zanoni-第28节

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high　art　is　an　acquired　taste。



But　to　come　to　my　comparison。　　Still　less　is　the　kindred

principle　comprehended　in　conduct。　　And　the　advice　of　worldly

prudence　would　as　often　deter　from　the　risks　of　virtue　as　from

the　punishments　of　vice；　yet　in　conduct；　as　in　art；　there　is　an

idea　of　the　great　and　beautiful；　by　which　men　should　exalt　the

hackneyed　and　the　trite　of　life。　　Now　Glyndon　felt　the　sober

prudence　of　Mervale's　reasonings；　he　recoiled　from　the　probable

picture　placed　before　him；　in　his　devotion　to　the　one

master…talent　he　possessed；　and　the　one　master…passion　that；

rightly　directed；　might　purify　his　whole　being　as　a　strong　wind

purifies　the　air。



But　though　he　could　not　bring　himself　to　decide　in　the　teeth　of

so　rational　a　judgment；　neither　could　he　resolve　at　once　to

abandon　the　pursuit　of　Viola。　　Fearful　of　being　influenced　by

Zanoni's　counsels　and　his　own　heart；　he　had　for　the　last　two　days

shunned　an　interview　with　the　young　actress。　　But　after　a　night

following　his　last　conversation　with　Zanoni；　and　that　we　have

just　recorded　with　Mervale；a　night　coloured　by　dreams　so

distinct　as　to　seem　prophetic；　dreams　that　appeared　so　to　shape

his　future　according　to　the　hints　of　Zanoni　that　he　could　have

fancied　Zanoni　himself　had　sent　them　from　the　house　of　sleep　to

haunt　his　pillow；he　resolved　once　more　to　seek　Viola；　and

though　without　a　definite　or　distinct　object；　he　yielded　himself

up　to　the　impulse　of　his　heart。





CHAPTER　2。X。



O　sollecito　dubbio　e　fredda　tema

Che　pensando　l'accresci。

Tasso；　Canzone　vi。



（O　anxious　doubt　and　chilling　fear　that　grows　by　thinking。）



She　was　seated　outside　her　door；the　young　actress！　　The　sea

before　her　in　that　heavenly　bay　seemed　literally　to　sleep　in　the

arms　of　the　shore；　while；　to　the　right；　not　far　off；　rose　the

dark　and　tangled　crags　to　which　the　traveller　of　to…day　is　duly

brought　to　gaze　on　the　tomb　of　Virgil；　or　compare　with　the　cavern

of　Posilipo　the　archway　of　Highgate　Hill。　　There　were　a　few

fisherman　loitering　by　the　cliffs；　on　which　their　nets　were　hung

to　dry；　and　at　a　distance　the　sound　of　some　rustic　pipe　（more

common　at　that　day　than　at　this）；　mingled　now　and　then　with　the

bells　of　the　lazy　mules；　broke　the　voluptuous　silence；the

silence　of　declining　noon　on　the　shores　of　Naples；　never；　till

you　have　enjoyed　it；　never；　till　you　have　felt　its　enervating　but

delicious　charm；　believe　that　you　can　comprehend　all　the　meaning

of　the　Dolce　far　niente　（The　pleasure　of　doing　nothing。）；　and

when　that　luxury　has　been　known；　when　you　have　breathed　that

atmosphere　of　fairy…land；　then　you　will　no　longer　wonder　why　the

heart　ripens　into　fruit　so　sudden　and　so　rich　beneath　the　rosy

skies　and　the　glorious　sunshine　of　the　South。



The　eyes　of　the　actress　were　fixed　on　the　broad　blue　deep　beyond。

In　the　unwonted　negligence　of　her　dress　might　be　traced　the

abstraction　of　her　mind。　　Her　beautiful　hair　was　gathered　up

