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028 - Book 3 Chapter XI · Last Days of Pompeii

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  Speaker 1: Book three, Chapter eleven of Last Days of Pompeii. This
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  Speaker 1: is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the
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  Speaker 1: public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox dot org. Recording by Anne Boulay. Last Days of
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  Speaker 1: Pompeii by Edward G. Bulwer Lytten, Book three, Chapter eleven,
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  Speaker 1: Progress of events. The plot thickens, the web is woven,
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  Speaker 1: but the net changes hands. And you have the courage, then, Julia,
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  Speaker 1: to seek the witch of Vesuvius this evening in company
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  Speaker 1: two with that fearful man. Why Nydia, replied Julia timidly.
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  Speaker 1: Dost thou really think there is anything to dread? These
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  Speaker 1: old hags, with their enchanted mirrors, their trembling sieves, and
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  Speaker 1: their moon gathered herbs, are, I imagine, but crafty impostors
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  Speaker 1: who have learned perhaps nothing but the very charm for
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  Speaker 1: which I apply to their and which is drawn from
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  Speaker 1: the knowledge of the fields, herbs and simples. Wherefore should
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  Speaker 1: I dread? Dost thou not, fear thy companion? What are bases?
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  Speaker 1: By Diane? I never saw a lover more courteous than
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  Speaker 1: that same magician, And were he not so dark he
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  Speaker 1: would be even handsome. Blind as she was, Nydia had
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  Speaker 1: the penetration to perceive that Julia's mind was not one
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  Speaker 1: that the gallantries of our basies were likely to terrify.
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  Speaker 1: She therefore dissuaded her no more, but nursed in her
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  Speaker 1: excited heart the wild and increasing desire to know if
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  Speaker 1: sorcery had indeed a spell to fascinate love to love.
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  Speaker 1: Let me go with THEE. Noble Julia, she said, at length,
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  Speaker 1: My presence is no protection, but I should like to
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  Speaker 1: be beside THEE to the last. Thine offer pleases me much,
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  Speaker 1: replied the daughter of diomed. Yet how canst thou contrive it?
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  Speaker 1: We may not return until late. They will miss THEE.
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  Speaker 1: I is indulgent, replied Nydia. If thou wilt permit me
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  Speaker 1: to sleep beneath thy roof, I will say that thou,
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  Speaker 1: an early patroness and friend, hast invited me to pass
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  Speaker 1: the day with THEE and sing THEE my Thessalian songs.
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  Speaker 1: Her courtesy will readily grant to THEE so light a boon.
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  Speaker 1: Nay ask for thyself, said the haughty Julia. I stoop
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  Speaker 1: to request no favor from the Neopolitan. Well be it so,
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  Speaker 1: I will take my leave. Now make my request, which
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  Speaker 1: I know will be readily granted, and return shortly. Do so,
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  Speaker 1: and thy bed shall be prepared in my own chamber.
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  Speaker 1: With that, Nydia left the fair of Pompeian. On her
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  Speaker 1: way back to Ione, she was met by the chariot
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  Speaker 1: of Glaucus, on whose fiery and curveting steeds was riveted
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  Speaker 1: the gaze of the crowded street. He kindly stopped for
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  Speaker 1: a moment to speak to the flower girl blooming as
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  Speaker 1: thine own roses. My gentle Nydia, And how is thy
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  Speaker 1: fair mistress recovered? I trust from the effects of the storm.
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  Speaker 1: I have not seen her this morning, answered Nydia. But
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  Speaker 1: but what draw back? The horses are too near thee
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  Speaker 1: But think you Ione will permit me to pass the
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  Speaker 1: day with Julia, the daughter of diomed. She wishes it
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  Speaker 1: and was kind to me when I had few friends.
