\"AndIdarenotappointmyownhouse;tyrannymakesspiesofourverywalls。Buttheplacehereindesignatedissecure;\"andheslippedanaddressintothehandofhiscorrespondent。
\"To-night,then,atnine!MeanwhileIhaveotherbusiness。\"Themanpaused,hiscolourchanged,anditwaswithaneagerandpassionatevoicethatheresumed,——
\"Yourlastlettermentionedthiswealthyandmysteriousvisitor,——thisZanoni。HeisstillatVenice?\"
\"Iheardthathehadleftthismorning;buthiswifeisstillhere。\"
\"Hiswife!——thatiswell!\"
\"Whatknowyouofhim?Thinkyouthathewouldjoinus?Hiswealthwouldbe——\"
\"Hishouse,hisaddress,——quick!\"interruptedtheman。
\"ThePalazzodi——,ontheGrandCanal。\"
\"Ithankyou,——atninewemeet。\"
Themanhurriedonthroughthestreetfromwhichhehademerged;
and,passingbythehouseinwhichhehadtakenuphislodginghehadarrivedatVenicethenightbefore,awomanwhostoodbythedoorcaughthisarm。
\"Monsieur,\"shesaidinFrench,\"Ihavebeenwatchingforyourreturn。Doyouunderstandme?Iwillbraveall,riskall,togobackwithyoutoFrance,——tostand,throughlifeorindeath,bymyhusband\'sside!\"
\"Citoyenne,Ipromisedyourhusbandthat,ifsuchyourchoice,I
wouldhazardmyownsafetytoaidit。Butthinkagain!YourhusbandisoneofthefactionwhichRobespierre\'seyeshavealreadymarked;hecannotfly。AllFranceisbecomeaprisontothe\'suspect。\'Youdonotendangeryourselfbyreturn。Frankly,citoyenne,thefateyouwouldsharemaybetheguillotine。I
speakasyouknowbyhisletterasyourhusbandbademe。\"
\"Monsieur,Iwillreturnwithyou,\"saidthewoman,withasmileuponherpaleface。
\"AndyetyoudesertedyourhusbandinthefairsunshineoftheRevolution,toreturntohimamidstitsstormsandthunder,\"saidtheman,inatonehalfofwonder,halfrebuke。
\"Becausemyfather\'sdaysweredoomed;becausehehadnosafetybutinflighttoaforeignland;becausehewasoldandpenniless,andhadnonebutmetoworkforhim;becausemyhusbandwasnotthenindanger,andmyfatherwas!HEisdead——
dead!Myhusbandisindangernow。Thedaughter\'sdutiesarenomore,——thewife\'sreturn!\"
\"Beitso,citoyenne;onthethirdnightIdepart。Beforethenyoumayretractyourchoice。\"
\"Never!\"
Adarksmilepassedovertheman\'sface。
\"Oguillotine!\"hesaid,\"howmanyvirtueshastthoubroughttolight!Wellmaytheycallthee\'AHolyMother!\'Ogoryguillotine!\"
Hepassedonmutteringtohimself,hailedagondola,andwassoonamidstthecrowdedwatersoftheGrandCanal。
CHAPTER6。V。
Cequej\'ignoreEstplustristepeut-etreetplusaffreuxencore。
LaHarpe,\"LeComtedeWarwick,\"Act5,sc。1。
ThatwhichIknownotis,perhaps,moresadandfearfulstill。
Thecasementstoodopen,andViolawasseatedbyit。Beneathsparkledthebroadwatersinthecoldbutcloudlesssunlight;andtothatfairform,thathalf-avertedface,turnedtheeyesofmanyagallantcavalier,astheirgondolasglidedby。
Butatlast,inthecentreofthecanal,oneofthesedarkvesselshaltedmotionless,asamanfixedhisgazefromitslatticeuponthatstatelypalace。Hegavethewordtotherowers,——thevesselapproachedthemarge。Thestrangerquittedthegondola;hepassedupthebroadstairs;heenteredthepalace。Weepon,smilenomore,youngmother!——thelastpageisturned!
Anattendantenteredtheroom,andgavetoViolaacard,withthesewordsinEnglish,\"Viola,Imustseeyou!ClarenceGlyndon。\"
Oh,yes,howgladlyViolawouldseehim;howgladlyspeaktohimofherhappiness,ofZanoni!——howgladlyshowtohimherchild!
PoorClarence!shehadforgottenhimtillnow,asshehadallthefeverofherearlierlife,——itsdreams,itsvanities,itspoorexcitement,thelampsofthegaudytheatre,theapplauseofthenoisycrowd。
Heentered。Shestartedtobeholdhim,sochangedwerehisgloomybrow,hisresolute,carewornfeatures,fromthegracefulformandcarelesscountenanceoftheartist-lover。Hisdress,thoughnotmean,wasrude,neglected,anddisordered。Awild,desperate,half-savageairhadsupplantedthatingenuousmien,diffidentinitsgrace,earnestinitsdiffidence,whichhadoncecharacterisedtheyoungworshipperofArt,thedreamingaspirantaftersomestarrierlore。
\"Isityou?\"shesaidatlast。\"PoorClarence,howchanged!\"
\"Changed!\"hesaidabruptly,asheplacedhimselfbyherside。
\"AndwhomamItothank,butthefiends——thesorcerers——whohaveseizeduponthyexistence,asuponmine?Viola,hearme。AfewweekssincethenewsreachedmethatyouwereinVenice。Underotherpretences,andthroughinnumerabledangers,Ihavecomehither,riskingliberty,perhapslife,ifmynameandcareerareknowninVenice,towarnandsaveyou。Changed,youcallme!——
changedwithout;butwhatisthattotheravageswithin?Bewarned,bewarnedintime!\"
ThevoiceofGlyndon,soundinghollowandsepulchral,alarmedViolaevenmorethanhiswords。Pale,haggard,emaciated,heseemedalmostasonerisenfromthedead,toappallandaweher。
\"What,\"shesaid,atlast,inafalteringvoice,——\"whatwildwordsdoyouutter!Canyou——\"
\"Listen!\"interruptedGlyndon,layinghishanduponherarm,anditstouchwasascoldasdeath,——\"listen!Youhaveheardoftheoldstoriesofmenwhohaveleaguedthemselveswithdevilsfortheattainmentofpreternaturalpowers。Thosestoriesarenotfables。Suchmenlive。Theirdelightistoincreasetheunhallowedcircleofwretcheslikethemselves。Iftheirproselytesfailintheordeal,thedemonseizesthem,eveninthislife,asithathseizedme!——iftheysucceed,woe,yea,amorelastingwoe!Thereisanotherlife,wherenospellscancharmtheevilone,orallaythetorture。Ihavecomefromascenewherebloodflowsinrivers,——whereDeathstandsbythesideofthebravestandthehighest,andtheonemonarchistheGuillotine;butallthemortalperilswithwhichmencanbebeset,arenothingtothedrearinessofthechamberwheretheHorrorthatpassesdeathmovesandstirs!\"
ItwasthenthatGlyndon,withacoldanddistinctprecision,detailed,ashehaddonetoAdela,theinitiationthroughwhichhehadgone。Hedescribed,inwordsthatfrozethebloodofhislistener,theappearanceofthatformlessphantom,withtheeyesthatsearedthebrainandcongealedthemarrowofthosewhobeheld。Onceseen,itneverwastobeexorcised。Itcameatitsownwill,promptingblackthoughts,——whisperingstrangetemptations。Onlyinscenesofturbulentexcitementwasitabsent!Solitude,serenity,thestrugglingdesiresafterpeaceandvirtue,——THESEweretheelementsitlovedtohaunt!
