Latest / Last Days of Pompeii / 025 - Book 3 Chapter VIII

Transcript

025 - Book 3 Chapter VIII · Last Days of Pompeii

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Book three, Chapter eight of Last Days of Pompeii. This
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: LibriVox dot org. Recording by Anne Boulay. Last Days of
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: Pompeii by Edward G. Bulwer Lytten, Book three, Chapter eight.
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: Julia seeks our bases the results of that interview our
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: basis was seated in a chamber which opened on a
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: kind of balcony or portico that fronted his garden. His
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: cheek was pale and worn with the sufferings he had endured,
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: but his iron frame had already recovered from the severest
• 0:43
  Speaker 1: effects of that accident which had frustrated his fell designs.
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: In the moment of victory, the air that came fragrantly
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: to his brow revived his languid senses, and the blood
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: circulated more freely than it had done for days through
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: his shrunken veins. So then he thought, the storm of
• 1:02
  Speaker 1: fate has broken and blown over. The evil which my
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: lore predicted threatening life itself has chanced, and yet I live.
• 1:12
  Speaker 1: It came as the stars foretold, and now the long,
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: bright and prosperous career, which was to succeed that evil
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: if I survived it, smiles beyond I have passed. I
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: have subdued the latest danger of my destiny. Now I
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: have but to lay out the gardens of my future fate,
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: unterrified and secure. First, then of all my pleasures, even
• 1:38
  Speaker 1: before that of love, shall come revenge. This Greek boy,
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: who has crossed my passion, thwarted my designs, baffled me
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: even when the blade was about to drink his accursed blood,
• 1:53
  Speaker 1: shall not a second time escape me. But for the
• 1:57
  Speaker 1: method of my vengeance. Of that, let me ponder well,
• 2:01
  Speaker 1: o atte, if thou art indeed a goddess, fill me
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: with thy direst inspiration. The Egyptian sank into an intent
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: reverie which did not seem to present to him any
• 2:13
  Speaker 1: clear or satisfactory suggestions. He changed his position restlessly as
• 2:18
  Speaker 1: he revolved scheme after scheme, which no sooner occurred than
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: it was dismissed. Several times, he struck his breast and
• 2:25
  Speaker 1: groaned aloud with the desire of vengeance and a sense
• 2:29
  Speaker 1: of his impotence to accomplish it. While thus absorbed a
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: boy's slave timidly entered the chamber. A female, evidently of
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: rank from her dress and that of the single slave
• 2:41
  Speaker 1: who attended her, waited below and sought an audience with
• 2:44
  Speaker 1: our bases. A female. His heart beat quick. Is she young?
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: Her face is concealed by her veil, but her form
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: is slight, yet round as that of youth. Admit her,
• 2:58
  Speaker 1: said the Egyptian. For a moment, his vain heart dreamed
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: the stranger might be Ione. The first glance of the
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: visitor now entering the apartment sufficed to undeceive so erring
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: a fancy. True, she was about the same height as Ione,
• 3:13
  Speaker 1: and perhaps the same age. True she was finely and
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: richly formed. But where was that undulating and ineffable grace
• 3:21
  Speaker 1: which accompanied every motion of that peerless Neapolitan. The chase
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: and decorous garb, so simple even in the care of
• 3:29
  Speaker 1: its arrangement, the dignified yet bashful step, the majesty of
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: womanhood and its modesty. Pardon me that I rise with pain,
• 3:39
  Speaker 1: said Arbasis, gazing at the stranger. I am still suffering
• 3:43
  Speaker 1: from recent illness. Do not disturb thyself, O great Egyptian,
• 3:47
  Speaker 1: returned Julia, seeking to disguise the fear she already experienced
• 3:52
  Speaker 1: beneath the ready resort of flattery, And forgive an unfortunate
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: female who seeks consolation from thy wisdom. Draw nearer, fair Stranger,
• 4:01
  Speaker 1: said our basis, and speak without apprehension or reserve. Julia
• 4:07
  Speaker 1: placed herself on a seat beside the Egyptian and wonderingly
• 4:11
  Speaker 1: gazed around an apartment whose elaborate and costly luxuries shamed
• 4:15
  Speaker 1: even the ornate enrichment of her father's mansion. Fearfully, too,
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: she regarded the hieroglyphical inscriptions on the walls, the faces
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: of the mysterious images which at every corner gazed upon her,
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: the tripod at a little distance, and above all, the
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: grave and remarkable countenance of our bases himself. A long
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: white robe, like a veil, half covered his raven locks
• 4:39
  Speaker 1: and flowed to his feet. His face was made even
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: more impressive by its present paleness, and his dark and
• 4:45
  Speaker 1: penetrating eyes seemed to pierce the shelter of her veil
• 4:49
  Speaker 1: and explore the secrets of her vein and unfeminine soul.
