首页 >出版文学> Amours de Voyage>第2章
  CantoIII。
  YettothewondrousSt。Peter’s,andyettothesolemnRotunda,Minglingwithheroesandgods,yettotheVaticanWalls,Yetmaywego,andrecline,whileawholemightyworldseemsaboveus,Gatheredandfixedtoalltimeintooneroofingsupreme;
  Yetmaywe,thinkingonthesethings,excludewhatismeaneraroundus;
  Yet,attheworstoftheworst,booksandachamberremain;
  Yetmaywethink,andforget,andpossessoursoulsinresistance。——
  Ah,butawayfromthestir,shouting,andgossipofwar,Where,uponApennineslope,withthechestnuttheoak-treesimmingle,Where,amidodorouscopsebridle-pathswanderandwind,Where,undermulberry-branches,thediligentrivuletsparkles,Oramidcottonandmaizepeasantstheirwater-worksply,Where,overfig-treeandorangeintierupontierstillrepeated,Gardenongardenupreared,balconiessteptothesky,——
  Ah,thatIwerefarawayfromthecrowdandthestreetsofthecity,Underthevine-trellislaid,Omybeloved,withthee!
  I。MaryTrevellyntoMissRoper,——onthewaytoFlorence。
  Whydoesn’tMr。Claudecomewithus?youask。——Wedon’tknow,Youshouldknowbetterthanwe。HetalkedoftheVaticanmarbles;
  ButIcan’twhollybelievethatthiswastheactualreason,——
  Hewassoreadybefore,whenweaskedhimtocomeandescortus。
  Certainlyheisodd,mydearMissRoper。TochangesoSuddenly,justforawhim,wasnotquitefairtotheparty,——
  Notquiteright。Ideclare,Ireallyalmostamoffended:
  I,hisgreatfriend,asyousay,havedoubtlessatitletobeso。
  NotthatIgreatlyregretit,fordearGeorginadistinctlyWishesfornothingsomuchastoshowheradroitness。But,oh,myPenwillnotwriteanymore;——letussaynothingfurtheraboutit。
  ********
  Yes,mydearMissRoper,Icertainlycalledhimrepulsive;
  SoIthinkhim,butcannotbesureIhaveusedtheexpressionQuiteasyourpupilshould;yethedoesmosttrulyrepelme。
  WasittoyouImadeuseoftheword?orwhowasittoldyou?
  Yes,repulsive;observe,itisbutwhenhetalksofideasThatheisquiteunaffected,andfree,andexpansive,andeasy;
  Icouldpronouncehimsimplyacoldintellectualbeing。——
  Whendoeshemakeadvances?——Hethinksthatwomenshouldwoohim;
  Yet,ifagirlshoulddoso,wouldbebutalarmedanddisgusted。
  Shethatshouldlovehimmustlookforsmallloveinreturn,——liketheivyOnthestonewall,mustexpectbutarigidandniggardsupport,andE’entogetthatmustgosearchingallroundwithherhumbleembraces。
  II。ClaudetoEustace,——fromRome。
  Tellme,myfriend,doyouthinkthatthegrainwouldsproutinthefurrow,DiditnottrulyacceptasitssummumandultimumbonumThatmerecommonandmay-beindifferentsoilitissetin?
  Wouldithaveforcetodevelopandopenitsyoungcotyledons,Coulditcompare,andreflect,andexamineonethingwithanother?
  WoulditenduretoaccomplishtheroundofitsnaturalfunctionsWereitendowedwithasenseofthegeneralschemeofexistence?
  WhilefromMarseillesinthesteamerwevoyagetoCivitaVecchia,VexedinthesquallyseasaswelaybyCaprajaandElba,Standing,uplifted,aloneontheheavingpoopofthevessel,Lookingaroundonthewasteoftherushingincuriousbillows,’ThisisNature,’Isaid:’wearebornasitwerefromherwaters;
  Overherbillowsthatbuffetandbeatus,heroffspringuncared-for,Castingonesingleregardofapainfulvictoriousknowledge,Intoherbillowsthatbuffetandbeatuswesinkandareswallowed。’
  Thiswasthesenseinmysoul,asIswayedwiththepoopofthesteamer;
  AndasunthinkingIsatinthehallofthefamedAriadne,Lo,itlookedatmetherefromthefaceofaTritoninmarble。
  Itisthesimplerthought,andIcanbelieveitthetruer。
  Letusnottalkofgrowth;wearestillinourAqueousAges。
  III。ClaudetoEustace。
  Farewell,Politics,utterly!WhatcanIdo?IcannotFight,youknow;andtotalkIamwhollyashamed。AndalthoughI
  GnashmyteethwhenIlookinyourFrenchoryourEnglishpapers,Whatisthegoodofthat?Willswearing,Iwonder,mendmatters?
  Cursingandscoldingrepeltheassailants?No,itisidle;
  No,whateverbefalls,Iwillhide,willignoreorforgetit。
  Letthetailshiftforitself;Iwillburymyhead。Andwhat’stheRomanRepublictome,orItotheRomanRepublic?
  Whynotfight?——Inthefirstplace,Ihaven’tsomuchasamusket;
  Inthenext,ifIhad,Ishouldn’tknowhowIshoulduseit;
  Inthethird,justatpresentI’mstudyingancientmarbles;
  Inthefourth,IconsiderIowemylifetomycountry;
  Inthefifth——Iforget,butfourgoodreasonsareample。
  Meantime,praylet’emfight,andbekilled。Idelightindevotion。
  SothatI’listnot,hurrahforthegloriousarmyofmartyrs!
  SanguismartyrumsemenEcclesiae;thoughitwouldseemthisChurchisindeedofthepurelyInvisible,Kingdom-comekind:
  Militanthereonearth!Triumphant,ofcourse,then,elsewhere!
