’Butourfemaleguests……’
’Loveatoper!DidnotAriadnedoteuponBacchus?’
Thefeastproceeded;theguestsgrewmoretalkativeandnoisy;thedessertorlastcoursewasalreadyonthetable;andtheslavesboreroundwaterwithmyrrhandhyssopforthefinishinglavation。Atthesametime,asmallcirculartablethathadbeenplacedinthespaceoppositetheguestssuddenly,andasbymagic,seemedtoopeninthecentre,andcastupafragrantshower,sprinklingthetableandtheguests;whileasitceasedtheawningabovethemwasdrawnaside,andtheguestsperceivedthataropehadbeenstretchedacrosstheceiling,andthatoneofthosenimbledancersforwhichPompeiiwassocelebrated,andwhosedescendantsaddsocharmingagracetothefestivitiesofAstley’sorVauxhall,wasnowtreadinghisairymeasuresrightovertheirheads。
Thisapparition,removedbutbyacordfromone’spericranium,andindulgingthemostvehementleaps,apparentlywiththeintentionofalightinguponthatcerebralregion,wouldprobablyberegardedwithsometerrorbyapartyinMayFair;butourPompeianrevellersseemedtobeholdthespectaclewithdelightedcuriosity,andapplaudedinproportionasthedancerappearedwiththemostdifficultytomissfallingupontheheadofwhateverguestheparticularlyselectedtodanceabove。Hepaidthesenator,indeed,thepeculiarcomplimentofliterallyfallingfromtherope,andcatchingitagainwithhishand,justasthewholepartyimaginedtheskulloftheRomanwasasmuchfracturedaseverthatofthepoetwhomtheeagletookforatortoise。Atlength,tothegreatreliefofatleastIone,whohadnotmuchaccustomedherselftothisentertainment,thedancersuddenlypausedasastrainofmusicwasheardfromwithout。Hedancedagainstillmorewildly;
theairchanged,thedancerpausedagain;no,itcouldnotdissolvethecharmwhichwassupposedtopossesshim!Herepresentedonewhobyastrangedisorderiscompelledtodance,andwhomonlyacertainairofmusiccancure。Atlengththemusicianseemedtohitontherighttune;thedancergaveoneleap,swunghimselfdownfromtherope,alightedonthefloor,andvanished。
Oneartnowyieldedtoanother;andthemusicianswhowerestationedwithoutontheterracestruckupasoftandmellowair,towhichweresungthefollowingwords,madealmostindistinctbythebarrierbetweenandtheexceedinglownessoftheminstrelsy:—
FESTIVEMUSICSHOULDBELOW
I
Hark!throughtheseflowersourmusicsendsitsgreetingToyourlovedhalls,wherePsilasshunstheday;
WhentheyounggodhisCretannymphwasmeetingHetaughtPan’srusticpipethisglidinglay:
SoftasthedewsofwineShedinthisbanquethour,TherichlibationofSound’sstreamdivine,Oreverentharp,toAphroditepour!
II
Wildringsthetrumpo’errankstoglorymarching;
Music’ssublimerburstsforwararemeet;
Butsweetlipsmurmuringunderwreathso’er—arching,Findthelowwhispersliketheirownmostsweet。
Steal,mylull’dmusic,stealLikewomans’shalf—heardtone,Sothatwhoe’ershallhear,shallthinktofeelIntheethevoiceoflipsthatlovehisown。
AttheendofthatsongIone’scheekblushedmoredeeplythanbefore,andGlaucushadcontrived,undercoverofthetable,tostealherhand。
’Itisaprettysong,’saidFulvius,patronizingly。
’Ah!ifyouwouldobligeus!’murmuredthewifeofPansa。
’DoyouwishFulviustosing?’askedthekingofthefeast,whohadjustcalledontheassemblytodrinkthehealthoftheRomansenator,acuptoeachletterofhisname。
’Canyouask?’saidthematron,withacomplimentaryglanceatthepoet。
Sallustsnappedhisfingers,andwhisperingtheslavewhocametolearnhisorders,thelatterdisappeared,andreturnedinafewmomentswithasmallharpinonehand,andabranchofmyrtleintheother。Theslaveapproachedthepoet,andwithalowreverencepresentedtohimtheharp。
’Alas!Icannotplay,’saidthepoet。
’Thenyoumustsingtothemyrtle。ItisaGreekfashion:DiomedlovestheGreeks——IlovetheGreeks——youlovetheGreeks——wealllovetheGreeks——andbetweenyouandmethisisnottheonlythingwehavestolenfromthem。
However,Iintroducethiscustom——I,theking:sing,subject,sing!’Thepoet,withabashfulsmile,tookthemyrtleinhishands,andafterashortpreludesangasfollows,inapleasantandwell—tunedvoice:——
THECORONATIONOFTHELOVES
I
ThemerryLovesoneholidayWereallatgambolsmadly;ButLovestoolongcanseldomplayWithoutbehavingsadly。
Theylaugh’d,theytoy’d,theyromp’dabout,Andthenforchangetheyallfellout。
Fie,fie!howcantheyquarrelso?
