Oh,youaresickofself-love,Malvolio,Andtastewithadistemperedappetite!
ShakspeareIldoutaitdetout,memedel’amour。
FrenchNovelSolviturambulando。
SolutioSophismatum。
FlevitamoresNonelaboratumadpedem。
HoraceAMOURSDEVOYAGE。
CantoI。
Overthegreatwindywaters,andovertheclear-crestedsummits,Untothesunandthesky,anduntotheperfecterearth,Come,letusgo,——toalandwhereingodsoftheoldtimewandered,Whereeverybreathevennowchangestoetherdivine。
Come,letusgo;thoughwithalavoicewhisper,’Theworldthatwelivein,Whithersoeverweturn,stillisthesamenarrowcrib;
’Tisbuttoprovelimitation,andmeasureacord,thatwetravel;
Letwhowould’scapeandbefreegotohischamberandthink;
’Tisbuttochangeidlefanciesformemorieswilfullyfalser;
’Tisbuttogoandhavebeen。’——Come,littlebark!letusgo。
I。ClaudetoEustace。
DearEustatio,Iwritethatyoumaywritemeananswer,Orattheleasttoputusagainenrapportwitheachother。
Romedisappointsmemuch,——StPeter’s,perhaps,inespecial;
OnlytheArchofTitusandviewfromtheLateranpleaseme:
This,however,perhapsistheweather,whichtrulyishorrid。
Greecemustbebetter,surely;andyetIamfeelingsospiteful,ThatIcouldtraveltoAthens,toDelphi,andTroy,andMountSinai,Thoughbuttoseewithmyeyesthatthesearevanityalso。
Romedisappointsmemuch;Ihardlyasyetunderstandit,butRUBBISHYseemsthewordthatmostexactlywouldsuitit。
Allthefoolishdestructions,andallthesilliersavings,Alltheincongruousthingsofpastincompatibleages,Seemtobetreasuredupheretomakefoolsofpresentandfuture。
WouldtoHeaventheoldGothshadmadeacleanersweepofit!
WouldtoHeavensomenewoneswouldcomeanddestroythesechurches!
However,onecanliveinRomeasalsoinLondon。
Itisablessing,nodoubt,toberid,atleastforatime,ofAllone’sfriendsandrelations,——yourself(forgiveme!)included,——
Alltheassujettissementofhavingbeenwhatonehasbeen,Whatonethinksoneis,orthinksthatotherssupposeone;
Yet,indespiteofall,weturnlikefoolstotheEnglish。
Vernonhasbeenmyfate;whoisherethesamethatyouknewhim,——
Makingthetour,itseems,withfriendsofthenameofTrevellyn。
II。ClaudetoEustace。
Romedisappointsmestill;butIshrinkandadaptmyselftoit。
SomehowatyrannoussenseofasuperincumbentoppressionStill,whereverIgo,accompaniesever,andmakesmeFeellikeatree(shallIsay?)buriedunderaruinofbrickwork。
Rome,believeme,myfriend,islikeitsownMonteTestaceo,Merelyamarvellousmassofbrokenandcastawaywine-pots。
Yegods!whatdoIwantwiththisrubbishofagesdeparted,ThingsthatNatureabhors,theexperimentsthatshehasfailedin?
WhatdoIfindintheForum?Anarchwayandtwoorthreepillars。
Well,butSt。Peter’s?Alas,Berninihasfilleditwithsculpture!
Noonecancavil,Igrant,atthesizeofthegreatColiseum。
Doubtlessthenotionofgrandandcapaciousandmassiveamusement,ThistheoldRomanshad;buttellme,isthisanidea?
Yetofsoliditymuch,butofsplendourlittleisextant:
’BrickworkIfoundthee,andmarbleIleftthee!’theirEmperorvaunted;
’MarbleIthoughtthee,andbrickworkIfindthee!’theTouristmayanswer。
III。GeorginaTrevellyntoLouisa————。
Atlast,dearestLouisa,Itakeupmypentoaddressyou。
Hereweare,yousee,withtheseven-and-seventyboxes,Courier,PapaandMamma,thechildren,andMaryandSusan:
HereweallareatRome,anddelightedofcoursewithSt。Peter’s,AndverypleasantlylodgedinthefamousPiazzadiSpagna。
Romeisawonderfulplace,butMaryshalltellyouaboutit;
Notverygay,however;theEnglisharemostlyatNaples;
TherearetheA。’s,wehear,andmostoftheW。party。
George,however,iscome;didItellyouabouthismustachios?
Dear,Imustreallystop,forthecarriage,theytellme,iswaiting;
Marywillfinish;andSusaniswriting,theysay,toSophia。
Adieu,dearestLouise,——evermoreyourfaithfulGeorgina。
WhocanaMr。ClaudebewhomGeorgehastakentobewith?
Verystupid,Ithink,butGeorgesayssoVERYclever。
IV。ClaudetoEustace。
No,theChristianfaith,asatanyrateIunderstoodit,Withitshumiliationsandexaltationscombining,Exaltationssublime,andyetdivinerabasements,AspirationsfromsomethingmostshamefulhereuponearthandInourpoorselvestosomethingmostperfectaboveintheheavens,——
No,theChristianfaith,asI,atleast,understoodit,Isnothere,ORome,inanyofthesethychurches;
Isnothere,butinFreiburg,orRheims,orWestminsterAbbey。
WhatinthyDomeIfind,inallthyrecenterefforts,Isasomething,Ithink,moreRATIONALfar,moreearthly,Actual,lessideal,devoutnotinscornandrefusal,Butinapositive,calm,Stoic-Epicureanacceptance。
ThisIbegintodetectinSt。Peter’sandsomeofthechurches,MostlyinallthatIseeofthesixteenth-centurymasters;
Overlaidofcoursewithinfinitegaudsandgewgaws,Innocent,playfulfollies,thetoysandtrinketsofchildhood,Forcedonmatureryears,astheseriousonethingneedful,BythebarbarianwilloftherigidandignorantSpaniard。
Curiouswork,meantime,re-enteringsociety:howweWalkalivelongday,greatHeaven,andwatchourshadows!
