第9章

Ambitionintheregionsofadespoticandluxuriouscourtwasbutthecontestofflatteryandcraft。Avaricehadbecomethesoleambition——mendesiredpraetorshipsandprovincesonlyasthelicensetopillage，andgovernmentwasbuttheexcuseofrapine。Itisinsmallstatesthatgloryismostactiveandpure——themoreconfinedthelimitsofthecircle，themoreardentthepatriotism。Insmallstates，opinionisconcentratedandstrong——everyeyereadsyouractions——yourpublicmotivesareblendedwithyourprivateties——everyspotinyournarrowsphereiscrowdedwithformsfamiliarsinceyourchildhood——theapplauseofyourcitizensislikethecaressesofyourfriends。Butinlargestates，thecityisbutthecourt：

theprovinces——unknowntoyou，unfamiliarincustoms，perhapsinlanguage——havenoclaimonyourpatriotism，theancestryoftheirinhabitantsisnotyours。Inthecourtyoudesirefavorinsteadofglory；

atadistancefromthecourt，publicopinionhasvanishedfromyou，andself—interesthasnocounterpoise。

Italy，Italy，whileIwrite，yourskiesareoverme——yourseasflowbeneathmyfeet，listennottotheblindpolicywhichwoulduniteallyourcrestedcities，mourningfortheirrepublics，intooneempire；false，perniciousdelusion！youronlyhopeofregenerationisindivision。Florence，Milan，Venice，Genoa，maybefreeoncemore，ifeachisfree。Butdreamnotoffreedomforthewholewhileyouenslavetheparts；theheartmustbethecentreofthesystem，thebloodmustcirculatefreelyeverywhere；andinvastcommunitiesyoubeholdbutabloatedandfeeblegiant，whosebrainisimbecile，whoselimbsaredead，andwhopaysindiseaseandweaknessthepenaltyoftranscendingthenaturalproportionsofhealthandvigour。

Thusthrownbackuponthemselves，themoreardentqualitiesofGlaucusfoundnovent，saveinthatoverflowingimaginationwhichgavegracetopleasure，andpoetrytothought。Easewaslessdespicablethancontentionwithparasitesandslaves，andluxurycouldyetberefinedthoughambitioncouldnotbeennobled。ButallthatwasbestandbrightestinhissoulwokeatoncewhenheknewIone。Herewasanempire，worthyofdemigodstoattain；

herewasaglory，whichthereekingsmokeofafoulsocietycouldnotsoilordim。Love，ineverytime，ineverystate，canthusfindspaceforitsgoldenaltars。Andtellmeifthereever，evenintheagesmostfavorabletoglory，couldbeatriumphmoreexaltedandelatingthantheconquestofonenobleheart？

Andwhetheritwasthatthissentimentinspiredhim，hisideasglowedmorebrightly，hissoulseemedmoreawakeandmorevisible，inIone’spresence。

Ifnaturaltoloveher，itwasnaturalthatsheshouldreturnthepassion。

Young，brilliant，eloquent，enamoured，andAthenian，hewastoherastheincarnationofthepoetryofherfather’sland。Theywerenotlikecreaturesofaworldinwhichstrifeandsorrowaretheelements；theywerelikethingstobeseenonlyintheholidayofnature，sogloriousandsofreshweretheiryouth，theirbeauty，andtheirlove。Theyseemedoutofplaceintheharshandevery—dayearth；theybelongedofrighttotheSaturnianage，andthedreamsofdemigodandnymph。Itwasasifthepoetryoflifegatheredandfeditselfinthem，andintheirheartswereconcentratedthelastraysofthesunofDelosandofGreece。

