CHAP. V.
When night drew on, the wind whirled howling through the foliage of the aged oaks; the cataracts of the sky poured down diluvian showers, and having entered the hurt for shelter, it shook so violently, that I feared every moment to be crushed under its ruins. At one time, the place seemed to brighten up, at another the faint gleam of light darting in from the window-gap was dissolved again in chaotic darkness. My fancy floated on a sea of horrors, and every dismal traditionary tale I had ever heard of this forest, seized on my alarmed senses. My anguish was still more increased by the unruliness, the stamping, and neighing of my horse, which was tied to one of the beams of the miserable shed. In a word, it was one of the most frightful nights I ever passed in my life.
At last, I heard some stirring about TV cot, and a soft whispering like,that of human voices: It grew louder and louder by degrees, and at the end I could plainly distinguish some words. Instead of rejoicing in my dread solitude at the approach of company I really began to shudder.
Meanwhile a pale beam of light broke faster and faster throught he little window; the door opened, and the old man stept in. He held a torch in his hand, and his features bore the same antipathy and gloomy indifference.
"What is it you, Don Carlos," said he; "I heard your horse, and suppose you are come to redeem your pledged word?"
"Yes, Sennor," answered I rising from the ground. "You probably did not wait for me; because your business———"
"As for that," interrupted he, "it is my business to be obliged to wait.—But will you now come along with me?"
I replied in the affirmative; my horse was tied faster; he lighted another torch, which he gave me, and on we went, forcing our way through thickets, briars and thorny bushes. No path being to be seen, I had much ado to wind after him through the stubborn wilds; soon I lost my hat; my clothes got entangled among the thorns, and were almost torn to pieces before we reached a small lawn, where we rested ourselves for a few seconds.
Here our way led us into an abyss, whose rugged descent was full of half-sinking rocks, from whence several cascades rushed with a terrible roar into a fathomless depth. Every object bore the awful marks of hoary antiquity.
"Whither do you lead me, Sennor," exclaimed I impelled by secret horror.
"To a place," answered he, "where a a man of courage and sentiment need never be afraid of going!"
"I am a stranger to idle fears. But what have I to expect?"
"Your own feelings should tell you that, Carlos. You are partly acquainted with Jago's story. A society of men waits for you. You wish perhaps to participate in their grand designs. Can you resolve to submit yourself to voluntary ties?"
"I dare say I can; but what is to be my compensation?"
"To shake off the involuntary one. But fear nothing, Carlos. You will be happy some day, but we cannot expect the reward before the action. The society are men of sublime virtue, of a world swaying spirit, free from prejudices, sustaining the burden of life in the fair light of wholesome truth. Be you leagued or not leagued with them, I'll warrant you liberty in their name. But suspend your curiosity for the present, as well as your fears; for you are now like him that has never been thirsty, and wishes to comprehend the comfort of a refreshing bowl. Let's double our steps, 'tis time to get forward."
The stupendous ridges of pending rocks now began gradually to spread into an amphitheatric space. The mountains to the right and left lost themselves slowly in the level of a wide and bushy dale. The morn began to fill the rare chasms of the leafy covert with contracted prospects of the rosy dawn. The torch-light grew paler, and the rising perfumes of revived vegetation exhaled whole clouds of balsamic sweet. Often had I hunted in the forest, but never seen this delightful spot, which quite captivated my romantic fancy. We entered a small park; the orange-trees were in full bloom; the nightingale now sang her last melody of amorous woe; the quail's shrill note rung in rising peals through the echoing mountain-chain; the lark thrilled' her matin hymn in the lofty arches of the sky, and soon all the birds joined to welcome us in universal chorus. We entered a long half-decayed gallery That led us into a castle, whose tottering structure supported its weight on the front of a fanciful hillock. Many of the windows of the old mansion were strongly barred with iron. We entered the-gate, and descended a long tortuous flight of steps, passing through several narrow corridors, and spacious caves, till we came into a large room, where my guide put out the torches, and went away, bidding me wait his return.
