Themaskretiredfromthedoor,andanotherandyettallerformpresenteditself。"Becalm,ViolaPisani,"saidhe,inalowvoice;"withmeyouareindeedsafe!"Heliftedhismaskashespoke,andshowedthenoblefeaturesofZanoni。
"Becalm,behushed,——Icansaveyou。"Hevanished,leavingViolalostinsurprise,agitation,anddelight。Therewere,inall,ninemasks:twowereengagedwiththedriver;onestoodattheheadofthecarriage-horses;afourthguardedthewell-trainedsteedsoftheparty;threeothersbesidesZanoniandtheonewhohadfirstaccostedViolastoodapartbyacarriagedrawntothesideoftheroad。TothesethreeZanonimotioned;theyadvanced;hepointedtowardsthefirstmask,whowasinfactthePrincedi——,andtohisunspeakableastonishmenttheprincewassuddenlyseizedfrombehind。
"Treason!"hecried。"Treasonamongmyownmen!Whatmeansthis?"
"Placehiminhiscarriage!Ifheresist,hisbloodbeonhisownhead!"saidZanoni,calmly。
Heapproachedthemenwhohaddetainedthecoachman。
"Youareoutnumberedandoutwitted,"saidhe;"joinyourlord;
youarethreemen,——wesix,armedtotheteeth。Thankourmercythatwespareyourlives。Go!"
Themengaveway,dismayed。Thedriverremounted。
"Cutthetracesoftheircarriageandthebridlesoftheirhorses,"saidZanoni,asheenteredthevehiclecontainingViola,whichnowdroveonrapidly,leavingthediscomfitedravisherinastateofrageandstuporimpossibletodescribe。
"Allowmetoexplainthismysterytoyou,"saidZanoni。"I
discoveredtheplotagainstyou,——nomatterhow;Ifrustrateditthus:Theheadofthisdesignisanobleman,whohaslongpersecutedyouinvain。Heandtwoofhiscreatureswatchedyoufromtheentranceofthetheatre,havingdirectedsixotherstoawaithimonthespotwhereyouwereattacked;myselfandfiveofmyservantssuppliedtheirplace,andweremistakenforhisownfollowers。Ihadpreviouslyriddenalonetothespotwherethemenwerewaiting,andinformedthemthattheirmasterwouldnotrequiretheirservicesthatnight。Theybelievedme,andaccordinglydispersed。Ithenjoinedmyownband,whomIhadleftintherear;youknowall。Weareatyourdoor。"
CHAPTER2。III。
WhenmostIwink,thendomineeyesbestsee,Forallthedaytheyviewthingsunrespected;
ButwhenIsleep,indreamstheylookonthee,And,darklybright,arebrightindarkdirected。
Shakespeare。
ZanonifollowedtheyoungNeapolitanintoherhouse;Gionettavanished,——theywereleftalone。
Alone,inthatroomsooftenfilled,intheoldhappydays,withthewildmelodiesofPisani;andnow,asshesawthismysterious,haunting,yetbeautifulandstatelystranger,standingontheveryspotwhereshehadsatatherfather'sfeet,thrilledandspellbound,——shealmostthought,inherfantasticwayofpersonifyingherownairynotions,thatthatspiritualMusichadtakenshapeandlife,andstoodbeforehergloriousintheimageitassumed。Shewasunconsciousallthewhileofherownloveliness。Shehadthrownasideherhoodandveil;herhair,somewhatdisordered,fellovertheivoryneckwhichthedresspartiallydisplayed;andasherdarkeyesswamwithgratefultears,andhercheekflushedwithitslateexcitement,thegodoflightandmusichimselfnever,amidsthisArcadianvalleys,wooed,inhismortalguise,maidenornymphmorefair。
Zanonigazedatherwithalookinwhichadmirationseemednotunmingledwithcompassion。Hemutteredafewwordstohimself,andthenaddressedheraloud。
"Viola,Ihavesavedyoufromagreatperil;notfromdishonouronly,butperhapsfromdeath。ThePrincedi——,underaweakdespotandavenaladministration,isamanabovethelaw。Heiscapableofeverycrime;butamongsthispassionshehassuchprudenceasbelongstoambition;ifyouwerenottoreconcileyourselftoyourshame,youwouldneverentertheworldagaintotellyourtale。Theravisherhasnoheartforrepentance,buthehasahandthatcanmurder。Ihavesavedyou,Viola。Perhapsyouwouldaskmewherefore?"Zanonipaused,andsmiledmournfully,asheadded,"Youwillnotwrongmebythethoughtthathewhohaspreservedisnotlessselfishthanhewhowouldhaveinjured。Orphan,Idonotspeaktoyouinthelanguageofyourwooers;enoughthatIknowpity,andamnotungratefulforaffection。Whyblush,whytrembleattheword?IreadyourheartwhileIspeak,andIseenotonethoughtthatshouldgiveyoushame。Isaynotthatyoulovemeyet;happily,thefancymayberousedlongbeforetheheartistouched。Butithasbeenmyfatetofascinateyoureye,toinfluenceyourimagination。Itistowarnyouagainstwhatcouldbringyoubutsorrow,asI
