ChapterVIII
THESOLITUDEANDSOLILOQUYOFTHEEGYPTIAN。HISCHARACTERANALYSED。
WEmustgobackafewhoursintheprogressofourstory。Atthefirstgreydawnoftheday，whichGlaucushadalreadymarkedwithwhite，theEgyptianwasseated，sleeplessandalone，onthesummitoftheloftyandpyramidaltowerwhichflankedhishouse。Atallparapetarounditservedasawall，andconspired，withtheheightoftheedificeandthegloomytreesthatgirdedthemansion，todefythepryingeyesofcuriosityorobservation。A
table，onwhichlayascroll，filledwithmysticfigures，wasbeforehim。
Onhigh，thestarswaxeddimandfaint，andtheshadesofnightmeltedfromthesterilemountain—tops；onlyaboveVesuviusthererestedadeepandmassycloud，whichforseveraldayspasthadgathereddarkerandmoresolidoveritssummit。Thestruggleofnightanddaywasmorevisibleoverthebroadocean，whichstretchedcalm，likeagiganticlake，boundedbythecirclingshoresthat，coveredwithvinesandfoliage，andgleaminghereandtherewiththewhitewallsofsleepingcities，slopedtothescarceripplingwaves。
ItwasthehouraboveallothersmostsacredtothedaringscienceoftheEgyptian——thesciencewhichwouldreadourchangefuldestiniesinthestars。
Hehadfilledhisscroll，hehadnotedthemomentandthesign；and，leaninguponhishand，hehadsurrenderedhimselftothethoughtswhichhiscalculationexcited。
’Againdothestarsforewarnme！Somedanger，then，assuredlyawaitsme！’
saidhe，slowly；’somedanger，violentandsuddeninitsnature。Thestarswearformethesamemockingmenacewhich，ifourchroniclesdonoterr，theyonceworeforPyrrhus——forhim，doomedtostriveforallthings，toenjoynone——allattacking，nothinggaining——battleswithoutfruit，laurelswithouttriumph，famewithoutsuccess；atlastmadecravenbyhisownsuperstitions，andslainlikeadogbyatilefromthehandofanoldwoman！
Verily，thestarsflatterwhentheygivemeatypeinthisfoolofwar——whentheypromisetotheardourofmywisdomthesameresultsastothemadnessofhisambition——perpetualexercise——nocertaingoal！——theSisyphustask，themountainandthestone！——thestone，agloomyimage！——itremindsmethatIamthreatenedwithsomewhatofthesamedeathastheEpirote。Letmelookagain。\"Beware，\"saytheshiningprophets，\"howthoupassestunderancientroofs，orbesiegedwalls，oroverhangingcliffs——astonehurledfromabove，ischargedbythecursesofdestinyagainstthee！\"And，atnodistantdatefromthis，comestheperil：butIcannot，ofacertainty，readthedayandhour。Well！ifmyglassrunslow，thesandsshallsparkletothelast。Yet，ifIescapethisperil——ay，ifIescape——brightandclearasthemoonlighttrackalongthewatersglowstherestofmyexistence。Iseehonors，happiness，success，shininguponeverybillowofthedarkgulfbeneathwhichImustsinkatlast。What，then，withsuchdestiniesbeyondtheperil，shallIsuccumbtotheperil？Mysoulwhispershope，itsweepsexultinglybeyondthebodinghour，itrevelsinthefuture——itsowncourageisitsfittestomen。IfIweretoperishsosuddenlyandsosoon，theshadowofdeathwoulddarkenoverme，andIshouldfeeltheicypresentimentofmydoom。Mysoulwouldexpress，insadnessandingloom，itsforecastofthedrearyOrcus。Butitsmiles——itassuresmeofdeliverance。’