Whatourshadowsseem,forsooth,wewillourselvesbe。
DoIlooklikethat?youthinkmethat:thenIAMthat。
V。ClaudetoEustace。
Luther,theysay,wasunwise;likeahalf-taughtGerman,hecouldnotSeethatoldfollieswerepassingmosttranquillyoutofremembrance;
LeotheTenthwasemployingalleffortstoclearoutabuses;
Jupiter,Juno,andVenus,FineArts,andFineLetters,thePoets,Scholars,andSculptors,andPainters,werequietlyclearingawaytheMartyrs,andVirgins,andSaints,oratanyrateThomasAquinas:
HemustforsoothmakeafussanddistendhishugeWittenberglungs,andBringbackTheologyonceyetagaininaflooduponEurope:
Loyou,forfortydaysfromthewindowsofheavenitfell;theWatersprevailontheearthyetmoreforahundredandfifty;
Aretheyabatingatlast?thedovesthataresenttoexploreareWearilyfaintoreturn,atthebestwithaleafletofpromise,——
Faintoreturn,astheywent,tothewanderingwave-tostvessel,——
Faintore-entertheroofwhichcoversthecleanandtheunclean,——
Luther,theysay,wasunwise;hedidn’tseehowthingsweregoing;
Lutherwasfoolish,——but,OgreatGod!whatcallyouIgnatius?
Omytolerantsoul,bestill!butyoutalkofbarbarians,Alaric,Attila,Genseric;——why,theycame,theykilled,theyRavaged,andwentontheirway;butthesevile,tyrannousSpaniards,Theseareherestill,——howlong,Oyeheavens,inthecountryofDante?
These,thatfanaticizedEurope,whichnowcanforgetthem,releasenotThis,theirchoicestofprey,thisItaly;hereyouseethem,——
Here,withemasculatepupilsandgimcrackchurchesofGesu,Pseudo-learningandlies,confessional-boxesandpostures,——
Here,withmetallicbeliefsandregimentaldevotions,——
Here,overcrustingwithslime,perverting,defacing,debasing,MichaelAngelo’sDome,thathadhungthePantheoninheaven,Raphael’sJoysandGraces,andthyclearstars,Galileo!
VI。ClaudetoEustace。
WhichofthreeMissesTrevellynitisthatVernonshallmarryIsnotathingtobeknown;forourfriendisoneofthosenaturesWhichhavetheirperfectdelightinthegeneraltender-domestic,SothathetrifleswithMary’sshawl,tiesSusan’sbonnet,Danceswithall,butathomeismost,theysay,withGeorgina,Whois,however,TOOsillyinmyapprehensionforVernon。
I,asbeforewhenIwrote,continuetoseethemalittle;
NotthatIlikethemmuchorcareabajoccoforVernon,ButIamslowatItalian,havenotmanyEnglishacquaintance,AndIamasked,inshort,andamnotgoodatexcuses。
Middle-classpeoplethese,bankersverylikely,notwhollyPureofthetaintoftheshop;willattabled’hoteandrestaurantHavetheirshilling’sworth,theirpenny’spennywortheven:
Neitherman’saristocracythis,norGod’s,Godknoweth!
Yettheyarefairlydescended,theygiveyoutoknow,wellconnected;
Doubtlesssomewhereinsomeneighbourhoodhave,andarecarefultokeep,someThreadbare-genteelrelations,whointheirturnareenchantedGrandlyamongcountypeopletointroduceatassembliesTotheunpenniedcadetsourcousinswithexcellentfortunes。
Neitherman’saristocracythis,norGod’s,Godknoweth!
VII。ClaudetoEustace。
Ah,whatashame,indeed,toabusethesemostworthypeople!
Ah,whatasintohavesneeredattheirinnocentrusticpretensions!
Isitnotlaudablereally,thisreverentworshipofstation?
Isitnotfittingthatwealthshouldtenderthishomagetoculture?
Isitnottouchingtowitnesstheseefforts,iflittleavailing,Painfullymade,toperformtheoldritualserviceofmanners?
Shallnotdevotionatonefortheabsenceofknowledge?andfervourPalliate,cover,thefaultofasuperstitiousobservance?
Dear,dear,whatdoIsay?but,alas!justnow,likeIago,Icanbenothingatall,ifitisnotcriticalwholly;
Soinfantasticheight,incoxcombexaltation,HereinthegardenIwalk,canfreelyconcedetotheMakerThattheworksofHishandareallverygood:Hiscreatures,Beastofthefieldandfowl,Hebringsthembeforeme;Inamethem;
ThatwhichInamethem,theyare,——thebird,thebeast,andthecattle。
ButforAdam,——alas,poorcriticalcoxcombAdam!
ButforAdamthereisnotfoundanhelp-meetforhim。
VIII。ClaudetoEustace。
No,greatDomeofAgrippa,thouartnotChristian!canstnot,Stripandreplasteranddaubanddowhattheywillwiththee,beso!
HereunderneaththegreatporchofcolossalCorinthiancolumns,HereasIwalk,doIdreamoftheChristianbelfriesabovethem?
