第33章

“Whathasbefallenme？”murmuredBeatrice，withalowmoanoutof

herheart。“HolyVirginpityme，apoorheartbrokenchild！”

“Thou！Dostthoupray？”criedGiovanni，stillwiththesame

fiendishscorn。“Thyveryprayers，astheycomefromthylips，taint

theatmospherewithdeath。Yes，yes；letuspray！Letustochurch，

anddipourfingersintheholywaterattheportal！Theythatcome

afteruswillperishasbyapestilence。Letussigncrossesinthe

air！Itwillbescatteringcursesabroadinthelikenessofholy

symbols！”

“Giovanni。”saidBeatricecalmly，forhergriefwasbeyondpassion，

“Whydostthoujointhyselfwithmethusinthoseterriblewords？I，

itistrue，amthehorriblethingthounamestme。Butthou！what

hastthoutodo，savewithoneothershudderatmyhideousmisery，

togoforthoutofthegardenandminglewiththyrace，andforget

thatthereevercrawledonearthsuchamonsteraspoorBeatrice？”

“Dostthoupretendignorance？”askedGiovanni，scowlinguponher。

“Behold！ThispowerhaveIgainedfromthepuredaughterof

Rappaccini！”

Therewasaswarmofsummer-insectsflittingthroughtheair，in

searchofthefoodpromisedbytheflower-odorsofthefatalgarden。

TheycircledroundGiovanni’shead，andwereevidentlyattracted

towardshimbythesameinfluencewhichhaddrawnthem，foran

instant，withinthesphereofseveraloftheshrubs。Hesentfortha

breathamongthem，andsmiledbitterlyatBeatrice，asatleasta

scoreoftheinsectsfelldeadupontheground。

“Iseeit！Iseeit！”shriekedBeatrice。“Itismyfather’sfatal

science？No，no，Giovanni；itwasnotI！Never，never！Idreamed

onlytolovethee，andbewiththeealittletime，andsotolet

theepassaway，leavingbutthineimageinmineheart。For，

Giovanni-believeit-thoughmybodybenourishedwithpoison，my

spiritisGod’screature，andcravesloveasitsdailyfood。Butmy

father！hehasunitedusinthisfearfulsympathy。Yes；spurnme！

treaduponme！killme！Oh，whatisdeath，aftersuchwordsas

thine？ButitwasnotI！NotforaworldofblisswouldIhavedone

it！”

Giovanni’spassionhadexhausteditselfinitsoutburstfromhis

lips。Therenowcameacrosshimasense，mournful，andnotwithout

tenderness，oftheintimateandpeculiarrelationshipbetweenBeatrice

andhimself。Theystood，asitwere，inanuttersolitude，whichwould

bemadenonethelesssolitarybythedensestthrongofhumanlife。

Oughtnot，then，thedesertofhumanityaroundthemtopressthis

insulatedpairclosertogether？Iftheyshouldbecrueltoone

another，whowastheretobekindtothem？Besides，thought

Giovanni，mighttherenotstillbeahopeofhisreturningwithin

thelimitsofordinarynature，andleadingBeatrice-theredeemed

Beatrice-bythehand？Oh，weak，andselfish，andunworthyspirit，

thatcoulddreamofanearthlyunionandearthlyhappinessas

possible，aftersuchdeeplovehadbeensobitterlywrongedaswas

Beatrice’slovebyGiovanni’sblightingwords！No，no；therecould

benosuchhope。Shemustpassheavily，withthatbrokenheart，across

theborders-shemustbatheherhurtsinsomefountofParadise，and

forgethergriefinthelightofimmortality-andtherebewell！

ButGiovannididnotknowit。

“DearBeatrice，saidhe，approachingher，whilesheshrankaway，as

alwaysathisapproach，butnowwithadifferentimpulse-“dearest

Beatrice，ourfateisnotyetsodesperate。Behold！Thereisa

medicine，potent，asawisephysicianhasassuredme，andalmost

divineinitsefficacy。Itiscomposedofingredientsthemost

oppositetothosebywhichthyawfulfatherhasbroughtthis

calamityupontheeandme。Itisdistilledofblessedherbs。Shall

wenotquaffittogether，andthusbepurifiedfromevil？”

“Giveitme！”saidBeatrice，extendingherhandtoreceivethe

littlesilverphialwhichGiovannitookfromhisbosom。Sheadded，

withapeculiaremphasis：“Iwilldrink-butdothouawaitthe

result。”

SheputBaglioni’santidotetoherlips；and，atthesamemoment，

thefigureofRappacciniemergedfromtheportal，andcameslowly

towardsthemarblefountain。Ashedrewnear，thepalemanof

scienceseemedtogazewithatriumphantexpressionatthebeautiful

youthandmaiden，asmightanartistwhoshouldspendhislifein

achievingapictureoragroupofstatuary，andfinallybesatisfied

withhissuccess。Hepaused-hisbentformgrewerectwithconscious

power，hespreadouthishandoverthem，intheattitudeofafather

imploringablessinguponhischildren。Butthosewerethesame

handsthathadthrownpoisonintothestreamoftheirlives！

Giovannitrembled。Beatriceshudderedverynervously，andpressed

herhanduponherheart。

“Mydaughter。”saidRappaccini，“thouartnolongerlonelyinthe