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mighty and solemn kingdoms in which they dwelt； there were no
turbulent and earthly channels to work off the fever of their
minds。 Set in the antique mould of casts through which no
intellect could pierce； no valour could force its way； the thirst
for wisdom alone reigned in the hearts of those who received its
study as a heritage from sire to son。 Hence； even in your
imperfect records of the progress of human knowledge； you find
that； in the earliest ages； Philosophy descended not to the
business and homes of men。 It dwelt amidst the wonders of the
loftier creation； it sought to analyse the formation of matter；
the essentials of the prevailing soul； to read the mysteries of
the starry orbs； to dive into those depths of Nature in which
Zoroaster is said by the schoolmen first to have discovered the
arts which your ignorance classes under the name of magic。 In
such an age； then； arose some men； who； amidst the vanities and
delusions of their class； imagined that they detected gleams of a
brighter and steadier lore。 They fancied an affinity existing
among all the works of Nature； and that in the lowliest lay the
secret attraction that might conduct them upward to the loftiest。
（Agreeably； it would seem； to the notion of Iamblichus and
Plotinus； that the universe is as an animal； so that there is
sympathy and communication between one part and the other； in the
smallest part may be the subtlest nerve。 And hence the universal
magnetism of Nature。 But man contemplates the universe as an
animalcule would an elephant。 The animalcule； seeing scarcely
the tip of the hoof； would be incapable of comprehending that the
trunk belonged to the same creature；that the effect produced
upon one extremity would be felt in an instant by the other。）
Centuries passed； and lives were wasted in these discoveries； but
step after step was chronicled and marked； and became the guide
to the few who alone had the hereditary privilege to track their
path。
At last from this dimness upon some eyes the light broke； but
think not； young visionary； that to those who nursed unholy
thoughts； over whom the Origin of Evil held a sway； that dawning
was vouchsafed。 It could be given then； as now； only to the
purest ecstasies of imagination and intellect； undistracted by
the cares of a vulgar life； or the appetites of the common clay。
Far from descending to the assistance of a fiend； theirs was but
the august ambition to approach nearer to the Fount of Good； the
more they emancipated themselves from this limbo of the planets；
the more they were penetrated by the splendour and beneficence of
God。 And if they sought； and at last discovered； how to the eye
of the Spirit all the subtler modifications of being and of
matter might be made apparent； if they discovered how； for the
wings of the Spirit； all space might be annihilated； and while
the body stood heavy and solid here； as a deserted tomb； the
freed IDEA might wander from star to star；if such discoveries
became in truth their own； the sublimest luxury of their
knowledge was but this； to wonder； to venerate； and adore！ For；
as one not unlearned in these high matters has expressed it；
'There is a principle of the soul superior to all external
nature； and through this principle we are capable of surpassing
the order and systems of the world； and participating the
immortal life and the energy of the Sublime Celestials。 When the
soul is elevated to natures above itself； it deserts the order to
which it is awhile compelled； and by a religious magnetism is
attracted to another and a loftier； with which it blends and
mingles。' （From Iamblichus； 〃On the Mysteries；〃 c。 7； sect。 7。）
Grant； then； that such beings found at last the secret to arrest
death； to fascinate danger and the foe； to walk the revolutions
of the earth unharmed；think you that this life could teach them
other desire than to yearn the more for the Immortal； and to fit
their intellect the better for the higher being to which they
might； when Time and Death exist no longer； be transferred？ Away
with your gloomy fantasies of sorcerer and demon！the soul can
aspire only to the light； and even the error of our lofty
knowledge was but the forgetfulness of the weakness； the
passions； and the bonds which the death we so vainly conquered
only can purge away！〃
This address was so different from what Glyndon had anticipated；
that he remained for some moments speechless； and at length
faltered out；
〃But why； then； to me〃
〃Why；〃 added Zanoni；〃why to thee have been only the penance and
the terror；the Threshold and the Phantom？ Vain man！ look to
the commonest elements of the common learning。 Can every tyro at
his mere wish and will become the master； can the student； when
he has bought his Euclid； become a Newton； can the youth whom the
Muses haunt； say； 'I will equal Homer；' yea； can yon pale tyrant；
with all the parchment laws of a hundred system…shapers； and the
pikes of his dauntless multitude； carve； at his will； a
constitution not more vicious than the one which the madness of a
mob could overthrow？ When； in that far time to which I have
referred； the student aspired to the heights to which thou
wouldst have sprung at a single bound； he was trained from his
very cradle to the career he was to run。 The internal and the
outward nature were made clear to his eyes； year after year； as
they opened on the day。 He was not admitted to the practical
initiation till not one earthly wish chained that sublimest
faculty which you call the IMAGINATION； one carnal desire clouded
the penetrative essence that you call the INTELLECT。 And even
then； and at the best； how few attained to the last mystery！
Happier inasmuch as they attained the earlier to the holy glories
for which Death is the heavenliest gate。〃
Zanoni paused； and a shade of thought and sorrow darkened his
celestial beauty。
〃And are there； indeed； others； besides thee and Mejnour； who lay
claim to thine attributes； and have attained to thy secrets？〃
〃Others there have been before us； but we two now are alone on
earth。〃
〃Imposter； thou betrayest thyself！ If they could conquer Death；
why live they not yet？〃 （Glyndon appears to forget that Mejnour
had before answered the very question which his doubts here a
second time suggest。）
〃Child of a day！〃 answered Zanoni； mournfully； 〃have I not told
thee the error of our knowledge was the forgetfulness of the
desires and passions which the spirit never can wholly and
permanently conquer while this matter cloaks it？ Canst thou
think that it is no sorrow； either to reject all human ties； all
friendship； and all love； or to see； day after day； friendship
and love wither from our life； as blossoms from the stem？ Canst
thou wonder how； with the power to live while the world shall
last； ere even our ordinary date be finished we yet may prefer to
die？ Wonder rather that there are two who have clung