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026 - Book 3 Chapter IX · Last Days of Pompeii

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  Speaker 1: Book three, Chapter nine 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 nine.
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  Speaker 1: Storm in the South, the Witch's Cavern. It was when
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  Speaker 1: the heats of noon died gradually away from the earth
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  Speaker 1: that Glaucus and Ione went forth to enjoy the cooled
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  Speaker 1: and grateful air. At that time, various carriages were in
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  Speaker 1: use among the Romans. The one most used by the
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  Speaker 1: richer citizens when they required no companion in their excursion,
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  Speaker 1: was the bega, already described in the early portion of
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  Speaker 1: this work. That appropriated to the matrons was termed the carpentum,
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  Speaker 1: which had commonly two wheels. The ancients used also a
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  Speaker 1: sort of litter, a vast sedan chair, more commodiously arranged
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  Speaker 1: than the modern inasmuch as the occupant thereof could lie
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  Speaker 1: down at ease, instead of being perpendicularly and stiffly jostled
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  Speaker 1: up and down. There was another carriage used both for
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  Speaker 1: traveling and for excursions, in the country. It was commodious,
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  Speaker 1: containing three or four persons, with ease, having a covering
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  Speaker 1: which could be raised at pleasure, and in short, answering
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  Speaker 1: very much the purpose of though very different in shape
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  Speaker 1: from the modern Brisca. It was a vehicle of this
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  Speaker 1: description that the lovers, accompanied by one female slave of Ione,
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  Speaker 1: now used in their excursion. About ten miles from the city,
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  Speaker 1: there was at that day an old ruin, the remains
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  Speaker 1: of a temple, evidently Grecian, and as for Glaucus and Ione,
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  Speaker 1: everything Grecian possessed an interest, they had agreed to visit
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  Speaker 1: these ruins. It was thither they were now bound. Their
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  Speaker 1: road lay among vines and olive groves, till winding more
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  Speaker 1: and more towards the higher ground of Vesuvius. The path
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  Speaker 1: grew rugged. The mules moved slowly and with labor, and
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  Speaker 1: at every opening in the wood they beheld those gray
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  Speaker 1: and horrent caverns indenting the parched rock which Strabo has described,
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  Speaker 1: but which the various revolutions of time and the volcano
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  Speaker 1: have removed from the present aspect of the mountain. The sun,
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  Speaker 1: sloping towards his descent, cast long in deep shadows over
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  Speaker 1: the mountain. Here and there they still heard the rustic
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  Speaker 1: reed of the shepherd, amongst copses of the beechwood and
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  Speaker 1: wild oak. Sometimes they mark the form of the silk
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  Speaker 1: haired and graceful capella, with its wreathing horn and bright
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  Speaker 1: gray eye, which still beneath the Ausonian skies, recalls the
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  Speaker 1: eclogs of Morrow, browsing half way up the hills, and
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  Speaker 1: the grapes, already purple with the smiles of the deepening summer,
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  Speaker 1: glowed out from the arched festoons which hung pendant from
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  Speaker 1: tree to tree. Above them, light clouds floated in the
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  Speaker 1: serene heavens, sweeping so slowly athwart the affirmament that they
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  Speaker 1: scarcely seemed to stir. While on their right they caught
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  Speaker 1: ever and anon glimpses of the waveless sea, with some
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  Speaker 1: light bark skimming its surface, and the sunlight breaking over
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  Speaker 1: the deep in those countless and softest hues. So peculiar
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  Speaker 1: to that delicious sea. How beautiful, said Glaucus, in a
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  Speaker 1: half whispered tone, is that expression by which we call
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  Speaker 1: Earth our mother? With what a kindly equal love she
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  Speaker 1: pours her blessings upon her children, and even to those
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  Speaker 1: sterile spots to which nature has denied beauty, she yet
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  Speaker 1: contrives to dispense her smiles. Witness the arbutus and the
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  Speaker 1: vine which she reads over the arid and burning soil
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  Speaker 1: of yon extinct volcano Ah. In such an hour, and
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  Speaker 1: seen as this well, might we imagine that the fawn
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  Speaker 1: should peep forth from those green festoons, or that we
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  Speaker 1: might trace the steps of the mountain nymph through the
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  Speaker 1: thickest mazes of the glade. But the nymphs ceased beautiful
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  Speaker 1: ione when thou wort created. There is no tongue that
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  Speaker 1: flatters like a lover's. And yet in the exact duration
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  Speaker 1: of his feelings, flattery seems to him commonplace strange and
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  Speaker 1: prodigical exuberance, which soon exhausts itself by overflowing. They arrived
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  Speaker 1: at the ruins, they examined them with that fondness with
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  Speaker 1: which we traced the hallowed and household vestiges of our
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  Speaker 1: own ancestry. They lingered there till Hesperus appeared in the
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  Speaker 1: rosy heavens, and then returning homeward in the twilight, they
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  Speaker 1: were more silent than they had been, for in the
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  Speaker 1: shadow and beneath the stars, they felt more oppressively their
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  Speaker 1: mutual love. It was at this time that the storm
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  Speaker 1: which the Egyptian had predicted began to creep visibly over them.