MyLesbia——ah,forshame,loveMethinks’tisscarceanhouragoWhenwedidjustthesame,love。
II
TheLoves,’tisthought,werefreetillthen,Theyhadnokingorlaws,dear;
Butgods,likemen,shouldsubjectbe,Sayalltheancientsaws,dear。
Andsoourcrewresolved,forquiet,Tochooseakingtocurbtheirriot。
Akiss:ah!whatagrievousthingForboth,methinks,’twouldbe,child,IfIshouldtakesomeprudishking,Andceasetobesofree,child!
III
AmongtheirtoysaCasquetheyfound,ItwasthehelmofAres;
Withhorrentplumesthecrestwascrown’d,ItfrightenedalltheLares。
Sofineakingwasneverknown——
Theyplacedthehelmetonthethrone。
Mygirl,sinceValorwinstheworld,Theychoseamightymaster;
ButthysweetflagofsmilesunfurledWouldwintheworldmuchfaster!
IV
TheCasquesoonfoundtheLovestoowildAtroopforhimtoschoolthem;
ForwarriorsknowhowonesuchchildHasayecontrivedtofoolthem。
Theyplaguedhimso,thatindespairHetookawifetheplaguetoshare。
IfkingsthemselvesthusfindthestrifeOfearth,unshared,severe,girl;
Whyjusttohalvetheillsoflife,Come,takeyourpartnerhere,girl。
V
WithinthatroomtheBirdofLoveThewholeaffairhadeyedthen;
Themonarchhail’dtheroyaldove,Andplacedherbyhissidethen:
WhatmirthamidsttheLoveswasseen!
’Longlive,’theycried,’ourKingandQueen。’
Ah!Lesbia,wouldthatthronesweremine,Andcrownstodeckthatbrow,love!
AndyetIknowthatheartofthineFormeisthroneenow,love!
VI
TheurchinshopedtoteasethemateAstheyhadteasedthehero;
ButwhentheDoveinjudgmentsateTheyfoundherworsethanNero!
Eachlookafrown,eachwordalaw;
Thelittlesubjectsshookwithawe。
IntheeIfindthesamedeceit——
Toolate,alas!alearner!
Forwhereamienmoregentlysweet?
Andwhereatyrantsterner?
