Zanoni — Edward Bulwer-Lytton
mayest foreshow the antidote; thou canst not effect the bane. From thee I wring the secret, though it torture thee to name it. I approach thee, —I look dauntless into thine eyes. The soul that loves can dare all things. Shadow, I defy thee, and compel! ” The spectre waned and recoiled. Like a vapor that lessens as the sun pierces and pervades it, the form shrank cowering and dwarfed in the dimmer distance, and through the casement again rushed the stars. “Yes,” said the Voice, with a faint and hollow accent, “ thou canst save her from the headsman; for it is written, that sacrifice can save. Ha! ha!” And the shape again suddenly dilated into the gloom of its giant stature, and its ghastly laugh exulted, as if the Foe, a moment baffled, had regained its might. “Ha! ha! — thou canst save her life, if thou wilt sacrifice thine own! Is it for this thou hast lived on through crumbling empires and countless generations of thy race? At last shall Death reclaim thee? Wouldst thou save her ?— die for her! Fall, O stately column, over which stars yet unformed may gleam, — fall, that the herb at thy base may drink a few hours longer the sunlight and the dews! Silent! Art thou ready for the sacrifice ? See, the moon moves up through heaven. Beautiful and wise one, wilt thou bid her smile to-morrow on thy headless clay?” “Back! for my soul, in answering thee from depths where thou canst not heat it, has regained its glory; and I hear the wings of Adon-Ai gliding musical through the air.” He spoke; and, with a low shriek of baffled rage and hate, the Thing was gone, and through the room rushed, luminous and sudden, the Presence of silvery light. As the heavenly visitor stood in the atmosphere of
ZANONI, 501
his own lustre, and looked upon the face of the Theurgist with an aspect of ineffable tenderness and love, all space seemed lighted from his smile. Along the blue air without, from that chamber in which his wings had halted, to the farthest star in the azure distance, it seemed as if the track of his flight were visible, by a lengthened splendor in the air, like the column of moonlight on the sea.
Like the flower that diffuses perfume as the very breath of its life, so the emanation of that presence was joy. Over the world, as a million times swifter than light, than electricity, the Son of Glory had sped his way to the side of love, his wings had scattered delight as the morning scatters dew. For that brief moment, Poverty had ceased to mourn, Disease fled from its prey, and Hope breathed a dream of Heaven into the darkness of Despair.
“Thou art right,” said the melodious Voice. “Thy courage has restored thy power. Once more, in the haunts of earth, thy soul charms me to thy side.
Wiser now, in the moment when thou comprehendest Death, than when thy unfettered spirit learned the solemn mystery of Life; the human affections that thralled and humbled thee awhile bring to thee, in these last hours of thy mortality, the sublimest heritage of thy race, — the eternity that commences from the grave.
“@O Adon-Ai,” said the Chaldean, as, circumfused in the splendor of the visitant, a glory more radiant than human beauty settled round his form, and seemed already to belong to the eternity of which the Bright One spoke, “as men, before they die, see and comprehend the enigmas hidden from them before,! so in this 1 The greatest poet, and one of the noblest thinkers, of the last age, said, on his deathbed, “ Many things obscure to me before, now clear up, and become visible.” — See the Life of Schiller.
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hour, when the sacrifice of self to another brings the course of ages to its goal, I see the littleness of Life, compared to the majesty of Death; but oh, Divine Consoler, even here, even in thy presence, the affections that inspire me, sadden. To leave behind me in this bad world, unaided, unprotected, those for whom I die! the wife! the child! — oh, speak comfort to me in this! ” “ And what,” said the visitor, with a slight accent of reproof in the tone of celestial pity, — “ what, with all thy wisdom and thy starry secrets, with all thy empire of the past, and thy visions of the future; what art thou to the All-Directing and Omniscient? Canst thou yet imagine that thy presence on earth can give to the hearts thou lovest the shelter which the humblest take from the wings of the Presence that lives in heaven? Fear not thou for their future. Whether thou live or die, their future is the care of the Most High! In the dungeon and on the scaffold looks everlasting the Eye of Him, tenderer than thou to love, wiser than thou to guide, mightier than thou to save! ” Zanoni bowed his head; and when he looked up again, the last shadow had left his brow. The visitor ‘was gone; but still the glory of his presence seemed to shine upon the spot, still the solitary air seemed to murmur with tremulous delight. And thus ever shall it be with those who have once, detaching themselves utterly from life, received the visit of the Angel Faitu. Solitude and space retain the splendor, and it settles like a halo round their graves.
