,tilltheworldblazesroundusasonefuneralpyre!\"
\"Weshallbeso,whenweleavetheworld!\"
Zanoniwasmuteforsomemoments,andatlengthhesaid,——
\"Canstthourecallthosebrilliantandaerialdreamswhichoncevisitedthee,whenthoudidstfancythatthouwertpreordainedtosomefatealoofandafarfromthecommonchildrenoftheearth?\"
\"Zanoni,thefateisfound。\"
\"Andhastthounoterrorofthefuture?\"
\"Thefuture!Iforgetit!Timepastandpresentandtocomereposesinthysmile。Ah,Zanoni,playnotwiththefoolishcredulitiesofmyyouth!Ihavebeenbetterandhumblersincethypresencehasdispelledthemistoftheair。Thefuture!——
well,whenIhavecausetodreadit,Iwilllookuptoheaven,andrememberwhoguidesourfate!\"
Assheliftedhereyesabove,adarkcloudsweptsuddenlyoverthescene。Itwrappedtheorange-trees,theazureocean,thedensesands;butstillthelastimagesthatitveiledfromthecharmedeyesofGlyndonweretheformsofViolaandZanoni。Thefaceoftheonerapt,serene,andradiant;thefaceoftheother,dark,thoughtful,andlockedinmorethanitsusualrigidnessofmelancholybeautyandprofoundrepose。
\"Rousethyself,\"saidMejnour;\"thyordealhascommenced!Therearepretenderstothesolemnsciencewhocouldhaveshowntheetheabsent,andpratedtothee,intheircharlatanicjargon,ofthesecretelectricitiesandthemagneticfluidofwhosetruepropertiestheyknowbutthegermsandelements。Iwilllendtheethebooksofthosegloriousdupes,andthouwiltfind,inthedarkages,howmanyerringstepshavestumbleduponthethresholdofthemightylearning,andfanciedtheyhadpiercedthetemple。HermesandAlbertandParacelsus,Iknewyeall;
but,nobleasyewere,yewerefatedtobedeceived。Yehadnotsoulsoffaith,anddaringfittedforthedestiniesatwhichyeaimed!YetParacelsus——modestParacelsus——hadanarrogancethatsoaredhigherthanallourknowledge。Ho,ho!——hethoughthecouldmakearaceofmenfromchemistry;hearrogatedtohimselftheDivinegift,——thebreathoflife。Paracelsus,\"DeNat。
Rer。,\"lib。i。
Hewouldhavemademen,and,afterall,confessedthattheycouldbebutpygmies!Myartistomakemenabovemankind。Butyouareimpatientofmydigressions。Forgiveme。Allthesementheyweregreatdreamers,asyoudesiretobewereintimatefriendsofmine。Buttheyaredeadandrotten。Theytalkedofspirits,——buttheydreadedtobeinothercompanythanthatofmen。LikeoratorswhomIhaveheard,whenIstoodbythePnyxofAthens,blazingwithwordslikecometsintheassembly,andextinguishingtheirardourlikeholidayrocketswhentheywereinthefield。Ho,ho!Demosthenes,myhero-coward,hownimblewerethyheelsatChaeronea!Andthouartimpatientstill!Boy,I
couldtelltheesuchtruthsofthepastaswouldmaketheetheluminaryofschools。Butthoulustestonlyfortheshadowsofthefuture。Thoushalthavethywish。Butthemindmustbefirstexercisedandtrained。Gotothyroom,andsleep;fastausterely,readnobooks;meditate,imagine,dream,bewilderthyselfifthouwilt。Thoughtshapesoutitsownchaosatlast。
Beforemidnight,seekmeagain!\"
CHAPTER4。IV。
Itisfitthatwewhoendeavourtorisetoanelevationsosublime,shouldstudyfirsttoleavebehindcarnalaffections,thefrailtyofthesenses,thepassionsthatbelongtomatter;
secondly,tolearnbywhatmeanswemayascendtotheclimaxofpureintellect,unitedwiththepowersabove,withoutwhichnevercanwegaintheloreofsecretthings,northemagicthateffectstruewonders——Tritemius\"OnSecretThingsandSecretSpirits。\"