Thissong,whichgreatlysuitedthegayandlivelyfancyofthePompeians,wasreceivedwithconsiderableapplause,andthewidowinsistedoncrowninghernamesakewiththeverybranchofmyrtletowhichhehadsung。Itwaseasilytwistedintoagarland,andtheimmortalFulviuswascrownedamidsttheclappingofhandsandshoutsofIotriumphe!Thesongandtheharpnowcirculatedroundtheparty,anewmyrtlebranchbeinghandedabout,stoppingateachpersonwhocouldbeprevailedupontosing。
Thesunbegannowtodecline,thoughtherevellers,whohadwornawayseveralhours,perceiveditnotintheirdarkenedchamber;andthesenator,whowastired,andthewarrior,whohadtoreturntoHerculaneum,risingtodepart,gavethesignalforthegeneraldispersion。’Tarryyetamoment,myfriends,’saidDiomed;’ifyouwillgososoon,youmustatleasttakeashareinourconcludinggame。’
Sosaying,hemotionedtooneoftheministri,andwhisperinghim,theslavewentout,andpresentlyreturnedwithasmallbowlcontainingvarioustabletscarefullysealed,and,apparently,exactlysimilar。Eachguestwastopurchaseoneoftheseatthenominalpriceofthelowestpieceofsilver:
andthesportofthislottery(whichwasthefavoritediversionofAugustus,whointroducedit)consistedintheinequality,andsometimestheincongruity,oftheprizes,thenatureandamountofwhichwerespecifiedwithinthetablets。Forinstance,thepoet,withawryface,drewoneofhisownpoems(nophysicianeverlesswillinglyswallowedhisowndraught);
thewarriordrewacaseofbodkins,whichgaverisetocertainnovelwitticismsrelativetoHerculesandthedistaff;thewidowFulviaobtainedalargedrinking—cup;Julia,agentleman’sbuckle;andLepidus,alady’spatch—box。ThemostappropriatelotwasdrawnbythegamblerClodius,whoreddenedwithangeronbeingpresentedtoasetofcoggeddice。Acertaindampwasthrownuponthegaietywhichthesevariouslotscreatedbyanaccidentthatwasconsideredominous;Glaucusdrewthemostvaluableofalltheprizes,asmallmarblestatueofFortune,ofGrecianworkmanship:onhandingittohimtheslavesufferedittodrop,anditbrokeinpieces。
Ashiverwentroundtheassembly,andeachvoicecriedspontaneouslyonthegodstoaverttheomen。
Glaucusalone,thoughperhapsassuperstitiousastherest,affectedtobeunmoved。
’SweetNeapolitan,’whisperedhetenderlytoIone,whohadturnedpaleasthebrokenmarbleitself,’Iaccepttheomen。Itsignifiesthatinobtainingthee,Fortunecangivenomore——shebreaksherimagewhensheblessesmewiththine。’
Inordertodiverttheimpressionwhichthisincidenthadoccasionedinanassemblywhich,consideringthecivilizationoftheguests,wouldseemmiraculouslysuperstitious,ifatthepresentdayinacountrypartywedidnotoftenseealadygrowhypochondriacalonleavingaroomlastofthirteen,Sallustnowcrowninghiscupwithflowers,gavethehealthoftheirhost。Thiswasfollowedbyasimilarcomplimenttotheemperor;andthen,withapartingcuptoMercurytosendthempleasantslumbers,theyconcludedtheentertainmentbyalastlibation,andbrokeuptheparty。
CarriagesandlitterswerelittleusedinPompeii,partlyowingtotheextremenarrownessofthestreets,partlytotheconvenientsmallnessofthecity。Mostoftheguestsreplacingtheirsandals,whichtheyhadputoffinthebanquet—room,andinduingtheircloaks,leftthehouseonfootattendedbytheirslaves。
Meanwhile,havingseenIonedepart,GlaucusturningtothestaircasewhichleddowntotheroomsofJulia,wasconductedbyaslavetoanapartmentinwhichhefoundthemerchant’sdaughteralreadyseated。
’Glaucus!’saidshe,lookingdown,’IseethatyoureallyloveIone——sheisindeedbeautiful。’
’Juliaischarmingenoughtobegenerous,’repliedtheGreek。’Yes,IloveIone;amidstalltheyouthwhocourtyou,mayyouhaveoneworshipperassincere。’
’Ipraythegodstograntit!See,Glaucus,thesepearlsarethepresentI
destinetoyourbride:mayJunogiveherhealthtowearthem!’
Sosaying,sheplacedacaseinhishand,containingarowofpearlsofsomesizeandprice。Itwassomuchthecustomforpersonsabouttobemarriedtoreceivethesegifts,thatGlaucuscouldhavelittlescrupleinacceptingthenecklace,thoughthegallantandproudAthenianinlyresolvedtorequitethegiftbyoneofthriceitsvalue。Juliathenstoppingshorthisthanks,pouredforthsomewineintoasmallbowl。
’Youhavedrunkmanytoastswithmyfather,’saidshesmiling——’onenowwithme。Healthandfortunetoyourbride!’
