ExtractsfromLetterIV。
Ihavereceivedthycommunication。What!isitso?Hasthypupildisappointedthee?Alas,poorpupil!But……
HerefollowcommentsonthosepassagesinGlyndon\'slifealreadyknowntothereader,orabouttobemadeso,withearnestadjurationstoMejnourtowatchyetoverthefateofhisscholar。……
ButIcherishthesamedesire,withawarmerheart。Mypupil!
howtheterrorsthatshallencompassthineordealwarnmefromthetask!OncemoreIwillseektheSonofLight……
Yes;Adon-Ai,longdeaftomycall,atlasthasdescendedtomyvision,andleftbehindhimthegloryofhispresenceintheshapeofHope。Oh,notimpossible,Viola,——notimpossible,thatweyetmaybeunited,soulwithsoul!
ExtractfromLetterV——Manymonthsafterthelast。
Mejnour,awakefromthineapathy,——rejoice!Anewsoulwillbeborntotheworld,——anewsoulthatshallcallmefather。Ah,iftheyforwhomexistalltheoccupationsandresourcesofhumanlife,——iftheycanthrillwithexquisiteemotionatthethoughtofhailingagaintheirownchildhoodinthefacesoftheirchildren;ifinthatbirththeyarebornoncemoreintotheholyInnocencewhichisthefirststateofexistence;iftheycanfeelthatonmandevolvesalmostanangel\'sduty,whenhehasalifetoguidefromthecradle,andasoultonurturefortheheaven,——
whattomemustbetherapturetowelcomeaninheritorofallthegiftswhichdoublethemselvesinbeingshared!Howsweetthepowertowatch,andtoguard,——toinstiltheknowledge,toaverttheevil,andtoguidebacktheriveroflifeinaricherandbroaderanddeeperstreamtotheparadisefromwhichitflows!
Andbesidethatriveroursoulsshallmeet,sweetmother。Ourchildshallsupplythesympathythatfailsasyet;andwhatshapeshallhauntthee,whatterrorshalldismay,whenthyinitiationisbesidethecradleofthychild!
CHAPTER4。XI。
TheythusbeguilethewayUntilltheblustringstormeisoverblowne,Whenweeningtoreturnewhencetheydidstray,Theycannotfindethatpathwhichfirstwasshowne,Butwandertoandfroinwaiesunknowne。
Spenser\'s\"FaerieQueene,\"booki。cantoi。st。x。
Yes,Viola,thouartanotherbeingthanwhen,bythethresholdofthyItalianhome,thoudidstfollowthydimfanciesthroughtheLandofShadow;orwhenthoudidstvainlyseektogivevoicetoanidealbeauty,ontheboardswhereillusioncounterfeitsearthandheavenforanhour,tillthewearysense,awaking,seesbutthetinselandthescene-shifter。Thyspiritreposesinitsownhappiness。Itswanderingshavefoundagoal。Inamomentthereoftendwellsthesenseofeternity;forwhenprofoundlyhappy,weknowthatitisimpossibletodie。WheneverthesoulFEELS
ITSELF,itfeelseverlastinglife。
Theinitiationisdeferred,——thydaysandnightsarelefttonoothervisionsthanthosewithwhichacontentedheartenchantsaguilelessfancy。GlendoveersandSylphs,pardonmeifIquestionwhetherthosevisionsarenotlovelierthanyourselves。
Theystandbythebeach,andseethesunsinkingintothesea。
Howlongnowhavetheydweltonthatisland?Whatmatters!——itmaybemonths,oryears——whatmatters!WhyshouldI,orthey,keepaccountofthathappytime?Asinthedreamofamomentagesmayseemtopass,soshallwemeasuretransportorwoe,——bythelengthofthedream,orthenumberofemotionsthatthedreaminvolves?
Thesunsinksslowlydown;theairisaridandoppressive;onthesea,thestatelyvesselliesmotionless;ontheshore,noleaftremblesonthetrees。
VioladrewnearertoZanoni。Apresentimentshecouldnotdefinemadeherheartbeatmorequickly;and,lookingintohisface,shewasstruckwithitsexpression:itwasanxious,abstracted,perturbed。\"Thisstillnessawesme,\"shewhispered。
Zanonididnotseemtohearher。Hemutteredtohimself,andhiseyesgazedroundrestlessly。Sheknewnotwhy,butthatgaze,whichseemedtopierceintospace,——thatmutteredvoiceinsomeforeignlanguage——reviveddimlyherearliersuperstitions。Shewasmorefearfulsincethehourwhensheknewthatshewastobeamother。Strangecrisisinthelifeofwoman,andinherlove!