Or,onabenchasIsitandabideforlonghours,tillthywholevastRoundgrowsdimasindreamstomyeyes,Irepeoplethyniches,NotwiththeMartyrs,andSaints,andConfessors,andVirgins,andchildren,Butwiththemightierformsofanolder,austererworship;
AndIrecitetomyself,howEagerforbattlehereStoodVulcan,herematronalJuno,AndwiththebowtohisshoulderfaithfulHewhowithpuredewlavethofCastalyHisflowinglocks,whoholdethofLyciaTheoakforestandthewoodthatborehim,Delos’andPatara’sownApollo。*
*HicavidusstetitVulcanus,hicmatronaJuno,etNunquamhumerispositurusarcum;
QuirorepuroCastaliaelavitCrinessolutos,quiLyciaetenetDumetanatalemquesilvam,DeliusetPatareusApollo。
IX。ClaudetoEustace。
Yetitispleasant,Iownit,tobeintheircompany;pleasant,Whateverelseitmaybe,toabideinthefemininepresence。
Pleasant,butwrong,willyousay?Butthishappy,serenecoexistenceIstosomepoorsoftsouls,Ifear,anecessitysimple,Meatanddrinkandlife,andmusic,fillingwithsweetness,Thrillingwithmelodysweet,withharmoniesstrangeoverwhelming,Allthelong-silentstringsofanawkward,meaninglessfabric。
Yetasforthat,Icouldlive,Ibelieve,withchildren;tohavethosePureanddelicateformsencompassing,movingaboutyou,Thiswereenough,Icouldthink;andtrulywithgladresignationCouldfromthedreamofRomance,fromthefeverofflushedadolescence,Looktoescapeandsubsideintopeacefulavuncularfunctions。
Nephewsandnieces!alas,forasyetIhavenone!and,moreover,Mothersarejealous,Ifearme,toooften,toorightfully;fathersThinktheyhavetitleexclusivetospoilingtheirownlittledarlings;
Andbythelawoftheland,indespiteofMalthusiandoctrine,Nosortofproperprovisionismadeforthatmostpatriotic,Mostmeritorioussubject,thechildlessandbacheloruncle。
X。ClaudetoEustace。
Ye,too,marvellousTwain,thaterectontheMonteCavalloStandbyyourrearingsteedsinthegraceofyourmotionlessmovement,Standwithyourupstretchedarmsandtranquilregardantfaces,Standasinstinctwithlifeinthemightofimmutablemanhood,——
Oyemightyandstrange,yeancientdivineonesofHellas。
AreyeChristiantoo?toconvertandredeemandrenewyou,Willthebriefformhavesufficed,thataPopehassetupontheapexOftheEgyptianstonethato’ertopsyou,theChristiansymbol?
Andye,silent,supremeinsereneandvictoriousmarble,YethatencirclethewallsofthestatelyVaticanchambers,JunoandCeres,Minerva,Apollo,theMusesandBacchus,YeuntowhomfarandnearcomepostingtheChristianpilgrims,YethatarerangedinthehallsofthemysticChristianPontiff,Areyealsobaptized?areyeofthekingdomofHeaven?
Utter,Osomeone,thewordthatshallreconcileAncientandModern!
AmItoturnmefromthisuntothee,greatChapelofSixtus?
XI。ClaudetoEustace。
Thesearethefacts。Theuncle,theelderbrother,thesquire(aLittleembarrassed,Ifancy),residesinthefamilyplaceinCornwall,ofcourse;’Papaisinbusiness,’Maryinformsme;
He’sagoodsensibleman,whateverhistradeis。ThemotherIs——shallIcallitfine?——herselfshewouldtellyourefined,andGreatly,Ifearme,looksdownonmybookishandmaladroitmanners;
Somewhataffecteththeblue;wouldtalktomeoftenofpoets;
Quotes,whichIhate,ChildeHarold;butalsoappreciatesWordsworth;
SometimesadventuresonSchiller;andthentoreligiondiverges;
QuestionsmemuchaboutOxford;andyet,inherloftiestflightsstillGratesthefastidiousearwiththeslightlymercantileaccent。
Isitcontemptible,Eustace——I’mperfectlyreadytothinkso,——
Isit,——thehorriblepleasureofpleasinginferiorpeople?
Iamashamedofmyownself;andyettrueitis,ifdisgraceful,ThatforthefirsttimeinlifeIamlivingandmovingwithfreedom。
I,whonevercouldtalktothepeopleImeetwithmyuncle,——
I,whohavealwaysfailed,——I,trustme,cansuittheTrevellyns;
I,believeme,——greatconquest,amlikedbythecountrybankers。
AndIamgladtobeliked,andlikeinreturnverykindly。
Soitproceeds;laissezfaire,laissezaller,——suchisthewatchword。
Well,Iknowtherearethousandsasprettyandhundredsaspleasant,Girlsbythedozenasgood,andgirlsinabundancewithpolishHigherandmannersmoreperfectthanSusanorMaryTrevellyn。
Well,Iknow,afterall,itisonlyjuxtaposition,——
Juxtaposition,inshort;andwhatisjuxtaposition?