ButifIonewasindependentinherchoiceoflife，sowashermodestprideproportionablyvigilantandeasilyalarmed。ThefalsehoodoftheEgyptianwasinventedbyadeepknowledgeofhernature。Thestoryofcoarseness，ofindelicacy，inGlaucus，stunghertothequick。Shefeltitareproachuponhercharacterandhercareer，apunishmentabovealltoherlove；shefelt，forthefirsttime，howsuddenlyshehadyieldedtothatlove；sheblushedwithshameataweakness，theextentofwhichshewasstartledtoperceive：

sheimagineditwasthatweaknesswhichhadincurredthecontemptofGlaucus；sheenduredthebitterestcurseofnoblenatures——humiliation！Yetherlove，perhaps，wasnolessalarmedthanherpride。IfonemomentshemurmuredreproachesuponGlaucus——ifonemomentsherenounced，shealmosthatedhim——atthenextsheburstintopassionatetears，herheartyieldedtoitssoftness，andshesaidinthebitternessofanguish，’Hedespisesme——hedoesnotloveme。’

FromthehourtheEgyptianhadlefthershehadretiredtohermostsecludedchamber，shehadshutoutherhandmaids，shehaddeniedherselftothecrowdsthatbesiegedherdoor。Glaucuswasexcludedwiththerest；hewondered，butheguessednotwhy！HeneverattributedtohisIone——hisqueen——hisgoddess——thatwoman——likecapriceofwhichthelove—poetsofItalysounceasinglycomplain。Heimaginedher，inthemajestyofhercandour，abovealltheartsthattorture。Hewastroubled，buthishopeswerenotdimmed，forheknewalreadythathelovedandwasbeloved；whatmorecouldhedesireasanamuletagainstfear？

Atdeepestnight，then，whenthestreetswerehushed，andthehighmoononlybeheldhisdevotions，hestoletothattempleofhisheart——herhome；andwooedherafterthebeautifulfashionofhiscountry。Hecoveredherthresholdwiththerichestgarlands，inwhicheveryflowerwasavolumeofsweetpassion；andhecharmedthelongsummernightwiththesoundoftheLydianlute：andverses，whichtheinspirationofthemomentsufficedtoweave。

Butthewindowaboveopenednot；nosmilemadeyetmoreholytheshiningairofnight。Allwasstillanddark。Heknewnotifhisversewaswelcomeandhissuitwasheard。

YetIonesleptnot，nordisdainedtohear。Thosesoftstrainsascendedtoherchamber；theysoothed，theysubduedher。Whileshelistened，shebelievednothingagainstherlover；butwhentheywerestilledatlast，andhisstepdeparted，thespellceased；and，inthebitternessofhersoul，shealmostconceivedinthatdelicateflatteryanewaffront。

Isaidshewasdeniedtoall；buttherewasoneexception，therewasonepersonwhowouldnotbedenied，assumingoverheractionsandherhousesomethingliketheauthorityofaparent；Arbaces，forhimself，claimedanexemptionfromalltheceremoniesobservedbyothers。Heenteredthethresholdwiththelicenseofonewhofeelsthatheisprivilegedandathome。Hemadehiswaytohersolitudeandwiththatsortofquietandunapologeticairwhichseemedtoconsidertherightasathingofcourse。

WithalltheindependenceofIone’scharacter，hishearthadenabledhimtoobtainasecretandpowerfulcontroloverhermind。Shecouldnotshakeitoff；sometimesshedesiredtodoso；butsheneveractivelystruggledagainstit。Shewasfascinatedbyhisserpenteye。Hearrested，hecommandedher，bythemagicofamindlongaccustomedtoaweandtosubdue。

Utterlyunawareofhisrealcharacterorhishiddenlove，shefeltforhimthereverencewhichgeniusfeelsforwisdom，andvirtueforsanctity。Sheregardedhimasoneofthosemightysagesofold，whoattainedtothemysteriesofknowledgebyanexemptionfromthepassionsoftheirkind。Shescarcelyconsideredhimasabeing，likeherself，oftheearth，butasanoracleatoncedarkandsacred。Shedidnotlovehim，butshefeared。Hispresencewasunwelcometoher；itdimmedherspiriteveninitsbrightestmood；heseemed，withhischillingandloftyaspect，likesomeeminencewhichcastsashadowoverthesun。Butsheneverthoughtofforbiddinghisvisits。Shewaspassiveundertheinfluencewhichcreatedinherbreast，nottherepugnance，butsomethingofthestillnessofterror。

