Merc: Tell me, therefore, what thou seekest after, and what thou wilt1 have. What dost thou desire to make?
Alch: The Philosopher’s Stone.
Sandivogius.
It wanted several minutes of midnight, and Glyndon repaired to the appointed spot. The mysterious empire which Zanoni had acquired over him, was still more solemnly confirmed by the events of the last few hours; the sudden fate of the prince, so deliberately2 foreshadowed, and yet so seemingly accidental, brought out by causes the most commonplace, and yet associated with words the most prophetic, impressed him with the deepest sentiments of admiration3 and awe4. It was as if this dark and wondrous5 being could convert the most ordinary events and the meanest instruments into the agencies of his inscrutable will; yet, if so, why have permitted the capture of Viola? Why not have prevented the crime rather than punish the criminal? And did Zanoni really feel love for Viola? Love, and yet offer to resign her to himself,— to a rival whom his arts could not have failed to baffle. He no longer reverted6 to the belief that Zanoni or Viola had sought to dupe him into marriage. His fear and reverence7 for the former now forbade the notion of so poor an imposture8. Did he any longer love Viola himself? No; when that morning he had heard of her danger, he had, it is true, returned to the sympathies and the fears of affection; but with the death of the prince her image faded from his heart, and he felt no jealous pang9 at the thought that she had been saved by Zanoni,— that at that moment she was perhaps beneath his roof. Whoever has, in the course of his life, indulged the absorbing passion of the gamester, will remember how all other pursuits and objects vanished from his mind; how solely10 he was wrapped in the one wild delusion11; with what a sceptre of magic power the despot-demon ruled every feeling and every thought. Far more intense than the passion of the gamester was the frantic12 yet sublime13 desire that mastered the breast of Glyndon. He would be the rival of Zanoni, not in human and perishable14 affections, but in preternatural and eternal lore15. He would have laid down life with content — nay16, rapture17 — as the price of learning those solemn secrets which separated the stranger from mankind. Enamoured of the goddess of goddesses, he stretched forth18 his arms — the wild Ixion — and embraced a cloud!
The night was most lovely and serene19, and the waves scarcely rippled20 at his feet as the Englishman glided21 on by the cool and starry22 beach. At length he arrived at the spot, and there, leaning against the broken pillar, he beheld23 a man wrapped in a long mantle24, and in an attitude of profound repose25. He approached, and uttered the name of Zanoni. The figure turned, and he saw the face of a stranger: a face not stamped by the glorious beauty of Zanoni, but equally majestic26 in its aspect, and perhaps still more impressive from the mature age and the passionless depth of thought that characterised the expanded forehead, and deep-set but piercing eyes.
“You seek Zanoni,” said the stranger; “he will be here anon; but, perhaps, he whom you see before you is more connected with your destiny, and more disposed to realise your dreams.”
“Hath the earth, then, another Zanoni?”
“If not,” replied the stranger, “why do you cherish the hope and the wild faith to be yourself a Zanoni? Think you that none others have burned with the same godlike dream? Who, indeed in his first youth,— youth when the soul is nearer to the heaven from which it sprang, and its divine and primal27 longings28 are not all effaced29 by the sordid30 passions and petty cares that are begot31 in time,— who is there in youth that has not nourished the belief that the universe has secrets not known to the common herd32, and panted, as the hart for the water-springs, for the fountains that lie hid and far away amidst the broad wilderness33 of trackless science? The music of the fountain is heard in the soul WITHIN, till the steps, deceived and erring34, rove away from its waters, and the wanderer dies in the mighty35 desert. Think you that none who have cherished the hope have found the truth, or that the yearning36 after the Ineffable38 Knowledge was given to us utterly39 in vain? No! Every desire in human hearts is but a glimpse of things that exist, alike distant and divine. No! in the world there have been from age to age some brighter and happier spirits who have attained41 to the air in which the beings above mankind move and breathe. Zanoni, great though he be, stands not alone. He has had his predecessors42, and long lines of successors may be yet to come.”
“And will you tell me,” said Glyndon, “that in yourself I behold43 one of that mighty few over whom Zanoni has no superiority in power and wisdom?”
