第 59 节
作者:
这就是结局 更新:2021-02-20 15:58 字数:9322
revel! What should be the companion of youth but pleasure? And
the gift of eternal youth may be mine this very hour! What means
this prohibition of Mejnour's? Is it not of the same complexion
as his ungenerous reserve even in the minutest secrets of
chemistry; or the numbers of his Cabala?compelling me to
perform all the toils; and yet withholding from me the knowledge
of the crowning result? No doubt he will still; on his return;
show me that the great mystery CAN be attained; but will still
forbid ME to attain it。 Is it not as if he desired to keep my
youth the slave to his age; to make me dependent solely on
himself; to bind me to a journeyman's service by perpetual
excitement to curiosity; and the sight of the fruits he places
beyond my lips?〃 These; and many reflections still more
repining; disturbed and irritated him。 Heated with wineexcited
by the wild revels he had lefthe was unable to sleep。 The
image of that revolting Old Age which Time; unless defeated; must
bring upon himself; quickened the eagerness of his desire for the
dazzling and imperishable Youth he ascribed to Zanoni。 The
prohibition only served to create a spirit of defiance。 The
reviving day; laughing jocundly through his lattice; dispelled
all the fears and superstitions that belong to night。 The mystic
chamber presented to his imagination nothing to differ from any
other apartment in the castle。 What foul or malignant apparition
could harm him in the light of that blessed sun! It was the
peculiar; and on the whole most unhappy; contradiction in
Glyndon's nature; that while his reasonings led him to doubt;
and doubt rendered him in MORAL conduct irresolute and unsteady;
he was PHYSICALLY brave to rashness。 Nor is this uncommon:
scepticism and presumption are often twins。 When a man of this
character determines upon any action; personal fear never deters
him; and for the moral fear; any sophistry suffices to self…will。
Almost without analysing himself the mental process by which his
nerves hardened themselves and his limbs moved; he traversed the
corridor; gained Mejnour's apartment; and opened the forbidden
door。 All was as he had been accustomed to see it; save that on
a table in the centre of the room lay open a large volume。 He
approached; and gazed on the characters on the page; they were in
a cipher; the study of which had made a part of his labours。
With but slight difficulty he imagined that he interpreted the
meaning of the first sentences; and that they ran thus:
〃To quaff the inner life; is to see the outer life: to live in
defiance of time; is to live in the whole。 He who discovers the
elixir discovers what lies in space; for the spirit that vivifies
the frame strengthens the senses。 There is attraction in the
elementary principle of light。 In the lamps of Rosicrucius the
fire is the pure elementary principle。 Kindle the lamps while
thou openst the vessel that contains the elixir; and the light
attracts towards thee those beings whose life is that light。
Beware of Fear。 Fear is the deadliest enemy to Knowledge。〃 Here
the ciphers changed their character; and became incomprehensible。
But had he not read enough? Did not the last sentence suffice?
〃Beware of Fear!〃 It was as if Mejnour had purposely left the
page open;as if the trial was; in truth; the reverse of the one
pretended; as if the mystic had designed to make experiment of
his COURAGE while affecting but that of his FORBEARANCE。 Not
Boldness; but Fear; was the deadliest enemy to Knowledge。 He
moved to the shelves on which the crystal vases were placed; with
an untrembling hand he took from one of them the stopper; and a
delicious odor suddenly diffused itself through the room。 The
air sparkled as if with a diamond…dust。 A sense of unearthly
delight;of an existence that seemed all spirit; flashed through
his whole frame; and a faint; low; but exquisite music crept;
thrilling; through the chamber。 At this moment he heard a voice
in the corridor calling on his name; and presently there was a
knock at the door without。 〃Are you there; signor?〃 said the
clear tones of Maestro Paolo。 Glyndon hastily reclosed and
replaced the vial; and bidding Paolo await him in his own
apartment; tarried till he heard the intruder's steps depart; he
then reluctantly quitted the room。 As he locked the door; he
still heard the dying strain of that fairy music; and with a
light step and a joyous heart he repaired to Paolo; inly
resolving to visit again the chamber at an hour when his
experiment would be safe from interruption。
As he crossed his threshold; Paolo started back; and exclaimed;
〃Why; Excellency! I scarcely recognise you! Amusement; I see;
is a great beautifier to the young。 Yesterday you looked so pale
and haggard; but Fillide's merry eyes have done more for you than
the Philosopher's Stone (saints forgive me for naming it) ever
did for the wizards。〃 And Glyndon; glancing at the old Venetian
mirror as Paolo spoke; was scarcely less startled than Paolo
himself at the change in his own mien and bearing。 His form;
before bent with thought; seemed to him taller by half the head;
so lithesome and erect rose his slender stature; his eyes glowed;
his cheeks bloomed with health and the innate and pervading
pleasure。 If the mere fragrance of the elixir was thus potent;
well might the alchemists have ascribed life and youth to the
draught!