Arbaceshimselfnowresolvedtoexertallhisartstopossesshimselfofthattreasurehesoburninglycoveted。Hewascheeredandelatedbyhisconquestsoverherbrother。FromthehourinwhichApaecidesfellbeneaththevoluptuoussorceryofthatfetewhichwehavedescribed，hefelthisempireovertheyoungpriesttriumphantandinsured。Heknewthatthereisnovictimsothoroughlysubduedasayoungandferventmanforthefirsttimedeliveredtothethraldomofthesenses。

WhenApaecidesrecovered，withthemorninglight，fromtheprofoundsleepwhichsucceededtothedeliriumofwonderandofpleasure，hewas，itistrue，ashamed——terrified——appalled。Hisvowsofausterityandcelibacyechoedinhisear；histhirstafterholiness——haditbeenquenchedatsounhallowedastream？ButArbacesknewwellthemeansbywhichtoconfirmhisconquest。Fromtheartsofpleasureheledtheyoungpriestatoncetothoseofhismysteriouswisdom。HebaredtohisamazedeyestheinitiatorysecretsofthesombrephilosophyoftheNile——thosesecretspluckedfromthestars，andthewildchemistry，which，inthosedays，whenReasonherselfwasbutthecreatureofImagination，mightwellpassfortheloreofadivinermagic。Heseemedtotheyoungeyesofthepriestasabeingabovemortality，andendowedwithsupernaturalgifts。Thatyearningandintensedesirefortheknowledgewhichisnotofearth——whichhadburnedfromhisboyhoodintheheartofthepriest——wasdazzled，untilitconfusedandmasteredhisclearersense。Hegavehimselftotheartwhichthusaddressedatoncethetwostrongestofhumanpassions，thatofpleasureandthatofknowledge。Hewaslothtobelievethatonesowisecoulderr，thatonesoloftycouldstooptodeceive。Entangledinthedarkwebofmetaphysicalmoralities，hecaughtattheexcusebywhichtheEgyptianconvertedviceintoavirtue。HispridewasinsensiblyflatteredthatArbaceshaddeignedtorankhimwithhimself，tosethimapartfromthelawswhichboundthevulgar，tomakehimanaugustparticipator，bothinthemysticstudiesandthemagicfascinationsoftheEgyptian’ssolitude。ThepureandsternlessonsofthatcreedtowhichOlinthushadsoughttomakehimconvert，weresweptawayfromhismemorybythedelugeofnewpassions。AndtheEgyptian，whowasversedinthearticlesofthattruefaith，andwhosoonlearnedfromhispupiltheeffectwhichhadbeenproduceduponhimbyitsbelievers，sought，notunskilfully，toundothateffect，byatoneofreasoning，half—sarcasticandhalf—earnest。

’Thisfaith，’saidhe，’isbutaborrowedplagiarismfromoneofthemanyallegoriesinventedbyourpriestsofold。Observe，’headded，pointingtoahieroglyphicalscroll——’observeintheseancientfigurestheoriginoftheChristian’sTrinity。Herearealsothreegods——theDeity，theSpirit，andtheSon。Observe，thattheepithetoftheSonis"Saviour"——observe，thatthesignbywhichhishumanqualitiesaredenotedisthecross。’Notehere，too，themystichistoryofOsiris，howheputondeath；howhelayinthegrave；andhow，thusfulfillingasolemnatonement，heroseagainfromthedead！Inthesestorieswebutdesigntopaintanallegoryfromtheoperationsofnatureandtheevolutionsoftheeternalheavens。Buttheallegoryunknown，thetypesthemselveshavefurnishedtocredulousnationsthematerialsofmanycreeds。TheyhavetravelledtothevastplainsofIndia；theyhavemixedthemselvesupinthevisionaryspeculationsoftheGreek；becomingmoreandmoregrossandembodied，astheyemergefartherfromtheshadowsoftheirantiqueorigin，theyhaveassumedahumanandpalpableforminthisnovelfaith；andthebelieversofGalileearebuttheunconsciousrepeatersofoneofthesuperstitionsoftheNile！’