Bewildered,terror-stricken,thewildaccountconfirmedbythedimimpressionsthatnever,inthedepthandconfidenceofaffection,hadbeencloselyexamined,butratherbanishedassoonasfelt,——thatthelifeandattributesofZanoniwerenotlikethoseofmortals,——impressionswhichherownlovehadmadeherhithertocensureassuspicionsthatwronged,andwhich,thusmitigated,hadperhapsonlyservedtorivetthefascinatedchainsinwhichheboundherheartandsenses,butwhichnow,asGlyndon\'sawfulnarrativefilledherwithcontagiousdread,halfunboundtheveryspellstheyhadwovenbefore,——Violastartedupinfear,notforHERSELF,andclaspedherchildinherarms!
\"Unhappiestone!\"criedGlyndon,shuddering,\"hastthouindeedgivenbirthtoavictimthoucanstnotsave?Refuseitsustenance,——letitlooktotheeinvainforfood!Inthegrave,atleast,therearereposeandpeace!\"
ThentherecamebacktoViola\'smindtheremembranceofZanoni\'snight-longwatchesbythatcradle,andthefearwhicheventhenhadcreptoverherassheheardhismurmuredhalf-chantedwords。
Andasthechildlookedatherwithitsclear,steadfasteye,inthestrangeintelligenceofthatlooktherewassomethingthatonlyconfirmedherawe。SotherebothMotherandForewarnerstoodinsilence,——thesunsmilinguponthemthroughthecasement,anddarkbythecradle,thoughtheysawitnot,satthemotionless,veiledThing!
Butbydegreesbetterandjusterandmoregratefulmemoriesofthepastreturnedtotheyoungmother。Thefeaturesoftheinfant,asshegazed,tooktheaspectoftheabsentfather。A
voiceseemedtobreakfromthoserosylips,andsay,mournfully,\"Ispeaktotheeinthychild。Inreturnforallmylovefortheeandthine,dostthoudistrustme,atthefirstsentenceofamaniacwhoaccuses?\"
Herbreastheaved,herstaturerose,hereyesshonewithasereneandholylight。
\"Go,poorvictimofthineowndelusions,\"shesaidtoGlyndon;\"I
wouldnotbelievemineownsenses,iftheyaccusedITSfather!
AndwhatknowestthouofZanoni?WhatrelationhaveMejnourandthegrislyspectresheinvoked,withtheradiantimagewithwhichthouwouldstconnectthem?\"
\"Thouwiltlearntoosoon,\"repliedGlyndon,gloomily。\"Andtheveryphantomthathauntsme,whispers,withitsbloodlesslips,thatitshorrorsawaitboththineandthee!Itakenotthydecisionyet;beforeIleaveVeniceweshallmeetagain。\"
Hesaid,anddeparted。
CHAPTER6。VI。
Quelestl\'egarementoutonameselivre?
LaHarpe,\"LeComtedeWarwick,\"Act4,sc。4。
Towhatdelusiondoesthysoulabandonitself?
Alas,Zanoni!theaspirer,thedark,brightone!——didstthouthinkthatthebondbetweenthesurvivorofagesandthedaughterofadaycouldendure?Didstthounotforeseethat,untiltheordealwaspast,therecouldbenoequalitybetweenthywisdomandherlove?Artthouabsentnowseekingamidstthysolemnsecretsthesolemnsafeguardsforchildandmother,andforgettestthouthatthephantomthatservedtheehathpoweroveritsowngifts,——overthelivesittaughttheetorescuefromthegrave?DostthounotknowthatFearandDistrust,oncesownintheheartofLove,springupfromtheseedintoaforestthatexcludesthestars?Dark,brightone!thehatefuleyesglarebesidethemotherandthechild!