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  Speaker 1: The gods bless thy grateful heart. I will answer for
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  Speaker 1: Ione's permission. Then may I stay over the night and
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  Speaker 1: return tomorrow, said Nydia, shrinking from the praise she so
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  Speaker 1: little merited. As thou and fair Julia, please commend me
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  Speaker 1: to her and heark ye Nydia. When thou hearest her speak,
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  Speaker 1: Note the contrasts of her voice with that of the
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  Speaker 1: silver toned Ione Balih, his spirits entirely recovered from the
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  Speaker 1: effect of the past night, his locks waving in the wind,
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  Speaker 1: his joyous and elastic heart bounding with every spring of
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  Speaker 1: his Parthian steeds. A very prototype of his country's God,
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  Speaker 1: full of youth and of love. Glaucus was born rapidly
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  Speaker 1: to his mistress enjoy while ye may the present who
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  Speaker 1: can read the future. As the evening darkened, Julia reclined
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  Speaker 1: within her litter, which was capacious enough also to admit
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  Speaker 1: her blind companion, took her way to the rural baths
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  Speaker 1: indicated by arbases to her natural levity of disposition, Her
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  Speaker 1: enterprise brought less of terror than of pleasurable excitement. Above all,
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  Speaker 1: she glowed at the thought of her coming triumph over
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  Speaker 1: the hated Neopolitan. A small but gay group was collected
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  Speaker 1: round the door of the villa as her litter passed
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  Speaker 1: by it to the private entrance of the baths appropriated
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  Speaker 1: to the women. Methinks by this dim light, said one
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  Speaker 1: of the bystanders, I recognize the slaves of Diomed. True,
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  Speaker 1: Clodius said Seleuste. It is probably the litter of his
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  Speaker 1: daughter Julia. She is rich, my friend. Why dost thou
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  Speaker 1: not pro offfer thy suit to her? Why I had
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  Speaker 1: once hoped that Glaucus would have married her? She does
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  Speaker 1: not disguise her attachment. And then, as he gambles freely
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  Speaker 1: and with ill success, the sesterstes would have passed to thee.
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  Speaker 1: Wise Clodius, A wife is a good thing when it
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  Speaker 1: belongs to another man, but continued Clodius, as Glaucus is,
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  Speaker 1: I understand to wed the neopolitan. I think I must
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  Speaker 1: even try my chance with the dejected maid. After all,
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  Speaker 1: the lamp of hymen will be guilt and the vessel
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  Speaker 1: will reconcile one to the odor of the flame. I
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  Speaker 1: shall only protest my salute against Diomed's making thee trustee
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  Speaker 1: to his daughter's fortune. Ha ha, let us within, my commissitor,
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  Speaker 1: the wine and the garlands await us. Dismissing her slaves
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  Speaker 1: to that part of the house set apart for their entertainment,
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  Speaker 1: Julia entered the baths with Nydia, and, declining the offers
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  Speaker 1: of the attendants, pass by a private door into the
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  Speaker 1: garden behind. She comes by appointment. Be sure, said one
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  Speaker 1: of the slaves. What is that to thee said a superintendent, sourly.
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  Speaker 1: She pays for the baths and does not waste the saffron.
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  Speaker 1: Such appointments are the best part the trade. Hark, do
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  Speaker 1: you not hear the widow fulvia clapping her hands, run
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  Speaker 1: full run. Julia and Nydia, avoiding the more public part
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  Speaker 1: of the garden, arrived at the place specified by the Egyptian,
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  Speaker 1: in a small circular plot of grass. The stars gleamed
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  Speaker 1: upon the statue of Selinus, the merry god, reclined upon
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  Speaker 1: a fragment of rock the lengths of Bacchus. At his
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  Speaker 1: feet and over his mouth, he held with extended arm
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  Speaker 1: a bunch of grapes, which he seemingly laughed to welcome
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  Speaker 1: ere he devoured. I see not the magician, said Julia,
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  Speaker 1: looking round, when as she spoke, the Egyptian slowly emerged
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  Speaker 1: from the neighboring foliage, and the light fell palely over
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  Speaker 1: his sweeping robes. Salvea ae, sweet maiden. But ha, whom
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  Speaker 1: hast thou here? We must have no companions? It is
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  Speaker 1: but the blind flower girl wise magician replied Julia herself
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  Speaker 1: a Thessallian. Oh Nitdia, said the Egyptian, I know her well.