warnedyouoncetoprepareforsorrowitself,thatIamnowyourguest。TheEnglishman,Glyndon,lovestheewell,——better,perhaps,thanIcaneverlove;ifnotworthyofthee,yet,hehasbuttoknowtheemoretodeservetheebetter。Hemaywedthee,hemaybeartheetohisownfreeandhappyland,——thelandofthymother'skin。Forgetme;teachthyselftoreturnanddeservehislove;andItelltheethatthouwiltbehonouredandbehappy。"
Violalistenedwithsilent,inexpressibleemotion,andburningblushes,tothisstrangeaddress,andwhenhehadconcluded,shecoveredherfacewithherhands,andwept。Andyet,muchashiswordswerecalculatedtohumbleorirritate,toproduceindignationorexciteshame,thosewerenotthefeelingswithwhichhereyesstreamedandherheartswelled。Thewomanatthatmomentwaslostinthechild;andASachild,withallitsexacting,craving,yetinnocentdesiretobeloved,weepsinunrebukingsadnesswhenitsaffectionisthrownausterelybackuponitself,——so,withoutangerandwithoutshame,weptViola。
Zanonicontemplatedherthus,ashergracefulhead,shadowedbyitsredundanttresses,bentbeforehim;andafteramoment'spausehedrewneartoher,andsaid,inavoiceofthemostsoothingsweetness,andwithahalfsmileuponhislip,——
"Doyouremember,whenItoldyoutostruggleforthelight,thatIpointedforexampletotheresoluteandearnesttree?Ididnottellyou,fairchild,totakeexamplebythemoth,thatwouldsoartothestar,butfallsscorchedbesidethelamp。Come,I
willtalktothee。ThisEnglishman——"
Violadrewherselfaway,andweptyetmorepassionately。
"ThisEnglishmanisofthineownyears,notfarabovethineownrank。Thoumaystsharehisthoughtsinlife,——thoumaystsleepbesidehiminthesamegraveindeath!AndI——butTHATviewofthefutureshouldconcernusnot。Lookintothyheart,andthouwiltseethattillagainmyshadowcrossedthypath,therehadgrownupforthisthineequalapureandcalmaffectionthatwouldhaveripenedintolove。Hastthouneverpicturedtothyselfahomeinwhichthypartnerwasthyyoungwooer?"
"Never!"saidViola,withsuddenenergy,——"neverbuttofeelthatsuchwasnotthefateordainedme。And,oh!"shecontinued,risingsuddenly,and,puttingasidethetressesthatveiledherface,shefixedhereyesuponthequestioner,——"and,oh!whoeverthouartthatthuswouldstreadmysoulandshapemyfuture,donotmistakethesentimentthat,that——"shefalteredaninstant,andwentonwithdowncasteyes,——"thathasfascinatedmythoughtstothee。DonotthinkthatIcouldnourishaloveunsoughtandunreturned。ItisnotlovethatIfeelforthee,stranger。WhyshouldI?Thouhastneverspokentomebuttoadmonish,——andnow,towound!"Againshepaused,againhervoicefaltered;thetearstrembledonhereyelids;shebrushedthemawayandresumed。
"No,notlove,——ifthatbelovewhichIhaveheardandreadof,andsoughttosimulateonthestage,——butamoresolemn,fearful,and,itseemstome,almostpreternaturalattraction,whichmakesmeassociatethee,wakingordreaming,withimagesthatatoncecharmandawe。Thinkestthou,ifitwerelove,thatIcouldspeaktotheethus;that,"sheraisedherlookssuddenlytohis,"mineeyescouldthussearchandconfrontthineown?Stranger,I
askbutattimestosee,tohearthee!Stranger,talknottomeofothers。Forewarn,rebuke,bruisemyheart,rejectthenotunworthygratitudeitoffersthee,ifthouwilt,butcomenotalwaystomeasanomenofgriefandtrouble。SometimeshaveI
seentheeinmydreamssurroundedbyshapesofgloryandlight;
thylooksradiantwithacelestialjoywhichtheywearnotnow。
Stranger,thouhastsavedme,andIthankandblessthee!Isthatalsoahomagethouwouldstreject?"Withthesewords,shecrossedherarmsmeeklyonherbosom,andinclinedlowlilybeforehim。Nordidherhumilityseemunwomanlyorabject,northatofmistresstolover,ofslavetomaster,butratherofachildtoitsguardian,ofaneophyteoftheoldreligiontoherpriest。
Zanoni'sbrowwasmelancholyandthoughtful。Helookedatherwithastrangeexpressionofkindness,ofsorrow,yetoftenderaffection,inhiseyes;buthislipswerestern,andhisvoicecold,ashereplied,——
"Doyouknowwhatyouask,Viola?Doyouguessthedangertoyourself——perhapstobothofus——whichyoucourt?Doyouknowthatmylife,separatedfromtheturbulentherdofmen,isoneworshipoftheBeautiful,fromwhichIseektobanishwhattheBeautifulinspiresinmost?Asacalamity,Ishunwhattomanseemsthefairestfate,——theloveofthedaughtersofearth。AtpresentIcanwarnandsavetheefrommanyevils;ifIsawmoreofthee,wouldthepowerstillbemine?Youunderstandmenot。
WhatIamabouttoadd,itwillbeeasiertocomprehend。Ibidtheebanishfromthyheartallthoughtofme,butasonewhomtheFuturecriesaloudtotheetoavoid。Glyndon,ifthouacceptesthishomage,willlovetheetillthetombclosesuponboth。I,too,"headdedwithemotion,——"I,too,mightlovethee!"