Somethingyetunbornbeginsalreadytodivideherheartwiththatwhichhadbeenbeforeitsonlymonarch。
\"Lookonme,Zanoni,\"shesaid,pressinghishand。
Heturned:\"Thouartpale,Viola;thyhandtrembles!\"
\"Itistrue。Ifeelasifsomeenemywerecreepingnearus。\"
\"Andtheinstinctdeceivestheenot。Anenemyisindeedathand。
Iseeitthroughtheheavyair;Ihearitthroughthesilence:
theGhostlyOne,——theDestroyer,thePESTILENCE!Ah,seestthouhowtheleavesswarmwithinsects,onlybyaneffortvisibletotheeye。Theyfollowthebreathoftheplague!\"Ashespoke,abirdfellfromtheboughsatViola\'sfeet;itfluttered,itwrithedaninstant,andwasdead。
\"Oh,Viola!\"criedZanoni,passionately,\"thatisdeath。Dostthounotfeartodie?\"
\"Toleavethee?Ah,yes!\"
\"AndifIcouldteachtheehowDeathmaybedefied;ifIcouldarrestforthyyouththecourseoftime;ifIcould——\"
Hepausedabruptly,forViola\'seyesspokeonlyterror;hercheekandlipswerepale。
\"Speaknotthus,——looknotthus,\"shesaid,recoilingfromhim。
\"Youdismayme。Ah,speaknotthus,orIshouldtremble,——no,notformyself,butforthychild。\"
\"Thychild!Butwouldstthourejectforthychildthesamegloriousboon?\"
\"Zanoni!\"
\"Well!\"
\"Thesunhassunkfromoureyes,buttoriseonthoseofothers。
Todisappearfromthisworldistoliveintheworldafar。Oh,lover,——oh,husband!\"shecontinued,withsuddenenergy,\"tellmethatthoudidstbutjest,——thatthoudidstbuttriflewithmyfolly!Thereislessterrorinthepestilencethaninthywords。\"
Zanoni\'sbrowdarkened;helookedatherinsilenceforsomemoments,andthensaid,almostseverely,——
\"Whathastthouknownofmetodistrust?\"
\"Oh,pardon,pardon!——nothing!\"criedViola,throwingherselfonhisbreast,andburstingintotears。\"Iwillnotbelieveeventhineownwords,iftheyseemtowrongthee!\"Hekissedthetearsfromhereyes,butmadenoanswer。
\"Andah!\"sheresumed,withanenchantingandchild-likesmile,\"ifthouwouldstgivemeacharmagainstthepestilence!see,I
willtakeitfromthee。\"Andshelaidherhandonasmall,antiqueamuletthatheworeonhisbreast。
\"Thouknowesthowoftenthishasmademejealousofthepast;
surelysomelove-gift,Zanoni?Butno,thoudidstnotlovethegiverasthoudostme。ShallIstealthineamulet?\"
\"Infant!\"saidZanoni,tenderly;\"shewhoplacedthisroundmyneckdeemeditindeedacharm,forshehadsuperstitionslikethyself;buttomeitismorethanthewizard\'sspell,——itistherelicofasweetvanishedtimewhennonewholovedmecoulddistrust。\"
HesaidthesewordsinatoneofsuchmelancholyreproachthatitwenttotheheartofViola;butthetonechangedintoasolemnitywhichchilledbackthegushofherfeelingsasheresumed:\"Andthis,Viola,oneday,perhaps,Iwilltransferfrommybreasttothine;yes,wheneverthoushaltcomprehendmebetter,——WHENEVER
THELAWSOFOURBEINGSHALLBETHESAME!\"
Hemovedongently。Theyreturnedslowlyhome;butfearstillwasintheheartofViola,thoughshestrovetoshakeitoff。
ItalianandCatholicshewas,withallthesuperstitionsoflandandsect。ShestoletoherchamberandprayedbeforealittlerelicofSanGennaro,whichthepriestofherhousehadgiventoherinchildhood,andwhichhadaccompaniedherinallherwanderings。Shehadneverdeemeditpossibletopartwithitbefore。Now,iftherewasacharmagainstthepestilence,didshefearthepestilenceforherself?Thenextmorning,whenheawoke,Zanonifoundtherelicofthesaintsuspendedwithhismysticamuletroundhisneck。
\"Ah!thouwilthavenothingtofearfromthepestilencenow,\"
saidViola,betweentearsandsmiles;\"andwhenthouwouldsttalktomeagainasthoudidstlastnight,thesaintshallrebukethee。\"
Well,Zanoni,canthereeverindeedbecommuneofthoughtandspirit,exceptwithequals?
Yes,theplaguebrokeout,——theislandhomemustbeabandoned。
MightySeer,THOUHASTNOPOWERTOSAVETHOSEWHOMTHOULOVEST!
Farewell,thoubridalroof!——sweetresting-placefromcare,farewell!Climatesassoftmaygreetye,Olovers,——skiesasserene,andwatersasblueandcalm;butTHATTIME,——canitevermorereturn?Whoshallsaythattheheartdoesnotchangewiththescene,——theplacewherewefirstdweltwiththebelovedone?
EveryspotTHEREhassomanymemorieswhichtheplaceonlycanrecall。Thepastthathauntsitseemstocommandsuchconstancyinthefuture。Ifathoughtlesskind,lesstrustful,enterwithinus,thesightofatreeunderwhichavowhasbeenexchanged,atearhasbeenkissedaway,restoresusagaintothehoursofthefirstdivineillusion。Butinahomewherenothingspeaksofthefirstnuptials,wherethereisnoeloquenceofassociation,noholyburial-placesofemotions,whoseghostsareangels!——yes,whothathasgonethroughthesadhistoryofaffectionwilltellusthattheheartchangesnotwiththescene!
Blowfair,yefavouringwinds;cheerilyswell,yesails;awayfromthelandwheredeathhascometosnatchthesceptreofLove!