Ashethusconcludedhissoliloquy，theEgyptianinvoluntarilyrose。Hepacedrapidlythenarrowspaceofthatstar—roofedfloor，and，pausingattheparapet，lookedagainuponthegreyandmelancholyheavens。Thechillsofthefaintdawncamerefreshinglyuponhisbrow，andgraduallyhismindresumeditsnaturalandcollectedcalm。Hewithdrewhisgazefromthestars，as，oneafterone，theyrecededintothedepthsofheaven；andhiseyesfelloverthebroadexpansebelow。Diminthesilencedportofthecityrosethemastsofthegalleys；alongthatmartofluxuryandoflaborwasstilledthemightyhum。Nolights，savehereandtherefrombeforethecolumnsofatemple，orintheporticoesofthevoicelessforum，brokethewanandfluctuatinglightofthestrugglingmorn。Fromtheheartofthetorpidcity，sosoontovibratewithathousandpassions，therecamenosound：thestreamsoflifecirculatednot；theylaylockedundertheiceofsleep。Fromthehugespaceoftheamphitheatre，withitsstonyseatsrisingoneabovetheother——coiledandroundassomeslumberingmonster——roseathinandghastlymist，whichgathereddarker，andmoredark，overthescatteredfoliagethatgloomedinitsvicinity。Thecityseemedas，aftertheawfulchangeofseventeenages，itseemsnowtothetraveler，——aCityoftheDead。’
Theoceanitself——thatsereneandtidelesssea——layscarcelesshushed，savethatfromitsdeepbosomcame，softenedbythedistance，afaintandregularmurmur，likethebreathingofitssleep；andcurvingfar，aswithoutstretchedarms，intothegreenandbeautifulland，itseemedunconsciouslytoclasptoitsbreastthecitiesslopingtoitsmargin——Stabiae，andHerculaneum，andPompeii——thosechildrenanddarlingsofthedeep。’Yeslumber，’saidtheEgyptian，ashescowledoverthecities，theboastandflowerofCampania；’yeslumber！——woulditweretheeternalreposeofdeath！Asyenow——jewelsinthecrownofempire——sooncewerethecitiesoftheNile！Theirgreatnesshathperishedfromthem，theysleepamidstruins，theirpalacesandtheirshrinesaretombs，theserpentcoilsinthegrassoftheirstreets，thelizardbasksintheirsolitaryhalls。BythatmysteriouslawofNature，whichhumblesonetoexalttheother，yehavethrivenupontheirruins；thou，haughtyRome，hastusurpedthegloriesofSesostrisandSemiramis——thouartarobber，clothingthyselfwiththeirspoils！Andthese——slavesinthytriumph——thatI（thelastsonofforgottenmonarchs）surveybelow，reservoirsofthineall—pervadingpowerandluxury，IcurseasIbehold！ThetimeshallcomewhenEgyptshallbeavenged！whenthebarbarian’ssteedshallmakehismangerintheGoldenHouseofNero！andthouthathastsownthewindwithconquestshaltreaptheharvestinthewhirlwindofdesolation！’
AstheEgyptianutteredapredictionwhichfatesofearfullyfulfilled，amoresolemnandbodingimageofillomenneveroccurredtothedreamsofpainterorofpoet。Themorninglight，whichcanpalesowanlyeventheyoungcheekofbeauty，gavehismajesticandstatelyfeaturesalmostthecolorsofthegrave，withthedarkhairfallingmassivelyaroundthem，andthedarkrobesflowinglongandloose，andthearmoutstretchedfromthatloftyeminence，andtheglitteringeyes，fiercewithasavagegladness——halfprophetandhalffiend！
Heturnedhisgazefromthecityandtheocean；beforehimlaythevineyardsandmeadowsoftherichCampania。Thegateandwalls——ancient，halfPelasgic——ofthecity，seemednottobounditsextent。VillasandvillagesstretchedoneverysideuptheascentofVesuvius，notnearlythensosteeporsoloftyasatpresent。For，asRomeitselfisbuiltonanexhaustedvolcano，soinsimilarsecuritytheinhabitantsoftheSouthtenantedthegreenandvine—cladplacesaroundavolcanowhosefirestheybelievedatrestforever。Fromthegatestretchedthelongstreetoftombs，variousinsizeandarchitecture，bywhich，onthatside，thecityisasyetapproached。Aboveall，rodethecloud—cappedsummitoftheDreadMountain，withtheshadows，nowdark，nowlight，betrayingthemossycavernsandashyrocks，whichtestifiedthepastconflagrations，andmighthaveprophesied——butmanisblind——thatwhichwastocome！
