zanoni-第26章

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because　I　have　no　sympathy　with　his　subjects。　　His　saints　and

virgins　are　to　me　only　men　and　women。〃



〃And　from　what　source　should　painting；　then；　take　its　themes？〃



〃From　history；　without　doubt；〃　returned　Nicot；　pragmatically；

〃those　great　Roman　actions　which　inspire　men　with　sentiments　of

liberty　and　valour；　with　the　virtues　of　a　republic。　　I　wish　the

cartoons　of　Raphael　had　illustrated　the　story　of　the　Horatii；　but

it　remains　for　France　and　her　Republic　to　give　to　posterity　the

new　and　the　true　school；　which　could　never　have　arisen　in　a

country　of　priestcraft　and　delusion。〃



〃And　the　saints　and　virgins　of　Raphael　are　to　you　only　men　and

women？〃　repeated　Glyndon；　going　back　to　Nicot's　candid　confession

in　amaze；　and　scarcely　hearing　the　deductions　the　Frenchman　drew

from　his　proposition。



〃Assuredly。　　Ha；　ha！〃　and　Nicot　laughed　hideously；　〃do　you　ask　me

to　believe　in　the　calendar；　or　what？〃



〃But　the　ideal？〃



〃The　ideal！〃　interrupted　Nicot。　　〃Stuff！　　The　Italian　critics；

and　your　English　Reynolds；　have　turned　your　head。　　They　are　so

fond　of　their　'gusto　grande；'　and　their　'ideal　beauty　that　speaks

to　the　soul！'soul！IS　there　a　soul？　　I　understand　a　man　when

he　talks　of　composing　for　a　refined　taste；for　an　educated　and

intelligent　reason；　for　a　sense　that　comprehends　truths。　　But　as

for　the　soul；bah！we　are　but　modifications　of　matter；　and

painting　is　modification　of　matter　also。〃



Glyndon　turned　his　eyes　from　the　picture　before　him　to　Nicot；　and

from　Nicot　to　the　picture。　　The　dogmatist　gave　a　voice　to　the

thoughts　which　the　sight　of　the　picture　had　awakened。　　He　shook

his　head　without　reply。



〃Tell　me；〃　said　Nicot；　abruptly；　〃that　imposter；Zanoni！oh！　　I

have　now　learned　his　name　and　quackeries；　forsooth；what　did　he

say　to　thee　of　me？〃



〃Of　thee？　　Nothing；　but　to　warn　me　against　thy　doctrines。〃



〃Aha！　was　that　all？〃　said　Nicot。　　〃He　is　a　notable　inventor；　and

since；　when　we　met　last；　I　unmasked　his　delusions；　I　thought　he

might　retaliate　by　some　tale　of　slander。〃



〃Unmasked　his　delusions！how？〃



〃A　dull　and　long　story：　　he　wished　to　teach　an　old　doting　friend

of　mine　his　secrets　of　prolonged　life　and　philosophical　alchemy。

I　advise　thee　to　renounce　so　discreditable　an　acquaintance。〃



With　that　Nicot　nodded　significantly；　and；　not　wishing　to　be

further　questioned；　went　his　way。



Glyndon's　mind　at　that　moment　had　escaped　to　his　art；　and　the

comments　and　presence　of　Nicot　had　been　no　welcome　interruption。

He　turned　from　the　landscape　of　Salvator；　and　his　eye　falling　on

a　Nativity　by　Coreggio；　the　contrast　between　the　two　ranks　of

genius　struck　him　as　a　discovery。　　That　exquisite　repose；　that

perfect　sense　of　beauty；　that　strength　without　effort；　that

breathing　moral　of　high　art；　which　speaks　to　the　mind　through　the

eye；　and　raises　the　thoughts；　by　the　aid　of　tenderness　and　love；

to　the　regions　of　awe　and　wonder；ay！　THAT　was　the　true　school。

He　quitted　the　gallery　with　reluctant　steps　and　inspired　ideas；

he　sought　his　own　home。　　Here；　pleased　not　to　find　the　sober

Mervale；　he　leaned　his　face　on　his　hands；　and　endeavoured　to

recall　the　words　of　Zanoni　in　their　last　meeting。　　Yes；　he　felt

Nicot's　talk　even　on　art　was　crime；　it　debased　the　imagination

itself　to　mechanism。　　Could　he；　who　saw　nothing　in　the　soul　but　a

combination　of　matter；　prate　of　schools　that　should　excel　a

Raphael？　　Yes；　art　was　magic；　and　as　he　owned　the　truth　of　the

aphorism；　he　could　comprehend　that　in　magic　there　may　be

religion；　for　religion　is　an　essential　to　art。　　His　old　ambition；

