第36章

Mydeskwasopen，andallmypaperswereonatablewhereIwasaccustomedtowrite。

"Takethem，"saidI，totheagentofthedreadfulTribunal，pointingtothepaperswhichcoveredthetable。Hefilledabagwiththem，andgaveittooneofthesbirri，andthentoldmethatImustalsogiveuptheboundmanuscriptswhichIhadinmypossession。Ishewedhimwheretheywere，andthisincidentopenedmyeyes。Isawnow，clearlyenough，thatIhadbeenbetrayedbythewretchManuzzi。Thebookswere，"TheKeyofSolomontheKing，""TheZecorben，"a"Picatrix，"abookof"InstructionsonthePlanetaryHours，"andthenecessaryincantationsforconversingwithdemonsofallsorts。

ThosewhowereawarethatIpossessedthesebookstookmeforanexpertmagician，andIwasnotsorrytohavesuchareputation。

Messer—Grandetookalsothebooksonthetablebymybed，suchasPetrarch，Ariosto，Horace。"TheMilitary’Philosopher"（amanuscriptwhichMathildehadgivenme），"ThePorterofChartreux，"and"TheAretin，"whichManuzzihadalsodenounced，forMesser—Grandeaskedmeforitbyname。Thisspy，Manuzzi，hadalltheappearanceofanhonestman——averynecessaryqualificationforhisprofession。HissonmadehisfortuneinPolandbymarryingaladynamedOpeska，whom，astheysay，hekilled。，thoughIhaveneverhadanypositiveproofonthematter，andamwillingtostretchChristiancharitytotheextentofbelievinghewasinnocent，althoughhewasquitecapableofsuchacrime。

WhileMesser—Grandewasthusrummagingamongmymanuscripts，booksandletters，Iwasdressingmyselfinanabsent—mindedmanner，neitherhurryingmyselfnorthereverse。Imademytoilette，shavedmyself，andcombedmyhair；puttingonmechanicallyalacedshirtandmyholidaysuitwithoutsayingaword，andwithoutMesser—Grande——whodidnotletmeescapehissightforaninstant——complainingthatI

wasdressingmyselfasifIweregoingtoawedding。

AsIwentoutIwassurprisedtoseeabandoffortymen—at—armsintheante—room。Theyhaddonemethehonourofthinkingallthesemennecessaryformyarrest，though，accordingtotheaxiom’NeHerculesquidemcontraduos’，twowouldhavebeenenough。ItiscuriousthatinLondon，whereeveryoneisbrave，onlyonemanisneededtoarrestanother，whereasinmydearnativeland，wherecowardiceprevails，thirtyarerequired。Thereasonis，perhaps，thatthecowardontheoffensiveismoreafraidthanthecowardonthedefensive，andthusamanusuallycowardlyistransformedforthemomentintoamanofcourage。ItiscertainthatatVeniceoneoftenseesaman。

defendinghimselfagainsttwentysbirri，andfinallyescapingafterbeatingthemsoundly。IrememberoncehelpingafriendofmineatParistoescapefromthehandsoffortybum—bailiffs，andweputthewholevileroutofthemtoflight。

Messer—Grandemademegetintoagondola，andsatdownnearmewithanescortoffourmen。Whenwecametoourdestinationheofferedmecoffee，whichIrefused；andhethenshutmeupinaroom。Ipassedthesefourhoursinsleep，wakingupeveryquarterofanhourtopasswater——anextraordinaryoccurrence，asIwasnotatallsubjecttostranguary；theheatwasgreat，andIhadnotsuppedtheeveningbefore。Ihavenoticedatothertimesthatsurpriseatadeedofoppressionactsonmeasapowerfulnarcotic，butIfoundoutatthetimeIspeakofthatgreatsurpriseisalsoadiuretic。Imakethisdiscoveryovertothedoctors，itispossiblethatsomelearnedmanmaymakeuseofittosolacetheillsofhumanity。IrememberlaughingveryheartilyatPraguesixyearsago，onlearningthatsomethin—skinnedladies，onreadingmyflightfromTheLeads，whichwaspublishedatthatdate，tookgreatoffenceattheaboveaccount，whichtheythoughtIshouldhavedonewelltoleaveout。Ishouldhaveleftitout，perhaps，inspeakingtoalady，butthepublicisnotaprettywomanwhomIamintentoncajoling，myonlyaimistobeinstructive。Indeed，IseenoimproprietyinthecircumstanceIhavenarrated，whichisascommontomenandwomenaseatinganddrinking；