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  Speaker 1: Nidia drew back and shuddered. Thou hast been at my house, methinks,
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  Speaker 1: said he, approaching his voice to Nydia's ear. Thou knowest
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  Speaker 1: the oath silence and secrecy now as then? Or beware Yet,
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  Speaker 1: he added musingly to himself, Why can find more than
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  Speaker 1: is necessary? Even in the blind? Julia? Canst thou trust
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  Speaker 1: thyself alone with me? Believe me, the magician is less
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  Speaker 1: formidable than he seems. As he spoke, he gently drew
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  Speaker 1: Julia aside. The witch loves not many visitors. At once,
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  Speaker 1: said he leave Nydia here till your return. She can
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  Speaker 1: be of no assistance to us, and for protection your
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  Speaker 1: own beauty suffices, your own beauty and your own rank. Yes, Julia,
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  Speaker 1: I know thy name and birth. Come trust thyself with me.
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  Speaker 1: Fair rival of the youngest of the Naiads, the vain
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  Speaker 1: Julia was not, as we have seen, easily affrighted. She
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  Speaker 1: was moved by the flattery of our bases, and she
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  Speaker 1: readily consented to suffer Nydia to await her return. Nor
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  Speaker 1: did Nidia press her presence. At the sound of the
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  Speaker 1: Egyptian's voice, all her terror of him returned. She felt
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  Speaker 1: a sentiment of pleasure at learning she was not to
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  Speaker 1: travel in his companionship. She returned to the bath house,
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  Speaker 1: and in one of the private chambers waited their return.
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  Speaker 1: Many and bitter were the thoughts of this wild girl
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  Speaker 1: as she sat there in her eternal darkness. She thought
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  Speaker 1: of her own desolate fate, far from her native land,
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  Speaker 1: far from the bland, cares that once the sewage the
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  Speaker 1: april sorrows of childhood, deprived of the light of day,
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  Speaker 1: with none but strangers to guide her steps, a curse
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  Speaker 1: by the one soft feeling of her heart, loving and
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  Speaker 1: without hope, save the dim and unholy ray which shot
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  Speaker 1: across her mind as her Thessalian fancies questioned of the
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  Speaker 1: force of spells and the gifts of magic nature had
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  Speaker 1: sown in the heart of this poor girl. The seeds
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  Speaker 1: of virtue never destined to ripen. The lessons of adversity
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  Speaker 1: were not always salutary. Sometimes they softened and amend, but
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  Speaker 1: as often they indurate and pervert. If we consider ourselves
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  Speaker 1: more harshly treated by fate than those around us, and
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  Speaker 1: do not acknowledge in our own deeds the justice of
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  Speaker 1: the severity. We become too apt to deem the world
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  Speaker 1: our enemy, to case ourselves in defiance, to wrestle against
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  Speaker 1: our softer self, and to indulge the darker passions which
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  Speaker 1: are so easily fermented by the sense of injustice. Sold
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  Speaker 1: early into slavery, sentenced to as sordid taskmaster, exchanging her
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  Speaker 1: situation only yet more to embitter her lot. The kindlier
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  Speaker 1: feelings naturally profuse in the breast of Nydia were nipped
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  Speaker 1: and blighted. Her sense of right and wrong was confused
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  Speaker 1: by a passion to which she had so madly surrendered herself,
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  Speaker 1: and the same intense and tragic emotions which we read
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  Speaker 1: of in the women of the classic age A Mirah,
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  Speaker 1: a Medea, and which hurried and swept away the whole soul,
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  Speaker 1: when once delivered to love, ruled and rioted in her breast.