ShetouchedthecupwithherlipsandthenpresentedittoGlaucus。ThecustomaryetiquetterequiredthatGlaucusshoulddrainthewholecontents;
heaccordinglydidso。Julia,unknowingthedeceitwhichNydiahadpractiseduponher,watchedhimwithsparklingeyes;althoughthewitchhadtoldherthattheeffectmightnotbeimmediate,sheyetsanguinelytrustedtoanexpeditiousoperationinfavorofhercharms。ShewasdisappointedwhenshefoundGlaucuscoldlyreplacethecup,andconversewithherinthesameunmovedbutgentletoneasbefore。Andthoughshedetainedhimaslongasshedecorouslycoulddo,nochangetookplaceinhismanner。’Butto—morrow,’thoughtshe,exultinglyrecoveringherdisappointment——’to—morrow,alasforGlaucus!’
Alasforhim,indeed!
ChapterIV
THESTORYHALTSFORAMOMENTATANEPISODE。
RESTLESSandanxious,Apaecidesconsumedthedayinwanderingthroughthemostsequesteredwalksinthevicinityofthecity。ThesunwasslowlysettingashepausedbesidealonelypartoftheSarnus,ereyetitwoundamidsttheevidencesofluxuryandpower。Onlythroughopeningsinthewoodsandvineswerecaughtglimpsesofthewhiteandgleamingcity,inwhichwasheardinthedistancenodin,nosound,nor’busiesthumofmen’。Amidstthegreenbankscreptthelizardandthegrasshopper,andhereandthereinthebrakesomesolitarybirdburstintosuddensong,assuddenlystifled。
Therewasdeepcalmaround,butnotthecalmofnight;theairstillbreathedofthefreshnessandlifeofday;thegrassstillmovedtothestiroftheinsecthorde;andontheoppositebankthegracefulandwhitecapellapassedbrowsingthroughtheherbage,andpausedatthewavetodrink。
AsApaecidesstoodmusinglygazinguponthewaters,heheardbesidehimthelowbarkofadog。
’Bestill,poorfriend,’saidavoiceathand;’thestranger’sstepharmsnotthymaster。’Theconvertrecognizedthevoice,and,turning,hebeheldtheoldmysteriousmanwhomhehadseeninthecongregationoftheNazarenes。
Theoldmanwassittinguponafragmentofstonecoveredwithancientmosses;besidehimwerehisstaffandscrip;athisfeetlayasmallshaggydog,thecompanioninhowmanyapilgrimageperilousandstrange。
Thefaceoftheoldmanwasasbalmtotheexcitedspiritoftheneophyte:
heapproached,andcravinghisblessing,satdownbesidehim。
’Thouartprovidedasforajourney,father,’saidhe:’wiltthouleaveusyet?’
’Myson,’repliedtheoldman,’thedaysinstoreformeoneartharefewandscanty;Iemploythemasbecomesmetravellingfromplacetoplace,comfortingthosewhomGodhasgatheredtogetherinHisname,andproclaimingthegloryofHisSon,astestifiedtoHisservant。’
’Thouhastlooked,theytellme,onthefaceofChrist?’
’Andthefacerevivedmefromthedead。Know,youngproselytetothetruefaith,thatIamheofwhomthoureadestinthescrolloftheApostle。InthefarJudea,andinthecityofNain,theredweltawidow,humbleofspiritandsadofheart;forofallthetiesoflifeonesonalonewassparedtoher。Andshelovedhimwithamelancholylove,forhewasthelikenessofthelost。Andthesondied。Thereedonwhichsheleanedwasbroken,theoilwasdriedupinthewidow’scruse。Theyborethedeaduponhisbier;andnearthegateofthecity,wherethecrowdweregathered,therecameasilenceoverthesoundsofwoe,fortheSonofGodwaspassingby。Themother,whofollowedthebier,wept——notnoisily,butallwholookeduponhersawthatherheartwascrushed。AndtheLordpitiedher,andhetouchedthebier,andsaid,"ISAYUNTOTHEE,ARISE,"AndthedeadmanwokeandlookeduponthefaceoftheLord。oh,thatcalmandsolemnbrow,thatunutterablesmile,thatcarewornandsorrowfulface,lightedupwithaGod’sbenignity——itchasedawaytheshadowsofthegrave!Irose,I
spoke,Iwasliving,andinmymother’sarms——yes,Iamthedeadrevived!