andifthereisanythinginittoshocktoosensitivenerves，itisthatweresembleinthisrespectthecowsandpigs。

Itisprobablethatjustasmyoverwhelmedsoulgavesignsofitsfailingstrengthbythelossofthethinkingfaculty，somybodydistilledagreatpartofthosefluidswhichbytheircontinualcirculationsetthethinkingfacultyinmotion。Thusasuddenshockmightcauseinstantaneousdeath，andsendonetoParadisebyacutmuchtooshort。

Incourseoftimethecaptainofthemen—at—armscametotellmethathewasunderorderstotakemeundertheLeads。WithoutawordI

followedhim。Wewentbygondola，andafterathousandturningsamongthesmallcanalswegotintotheGrandCanal，andlandedattheprisonquay。AfterclimbingseveralflightsofstairswecrossedaclosedbridgewhichformsthecommunicationbetweentheprisonsandtheDoge’spalace，crossingthecanalcalledRiodiPalazzo。Ontheothersideofthisbridgethereisagallerywhichwetraversed。Wethencrossedoneroom，andenteredanother，wheresatanindividualinthedressofanoble，who，afterlookingfixedlyatme，said，"Equello，metteteloindeposito:"

ThismanwasthesecretaryoftheInquisitors，theprudentDominicCavalli，whowasapparentlyashamedtospeakVenetianinmypresenceashepronouncedmydoomintheTuscanlanguage。

Messer—GrandethenmademeovertothewardenofTheLeads，whostoodbywithanenormousbunchofkeys，andaccompaniedbytwoguards，mademeclimbtwoshortflightsofstairs，atthetopofwhichfollowedapassageandthenanothergallery，attheendofwhichheopenedadoor，andIfoundmyselfinadirtygarret，thirty—sixfeetlongbytwelvebroad，badlylightedbyawindowhighupintheroof。

Ithoughtthisgarretwasmyprison，butIwasmistaken；for，takinganenormouskey，thegaoleropenedathickdoorlinedwithiron，threeandahalffeethigh，witharoundholeinthemiddle，eightinchesindiameter，justasIwaslookingintentlyatanironmachine。Thismachinewaslikeahorseshoe，aninchthickandaboutfiveinchesacrossfromoneendtotheother。Iwasthinkingwhatcouldbetheusetowhichthishorribleinstrumentwasput，whenthegaolersaid，withasmile，"Isee，sir，thatyouwishtoknowwhatthatisfor，andasithappensIcansatisfyyourcuriosity。Whentheirexcellenciesgiveordersthatanyoneistobestrangled，heismadetositdownonastool，thebackturnedtothiscollar，andhisheadissoplacedthatthecollargoesroundonehalfoftheneck。Asilkband，whichgoesroundtheotherhalf，passesthroughthishole，andthetwoendsareconnectedwiththeaxleofawheelwhichisturnedbysomeoneuntiltheprisonergivesuptheghost，fortheconfessor，Godbethanked！

neverleaveshimtillheisdead。"

"Allthissoundsveryingenious，andIshouldthinkthatitisyouwhohavethehonourofturningthewheel。"

Hemadenoanswer，andsigningtometoenter，whichIdidbybendingdouble，heshutmeup，andafterwardsaskedmethroughthegratedholewhatIwouldliketoeat。

"Ihaven’tthoughtanythingaboutityet，"Ianswered。Andhewentaway，lockingallthedoorscarefullybehindhim。