Full an hour had I waited,fitting half exhausted on the floor;nobody came, and/like an aspen leaf, I shook with fear. At last a door opened, two muffled figures with torches beckoned, and conducted me arm in arm into a large saloon, and I now thought myself in the company of friends and brothers.
The saloon was superbly illuminated, three elegant chandeliers with crystal branches and wax-lights, hung from its cieling, which, with he walls, being covered with pier-glasses, reflected every object all over the place. A numerous assembly of persons veiled in white, first struck my astonished eyes. They were sitting on low chairs forming a demi-circle, in whose centre a high seat was raised, for the Chief of the society. The chief was on his post, with a table before him, on which there were lying a cross, a dagger, a cup, several books and other instruments unknown to me. An empty stool was placed for me immediately below the chandeliers. My conductors took their seats, and after a long and solemn silence of several minutes, the president rose, advanced to the table, and unveiled his face, whose aspect was incredibly prepossessing, with features full of bounty mingled with the traces of bitter experience. He seemed to be a perfect pattern of pure humanity; his looks appeared to range beyond an earthly sphere, and I could almost have knelt down and worshipped him.
"Thou art come hither, Carlos," began he with ineffable mildness, "to learn to know us."
I affirmed his question with a respectful silence.
"Then unveil yourselves, my brethren."
The whole assembly now dropt their veils. What an elevated scene! A society of beings whose faces shone with patriarchal softness. The old man and Jago were among them; but a seriousness bordering on melancholy sat on their countenance. Their looks were steadily fixed on the venerable chief.
"What wouldst thou have of us, Carlos?"
"As you said before: to learn to know your society."
"And to be admitted one of its members, I suppose?"
"I have duties to fulfil as a man, and if you will not impede them I am yours."
"And what are those duties?"
"To love mankind; to be their friend and benefactor; to forgive mine enemies; and love those that wish me well: in short to live in peace and love with every one."
"With every one?—Ponder well what you have spoken!"
"Yes—venerable Sire, with every one."
"Are these duties from which no circumstances will make thee deviate; against which thy reason's conviction shall not sometimes avail?"
"Never!"
"Then thou wilt not do for our covenant!—Lead him away brethren."
"Reject me not rashly, reverend father, condemn me not untried. First tell me, what you demand, and what the covenant of your brethren exacteth? Then I'll be candid, and own myself, if nothing forbid it, wholly yours."
"We demand nothing of thee, Carlos, bur the very thing thou hast refused to do. To be one of us, thou must dissolve all the ties, which consecrate man to man. Our property is all of this world. Slay thy father, plunge a poniard in thy mother's breast, and, with open arms, will we receive thee. When humanity casts thee off, when the laws persecute thee, a scourge of the state, then be welcome among us. But our covenant disdains the tear of pity."—
"Horrid!"
"And why horrid?—Don't we offer compensation? For one talent expended, thou'lt here find a million of gain. Is it nothing to thee, to call the whole vast world thine? Is it a poor bargain to give up a sister for a thousand brethren?"
"I hear your words, but cannot comprehend them,"
"Then wretch!—Remain the property of thy father's dust. Blind be thine eyes to the light; and senceless thy heart against the sorrows of life!"
"Why curse me, respected chief? I do not spurn your words, but teach me to understand them. Lead me to the sanctuary of your laws, and then try my docility as a pupil."
"Thou has sought us, Don Carlos: It was thou who didst challenge us to appear before thee. But hast thou maturely poised the consequences, by only seeing us, and then refusing to be of our number? Many a light kills with splendor. Art thou not sensible, that it needs but one word to snatch thee for ever from the natural course of things, or to make thee at least, forget those men, to whose benefit thou imputest the main purpose of thy being?"
At these words a choleric flush dyed the faded cheeks of the hoary Sire.
"I am well aware of all that," answered I with bold composure. "I even expected it. Forsaken by fortune's smiles, and past all hopes, I renounced every pretension to a life, that had ceased to be my property. Willingly shall I devote it to him that demands it lawfully. But unlawfully?—I have friends."