XII。ClaudetoEustace。
ButIaminforitnow,——laissezfaire,ofatruth,laissezaller。
Yes,Iamgoing,——Ifeelit,Ifeelandcannotrecallit,——
Fusingwiththisthingandthat,enteringintoallsortsofrelations,TyingIknownotwhatties,which,whatevertheyare,Iknowonething,Will,andmust,woeisme,beonedaypainfullybroken,——
Brokenwithpainfulremorses,withshrinkingsofsoul,andrelentings,Foolishdelays,morefoolishevasions,mostfoolishrenewals。
ButIhavemadethestep,havequittedtheshipofUlysses;
Quittedtheseaandtheshore,passedintothemagicalisland;
Yetonmylipsisthemoly,medicinal,offeredofHermes。
Ihavecomeintotheprecinct,thelabyrinthclosesaroundme,Pathintopathroundingslyly;Ipaceslowlyon,andthefancy,Strugglingawhiletosustainthelongsequences,weary,bewildered,Fainmustcollapseindespair;Iyield,Iamlost,andknownothing;
Yetinmybosomunbrokenremaineththeclue;Ishalluseit。
Lo,withtheropeonmyloinsIdescendthroughthefissure;Isink,yetInlysecureinthestrengthofinvisiblearmsupaboveme;
Still,wheresoeverIswing,wherevertoshore,ortoshelf,orFloorofcavernuntrodden,shellsprinkled,enchanting,IknowI
Yetshallonetimefeelthestrongcordtightenaboutme,——
Feelit,relentless,upbearmefromspotsIwouldrestin;andthoughtheRopeswaywildly,Ifaint,cragswoundme,fromcraguntocragre-
Bounding,or,wideinthevoid,Idietendeaths,eretheendI
YetshallplantfirmfootonthebroadloftyspacesIquit,shallFeelunderneathmeagainthegreatmassystrengthsofabstraction,Lookyetabroadfromtheheighto’ertheseawhosesaltwaveIhavetasted。
XIII。GeorginaTrevellyntoLouisa————。
DearestLouisa,——Inquire,ifyouplease,aboutMr。Claude————。
HehasbeenonceatR。,andremembersmeetingtheH。’s。
HarrietL。,perhaps,maybeabletotellyouabouthim。
Itisanawkwardyouth,butstillwithverygoodmanners;
Notwithoutprospects,wehear;and,Georgesays,highlyconnected。
Georgydeclaresitabsurd,butMammaisalarmed,andinsistshehasTakenupstrangeopinions,andmaybeturningaPapist。
Certainlyoncehespokeofadailyservicehewentto。
’Where?’weasked,andhelaughedandanswered,’AtthePantheon。’
Thiswasatemple,youknow,andnowisaCatholicchurch;andThoughitissaidthatMazzinihassolditforProtestantservice,YetIsupposethischangecanhardlyasyetbeeffected。
Adieuagain,——evermore,mydearest,yourlovingGeorgina。
P。S。byMaryTrevellyn。
Iamtotellyou,yousay,whatIthinkofourlastnewacquaintance。
Well,then,IthinkthatGeorgehasaveryfairrighttobejealous。
Idonotlikehimmuch,thoughIdonotdislikebeingwithhim。
Heiswhatpeoplecall,Isuppose,asuperiorman,andCertainlyseemssotome;butIthinkheisterriblyselfish。
————————————————————
Alba,thoufindestmestill,and,Alba,thoufindestmeever,NowfromtheCapitolsteps,nowoverTitus’sArch,HerefromthelargegrassyspacesthatspreadfromtheLateranportal,Toweringo’eraqueductlineslostinperspectivebetween,OrfromaVaticanwindow,orbridge,orthehighColiseum,ClearbythegarlandedlinecutoftheFlavianring。
BeautifulcanInotcallthee,andyetthouhastpowertoo’ermaster,Powerofmerebeauty;indreams,Alba,thouhauntestmestill。
Isitreligion?Iaskme;orisitavainsuperstition?
Slaveryabjectandgross?service,toofeeble,oftruth?
IsitanidolIbowto,orisitagodthatIworship?
DoIsinkbackontheold,ordoIsoarfromthemean?
SothroughthecityIwanderandquestion,unsatisfiedever,ReverentsoIaccept,doubtfulbecauseIrevere。
CantoII。
Isitillusion?ordoesthereaspiritfromperfecterages,Here,evenyet,amidloss,change,andcorruptionabide?
Doesthereaspiritweknownot,thoughseek,thoughwefind,comprehendnot,Heretoenticeandconfuse,temptandevadeus,abide?
Livesintheexquisitegraceofthecolumndisjointedandsingle,Hauntstherudemassesofbrickgarlandedgailywithvine,E’enintheturretfantasticsurvivingthatspringsfromtheruin,E’eninthepeopleitself?isitillusionornot?
Isitillusionornotthatattracteththepilgrimtransalpine,Bringshimadullardandduncehithertopryandtostare?
Isitillusionornotthatalluresthebarbarianstranger,Bringshimwithgoldtotheshrine,bringshiminarmstothegate?
I。ClaudetoEustace。
Whatdothepeoplesay,andwhatdoesthegovernmentdo?——youAsk,andIknownotatall。Yetfortunewillfavouryourhopes;andI,whoavoideditall,amfated,itseems,todescribeit。
I,whonormeddlenormakeinpolitics,——IwhosincerelyPutnotmytrustinleaguesnoranysuffragebyballot,NeverpredictedParisianmillenniums,neverbeheldaNewJerusalemcomingdowndressedlikeabrideoutofheavenRightonthePlacedelaConcorde,——I,nevertheless,letmesayit,Couldinmysoulofsouls,thisday,withtheGaulatthegatesshedOnetruetearforthee,thoupoorlittleRomanRepublic;
What,withtheGermanrestored,withSicilysafetotheBourbon,NotleaveonepoorcornerfornativeItalianexertion?