Stunnedwithgrief，Ileantmyelbowsonthetopofthegrating。Itwascrossed，bysixironbarsaninchthick，whichformedsixteensquareholes。Thisopeningwouldhavelightedmycell，ifasquarebeamsupportingtheroofwhichjoinedthewallbelowthewindowhadnotinterceptedwhatlittlelightcameintothathorridgarret。

Aftermakingthetourofmysadabode，myheadlowered，asthecellwasnotmorethanfiveandahalffeethigh，Ifoundbygropingalongthatitformedthree—quartersofasquareoftwelvefeet。Thefourthquarterwasakindofrecess，whichwouldhaveheldabed；buttherewasneitherbed，nortable，norchair，noranyfurniturewhatever，exceptabucket——theuseofwhichmaybeguessed，andabenchfixedinthewallafootwideandfourfeetfromtheground。OnitI

placedmycloak，myfinesuit，andmyhattrimmedwithSpanishpaintandadornedwithabeautifulwhitefeather。Theheatwasgreat，andmyinstinctmademegomechanicallytothegrating，theonlyplacewhereIcouldleanonmyelbows。Icouldnotseethewindow，butI

sawthelightinthegarret，andratsofafearfulsize，whichwalkedunconcernedlyaboutit；thesehorriblecreaturescomingcloseundermygratingwithoutshewingtheslightestfear。AtthesightoftheseIhastenedtocloseuptheroundholeinthemiddleofthedoorwithaninsideshutter，foravisitfromoneoftheratswouldhavefrozenmyblood。Ipassedeighthoursinsilenceandwithoutstirring，myarmsallthetimecrossedonthetopofthegrating。

Atlasttheclockrousedmefrommyreverie，andIbegantofeelrestlessthatnoonecametogivemeanythingtoeatortobringmeabedwhereontosleep。Ithoughttheymightatleastletmehaveachairandsomebreadandwater。Ihadnoappetite，certainly；butweremygaolerstoguessasmuch？AndneverinmylifehadIbeensothirsty。Iwasquitesure，however，thatsomebodywouldcomebeforethecloseoftheday；butwhenIheardeighto’clockstrikeIbecamefurious，knockingatthedoor，stampingmyfeet，frettingandfuming，andaccompanyingthisuselesshubbubwithloudcries。Aftermorethananhourofthiswildexercise，seeingnoone，withouttheslightestreasontothinkIcouldbeheard，andshroudedindarkness，Ishutthegratingforfearoftherats，andthrewmyselfatfulllengthuponthefloor。Socrueladesertionseemedtomeunnatural，andIcametotheconclusionthattheInquisitorshadswornmydeath。

MyinvestigationastowhatIhaddonetodeservesuchafatewasnotalongone，forinthemostscrupulousexaminationofmyconductI

couldfindnocrimes。Iwas，itistrue，aprofligate，agambler，aboldtalker，amanwhothoughtoflittlebesidesenjoyingthispresentlife，butinallthattherewasnooffenceagainstthestate。

Nevertheless，findingmyselftreatedasacriminal，rageanddespairmademeexpressmyselfagainstthehorribledespotismwhichoppressedmeinamannerwhichIwillleavemyreaderstoguess，butwhichI

willnotrepeathere。Butnotwithstandingmybriefandanxiety，thehungerwhichbegantomakeitselffelt，andthethirstwhichtormentedme，andthehardnessoftheboardsonwhichIlay，didnotpreventexhaustednaturefromreassertingherrights；Ifellasleep。

Mystrongconstitutionwasinneedofsleep；andinayoungandhealthysubjectthisimperiousnecessitysilencesallothers，andinthiswayaboveallissleeprightlytermedthebenefactorofman。

Theclockstrikingmidnightawokeme。Howsadistheawakingwhenitmakesoneregretone’semptydreams。IcouldscarcelybelievethatI

hadspentthreepainlesshours。AsIlayonmyleftside，I

stretchedoutmyrighthandtogetmyhandkerchief，whichI

rememberedputtingonthatside。Ifeltaboutforit，when——heavens！

whatwasmysurprisetofeelanotherhandascoldasice。Thefrightsentanelectricshockthroughme，andmyhairbegantostandonend。