Here the whole assembly turned pale, and looked consternation at each other: "How villain!" cried my guide, "thou hast betrayed us?"—
"I have not betrayed you, because I never had your confidence. Crossed in all things, L exchanged my ideas of your covenant with those of Don Pedro, a friend with whom accident made me acquainted, and whose notions of your society were still more favorable than mine. And why should I not be permitted to have cherished suppositions!—And, was it a crime, to have endeavoured to solve the mystic obscurities which you have burdened me with?—Have I used force to gain admission to this assembly? Was it not you that brought me into it, by the influence you practise on circumstances? My family will miss me, of course. Ye know my father. Balance your danger with the value of my death. You have vowed me liberty and safety, by one of your members; ill betide those that do not keep their first vow!"
When I mentioned the person to whom I had entrusted my secret, the faces of the assembly grew more tranquil, I easily judged my life was safe, but felt vexed to find threats where I had only expected love.
"Fear not, Carlos," resumed the president; why should we wish to compel a person we truly love? Hear us but this hour; the next will find thee at liberty."
"I am all compliance, my father."
"Thou know'st our country, Thou must feel thyself aggrieved in the whole nation. All its states are confused, or rather extinguished in one, I mean despotism. The people are wretched slaves. Necessity brought this society together, and oppression rivets its bands. Necessity made it secret and solitary; a century rendered it wise. Experience guides guides it more and more to less rigorous measures. The covenant chose the wisest heads of the people, and those initiated in its secrets, feel themselves happy."
"And was the tendency of the covenant always general?"
"As general as the world. All countries are ours by our members; and this is but the secret centre of our collective force."
"Was the universal government of the world its destination?"
"No; but the happiness of the world in universal government."
"And what were the means?"
"Behold the symbols on this table! Faith, the dagger, and the poison-cup."
I shuddered violently.
"Why shrinks our new adopted brother?"
"Tt was but the effect of a horrid recollection. Alas! I had a wife; a sweet and tender consort!———You write with blood! Three crosses are your signet!—Accursed be your covenant—accursed be it for ever!———You have robbed me of her."
"What signifies thy wild raving?"———
"Thou art mistaken; my resentment is cool and collected, dare you own yourselves the murderers of the beautiful Elmira?"
"I swear it, Don Carlos: by the eternal God! By the terrors of this mystic cave! By this cross and dagger! We did not murder her."
"Then pardon me, holy Sire. Let my despair seize the ruffian—"
"Thou wilt, one day, attain him by our means."
"Do you promise it faithfully?"
"Our promise is sacred."
"Then will I be yours———wholly yours. Speak, command, what shall I do?"
"Nothing but to discard all doubts; to confide in our decrees; to obey our ordinances; to act thy part manfully. Daggers and poison are the solace of humanity. From the urn of one spring up a thousand lives. If human weal desire the fall of that one man, were he the monarch himself———he ought to fall.—"
—"What, turn a regicide?"
—"Yes, if necessary, against an hundred kings. Liberty is the inalienable property of man. Who dares encroach on it is a villainous miscreant. Who exchanges it for idle prosperity, is an impostor. Who feels himself strong enough to punish crime, is his natural judge. Our ancestors gave us kings, we re-demand our rights, and subject them to a superior control."
—"But do you judge as justly as monarchs do?"
—"Our covenant has many members, and they all are free. Caprice and intrigue seldom ground our resolves."
—"The monarch's existence, you say, is owing to our ancestors voluntary submission. They transferred to his exercise and use their imprescriptible and connate rights. But who gave you power, to take those rights from him? Who guarantees the justice of your sentiments, the equity of your decrees? Irritated against government, you mix your feelings with the idea of universal oppression, and obeying yourselves no other law but the dictates of provoked desires, you plunge humanity, unable to govern herself, into the tormenting alternative, of making use of an unknown and quite foreign arbitration."