Theshoresglideby;newcoastssucceedtothegreenhillsandorange-grovesoftheBridalIsle。Fromafarnowgleaminthemoonlightthecolumns,yetextant,ofatemplewhichtheAtheniandedicatedtowisdom;and,standingonthebarkthatboundedoninthefresheninggale,thevotarywhohadsurvivedthegoddessmurmuredtohimself,——
\"Hasthewisdomofagesbroughtmenohappierhoursthanthosecommontotheshepherdandtheherdsman,withnoworldbeyondtheirvillage,noaspirationbeyondthekissandthesmileofhome?\"
Andthemoon,restingalikeovertheruinsofthetempleofthedepartedcreed,overthehutofthelivingpeasant,overtheimmemorialmountain-top,andtheperishableherbagethatclotheditssides,seemedtosmilebackitsanswerofcalmdisdaintothebeingwho,perchance,mighthaveseenthetemplebuilt,andwho,inhisinscrutableexistence,mightbeholdthemountainshatteredfromitsbase。
BOOKV。
THEEFFECTSOFTHEELIXIR。
CHAPTER5。I。
Frommet\'sdenSchleieraufzuheben,WodasnaheSchrecknessdroht?
NurdasIrrthumistdasLebenUnddasWissenistderTod,——Schiller,Kassandro。
DelusionisthelifeweliveAndknowledgedeath;ohwherefore,then,TosightthecomingevilsgiveAndlifttheveilofFatetoMan?
ZweiSeelenwohnen,ach!inmeinerBrust。
Twosoulsdwell,alas!inmybreast。……
Wasstehstduso,undblicksterstaunthinaus?
Whystandestthouso,andlookestoutastonished?
\"Faust。\"
ItwillberememberedthatweleftMasterPaolobythebedsideofGlyndon;andas,wakingfromthatprofoundslumber,therecollectionsofthepastnightcamehorriblybacktohismind,theEnglishmanutteredacry,andcoveredhisfacewithhishands。
\"Goodmorrow,Excellency!\"saidPaolo,gayly。\"CorpodiBacco,youhavesleptsoundly!\"
Thesoundofthisman\'svoice,solusty,ringing,andhealthful,servedtoscatterbeforeitthephantasmathatyethauntedGlyndon\'smemory。
Heroseerectinhisbed。\"Andwheredidyoufindme?Whyareyouhere?\"
\"WheredidIfindyou!\"repeatedPaolo,insurprise,——\"inyourbed,tobesure。WhyamIhere!——becausethePadronebademeawaityourwaking,andattendyourcommands。\"
\"ThePadrone,Mejnour!——ishearrived?\"
\"Arrivedanddeparted,signor。Hehasleftthisletterforyou。\"
\"Giveitme,andwaitwithouttillIamdressed。\"
\"Atyourservice。Ihavebespokeanexcellentbreakfast:youmustbehungry。Iamaverytolerablecook;amonk\'ssonoughttobe!Youwillbestartledatmygeniusinthedressingoffish。Mysinging,Itrust,willnotdisturbyou。IalwayssingwhileIprepareasalad;itharmonisestheingredients。\"Andslinginghiscarbineoverhisshoulder,Paolosaunteredfromtheroom,andclosedthedoor。
Glyndonwasalreadydeepinthecontentsofthefollowingletter:——
\"WhenIfirstreceivedtheeasmypupil,IpromisedZanoni,ifconvincedbythyfirsttrialsthatthoucouldstbutswell,notthenumberofourorder,butthelistofthevictimswhohaveaspiredtoitinvain,Iwouldnotreartheetothineownwretchednessanddoom,——Iwoulddismisstheebacktotheworld。
Ifulfilmypromise。Thineordealhasbeentheeasiestthatneophyteeverknew。Iaskedfornothingbutabstinencefromthesensual,andabriefexperimentofthypatienceandthyfaith。
Gobacktothineownworld;thouhastnonaturetoaspiretoours!
\"ItwasIwhopreparedPaolotoreceivetheeattherevel。ItwasIwhoinstigatedtheoldbeggartoasktheeforalms。ItwasIwholeftopenthebookthatthoucouldstnotreadwithoutviolatingmycommand。Well,thouhastseenwhatawaitstheeatthethresholdofknowledge。Thouhastconfrontedthefirstfoethatmenaceshimwhomthesensesyetgraspandinthrall。DostthouwonderthatIcloseupontheethegatesforever?Dostthounotcomprehend,atlast,thatitneedsasoultemperedandpurifiedandraised,notbyexternalspells,butbyitsownsublimityandvalour,topassthethresholdanddisdainthefoe?
Wretch!allmysilenceavailsnothingfortherash,forthesensual,——forhimwhodesiresoursecretsbuttopollutethemtogrossenjoymentsandselfishvice。Howhavetheimpostersandsorcerersoftheearliertimesperishedbytheirveryattempttopenetratethemysteriesthatshouldpurify,andnotdeprave!
TheyhaveboastedofthePhilosopher\'sStone,anddiedinrags;
oftheimmortalelixir,andsunktotheirgrave,greybeforetheirtime。Legendstellyouthatthefiendrentthemintofragments。Yes;thefiendoftheirownunholydesiresandcriminaldesigns!Whattheycoveted,thoucovetest;andifthouhadstthewingsofaseraphthoucouldstsoarnotfromthesloughofthymortality。Thydesireforknowledge,butpetulantpresumption;thythirstforhappiness,butthediseasedlongingfortheuncleanandmuddiedwatersofcorporealpleasure;thyverylove,whichusuallyelevateseventhemean,apassionthatcalculatestreasonamidstthefirstglowoflust。THOUoneofus;thouabrotheroftheAugustOrder;thouanAspiranttotheStarsthatshineintheShemaiaoftheChaldeanlore!Theeaglecanraisebuttheeaglettothesun。Iabandontheetothytwilight!