  Ah,goodHeaven,butIwouldIwereoutfarawayfromthepother!
  IV。ClaudetoEustace。
  Not,aswereadinthewordsoftheolden-timeinspiration,Aretheretwoseveraltreesintheplacewearesettoabidein;
  ButontheapexmosthighoftheTreeofLifeintheGarden,Budding,unfolding,andfalling,decayingandfloweringever,FloweringissetanddecayingthetransientblossomofKnowledge,——
  Floweringalone,anddecaying,theneedlessunfruitfulblossom。
  Orasthecypress-spiresbythefair-flowingstreamHellespontine,WhichfromthemythicaltombofthegodlikeProtesilausRosesympatheticingrieftohislove-lornLaodamia,Evermoregrowing,andwhenintheirgrowthtotheprospectattaining,Overthelowsea-banks,ofthefatalIliancity,Witheringstillatthesightwhichstilltheyupgrowtoencounter。
  Ah,butyethatextrudefromtheoceanyourhelplessfaces,Yeoverstormyseasleadinglonganddrearyprocessions,Ye,too,broodofthewind,whosecomingiswhencewediscernnot,Makingyournestonthewave,andyourbedonthecrestedbillow,Skimmingroughwaters,andcrowdingwetsandsthatthetideshallreturnto,Cormorants,ducks,andgulls,fillyemyimagination!
  Letusnottalkofgrowth;wearestillinourAqueousAges。
  V。MaryTrevellyntoMissRoper,——fromFlorence。
  DearestMissRoper,——Alas!weareallatFlorencequitesafe,andYou,wehear,areshutup!indeed,itissadlydistressing!
  Weweremostlucky,theysay,togetoffwhenwedidfromthetroubles。
  Nowyouarereallybesieged;theytellusitsoonwillbeover;
  OnlyIhopeandtrustwithoutanyfightinthecity。
  DoyouseeMr。Claude?——Ithoughthemightdosomethingforyou。
  Iamquitesureonoccasionhereallywouldwishtobeuseful。
  Whatishedoing?Iwonder;——stillstudyingVaticanmarbles?
  Letters,Ihope,passthrough。Wetrustyourbrotherisbetter。
  VI。ClaudetoEustace。
  Juxtaposition,infine;andwhatisjuxtaposition?
  Lookyou,wetravelalongintherailway-carriageorsteamer,And,pourpasserletemps,tillthetediousjourneybeended,Layasidepaperorbook,totalkwiththegirlthatisnextone;
  And,pourpasserletemps,withtheterminusallbutinprospect,Talkofeternaltiesandmarriagesmadeinheaven。
  Ah,didwereallyacceptwithaperfecthearttheillusion!
  Ah,didwereallybelievethatthePresentindeedistheOnly!
  Orthroughalltransmutation,allshockandconvulsionofpassion,Feelwecouldcarryundimmed,unextinguished,thelightofourknowledge!
  Butforhisfuneraltrainwhichthebridegroomseesinthedistance,Wouldhesojoyfully,thinkyou,fallinwiththemarriageprocession?
  Butforthatfinaldischarge,wouldhedaretoenlistinthatservice?
  Butforthatcertainrelease,eversigntothatperilouscontract?
  Butforthatexitsecure,everbendtothattreacherousdoorway?——
  Ah,butthebride,meantime,——doyouthinksheseesitashedoes?
  Butforthesteadyfore-senseofafreerandlargerexistence,Thinkyouthatmancouldconsenttobecircumscribedhereintoaction?
  Butforassurancewithinalimitlessoceandivine,o’erWhosegreattranquildepthsunconsciousthewind-tostsurfaceBreaksintoripplesoftroublethatcomeandchangeandendurenot,——
  Butthatinthis,ofatruth,wehaveourbeing,andknowit,Thinkyouwemencouldsubmittoliveandmoveaswedohere?
  Ah,butthewomen,——Godblessthem!theydon’tthinkatallaboutit。
  Yetwemusteatanddrink,asyousay。AndaslimitedbeingsScarcelycanhopetoattainuponearthtoanActualAbstract,LeavingtoGodcontemplation,toHishandsknowledgeconfiding,Surethatinusifitperish,inHimitabidethanddiesnot,LetusinHissightaccomplishourpettyparticulardoings,——
  Yes,andcontentedsitdowntothevictualthatHehasprovided。
  Allahisgreat,nodoubt,andJuxtapositionhisprophet。
  Ah,butthewomen,alas!theydon’tlookatitthatway。
  Juxtapositionisgreat;——but,myfriend,Ifearme,themaidenHardlywouldthankoracknowledgetheloverthatsoughttoobtainher,Notasthethinghewouldwish,butthethinghemustevenputupwith,——
  HardlywouldtenderherhandtothewooerthatcandidlytoldherThatsheisbutforaspace,anad-interimsolaceandpleasure,——
  Thatintheendsheshallyieldtoaperfectandabsolutesomething,WhichIthenformyselfshallbehold,andnotanother,——
  Whichamidfondestendearments,meantimeIforgetnot,forsakenotAh,yefemininesouls,soloving,andsoexacting,Sincewecannotescape,mustweevensubmittodeceiveyou?
  Since,socruelistruth,sincerityshocksandrevoltsyou,Willyouhaveusyourslavestolietoyou,flatterand——leaveyou?
