zanoni-第77节

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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　revolves　and

glows；　had　cast　off　into　remotest　space　that　nebular　image　of

itself；　so　the　thing　of　earth；　in　the　action　of　its　more　luminous

and　enduring　being；　had　thrown　its　likeness　into　that　new…born

stranger　of　the　heavens。　　There　stood　the　phantom；a　phantom

Mejnour；　by　its　side。　　In　the　gigantic　chaos　around　raved　and

struggled　the　kindling　elements；　water　and　fire；　darkness　and

light；　at　war；vapour　and　cloud　hardening　into　mountains；　and

the　Breath　of　Life　moving　like　a　steadfast　splendour　over　all。



As　the　dreamer　looked；　and　shivered；　she　beheld　that　even　there

the　two　phantoms　of　humanity　were　not　alone。　　Dim　monster…forms

that　that　disordered　chaos　alone　could　engender；　the　first

reptile　Colossal　race　that　wreathe　and　crawl　through　the　earliest

stratum　of　a　world　labouring　into　life；　coiled　in　the　oozing

matter　or　hovered　through　the　meteorous　vapours。　　But　these　the

two　seekers　seemed　not　to　heed；　their　gaze　was　fixed　intent　upon

an　object　in　the　farthest　space。　　With　the　eyes　of　the　spirit；

Viola　followed　theirs；　with　a　terror　far　greater　than　the　chaos

and　its　hideous　inhabitants　produced；　she　beheld　a　shadowy

likeness　of　the　very　room　in　which　her　form　yet　dwelt；　its　white

walls；　the　moonshine　sleeping　on　its　floor；　its　open　casement；

with　the　quiet　roofs　and　domes　of　Venice　looming　over　the　sea

that　sighed　below；and　in　that　room　the　ghost…like　image　of

herself！　　This　double　phantomhere　herself　a　phantom；　gazing

there　upon　a　phantom…selfhad　in　it　a　horror　which　no　words　can

tell；　no　length　of　life　forego。



But　presently　she　saw　this　image　of　herself　rise　slowly；　leave

the　room　with　its　noiseless　feet：　　it　passes　the　corridor；　it

kneels　by　a　cradle！　　Heaven　of　Heaven！　　She　beholds　her　child！

still　with　its　wondrous；　child…like　beauty　and　its　silent；

wakeful　eyes。　　But　beside　that　cradle　there　sits　cowering　a

mantled；　shadowy　form；the　more　fearful　and　ghastly　from　its

indistinct　and　unsubstantial　gloom。　　The　walls　of　that　chamber

seem　to　open　as　the　scene　of　a　theatre。　　A　grim　dungeon；　streets

through　which　pour　shadowy　crowds；　wrath　and　hatred；　and　the

aspect　of　demons　in　their　ghastly　visages；　a　place　of　death；　a

murderous　instrument；　a　shamble…house　of　human　flesh；　herself；

her　child；all；　all；　rapid　phantasmagoria；　chased　each　other。

Suddenly　the　phantom…Zanoni　turned；　it　seemed　to　perceive

herself；her　second　self。　　It　sprang　towards　her；　her　spirit

could　bear　no　more。　　She　shrieked；　she　woke。　　She　found　that　in

truth　she　had　left　that　dismal　chamber；　the　cradle　was　before

her；　the　child！　allall　as　that　trance　had　seen　it；　and；

vanishing　into　air；　even　that　dark；　formless　Thing！



〃My　child！　my　child！　thy　mother　shall　save　thee　yet！〃





CHAPTER　6。VIII。



Qui？　　Toi　m'abandonner！　　Ou　vas…tu？　　Non！　demeure；

Demeure！

La　Harpe；　〃Le　Comte　de　Warwick；〃　Act　3；　sc。　5。



（Who？　　THOU　abandon　me！where　goest　thou？　　No！　stay；　stay！）



Letter　from　Viola　to　Zanoni。



〃It　has　come　to　this！I　am　the　first　to　part！　　I；　the　unfaithful

one；　bid　thee　farewell　forever。　　When　thine　eyes　fall　upon　this

writing　thou　wilt　know　me　as　one　of　the　dead。　　For　thou　that

wert；　and　still　art　my　life；I　am　lost　to　thee！　　O　lover！　　O

husband！　　O　still　worshipped　and　adored！　if　thou　hast　ever　loved

me；　if　thou　canst　still　pity；　seek　not　to　discover　the　steps　that

fly　thee。　　If　thy　charms　can　detect　and　tract　me；　spare　me；　spare