Thepeopleshouted,thefuneralhornsrungforthmerrily:therewasacry,"GodhasvisitedHispeople!"Iheardthemnot——Ifelt——Isaw——nothingbutthefaceoftheRedeemer!’
Theoldmanpaused,deeplymoved;andtheyouthfelthisbloodcreep,andhishairstir。HewasinthepresenceofonewhohadknowntheMysteryofDeath!
’Tillthattime,’renewedthewidow’sson,’Ihadbeenasothermen:
thoughtless,notabandoned;takingnoheed,butofthethingsofloveandlife;nay,IhadinclinedtothegloomyfaithoftheearthlySadducee!But,raisedfromthedead,fromawfulanddesertdreamsthattheselipsneverdarereveal——recalleduponearth,totestifythepowersofHeaven——oncemoremortal,thewitnessofimmortality;Idrewanewbeingfromthegrave。O
faded——OlostJerusalem!——Himfromwhomcamemylife,Ibeheldadjudgedtotheagonizedandparchingdeath!FarinthemightycrowdIsawthelightrestandglimmeroverthecross;Iheardthehootingmob,Icriedaloud,I
raved,Ithreatened——noneheededme——Iwaslostinthewhirlandtheroarofthousands!Buteventhen,inmyagonyandHisown,methoughttheglazingeyeoftheSonofMansoughtmeout——Hislipsmiled,aswhenitconquereddeath——ithushedme,andIbecamecalm。Hewhohaddefiedthegraveforanother——whatwasthegravetohim?Thesunshoneaslantthepaleandpowerfulfeatures,andthendiedaway!Darknessfellovertheearth;howlongitendured,Iknownot。Aloudcrycamethroughthegloom——asharpandbittercry!——andallwassilent。
’Butwhoshalltelltheterrorsofthenight?’Iwalkedalongthecity——theearthreeledtoandfro,andthehousestrembledtotheirbase——thelivinghaddesertedthestreets,butnottheDead:throughthegloomIsawthemglide——thedimandghastlyshapes,inthecerementsofthegrave——withhorror,andwoe,andwarningontheirunmovinglipsandlightlesseyes!——theysweptbyme,asIpassed——theyglareduponme——Ihadbeentheirbrother;andtheybowedtheirheadsinrecognition;theyhadrisentotellthelivingthatthedeadcanrise!’
Againtheoldmanpaused,and,whenheresumed,itwasinacalmertone。
’FromthatnightIresignedallearthlythoughtbutthatofservingHIM。A
preacherandapilgrim,Ihavetraversedtheremotestcornersoftheearth,proclaimingHisDivinity,andbringingnewconvertstoHisfold。Icomeasthewind,andasthewinddepart;sowing,asthewindsows,theseedsthatenrichtheworld。
’Son,onearthweshallmeetnomore。Forgetnotthishour,——whatarethepleasuresandthepompsoflife?Asthelampshines,solifeglittersforanhour;butthesoul’slightisthestarthatburnsforever,intheheartofinimitablespace。’
Itwasthenthattheirconversationfelluponthegeneralandsublimedoctrinesofimmortality;itsoothedandelevatedtheyoungmindoftheconvert,whichyetclungtomanyofthedampsandshadowsofthatcelloffaithwhichhehadsolatelyleft——itwastheairofheavenbreathingontheprisonerreleasedatlast。TherewasastrongandmarkeddistinctionbetweentheChristianityoftheoldmanandthatofOlinthus;thatofthefirstwasmoresoft,moregentle,moredivine。TheheroismofOlinthushadsomethinginitfierceandintolerant——itwasnecessarytotheparthewasdestinedtoplay——ithadinitmoreofthecourageofthemartyrthanthecharityofthesaint。Itaroused,itexcited,itnerved,ratherthansubduedandsoftened。Butthewholeheartofthatdivineoldmanwasbathedinlove;thesmileoftheDeityhadburnedawayfromittheleavenofearthlierandcoarserpassions,andlefttotheenergyoftheheroallthemeeknessofthechild。
