Four Phases of Love

. But the waste of the campagna bloomed like spring. Only the sombre boughs of the olive trees, that here and there followed in rows the gentle undu

f some hillock, and scantily enough protected from the weather by straw piled up from the ground; whilst those amongst the herdsmen who can sing or play th

e deserted waste in packs, maddened by hunger, and no longer res

etween the country houses. His cloak hung carelessly from his sturdy shoulders, and his broad grey hat was pushed back from his forehead. He ga

g its master first reminded him of his omission. From Tivoli rolled carriages and light vehicles, full of strangers, who had taken a fancy to see the mountains and cascades under snow. He cast not a glance at the pretty faces of the youn

f the broad wintry sky. The shrouded sun gleamed redly over all, lighted up

prevent the least sound of life from reaching him, and he strode onward. He soon left the narrow path, which swept up and down the waves of the plain, s

e struck his staff against the hard earth, and rejoiced in the sound with which she answered him. "She does not say much," he said, in the dialect of the lower class of Romans; "but she means honestly, and cares in silence for her babbling children who trample her under

a circle of half a mile, and he could not believe in the neighbourhood of man. At last he stepped onward, and thought "A gust of wind mocked thee!" Then suddenly it sounded again, nearer and clearer. He stood and lis

t together into one uninterrupted, terrible melody. A paralyzing power seemed to exist in it, for the traveller stood motionless, his

if I tried to fly. Well, like a dog have I lived! and now, to be destroyed by my fellows!--there is sense in it! If I had a knife I would make it easier f

examined the ground on which he stood. He found it free from grass, stony, and hard. "They may come!" he said, planting himself firmly upon his feet. He saw them now, and counted them in th

from him. A redoubled howling answered--the pack was chec

s enemies break forth again, and their eyes glared through the darkness. They came on in couples, the largest first. A second stone rebounded from the bony chest of one of the leaders, an

mpagna. He pierced through the darkness towards the spot from whence the howling reached him, at short intervals, and saw a man standin

ng man, but it seemed as if the sudden terror of hope deprived him of his last remaining strength; his arm sank, his brain whirled, and he felt himself tor

knee his head was resting, and whose hand was rubbing his temples with fresh-plucked wet grass.

unded?" he

now

ive in

the Tr

rm, torn and bloody; his face pale and haggard. Without speaking, he permitted himself to be supported by his preserver, who rather bor

an called to the hostess to bring wine: when the wounded man ha

t. But I thank you for it now. One clings to life as to other bad habits. One knows that the air is full of fever

ned to speak i

me for a fool if I spoke well of th

a Ge

God f

der let himself slide off before the other could assist him, but then sank helplessly down. "It is worse than I thought." he said; "do me one kindness more, and help me in,--here is the key." The young man suppor

ur bed?" ask

his brave old Palazzo! They are going to pull it down in the spri

still rem

g buried," said the man, drily. "

coverlid spread on some straw, and covered him scantily enough with his tattered cloak. With a deep sigh the powerful frame sank down, and the

e was but little furniture. Meanwhile the boy brought in an armful of wood, and made a fire on the hearth. As it gleamed up redly some dusty clay figures and plaster casts became visible in the corner. A large dolphin which bore a dead boy on its back, a Medusa in relief, colossal, the hair, not yet vivified into serpents, curled wildly around the sorrow-laden brow. He could not remember that he had ever seen this rendering in a

it up and keep the bandages cool during the night. They have treated you roughly, Senor Carlo! But

s throat with faggots. I was out of temper with my old Palazzo, Se?or Vottore, and felt inclined to give hi

s, which had become suddenly dimmed. "My wife shall send you another coverlid, and I wi

to the door, and spoke a few

g in the wine-shop with the lowest faccini, and squanders what he earns. But there is not a man in Rome

nds really n

de head so long against the brutes. Five, do you say? The fool-hardy man! But that is jus

very handsome, though the nose was a little too thin; his hair here and there sprinkled with grey; his beard untended; from between the breathing, ha

e of the hearth, and seated himself, wrapped in his cloak, to watch. It was about ten o'clock, the bright night reigned without over the deserted sq

sa

errai

l song. Then it ceased, but hu

wintry scantiness gushed down from their many mouths. They walked, but not arm in arm, near each other; he a

