Etruscanprophecywhichsaith，\"Whenthemountainopens，thecityshallfall——whenthesmokecrownstheHilloftheParchedFields，thereshallbewoeandweepinginthehearthsoftheChildrenoftheSea。\"Dreadmaster，ereIleavethesewallsforsomemoredistantdwelling，Icometothee。Asthoulivest，knowIinmyheartthattheearthquakethatsixteenyearsagoshookthiscitytoitssolidbase，wasbuttheforerunnerofmoredeadlydoom。ThewallsofPompeiiarebuiltabovethefieldsoftheDead，andtheriversofthesleeplessHell。Bewarnedandfly！’
ThroughthisawfulscenedidtheAthenianwadehisway，accompaniedbyIoneandtheblindgirl。Suddenly，arushofhundreds，intheirpathtothesea，sweptbythem。NydiawastornfromthesideofGlaucus，who，withIone，wasbornerapidlyonward；andwhenthecrowd（whoseformstheysawnot，sothickwasthegloom）weregone，Nydiawasstillseparatedfromtheirside。
Glaucusshoutedhername。Noanswercame。Theyretracedtheirsteps——invain：theycouldnotdiscoverher——itwasevidentshehadbeensweptalongsomeoppositedirectionbythehumancurrent。Theirfriend，theirpreserver，waslost！AndhithertoNydiahadbeentheirguide。Herblindnessrenderedthescenefamiliartoheralone。Accustomed，throughaperpetualnight，tothreadthewindingsofthecity，shehadledthemunerringlytowardsthesea—shore，bywhichtheyhadresolvedtohazardanescape。Now，whichwaycouldtheywend？allwasraylesstothem——amazewithoutaclue。Wearied，despondent，bewildered，they，however，passedalong，theashesfallingupontheirheads，thefragmentarystonesdashingupinsparklesbeforetheirfeet。
’Alas！alas！’murmuredIone，’Icangonofarther；mystepssinkamongthescorchingcinders。Fly，dearest！——beloved，fly！andleavemetomyfate！’
’Hush，mybetrothed！mybride！Deathwiththeeissweeterthanlifewithoutthee！Yet，whither——oh！whither，canwedirectourselvesthroughthegloom？
Alreadyitseemsthatwehavemadebutacircle，andareintheveryspotwhichwequittedanhourago。’
’Ogods！yonrock——see，ithathriventheroofbeforeus！Itisdeathtomovethroughthestreets！’
’Blessedlightning！See，Ione——see！theporticooftheTempleofFortuneisbeforeus。Letuscreepbeneathit；itwillprotectusfromtheshowers。’
Hecaughthisbelovedinhisarms，andwithdifficultyandlaborgainedthetemple。Heborehertotheremoterandmoreshelteredpartoftheportico，andleanedoverher，thathemightshieldher，withhisownform，fromthelightningandtheshowers！Thebeautyandtheunselfishnessoflovecouldhalloweventhatdismaltime！
’Whoisthere？’saidthetremblingandhollowvoiceofonewhohadprecededthemintheirplaceofrefuge。’Yet，whatmatters？——thecrushoftheruinedworldforbidstousfriendsorfoes。’
Ioneturnedatthesoundofthevoice，and，withafaintshriek，coweredagainbeneaththearmsofGlaucus：andhe，lookinginthedirectionofthevoice，beheldthecauseofheralarm。Throughthedarknessglaredforthtwoburningeyes——thelightningflashedandlingeredathwartthetemple——andGlaucus，withashudder，perceivedtheliontowhichhehadbeendoomedcouchedbeneaththepillars——and，closebesideit，unwittingofthevicinity，laythegiantformofhimwhohadaccostedthem——thewoundedgladiator，Niger。
Thatlightninghadrevealedtoeachothertheformofbeastandman；yettheinstinctofbothwasquelled。Nay，thelioncreptnearerandnearertothegladiator，asforcompanionship；andthegladiatordidnotrecedeortremble。TherevolutionofNaturehaddissolvedherlighterterrorsaswellasherwontedties。