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  Speaker 1: At first, a low and distant thunder gave warning of
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  Speaker 1: the approaching conflict of the elements, and then rapidly rushed
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  Speaker 1: above the dark ranks of the serried clouds. The suddenness
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  Speaker 1: of storms in that climate is something almost preternatural, and
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  Speaker 1: might well suggest to early superstition the notion of a
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  Speaker 1: divine agency. A few large drops broke heavily among the
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  Speaker 1: bows that half overhung their and then swift and intolerably bright,
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  Speaker 1: The forked lightning darted across their very eyes, and was
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  Speaker 1: swallowed up by the increasing darkness. Swift or good Caroucarius,
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  Speaker 1: said Glaucus to the driver, The tempest comes on apace.
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  Speaker 1: The slave urged on the mules. They went swift over
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  Speaker 1: the uneven and stony road. The clouds thickened near and
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  Speaker 1: more near, broke the thunder, and fast rushed the dashing rain.
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  Speaker 1: Dost thou fear, whispered Glaucus, as he sought excuse in
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  Speaker 1: the storm to come nearer to Ione. Not with thee
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  Speaker 1: she said softly at that instant. The carriage, fragile and
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  Speaker 1: ill contrived, as despite their graceful shapes were for practical
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  Speaker 1: uses most of such inventions at that time, struck violently
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  Speaker 1: into a deep rut, over which lay a log of
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  Speaker 1: fallen wood. The driver, with a curse, stimulated his mules
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  Speaker 1: yet faster for the obstacle. The wheel was torn from
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  Speaker 1: the socket, and the carriage suddenly overset. Glaucus, quickly extricating
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  Speaker 1: himself from the vehicle, hastened to assist Ione, who was
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  Speaker 1: fortunately unhurt. With some difficulty, they raised the karuca or carriage,
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  Speaker 1: and found that it ceased any longer even to afford
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  Speaker 1: them shelter. The springs that fastened the covering were snapped asunder,
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  Speaker 1: and the rain pour fast and fiercely into the interior.
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  Speaker 1: In this dilemma, what was to be done? They were
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  Speaker 1: yet some distance from the city, No house, no aid
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  Speaker 1: seemed near. There is, said the slave, a smith, about
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  Speaker 1: a mile off. I could seek him, and he might
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  Speaker 1: fasten at least the wheel of the karuca. By Jupiter,
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  Speaker 1: how the rain beats. My mistress will be wet before
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  Speaker 1: I come back. Run thither, at least, said Glaucus. We
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  Speaker 1: must find the best shelter we can till you return.
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  Speaker 1: The lane was overshadowed with trees beneath, the amplest of
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  Speaker 1: which Glaucus drew ione. He endeavored by stripping his own
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  Speaker 1: cloak to shield her yet more from the rapid rain.
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  Speaker 1: But it descended with fury that broke through all puny obstacles,
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  Speaker 1: And suddenly, while Glaucus was yet whispering courage to his
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  Speaker 1: beautiful charge, the lightning struck one of the trees immediately
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  Speaker 1: before them, and split with a mighty crash, its huge
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  Speaker 1: trunk in twain. This awful incident apprised them of the
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  Speaker 1: danger they braved in their present shelter, and Glaucus looked
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  Speaker 1: anxiously round for some less perilous place of refuge. We
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  Speaker 1: are now, he said, half way up the ascent of Vesuvius.
