Introduction

Of aII llo novoIs and slorios vlicl Mary WoIIslonocrafl SloIIoy Iofl in
manuscripl,
1
onIy ono novoIollo, Mci|i|!c, is compIolo. Il oxisls in boll
rougl drafl and finaI copy. In llis slory, as in aII Mary SloIIoy's vriling,
lloro is mucl llal is aulobiograplicaI: il vouId bo lard lo find a moro
soIf-rovoaIing vork. Ior an undorslanding of Mary's claraclor, ospociaIIy
as slo sav lorsoIf, and of lor alliludo lovard SloIIoy and lovard God-
vin in 1819, llis laIo is an imporlanl documonl. AIllougl llo main nar-
ralivo, llal of llo fallor's incosluous Iovo for lis daugllor, lis suicido,
and MalliIda's consoquonl villdravaI from socioly lo a IonoIy loall, is
nol in any roaI sonso aulobiograplicaI, many oIomonls in il aro dravn
from roaIily. Tlo llroo main claraclors aro cIoarIy Mary lorsoIf, Godvin,
and SloIIoy, and lloir roIalions can oasiIy bo roassorlod lo corrospond
vill acluaIily.
<
div slyIo="loxl-indonl: Opx,">
HiglIy porsonaI as llo slory vas, Mary SloIIoy lopod llal il vouId bo
pubIislod, ovidonlIy boIioving llal llo claraclors and llo silualions voro
sufficionlIy disguisod. In May of 182O slo sonl il lo EngIand by lor
frionds, llo Gisbornos, vill a roquosl llal lor fallor vouId arrango for
ils pubIicalion. Bul Mci|i|!c, logollor vill ils rougl drafl onlilIod 1|c
Iic|!s cj Icnc, romainod unpubIislod among llo SloIIoy papors. AI-
llougl Mary's roforoncos lo il in lor Iollors and journaI arousod somo
curiosily among scloIars, il aIso romainod unoxaminod unliI comparal-
ivoIy roconlIy.
Tlis sooming nogIocl vas duo parlIy lo llo circumslancos allonding
llo dislribulion of llo famiIy papors aflor llo doalls of Sir Iorcy and
Iady SloIIoy. Ono parl of llom vonl lo llo BodIoian Iibrary lo bocomo a
rosorvod coIIoclion vlicl, by llo lorms of Iady SloIIoy's viII, vas
oponod lo scloIars onIy undor dofinilo roslriclions. Anollor parl vonl lo
Iady SloIIoy's nioco and, in lurn, lo lor loirs, vlo for a limo did nol
mako llo manuscripls avaiIabIo for sludy. A llird parl vonl lo Sir }oln
SloIIoy-RoIIs, llo pool's grand-noplov, vlo roIoasod mucl imporlanl
SloIIoy maloriaI, bul nol aII llo scallorod manuscripls. In llis division,
llo lvo nolobooks conlaining llo finislod drafl of Mci|i|!c and a porlion
of 1|c Iic|!s cj Icnc vonl lo Iord Abingor, llo nolobook conlaining llo
romaindor of llo rougl drafl lo llo BodIoian Iibrary, and somo Iooso
1.Tloy aro Iislod in Nilclio, Mary SloIIoy, Appondix II, pp. 2O5-2O8. To llom slouId bo
addod an unfinislod and unpubIislod novoI, CociI, in Iord Abingor's coIIoclion.
3
slools conlaining addilions and rovisions lo Sir }oln SloIIoy-RoIIs. Hap-
piIy aII llo manuscripls aro nov accossibIo lo scloIars, and il is possibIo
lo pubIisl llo fuII loxl of Mci|i|!c vill sucl addilions from 1|c Iic|!s cj
Icnc as aro significanl.
2
Tlo llroo nolobooks aro aIiko in formal.
3
Ono of Iord Abingor's nolo-
books conlains llo firsl parl of 1|c Iic|!s cj Icnc, Claplor 1 llrougl llo
boginning of Claplor 1O, 116 pagos. Tlo concIuding porlion occupios llo
firsl fifly-four pagos of llo BodIoian nolobook. Tloro is llon a bIank
pago, foIIovod by llroo and a laIf pagos, scorod oul, of vlal sooms lo bo
a varianl of llo ond of Claplor 1 and llo boginning of Claplor 2. A ro-
visod and oxpandod vorsion of llo firsl parl of MalliIda's narralivo foI-
Iovs (Claplor 2 and llo boginning of Claplor 3), vill a broak bolvoon
llo accounl of lor girIlood in ScolIand and llo briof doscriplion of lor
fallor aflor lis rolurn. IinaIIy lloro aro four pagos of a nov oponing,
vlicl vas usod in Mci|i|!c. Tlis is an oxlromoIy rougl drafl: punclu-
alion is IargoIy confinod lo llo dasl, and lloro aro many corroclions and
aIloralions. Tlo SloIIoy-RoIIs fragmonls, lvonly-fivo slools or sIips of
papor, usuaIIy roprosonl addilions lo or rovisions of 1|c Iic|!s cj Icnc:
many of llom aro numborod, and somo aro koyod inlo llo manuscripl in
Iord Abingor's nolobook. Mosl of llo clangos voro incorporalod
in Mci|i|!c.
Tlo socond Abingor nolobook conlains llo compIolo and finaI drafl
of Mci|i|!c, 226 pagos. Il is for llo mosl parl a fair copy. Tlo loxl is punc-
lualod and lloro aro roIalivoIy fov corroclions, mosl of llom, apparonlIy
llo rosuIl of a finaI roroading, mado lo avoid llo ropolilion of vords. A
fov addilions aro vrillon in llo margins. On sovoraI pagos sIips of papor
conlaining ovidonl rovisions (quilo possibIy originaIIy among llo
2.On llo basis of llo BodIoian nolobook and somo informalion aboul llo compIolo
slory kindIy furnislod mo by Miss R. GIynn GryIIs, I vrolo an arlicIo, "Mary SloIIoy's
MalliIda, an UnpubIislod Slory and Ils BiograplicaI Significanco," vlicl appoarod
in Sludios in IliIoIogy, XI (1943), 447-462. Wlon llo ollor manuscripls bocamo
avaiIabIo, I vas abIo lo uso llom for my book, Mary SloIIoy, and lo drav concIusions
moro corlain and voII-foundod llan llo conjocluros I lad mado lon yoars oarIior.
3.A nolo, probabIy in Riclard Garnoll's land, oncIosod in a MS box vill llo lvo
nolobooks in Iord Abingor's coIIoclion doscribos llom as of IlaIian mako vill
"sIanling load bands, insorlod llrougl llo covors." Irofossor Iovis Iallon's Iisl of
llo conlonls of llo microfiIms in llo Duko Univorsily Iibrary (Iibrary Nolos, No. 27,
ApriI, 1953) doscribos llom as voIIum bound, llo back covor of llo MalliIda nolo-
book boing missing. Iord Abingor's nolobooks aro on RooI 11. Tlo BodIoian nolobook
is calaIoguod as MSS. SloIIoy d. 1, llo SloIIoy-RoIIs fragmonls as MSS. SloIIoy adds
c. 5.
4
SloIIoy-RoIIs fragmonls) lavo boon paslod ovor llo corrosponding Iinos
of llo loxl. An occasionaI passago is scorod oul and somo vords and
plrasos aro crossod oul lo mako vay for a rovision. IoIIoving pago 216,
four slools conlaining llo concIusion of llo slory aro cul oul of llo nolo-
book. Tloy appoar, llo pagos numborod 217 lo 223, among llo SloIIoy-
RoIIs fragmonls. A rovisod vorsion, pagos 217 lo 226, foIIovs llo cul.
4
Tlo modo of loIIing llo slory in llo finaI drafl diffors radicaIIy from
llal in llo rougl drafl. In 1|c Iic|!s cj Icnc MalliIda's lislory is sol in a
fancifuI framovork. Tlo aullor is lransporlod by llo fairy Ianlasia lo llo
EIysian IioIds, vloro slo Iislons lo llo discourso of Diolima and mools
MalliIda. MalliIda loIIs lor slory, vlicl cIosos vill lor doall. In llo fi-
naI drafl llis unroaIislic and IargoIy irroIovanl framovork is discardod:
MalliIda, vloso doall is approacling, vrilos oul for lor friond Wood-
viIIo llo fuII dolaiIs of lor lragic lislory vlicl slo lad novor lad llo
courago lo loII lim in porson.
Tlo lilIo of llo rougl drafl, 1|c Iic|!s cj Icnc, and llo solling and
framovork undoublodIy slom from Mary WoIIslonocrafl's unfinislod
laIo, 1|c Cctc cj Icnc, in vlicl ono of llo souIs confinod in llo conlor of
llo oarll lo purify llomsoIvos from llo dross of lloir oarllIy oxislonco
loIIs lo Sagosla (vlo may bo comparod vill Diolima) llo slory of lor iII-
falod Iovo for a man vlom slo lopos lo rojoin aflor lor purgalion is
compIolod.
5j
Mary vas compIoloIy famiIiar vill lor mollor's vorks.
Tlis lilIo vas, of courso, abandonod vlon llo framovork vas aban-
donod, and llo namo of llo loroino vas subslilulod. Tlougl il is vorll
nolicing llal Mary closo a namo vill llo samo iniliaI Iollor as lor ovn,
il vas probabIy lakon from Danlo. Tloro aro sovoraI roforoncos in llo
slory lo llo canlos of llo Purgcicric in vlicl MalliIda appoars.
MalliIda's fallor is novor namod, nor is MalliIda's surnamo givon. Tlo
namo of llo pool vonl llrougl sovoraI clangos: WoIford, IovoI, Horborl,
and finaIIy WoodviIIo.
Tlo ovidonco for daling Mci|i|!c in llo Ialo summor and aulumn of
1819 comos parlIy from llo manuscripl, parlIy from Mary's journaI. On
llo pagos succooding llo porlions of 1|c Iic|!s cj Icnc in llo BodIoian
nolobook aro somo of SloIIoy's drafls of vorso and proso, incIuding parls
of Prcnci|cus Unccun! and of |pipsc|i!icn, boll in IlaIian, and of llo
profaco lo llo Iallor in EngIisl, somo proso fragmonls, and oxlondod por-
lions of llo Dcjcncc cj Pccir. Wrillon from llo ollor ond of llo book aro
4.Soo nolo 83 lo MalliIda, pago 89.
5.Soo Iosllumous Works of llo Aullor of a Vindicalion of llo Riglls of Woman (4
voIs., Iondon, 1798), IV, 97-155.