Itwantedstillmanyminutesofmidnight,andGlyndonwasoncemoreintheapartmentofthemystic。Hehadrigidlyobservedthefastordainedtohim;andintheraptandintensereveriesintowhichhisexcitedfancyhadplungedhim,hewasnotonlyinsensibletothewantsoftheflesh,——hefeltabovethem。
Mejnour,seatedbesidehisdisciple,thusaddressedhim:——
\"Manisarrogantinproportiontohisignorance。Man\'snaturaltendencyistoegotism。Man,inhisinfancyofknowledge,thinksthatallcreationwasformedforhim。Forseveralageshesawinthecountlessworldsthatsparklethroughspacelikethebubblesofashorelessoceanonlythepettycandles,thehouseholdtorches,thatProvidencehadbeenpleasedtolightfornootherpurposebuttomakethenightmoreagreeabletoman。Astronomyhascorrectedthisdelusionofhumanvanity;andmannowreluctantlyconfessesthatthestarsareworldslargerandmoregloriousthanhisown,——thattheearthonwhichhecrawlsisascarcevisiblespeckonthevastchartofcreation。Butinthesmallasinthevast,Godisequallyprofuseoflife。Thetravellerlooksuponthetree,andfanciesitsboughswereformedforhisshelterinthesummersun,orhisfuelinthewinterfrosts。ButineachleafoftheseboughstheCreatorhasmadeaworld;itswarmswithinnumerableraces。Eachdropofthewaterinyonmoatisanorbmorepopulousthanakingdomisofmen。
Everywhere,then,inthisimmensedesign,sciencebringsnewlifetolight。Lifeistheonepervadingprinciple,andeventhethingthatseemstodieandputrifybutengendersnewlife,andchangestofreshformsofmatter。Reasoning,then,byevidentanalogy:ifnotaleaf,ifnotadropofwater,butis,nolessthanyonderstar,ahabitableandbreathingworld,——nay,ifevenmanhimselfisaworldtootherlives,andmillionsandmyriadsdwellintheriversofhisblood,andinhabitman\'sframeasmaninhabitsearth,commonsenseifyourschoolmenhaditwouldsufficetoteachthatthecircumfluentinfinitewhichyoucallspace——thecountlessImpalpablewhichdividesearthfromthemoonandstars——isfilledalsowithitscorrespondentandappropriatelife。Isitnotavisibleabsurditytosupposethatbeingiscrowdeduponeveryleaf,andyetabsentfromtheimmensitiesofspace?ThelawoftheGreatSystemforbidsthewasteevenofanatom;itknowsnospotwheresomethingoflifedoesnotbreathe。
Intheverycharnel-houseisthenurseryofproductionandanimation。Isthattrue?Well,then,canyouconceivethatspace,whichistheInfiniteitself,isaloneawaste,isalonelifeless,islessusefultotheonedesignofuniversalbeingthanthedeadcarcassofadog,thanthepeopledleaf,thantheswarmingglobule?Themicroscopeshowsyouthecreaturesontheleaf;nomechanicaltubeisyetinventedtodiscoverthenoblerandmoregiftedthingsthathoverintheillimitableair。Yetbetweentheselastandmanisamysteriousandterribleaffinity。
Andhence,bytalesandlegends,notwhollyfalsenorwhollytrue,havearisenfromtimetotime,beliefsinapparitionsandspectres。Ifmorecommontotheearlierandsimplertribesthantothemenofyourdullerage,itisbutthat,withthefirst,thesensesaremorekeenandquick。Andasthesavagecanseeorscentmilesawaythetracesofafoe,invisibletothegrosssenseofthecivilisedanimal,sothebarrieritselfbetweenhimandthecreaturesoftheairyworldislessthickenedandobscured。Doyoulisten?\"
\"Withmysoul!\"