AllthatdayViolawasdistractedbyathousandthoughtsandterrors,whichfledassheexaminedthemtosettlebackthedarklier。Sherememberedthat,asshehadoncesaidtoGlyndon,herverychildhoodhadbeenhauntedwithstrangeforebodings,thatshewasordainedforsomepreternaturaldoom。Sherememberedthat,asshehadtoldhimthis,sittingbytheseasthatslumberedinthearmsoftheBayofNaples,he,too,hadacknowledgedthesameforebodings,andamysterioussympathyhadappearedtounitetheirfates。Sheremembered,aboveall,that,comparingtheirentangledthoughts,bothhadthensaid,thatwiththefirstsightofZanonitheforeboding,theinstinct,hadspokentotheirheartsmoreaudiblythanbefore,whisperingthat\"withHIMwasconnectedthesecretoftheunconjecturedlife。\"
Andnow,whenGlyndonandViolametagain,thehauntingfearsofchildhood,thusreferredto,wokefromtheirenchantedsleep。
WithGlyndon\'sterrorshefeltasympathy,againstwhichherreasonandherlovestruggledinvain。Andstill,whensheturnedherlooksuponherchild,itwatchedherwiththatsteady,earnesteye,anditslipsmovedasifitsoughttospeaktoher,——butnosoundcame。Theinfantrefusedtosleep。Whenevershegazeduponitsface,stillthosewakeful,watchfuleyes!——andintheirearnestness,therespokesomethingofpain,ofupbraiding,ofaccusation。Theychilledherasshelooked。Unabletoendure,ofherself,thissuddenandcompleterevulsionofallthefeelingswhichhadhithertomadeupherlife,sheformedtheresolutionnaturaltoherlandandcreed;shesentforthepriestwhohadhabituallyattendedheratVenice,andtohimsheconfessed,withpassionatesobsandintenseterror,thedoubtsthathadbrokenuponher。Thegoodfather,aworthyandpiousman,butwithlittleeducationandlesssense,onewhoheldasmanyofthelowerItaliansdotothisdayevenapoettobeasortofsorcerer,seemedtoshutthegatesofhopeuponherheart。Hisremonstranceswereurgent,forhishorrorwasunfeigned。HejoinedwithGlyndoninimploringhertofly,ifshefeltthesmallestdoubtthatherhusband\'spursuitswereofthenaturewhichtheRomanChurchhadbenevolentlyburnedsomanyscholarsforadopting。AndeventhelittlethatViolacouldcommunicateseemed,totheignorantascetic,irrefragableproofofsorceryandwitchcraft;hehad,indeed,previouslyheardsomeofthestrangerumourswhichfollowedthepathofZanoni,andwasthereforepreparedtobelievetheworst;theworthyBartolomeowouldhavemadenobonesofsendingWatttothestake,hadheheardhimspeakofthesteam-engine。ButViola,asuntutoredashimself,wasterrifiedbyhisroughandvehementeloquence,——
terrified,forbythatpenetrationwhichCatholicpriests,howeverdull,generallyacquire,intheirvastexperienceofthehumanhearthourlyexposedtotheirprobe,Bartolomeospokelessofdangertoherselfthantoherchild。\"Sorcerers,\"saidhe,\"haveeversoughtthemosttodecoyandseducethesoulsoftheyoung,——nay,theinfant;\"andtherewithheenteredintoalongcatalogueoflegendaryfables,whichhequotedashistoricalfacts。AllatwhichanEnglishwomanwouldhavesmiled,appalledthetenderbutsuperstitiousNeapolitan;andwhenthepriestlefther,withsolemnrebukesandgraveaccusationsofaderelictionofherdutiestoherchild,ifshehesitatedtoflywithitfromanabodepollutedbythedarkerpowersandunhallowedarts,Viola,stillclingingtotheimageofZanoni,sankintoapassivelethargywhichheldherveryreasoninsuspense。
Thehourspassed:nightcameon;thehousewashushed;andViola,slowlyawakenedfromthenumbnessandtorporwhichhadusurpedherfaculties,tossedtoandfroonhercouch,restlessandperturbed。Thestillnessbecameintolerable;yetmoreintolerablethesoundthatalonebrokeit,thevoiceoftheclock,knellingmomentaftermomenttoitsgrave。Themoments,atlast,seemedthemselvestofindvoice,——togainshape。Shethoughtshebeheldthemspringing,wanandfairy-like,fromthewombofdarkness;anderetheyfellagain,extinguished,intothatwomb,theirgrave,theirlowsmallvoicesmurmured,\"Woman,wereporttoeternityallthatisdoneintime!Whatshallwereportofthee,Oguardianofanew-bornsoul?\"Shebecamesensiblethatherfancieshadbroughtasortofpartialdelirium,thatshewasinastatebetweensleepandwaking,whensuddenlyonethoughtbecamemorepredominantthantherest。Thechamberwhich,inthatandeveryhousetheyhadinhabited,eventhatintheGreekisles,Zanonihadsetaparttoasolitudeonwhichnonemightintrude,thethresholdofwhichevenViola\'sstepwasforbidtocross,andnever,hitherto,inthatsweetreposeofconfidencewhichbelongstocontentedlove,hadsheevenfeltthecuriousdesiretodisobey,——now,thatchamberdrewhertowardsit。PerhapsTHEREmightbefoundasomewhattosolvetheriddle,todispelorconfirmthedoubt:thatthoughtgrewanddeepenedinitsintenseness;itfastenedonheraswithapalpableandirresistiblegrasp;itseemedtoraiseherlimbswithoutherwill。
Andnow,throughthechamber,alongthegalleriesthouglidest,O
lovelyshape!sleep-walking,yetawake。Themoonshinesontheeasthouglidestby,casementaftercasement,white-robedandwanderingspirit!——thinearmscrosseduponthybosom,thineeyesfixedandopen,withacalmunfearingawe。Mother,itisthychildthatleadstheeon!Thefairymomentsgobeforethee;thouheareststilltheclock-knelltollingthemtotheirgravesbehind。On,glidingon,thouhastgainedthedoor;nolockbarsthee,nomagicspelldrivestheeback。Daughterofthedust,thoustandestalonewithnightinthechamberwhere,paleandnumberless,thehostsofspacehavegatheredroundtheseer!
CHAPTER6。VII。
DesErdenlebensSchweresTraumbildsinkt,undsinkt,undsinkt。
\"DasIdealunddasLebens。\"
TheDreamShapeoftheheavyearthlylifesinks,andsinks,andsinks。
Shestoodwithinthechamber,andgazedaroundher;nosignsbywhichaninquisitorofoldcouldhavedetectedthescholaroftheBlackArtwerevisible。Nocruciblesandcaldrons,nobrass-
boundvolumesandcipheredgirdles,noskullsandcross-bones。
Quietlystreamedthebroadmoonlightthroughthedesolatechamberwithitsbare,whitewalls。Afewbunchesofwitheredherbs,afewantiquevesselsofbronze,placedcarelesslyonawoodenform,wereallwhichthatcuriousgazecouldidentifywiththepursuitsoftheabsentowner。Themagic,ifitexisted,dweltintheartificer,andthematerials,tootherhands,werebutherbsandbronze。Soisiteverwiththyworksandwonders,OGenius,——SeekeroftheStars!Wordsthemselvesarethecommonpropertyofallmen;yet,fromwordsthemselves,ThouArchitectofImmortalities,pilestuptemplesthatshalloutlivethePyramids,andtheveryleafofthePapyrusbecomesaShinar,statelywithtowers,roundwhichtheDelugeofAges,shallroarinvain!