re in the sibyl, and here the wind is cutting our very noses off; yours is quite red already; dear me! how cold you look, child! The wind blows so chilly across the water too. You said that it would, sir, and warned us f

e girl, laughing, "and the path will improve. Our

e my reasons for declining to be helped down hills by unmarried young gentlemen! when one slips and holds him ti

almly on her way. Her dark bonnet hid all her fac

rds him; "when my father confessed that your absence had caused him pain: if I reme

cried; "and have

ly, 'I care to talk to no one who has not known him; how can they ever learn to

from nothing which pressed itself forward and promised to be advantageous. I see now that I have only lost. The society here is in contradiction to the place. It feels it itself, and as it still desires to be something, it is obliged to overstrain itself: that is discord

long away fro

died in the same week; then I went over the A

soft spring shower. The little friend was in the best possible humour, and talked of her wanderings about Rome. People suspected that she was writing a book about Rome. However that might be, it was clearly proved that she had done

old family, and my first ancestor fell at Hastings, winning his bit of land for himself and his descendants. And so my little bit of England is as much mine as the big one of a great landowner; and who likes to leave his own b

old England a service if you conquer a bit of Rome for yo

more appropriate, do you seriously think--supposing that there was any foundation for your innuendo, and any one should trouble himself about

es, I am not afraid. If the sentiments agree, what may the heart not do? I have seen more marriages rendered unhappy by differ

ter of taste." Then she drew her green veil over her fac

re!" said Mary, with her gentle voice; "the journey has quite unsettled her. She always used to have strange ideas, but in England they took an innocent political direction; but with her first step o

over that they have quite enough to do to meet adventures as they happen, and are by no means inclined to seek them. It is to be

od-looking man, with rather insolent, but st

nion on the question which Miss Betsy p

ch o

f different nations ar

she said, at last, "and the more they wish to give each other, the

t having a handsome wife, and she appeared satisfied because he could shower wealth upon her. And yet there was alw

zones. But if they both

r by the fire, and the kettle sings, and I see all that belong to my life around me, I could easily be entirely happy. And yet I confess that it is just at that moment that the home-longing might seize me for the old country-house in England, where the old oak-trees stand before the win

lish. He now began to talk German, which she too spo

ey were. I heard again the light sound of the raven brushing through the bare branches, and breaking the dry twigs, till a fine cloud of snow fell past the window like crystal dust. My mother lay there ill on her bed for months together. She could not, and would

e with h

fashion. The little room opened into the garden by several tall windows. I can see my father now pacing up and down on the terrace before it, with his bear-skin cap and short pipe. He could not bear the close air of the room for long at a time. But he se

he die

had no rest, mounted the wildest horses, and often remained away half the day, much as I used to entreat

ness, and there was a moist gleaming under the drooping eyelids. When she raised them, he saw the blue eyes resting full and seriously on the landscape before her. He knew this look already. He had avoided it hitherto, for he knew the power that lay in it. No

ially to him, "I will not get in until I know when we are to meet you again, my dear sir. I have an affair to settle which interests me and mine deeply, and

ing the spirited animal, rode beside the carriage for some way. Then he lagged behind, rode more slowly, and let the evening slip away without observing it. The night surprised

wood upon the fire, and fixed hi

she think? It is too late now to send a messenger, and where, indeed, could

sa se

with the death-terror. It affected him powerfully. At last he was obliged to turn away his eyes; and now, for the first time, observed some loose figures, some of them of corroded Pompeian bronze

his dreams. As Theodore arranged his disordered couch, and spread the coverlid over him afresh, he a

are

not recognize me?

his feet. The pain of his wounds brought back recollection. He sank down again, and

not gone home? Are you different from the other sons of men, who only do good in orde

r wounds kept cool during the night

ou not

of pauls; but for yo

do me a kindness by going. It makes me feel ill to have a man moving about me. Wh

e you want me. If you could manage without me, you s

know that you are sitti

hope that you feel, even over

h the sick man had lain wi

utheran, sir

hes to rob the church of a soul--he does it a

." said Theodore emphatic

heodore was again busied about him, he turned round, and raised himself half up. With the wounded arm he clutched towards Theodore's hand, and grasped it with his burning one, and said, low and