5
llo O!c ic Ncp|cs and 1|c Wiic| cj Ai|cs. Sinco lloso aII boIong lo llo
yoars 1819, 182O, and 1821, il is probabIo llal Mary finislod lor rougl
drafl somo limo in 1819, and llal vlon slo lad copiod lor slory, SloIIoy
look ovor llo nolobook. Claplor 1 of Mci|i|!c in Iord Abingor's nolo-
book is loadod, "IIoronco Nov. 9ll. 1819." Sinco llo vloIo of MalliIda's
slory lakos pIaco in EngIand and ScolIand, llo dalo musl bo llal of llo
manuscripl. Mary vas in IIoronco al llal limo.
Tloso dalos aro supporlod by onlrios in Mary's journaI vlicl indicalo
llal slo bogan vriling Mci|i|!c, oarIy in Augusl, vliIo llo SloIIoys voro
Iiving in llo ViIIa VaIosano, noar Ioglorn. On Augusl 4, 1819, aflor a gap
of lvo monlls from llo limo of lor IillIo son's doall, slo rosumod lor di-
ary. AImosl ovory day lloroaflor for a monll slo rocordod, "Wrilo," and
by Soplombor 4, slo vas saying, "Copy." On Soplombor 12 slo vrolo,
"Iinisl copying my TaIo." Tlo noxl onlry lo indicalo Iilorary aclivily is
llo ono vord, "vrilo," on Novombor 8. On llo 12ll Iorcy IIoronco vas
born, and Mary did no moro vriling unliI Marcl, vlon slo vas vorking
on Vc|pcrgc. Il is probabIo, lloroforo, llal Mary vrolo and
copiod Mci|i|!c bolvoon Augusl 5 and Soplombor 12, 1819, llal slo did
somo rovision on Novombor 8 and finaIIy dalod llo manuscripl Novom-
bor 9.
Tlo subsoquonl lislory of llo manuscripl is rocordod in Iollors and
journaIs. Wlon llo Gisbornos vonl lo EngIand on May 2, 182O, lloy
look Mci|i|!c vill llom, lloy road il on llo journoy and rocordod lloir
admiralion of il in lloir journaI.
6
Tloy voro lo slov il lo Godvin and
gol lis advico aboul pubIisling il. AIllougl Modvin loard aboul llo
slory vlon lo vas vill llo SloIIoys in 182O
7
and Mary road ilporlaps
from llo rougl drafllo Edvard and }ano WiIIiams in llo summor of
1821,
8
llis manuscripl apparonlIy slayod in Godvin's lands. Ho ovid-
onlIy did nol slaro llo Gisbornos' onllusiasm: lis approvaI vas quaIi-
fiod. Ho llougll liglIy of corlain parls of il, Ioss liglIy of ollors, and lo
rogardod llo subjocl as "disgusling and doloslabIo," saying llal llo slory
vouId nood a profaco lo provonl roadors "from boing lormonlod by llo
approlonsion . of llo faII of llo loroino,"llal is, if il vas ovor pub-
Iislod.
9
Tloro is, lovovor, no rocord of lis laving mado any allompl lo
6.Soo Maria Gisborno & Edvard E. WiIIiams . Tloir }ournaIs and Iollors, od. by
Irodorick I. }onos (Norman: Univorsily of OkIaloma Iross, |1951j), p. 27.
7.Soo Tlomas Modvin, Tlo Iifo of Iorcy Bysslo SloIIoy, rovisod, vill inlroduclion
and nolos by H. Buxlon Iorman (Iondon, 1913), p. 252.
8.}ournaI, pp. 159, 16O.
9.Maria Gisborno, olc., pp. 43-44.
5
gol il inlo prinl. Irom }anuary 18 llrougl }uno 2, 1822, Mary ropoalodIy
askod Mrs. Gisborno lo rolriovo llo manuscripl and lavo il copiod for
lor, and Mrs. Gisborno invariabIy roporlod lor faiIuro lo do so. Tlo Iasl
roforoncos lo llo slory aro aflor SloIIoy's doall in an unpubIislod journaI
onlry and lvo of Mary's Iollors. In lor journaI for Oclobor 27, 1822, slo
loId of llo soIaco for lor misory slo lad onco found in vriling Mci|i|!c.
In ono Iollor lo Mrs. Gisborno slo comparod llo journoy of lorsoIf and
}ano lo Iisa and Ioglorn lo gol novs of SloIIoy and WiIIiams lo llal of
MalliIda in soarcl of lor fallor, "driving(Iiko MaliIda), lovards
llo scc lo Ioarn if vo voro lo bo for ovor doomod lo misory."
1O
And on
May 6, 1823, slo vrolo, "MaliIda foroloIIs ovon many smaII circum-
slancos mosl lruIyand llo vloIo of il is a monumonl of vlal nov is."
11
Tloso facls nol onIy dalo llo manuscripl bul aIso slov Mary's fooIing
of porsonaI invoIvomonl in llo slory. In llo ovonls of 1818-1819 il is pos-
sibIo lo find llo basis for llis morbid laIo and consoquonlIy lo assoss ils
biograplicaI significanco.
On Soplombor 24, 1818, llo SloIIoys' daugllor, CIara Evorina, baroIy a
yoar oId, diod al Vonico. Mary and lor cliIdron lad gono from Bagni di
Iucca lo Eslo lo join SloIIoy al Byron's viIIa. CIara vas nol voII vlon
lloy slarlod, and slo grov vorso on llo journoy. Irom Eslo SloIIoy and
Mary look lor lo Vonico lo consuIl a plysician, a lrip vlicl vas bosol
vill doIays and difficuIlios. Slo diod aImosl as soon as lloy arrivod. Ac-
cording lo Novman Ivoy Wlilo,
12
Mary, in llo unroasoning agony of lor
griof, bIamod SloIIoy for llo cliId's doall and for a limo foIl lovard lim
an oxlromo plysicaI anlagonism vlicl subsidod inlo apally and spirilu-
aI aIionalion. Mary's bIack moods mado lor difficuIl lo Iivo vill, and
SloIIoy limsoIf foII inlo doop dojoclion. Ho oxprossod lis sonso of lloir
oslrangomonl in somo of llo Iyrics of 1818"aII my saddosl pooms." In
ono fragmonl of vorso, for oxampIo, lo Iamonlod llal Mary lad Iofl lim
"in llis droary vorId aIono."
Tly form is loro indooda IovoIy ono
Bul llou arl fIod, gono dovn llo droary road,
Tlal Ioads lo Sorrov's mosl obscuro abodo.
Tlou sillosl on llo loarll of paIo dospair,
Wloro
Ior llino ovn sako I cannol foIIov lloo.
1O.Iollors, I, 182.
11.Ibid., I, 224.
12.Soo Wlilo, SloIIoy, II, 4O-56.
7
Irofossor Wlilo boIiovod llal SloIIoy rocordod llis oslrangomonl onIy
"in voiIod lorms" in ju|icn cn! Mc!!c|c or in pooms llal lo did nol slov
lo Mary, and llal Mary acknovIodgod il onIy aflor SloIIoy's doall, in lor
poom "Tlo Cloico" and in lor odiloriaI nolos on lis pooms of llal yoar.
Bul llis unpubIislod slory, vrillon aflor llo doall of lloir ollor cliId
WiIIiam, corlainIy conlains, llougl aIso in voiIod lorms, Mary's immodi-
alo rocognilion and romorso. Mary voII knov, I boIiovo, vlal slo vas
doing lo SloIIoy. In an offorl lo purgo lor ovn omolions and lo acknov-
Iodgo lor fauIl, slo pourod oul on llo pagos of Mci|i|!c llo sufforing and
llo IonoIinoss, llo billornoss and llo soIf-rocriminalion of llo pasl
monlls.
Tlo biograplicaI oIomonls aro cIoar: MalliIda is corlainIy Mary lor-
soIf, MalliIda's fallor is Godvin, WoodviIIo is an idoaIizod SloIIoy.
Iiko MalliIda Mary vas a voman of slrong passions and affoclions
vlicl slo oflon lid from llo vorId undor a pIacid appoaranco. Iiko
MalliIda's, Mary's mollor lad diod a fov days aflor giving lor birll.
Iiko MalliIda slo sponl parl of lor girIlood in ScolIand. Iiko MalliIda
slo mol and Iovod a pool of "oxcooding boauly," andaIso Iiko Mall-
iIdain llal sad yoar slo lad lroalod lim iII, laving bocomo "caplious
and unroasonabIo" in lor sorrov. MalliIda's IonoIinoss, griof, and ro-
morso can bo paraIIoIod in Mary's Ialor journaI and in "Tlo Cloico." Tlis
slory vas llo oulIol for lor omolions in 1819.
WoodviIIo, llo pool, is virluaIIy porfocl, "gIorious from lis youll," Iiko
"an angoI vill vingod fool"aII boauly, aII goodnoss, aII gonlIonoss. Ho
is aIso succossfuI as a pool, lis poom vrillon al llo ago of lvonly-llroo
laving boon univorsaIIy accIaimod. Making aIIovanco for Mary's oxag-
goralion and vislfuI llinking, vo oasiIy rocognizo SloIIoy: WoodviIIo
las lis poolic idoaIs, llo clarm of lis convorsalion, lis ligl moraI quaI-
ilios, lis sonso of dodicalion and rosponsibiIily lo lloso lo Iovod and lo
aII lumanily. Ho is Mary's oarIiosl porlrail of lor lusband, dravn in a
yoar vlon slo vas sIovIy rolurning lo lim from "llo loarll of paIo
dospair."
Tlo oarIy circumslancos and oducalion of Godvin and of MalliIda's
fallor voro difforonl. Bul lloy producod simiIar mon, oacl oxlravaganl,
gonorous, vain, dogmalic. Tloro is moro of Godvin in llis laIo llan llo
accounl of a groal man ruinod by claraclor and circumslanco. Tlo roIa-
lionslip bolvoon fallor and daugllor, boforo il vas doslroyod by llo
fallor's unnaluraI passion, is Iiko llal bolvoon Godvin and Mary. Slo
lorsoIf caIIod lor Iovo for lim "oxcossivo and romanlic."
13
Slo may voII
13.Soo Iollors, II, 88, and nolo 23 lo MalliIda.
8
lavo boon rocording, in MalliIda's sorrov ovor lor aIionalion from lor
fallor and lor Ioss of lim by doall, lor ovn griof al a spiriluaI sopara-
lion from Godvin llrougl vlal couId onIy soom lo lor lis cruoI Iack of
sympally. Ho lad accusod lor of boing covardIy and insincoro in lor
griof ovor CIara's doall
14
and Ialor lo boIillIod lor Ioss of WiIIiam.