"You!"criedViola,withthevehemenceofasuddenimpulseofdelight,ofrapture,whichshecouldnotsuppress;buttheinstantafter,shewouldhavegivenworldstorecalltheexclamation。
"Yes,Viola,Imightlovethee;butinthatlovewhatsorrowandwhatchange!Theflowergivesperfumetotherockonwhoseheartitgrows。Alittlewhile,andtheflowerisdead;buttherockstillendures,——thesnowatitsbreast,thesunshineonitssummit。Pause,——thinkwell。Dangerbesetstheeyet。Forsomedaysthoushaltbesafefromthyremorselesspersecutor;butthehoursooncomeswhenthyonlysecuritywillbeinflight。IftheEnglishmanlovetheeworthily,thyhonourwillbedeartohimashisown;ifnot,thereareyetotherlandswherelovewillbetruer,andvirtuelessindangerfromfraudandforce。Farewell;
myowndestinyIcannotforeseeexceptthroughcloudandshadow。
Iknow,atleast,thatweshallmeetagain;butlearnerethen,sweetflower,thattherearemoregenialresting-placesthantherock。"
Heturnedashespoke,andgainedtheouterdoorwhereGionettadiscreetlystood。Zanonilightlylaidhishandonherarm。Withthegayaccentofajestingcavalier,hesaid,——
"TheSignorGlyndonwoosyourmistress;hemaywedher。Iknowyourloveforher。Disabuseherofanycapriceforme。Iamabirdeveronthewing。"
HedroppedapurseintoGionetta'shandashespoke,andwasgone。
CHAPTER2。IV。
LesIntelligencesCelestessefontvoir,etseecommuniquentplusvolontiers,danslesilenceetdanslatranquillitedelasolitude。Onauradoncunepetitechambreouuncabinetsecret,etc。
"LesClaviculesdeRabbiSalomon,"chapter3;traduitesexactementdutexteHebreuparM。PierreMorissoneau,ProfesseurdesLanguesOrientales,etSectateurdelaPhilosophiedesSagesCabalistes。ManuscriptTranslation。
TheCelestialIntelligencesexhibitandexplainthemselvesmostfreelyinsilenceandthetranquillityofsolitude。Onewillhavethenalittlechamber,orasecretcabinet,etc。
ThepalaceretainedbyZanoniwasinoneofthelessfrequentedquartersofthecity。Itstillstands,nowruinedanddismantled,amonumentofthesplendourofachivalrylongsincevanishedfromNaples,withthelordlyracesoftheNormanandtheSpaniard。
Asheenteredtheroomsreservedforhisprivatehours,twoIndians,inthedressoftheircountry,receivedhimatthethresholdwiththegravesalutationsoftheEast。Theyhadaccompaniedhimfromthefarlandsinwhich,accordingtorumour,hehadformanyyearsfixedhishome。Buttheycouldcommunicatenothingtogratifycuriosityorjustifysuspicion。Theyspokenolanguagebuttheirown。Withtheexceptionofthesetwohisprincelyretinuewascomposedofthenativehirelingsofthecity,whomhislavishbutimperiousgenerositymadetheimplicitcreaturesofhiswill。Inhishouse,andinhishabits,sofarastheywereseen,therewasnothingtoaccountfortherumourswhichwerecirculatedabroad。Hewasnot,aswearetoldofAlbertusMagnusorthegreatLeonardodaVinci,servedbyairyforms;andnobrazenimage,theinventionofmagicmechanism,communicatedtohimtheinfluencesofthestars。Noneoftheapparatusofthealchemist——thecrucibleandthemetals——gavesolemnitytohischambers,oraccountedforhiswealth;nordidheevenseemtointeresthimselfinthoseserenerstudieswhichmightbesupposedtocolourhispeculiarconversationwithabstractnotions,andoftenwithreconditelearning。Nobooksspoketohiminhissolitude;andifeverhehaddrawnfromthemhisknowledge,itseemednowthattheonlypagehereadwasthewideoneofNature,andthatacapaciousandstartlingmemorysuppliedtherest。Yetwasthereoneexceptiontowhatinallelseseemedcustomaryandcommonplace,andwhich,accordingtotheauthoritywehaveprefixedtothischapter,mightindicatethefolloweroftheoccultsciences。WhetheratRomeorNaples,or,infact,whereverhisabode,heselectedoneroomremotefromtherestofthehouse,whichwasfastenedbyalockscarcelylargerthanthesealofaring,yetwhichsufficedtobafflethemostcunninginstrumentsofthelocksmith:atleast,oneofhisservants,promptedbyirresistiblecuriosity,hadmadetheattemptinvain;andthoughhehadfancieditwastriedinthemostfavourabletimeforsecrecy,——notasoulnear,inthedeadofnight,Zanonihimselfabsentfromhome,——yethissuperstition,orhisconscience,toldhimthereasonwhythenextdaytheMajorDomoquietlydismissedhim。Hecompensatedhimselfforthismisfortunebyspreadinghisownstory,withathousandamusingexaggerations。Hedeclaredthat,asheapproachedthedoor,invisiblehandsseemedtopluckhimaway;andthatwhenhetouchedthelock,hewasstruck,asbyapalsy,totheground。
Onesurgeon,whoheardthetale,observed,tothedistasteofthewonder-mongers,thatpossiblyZanonimadeadexteroususeofelectricity。Howbeit,thisroom,oncesosecured,wasneverenteredsavebyZanonihimself。
ThesolemnvoiceofTime,fromtheneighbouringchurchatlastarousedthelordofthepalacefromthedeepandmotionlessreverie,ratherresemblingatrancethanthought,inwhichhismindwasabsorbed。
"Itisonemoresandoutofthemightyhour-glass,"saidhe,murmuringly,"andyettimeneitheraddsto,norstealsfrom,anatomintheInfinite!Soulofmine,theluminous,theAugoeidesAugoeides,——awordfavouredbythemysticalPlatonists,sphairapsuchesaugoeides,otanmeteekteinetaiepiti,meteesosuntrechemetesunizane,allaphotilampetai,otenaletheianopatenpanton,kaitenenaute——Marc。Ant。,lib。2——Thesenseofwhichbeautifulsentenceoftheoldphilosophy,which,asBaylewellobserves,inhisarticleonCorneliusAgrippa,themodernQuietistshavehoweverimpotentlysoughttoimitate,istotheeffectthat"thesphereofthesoulisluminouswhennothingexternalhascontactwiththesoulitself;butwhenlitbyitsownlight,itseesthetruthofallthingsandthetruthcentredinitself。",whydescendestthoufromthysphere,——whyfromtheeternal,starlike,andpassionlessSerene,shrinkestthoubacktothemistsofthedarksarcophagus?Howlong,tooausterelytaughtthatcompanionshipwiththethingsthatdiebringswithitbutsorrowinitssweetness,hastthoudweltcontentedwiththymajesticsolitude?"
