第1章

Oh,youaresickofself-love,Malvolio,Andtastewithadistemperedappetite!

ShakspeareIldoutaitdetout,memedel’amour。

FrenchNovelSolviturambulando。

SolutioSophismatum。

FlevitamoresNonelaboratumadpedem。

HoraceAMOURSDEVOYAGE。

CantoI。

Overthegreatwindywaters,andovertheclear-crestedsummits,Untothesunandthesky,anduntotheperfecterearth,Come,letusgo,——toalandwhereingodsoftheoldtimewandered,Whereeverybreathevennowchangestoetherdivine。

Come,letusgo;thoughwithalavoicewhisper,’Theworldthatwelivein,Whithersoeverweturn,stillisthesamenarrowcrib;

’Tisbuttoprovelimitation,andmeasureacord,thatwetravel;

Letwhowould’scapeandbefreegotohischamberandthink;

’Tisbuttochangeidlefanciesformemorieswilfullyfalser;

’Tisbuttogoandhavebeen。’——Come,littlebark!letusgo。

I。ClaudetoEustace。

DearEustatio,Iwritethatyoumaywritemeananswer,Orattheleasttoputusagainenrapportwitheachother。

Romedisappointsmemuch,——StPeter’s,perhaps,inespecial;

OnlytheArchofTitusandviewfromtheLateranpleaseme:

This,however,perhapsistheweather,whichtrulyishorrid。

Greecemustbebetter,surely;andyetIamfeelingsospiteful,ThatIcouldtraveltoAthens,toDelphi,andTroy,andMountSinai,Thoughbuttoseewithmyeyesthatthesearevanityalso。

Romedisappointsmemuch;Ihardlyasyetunderstandit,butRUBBISHYseemsthewordthatmostexactlywouldsuitit。

Allthefoolishdestructions,andallthesilliersavings,Alltheincongruousthingsofpastincompatibleages,Seemtobetreasuredupheretomakefoolsofpresentandfuture。

WouldtoHeaventheoldGothshadmadeacleanersweepofit!

WouldtoHeavensomenewoneswouldcomeanddestroythesechurches!

However,onecanliveinRomeasalsoinLondon。

Itisablessing,nodoubt,toberid,atleastforatime,ofAllone’sfriendsandrelations,——yourself(forgiveme!)included,——

Alltheassujettissementofhavingbeenwhatonehasbeen,Whatonethinksoneis,orthinksthatotherssupposeone;

Yet,indespiteofall,weturnlikefoolstotheEnglish。

Vernonhasbeenmyfate;whoisherethesamethatyouknewhim,——

Makingthetour,itseems,withfriendsofthenameofTrevellyn。

II。ClaudetoEustace。

Romedisappointsmestill;butIshrinkandadaptmyselftoit。

SomehowatyrannoussenseofasuperincumbentoppressionStill,whereverIgo,accompaniesever,andmakesmeFeellikeatree(shallIsay?)buriedunderaruinofbrickwork。

Rome,believeme,myfriend,islikeitsownMonteTestaceo,Merelyamarvellousmassofbrokenandcastawaywine-pots。

Yegods!whatdoIwantwiththisrubbishofagesdeparted,ThingsthatNatureabhors,theexperimentsthatshehasfailedin?

WhatdoIfindintheForum?Anarchwayandtwoorthreepillars。

Well,butSt。Peter’s?Alas,Berninihasfilleditwithsculpture!

Noonecancavil,Igrant,atthesizeofthegreatColiseum。

Doubtlessthenotionofgrandandcapaciousandmassiveamusement,ThistheoldRomanshad;buttellme,isthisanidea?

Yetofsoliditymuch,butofsplendourlittleisextant:

’BrickworkIfoundthee,andmarbleIleftthee!’theirEmperorvaunted;

’MarbleIthoughtthee,andbrickworkIfindthee!’theTouristmayanswer。

III。GeorginaTrevellyntoLouisa————。

Atlast,dearestLouisa,Itakeupmypentoaddressyou。

Hereweare,yousee,withtheseven-and-seventyboxes,Courier,PapaandMamma,thechildren,andMaryandSusan:

HereweallareatRome,anddelightedofcoursewithSt。Peter’s,AndverypleasantlylodgedinthefamousPiazzadiSpagna。

Romeisawonderfulplace,butMaryshalltellyouaboutit;

Notverygay,however;theEnglisharemostlyatNaples;

TherearetheA。’s,wehear,andmostoftheW。party。

George,however,iscome;didItellyouabouthismustachios?

Dear,Imustreallystop,forthecarriage,theytellme,iswaiting;

Marywillfinish;andSusaniswriting,theysay,toSophia。

Adieu,dearestLouise,——evermoreyourfaithfulGeorgina。

WhocanaMr。ClaudebewhomGeorgehastakentobewith?

Verystupid,Ithink,butGeorgesayssoVERYclever。

IV。ClaudetoEustace。

No,theChristianfaith,asatanyrateIunderstoodit,Withitshumiliationsandexaltationscombining,Exaltationssublime,andyetdivinerabasements,AspirationsfromsomethingmostshamefulhereuponearthandInourpoorselvestosomethingmostperfectaboveintheheavens,——

No,theChristianfaith,asI,atleast,understoodit,Isnothere,ORome,inanyofthesethychurches;

Isnothere,butinFreiburg,orRheims,orWestminsterAbbey。

WhatinthyDomeIfind,inallthyrecenterefforts,Isasomething,Ithink,moreRATIONALfar,moreearthly,Actual,lessideal,devoutnotinscornandrefusal,Butinapositive,calm,Stoic-Epicureanacceptance。

ThisIbegintodetectinSt。Peter’sandsomeofthechurches,MostlyinallthatIseeofthesixteenth-centurymasters;

Overlaidofcoursewithinfinitegaudsandgewgaws,Innocent,playfulfollies,thetoysandtrinketsofchildhood,Forcedonmatureryears,astheseriousonethingneedful,BythebarbarianwilloftherigidandignorantSpaniard。

Curiouswork,meantime,re-enteringsociety:howweWalkalivelongday,greatHeaven,andwatchourshadows!

