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him that in this world money； like charity； covers a multitude of
defects； the boy listened eagerly and was consoled。 To save
money for his protege；for the only thing in the world he
loved；this became the patron's passion。 Verily； he had met
with his reward。
〃But I am thankful he has escaped；〃 said the old man； wiping his
eyes。 〃Had he left me a beggar； I could never have accused him。〃
〃No； for you are the author of his crimes。〃
〃How！ I； who never ceased to inculcate the beauty of virtue？
Explain yourself。〃
〃Alas！ if thy pupil did not make this clear to thee last night
from his own lips； an angel might come from heaven to preach to
thee in vain。〃
The old man moved uneasily； and was about to reply； when the
relative he had sent forand who； a native of Nancy； happened to
be at Paris at the timeentered the room。 He was a man somewhat
past thirty； and of a dry； saturnine； meagre countenance；
restless eyes； and compressed lips。 He listened； with many
ejaculations of horror； to his relation's recital； and sought
earnestly； but in vain； to induce him to give information against
his protege。
〃Tush； tush； Rene Dumas！〃 said the old man； 〃you are a lawyer。
You are bred to regard human life with contempt。 Let any man
break a law； and you shout； 'Execute him！'〃
〃I！〃 cried Dumas； lifting up his hands and eyes： 〃venerable
sage； how you misjudge me！ I lament more than any one the
severity of our code。 I think the state never should take away
life；no； not even the life of a murderer。 I agree with that
young statesman；Maximilien Robespierre；that the executioner
is the invention of the tyrant。 My very attachment to our
advancing revolution is； that it must sweep away this legal
butchery。〃
The lawyer paused； out of breath。 The stranger regarded him
fixedly and turned pale。
〃You change countenance； sir；〃 said Dumas； 〃you do not agree with
me。〃
〃Pardon me； I was at that moment repressing a vague fear which
seemed prophetic。〃
〃And that〃
〃Was that we should meet again； when your opinions on Death and
the philosophy of Revolutions might be different。〃
〃Never！〃
〃You enchant me； Cousin Rene；〃 said the old man； who had listened
to his relation with delight。 〃Ah； I see you have proper
sentiments of justice and philanthropy。 Why did I not seek to
know you before？ You admire the Revolution；you； equally with
me； detest the barbarity of kings and the fraud of priests？〃
〃Detest！ How could I love mankind if I did not？〃
〃And；〃 said the old man； hesitatingly； 〃you do not think； with
this noble gentleman； that I erred in the precepts I instilled
into that wretched man？〃
〃Erred！ Was Socrates to blame if Alcibiades was an adulterer and
a traitor？〃
〃You hear him； you hear him！ But Socrates had also a Plato；
henceforth you shall be a Plato to me。 You hear him？〃 exclaimed
the old man； turning to the stranger。
But the latter was at the threshold。 Who shall argue with the
most stubborn of all bigotries；the fanaticism of unbelief？
〃Are you going？〃 exclaimed Dumas； 〃and before I have thanked you；
blessed you； for the life of this dear and venerable man？ Oh； if
ever I can repay you；if ever you want the heart's blood of Rene
Dumas！〃 Thus volubly delivering himself； he followed the
stranger to the threshold of the second chamber； and there；
gently detaining him； and after looking over his shoulder； to be
sure that he was not heard by the owner； he whispered； 〃I ought
to return to Nancy。 One would not lose one's time；you don't
think； sir； that that scoundrel took away ALL the old fool's
money？〃
〃Was it thus Plato spoke of Socrates； Monsieur Dumas？〃
〃Ha； ha！you are caustic。 Well； you have a right。 Sir； we
shall meet again。〃
〃AGAIN！〃 muttered the stranger； and his brow darkened。 He
hastened to his chamber； he passed the day and the night alone；
and in studies； no matter of what nature；they served to
increase his gloom。
What could ever connect his fate with Rene Dumas； or the fugitive
assassin？ Why did the buoyant air of Paris seem to him heavy
with the steams of blood； why did an instinct urge him to fly
from those sparkling circles； from that focus of the world's
awakened hopes； warning him from return？he； whose lofty
existence defiedbut away these dreams and omens！ He leaves
France behind。 Back； O Italy； to thy majestic wrecks！ On the
Alps his soul breathes the free air once more。 Free air！ Alas！
let the world…healers exhaust their chemistry； man never shall be
as free in the marketplace as on the mountain。 But we； reader；
we too escape from these scenes of false wisdom clothing godless
crime。 Away； once more
〃In den heitern Regionen
Wo die reinen Formen wohnen。〃
Away； to the loftier realm where the pure dwellers are。
Unpolluted by the Actual； the Ideal lives only with Art and
Beauty。 Sweet Viola； by the shores of the blue Parthenope； by
Virgil's tomb； and the Cimmerian cavern； we return to thee once
more。
CHAPTER 1。IX。
Che non vuol che 'l destrier piu vada in alto；
Poi lo lega nel margine marino
A un verde mirto in mezzo un lauro E UN PINO。
〃Orlando Furioso；〃 c。 vi。 xxiii。
（As he did not wish that his charger （the hippogriff） should take
any further excursions into the higher regions for the present；
he bound him at the sea…shore to a green myrtle between a laurel
and a pine。）
O Musician！ art thou happy now？ Thou art reinstalled at thy
stately desk；thy faithful barbiton has its share in the
triumph。 It is thy masterpiece which fills thy ear； it is thy
daughter who fills the scene；the music； the actress； so united；
that applause to one is applause to both。 They make way for
thee； at the orchestra；they no longer jeer and wink； when； with
a fierce fondness； thou dost caress thy Familiar； that plains；
and wails； and chides； and growls； under thy remorseless hand。
They understand now how irregular is ever the symmetry of real
genius。 The inequalities in its surface make the moon luminous
to man。 Giovanni Paisiello； Maestro di Capella； if thy gentle
soul could know envy； thou must sicken to see thy Elfrida and thy
Pirro laid aside； and all Naples turned fanatic to the Siren； at
whose measures shook querulously thy gentle head！ But thou；
Paisiello； calm in the long prosperity of fame； knowest that the
New will have its day； and comfortest thyself that the Elfrida
and the Pirro will live forever。 Perhaps a mistake； but it is by
such mistakes that true genius conquers envy。 〃To be immortal；〃
says Schiller； 〃live in the whole。〃 To be superior to the hour；
live in thy self…esteem。 The audience now would give their ears
for those variations and flights they were once wont to hiss。
No！Pisani has been two…thirds of a life at silent work on his
masterpiece： there is nothing he can add to THAT； however he
might have sought to improve on the masterpieces o