freeing　itself　from　the　frigid　prudence　with　which　Mervale　sought

to　desecrate　all　images　less　substantial　than　the　golden　calf　of

the　world；　revived；　and　stirred；　and　kindled。　　The　subtle

detection　of　what　he　conceived　to　be　an　error　in　the　school　he

had　hitherto　adopted；　made　more　manifest　to　him　by　the　grinning

commentary　of　Nicot；　seemed　to　open　to　him　a　new　world　of

invention。　　He　seized　the　happy　moment；he　placed　before　him　the

colours　and　the　canvas。　　Lost　in　his　conceptions　of　a　fresh

ideal；　his　mind　was　lifted　aloft　into　the　airy　realms　of　beauty；

dark　thoughts；　unhallowed　desires；　vanished。　　Zanoni　was　right：

the　material　world　shrunk　from　his　gaze；　he　viewed　Nature　as　from

a　mountain…top　afar；　and　as　the　waves　of　his　unquiet　heart　became

calm　and　still；　again　the　angel　eyes　of　Viola　beamed　on　them　as　a

holy　star。



Locking　himself　in　his　chamber；　he　refused　even　the　visits　of

Mervale。　　Intoxicated　with　the　pure　air　of　his　fresh　existence；

he　remained　for　three　days；　and　almost　nights；　absorbed　in　his

employment；　but　on　the　fourth　morning　came　that　reaction　to　which

all　labour　is　exposed。　　He　woke　listless　and　fatigued；　and　as　he

cast　his　eyes　on　the　canvas；　the　glory　seemed　to　have　gone　from

it。　　Humiliating　recollections　of　the　great　masters　he　aspired　to

rival　forced　themselves　upon　him；　defects　before　unseen　magnified

themselves　to　deformities　in　his　languid　and　discontented　eyes。

He　touched　and　retouched；　but　his　hand　failed　him；　he　threw　down

his　instruments　in　despair；　he　opened　his　casement：　　the　day

without　was　bright　and　lovely；　the　street　was　crowded　with　that

life　which　is　ever　so　joyous　and　affluent　in　the　animated

population　of　Naples。　　He　saw　the　lover；　as　he　passed；　conversing

with　his　mistress　by　those　mute　gestures　which　have　survived　all

changes　of　languages；　the　same　now　as　when　the　Etruscan　painted

yon　vases　in　the　Museo　Borbonico。　　Light　from　without　beckoned

his　youth　to　its　mirth　and　its　pleasures；　and　the　dull　walls

within；　lately　large　enough　to　comprise　heaven　and　earth；　seemed

now　cabined　and　confined　as　a　felon's　prison。　　He　welcomed　the

step　of　Mervale　at　his　threshold；　and　unbarred　the　door。



〃And　is　that　all　you　have　done？〃　said　Mervale；　glancing

disdainfully　at　the　canvas。　　〃Is　it　for　this　that　you　have　shut

yourself　out　from　the　sunny　days　and　moonlit　nights　of　Naples？〃



〃While　the　fit　was　on　me；　I　basked　in　a　brighter　sun；　and　imbibed

the　voluptuous　luxury　of　a　softer　moon。〃



〃You　own　that　the　fit　is　over。　　Well；　that　is　some　sign　of

returning　sense。　　After　all；　it　is　better　to　daub　canvas　for

three　days　than　make　a　fool　of　yourself　for　life。　　This　little

siren？〃



〃Be　dumb！　　I　hate　to　hear　you　name　her。〃



Mervale　drew　his　chair　nearer　to　Glyndon's；　thrust　his　hands　deep

in　his　breeches…pockets；　stretched　his　legs；　and　was　about　to

begin　a　serious　strain　of　expostulation；　when　a　knock　was　heard

at　the　door；　and　Nicot；　without　waiting　for　leave；　obtruded　his

ugly　head。



〃Good…day；　mon　cher　confrere。　　I　wished　to　speak　to　you。　　Hein！

you　have　been　at　work；　I　see。　　This　is　well；very　well！　　A　bold

outline；great　freedom　in　that　right　hand。　　But；　hold！　is　the

composition　good？　　You　have　not　got　the　great　pyramidal　form。

Don't　you　think；　too；　that　you　have　lost　the　advantage　of

contrast　in　this　figure；　since　the　right　leg　is　put　forward；

surely　the　right　arm　should　be　put　back？　　Peste！　but　that　little

finger　is　very　fine！〃



Mervale　detested　Nicot。　　For　all　speculators；　Utopians；　alterers

of　the　world；　and　wanderers　from　the　high　road；　were　equally

hateful　to　him；　but　he　could　have　hugged　the　Frenchman　at　that