15
Ho
lad aIso caIIod SloIIoy "a disgracofuI and fIagranl porson" bocauso of
SloIIoy's rofusaI lo sond lim moro monoy.
16
No vondor if Mary foIl llal,
Iiko MalliIda, slo lad Iosl a boIovod bul cruoI fallor.
Tlus Mary look aII llo bIamo for llo rifl vill SloIIoy upon lorsoIf and
lransforrod llo plysicaI aIionalion lo llo broak in sympally vill God-
vin. Tlal slo lurnod lloso facls inlo a slory of incosl is undoublodIy duo
lo llo inlorosl vlicl slo and SloIIoy foIl in llo subjocl al llis limo. Tloy
rogardod il as a dramalic and offoclivo llomo. In Augusl of 1819 SloIIoy
compIolod 1|c Ccnci. During ils progross lo lad laIkod ovor vill Mary
llo arrangomonl of sconos, lo lad ovon suggoslod al llo oulsol llal slo
vrilo llo lragody lorsoIf. And aboul a yoar oarIior lo lad boon urging
upon lor a lransIalion of AIfiori's Mrr|c. Tlomas Modvin, indood,
llougll llal llo slory vlicl slo vas vriling in 1819 vas spocificaIIy
basod on Mrr|c. Tlal slo vas llinking of llal lragody vliIo vril-
ing Mci|i|!c is ovidonl from lor offoclivo uso of il al ono of llo crisos in
llo laIo. And porlaps slo vas romomboring lor ovn landIing of llo
llomo vlon slo vrolo llo biograplicaI skolcl of AIfiori for
Iardnor's Cccinci Cc|cpcc!ic noarIy lvonly yoars Ialor. Slo llon spoko of
llo difficuIlios inloronl in sucl a subjocl, "inoquaIily of ago adding lo llo
unnaluraI incosl. To slod any inlorosl ovor sucl an allaclmonl, llo
dramalisl ougll lo adorn llo fallor vill sucl youllfuI allribulos as
vouId bo by no moans conlrary lo probabiIily."
17
Tlis slo ondoavorod lo
do in Mci|i|!c (aidod indood by llo facl llal llo silualion vas llo rovorso
of llal in Mrr|c). MalliIda's fallor vas young: lo marriod boforo lo
vas lvonly. Wlon lo rolurnod lo MalliIda, lo sliII slovod "llo ardour
and froslnoss of fooIing incidonl lo youll." Ho Iivod in llo pasl and sav
lis doad vifo roincarnalod in lis daugllor. Tlus Mary allompls lo vaIid-
alo llo silualion and mako il "by no moans conlrary lo probabiIily."
14.Soo SloIIoy and Mary (4 voIs. IrivaloIy prinlod |for Sir Iorcy and Iady SloIIoyj,
1882), II, 338A.
15.Soo Mrs. }uIian MarslaII, Tlo Iifo and Iollors of Mary W. SloIIoy (2 voIs. Iondon:
Riclard BonlIoy & Son, 1889), I, 255.
16.}uIian Works, X, 69.
17.Iivos of llo Mosl Eminonl Iilorary and Scionlific Mon of IlaIy, Spain, and IorlugaI
(3 voIs., Nos. 63, 71, and 96 of llo Rov. Dionysius Iardnor's Cabinol CycIopaodia,
Iondon, 1835-1837), II, 291-292.
9
Mci|i|!c offors a good oxampIo of Mary SloIIoy's mollods of rovision.
A sludy of llo manuscripl slovs llal slo vas a carofuI vorkman, and
llal in poIisling llis bizarro slory slo slrovo consislonlIy for groalor
crodibiIily and roaIism, moro dramalic (if somolimos moIodramalic)
prosonlalion of ovonls, bollor molivalion, concisonoss, and oxcIusion of
purpIo passagos. In llo rovision and rovriling, many addilions voro
mado, so llal Mci|i|!c is approciabIy Iongor llan 1|c Iic|!s cj Icnc. Bul
llo addilions aro usuaIIy improvomonls: a mucl fuIIor accounl of
MalliIda's fallor and mollor and of lloir marriago, vlicl makos of
llom somolling moro llan Iay figuros and lo a groal oxlonl oxpIains llo
lragody, dovoIopmonl of llo claraclor of llo Slovard, al firsl moroIy llo
sorvanl vlo accompanios MalliIda in lor soarcl for lor fallor, inlo llo
sympallolic confidanl vloso rosponsos loIp lo dramaliso llo silualion,
an addod vord or slorl plraso llal marks Mary SloIIoy's ponolralion in-
lo llo molivos and aclions of boll MalliIda and lor fallor. Tloro-
foro Mci|i|!c doos nol impross llo roador as boing Iongor llan 1|c Iic|!s
cj Icnc bocauso il bollor suslains lis inlorosl. And vill aII llo addilions
lloro aro aIso offoclivo omissions of llo obvious, of llo lauloIogicaI, of
llo arlificiaIIy oIaboralo.
18
Tlo finislod drafl, Mci|i|!c, sliII slovs Mary SloIIoy's fauIls as a
vrilor: vorbosily, Iooso pIolling, somovlal sloroolypod and oxlravaganl
claraclorizalion. Tlo roador musl bo loIoranl of ils loroino's ovorvloIm-
ing Iamonlalions. Bul slo is, aflor aII, in llo groal lradilion of romanlic
loroinos: slo comparos lor ovn vooping lo llal of Boccaccio's Glis-
monda ovor llo loarl of Guiscardo. If llo roador can accopl MalliIda on
lor ovn lorms, lo viII find nol onIy biograplicaI inlorosl in lor slory bul
aIso inlrinsic morils: a fooIing for claraclor and silualion and plrasing
llal is oflon vigorous and prociso.
18.Tlo mosl significanl rovisions aro considorod in dolaiI in llo nolos. Tlo loxl of llo
oponing of Tlo IioIds of Iancy, conlaining llo fancifuI framovork of llo slory, Ialor
discardod, is prinlod aflor llo loxl of MalliIda.
10
Chapter 1
IIoronco. Nov. 9ll 1819
Il is onIy four o'cIock, bul il is vinlor and llo sun las aIroady sol: lloro
aro no cIouds in llo cIoar, frosly sky lo rofIocl ils sIanl boams, bul llo air
ilsoIf is lingod vill a sIigll rosoalo coIour vlicl is again rofIoclod on llo
snov llal covors llo ground. I Iivo in a Iono collago on a soIilary, vido
loall: no voico of Iifo roaclos mo. I soo llo dosoIalo pIain covorod vill
vlilo, savo a fov bIack palclos llal llo noonday sun las mado al llo lop
of lloso slarp poinlod liIIocks from vlicl llo snov, sIiding as il foII, Iay
llinnor llan on llo pIain ground: a fov birds aro pocking al llo lard ico
llal covors llo pooIsfor llo frosl las boon of Iong conlinuanco.
19
I am in a slrango slalo of mind.
2O
I am aIonoquilo aIonoin llo
vorIdllo bIigll of misforluno las passod ovor mo and villorod mo, I
knov llal I am aboul lo dio and I fooI lappyjoyous.I fooI my puIso,
il boals fasl: I pIaco my llin land on my clook, il burns: lloro is a sIigll,
quick spiril villin mo vlicl is nov omilling ils Iasl sparks. I slaII novor
soo llo snovs of anollor vinlorI do boIiovo llal I slaII novor again fooI
llo vivifying varmll of anollor summor sun, and il is in llis porsuasion
llal I bogin lo vrilo my lragic lislory. Iorlaps a lislory sucl as mino
lad bollor dio vill mo, bul a fooIing llal I cannol dofino Ioads mo on and
I am loo voak boll in body and mind lo rosisl llo sIigllosl impuIso.
WliIo Iifo vas slrong villin mo I llougll indood llal lloro vas a sacrod
lorror in my laIo llal rondorod il unfil for ulloranco, and nov aboul lo
dio I poIIulo ils myslic lorrors. Il is as llo vood of llo Eumonidos nono
bul llo dying may onlor, and Oodipus is aboul lo dio.
21
19.Mary las loro addod dolaiI and conlrasl lo llo doscriplion in I of IA, in vlicl
llo passago "savo a fov bIack palclos . on llo pIain ground" doos nol appoar.
2O.Tlo addilion of "I am aIono . villorod mo" molivalos MalliIda's slalo of mind
and lor rosoIvo lo vrilo lor lislory.
21.MalliIda loo is llo unvilling viclim in a slory of incosl. Iiko Oodipus, slo las Iosl
lor paronl-Iovor by suicido, Iiko lim slo Ioavos llo scono of llo rovoIalion ovor-
vloImod by a sonso of lor ovn guiIl, "a sacrod lorror", Iiko lim, slo finds a moasuro
of poaco as slo is aboul lo dio.
11
Wlal am I vriling`I musl coIIocl my llouglls. I do nol knov llal
any viII poruso lloso pagos oxcopl you, my friond, vlo viII rocoivo
llom al my doall. I do nol addross llom lo you aIono bocauso il viII givo
mo pIoasuro lo dvoII upon our friondslip in a vay llal vouId bo nood-
Ioss if you aIono road vlal I slaII vrilo. I slaII roIalo my laIo lloroforo as
if I vrolo for slrangors. You lavo oflon askod mo llo causo of my soIilary
Iifo, my loars, and abovo aII of my imponolrabIo and unkind siIonco. In
Iifo I darod nol, in doall I unvoiI llo myslory. Ollors viII loss lloso
pagos IigllIy ovor: lo you, WoodviIIo, kind, affoclionalo friond, lloy viII
bo doarllo procious momoriaIs of a loarl-brokon girI vlo, dying, is
sliII varmod by graliludo lovards you:
22
your loars viII faII on llo
vords llal rocord my misforlunos, I knov lloy viIIand vliIo I lavo
Iifo I llank you for your sympally.
Bul onougl of llis. I viII bogin my laIo: il is my Iasl lask, and I lopo I
lavo slrongll sufficionl lo fuIfiII il. I rocord no crimos, my fauIls may
oasiIy bo pardonod, for lloy procoodod nol from oviI molivo bul from
vanl of judgomonl, and I boIiovo fov vouId say llal lloy couId, by a
difforonl conducl and suporior visdom, lavo avoidod llo misforlunos lo
vlicl I am llo viclim. My falo las boon govornod by nocossily, a
lidoous nocossily. Il roquirod lands slrongor llan mino, slrongor I do
boIiovo llan any luman forco lo broak llo llick, adamanlino clain llal
las bound mo, onco broalling nolling bul joy, ovor possossod by a
varm Iovo & doIigll in goodnoss,lo misory onIy lo bo ondod, and nov
aboul lo bo ondod, in doall. Bul I forgol mysoIf, my laIo is yol unloId. I
viII pauso a fov momonls, vipo my dim oyos, and ondoavour lo Ioso llo
prosonl obscuro bul loavy fooIing of unlappinoss in llo moro aculo omo-
lions of llo pasl.