• 4:53
  Speaker 1: And what said, his low, deep voice, brings the o
• 4:58
  Speaker 1: maiden to the house of the Eastern Stranger. His fame,
• 5:03
  Speaker 1: replied Julia in what he said, with a strange and
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: slight smile, canst thou ask o wise ar bases? Is
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: not thy knowledge the very gossip theme of Pompeii, some
• 5:17
  Speaker 1: little lore I have indeed treasured up, replied our bases.
• 5:22
  Speaker 1: But in what can such serious and sterile secrets benefit
• 5:26
  Speaker 1: the ear of beauty? Alas said Julia, a little cheered
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: by the accustomed accents of adulation does not sorrow fly
• 5:35
  Speaker 1: to wisdom for relief. And they who love unrequitedly are
• 5:40
  Speaker 1: not they the chosen victims of grief? Ha said our basis,
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: can unrequite to love be the lot of so fair
• 5:48
  Speaker 1: a form whose model proportions are visible even beneath the
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: folds of thy graceful robe, deign o maiden, to lift
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: thy veil that I may see, at least if the
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: face correspond in loveliness with the form. Not unwilling perhaps
• 6:06
  Speaker 1: to exhibit her charms and thinking they were likely to
• 6:09
  Speaker 1: interest the magician in her fate, Julia, after some slight hesitation,
• 6:14
  Speaker 1: raised her veil and revealed a beauty which, but for art,
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: had been indeed attractive to the fixed gaze of the
• 6:21
  Speaker 1: Egyptian thou comest to me for advice and unhappy love?
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: He said, Well, turn that face on the ungrateful one.
• 6:30
  Speaker 1: What other love charm can I give THEE? Oh, cease
• 6:34
  Speaker 1: these courtesies, said Julia. It is a love charm, indeed,
• 6:38
  Speaker 1: that I would ask from thy skill fair stranger, replied
• 6:41
  Speaker 1: ar Basis, somewhat scornfully. Love spells are not among the
• 6:45
  Speaker 1: secrets I have wasted the midnight oil to attain, Is
• 6:49
  Speaker 1: it indeed so? Then? Pardon me? Grate ar Basis, and farewell. Stay,
• 6:55
  Speaker 1: said ar Basis, who, despite his passion for ione, was
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: not unmoved by the beauty of his visitor, and, had
• 7:03
  Speaker 1: he been in the flesh of a more assured health,
• 7:06
  Speaker 1: might have attempted to console the fair Julia by other
• 7:09
  Speaker 1: means than those of supernatural wisdom. Stay. Although I confess
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: that I have left the witchery of filters and potions
• 7:18
  Speaker 1: to those whose trade is in such knowledge, yet I
• 7:21
  Speaker 1: am myself not so dull to beauty, but that in
• 7:24
  Speaker 1: earlier youth I may have employed them in my own behalf,
• 7:29
  Speaker 1: I may give THEE advice at least, if thou wilt
• 7:32
  Speaker 1: be candid with me, tell me then, first art thou
• 7:36
  Speaker 1: unmarried as thy dress betokens, yes, said Julia, And being
• 7:42
  Speaker 1: unblessed with fortune, wouldst thou allure some wealthy suitor. I
• 7:46
  Speaker 1: am richer than he who disdains me, strange and more strange.
