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letters； and the rich commercialists； who were already vying with
the splendour； though debarred from the privileges； of the
nobles。 From these he heard much of Zanoni； already with them；
as with the idler classes； an object of curiosity and
speculation。
He had noticed； as a thing remarkable； that Zanoni had conversed
with him in English； and with a command of the language so
complete that he might have passed for a native。 On the other
hand； in Italian； Zanoni was equally at ease。 Glyndon found that
it was the same in languages less usually learned by foreigners。
A painter from Sweden； who had conversed with him； was positive
that he was a Swede； and a merchant from Constantinople； who had
sold some of his goods to Zanoni； professed his conviction that
none but a Turk； or at least a native of the East； could have so
thoroughly mastered the soft Oriental intonations。 Yet in all
these languages； when they came to compare their several
recollections； there was a slight； scarce perceptible
distinction； not in pronunciation； nor even accent； but in the
key and chime； as it were； of the voice； between himself and a
native。 This faculty was one which Glyndon called to mind； that
sect； whose tenets and powers have never been more than most
partially explored； the Rosicrucians； especially arrogated。 He
remembered to have heard in Germany of the work of John Bringeret
（Printed in 1615。）； asserting that all the languages of the earth
were known to the genuine Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross。 Did
Zanoni belong to this mystical Fraternity； who； in an earlier
age； boasted of secrets of which the Philosopher's Stone was but
the least； who considered themselves the heirs of all that the
Chaldeans； the Magi； the Gymnosophists； and the Platonists had
taught； and who differed from all the darker Sons of Magic in the
virtue of their lives； the purity of their doctrines； and their
insisting； as the foundation of all wisdom； on the subjugation of
the senses； and the intensity of Religious Faith？a glorious
sect； if they lied not！ And； in truth； if Zanoni had powers
beyond the race of worldly sages； they seemed not unworthily
exercised。 The little known of his life was in his favour。 Some
acts； not of indiscriminate； but judicious generosity and
beneficence； were recorded； in repeating which； still； however；
the narrators shook their heads； and expressed surprise how a
stranger should have possessed so minute a knowledge of the quiet
and obscure distresses he had relieved。 Two or three sick
persons； when abandoned by their physicians； he had visited； and
conferred with alone。 They had recovered： they ascribed to him
their recovery； yet they could not tell by what medicines they
had been healed。 They could only depose that he came； conversed
with them； and they were cured； it usually； however； happened
that a deep sleep had preceded the recovery。
Another circumstance was also beginning to be remarked； and spoke
yet more in his commendation。 Those with whom he principally
associatedthe gay； the dissipated； the thoughtless； the sinners
and publicans of the more polished worldall appeared rapidly；
yet insensibly to themselves； to awaken to purer thoughts and
more regulated lives。 Even Cetoxa； the prince of gallants；
duellists； and gamesters； was no longer the same man since the
night of the singular events which he had related to Glyndon。
The first trace of his reform was in his retirement from the
gaming…houses； the next was his reconciliation with an hereditary
enemy of his house； whom it had been his constant object for the
last six years to entangle in such a quarrel as might call forth
his inimitable manoeuvre of the stoccata。 Nor when Cetoxa and
his young companions were heard to speak of Zanoni； did it seem
that this change had been brought about by any sober lectures or
admonitions。 They all described Zanoni as a man keenly alive to
enjoyment： of manners the reverse of formal；not precisely gay；
but equable； serene； and cheerful； ever ready to listen to the
talk of others； however idle； or to charm all ears with an
inexhaustible fund of brilliant anecdote and worldly experience。
All manners； all nations； all grades of men； seemed familiar to
him。 He was reserved only if allusion were ever ventured to his
birth or history。
The more general opinion of his origin certainly seemed the more
plausible。 His riches； his familiarity with the languages of the
East； his residence in India； a certain gravity which never
deserted his most cheerful and familiar hours； the lustrous
darkness of his eyes and hair； and even the peculiarities of his
shape； in the delicate smallness of the hands； and the Arab…like
turn of the stately head； appeared to fix him as belonging to one
at least of the Oriental races。 And a dabbler in the Eastern
tongues even sought to reduce the simple name of Zanoni； which a
century before had been borne by an inoffensive naturalist of
Bologna （The author of two works on botany and rare plants。）； to
the radicals of the extinct language。 Zan was unquestionably the
Chaldean appellation for the sun。 Even the Greeks； who mutilated
every Oriental name； had retained the right one in this case； as
the Cretan inscription on the tomb of Zeus （Ode megas keitai
Zan。〃Cyril contra Julian。〃 （Here lies great Jove。））
significantly showed。 As to the rest； the Zan； or Zaun； was；
with the Sidonians； no uncommon prefix to On。 Adonis was but
another name for Zanonas； whose worship in Sidon Hesychius
records。 To this profound and unanswerable derivation Mervale
listened with great attention； and observed that he now ventured
to announce an erudite discovery he himself had long since made；…
…namely； that the numerous family of Smiths in England were
undoubtedly the ancient priests of the Phrygian Apollo。 〃For；〃
said he； 〃was not Apollo's surname； in Phrygia； Smintheus？ How
clear all the ensuing corruptions of the august name；Smintheus；
Smitheus； Smithe； Smith！ And even now； I may remark that the
more ancient branches of that illustrious family； unconsciously
anxious to approximate at least by a letter nearer to the true
title； take a pious pleasure in writing their names Smith_e_！〃
The philologist was much struck with this discovery； and begged
Mervale's permission to note it down as an illustration suitable
to a work he was about to publish on the origin of languages； to
be called 〃Babel；〃 and published in three quartos by
subscription。
CHAPTER 2。VII。
Learn to be poor in spirit； my son； if you would penetrate that
sacred night which environs truth。 Learn of the Sages to allow
to the Devils no power in Nature； since the fatal stone has shut
'em up in the depth of the abyss。 Learn of the Philosophers
always to look for natural causes in all extraordinary events；
and when such natural causes are wanting； recur to God。The
Count de Gabalis。
All these additions to his knowl