ButinthatsolitudehasthePresencethattherehadinvokeditswondersleftnoenchantmentofitsown?Itseemedso;forasViolastoodinthechamber,shebecamesensiblethatsomemysteriouschangewasatworkwithinherself。Herbloodcoursedrapidly,andwithasensationofdelight,throughherveins,——shefeltasifchainswerefallingfromherlimbs,asifcloudaftercloudwasrollingfromhergaze。AlltheconfusedthoughtswhichhadmovedthroughhertrancesettledandcentredthemselvesinoneintensedesiretoseetheAbsentOne,——tobewithhim。Themonadsthatmakeupspaceandairseemedchargedwithaspiritualattraction,——tobecomeamediumthroughwhichherspiritcouldpassfromitsclay,andconferwiththespirittowhichtheunutterabledesirecompelledit。Afaintnessseizedher;shetotteredtotheseatonwhichthevesselsandherbswereplaced,and,asshebentdown,shesawinoneofthevesselsasmallvaseofcrystal。Byamechanicalandinvoluntaryimpulse,herhandseizedthevase;sheopenedit,andthevolatileessenceitcontainedsparkledup,andspreadthroughtheroomapowerfulanddeliciousfragrance。Sheinhaledtheodour,shelavedhertempleswiththeliquid,andsuddenlyherlifeseemedtospringupfromthepreviousfaintness,——tospring,tosoar,tofloat,todilateuponthewingsofabird。Theroomvanishedfromhereyes。Away,away,overlandsandseasandspaceontherushingdesirefliesthedisprisonedmind!
Uponastratum,notofthisworld,stoodtheworld-bornshapesofthesonsofScience,uponanembryoworld,uponacrude,wan,attenuatedmassofmatter,oneoftheNebulae,whichthesunsofthemyriadsystemsthrowoffastheyrollroundtheCreator\'sthrone*,tobecomethemselvesnewworldsofsymmetryandglory,——
planetsandsunsthatforeverandforevershallintheirturnmultiplytheirshiningrace,andbethefathersofsunsandplanetsyettocome。
*\"Astronomyinstructsusthat,intheoriginalconditionofthesolarsystem,thesunwasthenucleusofanebulosityorluminousmasswhichrevolvedonitsaxis,andextendedfarbeyondtheorbitsofalltheplanets,——theplanetsasyethavingnoexistence。Itstemperaturegraduallydiminished,and,becomingcontractedbycooling,therotationincreasedinrapidity,andzonesofnebulosityweresuccessivelythrownoff,inconsequenceofthecentrifugalforceoverpoweringthecentralattraction。
Thecondensationoftheseseparatemassesconstitutedtheplanetsandsatellites。Butthisviewoftheconversionofgaseousmatterintoplanetarybodiesisnotlimitedtoourownsystem;itextendstotheformationoftheinnumerablesunsandworldswhicharedistributedthroughouttheuniverse。Thesublimediscoveriesofmodernastronomershaveshownthateverypartoftherealmsofspaceaboundsinlargeexpansionsofattenuatedmattertermednebulae,whichareirregularlyreflectiveoflight,ofvariousfigures,andindifferentstatesofcondensation,fromthatofadiffused,luminousmasstosunsandplanetslikeourown。\"——FromMantell\'seloquentanddelightfulwork,entitled\"TheWondersofGeology,\"volumei。page22。
There,inthatenormoussolitudeofaninfantworld,whichthousandsandthousandsofyearscanaloneripenintoform,thespiritofViolabeheldtheshapeofZanoni,orratherthelikeness,thesimulacrun,theLEMURofhisshape,notitshumanandcorporealsubstance,——asif,likehers,theIntelligencewaspartedfromtheClay,——andasthesun,whileitrevolvesandglows,hadcastoffintoremotestspacethatnebularimageofitself,sothethingofearth,intheactionofitsmoreluminousandenduringbeing,hadthrownitslikenessintothatnew-bornstrangeroftheheavens。Therestoodthephantom,——aphantomMejnour,byitsside。Inthegiganticchaosaroundravedandstruggledthekindlingelements;waterandfire,darknessandlight,atwar,——vapourandcloudhardeningintomountains,andtheBreathofLifemovinglikeasteadfastsplendouroverall。
Asthedreamerlooked,andshivered,shebeheldthateventherethetwophantomsofhumanitywerenotalone。Dimmonster-formsthatthatdisorderedchaosalonecouldengender,thefirstreptileColossalracethatwreatheandcrawlthroughtheearlieststratumofaworldlabouringintolife,coiledintheoozingmatterorhoveredthroughthemeteorousvapours。Butthesethetwoseekersseemednottoheed;theirgazewasfixedintentuponanobjectinthefarthestspace。Withtheeyesofthespirit,Violafollowedtheirs;withaterrorfargreaterthanthechaosanditshideousinhabitantsproduced,shebeheldashadowylikenessoftheveryroominwhichherformyetdwelt,itswhitewalls,themoonshinesleepingonitsfloor,itsopencasement,withthequietroofsanddomesofVeniceloomingovertheseathatsighedbelow,——andinthatroomtheghost-likeimageofherself!Thisdoublephantom——hereherselfaphantom,gazingthereuponaphantom-self——hadinitahorrorwhichnowordscantell,nolengthoflifeforego。
Butpresentlyshesawthisimageofherselfriseslowly,leavetheroomwithitsnoiselessfeet:itpassesthecorridor,itkneelsbyacradle!HeavenofHeaven!Shebeholdsherchild!——
stillwithitswondrous,child-likebeautyanditssilent,wakefuleyes。Butbesidethatcradletheresitscoweringamantled,shadowyform,——themorefearfulandghastlyfromitsindistinctandunsubstantialgloom。Thewallsofthatchamberseemtoopenasthesceneofatheatre。Agrimdungeon;streetsthroughwhichpourshadowycrowds;wrathandhatred,andtheaspectofdemonsintheirghastlyvisages;aplaceofdeath;amurderousinstrument;ashamble-houseofhumanflesh;herself;
herchild;——all,all,rapidphantasmagoria,chasedeachother。
Suddenlythephantom-Zanoniturned,itseemedtoperceiveherself,——hersecondself。Itsprangtowardsher;herspiritcouldbearnomore。Sheshrieked,shewoke。Shefoundthatintruthshehadleftthatdismalchamber;thecradlewasbeforeher,thechild!all——allasthattrancehadseenit;and,vanishingintoair,eventhatdark,formlessThing!
\"Mychild!mychild!thymothershallsavetheeyet!\"
CHAPTER6。VIII。
Qui?Toim\'abandonner!Ouvas-tu?Non!demeure,Demeure!
LaHarpe,\"LeComtedeWarwick,\"Act3,sc。5。
Who?THOUabandonme!——wheregoestthou?No!stay,stay!