France,itisfoullydone!andyou,poorfoolishEngland,——
You,whoatwelvemonthagosaidnationsmustchooseforthemselves,youCouldnot,ofcourse,interfere,——you,now,whenanationhaschosen————
Pardonthisfolly!TheTimeswill,ofcourse,haveannouncedtheoccasion,Toldyouthenewsofto-day;andalthoughitwasslightlyinerrorWhenitproclaimedasafacttheApollowassoldtoaYankee,YoumaybelievewhenittellsyoutheFrenchareatCivitaVecchia。
II。ClaudetoEustace。
Dulceitis,anddecorum,nodoubt,forthecountrytofall,——toOfferone’sbloodanoblationtoFreedom,anddiefortheCause;yetStill,individualcultureisalsosomething,andnomanFindsquitedistincttheassurancethatheofallothersiscalledon,Orwouldbejustifiedeven,intakingawayfromtheworldthatPreciouscreature,himself。Naturesenthimheretoabidehere;
Elsewhysendhimatall?Naturewantshimstill,itislikely;
Onthewhole,wearemeanttolookafterourselves;itiscertainEachhastoeatforhimself,digestforhimself,andingeneralCareforhisowndearlife,andseetohisownpreservation;
Nature’sintentions,inmostthingsuncertain,inthisaredecisive;
Which,onthewhole,IconjecturetheRomanswillfollow,andIshall。
Soweclingtoourrockslikelimpets;Oceanmaybluster,Overandunderandroundus;weopenourshellstoimbibeourNourishment,closethemagain,andaresafe,fulfillingthepurposeNatureintended,——awiseone,ofcourse,andanoble,wedoubtnot。
Sweetitmaybeanddecorous,perhaps,forthecountrytodie;but,Onthewhole,weconcludetheRomanswon’tdoit,andIsha’n’t。
III。ClaudetoEustace。
Willtheyfight?Theysayso。AndwilltheFrench?Icanhardly,Hardlythinkso;andyet————Heiscome,theysay,toPalo,HeispassedfromMonterone,atSantaSeveraHehathlaiduphisguns。ButtheVirgin,theDaughterofRoma,Shehathdespisedtheeandlaughedtheetoscorn,——TheDaughterofTiber,Shehathshakenherheadandbuiltbarricadesagainstthee!
Willtheyfight?Ibelieveit。Alas!’tisephemeralfolly,Vainandephemeralfolly,ofcourse,comparedwithpictures,Statues,andantiquegems!——Indeed:andyetindeedtoo,Yet,methought,inbroaddaydidIdream,——tellitnotinSt。James’s,Whisperitnotinthycourts,OChristChurch!——yetdidI,waking,Dreamofacadencethatsings,Sitombentnosjeunesheros,laTerreenproduitdenouveauxcontrevoustouspretsasebattre;
Dreamtofgreatindignationsandangerstranscendental,Dreamtofaswordatmysideandabattle-horseunderneathme。
IV。ClaudetoEustace。
NowsupposingtheFrenchortheNeapolitansoldierShouldbysomeevilchancecomeexploringtheMaisonSerny(WherethefamilyEnglisharealltoassembleforsafety),AmIpreparedtolaydownmylifefortheBritishfemale?
Really,whoknows?Onehasbowedandtalked,till,littlebylittle,Allthenaturalheathasescapedofthechivalrousspirit。
Oh,oneconformed,ofcourse;butonedoesn’tdieforgoodmanners,Staborshoot,orbeshot,bywayofgracefulattention。
No,ifitshouldbeatall,itshouldbeonthebarricadesthere;
ShouldIincarnadineeverthisinkypacificalfinger,SoonerfarshoulditbeforthisvapourofItaly’sfreedom,Soonerfarbythesideofthed————danddirtyplebeians。
Ah,forachildinthestreetIcouldstrike;forthefull-blownlady————
Somehow,Eustace,alas!Ihavenotfeltthevocation。
Yetthesepeopleofcoursewillexpect,asofcourse,myprotection,VernoninradiantarmsstandforthforthelovelyGeorgina,Andtoappear,Isuppose,werebutcommoncivility。Yes,andTrulyIdonotdesiretheyshouldeitherbekilledoroffended。
Oh,andofcourse,youwillsay,’Whenthetimecomes,youwillbeready。’
Ah,butbeforeitcomes,amItopresumeitwillbeso?
WhatIcannotfeelnow,amItosupposethatIshallfeel?
AmInotfreetoattendfortheripeandindubiousinstinct?
AmIforbiddentowaitfortheclearandlawfulperception?
Isitthecallingofmantosurrenderhisknowledgeandinsight,Forthemereventureofwhatmay,perhaps,bethevirtuousaction?
Mustwe,walkingourearth,discerningalittle,andhopingSomeplainvisibletaskshallyetforourhandsbeassignedus,——
Mustweabandonthefutureforfearofomittingthepresent,Quitourownfiresidehopesatthealiencallofaneighbour,TothemerepossibleshadowofDeityofferthevictim?
Andisallthis,myfriend,butaweakandignoblerefining,WhollyunworthytheheadortheheartofYourOwnCorrespondent?