\"But,alasforthee,disobedientandprofane!thouhastinhaledtheelixir;thouhastattractedtothypresenceaghastlyandremorselessfoe。Thouthyselfmustexorcisethephantomthouhastraised。Thoumustreturntotheworld;butnotwithoutpunishmentandstrongeffortcanstthouregainthecalmandthejoyofthelifethouhastleftbehind。This,forthycomfort,willItellthee:hewhohasdrawnintohisframeevensolittleofthevolatileandvitalenergyoftheaerialjuicesasthyself,hasawakenedfacultiesthatcannotsleep,——facultiesthatmayyet,withpatienthumility,withsoundfaith,andthecouragethatisnotofthebodylikethine,butoftheresoluteandvirtuousmind,attain,ifnottotheknowledgethatreignsabove,tohighachievementinthecareerofmen。Thouwiltfindtherestlessinfluenceinallthatthouwouldstundertake。Thyheart,amidstvulgarjoyswillaspiretosomethingholier;thyambition,amidstcoarseexcitement,tosomethingbeyondthyreach。Butdeemnotthatthisofitselfwillsufficeforglory。
Equallymaythecravingleadtheetoshameandguilt。Itisbutanimperfectandnew-bornenergywhichwillnotsuffertheetorepose。Asthoudirectestit,mustthoubelieveittobetheemanationofthineevilgeniusorthygood。
\"Butwoetothee!insectmeshedinthewebinwhichthouhastentangledlimbsandwings!Thouhastnotonlyinhaledtheelixir,thouhastconjuredthespectre;ofallthetribesofthespace,nofoeissomalignanttoman,——andthouhastliftedtheveilfromthygaze。Icannotrestoretotheethehappydimnessofthyvision。Know,atleast,thatallofus——thehighestandthewisest——whohave,insobertruth,passedbeyondthethreshold,havehad,asourfirstfearfultask,tomasterandsubdueitsgrislyandappallingguardian。KnowthatthouCANST
deliverthyselffromthoselivideyes,——knowthat,whiletheyhaunt,theycannotharm,ifthouresistestthethoughtstowhichtheytempt,andthehorrortheyengender。DREADTHEMMOSTWHEN
THOUBEHOLDESTTHEMNOT。Andthus,sonoftheworm,wepart!
AllthatIcantelltheetoencourage,yettowarnandtoguide,Ihavetoldtheeintheselines。Notfromme,fromthyselfhascomethegloomytrialfromwhichIyettrustthouwiltemergeintopeace。TypeoftheknowledgethatIserve,Iwithholdnolessonfromthepureaspirant;Iamadarkenigmatothegeneralseeker。Asman\'sonlyindestructiblepossessionishismemory,soitisnotinminearttocrumbleintomattertheimmaterialthoughtsthathavesprungupwithinthybreast。Thetyromightshatterthiscastletothedust,andtoppledownthemountaintotheplain。Themasterhasnopowertosay,\'Existnomore,\'tooneTHOUGHTthathisknowledgehasinspired。Thoumaystchangethethoughtsintonewforms;thoumaystrarefyandsublimateitintoafinerspirit,——butthoucanstnotannihilatethatwhichhasnohomebutinthememory,nosubstancebuttheidea。EVERY
THOUGHTISASOUL!Vainly,therefore,wouldIorthouundothepast,orrestoretotheethegayblindnessofthyyouth。Thoumustenduretheinfluenceoftheelixirthouhastinhaled;thoumustwrestlewiththespectrethouhastinvoked!\"
TheletterfellfromGlyndon\'shand。Asortofstuporsucceededtothevariousemotionswhichhadchasedeachotherintheperusal,——astuporresemblingthatwhichfollowsthesuddendestructionofanyardentandlong-nursedhopeinthehumanheart,whetheritbeoflove,ofavarice,ofambition。Theloftierworldforwhichhehadsothirsted,sacrificed,andtoiled,wascloseduponhim\"forever,\"andbyhisownfaultsofrashnessandpresumption。ButGlyndon\'swasnotofthatnaturewhichsubmitslongtocondemnitself。HisindignationbegantokindleagainstMejnour,whoownedhehadtempted,andwhonowabandonedhim,——abandonedhimtothepresenceofaspectre。Themystic\'sreproachesstungratherthanhumbledhim。Whatcrimehadhecommittedtodeservelanguagesoharshanddisdainful?