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  Speaker 1: There ought to be some cavern or hollow in the
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  Speaker 1: vine clad rocks. Could we but find it in which
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  Speaker 1: the deserting dimps have left a shelter. While thus saying,
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  Speaker 1: he moved from the trees, and, looking wistfully toward the mountain,
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  Speaker 1: discovered through the advancing gloom of red and tremulous light
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  Speaker 1: at no considerable distance that must come, he said, from
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  Speaker 1: the hearth of some shepherd or vine dresser. It will
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  Speaker 1: guide us to some hospitable retreat. Wilt thou stay here
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  Speaker 1: while I yet? No? That would be to leave thee
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  Speaker 1: to danger. I will go with you, cheerfully, said Ione.
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  Speaker 1: Open as the space seems, it is better than the
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  Speaker 1: treacherous shelter of these boughs. Half leading, half carrying, Ione, Glaucus,
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  Speaker 1: accompanied by the trembling female slave, advanced towards the light,
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  Speaker 1: which yet burned red and steadfastly. At length, the space
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  Speaker 1: was no longer open. Wild vines entangled their steps and
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  Speaker 1: hid from them, save by imperfect intervals the guiding beam.
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  Speaker 1: But faster and fiercer came the rain, and the lightning
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  Speaker 1: assumed its most deadly and blasting form. They were still
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  Speaker 1: therefore impelled onward, hoping at last, if the light eluded them,
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  Speaker 1: to arrive at some cottage or some friendly cavern. The
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  Speaker 1: vines grew more and more intricate. The light was entirely
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  Speaker 1: snatched from them, But a narrow path which they trod
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  Speaker 1: with labor and pain, guided only by the constant and
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  Speaker 1: long lingering flashes of the storm, continued to lead them
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  Speaker 1: towards its direction. The rain ceased. Suddenly, precipitous and rough
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  Speaker 1: crags of scorched lava frowned before them, rendered more fearful
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  Speaker 1: by the lightning that illumined the dark and dangerous soil.
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  Speaker 1: Sometimes the blaze lingered over the iron gray heaps of scoria,
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  Speaker 1: covered in part with ancient mosses or stunted trees, as
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  Speaker 1: if seeking in vain for some gentler product of Earth
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  Speaker 1: more worthy of its ire, and sometimes leaving the whole
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  Speaker 1: of that part of the scene in darkness. The lightning,
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  Speaker 1: broad and sheeted, hung redly over the ocean, tossing far
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  Speaker 1: below until its waves seemed glowing into fire. And so
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  Speaker 1: intense was the blaze that it brought vividly into view
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  Speaker 1: even the sharp outline of the more distant windings of
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  Speaker 1: the bay. From the eternal Messinum with its lofty brow,
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  Speaker 1: to the beautiful Serentum and the giant hills behind. Our
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  Speaker 1: lovers stopped in perplexity and doubt, when suddenly, as the
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  Speaker 1: darkness that gloomed between the fierce flashes of lightning once
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  Speaker 1: more wrapped them round, they saw nearer but high before
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  Speaker 1: them the mysterious light, another blaze in which Heaven and
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  Speaker 1: Earth were reddened, made visible to them the whole expanse.
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  Speaker 1: No house was near, but just where they had beheld
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  Speaker 1: the light, they thought they saw in the recess of
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  Speaker 1: the cavern the outline of a human form. The darkness
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  Speaker 1: once more returned, the light no longer paled beneath the
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  Speaker 1: fires of Heaven burned forth again. They resolved to ascend
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  Speaker 1: towards it. They had to wind their way among vast
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  Speaker 1: fragments of stone, here and there, overhung with wild bushes,
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  Speaker 1: but they gained nearer and nearer to the light, and
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  Speaker 1: at length they stood opposite the mouth of a kind
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  Speaker 1: of cavern, apparently formed by huge splinters of rock that
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  Speaker 1: had fallen traversely athwart each other, and looking into the gloom,
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  Speaker 1: each drew back involuntarily with a superstitious fear and chill.