Whatourshadowsseem,forsooth,wewillourselvesbe。

DoIlooklikethat?youthinkmethat:thenIAMthat。

V。ClaudetoEustace。

Luther,theysay,wasunwise;likeahalf-taughtGerman,hecouldnotSeethatoldfollieswerepassingmosttranquillyoutofremembrance;

LeotheTenthwasemployingalleffortstoclearoutabuses;

Jupiter,Juno,andVenus,FineArts,andFineLetters,thePoets,Scholars,andSculptors,andPainters,werequietlyclearingawaytheMartyrs,andVirgins,andSaints,oratanyrateThomasAquinas:

HemustforsoothmakeafussanddistendhishugeWittenberglungs,andBringbackTheologyonceyetagaininaflooduponEurope:

Loyou,forfortydaysfromthewindowsofheavenitfell;theWatersprevailontheearthyetmoreforahundredandfifty;

Aretheyabatingatlast?thedovesthataresenttoexploreareWearilyfaintoreturn,atthebestwithaleafletofpromise,——

Faintoreturn,astheywent,tothewanderingwave-tostvessel,——

Faintore-entertheroofwhichcoversthecleanandtheunclean,——

Luther,theysay,wasunwise;hedidn’tseehowthingsweregoing;

Lutherwasfoolish,——but,OgreatGod!whatcallyouIgnatius?

Omytolerantsoul,bestill!butyoutalkofbarbarians,Alaric,Attila,Genseric;——why,theycame,theykilled,theyRavaged,andwentontheirway;butthesevile,tyrannousSpaniards,Theseareherestill,——howlong,Oyeheavens,inthecountryofDante?

These,thatfanaticizedEurope,whichnowcanforgetthem,releasenotThis,theirchoicestofprey,thisItaly;hereyouseethem,——

Here,withemasculatepupilsandgimcrackchurchesofGesu,Pseudo-learningandlies,confessional-boxesandpostures,——

Here,withmetallicbeliefsandregimentaldevotions,——

Here,overcrustingwithslime,perverting,defacing,debasing,MichaelAngelo’sDome,thathadhungthePantheoninheaven,Raphael’sJoysandGraces,andthyclearstars,Galileo!

VI。ClaudetoEustace。

WhichofthreeMissesTrevellynitisthatVernonshallmarryIsnotathingtobeknown;forourfriendisoneofthosenaturesWhichhavetheirperfectdelightinthegeneraltender-domestic,SothathetrifleswithMary’sshawl,tiesSusan’sbonnet,Danceswithall,butathomeismost,theysay,withGeorgina,Whois,however,TOOsillyinmyapprehensionforVernon。

I,asbeforewhenIwrote,continuetoseethemalittle;

NotthatIlikethemmuchorcareabajoccoforVernon,ButIamslowatItalian,havenotmanyEnglishacquaintance,AndIamasked,inshort,andamnotgoodatexcuses。

Middle-classpeoplethese,bankersverylikely,notwhollyPureofthetaintoftheshop;willattabled’hoteandrestaurantHavetheirshilling’sworth,theirpenny’spennywortheven:

Neitherman’saristocracythis,norGod’s,Godknoweth!

Yettheyarefairlydescended,theygiveyoutoknow,wellconnected;

Doubtlesssomewhereinsomeneighbourhoodhave,andarecarefultokeep,someThreadbare-genteelrelations,whointheirturnareenchantedGrandlyamongcountypeopletointroduceatassembliesTotheunpenniedcadetsourcousinswithexcellentfortunes。

Neitherman’saristocracythis,norGod’s,Godknoweth!

VII。ClaudetoEustace。

Ah,whatashame,indeed,toabusethesemostworthypeople!

Ah,whatasintohavesneeredattheirinnocentrusticpretensions!

Isitnotlaudablereally,thisreverentworshipofstation?

Isitnotfittingthatwealthshouldtenderthishomagetoculture?

Isitnottouchingtowitnesstheseefforts,iflittleavailing,Painfullymade,toperformtheoldritualserviceofmanners?

Shallnotdevotionatonefortheabsenceofknowledge?andfervourPalliate,cover,thefaultofasuperstitiousobservance?

Dear,dear,whatdoIsay?but,alas!justnow,likeIago,Icanbenothingatall,ifitisnotcriticalwholly;

Soinfantasticheight,incoxcombexaltation,HereinthegardenIwalk,canfreelyconcedetotheMakerThattheworksofHishandareallverygood:Hiscreatures,Beastofthefieldandfowl,Hebringsthembeforeme;Inamethem;

ThatwhichInamethem,theyare,——thebird,thebeast,andthecattle。

ButforAdam,——alas,poorcriticalcoxcombAdam!

ButforAdamthereisnotfoundanhelp-meetforhim。

VIII。ClaudetoEustace。

No,greatDomeofAgrippa,thouartnotChristian!canstnot,Stripandreplasteranddaubanddowhattheywillwiththee,beso!

HereunderneaththegreatporchofcolossalCorinthiancolumns,HereasIwalk,doIdreamoftheChristianbelfriesabovethem?