“In me,” answered the stranger, “you see one from whom Zanoni himself learned some of his loftiest secrets. On these shores, on this spot, have I stood in ages that your chroniclers but feebly reach. The Phoenician, the Greek, the Oscan, the Roman, the Lombard, I have seen them all!— leaves gay and glittering on the trunk of the universal life, scattered44 in due season and again renewed; till, indeed, the same race that gave its glory to the ancient world bestowed45 a second youth upon the new. For the pure Greeks, the Hellenes, whose origin has bewildered your dreaming scholars, were of the same great family as the Norman tribe, born to be the lords of the universe, and in no land on earth destined47 to become the hewers of wood. Even the dim traditions of the learned, which bring the sons of Hellas from the vast and undetermined territories of Northern Thrace, to be the victors of the pastoral Pelasgi, and the founders48 of the line of demi-gods; which assign to a population bronzed beneath the suns of the West, the blue-eyed Minerva and the yellow-haired Achilles (physical characteristics of the North); which introduce, amongst a pastoral people, warlike aristocracies and limited monarchies49, the feudalism of the classic time,— even these might serve you to trace back the primeval settlements of the Hellenes to the same region whence, in later times, the Norman warriors50 broke on the dull and savage51 hordes52 of the Celt, and became the Greeks of the Christian53 world. But this interests you not, and you are wise in your indifference54. Not in the knowledge of things without, but in the perfection of the soul within, lies the empire of man aspiring55 to be more than man.”
“And what books contain that science; from what laboratory is it wrought56?”
“Nature supplies the materials; they are around you in your daily walks. In the herbs that the beast devours57 and the chemist disdains58 to cull59; in the elements from which matter in its meanest and its mightiest60 shapes is deduced; in the wide bosom61 of the air; in the black abysses of the earth; everywhere are given to mortals the resources and libraries of immortal62 lore. But as the simplest problems in the simplest of all studies are obscure to one who braces63 not his mind to their comprehension; as the rower in yonder vessel64 cannot tell you why two circles can touch each other only in one point,— so though all earth were carved over and inscribed65 with the letters of diviner knowledge, the characters would be valueless to him who does not pause to inquire the language and meditate66 the truth. Young man, if thy imagination is vivid, if thy heart is daring, if thy curiosity is insatiate, I will accept thee as my pupil. But the first lessons are stern and dread67.”
“If thou hast mastered them, why not I?” answered Glyndon, boldly. “I have felt from my boyhood that strange mysteries were reserved for my career; and from the proudest ends of ordinary ambition I have carried my gaze into the cloud and darkness that stretch beyond. The instant I beheld Zanoni, I felt as if I had discovered the guide and the tutor for which my youth had idly languished68 and vainly burned.”
“And to me his duty is transferred,” replied the stranger. “Yonder lies, anchored in the bay, the vessel in which Zanoni seeks a fairer home; a little while and the breeze will rise, the sail will swell69; and the stranger will have passed, like a wind, away. Still, like the wind, he leaves in thy heart the seeds that may bear the blossom and the fruit. Zanoni hath performed his task,— he is wanted no more; the perfecter of his work is at thy side. He comes! I hear the dash of the oar70. You will have your choice submitted to you. According as you decide we shall meet again.” With these words the stranger moved slowly away, and disappeared beneath the shadow of the cliffs. A boat glided rapidly across the waters: it touched land; a man leaped on shore, and Glyndon recognised Zanoni.
“I give thee, Glyndon,— I give thee no more the option of happy love and serene enjoyment71. That hour is past, and fate has linked the hand that might have been thine own to mine. But I have ample gifts to bestow46 upon thee, if thou wilt abandon the hope that gnaws72 thy heart, and the realisation of which even I have not the power to foresee. Be thine ambition human, and I can gratify it to the full. Men desire four things in life,— love, wealth, fame, power. The first I cannot give thee, the rest are at my disposal. Select which of them thou wilt, and let us part in peace.”
“Such are not the gifts I covet73. I choose knowledge; that knowledge must be thine own. For this, and for this alone, I surrendered the love of Viola; this, and this alone, must be my recompense.”
“I cannot gain say thee, though I can warn. The desire to learn does not always contain the faculty74 to acquire. I can give thee, it is true, the teacher,— the rest must depend on thee. Be wise in time, and take that which I can assure to thee.”
“Answer me but these questions, and according to your answer I will decide. Is it in the power of man to attain40 intercourse75 with the beings of other worlds? Is it in the power of man to influence the elements, and to insure life against the sword and against disease?”
“All this may be possible,” answered Zanoni, evasively, “to the few; but for one who attains76 such secrets, millions may perish in the attempt.”
“One question more. Thou —”
“Beware! Of myself, as I have said before, I render no account.”
“Well, then, the stranger I have met this night,— are his boasts to be believed? Is he in truth one of the chosen seers whom you allow to have mastered the mysteries I yearn37 to fathom77?”
