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there then slowly emerged a vapour； somewhat paler and of fainter
odour than that which had nearly produced so fatal an effect on
his frame。 This； on the contrary； as it coiled around him； and
then melted in thin spires into the air； breathed a refreshing
and healthful fragrance。 He still kept his eyes on the star； and
the star seemed gradually to fix and command his gaze。 A sort of
languor next seized his frame； but without； as he thought；
communicating itself to the mind； and as this crept over him； he
felt his temples sprinkled with some volatile and fiery essence。
At the same moment a slight tremor shook his limbs and thrilled
through his veins。 The languor increased； still he kept his gaze
upon the star； and now its luminous circumference seemed to
expand and dilate。 It became gradually softer and clearer in its
light； spreading wider and broader； it diffused all space；all
space seemed swallowed up in it。 And at last； in the midst of a
silver shining atmosphere； he felt as if something burst within
his brain；as if a strong chain were broken； and at that moment
a sense of heavenly liberty； of unutterable delight； of freedom
from the body； of birdlike lightness； seemed to float him into
the space itself。 〃Whom； now upon earth； dost thou wish to see？〃
whispered the voice of Mejnour。 〃Viola and Zanoni！〃 answered
Glyndon； in his heart； but he felt that his lips moved not。
Suddenly at that thought；through this space； in which nothing
save one mellow translucent light had been discernible；a swift
succession of shadowy landscapes seemed to roll： trees；
mountains； cities； seas； glided along like the changes of a
phantasmagoria； and at last； settled and stationary； he saw a
cave by the gradual marge of an ocean shore；myrtles and
orange…trees clothing the gentle banks。 On a height； at a
distance； gleamed the white but shattered relics of some ruined
heathen edifice； and the moon； in calm splendour； shining over
all； literally bathed with its light two forms without the cave；
at whose feet the blue waters crept； and he thought that he even
heard them murmur。 He recognised both the figures。 Zanoni was
seated on a fragment of stone； Viola； half…reclining by his side；
was looking into his face； which was bent down to her； and in her
countenance was the expression of that perfect happiness which
belongs to perfect love。 〃Wouldst thou hear them speak？〃
whispered Mejnour； and again； without sound； Glyndon inly
answered； 〃Yes！〃 Their voices then came to his ear； but in tones
that seemed to him strange； so subdued were they； and sounding；
as it were； so far off； that they were as voices heard in the
visions of some holier men from a distant sphere。
〃And how is it；〃 said Viola； 〃that thou canst find pleasure in
listening to the ignorant？〃
〃Because the heart is never ignorant； because the mysteries of
the feelings are as full of wonder as those of the intellect。 If
at times thou canst not comprehend the language of my thoughts；
at times also I hear sweet enigmas in that of thy emotions。〃
〃Ah； say not so！〃 said Viola； winding her arm tenderly round his
neck； and under that heavenly light her face seemed lovelier for
its blushes。 〃For the enigmas are but love's common language；
and love should solve them。 Till I knew thee；till I lived with
thee； till I learned to watch for thy footstep when absent： yet
even in absence to see thee everywhere！I dreamed not how strong
and all…pervading is the connection between nature and the human
soul！。。。
〃And yet；〃 she continued； 〃I am now assured of what I at first
believed；that the feelings which attracted me towards thee at
first were not those of love。 I know THAT； by comparing the
present with the past；it was a sentiment then wholly of the
mind or the spirit！ I could not hear thee now say； 'Viola； be
happy with another！'〃
〃And I could not now tell thee so！ Ah； Viola； never be weary of
assuring me that thou art happy！〃
〃Happy while thou art so。 Yet at times； Zanoni； thou art so
sad！〃
〃Because human life is so short； because we must part at last；
because yon moon shines on when the nightingale sings to it no
more！ A little while； and thine eyes will grow dim； and thy
beauty haggard； and these locks that I toy with now will be grey
and loveless。〃
〃And thou； cruel one！〃 said Viola； touchingly； 〃I shall never see
the signs of age in thee！ But shall we not grow old together；
and our eyes be accustomed to a change which the heart shall not
share！〃
Zanoni sighed。 He turned away； and seemed to commune with
himself。
Glyndon's attention grew yet more earnest。
〃But were it so；〃 muttered Zanoni； and then looking steadfastly
at Viola； he said； with a half…smile； 〃Hast thou no curiosity to
learn more of the lover thou once couldst believe the agent of
the Evil One？〃
〃None； all that one wishes to know of the beloved one； I know
THAT THOU LOVEST ME！〃
〃I have told thee that my life is apart from others。 Wouldst
thou not seek to share it？〃
〃I share it now！〃
〃But were it possible to be thus young and fair forever； till the
world blazes round us as one funeral pyre！〃
〃We shall be so； when we leave the world！〃
Zanoni was mute for some moments； and at length he said；
〃Canst thou recall those brilliant and aerial dreams which once
visited thee； when thou didst fancy that thou wert preordained to
some fate aloof and afar from the common children of the earth？〃
〃Zanoni； the fate is found。〃
〃And hast thou no terror of the future？〃
〃The future！ I forget it！ Time past and present and to come
reposes in thy smile。 Ah； Zanoni； play not with the foolish
credulities of my youth！ I have been better and humbler since
thy presence has dispelled the mist of the air。 The future！
well； when I have cause to dread it； I will look up to heaven；
and remember who guides our fate！〃
As she lifted her eyes above； a dark cloud swept suddenly over
the scene。 It wrapped the orange…trees； the azure ocean； the
dense sands； but still the last images that it veiled from the
charmed eyes of Glyndon were the forms of Viola and Zanoni。 The
face of the one rapt； serene； and radiant； the face of the other；
dark； thoughtful； and locked in more than its usual rigidness of
melancholy beauty and profound repose。
〃Rouse thyself；〃 said Mejnour； 〃thy ordeal has commenced！ There
are pretenders to the solemn science who could have shown thee
the absent； and prated to thee； in their charlatanic jargon； of
the secret electricities and the magnetic fluid of whose true
properties they know but the germs and elements。 I will lend
thee the books of those glorious dupes； and thou wilt find； in
the dark ages； how many erring steps have stumbled upon the
threshold of the mighty learning； and fancied they had pierced
the temple。 Hermes and Albert and Paracelsus； I knew ye all；
but； noble as ye were； ye wer