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that isle there are the bituminous springs which Herodotus has
commemorated。 Often at night； the moon； at least； beheld him
emerging from the myrtle and cystus that clothe the hillocks
around the marsh that imbeds the pools containing the inflammable
materia； all the medical uses of which； as applied to the nerves
of organic life； modern science has not yet perhaps explored。
Yet more often would he pass his hours in a cavern； by the
loneliest part of the beach； where the stalactites seem almost
arranged by the hand of art； and which the superstition of the
peasants associates； in some ancient legends； with the numerous
and almost incessant earthquakes to which the island is so
singularly subjected。
Whatever the pursuits that instigated these wanderings and
favoured these haunts； either they were linked with； or else
subordinate to； one main and master desire； which every fresh day
passed in the sweet human company of Viola confirmed and
strengthened。
The scene that Glyndon had witnessed in his trance was faithful
to truth。 And some little time after the date of that night；
Viola was dimly aware that an influence； she knew not of what
nature； was struggling to establish itself over her happy life。
Visions indistinct and beautiful； such as those she had known in
her earlier days； but more constant and impressive； began to
haunt her night and day when Zanoni was absent； to fade in his
presence； and seem less fair than THAT。 Zanoni questioned her
eagerly and minutely of these visitations； but seemed
dissatisfied； and at times perplexed； by her answers。
〃Tell me not；〃 he said； one day； 〃of those unconnected images；
those evolutions of starry shapes in a choral dance； or those
delicious melodies that seem to thee of the music and the
language of the distant spheres。 Has no ONE shape been to thee
more distinct and more beautiful than the rest；no voice
uttering； or seeming to utter； thine own tongue； and whispering
to thee of strange secrets and solemn knowledge？〃
〃No； all is confused in these dreams； whether of day or night；
and when at the sound of thy footsteps I recover； my memory
retains nothing but a vague impression of happiness。 How
differenthow coldto the rapture of hanging on thy smile； and
listening to thy voice； when it says； 'I love thee！'〃
〃Yet； how is it that visions less fair than these once seemed to
thee so alluring？ How is it that they then stirred thy fancies
and filled thy heart？ Once thou didst desire a fairy…land； and
now thou seemest so contented with common life。〃
〃Have I not explained it to thee before？ Is it common life；
then； to love； and to live with the one we love？ My true
fairy…land is won！ Speak to me of no other。〃
And so night surprised them by the lonely beach； and Zanoni；
allured from his sublimer projects； and bending over that tender
face； forgot that； in the Harmonious Infinite which spread
around； there were other worlds than that one human heart。
CHAPTER 4。IX。
There is a principle of the soul； superior to all nature； through
which we are capable of surpassing the order and systems of the
world。 When the soul is elevated to natures better than itself；
THEN it is entirely separated from subordinate natures； exchanges
this for another life； and； deserting the order of things with
which it was connected； links and mingles itself with another。
Iamblichus。
〃Adon…Ai！ Adon…Ai！appear； appear！〃
And in the lonely cave； whence once had gone forth the oracles of
a heathen god； there emerged from the shadows of fantastic rocks
a luminous and gigantic column； glittering and shifting。 It
resembled the shining but misty spray which； seen afar off； a
fountain seems to send up on a starry night。 The radiance lit
the stalactites； the crags； the arches of the cave； and shed a
pale and tremulous splendour on the features of Zanoni。
〃Son of Eternal Light；〃 said the invoker； 〃thou to whose
knowledge； grade after grade； race after race； I attained at
last； on the broad Chaldean plains； thou from whom I have drawn
so largely of the unutterable knowledge that yet eternity alone
can suffice to drain； thou who； congenial with myself； so far as
our various beings will permit； hast been for centuries my
familiar and my friend；answer me and counsel！〃
From the column there emerged a shape of unimaginable glory。 Its
face was that of a man in its first youth； but solemn； as with