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  Speaker 1: A fire burned in the far recess of the cave,
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  Speaker 1: and over it was a small cauldron on a tall
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  Speaker 1: and thin column of iron stood a rude lamp. Over that,
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  Speaker 1: part of the wall, at the base of which burned
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  Speaker 1: the fire hung in many rows, as if to dry
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  Speaker 1: a profusion of herbs and weeds. A fox crouched before
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  Speaker 1: the fire, gazed upon the strangers with its bright and
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  Speaker 1: red eye, its hair bristling, and a low growl stealing
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  Speaker 1: from between its teeth. In the center of the cave
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  Speaker 1: was an earth and statue which had three heads of
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  Speaker 1: a singular and fantastic cast. They were formed by the
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  Speaker 1: real skulls of a dog, a horse, and a boar.
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  Speaker 1: A low tripod stood before this wild representation of the
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  Speaker 1: popular hecate. But it was not these appendages and appliances
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  Speaker 1: of the cave that thrilled the blood of those who
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  Speaker 1: gazed fearfully therein. It was the face of its inmate.
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  Speaker 1: Before the fire, with the light shining full upon her features,
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  Speaker 1: sat a woman of considerable age. Perhaps in no country
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  Speaker 1: are there seen so many hags as in Italy. In
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  Speaker 1: no country does beauty so awfully change in age to hideousness,
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  Speaker 1: the most appalling and revolting. But the woman now before
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  Speaker 1: them was not one of these specimens of the extreme
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  Speaker 1: of human ugliness. On the contrary, her countenance betrayed the
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  Speaker 1: remains of a regular but high and aquiline order of feature,
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  Speaker 1: with sony eyes turned upon them with a look that
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  Speaker 1: met and fascinated theirs. They beheld in that fearful countenance,
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  Speaker 1: the very image of a corpse, the same the glazed
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  Speaker 1: and lustreless regard, the blue and shrunken lips, the drawn
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  Speaker 1: and hollow jaw, the dead, lank hair of a pale gray,
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  Speaker 1: the vivid green, ghastly skin, which seemed all surely tinged
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  Speaker 1: and tainted by the grave. It is a dead thing,
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  Speaker 1: said Glaucus. Nay, it stirs, it is a ghost or larva,
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  Speaker 1: faltered Ione, as she clung to the Athenian's breast. Oh
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  Speaker 1: away away, groaned the slave. It is the witch of Vesuvius.
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  Speaker 1: Who are ye, said a hollow and ghostly voice, And
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  Speaker 1: what do ye hear? The sound, terrible and deathlike, as
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  Speaker 1: it was suiting well the countenance of the speaker, and
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  Speaker 1: seeming rather the voice of some bodiless wanderer of the
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  Speaker 1: sticks than living mortal, would have made Ione shrink back
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  Speaker 1: into the pitiless fury of the storm. But Glaucus, though
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  Speaker 1: not without some misgiving, drew her into the cavern. We
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  Speaker 1: are storm beaten wanderers from the neighboring city, he said,
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  Speaker 1: and decoyed hither by yon light. We crave shelter and
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  Speaker 1: the comfort of your hearth. As he spoke, the fox
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  Speaker 1: rose from the ground and advanced towards the strangers, showing
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  Speaker 1: from end to end its white teeth and deepening in
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  Speaker 1: its menacing growl. Down, slave, said the witch, and at
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  Speaker 1: the sound of her voice, the beast dropped at once,
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  Speaker 1: covering its face with its brush, and keeping only its quick,
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  Speaker 1: vigilant eye fixed upon the invaders of its repose. Come
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  Speaker 1: to the fire if ye will, said she, turning to
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  Speaker 1: Glaucus and his companions. I never welcome living things, save
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  Speaker 1: the owl, the fox, the toad, and the viper. So
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  Speaker 1: I cannot welcome ye, but come to the fire without welcome?