Ashethusmurmured,oneoftheearliestbirdsthatsalutethedawnbrokeintosuddensongfromamidsttheorange-treesinthegardenbelowhiscasement;andassuddenly,songansweredsong;
themate,awakenedatthenote,gavebackitshappyanswertothebird。Helistened;andnotthesoulhehadquestioned,buttheheartreplied。Herose,andwithrestlessstridespacedthenarrowfloor。"Awayfromthisworld!"heexclaimedatlength,withanimpatienttone。"Cannotimeloosenitsfatalties?Astheattractionthatholdstheearthinspace,istheattractionthatfixesthesoultoearth。Awayfromthedarkgreyplanet!
Break,yefetters:arise,yewings!"
Hepassedthroughthesilentgalleries,anduptheloftystairs,andenteredthesecretchamber……
CHAPTER2。V。
IandmyfellowsAreministersofFate。
"TheTempest。"
ThenextdayGlyndonbenthisstepstowardsZanoni'spalace。Theyoungman'simagination,naturallyinflammable,wassingularlyexcitedbythelittlehehadseenandheardofthisstrangebeing,——aspell,hecouldneithermasternoraccountfor,attractedhimtowardsthestranger。Zanoni'spowerseemedmysteriousandgreat,hismotiveskindlyandbenevolent,yethismannerschillingandrepellent。WhyatonemomentrejectGlyndon'sacquaintance,atanothersavehimfromdanger?HowhadZanonithusacquiredtheknowledgeofenemiesunknowntoGlyndonhimself?Hisinterestwasdeeplyroused,hisgratitudeappealedto;heresolvedtomakeanotherefforttoconciliatetheungraciousherbalist。
Thesignorwasathome,andGlyndonwasadmittedintoaloftysaloon,whereinafewmomentsZanonijoinedhim。
"Iamcometothankyouforyourwarninglastnight,"saidhe,"andtoentreatyoutocompletemyobligationbyinformingmeofthequartertowhichImaylookforenmityandperil。"
"Youareagallant,"saidZanoni,withasmile,andintheEnglishlanguage,"anddoyouknowsolittleoftheSouthasnottobeawarethatgallantshavealwaysrivals?"
"Areyouserious?"saidGlyndon,colouring。
"Mostserious。YouloveViolaPisani;youhaveforrivaloneofthemostpowerfulandrelentlessoftheNeapolitanprinces。Yourdangerisindeedgreat。"
"Butpardonme!——howcameitknowntoyou?"
"Igivenoaccountofmyselftomortalman,"repliedZanoni,haughtily;"andtomeitmattersnothingwhetheryouregardorscornmywarning。"
"Well,ifImaynotquestionyou,beitso;butatleastadvisemewhattodo。"
"Wouldyoufollowmyadvice?"
"Whynot?"
"Becauseyouareconstitutionallybrave;youarefondofexcitementandmystery;youliketobetheheroofaromance。
WereItoadviseyoutoleaveNaples,wouldyoudosowhileNaplescontainsafoetoconfrontoramistresstopursue?"
"Youareright,"saidtheyoungEnglishman,withenergy。"No!
andyoucannotreproachmeforsucharesolution。"
"Butthereisanothercourselefttoyou:doyouloveViolaPisanitrulyandfervently?——ifso,marryher,andtakeabridetoyournativeland。"
"Nay,"answeredGlyndon,embarrassed;"Violaisnotofmyrank。
Herprofession,too,is——inshort,Iamenslavedbyherbeauty,butIcannotwedher。"
Zanonifrowned。
"Yourlove,then,isbutselfishlust,andIadviseyoutoyourownhappinessnomore。Youngman,Destinyislessinexorablethanitappears。TheresourcesofthegreatRuleroftheUniversearenotsoscantyandsosternastodenytomenthedivineprivilegeofFreeWill;allofuscancarveoutourownway,andGodcanmakeourverycontradictionsharmonisewithHissolemnends。Youhavebeforeyouanoption。Honourableandgenerouslovemayevennowworkoutyourhappiness,andeffectyourescape;afranticandselfishpassionwillbutleadyoutomiseryanddoom。"
"Doyoupretend,then,toreadthefuture?"
"Ihavesaidallthatitpleasesmetoutter。"
"Whileyouassumethemoralisttome,SignorZanoni,"saidGlyndon,withasmile,"areyouyourselfsoindifferenttoyouthandbeautyastoactthestoictoitsallurements?"
"Ifitwerenecessarythatpracticesquarewithprecept,"saidZanoni,withabittersmile,"ourmonitorswouldbebutfew。Theconductoftheindividualcanaffectbutasmallcirclebeyondhimself;thepermanentgoodorevilthatheworkstoothersliesratherinthesentimentshecandiffuse。Hisactsarelimitedandmomentary;hissentimentsmaypervadetheuniverse,andinspiregenerationstillthedayofdoom。Allourvirtues,allourlaws,aredrawnfrombooksandmaxims,whichAREsentiments,notfromdeeds。Inconduct,JulianhadthevirtuesofaChristian,andConstantinethevicesofaPagan。ThesentimentsofJulianreconvertedthousandstoPaganism;thoseofConstantinehelped,underHeaven'swill,tobowtoChristianitythenationsoftheearth。Inconduct,thehumblestfishermanonyondersea,whobelievesinthemiraclesofSanGennaro,maybeabettermanthanLuther;tothesentimentsofLutherthemindofmodernEuropeisindebtedforthenoblestrevolutionithasknown。Ouropinions,youngEnglishman,aretheangelpartofus;ouracts,theearthly。"
"YouhavereflecteddeeplyforanItalian,"saidGlyndon。
"WhotoldyouthatIwasanItalian?"
