zanoni-第43章
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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 yawning abyss below。 She heard his exclamation of rage and
pain as she bounded down the path; and; without once turning to
look behind; regained her home。 By the porch stood Glyndon;
conversing with Gionetta。 She passed him abruptly; entered the
house; and; sinking on the floor; wept loud and passionately。
Glyndon; who had followed her in surprise; vainly sought to
soothe and calm her。 She would not reply to his questions; she
did not seem to listen to his protestations of love; till
suddenly; as Nicot's terrible picture of the world's judgment of
that profession which to her younger thoughts had seemed the
service of Song and the Beautiful; forced itself upon her; she
raised her face from her hands; and; looking steadily upon the
Englishman; said; 〃False one; dost thou talk of me of love?〃
〃By my honour; words fail to tell thee how I love!〃
〃Wilt thou give me thy home; thy name? Dost thou woo me as thy
wife?〃 And at that moment; had Glyndon answered as his better
angel would have counselled; perhaps; in that revolution of her
whole mind which the words of Nicot had effected; which made her
despise her very self; sicken of her lofty dreams; despair of the
future; and distrust her whole ideal;perhaps; I say; in
restoring her self…esteem;he would have won her confidence; and
ultimately secured her love。 But against the prompting of his
nobler nature rose up at that sudden question all those doubts
which; as Zanoni had so well implied; made the true enemies of
his soul。 Was he thus suddenly to be entangled into a snare laid
for his credulity by deceivers? Was she not instructed to seize
the moment to force him into an avowal which prudence must
repent? Was not the great actress rehearsing a premeditated
part? He turned round; as these thoughts; the children of the
world; passed across him; for he literally fancied that he heard
the sarcastic laugh of Mervale without。 Nor was he deceived。
Mervale was passing by the threshold; and Gionetta had told him
his friend was within。 Who does not know the effect of the
world's laugh? Mervale was the personation of the world。 The
whole world seemed to shout derision in those ringing tones。 He
drew back;he recoiled。 Viola followed him with her earnest;
impatient eyes。 At last; he faltered forth; 〃Do all of thy
profession; beautiful Viola; exact marriage as the sole condition
of love?〃 Oh; bitter question! Oh; poisoned taunt! He repented
it the moment after。 He was seized with remorse of reason; of
feeling; and of conscience。 He saw her form shrink; as it were;
at his cruel words。 He saw the colour come and go; to leave the
writhing lips like marble; and then; with a sad; gentle look of
self…pity; rather than reproach; she pressed her hands tightly to
her bosom; and said;
〃He was right! Pardon me; Englishman; I see now; indeed; that I
am the Pariah and the outcast。〃
〃Hear me。 I retract。 Viola; Viola! it is for you to forgive!〃
But Viola waved him from her; and; smiling mournfully as she
passed him by; glided from the chamber; and he did not dare to
detain her。
CHAPTER 3。IX。
Dafne: Ma; chi lung' e d'Amor?
Tirsi: Chi teme e fugge。
Dafne: E che giova fuggir da lui ch' ha l' ali?
Tirsi: AMOR NASCENTE HA CORTE L' ALI!
〃Aminta;〃 At。 ii。 Sc。 ii。
(Dafne: But; who is far from Love?
Tirsi: He who fears and flies。
Dafne: What use to flee from one who has wings?
Tirsi: The wings of Love; while he yet grows; are short。)
When Glyndon found himself without Viola's house; Mervale; still
loitering at the door; seized his arm。 Glyndon shook him off
abruptly。
〃Thou and thy counsels;〃 said he; bitterly; 〃have made me a
coward and a wretch。 But I will go home;I will write to her。
I will pour out my whole soul; she will forgive me yet。〃
Mervale; who was a man of imperturbable temper; arranged his
ruffles; which his friend's angry gesture had a little
discomposed; and not till Glyndon had exhausted himself awhile by
passionate exclamations and reproaches; did the experienced
angler begin to tighten the line。 He then drew from Glyndon the
explanation of what had passed; and artfully sought not to
irritate; but soothe him。 Mervale; indeed; was by no means a bad
man; he had stronger moral notions than are common amongst the
young。 He sincerely reproved his friend for harbouring
dishonourable intentions with regard to the actress。 〃Because I
would not have her thy wife; I never dreamed that thou shouldst
degrade her to thy mistress。 Better of the two an imprudent
match than an illicit connection。 But pause yet; do not act on
the impulse of the moment。〃
〃But there is no time to lose。 I have promised to Zanoni to give
him my answer by to…morrow night。 Later than that time; all
option ceases。〃
〃Ah!〃 said Mervale; 〃this seems suspicious。 Explain yourself。〃
And Glyndon; in the earnestness of his passion; told his friend
what had passed between himself and Zanoni;suppressing only; he
scarce knew why; the reference to his ancestor and the mysterious
brotherhood。
This recital gave to Mervale all the advantage he could desire。
Heavens! with what sound; shrewd common…sense he talked。 How
evidently some charlatanic coalition between the actress; and
perhaps;who knows?her clandestine protector; sated with
possession! How equivocal the character of one;the position of
the other! What cunning in the question of the actress! How
profoundly had Glyndon; at the first suggestion of his sober
reason; seen through the snare。 What! was he to be thus
mystically cajoled and hurried into a rash marriage; because
Zanoni; a mere stranger; told him with a grave face that he must
decide before the clock struck a certain hour?
〃Do this at least;〃 said Mervale; reasonably enough;〃wait till
the time expires; it is but another day。 Baffle Zanoni。 He
tells thee that he will meet thee before midnight to…morrow; and
defies thee to avoid him。 Pooh! let us quit Naples for some
neighbouring place; where; unless he be indeed the Devil; he
cannot possibly find us。 Show him that you will not be led
blindfold even into an act that you meditate yourself。 Defer to
write to her; or to see her; till after to…morrow。 This is all I
ask。 Then visit her; and decide for yourself。〃
Glyndon was staggered。 He could not combat the reasonings of his
friend; he was not convinced; but he hesitated; and at that
moment Nicot passed them。 He turned round; and stopped; as he
saw Glyndon。
〃Well; and do you think still of the Pisani?〃
〃Yes; and you〃
〃Have seen and conversed with her。 She shall be Madame Nicot
before this day week! I am going to the cafe; in the Toledo; and
hark ye; when next you meet your friend Signor Zanoni; tell him
that he has twice crossed my path。 Jean Nicot; though a painter;
is a plain; honest man; and always pays his debts。〃
〃It is a good doctrine in money matters;〃 said Mervale; 〃as to
revenge; it is not so moral; and certainly not so wise。 But is
it in your love that Zanoni has crossed your path? How that; if
your suit prosper so well?〃
〃Ask Viola Pisani that question。 Bah! Glyndon; she is a prude
only to thee。 But I have no prejudices。 Once more; farewell。〃
〃Rouse thyself; man!〃 said Mervale; slapping Glyndon on the
shoulder。 〃What think you of your fair one now?〃
〃This man must lie。〃
〃Will you write to her at once?〃
〃No; if she be really playing a game; I could renounce her
without a sigh。 I will watch her closely; and; at all events;
Zanoni shall not be the master of my fate。 Let us; as you
advise; leave Naples at daybreak to…morrow。〃
CHAPTER 3。X。
O chiunque tu sia; che fuor d'ogni uso
Pieghi Natura ad opre altere e strane;
E; sp