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  Speaker 1: Why stand upon form? The language in which the hag
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  Speaker 1: addressed them was a strange and barbarous Latin, interlarded with
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  Speaker 1: many words of some more rude and ancient dialect. She
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  Speaker 1: did not stir from her seat, but gazed stonily upon them,
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  Speaker 1: as Glaucus now released Ione of her outer wrapping garments,
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  Speaker 1: and making her place herself on a log of wood,
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  Speaker 1: which was the only other seat he perceived at hand,
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  Speaker 1: fanned with his breath the embers into a more glowing fire.
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  Speaker 1: The slave, encouraged by the boldness of her superiors, divested
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  Speaker 1: herself also over long pala and crept timorously to the
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  Speaker 1: opposite corner of the hearth. We disturb you, I fear,
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  Speaker 1: said the silver voice of Ione in conciliation. The witch
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  Speaker 1: did not reply. She seemed like one who has awakened
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  Speaker 1: for a moment from the dead, and has then relapsed
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  Speaker 1: once more into the eternal slumber. Tell me, she said suddenly,
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  Speaker 1: and after a long pause, are ye brother and sister? No,
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  Speaker 1: said Ione, blushing, are ye married? Not so, replied Glaucus.
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  Speaker 1: Ho lovers, ha ha, And the witch laughed so loud
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  Speaker 1: and so long that the caverns rang again. The heart
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  Speaker 1: of Ione stood still at that strange mirth. Glaucus muttered
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  Speaker 1: a rapid counter spell to the Yemen, and the slave
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  Speaker 1: turned as pale as the cheek of the witch herself.
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  Speaker 1: Why dost thou laughed, old crone, said Glaucus, somewhat sternly,
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  Speaker 1: as he concluded his invocation. Did I laugh? Said the
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  Speaker 1: hag absently. She is in her dottage, whispered Glaucus. As
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  Speaker 1: he said this, he caught the eye of the hag
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  Speaker 1: fixed upon him with a malignant and vivid glare. Thou liest,
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  Speaker 1: she said, abruptly, thou art an uncourteous welcomer, returned Glaucus. Hush,
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  Speaker 1: provoke her. Not, Dear Glaucus, whispered Ione. I will tell
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  Speaker 1: THEE why I laughed when I discovered ye were lovers,
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  Speaker 1: said the old woman. It was because it is a
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  Speaker 1: pleasure to the old and withered to look upon young
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  Speaker 1: hearts like yours, and to know the time will come
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  Speaker 1: when ye will loathe each other lo loath Ha. It
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  Speaker 1: was now Ione's turn to pray against the unpleasing prophecy.
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  Speaker 1: The God's forbid, she said, Yet, poor woman, thou knowest
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  Speaker 1: little of love, or thou wouldest know that it never changes?
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  Speaker 1: Was I young once? Think? Ye, returned the hag quickly,
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  Speaker 1: And am I old and hideous and deathly? Now? Such
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  Speaker 1: as is the form, so is the heart. With these words,
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  Speaker 1: she sank again into a stillness, profound and fearful, as
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  Speaker 1: if the cessation of life itself. Hast thou dwell here? Long,
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  Speaker 1: said Glaucus, after a pause, feeling uncomfortably oppressed beneath the
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  Speaker 1: silence so appalling. Ah long, Yes, it is but a
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  Speaker 1: drear abode. Ha. Thou mayst well say that hell is
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  Speaker 1: beneath us, replied the hag, pointing her bony finger to
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  Speaker 1: the earth. And I will tell thee a secret. The
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  Speaker 1: dim things below are preparing wrath for ye above you,
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  Speaker 1: the young, and the thoughtless, and the beautiful. Thou utterest,
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  Speaker 1: but evil words ill becoming the hospitable, said Glaucus. And
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  Speaker 1: in future I will brave the tempest rather than thy welcome.