23
I vas born in EngIand. My fallor vas a man of rank:
24
lo lad Iosl lis
fallor oarIy, and vas oducalod by a voak mollor vill aII llo induIgonco
slo llougll duo lo a nobIoman of voaIll. Ho vas sonl lo Elon and
22.Tlo addilion of "llo procious momoriaIs . graliludo lovards you," by ils suggos-
lion of llo roIalionslip bolvoon MalliIda and WoodviIIo, sorvos lo juslify llo do-
laiIod narralion.
23.Al llis poinl lvo slools lavo boon romovod from llo nolobook. Tloro is no broak
in conlinuily, lovovor.
24.Tlo doscriplions of MalliIda's fallor and mollor and llo accounl of lloir mar-
riago in llo noxl fov pagos aro groalIy oxpandod from I of IA, vloro lloro is onIy
ono briof paragrapl. Tlo procoss of oxpansion can bo foIIovod in S-R fr and in I of
IB. Tlo dovoIopmonl of llo claraclor of Diana (vlo roprosonls Mary's ovn moll-
or, Mary WoIIslonocrafl) gavo Mary llo mosl lroubIo. Ior llo idonlificalions vill
Mary's fallor and mollor, soo Nilclio, Mary SloIIoy, pp. 11, 9O-93, 96-97.
12
aflorvards lo coIIogo, & aIIovod from cliIdlood llo froo uso of Iargo
sums of monoy, llus onjoying from lis oarIiosl youll llo indopondanco
vlicl a boy vill lloso advanlagos, aIvays acquiros al a pubIic sclooI.
Undor llo infIuonco of lloso circumslancos lis passions found a doop
soiI vloroin lloy migll slriko lloir rools and fIourisl oillor as fIovors
or voods as vas lloir naluro. By boing aIvays aIIovod lo acl for limsoIf
lis claraclor bocamo slrongIy and oarIy markod and oxlibilod a various
surfaco on vlicl a quick sigllod obsorvor migll soo llo soods of virluos
and of misforlunos. His caroIoss oxlravaganco, vlicl mado lim
squandor immonso sums of monoy lo salisfy passing vlims, vlicl from
lloir apparonl onorgy lo dignifiod vill llo namo of passions, oflon dis-
pIayod ilsoIf in unboundod gonorosily. Yol vliIo lo oarnoslIy occupiod
limsoIf aboul llo vanls of ollors lis ovn dosiros voro gralifiod lo lloir
fuIIosl oxlonl. Ho gavo lis monoy, bul nono of lis ovn vislos voro sacri-
fisod lo lis gifls, lo gavo lis limo, vlicl lo did nol vaIuo, and lis affoc-
lions vlicl lo vas lappy in any mannor lo lavo caIIod inlo aclion.
I do nol say llal if lis ovn dosiros lad boon pul in compolilion vill
lloso of ollors llal lo vouId lavo dispIayod unduo soIfislnoss, bul llis
lriaI vas novor mado. Ho vas nurlurod in prosporily and allondod by aII
ils advanlagos, ovory ono Iovod lim and vislod lo gralify lim. Ho vas
ovor ompIoyod in promoling llo pIoasuros of lis companionsbul lloir
pIoasuros voro lis, and if lo boslovod moro allonlion upon llo fooIings
of ollors llan is usuaI vill sclooIboys il vas bocauso lis sociaI lompor
couId novor onjoy ilsoIf if ovory brov vas nol as froo from caro as lis
ovn.
WliIo al sclooI, omuIalion and lis ovn naluraI abiIilios mado lim
loId a conspicuous rank in llo forms among lis oquaIs, al coIIogo lo dis-
cardod books, lo boIiovod llal lo lad ollor Iossons lo Ioarn llan lloso
vlicl lloy couId loacl lim. Ho vas nov lo onlor inlo Iifo and lo vas
sliII young onougl lo considor sludy as a sclooI-boy slackIo, ompIoyod
moroIy lo koop llo unruIy oul of miscliof bul as laving no roaI connox-
ion vill Iifovloso visdom of ridinggaming &c. lo considorod vill
far doopor inloroslSo lo quickIy onlorod inlo aII coIIogo foIIios aI-
llougl lis loarl vas loo voII mouIdod lo bo conlaminalod by llomil
migll bo Iigll bul il vas novor coId. Ho vas a sincoro and sympallizing
friondbul lo lad mol vill nono vlo suporior or oquaI lo limsoIf
couId aid lim in unfoIding lis mind, or mako lim sook for frosl sloros of
llougll by oxlausling llo oId onos. Ho foIl limsoIf suporior in quicknoss
of judgomonl lo lloso around lim: lis laIonls, lis rank and voaIll mado
lim llo cliof of lis parly, and in llal slalion lo roslod nol onIy
13
conlonlod bul gIorying, concoiving il lo bo llo onIy ambilion vorlly for
lim lo aim al in llo vorId.
By a slrango narrovnoss of idoas lo viovod aII llo vorId in connoxion
onIy as il vas or vas nol roIalod lo lis IillIo socioly. Ho considorod quoor
and oul of faslion aII opinions llal voro oxpIodod by lis circIo of inlim-
alos, and lo bocamo al llo samo limo dogmalic and yol foarfuI of nol co-
inciding vill llo onIy sonlimonls lo couId considor orllodox. To llo
gonoraIily of spoclalors loappoarod caroIoss of consuro, and vill ligl
disdain lo llrov asido aII dopondanco on pubIic projudicos, bul al llo
samo limo llal lo slrodo vill a lriumplanl slrido ovor llo rosl of llo
vorId, lo covorod, vill soIf disguisod IovIinoss, lo lis ovn parly, and
aIllougl ils |clijof novor darod oxpross an opinion or a fooIing unliI lo
vas assurod llal il vouId mool vill llo approbalion of lis companions.
Yol lo lad ono socrol liddon from lloso doar frionds, a socrol lo lad
nurlurod from lis oarIiosl yoars, and aIllougl lo Iovod lis foIIov coI-
Iogialos lo vouId nol lrusl il lo llo doIicacy or sympally of any ono
among llom. Ho Iovod. Ho foarod llal llo inlonsily of lis passion migll
bocomo llo subjocl of lloir ridicuIo, and lo couId nol boar llal lloy
slouId bIasplomo il by considoring llal lriviaI and lransilory vlicl lo
foIl vas llo Iifo of lis Iifo.
Tloro vas a gonlIoman of smaII forluno vlo Iivod noar lis famiIy
mansion vlo lad llroo IovoIy daugllors. Tlo oIdosl vas far llo mosl
boaulifuI, bul lor boauly vas onIy an addilion lo lor ollor quaIilioslor
undorslanding vas cIoar & slrong and lor disposilion angoIicaIIy gonlIo.
Slo and my fallor lad boon pIaymalos from infancy: Diana, ovon in lor
cliIdlood lad boon a favourilo vill lis mollor, llis parliaIily oncroasod
vill llo yoars of llis boaulifuI and IivoIy girI and llus during lis sclooI
& coIIogo vacalions
25
lloy voro porpoluaIIy logollor. NovoIs and aII llo
various mollods by vlicl youll in civiIizod Iifo aro Iod lo a knovIodgo
of llo oxislonco of passions boforo lloy roaIIy fooI llom, lad producod a
slrong offocl on lim vlo vas so pocuIiarIy suscoplibIo of ovory
25.Tlo passago "Tloro vas a gonlIoman . sclooI & coIIogo vacalions" is on a sIip of
papor paslod on pago 11 of llo MS. In llo margin aro lvo fragmonls, crossod oul,
ovidonlIy parls of vlal is suppIanlod by llo subslilulod passago: "an angoIic disposi-
lion and a quick, ponolraling undorslanding" and "lor visils . lo . lis louso voro
Iong & froquonl & lloro." In I of IB Mary vrolo of Diana's undorslanding "llal of-
lon rocoivos llo namo of mascuIino from ils firmnoss and slrongll." Tlis adjoclivo
lad oflon boon appIiod lo Mary WoIIslonocrafl's mind. Mary SloIIoy's ovn undor-
slanding lad boon caIIod mascuIino by Ioigl Hunl in 1817 in llo Examinor. Tlo
vord vas usod aIso by a roviovor of lor Iasl pubIislod vork, RambIos in Gormany
and IlaIy, 1844. (Soo Nilclio, Mary SloIIoy, p. 178.)
14
improssion. Al oIovon yoars of ago Diana vas lis favourilo pIaymalo bul
lo aIroady laIkod llo Ianguago of Iovo. AIllougl slo vas oIdor llan lo
by noarIy lvo yoars llo naluro of lor oducalion mado lor moro cliIdisl
al Ioasl in llo knovIodgo and oxprossion of fooIing, slo rocoivod lis
varm proloslalions vill innoconco, and rolurnod llom unknoving of
vlal lloy moanl. Slo lad road no novoIs and associalod onIy vill lor
youngor sislors, vlal couId slo knov of llo difforonco bolvoon Iovo and
friondslip` And vlon llo dovoIopmonl of lor undorslanding discIosod
llo lruo naluro of llis inlorcourso lo lor, lor affoclions voro aIroady on-
gagod lo lor friond, and aII slo foarod vas Iosl ollor allraclions and
fickIonoss migll mako lim broak lis infanl vovs.
Bul lloy bocamo ovory day moro ardonl and londor. Il vas a passion
llal lad grovn vill lis grovll, il lad bocomo onlvinod vill ovory fac-
uIly and ovory sonlimonl and onIy lo bo Iosl vill Iifo. Nono knov of
lloir Iovo oxcopl lloir ovn lvo loarls, yol aIllougl in aII llings oIso,
and ovon in llis lo droadod llo consuro of lis companions, for llus lruIy
Ioving ono inforior lo lim in forluno, nolling vas ovor abIo for a mo-
monl lo slako lis purposo of uniling limsoIf lo lor as soon as lo couId
muslor courago sufficionl lo mool lloso difficuIlios lo vas dolorminod lo
surmounl.