“Rash man,” said Zanoni, in a tone of compassion78, “thy crisis is past, and thy choice made! I can only bid thee be bold and prosper79; yes, I resign thee to a master who HAS the power and the will to open to thee the gates of an awful world. Thy weal or woe80 are as nought81 in the eyes of his relentless82 wisdom. I would bid him spare thee, but he will heed83 me not. Mejnour, receive thy pupil!” Glyndon turned, and his heart beat when he perceived that the stranger, whose footsteps he had not heard upon the pebbles84, whose approach he had not beheld in the moonlight, was once more by his side.
“Farewell,” resumed Zanoni; “thy trial commences. When next we meet, thou wilt be the victim or the victor.”
Glyndon’s eyes followed the receding85 form of the mysterious stranger. He saw him enter the boat, and he then for the first time noticed that besides the rowers there was a female, who stood up as Zanoni gained the boat. Even at the distance he recognised the once-adored form of Viola. She waved her hand to him, and across the still and shining air came her voice, mournfully and sweetly, in her mother’s tongue, “Farewell, Clarence,— I forgive thee!— farewell, farewell!”
He strove to answer; but the voice touched a chord at his heart, and the words failed him. Viola was then lost forever, gone with this dread stranger; darkness was round her lot! And he himself had decided86 her fate and his own! The boat bounded on, the soft waves flashed and sparkled beneath the oars87, and it was along one sapphire88 track of moonlight that the frail89 vessel bore away the lovers. Farther and farther from his gaze sped the boat, till at last the speck90, scarcely visible, touched the side of the ship that lay lifeless in the glorious bay. At that instant, as if by magic, up sprang, with a glad murmur91, the playful and freshening wind: and Glyndon turned to Mejnour and broke the silence.
“Tell me — if thou canst read the future — tell me that HER lot will be fair, and that HER choice at least is wise?”
“My pupil!” answered Mejnour, in a voice the calmness of which well accorded with the chilling words, “thy first task must be to withdraw all thought, feeling, sympathy from others. The elementary stage of knowledge is to make self, and self alone, thy study and thy world. Thou hast decided thine own career; thou hast renounced92 love; thou hast rejected wealth, fame, and the vulgar pomps of power. What, then, are all mankind to thee? To perfect thy faculties93, and concentrate thy emotions, is henceforth thy only aim!”
“And will happiness be the end?”
“If happiness exist,” answered Mejnour, “it must be centred in a SELF to which all passion is unknown. But happiness is the last state of being; and as yet thou art on the threshold of the first.”
As Mejnour spoke94, the distant vessel spread its sails to the wind, and moved slowly along the deep. Glyndon sighed, and the pupil and the master retraced95 their steps towards the city.
收听单词发音 |
1
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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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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wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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imposture
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| n.冒名顶替，欺骗 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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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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perishable
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| adj.（尤指食物）易腐的，易坏的 | |
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lore
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| n.传说；学问，经验，知识 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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primal
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| adj.原始的；最重要的 | |
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longings
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| 渴望，盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
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effaced
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| v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；超越；使黯然失色 | |
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sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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begot
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| v.为…之生父( beget的过去式 )；产生，引起 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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erring
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| 做错事的，错误的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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yearn
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| v.想念；怀念；渴望 | |
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ineffable
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| adj.无法表达的，不可言喻的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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predecessors
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| n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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founders
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| n.创始人( founder的名词复数 ) | |
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monarchies
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| n. 君主政体, 君主国, 君主政治 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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hordes
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| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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aspiring
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| adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求 | |
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56
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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57
devours
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| 吞没( devour的第三人称单数 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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disdains
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| 鄙视，轻蔑( disdain的名词复数 ) | |
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cull
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| v.拣选；剔除；n.拣出的东西；剔除 | |
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mightiest
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| adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的 | |
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61
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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braces
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| n.吊带，背带；托架( brace的名词复数 )；箍子；括弧；（儿童）牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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68
languished
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| 长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 )； 受折磨； 变得（越来越）衰弱； 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
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69
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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70
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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71
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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72
gnaws
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| 咬( gnaw的第三人称单数 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物 | |
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73
covet
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| vt.垂涎；贪图(尤指属于他人的东西) | |
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74
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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76
attains
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的第三人称单数 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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77
fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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79
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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80
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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81
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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82
relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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84
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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85
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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86
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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87
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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88
sapphire
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| n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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90
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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91
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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renounced
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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93
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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