Thiswasthelastargumentwhichcompletelysubduedthepriest。Itwasnecessarytohim，astoall，tobelieveinsomething；andundividedand，atlast，unreluctant，hesurrenderedhimselftothatbeliefwhichArbacesinculcated，andwhichallthatwashumaninpassion——allthatwasflatteringinvanity——allthatwasalluringinpleasure，servedtoinviteto，andcontributedtoconfirm。

Thisconquest，thuseasilymade，theEgyptiancouldnowgivehimselfwhollyuptothepursuitofafardearerandmightierobject；andhehailed，inhissuccesswiththebrother，anomenofhistriumphoverthesister。

HehadseenIoneonthedayfollowingtherevelwehavewitnessed；andwhichwasalsothedayafterhehadpoisonedhermindagainsthisrival。Thenextday，andthenext，hesawheralso：andeachtimehelaidhimselfoutwithconsummateart，partlytoconfirmherimpressionagainstGlaucus，andprincipallytoprepareherfortheimpressionshedesiredhertoreceive。

TheproudIonetookcaretoconcealtheanguishsheendured；andtheprideofwomanhasanhypocrisywhichcandeceivethemostpenetrating，andshamethemostastute。ButArbaceswasnolesscautiousnottorecurtoasubjectwhichhefeltitwasmostpolitictotreatasofthelightestimportance。

Heknewthatbydwellingmuchuponthefaultofarival，youonlygivehimdignityintheeyesofyourmistress：thewisestplanis，neitherloudlytohate，norbitterlytocontemn；thewisestplanistolowerhimbyanindifferenceoftone，asifyoucouldnotdreamthathecouldbeloved。

Yoursafetyisinconcealingthewoundtoyourownpride，andimperceptiblyalarmingthatoftheumpire，whosevoiceisfate！Such，inalltimes，willbethepolicyofonewhoknowsthescienceofthesex——itwasnowtheEgyptian’s。

Herecurrednomore，then，tothepresumptionofGlaucus；hementionedhisname，butnotmoreoftenthanthatofClodiusorofLepidus。Heaffectedtoclassthemtogetherasthingsofalowandephemeralspecies；asthingswantingnothingofthebutterfly，saveitsinnocenceanditsgrace。

Sometimesheslightlyalludedtosomeinventeddebauch，inwhichhedeclaredthemcompanions；sometimesheadvertedtothemastheantipodesofthoseloftyandspiritualnatures，towhoseorderthatofIonebelonged。BlindedalikebytheprideofIone，and，perhaps，byhisown，hedreamednotthatshealreadyloved；buthedreadedlestshemighthaveformedforGlaucusthefirstflutteringprepossessionsthatleadtolove。And，secretly，hegroundhisteethinrageandjealousy，whenhereflectedontheyouth，thefascinations，andthebrilliancyofthatformidablerivalwhomhepretendedtoundervalue。

Itwasonthefourthdayfromthedateofthecloseofthepreviousbook，thatArbacesandIonesattogether。

’Youwearyourveilathome，’saidtheEgyptian；’thatisnotfairtothosewhomyouhonourwithyourfriendship。’

’ButtoArbaces，’answeredIone，who，indeed，hadcasttheveiloverherfeaturestoconcealeyesredwithweeping——’toArbaces，wholooksonlytothemind，whatmattersitthatthefaceisconcealed？’

’Idolookonlytothemind，’repliedtheEgyptian：’showmethenyourface——forthereIshallseeit。’

’YougrowgallantintheairofPompeii，’saidIone，withaforcedtoneofgaiety。

’Doyouthink，fairIone，thatitisonlyatPompeiithatIhavelearnedtovalueyou？’TheEgyptian’svoicetrembled——hepausedforamoment，andthenresumed。