Whiletheywerethusterriblyprotected，agroupofmenandwomen，bearingtorches，passedbythetemple。TheywereofthecongregationoftheNazarenes；andasublimeandunearthlyemotionhadnot，indeed，quelledtheirawe，butithadrobbedaweoffear。Theyhadlongbelieved，accordingtotheerroroftheearlyChristians，thattheLastDaywasathand；theyimaginednowthattheDayhadcome。
’Woe！woe！’cried，inashrillandpiercingvoice，theelderattheirhead。
’Behold！theLorddescendethtojudgment！Hemakethfirecomedownfromheaveninthesightofmen！Woe！woe！yestrongandmighty！Woetoyeofthefascesandthepurple！Woetotheidolaterandtheworshipperofthebeast！Woetoyewhopourforththebloodofsaints，andgloatoverthedeath—pangsofthesonsofGod！Woetotheharlotofthesea！——woe！woe！’
Andwithaloudanddeepchorus，thetroopchantedforthalongthewildhorrorsoftheair，’Woetotheharlotofthesea！——woe！woe！’
TheNazarenespacedslowlyon，theirtorchesstillflickeringinthestorm，theirvoicesstillraisedinmenaceandsolemnwarning，till，lostamidthewindingsinthestreets，thedarknessoftheatmosphereandthesilenceofdeathagainfelloverthescene。
Therewasoneofthefrequentpausesintheshowers，andGlaucusencouragedIoneoncemoretoproceed。justastheystood，hesitating，onthelaststepoftheportico，anoldman，withabaginhisrighthandandleaninguponayouth，totteredby。Theyouthboreatorch。Glaucusrecognizedthetwoasfatherandson——miserandprodigal。
’Father，’saidtheyouth，’ifyoucannotmovemoreswiftly，Imustleaveyou，orwebothperish！’
’Fly，boy，then，andleavethysire！’
’ButIcannotflytostarve；givemethybagofgold！’Andtheyouthsnatchedatit。
’Wretch！wouldstthourobthyfather？’
’Ay！whocantellthetaleinthishour？Miser，perish！’
Theboystrucktheoldmantotheground，pluckedthebagfromhisrelaxinghand，andfledonwardwithashrillyell。
’Yegods！’criedGlaucus：’areyeblind，then，eveninthedark？Suchcrimesmaywellconfoundtheguiltlesswiththeguiltyinonecommonruin。Ione，on！——on！’
ChapterVIII
ARBACESENCOUNTERSGLAUCUSANDIONE。
ADVANCING，asmengropeforescapeinadungeon，Ioneandherlovercontinuedtheiruncertainway。Atthemomentswhenthevolcaniclightningslingeredoverthestreets，theywereenabled，bythatawfullight，tosteerandguidetheirprogress：yet，littledidtheviewitpresentedtothemcheerorencouragetheirpath。Inparts，wheretheasheslaydryanduncommixedwiththeboilingtorrents，castupwardfromthemountainatcapriciousintervals，thesurfaceoftheearthpresentedaleprousandghastlywhite。Inotherplaces，cinderandrocklaymattedinheaps，frombeneathwhichemergedthehalf—hidlimbsofsomecrushedandmangledfugitive。Thegroansofthedyingwerebrokenbywildshrieksofwomen’sterror——nownear，nowdistant——which，whenheardintheutterdarkness，wererendereddoublyappallingbythecrushingsenseofhelplessnessandtheuncertaintyoftheperilsaround；andclearanddistinctthroughallwerethemightyandvariousnoisesfromtheFatalMountain；itsrushingwinds；
itswhirlingtorrents；and，fromtimetotime，theburstandroarofsomemorefieryandfierceexplosion。Andeverasthewindsswepthowlingalongthestreet，theyboresharpstreamsofburningdust，andsuchsickeningandpoisonousvapors，astookaway，fortheinstant，breathandconsciousness，followedbyarapidrevulsionofthearrestedblood，andatinglingsensationofagonytremblingthrougheverynerveandfibreoftheframe。