\"Butfirst,topenetratethisbarrier,thesoulwithwhichyoulistenmustbesharpenedbyintenseenthusiasm,purifiedfromallearthlierdesires。Notwithoutreasonhavetheso-styledmagicians,inalllandsandtimes,insistedonchastityandabstemiousreverieasthecommunicantsofinspiration。Whenthusprepared,sciencecanbebroughttoaidit;thesightitselfmayberenderedmoresubtle,thenervesmoreacute,thespiritmorealiveandoutward,andtheelementitself——theair,thespace——
maybemade,bycertainsecretsofthehigherchemistry,morepalpableandclear。Andthis,too,isnotmagic,asthecredulouscallit;asIhavesooftensaidbefore,magicorsciencethatviolatesNatureexistsnot:itisbutthesciencebywhichNaturecanbecontrolled。Now,inspacetherearemillionsofbeingsnotliterallyspiritual,fortheyhaveall,liketheanimalculaeunseenbythenakedeye,certainformsofmatter,thoughmattersodelicate,air-drawn,andsubtle,thatitis,asitwere,butafilm,agossamerthatclothesthespirit。
HencetheRosicrucian\'slovelyphantomsofsylphandgnome。Yet,intruth,theseracesandtribesdiffermorewidely,eachfromeach,thantheCalmucfromtheGreek,——differinattributesandpowers。Inthedropofwateryouseehowtheanimalculaevary,howvastandterriblearesomeofthosemonstermitesascomparedwithothers。Equallysowiththeinhabitantsoftheatmosphere:
someofsurpassingwisdom,someofhorriblemalignity;somehostileasfiendstomen,othersgentleasmessengersbetweenearthandheaven。
Hewhowouldestablishintercoursewiththesevaryingbeingsresemblesthetravellerwhowouldpenetrateintounknownlands。
Heisexposedtostrangedangersandunconjecturedterrors。THAT
INTERCOURSEONCEGAINED,ICANNOTSECURETHEEFROMTHECHANCESTO
WHICHTHYJOURNEYISEXPOSED。Icannotdirecttheetopathsfreefromthewanderingsofthedeadliestfoes。Thoumustalone,andofthyself,faceandhazardall。Butifthouartsoenamouredoflifeastocareonlytoliveon,nomatterforwhatends,recruitingthenervesandveinswiththealchemist\'svivifyingelixir,whyseekthesedangersfromtheintermediatetribes?
Becausetheveryelixirthatpoursamoregloriouslifeintotheframe,sosharpensthesensesthatthoselarvaeoftheairbecometotheeaudibleandapparent;sothat,unlesstrainedbydegreestoendurethephantomsandsubduetheirmalice,alifethusgiftedwouldbethemostawfuldoommancouldbringuponhimself。
Henceitis,thatthoughtheelixirbecompoundedofthesimplestherbs,hisframeonlyispreparedtoreceiveitwhohasgonethroughthesubtlesttrials。Nay,some,scaredanddauntedintothemostintolerablehorrorbythesightsthatburstupontheireyesatthefirstdraft,havefoundthepotionlesspowerfultosavethantheagonyandtravailofNaturetodestroy。Totheunpreparedtheelixiristhusbutthedeadliestpoison。AmidstthedwellersofthethresholdisONE,too,surpassinginmalignityandhatredallhertribe,——onewhoseeyeshaveparalyzedthebravest,andwhosepowerincreasesoverthespiritpreciselyinproportiontoitsfear。Doesthycouragefalter?\"
\"Nay;thywordsbutkindleit。\"
\"Followme,then,andsubmittotheinitiatorylabours。\"
Withthat,Mejnourledhimintotheinteriorchamber,andproceededtoexplaintohimcertainchemicaloperationswhich,thoughextremelysimpleinthemselves,Glyndonsoonperceivedwerecapableofveryextraordinaryresults。
\"Intheremotertimes,\"saidMejnour,smiling,\"ourbrotherhoodwereoftencompelledtorecurtodelusionstoprotectrealities;
and,asdexterousmechaniciansorexpertchemists,theyobtainedthenameofsorcerers。ObservehoweasytoconstructistheSpectreLionthatattendedtherenownedLeonardodaVinci!\"