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  Speaker 1: Time passed. A light step entered the chamber, where Nydia
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  Speaker 1: yet indulged her gloomy meditations. Oh thank me, the immortal gods, said, Julia,
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  Speaker 1: I have returned. I have left that terrible cavern. Come, Nydia,
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  Speaker 1: let us away forthwith. It was not till they were
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  Speaker 1: seated in the litter that Julia spoke again. Oh, she said, tremblingly,
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  Speaker 1: such a scene, such fearful incantations, and the dead face
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  Speaker 1: of the hag. But let us talk not of it.
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  Speaker 1: I have obtained the potion, she pleasures its effect. My
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  Speaker 1: rival shall be suddenly indifferent to his eye, and I
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  Speaker 1: I alone the idol of Glaucus. Glaucus, exclaimed Nydia. Ay.
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  Speaker 1: I told thee girl at first that it was not
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  Speaker 1: the Athenian whom I loved. But I see now that
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  Speaker 1: I may trust thee holy it is the beautiful Greek.
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  Speaker 1: What then were Nydia's emotions? She had connived she had
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  Speaker 1: assisted in tearing Glaucus from Ione, but only to transfer,
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  Speaker 1: by all the power of magic, his affections yet more
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  Speaker 1: hopelessly to another. Her heart swelled almost to suffocation. She
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  Speaker 1: gasped for breath in the darkness of the vehicle. Julia
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  Speaker 1: did not perceive the agitation of her companion. She went
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  Speaker 1: on rapidly dilating on the promised effect of her acquisition
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  Speaker 1: and on her approaching triumph over Ione, every now and
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  Speaker 1: then abruptly digressing to the horror of the scenes. She
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  Speaker 1: had quitted the unmoved mien of ar Bases and his
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  Speaker 1: authority over the dreadful saga. Meanwhile, Nydia recovered her self possession.
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  Speaker 1: A thought flashed across her. She slept in the chamber
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  Speaker 1: of Julia, she might possess herself of the potion. They
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  Speaker 1: arrived at the house of Diomed and descended to Julia's apartment,
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  Speaker 1: where the night's repass awaited them. Drink, Nydia, Thou must
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  Speaker 1: be cold. The air was chilled tonight. As for me,
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  Speaker 1: my veins are yet ice. And Julia un hesitatingly quake
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  Speaker 1: deep drafts of the spiced wine. Thou hast the potion,
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  Speaker 1: said Nydia. Let me hold it in my hands. How
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  Speaker 1: small the file is? Of what color? Is the draft
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  Speaker 1: clear as crystal? Replied Julia, as she retook the filter.
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  Speaker 1: Thou couldst not tell it from this water, the which
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  Speaker 1: assures me it is tasteless, small though the file it
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  Speaker 1: suffices for a life's fidelity. It is to be poured
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  Speaker 1: into any liquid, and Glaucus will only know what he
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  Speaker 1: has quaked by the effect exactly like this water in appearance, yes,
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  Speaker 1: sparkling and colorless as this, How bright it seems it
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  Speaker 1: is as the very essence of moonlit dews bright thing.
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  Speaker 1: How thou shinest on my hopes through thy crystal vase?
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  Speaker 1: And how is it sealed? But by one little stopper?
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  Speaker 1: I withdraw it now. The draft gives no odor strange
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  Speaker 1: that that which speaks to neither sense should thus command all.
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  Speaker 1: Is the effect instantaneous usually, but sometimes it remains dormant
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  Speaker 1: for a few hours. Oh how sweet is this perfume?
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  Speaker 1: Said Nitia suddenly, as she took up a small bottle
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  Speaker 1: on the table and bent over its fragrant contents. Thinkest thou,
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  Speaker 1: so the bottle is set with gems of some value?
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  Speaker 1: Thou wouldst not have the bracelet? Yester morn, wilt thou
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  Speaker 1: take the bottle? It ought to be such perfumes as
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  Speaker 1: these that should remind one who cannot see of the
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  Speaker 1: generous Julia. If the bottle be not too costly, oh,
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  Speaker 1: I have a thousand costlier ones. Take it, child. Nitia
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  Speaker 1: bowed her gratitude and placed the bottle in her vest.
