O chiunque tu sia, che fuor d’ogni uso
Pieghi Natura ad opre altere e strane,
E, spiando i segreti, entri al piu chiuso
Spazi’ a tua voglia delle menti umane — Deh, Dimmi!
“Gerus. Lib.,” Cant1. x. xviii.
(O thou, whoever thou art, who through every use bendest Nature to works foreign and strange; and by spying into her secrets, enterest at thy will into the closest recesses2 of the human mind,— O speak! O tell me!)
Early the next morning the young Englishmen mounted their horses, and took the road towards Baiae. Glyndon left word at his hotel, that if Signor Zanoni sought him, it was in the neighbourhood of that once celebrated4 watering-place of the ancients that he should be found.
They passed by Viola’s house, but Glyndon resisted the temptation of pausing there; and after threading the grotto5 of Posilipo, they wound by a circuitous6 route back into the suburbs of the city, and took the opposite road, which conducts to Portici and Pompeii. It was late at noon when they arrived at the former of these places. Here they halted to dine; for Mervale had heard much of the excellence7 of the macaroni at Portici, and Mervale was a bon vivant.
They put up at an inn of very humble8 pretensions9, and dined under an awning10. Mervale was more than usually gay; he pressed the lacrima upon his friend, and conversed11 gayly.
“Well, my dear friend, we have foiled Signor Zanoni in one of his predictions at least. You will have no faith in him hereafter.”
“The ides are come, not gone.”
“Tush! If he be the soothsayer, you are not the Caesar. It is your vanity that makes you credulous12. Thank Heaven, I do not think myself of such importance that the operations of Nature should be changed in order to frighten me.”
“But why should the operations of Nature be changed? There may be a deeper philosophy than we dream of,— a philosophy that discovers the secrets of Nature, but does not alter, by penetrating13, its courses.”
“Ah, you relapse into your heretical credulity; you seriously suppose Zanoni to be a prophet,— a reader of the future; perhaps an associate of genii and spirits!”
Here the landlord, a little, fat, oily fellow, came up with a fresh bottle of lacrima. He hoped their Excellencies were pleased. He was most touched — touched to the heart, that they liked the macaroni. Were their Excellencies going to Vesuvius? There was a slight eruption14; they could not see it where they were, but it was pretty, and would be prettier still after sunset.
“A capital idea!” cried Mervale. “What say you, Glyndon?”
“I have not yet seen an eruption; I should like it much.”
“But is there no danger?” asked the prudent15 Mervale.
“Oh, not at all; the mountain is very civil at present. It only plays a little, just to amuse their Excellencies the English.”
“Well, order the horses, and bring the bill; we will go before it is dark. Clarence, my friend,— nunc est bibendum; but take care of the pede libero, which will scarce do for walking on lava16!”
The bottle was finished, the bill paid; the gentlemen mounted, the landlord bowed, and they bent17 their way, in the cool of the delightful18 evening, towards Resina.
The wine, perhaps the excitement of his thoughts, animated19 Glyndon, whose unequal spirits were, at times, high and brilliant as those of a schoolboy released; and the laughter of the Northern tourists sounded oft and merrily along the melancholy20 domains21 of buried cities.
Hesperus had lighted his lamp amidst the rosy22 skies as they arrived at Resina. Here they quitted their horses, and took mules23 and a guide. As the sky grew darker and more dark, the mountain fire burned with an intense lustre24. In various streaks25 and streamlets, the fountain of flame rolled down the dark summit, and the Englishmen began to feel increase upon them, as they ascended26, that sensation of solemnity and awe28 which makes the very atmosphere that surrounds the Giant of the Plains of the Antique Hades.
It was night, when, leaving the mules, they ascended on foot, accompanied by their guide, and a peasant who bore a rude torch. The guide was a conversable, garrulous29 fellow, like most of his country and his calling; and Mervale, who possessed30 a sociable31 temper, loved to amuse or to instruct himself on every incidental occasion.
“Ah, Excellency,” said the guide, “your countrymen have a strong passion for the volcano. Long life to them, they bring us plenty of money! If our fortunes depended on the Neapolitans, we should starve.”