’Thereisalove，beautifulGreek，whichisnottheloveonlyofthethoughtlessandtheyoung——thereisalovewhichseesnotwiththeeyes，whichhearsnotwiththeears；butinwhichsoulisenamouredofsoul。Thecountrymanofthyancestors，thecave—nursedPlato，dreamedofsuchalove——hisfollowershavesoughttoimitateit；butitisalovethatisnotfortheherdtoecho——itisalovethatonlyhighandnoblenaturescanconceive——ithathnothingincommonwiththesympathiesandtiesofcoarseaffection——wrinklesdonotrevoltit——homelinessoffeaturedoesnotdeter；

itasksyouth，itistrue，butitasksitonlyinthefreshnessoftheemotions；itasksbeauty，itistrue，butitisthebeautyofthethoughtandofthespirit。Suchisthelove，OIone，whichisaworthyofferingtotheefromthecoldandtheaustere。Austereandcoldthoudeemestme——suchisthelovethatIventuretolayuponthyshrine——thoucanstreceiveitwithoutablush。’

’Anditsnameisfriendship！’repliedIone：heranswerwasinnocent，yetitsoundedlikethereproofofoneconsciousofthedesignofthespeaker。

’Friendship！’saidArbaces，vehemently。’No；thatisawordtoooftenprofanedtoapplytoasentimentsosacred。Friendship！itisatiethatbindsfoolsandprofligates！Friendship！itisthebondthatunitesthefrivolousheartsofaGlaucusandaClodius！Friendship！no，thatisanaffectionofearth，ofvulgarhabitsandsordidsympathies；thefeelingofwhichIspeakisborrowedfromthestars’——itpartakesofthatmysticandineffableyearning，whichwefeelwhenwegazeonthem——itburns，yetitpurifies——itisthelampofnaphthainthealabastervase，glowingwithfragrantodorous，butshiningonlythroughthepurestvessels。No；itisnotlove，anditisnotfriendship，thatArbacesfeelsforIone。Giveitnoname——earthhasnonameforit——itisnotofearth——whydebaseitwithearthlyepithetsandearthlyassociations？’

NeverbeforehadArbacesventuredsofar，yethefelthisgroundstepbystep：heknewthatheutteredalanguagewhich，ifatthisdayofaffectedplatonismsitwouldspeakunequivocallytotheearsofbeauty，wasatthattimestrangeandunfamiliar，towhichnopreciseideacouldbeattached，fromwhichhecouldimperceptiblyadvanceorrecede，asoccasionsuited，ashopeencouragedorfeardeterred。Ionetrembled，thoughsheknewnotwhy；

herveilhidherfeatures，andmaskedanexpression，which，ifseenbytheEgyptian，wouldhaveatoncedampedandenragedhim；infact，heneverwasmoredispleasingtoher——theharmoniousmodulationofthemostsuasivevoicethateverdisguisedunhallowedthoughtfelldiscordantlyonherear。HerwholesoulwasstillfilledwiththeimageofGlaucus；andtheaccentoftendernessfromanotheronlyrevoltedanddismayed；yetshedidnotconceivethatanypassionmoreardentthanthatplatonismwhichArbacesexpressedlurkedbeneathhiswords。Shethoughtthathe，intruth，spokeonlyoftheaffectionandsympathyofthesoul；butwasitnotpreciselythataffectionandthatsympathywhichhadmadeapartofthoseemotionsshefeltforGlaucus；andcouldanyotherfootstepthanhisapproachthehauntedadytumofherheart？