—"Ah, Carlos, little dost thou know us! Voluntarily did we retire from the lap of that felicity, which men pursue. To be useful to humanity, which did not misprise us, and loudly extolled our friendship, we renounced the fairest wish of sublime minds, immortality—to guide them in solitary remoteness. Thus occupied for a long series of years, a thousand errors which we corrected but with difficulty, the unity of our end, the zeal and number of our co-operations, all has sharpened our sight, and without pretensions to the world's joys, we there see light, where other men's eyes view nothing but darkness."
"Believe me, Carlos," continued he taking me by the hand, "thyself too, shall once with flul confidence adhere to our faith. Ah, the holy bosom of solitude, abounds with heavenly flights; and from night's most impenetrable darkness, will spring the noblest of projects."
Whether from fatigue, or by some strange influence, I here sunk into the old man's arms. "Come near, my brethren," cried he, "and take the oath of love from his lips."
At this moment an hundred arms and embraces encircled my body; stammering and bewildered I took the dreadful oath; the hand on the cross, intoxicated with, a draught of some liquor presented to me in the cup, I sank at the foot of the altar, they bared my right arm, plunged the dagger in it, and the warm blood being collected in a bowl, went round among the members to be swallowed.
At last the hoary chief embraced me, once more. "Now, my son," said he, "be gone, and receive the reward thou meritest."
The assembly broke up, and I was conducted out of the saloon. Jago went up stairs and showed me the garden-door. The perspective was charming, and the balsamic exhalations of the night still struggled with the rising sultriness, of the morning. It was about nine o'clock. I walked about to contemplate the beauties of nature, and all my senses felt themselves roused to love and happiness. A clear and serene sky widened the horizon over the luxuriant scenes of this enchanting dale. Only the warm agitation of odoriferous scents hovered about the trees, and painted with blushing salubrity the load of fruits, which peeped with picturesque beauty through their deep green leaves. Every thing seemed to invite to the most perfect enjoyment; every thing seemed to belong to the still bosom of a paradise, in which even a god would have forgot himself.
How inadequate are my descriptive powers to trace those images of fairy enchantment. All the past was now wrapt up in a purple cloud, and the present gradually displaying itself, like the first rays of the morning-sun. I laid musing beneath the hospitable shade of a group of trees, when the sounds of distant music roused me from my reverie. The swelling sounds of pastoral flutes ravished my listening ears, and suddenly a female form, dressed in a loose and floating white garment, advanced coyly from an arbour that was facing me. She wore a fine veil of crape over over her face, whose transparency lightly showed a thousand attractions. She closely accosted and embraced me, when I discovered the most seducing paragon of female, perfection. An impetuous crowd of irresistible desires made me, in mute rapture; return the caresses of the charming creature, and we both plunged into a sea of voluptuous enjoyment.
—"Ah, Carlos," said she with a solicitous countenance suffused with a thousand ingenuous blushes, "wilt thou be grateful for this sacrifice?"
—"Alas!" cried I, "the boon thou hast bestowed on me, is past all retribution human gratitude can offer."
—"Thy love, Carlos, will be a thousand fold return. Yes, cherished by thee, Rosalia will be the happiest of beings. But what is to warrant me thy fidelity?"
—"Thy charms, Rosalia, and thy bounty. Never, no never will I cease to adore such unrivalled accomplishments."
—"How many women hast thou not tantalized with the same professions! Was there, tell me, one among them less bounteous than I? But I was sensible, when I first saw thee among us, of what might be the surest way to bind thy affections. How infinitely did I love thee, standing with manly firmness before thy judges, bidding defiance to the terrors of death, and fearing no other judge than thy conscience? How did thy Rosalia tremble for thee as thou refusedst to take the oath, and with what ecstacy did I witness thy final consent! Say, wilt thou faithfully keep this voluntary vow?"
—"I certainly will."
—"Then swear it to me, too, Carlos."
—"I swear it by thy heavenly charms! I lay my hand on thy fair bosom, as my most sacred altar, and there pledge myself never to break the obligation."