AndGlyndonbeheldwithdelightedsurprisethesimplemeansbywhichthewildestcheatsoftheimaginationcanbeformed。ThemagicallandscapesinwhichBaptistaPortarejoiced;theapparentchangeoftheseasonswithwhichAlbertusMagnusstartledtheEarlofHolland;nay,eventhosemoredreaddelusionsoftheGhostandImagewithwhichthenecromancersofHeracleawoketheconscienceoftheconquerorofPlataeaPausanias,——seePlutarch。,——allthese,astheshowmanenchantssometremblingchildrenonaChristmasEvewithhislanternandphantasmagoria,Mejnourexhibitedtohispupil……
\"Andnowlaughforeveratmagic!whenthese,theverytricks,theverysportsandfrivolitiesofscience,weretheveryactswhichmenviewedwithabhorrence,andinquisitorsandkingsrewardedwiththerackandthestake。\"
\"Butthealchemist\'stransmutationofmetals——\"
\"Natureherselfisalaboratoryinwhichmetals,andallelements,areforeveratchange。Easytomakegold,——easier,morecommodious,andcheaperstill,tomakethepearl,thediamond,andtheruby。Oh,yes;wisemenfoundsorceryinthistoo;buttheyfoundnosorceryinthediscoverythatbythesimplestcombinationofthingsofevery-dayusetheycouldraiseadevilthatwouldsweepawaythousandsoftheirkindbythebreathofconsumingfire。Discoverwhatwilldestroylife,andyouareagreatman!——whatwillprolongit,andyouareanimposter!Discoversomeinventioninmachinerythatwillmaketherichmorerichandthepoormorepoor,andtheywillbuildyouastatue!Discoversomemysteryinartthatwillequalisephysicaldisparities,andtheywillpulldowntheirownhousestostoneyou!Ha,ha,mypupil!suchistheworldZanonistillcaresfor!——youandIwillleavethisworldtoitself。Andnowthatyouhaveseensomefewoftheeffectsofscience,begintolearnitsgrammar。\"
Mejnourthensetbeforehispupilcertaintasks,inwhichtherestofthenightworeitselfaway。
CHAPTER4。V。
GreattravellhaththegentleCalidoreAndtoyleendured……
Thereonaday,——
Hechaunsttospyasortofshepheardgroomes,Playingonpipesandcarolingapace……He,therebesydeSawafairedamzell。
Spenser,\"FaerieQueene,\"cant。ix。
ForaconsiderableperiodthepupilofMejnourwasnowabsorbedinlabourdependentonthemostvigilantattention,onthemostminuteandsubtlecalculation。Resultsastonishingandvariousrewardedhistoilsandstimulatedhisinterest。Norwerethesestudieslimitedtochemicaldiscovery,——inwhichitispermittedmetosaythatthegreatestmarvelsupontheorganisationofphysicallifeseemedwroughtbyexperimentsofthevivifyinginfluenceofheat。Mejnourprofessedtofindalinkbetweenallintellectualbeingsintheexistenceofacertainall-pervadingandinvisiblefluidresemblingelectricity,yetdistinctfromtheknownoperationsofthatmysteriousagency——afluidthatconnectedthoughttothoughtwiththerapidityandprecisionofthemoderntelegraph,andtheinfluenceofthisfluid,accordingtoMejnour,extendedtotheremotestpast,——thatistosay,wheneverandwheresoevermanhadthought。Thus,ifthedoctrineweretrue,allhumanknowledgebecameattainablethroughamediumestablishedbetweenthebrainoftheindividualinquirerandallthefarthestandobscurestregionsintheuniverseofideas。
GlyndonwassurprisedtofindMejnourattachedtotheabstrusemysterieswhichthePythagoreansascribedtotheoccultscienceofNUMBERS。Inthislast,newlightsglimmereddimlyonhiseyes;andhebegantoperceivethateventhepowertopredict,orrathertocalculate,results,mightby——HerethereisanerasureintheMS。……