NeverhadIbeensoalarmed，norshouldIhavepreviouslythoughtmyselfcapableofexperiencingsuchterror。Ipassedthreeorfourminutesinakindofswoon，notonlymotionlessbutincapableofthinking。AsIgotbackmysensesbydegrees，ItriedtomakemyselfbelievethatthehandIfanciedIhadtouchedwasamerecreatureofmydisorderedimagination；andwiththisideaIstretchedoutmyhandagain，andagainwiththesameresult。Benumbedwithfright，I

utteredapiercingcry，and，droppingthehandIheld，Idrewbackmyarm，tremblingallover:

Soon，asIgotalittlecalmerandmorecapableofreasoning，I

concludedthatacorpsehadbeenplacedbesidemewhilstIslept，forIwascertainitwasnottherewhenIlaydown。

"This，"saidI，"isthebodyofsomestrangledwretch，andtheywouldthuswarnmeofthefatewhichisinstoreforme。"

Thethoughtmaddenedme；andmyfeargivingplacetorage，forthethirdtimeIstretchedmyarmtowardstheicyhand，seizingittomakecertainofthefactinallitsatrocity，andwishingtogetup，Iroseuponmyleftelbow，andfoundthatIhadgotholdofmyotherhand。Deadenedbytheweightofmybodyandthehardnessoftheboards，ithadlostwarmth，motion，andallsensation。

Inspiteofthehumorousfeaturesinthisincident，itdidnotcheermeup，but，onthecontrary，inspiredmewiththedarkestfancies。I

sawthatIwasinaplacewhere，ifthefalseappearedtrue，thetruthmightappearfalse，whereunderstandingwasbereavedofhalfitsprerogatives，wheretheimaginationbecomingaffectedwouldeithermakethereasonavictimtoemptyhopesortodarkdespair。I

resolvedtobeonmyguard；andforthefirsttimeinmylife，attheageofthirty，Icalledphilosophytomyassistance。Ihadwithinmealltheseedsofphilosophy，butsofarIhadhadnoneedforit。

Iamconvincedthatmostmendiewithouteverhavingthought，inthepropersenseoftheword，notsomuchforwantofwitorofgoodsense，butratherbecausetheshocknecessarytothereasoningfacultyinitsinceptionhasneveroccurredtothemtoliftthemoutoftheirdailyhabits。

AfterwhatIhadexperienced，Icouldthinkofsleepnomore，andtogetupwouldhavebeenuselessasIcouldnotstandupright，soI

tooktheonlysensiblecourseandremainedseated。Isatthustillfouro’clockinthemorning，thesunwouldriseatfive，andIlongedtoseetheday，forapresentimentwhichIheldinfallibletoldmethatitwouldsetmeagainatliberty。Iwasconsumedwithadesireforrevenge，nordidIconcealitfrommyself。Isawmyselfattheheadofthepeople，abouttoexterminatetheGovernmentwhichhadoppressedme；Imassacredallthearistocratswithoutpity；allmustbeshatteredandbroughttothedust。Iwasdelirious；Iknewtheauthorsofmymisfortune，andinmyfancyIdestroyedthem。I

restoredthenaturalrightcommontoallmenofbeingobedientonlytothelaw，andofbeingtriedonlybytheirpeersandbylawstowhichtheyhaveagreed—inshort，IbuiltcastlesinSpain。Suchismanwhenhehasbecomethepreyofadevouringpassion。Hedoesnotsuspectthattheprinciplewhichmoveshimisnotreasonbutwrath，itsgreatestenemy。

IwaitedforalesstimethanIhadexpected，andthusIbecamealittlemorequiet。Athalf—pastfourthedeadlysilenceoftheplace——thishelloftheliving——wasbrokenbytheshriekofboltsbeingshotbackinthepassagesleadingtomycell。