LetterfromViolatoZanoni。
\"Ithascometothis!——Iamthefirsttopart!I,theunfaithfulone,bidtheefarewellforever。Whenthineeyesfalluponthiswritingthouwiltknowmeasoneofthedead。Forthouthatwert,andstillartmylife,——Iamlosttothee!Olover!O
husband!Ostillworshippedandadored!ifthouhasteverlovedme,ifthoucanststillpity,seeknottodiscoverthestepsthatflythee。Ifthycharmscandetectandtractme,spareme,spareourchild!Zanoni,Iwillrearittolovethee,tocalltheefather!Zanoni,itsyounglipsshallprayforthee!Ah,sparethychild,forinfantsarethesaintsofearth,andtheirmediationmaybeheardonhigh!ShallItelltheewhyIpart?
No;thou,thewisely-terrible,canstdivinewhatthehandtremblestorecord;andwhileIshudderatthypower,——whileitisthypowerIflyourchilduponmybosom,——itcomfortsmestilltothinkthatthypowercanreadtheheart!Thouknowestthatitisthefaithfulmotherthatwritestothee,itisnotthefaithlesswife!Istheresininthyknowledge,Zanoni?Sinmusthavesorrow:anditweresweet——oh,howsweet——tobethycomforter。Butthechild,theinfant,thesoulthatlookstomineforitsshield!——magician,Iwrestfromtheethatsoul!
Pardon,pardon,ifmywordswrongthee。See,Ifallonmykneestowritetherest!
\"WhydidIneverrecoilbeforefromthymysteriouslore;whydidtheverystrangenessofthineunearthlylifeonlyfascinatemewithadelightfulfear?Because,ifthouwertsorcererorangel-
demon,therewasnoperiltootherbutmyself:andnonetome,formylovewasmyheavenliestpart;andmyignoranceinallthings,exceptthearttolovethee,repelledeverythoughtthatwasnotbrightandgloriousasthineimagetomyeyes。ButNOW
thereisanother!Look!whydoesitwatchmethus,——whythatnever-sleeping,earnest,rebukinggaze?Havethyspellsencompasseditalready?Hastthoumarkedit,cruelone,fortheterrorsofthyunutterableart?Donotmaddenme,——donotmaddenme!——unbindthespell!
\"Hark!theoarswithout!Theycome,——theycome,tobearmefromthee!Ilookround,andmethinksthatIseetheeeverywhere。
Thouspeakesttomefromeveryshadow,fromeverystar。There,bythecasement,thylipslastpressedmine;there,therebythatthresholddidstthouturnagain,andthysmileseemedsotrustinglytoconfideinme!Zanoni——husband!——Iwillstay!I
cannotpartfromthee!No,no!Iwillgototheroomwherethydearvoice,withitsgentlemusic,assuagedthepangsoftravail!——where,heardthroughthethrillingdarkness,itfirstwhisperedtomyear,\'Viola,thouartamother!\'Amother!——yes,Irisefrommyknees,——IAMamother!Theycome!Iamfirm;
farewell!\"
Yes;thussuddenly,thuscruelly,whetherinthedeliriumofblindandunreasoningsuperstition,orintheresolveofthatconvictionwhichspringsfromduty,thebeingforwhomhehadresignedsomuchofempireandofgloryforsookZanoni。Thisdesertion,neverforeseen,neveranticipated,wasyetbuttheconstantfatethatattendsthosewhowouldplaceMindBEYONDtheearth,andyettreasuretheHeartWITHINit。Ignoranceeverlastinglyshallrecoilfromknowledge。Butneveryet,fromnoblerandpurermotivesofself-sacrifice,didhumanlovelinkitselftoanother,thandidtheforsakingwifenowabandontheabsent。Forrightlyhadshesaidthatitwasnotthefaithlesswife,itWASthefaithfulmotherthatfledfromallinwhichherearthlyhappinesswascentred。
Aslongasthepassionandfervourthatimpelledtheactanimatedherwithfalsefever,sheclaspedherinfanttoherbreast,andwasconsoled,——resigned。Butwhatbitterdoubtofherownconduct,whaticypangofremorseshotthroughherheart,when,astheyrestedforafewhoursontheroadtoLeghorn,sheheardthewomanwhoaccompaniedherselfandGlyndonprayforsafetytoreachherhusband\'sside,andstrengthtosharetheperilsthatwouldmeetherthere!Terriblecontrasttoherowndesertion!
Sheshrunkintothedarknessofherownheart,——andthennovoicefromwithinconsoledher。
CHAPTER6。IX。
Zukunfthastdumirgegeben,DochdunehmstdenAugenblick。
\"Kassandra。\"
Futurityhastthougiventome,——yettakestfrommetheMoment。
\"Mejnour,beholdthywork!Out,outuponourlittlevanitiesofwisdom!——outuponouragesofloreandlife!TosaveherfromPerilIleftherpresence,andthePerilhasseizedherinitsgrasp!\"
\"Chidenotthywisdombutthypassions!Abandonthineidlehopeoftheloveofwoman。See,forthosewhowouldunitetheloftywiththelowly,theinevitablecurse;thyverynatureuncomprehended,——thysacrificesunguessed。Thelowlyoneviewsbutintheloftyanecromancerorafiend。Titan,canstthouweep?\"
\"Iknowitnow,Iseeitall!ItWASherspiritthatstoodbesideourown,andescapedmyairyclasp!Ostrongdesireofmotherhoodandnature!unveilingalloursecrets,piercingspaceandtraversingworlds!——Mejnour,whatawfullearninglieshidintheignoranceoftheheartthatloves!\"
\"Theheart,\"answeredthemystic,coldly;\"ay,forfivethousandyearsIhaveransackedthemysteriesofcreation,butIhavenotyetdiscoveredallthewondersintheheartofthesimplestboor!\"
\"Yetoursolemnritesdeceivedusnot;theprophet-shadows,darkwithterrorandredwithblood,stillforetoldthat,eveninthedungeon,andbeforethedeathsman,I,——Ihadthepowertosavethemboth!\"
\"Butatsomeunconjecturedandmostfatalsacrificetothyself。\"
\"Tomyself!Icysage,thereisnoselfinlove!Igo。Nay,alone:Iwanttheenot。Iwantnownootherguidebutthehumaninstinctsofaffection。Nocavesodark,nosolitudesovast,astoconcealher。Thoughmineartfailme;thoughthestarsheedmenot;thoughspace,withitsshiningmyriads,isagaintomebuttheazurevoid,——Ireturnbuttoloveandyouthandhope!