’Oh，Glaucus！mybeloved！myown！——takemetothyarms！Oneembrace！letmefeelthyarmsaroundme——andinthatembraceletmedie——Icannomore！’
’Formysake，formylife——courage，yet，sweetIone——mylifeislinkedwiththine：andsee——torches——thisway！Lo！howtheybravetheWind！Ha！theylivethroughthestorm——doubtless，fugitivestothesea！wewilljointhem。’
Asiftoaidandreanimatethelovers，thewindsandshowerscametoasuddenpause；theatmospherewasprofoundlystill——themountainseemedatrest，gathering，perhaps，freshfuryforitsnextburst；thetorch—bearersmovedquicklyon。’Wearenearingthesea，’said，inacalmvoice，thepersonattheirhead。’Libertyandwealthtoeachslavewhosurvivesthisday！Courage！Itellyouthatthegodsthemselveshaveassuredmeofdeliverance。On！’
RedlyandsteadilythetorchesflashedfullontheeyesofGlaucusandIone，wholaytremblingandexhaustedonhisbosom。Severalslaveswerebearing，bythelight，panniersandcoffers，heavilyladen；infrontofthem——adrawnswordinhishand——toweredtheloftyformofArbaces。
’Bymyfathers！’criedtheEgyptian，’Fatesmilesuponmeeventhroughthesehorrors，and，amidstthedreadestaspectsofwoeanddeath，bodesmehappinessandlove。Away，Greek！Iclaimmyward，Ione！’
’Traitorandmurderer！’criedGlaucus，glaringuponhisfoe，’Nemesishathguidedtheetomyrevenge！——ajustsacrificetotheshadesofHades，thatnowseemloosedonearth。Approach——touchbutthehandofIone，andthyweaponshallbeasareed——Iwillteartheelimbfromlimb！’
Suddenly，ashespoke，theplacebecamelightedwithanintenseandluridglow。Brightandgiganticthroughthedarkness，whichclosedarounditlikethewallsofhell，themountainshone——apileoffire！Itssummitseemedrivenintwo；orrather，aboveitssurfacethereseemedtorisetwomonstershapes，eachconfrontingeach，asDemonscontendingforaworld。Thesewereofonedeepblood—redhueoffire，whichlightedupthewholeatmospherefarandwide；but，below，thenetherpartofthemountainwasstilldarkandshrouded，saveinthreeplaces，adownwhichflowed，serpentineandirregular，riversofthemoltenlava。Darklyredthroughtheprofoundgloomoftheirbanks，theyflowedslowlyon，astowardsthedevotedcity。Overthebroadestthereseemedtospringacraggedandstupendousarch，fromwhich，asfromthejawsofhell，gushedthesourcesofthesuddenPhlegethon。Andthroughthestilledairwasheardtherattlingofthefragmentsofrock，hurtlingoneuponanotherastheywerebornedownthefierycataracts——darkening，foroneinstant，thespotwheretheyfell，andsuffusedthenext，intheburnishedhuesofthefloodalongwhichtheyfloated！
Theslavesshriekedaloud，and，cowering，hidtheirfaces。TheEgyptianhimselfstoodtransfixedtothespot，theglowlightinguphiscommandingfeaturesandjewelledrobes。HighbehindhimroseatallcolumnthatsupportedthebronzestatueofAugustus；andtheimperialimageseemedchangedtoashapeoffire！
WithhislefthandcircledroundtheformofIone——withhisrightarmraisedinmenace，andgraspingthestiluswhichwastohavebeenhisweaponinthearena，andwhichhestillfortunatelyboreabouthim，withhisbrowknit，hislipsapart，thewrathandmenaceofhumanpassionsarrestedasbyacharm，uponhisfeatures，GlaucusfrontedtheEgyptian！
Arbacesturnedhiseyesfromthemountain——theyrestedontheformofGlaucus！Hepausedamoment：’Why，’hemuttered，’shouldIhesitate？DidnotthestarsforetelltheonlycrisisofimminentperiltowhichIwassubjected？——Isnotthatperilpast？’