• 7:52
  Speaker 1: And thou lovest him who loves not thee I know
• 7:56
  Speaker 1: not if I love him, answered Julia haughtily. But I
• 8:00
  Speaker 1: know that I would see myself triumph over a rival.
• 8:04
  Speaker 1: I would see him who rejected me my suitor. I
• 8:08
  Speaker 1: would see her whom he has preferred in her turn
• 8:11
  Speaker 1: despised a natural ambition and a womanly, said the Egyptian,
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: in a tone too grave for irony, yet more fair, maiden,
• 8:20
  Speaker 1: wilt thou confide to me the name of thy lover?
• 8:24
  Speaker 1: Can he be Pompeiian and despise wealth, even if blind
• 8:28
  Speaker 1: to beauty? He is of Athens, answered Julia, looking down.
• 8:34
  Speaker 1: Ha cried the Egyptian impetuously, as the blood rushed to
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: his cheek. There is but one Athenian young and noble
• 8:42
  Speaker 1: in Pompeii. Can it be Glaucus, of whom thou speakest
• 8:46
  Speaker 1: ah betray me? Not so? Indeed they call him? The
• 8:51
  Speaker 1: Egyptian sank back, gazing vacantly, on the averted face of
• 8:54
  Speaker 1: the merchant's daughter, and muttering inly to himself this conference
• 8:59
  Speaker 1: with which he had hitherto only trifled, amusing himself with
• 9:03
  Speaker 1: the credulity and vanity of his visitor. Might it not
• 9:06
  Speaker 1: minister to his revenge? I see thou canst assist me not,
• 9:11
  Speaker 1: said Julia, offended by his continued silence, Guard at least
• 9:15
  Speaker 1: my secret once more. Farewell, maiden, said the Egyptian, in
• 9:21
  Speaker 1: an earnest and serious tone. Thy suit hath touched me.
• 9:25
  Speaker 1: I will minister to thy will listen to me. I
• 9:28
  Speaker 1: have not myself dabbled in these lesser mysteries, but I
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: know one who hath at the base of Vesuvius, less
• 9:36
  Speaker 1: than a league from the city. There dwells a powerful
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: witch beneath the ranked us of the new Moon. She
• 9:42
  Speaker 1: has gathered the herbs which possess the virtue to chain
• 9:45
  Speaker 1: love in eternal fetters. Her art can bring thy lover
• 9:49
  Speaker 1: to thy feet, Seek her, and mention to her the
• 9:52
  Speaker 1: name of our bases. She fears that name, and will
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: give thee her most potent filters. Alas answered Julia, I
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: know not the road to the home of her whom
• 10:03
  Speaker 1: thou speakest of the way, short, though it be, is
• 10:07
  Speaker 1: long to traverse for a girl who leaves unknown the
• 10:10
  Speaker 1: house of her father. The country is entangled with wild
• 10:14
  Speaker 1: vines and dangerous with precipitous caverns. I dare not trust
• 10:18
  Speaker 1: to mere strangers to guide me. The reputation of women
• 10:22
  Speaker 1: of my rank is easily tarnished. And though I care
• 10:25
  Speaker 1: not who knows that I love Glaucus. I would not
• 10:29
  Speaker 1: have it imagined that I obtained his love by a spell,
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: were I but three days advanced in health, said the Egyptian,
• 10:36
  Speaker 1: rising and walking as if to try his strength across
• 10:39
  Speaker 1: the chamber. But with irregular and feeble steps, I myself
• 10:44
  Speaker 1: would accompany thee Well, thou must wait. But Glaucus is
• 10:48
  Speaker 1: soon to wed. The hated Neapolitan wed yes in the
• 10:53
  Speaker 1: early part of next month. So soon art thou well
• 10:57
  Speaker 1: advised of this from the lips of her own slave.
