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。
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Yes,itrelievesmetowrite,thoughIdonotsend,andthechancethatTakesmaydestroymyfragments。Butasmenpray,withoutaskingWhetherOnereallyexisttohearordoanythingforthem,——
SimplyimpelledbytheneedofthemomenttoturntoaBeingInaconceptionofwhomthereisfreedomfromalllimitation,——
SoinyourimageIturntoanensrationisoffriendship,EvensowriteinyournameIknownottowhomnorinwhatwise。
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Therewasatime,methoughtitwasbutlatelydeparted,When,ifathingwasdeniedme,IfeltIwasboundtoattemptit;
Choicealoneshouldtake,andchoicealoneshouldsurrender。
Therewasatime,indeed,whenIhadnotretiredthusearly,Languidlythus,frompursuitofapurposeIoncehadadopted,Butitisallover,allthat!IhaveslunkfromtheperilousfieldinWhosewildstruggleofforcestheprizesoflifearecontested。
Itisover,allthat!Iamacoward,andknowit。
Courageinmecouldbeonlyfactitious,unnatural,useless。
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Comforthascometomehereinthedrearystreetsofthecity,Comfort——howdoyouthink?——withabarrel-organtobringit。
Mopingalongthestreets,andcursingmydayasIwandered,AllofasuddenmyearmetthesoundofanEnglishpsalm-tune,Comfortmeitdid,tillindeedIwasverynearcrying。
Ah,thereissomegreattruth,partial,verylikely,butneedful,Lodged,Iamstrangelysure,inthetonesoftheEnglishpsalm-tune。
Comfortitwasatleast;andImusttakewithoutquestionComfort,howeveritcome,inthedrearystreetsofthecity。
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Whatwithtrustingmyselfandseekingsupportfromwithinme,AlmostIcouldbelieveIhadgainedareligiousassurance,Formedinmyownpoorsoulagreatmoralbasistoreston。
Ah,butindeedIsee,Ifeelitfactitiousentirely;
Irefuse,reject,andputitutterlyfromme;
Iwilllookstraightout,seethings,nottrytoevadethem;
Factshallbefactforme,andtheTruththeTruthasever,Flexible,changeable,vague,andmultiform,anddoubtful-
Off,anddeparttothevoid,thousubtle,fanaticaltempter!
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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。
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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。
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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。’
第2章