  VII。ClaudetoEustace。
  Juxtapositionisgreat,——but,youtellme,affinitygreater。
  Ah,myfriend,therearemanyaffinities,greaterandlesser,Strongerandweaker;andeach,bythefavourofjuxtaposition,Potent,efficient,inforce,——foratime;butnone,letmetellyou,Savebythelawofthelandandtheruinousforceofthewill,ah,None,Ifearme,atlastquitesuretobefinalandperfect。
  Lo,asIpaceinthestreet,fromthepeasant-girltotheprincess,Homosum,nihilhumaniamealienumputo,——
  Virsum,nihilfaeminei,——ande’entotheuttermostcircle,AllthatisNature’sisI,andIallthingsthatareNature’s。
  Yes,asIwalk,Ibehold,inaluminous,largeintuition,ThatIcanbeandbecomeanythingthatImeetwithorlookat:
  Iamtheoxinthedray,theasswiththegarden-stuffpanniers;
  Iamthedoginthedoorway,thekittenthatplaysinthewindow,Onsunnyslaboftheruinthefurtiveandfugitivelizard,Swallowabovemethattwitters,andflythatisbuzzingaboutme;
  Yea,anddetect,asIgo,byafaintbutafaithfulassurance,E’enfromthestonesofthestreet,asfromrocksortreesoftheforest,Somethingofkindred,acommon,thoughlatentvitality,greetsme;
  Andtoescapefromourstrivings,mistakings,misgrowths,andperversions,Faincoulddemandtoreturntothatperfectandprimitivesilence,Fainbeenfoldedandfixed,asofold,intheirrigidembraces。
  VIII。ClaudetoEustace。
  AndasIwalkonmyway,Ibeholdthemconsortingandcoupling;
  Faithfulitseemeth,andfond,veryfond,veryprobablyfaithful,AllasIgoonmyway,withapleasuresincereandunmingled。
  Lifeisbeautiful,Eustace,entrancing,enchantingtolookat;
  Asarethestreetsofacitywepacewhilethecarriageischanging,Asachamberfilled-inwithharmonious,exquisitepictures,EvensobeautifulEarth;andcouldweeliminateonlyThisvilehungeringimpulse,thisdemonwithinusofcraving,Lifewerebeatitude,livingaperfectdivinesatisfaction。
  IX。ClaudetoEustace。
  Mildmonasticfacesinquietcollegiatecloisters:
  Soletmeofferasingleandcelibatarianphrase,aTributetothosewhomperhapsyoudonotbelieveIcanhonour。
  But,fromthetumultescaping,’tispleasant,ofdrummingandshouting,Hither,obliviousawhile,towithdraw,ofthefactorthefalsehood,AndamidplacidregardsandmildlycourteousgreetingsYieldtothecalmandcomposureandgentleabstractionthatreigno’erMildmonasticfacesinquietcollegiatecloisters。
  Terribleword,Obligation!Youshouldnot,Eustace,youshouldnot,No,youshouldnothaveusedit。But,oh,greatHeavens,Irepelit!
  Oh,Icancel,reject,disavow,andrepudiatewhollyEverydebtinthiskind,disclaimeveryclaim,anddishonour,Yea,myownheart’sownwriting,mysoul’sownsignature!Ah,no!
  Iwillbefreeinthis;youshallnot,noneshall,bindme。
  No,myfriend,ifyouwishtobetold,itwasthisaboveallthings,Thisthatcharmedme,ah,yes,eventhis,thatsheheldmetonothing。
  No,IcouldtalkasIpleased;comeclose;fastenties,asIfancied;
  Bindandengagemyselfdeep;——andlo,onthefollowingmorningItwasalle’enasbefore,likelosingsingamesplayedfornothing。
  Yes,whenIcame,withmeanfearsinmysoul,withasemi-performanceAtthefirststepbreakingdowninitspitifulroleofevasion,WhentoshuffleIcame,tocompromise,notmeet,engagements,Lo,withhercalmeyesthereshemetmeandknewnothingofit,——
  Stoodunexpecting,unconscious。SHEspokenotofobligations,Knewnotofdebt——ah,no,Ibelieveyou,forexcellentreasons。
  X。ClaudetoEustace。
  HANGthisthinking,atlast!whatgoodisit?oh,andwhatevil!
  Oh,whatmischiefandpain!likeaclockinasickman’schamber,Tickingandticking,andstillthrougheachcovertofslumberpursuing。
  WhatshallIdotothee,OthouPreserverofmen?Havecompassion;
  Befavourable,andhear!Takefrommethisregalknowledge;
  Letme,contentedandmute,withthebeastsofthefields,mybrothers,Tranquilly,happilylie,——andeatgrass,likeNebuchadnezzar!
  XI。ClaudetoEustace。
  Tiburisbeautiful,too,andtheorchardslopes,andtheAnioFalling,fallingyet,totheancientlyricalcadence;
  TiburandAnio’stide;andcoolfromLucretilisever,WiththeDigentianstream,andwiththeBandusianfountain,FoldedinSabinerecesses,thevalleyandvillaofHorace:——
  SonotseeingIsang;soseeingandlisteningsayI,HereasIsitbythestream,asIgazeatthecelloftheSibyl,HerewithAlbunea’shomeandthegroveofTiburnusbesideme;*
  Tivolibeautifulis,andmusical,OTeverone,Dashingfrommountaintoplain,thypartedimpetuouswaters,Tivoli’swatersandrocks;andfairuntoMonteGennaro(Haunt,evenyet,Imustthink,asIwanderandgaze,oftheshadows,Fadedandpale,yetimmortal,ofFaunus,theNymphs,andtheGraces)。
  Fairinitself,andyetfairerwithhumancompletingcreations,FoldedinSabinerecessesthevalleyandvillaofHorace:——
  SonotseeingIsang;sonow——Norseeing,norhearing,Neitherbywaterfalllulled,norfoldedinsylvanembraces,NeitherbycelloftheSibyl,norsteppingtheMonteGennaro,SeatedonAnio’sbank,norsippingBandusianwaters,ButonMontorio’sheight,lookingdownonthetile-cladstreets,theCupolas,crosses,anddomes,thebushesandkitchen-gardens,Which,bythegraceoftheTibur,proclaimthemselvesRomeoftheRomans,——
  ButonMontorio’sheight,lookingforthtothevapourymountains,CheatingtheprisonerHopewithillusionsofvisionandfancy,——
  ButonMontorio’sheight,withthesewearysoldiersbyme,WaitingtillOudinotenter,toreinstatePopeandTourist。
  *——domusAlbuneaeresonantis,EtpraecepsAnio,etTibunilucus,etudaMobilibuspomariarivisXII。MaryTrevellyntoMissRoper。
  DearMissRoper,——Itseems,GeorgeVernon,beforeweleftRome,saidSomethingtoMr。Claudeaboutwhattheycallhisattentions。
  Susan,twonightsago,forthefirsttime,heardthisfromGeorgina。
  ItisSOdisagreeableandSOannoyingtothinkof!