Butheobservedthatthelastbriefprocessbywhich,ineachoftheseexperiments,thewonderwasachieved,Mejnourreservedforhimself,andrefusedtocommunicatethesecret。Theanswerheobtainedtohisremonstrancesonthisheadwasmoresternthansatisfactory:
\"Dostthouthink,\"saidMejnour,\"thatIwouldgivetothemerepupil,whosequalitiesarenotyettried,powersthatmightchangethefaceofthesocialworld?ThelastsecretsareintrustedonlytohimofwhosevirtuetheMasterisconvinced。
Patience!Itislabouritselfthatisthegreatpurifierofthemind;andbydegreesthesecretswillgrowuponthyselfasthymindbecomesripertoreceivethem。\"
AtlastMejnourprofessedhimselfsatisfiedwiththeprogressmadebyhispupil。\"Thehournowarrives,\"hesaid,\"whenthoumaystpassthegreatbutairybarrier,——whenthoumaystgraduallyconfronttheterribleDwelleroftheThreshold。Continuethylabours——continuetosurpassthineimpatienceforresultsuntilthoucanstfathomthecauses。Ileavetheeforonemonth;ifattheendofthatperiod,whenIreturn,thetaskssettheearecompleted,andthymindpreparedbycontemplationandausterethoughtfortheordeal,Ipromisetheetheordealshallcommence。
OnecautionaloneIgivethee:regarditasaperemptorycommand,enternotthischamber!\"Theywerethenstandingintheroomwheretheirexperimentshadbeenchieflymade,andinwhichGlyndon,onthenighthehadsoughtthesolitudeofthemystic,hadnearlyfallenavictimtohisintrusion。
\"Enternotthischambertillmyreturn;or,aboveall,ifbyanysearchformaterialsnecessarytothytoilsthoushouldstventurehither,forbeartolightthenaphthainthosevessels,andtoopenthevasesonyondershelves。Ileavethekeyoftheroominthykeeping,inordertotrythyabstinenceandself-control。
Youngman,thisverytemptationisapartofthytrial。\"
Withthat,Mejnourplacedthekeyinhishands;andatsunsetheleftthecastle。
ForseveraldaysGlyndoncontinuedimmersedinemploymentswhichstrainedtotheutmostallthefacultiesofhisintellect。Eventhemostpartialsuccessdependedsoentirelyontheabstractionofthemind,andtheminutenessofitscalculations,thattherewasscarcelyroomforanyotherthoughtthanthoseabsorbedintheoccupation。AnddoubtlessthisperpetualstrainofthefacultieswastheobjectofMejnourinworksthatdidnotseemexactlypertinenttothepurposesinview。Asthestudyoftheelementarymathematics,forexample,isnotsoprofitableinthesolvingofproblems,uselessinourafter-callings,asitisserviceableintrainingtheintellecttothecomprehensionandanalysisofgeneraltruths。
ButinlessthanhalfthetimewhichMejnourhadstatedforthedurationofhisabsence,allthatthemystichadappointedtohistoilswascompletedbythepupil;andthenhismind,thusrelievedfromthedrudgeryandmechanismofemployment,oncemoresoughtoccupationindimconjectureandrestlessfancies。HisinquisitiveandrashnaturegrewexcitedbytheprohibitionofMejnour,andhefoundhimselfgazingtoooften,withperturbedanddaringcuriosity,uponthekeyoftheforbiddenchamber。Hebegantofeelindignantatatrialofconstancywhichhedeemedfrivolousandpuerile。WhatnurserytalesofBluebeardandhisclosetwererevivedtodauntandterrifyhim!Howcouldthemerewallsofachamber,inwhichhehadsooftensecurelypursuedhislabours,startintolivingdanger?Ifhaunted,itcouldbebutbythosedelusionswhichMejnourhadtaughthimtodespise,——ashadowylion,——achemicalphantasm!Tush!helosthalfhisaweofMejnour,whenhethoughtthatbysuchtricksthesagecouldpractiseupontheveryintellecthehadawakenedandinstructed!