Difficultwasitthenandtheretoguessthecauseswhythetraditionoftheplaceworesogloomyandsternahue；why，inthosesmilingplains，formilesaround——toBaiaeandMisenum——thepoetshadimaginedtheentranceandthresholdsoftheirhell——theirAcheron，andtheirfabledStyx：why，inthosePhlegrae，nowlaughingwiththevine，theyplacedthebattlesofthegods，andsupposedthedaringTitanstohavesoughtthevictoryofheaven——save，indeed，thatyet，inyonsearedandblastedsummit，fancymightthinktoreadthecharactersoftheOlympianthunderbolt。
Butitwasneithertheruggedheightofthestillvolcano，northefertilityoftheslopingfields，northemelancholyavenueoftombs，northeglitteringvillasofapolishedandluxuriouspeople，thatnowarrestedtheeyeoftheEgyptian。Ononepartofthelandscape，themountainofVesuviusdescendedtotheplaininanarrowanduncultivatedridge，brokenhereandtherebyjaggedcragsandcopsesofwildfoliage。Atthebaseofthislayamarshyandunwholesomepool；andtheintentgazeofArbacescaughttheoutlineofsomelivingformmovingbythemarshes，andstoopingeverandanonasiftopluckitsrankproduce。
’Ho！’saidhe，aloud，’Ihavethen，anothercompanionintheseunworldlynight——watches。ThewitchofVesuviusisabroad。What！dothshe，too，asthecredulousimagine——dothshe，too，learntheloreofthegreatstars？
Hathshebeenutteringfoulmagictothemoon，orculling（asherpausesbetoken）foulherbsfromthevenomousmarsh？Well，Imustseethisfellow—laborer。Whoeverstrivestoknowlearnsthatnohumanloreisdespicable。Despicableonlyyou——yefatandbloatedthings——slavesofluxury——sluggardsinthought——who，cultivatingnothingbutthebarrensense，dreamthatitspoorsoilcanproducealikethemyrtleandthelaurel。No，thewiseonlycanenjoy——tousonlytrueluxuryisgiven，whenmind，brain，invention，experience，thought，learning，imagination，allcontributelikeriverstoswelltheseasofSENSE！——Ione！’
AsArbacesutteredthatlastandcharmedword，histhoughtssunkatonceintoamoredeepandprofoundchannel。Hisstepspaused；hetooknothiseyesfromtheground；onceortwicehesmiledjoyously，andthen，asheturnedfromhisplaceofvigil，andsoughthiscouch，hemuttered，’Ifdeathfrownssonear，IwillsayatleastthatIhavelived——Ioneshallbemine！’
ThecharacterofArbaceswasoneofthoseintricateandvariedwebs，inwhicheventhemindthatsatwithinitwassometimesconfusedandperplexed。
Inhim，thesonofafallendynasty，theoutcastofasunkenpeople，wasthatspiritofdiscontentedpride，whicheverranklesinoneofasternermould，whofeelshimselfinexorablyshutfromthesphereinwhichhisfathersshone，andtowhichNatureaswellasbirthnolessentitleshimself。Thissentimenthathnobenevolence；itwarswithsociety，itseesenemiesinmankind。Butwiththissentimentdidnotgoitscommoncompanion，poverty。ArbacespossessedwealthwhichequalledthatofmostoftheRomannobles；andthisenabledhimtogratifytotheutmostthepassionswhichhadnooutletinbusinessorambition。Travellingfromclimetoclime，andbeholdingstillRomeeverywhere，heincreasedbothhishatredofsocietyandhispassionforpleasure。Hewasinavastprison，which，however，hecouldfillwiththeministersofluxury。Hecouldnotescapefromtheprison，andhisonlyobject，therefore，wastogiveitthecharacterofthepalace。TheEgyptians，fromtheearliesttime，weredevotedtothejoysofsense；Arbacesinheritedboththeirappetiteforsensualityandtheglowofimaginationwhichstrucklightfromitsrottenness。Butstill，unsocialinhispleasuresasinhisgraverpursuits，andbrookingneithersuperiornorequal，headmittedfewtohiscompanionship，savethewillingslavesofhisprofligacy。