’Andnow,’saidhe,risingatlength,asthesun’slastraydiedinthewest;’now,inthecooloftwilight,IpursuemywaytowardstheImperialRome。Thereyetdwellsomeholymen,wholikemehavebeheldthefaceofChrist;andthemwouldIseebeforeIdie。’
’Butthenightischillforthineage,myfather,andthewayislong,andtherobberhauntsit;resttheetillto—morrow。’
’Kindson,whatisthereinthisscriptotempttherobber?AndtheNightandtheSolitude!——thesemaketheladderroundwhichangelscluster,andbeneathwhichmyspiritcandreamofGod。Oh!nonecanknowwhatthepilgrimfeelsashewalksonhisholycourse;nursingnofear,anddreadingnodanger——forGodiswithhim!Hehearsthewindsmurmurgladtidings;thewoodssleepintheshadowofAlmightywings——thestarsaretheScripturesofHeaven,thetokensoflove,andthewitnessesofimmortality。NightisthePilgrim’sday。’WiththesewordstheoldmanpressedApaecidestohisbreast,andtakinguphisstaffandscrip,thedogboundedcheerilybeforehim,andwithslowstepsanddowncasteyeshewenthisway。
Theconvertstoodwatchinghisbendedform,tillthetreesshutthelastglimpsefromhisview;andthen,asthestarsbrokeforth,hewokefromthemusingswithastart,remindedofhisappointmentwithOlinthus。
ChapterV
THEPHILTRE。ITSEFFECT。
WHENGlaucusarrivedathisownhome,hefoundNydiaseatedundertheporticoofhisgarden。Infact,shehadsoughthishouseinthemerechancethathemightreturnatanearlyhour:anxious,fearful,anticipative,sheresolveduponseizingtheearliestopportunityofavailingherselfofthelove—charm,whileatthesametimeshehalfhopedtheopportunitymightbedeferred。
Itwasthen,inthatfearfulburningmood,herheartbeating,hercheekflushing,thatNydiaawaitedthepossibilityofGlaucus’sreturnbeforethenight。Hecrossedtheporticojustasthefirststarsbegantorise,andtheheavenabovehadassumeditsmostpurplerobe。
’Ho,mychild,waityouforme?’
’Nay,Ihavebeentendingtheflowers,anddidbutlingeralittlewhiletorestmyself’
’Ithasbeenwarm,’saidGlaucus,placinghimselfalsoononeoftheseatsbeneaththecolonnade。
’Very。’
’WiltthousummonDavus?ThewineIhavedrunkheatsme,andIlongforsomecoolingdrink。’
Hereatonce,suddenlyandunexpectedly,theveryopportunitythatNydiaawaitedpresenteditself;ofhimself,athisownfreechoice,heaffordedtoherthatoccasion。Shebreathedquick——’Iwillprepareforyoumyself,’
saidshe,’thesummerdraughtthatIoneloves——ofhoneyandweakwinecooledinsnow。’
’Thanks,’saidtheunconsciousGlaucus。’IfIoneloveit,enough;itwouldbegratefulwereitpoison。’
Nydiafrowned,andthensmiled;shewithdrewforafewmoments,andreturnedwiththecupcontainingthebeverage。Glaucustookitfromherhand。WhatwouldnotNydiahavegiventhenforonehour’sprerogativeofsight,tohavewatchedherhopesripeningtoeffect——tohaveseenthefirstdawnoftheimaginedlove——tohaveworshippedwithmorethanPersianadorationtherisingofthatsunwhichhercreduloussoulbelievedwastobreakuponherdrearynight!Fardifferent,asshestoodthenandthere,werethethoughts,theemotionsoftheblindgirl,fromthoseofthevainPompeianunderasimilarsuspense。Inthelast,whatpoorandfrivolouspassionshadmadeupthedaringwhole!Whatpettypique,whatsmallrevenge,whatexpectationofapaltrytriumph,hadswelledtheattributesofthatsentimentshedignifiedwiththenameoflove!butinthewildheartoftheThessalianallwaspure,uncontrolled,unmodifiedpassion——erring,unwomanly,frenzied,butdebasedbynoelementsofamoresordidfeeling。
Filledwithloveaswithlifeitself,howcouldsheresisttheoccasionofwinningloveinreturn!