Whenhavetheyeverfailedtotriumphandtosave!\"
BOOKVII。
THEREIGNOFTERROR。
OrridamaestaneiferoaspettoTerroreaccresce,epiusuperboilrende;
Rosseggiangliocchi,edivenenoinfettoComeinfaustacometa,ilguardosplende,Gilinvolveilmento,esull\'irsutopettoIspidaefoitalagranbarbescende;
EINGUISADEVORAGINEPROFONDA
SAPRELABOCCAA\'ATROSANGUEIMMONDA。
Ger。Lib。,Cant。iv。7。
Ahorriblemajestyinthefierceaspectincreasesitterror,andrendersitmoresuperb。Redglowtheeyes,andtheaspectinfected,likeabalefulcomet,withenvenomedinfluences,glaresaround。Avastbeardcoversthechin——and,roughandthick,descendsovertheshaggybreast——Andlikeaprofoundgulfexpandthejaws,foulwithblackgore。
CHAPTER7。I。
Quisuis-je,moiqu\'onaccuse?UnesclavedelaLiberte,unmartyrvivantdelaRepublique。
\"DiscoursdeRobespierre,8Thermidor。\"
WhoamI,——_I_whomtheyaccuse?AslaveofLiberty,——alivingmartyrfortheRepublic。
Itroars,——TheRiverofHell,whosefirstoutbreakwaschantedasthegushofachanneltoElysium。Howburstintoblossominghopesfairheartsthathadnourishedthemselvesonthediamonddewsoftherosydawn,whenLibertycamefromthedarkocean,andthearmsofdecrepitThraldom——AurorafromthebedofTithon!
Hopes!yehaveripenedintofruit,andthefruitisgoreandashes!BeautifulRoland,eloquentVergniaud,visionaryCondorcet,high-heartedMalesherbes!——wits,philosophers,statesmen,patriots,dreamers!beholdthemillenniumforwhichyedaredandlaboured!
Iinvoketheghosts!Saturnhathdevouredhischildren\"LaRevolutionestcommeSaturne,elledevoreratoussesenfans。\"——
Vergniaud。,andlivesalone,——IhistruenameofMoloch!
ItistheReignofTerror,withRobespierretheking。Thestrugglesbetweentheboaandthelionarepast:theboahasconsumedthelion,andisheavywiththegorge,——Dantonhasfallen,andCamilleDesmoulins。Dantonhadsaidbeforehisdeath,\"ThepoltroonRobespierre,——Ialonecouldhavesavedhim。\"
Fromthathour,indeed,thebloodofthedeadgiantcloudedthecraftof\"MaximilientheIncorruptible,\"asatlast,amidstthedinoftherousedConvention,itchokedhisvoice。LesangdeDantont\'etouffe!\"thebloodofDantonchokesthee!saidGarnierdel\'Aube,whenonthefatal9thofThermidor,Robespierregaspedfeeblyforth,\"Pourladernierefois,PresidentdesAssassins,jetedemandelaparole。\"Forthelasttime,PresidentofAssassins,Idemandtospeak。If,afterthatlastsacrifice,essential,perhaps,tohissafety,RobespierrehadproclaimedthecloseoftheReignofTerror,andacteduponthemercywhichDantonhadbeguntopreach,hemighthavelivedanddiedamonarch。Buttheprisonscontinuedtoreek,——theglaivetofall;andRobespierreperceivednotthathismobsweregluttedtosatietywithdeath,andthestrongestexcitementachiefcouldgivewouldbeareturnfromdevilsintomen。
WearetransportedtoaroominthehouseofCitizenDupleix,themenuisier,inthemonthofJuly,1794;or,inthecalendaroftheRevolutionists,itwastheThermidoroftheSecondYearoftheRepublic,OneandIndivisible!Thoughtheroomwassmall,itwasfurnishedanddecoratedwithaminuteandcarefuleffortateleganceandrefinement。Itseemed,indeed,thedesireoftheownertoavoidatoncewhatwasmeanandrude,andwhatwasluxuriousandvoluptuous。Itwasatrim,orderly,precisegracethatshapedtheclassicchairs,arrangedtheampledraperies,sanktheframelessmirrorsintothewall,placedbustandbronzeontheirpedestals,andfilledupthenicheshereandtherewithwell-boundbooks,filedregularlyintheirappointedranks。Anobserverwouldhavesaid,\"Thismanwishestoimplytoyou,——Iamnotrich;Iamnotostentatious;Iamnotluxurious;IamnoindolentSybarite,withcouchesofdown,andpicturesthatprovokethesense;Iamnohaughtynoble,withspacioushalls,andgalleriesthatawetheecho。ButsomuchthegreaterismymeritifIdisdaintheseexcessesoftheeaseorthepride,sinceIlovetheelegant,andhaveataste!Othersmaybesimpleandhonest,fromtheverycoarsenessoftheirhabits;ifI,withsomuchrefinementanddelicacy,amsimpleandhonest,——reflect,andadmireme!\"
Onthewallsofthischamberhungmanyportraits,mostofthemrepresentedbutoneface;ontheformalpedestalsweregroupedmanybusts,mostofthemsculpturedbutonehead。InthatsmallchamberEgotismsatsupreme,andmadetheArtsitslooking-
glasses。Erectinachair,beforealargetablespreadwithletters,sattheoriginalofbustandcanvas,theowneroftheapartment。Hewasalone,yethesaterect,formal,stiff,precise,asifinhisveryhomehewasnotatease。Hisdresswasinharmonywithhispostureandhischamber;itaffectedaneatnessofitsown,——foreignbothtothesumptuousfashionsofthedeposednobles,andthefilthyruggednessofthesans-
culottes。Frizzledandcoiffe,notahairwasoutoforder,notaspecklodgedonthesleeksurfaceofthebluecoat,notawrinklecrumpledthesnowyvest,withitsunder-reliefofdelicatepink。Atthefirstglance,youmighthaveseeninthatfacenothingbuttheill-favouredfeaturesofasicklycountenance;atasecondglance,youwouldhaveperceivedthatithadapower,acharacterofitsown。Theforehead,thoughlowandcompressed,wasnotwithoutthatappearanceofthoughtandintelligencewhich,itmaybeobserved,thatbreadthbetweentheeyebrowsalmostinvariablygives;thelipswerefirmandtightlydrawntogether,yeteverandanontheytrembled,andwrithedrestlessly。Theeyes,sullenandgloomy,wereyetpiercing,andfullofaconcentratedvigourthatdidnotseemsupportedbythethin,feebleframe,orthegreenlividnessofthehues,whichtoldofanxietyanddisease。