Hewasthesolitarylordofacrowdedharem；but，withall，hefeltcondemnedtothatsatietywhichistheconstantcurseofmenwhoseintellectisabovetheirpursuits，andthatwhichoncehadbeentheimpulseofpassionfrozedowntotheordinanceofcustom。>Fromthedisappointmentsofsensehesoughttoraisehimselfbythecultivationofknowledge；butasitwasnothisobjecttoservemankind，sohedespisedthatknowledgewhichispracticalanduseful。Hisdarkimaginationlovedtoexerciseitselfinthosemorevisionaryandobscureresearcheswhichareeverthemostdelightfultoawaywardandsolitarymind，andtowhichhehimselfwasinvitedbythedaringprideofhisdispositionandthemysterioustraditionsofhisclime。
Dismissingfaithintheconfusedcreedsoftheheathenworld，hereposedthegreatestfaithinthepowerofhumanwisdom。Hedidnotknow（perhapsnooneinthatagedistinctlydid）thelimitswhichNatureimposesuponourdiscoveries。Seeingthatthehigherwemountinknowledgethemorewonderswebehold，heimaginedthatNaturenotonlyworkedmiraclesinherordinarycourse，butthatshemight，bythecabalaofsomemastersoul，bedivertedfromthatcourseitself。Thushepursuedscience，acrossherappointedboundaries，intothelandofperplexityandshadow。Fromthetruthsofastronomyhewanderedintoastrologicalfallacy；fromthesecretsofchemistryhepassedintothespectrallabyrinthofmagic；andhewhocouldbescepticalastothepowerofthegods，wascredulouslysuperstitiousastothepowerofman。
Thecultivationofmagic，carriedatthatdaytoasingularheightamongthewould—bewise，wasespeciallyEasterninitsorigin；itwasalientotheearlyphilosophyoftheGreeks；norhaditbeenreceivedbythemwithfavoruntilOstanes，whoaccompaniedthearmyofXerxes，introduced，amongstthesimplecredulitiesofHellas，thesolemnsuperstitionsofZoroaster。UndertheRomanemperorsithadbecome，however，naturalizedatRome（ameetsubjectforJuvenal’sfierywit）。IntimatelyconnectedwithmagicwastheworshipofIsis，andtheEgyptianreligionwasthemeansbywhichwasextendedthedevotiontoEgyptiansorcery。Thetheurgic，orbenevolentmagic——thegoetic，ordarkandevilnecromancy——werealikeinpre—eminentreputeduringthefirstcenturyoftheChristianera；andthemarvelsofFaustusarenotcomparabletothoseofApollonius。Kings，courtiers，andsages，alltrembledbeforetheprofessorsofthedreadscience。AndnottheleastremarkableofhistribewasthemostformidableandprofoundArbaces。
Hisfameandhisdiscoverieswereknowntoallthecultivatorsofmagic；
theyevensurvivedhimself。Butitwasnotbyhisrealnamethathewashonoredbythesorcererandthesage：hisrealname，indeed，wasunknowninItaly，for’Arbaces’wasnotagenuinelyEgyptianbutaMedianappellation，which，intheadmixtureandunsettlementoftheancientraces，hadbecomecommoninthecountryoftheNile；andtherewerevariousreasons，notonlyofpride，butofpolicy（forinyouthhehadconspiredagainstthemajestyofRome），whichinducedhimtoconcealhistruenameandrank。ButneitherbythenamehehadborrowedfromtheMede，norbythatwhichinthecollegesofEgyptwouldhaveattestedhisoriginfromkings，didthecultivatorsofmagicacknowledgethepotentmaster。Hereceivedfromtheirhomageamoremysticappellation，andwaslongrememberedinMagnaGraeciaandtheEasternplainbythenameof’Hermes，theLordoftheFlamingBelt’。Hissubtlespeculationsandboastedattributesofwisdom，recordedinvariousvolumes，wereamongthosetokens’ofthecuriousarts’whichtheChristianconvertsmostjoyfully，yetmostfearfully，burntatEphesus，deprivingposterityoftheproofsofthecunningofthefiend。
TheconscienceofArbaceswassolelyoftheintellect——itwasawedbynomorallaws。Ifmanimposedthesechecksupontheherd，sohebelievedthatman，bysuperiorwisdom，couldraisehimselfabovethem。’If（hereasoned）I