V。ClaudetoEustace。
Yes,wearefightingatlast,itappears。Thismorningasusual,Murray,asusual,inhand,IentertheCaffeNuovo;
Seatingmyselfwithasenseasitwereofachangeintheweather,Notunderstanding,however,butthinkingmostlyofMurray,And,forto-dayistheirday,oftheCampidoglioMarbles;
Caffe-latte!Icalltothewaiter,——andNonc’elatte,Thisistheanswerhemakesme,andthisisthesignofabattle。
SoIsit:andtrulytheyseemtothinkanyoneelsemoreWorthythanmeofattention。Iwaitformymilklessnero,Freetoobserveundistractedallsortsandsizesofpersons,Blendingcivilianandsoldierinstrangestcostume,comingin,andGulpinginhottesthaste,stillstanding,theircoffee,——withdrawingEagerly,janglingaswordonthesteps,orjoggingamusketSlungtotheshoulderbehind。Theyarefewer,moreover,thanusual,Muchandsilenterfar;andsoIbegintoimagineSomethingisreallyafloat。EreIleave,theCaffeisempty,Emptytoothestreets,inallitslengththeCorsoEmpty,andemptyIseetomyrightandlefttheCondotti。
Twelveo’clock,onthePincianHill,withlotsofEnglish,Germans,Americans,French,——theFrenchmen,too,areprotected,——
Sowestandinthesun,butafraidofaprobableshower;
Sowestandandstare,andsee,totheleftofSt。Peter’s,Smoke,fromthecannon,white,——butthatisatintervalsonly,——
Black,fromaburninghouse,wesuppose,bytheCavalleggieri;
AndwebelievewediscernsomelinesofmendescendingDownthroughthevineyard-slopes,andcatchabayonetgleaming。
Everytenminutes,however,——inthisthereisnomisconception,——
ComesagreatwhitepufffrombehindMichelAngelo’sdome,andAfteraspacethereportofarealbiggun,——nottheFrenchman’s!——
Thatmustbedoingsomework。Andsowewatchandconjecture。
Shortly,anEnglishmancomes,whosayshehasbeentoSt。Peter’s,SeenthePiazzaandtroops,butthatisallhecantellus;
Sowewatchandsit,and,indeed,itbeginstobetiresome。——
Allthissmokeisoutside;whenithascometotheinside,Itwillbetime,perhaps,todescendandretreattoourhouses。
Half-pastone,ortwo。Thereportofsmallarmsfrequent,Sharpandsavageindeed;thatcannotallbefornothing:
Sowewatchandwonder;butguessingistiresome,very。
Wearyofwondering,watching,andguessing,andgossipingidly,DownIgo,andpassthroughthequietstreetswiththeknotsofNationalGuardspatrolling,andflagshangingoutatthewindows,English,American,Danish,——and,afterofferingtohelpanIrishfamilymovingenmassetotheMaisonSerny,AfterendeavouringidlytoministerbalmtothetremblingQuinquagenarianfearsoftwoloneBritishspinsters,Gotomakesureofmydinnerbeforetheenemyenter。
Butbythistherearesignsofstragglersreturning;andvoicesTalk,thoughyoudon’tbelieveit,ofgunsandprisonerstaken;
Andonthewallsyoureadthefirstbulletinofthemorning。——
ThisisallthatIsaw,andallthatIknowofthebattle。
VI。ClaudetoEustace。
Victory!Victory!——Yes!ah,yes,thourepublicanZion,Trulythekingsoftheeartharegatheredandgonebytogether;
Doubtlesstheymarvelledtowitnesssuchthings,wereastonished,andsoforth。
Victory!Victory!Victory!——Ah,butitis,believeme,Easier,easierfar,tointonethechantofthemartyrThantoinditeanypaeanofanyvictory。DeathmaySometimesbenoble;butlife,atthebest,willappearanillusion。
Whilethegreatpainisuponus,itisgreat;whenitisover,Why,itisover。Thesmokeofthesacrificerisestoheaven,Ofasweetsavour,nodoubt,toSomebody;butonthealtar,Lo,thereisnothingremainingbutashesanddirtandillodour。
Soitstands,youperceive;thelabialmusclesthatswelledwithVehementevolutionofyesterdayMarseillaises,Articulationssublimeofdefianceandscorning,to-daycol-
Lapseandlanguidlymumble,whilemenandwomenandpapersScreamandre-screamtoeachotherthechorusofVictory。Well,butIamthankfultheyfought,andgladthattheFrenchmenwerebeaten。
VII。ClaudetoEustace。
So,Ihaveseenamankilled!Anexperiencethat,amongothers!
Yes,IsupposeIhave;althoughIcanhardlybecertain,AndinacourtofjusticecouldneverdeclareIhadseenit。
Butamanwaskilled,Iamtold,inaplacewhereIsawSomething;amanwaskilled,Iamtold,andIsawsomething。
IwasreturninghomefromSt。Peter’s;Murray,asusual,Undermyarm,Iremember;hadcrossedtheSt。Angelobridge;andMovingtowardstheCondotti,hadgottothefirstbarricade,whenGradually,thinkingstillofSt。Peter’s,IbecameconsciousOfasensationofmovementopposingme,——tendencythisway(SuchasonefanciesmaybeinastreamwhenthewaveofthetideisComingandnotyetcome,——asortofnoiseandretention);
SoIturned,and,beforeIturned,caughtsightofstragglersHeadingacrowd,itisplain,thatiscomingbehindthatcorner。
Lookingup,Iseewindowsfilledwithheads;thePiazza,IntowhichyourememberthePonteSt。Angeloenters,SinceIpassed,hasthickenedwithcuriousgroups;andnowtheCrowdiscoming,hasturned,hascrossedthatlastbarricade,isHereatmyside。Inthemiddletheydragatsomething。Whatisit?
Ha!bareswordsintheair,heldup?ThereseemtobevoicesPleadingandhandsputtingback;official,perhaps;buttheswordsareMany,andbareintheair。Intheair?theydescend;theyaresmiting,Hewing,chopping——Atwhat?Intheaironcemoreupstretched?And——
Isitbloodthat’sonthem?Yes,certainlyblood!Ofwhom,then?
Overwhomisthecryofthisfurorofexultation?