—"That is not sufficient. Swear now to me, and to the covenant of our loves, that thou wilt devote all thy faculties and powers to the service of the society of thy new brethren."
—"Can I answer for the future, Rosalia? Will it not be enough in some cases, to be a mere passive member? Should I, in the bosom of love, renounce the feelings of humanity of which thou surely approvest?"
—"I don't Carlos exact quite so much. I purely desire thou shouldst find in me a compensation for all others. A thousand women will love thee, but not one of them so fervently as I do. Sacrifice, therefore, all thou possessest to thy indulgent and tender Rosalia?"
—"Say, sweet maid, what have I that can fully gratify thy wishes?"—
—"Nothing at present, my love, but soon thou wilt perhaps have a great deal. Is 'there no female whom thou cherishest more than myself."
—"Positively, none."
—"And no wife?"
—"None."
—"Didst thou never love thus ardently?"
—"Yes, Rosalia, if not more so. It was Elmira—"
—"I know her," interrupted she with an angry mien.
—"How? Thou knowest her."
At these words she visibly grew pale and attempted to conceal her embarrassment.—"Yes," added she, "I once saw her, I believe, at Madrid."
—"Elmira never was there."
—"Then it was at Alcantara—one forgets such things. And dost thou not think, that we perhaps know thy story better than thyself?—But promise me, Carlos, to renounce every woman for my sake, even thy Elmira, if she still were alive?"
—"I will gladly renounce every one, but Elmira."
—"So thou wouldst abandon me, traitor, if she were to appear again among the living?"
—"I would carry you both in my heart."
—"No woman, Carlos, will content herself with half a heart. Now choose, me or Elmira."
—"Elmira is dead, I choose thee."
"Now I thank thee, Carlos, and fly to thy bosom a faithful, devoted bride! May the powers that surround us invisible, shower blessings on this union!"
We now sat down to a frugal repast, which some veiled females served up on the green, and spent the day in inexhaustible transports of love. Towards evening she clapped her hands as a signal, and twelve beautiful damsels assembled on the lawn, and began a mystic dance, whose voluptuous attitudes revived my desires. No sooner had they disappeared, than I again lockt my Rosalia in my arms, where we tasted in long draughts the inexpressible sweets of connubial bliss, The soft symphony of the flutes then rocked us into a sound sleep, from which we did not awake till late at night.
—"Now, Carlos, said Rosalia, producing a dagger, "hear my oath, on this festive night, and repeat it on your knees."
I obeyed with frightful astonishment, when Rosalia made me repeat the following words:
—"We swear everlasting fidelity to the covenant that has protected our union; no being shall ever divide us; we will be one in thought and action; whoever of us proves unfaithful, the other shall haunt and persecute him with nameless torments, nor shall his vengeance stop, till his bones are dust, his memory is destroyed, and every offspring or member of his family cut off."
Having made me repeat this dreadful vow, she sank speechless in my arms, and unperceived run the dagger into one of them a little above the elbow, sucking the blood with her own lips. She then repeated the same painful operation upon herself, and presenting to me the bleeding limb, cried: "May such be the mixture of our hearts!"—Soon after the loss of blood made her faint, and having dressed the wound as well as I was able, she at last recovered. This moment was the signal of the same ailment in myself, having forgotten that the same case required on my part, the same remedy I had afforded to her. All grew dark before my eyes, and I felt myself in a momentary torpitude. Rosalia called for help; and the same female attendants appeared, supported, and led me to the castle: I was here put half-senseless on a bed, where a comfortable slumber, which lasted till late in the morning, restored me to my former hardiness and spirits.
As I awoke, I found Jago fitting by my side, "I hope," said he, "you are now disposed for a serious conversation. You have made me your real friend, and it solely depends on you to keep me so."
—"Well, my friend, my preserver, what can I do?"
—"Be not so sanguine, listen to me with composure, and learn the drift of the matter. You was yesterday intoxicated; now you ought to be sober. Rosalia was only employed to captivate your senses, but the girl being actually smitten with you, took a different course,"
—"Ah, Jago, how thankful I am for thy frankness!"