moment。　　He　saw　in　Glyndon's　expressive　countenance　all　the

weariness　and　disgust　he　endured。　　After　so　wrapped　a　study；　to

be　prated　to　about　pyramidal　forms　and　right　arms　and　right　legs；

the　accidence　of　the　art；　the　whole　conception　to　be　overlooked；

and　the　criticism　to　end　in　approval　of　the　little　finger！



〃Oh；〃　said　Glyndon；　peevishly；　throwing　the　cloth　over　his

design；　〃enough　of　my　poor　performance。　　What　is　it　you　have　to

say　to　me？〃



〃In　the　first　place；〃　said　Nicot；　huddling　himself　together　upon

a　stool；〃in　the　first　place；　this　Signor　Zanoni；this　second

Cagliostro；who　disputes　my　doctrines！　（no　doubt　a　spy　of　the

man　Capet）　I　am　not　vindictive；　as　Helvetius　says；　'our　errors

arise　from　our　passions。'　　I　keep　mine　in　order；　but　it　is

virtuous　to　hate　in　the　cause　of　mankind；　I　would　I　had　the

denouncing　and　the　judging　of　Signor　Zanoni　at　Paris。〃　　And

Nicot's　small　eyes　shot　fire；　and　he　gnashed　his　teeth。



〃Have　you　any　new　cause　to　hate　him？〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Nicot；　fiercely。　　〃Yes；　I　hear　he　is　courting　the

girl　I　mean　to　marry。〃



〃You！　　Whom　do　you　speak　of？〃



〃The　celebrated　Pisani！　　She　is　divinely　handsome。　　She　would

make　my　fortune　in　a　republic。　　And　a　republic　we　shall　have

before　the　year　is　out。〃



Mervale　rubbed　his　hands；　and　chuckled。　　Glyndon　coloured　with

rage　and　shame。



〃Do　you　know　the　Signora　Pisani？　　Have　you　ever　spoken　to　her？〃



〃Not　yet。　　But　when　I　make　up　my　mind　to　anything；　it　is　soon

done。　　I　am　about　to　return　to　Paris。　　They　write　me　word　that　a

handsome　wife　advances　the　career　of　a　patriot。　　The　age　of

prejudice　is　over。　　The　sublimer　virtues　begin　to　be　understood。

I　shall　take　back　the　handsomest　wife　in　Europe。〃



〃Be　quiet！　　What　are　you　about？〃　said　Mervale；　seizing　Glyndon　as

he　saw　him　advance　towards　the　Frenchman；　his　eyes　sparkling；　and

his　hands　clenched。



〃Sir！〃　said　Glyndon；　between　his　teeth；　〃you　know　not　of　whom　you

thus　speak。　　Do　you　affect　to　suppose　that　Viola　Pisani　would

accept　YOU？〃



〃Not　if　she　could　get　a　better　offer；〃　said　Mervale；　looking　up

to　the　ceiling。



〃A　better　offer？　　You　don't　understand　me；〃　said　Nicot。　　〃I；　Jean

Nicot；　propose　to　marry　the　girl；　marry　her！　　Others　may　make　her

more　liberal　offers；　but　no　one；　I　apprehend；　would　make　one　so

honourable。　　I　alone　have　pity　on　her　friendless　situation。

Besides；　according　to　the　dawning　state　of　things；　one　will

always；　in　France；　be　able　to　get　rid　of　a　wife　whenever　one

wishes。　　We　shall　have　new　laws　of　divorce。　　Do　you　imagine　that

an　Italian　girland　in　no　country　in　the　world　are　maidens；　it

seems；　more　chaste　（though　wives　may　console　themselves　with

virtues　more　philosophical）would　refuse　the　hand　of　an　artist

for　the　settlements　of　a　prince？　　No；　I　think　better　of　the

Pisani　than　you　do。　　I　shall　hasten　to　introduce　myself　to　her。〃



〃I　wish　you　all　success；　Monsieur　Nicot；〃　said　Mervale；　rising；

and　shaking　him　heartily　by　the　hand。



Glyndon　cast　at　them　both　a　disdainful　glance。



〃Perhaps；　Monsieur　Nicot；〃　said　he；　at　length；　constraining　his

lips　into　a　bitter　smile；〃perhaps　you　may　have　rivals。〃



〃So　much　the　better；〃　replied　Monsieur　Nicot；　carelessly；　kicking

his　heels　together；　and　appearing　absorbed　in　admiration　at　the

size　of　his　large　feet。



〃I　myself　admire　Viola　Pisani。〃



〃Every　painter　must！〃



〃I　may　offer　her　marriage　as　well　as　yourself。〃



〃That　would　be　folly　in　you；　though　wisdom　in　me。　　You　would　not

know　how　to　draw　profit　from　the　speculation！　　Cher　confrere；　you

have　prejudices。〃



〃You　do　not　dare　to　say　you　would　make　profi