’Thesoul，’criedhealoud，’canbravethewreckofworldsandthewrathofimaginarygods！BythatsoulwillIconquertothelast！Advance，slaves！——Athenian，resistme，andthybloodbeonthineownhead！Thus，then，IregainIone！’
Headvancedonestep——itwashislastonearth！Thegroundshookbeneathhimwithaconvulsionthatcastallarounduponitssurface。Asimultaneouscrashresoundedthroughthecity，asdowntoppledmanyaroofandpillar！——thelightning，asifcaughtbythemetal，lingeredaninstantontheImperialStatue——thenshiveredbronzeandcolumn！Downfelltheruin，echoingalongthestreet，andrivingthesolidpavementwhereitcrashed！——Theprophecyofthestarswasfulfilled！
Thesound——theshock，stunnedtheAthenianforseveralmoments。Whenherecovered，thelightstillilluminatedthescene——theearthstillslidandtrembledbeneath！Ionelaysenselessontheground；buthesawhernotyet——hiseyeswerefixeduponaghastlyfacethatseemedtoemerge，withoutlimbsortrunk，fromthehugefragmentsoftheshatteredcolumn——afaceofunutterablepain，agony，anddespair！Theeyesshutandopenedrapidly，asifsensewerenotyetfled；thelipsquiveredandgrinned——thensuddenstillnessanddarknessfelloverthefeatures，yetretainingthataspectofhorrornevertobeforgotten！
SoperishedthewiseMagician——thegreatArbaces——theHermesoftheBurningBelt——thelastoftheroyaltyofEgypt！
ChapterIX
THEDESPAIROFTHELOVERS。THECONDITIONOFTHEMULTITUDE。
GLAUCUSturnedingratitudebutinawe，caughtIoneoncemoreinhisarms，andfledalongthestreet，thatwasyetintenselyluminous。Butsuddenlyadullershadefellovertheair。Instinctivelyheturnedtothemountain，andbeheld！oneofthetwogiganticcrests，intowhichthesummithadbeendivided，rockedandwaveredtoandfro；andthen，withasound，themightinessofwhichnolanguagecandescribe，itfellfromitsburningbase，andrushed，anavalancheoffire，downthesidesofthemountain！Atthesameinstantgushedforthavolumeofblackestsmoke——rollingon，overair，sea，andearth。
Another——andanother——andanothershowerofashes，farmoreprofusethanbefore，scatteredfreshdesolationalongthestreets。Darknessoncemorewrappedthemasaveil；andGlaucus，hisboldheartatlastquelledanddespairing，sankbeneaththecoverofanarch，and，claspingIonetohisheart——abrideonthatcouchofruin——resignedhimselftodie。
MeanwhileNydia，whenseparatedbythethrongfromGlaucusandIone，hadinvainendeavoredtoregainthem。Invainsheraisedthatplaintivecrysopeculiartotheblind；itwaslostamidstathousandshrieksofmoreselfishterror。Againandagainshereturnedtothespotwheretheyhadbeendivided——tofindhercompanionsgone，toseizeeveryfugitive——toinquireofGlaucus——tobedashedasideintheimpatienceofdistraction。Whointhathoursparedonethoughttohisneighbor？Perhapsinscenesofuniversalhorror，nothingismorehorridthantheunnaturalselfishnesstheyengender。
AtlengthitoccurredtoNydia，thatasithadbeenresolvedtoseekthesea—shoreforescape，hermostprobablechanceofrejoininghercompanionswouldbetopersevereinthatdirection。Guidinghersteps，then，bythestaffwhichshealwayscarried，shecontinued，withincredibledexterity，toavoidthemassesofruinthatencumberedthepath——tothreadthestreets——andunerringly（soblessednowwasthataccustomeddarkness，soafflictinginordinarylife！）totakethenearestdirectiontothesea—side。