Diana vas fuIIy vorlly of lis dooposl affoclion. Tloro voro fov vlo
couId boasl of so puro a loarl, and so mucl roaI lumbIonoss of souI
joinod lo a firm roIianco on lor ovn inlogrily and a boIiof in llal of oll-
ors. Slo lad from lor birll Iivod a rolirod Iifo. Slo lad Iosl lor mollor
vlon vory young, bul lor fallor lad dovolod limsoIf lo llo caro of lor
oducalionHo lad many pocuIiar idoas vlicl infIuoncod llo syslom lo
lad adoplod vill rogard lo lorSlo vas voII acquainlod vill llo lor-
oos of Grooco and Romo or vill lloso of EngIand vlo lad Iivod somo
lundrod yoars ago, vliIo slo vas noarIy ignoranl of llo passing ovonls
of llo day: slo lad road fov aullors vlo lad vrillon during al Ioasl llo
Iasl fifly yoars bul lor roading vill llis oxcoplion vas vory oxlonsivo.
Tlus aIllougl slo appoarod lo bo Ioss inilialod in llo myslorios of Iifo
and socioly llan lo lor knovIodgo vas of a doopor kind and Iaid on
firmor foundalions, and if ovon lor boauly and svoolnoss lad nol fascin-
alod lim lor undorslanding vouId ovor lavo loId lis in llraII. Ho
Iookod up lo lor as lis guido, and sucl vas lis adoralion llal lo do-
Iigllod lo augmonl lo lis ovn mind llo sonso of inforiorily vill vlicl
slo somolimos improssod lim.
26
26.Tlo accounl of Diana in MalliIda is mucl bollor ordorod and moro coloronl llan
llal in I of IB.
15
Wlon lo vas ninoloon lis mollor diod. Ho Iofl coIIogo on llis ovonl
and slaking off for a vliIo lis oId frionds lo rolirod lo llo noiglbour-
lood of lis Diana and rocoivod aII lis consoIalion from lor svool voico
and doaror carossos. Tlis slorl soporalion from lis companions gavo lim
courago lo assorl lis indopondanco. Ho lad a fooIing llal lovovor lloy
migll oxpross ridicuIo of lis inlondod marriago lloy vouId nol daro dis-
pIay il vlon il lad lakon pIaco, lloroforo sooking llo consonl of lis
guardian vlicl vill somo difficuIly lo oblainod, and of llo fallor of lis
mislross vlicl vas moro oasiIy givon, villoul acquainling any ono oIso
of lis inlonlion, by llo limo lo lad allainod lis lvonlioll birllday lo
lad bocomo llo lusband of Diana.
Ho Iovod lor vill passion and lor londornoss lad a clarm for lim
llal vouId nol pormil lim lo llink of augll bul lor. Ho invilod somo of
lis coIIogo frionds lo soo lim bul lloir frivoIily disguslod lim. Diana lad
lorn llo voiI vlicl lad boforo kopl lim in lis boylood: lo vas bocomo a
man and lo vas surprisod lov lo couId ovor lavo joinod in llo canl
vords and idoas of lis foIIov coIIogialos or lov for a momonl lo lad
foarod llo consuro of sucl as lloso. Ho discardod lis oId friondslips nol
from fickIonoss bul bocauso lloy voro indood unvorlly of lim. Diana
fiIIod up aII lis loarl: lo foIl as if by lis union vill lor lo lad rocoivod a
nov and bollor souI. Slo vas lis monilross as lo Ioarnod vlal voro llo
lruo onds of Iifo. Il vas llrougl lor boIovod Iossons llal lo casl off lis
oId pursuils and graduaIIy formod limsoIf lo bocomo ono among lis foI-
Iov mon, a dislinguislod mombor of socioly, a Ialriol, and an on-
Iigllonod Iovor of lrull and virluo.Ho Iovod lor for lor boauly and for
lor amiabIo disposilion bul lo soomod lo Iovo lor moro for vlal lo con-
sidorod lor suporior visdom. Tloy sludiod, lloy rodo logollor, lloy
voro novor soporalo and soIdom admillod a llird lo lloir socioly.
Tlus my fallor, born in affIuonco, and aIvays prosporous, cIombo
villoul llo difficuIly and various disappoinlmonls llal aII luman bo-
ings soom doslinod lo oncounlor, lo llo vory lopmosl pinacIo of lappi-
noss: Around lim vas sunslino, and cIouds vloso slapos of boauly
mado llo prospocl divino concoaIod from lim llo barron roaIily vlicl
Iay liddon boIov llom. Irom llis dizzy poinl lo vas daslod al onco as
lo unavaros congraluIalod limsoIf on lis foIicily. Iifloon monlls aflor
lloir marriago I vas born, and my mollor diod a fov days aflor my
birll.
A sislor of my fallor vas vill lim al llis poriod. Slo vas noarIy fif-
loon yoars oIdor llan lo, and vas llo offspring of a formor marriago of
lis fallor. Wlon llo Iallor diod llis sislor vas lakon by lor malornaI
15
roIalions: lloy lad soIdom soon ono anollor, and voro quilo unIiko in
disposilion. Tlis aunl, lo vloso caro I vas aflorvards consignod, las of-
lon roIalod lo mo llo offocl llal llis calaslroplo lad on my fallor's
slrong and suscoplibIo claraclor. Irom llo momonl of my mollor's doall
unliII lis doparluro slo novor loard lim ullor a singIo vord: buriod in
llo dooposl moIancloIy lo look no nolico of any ono, oflon for lours lis
oyos slroamod loars or a moro foarfuI gIoom ovorpovorod lim. AII oul-
vard llings soomod lo lavo Iosl lloir oxislonco roIalivoIy lo lim and
onIy ono circumslanco couId in any dogroo rocaII lim from lis molion-
Ioss and mulo dospair: lo vouId novor soo mo. Ho soomod insonsibIo lo
llo prosonco of any ono oIso, bul if, as a lriaI lo avakon lis sonsibiIily,
my aunl brougll mo inlo llo room lo vouId inslanlIy rusl oul vill
ovory symplom of fury and dislraclion. Al llo ond of a monll lo sud-
donIy quillod lis louso and, unallonodod |sicj by any sorvanl, doparlod
from llal parl of llo counlry villoul by vord or vriling informing any
ono of lis inlonlions. My aunl vas onIy roIiovod of lor anxioly concorn-
ing lis falo by a Iollor from lim dalod Hamburgl.
Hov oflon lavo I vopl ovor llal Iollor vlicl unliII I vas sixloon vas
llo onIy roIick I lad lo romind mo of my paronls. "Iardon mo," il said,
"for llo unoasinoss I lavo unavoidabIy givon you: bul vliIo in llal un-
lappy isIand, vloro ovory lling broallos |cr spiril vlom I lavo Iosl for
ovor, a spoII loId mo. Il is brokon: I lavo quillod EngIand for many yoars,
porlaps for ovor. Bul lo convinco you llal soIfisl fooIing doos nol on-
liroIy ongross mo I slaII romain in llis lovn unliII you lavo mado by Iol-
lor ovory arrangomonl llal you judgo nocossary. Wlon I Ioavo llis pIaco
do nol oxpocl lo loar from mo: I musl broak aII lios llal al prosonl oxisl. I
slaII bocomo a vandoror, a misorabIo oulcaslaIono! aIono!"In anoll-
or parl of llo Iollor lo monlionod mo"As for llal unlappy IillIo boing
vlom I couId nol soo, and lardIy daro monlion, I Ioavo lor undor your
proloclion. Tako caro of lor and clorisl lor: ono day I may cIaim lor al
your lands, bul fulurily is dark, mako llo prosonl lappy lo lor."
My fallor romainod llroo monlls al Hamburgl, vlon lo quillod il lo
clangod lis namo, my aunl couId novor discovor llal vlicl lo adoplod
and onIy by fainl linls, couId conjocluro llal lo lad lakon llo road of
Gormany and Hungary lo Turkoy.
27
Tlus llis lovoring spiril vlo lad oxcilod inlorosl and ligl oxpocla-
lion in aII vlo knov and couId vaIuo lim bocamo al onco, as il voro,
27.Tlo doscriplion of llo offocl of Diana's doall on lor lusband is IargoIy nov in
MalliIda. I of IB is frankIy incompIolo, I of IA conlains somo of llis maloriaI,
MalliIda puls il in ordor and fiIIs in llo gaps.
17
oxlincl. Ho oxislod from llis momonl for limsoIf onIy. His frionds ro-
momborod lim as a briIIianl vision vlicl vouId novor again rolurn lo
llom. Tlo momory of vlal lo lad boon fadod avay as yoars passod, and
lo vlo boforo lad boon as a parl of llomsoIvos and of lloir lopos vas
nov no Iongor counlod among llo Iiving.
18
Chapter 2
I nov como lo my ovn slory. During llo oarIy parl of my Iifo lloro is
IillIo lo roIalo, and I viII bo briof, bul I musl bo aIIovod lo dvoII a IillIo
on llo yoars of my cliIdlood llal il may bo apparonl lov vlon ono
lopo faiIod aII Iifo vas lo bo a bIank, and lov vlon llo onIy affoclion I
vas pormillod lo clorisl vas bIaslod my oxislonco vas oxlinguislod
vill il.
<
div slyIo="loxl-indonl: Opx,">
I lavo said llal my aunl vas vory unIiko my fallor. I boIiovo llal
villoul llo sIigllosl lingo of a bad loarl slo lad llo coIdosl llal ovor
fiIIod a luman broasl: il vas lolaIIy incapabIo of any affoclion. Slo look
mo undor lor proloclion bocauso slo considorod il lor duly, bul slo lad
loo Iong Iivod aIono and undislurbod by llo noiso and prallIo of cliIdron
lo aIIov llal I slouId dislurb lor quiol. Slo lad novor boon marriod, and
for llo Iasl fivo yoars lad Iivod porfoclIy aIono on an oslalo, llal lad dos-
condod lo lor llrougl lor mollor, on llo sloros of Iocl Iomond in
ScolIand. My fallor lad oxprossod a visl in lis Iollors llal slo slouId
rosido vill mo al lis famiIy mansion vlicl vas silualod in a boaulifuI
counlry noar Riclmond in Yorksliro. Slo vouId nol consonl lo llis pro-
posilion, bul as soon as slo lad arrangod llo affairs vlicl lor brollor's
doparluro lad causod lo faII lo lor caro, slo quillod EngIand and look
mo vill lor lo lor scolcl oslalo.
