zanoni-第48章

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I　would　have　given　thee　to　one　who　might　make　thee　happier　on

earth　than　I　can。　　Viola！　　Viola！　thou　knowest　notnever　canst

thou　knowhow　dear　thou　art　to　me！〃



It　is　in　vain　to　seek　for　words　to　describe　the　delightthe

proud；　the　full；　the　complete；　and　the　entire　delightthat

filled　the　heart　of　the　Neapolitan。　　He　whom　she　had　considered

too　lofty　even　for　love；more　humble　to　her　than　those　she　had

half…despised！　　She　was　silent；　but　her　eyes　spoke　to　him；　and

then　slowly；　as　aware；　at　last；　that　the　human　love　had　advanced

on　the　ideal；　she　shrank　into　the　terrors　of　a　modest　and

virtuous　nature。　　She　did　not　dare；she　did　not　dream　to　ask　him

the　question　she　had　so　fearlessly　made　to　Glyndon；　but　she　felt

a　sudden　coldness；a　sense　that　a　barrier　was　yet　between　love

and　love。　　〃Oh；　Zanoni！〃　she　murmured；　with　downcast　eyes；　〃ask

me　not　to　fly　with　thee；　tempt　me　not　to　my　shame。　　Thou　wouldst

protect　me　from　others。　　Oh；　protect　me　from　thyself！〃



〃Poor　orphan！〃　said　he；　tenderly；　〃and　canst　thou　think　that　I

ask　from　thee　one　sacrifice；still　less　the　greatest　that　woman

can　give　to　love？　　As　my　wife　I　woo　thee；　and　by　every　tie；　and

by　every　vow　that　can　hallow　and　endear　affection。　　Alas！　they

have　belied　love　to　thee　indeed；　if　thou　dost　not　know　the

religion　that　belongs　to　it！　　They　who　truly　love　would　seek；　for

the　treasure　they　obtain；　every　bond　that　can　make　it　lasting　and

secure。　　Viola；　weep　not；　unless　thou　givest　me　the　holy　right　to

kiss　away　thy　tears！〃



And　that　beautiful　face；　no　more　averted；　drooped　upon　his　bosom；

and　as　he　bent　down；　his　lips　sought　the　rosy　mouth：　　a　long　and

burning　kiss；danger；　life；　the　world　was　forgotten！　　Suddenly

Zanoni　tore　himself　from　her。



〃Hearest　thou　the　wind　that　sighs；　and　dies　away？　　As　that　wind；

my　power　to　preserve　thee；　to　guard　thee；　to　foresee　the　storm　in

thy　skies；　is　gone。　　No　matter。　　Haste；　haste；　and　may　love

supply　the　loss　of　all　that　it　has　dared　to　sacrifice！　　Come。〃



Viola　hesitated　no　more。　　She　threw　her　mantle　over　her

shoulders；　and　gathered　up　her　dishevelled　hair；　a　moment；　and

she　was　prepared；　when　a　sudden　crash　was　heard　below。



〃Too　late！fool　that　I　was；　too　late！〃　cried　Zanoni；　in　a　sharp

tone　of　agony；　as　he　hurried　to　the　door。　　He　opened　it；　only　to

be　borne　back　by　the　press　of　armed　men。　　The　room　literally

swarmed　with　the　followers　of　the　ravisher；　masked；　and　armed　to

the　teeth。



Viola　was　already　in　the　grasp　of　two　of　the　myrmidons。　　Her

shriek　smote　the　ear　of　Zanoni。　　He　sprang　forward；　and　Viola

heard　his　wild　cry　in　a　foreign　tongue。　　She　saw　the　blades　of

the　ruffians　pointed　at　his　breast！　　She　lost　her　senses；　and

when　she　recovered；　she　found　herself　gagged；　and　in　a　carriage

that　was　driven　rapidly；　by　the　side　of　a　masked　and　motionless

figure。　　The　carriage　stopped　at　the　portals　of　a　gloomy　mansion。

The　gates　opened　noiselessly；　a　broad　flight　of　steps；

brilliantly　illumined；　was　before　her。　　She　was　in　the　palace　of

the　Prince　di　。





CHAPTER　3。XIV。



Ma　lasciamo；　per　Dio；　Signore；　ormai

Di　parlar　d'　ira；　e　di　cantar　di　morte。

〃Orlando　Furioso；〃　Canto　xvii。　xvii。



（But　leave　me；　I　solemnly　conjure　thee；　signor；　to　speak　of

wrath；　and　to　sing　of　death。）



The　young　actress　was　led　to；　and　left　alone　in　a　chamber　adorned

with　all　the　luxurious　and　half…Eastern　taste　that　at　one　time

characterised　the　palaces　of　the　great　seigneurs　of　Italy。　　Her

first　thought　was　for　Zanoni。　　Was　he　yet　living？　　Had　he　escaped

unscathed　the　blades　of　the　foe；her　new　treasure；　the　new　light

of　her　life；　her　lord；　at　last　her　lover？



She　had　short　time　for　reflection。　　She　heard　steps　approaching

the　chamber；　she　drew　back；　but　trembled　not。　　A　courage　not　of

herself；　never　known　before；　sparkled　in　her　eyes；　and　dilated

her　stature。　　Living　or　dead；　she　would　be　faithful　still　to

