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！
〃What！ hideous？〃
〃No； so beautiful； but so terrible。 It had nothing human in its
aspect。〃
〃And what said the salamander？〃
〃Nothing！ It did not even seem to perceive me； though I was near
as I am to you； but its eyes seemed to emerge prying into the
air。 It passed by me quickly； and； walking across a stream of
burning lava； soon vanished on the other side of the mountain。 I
was curious and foolhardy； and resolved to see if I could bear
the atmosphere which this visitor had left； but though I did not
advance within thirty yards of the spot at which he had first
appeared； I was driven back by a vapour that wellnigh stifled me。
Cospetto！ I have spat blood ever since。〃
〃Now will I lay a wager that you fancy this fire…king must be
Zanoni；〃 whispered Mervale； laughing。
The little party had now arrived nearly at the summit of the
mountain； and unspeakably grand was the spectacle on which they
gazed。 From the crater arose a vapour； intensely dark； that
overspread the whole background of the heavens； in the centre
whereof rose a flame that assumed a form singularly beautiful。
It might have been compared to a crest of gigantic feathers； the
diadem of the mountain； high…arched； and drooping downward； with
the hues delicately shaded off； and the whole shifting and
tremulous as the plumage on a warrior's helmet。
The glare of the flame spread； luminous and crimson； over the
dark and rugged ground on which they stood； and drew an
innumerable variety of shadows from crag and hollow。 An
oppressive and sulphureous exhalation served to increase the
gloomy and sublime terror of the place。 But on turning from the
mountain； and towards the distant and unseen ocean； the contrast
was wonderfully great； the heavens serene and blue； the stars
still and calm as the eyes of Divine Love。 It was as if the
realms of the opposing principles of Evil and of Good were
brought in one view before the gaze of man！ Glyndononce more
the enthusiast； the artistwas enchained and entranced by
emotions vague and undefinable； half of delight and half of pain。
Leaning on the shoulder of his friend； he gazed around him； and
heard with deepening awe the rumbling of the earth below； the
wheels and voices of the Ministry of Nature in her darkest and
most inscrutable recess。 Suddenly； as a bomb from a shell； a
huge stone was flung hundreds of yards up from the jaws of the
crater； and falling with a mighty crash upon the rock below；
split into ten thousand fragments； which bounded down the sides
of the mountain； sparkling and groaning as they went。 One of
these； the largest fragment； struck the narrow space of soil
between the Englishmen and the guide； not three feet from the
spot where the former stood。 Mervale uttered an exclamation of
terror； and Glyndon held his breath； and shuddered。
〃Diavolo！〃 cried the guide。 〃Descend； Excellencies；descend！ we
have not a moment to lose； follow me close！〃
So saying； the guide and the peasant fled with as much swiftness
as they were able to bring to bear。 Mervale； ever more prompt
and ready than his friend； imitated their example； and Glyndon；
more confused than alarmed； followed close。 But they had not
gone many yards； before； with a rushing and sudden blast； came
from the crater an enormous volume of vapour。 It pursued；it
overtook； it overspread them。 It swept the light from the
heavens。 All was abrupt and utter darkness； and through the
gloom was heard the shout of the guide； already distant； and lost
in an instant amidst the sound of the rushing gust and the groans
of the earth beneath。 Glyndon paused。 He was separated from his
friend； from the guide。 He was alone；with the Darkness and the
Terror。 The vapour rolled sullenly away； the form of the plumed
fire was again dimly visible； and its struggling and perturbed
reflection again shed a glow over the horrors of the path。
Glyndon recovered himself； and sped onward。 Below； he heard the
voice of Mervale calling on him； though he no longer saw his
form。 The sound served as a guide。 Dizzy and breathless； he
bounded forward； whenhark！a sullen； slow rolling sounded in
his ear！ He halted；and turned back to gaze。 The fire had
overflowed its course； it had opened itself a channel amidst the
furrows of the mountain。 The stream pursued him fastfast； and
the hot breath of the chasing and preternatural foe came closer
and closer upon his cheek！ He turned aside； he climbed
desperately with hands and feet upon a crag that； to the right；
broke the scathed and blasted level of the soil。 The stream
rolled beside and beneath him； and then taking a sudden wind
round the spot on which he stood； interposed its liquid fire；a
broad and impassable barrier between his resting…place and
escape。 There he stood； cut off from descent； and with no
alternative but to retrace his steps towards the crater； and
thence seek； without guide or clew； some other pathway。
For a moment his courage left him； he cried in despair； and in
that overstrained pitch of voice which is never heard afar off；
to the guide； to Mervale； to return to aid him。
No answer came； and the Englishman； thus abandoned solely to his
own resources； felt his spirit and energy rise against the
danger。 He turned back； and ventured as far towards the crater
as the noxious exhalation would permit； then； gazing below；
carefully and deliberately he chalked out for himself a path by
which he trusted to shun the direction the fire…stream had taken；
and trod firmly and quickly over the crumbling and heated strata。
He had proceeded about fifty yards； when he halted abruptly； an
unspeakable and unaccountable horror； not hitherto experienced
amidst all his peril； came over him。 He shook in every limb； his
muscles refused his will；he felt； as it were； palsied and
death…stricken。 The horror； I say； was unaccountable； for the
path seemed clear and safe。 The fire； above and behind； burned
clear and far； and beyond； the stars lent him their cheering
guidance。 No obstacle was visible；no danger seemed at hand。
As thus； spell…bound； and panic…stricken； he stood chained to the
soil；his breast heaving； large drops rolling down his brow； and
his eyes starting wildly from their sockets；he saw before him；
at some distance； gradually shaping itself more and more
distinctly to his gaze； a colossal shadow； a shadow that seemed
partially borrowed from the human shape； but immeasurably above
the human stature； vague； dark； almost formless； and differing；
he could not tell where or why； not only from the proportions；
but also from the limbs and outline of man。
The glare of the volcano； that seemed to shrink and collapse from
this gigantic and appalling apparition； nevertheless threw its
light； redly and steadily； upon another shape that stood beside；
quiet and motionless； and it was； perhaps； the contrast of these
two thingsthe Being and the Shadowthat impressed the b