zanoni-第40节

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gazed。　　From　the　crater　arose　a　vapour；　intensely　dark；　that

overspread　the　whole　background　of　the　heavens；　in　the　centre

whereof　rose　a　flame　that　assumed　a　form　singularly　beautiful。

It　might　have　been　compared　to　a　crest　of　gigantic　feathers；　the

diadem　of　the　mountain；　high…arched；　and　drooping　downward；　with

the　hues　delicately　shaded　off；　and　the　whole　shifting　and

tremulous　as　the　plumage　on　a　warrior's　helmet。



The　glare　of　the　flame　spread；　luminous　and　crimson；　over　the

dark　and　rugged　ground　on　which　they　stood；　and　drew　an

innumerable　variety　of　shadows　from　crag　and　hollow。　　An

oppressive　and　sulphureous　exhalation　served　to　increase　the

gloomy　and　sublime　terror　of　the　place。　　But　on　turning　from　the

mountain；　and　towards　the　distant　and　unseen　ocean；　the　contrast

was　wonderfully　great；　the　heavens　serene　and　blue；　the　stars

still　and　calm　as　the　eyes　of　Divine　Love。　　It　was　as　if　the

realms　of　the　opposing　principles　of　Evil　and　of　Good　were

brought　in　one　view　before　the　gaze　of　man！　　Glyndononce　more

the　enthusiast；　the　artistwas　enchained　and　entranced　by

emotions　vague　and　undefinable；　half　of　delight　and　half　of　pain。

Leaning　on　the　shoulder　of　his　friend；　he　gazed　around　him；　and

heard　with　deepening　awe　the　rumbling　of　the　earth　below；　the

wheels　and　voices　of　the　Ministry　of　Nature　in　her　darkest　and

most　inscrutable　recess。　　Suddenly；　as　a　bomb　from　a　shell；　a

huge　stone　was　flung　hundreds　of　yards　up　from　the　jaws　of　the

crater；　and　falling　with　a　mighty　crash　upon　the　rock　below；

split　into　ten　thousand　fragments；　which　bounded　down　the　sides

of　the　mountain；　sparkling　and　groaning　as　they　went。　　One　of

these；　the　largest　fragment；　struck　the　narrow　space　of　soil

between　the　Englishmen　and　the　guide；　not　three　feet　from　the

spot　where　the　former　stood。　　Mervale　uttered　an　exclamation　of

terror；　and　Glyndon　held　his　breath；　and　shuddered。



〃Diavolo！〃　cried　the　guide。　　〃Descend；　Excellencies；descend！　we

have　not　a　moment　to　lose；　follow　me　close！〃



So　saying；　the　guide　and　the　peasant　fled　with　as　much　swiftness

as　they　were　able　to　bring　to　bear。　　Mervale；　ever　more　prompt

and　ready　than　his　friend；　imitated　their　example；　and　Glyndon；

more　confused　than　alarmed；　followed　close。　　But　they　had　not

gone　many　yards；　before；　with　a　rushing　and　sudden　blast；　came

from　the　crater　an　enormous　volume　of　vapour。　　It　pursued；it

overtook；　it　overspread　them。　　It　swept　the　light　from　the

heavens。　　All　was　abrupt　and　utter　darkness；　and　through　the

gloom　was　heard　the　shout　of　the　guide；　already　distant；　and　lost

in　an　instant　amidst　the　sound　of　the　rushing　gust　and　the　groans

of　the　earth　beneath。　　Glyndon　paused。　　He　was　separated　from　his

friend；　from　the　guide。　　He　was　alone；with　the　Darkness　and　the

Terror。　　The　vapour　rolled　sullenly　away；　the　form　of　the　plumed

fire　was　again　dimly　visible；　and　its　struggling　and　perturbed

reflection　again　shed　a　glow　over　the　horrors　of　the　path。

Glyndon　recovered　himself；　and　sped　onward。　　Below；　he　heard　the

voice　of　Mervale　calling　on　him；　though　he　no　longer　saw　his

form。　　The　sound　served　as　a　guide。　　Dizzy　and　breathless；　he

bounded　forward；　whenhark！a　sullen；　slow　rolling　sounded　in

his　ear！　　He　halted；and　turned　back　to　gaze。　　The　fire　had

overflowed　its　course；　it　had　opened　itself　a　channel　amidst　the

furrows　of　the　mountain。　　The　stream　pursued　him　fastfast；　and

the　hot　breath　of　the　chasing　and　preternatural　foe　came　closer

and　closer　upon　his　cheek！　　He　turned　aside；　he　climbed

desperately　with　hands　and　feet　upon　a　crag　that；　to　the　right；

broke　the　scathed　and　blasted　level　of　the　soil。　　The　stream

rolled　beside　and　beneath　him；　and　then　taking　a　sudden　wind

round　the　spot　on　which　he　stood；　interposed　its　liquid　fire；a

broad　and　impassable　barrier　between　his　resting…place　and

escape。　　There　he　stood；　cut　off　from　descent；　and　with　no

alternative　but　to　retrace　his　steps　towards　the　crater；　and

thence　seek；　without　guide　or　clew；　some　other　pathway。



For　a　moment　his　courage　left　him；　he　cried　in　despair；　and　in

that　overstrained　pitch　of　voice　which　is　never　heard　afar　off；

to　the　guide；　to　Mervale；　to　return　to　aid　him。



No　answer　came；　and　the　Englishman；　thus　abandoned　solely　to　his

own　resources；　felt　his　spirit　and　energy　rise　against　the

danger。　　He　turned　back；　and　ventured　as　far　towards　the　crater

as　the　noxious　exhalation　would　permit；　then；　gazing　below；

carefully　and　deliberately　he　chalked　out　for　himself　a　path　by

which　he　trusted　to　shun　the　direction　the　fire…stream　had　taken；

and　trod　firmly　and　quickly　over　the　crumbling　and　heated　strata。



He　had　proceeded　about　fifty　yards；　when　he　halted　abruptly；　an

unspeakable　and　unaccountable　horror；　not　hitherto　experienced

amidst　all　his　peril；　came　over　him。　　He　shook　in　every　limb；　his

muscles　refused　his　will；he　felt；　as　it　were；　palsied　and

death…stricken。　　The　horror；　I　say；　was　unaccountable；　for　the

path　seemed　clear　and　safe。　　The　fire；　above　and　behind；　burned

clear　and　far；　and　beyond；　the　stars　lent　him　their　cheering

guidance。　　No　obstacle　was　visible；no　danger　seemed　at　hand。

As　thus；　spell…bound；　and　panic…stricken；　he　stood　chained　to　the

soil；his　breast　heaving；　large　drops　rolling　down　his　brow；　and

his　eyes　starting　wildly　from　their　sockets；he　saw　before　him；

at　some　distance；　gradually　shaping　itself　more　and　more

distinctly　to　his　gaze；　a　colossal　shadow；　a　shadow　that　seemed

partially　borrowed　from　the　human　shape；　but　immeasurably　above

the　human　stature；　vague；　dark；　almost　formless；　and　differing；

he　could　not　tell　where　or　why；　not　only　from　the　proportions；

but　also　from　the　limbs　and　outline　of　man。



The　glare　of　the　volcano；　that　seemed　to　shrink　and　collapse　from

this　gigantic　and　appalling　apparition；　nevertheless　threw　its

light；　redly　and　steadily；　upon　another　shape　that　stood　beside；

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　l