Anxiousatoncetochangetheconversation，shereplied，therefore，withacoldandindifferentvoice，’WhomsoeverArbaceshonorswiththesentimentofesteem，itisnaturalthathiselevatedwisdomshouldcolorthatsentimentwithitsownhues；itisnaturalthathisfriendshipshouldbepurerthanthatofothers，whosepursuitsanderrorshedoesnotdeigntoshare。Buttellme，Arbaces，hastthouseenmybrotheroflate？Hehasnotvisitedmeforseveraldays；andwhenIlastsawhimhismannerdisturbedandalarmedmemuch。Ifearlesthewastooprecipitateintheseverechoicethathehasadopted，andthatherepentsanirrevocablestep。’

’Becheered，Ione，’repliedtheEgyptian。’Itistruethat，somelittletimesincehewastroubledandsadofspirit；thosedoubtsbesethimwhichwerelikelytohauntoneofthatferventtemperament，whicheverebbsandflows，andvibratesbetweenexcitementandexhaustion。Buthe，Ione，hecametomehisanxietiesandhisdistress；hesoughtonewhopitiedmeandlovedhim；Ihavecalmedhismind——Ihaveremovedhisdoubts——IhavetakenhimfromthethresholdofWisdomintoitstemple；andbeforethemajestyofthegoddesshissoulishushedandsoothed。Fearnot，hewillrepentnomore；theywhotrustthemselvestoArbacesneverrepentbutforamoment。’

’Yourejoiceme，’answeredIone。’Mydearbrother！inhiscontentmentIamhappy。’

Theconversationthenturneduponlightersubjects；theEgyptianexertedhimselftoplease，hecondescendedeventoentertain；thevastvarietyofhisknowledgeenabledhimtoadornandlightupeverysubjectonwhichhetouched；andIone，forgettingthedispleasingeffectofhisformerwords，wascarriedaway，despitehersadness，bythemagicofhisintellect。Hermannerbecameunrestrainedandherlanguagefluent；andArbaces，whohadwaitedhisopportunity，nowhastenedtoseizeit。

’Youhaveneverseen，’saidhe，’theinteriorofmyhome；itmayamuseyoutodoso：itcontainssomeroomsthatmayexplaintoyouwhatyouhaveoftenaskedmetodescribe——thefashionofanEgyptianhouse；notindeed，thatyouwillperceiveinthepoorandminuteproportionsofRomanarchitecturethemassivestrength，thevastspace，thegiganticmagnificence，oreventhedomesticconstructionofthepalacesofThebesandMemphis；butsomethingthereis，hereandthere，thatmayservetoexpresstoyousomenotionofthatantiquecivilizationwhichhashumanizedtheworld。Devote，then，totheausterefriendofyouryouth，oneofthesebrightsummerevenings，andletmeboastthatmygloomymansionhasbeenhonoredwiththepresenceoftheadmiredIone。’

Unconsciousofthepollutionsofthemansion，ofthedangerthatawaitedher，Ionereadilyassentedtotheproposal。Thenexteveningwasfixedforthevisit；andtheEgyptian，withaserenecountenance，andaheartbeatingwithfierceandunholyjoy，departed。Scarcehadhegone，whenanothervisitorclaimedadmission……ButnowwereturntoGlaucus。

ChapterV

THEPOORTORTOISE。NEWCHANGESFORNYDIA。

THEmorningsunshoneoverthesmallandodorousgardenenclosedwithintheperistyleofthehouseoftheAthenian。Helayreclined，sadandlistlessly，onthesmoothgrasswhichintersectedtheviridarium；andaslightcanopystretchedabove，brokethefierceraysofthesummersun。