  Ifitcouldonlybeknown,thoughwemaynevermeethimagain,thatItwasallGeorge’sdoing,andwewereentirelyunconscious,Itwouldextremelyrelieve——YoureveraffectionateMary。
  P。S。(1)
  Hereisyourletterarrivedthismoment,justasIwanted。
  Soyouhaveseenhim,——indeed,andguessed,——howdreadfullyclever!
  Whatdidhereallysay?andwhatwasyouranswerexactly?
  Charming!——butwaitforamoment,Ihaven’treadthroughtheletter。
  P。S。(2)
  Ah,mydearestMissRoper,dojustasyoufancyaboutit。
  IfyouthinkitsincerertotellhimIknowofit,doso。
  ThoughIshouldmostextremelydislikeit,IknowIcouldmanage。
  Itisthesimplestthing,butsurelywhollyuncalledfor。
  Doasyouplease;youknowItrustimplicitlytoyou。
  Saywhateverisrightandneedfulforendingthematter。
  Onlydon’ttellMr。Claude,whatIwilltellyouasasecret,ThatIshouldlikeverywelltoshowhimmyselfIforgetit。
  P。S。(3)
  IamtosaythattheweddingisfinallysettledforTuesday。
  Ah,mydearMissRoper,yousurely,surelycanmanageNottoletitappearthatIknowofthatodiousmatter。
  ItwouldbepleasanterfarformyselftotreatitexactlyAsifithadnotoccurred:andIdonotthinkhewouldlikeit。
  Imustremembertoadd,thatassoonastheweddingisoverWeshallbeoff,Ibelieve,inahurry,andtraveltoMilan;
  TheretomeetfriendsofPapa’s,Iamtold,attheCrocediMaltaThenIcannotsaywhither,butnotatpresenttoEngland。
  XIII。ClaudetoEustace。
  Yes,onMontorio’sheightforalastfarewellofthecity,——
  Soitappears;thoughthenIwasquiteuncertainaboutit。
  So,however,itwas。Andnowtoexplaintheproceeding。
  Iwastogo,asItoldyou,Ithink,withthepeopletoFlorence。
  Onlythedaybefore,thefoolishfamilyVernonMadesomeuneasyremarks,aswewalkedtoourlodgingtogether,Astointentionsforsooth,andsoforth。Iwasastounded,Horrifiedquite;andobtainingjustthen,asithappened,anoffer(Nocommonfavour)ofseeingthegreatLudovisicollection,Why,Imadethisapretence,andwrotethattheymustexcuseme。
  HowcouldIgo?GreatHeavens!toconductapermittedflirtationUnderthosevulgareyes,theobservedofsuchobservers!
  Well,butInow,byaseriesoffinediplomaticinquiries,Findfromasortofrelation,agoodandsensiblewoman,WhoisremainingatRomewithabrothertooillforremoval,Thatitwaswhollyunsanctioned,unknown,——not,Ithink,byGeorgina:
  She,however,erethis,——andthatisthebestofthestory,——
  SheandtheVernon,thankHeaven,areweddedandgone——honey-mooning。
  So——onMontorio’sheightforalastfarewellofthecity。
  TiburIhavenotseen,northelakesthatofoldIhaddreamtof;
  TiburIshallnotsee,norAnio’swaters,nordeepen-
  FoldedinSabinerecessesthevalleyandvillaofHorace;
  TiburIshallnotsee;——butsomethingbetterIshallsee。
  TwiceIhavetriedbefore,andfailedingettingthehorses;
  TwiceIhavetriedandfailed:thistimeitshallnotbeafailure。
  Thereforefarewell,yehills,andye,yeenvineyardedruins!
  Thereforefarewell,yewalls,palaces,pillars,anddomes!
  Thereforefarewell,farseen,yepeaksofthemythicAlbano,SeenfromMontorio’sheight,TiburandAesula’shills!
  Ah,couldweonce,erewego,couldwestand,while,tooceandescending,Sinkso’ertheyellowdarkplainslowlytheyellowbroadsun,Stand,fromtheforestemergingatsunset,atonceinthechampaign,Open,butstuddedwithtrees,chestnutsumbrageousandold,E’eninthosefairopenfieldsthatincurvetothybeautifulhollow,Nemi,imbeddedinwood,Nemi,inurnedinthehill!——
  Thereforefarewell,yeplains,andyehills,andtheCityEternal!
  Thereforefarewell!Wedepart,buttobeholdyouagain!
  CantoIV。
  Eastward,orNorthward,orWest?IwanderandaskasIwander;
  Weary,yeteagerandsure,WhereshallIcometomylove?