SuchwasMaximilienRobespierre;suchthechamberoverthemenuisier\'sshop,whenceissuedtheedictsthatlaunchedarmiesontheircareerofglory,andordainedanartificialconduittocarryoffthebloodthatdelugedthemetropolisofthemostmartialpeopleintheglobe!Suchwasthemanwhohadresignedajudicialappointmenttheearlyobjectofhisambitionratherthanviolatehisphilanthropicalprinciplesbysubscribingtothedeathofasinglefellow-creature;suchwasthevirginenemytocapitalpunishments;andsuch,Butcher-Dictatornow,wasthemanwhosepureandrigidmanners,whoseincorruptiblehonesty,whosehatredoftheexcessesthattempttoloveandwine,would,hadhediedfiveyearsearlier,havelefthimthemodelforprudentfathersandcarefulcitizenstoplacebeforetheirsons。Suchwasthemanwhoseemedtohavenovice,tillcircumstance,thathotbed,broughtforththetwowhich,inordinarytimes,lieeverthedeepestandmostlatentinaman\'sheart,——CowardiceandEnvy。Tooneofthesesourcesistobetracedeverymurderthatmaster-fiendcommitted。Hiscowardicewasofapeculiarandstrangesort;foritwasaccompaniedwiththemostunscrupulousanddeterminedWILL,——awillthatNapoleonreverenced;awillofiron,andyetnervesofaspen。Mentally,hewasahero,——
physically,adastard。Whentheveriestshadowofdangerthreatenedhisperson,theframecowered,butthewillsweptthedangertotheslaughter-house。Sotherehesat,boltupright,——
hissmall,leanfingersclenchedconvulsively;hissulleneyesstrainingintospace,theirwhitesyellowedwithstreaksofcorruptblood;hisearsliterallymovingtoandfro,liketheignobleranimals\',tocatcheverysound,——aDionysiusinhiscave;buthisposturedecorousandcollected,andeveryformalhairinitsfrizzledplace。
\"Yes,yes,\"hesaidinamutteredtone,\"Ihearthem;mygoodJacobinsareattheirpostonthestairs。Pitytheyswearso!I
havealawagainstoaths,——themannersofthepoorandvirtuouspeoplemustbereformed。Whenallissafe,anexampleortwoamongstthosegoodJacobinswouldmakeeffect。Faithfulfellows,howtheyloveme!Hum!——whatanoathwasthat!——theyneednotswearsoloud,——upontheverystaircase,too!Itdetractsfrommyreputation。Ha!steps!\"
Thesoliloquistglancedattheoppositemirror,andtookupavolume;heseemedabsorbedinitscontents,asatallfellow,abludgeoninhishand,agirdleadornedwithpistolsroundhiswaist,openedthedoor,andannouncedtwovisitors。Theonewasayoungman,saidtoresembleRobespierreinperson,butofafarmoredecidedandresoluteexpressionofcountenance。Heenteredfirst,and,lookingoverthevolumeinRobespierre\'shand,forthelatterseemedstillintentonhislecture,exclaimed,——
\"What!Rousseau\'sHeloise?Alove-tale!\"
\"DearPayan,itisnotthelove,——itisthephilosophythatcharmsme。Whatnoblesentiments!——whatardourofvirtue!IfJeanJacqueshadbutlivedtoseethisday!\"
WhiletheDictatorthuscommentedonhisfavouriteauthor,whominhisorationshelabouredhardtoimitate,thesecondvisitorwaswheeledintotheroominachair。Thismanwasalsoinwhat,tomost,istheprimeoflife,——namely,aboutthirty-eight;buthewasliterallydeadinthelowerlimbs:crippled,paralytic,distorted,hewasyet,asthetimesooncametotellhim,——aHerculesinCrime!Butthesweetestofhumansmilesdweltuponhislips;abeautyalmostangeliccharacterisedhisfeatures\"Figured\'ange,\"saysoneofhiscontemporaries,indescribingCouthon。Theaddress,drawnupmostprobablybyPayanThermidor9,afterthearrestofRobespierre,thusmentionshiscrippledcolleague:\"Couthon,cecitoyenvertueux,QUIN\'AQUELECOEUR
ETLATETEDEVIVANS,maisquilesabrulantsdepatriotisme\"
Couthon,thatvirtuouscitizen,whohasbuttheheadandtheheartoftheliving,yetpossessestheseallonflamewithpatriotism。;aninexpressibleaspectofkindness,andtheresignationofsufferingbutcheerfulbenignity,stoleintotheheartsofthosewhoforthefirsttimebeheldhim。Withthemostcaressing,silver,flute-likevoice,CitizenCouthonsalutedtheadmirerofJeanJacques。
\"Nay,——donotsaythatitisnottheLOVEthatattractsthee;itISthelove!butnotthegross,sensualattachmentofmanforwoman。No!thesublimeaffectionforthewholehumanrace,andindeed,forallthatlives!\"
AndCitizenCouthon,bendingdown,fondledthelittlespanielthatheinvariablycarriedinhisbosom,eventotheConvention,asaventfortheexuberantsensibilitieswhichoverflowedhisaffectionateheart。ThistendernessforsomepetanimalwasbynomeanspeculiartoCouthon;itseemsratheracommonfashionwiththegentlebutchersoftheRevolution。M。GeorgeDuvalinformsus\"SouvenirsdelaTerreur,\"volumeiiipage183thatChaumettehadanaviary,towhichhedevotedhisharmlessleisure;themurderousFourniercarriedonhisshouldersaprettylittlesquirrel,attachedbyasilverchain;Panisbestowedthesuperfluityofhisaffectionsupontwogoldpheasants;andMarat,whowouldnotabateoneofthethreehundredthousandheadshedemanded,REAREDDOVES!AproposofthespanielofCouthon,DuvalgivesusanamusinganecdoteofSergent,notoneoftheleastrelentlessagentsofthemassacreofSeptember。AladycametoimplorehisprotectionforoneofherrelationsconfinedintheAbbaye。Hescarcelydeignedtospeaktoher。Assheretiredindespair,shetrodbyaccidentonthepawofhisfavouritespaniel。Sergent,turninground,enragedandfurious,exclaimed,\"MADAM,HAVEYOUNOHUMANITY?\"