WasitsodeepadebasementtofeelpleasureinthesmileandtheeyesofFillide?HadnotZanonihimselfconfessedloveforViola;hadhenotfledwithherashiscompanion?Glyndonneverpausedtoconsideriftherearenodistinctionsbetweenonekindofloveandanother。Where,too,wasthegreatoffenceofyieldingtoatemptationwhichonlyexistedforthebrave?HadnotthemysticvolumewhichMejnourhadpurposelyleftopen,bidhimbut\"Bewareoffear\"?Wasnot,then,everywilfulprovocativeheldouttothestrongestinfluencesofthehumanmind,intheprohibitiontoenterthechamber,inthepossessionofthekeywhichexcitedhiscuriosity,inthevolumewhichseemedtodictatethemodebywhichthecuriositywastobegratified?Asrapidlythesethoughtspassedoverhim,hebegantoconsiderthewholeconductofMejnoureitherasaperfidiousdesigntoentraphimtohisownmisery,orasthetrickofanimposter,whoknewthathecouldnotrealisethegreatprofessionshehadmade。OnglancingagainoverthemoremysteriousthreatsandwarningsinMejnour\'sletter,theyseemedtoassumethelanguageofmereparableandallegory,——thejargonofthePlatonistsandPythagoreans。Bylittleandlittle,hebegantoconsiderthattheveryspectrahehadseen——eventhatonephantomsohorridinitsaspect——werebutthedelusionswhichMejnour\'ssciencehadenablehimtoraise。Thehealthfulsunlight,fillingupeverycrannyinhischamber,seemedtolaughawaytheterrorsofthepastnight。Hisprideandhisresentmentnervedhishabitualcourage;andwhen,havinghastilydressedhimself,herejoinedPaolo,itwaswithaflushedcheekandahaughtystep。
\"So,Paolo,\"saidhe,\"thePadrone,asyoucallhim,toldyoutoexpectandwelcomemeatyourvillagefeast?\"
\"Hedidsobyamessagefromawretchedoldcripple。Thissurprisedmeatthetime,forIthoughthewasfardistant;butthesegreatphilosophersmakeajokeoftwoorthreehundredleagues。\"
\"WhydidyounottellmeyouhadheardfromMejnour?\"
\"Becausetheoldcrippleforbademe。\"
\"Didyounotseethemanafterwardsduringthedance?\"
\"No,Excellency。\"
\"Humph!\"
\"Allowmetoserveyou,\"saidPaolo,pilingGlyndon\'splate,andthenfillinghisglass。\"Iwish,signor,nowthePadroneisgone,——not,\"addedPaolo,ashecastratherafrightenedandsuspiciousglanceroundtheroom,\"thatImeantosayanythingdisrespectfulofhim,——Iwish,Isay,nowthatheisgone,thatyouwouldtakepityonyourself,andaskyourownheartwhatyouryouthwasmeantfor?Nottoburyyourselfaliveintheseoldruins,andendangerbodyandsoulbystudieswhichIamsurenosaintcouldapproveof。\"
\"Arethesaintssopartial,then,toyourownoccupations,MasterPaolo?\"
\"Why,\"answeredthebandit,alittleconfused,\"agentlemanwithplentyofpistolesinhispurseneednot,ofnecessity,makeithisprofessiontotakeawaythepistolesofotherpeople!Itisadifferentthingforuspoorrogues。Afterall,too,IalwaysdevoteatitheofmygainstotheVirgin;andIsharetherestcharitablywiththepoor。Buteat,drink,enjoyyourself;beabsolvedbyyourconfessorforanylittlepeccadilloesanddon\'truntoolongscoresatatime,——that\'smyadvice。Yourhealth,Excellency!Pshaw,signor,fasting,exceptonthedaysprescribedtoagoodCatholic,onlyengendersphantoms。\"
\"Phantoms!\"
\"Yes;thedevilalwaystemptstheemptystomach。Tocovet,tohate,tothieve,torob,andtomurder,——thesearethenaturaldesiresofamanwhoisfamishing。Withafullbelly,signor,weareatpeacewithalltheworld。That\'sright;youlikethepartridge!Cospetto!whenImyselfhavepassedtwoorthreedaysinthemountains,withnothingfromsunsettosunrisebutablackcrustandanonion,Igrowasfierceasawolf。That\'snottheworst,too。InthesetimesIseelittleimpsdancingbeforeme。
Oh,yes;fastingisasfullofspectresasafieldofbattle。\"
Glyndonthoughttherewassomesoundphilosophyinthereasoningofhiscompanion;andcertainlythemoreheateanddrank,themoretherecollectionofthepastnightandofMejnour\'sdesertionfadedfromhismind。Thecasementwasopen,thebreezeblew,thesunshone,——allNaturewasmerry;andmerryasNatureherselfgrewMaestroPaolo。Hetalkedofadventures,oftravel,ofwomen,withaheartygustothathaditsinfection。ButGlyndonlistenedyetmorecomplacentlywhenPaoloturnedwithanarchsmiletopraisesoftheeye,theteeth,theankles,andtheshapeofthehandsomeFillide。
Thisman,indeed,seemedtheverypersonationofanimalsensuallife。HewouldhavebeentoFaustamoredangeroustempterthanMephistopheles。TherewasnosneeronHISlipatthepleasureswhichanimatedhisvoice。Tooneawakingtoasenseofthevanitiesinknowledge,thisrecklessignorantjoyousnessoftemperwasaworsecorrupterthanalltheicymockeriesofalearnedFiend。ButwhenPaolotookhisleave,withapromisetoreturnthenextday,themindoftheEnglishmanagainsettledbacktoagraverandmorethoughtfulmood。Theelixirseemed,intruth,tohavelefttherefiningeffectsMejnourhadascribedtoit。AsGlyndonpacedtoandfrothesolitarycorridor,or,pausing,gazedupontheextendedandgloriousscenerythatstretchedbelow,highthoughtsofenterpriseandambition——brightvisionsofglory——passedinrapidsuccessionthroughhissoul。
\"Mejnourdeniesmehisscience。Well,\"saidthepainter,proudly,\"hehasnotrobbedmeofmyart。\"
What!ClarenceGlyndon,dostthoureturntothatfromwhichthycareercommenced?WasZanonirightafterall?
