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reach。 But deem not that this of itself will suffice for glory。
Equally may the craving lead thee to shame and guilt。 It is but
an imperfect and new…born energy which will not suffer thee to
repose。 As thou directest it； must thou believe it to be the
emanation of thine evil genius or thy good。
〃But woe to thee！ insect meshed in the web in which thou hast
entangled limbs and wings！ Thou hast not only inhaled the
elixir； thou hast conjured the spectre； of all the tribes of the
space； no foe is so malignant to man；and thou hast lifted the
veil from thy gaze。 I cannot restore to thee the happy dimness
of thy vision。 Know； at least； that all of usthe highest and
the wisestwho have； in sober truth； passed beyond the
threshold； have had； as our first fearful task； to master and
subdue its grisly and appalling guardian。 Know that thou CANST
deliver thyself from those livid eyes；know that； while they
haunt； they cannot harm； if thou resistest the thoughts to which
they tempt； and the horror they engender。 DREAD THEM MOST WHEN
THOU BEHOLDEST THEM NOT。 And thus； son of the worm； we part！
All that I can tell thee to encourage； yet to warn and to guide；
I have told thee in these lines。 Not from me； from thyself has
come the gloomy trial from which I yet trust thou wilt emerge
into peace。 Type of the knowledge that I serve； I withhold no
lesson from the pure aspirant； I am a dark enigma to the general
seeker。 As man's only indestructible possession is his memory；
so it is not in mine art to crumble into matter the immaterial
thoughts that have sprung up within thy breast。 The tyro might
shatter this castle to the dust； and topple down the mountain to
the plain。 The master has no power to say； 'Exist no more；' to
one THOUGHT that his knowledge has inspired。 Thou mayst change
the thoughts into new forms； thou mayst rarefy and sublimate it
into a finer spirit；but thou canst not annihilate that which
has no home but in the memory； no substance but the idea。 EVERY
THOUGHT IS A SOUL！ Vainly； therefore； would I or thou undo the
past； or restore to thee the gay blindness of thy youth。 Thou
must endure the influence of the elixir thou hast inhaled； thou
must wrestle with the spectre thou hast invoked！〃
The letter fell from Glyndon's hand。 A sort of stupor succeeded
to the various emotions which had chased each other in the
perusal；a stupor resembling that which follows the sudden
destruction of any ardent and long…nursed hope in the human
heart； whether it be of love； of avarice； of ambition。 The
loftier world for which he had so thirsted； sacrificed； and
toiled； was closed upon him 〃forever；〃 and by his own faults of
rashness and presumption。 But Glyndon's was not of that nature
which submits long to condemn itself。 His indignation began to
kindle against Mejnour； who owned he had tempted； and who now
abandoned him；abandoned him to the presence of a spectre。 The
mystic's reproaches stung rather than humbled him。 What crime
had he committed to deserve language so harsh and disdainful？
Was it so deep a debasement to feel pleasure in the smile and the
eyes of Fillide？ Had not Zanoni himself confessed love for
Viola； had he not fled with her as his companion？ Glyndon never
paused to consider if there are no distinctions between one kind
of love and another。 Where； too； was the great offence of
yielding to a temptation which only existed for the brave？ Had
not the mystic volume which Mejnour had purposely left open； bid
him but 〃Beware of fear〃？ Was not； then； every wilful
provocative held out to the strongest influences of the human
mind； in the prohibition to enter the chamber； in the possession
of the key which excited his curiosity； in the volume which
seemed to dictate the mode by which the curiosity was to be
gratified？ As rapidly these thoughts passed over him； he began
to consider the whole conduct of Mejnour either as a perfidious
design to entrap him to his own misery； or as the trick of an
imposter； who knew that he could not realise the great
professions he had made。 On glancing again over the more
mysterious threats and warnings in Mejnour's letter； they seemed
to assume the language of mere parable and allegory；the jargon
of the Platonists and Pythagoreans。 By little and little； he
began to consider that the very spectra he had seeneven that
one phantom so horrid in its aspectwere but the delusions which
Mejnour's science had enable him to raise。 The healthful
sunlight； filling up every cranny in his chamber； seemed to laugh
away the terrors of the past night。 His pride and his resentment
nerved his habitual courage； and when； having hastily dressed
himself； he rejoined Paolo； it was with a flushed cheek and a
haughty step。
〃So； Paolo；〃 said he； 〃the Padrone； as you call him； told you to
expect and welcome me at your village feast？〃
〃He did so by a message from a wretched old cripple。 This
surprised me at the time； for I thought he was far distant； but
these great philosophers make a joke of two or three hundred
leagues。〃
〃Why did you not tell me you had heard from Mejnour？〃
〃Because the old cripple forbade me。〃
〃Did you not see the man afterwards during the dance？〃
〃No； Excellency。〃
〃Humph！〃
〃Allow me to serve you；〃 said Paolo； piling Glyndon's plate； and
then filling his glass。 〃I wish； signor； now the Padrone is
gone；not；〃 added Paolo； as he cast rather a frightened and
suspicious glance round the room； 〃that I mean to say anything
disrespectful of him；I wish； I say； now that he is gone； that
you would take pity on yourself； and ask your own heart what your
youth was meant for？ Not to bury yourself alive in these old
ruins； and endanger body and soul by studies which I am sure no
saint could approve of。〃
〃Are the saints so partial； then； to your own occupations； Master
Paolo？〃
〃Why；〃 answered the bandit； a little confused； 〃a gentleman with
plenty of pistoles in his purse need not； of necessity； make it
his profession to take away the pistoles of other people！ It is
a different thing for us poor rogues。 After all； too； I always
devote a tithe of my gains to the Virgin； and I share the rest
charitably with the poor。 But eat； drink； enjoy yourself； be
absolved by your confessor for any little peccadilloes and don't
run too long scores at a time；that's my advice。 Your health；
Excellency！ Pshaw； signor； fasting； except on the days
prescribed to a good Catholic； only engenders phantoms。〃
〃Phantoms！〃
〃Yes； the devil always tempts the empty stomach。 To covet； to
hate； to thieve； to rob； and to murder；these are the natural
desires of a man who is famishing。 With a full belly； signor； we
are at peace with all the world。 That's right； you like the
partridge！ Cospetto！ when I myself have passed two or three days
in the mountains； with nothing from sunset to sunrise but a black
crust and an onion； I grow as