第14章
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  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!\"

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