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different modifications of character。 He listened to my
conception； which was sufficiently trite and prosaic； with his
usual patience； and then； thoughtfully turning to his
bookshelves； took down an old volume； and read to me； first； in
Greek； and secondly； in English； some extracts to the following
effect：
〃Plato here expresses four kinds of mania； by which I desire to
understand enthusiasm and the inspiration of the gods： Firstly；
the musical； secondly； the telestic or mystic； thirdly； the
prophetic； and fourthly； that which belongs to love。〃
The author he quoted； after contending that there is something in
the soul above intellect； and stating that there are in our
nature distinct energies；by the one of which we discover and
seize； as it were； on sciences and theorems with almost intuitive
rapidity； by another； through which high art is accomplished；
like the statues of Phidias；proceeded to state that
〃enthusiasm； in the true acceptation of the word； is； when that
part of the soul which is above intellect is excited to the gods；
and thence derives its inspiration。〃
The author； then pursuing his comment upon Plato； observes； that
〃one of these manias may suffice （especially that which belongs
to love） to lead back the soul to its first divinity and
happiness； but that there is an intimate union with them all； and
that the ordinary progress through which the soul ascends is；
primarily； through the musical； next； through the telestic or
mystic； thirdly； through the prophetic； and lastly； through the
enthusiasm of love。〃
While with a bewildered understanding and a reluctant attention I
listened to these intricate sublimities； my adviser closed the
volume； and said with complacency； 〃There is the motto for your
book；the thesis for your theme。〃
〃Davus sum； non Oedipus；〃 said I； shaking my head；
discontentedly。 〃All this may be exceedingly fine； but； Heaven
forgive me；I don't understand a word of it。 The mysteries of
your Rosicrucians； and your fraternities； are mere child's play
to the jargon of the Platonists。〃
〃Yet； not till you rightly understand this passage； can you
understand the higher theories of the Rosicrucians； or of the
still nobler fraternities you speak of with so much levity。〃
〃Oh； if that be the case； I give up in despair。 Why not； since
you are so well versed in the matter； take the motto for a book
of your own？〃
〃But if I have already composed a book with that thesis for its
theme； will you prepare it for the public？〃
〃With the greatest pleasure；〃 said I；alas； too rashly！
〃I shall hold you to your promise；〃 returned the old gentleman；
〃and when I am no more； you will receive the manuscripts。 From
what you say of the prevailing taste in literature； I cannot
flatter you with the hope that you will gain much by the
undertaking。 And I tell you beforehand that you will find it not
a little laborious。〃
〃Is your work a romance？〃
〃It is a romance； and it is not a romance。 It is a truth for
those who can comprehend it； and an extravagance for those who
cannot。〃
At last there arrived the manuscripts； with a brief note from my
deceased friend； reminding me of my imprudent promise。
With mournful interest； and yet with eager impatience； I opened
the packet and trimmed my lamp。 Conceive my dismay when I found
the whole written in an unintelligible cipher。 I present the
reader with a specimen：
（Several strange characters。）
and so on for nine hundred and forty mortal pages in foolscap。 I
could scarcely believe my eyes： in fact； I began to think the
lamp burned singularly blue； and sundry misgivings as to the
unhallowed nature of the characters I had so unwittingly opened
upon； coupled with the strange hints and mystical language of the
old gentleman； crept through my disordered imagination。
Certainly； to say no worse of it； the whole thing looked UNCANNY！
I was about； precipitately； to hurry the papers into my desk；
with a pious determination to have nothing more to do with them；
when my eye fell upon a book； neatly bound in blue morocco； and
which； in my eagerness； I had hitherto overlooked。 I opened this
volume with great precaution； not knowing what might jump out；
andguess my delightfound that it contained a key or
dictionary to the hieroglyphics。 Not to weary the reader with an
account of my labours； I am contented with saying that at last I
imagined myself capable of construing the characters； and set to
work in good earnest。 Still it was no easy task； and two years
elapsed before I had made much progress。 I then； by way of
experiment on the public； obtained the insertion of a few
desultory chapters； in a periodical with which； for a few months；
I had the honour to be connected。 They appeared to excite more
curiosity than I had presumed to anticipate； and I renewed； with
better heart； my laborious undertaking。 But now a new misfortune
befell me： I found； as I proceeded； that the author had made two
copies of his work； one much more elaborate and detailed than the
other； I had stumbled upon the earlier copy； and had my whole
task to remodel； and the chapters I had written to retranslate。
I may say then； that； exclusive of intervals devoted to more
pressing occupations； my unlucky promise cost me the toil of
several years before I could bring it to adequate fulfilment。
The task was the more difficult； since the style in the original
is written in a kind of rhythmical prose； as if the author
desired that in some degree his work should be regarded as one of
poetical conception and design。 To this it was not possible to
do justice； and in the attempt I have doubtless very often need
of the reader's indulgent consideration。 My natural respect for
the old gentleman's vagaries； with a muse of equivocal character；
must be my only excuse whenever the language； without luxuriating
into verse； borrows flowers scarcely natural to prose。 Truth
compels me also to confess； that； with all my pains； I am by no
means sure that I have invariably given the true meaning of the
cipher； nay； that here and there either a gap in the narrative；
or the sudden assumption of a new cipher； to which no key was
afforded； has obliged me to resort to interpolations of my own；
no doubt easily discernible； but which； I flatter myself； are not
inharmonious to the general design。 This confession leads me to
the sentence with which I shall conclude： If； reader； in this
book there be anything that pleases you； it is certainly mine；
but whenever you come to something you dislike；lay the blame
upon the old gentleman！
London； January； 1842。
N。B。The notes appended to the text are sometimes by the author；
sometimes by the editor。 I have occasionally （but not always）
marked the distinction； where； however； this is omitted； the
ingenuity of the reader will be rarely at fault。
ZANONI。
BOOK I。
THE MUSICI