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Spenser's 〃Faerie Queene；〃 book i。 canto i。 st。 x。
Yes； Viola； thou art another being than when； by the threshold of
thy Italian home； thou didst follow thy dim fancies through the
Land of Shadow； or when thou didst vainly seek to give voice to
an ideal beauty； on the boards where illusion counterfeits earth
and heaven for an hour； till the weary sense； awaking； sees but
the tinsel and the scene…shifter。 Thy spirit reposes in its own
happiness。 Its wanderings have found a goal。 In a moment there
often dwells the sense of eternity； for when profoundly happy； we
know that it is impossible to die。 Whenever the soul FEELS
ITSELF； it feels everlasting life。
The initiation is deferred；thy days and nights are left to no
other visions than those with which a contented heart enchants a
guileless fancy。 Glendoveers and Sylphs； pardon me if I question
whether those visions are not lovelier than yourselves。
They stand by the beach； and see the sun sinking into the sea。
How long now have they dwelt on that island？ What matters！it
may be months； or yearswhat matters！ Why should I； or they；
keep account of that happy time？ As in the dream of a moment
ages may seem to pass； so shall we measure transport or woe；by
the length of the dream； or the number of emotions that the dream
involves？
The sun sinks slowly down； the air is arid and oppressive； on the
sea； the stately vessel lies motionless； on the shore； no leaf
trembles on the trees。
Viola drew nearer to Zanoni。 A presentiment she could not define
made her heart beat more quickly； and； looking into his face； she
was struck with its expression： it was anxious； abstracted；
perturbed。 〃This stillness awes me；〃 she whispered。
Zanoni did not seem to hear her。 He muttered to himself； and his
eyes gazed round restlessly。 She knew not why； but that gaze；
which seemed to pierce into space；that muttered voice in some
foreign languagerevived dimly her earlier superstitions。 She
was more fearful since the hour when she knew that she was to be
a mother。 Strange crisis in the life of woman； and in her love！
Something yet unborn begins already to divide her heart with
that which had been before its only monarch。
〃Look on me； Zanoni；〃 she said； pressing his hand。
He turned： 〃Thou art pale； Viola； thy hand trembles！〃
〃It is true。 I feel as if some enemy were creeping near us。〃
〃And the instinct deceives thee not。 An enemy is indeed at hand。
I see it through the heavy air； I hear it through the silence：
the Ghostly One；the Destroyer； the PESTILENCE！ Ah； seest thou
how the leaves swarm with insects； only by an effort visible to
the eye。 They follow the breath of the plague！〃 As he spoke； a
bird fell from the boughs at Viola's feet； it fluttered； it
writhed an instant； and was dead。
〃Oh； Viola！〃 cried Zanoni； passionately； 〃that is death。 Dost
thou not fear to die？〃
〃To leave thee？ Ah； yes！〃
〃And if I could teach thee how Death may be defied； if I could
arrest for thy youth the course of time； if I could〃
He paused abruptly； for Viola's eyes spoke only terror； her cheek
and lips were pale。
〃Speak not thus；look not thus；〃 she said； recoiling from him。
〃You dismay me。 Ah； speak not thus； or I should tremble；no；
not for myself； but for thy child。〃
〃Thy child！ But wouldst thou reject for thy child the same
glorious boon？〃
〃Zanoni！〃
〃Well！〃
〃The sun has sunk from our eyes； but to rise on those of others。
To disappear from this world is to live in the world afar。 Oh；
lover；oh； husband！〃 she continued； with sudden energy； 〃tell me
that thou didst but jest；that thou didst but trifle with my
folly！ There is less terror in the pestilence than in thy
words。〃
Zanoni's brow darkened； he looked at her in silence for some
moments； and then said； almost severely ；
〃What hast thou known of me to distrust？〃
〃Oh； pardon； pardon！nothing！〃 cried Viola； throwing herself on
his breast； and bursting into tears。 〃I will not believe even
thine own words； if they seem to wrong thee！〃 He kissed the
tears from her eyes； but made no answer。
〃And ah！〃 she resumed； with an enchanting and child…like smile；
〃if thou wouldst give me a charm against the pestilence！ see； I
will take it from thee。〃 And she laid her hand on a small；
antique amulet that he wore on his breast。
〃Thou knowest how often this has made me jealous of the past；
surely some love…gift； Zanoni？ But no； thou didst not love the
giver as thou dost me。 Shall I steal thine amulet？〃
〃Infant！〃 said Zanoni； tenderly； 〃she who placed this round my
neck deemed it indeed a charm； for she had superstitions like
thyself； but to me it is more than the wizard's spell；it is the
relic of a sweet vanished time when none who loved me could
distrust。〃
He said these words in a tone of such melancholy reproach that it
went to the heart of Viola； but the tone changed into a solemnity
which chilled back the gush of her feelings as he resumed： 〃And
this； Viola； one day； perhaps； I will transfer from my breast to
thine； yes； whenever thou shalt comprehend me better；WHENEVER
THE LAWS OF OUR BEING SHALL BE THE SAME！〃
He moved on gently。 They returned slowly home； but fear still
was in the heart of Viola； though she strove to shake it off。
Italian and Catholic she was； with all the superstitions of land
and sect。 She stole to her chamber and prayed before a little
relic of San Gennaro； which the priest of her house had given to
her in childhood； and which had accompanied her in all her
wanderings。 She had never deemed it possible to part with it
before。 Now； if there was a charm against the pestilence； did
she fear the pestilence for herself？ The next morning； when he
awoke； Zanoni found the relic of the saint suspended with his
mystic amulet round his neck。
〃Ah！ thou wilt have nothing to fear from the pestilence now；〃
said Viola； between tears and smiles； 〃and when thou wouldst talk
to me again as thou didst last night； the saint shall rebuke
thee。〃
Well； Zanoni； can there ever indeed be commune of thought and
spirit； except with equals？
Yes； the plague broke out；the island home must be abandoned。
Mighty Seer； THOU HAST NO POWER TO SAVE THOSE WHOM THOU LOVEST！
Farewell； thou bridal roof！sweet resting…place from care；
farewell！ Climates as soft may greet ye； O lovers；skies as
serene； and waters as blue and calm； but THAT TIME；can it ever
more return？ Who shall say that the heart does not change with
the scene；the place where we first dwelt with the beloved one？
Every spot THERE has so many memories which the place only can
recall。 The past that haunts it seems to command such constancy
in the future。 If a thought less kind； less trustful； enter
within us； the sight of a tree under which a vow has been
exchanged； a tear has been kissed away； restores us again to the
hours of the first divine