“True, they have no curiosity,” said Mervale. “Do you remember, Glyndon, the contempt with which that old count said to us, ‘You will go to Vesuvius, I suppose? I have never been; why should I go? You have cold, you have hunger, you have fatigue32, you have danger, and all for nothing but to see fire, which looks just as well in a brazier as on a mountain.’ Ha! ha! the old fellow was right.”
“But, Excellency,” said the guide, “that is not all: some cavaliers think to ascend27 the mountain without our help. I am sure they deserve to tumble into the crater33.”
“They must be bold fellows to go alone; you don’t often find such.”
“Sometimes among the French, signor. But the other night — I never was so frightened — I had been with an English party, and a lady had left a pocket-book on the mountain, where she had been sketching34. She offered me a handsome sum to return for it, and bring it to her at Naples. So I went in the evening. I found it, sure enough, and was about to return, when I saw a figure that seemed to emerge from the crater itself. The air there was so pestiferous that I could not have conceived a human creature could breathe it, and live. I was so astounded35 that I stood still as a stone, till the figure came over the hot ashes, and stood before me, face to face. Santa Maria, what a head!”
“No; so beautiful, but so terrible. It had nothing human in its aspect.”
“And what said the salamander?”
“Nothing! It did not even seem to perceive me, though I was near as I am to you; but its eyes seemed to emerge prying37 into the air. It passed by me quickly, and, walking across a stream of burning lava, soon vanished on the other side of the mountain. I was curious and foolhardy, and resolved to see if I could bear the atmosphere which this visitor had left; but though I did not advance within thirty yards of the spot at which he had first appeared, I was driven back by a vapour that wellnigh stifled38 me. Cospetto! I have spat39 blood ever since.”
“Now will I lay a wager40 that you fancy this fire-king must be Zanoni,” whispered Mervale, laughing.
The little party had now arrived nearly at the summit of the mountain; and unspeakably grand was the spectacle on which they gazed. From the crater arose a vapour, intensely dark, that overspread the whole background of the heavens; in the centre whereof rose a flame that assumed a form singularly beautiful. It might have been compared to a crest41 of gigantic feathers, the diadem42 of the mountain, high-arched, and drooping43 downward, with the hues44 delicately shaded off, and the whole shifting and tremulous as the plumage on a warrior’s helmet.
The glare of the flame spread, luminous45 and crimson46, over the dark and rugged47 ground on which they stood, and drew an innumerable variety of shadows from crag and hollow. An oppressive and sulphureous exhalation served to increase the gloomy and sublime48 terror of the place. But on turning from the mountain, and towards the distant and unseen ocean, the contrast was wonderfully great; the heavens serene49 and blue, the stars still and calm as the eyes of Divine Love. It was as if the realms of the opposing principles of Evil and of Good were brought in one view before the gaze of man! Glyndon — once more the enthusiast50, the artist — was enchained and entranced by emotions vague and undefinable, half of delight and half of pain. Leaning on the shoulder of his friend, he gazed around him, and heard with deepening awe the rumbling51 of the earth below, the wheels and voices of the Ministry52 of Nature in her darkest and most inscrutable recess3. Suddenly, as a bomb from a shell, a huge stone was flung hundreds of yards up from the jaws53 of the crater, and falling with a mighty54 crash upon the rock below, split into ten thousand fragments, which bounded down the sides of the mountain, sparkling and groaning55 as they went. One of these, the largest fragment, struck the narrow space of soil between the Englishmen and the guide, not three feet from the spot where the former stood. Mervale uttered an exclamation56 of terror, and Glyndon held his breath, and shuddered57.
“Diavolo!” cried the guide. “Descend58, Excellencies,— descend! we have not a moment to lose; follow me close!”