havethegeniustoimposelaws，haveInottherighttocommandmyowncreations？Stillmore，haveInottherighttocontrol——toevade——toscorn——thefabricationsofyetmeanerintellectsthanmyown？’Thus，ifhewereavillain，hejustifiedhisvillainybywhatoughttohavemadehimvirtuous——namely，theelevationofhiscapacities。
Mostmenhavemoreorlessthepassionforpower；inArbacesthatpassioncorrespondedexactlytohischaracter。Itwasnotthepassionforanexternalandbruteauthority。Hedesirednotthepurpleandthefasces，theinsigniaofvulgarcommand。Hisyouthfulambitiononcefoiledanddefeated，scornhadsupplieditsplace——hispride，hiscontemptforRome——Rome，whichhadbecomethesynonymoftheworld（Rome，whosehaughtynameheregardedwiththesamedisdainasthatwhichRomeherselflavisheduponthebarbarian），didnotpermithimtoaspiretoswayoverothers，forthatwouldrenderhimatoncethetoolorcreatureoftheemperor。He，theSonoftheGreatRaceofRameses——heexecutetheordersof，andreceivehispowerfrom，another！——themerenotionfilledhimwithrage。Butinrejectinganambitionthatcovetednominaldistinctions，hebutindulgedthemoreintheambitiontoruletheheart。Honoringmentalpowerasthegreatestofearthlygifts，helovedtofeelthatpowerpalpablyinhimself，byextendingitoverallwhomheencountered。Thushadheeversoughttheyoung——thushadheeverfascinatedandcontrolledthem。Helovedtofindsubjectsinmen’ssouls——toruleoveraninvisibleandimmaterialempire！——hadhebeenlesssensualandlesswealthy，hemighthavesoughttobecomethefounderofanewreligion。Asitwas，hisenergieswerecheckedbyhispleasures。
Besides，however，thevagueloveofthismoralsway（vanitysodeartosages！）hewasinfluencedbyasingularanddreamlikedevotiontoallthatbelongedtothemysticLandhisancestorshadswayed。Althoughhedisbelievedinherdeities，hebelievedintheallegoriestheyrepresented（orratherheinterpretedthoseallegoriesanew）。HelovedtokeepalivetheworshipofEgypt，becausehethusmaintainedtheshadowandtherecollectionofherpower。Heloaded，therefore，thealtarsofOsirisandofIsiswithregaldonations，andwaseveranxioustodignifytheirpriesthoodbynewandwealthyconverts。Thevowtaken——thepriesthoodembraced——heusuallychosethecomradesofhispleasuresfromthosewhomhemadehisvictims，partlybecausehethussecuredtohimselftheirsecrecy——partlybecausehethusyetmoreconfirmedtohimselfhispeculiarpower。HencethemotivesofhisconducttoApaecides，strengthenedasthesewere，inthatinstance，byhispassionforIone。
Hehadseldomlivedlonginoneplace；butashegrewolder，hegrewmoreweariedoftheexcitementofnewscenes，andhehadsojournedamongthedelightfulcitiesofCampaniaforaperiodwhichsurprisedevenhimself。Infact，hispridesomewhatcrippledhischoiceofresidence。Hisunsuccessfulconspiracyexcludedhimfromthoseburningclimeswhichhedeemedofrighthisownhereditarypossession，andwhichnowcowered，supineandsunken，underthewingsoftheRomaneagle。Romeherselfwashatefultohisindignantsoul；nordidhelovetofindhisrichesrivalledbytheminionsofthecourt，andcastintocomparativepovertybythemightymagnificenceofthecourtitself。TheCampaniancitiesprofferedtohimallthathisnaturecraved——theluxuriesofanunequalledclimate——theimaginativerefinementsofavoluptuouscivilization。Hewasremovedfromthesightofasuperiorwealth；hewaswithoutrivalstohisriches；hewasfreefromthespiesofajealouscourt。Aslongashewasrich，nonepriedintohisconduct。Hepursuedthedarktenourofhiswayundisturbedandsecure。
