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you complain of the bloodshed and the terror； think of the wrongs
which created my rights； think of the sacrifice by which I gave a
tenfold strength to those rights； think of the necessity for a
dreadful concussion and shock to society； in order to carry my
lesson into the councils of princes。
〃This will now have been effected。 And ye； victims of dishonor；
will be glorified in your deaths； ye will not have suffered in
vain； nor died without a monument。 Sleep； therefore； sister
Berenicesleep； gentle Mariamne； in peace。 And thou； noble
mother； let the outrages sown in thy dishonor； rise again and
blossom in wide harvests of honor for the women of thy afflicted
race。 Sleep； daughters of Jerusalem； in the sanctity of your
sufferings。 And thou； if it be possible； even more beloved
daughter of a Christian fold； whose company was too soon denied to
him in life； open thy grave to receive HIM； who； in the hour of
death； wishes to remember no title which he wore on earth but that
of thy chosen and adoring lover；
〃MAXIMILIAN。〃
Introduction to Melmoth the Wanderer
Balzac likens the hero of one of his short stories to 〃Moliere's
Don Juan； Goethe's Faust； Byron's Manfred； Maturin's Melmothgreat
allegorical figures drawn by the greatest men of genius in Europe。〃
〃But what is 'Melmoth'？ Why is HE classed as 'a great allegorical
figure'？〃 exclaimed many a surprised reader。 Few had perusedfew
know at this daythe terrible story of Melmoth the Wanderer； half
man； half devil； who has bartered away his soul for the glory of
power and knowledge； and； repenting of his bargain； tries again and
again to persuade some desperate human to change places with him
penetrates to the refuge of misery； the death chamber； even the
madhouse； seeking one in such utter agony as to accept his help；
and take his cursebut ever fails。
Why this extraordinary tale； told with wild and compelling sweep；
has remained so deep in oblivion； appears immediately on a glance
at the original。 The author； Charles Robert Maturin； a needy；
eccentric Irish clergyman of 1780…1824； could cause intense
suspense and horrorcould read keenly into human motivescould
teach an awful moral lesson in the guise of fascinating fiction；
but he could not stick to a long story with simplicity。 His dozens
of shifting scenes； his fantastic coils of 〃tales within tales〃
sadly perplex the reader of 〃Melmoth〃 in the first version。 It is
hoped； however； that the present selection； by its directness and
the clearness of the story thread； may please the modern reader
better than the involved original； and bring before a wider public
some of the most gripping descriptions ever penned in English。
In Volume IV of these stories comes a tale； 〃Melmoth Reconciled；〃
which Balzac himself wrote； while under the spell of Maturin's
〃great allegorical figure。〃 Here the unhappy being succeeds in his
purpose。 The story takes place in mocking； careless Paris； 〃that
branch establishment of hell〃； a cashier； on the eve of
embezzlement and detection； cynically accedes to Melmoth's terms；
and accepts his helpwith what unlooked…for results； the reader
may see。
Charles Robert Maturin
Melmoth the Wanderer
John Melmoth； student at Trinity College； Dublin； having journeyed
to County Wicklow for attendance at the deathbed of his miserly
uncle； finds the old man； even in his last moments； tortured by
avarice； and by suspicion of all around him。 He whispers to John：
〃I want a glass of wine； it would keep me alive for some hours； but
there is not one I can trust to get it for me；they'd steal a
bottle； and ruin me。〃 John was greatly shocked。 〃Sir； for God's
sake； let ME get a glass of wine for you。〃 〃Do you know where？〃
said the old man； with an expression in his face John could not
understand。 〃No； Sir； you know I have been rather a stranger here；
Sir。〃 〃Take this key；〃 said old Melmoth； after a violent spasm；
〃take this key； there is wine in that closet；Madeira。 I always
told them there was nothing there； but they did not believe me； or
I should not have been robbed as I have been。 At one time I said
it was whisky； and then I fared worse than ever； for they drank
twice as much of it。〃
John took the key from his uncle's hand； the dying man pressed it
as he did so； and John； interpreting this as a mark of kindness；
returned the pressure。 He was undeceived by the whisper that
followed；〃John； my lad； don't drink any of that wine while you
are there。〃 〃Good God！〃 said John； indignantly throwing the key on
the bed； then； recollecting that the miserable being before him was
no object of resentment； he gave the promise required； and entered
the closet； which no foot but that of old Melmoth had entered for
nearly sixty years。 He had some difficulty in finding out the
wine； and indeed stayed long enough to justify his uncle's
suspicions；but his mind was agitated； and his hand unsteady。 He
could not but remark his uncle's extraordinary look； that had the
ghastliness of fear superadded to that of death； as he gave him
permission to enter his closet。 He could not but see the looks of
horror which the women exchanged as he approached it。 And；
finally； when he was in it； his memory was malicious enough to
suggest some faint traces of a story； too horrible for imagination；
connected with it。 He remembered in one moment most distinctly；
that no one but his uncle had ever been known to enter it for many
years。
Before he quitted it； he held up the dim light； and looked around
him with a mixture of terror and curiosity。 There was a great deal
of decayed and useless lumber； such as might be supposed to be
heaped up to rot in a miser's closet； but John's eyes were in a
moment； and as if by magic； riveted on a portrait that hung on the
wall； and appeared； even to his untaught eye； far superior to the
tribe of family pictures that are left to molder on the walls of a
family mansion。 It represented a man of middle age。 There was
nothing remarkable in the costume； or in the countenance； but THE
EYES； John felt； were such as one feels they wish they had never
seen； and feels they can never forget。 Had he been acquainted with
the poetry of Southey； he might have often exclaimed in his after…
life；
〃Only the eyes had life；
They gleamed with demon light。〃THALABA。
From an impulse equally resistless and painful； he approached the
portrait； held the candle toward it； and could distinguish the
words on the border of the painting；Jno。 Melmoth； anno 1646。
John was neither timid by nature； nor nervous by constitution； nor
superstitious from habit； yet he continued to gaze in stupid horror
on this singular picture； till； aroused by his uncle's cough； he
hurried into his room。 The old man swallowed the wine。 He
appeared a little revived； it was long since he had tasted such a
cordial；his heart appeare