• 11:01
  Speaker 1: It shall not be said the Egyptian impestuously fear nothing.
• 11:06
  Speaker 1: Glaucus shall be thine. Yet, how when thou obtainest it,
• 11:11
  Speaker 1: canst thou administer to him this potion? My father has
• 11:14
  Speaker 1: invited him, and I believe the Neopolitan also to a
• 11:19
  Speaker 1: banquet on the day following tomorrow, I shall then have
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: the opportunity to administer it. So be it said the Egyptian,
• 11:27
  Speaker 1: with eyes flashing such fierce joy that Julius gaze saint
• 11:31
  Speaker 1: trembling beneath them. Tomorrow, Eve, then order thy litter. Thou
• 11:35
  Speaker 1: hast one at thy command. Surely, yes, returned the purse,
• 11:40
  Speaker 1: proud Julia, order thy litter. At two miles distance from
• 11:44
  Speaker 1: the city is a house of entertainment frequented by the
• 11:47
  Speaker 1: wealthier Pompeians. From the excellence of its baths and the
• 11:51
  Speaker 1: beauty of its gardens. There canst thou pretend only to
• 11:55
  Speaker 1: shape thy course there ill or dying. I will meet
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: thee by the statue of Selinus in the copes that
• 12:02
  Speaker 1: skirts the garden, and I myself will guide thee to
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: the witch. Let us wait till with the evening star
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: the goats of the herdsman are gone to rest. When
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: the dark twilight conceals us, and none shall cross our steps,
• 12:16
  Speaker 1: go home, and fear not by Hades swears our bases
• 12:21
  Speaker 1: the sorcerer of Egypt, that Ione shall never wed with Glaucus,
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: and that Glaucus shall be mine, added Julia, filling up
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: the incomplete sentence thou hast said, it replied our bases,
• 12:35
  Speaker 1: and Julia, half frightened at this unhallowed appointment, but urged
• 12:39
  Speaker 1: on by jealousy and the peak of rivalship even more
• 12:43
  Speaker 1: than love, resolved to fulfill it. Left alone. Our bases
• 12:47
  Speaker 1: burst forth bright stars that never lie. Ye already begin
• 12:52
  Speaker 1: the execution of your promises, success in love and victory
• 12:56
  Speaker 1: over foes, for the rest of my smooth existence. In
• 13:00
  Speaker 1: the very hour when my mind could devise no clue
• 13:03
  Speaker 1: to the goal of vengeance, have ye sent this fair
• 13:06
  Speaker 1: fool for my guide? He paused in deep thought. Yes,
• 13:11
  Speaker 1: he said again, but in a calmer voice. I could
• 13:14
  Speaker 1: not myself have given to her the poison that shall
• 13:17
  Speaker 1: indeed be a filter. His death might be thus tracked
• 13:20
  Speaker 1: to my door. But the which ay there is the
• 13:24
  Speaker 1: fit then natural agent of my designs. He summoned one
• 13:29
  Speaker 1: of his slaves, bade him Hasten to track the steps
• 13:32
  Speaker 1: of Julia and acquaint himself with her name and condition.
• 13:36
  Speaker 1: This done, he stepped forth into the portico. The skies
• 13:39
  Speaker 1: were serene and clear, but he deeply read in the
• 13:43
  Speaker 1: signs of various change beheld in one mass of cloud
• 13:47
  Speaker 1: far on the horizon. Which the wind began slowly to agitate,
• 13:51
  Speaker 1: that a storm was brooding above. It is like my vengeance,
• 13:55
  Speaker 1: he said, as he gazed. The sky is clear, but
• 13:58
  Speaker 1: the cloud moves on. End of Book three, Chapter eight,