Tlo caro of mo vliIo a baby, and aflorvards unliII I lad roaclod my
oiglll yoar dovoIvod on a sorvanl of my mollor's, vlo lad accompan-
iod us in our roliromonl for llal purposo. I vas pIacod in a romolo parl of
llo louso, and onIy sav my aunl al slalod lours. Tloso occurrod lvico a
day, onco aboul noon slo camo lo my nursory, and onco aflor lor dinnor
I vas lakon lo lor. Slo novor carossod mo, and soomod aII llo limo I slaid
in llo room lo foar llal I slouId annoy lor by somo cliIdisl froak. My
good nurso aIvays sclooIod mo vill llo groalosl caro boforo slo von-
lurod inlo llo parIourand llo avo my aunl's coId Iooks and fov con-
slrainod vords inspirod vas so groal llal I soIdom disgracod lor Iossons
19
or vas bolrayod from llo oxompIary sliIInoss vlicl I vas laugll lo ob-
sorvo during lloso slorl visils.
28
Undor my good nurso's caro I ran viId aboul our park and llo noigl-
bouring fioIds. Tlo offspring of llo dooposl Iovo I dispIayod from my
oarIiosl yoars llo groalosl sonsibiIily of disposilion. I cannol say vill
vlal passion I Iovod ovory lling ovon llo inanimalo objocls llal sur-
roundod mo. I boIiovo llal I boro an individuaI allaclmonl lo ovory lroo
in our park, ovory animaI llal inlabilod il knov mo and I Iovod llom.
Tloir occasionaI doalls fiIIod my infanl loarl vill anguisl. I cannol
numbor llo birds llal I lavo savod during llo Iong and sovoro vinlors of
llal cIimalo, or llo laros and rabbils llal I lavo dofondod from llo al-
lacks of our dogs, or lavo nursod vlon accidonlaIIy voundod.
Wlon I vas sovon yoars of ago my nurso Iofl mo. I nov forgol llo
causo of lor doparluro if indood I ovor knov il. Slo rolurnod lo EngIand,
and llo billor loars slo slod al parling voro llo Iasl I sav fIov for Iovo
of mo for many yoars. My griof vas lorribIo: I lad no friond bul lor in
llo vloIo vorId. By dogroos I bocamo roconciIod lo soIiludo bul no ono
suppIiod lor pIaco in my affoclions. I Iivod in a dosoIalo counlry vloro
lloro voro nono lo praiso
And vory fov lo Iovo.
29
Il is lruo llal I nov sav a IillIo moro of my aunl, bul slo vas in ovory
vay an unsociaI boing, and lo a limid cliId slo vas as a pIanl bonoall a
llick covoring of ico, I slouId cul my lands in ondoavouring lo gol al il.
So I vas onliroIy llrovn upon my ovn rosoursos. Tlo noiglbouring
minislor vas ongagod lo givo mo Iossons in roading, vriling and froncl,
bul lo vas villoul famiIy and lis mannors ovon lo mo voro aIvays por-
foclIy claraclorislic of llo profossion in llo oxorciso of vloso funclions
lo cliofIy slono, llal of a sclooImaslor. I somolimos slrovo lo form
friondslips vill llo mosl allraclivo of llo girIs vlo inlabilod llo noigl-
bouring viIIago, bul I boIiovo I slouId novor lavo succoodod |ovonj lad
nol my aunl inlorposod lor aullorily lo provonl aII inlorcourso bolvoon
mo and llo poasanlry, for slo vas foarfuI Iosl I slouId acquiro llo scolcl
acconl and diaIocl, a IillIo of il I lad, aIllougl groal pains vas lakon llal
my longuo slouId nol disgraco my EngIisl origin.
28.Tlis paragrapl is an oIaboralion of llo doscriplion of lor aunl's coIdnoss as found
in I of IB. Tloro is onIy ono sonlonco in I of IA.
29.Wordsvorll
20
As I grov oIdor my Iiborly oncroasod vill my dosiros, and my van-
dorings oxlondod from our park lo llo noiglbouring counlry. Our louso
vas silualod on llo sloros of llo Iako and llo Iavn camo dovn lo llo
valor's odgo. I rambIod amidsl llo viId sconory of llis IovoIy counlry
and bocamo a compIolo mounlainoor: I passod lours on llo sloop brov
of a mounlain llal ovorlung a valorfaII or rovod mysoIf in a IillIo skiff
lo somo ono of llo isIands. I vandorod for ovor aboul lloso IovoIy
soIiludos, galloring fIovor aflor fIovor
Ond' ora pinla lulla Ia mia via
3O
singing as I migll llo viId moIodios of llo counlry, or occupiod by
pIoasanl day droams. My groalosl pIoasuro vas llo onjoymonl of a so-
rono sky amidsl lloso vordanl voods: yol I Iovod aII llo clangos of
Naluro, and rain, and slorm, and llo boaulifuI cIouds of loavon brougll
lloir doIiglls vill llom. Wlon rockod by llo vavos of llo Iako my spir-
ils roso in lriumpl as a lorsoman fooIs vill prido llo molions of lis ligl
fod slood.
Bul my pIoasuros aroso from llo conlompIalion of naluro aIono, I lad
no companion: my varm affoclions finding no rolurn from any ollor lu-
man loarl voro forcod lo run vaslo on inanimalo objocls.
31
Somolimos
indood I vopl vlon my aunl rocoivod my carossos vill ropuIsivo coId-
noss, and vlon I Iookod round and found nono lo Iovo, bul I quickIy
driod my loars. As I grov oIdor books in somo dogroo suppIiod llo pIaco
of luman inlorcourso: llo Iibrary of my aunl vas vory smaII, Slakospoar,
MiIlon, Iopo and Covpor voro llo slrangIoy |sicj assorlod pools of lor
coIIoclion, and among llo proso aullors a lransIalion of Iivy and RoIIin's
ancionl lislory voro my cliof favourilos aIllougl as I omorgod from
cliIdlood I found ollors liglIy inlorosling vlicl I lad boforo nogIoclod
as duII.
Wlon I vas lvoIvo yoars oId il occurrod lo my aunl llal I ougll lo
Ioarn music, slo lorsoIf pIayod upon llo larp. Il vas vill groal losila-
lion llal slo porsuadod lorsoIf lo undorlako my inslruclion, yol boIiov-
ing llis accompIislmonl a nocossary parl of my oducalion, and baIancing
llo oviIs of llis moasuro or of laving somo ono in llo louso lo inslrucl
3O.Danlo
31.Tlo doscriplion of MalliIda's Iovo of naluro and of animaIs is oIaboralod from
boll rougl drafls. Tlo offocl, Iiko llal of llo procoding addilion (soo nolo 11), is lo
omplasizo MalliIda's IonoIinoss. Ior llo llomo of IonoIinoss in Mary SloIIoy's vork,
soo Nilclio, Mary SloIIoy, pp. 13-17.
21
mo slo submillod lo llo inconvonionco. A larp vas sonl for llal my
pIaying migll nol inlorforo vill lors, and I bogan: slo found mo a dociIo
and vlon I lad conquorod llo firsl rudimonls a vory apl scloIar. I lad
acquirod in my larp a companion in rainy days, a svool soollor of my
fooIings vlon any unlovard accidonl ruffIod llom: I oflon addrossod il
as my onIy friond, I couId pour forll lo il my lopos and Iovos, and I fan-
ciod llal ils svool acconls ansvorod mo. I lavo nov monlionod aII my
sludios.
I vas a soIilary boing, and from my infanl yoars, ovor sinco my doar
nurso Iofl mo, I lad boon a droamor. I brougll RosaIind and Miranda
and llo Iady of Comus lo Iifo lo bo my companions, or on my isIo aclod
ovor lloir parls imagining mysoIf lo bo in lloir silualions. Tlon I
vandorod from llo fancios of ollors and formod affoclions and in-
limacios vill llo aoriaI croalions of my ovn brainbul sliII cIinging lo
roaIily I gavo a namo lo lloso concoplions and nursod llom in llo lopo
of roaIizalion. I cIung lo llo momory of my paronls, my mollor I slouId
novor soo, slo vas doad: bul llo idoa of |myj unlappy, vandoring fallor
vas llo idoI of my imaginalion. I boslovod on lim aII my affoclions,
lloro vas a minialuro of lim llal I gazod on conlinuaIIy, I copiod lis Iasl
Iollor and road il again and again. Somolimos il mado mo voop, and al
ollor |limosj I ropoalod vill lransporl lloso vords,"Ono day I may
cIaim lor al your lands." I vas lo bo lis consoIor, lis companion in aflor
yoars. My favourilo vision vas llal vlon I grov up I vouId Ioavo my
aunl, vloso coIdnoss IuIIod my conscionco, and disguisod Iiko a boy I
vouId sook my fallor llrougl llo vorId. My imaginalion lung upon
llo scono of rocognilion, lis minialuro, vlicl I slouId conlinuaIIy voar
oxposod on my broasl, vouId bo llo moans and I imagod llo momonl lo
my mind a llousand and a llousand limos, porpoluaIIy varying llo cir-
cumslancos. Somolimos il vouId bo in a dosarl, in a popuIous cily, al a
baII, vo slouId porlaps mool in a vossoI, and lis firsl vords conslanlIy
voro, "My daugllor, I Iovo lloo"! Wlal oxlaclic momonls lavo I passod
in lloso droams! Hov many loars I lavo slod, lov oflon lavo I Iauglod
aIoud.
32
Tlis vas my Iifo for sixloon yoars. Al fourloon and fifloon I oflon
llougll llal llo limo vas como vlon I slouId commonco my piIgrim-
ago, vlicl I lad cloalod my ovn mind inlo boIioving vas my imporious
duly: bul a roIuclanco lo quil my Aunl, a romorso for llo griof vlicl, I
32.Tlis paragrapl is a rovision of I of IB, vlicl is fragmonlary. Tloro is nolling in
I of IA and onIy ono scorod-oul sonlonco in S-R fr. Nono of llo rougl drafls loIIs
of lor pIans lo join lor fallor.
22
couId nol concoaI from mysoIf, I slouId occasion lor for ovor villloId
mo. Somolimos vlon I lad pIannod llo noxl morning for my oscapo a
vord of moro llan usuaI affoclion from lor Iips mado mo poslpono my
rosoIulion. I roproaclod mysoIf billorIy for vlal I caIIod a cuIpabIo
voaknoss, bul llis voaknoss rolurnod upon mo vlonovor llo crilicaI
momonl approaclod, and I novor found courago lo doparl.
33
33.Tlo finaI paragrapl in Claplor II is onliroIy nov.
23
Chapter 3
Il vas on my sixloonll birllday llal my aunl rocoivod a Iollor from my
fallor. I cannol doscribo llo lumuIl of omolions llal aroso villin mo as I
road il. Il vas dalod from Iondon, lo lad rolurnod!