  Whitherwardhastentoseekher?YedaughtersofItaly,tellme,Gracefulandtenderanddark,issheconsortingwithyou?
  Thouthatout-climbestthetorrent,thattendestthygoatstothesummit,Calltome,childoftheAlp,hasshebeenseenontheheights?
  Italy,farewellIbidthee!forwhithersheleadsme,Ifollow。
  Farewellthevineyard!forI,whereIbutguessher,mustgo;
  Wearinesswelcome,andlabour,whereveritbe,ifatlastitBringmeinmountainorplainintothesightofmylove。
  I。ClaudetoEustace,——fromFlorence。
  GonefromFlorence;indeed!andthatistrulyprovoking;——
  GonetoMilan,itseems;thenIgoalsotoMilan。
  Fivedaysnowdeparted;buttheycantravelbutslowly;——
  Iquickerfar;andIknow,asithappens,thehometheywillgoto。——
  Why,whatelseshouldIdo?Stayhereandlookatthepictures,Statuesandchurches?Alack,Iamsickofthestatuesandpictures!——
  No,toBologna,Parma,Piacenza,Lodi,andMilan,Offgoweto-night,——andtheVenusgototheDevil!
  II。ClaudetoEustace,——fromBellaggio。
  GonetoComo,theysaid;andIhavepostedtoComo。
  Therewasaletterleft;butthecamerierehadlostit。
  Couldithavebeenforme?Theycame,however,toComo,AndfromComowentbytheboat,——perhapstotheSpluegen,——
  OrtotheStelvio,say,andtheTyrol;alsoitmightbeByPorlezzaacrosstoLugano,andsototheSimplonPossibly,ortheSt。Gothard,——orpossibly,too,toBaveno,Orta,Turin,andelsewhere。Indeed,Iamgreatlybewildered。
  III。ClaudetoEustace,——fromBellaggio。
  IhavebeenuptheSpluegen,andontheStelvioalso:
  NeitherofthesecanIfindtheyhavefollowed;innooneinn,andThiswouldbeodd,havetheywrittentheirnames。IhavebeentoPorlezza;
  Theretheyhavenotbeenseen,andthereforenotatLugano。
  WhatshallIdo?GoonthroughtheTyrol,Switzerland,Deutschland,Seeking,aninverseSaul,akingdomtofindonlyasses?
  Thereisatide,atleast,intheLOVEaffairsofmortals,Which,whentakenatflood,leadsontothehappiestfortune,——
  Leadstothemarriage-mornandtheorange-flowersandthealtar,Andthelonglawfullineofcrownedjoystocrownedjoyssucceeding。——
  Ah,ithasebbedwithme!Yegods,andwhenitwasflowing,PitifulfoolthatIwas,tostandfiddle-faddlinginthatway!
  IV。ClaudetoEustace,——fromBellaggio。
  IhavereturnedandfoundtheirnamesinthebookatComo。
  CertainitisIwasright,andyetIamalsoinerror。
  Addedinfemininehand,Iread,BytheboattoBellaggio。——
  SotoBellaggioagain,withthewordsofhewritingtoaidme。
  YetatBellaggioIfindnotrace,nosortofremembrance。
  SoIamhere,andwait,andknoweveryhourwillremovethem。
  V。ClaudetoEustace,——fromBellaggio。
  Ihavebutonechanceleft,——andthatisgoingtoFlorence。
  Butitiscrueltoturn。Themountainsseemtodemandme,——
  Peakandvalleyfromfartobeckonandmotionmeonward。
  SomewhereamidtheirfoldsshepasseswhomfainIwouldfollow;
  Somewhereamidthoseheightsshehaplycallsmetoseekher。
  Ah,couldIhearhercall!couldIcatchtheglimpseofherraiment!
  Turn,however,Imust,thoughitseemIturntodeserther;
  ForthesenseofthethingissimplytohurrytoFlorence,Wherethecertaintyyetmaybelearnt,Isuppose,fromtheRopers。
  VI。MaryTrevellyn,fromLucerne,toMissRoper,atFlorence。
  DearMissRoper,——Bythisyouaresafelyaway,wearehoping,ManyaleaguefromRome;erelongwetrustweshallseeyou。
  Howhaveyoutravelled?Iwonder;——wasMr。Claudeyourcompanion?
  Asforourselves,wewentfromComostraighttoLugano;
  SobytheMountSt。Gothard;wemeanttogobyPorlezza,Takingthesteamer,andstopping,asyouhadadvised,atBellaggio,Twoorthreedaysormore;butthiswassuddenlyaltered,Afterweleftthehotel,ontheverywaytothesteamer。
  Sowehaveseen,Ifear,notoneofthelakesinperfection。
  Well,heisnotcome,andnow,Isuppose,hewillnotcome。
  Whatwillyouthink,meantime?andyetImustreallyconfessit;——
  Whatwillyousay?Iwrotehimanote。Weleftinahurry,WentfromMilantoComo,threedaysbeforeweexpected。
  ButIthought,ifhecameallthewaytoMilan,hereallyOughtnottobedisappointed:andsoIwrotethreelinestoSayIhadheardhewascoming,desirousofjoiningourparty;——
  Ifso,thenIsaid,wehadstartedforComo,andmeanttoCrosstheSt。Gothard,andstay,webelieved,atLucerne,forthesummer。
  Wasitwrong?andwhy,ifitwas,hasitfailedtobringhim?
  DidhenotthinkitworthwhiletocometoMilan?Heknew(youToldhim)thehouseweshouldgoto。Ormayit,perhaps,havemiscarried?
