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usurped her faculties； tossed to and fro on her couch； restless
and perturbed。 The stillness became intolerable； yet more
intolerable the sound that alone broke it； the voice of the
clock； knelling moment after moment to its grave。 The moments；
at last； seemed themselves to find voice；to gain shape。 She
thought she beheld them springing； wan and fairy…like； from the
womb of darkness； and ere they fell again； extinguished； into
that womb； their grave； their low small voices murmured； 〃Woman；
we report to eternity all that is done in time！ What shall we
report of thee； O guardian of a new…born soul？〃 She became
sensible that her fancies had brought a sort of partial delirium；
that she was in a state between sleep and waking； when suddenly
one thought became more predominant than the rest。 The chamber
which； in that and every house they had inhabited； even that in
the Greek isles； Zanoni had set apart to a solitude on which none
might intrude； the threshold of which even Viola's step was
forbid to cross； and never； hitherto； in that sweet repose of
confidence which belongs to contented love； had she even felt the
curious desire to disobey；now； that chamber drew her towards
it。 Perhaps THERE might be found a somewhat to solve the riddle；
to dispel or confirm the doubt： that thought grew and deepened
in its intenseness； it fastened on her as with a palpable and
irresistible grasp； it seemed to raise her limbs without her
will。
And now； through the chamber； along the galleries thou glidest； O
lovely shape！ sleep…walking； yet awake。 The moon shines on thee
as thou glidest by； casement after casement； white…robed and
wandering spirit！thine arms crossed upon thy bosom； thine eyes
fixed and open； with a calm unfearing awe。 Mother； it is thy
child that leads thee on！ The fairy moments go before thee； thou
hearest still the clock…knell tolling them to their graves
behind。 On； gliding on； thou hast gained the door； no lock bars
thee； no magic spell drives thee back。 Daughter of the dust；
thou standest alone with night in the chamber where； pale and
numberless； the hosts of space have gathered round the seer！
CHAPTER 6。VII。
Des Erdenlebens
Schweres Traumbild sinkt； und sinkt； und sinkt。
〃Das Ideal und das Lebens。〃
（The Dream Shape of the heavy earthly life sinks； and sinks； and
sinks。）
She stood within the chamber； and gazed around her； no signs by
which an inquisitor of old could have detected the scholar of the
Black Art were visible。 No crucibles and caldrons； no brass…
bound volumes and ciphered girdles； no skulls and cross…bones。
Quietly streamed the broad moonlight through the desolate chamber
with its bare； white walls。 A few bunches of withered herbs； a
few antique vessels of bronze； placed carelessly on a wooden
form； were all which that curious gaze could identify with the
pursuits of the absent owner。 The magic； if it existed； dwelt in
the artificer； and the materials； to other hands； were but herbs
and bronze。 So is it ever with thy works and wonders； O Genius；
Seeker of the Stars！ Words themselves are the common property
of all men； yet； from words themselves； Thou Architect of
Immortalities； pilest up temples that shall outlive the Pyramids；
and the very leaf of the Papyrus becomes a Shinar； stately with
towers； round which the Deluge of Ages； shall roar in vain！
But in that solitude has the Presence that there had invoked its
wonders left no enchantment of its own？ It seemed so； for as
Viola stood in the chamber； she became sensible that some
mysterious change was at work within herself。 Her blood coursed
rapidly； and with a sensation of delight； through her veins；she
felt as if chains were falling from her limbs； as if cloud after
cloud was rolling from her gaze。 All the confused thoughts which
had moved through her trance settled and centred themselves in
one intense desire to see the Absent One；to be with him。 The
monads that make up space and air seemed charged with a spiritual
attraction；to become a medium through which her spirit could
pass from its clay； and confer with the spirit to which the
unutterable desire compelled it。 A faintness seized her； she
tottered to the seat on which the vessels and herbs were placed；
and； as she bent down； she saw in one of the vessels a small vase
of crystal。 By a mechanical and involuntary impulse； her hand
seized the vase； she opened it； and the volatile essence it
contained sparkled up； and spread through the room a powerful and
delicious fragrance。 She inhaled the odour； she laved her
temples with the liquid； and suddenly her life seemed to spring
up from the previous faintness；to spring； to soar； to float； to
dilate upon the wings of a bird。 The room vanished from her
eyes。 Away； away； over lands and seas and space on the rushing
desire flies the disprisoned mind！
Upon a stratum； not of this world； stood the world…born shapes of
the sons of Science； upon an embryo world； upon a crude； wan；
attenuated mass of matter； one of the Nebulae； which the suns of
the myriad systems throw off as they roll round the Creator's
throne*； to become themselves new worlds of symmetry and glory；
planets and suns that forever and forever shall in their turn
multiply their shining race； and be the fathers of suns and
planets yet to come。
（*〃Astronomy instructs us that； in the original condition of the
solar system； the sun was the nucleus of a nebulosity or luminous
mass which revolved on its axis； and extended far beyond the
orbits of all the planets；the planets as yet having no
existence。 Its temperature gradually diminished； and； becoming
contracted by cooling； the rotation increased in rapidity； and
zones of nebulosity were successively thrown off； in consequence
of the centrifugal force overpowering the central attraction。
The condensation of these separate masses constituted the planets
and satellites。 But this view of the conversion of gaseous
matter into planetary bodies is not limited to our own system； it
extends to the formation of the innumerable suns and worlds which
are distributed throughout the universe。 The sublime discoveries
of modern astronomers have shown that every part of the realms of
space abounds in large expansions of attenuated matter termed
nebulae； which are irregularly reflective of light； of various
figures； and in different states of condensation； from that of a
diffused； luminous mass to suns and planets like our own。〃From
Mantell's eloquent and delightful work； entitled 〃The Wonders of
Geology；〃 volume i。 page 22。）
There； in that enormous solitude of an infant world； which
thousands and thousands of years can alone ripen into form； the
spirit of Viola beheld the shape of Zanoni； or rather the
likeness； the simulacrun； the LEMUR of his shape； not its human
and corporeal substance；as if； like hers； the Intelligence was
parted from the Clay；and as the sun； while it r