Poorgirl！——hercouragewasbeautifultobehold！——andFateseemedtofavoronesohelpless！Theboilingtorrentstouchedhernot，savebythegeneralrainwhichaccompaniedthem；thehugefragmentsofscoriashiveredthepavementbeforeandbesideher，butsparedthatfrailform：andwhenthelesserashesfelloverher，sheshookthemawaywithaslighttremor，’anddauntlesslyresumedhercourse。
Weak，exposed，yetfearless，supportedbutbyonewish，shewasaveryemblemofPsycheinherwanderings；ofHope，walkingthroughtheValleyoftheShadow；oftheSoulitself——lonebutundaunted，amidstthedangersandthesnaresoflife！
Herpathwas，however，constantlyimpededbythecrowdsthatnowgropedamidstthegloom，nowfledinthetemporaryglareofthelightningsacrossthescene；and，atlength，agroupoftorch—bearersrushingfullagainsther，shewasthrowndownwithsomeviolence。
’What！’saidthevoiceofoneoftheparty，’isthisthebraveblindgirl！
ByBacchus，shemustnotbeleftheretodie！Up，myThessalian！So——so。
Areyouhurt？That’swell！Comealongwithus！wearefortheshore！’
’OSallust！itisthyvoice！Thegodsbethanked！Glaucus！Glaucus！
Glaucus！haveyeseenhim？’
’NotI。Heisdoubtlessoutofthecitybythistime。Thegodswhosavedhimfromthelionwillsavehimfromtheburningmountain。’
AsthekindlyepicurethusencouragedNydia，hedrewheralongwithhimtowardsthesea，heedingnotherpassionateentreatiesthathewouldlingeryetawhiletosearchforGlaucus；andstill，intheaccentofdespair，shecontinuedtoshriekoutthatbelovedname，which，amidstalltheroaroftheconvulsedelements，keptaliveamusicatherheart。
Thesuddenillumination，theburstsofthefloodsoflava，andtheearthquake，whichwehavealreadydescribed，chancedwhenSallustandhispartyhadjustgainedthedirectpathleadingfromthecitytotheport；andheretheywerearrestedbyanimmensecrowd，morethanhalfthepopulationofthecity。Theyspreadalongthefieldwithoutthewalls，thousandsuponthousands，uncertainwhithertofly。Theseahadretiredfarfromtheshore；andtheywhohadfledtoithadbeensoterrifiedbytheagitationandpreternaturalshrinkingoftheelement，thegaspingformsoftheuncouthseathingswhichthewaveshadleftuponthesand，andbythesoundofthehugestonescastfromthemountainintothedeep，thattheyhadreturnedagaintotheland，aspresentingthelessfrightfulaspectofthetwo。Thusthetwostreamsofhumanbeings，theoneseaward，theotherfromthesea，hadmettogether，feelingasadcomfortinnumbers；arrestedindespairanddoubt。
’Theworldistobedestroyedbyfire，’saidanoldmaninlonglooserobes，aphilosopheroftheStoicschool：’StoicandEpicureanwisdomhavealikeagreedinthisprediction：andthehouriscome！’
’Yea；thehouriscome！’criedaloudvoice，solemn，butnotfearful。
Thosearoundturnedindismay。Thevoicecamefromabovethem。ItwasthevoiceofOlinthus，who，surroundedbyhisChristianfriends，stooduponanabrupteminenceonwhichtheoldGreekcolonistshadraisedatempletoApollo，nowtimewornandhalfinruin。
AshespoketherecamethatsuddenilluminationwhichhadheraldedthedeathofArbaces，andglowingoverthatmightymultitude，awed，crouching，breathless——neveronearthhadthefacesofmenseemedsohaggard！——neverhadmeetingofmortalbeingsbeensostampedwiththehorrorandsublimityofdread！——nevertillthelasttrumpetsounds，shallsuchmeetingbeseenagain！AndabovethosetheformofOlinthus，withoutstretchedarmandprophetbrow，girtwiththelivingfires。Andthecrowdknewthefaceofhimtheyhaddoomedtothefangsofthebeast——thentheirvictim——nowtheirwarner！andthroughthestillnessagaincamehisominousvoice：