Or,onabenchasIsitandabideforlonghours,tillthywholevastRoundgrowsdimasindreamstomyeyes,Irepeoplethyniches,NotwiththeMartyrs,andSaints,andConfessors,andVirgins,andchildren,Butwiththemightierformsofanolder,austererworship;

AndIrecitetomyself,howEagerforbattlehereStoodVulcan,herematronalJuno,AndwiththebowtohisshoulderfaithfulHewhowithpuredewlavethofCastalyHisflowinglocks,whoholdethofLyciaTheoakforestandthewoodthatborehim,Delos’andPatara’sownApollo。*

*HicavidusstetitVulcanus,hicmatronaJuno,etNunquamhumerispositurusarcum;

QuirorepuroCastaliaelavitCrinessolutos,quiLyciaetenetDumetanatalemquesilvam,DeliusetPatareusApollo。

IX。ClaudetoEustace。

Yetitispleasant,Iownit,tobeintheircompany;pleasant,Whateverelseitmaybe,toabideinthefemininepresence。

Pleasant,butwrong,willyousay?Butthishappy,serenecoexistenceIstosomepoorsoftsouls,Ifear,anecessitysimple,Meatanddrinkandlife,andmusic,fillingwithsweetness,Thrillingwithmelodysweet,withharmoniesstrangeoverwhelming,Allthelong-silentstringsofanawkward,meaninglessfabric。

Yetasforthat,Icouldlive,Ibelieve,withchildren;tohavethosePureanddelicateformsencompassing,movingaboutyou,Thiswereenough,Icouldthink;andtrulywithgladresignationCouldfromthedreamofRomance,fromthefeverofflushedadolescence,Looktoescapeandsubsideintopeacefulavuncularfunctions。

Nephewsandnieces!alas,forasyetIhavenone!and,moreover,Mothersarejealous,Ifearme,toooften,toorightfully;fathersThinktheyhavetitleexclusivetospoilingtheirownlittledarlings;

Andbythelawoftheland,indespiteofMalthusiandoctrine,Nosortofproperprovisionismadeforthatmostpatriotic,Mostmeritorioussubject,thechildlessandbacheloruncle。

X。ClaudetoEustace。

Ye,too,marvellousTwain,thaterectontheMonteCavalloStandbyyourrearingsteedsinthegraceofyourmotionlessmovement,Standwithyourupstretchedarmsandtranquilregardantfaces,Standasinstinctwithlifeinthemightofimmutablemanhood,——

Oyemightyandstrange,yeancientdivineonesofHellas。

AreyeChristiantoo?toconvertandredeemandrenewyou,Willthebriefformhavesufficed,thataPopehassetupontheapexOftheEgyptianstonethato’ertopsyou,theChristiansymbol?

Andye,silent,supremeinsereneandvictoriousmarble,YethatencirclethewallsofthestatelyVaticanchambers,JunoandCeres,Minerva,Apollo,theMusesandBacchus,YeuntowhomfarandnearcomepostingtheChristianpilgrims,YethatarerangedinthehallsofthemysticChristianPontiff,Areyealsobaptized?areyeofthekingdomofHeaven?

Utter,Osomeone,thewordthatshallreconcileAncientandModern!

AmItoturnmefromthisuntothee,greatChapelofSixtus?

XI。ClaudetoEustace。

Thesearethefacts。Theuncle,theelderbrother,thesquire(aLittleembarrassed,Ifancy),residesinthefamilyplaceinCornwall,ofcourse;’Papaisinbusiness,’Maryinformsme;

He’sagoodsensibleman,whateverhistradeis。ThemotherIs——shallIcallitfine?——herselfshewouldtellyourefined,andGreatly,Ifearme,looksdownonmybookishandmaladroitmanners;

Somewhataffecteththeblue;wouldtalktomeoftenofpoets;

Quotes,whichIhate,ChildeHarold;butalsoappreciatesWordsworth;

SometimesadventuresonSchiller;andthentoreligiondiverges;

QuestionsmemuchaboutOxford;andyet,inherloftiestflightsstillGratesthefastidiousearwiththeslightlymercantileaccent。

Isitcontemptible,Eustace——I’mperfectlyreadytothinkso,——

Isit,——thehorriblepleasureofpleasinginferiorpeople?

Iamashamedofmyownself;andyettrueitis,ifdisgraceful,ThatforthefirsttimeinlifeIamlivingandmovingwithfreedom。

I,whonevercouldtalktothepeopleImeetwithmyuncle,——

I,whohavealwaysfailed,——I,trustme,cansuittheTrevellyns;

I,believeme,——greatconquest,amlikedbythecountrybankers。

AndIamgladtobeliked,andlikeinreturnverykindly。

Soitproceeds;laissezfaire,laissezaller,——suchisthewatchword。

Well,Iknowtherearethousandsasprettyandhundredsaspleasant,Girlsbythedozenasgood,andgirlsinabundancewithpolishHigherandmannersmoreperfectthanSusanorMaryTrevellyn。

Well,Iknow,afterall,itisonlyjuxtaposition,——

Juxtaposition,inshort;andwhatisjuxtaposition?