—"Such are the duties of friendship, and, I hope, you will never be wanting in them towards me. Tell me now, do you really love Rosalia?"
—"I adore her."
—"But will you be true to her?"
—"I have solemnly sworn it." —"Then keep your oath, and learn to merit a heart that thus undeservedly offered itself to you. It was no part of our plan, that you should have enjoyed the rights of a husband so soon. You married sooner than you were worthy; and enjoyed earlier than you married. These bands will be rivetted much closer, if you once shall acquire a lawful right upon each other."
—"May this be effected by a total submission on my part?"
—"Yes, and by it alone. I regret that I can only talk to you for a short time. My heart is full of important communications, but for the present I am obliged to confine myself to a few words. You will not always understand us, Carlos, yet never doubt, but yield implicit faith and obedience. After we shall have tried you sufficiently, and find you in all emergencies invariably the same, then will your eyes be opened to many operations of our covenant which must forthwith be concealed from your knowledge. You are still, in many points, a stranger to us, nor do we know to what part of your character we ought to trust more, and to what part less. But be always obedient. You will be drawn into strange situations to put your loyalty to the test, but never deviate from the precepts of our covenant. Obedience is the first Rep that will make you fit for government. Be always candid towards us, for insincerity or dissimulation—surrounded as you will be by an hundred hands, and watched by an hundred eyes,—will avail you nothing. The covenant condemns no rash idea, but only wants to know and refute it. The sincerer you are, the more shall you be let into the spirit of our society, Papers will be delivered to you, tending to teach you to get acquainted with this spirit, and I am sent hither to make you swear by God and your life, that you will divulge or alienate no part of their contents."
—"I swear it."
—"Here, then, are the papers. You will find in them proper instructions for your conduct. Farewell, my friend; in a twelvemonth we meet again. A Genius will accompany you wherever you go, and his guidance will guarantee your safety."
Jago now embraced me, and left me with great emotion.
As soon as I had put on my clothes, a stranger entered the apartment, who signified to me, that he had received orders to conduct me out of the cavern. I followed him, in deep meditation, from one vault to another, through the garden and the park. He attended me as far as the hovel in the forest, and then disappeared. I found my horse, plentifully provided with fodder, and fastened to the same place where I had left it. I then mounted, and soon reached my father's villa.
A thousand strange thoughts occupied my mind on my way home. The adventure with Rosalia deeply afflicted-me.—"What," said I to myself, "can there be a destiny more cruel than to be obliged to quit a charming bride after the first embraces, even without being permitted to bid her adieu, or without any other memento than the image of her heavenly charms burning in my soul! Oh! how infinitely cruel is the very first proof of the friendship of that marvellous Cabal."
Thus absorbed in deep reflection I was just approaching my garden, when a voice thus welcomed me with a loud laugh: "Egad, Sennor, you look as white as a winding sheet! How d you do?"—It was Don Pedro.
—"Very well," answered I, "you will no doubt perceive it."
As he came nearer to me he became sensible, that I was not in a humor to attend to his raillery.
—"Why so serious now," continued he, "has any thing happened to you? Between us," said Don Pedro, "had you tarried longer, I would have gone armed in search of you,"
—"And, between us," said I, " Don Pedro, I doubt your word."
—"It is, I suppose, because I would not creep about with you in the hovel. I will venture to lay a bet, you have seen nothing."
—"You are in the right, Sennor. I have been dreaming a long dream, which lasted till now.—But joking apart; what news have you from your lady?"
This unexpected question quite disconcerted him, he hung his head, wept, and abruptly left me, without reply. I returned to the villa, where my servants, who knew not what was become of me, received me with great Joy. Many reports had been circulated owing to my disappearance, and Don Pedro's absence still farther served to magnify them. I did not then take any particular notice of the circumstance of Pedro's being arrived only a few hours before me, which he did not mention. But all this showed a settled plan, from which I might have derived great light on the whole business, had I not been overwhelmed with astonishment and distraction.