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  Speaker 1: Thou wilt do well. None shall ever seek me, save
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  Speaker 1: the wretched. And why the wretched, asked the Athenian. I
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  Speaker 1: am the witch of the mountain, replied the sorceress, with
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  Speaker 1: a ghastly grin. My trade is to give hope to
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  Speaker 1: the hopeless, for the crossed in love. I have filters
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  Speaker 1: for the avaricious promises of treasure, for the malicious potions
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  Speaker 1: of revenge, for the happy and the good. I have
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  Speaker 1: only what life has curses trouble me no more. With this,
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  Speaker 1: the grim tenant of the cave relapsed into a silence,
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  Speaker 1: so obstinate and sullen that Glaucus, in vain endeavored to
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  Speaker 1: draw her into further conversation. She did not evince, but
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  Speaker 1: any alteration of her locked and rigid features that she
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  Speaker 1: even heard him. Fortunately, however, the storm, which was brief
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  Speaker 1: as violent, began now to relax. The rain grew less
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  Speaker 1: and less fierce, and at last As the clouds parted,
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  Speaker 1: the moon burst forth in the purple opening of heaven,
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  Speaker 1: and streamed clear and full into that desolate abode. Never
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  Speaker 1: had she shone, perhaps on a group more worthy of
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  Speaker 1: the painter's art. The young, the all beautiful Ione, seated
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  Speaker 1: by that rude fire, her lover already forgetful of the
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  Speaker 1: presence of the hag at her feet, gazing upward to
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  Speaker 1: her face and whispering sweet words, the pale and affrighted
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  Speaker 1: slave at a little distance, and the ghastly hag resting
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  Speaker 1: her deadly eyes upon them, yet seemingly serene and fearless
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  Speaker 1: for the companionship of love. Hath such power? Were these
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  Speaker 1: beautiful beings things of another's sphere in that dark and
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  Speaker 1: unholy cavern. With his gloomy quaintance of a pertinence, the
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  Speaker 1: fox regarded them from his corner with his keen and
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  Speaker 1: fiery eye, And as Glaucus now turned towards the witch,
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  Speaker 1: he perceived for the first time, just under her seat,
• 18:59
  Speaker 1: the bright gaze and crested head of a large snake.
• 19:02
  Speaker 1: Whether it was that vivid coloring of the Athenian's cloak
• 19:05
  Speaker 1: thrown over the shoulders of Ione, attracted the reptile's anger.
• 19:09
  Speaker 1: Its crest began to glow and rise, as if menacing
• 19:13
  Speaker 1: and preparing itself to spring upon the Neapolitan. Glaucus caught
• 19:17
  Speaker 1: quickly at one of the half burned logs upon the hearth,
• 19:20
  Speaker 1: and as if enraged at the action, the snake came
• 19:23
  Speaker 1: forth from its shelter, and with a loud hiss, raised
• 19:26
  Speaker 1: itself on end, till its height nearly approached that of
• 19:29
  Speaker 1: the Greek, which cried, Glaucus, command thy creature, thou wilt
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: see it dead. It has been despoiled of its venoms,
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: said the witch, aroused at his threat. But ere the
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: words had left her lip, the snake had sprung upon Glaucus.
• 19:43
  Speaker 1: Quick and watchful. The agile Greek leaped lightly aside and
• 19:47
  Speaker 1: struck so fell and dexterous a blow on the head
• 19:50
  Speaker 1: of the snake, that it fell prostrate and writhing among
• 19:53
  Speaker 1: the embers of the fire. The hag sprung up and
• 19:56
  Speaker 1: stood confronting Glaucus with a face which would have befitted
• 19:59
  Speaker 1: the fiercest of the furies. So utterly dire and wrathful
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: was its expression. Yet even in horror and ghastliness, preserving
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: thee outline and trace of beauty and utterly free from
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: that coarse grotesque at which the imaginations of the north
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: have sought the source of terror. Thou hast, she said,
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: in a slow and steady voice, which belied the expression
• 20:19
  Speaker 1: of her face, so much was it passionless and calm.
• 20:23
  Speaker 1: Thou hast had shelter under my roof and warmth at
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: my hearth. Thou hast returned evil for good. Thou hast
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: smitten and haply slain the thing that loved me and
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: was mine, nay more, the creature above all others, consecrated
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: to God's and deemed venerable by man. Now hear thy punishment,
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: by the Moon, who is the guardian of the sorceress,
• 20:46
  Speaker 1: by Orcus, who is the treasure of wrath. I curse Thee,
• 20:50
  Speaker 1: and thou art cursed. May thy love be blest, May
• 20:55
  Speaker 1: thy name be blackened. May thee infernals mark thee. May
• 20:59
  Speaker 1: thy heart either in scorch, May thy last hour recall
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: to thee the prophet voice of the Saga of Vesuvius.