Whiletheyareskippingandscreaming,anddancingtheircapsonthepointsofSwordsandbayonets,Itotheoutskirtsback,andaskaMercantile-seemingbystander,’Whatisit?’andhe,lookingalwaysThatway,makesmeanswer,’APriest,whowastryingtoflytoTheNeapolitanarmy,’——andthusexplainstheproceeding。
Youdidn’tseethedeadman?No;——Ibegantobedoubtful;
Iwasinblackmyself,anddidn’tknowwhatmightn’thappen,——
ButaNationalGuardclosebyme,outsideofthehubbub,Brokehisswordwithslashingabroadhatcoveredwithdust,——andPassingawayfromtheplacewithMurrayundermyarm,andStooping,Isawthroughthelegsofthepeoplethelegsofabody。
Youarethefirst,doyouknow,towhomIhavementionedthematter。
WhomshouldItellittoelse?——thesegirls?——theHeavensforbidit!——
QuidnuncsatMonaldini’s——IdlersuponthePincian?
IfIrightlyremember,ithappenedonthatafternoonwhenWordofthenearerapproachofanewNeapolitanarmyFirstwasspread。IbegantobethinkmeofParisSeptembers,ThoughtIcouldfancythelookofthatold’Ninety-two。OnthateveningThreeorfour,or,itmaybe,five,ofthesepeoplewereslaughteredSomedeclaredtheyhad,oneofthem,firedonasentinel;othersSaytheywereonlyescaping;aPriest,itiscurrentlystated,StabbedaNationalGuardontheveryPiazzaColonna:
History,RumourofRumours,Ileavetotheetodetermine!
ButIamthankfultosaythegovernmentseemstohavestrengthtoPutitdown;ithasvanished,atleast;theplaceismostpeaceful。
ThroughtheTrasteverewalkinglastnight,atnineoftheclock,I
Foundnosortofdisorder;IcrossedbytheIsland-bridges,SobythenarrowstreetstothePonteRotto,andonwardsThencebytheTempleofVesta,awaytothegreatColiseum,Whichatthefullofthemoonisanobjectworthyavisit。
VIII。GeorginaTrevellyntoLouisa————。
Onlythink,dearestLouisa,whatfearfulsceneswehavewitnessed!——
********
GeorgehasjustseenGaribaldi,dressedupinalongwhitecloak,onHorseback,ridingby,withhismountednegrobehindhim:
Thisisaman,youknow,whocamefromAmericawithhim,Outofthewoods,Isuppose,andusesalassoinfighting,Whichis,Idon’tquiteknow,butasortofnoose,Iimagine;
Thishethrowsontheheadsoftheenemy’smeninabattle,Pullsthemintohisreach,andthenmostcruellykillsthem:
Marydoesnotbelieve,butwehearditfromanItalian。
MaryallowsshewaswrongaboutMr。ClaudeBEINGSELFISH;
HewasMOSTusefulandkindontheterriblethirtiethofApril。
Donotwritehereanymore;wearestartingdirectlyforFlorence:
Weshouldbeoffto-morrow,ifonlyPapacouldgethorses;
AllhavebeenseizedeverywherefortheuseofthisdreadfulMazziniP。S。
Maryhasseenthusfar。——Iamreallysoangry,Louisa,——
Quiteoutofpatience,mydearest!Whatcanthemanbeintending?
Iamquitetired;andMary,whomightbringhimtoinamoment,Letshimgoonashelikes,andneitherwillhelpnordismisshim。
IX。ClaudetoEustace。
Itismostcurioustoseewhatapowerafewcalmwords(inMerelyabriefproclamation)appeartopossessonthepeople。
Orderisperfect,andpeace;thecityisutterlytranquil;
Andonecannotconceivethatthiseasyandnonchalantcrowd,thatFlowslikeaquietstreamthroughstreetandmarket-place,enteringShadyrecessesandbaysofchurch,osteria,andcaffe,Couldinamomentbechangedtoafloodasofmoltenlava,Boilintodeadlywrathandwildhomicidaldelusion。
Ah,’tisanexcellentrace,——andeveninolddegradation,Underarulethatenforcestoflattery,lying,andcheating,E’enunderPopeandPriest,aniceandnaturalpeople。
Oh,couldtheybutbeallowedthischanceofredemption!——butclearlyThatisnotlikelytobe。Meantime,notwithstandingalljournals,Honourforoncetothetongueandthepenoftheeloquentwriter!
Honourtospeech!andallhonourtothee,thounobleMazzini!
X。ClaudetoEustace。
Iaminlove,meantime,youthink;nodoubtyouwouldthinkso。
Iaminlove,yousay;withthoseletters,ofcourse,youwouldsayso。
Iaminlove,youdeclare。Ithinknotso;yetIgrantyouItisapleasureindeedtoconversewiththisgirl。Oh,raregift,Rarefelicity,this!shecantalkinarationalway,canSpeakuponsubjectsthatreallyaremattersofmindandofthinking,Yetinperfectionretainhersimplicity;never,onemoment,Never,howeveryouurgeit,howeveryoutempther,consentstoStepfromideasandfanciesandlovingsensationstothosevainConsciousunderstandingsthatvexthemindsofmankind。
No,thoughshetalk,itismusic;herfingersdesertnotthekeys;’tisSong,thoughyouhearinthesongthearticulatevocablessounded,Syllabledsinglyandsweetlythewordsofmelodiousmeaning。
Iaminlove,yousay;Idonotthinkso,exactly。
XI。ClaudetoEustace。
Therearetwodifferentkinds,Ibelieve,ofhumanattraction:
Onewhichsimplydisturbs,unsettles,andmakesyouuneasy,Andanotherthatpoises,retains,andfixesandholdsyou。
Ihavenodoubt,formyself,ingivingmyvoiceforthelatter。
Idonotwishtobemoved,butgrowingwhereIwasgrowing,Theremoretrulytogrow,tolivewhereasyetIhadlanguished。
Idonotlikebeingmoved:forthewillisexcited;andactionIsamostdangerousthing;Itrembleforsomethingfactitious,Somemalpracticeofheartandillegitimateprocess;
Wearesopronetothesethings,withourterriblenotionsofduty。
XII。ClaudetoEustace。
Ah,letmelook,letmewatch,letmewait,unhurried,unprompted!