’Thehouriscome！’
TheChristiansrepeatedthecry。Itwascaughtup——itwasechoedfromsidetoside——womanandman，childhoodandoldage，repeated，notaloud，butinasmotheredanddrearymurmur：
’THEHOURISCOME！’
Atthatmoment，awildyellburstthroughtheair——and，thinkingonlyofescape，whitheritknewnot，theterribletigerofthedesertleapedamongstthethrong，andhurriedthroughitspartedstreams。Andsocametheearthquake——andsodarknessoncemorefellovertheearth！
Andnownewfugitivesarrived。Graspingthetreasuresnolongerdestinedfortheirlord，theslavesofArbacesjoinedthethrong。Oneonlyofalltheirtorchesyetflickeredon。ItwasbornebySosia；anditslightfallingonthefaceofNydia，herecognizedtheThessalian。
’Whatavailsthylibertynow，blindgirl？’saidtheslave。
’Whoartthou？canstthoutellmeofGlaucus？’
’Ay；Isawhimbutafewminutessince。’
’Blessedbethyhead！where？’
’Crouchedbeneaththearchoftheforum——deadordying！——gonetorejoinArbaces，whoisnomore！’
Nydiautterednotaword，sheslidfromthesideofSallust；silentlysheglidedthroughthosebehindher，andretracedherstepstothecity。Shegainedtheforum——thearch；shestoopeddown——shefeltaround——shecalledonthenameofGlaucus。
Aweakvoiceanswered——’Whocallsonme？IsitthevoiceoftheShades？
Lo！Iamprepared！’
’Arise！followme！Takemyhand！Glaucus，thoushaltbesaved！’
Inwonderandsuddenhope，Glaucusarose——’Nydiastill？Ah！thou，then，artsafe！’
ThetenderjoyofhisvoicepiercedtheheartofthepoorThessalian，andsheblessedhimforhisthoughtofher。
Halfleading，halfcarryingIone，Glaucusfollowedhisguide。Withadmirablediscretion，sheavoidedthepathwhichledtothecrowdshehadjustquitted，and，byanotherroute，soughttheshore。
Aftermanypausesandincredibleperseverance，theygainedthesea，andjoinedagroup，who，bolderthantherest，resolvedtohazardanyperilratherthancontinueinsuchascene。Indarknesstheyputforthtosea；
but，astheyclearedthelandandcaughtnewaspectsofthemountain，itschannelsofmoltenfirethrewapartialrednessoverthewaves。
Utterlyexhaustedandwornout，IonesleptonthebreastofGlaucus，andNydialayathisfeet。Meanwhiletheshowersofdustandashes，stillbornealoft，fellintothewave，andscatteredtheirsnowsoverthedeck。Farandwide，bornebythewinds，thoseshowersdescendedupontheremotestclimes，startlingeventheswarthyAfrican；andwhirledalongtheantiquesoilofSyriaandofEgypt（DionCassius）。
ChapterX
THENEXTMORNING。THEFATEOFNYDIA。
ANDmeekly，softly，beautifully，dawnedatlastthelightoverthetremblingdeep！——thewindsweresinkingintorest——thefoamdiedfromtheglowingazureofthatdelicioussea。Aroundtheeast，thinmistscaughtgraduallytherosyhuesthatheraldedthemorning；Lightwasabouttoresumeherreign。Yet，still，darkandmassiveinthedistance，laythebrokenfragmentsofthedestroyingcloud，fromwhichredstreaks，burningdimlierandmoredim，betrayedtheyetrollingfiresofthemountainofthe’ScorchedFields’。Thewhitewallsandgleamingcolumnsthathadadornedthelovelycoastswerenomore。SullenanddullweretheshoressolatelycrestedbythecitiesofHerculaneumandPompeii。Thedarlingsofthedeepweresnatchedfromherembrace！CenturyaftercenturyshallthemightyMotherstretchforthherazurearms，andknowthemnot——moaningroundthesepulchresoftheLost！