Zanoni！　　There　was　a　new　motive　to　the　preservation　of　honour。

The　door　opened；　and　the　prince　entered　in　the　gorgeous　and　gaudy

custume　still　worn　at　that　time　in　Naples。



〃Fair　and　cruel　one；〃　said　he；　advancing　with　a　half…sneer　upon

his　lip；　〃thou　wilt　not　too　harshly　blame　the　violence　of　love。〃

He　attempted　to　take　her　hand　as　he　spoke。



〃Nay；〃　said　he；　as　she　recoiled；　〃reflect　that　thou　art　now　in

the　power　of　one　that　never　faltered　in　the　pursuit　of　an　object

less　dear　to　him　than　thou　art。　　Thy　lover；　presumptuous　though

he　be；　is　not　by　to　save　thee。　　Mine　thou　art；　but　instead　of　thy

master；　suffer　me　to　be　thy　slave。〃



〃Prince；〃　said　Viola；　with　a　stern　gravity；　〃your　boast　is　in

vain。　　Your　power！　　I　am　NOT　in　your　power。　　Life　and　death　are

in　my　own　hands。　　I　will　not　defy；　but　I　do　not　fear　you。　　I

feeland　in　some　feelings；〃　added　Viola；　with　a　solemnity　almost

thrilling；　〃there　is　all　the　strength；　and　all　the　divinity　of

knowledgeI　feel　that　I　am　safe　even　here；　but　youyou；　Prince

di　；　have　brought　danger　to　your　home　and　hearth！〃



The　Neapolitan　seemed　startled　by　an　earnestness　and　boldness　he

was　but　little　prepared　for。　　He　was　not；　however；　a　man　easily

intimidated　or　deterred　from　any　purpose　he　had　formed；　and；

approaching　Viola；　he　was　about　to　reply　with　much　warmth；　real

or　affected；　when　a　knock　was　heard　at　the　door　of　the　chamber。

The　sound　was　repeated；　and　the　prince；　chafed　at　the

interruption；　opened　the　door　and　demanded　impatiently　who　had

ventured　to　disobey　his　orders；　and　invade　his　leisure。　　Mascari

presented　himself；　pale　and　agitated：　　〃My　lord；〃　said　he；　in　a

whisper；　〃pardon　me；　but　a　stranger　is　below；　who　insists　on

seeing　you；　and；　from　some　words　he　let　fall；　I　judged　it

advisable　even　to　infringe　your　commands。〃



〃A　stranger！and　at　this　hour！　　What　business　can　he　pretend？

Why　was　he　even　admitted？〃



〃He　asserts　that　your　life　is　in　imminent　danger。　　The　source

whence　it　proceeds　he　will　relate　to　your　Excellency　alone。〃



The　prince　frowned；　but　his　colour　changed。　　He　mused　a　moment；

and　then；　re…entering　the　chamber　and　advancing　towards　Viola；　he

said；



〃Believe　me；　fair　creature；　I　have　no　wish　to　take　advantage　of

my　power。　　I　would　fain　trust　alone　to　the　gentler　authorities　of

affection。　　Hold　yourself　queen　within　these　walls　more

absolutely　than　you　have　ever　enacted　that　part　on　the　stage。

To…night；　farewell！　　May　your　sleep　be　calm；　and　your　dreams

propitious　to　my　hopes。〃



With　these　words　he　retired；　and　in　a　few　moments　Viola　was

surrounded　by　officious　attendants；　whom　she　at　length；　with　some

difficulty；　dismissed；　and；　refusing　to　retire　to　rest；　she　spent

the　night　in　examining　the　chamber；　which　she　found　was　secured；

and　in　thoughts　of　Zanoni；　in　whose　power　she　felt　an　almost

preternatural　confidence。



Meanwhile　the　prince　descended　the　stairs　and　sought　the　room

into　which　the　stranger　had　been　shown。



He　found　the　visitor　wrapped　from　head　to　foot　in　a　long　robe；

half…gown；　half…mantle；　such　as　was　sometimes　worn　by

ecclesiastics。　　The　face　of　this　stranger　was　remarkable。　　So

sunburnt　and　swarthy　were　his　hues；　that　he　must；　apparently；

have　derived　his　origin　amongst　the　races　of　the　farthest　East。

His　forehead　was　lofty；　and　his　eyes　so　penetrating　yet　so　calm

in　their　gaze　that　the　prince　shrank　from　them　as　we　shrink　from

a　questioner　who　is　drawing　forth　the　guiltiest　secret　of　our

hearts。



〃What　would　you　with　me？〃　asked　the　prince；　motioning　his　visitor

to　a　seat。



〃Prince　of　；〃　said　the　stranger；　in　a　voice　deep　and　sweet；　but

foreign　in　its　accent；〃son　of　the　most　energetic　and　masculine

race　that　ever　applied　godlike　genius　to　the　service　of　Human

Will；　with　its　winding　wickedness　and　its　stubborn　grandeur；

descendant　of　the　great　Visconti　in　whose　chronicles　lies　the

history　of　Italy　in　her　palmy　day；　and　in　whose　rise　was　the

development　of　the　mightiest　intellect；　ripened　by　the　most

restless　ambition；I　co