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CHAPTER XIV.
may foreshow the antidote; you can not effect the bane. From you I wring the secret, though it torture you to name it. I approach you, —I look dauntless into your eyes. The soul that loves can dare all things. Shadow, I defy you, and compel! ” The spectre waned and recoiled. Like a vapor that lessens as the sun pierces and pervades it, the form shrank cowering and dwarfed in the dimmer distance, and through the casement again rushed the stars. “Yes,” said the Voice, with a faint and hollow accent, “ you can save her from the headsman; for it is written, that sacrifice can save. Ha! ha!” And the shape again suddenly dilated into the gloom of its giant stature, and its ghastly laugh exulted, as if the Foe, a moment baffled, had regained its might. “Ha! ha! — you can save her life, if you will sacrifice your own! Is it for this you have lived on through crumbling empires and countless generations of your race? At last shall Death reclaim you? Wouldst you save her ?— die for her! Fall, O stately column, over which stars yet unformed may gleam, — fall, that the herb at your base may drink a few hours longer the sunlight and the dews! Silent! Art you ready for the sacrifice ? See, the moon moves up through heaven. Beautiful and wise one, will you bid her smile to-morrow on your headless clay?” “Back! for my soul, in answering you from depths where you can not heat it, has regained its glory; and I hear the wings of Adon-Ai gliding musical through the air.” He spoke; and, with a low shriek of baffled rage and hate, the Thing was gone, and through the room rushed, luminous and sudden, the Presence of silvery light. As the heavenly visitor stood in the atmosphere of
p. 501
his own lustre, and looked upon the face of the Theurgist with an aspect of ineffable tenderness and love, all space seemed lighted from his smile. Along the blue air without, from that chamber in which his wings had halted, to the farthest star in the azure distance, it seemed as if the track of his flight were visible, by a lengthened splendor in the air, like the column of moonlight on the sea. Like the flower that diffuses perfume as the very breath of its life, so the emanation of that presence was joy. Over the world, as a million times swifter than light, than electricity, the Son of Glory had sped his way to the side of love, his wings had scattered delight as the morning scatters dew. For that brief moment, Poverty had ceased to mourn, Disease fled from its prey, and Hope breathed a dream of Heaven into the darkness of Despair. “You are right,” said the melodious Voice. “Your courage has restored your power. Once more, in the haunts of earth, your soul charms me to your side. Wiser now, in the moment when you comprehendest Death, than when your unfettered spirit learned the solemn mystery of Life; the human affections that thralled and humbled you awhile bring to you, in these last hours of your mortality, the sublimest heritage of your race, — the eternity that commences from the grave.” “@O Adon-Ai,” said the Chaldean, as, circumfused in the splendor of the visitant, a glory more radiant than human beauty settled round his form, and seemed already to belong to the eternity of which the Bright One spoke, “as men, before they die, see and comprehend the enigmas hidden from them before,! so in this 1 The greatest poet, and one of the noblest thinkers, of the last age, said, on his deathbed, “ Many things obscure to me before, now clear up, and become visible.” — See the Life of Schiller.
p. 502
hour, when the sacrifice of self to another brings the course of ages to its goal, I see the littleness of Life, compared to the majesty of Death; but oh, Divine Consoler, even here, even in your presence, the affections that inspire me, sadden. To leave behind me in this bad world, unaided, unprotected, those for whom I die! the wife! the child! — oh, speak comfort to me in this! ” “ And what,” said the visitor, with a slight accent of reproof in the tone of celestial pity, — “ what, with all your wisdom and your starry secrets, with all your empire of the past, and your visions of the future; what art you to the All-Directing and Omniscient? Canst you yet imagine that your presence on earth can give to the hearts you lovest the shelter which the humblest take from the wings of the Presence that lives in heaven? Fear not you for their future. Whether you live or die, their future is the care of the Most High! In the dungeon and on the scaffold looks everlasting the Eye of Him, tenderer than you to love, wiser than you to guide, mightier than you to save! ” Zanoni bowed his head; and when he looked up again, the last shadow had left his brow. The visitor ‘was gone; but still the glory of his presence seemed to shine upon the spot, still the solitary air seemed to murmur with tremulous delight. And thus ever shall it be with those who have once, detaching themselves utterly from life, received the visit of the Angel Faitu. Solitude and space retain the splendor, and it settles like a halo round their graves.
p. 503
CHAPTER XIV.
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