Whenthatfairymansionwasfirstdisinterredfromtheearththeyfoundinthegardentheshellofatortoisethathadbeenitsinmate。Thatanimal，sostrangealinkinthecreation，towhichNatureseemstohavedeniedallthepleasureoflife，savelife’spassiveanddream—likeperception，hadbeentheguestoftheplaceforyearsbeforeGlaucuspurchasedit；foryears，indeedwhichwentbeyondthememoryofman，andtowhichtraditionassignedanalmostincredibledate。Thehousehadbeenbuiltandrebuilt——itspossessorshadchangedandfluctuated——generationshadflourishedanddecayed——andstillthetortoisedraggedonitsslowandunsympathizingexistence。Intheearthquake，whichsixteenyearsbeforehadoverthrownmanyofthepublicbuildingsofthecity，andscaredawaytheamazedinhabitants，thehousenowinhabitedbyGlaucushadbeenterriblyshattered。Thepossessorsdeserteditformanydays；ontheirreturntheyclearedawaytheruinswhichencumberedtheviridarium，andfoundstillthetortoise，unharmedandunconsciousofthesurroundingdestruction。Itseemedtobearacharmedlifeinitslanguidbloodandimperceptiblemotions；yetitwasnotsoinactiveasitseemed：itheldaregularandmonotonouscourse；inchbyinchittraversedthelittleorbitofitsdomain，takingmonthstoaccomplishthewholegyration。Itwasarestlessvoyager，thattortoise！——patiently，andwithpain，diditperformitsself—appointedjourneys，evincingnointerestinthethingsaroundit——aphilosopherconcentratedinitself。Therewassomethinggrandinitssolitaryselfishness！——thesuninwhichitbasked——thewaterspoureddailyoverit——theair，whichitinsensiblyinhaled，wereitssoleandunfailingluxuries。Themildchangesoftheseason，inthatlovelyclime，affecteditnot。Itcovereditselfwithitsshell——asthesaintinhispiety——asthesageinhiswisdom——astheloverinhishope。

Itwasimpervioustotheshocksandmutationsoftime——itwasanemblemoftimeitself：slow，regular，perpetual；unwittingofthepassionsthatfretthemselvesaround——ofthewearandtearofmortality。Thepoortortoise！

nothinglessthantheburstingofvolcanoes，theconvulsionsoftherivenworld，couldhavequencheditssluggishspark！TheinexorableDeath，thatsparednotpomporbeauty，passedunheedinglybyathingtowhichdeathcouldbringsoinsignificantachange。

ForthisanimalthemercurialandvividGreekfeltallthewonderandaffectionofcontrast。Hecouldspendhoursinsurveyingitscreepingprogress，inmoralizingoveritsmechanism。Hedespiseditinjoy——heenvieditinsorrow。

Regardingitnowashelayalongthesward——itsdullmassmovingwhileitseemedmotionless，theAthenianmurmuredtohimself：

’Theeagledroppedastonefromhistalons，thinkingtobreakthyshell：thestonecrushedtheheadofapoet。ThisistheallegoryofFate！Dullthing！Thouhadstafatherandamother；perhaps，agesago，thouthyselfhadstamate。Didthyparentslove，ordidstthou？Didthyslowbloodcirculatemoregladlywhenthoudidstcreeptothesideofthyweddedone？

Wertthoucapableofaffection？Coulditdistresstheeifshewereawayfromthyside？Couldstthoufeelwhenshewaspresent？WhatwouldInotgivetoknowthehistoryofthymailedbreast——togazeuponthemechanismofthyfaintdesires——tomarkwhathair——breadthdifferenceseparatesthysorrowfromthyjoy！Yet，methinks，thouwouldstknowifIonewerepresent！Thouwouldstfeelhercominglikeahappierair——likeagladdersun。Ienvytheenow，forthouknowestnotthatsheisabsent；andI——wouldIcouldbelikethee——betweentheintervalsofseeingher！Whatdoubt，whatpresentiment，hauntsme！whywillshenotadmitme？DayshavepassedsinceIheardhervoice。Forthefirsttime，lifegrowsflattome。Iamasonewhoisleftaloneatabanquet，thelightsdead，andtheflowersfaded。Ah！Ione，couldstthoudreamhowIadorethee！’