Stillheresistedtheimpulsesofhiscuriosityandhispride,and,toescapefromtheirdictation,hetooklongramblesonthehills,oramidstthevalleysthatsurroundedthecastle,——seekingbybodilyfatiguetosubduetheunreposingmind。Onedaysuddenlyemergingfromadarkravine,hecameupononeofthoseItalianscenesofruralfestivityandmirthinwhichtheclassicageappearstorevive。Itwasafestival,partlyagricultural,partlyreligious,heldyearlybythepeasantsofthatdistrict。
Assembledattheoutskirtsofavillage,animatedcrowds,justreturnedfromaprocessiontoaneighbouringchapel,werenowformingthemselvesintogroups:theoldtotastethevintage,theyoungtodance,——alltobegayandhappy。Thissuddenpictureofeasyjoyandcarelessignorance,contrastingsoforciblywiththeintensestudiesandthatparchingdesireforwisdomwhichhadsolongmadeuphisownlife,andburnedathisownheart,sensiblyaffectedGlyndon。Ashestoodaloofandgazingonthem,theyoungmanfeltoncemorethathewasyoung。
Thememoryofallhehadbeencontenttosacrificespoketohimlikethesharpvoiceofremorse。Theflittingformsofthewomenintheirpicturesqueattire,theirhappylaughterringingthroughthecool,stillairoftheautumnnoon,broughtbacktotheheart,orratherperhapstothesenses,theimagesofhispasttime,the\"goldenshepherdhours,\"whentolivewasbuttoenjoy。
Heapproachednearerandnearertothescene,andsuddenlyanoisygroupsweptroundhim;andMaestroPaolo,tappinghimfamiliarlyontheshoulder,exclaimedinaheartyvoice,\"Welcome,Excellency!——wearerejoicedtoseeyouamongstus。\"
Glyndonwasabouttoreplytothissalutation,whenhiseyesresteduponthefaceofayounggirlleaningonPaolo\'sarm,ofabeautysoattractivethathiscolourroseandhisheartbeatasheencounteredhergaze。Hereyessparkledwitharoguishandpetulantmirth,herpartedlipsshowedteethlikepearls;asifimpatientatthepauseofhercompanionfromthereveloftherest,herlittlefootbeatthegroundtoameasurethatshehalf-hummed,half-chanted。Paololaughedashesawtheeffectthegirlhadproducedupontheyoungforeigner。
\"Willyounotdance,Excellency?Come,layasideyourgreatness,andbemerry,likeuspoordevils。SeehowourprettyFillideislongingforapartner。Takecompassiononher。\"
Fillidepoutedatthisspeech,and,disengagingherarmfromPaolo\'s,turnedaway,butthrewoverhershoulderaglancehalfinviting,halfdefying。Glyndon,almostinvoluntarily,advancedtoher,andaddressedher。
Oh,yes;headdressesher!Shelooksdown,andsmiles。Paololeavesthemtothemselves,saunteringoffwithadevil-me-carishair。Fillidespeaksnow,andlooksupatthescholar\'sfacewitharchinvitation。Heshakeshishead;Fillidelaughs,andherlaughissilvery。Shepointstoagaymountaineer,whoistrippinguptohermerrily。WhydoesGlyndonfeeljealous?Why,whenshespeaksagain,doesheshakehisheadnomore?Heoffershishand;Fillideblushes,andtakesitwithademurecoquetry。
What!isitso,indeed!Theywhirlintothenoisycircleoftherevellers。Ha!ha!isnotthisbetterthandistillingherbs,andbreakingthybrainsonPythagoreannumbers?HowlightlyFillideboundsalong!Howherlithesomewaistsupplesitselftothycirclingarm!Tara-ra-tara,ta-tara,rara-ra!Whatthedevilisinthemeasurethatitmakesthebloodcourselikequicksilverthroughtheveins?WasthereeverapairofeyeslikeFillide\'s?