〃You must forgive me; Excellency; for disturbing you;〃 said
Paolo; producing a letter from his pouch; 〃but our Patron has
just written to me to say that he will be here to…morrow; and
desired me to lose not a moment in giving to yourself this
billet; which he enclosed。〃
〃Who brought the letter?〃
〃A horseman; who did not wait for any reply。〃
Glyndon opened the letter; and read as follows:
〃I return a week sooner than I had intended; and you will expect
me to…morrow。 You will then enter on the ordeal you desire; but
remember that; in doing so; you must reduce Being as far as
possible into Mind。 The senses must be mortified and subdued;
not the whisper of one passion heard。 Thou mayst be master of
the Cabala and the Chemistry; but thou must be master also over
the Flesh and the Blood;over Love and Vanity; Ambition and
Hate。 I will trust to find thee so。 Fast and meditate till we
meet!〃
Glyndon crumpled the letter in his hand with a smile of disdain。
What! more drudgery;more abstinence! Youth without love and
pleasure! Ha; ha! baffled Mejnour; thy pupil shall gain thy
secrets without thine aid!
〃And Fillide! I passed her cottage in my way;she blushed and
sighed when I jested her about you; Excellency!〃
〃Well; Paolo! I thank thee for so charming an introduction。
Thine must be a rare life。〃
〃Ah; Excellency; while we are young; nothing like adventure;
except love; wine; and laughter!〃
〃Very true。 Farewell; Maestro Paolo; we will talk more with each
other in a few days。〃
All that morning Glyndon was almost overpowered with the new
sentiment of happiness that had entered into him。 He roamed into
the woods; and he felt a pleasure that resembled his earlier life
of an artist; but a pleasure yet more subtle and vivid; in the
various colours of the autumn foliage。 Certainly Nature seemed
to be brought closer to him; he comprehended better all that
Mejnour had often preached to him of the mystery of sympathies
and attractions。 He was about to enter into the same law as
those mute children of the forests。 He was to know THE RENEWAL
OF LIFE; the seasons that chilled to winter should yet bring
again the bloom and the mirth of spring。 Man's common existence
is as one year to the vegetable world: he has his spring; his
summer; his autumn; and winter;but only ONCE。 But the giant
oaks round him go through a revolving series of verdure and
youth; and the green of the centenarian is as vivid in the beams
of May as that of the sapling by its side。 〃Mine shall be your
spring; but not your winter!〃 exclaimed the aspirant。
Wrapped in these sanguine and joyous reveries; Glyndon; quitting
the woods; found himself amidst cultivated fields and vineyards
to which his footstep had not before wandered; and there stood;
by the skirts of a green lane that reminded him of verdant
England; a modest house;half cottage; half farm。 The door was
open; and he saw a girl at work with her distaff。 She looked up;
uttered a slight cry; and; tripping gayly into the lane to his
side; he recognised the dark…eyed Fillide。
〃Hist!〃 she said; archly putting her finger to her lip; 〃do not
speak loud;my mother is asleep within; and I knew you would
come to see me。 It is kind!〃
Glyndon; with a little embarrassment; accepted the compliment to
his kindness; which he did not exactly deserve。 〃You have
thought; then; of me; fair Fillide?〃
〃Yes;〃 answered the girl; colouring; but with