Hefoundhimselfinthechamberofthemystic;notavessel,——notanherb!thesolemnvolumeisvanished,——theelixirshallsparkleforhimnomore!Butstillintheroomitselfseemstolingertheatmosphereofacharm。Fasterandfierceritburnswithinthee,thedesiretoachieve,tocreate!Thoulongestforalifebeyondthesensual!——butthelifethatispermittedtoallgenius,——thatwhichbreathesthroughtheimmortalwork,andenduresintheimperishablename。
Wherearetheimplementsforthineart?Tush!——whendidthetrueworkmaneverfailtofindhistools?Thouartagaininthineownchamber,——thewhitewallthycanvas,afragmentofcharcoalforthypencil。Theysuffice,atleast,togiveoutlinetotheconceptionthatmayotherwisevanishwiththemorrow。
Theideathatthusexcitedtheimaginationoftheartistwasunquestionablynobleandaugust。ItwasderivedfromthatEgyptianceremonialwhichDiodorushasrecorded,——theJudgmentoftheDeadbytheLivingDiod。,lib。i。:whenthecorpse,dulyembalmed,isplacedbythemarginoftheAcherusianLake;andbeforeitmaybeconsignedtothebarkwhichistobearitacrossthewaterstoitsfinalresting-place,itispermittedtotheappointedjudgestohearallaccusationsofthepastlifeofthedeceased,and,ifproved,todeprivethecorpseoftheritesofsepulture。
Unconsciouslytohimself,itwasMejnour\'sdescriptionofthiscustom,whichhehadillustratedbyseveralanecdotesnottobefoundinbooks,thatnowsuggestedthedesigntotheartist,andgaveitrealityandforce。Hesupposedapowerfulandguiltykingwhominlifescarceawhisperhaddaredtoarraign,butagainstwhom,nowthebreathwasgone,cametheslavefromhisfetters,themutilatedvictimfromhisdungeon,lividandsqualidasifdeadthemselves,invokingwithparchedlipsthejusticethatoutlivesthegrave。
Strangefervourthis,Oartist!breakingsuddenlyforthfromthemistsanddarknesswhichtheoccultsciencehadspreadsolongoverthyfancies,——strangethatthereactionofthenight\'sterrorandtheday\'sdisappointmentshouldbebacktothineholyart!Oh,howfreelygoestheboldhandoverthelargeoutline!
How,despitethoserudematerials,speaksforthnomorethepupil,butthemaster!Freshyetfromthegloriouselixir,howthougivesttothycreaturesthefinerlifedeniedtothyself!——
somepowernotthineownwritesthegrandsymbolsonthewall。
Behindrisesthemightysepulchre,onthebuildingofwhichreposetothedeadthelivesofthousandshadbeenconsumed。
Theresitinasemicirclethesolemnjudges。Blackandsluggishflowsthelake。Thereliesthemummiedandroyaldead。Dostthouquailatthefrownonhislifelikebrow?Ha!——bravelydone,Oartist!——uprisethehaggardforms!——palespeaktheghastlyfaces!ShallnotHumanityafterdeathavengeitselfonPower?
Thyconception,ClarenceGlyndon,isasublimetruth;thydesignpromisesrenowntogenius。Betterthismagicthanthecharmsofthevolumeandthevessel。Hourafterhourhasgone;thouhastlightedthelamp;nightseestheeyetatthylabour。MercifulHeaven!whatchillstheatmosphere;whydoesthelampgrowwan;
whydoesthyhairbristle?There!——there!——there!atthecasement!Itgazesonthee,thedark,mantled,loathsomething!
There,withtheirdevilishmockeryandhatefulcraft,glareontheethosehorrideyes!
Hestoodandgazed,——itwasnodelusion。Itspokenot,movednot,till,unabletobearlongerthatsteadyandburninglook,hecoveredhisfacewithhishands。Withastart,withathrill,heremovedthem;hefeltthenearerpresenceofthenameless。Thereitcoweredonthefloorbesidehisdesign;andlo!thefiguresseemedtostartfromthewall!Thosepaleaccusingfigures,theshapeshehimselfhadraised,frownedathim,andgibbered。Withaviolenteffortthatconvulsedhiswholebeing,andbathedhisbodyinthesweatofagony,theyoungmanmasteredhishorror。
Hestrodetowardsthephantom;heendureditseyes;heaccosteditwithasteadyvoice;hedemandeditspurposeanddefieditspower。
Andthen,asawindfromacharnel,washearditsvoice。Whatitsaid,whatrevealed,itisforbiddenthelipstorepeat,thehandtorecord。Nothingsavethesubtlelifethatyetanimatedtheframetowhichtheinhalationsoftheelixirhadgivenvigourandenergybeyondthestrengthofthestrongest,couldhavesurvivedthatawfulhour。Bettertowakeinthecatacombsandseetheburiedrisefromtheircerements,andheartheghouls,intheirhorridorgies,amongstthefesteringghastlinessofcorruption,thantofrontthosefeatureswhentheveilwaslifted,andlistentothatwhisperedvoice!……
ThenextdayGlyndonfledfromtheruinedcastle。Withwhathopesofstarrylighthadhecrossedthethreshold;withwhatmemoriestoshudderevermoreatthedarknessdidhelookbackatthefrownofitstime-worntowers!