Nothingofthecoldstarsthere!Yethowtheytwinkleandlaughatthee!Andthatrosy,pursed-upmouththatwillanswersosparinglytothyflatteries,asifwordswereawasteoftime,andkissesweretheirproperlanguage。Oh,pupilofMejnour!
Oh,would-beRosicrucian,Platonist,Magian,Iknownotwhat!I
amashamedofthee!What,inthenamesofAverroesandBurriandAgrippaandHermeshavebecomeofthyausterecontemplations?
WasitforthisthoudidstresignViola?Idon\'tthinkthouhastthesmallestrecollectionoftheelixirortheCabala。Takecare!Whatareyouabout,sir?Whydoyouclaspthatsmallhandlockedwithinyourown?Whydoyou——Tara-raratara-ratara-rara-
ra,rarara,ta-ra,a-ra!Keepyoureyesoffthoseslenderanklesandthatcrimsonbodice!Tara-rara-ra!Theretheygoagain!
Andnowtheyrestunderthebroadtrees。Therevelhaswhirledawayfromthem。Theyhear——ordotheynothear——thelaughteratthedistance?Theysee——oriftheyhavetheireyesaboutthem,theySHOULDsee——coupleaftercoupleglidingby,love-talkingandlove-looking。ButIwilllayawager,astheysitunderthattree,andtheroundsungoesdownbehindthemountains,thattheyseeorhearverylittleexceptthemselves。
\"Hollo,SignorExcellency!andhowdoesyourpartnerpleaseyou?
Comeandjoinourfeast,loiterers;onedancesmoremerrilyafterwine。\"
Downgoestheroundsun;upcomestheautumnmoon。Tara,tara,rarara,rarara,tarara-ra!Dancingagain;isitadance,orsomemovementgayer,noisier,wilderstill?Howtheyglanceandgleamthroughthenightshadows,thoseflittingforms!Whatconfusion!——whatorder!Ha,thatistheTarantuladance;MaestroPaolofootsitbravely!Diavolo,whatfury!theTarantulahasstungthemall。Danceordie;itisfury,——theCorybantes,theMaenads,the——Ho,ho!morewine!theSabbatoftheWitchesatBeneventoisajoketothis!Fromcloudtocloudwandersthemoon,——nowshining,nowlost。Dimnesswhilethemaidenblushes;
lightwhenthemaidensmiles。
\"Fillide,thouartanenchantress!\"
\"Buonanotte,Excellency;youwillseemeagain!\"
\"Ah,youngman,\"saidanold,decrepit,hollow-eyedoctogenarian,leaningonhisstaff,\"makethebestofyouryouth。I,too,oncehadaFillide!Iwashandsomerthanyouthen!Alas!ifwecouldbealwaysyoung!\"
\"Alwaysyoung!\"Glyndonstarted,asheturnedhisgazefromthefresh,fair,rosyfaceofthegirl,andsawtheeyesdroppingrheum,theyellowwrinkledskin,thetotteringframeoftheoldman。
\"Ha,ha!\"saidthedecrepitcreature,hobblingneartohim,andwithamaliciouslaugh。\"YetI,too,wasyoungonce!Givemeabaiocchoforaglassofaquavitae!\"
Tara,rara,ra-rara,tara,rara-ra!TheredancesYouth!Wrapthyragsroundthee,andtotteroff,OldAge!