loosely；　and　partially　bandaged　by　a　kerchief　whose　purple　colour

served　to　deepen　the　golden　hue　of　her　tresses。　　A　stray　curl

escaped　and　fell　down　the　graceful　neck。　　A　loose　morning…robe；

girded　by　a　sash；　left　the　breeze。　　That　came　ever　and　anon　from

the　sea；　to　die　upon　the　bust　half　disclosed；　and　the　tiny

slipper；　that　Cinderella　might　have　worn；　seemed　a　world　too　wide

for　the　tiny　foot　which　it　scarcely　covered。　　It　might　be　the

heat　of　the　day　that　deepened　the　soft　bloom　of　the　cheeks；　and

gave　an　unwonted　languor　to　the　large；　dark　eyes。　　In　all　the

pomp　of　her　stage　attire；in　all　the　flush　of　excitement　before

the　intoxicating　lamps；never　had　Viola　looked　so　lovely。



By　the　side　of　the　actress；　and　filling　up　the　threshold；stood

Gionetta；　with　her　arms　thrust　to　the　elbow　in　two　huge　pockets

on　either　side　of　her　gown。



〃But　I　assure　you；〃　said　the　nurse；　in　that　sharp；　quick；　ear…

splitting　tone　in　which　the　old　women　of　the　South　are　more　than

a　match　for　those　of　the　North；〃but　I　assure　you；　my　darling；

that　there　is　not　a　finer　cavalier　in　all　Naples；　nor　a　more

beautiful；　than　this　Inglese；　and　I　am　told　that　all　these

Inglesi　are　much　richer　than　they　seem。　　Though　they　have　no

trees　in　their　country；　poor　people！　and　instead　of　twenty…four

they　have　only　twelve　hours　to　the　day；　yet　I　hear　that　they　shoe

their　horses　with　scudi；　and　since　they　cannot　（the　poor

heretics！）　turn　grapes　into　wine；　for　they　have　no　grapes；　they

turn　gold　into　physic；　and　take　a　glass　or　two　of　pistoles

whenever　they　are　troubled　with　the　colic。　　But　you　don't　hear

me；　little　pupil　of　my　eyes；you　don't　hear　me！〃



〃And　these　things　are　whispered　of　Zanoni！〃　said　Viola；　half　to

herself；　and　unheeding　Gionetta's　eulogies　on　Glyndon　and　the

English。



〃Blessed　Maria！　do　not　talk　of　this　terrible　Zanoni。　　You　may　be

sure　that　his　beautiful　face；　like　his　yet　more　beautiful

pistoles；　is　only　witchcraft。　　I　look　at　the　money　he　gave　me　the

other　night；　every　quarter　of　an　hour；　to　see　whether　it　has　not

turned　into　pebbles。〃



〃Do　you　then　really　believe；〃　said　Viola；　with　timid　earnestness；

〃that　sorcery　still　exists？〃



〃Believe！　　Do　I　believe　in　the　blessed　San　Gennaro？　　How　do　you

think　he　cured　old　Filippo　the　fisherman；　when　the　doctor　gave

him　up？　　How　do　you　think　he　has　managed　himself　to　live　at　least

these　three　hundred　years？　　How　do　you　think　he　fascinates　every

one　to　his　bidding　with　a　look；　as　the　vampires　do？〃



〃Ah；　is　this　only　witchcraft？　　It　is　like　it；it　must　be！〃

murmured　Viola；　turning　very　pale。　　Gionetta　herself　was　scarcely

more　superstitious　than　the　daughter　of　the　musician。　　And　her

very　innocence；　chilled　at　the　strangeness　of　virgin　passion；

might　well　ascribe　to　magic　what　hearts　more　experienced　would

have　resolved　to　love。



〃And　then；　why　has　this　great　Prince　di　　been　so　terrified　by

him？　　Why　has　he　ceased　to　persecute　us？　　Why　has　he　been　so