  Anyway,now,Irepent,andamheartilyvexedthatIwroteit。
  ThereisahomeontheshoreoftheAlpinesea,thatupswellingHighupthemountain-sidesspreadsinthehollowbetween;
  Wilderness,mountain,andsnowfromthelandoftheoliveconcealit;
  UnderPilatus’shilllowbytheriveritlies;
  Italy,uttertheword,andtheoliveandvinewillallurenot,——
  Wilderness,forest,andsnowwillnotthepassageimpede;
  Italy,untothycitiesreceding,thecluetorecover,Hither,recoveredtheclue,shallnotthetravellerhaste?
  CantoV。
  Thereisacity,upbuiltonthequaysoftheturbulentArno,UnderFiesole’sheights,——thitherarewetoreturn?
  Thereisacitythatfringesthecurveoftheinflowingwaters,Undertheperiloushillfringesthebeautifulbay,——
  Parthenope,dotheycallthee?——theSiren,Neapolis,seatedUnderVesevus’shill,——arewerecedingtothee?——
  Sicily,Greece,willinvite,andtheOrient;——orareweturntoEngland,whichmayafterallbeforitschildrenthebest?
  I。MaryTrevellyn,atLucerne,toMissRoper,atFlorence。
  Soyouarereallyfree,andlivinginquietatFlorence;
  Thatisdelightfulnews;youtravelledslowlyandsafely;
  Mr。Claudegotyouout;tookroomsatFlorencebeforeyou;
  WrotefromMilantosayso;hadleftdirectlyforMilan,Hopingtofindussoon;——ifhecould,hewould,youarecertain。——
  DearMissRoper,yourletterhasmademeexceedinglyhappy。
  Youarequitesure,yousay,heaskedyouaboutourintentions;
  YouhadnotheardasyetofLucerne,buttoldhimofComo。——
  Well,perhapshewillcome;however,Iwillnotexpectit。
  Thoughyousayyouaresure,——ifhecan,hewill,youarecertain。
  Omydear,manythanksfromyoureveraffectionateMary。
  II。ClaudetoEustace。
  Florence。
  Actionwillfurnishbelief,——butwillthatbeliefbethetrueone?
  Thisisthepoint,youknow。However,itdoesn’tmuchmatter。
  Whatonewants,Isuppose,istopredeterminetheaction,Soastomakeitentail,notachancebelief,butthetrueone。
  Outofthequestion,yousay;ifathingisn’twrongwemaydoit。
  Ah!butthisWRONG,yousee——butIdonotknowthatitmatters。
  Eustace,theRopersaregone,andnoonecantellmeaboutthem。
  Pisa。
  Pisa,theysaytheythink,andsoIfollowtoPisa,Hitherandthitherinquiring。Iwearyofmakinginquiries。
  Iamashamed,Ideclare,ofaskingpeopleaboutit。——
  Whoareyourfriends?Yousaidyouhadfriendswhowouldcertainlyknowthem。
  Florence。
  Butitisidle,moping,andthinking,andtryingtofixherImageoncemoreandmorein,towritethewholeperfectinscriptionOverandoveragainuponeverypageofremembrance。
  IhavesettledtostayatFlorencetowaitforyouranswer。
  Whoareyourfriends?Writequicklyandtellme。Iwaitforyouranswer。
  III。MaryTrevellyntoMissRoper。——atLuccaBaths。
  YouareatLuccabaths,youtellme,tostayforthesummer;
  Florencewasquitetoohot;youcan’tmovefurtheratpresent。
  Willyounotcome,doyouthink,beforethesummerisover?
  Mr。C。gotyououtwithveryconsiderabletrouble;
  Andhewasusefulandkind,andseemedsohappytoserveyou。
  Didn’tstaywithyoulong,buttalkedveryopenlytoyou;
  Madeyoualmosthisconfessor,withoutappearingtoknowit,——
  Whatabout?——andyousayyoudidn’tneedhisconfessions。
  OmydearMissRoper,Idarenottrustwhatyoutellme!
  Willhecome,doyouthink?Iamreallysosorryforhim。
  Theydidn’tgivehimmyletteratMilan,Ifeelprettycertain。
  YouhadtoldhimBellaggio。Wedidn’tgotoBellaggio;
  Sohewouldmissourtrack,andperhapsnevercometoLugano,Wherewewerewritteninfull,ToLucerneacrosstheSt。Gothard。
  Buthecouldwritetoyou;——youwouldtellhimwhereyouweregoing。
  IV。ClaudetoEustace。
  Letme,then,beartoforgether。Iwillnotclingtoherfalsely:
  Nothingfactitiousorforcedshallimpairtheoldhappyrelation。
  Iwillletmyselfgo,forget,nottrytoremember;
  Iwillwalkonmyway,acceptthechancesthatmeetme,Freelyencountertheworld,imbibethesealienairs,andNeveraskifnewfeelingsandthoughtsareofherorofothers。
  Isshenotchangingherself?——theoldimagewouldonlydeludeme。
  Iwillbebold,too,andchange,——ifitmustbe。Yetifinallthings,YetifIdobutaspireevermoretotheAbsoluteonly,Ishallbedoing,Ithink,somehow,whatshewillbedoing;——
  Ishallbethine,Omychild,someway,thoughIknownotinwhatway,Letmesubmittoforgether;Imust;Ialreadyforgether。
  V。ClaudetoEustace。
  Utterlyvainis,alas!thisattemptattheAbsolute,——wholly!