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  Speaker 1: And the draft would be equally efficacious whoever administers it.
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  Speaker 1: If the most hideous hag beneath the sun bestowed it.
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  Speaker 1: Such is its asserted virtue that Glaucus would deem her beautiful,
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  Speaker 1: and none but her. Julia, warmed by the wine, and
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  Speaker 1: the reaction of her spirits, was now all animation and delight.
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  Speaker 1: She laughed loud and topped on a hundred matters. Nor
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  Speaker 1: was it till the night had advanced far towards morning
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  Speaker 1: that she summoned her slaves and undressed. When they were dismissed,
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  Speaker 1: she said to Nitdia, I will not suffer this holy
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  Speaker 1: draft to quit my presence till the hour comes for
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  Speaker 1: its use. Lie under my pillow, bright spirit, and give
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  Speaker 1: me happy dreams, so saying, she placed the potion under
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  Speaker 1: her pillow. Nydia's heart beat violently. Why dost thou drink
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  Speaker 1: that unmixed water? Nitia, take the wine by its side.
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  Speaker 1: I am fevered, replied the blind girl, and the water
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  Speaker 1: cools me. I will place this bottle by my bedside.
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  Speaker 1: It refreshes in these summer nights, when the dews of
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  Speaker 1: sleep fall, not on our lips. Fear, Julia, I must
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  Speaker 1: leave thee very early, so Ione bids, perhaps before thou
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  Speaker 1: art to wake. Except therefore now my congratulations, thanks. When
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  Speaker 1: next we meet, you may find Glaucus at my feet.
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  Speaker 1: They had retired to their couches, and Julia, worn out
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  Speaker 1: by the excitement of the day, soon slept. But anxious
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  Speaker 1: and burning thoughts rolled over the mind of the wakeful Thessalian.
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  Speaker 1: She listened to the calm breathing of Julia, and her ear,
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  Speaker 1: accustomed to the finest distinctions of sound, speedily assured her
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  Speaker 1: of the deep slumber of her companion. Now befriend me, Venus,
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  Speaker 1: she said softly. She rose gently and poured the perfume
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  Speaker 1: from the gift of Julia upon the marble floor. She
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  Speaker 1: rinsed it several times, carefully with the water that was
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  Speaker 1: beside her, and then, easily finding the bed of Julia,
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  Speaker 1: for night to her was as day, she pressed her
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  Speaker 1: trembling hand under the pillow and seized the potion. Julia stirred,
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  Speaker 1: not her breath regularly fanned the burning cheek of the
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  Speaker 1: blind girl Nydia, then, opening the file, poured its contents
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  Speaker 1: into the bottle, which easily contained them, and then refilling
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  Speaker 1: the former reservoir of the potion with that limpid water
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  Speaker 1: which Julia had assured her it so resembled, she once
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  Speaker 1: more placed the file in its former place. She then
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  Speaker 1: stole again to her couch and waited with what thoughts.
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  Speaker 1: The dawning day, the sun had risen. Julia slept still,
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  Speaker 1: media noiselessly dressed herself, placed her treasure carefully in her vest,
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  Speaker 1: took up her staff, and hastened to quit the house.
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  Speaker 1: The porter Meaden saluted her kindly as she descended the
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  Speaker 1: steps that led to the street. She heard him not,
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  Speaker 1: Her mind was confused and lost in the world tumultuous thoughts,
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  Speaker 1: each thought of passion. She felt a pure morning air
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  Speaker 1: upon her cheek, but it cooled not her scorching veins. Glaucus,
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  Speaker 1: she murmured. All the love charms of the wildest magic
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  Speaker 1: could not make THEE love me as I love thee.
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  Speaker 1: Ione ah away, hesitation away, remorse, Glaucus. My fate is
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  Speaker 1: in thy smile and thine hope, Oh joy, oh transport.
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  Speaker 1: Thy fate is in these hands. End of Book three,
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  Speaker 1: Chapter eleven,