the consciousness of eternity and the tranquillity of wisdom；
light； like starbeams； flowed through its transparent veins；
light made its limbs themselves； and undulated； in restless
sparkles； through the waves of its dazzling hair。 With its arms
folded on its breast； it stood distant a few feet from Zanoni；
and its low voice murmured gently； 〃My counsels were sweet to
thee once； and once； night after night； thy soul could follow my
wings through the untroubled splendours of the Infinite。 Now
thou hast bound thyself back to the earth by its strongest
chains； and the attraction to the clay is more potent than the
sympathies that drew to thy charms the Dweller of the Starbeam
and the Air。 When last thy soul hearkened to me； the senses
already troubled thine intellect and obscured thy vision。 Once
again I come to thee； but thy power even to summon me to thy side
is fading from thy spirit； as sunshine fades from the wave when
the winds drive the cloud between the ocean and the sky。〃
〃Alas； Adon…Ai！〃 answered the seer； mournfully； 〃I know too well
the conditions of the being which thy presence was wont to
rejoice。 I know that our wisdom comes but from the indifference
to the things of the world which the wisdom masters。 The mirror
of the soul cannot reflect both earth and heaven； and the one
vanishes from the surface as the other is glassed upon its deeps。
But it is not to restore me to that sublime abstraction in which
the intellect； free and disembodied； rises； region after region；
to the spheres；that once again； and with the agony and travail
of enfeebled power I have called thee to mine aid。 I love； and
in love I begin to live in the sweet humanities of another。 If
wise； yet in all which makes danger powerless against myself； or
those on whom I can gaze from the calm height of indifferent
science； I am blind as the merest mortal to the destinies of the
creature that makes my heart beat with the passions which obscure
my gaze。〃
〃What matter！〃 answered Adon…Ai。 〃Thy love must be but a mockery
of the name； thou canst not love as they do for whom there are
death and the grave。 A short time；like a day in thy
incalculable life；and the form thou dotest on is dust！ Others
of the nether world go hand in hand； each with each； unto the
tomb； hand in hand they ascend from the worm to new cycles of
existence。 For thee； below are ages； for her； but hours。 And
for her and theeO poor； but mighty one！will there be even a
joint hereafter！ Through what grades and heavens of
spiritualised being will her soul have passed when thou； the
solitary loiterer； comest from the vapours of the earth to the
gates of light！〃
〃Son of the Starbeam； thinkest thou that this thought is not with
me forever； and seest thou not that I have invoked thee to
hearken and minister to my design？ Readest thou not my desire
and dream to raise the conditions of her being to my own？ Thou；
Adon…Ai； bathing the celestial joy that makes thy life in the
oceans of eternal splendour；thou； save by the sympathies of
knowledge； canst conjecture not what I； the offspring of mortals；
feeldebarred yet from the objects of the tremendous and sublime
ambition that first winged my desires above the claywhen I see
myself compelled to stand in this low world alone。 I have sought
amongst my tribe for comrades； and in vain。 At last I have found
a mate。 The wild bird and the wild beast have theirs； and my
mastery over the malignant tribes of terror can banish their
larvae from the path that shall lead her upward； till the air of
eternity fits the frame for the elixir that baffles death。〃
〃And thou hast begun the initiation； and thou art foiled！ I know
it。 Thou hast conjured to her sleep the fairest visions； thou
hast invoked the loveliest children of the air to murmur their
music to her trance； and her soul heeds them not； and； returning
to the earth； escapes from their control。 Blind one； wherefore？
canst thou not perceive？ Because in her soul all is love。 There
is no intermediate passion with which the things thou wouldst
charm to her have association and affinities。 Their attraction
is but to the desires and cravings of the INTELLECT。 What have
they with the PASSION that is of earth； and the HOPE that goes
direct to heaven？〃
〃But can there be no mediumno linkin which our souls； as our
hearts； can be united； and so mine may have influence over her
own？〃
〃Ask me not；thou wilt not