XII。ClaudetoEustace。

ButIaminforitnow,——laissezfaire,ofatruth,laissezaller。

Yes,Iamgoing,——Ifeelit,Ifeelandcannotrecallit,——

Fusingwiththisthingandthat,enteringintoallsortsofrelations,TyingIknownotwhatties,which,whatevertheyare,Iknowonething,Will,andmust,woeisme,beonedaypainfullybroken,——

Brokenwithpainfulremorses,withshrinkingsofsoul,andrelentings,Foolishdelays,morefoolishevasions,mostfoolishrenewals。

ButIhavemadethestep,havequittedtheshipofUlysses;

Quittedtheseaandtheshore,passedintothemagicalisland;

Yetonmylipsisthemoly,medicinal,offeredofHermes。

Ihavecomeintotheprecinct,thelabyrinthclosesaroundme,Pathintopathroundingslyly;Ipaceslowlyon,andthefancy,Strugglingawhiletosustainthelongsequences,weary,bewildered,Fainmustcollapseindespair;Iyield,Iamlost,andknownothing;

Yetinmybosomunbrokenremaineththeclue;Ishalluseit。

Lo,withtheropeonmyloinsIdescendthroughthefissure;Isink,yetInlysecureinthestrengthofinvisiblearmsupaboveme;

Still,wheresoeverIswing,wherevertoshore,ortoshelf,orFloorofcavernuntrodden,shellsprinkled,enchanting,IknowI

Yetshallonetimefeelthestrongcordtightenaboutme,——

Feelit,relentless,upbearmefromspotsIwouldrestin;andthoughtheRopeswaywildly,Ifaint,cragswoundme,fromcraguntocragre-

Bounding,or,wideinthevoid,Idietendeaths,eretheendI

YetshallplantfirmfootonthebroadloftyspacesIquit,shallFeelunderneathmeagainthegreatmassystrengthsofabstraction,Lookyetabroadfromtheheighto’ertheseawhosesaltwaveIhavetasted。

XIII。GeorginaTrevellyntoLouisa————。

DearestLouisa,——Inquire,ifyouplease,aboutMr。Claude————。

HehasbeenonceatR。,andremembersmeetingtheH。’s。

HarrietL。,perhaps,maybeabletotellyouabouthim。

Itisanawkwardyouth,butstillwithverygoodmanners;

Notwithoutprospects,wehear;and,Georgesays,highlyconnected。

Georgydeclaresitabsurd,butMammaisalarmed,andinsistshehasTakenupstrangeopinions,andmaybeturningaPapist。

Certainlyoncehespokeofadailyservicehewentto。

’Where?’weasked,andhelaughedandanswered,’AtthePantheon。’

Thiswasatemple,youknow,andnowisaCatholicchurch;andThoughitissaidthatMazzinihassolditforProtestantservice,YetIsupposethischangecanhardlyasyetbeeffected。

Adieuagain,——evermore,mydearest,yourlovingGeorgina。

P。S。byMaryTrevellyn。

Iamtotellyou,yousay,whatIthinkofourlastnewacquaintance。

Well,then,IthinkthatGeorgehasaveryfairrighttobejealous。

Idonotlikehimmuch,thoughIdonotdislikebeingwithhim。

Heiswhatpeoplecall,Isuppose,asuperiorman,andCertainlyseemssotome;butIthinkheisterriblyselfish。

————————————————————

Alba,thoufindestmestill,and,Alba,thoufindestmeever,NowfromtheCapitolsteps,nowoverTitus’sArch,HerefromthelargegrassyspacesthatspreadfromtheLateranportal,Toweringo’eraqueductlineslostinperspectivebetween,OrfromaVaticanwindow,orbridge,orthehighColiseum,ClearbythegarlandedlinecutoftheFlavianring。

BeautifulcanInotcallthee,andyetthouhastpowertoo’ermaster,Powerofmerebeauty;indreams,Alba,thouhauntestmestill。

Isitreligion?Iaskme;orisitavainsuperstition?

Slaveryabjectandgross?service,toofeeble,oftruth?

IsitanidolIbowto,orisitagodthatIworship?

DoIsinkbackontheold,ordoIsoarfromthemean?

SothroughthecityIwanderandquestion,unsatisfiedever,ReverentsoIaccept,doubtfulbecauseIrevere。

CantoII。

Isitillusion?ordoesthereaspiritfromperfecterages,Here,evenyet,amidloss,change,andcorruptionabide?

Doesthereaspiritweknownot,thoughseek,thoughwefind,comprehendnot,Heretoenticeandconfuse,temptandevadeus,abide?

Livesintheexquisitegraceofthecolumndisjointedandsingle,Hauntstherudemassesofbrickgarlandedgailywithvine,E’enintheturretfantasticsurvivingthatspringsfromtheruin,E’eninthepeopleitself?isitillusionornot?

Isitillusionornotthatattracteththepilgrimtransalpine,Bringshimadullardandduncehithertopryandtostare?

Isitillusionornotthatalluresthebarbarianstranger,Bringshimwithgoldtotheshrine,bringshiminarmstothegate?

I。ClaudetoEustace。

Whatdothepeoplesay,andwhatdoesthegovernmentdo?——youAsk,andIknownotatall。Yetfortunewillfavouryourhopes;andI,whoavoideditall,amfated,itseems,todescribeit。

I,whonormeddlenormakeinpolitics,——IwhosincerelyPutnotmytrustinleaguesnoranysuffragebyballot,NeverpredictedParisianmillenniums,neverbeheldaNewJerusalemcomingdowndressedlikeabrideoutofheavenRightonthePlacedelaConcorde,——I,nevertheless,letmesayit,Couldinmysoulofsouls,thisday,withtheGaulatthegatesshedOnetruetearforthee,thoupoorlittleRomanRepublic;

What,withtheGermanrestored,withSicilysafetotheBourbon,NotleaveonepoorcornerfornativeItalianexertion?