So saying, the guide and the peasant fled with as much swiftness as they were able to bring to bear. Mervale, ever more prompt and ready than his friend, imitated their example; and Glyndon, more confused than alarmed, followed close. But they had not gone many yards, before, with a rushing and sudden blast, came from the crater an enormous volume of vapour. It pursued,— it overtook, it overspread them. It swept the light from the heavens. All was abrupt59 and utter darkness; and through the gloom was heard the shout of the guide, already distant, and lost in an instant amidst the sound of the rushing gust60 and the groans61 of the earth beneath. Glyndon paused. He was separated from his friend, from the guide. He was alone,— with the Darkness and the Terror. The vapour rolled sullenly62 away; the form of the plumed64 fire was again dimly visible, and its struggling and perturbed65 reflection again shed a glow over the horrors of the path. Glyndon recovered himself, and sped onward66. Below, he heard the voice of Mervale calling on him, though he no longer saw his form. The sound served as a guide. Dizzy and breathless, he bounded forward; when — hark!— a sullen63, slow rolling sounded in his ear! He halted,— and turned back to gaze. The fire had overflowed67 its course; it had opened itself a channel amidst the furrows68 of the mountain. The stream pursued him fast — fast; and the hot breath of the chasing and preternatural foe69 came closer and closer upon his cheek! He turned aside; he climbed desperately70 with hands and feet upon a crag that, to the right, broke the scathed71 and blasted level of the soil. The stream rolled beside and beneath him, and then taking a sudden wind round the spot on which he stood, interposed its liquid fire,— a broad and impassable barrier between his resting-place and escape. There he stood, cut off from descent, and with no alternative but to retrace72 his steps towards the crater, and thence seek, without guide or clew, some other pathway.
For a moment his courage left him; he cried in despair, and in that overstrained pitch of voice which is never heard afar off, to the guide, to Mervale, to return to aid him.
No answer came; and the Englishman, thus abandoned solely73 to his own resources, felt his spirit and energy rise against the danger. He turned back, and ventured as far towards the crater as the noxious74 exhalation would permit; then, gazing below, carefully and deliberately75 he chalked out for himself a path by which he trusted to shun76 the direction the fire-stream had taken, and trod firmly and quickly over the crumbling77 and heated strata78.
He had proceeded about fifty yards, when he halted abruptly79; an unspeakable and unaccountable horror, not hitherto experienced amidst all his peril80, came over him. He shook in every limb; his muscles refused his will,— he felt, as it were, palsied and death-stricken. The horror, I say, was unaccountable, for the path seemed clear and safe. The fire, above and behind, burned clear and far; and beyond, the stars lent him their cheering guidance. No obstacle was visible,— no danger seemed at hand. As thus, spell-bound, and panic-stricken, he stood chained to the soil,— his breast heaving, large drops rolling down his brow, and his eyes starting wildly from their sockets,— he saw before him, at some distance, gradually shaping itself more and more distinctly to his gaze, a colossal81 shadow; a shadow that seemed partially82 borrowed from the human shape, but immeasurably above the human stature83; vague, dark, almost formless; and differing, he could not tell where or why, not only from the proportions, but also from the limbs and outline of man.
The glare of the volcano, that seemed to shrink and collapse84 from this gigantic and appalling85 apparition86, nevertheless threw its light, redly and steadily87, upon another shape that stood beside, quiet and motionless; and it was, perhaps, the contrast of these two things — the Being and the Shadow — that impressed the beholder88 with the difference between them,— the Man and the Superhuman. It was but for a moment — nay89, for the tenth part of a moment — that this sight was permitted to the wanderer. A second eddy90 of sulphureous vapours from the volcano, yet more rapidly, yet more densely91 than its predecessor92, rolled over the mountain; and either the nature of the exhalation, or the excess of his own dread93, was such, that Glyndon, after one wild gasp94 for breath, fell senseless on the earth.
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cant
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| n.斜穿，黑话，猛扔 | |
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recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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circuitous
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| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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credulous
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| adj.轻信的，易信的 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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garrulous
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| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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sketching
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| n.草图 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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diadem
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| n.王冠，冕 | |
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drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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plumed
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| 饰有羽毛的 | |
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perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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overflowed
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| 溢出的 | |
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furrows
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| n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 )；（脸上的）皱纹v.犁田，开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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scathed
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| v.伤害，损害（尤指使之枯萎）( scathe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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noxious
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| adj.有害的，有毒的；使道德败坏的，讨厌的 | |
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75
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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76
shun
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| vt.避开，回避，避免 | |
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77
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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78
strata
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| n.地层（复数）；社会阶层 | |
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79
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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80
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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81
colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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82
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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83
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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84
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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85
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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86
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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87
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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88
beholder
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| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
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89
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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90
eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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91
densely
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| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
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92
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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93
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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94
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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