CHAPTER5。II。
Faust:Wohinsollesnungehm?
Mephist:WohinesDirgefallt。
Wirsehndiekleine,danndiegrosseWelt。
\"Faust。\"
Faust:Whithergonow!
Mephist:Whitheritpleasesthee。
Weseethesmallworld,thenthegreat。
Drawyourchairtothefireside,brushcleanthehearth,andtrimthelights。Oh,homeofsleekness,order,substance,comfort!
Oh,excellentthingartthou,MatterofFact!
Itissometimeafterthedateofthelastchapter。Hereweare,notinmoonlitislandsormoulderingcastles,butinaroomtwenty-sixfeetbytwenty-two,——wellcarpeted,wellcushioned,solidarm-chairsandeightsuchbadpictures,insuchfineframes,uponthewalls!ThomasMervale,Esq。,merchant,ofLondon,youareanenviabledog!
ItwastheeasiestthingintheworldforMervale,onreturningfromhisContinentalepisodeoflife,tosettledowntohisdesk,——hishearthadbeenalwaysthere。Thedeathofhisfathergavehim,asabirthright,ahighpositioninarespectablethoughsecond-ratefirm。Tomakethisestablishmentfirst-ratewasanhonourableambition,——itwashis!Hehadlatelymarried,notentirelyformoney,——no!hewasworldlyratherthanmercenary。Hehadnoromanticideasoflove;buthewastoosensibleamannottoknowthatawifeshouldbeacompanion,——
notmerelyaspeculation。Hedidnotcareforbeautyandgenius,buthelikedhealthandgoodtemper,andacertainproportionofusefulunderstanding。Hechoseawifefromhisreason,nothisheart,andaverygoodchoicehemade。Mrs。Mervalewasanexcellentyoungwoman,——bustling,managing,economical,butaffectionateandgood。Shehadawillofherown,butwasnoshrew。Shehadagreatnotionoftherightsofawife,andastrongperceptionofthequalitiesthatinsurecomfort。Shewouldneverhaveforgivenherhusband,hadshefoundhimguiltyofthemostpassingfancyforanother;but,inreturn,shehadthemostadmirablesenseofproprietyherself。Sheheldinabhorrencealllevity,allflirtation,allcoquetry,——smallviceswhichoftenruindomestichappiness,butwhichagiddynatureincurswithoutconsideration。Butshedidnotthinkitrighttoloveahusbandovermuch。Sheleftasurplusofaffection,forallherrelations,allherfriends,someofheracquaintances,andthepossibilityofasecondmarriage,shouldanyaccidenthappentoMr。M。Shekeptagoodtable,foritsuitedtheirstation;andhertemperwasconsideredeven,thoughfirm;butshecouldsayasharpthingortwo,ifMr。Mervalewasnotpunctualtoamoment。Shewasveryparticularthatheshouldchangehisshoesoncominghome,——thecarpetswerenewandexpensive。Shewasnotsulky,norpassionate,——Heavenblessherforthat!——butwhendispleasedsheshowedit,administeredadignifiedrebuke,alludedtoherownvirtues,toherunclewhowasanadmiral,andtothethirtythousandpoundswhichshehadbroughttotheobjectofherchoice。ButasMr。Mervalewasagood-humouredman,ownedhisfaults,andsubscribedtoherexcellence,thedispleasurewassoonover。
Everyhouseholdhasitslittledisagreements,nonefewerthanthatofMr。andMrs。Mervale。Mrs。Mervale,withoutbeingimproperlyfondofdress,paiddueattentiontoit。Shewasneverseenoutofherchamberwithpapersinherhair,norinthatworstofdis-illusions,——amorningwrapper。Athalf-pasteighteverymorningMrs。Mervalewasdressedfortheday,——thatis,tillshere-dressedfordinner,——herstayswelllaced,hercapprim,hergowns,winterandsummer,ofathick,handsomesilk。Ladiesatthattimeworeveryshortwaists;sodidMrs。
Mervale。Hermorningornamentswereathick,goldchain,towhichwassuspendedagoldwatch,——noneofthosefragiledwarfsofmechanismthatlooksoprettyandgosoill,butahandsomerepeaterwhichchronicledFatherTimetoamoment;alsoamosaicbrooch;alsoaminiatureofheruncle,theadmiral,setinabracelet。Fortheeveningshehadtwohandsomesets,——necklace,earrings,andbraceletscomplete,——oneofamethysts,theothertopazes。Withthese,hercostumeforthemostpartwasagold-
colouredsatinandaturban,inwhichlastherpicturehadbeentaken。Mrs。Mervalehadanaquilinenose,goodteeth,fairhair,andlighteyelashes,ratherahighcomplexion,whatisgenerallycalledafinebust;fullcheeks;largeusefulfeetmadeforwalking;large,whitehandswithfilbertnails,onwhichnotaspeckofdusthad,eveninchildhood,everbeenknowntoalight。
Shelookedalittleolderthanshereallywas;butthatmightarisefromacertainairofdignityandtheaforesaidaquilinenose。Shegenerallyworeshortmittens。SheneverreadanypoetrybutGoldsmith\'sandCowper\'s。Shewasnotamusedbynovels,thoughshehadnoprejudiceagainstthem。Shelikedaplayandapantomime,withaslightsupperafterwards。Shedidnotlikeconcertsnoroperas。Atthebeginningofthewintersheselectedsomebooktoread,andsomepieceofworktocommence。
Thetwolastedhertillthespring,when,thoughshecontinuedtowork,sheleftoffreading。Herfavouritestudywashistory,whichshereadthroughthemediumofDr。Goldsmith。Herfavouriteauthorinthebelleslettreswas,ofcourse,Dr。
Johnson。Aworthierwoman,oronemorerespected,wasnottobefound,exceptinanepitaph!