Bidmenotventureonaughtthatcouldalterorendwhatispresent!
Saynot,Timeflies,andOccasion,thatneverreturns,isdeparting!
Drivemenotoutyet,yeillangelswithfieryswords,frommyEden,Waiting,andwatching,andlooking!Letlovebeitsowninspiration!
Shallnotavoice,ifavoicetheremustbe,fromtheairsthatenviron,Yea,fromtheconsciousheavens,withoutourknowledgeoreffort,Breakintoaudiblewords?Andlovebeitsowninspiration?
XIII。ClaudetoEustace。
WhereforeandhowIamcertain,Ihardlycantell;butitISso。
Shedoesn’tlikeme,Eustace;Ithinksheneverwilllikeme。
Isitmyfault,asitismymisfortune,mywaysarenotherways?
Isitmyfault,thatmyhabitsandmodesaredissimilarwholly?
’Tisnotherfault;’tishernature,hervirtue,tomisapprehendthem:
’Tisnotherfault;’tisherbeautifulnature,notevertoknowme。
Hopelessitseems,——yetIcannot,thoughhopeless,determinetoleaveit:
Shegoes——thereforeIgo;shemoves,——Imove,nottoloseher。
XIV。ClaudetoEustace。
Oh,’tisn’tmanly,ofcourse,’tisn’tmanly,thismethodofwooing;
’Tisn’tthewayverylikelytowin。Forthewoman,theytellyou,Everpreferstheaudacious,thewilful,thevehementhero;
Shehasnoheartforthetimid,thesensitivesoul;andforknowledge,——
Knowledge,OyeGods!——whendidtheyappreciateknowledge?
Whereforeshouldthey,either?IamsureIdonotdesireit。
Ah,andIfeeltoo,Eustace,shecaresnotatittleaboutme!
(Careaboutme,indeed!anddoIreallyexpectit?)
Butmymanneroffends;mywaysarewhollyrepugnant;
EverywordthatIutterestranges,hurts,andrepelsher;
EverymomentofblissthatIgain,inherexquisitepresence,Slowly,surely,withdrawsher,removesher,andseversherfromme。
NotthatIcareverymuch!——anywayIescapefromtheboy’sownFolly,towhichIamprone,oflovingwhereitiseasy。
NotthatImindverymuch!WhyshouldI?Iamnotinlove,andAmprepared,Ithink,ifnotbyprevioushabit,Yetinthespiritbeforehandforthisandallthatislikeit;
Itisaneasiermatterforuscontemplativecreatures,Usuponwhomthepressureofactionislaidsolightly;
We,discontentedindeedwiththingsinparticular,idle,Sickly,complaining,byfaith,inthevisionofthingsingeneral,Managetoholdonourwaywithout,likeothersaroundus,Seizingthenearestarmtocomfort,help,andsupportus。
Yet,afterall,myEustace,Iknowbutlittleaboutit。
AllIcansayformyself,forpresentalikeandforpast,is,MaryTrevellyn,Eustace,iscertainlyworthyouracquaintance。
Youcouldn’tcome,Isuppose,asfarasFlorencetoseeher?
XV。GeorginaTrevellyntoLouisa————……To-morrowwe’restartingforFlorence,Trulyrejoiced,youmayguess,toescapefromrepublicanterrors;
Mr。C。andPapatoescortus;webyvetturaThroughSiena,andGeorgytofollowandjoinusbyLeghorn。
Then————Ah,whatshallIsay,mydearest?Itrembleinthinking!
Youwillimaginemyfeelings,——theblendingofhopeandofsorrow。
HowcanIbeartoabandonPapaandMammaandmySisters?
DearestLouise,indeeditisveryalarming;but,trustmeEver,whatevermaychange,toremainyourlovingGeorgina。
P。S。byMaryTrevellyn……’DoIlikeMr。Claudeanybetter?’
Iamtotellyou,——and,’Pray,isitSusanorIthatattracthim?’
Thisheneverhastold,butGeorginacouldcertainlyaskhim。
AllIcansayformyselfis,alas!thatheratherrepelsme。
There!Ithinkhimagreeable,butalsoalittlerepulsive。
Sobecontent,dearLouisa;foronesatisfactorymarriageSurelywilldoinoneyearforthefamilyyouwouldestablishNeitherSusannorIshallaffordyouthejoyofasecond。
P。S。byGeorginaTrevellyn。
Mr。Claude,youmustknow,isbehavingalittlebitbetter;
HeandPapaaregreatfriends;buthereallyistooSHILLY-SHALLY,——
SounlikeGeorge!YetIhopethatthematteisgoingonfairly。
Ishall,however,getGeorge,beforehegoes,tosaysomething。
DearestLouise,howdelightfultobringyoungpeopletogether!
——————————————————————————————-
IsitFlorencewefollow,orarewetotarryyetlonger,E’enamidclamourofarms,hereinthecityofold,SeekingfromclamourofarmsinthePastandtheArtstobehidden,Vainly’midArtsandthePastseekingonelifetoforget?
Ah,fairshadow,scarceseen,goforth!foranonheshallfollow,——
Hethatbeheldthee,anon,whitherthouleadestmustgo!
Go,andthewise,lovingMuse,shealsowillfollowandfindthee!
She,shouldshelingerinRome,werenotdisseveredfromthee!