  I,whobelievednotinher,becauseIwouldfainbelievenothing,HavetobelieveasImay,withawilful,unmeaningacceptance。
  I,whorefusedtoenfastentherootsofmyfloatingexistenceIntherichearth,clingnowtothehard,nakedrockthatisleftme,——
  Ah!shewasworthy,Eustace,——andthat,indeed,ismycomfort,——
  WorthyanoblerheartthanafoolsuchasIcouldhavegivenher。
  ————————————————————
  Yes,itrelievesmetowrite,thoughIdonotsend,andthechancethatTakesmaydestroymyfragments。Butasmenpray,withoutaskingWhetherOnereallyexisttohearordoanythingforthem,——
  SimplyimpelledbytheneedofthemomenttoturntoaBeingInaconceptionofwhomthereisfreedomfromalllimitation,——
  SoinyourimageIturntoanensrationisoffriendship,EvensowriteinyournameIknownottowhomnorinwhatwise。
  ————————————————————
  Therewasatime,methoughtitwasbutlatelydeparted,When,ifathingwasdeniedme,IfeltIwasboundtoattemptit;
  Choicealoneshouldtake,andchoicealoneshouldsurrender。
  Therewasatime,indeed,whenIhadnotretiredthusearly,Languidlythus,frompursuitofapurposeIoncehadadopted,Butitisallover,allthat!IhaveslunkfromtheperilousfieldinWhosewildstruggleofforcestheprizesoflifearecontested。
  Itisover,allthat!Iamacoward,andknowit。
  Courageinmecouldbeonlyfactitious,unnatural,useless。
  ————————————————————
  Comforthascometomehereinthedrearystreetsofthecity,Comfort——howdoyouthink?——withabarrel-organtobringit。
  Mopingalongthestreets,andcursingmydayasIwandered,AllofasuddenmyearmetthesoundofanEnglishpsalm-tune,Comfortmeitdid,tillindeedIwasverynearcrying。
  Ah,thereissomegreattruth,partial,verylikely,butneedful,Lodged,Iamstrangelysure,inthetonesoftheEnglishpsalm-tune。
  Comfortitwasatleast;andImusttakewithoutquestionComfort,howeveritcome,inthedrearystreetsofthecity。
  ————————————————————
  Whatwithtrustingmyselfandseekingsupportfromwithinme,AlmostIcouldbelieveIhadgainedareligiousassurance,Formedinmyownpoorsoulagreatmoralbasistoreston。
  Ah,butindeedIsee,Ifeelitfactitiousentirely;
  Irefuse,reject,andputitutterlyfromme;
  Iwilllookstraightout,seethings,nottrytoevadethem;
  Factshallbefactforme,andtheTruththeTruthasever,Flexible,changeable,vague,andmultiform,anddoubtful-
  Off,anddeparttothevoid,thousubtle,fanaticaltempter!
  ————————————————————
  Ishallbeholdtheeagain(isitso?)atanewvisitation,Oillgeniusthou!Ishallatmylife’sdissolution(Whenthepulsesareweak,andthefeeblelightofthereasonFlickers,anunfedflameretiringslowfromthesocket),Lowonasick-bedlaid,hearone,asitwere,atthedoorway,And,lookingup,seetheestandingby,lookingemptilyatme;
  Ishallentreattheethen,thoughnowIdaretorefusethee,——
  Paleandpitifulnow,butterriblethentothedying。——
  Well,Iwillseetheeagain,andwhileIcan,willrepelthee。
  VI。ClaudetoEustace。
  Romeisfallen,Ihear,thegallantMedicitaken,NobleManaraslain,andGaribaldihaslostilMoro;——
  Romeisfallen;andfallen,orfalling,heroicalVenice。
  I,meanwhile,forthelossofasinglesmallchitofagirl,sitMopingandmourninghere,——forher,andmyselfmuchsmaller。
  Whitherdepartthesoulsofthebravethatdieinthebattle,Dieinthelost,lostfight,forthecausethatperisheswiththem?
  AretheyupbornefromthefieldontheslumberouspinionsofangelsUntoafar-offhome,wherethewearyrestfromtheirlabour,Andthedeepwoundsarehealed,andthebitterandburningmoistureWipedfromthegenerouseyes?ordotheylinger,unhappy,Pining,andhauntingthegraveoftheirby-gonehopeandendeavour?
  Alldeclamation,alas!thoughItalk,IcarenotforRomenorItaly;feeblyandfaintly,andbutwiththelips,canlamenttheWreckoftheLombardyouth,andthevictoryoftheoppressor。
  Whitherdepartthebrave?——Godknows;Icertainlydonot。
  VII。MaryTrevellyntoMissRoper。
  Hehasnotcomeasyet;andnowImustnotexpectit。
  Youhavewritten,yousay,tofriendsatFlorence,toseehim,Ifheperhapsshouldreturn;——butthatissurelyunlikely。
  Hashenotwrittentoyou?——hedidnotknowyourdirection。
  Oh,howstrangeneveroncetohavetoldhimwhereyouweregoing!
  YetifheonlywrotetoFlorence,thatwouldhavereachedyou。
  Ifwhatyousayhesaidwastrue,whyhashenotdoneso?
  IshegonebacktoRome,doyouthink,tohisVaticanmarbles?——
  OmydearMissRoper,forgiveme!donotbeangry!——
  YouhavewrittentoFlorence;——yourfriendswouldcertainlyfindhim。
  Mightyounotwritetohim?——butyetitissolittlelikely!