"Haveyouhadtimeyettothinkaboutwhatyouwilltaketoeat？"

saidtheharshvoiceofmygaolerfromthewicket。

Oneisluckywhentheinsolenceofawretchlikethisonlyshewsitselfintheguiseofjesting。IansweredthatIshouldlikesomericesoup，apieceofboiledbeef，aroast，bread，wine，andwater。

Isawthattheloutwasastonishednottohearthelamentationsheexpected。HewentawayandcamebackagaininaquarterofanhourtosaythathewasastonishedIdidnotrequireabedandthenecessarypiecesoffurniture，"for"saidhe，"ifyouflatteryourselfthatyouareonlyhereforanight，youareverymuchmistaken。"

"Thenbringmewhateveryouthinknecessary。"

"WhereshallIgoforit？Hereisapencilandpaper；writeitdown。"

Iskewedhimbywritingwheretogoformyshirts，stockings，andclothesofallsorts，abed，table，chair，thebookswhichMesser—

Grandehadconfiscated，paper，pens，andsoforth。Onmyreadingoutthelisttohim（theloutdidnotknowhowtoread）hecried，"Scratchout，"saidhe，"scratchoutbooks，paper，pens，looking—

glassandrazors，forallthatisforbiddenfruithere，andthengivemesomemoneytogetyourdinner。"IhadthreesequinssoIgavehimone，andhewentoff。Hespentanhourinthepassagesengaged，asI

learntafterwards，inattendingonsevenotherprisonerswhowereimprisonedincellsplacedfarapartfromeachothertopreventallcommunication。

Aboutnoonthegaolerreappearedfollowedbyfiveguards，whosedutyitwastoservethestateprisoners。Heopened:thecelldoortobringinmydinnerandthefurnitureIhadaskedfor。Thebedwasplacedintherecess；mydinnerwaslaidoutonasmalltable，andI

hadtoeatwithanivoryspoonhehadprocuredoutofthemoneyIhadgivenhim；allforks，knives，andedgedtoolsbeingforbidden。

"Tellmewhatyouwouldlikeforto—morrow，"saidhe，"forIcanonlycomehereonceadayatsunrise。TheLordHighSecretaryhastoldmetoinformyouthathewillsendyousomesuitablebooks，butthoseyouwishforareforbidden。"

"Thankhimforhiskindnessinputtingmebymyself。"

"Iwilldoso，butyoumakeamistakeinjestingthus。"

"Idon’tjestatall，forIthinktrulythatitismuchbettertobealonethantominglewiththescoundrelswhoaredoubtlesshere。"

"What，sir！scoundrels？Notatall，notatall。Theyareonlyrespectablepeoplehere，who，forreasonsknowntotheirexcellenciesalone，havetobesequesteredfromsociety。Youhavebeenputbyyourselfasanadditionalpunishment，andyouwantmetothankthesecretaryonthataccount？"

"Iwasnotawareofthat。"

Thefoolwasright，andIsoonfounditout。Idiscoveredthatamanimprisonedbyhimselfcanhavenooccupations。Aloneinagloomycellwhereheonlyseesthefellowwhobringshisfoodonceaday，wherehecannotwalkupright，heisthemostwretchedofmen。Hewouldliketobeinhell，ifhebelievesinit，forthesakeofthecompany。SostrongafeelingisthisthatIgottodesirethecompanyofamurderer，ofonestrickenwiththeplague，orofabear。

Thelonelinessbehindtheprisonbarsisterrible，butitmustbelearntbyexperiencetobeunderstood，andsuchanexperienceIwouldnotwisheventomyenemies。Toamanoflettersinmysituation，paperandinkwouldtakeawaynine—tenthsofthetorture，butthewretcheswhopersecutedmedidnotdreamofgrantingmesuchanalleviationofmymisery。