our　child！　　Zanoni；　I　will　rear　it　to　love　thee；　to　call　thee

father！　　Zanoni；　its　young　lips　shall　pray　for　thee！　　Ah；　spare

thy　child；　for　infants　are　the　saints　of　earth；　and　their

mediation　may　be　heard　on　high！　　Shall　I　tell　thee　why　I　part？

No；　thou；　the　wisely…terrible；　canst　divine　what　the　hand

trembles　to　record；　and　while　I　shudder　at　thy　power；while　it

is　thy　power　I　fly　（our　child　upon　my　bosom）；it　comforts　me

still　to　think　that　thy　power　can　read　the　heart！　　Thou　knowest

that　it　is　the　faithful　mother　that　writes　to　thee；　it　is　not　the

faithless　wife！　　Is　there　sin　in　thy　knowledge；　Zanoni？　　Sin　must

have　sorrow：　　and　it　were　sweetoh；　how　sweetto　be　thy

comforter。　　But　the　child；　the　infant；　the　soul　that　looks　to

mine　for　its　shield！magician；　I　wrest　from　thee　that　soul！

Pardon；　pardon；　if　my　words　wrong　thee。　　See；　I　fall　on　my　knees

to　write　the　rest！



〃Why　did　I　never　recoil　before　from　thy　mysterious　lore；　why　did

the　very　strangeness　of　thine　unearthly　life　only　fascinate　me

with　a　delightful　fear？　　Because；　if　thou　wert　sorcerer　or　angel…

demon；　there　was　no　peril　to　other　but　myself：　　and　none　to　me；

for　my　love　was　my　heavenliest　part；　and　my　ignorance　in　all

things；　except　the　art　to　love　thee；　repelled　every　thought　that

was　not　bright　and　glorious　as　thine　image　to　my　eyes。　　But　NOW

there　is　another！　　Look！　why　does　it　watch　me　thus；why　that

never…sleeping；　earnest；　rebuking　gaze？　　Have　thy　spells

encompassed　it　already？　　Hast　thou　marked　it；　cruel　one；　for　the

terrors　of　thy　unutterable　art？　　Do　not　madden　me；do　not　madden

me！unbind　the　spell！



〃Hark！　the　oars　without！　　They　come；they　come；　to　bear　me　from

thee！　　I　look　round；　and　methinks　that　I　see　thee　everywhere。

Thou　speakest　to　me　from　every　shadow；　from　every　star。　　There；

by　the　casement；　thy　lips　last　pressed　mine；　there；　there　by　that

threshold　didst　thou　turn　again；　and　thy　smile　seemed　so

trustingly　to　confide　in　me！　　Zanonihusband！I　will　stay！　　I

cannot　part　from　thee！　　No；　no！　　I　will　go　to　the　room　where　thy

dear　voice；　with　its　gentle　music；　assuaged　the　pangs　of

travail！where；　heard　through　the　thrilling　darkness；　it　first

whispered　to　my　ear；　'Viola；　thou　art　a　mother！'　　A　mother！yes；

I　rise　from　my　knees；I　AM　a　mother！　　They　come！　　I　am　firm；

farewell！〃



Yes；　thus　suddenly；　thus　cruelly；　whether　in　the　delirium　of

blind　and　unreasoning　superstition；　or　in　the　resolve　of　that

conviction　which　springs　from　duty；　the　being　for　whom　he　had

resigned　so　much　of　empire　and　of　glory　forsook　Zanoni。　　This

desertion；　never　foreseen；　never　anticipated；　was　yet　but　the

constant　fate　that　attends　those　who　would　place　Mind　BEYOND　the

earth；　and　yet　treasure　the　Heart　WITHIN　it。　　Ignorance

everlastingly　shall　recoil　from　knowledge。　　But　never　yet；　from

nobler　and　purer　motives　of　self…sacrifice；　did　human　love　link

itself　to　another；　than　did　the　forsaking　wife　now　abandon　the

absent。　　For　rightly　had　she　said　that　it　was　not　the　faithless

wife；　it　WAS　the　faithful　mother　that　fled　from　all　in　which　her

earthly　happiness　was　centred。



As　long　as　the　passion　and　fervour　that　impelled　the　act　animated

her　with　false　fever；　she　clasped　her　infant　to　her　breast；　and

was　consoled；resigned。　　But　what　bitter　doubt　of　her　own

conduct；　what　icy　pang　of　remorse　shot　through　her　heart；　when；

as　they　rested　for　a　few　hours　on　the　road　to　Leghorn；　she　heard

the　woman　who　accompanied　herself　and　Glyndon　pray　for　safety　to

reach　her　husband's