CHAPTER4。VI。
WhilestCalidoredoesfollowthatfairemayd,UnmindfulofhisvowandhighbeheastWhichbytheFaerieQueenewasonhimlayd。
Spenser,\"FaerieQueene,\"cant。x。s。1。
Itwasthatgrey,indistinct,strugglingintervalbetweenthenightandthedawn,whenClarencestoodoncemoreinhischamber。
Theabstrusecalculationslyingonhistablecaughthiseye,andfilledhimwithasentimentofwearinessanddistaste。But——
\"Alas,ifwecouldbealwaysyoung!Oh,thouhorridspectreoftheold,rheum-eyedman!Whatapparitioncanthemysticchambershadowforthmoreuglyandmorehatefulthanthou?Oh,yes,ifwecouldbealwaysyoung!Butnot[thinkstheneophytenow]——nottolabourforeveratthesecrabbedfiguresandthesecoldcompoundsofherbsanddrugs。No;buttoenjoy,tolove,torevel!Whatshouldbethecompanionofyouthbutpleasure?Andthegiftofeternalyouthmaybeminethisveryhour!WhatmeansthisprohibitionofMejnour\'s?Isitnotofthesamecomplexionashisungenerousreserveevenintheminutestsecretsofchemistry,orthenumbersofhisCabala?——compellingmetoperformallthetoils,andyetwithholdingfrommetheknowledgeofthecrowningresult?Nodoubthewillstill,onhisreturn,showmethatthegreatmysteryCANbeattained;butwillstillforbidMEtoattainit。Isitnotasifhedesiredtokeepmyyouththeslavetohisage;tomakemedependentsolelyonhimself;tobindmetoajourneyman\'sservicebyperpetualexcitementtocuriosity,andthesightofthefruitsheplacesbeyondmylips?\"These,andmanyreflectionsstillmorerepining,disturbedandirritatedhim。Heatedwithwine——excitedbythewildrevelshehadleft——hewasunabletosleep。TheimageofthatrevoltingOldAgewhichTime,unlessdefeated,mustbringuponhimself,quickenedtheeagernessofhisdesireforthedazzlingandimperishableYouthheascribedtoZanoni。Theprohibitiononlyservedtocreateaspiritofdefiance。Therevivingday,laughingjocundlythroughhislattice,dispelledallthefearsandsuperstitionsthatbelongtonight。Themysticchamberpresentedtohisimaginationnothingtodifferfromanyotherapartmentinthecastle。Whatfoulormalignantapparitioncouldharmhiminthelightofthatblessedsun!Itwasthepeculiar,andonthewholemostunhappy,contradictioninGlyndon\'snature,thatwhilehisreasoningsledhimtodoubt,——
anddoubtrenderedhiminMORALconductirresoluteandunsteady;
hewasPHYSICALLYbravetorashness。Noristhisuncommon:
scepticismandpresumptionareoftentwins。Whenamanofthischaracterdeterminesuponanyaction,personalfearneverdetershim;andforthemoralfear,anysophistrysufficestoself-will。
Almostwithoutanalysinghimselfthementalprocessbywhichhisnerveshardenedthemselvesandhislimbsmoved,hetraversedthecorridor,gainedMejnour\'sapartment,andopenedtheforbiddendoor。Allwasashehadbeenaccustomedtoseeit,savethatonatableinthecentreoftheroomlayopenalargevolume。Heapproached,andgazedonthecharactersonthepage;theywereinacipher,thestudyofwhichhadmadeapartofhislabours。
Withbutslightdifficultyheimaginedthatheinterpretedthemeaningofthefirstsentences,andthattheyranthus:——
\"Toquafftheinnerlife,istoseetheouterlife:toliveindefianceoftime,istoliveinthewhole。Hewhodiscoverstheelixirdiscoverswhatliesinspace;forthespiritthatvivifiestheframestrengthensthesenses。Thereisattractionintheelementaryprincipleoflight。InthelampsofRosicruciusthefireisthepureelementaryprinciple。Kindlethelampswhilethouopenstthevesselthatcontainstheelixir,andthelightattractstowardstheethosebeingswhoselifeisthatlight。
BewareofFear。FearisthedeadliestenemytoKnowledge。\"Herethecipherschangedtheircharacter,andbecameincomprehensible。