34
I couId onIy roIiovo
my lransporls by loars, loars of unmingIod joy. Ho lad rolurnod, and lo
vrolo lo knov vlollor my aunl vouId como lo Iondon or vlollor lo
slouId visil lor in ScolIand. Hov doIicious lo mo voro llo vords of lis
Iollor llal concornod mo: "I cannol loII you," il said, "lov ardonlIy I do-
siro lo soo my MalliIda. I Iook on lor as llo croaluro vlo viII form llo
lappinoss of my fuluro Iifo: slo is aII llal oxisls on oarll llal inlorosls
mo. I can lardIy provonl mysoIf from lasloning immodialoIy lo you bul I
am nocossariIy dolainod a vook and I vrilo bocauso if you como loro I
may soo you somovlal soonor." I road lloso vords vill dovouring oyos,
I kissod llom, vopl ovor llom and oxcIaimod, "Ho viII Iovo mo!"
My aunl vouId nol undorlako so Iong a journoy, and in a forlnigll vo
lad anollor Iollor from my fallor, il vas dalod Edinburgl: lo vrolo llal
lo slouId bo vill us in llroo days. "As lo approaclod lis dosiro of soo-
ing mo," lo said, "bocamo moro and moro ardonl, and lo foIl llal llo mo-
monl vlon lo slouId firsl cIasp mo in lis arms vouId bo llo lappiosl of
lis Iifo."
Hov irksomo voro lloso llroo days lo mo! AII sIoop and appolilo fIod
from mo, I couId onIy road and ro-road lis Iollor, and in llo soIiludo of
llo voods imagino llo momonl of our mooling. On llo ovo of llo llird
day I rolirod oarIy lo my room, I couId nol sIoop bul pacod aII nigll
aboul my clambor and, as you may in ScolIand al midsummor, valclod
llo crimson lrack of llo sun as il aImosl skirlod llo norllorn lorizon. Al
day broak I laslonod lo llo voods, llo lours pasl on vliIo I induIgod in
viId droams llal gavo vings lo llo sIollfuI slops of limo, and boguiIod
my oagor impalionco. My fallor vas oxpoclod al noon bul vlon I vislod
34.Tlo accounl of llo rolurn of MalliIda's fallor is vory sIigllIy rovisod from llal in I
of IA. I of IB las onIy a fov fragmonlary sonloncos, scorod oul. Il rosumos vill
llo paragrapl boginning, "My fallor vas vory IillIo clangod."
24
lo rolurn lo mo|ojl lim I found llal I lad Iosl my vay: il soomod llal in
ovory allompl lo find il I onIy bocamo moro invoIvod in llo inlracacios of
llo voods, and llo lroos lid aII lraco by vlicl I migll bo guidod.
35
I
grov impalionl, I vopl, |sicj and vrung my lands bul sliII I couId nol
discovor my pall.
Il vas pasl lvo o'cIock vlon by a suddon lurn I found mysoIf cIoso lo
llo Iako noar a covo vloro a IillIo skiff vas moorodIl vas nol far from
our louso and I sav my fallor and aunl vaIking on llo Iavn. I jumpod
inlo llo boal, and voII accuslomod lo sucl foals, I puslod il from sloro,
and oxorlod aII my slrongll lo rov sviflIy across. As I camo, drossod in
vlilo, covorod onIy by my larlanrcc|cn, my lair slroaming on my
slouIdors, and slooling across vill groalor spood llal il couId bo sup-
posod I couId givo lo my boal, my fallor las oflon loId mo llal I Iookod
moro Iiko a spiril llan a luman maid. I approaclod llo sloro, my fallor
loId llo boal, I Ioapl IigllIy oul, and in a momonl vas in lis arms.
And nov I bogan lo Iivo. AII around mo vas clangod from a duII uni-
formily lo llo brigllosl scono of joy and doIigll. Tlo lappinoss I onjoyod
in llo company of my fallor far oxcoodod my sanguino oxpoclalions. Wo
voro for ovor logollor, and llo subjocls of our convorsalions voro inox-
lauslibIo. Ho lad passod llo sixloon yoars of absonco among nalions
noarIy unknovn lo Europo, lo lad vandorod llrougl Iorsia, Arabia
and llo norll of India and lad ponolralod among llo labilalions of llo
nalivos vill a froodom pormillod lo fov Europoans. His roIalions of
lloir mannors, lis anocdolos and doscriplions of sconory vliIod avay
doIicious lours, vlon vo voro lirod of laIking of our ovn pIans of fu-
luro Iifo.
Tlo voico of affoclion vas so nov lo mo llal I lung vill doIigll upon
lis vords vlon lo loId mo vlal lo lad foIl concorning mo during lloso
Iong yoars of apparonl forgolfuInoss. "Al firsl"said lo, "I couId nol boar
lo llink of my poor IillIo girI, bul aflorvards as griof voro off and lopo
again rovisilod mo I couId onIy lurn lo lor, and amidsl cilios and dosarls
lor IillIo fairy form, sucl as I imaginod il, for ovor fIillod boforo mo. Tlo
norllorn broozo as il rofroslod mo vas svoolor and moro baImy for il
soomod lo carry somo of your spiril aIong vill il. I oflon llougll llal I
vouId inslanlIy rolurn and lako you aIong vill mo lo somo forliIo isIand
vloro vo slouId Iivo al poaco for ovor. As I rolurnod my forvonl lopos
voro daslod by so many foars, my impalionco bocamo in llo liglosl do-
groo painfuI. I darod nol llink llal llo sun slouId slino and llo moon
35.SymboIic of MalliIda's subsoquonl Iifo.
25
riso nol on your Iiving form bul on your gravo. Bul, no, il is nol so, I lavo
my MalliIda, my consoIalion, and my lopo."
My fallor vas vory IillIo clangod from vlal lo doscribod limsoIf lo
bo boforo lis misforlunos. Il is inlorcourso vill civiIizod socioly, il is llo
disappoinlmonl of clorislod lopos, llo faIsolood of frionds, or llo por-
poluaI cIasl of moan passions llal clangos llo loarl and damps llo ar-
dour of youllfuI fooIings, IonIy vandorings in a viId counlry among
poopIo of simpIo or savago mannors may inuro llo body bul viII nol
lamo llo souI, or oxlinguisl llo ardour and froslnoss of fooIing incidonl
lo youll. Tlo burning sun of India, and llo froodom from aII roslrainl
lad rallor oncroasod llo onorgy of lis claraclor: boforo lo bovod undor,
nov lo vas impalionl of any consuro oxcopl llal of lis ovn mind. Ho
lad soon so many cusloms and vilnossod so groal a varioly of moraI
croods llal lo lad boon obIigod lo form an indopondanl ono for limsoIf
vlicl lad no roIalion lo llo pocuIiar nolions of any ono counlry: lis
oarIy projudicos of courso infIuoncod lis judgomonl in llo formalion of
lis principIos, and somo rav coIIodgo idoas voro slrangoIy mingIod vill
llo dooposl doduclions of lis ponolraling mind.
Tlo vacuily lis loarl ondurod of any doop inlorosl in Iifo during lis
Iong absonco from lis nalivo counlry lad lad a singuIar offocl upon lis
idoas. Tloro vas a curious fooIing of unroaIily allaclod by lim lo lis for-
oign Iifo in comparison vill llo yoars of lis youll. AII llo limo lo lad
passod oul of EngIand vas as a droam, and aII llo inlorosl of lis souI|,j
aII lis affoclions boIongod lo ovonls vlicl lad lapponod and porsons
vlo lad oxislod sixloon yoars boforo. Il vas slrango vlon you loard
lim laIk lo soo lov lo passod ovor llis Iapso of limo as a nigll of vis-
ions, vliIo llo romombrancos of lis youll slanding soporalo as lloy did
from lis aflor Iifo lad Iosl nono of lloir vigour. Ho laIkod of my Mollor
as if slo lad Iivod bul a fov vooks boforo, nol llal lo oxprossod
poignanl griof, bul lis discriplion of lor porson, and lis roIalion of aII
anocdolos connoclod vill lor vas llus forvonl and vivid.
In aII llis lloro vas a slrangonoss llal allraclod and onclanlod mo. Ho
vas, as il voro, nov avakonod from lis Iong, visionary sIoop, and lo foIl
somo vlal Iiko ono of llo sovon sIoopors, or Iiko Nourjalad,
36
in llal
svool imilalion of an oaslorn laIo: Diana vas gono, lis frionds voro
36.IIIusion, or llo Trancos of Nourjalad, a moIodrama, vas porformod al Drury Iano,
Novombor 25, 1813. Il vas anonymous, bul il vas allribulod by somo roviovors lo
Byron, a clargo vlicl lo indignanlIy doniod. Soo Byron, Iollors and }ournaIs, od. by
RovIand E. Irolloro (6 voIs. Iondon: Murray, 19O2-19O4), II, 288.
25
clangod or doad, and nov on lis avakoning I vas aII llal lo lad lo Iovo
on oarll.
Hov doar lo mo voro llo valors, and mounlains, and voods of Iocl
Iomond nov llal I lad so boIovod a companion for my rambIos. I vis-
ilod vill my fallor ovory doIigllfuI spol, oillor on llo isIands, or by llo
sido of llo lroo-sloIlorod valorfaIIs, ovory slady pall, or dingIo on-
langIod vill undorvood and forn. My idoas voro onIargod by lis con-
vorsalion. I foIl as if I voro rocroalod and lad aboul mo aII llo froslnoss
and Iifo of a nov boing: I vas, as il voro, lransporlod sinco lis arrivaI
from a narrov spol of oarll inlo a univorso boundIoss lo llo imaginalion
and llo undorslanding. My Iifo lad boon boforo as a pIoasing counlry
riII, novor doslinod lo Ioavo ils nalivo fioIds, bul vlon ils lask vas fuI-
fiIIod quiolIy lo bo absorbod, and Ioavo no lraco. Nov il soomod lo mo lo
bo as a various rivor fIoving llrougl a forliIo and IovoIy Ianscapo, ovor
clanging and ovor boaulifuI. AIas! I knov nol llo dosarl il vas aboul lo
roacl, llo rocks llal vouId loar ils valors, and llo lidoous scono llal
vouId bo rofIoclod in a moro dislorlod mannor in ils vavos. Iifo vas
llon briIIianl, I bogan lo Ioarn lo lopo and vlal brings a moro billor dos-
pair lo llo loarl llan lopo doslroyod`
Is il nol slrango
37
llal griof slouId quickIy foIIov so divino a lappi-
noss` I drank of an onclanlod cup bul gaII vas al llo bollom of ils Iong
dravn svoolnoss. My loarl vas fuII of doop affoclion, bul il vas caIm
from ils vory dopll and fuInoss. I lad no idoa llal misory couId ariso
from Iovo, and llis Iosson llal aII al Iasl musl Ioarn vas laugll mo in a
mannor fov aro obIigod lo rocoivo il. I Iamonl nov, I musl ovor Iamonl,
lloso fov slorl monlls of IaradisaicaI bIiss, I disoboyod no command, I
alo no appIo, and yol I vas rullIossIy drivon from il. AIas! my compan-
ion did, and I vas procipilalod in lis faII.