Itwasanautumnnight。Mr。andMrs。Mervale,latelyreturnedfromanexcursiontoWeymouth,areinthedrawing-room,——\"thedamesatonthisside,themansatonthat。\"
\"Yes,Iassureyou,mydear,thatGlyndon,withallhiseccentricities,wasaveryengaging,amiablefellow。Youwouldcertainlyhavelikedhim,——allthewomendid。\"
\"MydearThomas,youwillforgivetheremark,——butthatexpressionofyours,\'alltheWOMEN\'——\"
\"Ibegyourpardon,——youareright。Imeanttosaythathewasageneralfavouritewithyourcharmingsex。\"
\"Iunderstand,——ratherafrivolouscharacter。\"
\"Frivolous!no,notexactly;alittleunsteady,——veryodd,butcertainlynotfrivolous;presumptuousandheadstrongincharacter,butmodestandshyinhismanners,rathertoomuchso,——justwhatyoulike。However,toreturn;IamseriouslyuneasyattheaccountsIhaveheardofhimto-day。Hehasbeenliving,itseems,averystrangeandirregularlife,travellingfromplacetoplace,andmusthavespentalreadyagreatdealofmoney。\"
\"Aproposofmoney,\"saidMrs。Mervale;\"Ifearwemustchangeourbutcher;heiscertainlyinleaguewiththecook。\"
\"Thatisapity;hisbeefisremarkablyfine。TheseLondonservantsareasbadastheCarbonari。But,asIwassaying,poorGlyndon——\"
Hereaknockwasheardatthedoor。\"Blessme,\"saidMrs。
Mervale,\"itispastten!Whocanthatpossiblybe?\"
\"Perhapsyouruncle,theadmiral,\"saidthehusband,withaslightpeevishnessinhisaccent。\"Hegenerallyfavoursusaboutthishour。\"
\"Ihope,mylove,thatnoneofmyrelationsareunwelcomevisitorsatyourhouse。Theadmiralisamostentertainingman,andhisfortuneisentirelyathisowndisposal。\"
\"NooneIrespectmore,\"saidMr。Mervale,withemphasis。
Theservantthrewopenthedoor,andannouncedMr。Glyndon。
\"Mr。Glyndon!——whatanextraordinary——\"exclaimedMrs。Mervale;
butbeforeshecouldconcludethesentence,Glyndonwasintheroom。
Thetwofriendsgreetedeachotherwithallthewarmthofearlyrecollectionandlongabsence。AnappropriateandproudpresentationtoMrs。Mervaleensued;andMrs。Mervale,withadignifiedsmile,andafurtiveglanceathisboots,badeherhusband\'sfriendwelcometoEngland。
GlyndonwasgreatlyalteredsinceMervalehadseenhimlast。
Thoughlessthantwoyearshadelapsedsincethen,hisfaircomplexionwasmorebronzedandmanly。Deeplinesofcare,orthought,ordissipation,hadreplacedthesmoothcontourofhappyyouth。Toamanneroncegentleandpolishedhadsucceededacertainrecklessnessofmien,tone,andbearing,whichbespokethehabitsofasocietythatcaredlittleforthecalmdecorumsofconventionalease。Stillakindofwildnobleness,notbeforeapparentinhim,characterisedhisaspect,andgavesomethingofdignitytothefreedomofhislanguageandgestures。
\"So,then,youaresettled,Mervale,——Ineednotaskyouifyouarehappy。Worth,sense,wealth,character,andsofairacompaniondeservehappiness,andcommandit。\"
\"Wouldyoulikesometea,Mr。Glyndon?\"askedMrs。Mervale,kindly。
\"Thankyou,——no。Iproposeamoreconvivialstimulustomyoldfriend。Wine,Mervale,——wine,eh!——orabowlofoldEnglishpunch。Yourwifewillexcuseus,——wewillmakeanightofit!\"
Mrs。Mervaledrewbackherchair,andtriednottolookaghast。
Glyndondidnotgivehisfriendtimetoreply。
\"SoatlastIaminEngland,\"hesaid,lookingroundtheroom,withaslightsneeronhislips;\"surelythissoberairmusthaveitsinfluence;surelyhereIshallbeliketherest。\"
\"Haveyoubeenill,Glyndon?\"
\"Ill,yes。Humph!youhaveafinehouse。Doesitcontainaspareroomforasolitarywanderer?\"
Mr。Mervaleglancedathiswife,andhiswifelookedsteadilyonthecarpet。\"Modestandshyinhismanners——rathertoomuchso!\"