"Areyounot?Andyet,whenIhearyouspeakmyownlanguageasanative,I——"
"Tush!"interruptedZanoni,impatientlyturningaway。Then,afterapause,heresumedinamildvoice,"Glyndon,doyourenounceViolaPisani?WillyoutakesomedaystoconsiderwhatIhavesaid?"
"Renounceher,——never!"
"Thenyouwillmarryher?"
"Impossible!"
"Beitso;shewillthenrenounceyou。Itellyouthatyouhaverivals。"
"Yes;thePrincedi——;butIdonotfearhim。"
"Youhaveanotherwhomyouwillfearmore。"
"Andwhoishe?"
"Myself。"
Glyndonturnedpale,andstartedfromhisseat。
"You,SignorZanoni!——you,——andyoudaretotellmeso?"
"Dare!Alas!therearetimeswhenIwishthatIcouldfear。"
Thesearrogantwordswerenotutteredarrogantly,butinatoneofthemostmournfuldejection。Glyndonwasenraged,confounded,andyetawed。However,hehadabraveEnglishheartwithinhisbreast,andherecoveredhimselfquickly。
"Signor,"saidhe,calmly,"Iamnottobedupedbythesesolemnphrasesandthesemysticalassumptions。YoumayhavepowerswhichIcannotcomprehendoremulate,oryoumaybebutakeenimposter。"
"Well,proceed!"
"Imean,then,"continuedGlyndon,resolutely,thoughsomewhatdisconcerted,——"Imeanyoutounderstand,that,thoughIamnottobepersuadedorcompelledbyastrangertomarryViolaPisani,Iamnotthelessdeterminednevertamelytoyieldhertoanother。"
Zanonilookedgravelyattheyoungman,whosesparklingeyesandheightenedcolourtestifiedthespirittosupporthiswords,andreplied,"Sobold!well;itbecomesyou。Buttakemyadvice;
waityetninedays,andtellmethenifyouwillmarrythefairestandthepurestcreaturethatevercrossedyourpath。"
"Butifyouloveher,why——why——"
"WhyamIanxiousthatsheshouldwedanother?——tosaveherfrommyself!Listentome。Thatgirl,humbleanduneducatedthoughshebe,hasinhertheseedsofthemostloftyqualitiesandvirtues。Shecanbealltothemansheloves,——allthatmancandesireinwife。Hersoul,developedbyaffection,willelevateyourown;itwillinfluenceyourfortunes,exaltyourdestiny;
youwillbecomeagreatandaprosperousman。If,onthecontrary,shefalltome,Iknownotwhatmaybeherlot;butI
knowthatthereisanordealwhichfewcanpass,andwhichhithertonowomanhassurvived。"
AsZanonispoke,hisfacebecamecolourless,andtherewassomethinginhisvoicethatfrozethewarmbloodofthelistener。
"Whatisthismysterywhichsurroundsyou?"exclaimedGlyndon,unabletorepresshisemotion。"Areyou,intruth,differentfromothermen?Haveyoupassedtheboundaryoflawfulknowledge?Areyou,assomedeclare,asorcerer,oronlya——"
"Hush!"interruptedZanoni,gently,andwithasmileofsingularbutmelancholysweetness;"haveyouearnedtherighttoaskmethesequestions?ThoughItalystillboastanInquisition,itspowerisrivelledasaleafwhichthefirstwindshallscatter。
Thedaysoftortureandpersecutionareover;andamanmayliveashepleases,andtalkasitsuitshim,withoutfearofthestakeandtherack。SinceIcandefypersecution,pardonmeifI
donotyieldtocuriosity。"
Glyndonblushed,androse。InspiteofhisloveforViola,andhisnaturalterrorofsucharival,hefelthimselfirresistiblydrawntowardstheverymanhehadmostcausetosuspectanddread。HeheldouthishandtoZanoni,saying,"Well,then,ifwearetoberivals,ourswordsmustsettleourrights;tillthenIwouldfainbefriends。"
"Friends!Youknownotwhatyouask。"
"Enigmasagain!"