Itisthecurseofsensualistsnevertolovetillthepleasuresofsensebegintopall；theirardentyouthisfritteredawayincountlessdesires——theirheartsareexhausted。So，everchasinglove，andtaughtbyarestlessimaginationtoexaggerate，perhaps，itscharms，theEgyptianhadspentallthegloryofhisyearswithoutattainingtheobjectofhisdesires。Thebeautyofto—morrowsucceededthebeautyofto—day，andtheshadowsbewilderedhiminhispursuitofthesubstance。When，twoyearsbeforethepresentdate，hebeheldIone，hesaw，forthefirsttime，onewhomheimaginedhecouldlove。Hestood，then，uponthatbridgeoflife，fromwhichmanseesbeforehimdistinctlyawastedyouthontheoneside，andthedarknessofapproachingageupontheother：atimeinwhichwearemorethaneveranxious，perhaps，tosecuretoourselves，ereitbeyettoolate，whateverwehavebeentaughttoconsidernecessarytotheenjoymentofalifeofwhichthebrighterhalfisgone。
Withanearnestnessandapatiencewhichhehadneverbeforecommandedforhispleasures，ArbaceshaddevotedhimselftowintheheartofIone。Itdidnotcontenthimtolove，hedesiredtobeloved。InthishopehehadwatchedtheexpandingyouthofthebeautifulNeapolitan；and，knowingtheinfluencethatthemindpossessesoverthosewhoaretaughttocultivatethemind，hehadcontributedwillinglytoformthegeniusandenlightentheintellectofIone，inthehopethatshewouldbethusabletoappreciatewhathefeltwouldbehisbestclaimtoheraffection：viz，acharacterwhich，howevercriminalandperverted，wasrichinitsoriginalelementsofstrengthandgrandeur。Whenhefeltthatcharactertobeacknowledged，hewillinglyallowed，nay，encouragedher，tomixamongtheidlevotariesofpleasure，inthebeliefthathersoul，fittedforhighercommune，wouldmissthecompanionshipofhisown，andthat，incomparisonwithothers，shewouldlearntoloveherself。Hehadforgot，thatasthesunflowertothesun，soyouthturnstoyouth，untilhisjealousyofGlaucussuddenlyapprisedhimofhiserror。Fromthatmoment，though，aswehaveseen，heknewnottheextentofhisdanger，afiercerandmoretumultuousdirectionwasgiventoapassionlongcontrolled。Nothingkindlesthefireoflovelikethesprinklingoftheanxietiesofjealousy；ittakesthenawilder，amoreresistlessflame；itforgetsitssoftness；itceasestobetender；itassumessomethingoftheintensity——oftheferocity——ofhate。
Arbacesresolvedtolosenofurthertimeuponcautiousandperilouspreparations：heresolvedtoplaceanirrevocablebarrierbetweenhimselfandhisrivals：heresolvedtopossesshimselfofthepersonofIone：notthatinhispresentlove，solongnursedandfedbyhopespurerthanthoseofpassionalone，hewouldhavebeencontentedwiththatmerepossession。
Hedesiredtheheart，thesoul，nolessthanthebeauty，ofIone；butheimaginedthatonceseparatedbyadaringcrimefromtherestofmankind——onceboundtoIonebyatiethatmemorycouldnotbreak，shewouldbedriventoconcentrateherthoughtsinhim——thathisartswouldcompletehisconquest，andthat，accordingtothetruemoraloftheRomanandtheSabine，theempireobtainedbyforcewouldbecementedbygentlermeans。
Thisresolutionwasyetmoreconfirmedinhimbyhisbeliefinthepropheciesofthestars：theyhadlongforetoldtohimthisyear，andeventhepresentmonth，astheepochofsomedreaddisaster，menacinglifeitself。Hewasdriventoacertainandlimiteddate。Heresolvedtocrowd，monarch—like，onhisfuneralpyreallthathissoulheldmostdear。Inhisownwords，ifheweretodie，heresolvedtofeelthathehadlived，andthatIoneshouldbehisown。
ChapterIX
WHATBECOMESOFIONEINTHEHOUSEOFARBACES。THEFIRSTSIGNALOFTHEWRATH
OFTHEDREADFOE。
