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第42章

zanoni-第42章

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I sought to guide her path through the realms of terror to the

light; think of the Haunter of the Threshold; and shudder with me

at the awful hazard!  I have endeavoured to fill the Englishman's

ambition with the true glory of his art; but the restless spirit

of his ancestor still seems to whisper in him; and to attract to

the spheres in which it lost its own wandering way。  There is a

mystery in man's inheritance from his fathers。  Peculiarities of

the mind; as diseases of the body; rest dormant for generations;

to revive in some distant descendant; baffle all treatment and

elude all skill。  Come to me from thy solitude amidst the wrecks

of Rome!  I pant for a living confidant;for one who in the old

time has himself known jealousy and love。  I have sought commune

with Adon…Ai; but his presence; that once inspired such heavenly

content with knowledge; and so serene a confidence in destiny;

now only troubles and perplexes me。  From the height from which I

strive to search into the shadows of things to come; I see

confused spectres of menace and wrath。  Methinks I behold a

ghastly limit to the wondrous existence I have held;methinks

that; after ages of the Ideal Life; I see my course merge into

the most stormy whirlpool of the Real。  Where the stars opened to

me their gates; there looms a scaffold;thick steams of blood

rise as from a shambles。  What is more strange to me; a creature

here; a very type of the false ideal of common men;body and

mind; a hideous mockery of the art that shapes the Beautiful; and

the desires that seek the Perfect; ever haunts my vision amidst

these perturbed and broken clouds of the fate to be。  By that

shadowy scaffold it stands and gibbers at me; with lips dropping

slime and gore。  Come; O friend of the far…time; for me; at

least; thy wisdom has not purged away thy human affections。

According to the bonds of our solemn order; reduced now to thee

and myself; lone survivors of so many haughty and glorious

aspirants; thou art pledged; too; to warn the descendant of those

whom thy counsels sought to initiate into the great secret in a

former age。  The last of that bold Visconti who was once thy

pupil is the relentless persecutor of this fair child。  With

thoughts of lust and murder; he is digging his own grave; thou

mayest yet daunt him from his doom。  And I also mysteriously; by

the same bond; am pledged to obey; if he so command; a less

guilty descendant of a baffled but nobler student。  If he reject

my counsel; and insist upon the pledge; Mejnour; thou wilt have

another neophyte。  Beware of another victim!  Come to me!  This

will reach thee with all speed。  Answer it by the pressure of one

hand that I can dare to clasp!





CHAPTER 3。VIII。



Il lupo

Ferito; credo; mi conobbe e 'ncontro

Mi venne con la bocca sanguinosa。

〃Aminta;〃 At。 iv。 Sc。 i。



(The wounded wolf; I think; knew me; and came to meet me with its

bloody mouth。)



At Naples; the tomb of Virgil; beetling over the cave of

Posilipo; is reverenced; not with the feelings that should hallow

the memory of the poet; but the awe that wraps the memory of the

magician。  To his charms they ascribe the hollowing of that

mountain passage; and tradition yet guards his tomb by the

spirits he had raised to construct the cavern。  This spot; in the

immediate vicinity of Viola's home; had often attracted her

solitary footsteps。  She had loved the dim and solemn fancies

that beset her as she looked into the lengthened gloom of the

grotto; or; ascending to the tomb; gazed from the rock on the

dwarfed figures of the busy crowd that seemed to creep like

insects along the windings of the soil below; and now; at noon;

she bent thither her thoughtful way。  She threaded the narrow

path; she passed the gloomy vineyard that clambers up the rock;

and gained the lofty spot; green with moss and luxuriant foliage;

where the dust of him who yet soothes and elevates the minds of

men is believed to rest。  From afar rose the huge fortress of St。

Elmo; frowning darkly amidst spires and domes that glittered in

the sun。  Lulled in its azure splendour lay the Siren's sea; and

the grey smoke of Vesuvius; in the clear distance; soared like a

moving pillar into the lucid sky。  Motionless on the brink of the

precipice; Viola looked upon the lovely and living world that

stretched below; and the sullen vapour of Vesuvius fascinated her

eye yet more than the scattered gardens; or the gleaming Caprea;

smiling amidst the smiles of the sea。  She heard not a step that

had followed her on her path and started to hear a voice at hand。

So sudden was the apparition of the form that stood by her side;

emerging from the bushes that clad the crags; and so singularly

did it harmonise in its uncouth ugliness with the wild nature of

the scene immediately around her; and the wizard traditions of

the place; that the colour left her cheek; and a faint cry broke

from her lips。



〃Tush; pretty trembler!do not be frightened at my face;〃 said

the man; with a bitter smile。  〃After three months' marriage;

there is no different between ugliness and beauty。  Custom is a

great leveller。  I was coming to your house when I saw you leave

it; so; as I have matters of importance to communicate; I

ventured to follow your footsteps。  My name is Jean Nicot; a name

already favourably known as a French artist。  The art of painting

and the art of music are nearly connected; and the stage is an

altar that unites the two。〃



There was something frank and unembarrassed in the man's address

that served to dispel the fear his appearance had occasioned。  He

seated himself; as he spoke; on a crag beside her; and; looking

up steadily into her face; continued:



〃You are very beautiful; Viola Pisani; and I am not surprised at

the number of your admirers。  If I presume to place myself in the

list; it is because I am the only one who loves thee honestly;

and woos thee fairly。  Nay; look not so indignant!  Listen to me。

Has the Prince di  ever spoken to thee of marriage; or the

beautiful imposter Zanoni; or the young blue…eyed Englishman;

Clarence Glyndon?  It is marriage;it is a home; it is safety;

it is reputation; that I offer to thee; and these last when the

straight form grows crooked; and the bright eyes dim。  What say

you?〃 and he attempted to seize her hand。



Viola shrunk from him; and silently turned to depart。  He rose

abruptly and placed himself on her path。



〃Actress; you must hear me!  Do you know what this calling of the

stage is in the eyes of prejudice;that is; of the common

opinion of mankind?  It is to be a princess before the lamps; and

a Pariah before the day。  No man believes in your virtue; no man

credits your vows; you are the puppet that they consent to trick

out with tinsel for their amusement; not an idol for their

worship。  Are you so enamoured of this career that you scorn even

to think of security and honour?  Perhaps you are different from

what you seem。  Perhaps you laugh at the prejudice that would

degrade you; and would wisely turn it to advantage。  Speak

frankly to me; I have no prejudice either。  Sweet one; I am sure

we should agree。  Now; this Prince di ; I have a message from

him。  Shall I deliver it?〃



Never had Viola felt as she felt then; never had she so

thoroughly seen all the perils of her forelorn condition and her

fearful renown。  Nicot continued:



〃Zanoni would but amuse himself with thy vanity; Glyndon would

despise himself; if he offered thee his name; and thee; if thou

wouldst accept it; but the Prince di  is in earnest; and he is

wealthy。  Listen!〃



And Nicot approached his lips to her; and hissed a sentence which

she did not suffer him to complete。  She darted from him with one

glance of unutterable disdain。  As he strove to regain his hold

of her arm; he lost his footing; and fell down the sides of the

rock till; bruised and lacerated; a pine…branch saved him from

the ya

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