• 21:07
  Speaker 1: And thou, she added, turning sharply towards Ione and raising
• 21:10
  Speaker 1: her right arm. When Glaucus burst impetuously on her speech,
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: hag he cried, forbear me thou hast cursed, and I
• 21:18
  Speaker 1: commit myself to the gods. I defy and scorn THEE.
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: But breathe but one word against yon, maiden, and I
• 21:25
  Speaker 1: will convert the oath on thy foul lips to thy
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: dying groan. Beware I have done, replied the hag, laughing wildly,
• 21:34
  Speaker 1: for in thy doom is she who loves thee accursed,
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: and not the less that I heard her lips. Breathe
• 21:40
  Speaker 1: thy name, and know by what word to commend THEE
• 21:43
  Speaker 1: to the demons. Glaucus, thou art doomed, so saying, the
• 21:48
  Speaker 1: witch turned from the Athenian and, kneeling down beside her
• 21:52
  Speaker 1: wounded favorite, which she dragged from the hearth. She turned
• 21:55
  Speaker 1: to them her face no more o, Glaucus said, Ione, greatly, terror,
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: what have we done? Let us hasten from this place.
• 22:04
  Speaker 1: The storm has ceased, good mistress, forgive him, recall thy
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: words he meant, but to defend himself. Accept this peace,
• 22:12
  Speaker 1: offering to unsay the said, and Ione, stooping, placed her
• 22:16
  Speaker 1: purse on the hag's lap. Away, she said, bitterly, Away
• 22:21
  Speaker 1: the oath once woven, the fates only can untie away
• 22:25
  Speaker 1: come dearest, said Glaucus, impatiently, thinkest thou that the gods
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: above us or below hear the impotent ravings of Dottage
• 22:33
  Speaker 1: come long and loud, rang the echoes of the cavern
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: with the dread laugh of the saga. She deigned no
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: further reply. The lovers breathed more freely when they gained
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: the open air. Yet the scene they had witnessed, the
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: words and the laughter of the witch, still fearfully dwelt
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: with Ione, and even Glaucus could not thoroughly shake off
• 22:52
  Speaker 1: the impression they had bequeathed. The storm had subsided save
• 22:56
  Speaker 1: now and then a low thunder muttered in the distance
• 22:58
  Speaker 1: amidst the darker cloud, or a momentary flash of lightning
• 23:02
  Speaker 1: affronted the sovereignty of the moon. With some difficulty, they
• 23:06
  Speaker 1: regained the road, where they found the vehicle already sufficiently
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: repaired for their departure, and the Carucarius, calling loudly upon
• 23:13
  Speaker 1: Hercules to tell him where his charge had vanished. Glaucus
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: vainly endeavored to cheer the exhausted spirits of Ione, and
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: scarce less vainly to recover the elastic tone of his
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: own natural gaiety. They soon arrived before the gate of
• 23:26
  Speaker 1: the city. As it opened to them, a litter born
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: by slaves impeded their way. It is too late for egress,
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: cried the sentinel to the inmate of the litter. Not so,
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: said a voice which the lovers started to hear. It
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: was a voice they well recognized. I am bound to
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: the villa of Marcus Polybius. I shall return shortly. I
• 23:47
  Speaker 1: am our bases the Egyptian. The scruples of him at
• 23:51
  Speaker 1: the gate were removed, and the litter passed close beside
• 23:54
  Speaker 1: the carriage that bore the lovers our bases. At this
• 23:57
  Speaker 1: hour Scarce recovered two methinks, whither or for what can
• 24:01
  Speaker 1: he leave the city? Said Glaucus, Alas replied Ione, bursting
• 24:06
  Speaker 1: into tears. My soul feels still more and more the
• 24:09
  Speaker 1: omen of evil. Preserve us, o ye gods, or at least,
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: she murmured, inly, preserve my Glaucus and of Book three,
• 24:19
  Speaker 1: chapter nine,