贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > zanoni >

第28章

zanoni-第28章

小说: zanoni 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




clear all the ensuing corruptions of the august name;Smintheus;

Smitheus; Smithe; Smith!  And even now; I may remark that the

more ancient branches of that illustrious family; unconsciously

anxious to approximate at least by a letter nearer to the true

title; take a pious pleasure in writing their names Smith_e_!〃



The philologist was much struck with this discovery; and begged

Mervale's permission to note it down as an illustration suitable

to a work he was about to publish on the origin of languages; to

be called 〃Babel;〃 and published in three quartos by

subscription。





CHAPTER 2。VII。



Learn to be poor in spirit; my son; if you would penetrate that

sacred night which environs truth。  Learn of the Sages to allow

to the Devils no power in Nature; since the fatal stone has shut

'em up in the depth of the abyss。  Learn of the Philosophers

always to look for natural causes in all extraordinary events;

and when such natural causes are wanting; recur to God。The

Count de Gabalis。



All these additions to his knowledge of Zanoni; picked up in the

various lounging…places and resorts that he frequented; were

unsatisfactory to Glyndon。  That night Viola did not perform at

the theatre; and the next day; still disturbed by bewildered

fancies; and averse to the sober and sarcastic companionship of

Mervale; Glyndon sauntered musingly into the public gardens; and

paused under the very tree under which he had first heard the

voice that had exercised upon his mind so singular an influence。

The gardens were deserted。  He threw himself on one of the seats

placed beneath the shade; and again; in the midst of his reverie;

the same cold shudder came over him which Zanoni had so

distinctly defined; and to which he had ascribed so extraordinary

a cause。



He roused himself with a sudden effort; and started to see;

seated next him; a figure hideous enough to have personated one

of the malignant beings of whom Zanoni had spoken。  It was a

small man; dressed in a fashion strikingly at variance with the

elaborate costume of the day:  an affectation of homeliness and

poverty approaching to squalor; in the loose trousers; coarse as

a ship's sail; in the rough jacket; which appeared rent wilfully

into holes; and the black; ragged; tangled locks that streamed

from their confinement under a woollen cap; accorded but ill with

other details which spoke of comparative wealth。  The shirt; open

at the throat; was fastened by a brooch of gaudy stones; and two

pendent massive gold chains announced the foppery of two watches。



The man's figure; if not absolutely deformed; was yet

marvellously ill…favoured; his shoulders high and square; his

chest flattened; as if crushed in; his gloveless hands were

knotted at the joints; and; large; bony; and muscular; dangled

from lean; emaciated wrists; as if not belonging to them。  His

features had the painful distortion sometimes seen in the

countenance of a cripple;large; exaggerated; with the nose

nearly touching the chin; the eyes small; but glowing with a

cunning fire as they dwelt on Glyndon; and the mouth was twisted

into a grin that displayed rows of jagged; black; broken teeth。

Yet over this frightful face there still played a kind of

disagreeable intelligence; an expression at once astute and bold;

and as Glyndon; recovering from the first impression; looked

again at his neighbour; he blushed at his own dismay; and

recognised a French artist; with whom he had formed an

acquaintance; and who was possessed of no inconsiderable talents

in his calling。



Indeed; it was to be remarked that this creature; whose externals

were so deserted by the Graces; particularly delighted in designs

aspiring to majesty and grandeur。  Though his colouring was hard

and shallow; as was that generally of the French school at the

time; his DRAWINGS were admirable for symmetry; simple elegance;

and classic vigour; at the same time they unquestionably wanted

ideal grace。  He was fond of selecting subjects from Roman

history; rather than from the copious world of Grecian beauty; or

those still more sublime stories of scriptural record from which

Raphael and Michael Angelo borrowed their inspirations。  His

grandeur was that not of gods and saints; but mortals。  His

delineation of beauty was that which the eye cannot blame and the

soul does not acknowledge。  In a word; as it was said of

Dionysius; he was an Anthropographos; or Painter of Men。  It was

also a notable contradiction in this person; who was addicted to

the most extravagant excesses in every passion; whether of hate

or love; implacable in revenge; and insatiable in debauch; that

he was in the habit of uttering the most beautiful sentiments of

exalted purity and genial philanthropy。  The world was not good

enough for him; he was; to use the expressive German phrase; A

WORLD…BETTERER!  Nevertheless; his sarcastic lip often seemed to

mock the sentiments he uttered; as if it sought to insinuate that

he was above even the world he would construct。



Finally; this painter was in close correspondence with the

Republicans of Paris; and was held to be one of those

missionaries whom; from the earliest period of the Revolution;

the regenerators of mankind were pleased to despatch to the

various states yet shackled; whether by actual tyranny or

wholesome laws。  Certainly; as the historian of Italy (Botta。)

has observed; there was no city in Italy where these new

doctrines would be received with greater favour than Naples;

partly from the lively temper of the people; principally because

the most hateful feudal privileges; however partially curtailed

some years before by the great minister; Tanuccini; still

presented so many daily and practical evils as to make change

wear a more substantial charm than the mere and meretricious

bloom on the cheek of the harlot; Novelty。  This man; whom I will

call Jean Nicot; was; therefore; an oracle among the younger and

bolder spirits of Naples; and before Glyndon had met Zanoni; the

former had not been among the least dazzled by the eloquent

aspirations of the hideous philanthropist。



〃It is so long since we have met; cher confrere;〃 said Nicot;

drawing his seat nearer to Glyndon's; 〃that you cannot be

surprised that I see you with delight; and even take the liberty

to intrude on your meditations。



〃They were of no agreeable nature;〃 said Glyndon; 〃and never was

intrusion more welcome。〃



〃You will be charmed to hear;〃 said Nicot; drawing several

letters from his bosom; 〃that the good work proceeds with

marvellous rapidity。  Mirabeau; indeed; is no more; but; mort

Diable! the French people are now a Mirabeau themselves。〃  With

this remark; Monsieur Nicot proceeded to read and to comment upon

several animated and interesting passages in his correspondence;

in which the word virtue was introduced twenty…seven times; and

God not once。  And then; warmed by the cheering prospects thus

opened to him; he began to indulge in those anticipations of the

future; the outline of which we have already seen in the eloquent

extravagance of Condorcet。  All the old virtues were dethroned

for a new Pantheon:  patriotism was a narrow sentiment;

philanthropy was to be its successor。  No love that did not

embrace all mankind; as warm for Indus and the Pole as for the

hearth of home; was worthy the breast of a generous man。  Opinion

was to be free as air; and in order to make it so; it was

necessary to exterminate all those whose opinions were not the

same as Mons。 Jean Nicot's。  Much of this amused; much revolted

Glyndon; but when the painter turned to dwell upon a science that

all should comprehend; and the results of which all should

enjoy;a science that; springing from the soil of equal

institutions and equal mental cultivation; should give to all the

races of men wealth without labour; and a life longer than the

Patriarchs'; without care;then Glyndon listened with interest

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的