"Enigmas!"criedZanoni,passionately;"ay!canyoudaretosolvethem?NottillthencouldIgiveyoumyrighthand,andcallyoufriend。"
"Icoulddareeverythingandallthingsfortheattainmentofsuperhumanwisdom,"saidGlyndon,andhiscountenancewaslightedupwithwildandintenseenthusiasm。
Zanoniobservedhiminthoughtfulsilence。
"Theseedsoftheancestorliveintheson,"hemuttered;"hemay——yet——"Hebrokeoffabruptly;then,speakingaloud,"Go,Glyndon,"saidhe;"weshallmeetagain,butIwillnotaskyouranswertillthehourpressesfordecision。"
CHAPTER2。VI。
'Tiscertainthatthismanhasanestateoffiftythousandlivres,andseemstobeapersonofverygreataccomplishments。
But,then,ifhe'sawizard,arewizardssodevoutlygivenasthismanseemstobe?Inshort,Icouldmakeneitherheadnortailon't——TheCountdeGabalis,Translationaffixedtothesecondeditionofthe"RapeoftheLock。"
Ofalltheweaknesseswhichlittlemenrailagainst,thereisnonethattheyaremoreapttoridiculethanthetendencytobelieve。Andofallthesignsofacorruptheartandafeeblehead,thetendencyofincredulityisthesurest。
Realphilosophyseeksrathertosolvethantodeny。Whilewehear,everyday,thesmallpretenderstosciencetalkoftheabsurditiesofalchemyandthedreamofthePhilosopher'sStone,amoreeruditeknowledgeisawarethatbyalchemiststhegreatestdiscoveriesinsciencehavebeenmade,andmuchwhichstillseemsabstruse,hadwethekeytothemysticphraseologytheywerecompelledtoadopt,mightopenthewaytoyetmorenobleacquisitions。ThePhilosopher'sStoneitselfhasseemednovisionarychimeratosomeofthesoundestchemiststhateventhepresentcenturyhasproduced。Mr。Disraeli,inhis"CuriositiesofLiterature"article"Alchem",afterquotingthesanguinejudgmentsofmodernchemistsastothetransmutationofmetals,observesofoneyetgreaterandmorerecentthanthosetowhichGlyndon'sthoughtscouldhavereferred,"SirHumphryDavytoldmethathedidnotconsiderthisundiscoveredartasimpossible;butshoulditeverbediscovered,itwouldcertainlybeuseless。"
MancannotcontradicttheLawsofNature。ButareallthelawsofNatureyetdiscovered?
"Givemeaproofofyourart,"saystherationalinquirer。"WhenIhaveseentheeffect,Iwillendeavour,withyou,toascertainthecauses。"
SomewhattotheaboveeffectwerethefirstthoughtsofClarenceGlyndononquittingZanoni。ButClarenceGlyndonwasno"rationalinquirer。"ThemorevagueandmysteriousthelanguageofZanoni,themoreitimposeduponhim。Aproofwouldhavebeensomethingtangible,withwhichhewouldhavesoughttograpple。
AnditwouldhaveonlydisappointedhiscuriositytofindthesupernaturalreducedtoNature。Heendeavouredinvain,atsomemomentsrousinghimselffromcredulitytothescepticismhedeprecated,toreconcilewhathehadheardwiththeprobablemotivesanddesignsofanimposter。UnlikeMesmerandCagliostro,Zanoni,whateverhispretensions,didnotmakethemasourceofprofit;norwasGlyndon'spositionorrankinlifesufficienttorenderanyinfluenceobtainedoverhismind,subservienttoschemes,whetherofavariceorambition。Yet,everandanon,withthesuspicionofworldlyknowledge,hestrovetopersuadehimselfthatZanonihadatleastsomesinisterobjectininducinghimtowhathisEnglishprideandmannerofthoughtconsideredaderogatorymarriagewiththepooractress。MightnotViolaandtheMysticbeinleaguewitheachother?Mightnotallthisjargonofprophecyandmenacebebutartificestodupehim?
HefeltanunjustresentmenttowardsViolaathavingsecuredsuchanally。Butwiththatresentmentwasmingledanaturaljealousy。Zanonithreatenedhimwithrivalry。Zanoni,who,whateverhischaracterorhisarts,possessedatleastalltheexternalattributesthatdazzleandcommand。Impatientofhisowndoubts,heplungedintothesocietyofsuchacquaintancesashehadmadeatNaples——chieflyartists,likehimself,menofletters,andtherichcommercialists,whowerealreadyvyingwiththesplendour,thoughdebarredfromtheprivileges,ofthenobles。FromtheseheheardmuchofZanoni,alreadywiththem,aswiththeidlerclasses,anobjectofcuriosityandspeculation。
Hehadnoticed,asathingremarkable,thatZanonihadconversedwithhiminEnglish,andwithacommandofthelanguagesocompletethathemighthavepassedforanative。Ontheotherhand,inItalian,Zanoniwasequallyatease。Glyndonfoundthatitwasthesameinlanguageslessusuallylearnedbyforeigners。