\"Yes,forallthatlives,\"repeatedRobespierre,tenderly。\"GoodCouthon,——poorCouthon!Ah,themaliceofmen!——howwearemisrepresented!Tobecalumniatedastheexecutionersofourcolleagues!Ah,itisTHATwhichpiercestheheart!Tobeanobjectofterrortotheenemiesofourcountry,——THATisnoble;
buttobeanobjectofterrortothegood,thepatriotic,tothoseonelovesandreveres,——THATisthemostterribleofhumantorturesatleast,toasusceptibleandhonestheart!\"Nottofatiguethereaderwithannotations,ImayhereobservethatnearlyeverysentimentascribedinthetexttoRobespierreistobefoundexpressedinhisvariousdiscourses。
\"HowIlovetohearhim!\"ejaculatedCouthon。
\"Hem!\"saidPayan,withsomeimpatience。\"Butnowtobusiness!\"
\"Ah,tobusiness!\"saidRobespierre,withasinisterglancefromhisbloodshoteyes。
\"Thetimehascome,\"saidPayan,\"whenthesafetyoftheRepublicdemandsacompleteconcentrationofitspower。ThesebrawlersoftheComiteduSalutPubliccanonlydestroy;theycannotconstruct。Theyhatedyou,Maximilien,fromthemomentyouattemptedtoreplaceanarcybyinstitutions。HowtheymockatthefestivalwhichproclaimedtheacknowledgmentofaSupremeBeing:theywouldhavenoruler,eveninheaven!Yourclearandvigorousintellectsawthat,havingwreckedanoldworld,itbecamenecessarytoshapeanewone。Thefirststeptowardsconstructionmustbetodestroythedestroyers。Whilewedeliberate,yourenemiesact。Betterthisverynighttoattackthehandfulofgensdarmesthatguardthem,thantoconfrontthebattalionstheymayraiseto-morrow。\"
\"No,\"saidRobespierre,whorecoiledbeforethedeterminedspiritofPayan;\"Ihaveabetterandsaferplan。Thisisthe6thofThermidor;onthe10th——onthe10th,theConventiongoinabodytotheFeteDecadaire。Amobshallform;thecanonniers,thetroopsofHenriot,theyoungpupilsdel\'EcoledeMars,shallmixinthecrowd。Easy,then,tostriketheconspiratorswhomweshalldesignatetoouragents。Onthesameday,too,FouquierandDumasshallnotrest;andasufficientnumberof\'thesuspect\'tomaintainsalutaryawe,andkeepuptherevolutionaryexcitement,shallperishbytheglaiveofthelaw。The10thshallbethegreatdayofaction。Payan,oftheselastculprits,haveyoupreparedalist?\"
\"Itishere,\"returnedPayan,laconically,presentingapaper。
Robespierreglancedoveritrapidly。\"Collotd\'Herbois!——good!
Barrere!——ay,itwasBarrerewhosaid,\'Letusstrike:thedeadaloneneverreturn。\'\"Frappons!iln\'yaquelesmortsquinerevientpas。\"——Barrere。Vadier,thesavagejester!——good——good!
VadieroftheMountain。Hehascalledme\'Mahomet!\'Scelerat!
blasphemer!\"
\"MahometiscomingtotheMountain,\"saidCouthon,withhissilveryaccent,ashecaressedhisspaniel。
\"Buthowisthis?IdonotseethenameofTallien?Tallien,——I
hatethatman;thatis,\"saidRobespierre,correctinghimselfwiththehypocrisyorself-deceitwhichthosewhoformedthecouncilofthisphrase-mongerexhibitedhabitually,evenamongthemselves,——\"thatis,VirtueandourCountryhatehim!ThereisnomaninthewholeConventionwhoinspiresmewiththesamehorrorasTallien。Couthon,IseeathousandDantonswhereTalliensits!\"
\"Tallienhastheonlyheadthatbelongstothisdeformedbody,\"
saidPayan,whoseferocityandcrime,likethoseofSt。Just,werenotunaccompaniedbytalentsofnocommonorder。\"Wereitnotbettertodrawawaythehead,towin,tobuyhim,forthetime,anddisposeofhimbetterwhenleftalone?HemayhateYOU,buthelovesMONEY!\"
\"No,\"saidRobespierre,writingdownthenameofJeanLambertTallien,withaslowhandthatshapedeachletterwithsterndistinctness;\"thatoneheadISMYNECESSITY!\"
\"IhaveaSMALLlisthere,\"saidCouthon,sweetly,——\"aVERYsmalllist。YouaredealingwiththeMountain;itisnecessarytomakeafewexamplesinthePlain。Thesemoderatesareasstrawswhichfollowthewind。TheyturnedagainstusyesterdayintheConvention。Alittleterrorwillcorrecttheweathercocks。Poorcreatures!Iowethemnoill-will;Icouldweepforthem。Butbeforeall,lacherepatrie!\"
TheterribleglanceofRobespierredevouredthelistwhichthemanofsensibilitysubmittedtohim。\"Ah,thesearewellchosen;
mennotofmarkenoughtoberegretted,whichisthebestpolicywiththerelicsofthatparty;someforeignerstoo,——yes,THEY
havenoparentsinParis。Thesewivesandparentsarebeginningtopleadagainstus。Theircomplaintsdemoralisetheguillotine!\"
\"Couthonisright,\"saidPayan;\"MYlistcontainsthosewhomitwillbesafertodespatchenmasseinthecrowdassembledattheFete。HISlistselectsthosewhomwemayprudentlyconsigntothelaw。Shallitnotbesignedatonce?\"
\"ItISsigned,\"saidRobespierre,formallyreplacinghispenupontheinkstand。\"Nowtomoreimportantmatters。Thesedeathswillcreatenoexcitement;butCollotd\'Herbois,BourdonDel\'Oise,Tallien,\"thelastnameRobespierregaspedashepronounced,\"THEYaretheheadsofparties。Thisislifeordeathtousaswellasthem。\"
\"Theirheadsarethefootstoolstoyourcurulechair,\"saidPayan,inahalfwhisper。\"Thereisnodangerifwearebold。
Judges,juries,allhavebeenyourselection。Youseizewithonehandthearmy,withtheother,thelaw。Yourvoiceyetcommandsthepeople——\"