Themaskretiredfromthedoor,andanotherandyettallerformpresenteditself。\"Becalm,ViolaPisani,\"saidhe,inalowvoice;\"withmeyouareindeedsafe!\"Heliftedhismaskashespoke,andshowedthenoblefeaturesofZanoni。
\"Becalm,behushed,——Icansaveyou。\"Hevanished,leavingViolalostinsurprise,agitation,anddelight。Therewere,inall,ninemasks:twowereengagedwiththedriver;onestoodattheheadofthecarriage-horses;afourthguardedthewell-trainedsteedsoftheparty;threeothers(besidesZanoniandtheonewhohadfirstaccostedViola)stoodapartbyacarriagedrawntothesideoftheroad。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,theAugoeides(Augoeides,——awordfavouredbythemysticalPlatonists,sphairapsuchesaugoeides,otanmeteekteinetaiepiti,meteesosuntrechemetesunizane,allaphotilampetai,otenaletheianopatenpanton,kaitenenaute——Marc。Ant。,lib。2——Thesenseofwhichbeautifulsentenceoftheoldphilosophy,which,asBaylewellobserves,inhisarticleonCorneliusAgrippa,themodernQuietistshave(howeverimpotently)soughttoimitate,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。HerememberedtohaveheardinGermanyoftheworkofJohnBringeret(Printedin1615。),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,whichacenturybeforehadbeenbornebyaninoffensivenaturalistofBologna(Theauthoroftwoworksonbotanyandrareplants。),totheradicalsoftheextinctlanguage。ZanwasunquestionablytheChaldeanappellationforthesun。EventheGreeks,whomutilatedeveryOrientalname,hadretainedtherightoneinthiscase,astheCretaninscriptiononthetombofZeus(OdemegaskeitaiZan——\"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,asthehistorianofItaly(Botta。)
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;