按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
own。 Share my fate now and forever；my pride； my delight； my
ideal！ Thou shalt inspire my canvas and my song； thy beauty
shall be made at once holy and renowned。 In the galleries of
princes； crowds shall gather round the effigy of a Venus or a
Saint； and a whisper shall break forth； 'It is Viola Pisani！'
Ah！ Viola； I adore thee； tell me that I do not worship in vain。〃
〃Thou art good and fair；〃 said Viola； gazing on her lover； as he
pressed nearer to her； and clasped her hand in his； 〃but what
should I give thee in return？〃
〃Love； love；only love！〃
〃A sister's love？〃
〃Ah； speak not with such cruel coldness！〃
〃It is all I have for thee。 Listen to me； signor： when I look
on your face； when I hear your voice； a certain serene and
tranquil calm creeps over and lulls thoughts；oh； how feverish；
how wild！ When thou art gone； the day seems a shade more dark；
but the shadow soon flies。 I miss thee not； I think not of thee：
no； I love thee not； and I will give myself only where I love。〃
〃But I would teach thee to love me； fear it not。 Nay； such love
as thou describest； in our tranquil climates； is the love of
innocence and youth。〃
〃Of innocence！〃 said Viola。 〃Is it so？ Perhaps〃 She paused；
and added； with an effort； 〃Foreigner！ and wouldst thou wed the
orphan？ Ah； THOU at least art generous！ It is not the innocence
thou wouldst destroy！〃
Glyndon drew back； conscience…stricken。
〃No； it may not be！〃 she said； rising； but not conscious of the
thoughts； half of shame； half suspicion； that passed through the
mind of her lover。 〃Leave me； and forget me。 You do not
understand； you could not comprehend； the nature of her whom you
think to love。 From my childhood upward； I have felt as if I
were marked out for some strange and preternatural doom； as if I
were singled from my kind。 This feeling （and； oh！ at times it is
one of delirious and vague delight； at others of the darkest
gloom） deepens within me day by day。 It is like the shadow of
twilight； spreading slowly and solemnly around。 My hour
approaches： a little while； and it will be night！〃
As she spoke； Glyndon listened with visible emotion and
perturbation。 〃Viola！〃 he exclaimed； as she ceased； 〃your words
more than ever enchain me to you。 As you feel； I feel。 I； too；
have been ever haunted with a chill and unearthly foreboding。
Amidst the crowds of men I have felt alone。 In all my pleasures；
my toils； my pursuits； a warning voice has murmured in my ear；
'Time has a dark mystery in store for thy manhood。' When you
spoke； it was as the voice of my own soul。〃
Viola gazed upon him in wonder and fear。 Her countenance was as
white as marble； and those features； so divine in their rare
symmetry； might have served the Greek with a study for the
Pythoness； when； from the mystic cavern and the bubbling spring；
she first hears the voice of the inspiring god。 Gradually the
rigour and tension of that wonderful face relaxed； the colour
returned； the pulse beat： the heart animated the frame。
〃Tell me；〃 she said； turning partially aside；〃tell me； have you
seendo you knowa stranger in this city；one of whom wild
stories are afloat？〃
〃You speak of Zanoni？ I have seen him： I know him；and you？
Ah； he； too； would be my rival！he； too； would bear thee from
me！〃
〃You err；〃 said Viola； hastily； and with a deep sigh； 〃he pleads
for you： he informed me of your love； he besought me notnot to
reject it。〃
〃Strange being！ incomprehensible enigma！ Why did you name him？〃
〃Why！ ah； I would have asked whether； when you first saw him； the
foreboding； the instinct； of which you spoke； came on you more
fearfully； more intelligibly than before； whether you felt at
once repelled from him； yet attracted towards him； whether you
felt；〃 and the actress spoke with hurried animation； 〃that with
HIM was connected the secret of your life？〃
〃All this I felt；〃 answered Glyndon； in a trembling voice； 〃the
first time I was in his presence。 Though all around me was gay；
music； amidst lamp…lit trees； light converse near； and heaven
without a cloud above；my knees knocked together； my hair
bristled； and my blood curdled like ice。 Since then he has
divided my thoughts with thee。〃
〃No more； no more！〃 said Viola； in a stifled tone； 〃there must be
the hand of fate in this。 I can speak to you no more now。
Farewell！〃 She sprung past him into the house； and closed the
door。 Glyndon did not follow her； nor； strange as it may seem；
was he so inclined。 The thought and recollection of that moonlit
hour in the gardens； of the strange address of Zanoni； froze up
all human passion。 Viola herself； if not forgotten； shrunk back
like a shadow into the recesses of his breast。 He shivered as he
stepped into the sunlight； and musingly retraced his steps into
the more populous parts of that liveliest of Italian cities。
BOOK III。
THEURGIA。
i cavalier sen vanno
dove il pino fatal gli attende in porto。
Gerus。 Lib。； cant。 xv （Argomento。）
The knights came where the fatal bark
Awaited them in the port。
CHAPTER 3。I。
But that which especially distinguishes the brotherhood is their
marvellous knowledge of all the resources of medical art。 They
work not by charms； but simples。〃MS。 Account of the Origin and
Attributes of the true Rosicrucians；〃 by J。 Von D。
At this time it chanced that Viola had the opportunity to return
the kindness shown to her by the friendly musician whose house
had received and sheltered her when first left an orphan on the
world。 Old Bernardi had brought up three sons to the same
profession as himself； and they had lately left Naples to seek
their fortunes in the wealthier cities of Northern Europe； where
the musical market was less overstocked。 There was only left to
glad the household of his aged wife and himself； a lively；
prattling； dark…eyed girl of some eight years old； the child of
his second son； whose mother had died in giving her birth。 It so
happened that； about a month previous to the date on which our
story has now entered； a paralytic affection had disabled
Bernardi from the duties of his calling。 He had been always a
social； harmless； improvident； generous fellowliving on his
gains from day to day； as if the day of sickness and old age
never was to arrive。 Though he received a small allowance for
his past services； it ill sufficed for his wants；； neither was he
free from debt。 Poverty stood at his hearth；when Viola's
grateful smile and liberal hand came to chase the grim fiend
away。 But it is not enough to a heart truly kind to send and
give； more charitable is it to visit and console。 〃Forget not
thy father's friend。〃 So almost daily went the bright idol of
Naples to the house of Bernardi。 Suddenly a heavier affliction
than either poverty or the palsy befell the old musician。 His
grandchild； his little Beatrice； fell ill； suddenly