France,itisfoullydone!andyou,poorfoolishEngland,——

You,whoatwelvemonthagosaidnationsmustchooseforthemselves,youCouldnot,ofcourse,interfere,——you,now,whenanationhaschosen————

Pardonthisfolly!TheTimeswill,ofcourse,haveannouncedtheoccasion,Toldyouthenewsofto-day;andalthoughitwasslightlyinerrorWhenitproclaimedasafacttheApollowassoldtoaYankee,YoumaybelievewhenittellsyoutheFrenchareatCivitaVecchia。

II。ClaudetoEustace。

Dulceitis,anddecorum,nodoubt,forthecountrytofall,——toOfferone’sbloodanoblationtoFreedom,anddiefortheCause;yetStill,individualcultureisalsosomething,andnomanFindsquitedistincttheassurancethatheofallothersiscalledon,Orwouldbejustifiedeven,intakingawayfromtheworldthatPreciouscreature,himself。Naturesenthimheretoabidehere;

Elsewhysendhimatall?Naturewantshimstill,itislikely;

Onthewhole,wearemeanttolookafterourselves;itiscertainEachhastoeatforhimself,digestforhimself,andingeneralCareforhisowndearlife,andseetohisownpreservation;

Nature’sintentions,inmostthingsuncertain,inthisaredecisive;

Which,onthewhole,IconjecturetheRomanswillfollow,andIshall。

Soweclingtoourrockslikelimpets;Oceanmaybluster,Overandunderandroundus;weopenourshellstoimbibeourNourishment,closethemagain,andaresafe,fulfillingthepurposeNatureintended,——awiseone,ofcourse,andanoble,wedoubtnot。

Sweetitmaybeanddecorous,perhaps,forthecountrytodie;but,Onthewhole,weconcludetheRomanswon’tdoit,andIsha’n’t。

III。ClaudetoEustace。

Willtheyfight?Theysayso。AndwilltheFrench?Icanhardly,Hardlythinkso;andyet————Heiscome,theysay,toPalo,HeispassedfromMonterone,atSantaSeveraHehathlaiduphisguns。ButtheVirgin,theDaughterofRoma,Shehathdespisedtheeandlaughedtheetoscorn,——TheDaughterofTiber,Shehathshakenherheadandbuiltbarricadesagainstthee!

Willtheyfight?Ibelieveit。Alas!’tisephemeralfolly,Vainandephemeralfolly,ofcourse,comparedwithpictures,Statues,andantiquegems!——Indeed:andyetindeedtoo,Yet,methought,inbroaddaydidIdream,——tellitnotinSt。James’s,Whisperitnotinthycourts,OChristChurch!——yetdidI,waking,Dreamofacadencethatsings,Sitombentnosjeunesheros,laTerreenproduitdenouveauxcontrevoustouspretsasebattre;

Dreamtofgreatindignationsandangerstranscendental,Dreamtofaswordatmysideandabattle-horseunderneathme。

IV。ClaudetoEustace。

NowsupposingtheFrenchortheNeapolitansoldierShouldbysomeevilchancecomeexploringtheMaisonSerny(WherethefamilyEnglisharealltoassembleforsafety),AmIpreparedtolaydownmylifefortheBritishfemale?

Really,whoknows?Onehasbowedandtalked,till,littlebylittle,Allthenaturalheathasescapedofthechivalrousspirit。

Oh,oneconformed,ofcourse;butonedoesn’tdieforgoodmanners,Staborshoot,orbeshot,bywayofgracefulattention。

No,ifitshouldbeatall,itshouldbeonthebarricadesthere;

ShouldIincarnadineeverthisinkypacificalfinger,SoonerfarshoulditbeforthisvapourofItaly’sfreedom,Soonerfarbythesideofthed————danddirtyplebeians。

Ah,forachildinthestreetIcouldstrike;forthefull-blownlady————

Somehow,Eustace,alas!Ihavenotfeltthevocation。

Yetthesepeopleofcoursewillexpect,asofcourse,myprotection,VernoninradiantarmsstandforthforthelovelyGeorgina,Andtoappear,Isuppose,werebutcommoncivility。Yes,andTrulyIdonotdesiretheyshouldeitherbekilledoroffended。

Oh,andofcourse,youwillsay,’Whenthetimecomes,youwillbeready。’

Ah,butbeforeitcomes,amItopresumeitwillbeso?

WhatIcannotfeelnow,amItosupposethatIshallfeel?

AmInotfreetoattendfortheripeandindubiousinstinct?

AmIforbiddentowaitfortheclearandlawfulperception?

Isitthecallingofmantosurrenderhisknowledgeandinsight,Forthemereventureofwhatmay,perhaps,bethevirtuousaction?

Mustwe,walkingourearth,discerningalittle,andhopingSomeplainvisibletaskshallyetforourhandsbeassignedus,——

Mustweabandonthefutureforfearofomittingthepresent,Quitourownfiresidehopesatthealiencallofaneighbour,TothemerepossibleshadowofDeityofferthevictim?

Andisallthis,myfriend,butaweakandignoblerefining,WhollyunworthytheheadortheheartofYourOwnCorrespondent?

V。ClaudetoEustace。

Yes,wearefightingatlast,itappears。Thismorningasusual,Murray,asusual,inhand,IentertheCaffeNuovo;

Seatingmyselfwithasenseasitwereofachangeintheweather,Notunderstanding,however,butthinkingmostlyofMurray,And,forto-dayistheirday,oftheCampidoglioMarbles;

Caffe-latte!Icalltothewaiter,——andNonc’elatte,Thisistheanswerhemakesme,andthisisthesignofabattle。

SoIsit:andtrulytheyseemtothinkanyoneelsemoreWorthythanmeofattention。Iwaitformymilklessnero,Freetoobserveundistractedallsortsandsizesofpersons,Blendingcivilianandsoldierinstrangestcostume,comingin,andGulpinginhottesthaste,stillstanding,theircoffee,——withdrawingEagerly,janglingaswordonthesteps,orjoggingamusketSlungtotheshoulderbehind。Theyarefewer,moreover,thanusual,Muchandsilenterfar;andsoIbegintoimagineSomethingisreallyafloat。EreIleave,theCaffeisempty,Emptytoothestreets,inallitslengththeCorsoEmpty,andemptyIseetomyrightandlefttheCondotti。