quiet　and　still？　　Is　there　no　sorcery　in　all　that？〃



〃Think　you；　then；〃　said　Viola；　with　sweet　inconsistency；　〃that　I

owe　that　happiness　and　safety　to　his　protection？　　Oh；　let　me　so

believe！　　Be　silent；　Gionetta！　　Why　have　I　only　thee　and　my　own

terrors　to　consult？　　O　beautiful　sun！〃　and　the　girl　pressed　her

hand　to　her　heart　with　wild　energy；　〃thou　lightest　every　spot　but

this。　　Go；　Gionetta！　leave　me　alone；leave　me！〃



〃And　indeed　it　is　time　I　should　leave　you；　for　the　polenta　will

be　spoiled；　and　you　have　eat　nothing　all　day。　　If　you　don't　eat

you　will　lose　your　beauty；　my　darling；　and　then　nobody　will　care

for　you。　　Nobody　cares　for　us　when　we　grow　ugly；I　know　that；

and　then　you　must；　like　old　Gionetta；　get　some　Viola　of　your　own

to　spoil。　　I'll　go　and　see　to　the　polenta。〃



〃Since　I　have　known　this　man；〃　said　the　girl；　half　aloud；〃since

his　dark　eyes　have　haunted　me；　I　am　no　longer　the　same。　　I　long

to　escape　from　myself；to　glide　with　the　sunbeam　over　the

hill…tops；　to　become　something　that　is　not　of　earth。　　Phantoms

float　before　me　at　night；　and　a　fluttering；　like　the　wing　of　a

bird；　within　my　heart；　seems　as　if　the　spirit　were　terrified；　and

would　break　its　cage。〃



While　murmuring　these　incoherent　rhapsodies；　a　step　that　she　did

not　hear　approached　the　actress；　and　a　light　hand　touched　her

arm。



〃Viola！bellissima！Viola！〃



She　turned；　and　saw　Glyndon。　　The　sight　of　his　fair　young　face

calmed　her　at　once。　　His　presence　gave　her　pleasure。



〃Viola；〃　said　the　Englishman；　taking　her　hand；　and　drawing　her

again　to　the　bench　from　which　she　had　risen；　as　he　seated　himself

beside　her；　〃you　shall　hear　me　speak！　　You　must　know　already　that

I　love　thee！　　It　has　not　been　pity　or　admiration　alone　that　has

led　me　ever　and　ever　to　thy　dear　side；　reasons　there　may　have

been　why　I　have　not　spoken；　save　by　my　eyes；　before；　but　this

dayI　know　not　how　it　isI　feel　a　more　sustained　and　settled

courage　to　address　thee；　and　learn　the　happiest　or　the　worst。　　I

have　rivals；　I　know；rivals　who　are　more　powerful　than　the　poor

artist；　are　they　also　more　favoured？〃



Viola　blushed　faintly；　but　her　countenance　was　grave　and

distressed。　　Looking　down；　and　marking　some　hieroglyphical

figures　in　the　dust　with　the　point　of　her　slipper；　she　said；　with

some　hesitation；　and　a　vain　attempt　to　be　gay；　〃Signor；　whoever

wastes　his　thoughts　on　an　actress　must　submit　to　have　rivals。　　It

is　our　unhappy　destiny　not　to　be　sacred　even　to　ourselves。〃



〃But　you　do　not　love　this　destiny；　glittering　though　it　seem；

your　heart　is　not　in　the　vocation　which　your　gifts　adorn。〃



〃Ah；　no！〃　said　the　actress；　her　eyes　filling　with　tears。　　〃Once　I

loved　to　be　the　priestess　of　song　and　music；　now　I　feel　only　that

it　is　a　miserable　lot　to　be　slave　to　a　multitude。〃



〃Fly；　then；　with　me；〃　said　the　artist；　passionately；　〃quit

forever　the　calling　that　divides　that　heart　I　would　have　all　my

own。　　Share　my　fate　now　and　forever；my　pride；　my　delight；　my

ideal！　　Thou　shal