  Ishallexpectnothingmore。——Everyours,youraffectionateMary。
  VIII。ClaudetoEustace。
  IcannotstayatFlorence,noteventowaitforaletter。
  Galleriesonlyoppressme。RemembranceofhopeIhadcherished(Almostmorethanashope,whenIpassedthroughFlorencethefirsttime)
  Lieslikeaswordinmysoul。Iammoreacowardthanever,Chicken-hearted,pastthought。Thecaffesandwaitersdistressme。
  Allisunkind,and,alas!Iamreadyforanyone’skindness。
  Oh,Iknewitofold,andknewit,Ithought,toperfection,IfthereisanyonethingintheworldtoprecludeallkindnessItistheneedofit,——itisthissad,self-defeatingdependence。
  Whyisthis,Eustace?Myself,wereIstronger,IthinkIcouldtellyou。
  Butitisoddwhenitcomes。SoplumbIthedeepsofdepression,Dailyindeeper,andfindnosupport,nowill,nopurpose。
  Allmyoldstrengthsaregone。AndyetIshallhavetodosomething。
  Ah,thekeyofourlife,thatpassesallwards,opensalllocks,IsnotIWILL,butIMUST。Imust,——Imust,——andIdoit。
  ————————————————————
  Afterall,doIknowthatIreallycaredsoabouther?
  DowhateverIwill,Icannotcallupherimage;
  ForwhenIclosemyeyes,Isee,verylikely,St。Peter’s,OrthePantheonfacade,orMichelAngelo’sfigures,Or,atawish,whenIplease,theAlbanhillsandtheForum,——
  Butthatface,thoseeyes,——ah,no,neveranythinglikethem;
  Only,tryasIwill,asortoffeaturelessoutline,Andapaleblankorb,whichnorecollectionwilladdto。
  Afterall,perhapstherewassomethingfactitiousaboutit;
  Ihavehadpain,itistrue:Ihavewept;andsohavetheactors。
  ————————————————————
  AtthelastmomentIhaveyourletter,forwhichIwaswaiting;
  Ihavetakenmyplace,andseenogoodininquiries。
  Donothingmore,goodEustace,Iprayyou。Itonlywillvexme。
  Takenomeasures。Indeed,shouldwemeet,Icouldnotbecertain;
  Allmightbechanged,youknow。Orperhapstherewasnothingtobechanged。
  Itisacurioushistory,this;andyetIforesawit;
  Icouldhavetolditbefore。TheFates,itisclear,areagainstus;
  ForitiscertainenoughImetwiththepeopleyoumention;
  TheywereatFlorencethedayIreturnedthere,andspoketomeeven;
  Stayedaweek,sawmeoften;departed,andwhitherIknownot。
  GreatisFate,andisbest。IbelieveinProvidencepartly。
  Whatisordainedisright,andallthathappensisordered。
  Ah,no,thatisn’tit。ButyetIretainmyconclusion。
  IwillgowhereIamled,andwillnotdictatetothechances。
  Donothingmore,Ibeg。Ifyouloveme,forbearinterfering。
  IX。ClaudetoEustace。
  Shallwecomeoutofitall,someday,asonedoesfromatunnel?
  Willitbeallatonce,withoutourdoingorasking,Weshallbeholdclearday,thetreesandmeadowsaboutus,Andthefacesoffriends,andtheeyeswelovedlookingatus?
  Whoknows?Whocansay?Itwillnotdotosupposeit。
  X。ClaudetoEustace,-fromRome。
  Romewillnotsuitme,Eustace;thepriestsandsoldierspossessit;
  Priestsandsoldiers:——and,ah!whichistheworst,thepriestorthesoldier?
  Politics,farewell,however!ForwhatcouldIdo?withinquiring,Talking,collatingthejournals,gofevermybrainaboutthingso’erWhichIcanhavenocontrol。No,happenwhatevermayhappen,Time,Isuppose,willsubsist;theearthwillrevolveonitsaxis;
  Peoplewilltravel;thestrangerwillwanderasnowinthecity;
  Romewillbehere,andthePopethecustodeofVaticanmarbles。
  Ihavenoheart,however,foranymarbleorfresco;
  Ihaveessayeditinvain;’tisinvainasyettoessayit:
  ButImayhaplyresumesomedaymystudiesinthiskind;
  NotastheScripturesays,is,Ithink,thefact。Ereourdeath-day,Faith,Ithink,doespass,andLove;butKnowledgeabideth。
  LetusseekKnowledge;——therestmaycomeandgoasithappens。
  Knowledgeishardtoseek,andharderyettoadhereto。
  Knowledgeispainfuloften;andyetwhenweknowwearehappy。
  Seekit,andleavemereFaithandLovetocomewiththechances。
  AsforHope,——to-morrowIhopetobestartingforNaples。
  Romewillnotdo,Isee,formanyverygoodreasons。
  Eastward,then,Isuppose,withthecomingofwinter,toEgypt。
  XI。MaryTrevellyntoMissRoper。
  Youhaveheardnothing;ofcourseIknowyoucanhaveheardnothing。
  Ah,well,morethanonceIhavebrokenmypurpose,andsometimes,Onlytoooften,havelookedforthelittlelakesteamertobringhim。
  Butitisonlyfancy,——Idonotreallyexpectit。
  Oh,andyouseeIknowsoexactlyhowhewouldtakeit:
  Findingthechancesprevailagainstmeetingagain,hewouldbanishForthwitheverythoughtofthepoorlittlepossiblehope,whichImyselfcouldnothelp,perhaps,thinkingonlytoomuchof;
  Hewouldresignhimself,andgo。Iseeitexactly。
  SoIalsosubmit,althoughinadifferentmanner。
  Canyounotreallycome?WegoveryshortlytoEngland。
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  Sogoforthtotheworld,tothegoodreportandtheevil!
  Go,littlebook!thytale,isitnotevilandgood?
  Go,andifstrangersrevile,passquietlybywithoutanswer。
  Go,andifcuriousfriendsaskofthyrearingandage,Say,’IamflittingaboutmanyyearsfrombrainuntobrainofFeebleandrestlessyouthsborntoingloriousdays:
  But,’sofinishtheword,’IwaswritinaRomanchamber,WhenfromJaniculanheightsthunderedthecannonofFrance。’