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pause not to ask of what realities they are the proxies。 When
the actor of Athens moved all hearts as he clasped the burial
urn； and burst into broken sobs； how few； there； knew that it
held the ashes of his son！ Gold； as well as fame； was showered
upon the young actress； but she still kept to her simple mode of
life； to her lowly home； to the one servant whose faults； selfish
as they were； Viola was too inexperienced to perceive。 And it
was Gionetta who had placed her when first born in her father's
arms！ She was surrounded by every snare； wooed by every
solicitation that could beset her unguarded beauty and her
dangerous calling。 But her modest virtue passed unsullied
through them all。 It is true that she had been taught by lips
now mute the maiden duties enjoined by honour and religion。 And
all love that spoke not of the altar only shocked and repelled
her。 But besides that； as grief and solitude ripened her heart；
and made her tremble at times to think how deeply it could feel；
her vague and early visions shaped themselves into an ideal of
love。 And till the ideal is found； how the shadow that it throws
before it chills us to the actual！ With that ideal； ever and
ever； unconsciously； and with a certain awe and shrinking； came
the shape and voice of the warning stranger。 Nearly two years
had passed since he had appeared at Naples。 Nothing had been
heard of him； save that his vessel had been directed； some months
after his departure； to sail for Leghorn。 By the gossips of
Naples； his existence； supposed so extraordinary； was wellnigh
forgotten； but the heart of Viola was more faithful。 Often he
glided through her dreams； and when the wind sighed through that
fantastic tree； associated with his remembrance； she started with
a tremor and a blush； as if she had heard him speak。
But amongst the train of her suitors was one to whom she listened
more gently than to the rest； partly because； perhaps； he spoke
in her mother's native tongue； partly because in his diffidence
there was little to alarm and displease； partly because his rank；
nearer to her own than that of lordlier wooers； prevented his
admiration from appearing insult； partly because he himself；
eloquent and a dreamer； often uttered thoughts that were kindred
to those buried deepest in her mind。 She began to like； perhaps
to love him； but as a sister loves； a sort of privileged
familiarity sprung up between them。 If in the Englishman's
breast arose wild and unworthy hopes； he had not yet expressed
them。 Is there danger to thee here； lone Viola； or is the danger
greater in thy unfound ideal？
And now； as the overture to some strange and wizard spectacle；
closes this opening prelude。 Wilt thou hear more？ Come with thy
faith prepared。 I ask not the blinded eyes； but the awakened
sense。 As the enchanted Isle； remote from the homes of men；
〃Ove alcun legno
Rado； o non mai va dalle nostre sponde；〃
〃Ger。Lib。；〃 cant。 xiv。 69。
（Where ship seldom or never comes from our coasts。）
is the space in the weary ocean of actual life to which the Muse
or Sibyl （ancient in years； but ever young in aspect）； offers
thee no unhallowed sail；
〃Quinci ella in cima a una montagna ascende
Disabitata； e d' ombre oscura e bruna；
E par incanto a lei nevose rende
Le spalle e i fianchi； e sensa neve alcuna
Gli lascia il capo verdeggiante e vago；
E vi fonda un palagio appresso un lago。〃
（There； she a mountain's lofty peak ascends；
Unpeopled； shady； shagg'd with forests brown；
Whose sides； by power of magic； half…way down
She heaps with slippery ice and frost and snow；
But sunshiny and verdant leaves the crown
With orange…woods and myrtles；speaks； and lo！
Rich from the bordering lake a palace rises slow。
Wiffin's 〃Translation。〃
BOOK II。
ART； LOVE； AND WONDER。
Diversi aspetti in un confusi e misti。
〃Ger。 Lib；〃 cant。 iv。 7。
Different appearances； confused and mixt in one。
CHAPTER 2。I。
Centauri； e Sfingi； e pallide Gorgoni。
〃Ger。 Lib。；〃 c。 iv。 v。
（Centaurs and Sphinxes and pallid Gorgons。）
One moonlit night； in the Gardens at Naples； some four or five
gentleman were seated under a tree； drinking their sherbet； and
listening； in the intervals of conversation； to the music which
enlivened that gay and favourite resort of an indolent
population。 One of this little party was a young Englishman； who
had been the life of the whole group； but who； for the last few
moments； had sunk into a gloomy and abstracted reverie。 One of
his countrymen observed this sudden gloom； and； tapping him on
the back； said； 〃What ails you； Glyndon？ Are you ill？ You have
grown quite pale；you tremble。 Is it a sudden chill？ You had
better go home： these Italian nights are often dangerous to our
English constitutions。〃
〃No； I am well now； it was a passing shudder。 I cannot account
for it myself。〃
A man； apparently of about thirty years of age； and of a mien and
countenance strikingly superior to those around him； turned
abruptly； and looked steadfastly at Glyndon。
〃I think I understand what you mean；〃 said he； 〃and perhaps；〃 he
added； with a grave smile； 〃I could explain it better than
yourself。〃 Here； turning to the others； he added； 〃You must
often have felt； gentlemen； each and all of you； especially when
sitting alone at night； a strange and unaccountable sensation of
coldness and awe creep over you； your blood curdles； and the
heart stands still； the limbs shiver； the hair bristles； you are
afraid to look up； to turn your eyes to the darker corners of the
room； you have a horrible fancy that something unearthly is at
hand； presently the whole spell； if I may so call it； passes
away； and you are ready to laugh at your own weakness。 Have you
not often felt what I have thus imperfectly described？if so；
you can understand what our young friend has just experienced；
even amidst the delights of this magical scene； and amidst the
balmy whispers of a July night。〃
〃Sir；〃 replied Glyndon； evidently much surprised； 〃you have
defined exactly the nature of that shudder which came over me。
But how could my manner be so faithful an index to my
impressions？〃
〃I know the signs of the visitation；〃 returned the stranger；
gravely； 〃they are not to be mistaken by one of my experience。〃
All the gentleman present then declared that they could
comprehend； and had felt； what the stranger had described。
〃According to one of our national superstitions；〃 said Mervale；
the Englishman who had first addressed Glyndon； 〃the moment you
so feel your blood creep； and your hair stand on end； some one is
walking over the spot which shall be your grave。〃
〃There are in all lands different superstitions to account for so
common an occurrence；〃 replied the stranger： 〃one sect among the
Arabians holds that at that instant God is deciding the hour
either of your death； or of some one dea