Twelveo’clock,onthePincianHill,withlotsofEnglish,Germans,Americans,French,——theFrenchmen,too,areprotected,——

Sowestandinthesun,butafraidofaprobableshower;

Sowestandandstare,andsee,totheleftofSt。Peter’s,Smoke,fromthecannon,white,——butthatisatintervalsonly,——

Black,fromaburninghouse,wesuppose,bytheCavalleggieri;

AndwebelievewediscernsomelinesofmendescendingDownthroughthevineyard-slopes,andcatchabayonetgleaming。

Everytenminutes,however,——inthisthereisnomisconception,——

ComesagreatwhitepufffrombehindMichelAngelo’sdome,andAfteraspacethereportofarealbiggun,——nottheFrenchman’s!——

Thatmustbedoingsomework。Andsowewatchandconjecture。

Shortly,anEnglishmancomes,whosayshehasbeentoSt。Peter’s,SeenthePiazzaandtroops,butthatisallhecantellus;

Sowewatchandsit,and,indeed,itbeginstobetiresome。——

Allthissmokeisoutside;whenithascometotheinside,Itwillbetime,perhaps,todescendandretreattoourhouses。

Half-pastone,ortwo。Thereportofsmallarmsfrequent,Sharpandsavageindeed;thatcannotallbefornothing:

Sowewatchandwonder;butguessingistiresome,very。

Wearyofwondering,watching,andguessing,andgossipingidly,DownIgo,andpassthroughthequietstreetswiththeknotsofNationalGuardspatrolling,andflagshangingoutatthewindows,English,American,Danish,——and,afterofferingtohelpanIrishfamilymovingenmassetotheMaisonSerny,AfterendeavouringidlytoministerbalmtothetremblingQuinquagenarianfearsoftwoloneBritishspinsters,Gotomakesureofmydinnerbeforetheenemyenter。

Butbythistherearesignsofstragglersreturning;andvoicesTalk,thoughyoudon’tbelieveit,ofgunsandprisonerstaken;

Andonthewallsyoureadthefirstbulletinofthemorning。——

ThisisallthatIsaw,andallthatIknowofthebattle。

VI。ClaudetoEustace。

Victory!Victory!——Yes!ah,yes,thourepublicanZion,Trulythekingsoftheeartharegatheredandgonebytogether;

Doubtlesstheymarvelledtowitnesssuchthings,wereastonished,andsoforth。

Victory!Victory!Victory!——Ah,butitis,believeme,Easier,easierfar,tointonethechantofthemartyrThantoinditeanypaeanofanyvictory。DeathmaySometimesbenoble;butlife,atthebest,willappearanillusion。

Whilethegreatpainisuponus,itisgreat;whenitisover,Why,itisover。Thesmokeofthesacrificerisestoheaven,Ofasweetsavour,nodoubt,toSomebody;butonthealtar,Lo,thereisnothingremainingbutashesanddirtandillodour。

Soitstands,youperceive;thelabialmusclesthatswelledwithVehementevolutionofyesterdayMarseillaises,Articulationssublimeofdefianceandscorning,to-daycol-

Lapseandlanguidlymumble,whilemenandwomenandpapersScreamandre-screamtoeachotherthechorusofVictory。Well,butIamthankfultheyfought,andgladthattheFrenchmenwerebeaten。

VII。ClaudetoEustace。

So,Ihaveseenamankilled!Anexperiencethat,amongothers!

Yes,IsupposeIhave;althoughIcanhardlybecertain,AndinacourtofjusticecouldneverdeclareIhadseenit。

Butamanwaskilled,Iamtold,inaplacewhereIsawSomething;amanwaskilled,Iamtold,andIsawsomething。

IwasreturninghomefromSt。Peter’s;Murray,asusual,Undermyarm,Iremember;hadcrossedtheSt。Angelobridge;andMovingtowardstheCondotti,hadgottothefirstbarricade,whenGradually,thinkingstillofSt。Peter’s,IbecameconsciousOfasensationofmovementopposingme,——tendencythisway(SuchasonefanciesmaybeinastreamwhenthewaveofthetideisComingandnotyetcome,——asortofnoiseandretention);

SoIturned,and,beforeIturned,caughtsightofstragglersHeadingacrowd,itisplain,thatiscomingbehindthatcorner。

Lookingup,Iseewindowsfilledwithheads;thePiazza,IntowhichyourememberthePonteSt。Angeloenters,SinceIpassed,hasthickenedwithcuriousgroups;andnowtheCrowdiscoming,hasturned,hascrossedthatlastbarricade,isHereatmyside。Inthemiddletheydragatsomething。Whatisit?

Ha!bareswordsintheair,heldup?ThereseemtobevoicesPleadingandhandsputtingback;official,perhaps;buttheswordsareMany,andbareintheair。Intheair?theydescend;theyaresmiting,Hewing,chopping——Atwhat?Intheaironcemoreupstretched?And——

Isitbloodthat’sonthem?Yes,certainlyblood!Ofwhom,then?

Overwhomisthecryofthisfurorofexultation?

