Zanoni

igri e tim

ro

b.," cant. i

low and timid p

o practice, the hours of noon were precisely those in which Pisani could not have been active if he would. His genius resembled those fountains full at dawn and evening, overflowing at night, and perfectly dry at the meridian. During this time, consecrated by her husband to repose,

ing the view; and there now, with the prompt-book on her knee, on which her eye roves listlessly from time to time, you may behold her, the vine

and downcast eyes, passed close by the house, and Viola, looking up abruptly, started in a kind of terror as

g in a silence too serious and gentle for the boldness of gallantry, th

career that lies before you? From sixteen to thirty, the music in the

ccents that addressed her,-"I know not whether I am happy now, but I was last night. And

is you who scarce know how. The WHY I will tell you: because I saw in your heart a nobler ambition than that of the

oh,

es. Poor infant! the flame that dazzles the eye can scorch the wing. Remember that the only homage that does not sully must be that which these gallants will not give thee. A

burst of natural and innocent emotions, scarcely comprehending, t

o me that home is already. And my father,-

. He looked up at the quiet house buried amidst the vine-leaves,

may be its own best guide, and so, go

n anxious, sickening feeling of fear and hope,- impelled her to

or some time. I l

t sank within her; the poe

nd man, its life has been one struggle for the light,- light which makes to that life the necessity and the principle: you see how it has writhed and twisted; how, meeting the barrier in one spot, it has laboured and worked, stem and branches, towards the clear skies at last. What has preserved it through each disfavour of birth and circumstances,- why are its leaves as green and fair as those of the vine behind you, which, with all its arms, can embrace the open sunshine? My child, because of the very instinct that impelled the struggle,- beca

s, as if by a gesture to call him back; she would have given worlds to have seen him turn,- to have heard once more his low, calm, silvery voice; to have felt again the light touch of his hand on hers. As moonlight that softens

hich reaches at last the palaces that face the public garde

open for the favourite pastime of the day,- the resort of the wealthier and more hig

not that the rich Zanoni

his wealth is

y days at Naples, and I cannot yet find any one who knows aught of hi

wn. See,- no, you cannot see it here; but it rides yonder in the bay. The

ce ca

d from some of the sailors on the Mole that he

to attract the moths. Here comes our prince of gamesters, Cetoxa; be sure that he already must have made acquaintance with so wealthy a

oxa, carelessl

ear him; h

omised me to fix a day to sup with me, and I will then introduce him to you, and to

ou came so suddenly

d every corner of the house. I heard of Zanoni's desire to honour the talent of Naples, and, with my usual courtesy to distinguished strangers, I sent to place my box at his disposal. He accepts it,- I wait on him between the acts; he is most charming; he invites me to s

owded round to a

rrative, "are you not aware of the strange reports about this person; and are you not afraid to receive from him a gift which m

what, after all, do these rumours, when sifted, amount to? They have no origin but this,- a silly old man of eighty-six, quite in his dotage, solemnly avers that he saw t

met at Milan. He says that even then at Milan - mark this - where, though under another name, this Zanoni appeared in the same sple

when I see this diamond turn to a wisp of hay. For the rest," he added gravely, "I consider this illustrious gentl

the stoccata. The grave gentleman, however anxious for the spiritual weal of the count, had an equal regard for his own corporeal

. Gentlemen, you sup with me to-night. I assure you I never met a more delig