we could command the whole plain, and observe the relation of the different parts to each other, and of each to the whole, and of all to each. She then gave us an optic glass which assisted without contradicting our natural vision, and enabled us to see far beyond the limits of the Valley of Life; though our eye even thus assisted permitted us only to behold a light and a glory, but what we could not descry, save only that it was, and that it was most glorious. And now with the rapid transition of a dream, I had overtaken and rejoined the more numerous party, who had abruptly left us, indignant at the very name of religion. They journied on, goading each other with remembrances of past oppressions, and never looking back, till in the eagerness to recede from the Temple of Superstition they had rounded the whole circle of the valley. And lo! there faced us the mouth of a vast cavern, at the base of a lofty and almost perpendicular rock, the interior side of which, unknown to them, and unsuspected, formed the extreme and backward wall of the Temple. An impatient crowd, we entered the vast and dusky cave, which was the only perforation of the precipice. At the mouth of the cave sate two figures; the first, by her dress and gestures, I knew to be Sensuality; the second form, from the fierceness of his demeanour, and the brutal scornfulness of his looks, declared himself to be the monster Blasphemy. He uttered big words, and yet ever and anon I observed that he turned pale at his own courage. We entered. Some remained in the opening of the cave, with the one or the other of its guardians. The rest, and I among them, pressed on, till we reached an ample chamber, that seemed the centre of the rock. The climate of the place was unnaturally cold. In the furthest distance of the chamber sate an old dim-eyed man, poring with a microscope over the torso of a statue which had neither basis, nor feet, nor head; but on its breast was carved Nature! To this he continually applied his glass, and seemed enraptured with the various inequalities which it rendered visible on the seemingly polished surface of the marble.-Yet evermore was this delight and triumph followed by expressions of hatred, and vehement railing against a Being, who yet, he assured us, had no existence. This mystery suddenly recalled to me what I had read in the holiest recess of the temple of Superstition. The old man spake in divers tongues, and continued to utter other and most strange mysteries. Among the rest he talked much and vehemently concerning an infinite series of causes and effects, which he explained to be-a string of blind men, the last of whom caught hold of the skirt of the one before him, he of the next, and so on till they were all out of sight; and that they all walked infallibly straight, without making one false step, though all were alike blind. Methought I borrowed courage from surprise, and asked him -Who then is at the head to guide them? He looked at me with ineffable contempt, not unmixed with an angry suspicion, and then replied, "No one." The string of blind men went on for ever without any beginning; for although one blind man could not move without stumbling, yet infinite blindness supplied the want of sight. I burst into laughter, which instantly turned to terrorfor as he started forward in rage, I caught a glimpse of him from behind; and lo! I beheld a monster bi-form and Janus-headed, in the hinder face and shape of which I instantly recognised the dread countenance of Superstition-and in the terror I awoke. 66 OR THE IMPROVISATORE; JOHN ANDERSON, MY JO, JOHN." Scene-A spacious drawing-room, with musicroom adjoining. Katharine. What are the words? Eliza. Ask our friend, the Improvisatore; here he comes. Kate has a favor to ask of you, Sir; it is that you will repeat the ballad that Mr. sang so sweetly. The moral Friend. It is in Moore's Irish Melodies; but I do not recollect the words distinctly. of them, however, I take to be this - Love would remain the same if true, When we were neither young nor new; Yea, and in all within the will that came, By the same proofs would show itself the same. Eliz. What are the lines you repeated from Beaumont and Fletcher, which my mother admired so much? It begins with something about two vines so close that their tendrils intermingle. Fri. You mean Charles' speech to Angelina, in "The Elder Brother." We'll live together, like two neighbour vines, Kath. A precious boon, that would go far to reconcile one to old age-this love-if true! But is there any such true love? Fri. I hope so. Kath. But do you believe it? Eliz. (eagerly). I am sure he does. Fri. From a man turned of fifty, Katharine, I imagine, expects a less confident answer. Kath. A more sincere one, perhaps. Fri. Even though he should have obtained the nick-name of Improvisatore, by perpetrating cha rades and extempore verses at Christmas times? Fri. Serious! Doubtless. A grave personage of my years giving a love-lecture to two young ladies, cannot well be otherwise. The difficulty, I suspect, would be for them to remain so. It will be asked whether I am not the "elderly gentleman" who sate " despairing beside a clear stream," with a willow for his wig-block. Eliz. Say another word, and we will call it downright affectation. Kath. No! we will be affronted, drop a courtesy, and ask pardon for our presumption in expecting that Mr. Iwould waste his sense on two insignificant girls. Fri. Well, well, I will be serious. Hem ! Now then commences the discourse; Mr. Moore's song being the text. Love, as distinguished from Friendship, on the one hand, and from the passion that too often usurps its name, on the other Lucius (Eliza's brother, who had just joined the trio, in a whisper to the Friend). But is not Love the union of both? Fri. (aside to Lucius). He never loved who thinks so. Eliz. Brother, we don't want you. There! Mrs. H. cannot arrange the flower-vase without you. Thank you, Mrs. Hartman. Luc. I'll have my revenge! I know what I will say ! |