第1章
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  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!

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