Afterthegaolerhadgone，Isetmytablenearthegratingforthesakeofthelight，andsatdowntodinner，butIcouldonlyswallowafewspoonfulsofsoup。Havingfastedfornearlyforty—eighthours，itwasnotsurprisingthatIfeltill。Ipassedthedayquietlyenoughseatedonmysofa，andproposingmyselftoreadthe"suitablebooks"whichtheyhadbeengoodenoughtopromiseme。Ididnotshutmyeyesthewholenight，keptawakebythehideousnoisemadebytherats，andbythedeafeningchimeoftheclockofSt。Mark’s，whichseemedtobestrikinginmyroom。Thisdoublevexationwasnotmychieftrouble，andIdaresaymanyofmyreaderswillguesswhatIamgoingtospeakof—namely，themyriadsoffleaswhichheldhighholidayoverme。Thesesmallinsectsdrankmybloodwithunutterablevoracity，theirincessantbitesgavemespasmodicconvulsionsandpoisonedmyblood。

Atday—break，Lawrence（suchwasthegaoler’sname）cametomycellandhadmybedmade，andtheroomsweptandcleansed，andoneoftheguardsgavemewaterwherewithtowashmyself。Iwantedtotakeawalkinthegarret，butLawrencetoldmethatwasforbidden。HegavemetwothickbookswhichIforboretoopen，notbeingquitesureofrepressingthewrathwithwhichtheymightinspireme，andwhichthespywouldhaveinfalliblyreportedtohismasters。Afterleavingmemyfodderandtwocutlemonshewentaway。

AssoonasIwasaloneIatemysoupinahurry，soastotakeithot，andthenIdrewasnearasIcouldtothelightwithoneofthebooks，andwasdelightedtofindthatIcouldseetoread。Ilookedatthetitle，andread，"TheMysticalCityofSisterMaryofJesus，ofAgrada。"Ihadneverheardofit。TheotherbookwasbyaJesuitnamedCaravita。Thisfellow，ahypocriteliketherestofthem，hadinventedanewcultofthe"AdorationoftheSacredHeartofourLordJesusChrist。"This，accordingtotheauthor，wasthepartofourDivineRedeemer，whichaboveallothersshouldbeadoredacuriousideaofabesottedignoramus，withwhichIgotdisgustedatthefirstpage，fortomythinkingtheheartisnomoreworthyapartthanthelungs，stomach；oranyotheroftheinwards。The"MysticalCity"

ratherinterestedme。

IreadinitthewildconceptionsofaSpanishnun，devouttosuperstition，melancholy，shutinbyconventwalls，andswayedbytheignoranceandbigotryofherconfessors。Allthesegrotesque，monstrous，andfantasticvisionsofhersweredignifiedwiththenameofrevelations。Theloverandbosom—friendoftheHolyVirgin，shehadreceivedinstructionsfromGodHimselftowritethelifeofHisdivinemother；thenecessaryinformationwasfurnishedherbytheHolyGhost。

ThislifeofMarybegan，notwiththedayofherbirth，butwithherimmaculateconceptioninthewombofAnne，hermother。ThisSisterMaryofAgradawastheheadofaFranciscanconventfoundedbyherselfinherownhouse。Aftertellingindetailallthedeedsofherdivineheroinewhilstinhermother’swomb，sheinformsusthatattheageofthreeshesweptandcleansedthehousewiththeassistanceofninehundredservants，allofwhomwereangelswhomGodhadplacedatherdisposal，underthecommandofMichael，whocameandwentbetweenGodandherselftoconducttheirmutualcorrespondence。

Whatstrikesthejudiciousreaderofthebookistheevidentbeliefofthemorethanfanaticalwriterthatnothingisduetoherinvention；everythingistoldingoodfaithandwithfullbelief。

Theworkcontainsthedreamsofavisionary，who，withoutvanitybutinebriatedwiththeideaofGod，thinkstorevealonlytheinspirationsoftheDivineSpirit。

ThebookwaspublishedwiththepermissionoftheveryholyandveryhorribleInquisition。Icouldnotrecoverfrommyastonishment！Farfromitsstirringupinmybreastaholyandsimplezealofreligion，itinclinedmetotreatallthemysticaldogmasoftheFaithasfabulous。

Suchwor