WHENIoneenteredthespacioushalloftheEgyptian，thesameawewhichhadcreptoverherbrotherimpresseditselfalsouponher：thereseemedtoherastohimsomethingominousandwarninginthestillandmournfulfacesofthosedreadThebanmonsters，whosemajesticandpassionlessfeaturesthemarblesowellportrayed：
Theirlook，withthereachofpastages，waswise，Andthesoulofeternitythoughtintheireyes。
ThetallAEthiopianslavegrinnedasheadmittedher，andmotionedtohertoproceed。Half—wayupthehallshewasmetbyArbaceshimself，infestiverobes，whichglitteredwithjewels。Althoughitwasbroaddaywithout，themansion，accordingtothepracticeoftheluxurious，wasartificiallydarkened，andthelampscasttheirstillandodor—givinglightovertherichfloorsandivoryroofs。
’BeautifulIone，’saidArbaces，ashebenttotouchherhand，’itisyouthathaveeclipsedtheday——itisyoureyesthatlightupthehalls——itisyourbreathwhichfillsthemwithperfumes。’
’Youmustnottalktomethus，’saidIone，smiling，’youforgetthatyourlorehassufficientlyinstructedmymindtorenderthesegracefulflatteriestomypersonunwelcome。Itwasyouwhotaughtmetodisdainadulation：willyouunteachyourpupil？’
TherewassomethingsofrankandcharminginthemannerofIone，asshethusspoke，thattheEgyptianwasmorethaneverenamoured，andmorethaneverdisposedtorenewtheoffencehehadcommitted；he，however，answeredquicklyandgaily，andhastenedtorenewtheconversation。
Heledherthroughthevariouschambersofahouse，whichseemedtocontaintohereyes，inexperiencedtoothersplendorthantheminuteeleganceofCampaniancities，thetreasuresoftheworld。
Inthewallsweresetpicturesofinestimableart，thelightsshoneoverstatuesofthenoblestageofGreece。Cabinetsofgems，eachcabinetitselfagem，filleduptheintersticesofthecolumns；themostpreciouswoodslinedthethresholdsandcomposedthedoors；goldandjewelsseemedlavishedallaround。Sometimestheywerealoneintheserooms——sometimestheypassedthroughsilentrowsofslaves，who，kneelingasshepassed，profferedtoherofferingsofbracelets，ofchains，ofgems，whichtheEgyptianvainlyentreatedhertoreceive。
’Ihaveoftenheard，’saidshe，wonderingly，’thatyouwererich；butI
neverdreamedoftheamountofyourwealth。’
’WouldIcouldcoinitall，’repliedtheEgyptian，’intoonecrown，whichI
mightplaceuponthatsnowybrow！’
’Alas！theweightwouldcrushme；IshouldbeasecondTarpeia，’answeredIone，laughingly。
’Butthoudostnotdisdainriches，OIone！theyknownotwhatlifeiscapableofwhoarenotwealthy。Goldisthegreatmagicianofearth——itrealizesourdreams——itgivesthemthepowerofagod——thereisagrandeur，asublimity，initspossession；itisthemightiest，yetthemostobedientofourslaves。’
TheartfulArbacessoughttodazzletheyoungNeapolitanbyhistreasuresandhiseloquence；hesoughttoawakeninherthedesiretobemistressofwhatshesurveyed：hehopedthatshewouldconfoundtheownerwiththepossessions，andthatthecharmsofhiswealthwouldbereflectedonhimself。Meanwhile，Ionewassecretlysomewhatuneasyatthegallantrieswhichescapedfromthoselips，which，tilllately，hadseemedtodisdainthecommonhomagewepaytobeauty；andwiththatdelicatesubtlety，whichwomanalonepossesses，shesoughttowardoffshaftsdeliberatelyaimed，andtolaughortotalkawaythemeaningfromhiswarminglanguage。Nothingintheworldismoreprettythanthatsamespeciesofdefence；itisthecharmoftheAfricannecromancerwhoprofessedwithafeathertoturnasidethewinds。
TheEgyptianwasintoxicatedandsubduedbyhergraceevenmorethanbyherbeauty：itwaswithdifficultythathesuppressedhisemotions；alas！thefeatherwasonlypowerfulagainstthesummerbreezes——itwouldbethesportofthestorm。