Fromtheseenamouredreveries，GlaucuswasinterruptedbytheentranceofNydia。Shecamewithherlight，thoughcautiousstep，alongthemarbletablinum。Shepassedtheportico，andpausedattheflowerswhichborderedthegarden。Shehadherwater—vaseinherhand，andshesprinkledthethirstingplants，whichseemedtobrightenatherapproach。Shebenttoinhaletheirodor。Shetouchedthemtimidlyandcaressingly。Shefelt，alongtheirstems，ifanywitheredleaforcreepinginsectmarredtheirbeauty。Andasshehoveredfromflowertoflower，withherearnestandyouthfulcountenanceandgracefulmotions，youcouldnothaveimaginedafitterhandmaidforthegoddessofthegarden。

’Nydia，mychild！’saidGlaucus。

Atthesoundofhisvoiceshepausedatonce——listening，blushing，breathless；withherlipsparted，herfaceupturnedtocatchthedirectionofthesound，shelaiddownthevase——shehastenedtohim；andwonderfulitwastoseehowunerringlyshethreadedherdarkwaythroughtheflowers，andcamebytheshortestpathtothesideofhernewlord。

’Nydia，’saidGlaucus，tenderlystrokingbackherlongandbeautifulhair，’itisnowthreedayssincethouhastbeenundertheprotectionofmyhouseholdgods。Havetheysmiledonthee？Artthouhappy？’

’Ah！sohappy！’sighedtheslave。

’Andnow，’continuedGlaucus，’thatthouhastrecoveredsomewhatfromthehatefulrecollectionsofthyformerstate，——andnowthattheyhavefittedthee（touchingherbroideredtunic）withgarmentsmoremeetforthydelicateshape——andnow，sweetchild，thatthouhastaccustomedthyselftoahappiness，whichmaythegodsgranttheeever！Iamabouttoprayatthyhandsaboon。’

’Oh！whatcanIdoforthee？’saidNydia，claspingherhands。

’Listen，’saidGlaucus，’andyoungasthouart，thoushaltbemyconfidant。

HastthoueverheardthenameofIone？’

Theblindgirlgaspedforbreath，andturningpaleasoneofthestatueswhichshoneuponthemfromtheperistyle，sheansweredwithaneffort，andafteramoment’spause：

’Yes！IhaveheardthatsheisofNeapolis，andbeautiful。’

’Beautiful！herbeautyisathingtodazzletheday！Neapolis！nay，sheisGreekbyorigin；Greeceonlycouldfurnishforthsuchshapes。Nydia，Iloveher！’

’Ithoughtso，’repliedNydia，calmly。

’Ilove，andthoushalttellherso。Iamabouttosendtheetoher。HappyNydia，thouwiltbeinherchamber——thouwiltdrinkthemusicofhervoice——thouwiltbaskinthesunnyairofherpresence！’

’What！what！wiltthousendmefromthee？’

’ThouwiltgotoIone，’answeredGlaucus，inatonethatsaid，’Whatmorecanstthoudesire？’

Nydiaburstintotears。

Glaucus，raisinghimself，drewhertowardshimwiththesoothingcaressesofabrother。

’Mychild，myNydia，thouweepestinignoranceofthehappinessIbestowonthee。Sheisgentle，andkind，andsoftasthebreezeofspring。Shewillbeasistertothyyouth——shewillappreciatethywinningtalents——shewilllovethysimplegracesasnoneothercould，fortheyarelikeherown。

Weepestthoustill，fondfool？Iwillnotforcethee，sweet。Wiltthounotdoformethiskindness？’

’Well，ifIcanservethee，command。See，Iweepnolonger——Iamcalm。’

’ThatismyownNydia，’continuedGlaucus，kissingherhand。’Go，then，toher：ifthouartdisappointedinherkindness——ifIhavedeceivedthee，returnwhenthouwilt。Idonotgivetheetoanother；Ibutlend。Myhomeeverbethyrefuge，sweetone。Ah！woulditcouldshelterallthefriendlessanddistressed！Butifmyheartwhisperstruly，Ishallclaimtheeagainsoon，mychild。MyhomeandIone’swillbecomethesame，andthoushaltdwellwithboth。’

Ashiverpassedthroughtheslightframeoftheblindgirl，butsheweptnomore——shewasresigned。