Therewasnoshoutfromthemarinersatthedawninglight——ithadcometoogradually，andtheyweretooweariedforsuchsuddenburstsofjoy——buttherewasalow，deepmurmurofthankfulnessamidstthosewatchersofthelongnight。Theylookedateachotherandsmiled——theytookheart——theyfeltoncemorethattherewasaworldaround，andaGodabovethem！Andinthefeelingthattheworstwaspassed，theoverweariedonesturnedround，andfellplacidlytosleep。Inthegrowinglightoftheskiestherecamethesilencewhichnighthadwanted：andthebarkdriftedcalmlyonwardtoitsport。Afewothervessels，bearingsimilarfugitives，mightbeseenintheexpanse，apparentlymotionless，yetglidingalsoon。Therewasasenseofsecurity，ofcompanionship，andofhope，inthesightoftheirslendermastsandwhitesails。Whatbelovedfriends，lostandmissedinthegloom，mighttheynotbeartosafetyandtoshelter！
Inthesilenceofthegeneralsleep，Nydiarosegently。ShebentoverthefaceofGlaucus——sheinhaledthedeepbreathofhisheavyslumber——timidlyandsadlyshekissedhisbrow——hislips；shefeltforhishand——itwaslockedinthatofIone；shesigheddeeply，andherfacedarkened。Againshekissedhisbrow，andwithherhairwipedfromitthedampsofnight。’Maythegodsblessyou，Athenian！’shemurmured：’mayyoubehappywithyourbelovedone！——mayyousometimesrememberNydia！Alas！sheisofnofurtheruseonearth！’
Withthesewordssheturnedaway。Slowlyshecreptalongbythefori，orplatforms，tothefarthersideofthevessel，and，pausing，bentlowoverthedeep；thecoolspraydashedupwardonherfeverishbrow。’Itisthekissofdeath，’shesaid’itiswelcome。’Thebalmyairplayedthroughherwavingtresses——sheputthemfromherface，andraisedthoseeyes——sotender，thoughsolightless——tothesky，whosesoftfaceshehadneverseen！
’No，no！’shesaid，halfaloud，andinamusingandthoughtfultone，’I
cannotendureit；thisjealous，exactinglove——itshattersmywholesoulinmadness！Imightharmhimagain——wretchthatIwas！Ihavesavedhim——twicesavedhim——happy，happythought：whynotdiehappy？——itisthelastgladthoughtIcaneverknow。Oh！sacredSea！Ihearthyvoiceinvitingly——ithathafresheningandjoyouscall。Theysaythatinthyembraceisdishonour——thatthyvictimscrossnotthefatalStyx——beitso！——IwouldnotmeethimintheShades，forIshouldmeethimstillwithher！Rest——rest——rest！thereisnootherElysiumforaheartlikemine！’
Asailor，halfdozingonthedeck，heardaslightsplashonthewaters。
Drowsilyhelookedup，andbehind，asthevesselmerrilyboundedon，hefanciedhesawsomethingwhiteabovethewaves；butitvanishedinaninstant。Heturnedroundagain，anddreamedofhishomeandchildren。
Whentheloversawoke，theirfirstthoughtwasofeachother——theirnextofNydia！Shewasnottobefound——nonehadseenhersincethenight。Everycreviceofthevesselwassearched——therewasnotraceofher。Mysteriousfromfirsttolast，theblindThessalianhadvanishedforeverfromthelivingworld！Theyguessedherfateinsilence：andGlaucusandIone，whiletheydrewnearertoeachother（feelingeachothertheworlditself），forgottheirdeliverance，andweptasforadepartedsister。
ChaptertheLastWHEREINALLTHINGSCEASELETTERFROMGLAUCUSTOSALLUST，TENYEARSAFTERTHE
DESTRUCTIONOFPOMPEII。