Sheleanedforsupportagainstthewall,andherface,beforesoflushed,wasnowwhiteassnow,andwithherdelicatehandsclaspedconvulsivelytogether,herlipsapart,hereyesontheground,shewaitedthenextwordsGlaucusshouldutter。
Glaucushadraisedthecuptohislips,hehadalreadydrainedaboutafourthofitscontents,whenhiseyesuddenlyglancinguponthefaceofNydia,hewassoforciblystruckbyitsalteration,byitsintense,andpainful,andstrangeexpression,thathepausedabruptly,andstillholdingthecupnearhislips,exclaimed:
’Why,Nydia!Nydia!Isay,artthouillorinpain?Nay,thyfacespeaksforthee。Whatailsmypoorchild?’Ashespoke,heputdownthecupandrosefromhisseattoapproachher,whenasuddenpangshotcoldlytohisheart,andwasfollowedbyawild,confused,dizzysensationatthebrain。
Thefloorseemedtoglidefromunderhim——hisfeetseemedtomoveonair——amightyandunearthlygladnessrusheduponhisspirit——hefelttoobuoyantfortheearth——helongedforwings,nay,itseemedinthebuoyancyofhisnewexistence,asifhepossessedthem。Heburstinvoluntarilyintoaloudandthrillinglaugh。Heclappedhishands——heboundedaloft——hewasasaPythonessinspired;suddenlyasitcamethispreternaturaltransportpassed,thoughonlypartially,away。Henowfelthisbloodrushingloudlyandrapidlythroughhisveins;itseemedtoswell,toexult,toleapalong,asastreamthathasburstitsbounds,andhurriestotheocean。Itthrobbedinhisearwithamightysound,hefeltitmounttohisbrow,hefelttheveinsinthetemplesstretchandswellasiftheycouldnolongercontaintheviolentandincreasingtide——thenakindofdarknessfelloverhiseyes——darkness,butnotentire;forthroughthedimshadehesawtheoppositewallsglowout,andthefigurespaintedthereonseemed,ghost—like,tocreepandglide。Whatwasmoststrange,hedidnotfeelhimselfill——hedidnotsinkorquailbeneaththedreadfrenzythatwasgatheringoverhim。
Thenoveltyofthefeelingsseemedbrightandvivid——hefeltasifayoungerhealthhadbeeninfusedintohisframe。Hewasglidingontomadness——andheknewitnot!
Nydiahadnotansweredhisfirstquestion——shehadnotbeenabletoreply——hiswildandfearfullaughhadrousedherfromherpassionatesuspense:shecouldnotseehisfiercegesture——shecouldnotmarkhisreelingandunsteadystepashepacedunconsciouslytoandfro;butsheheardthewords,broken,incoherent,insane,thatgushedfromhislips。Shebecameterrifiedandappalled——shehastenedtohim,feelingwithherarmsuntilshetouchedhisknees,andthenfallingonthegroundsheembracedthem,weepingwithterrorandexcitement。
’Oh,speaktome!speak!youdonothateme?——speak,speak!’
’Bythebrightgoddess,abeautifullandthisCyprus!Ho!howtheyfilluswithwineinsteadofblood!nowtheyopentheveinsoftheFaunyonder,toshowhowthetidewithinbubblesandsparkles。Comehither,jollyoldgod!
thouridestonagoat,eh?——whatlongsilkyhairhehas!HeisworthallthecoursersofParthia。Butawordwiththee——thiswineofthineistoostrongforusmortals。Oh!beautiful!theboughsareatrest!thegreenwavesoftheforesthavecaughttheZephyranddrownedhim!Notabreathstirstheleaves——andIviewtheDreamssleepingwithfoldedwingsuponthemotionlesselm;andIlookbeyond,andIseeabluestreamsparkleinthesilentnoon;afountain——afountainspringingaloft!Ah!myfount,thouwiltnotputoutraysofmyGreciansun,thoughthoutriesteversohardwiththynimbleandsilverarms。Andnow,whatformstealsyonderthroughtheboughs?sheglideslikeamoonbeam!——shehasagarlandofoak—leavesonherhead。Inherhandisavaseupturned,fromwhichshepourspinkandtinyshellsandsparklingwater。Oh!lookonyonface!Manneverbeforesawitslike。See!wearealone;onlyIandsheinthewideforest。Thereisnosmileuponherlips——shemoves,graveandsweetlysad。Ha!fly,itisanymph!——itisoneofthewildNapaeae!Whoeverseesherbecomesmad—fly!