ApainterfromSweden,whohadconversedwithhim,waspositivethathewasaSwede;andamerchantfromConstantinople,whohadsoldsomeofhisgoodstoZanoni,professedhisconvictionthatnonebutaTurk,oratleastanativeoftheEast,couldhavesothoroughlymasteredthesoftOrientalintonations。Yetinalltheselanguages,whentheycametocomparetheirseveralrecollections,therewasaslight,scarceperceptibledistinction,notinpronunciation,norevenaccent,butinthekeyandchime,asitwere,ofthevoice,betweenhimselfandanative。ThisfacultywasonewhichGlyndoncalledtomind,thatsect,whosetenetsandpowershaveneverbeenmorethanmostpartiallyexplored,theRosicrucians,especiallyarrogated。HerememberedtohaveheardinGermanyoftheworkofJohnBringeretPrintedin1615。,assertingthatallthelanguagesoftheearthwereknowntothegenuineBrotherhoodoftheRosyCross。DidZanonibelongtothismysticalFraternity,who,inanearlierage,boastedofsecretsofwhichthePhilosopher'sStonewasbuttheleast;whoconsideredthemselvestheheirsofallthattheChaldeans,theMagi,theGymnosophists,andthePlatonistshadtaught;andwhodifferedfromallthedarkerSonsofMagicinthevirtueoftheirlives,thepurityoftheirdoctrines,andtheirinsisting,asthefoundationofallwisdom,onthesubjugationofthesenses,andtheintensityofReligiousFaith?——aglorioussect,iftheyliednot!And,intruth,ifZanonihadpowersbeyondtheraceofworldlysages,theyseemednotunworthilyexercised。Thelittleknownofhislifewasinhisfavour。Someacts,notofindiscriminate,butjudiciousgenerosityandbeneficence,wererecorded;inrepeatingwhich,still,however,thenarratorsshooktheirheads,andexpressedsurprisehowastrangershouldhavepossessedsominuteaknowledgeofthequietandobscuredistresseshehadrelieved。Twoorthreesickpersons,whenabandonedbytheirphysicians,hehadvisited,andconferredwithalone。Theyhadrecovered:theyascribedtohimtheirrecovery;yettheycouldnottellbywhatmedicinestheyhadbeenhealed。Theycouldonlydeposethathecame,conversedwiththem,andtheywerecured;itusually,however,happenedthatadeepsleephadprecededtherecovery。
Anothercircumstancewasalsobeginningtoberemarked,andspokeyetmoreinhiscommendation。Thosewithwhomheprincipallyassociated——thegay,thedissipated,thethoughtless,thesinnersandpublicansofthemorepolishedworld——allappearedrapidly,yetinsensiblytothemselves,toawakentopurerthoughtsandmoreregulatedlives。EvenCetoxa,theprinceofgallants,duellists,andgamesters,wasnolongerthesamemansincethenightofthesingulareventswhichhehadrelatedtoGlyndon。
Thefirsttraceofhisreformwasinhisretirementfromthegaming-houses;thenextwashisreconciliationwithanhereditaryenemyofhishouse,whomithadbeenhisconstantobjectforthelastsixyearstoentangleinsuchaquarrelasmightcallforthhisinimitablemanoeuvreofthestoccata。NorwhenCetoxaandhisyoungcompanionswereheardtospeakofZanoni,diditseemthatthischangehadbeenbroughtaboutbyanysoberlecturesoradmonitions。TheyalldescribedZanoniasamankeenlyalivetoenjoyment:ofmannersthereverseofformal,——notpreciselygay,butequable,serene,andcheerful;everreadytolistentothetalkofothers,howeveridle,ortocharmallearswithaninexhaustiblefundofbrilliantanecdoteandworldlyexperience。
Allmanners,allnations,allgradesofmen,seemedfamiliartohim。Hewasreservedonlyifallusionwereeverventuredtohisbirthorhistory。
Themoregeneralopinionofhisorigincertainlyseemedthemoreplausible。Hisriches,hisfamiliaritywiththelanguagesoftheEast,hisresidenceinIndia,acertaingravitywhichneverdesertedhismostcheerfulandfamiliarhours,thelustrousdarknessofhiseyesandhair,andeventhepeculiaritiesofhisshape,inthedelicatesmallnessofthehands,andtheArab-liketurnofthestatelyhead,appearedtofixhimasbelongingtooneatleastoftheOrientalraces。AndadabblerintheEasterntonguesevensoughttoreducethesimplenameofZanoni,whichacenturybeforehadbeenbornebyaninoffensivenaturalistofBolognaTheauthoroftwoworksonbotanyandrareplants。,totheradicalsoftheextinctlanguage。ZanwasunquestionablytheChaldeanappellationforthesun。EventheGreeks,whomutilatedeveryOrientalname,hadretainedtherightoneinthiscase,astheCretaninscriptiononthetombofZeusOdemegaskeitaiZan——"CyrilcontraJulian。"HereliesgreatJove。
significantlyshowed。Astotherest,theZan,orZaun,was,withtheSidonians,nouncommonprefixtoOn。AdoniswasbutanothernameforZanonas,whoseworshipinSidonHesychiusrecords。TothisprofoundandunanswerablederivationMervalelistenedwithgreatattention,andobservedthathenowventuredtoannounceaneruditediscoveryhehimselfhadlongsincemade,——
namely,thatthenumerousfamilyofSmithsinEnglandwereundoubtedlytheancientpriestsofthePhrygianApollo。"For,"
saidhe,"wasnotApollo'ssurname,inPhrygia,Smintheus?Howclearalltheensuingcorruptionsoftheaugustname,——Smintheus,Smitheus,Smithe,Smith!Andevennow,Imayremarkthatthemoreancientbranchesofthatillustriousfamily,unconsciouslyanxioustoapproximateatleastbyaletternearertothetruetitle,takeapiouspleasureinwritingtheirnamesSmith_e_!"