Whiletheyareskippingandscreaming,anddancingtheircapsonthepointsofSwordsandbayonets,Itotheoutskirtsback,andaskaMercantile-seemingbystander,’Whatisit?’andhe,lookingalwaysThatway,makesmeanswer,’APriest,whowastryingtoflytoTheNeapolitanarmy,’——andthusexplainstheproceeding。

Youdidn’tseethedeadman?No;——Ibegantobedoubtful;

Iwasinblackmyself,anddidn’tknowwhatmightn’thappen,——

ButaNationalGuardclosebyme,outsideofthehubbub,Brokehisswordwithslashingabroadhatcoveredwithdust,——andPassingawayfromtheplacewithMurrayundermyarm,andStooping,Isawthroughthelegsofthepeoplethelegsofabody。

Youarethefirst,doyouknow,towhomIhavementionedthematter。

WhomshouldItellittoelse?——thesegirls?——theHeavensforbidit!——

QuidnuncsatMonaldini’s——IdlersuponthePincian?

IfIrightlyremember,ithappenedonthatafternoonwhenWordofthenearerapproachofanewNeapolitanarmyFirstwasspread。IbegantobethinkmeofParisSeptembers,ThoughtIcouldfancythelookofthatold’Ninety-two。OnthateveningThreeorfour,or,itmaybe,five,ofthesepeoplewereslaughteredSomedeclaredtheyhad,oneofthem,firedonasentinel;othersSaytheywereonlyescaping;aPriest,itiscurrentlystated,StabbedaNationalGuardontheveryPiazzaColonna:

History,RumourofRumours,Ileavetotheetodetermine!

ButIamthankfultosaythegovernmentseemstohavestrengthtoPutitdown;ithasvanished,atleast;theplaceismostpeaceful。

ThroughtheTrasteverewalkinglastnight,atnineoftheclock,I

Foundnosortofdisorder;IcrossedbytheIsland-bridges,SobythenarrowstreetstothePonteRotto,andonwardsThencebytheTempleofVesta,awaytothegreatColiseum,Whichatthefullofthemoonisanobjectworthyavisit。

VIII。GeorginaTrevellyntoLouisa————。

Onlythink,dearestLouisa,whatfearfulsceneswehavewitnessed!——

********

GeorgehasjustseenGaribaldi,dressedupinalongwhitecloak,onHorseback,ridingby,withhismountednegrobehindhim:

Thisisaman,youknow,whocamefromAmericawithhim,Outofthewoods,Isuppose,andusesalassoinfighting,Whichis,Idon’tquiteknow,butasortofnoose,Iimagine;

Thishethrowsontheheadsoftheenemy’smeninabattle,Pullsthemintohisreach,andthenmostcruellykillsthem:

Marydoesnotbelieve,butwehearditfromanItalian。

MaryallowsshewaswrongaboutMr。ClaudeBEINGSELFISH;

HewasMOSTusefulandkindontheterriblethirtiethofApril。

Donotwritehereanymore;wearestartingdirectlyforFlorence:

Weshouldbeoffto-morrow,ifonlyPapacouldgethorses;

AllhavebeenseizedeverywherefortheuseofthisdreadfulMazziniP。S。

Maryhasseenthusfar。——Iamreallysoangry,Louisa,——

Quiteoutofpatience,mydearest!Whatcanthemanbeintending?

Iamquitetired;andMary,whomightbringhimtoinamoment,Letshimgoonashelikes,andneitherwillhelpnordismisshim。

IX。ClaudetoEustace。

Itismostcurioustoseewhatapowerafewcalmwords(inMerelyabriefproclamation)appeartopossessonthepeople。

Orderisperfect,andpeace;thecityisutterlytranquil;

Andonecannotconceivethatthiseasyandnonchalantcrowd,thatFlowslikeaquietstreamthroughstreetandmarket-place,enteringShadyrecessesandbaysofchurch,osteria,andcaffe,Couldinamomentbechangedtoafloodasofmoltenlava,Boilintodeadlywrathandwildhomicidaldelusion。

Ah,’tisanexcellentrace,——andeveninolddegradation,Underarulethatenforcestoflattery,lying,andcheating,E’enunderPopeandPriest,aniceandnaturalpeople。

Oh,couldtheybutbeallowedthischanceofredemption!——butclearlyThatisnotlikelytobe。Meantime,notwithstandingalljournals,Honourforoncetothetongueandthepenoftheeloquentwriter!

Honourtospeech!andallhonourtothee,thounobleMazzini!

X。ClaudetoEustace。

Iaminlove,meantime,youthink;nodoubtyouwouldthinkso。

Iaminlove,yousay;withthoseletters,ofcourse,youwouldsayso。

Iaminlove,youdeclare。Ithinknotso;yetIgrantyouItisapleasureindeedtoconversewiththisgirl。Oh,raregift,Rarefelicity,this!shecantalkinarationalway,canSpeakuponsubjectsthatreallyaremattersofmindandofthinking,Yetinperfectionretainhersimplicity;never,onemoment,Never,howeveryouurgeit,howeveryoutempther,consentstoStepfromideasandfanciesandlovingsensationstothosevainConsciousunderstandingsthatvexthemindsofmankind。

No,thoughshetalk,itismusic;herfingersdesertnotthekeys;’tisSong,thoughyouhearinthesongthearticulatevocablessounded,Syllabledsinglyandsweetlythewordsofmelodiousmeaning。

Iaminlove,yousay;Idonotthinkso,exactly。

XI。ClaudetoEustace。

Therearetwodifferentkinds,Ibelieve,ofhumanattraction:

Onewhichsimplydisturbs,unsettles,andmakesyouuneasy,Andanotherthatpoises,retains,andfixesandholdsyou。

Ihavenodoubt,formyself,ingivingmyvoiceforthelatter。

Idonotwishtobemoved,butgrowingwhereIwasgrowing,Theremoretrulytogrow,tolivewhereasyetIhadlanguished。

Idonotlikebeingmoved:forthewillisexcited;andactionIsamostdangerousthing;Itrembleforsomethingfactitious,Somemalpracticeofheartandillegitimateprocess;

Wearesopronetothesethings,withourterriblenotionsofduty。

XII。ClaudetoEustace。

Ah,letmelook,letmewatch,letmewait,unhurried,unprompted!

