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quiet and motionless； and it was； perhaps； the contrast of these
two thingsthe Being and the Shadowthat impressed the beholder
with the difference between them；the Man and the Superhuman。
It was but for a momentnay； for the tenth part of a moment
that this sight was permitted to the wanderer。 A second eddy of
sulphureous vapours from the volcano； yet more rapidly； yet more
densely than its predecessor； rolled over the mountain； and
either the nature of the exhalation； or the excess of his own
dread； was such； that Glyndon； after one wild gasp for breath；
fell senseless on the earth。
CHAPTER 3。XI。
Was hab'ich；
Wenn ich nicht Alles habe？sprach der Jungling。
〃Das Verschleierte Bild zu Sais。〃
（〃What have I； if I possess not All？〃 said the youth。）
Mervale and the Italians arrived in safety at the spot where they
had left the mules； and not till they had recovered their own
alarm and breath did they think of Glyndon。 But then； as the
minutes passed； and he appeared not； Mervale； whose heart was as
good at least as human hearts are in general； grew seriously
alarmed。 He insisted on returning to search for his friend； and
by dint of prodigal promises prevailed at last on the guide to
accompany him。 The lower part of the mountain lay calm and white
in the starlight； and the guide's practised eye could discern all
objects on the surface at a considerable distance。 They had not；
however； gone very far； before they perceived two forms slowly
approaching them。
As they came near； Mervale recognised the form of his friend。
〃Thank Heaven； he is safe！〃 he cried； turning to the guide。
〃Holy angels befriend us！〃 said the Italian； trembling；〃behold
the very being that crossed me last Friday night。 It is he； but
his face is human now！〃
〃Signor Inglese；〃 said the voice of Zanoni； as Glyndonpale；
wan； and silentreturned passively the joyous greeting of
Mervale；〃Signor Inglese； I told your friend that we should meet
to…night。 You see you have NOT foiled my prediction。〃
〃But how？but where？〃 stammered Mervale； in great confusion and
surprise。
〃I found your friend stretched on the ground； overpowered by the
mephitic exhalation of the crater。 I bore him to a purer
atmosphere； and as I know the mountain well； I have conducted him
safely to you。 This is all our history。 You see； sir； that were
it not for that prophecy which you desired to frustrate； your
friend would ere this time have been a corpse； one minute more；
and the vapour had done its work。 Adieu； goodnight； and pleasant
dreams。〃
〃But； my preserver； you will not leave us？〃 said Glyndon；
anxiously； and speaking for the first time。 〃Will you not return
with us？〃
Zanoni paused； and drew Glyndon aside。 〃Young man；〃 said he；
gravely； 〃it is necessary that we should again meet to…night。 It
is necessary that you should； ere the first hour of morning；
decide on your own fate。 I know that you have insulted her whom
you profess to love。 It is not too late to repent。 Consult not
your friend： he is sensible and wise； but not now is his wisdom
needed。 There are times in life when； from the imagination； and
not the reason； should wisdom come；this； for you； is one of
them。 I ask not your answer now。 Collect your thoughts；
recover your jaded and scattered spirits。 It wants two hours of
midnight。 Before midnight I will be with you。〃
〃Incomprehensible being！〃 replied the Englishman； 〃I would leave
the life you have preserved in your own hands； but what I have
seen this night has swept even Viola from my thoughts。 A fiercer
desire than that of love burns in my veins；the desire not to
resemble but to surpass my kind； the desire to penetrate and to
share the secret of your own existencethe desire of a
preternatural knowledge and unearthly power。 I make my choice。
In my ancestor's name； I adjure and remind thee of thy pledge。
Instruct me； school me； make me thine； and I surrender to thee
at once； and without a murmur； the woman whom； till I saw thee； I
would have defied a world to obtain。〃
〃I bid thee consider well： on the one hand； Viola； a tranquil
home； a happy and serene life； on the other hand； all is
darkness；darkness； that even these eyes cannot penetrate。〃
〃But thou hast told me； that if I wed Viola； I must be contented
with the common existence；if I refuse； it is to aspire to thy
knowledge and thy power。〃
〃Vain man； knowledge and power are not happiness。〃
〃But they are better than happiness。 Say！if I marry Viola；
wilt thou be my master；my guide？ Say this； and I am resolved。
〃It were impossible。〃
〃Then I renounce her？ I renounce love。 I renounce happiness。
Welcome solitude；welcome despair； if they are the entrances to
thy dark and sublime secret。〃
〃I will not take thy answer now。 Before the last hour of night
thou shalt give it in one word；ay or no！ Farewell till then。〃
Zanoni waved his hand； and； descending rapidly； was seen no more。
Glyndon rejoined his impatient and wondering friend； but Mervale；
gazing on his face； saw that a great change had passed there。
The flexile and dubious expression of youth was forever gone。
The features were locked； rigid； and stern； and so faded was the
natural bloom； that an hour seemed to have done the work of
years。
CHAPTER 3。XII。
Was ist's
Das hinter diesem Schleier sich verbirgt？
〃Das Verschleierte Bild zu Sais。〃
（What is it that conceals itself behind this veil？）
On returning from Vesuvius or Pompeii； you enter Naples through
its most animated； its most Neapolitan quarter；through that
quarter in which modern life most closely resembles the ancient；
and in which； when； on a fair…day； the thoroughfare swarms alike
with Indolence and Trade； you are impressed at once with the
recollection of that restless； lively race from which the
population of Naples derives its origin； so that in one day you
may see at Pompeii the habitations of a remote age； and on the
Mole； at Naples； you may imagine you behold the very beings with
whom those habitations had been peopled。
But now； as the Englishmen rode slowly through the deserted
streets； lighted but by the lamps of heaven； all the gayety of
day was hushed and breathless。 Here and there； stretched under a
portico or a dingy booth； were sleeping groups of houseless
Lazzaroni；a tribe now merging its indolent individuality amidst
an energetic and active population。
The Englishman rode on in silence； for Glyndon neither appeared
to heed nor hear the questions and comments of Mervale； and
Mervale himself was almost as weary as the jaded animal he
bestrode。
Suddenly the silence of earth and ocean was broken by the sound
of a distant clock that proclaimed the quarter preceding the last
hour of night。 Glyndon started from his reverie； and looked
anxiously round。 As the final stroke died； the noise of hoofs
rung on the broad stones of t