Thephilologistwasmuchstruckwiththisdiscovery,andbeggedMervale'spermissiontonoteitdownasanillustrationsuitabletoaworkhewasabouttopublishontheoriginoflanguages,tobecalled"Babel,"andpublishedinthreequartosbysubscription。
CHAPTER2。VII。
Learntobepoorinspirit,myson,ifyouwouldpenetratethatsacrednightwhichenvironstruth。LearnoftheSagestoallowtotheDevilsnopowerinNature,sincethefatalstonehasshut'emupinthedepthoftheabyss。LearnofthePhilosophersalwaystolookfornaturalcausesinallextraordinaryevents;
andwhensuchnaturalcausesarewanting,recurtoGod——TheCountdeGabalis。
AlltheseadditionstohisknowledgeofZanoni,pickedupinthevariouslounging-placesandresortsthathefrequented,wereunsatisfactorytoGlyndon。ThatnightVioladidnotperformatthetheatre;andthenextday,stilldisturbedbybewilderedfancies,andaversetothesoberandsarcasticcompanionshipofMervale,Glyndonsaunteredmusinglyintothepublicgardens,andpausedundertheverytreeunderwhichhehadfirstheardthevoicethathadexerciseduponhismindsosingularaninfluence。
Thegardensweredeserted。Hethrewhimselfononeoftheseatsplacedbeneaththeshade;andagain,inthemidstofhisreverie,thesamecoldshuddercameoverhimwhichZanonihadsodistinctlydefined,andtowhichhehadascribedsoextraordinaryacause。
Herousedhimselfwithasuddeneffort,andstartedtosee,seatednexthim,afigurehideousenoughtohavepersonatedoneofthemalignantbeingsofwhomZanonihadspoken。Itwasasmallman,dressedinafashionstrikinglyatvariancewiththeelaboratecostumeoftheday:anaffectationofhomelinessandpovertyapproachingtosqualor,intheloosetrousers,coarseasaship'ssail;intheroughjacket,whichappearedrentwilfullyintoholes;andtheblack,ragged,tangledlocksthatstreamedfromtheirconfinementunderawoollencap,accordedbutillwithotherdetailswhichspokeofcomparativewealth。Theshirt,openatthethroat,wasfastenedbyabroochofgaudystones;andtwopendentmassivegoldchainsannouncedthefopperyoftwowatches。
Theman'sfigure,ifnotabsolutelydeformed,wasyetmarvellouslyill-favoured;hisshouldershighandsquare;hischestflattened,asifcrushedin;hisglovelesshandswereknottedatthejoints,and,large,bony,andmuscular,dangledfromlean,emaciatedwrists,asifnotbelongingtothem。Hisfeatureshadthepainfuldistortionsometimesseeninthecountenanceofacripple,——large,exaggerated,withthenosenearlytouchingthechin;theeyessmall,butglowingwithacunningfireastheydweltonGlyndon;andthemouthwastwistedintoagrinthatdisplayedrowsofjagged,black,brokenteeth。
Yetoverthisfrightfulfacetherestillplayedakindofdisagreeableintelligence,anexpressionatonceastuteandbold;
andasGlyndon,recoveringfromthefirstimpression,lookedagainathisneighbour,heblushedathisowndismay,andrecognisedaFrenchartist,withwhomhehadformedanacquaintance,andwhowaspossessedofnoinconsiderabletalentsinhiscalling。
Indeed,itwastoberemarkedthatthiscreature,whoseexternalsweresodesertedbytheGraces,particularlydelightedindesignsaspiringtomajestyandgrandeur。Thoughhiscolouringwashardandshallow,aswasthatgenerallyoftheFrenchschoolatthetime,hisDRAWINGSwereadmirableforsymmetry,simpleelegance,andclassicvigour;atthesametimetheyunquestionablywantedidealgrace。HewasfondofselectingsubjectsfromRomanhistory,ratherthanfromthecopiousworldofGrecianbeauty,orthosestillmoresublimestoriesofscripturalrecordfromwhichRaphaelandMichaelAngeloborrowedtheirinspirations。Hisgrandeurwasthatnotofgodsandsaints,butmortals。Hisdelineationofbeautywasthatwhichtheeyecannotblameandthesouldoesnotacknowledge。Inaword,asitwassaidofDionysius,hewasanAnthropographos,orPainterofMen。Itwasalsoanotablecontradictioninthisperson,whowasaddictedtothemostextravagantexcessesineverypassion,whetherofhateorlove,implacableinrevenge,andinsatiableindebauch,thathewasinthehabitofutteringthemostbeautifulsentimentsofexaltedpurityandgenialphilanthropy。Theworldwasnotgoodenoughforhim;hewas,tousetheexpressiveGermanphrase,A
WORLD-BETTERER!Nevertheless,hissarcasticlipoftenseemedtomockthesentimentsheuttered,asifitsoughttoinsinuatethathewasaboveeventheworldhewouldconstruct。
Finally,thispainterwasinclosecorrespondencewiththeRepublicansofParis,andwasheldtobeoneofthosemissionarieswhom,fromtheearliestperiodoftheRevolution,theregeneratorsofmankindwerepleasedtodespatchtothevariousstatesyetshackled,whetherbyactualtyrannyorwholesomelaws。Certainly,asthehistorianofItalyBotta。
hasobserved,therewasnocityinItalywherethesenewdoctrineswouldbereceivedwithgreaterfavourthanNaples,partlyfromthelivelytemperofthepeople,principallybecausethemosthatefulfeudalprivileges,howeverpartiallycurtailedsomeyearsbeforebythegreatminister,Tanuccini,stillpresentedsomanydailyandpracticalevilsastomakechangewearamoresubstantialcharmthanthemereandmeretriciousbloomonthecheekoftheharlot,Novelty。Thisman,whomIwillcallJeanNicot,was,therefore,anoracleamongtheyoungerandbolderspiritsofNaples;andbeforeGlyndonhadmetZanoni,theformerhadnotbeenamongtheleastdazzledbytheeloquentaspirationsofthehideousphilanthropist。
"Itissolongsincewehavemet,cherconfrere,"saidNicot,drawinghisseatnearertoGlyndon's,"thatyoucannotbesurprisedthatIseeyouwithdelight,andeventakethelibertytointrudeonyourmeditations。
"Theywereofnoagreeablenature,"saidGlyndon;"andneverwasintrusionmorewelcome。"
"Youwillbecharmedtohear,"saidNicot,drawingseverallettersfromhisbosom,"thatthegoodworkproceedswithmarvellousrapidity。Mirabeau,indeed,isnomore;but,mortDiable!theFrenchpeoplearenowaMirabeauthemselves。"Withthisremark,MonsieurNicotproceededtoreadandtocommentuponseveralanimatedandinterestingpassagesinhiscorrespondence,inwhichthewordvirtuewasintroducedtwenty-seventimes,andGodnotonce。Andthen,warmedbythecheeringprospectsthusopenedtohim,hebegantoindulgeinthoseanticipationsofthefuture,theoutlineofwhichwehavealreadyseenintheeloquentextravaganceofCondorcet。AlltheoldvirtuesweredethronedforanewPantheon:patriotismwasanarrowsentiment;
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