Bidmenotventureonaughtthatcouldalterorendwhatispresent!

Saynot,Timeflies,andOccasion,thatneverreturns,isdeparting!

Drivemenotoutyet,yeillangelswithfieryswords,frommyEden,Waiting,andwatching,andlooking!Letlovebeitsowninspiration!

Shallnotavoice,ifavoicetheremustbe,fromtheairsthatenviron,Yea,fromtheconsciousheavens,withoutourknowledgeoreffort,Breakintoaudiblewords?Andlovebeitsowninspiration?

XIII。ClaudetoEustace。

WhereforeandhowIamcertain,Ihardlycantell;butitISso。

Shedoesn’tlikeme,Eustace;Ithinksheneverwilllikeme。

Isitmyfault,asitismymisfortune,mywaysarenotherways?

Isitmyfault,thatmyhabitsandmodesaredissimilarwholly?

’Tisnotherfault;’tishernature,hervirtue,tomisapprehendthem:

’Tisnotherfault;’tisherbeautifulnature,notevertoknowme。

Hopelessitseems,——yetIcannot,thoughhopeless,determinetoleaveit:

Shegoes——thereforeIgo;shemoves,——Imove,nottoloseher。

XIV。ClaudetoEustace。

Oh,’tisn’tmanly,ofcourse,’tisn’tmanly,thismethodofwooing;

’Tisn’tthewayverylikelytowin。Forthewoman,theytellyou,Everpreferstheaudacious,thewilful,thevehementhero;

Shehasnoheartforthetimid,thesensitivesoul;andforknowledge,——

Knowledge,OyeGods!——whendidtheyappreciateknowledge?

Whereforeshouldthey,either?IamsureIdonotdesireit。

Ah,andIfeeltoo,Eustace,shecaresnotatittleaboutme!

(Careaboutme,indeed!anddoIreallyexpectit?)

Butmymanneroffends;mywaysarewhollyrepugnant;

EverywordthatIutterestranges,hurts,andrepelsher;

EverymomentofblissthatIgain,inherexquisitepresence,Slowly,surely,withdrawsher,removesher,andseversherfromme。

NotthatIcareverymuch!——anywayIescapefromtheboy’sownFolly,towhichIamprone,oflovingwhereitiseasy。

NotthatImindverymuch!WhyshouldI?Iamnotinlove,andAmprepared,Ithink,ifnotbyprevioushabit,Yetinthespiritbeforehandforthisandallthatislikeit;

Itisaneasiermatterforuscontemplativecreatures,Usuponwhomthepressureofactionislaidsolightly;

We,discontentedindeedwiththingsinparticular,idle,Sickly,complaining,byfaith,inthevisionofthingsingeneral,Managetoholdonourwaywithout,likeothersaroundus,Seizingthenearestarmtocomfort,help,andsupportus。

Yet,afterall,myEustace,Iknowbutlittleaboutit。

AllIcansayformyself,forpresentalikeandforpast,is,MaryTrevellyn,Eustace,iscertainlyworthyouracquaintance。

Youcouldn’tcome,Isuppose,asfarasFlorencetoseeher?

XV。GeorginaTrevellyntoLouisa————……To-morrowwe’restartingforFlorence,Trulyrejoiced,youmayguess,toescapefromrepublicanterrors;

Mr。C。andPapatoescortus;webyvetturaThroughSiena,andGeorgytofollowandjoinusbyLeghorn。

Then————Ah,whatshallIsay,mydearest?Itrembleinthinking!

Youwillimaginemyfeelings,——theblendingofhopeandofsorrow。

HowcanIbeartoabandonPapaandMammaandmySisters?

DearestLouise,indeeditisveryalarming;but,trustmeEver,whatevermaychange,toremainyourlovingGeorgina。

P。S。byMaryTrevellyn……’DoIlikeMr。Claudeanybetter?’

Iamtotellyou,——and,’Pray,isitSusanorIthatattracthim?’

Thisheneverhastold,butGeorginacouldcertainlyaskhim。

AllIcansayformyselfis,alas!thatheratherrepelsme。

There!Ithinkhimagreeable,butalsoalittlerepulsive。

Sobecontent,dearLouisa;foronesatisfactorymarriageSurelywilldoinoneyearforthefamilyyouwouldestablishNeitherSusannorIshallaffordyouthejoyofasecond。

P。S。byGeorginaTrevellyn。

Mr。Claude,youmustknow,isbehavingalittlebitbetter;

HeandPapaaregreatfriends;buthereallyistooSHILLY-SHALLY,——

SounlikeGeorge!YetIhopethatthematteisgoingonfairly。

Ishall,however,getGeorge,beforehegoes,tosaysomething。

DearestLouise,howdelightfultobringyoungpeopletogether!

——————————————————————————————-

IsitFlorencewefollow,orarewetotarryyetlonger,E’enamidclamourofarms,hereinthecityofold,SeekingfromclamourofarmsinthePastandtheArtstobehidden,Vainly’midArtsandthePastseekingonelifetoforget?

Ah,fairshadow,scarceseen,goforth!foranonheshallfollow,——

Hethatbeheldthee,anon,whitherthouleadestmustgo!

Go,andthewise,lovingMuse,shealsowillfollowandfindthee!

She,shouldshelingerinRome,werenotdisseveredfromthee!