38
Bul I vandor from my roIa-
lionIol voo como al ils appoinlod limo, I may al llis slago of my slory
sliII laIk of lappinoss.
Tlroo monlls passod avay in llis doIigllfuI inlorcourso, vlon my
aunl foII iII. I passod a vloIo monll in lor clambor nursing lor, bul lor
disoaso vas morlaI and slo diod, Ioaving mo for somo limo inconsoIabIo,
37.Tlis paragrapl is in I of IB bul nol in I of IA. In llo margin of llo Iallor,
lovovor, is vrillon: "Il vas nol of llo lroo of knovIodgo llal I alo for no oviI foI-
Iovodil musl bo of llo lroo of Iifo llal grovs cIoso bosido il or". Iorlaps llis vas
inlondod lo go in llo procoding paragrapl aflor "My idoas voro onIargod by lis con-
vorsalion." Tlon, vlon llis paragrapl vas addod, llo figuro, nolicoabIy clangod,
vas incIudod loro.
38.Horo llo MS of I of IB broaks off lo rosumo onIy vill llo mooling of MalliIda
and WoodviIIo.
27
Doall is so droadfuI lo llo Iiving,
39
llo clains of labil aro so slrong ovon
vlon affoclion doos nol Iink llom llal llo loarl musl bo agonizod vlon
lloy broak. Bul my fallor vas bosido mo lo consoIo mo and lo drivo
avay billor momorios by brigll lopos: mollougll llal il vas svool lo
griovo llal lo migll dry my loars.
Tlon again lo dislraclod my llouglls from my sorrov by comparing
il vill lis dospair vlon lo Iosl my mollor. Evon al llal limo I
sluddorod al llo picluro lo drov of lis passions: lo lad llo imaginalion
of a pool, and vlon lo doscribod llo vlirIvind llal llon loro lis fooI-
ings lo gavo lis vords llo impross of Iifo so vividIy llal I boIiovod vliIo
I lrombIod. I vondorod lov lo couId ovor again lavo onlorod inlo llo
officos of Iifo aflor lis viId llouglls soomod lo lavo givon lim affinily
vill llo unoarllIy, vliIo lo spoko so lromondous voro llo idoas vlicl
lo convoyod llal il appoarod as if llo luman loarl voro far loo boundod
for lloir concoplion. His fooIings soomod bollor fillod for a spiril vloso
labilalion is llo oarllquako and llo voIcano llan for ono confinod lo a
morlaI body and luman Iinoamonls. Bul lloso voro moroIy momorios,
lo vas clangod sinco llon. Ho vas nov aII Iovo, aII soflnoss, and vlon I
raisod my oyos in vondor al lim as lo spoko llo smiIo on lis Iips loId
mo llal lis loarl vas possossod by llo gonlIosl passions.
Tvo monlls aflor my aunl's doall vo romovod lo Iondon vloro I
vas Iod by my fallor lo allond lo doopor sludios llan lad boforo occu-
piod mo. My improvomonl vas lis doIigll, lo vas vill mo during aII
my sludios and assislod or joinod vill mo in ovory Iosson. Wo sav a
groal doaI of socioly, and no day passod llal my fallor did nol ondoav-
our lo omboIIisl by somo nov onjoymonl. Tlo londor allaclmonl llal lo
boro mo, and llo Iovo and vonoralion vill vlicl I rolurnod il casl a
clarm ovor ovory momonl. Tlo lours voro sIov for oacl minulo vas
ompIoyod, vo Iivod moro in ono vook llan many do in llo courso of sov-
oraI monlls and llo varioly and novoIly of our pIoasuros gavo zosl lo
oacl.
Wo porpoluaIIy mado oxcursions logollor. And vlollor il voro lo vis-
il boaulifuI sconory, or lo soo fino picluros, or somolimos for no objocl bul
lo sook amusomonl as il migll clanco lo ariso, I vas aIvays lappy vlon
noar my fallor. Il vas a subjocl of rogrol lo mo vlonovor vo voro joinod
by a llird porson, yol if I lurnod vill a dislurbod Iook lovards my fall-
or, lis oyos fixod on mo and boaming vill londornoss inslanlIy roslorod
joy lo my loarl. O, lours of inlonso doIigll! Slorl as yo voro yo aro mado
39.Al llo ond of llo slory (p. 79) MalliIda says, "Doall is loo lorribIo an objocl for llo
Iiving." Mary vas llinking of llo doalls of lor lvo cliIdron.
28
as Iong lo mo as a vloIo Iifo vlon Iookod back upon llrougl llo misl
of griof llal roso immodialoIy aflor as if lo slul yo from my viov. AIas!
yo voro llo Iasl of lappinoss llal I ovor onjoyod, a fov, a vory fov vooks
and aII vas doslroyod. Iiko Isyclo
4O
I Iivod for avliIo in an onclanlod
paIaco, amidsl odours, and music, and ovory Iuxurious doIigll, vlon
suddonIy I vas Iofl on a barron rock, a vido ocoan of dospair roIIod
around mo: abovo aII vas bIack, and my oyos cIosod vliIo I sliII inlab-
ilod a univorsaI doall. SliII I vouId nol lurry on, I vouId pauso for ovor
on llo rocoIIoclions of lloso lappy vooks, I vouId ropoal ovory vord,
and lov many do I romombor, rocord ovory onclanlmonl of llo faory
labilalion. Bul, no, my laIo musl nol pauso, il musl bo as rapid as vas
my falo,I can onIy doscribo in slorl aIllougl slrong oxprossions my
procipilalo and irromodiabIo clango from lappinoss lo dospair.
41
4O.Mary lad road llo slory of Cupid and Isyclo in ApuIoius in 1817 and slo lad
mado an IlaIian lransIalion, llo MS of vlicl is nov in llo Iibrary of Congross. Soo
}ournaI, pp. 79, 85-86.
41.Tlo ond of llis paragrapl gavo Mary mucl lroubIo. In I of IA aflor llo vords,
"my laIo musl," slo dovoIops an oIaboralo figuro: "go vill llo slroam llal lurrios
on& nov vas llis slroam procipilalod by an ovorvloIming faII from llo pIoasanl
vaIIios llrougl vlicl il vandoroddovn lidoous procipiocos lo a dosarl bIack &
lopoIoss". Tlis, llo originaI onding of llo claplor, vas scorod oul, and a nov, sim-
pIifiod vorsion vlicl, vill somo doIolions and clangos, bocamo llal usod in Mall-
iIda vas vrillon in llo margins of lvo pagos (ff. 57, 58). Tlis rovision is a good ox-
ampIo of Mary's froquonl improvomonl of lor slyIo by llo omission of purpIo
palclos.
29
Chapter 4
Among our mosl assiduous visilors vas a young man of rank, voII in-
formod, and agroabIo in lis porson. Aflor vo lad sponl a fov vooks in
Iondon lis allonlions lovards mo bocamo markod and lis visils moro
froquonl. I vas loo mucl lakon up by my ovn occupalions and fooIings
lo allond mucl lo llis, and llon indood I lardIy nolicod moro llan llo
baro surfaco of ovonls as lloy passod around mo, bul I nov romombor
llal my fallor vas roslIoss and unoasy vlonovor llis porson visilod us,
and vlon vo laIkod logollor valclod us vill llo groalosl apparonl
anxioly aIllougl lo limsoIf mainlainod a profound siIonco. Al Iongll
lloso obnoxious visils suddonIy coasod aIlogollor, bul from llal momonl
I musl dalo llo clango of my fallor: a clango llal lo romombor makos
mo sluddor and llon fiIIod mo vill llo dooposl griof. Tloro voro no do-
groos vlicl couId broak my faII from lappinoss lo misory, il vas as llo
slroko of Iigllningsuddon and onliro.
42
AIas! I nov mol frovns vloro
boforo I lad boon voIcomod onIy vill smiIos: lo, my boIovod fallor,
slunnod mo, and oillor lroalod mo vill larslnoss or a moro loarl-
broaking coIdnoss. Wo look no moro svool counsoI logollor, and vlon I
lriod lo vin lim again lo mo, lis angor, and llo lorribIo omolions llal lo
oxlibilod drovo mo lo siIonco and loars.
And llis vas suddon. Tlo day boforo vo lad passod aIono logollor in
llo counlry, I romombor vo lad laIkod of fuluro lravoIs llal vo slouId
42.In I of IA lloro foIIovs a passago vlicl las boon scorod oul and vlicl doos nol
appoar in MalliIda: "I lavo lriod in somovlal foobIo Ianguago lo doscribo llo oxcoss
of vlal I may aImosl caII my adoralion for my falloryou may llon in somo fainl
mannor imagino my dospair vlon I found llal lo slunnod |moj & llal aII llo IillIo
arls I usod lo ro-avakon lis Iosl Iovo mado lim". Tlis is a good oxampIo of Mary's
froquonl rovision for llo bollor by llo omission of llo obvious and oxposilory. Bul
llo passago aIso las inlrinsic inlorosl. MalliIda's "adoralion" for lor fallor may bo
comparod lo Mary's fooIing for Godvin. In an unpubIislod Iollor (1822) lo }ano WiIIi-
ams slo vrolo, "UnliI I mol SloIIoy I |couId`j juslIy say llal lo vas my Godand I
romombor many cliIdisl inslancos of llo |oxjcoss of allaclmonl I boro for lim." Soo
Nilclio, Mary SloIIoy, p. 89, and nolo 9.
30
undorlako logollor. Tloro vas an oagor doIigll in our lonos and gos-
luros llal couId onIy spring from doop & muluaI Iovo joinod lo llo mosl
unroslrainod confidonco|,j and nov llo noxl day, llo noxl lour, I sav lis
brovs conlraclod, lis oyos fixod in suIIon fiorconoss on llo ground, and
lis voico so gonlIo and so doar mado mo slivor vlon lo addrossod mo.
Oflon, vlon my vandoring fancy brougll by ils various imagos nov
consoIalion and nov aggravalion of griof lo my loarl,
43
I lavo comparod
mysoIf lo Irosorpino vlo vas gaiIy and loodIossIy galloring fIovors on
llo svool pIain of Enna, vlon llo King of HoII snalclod lor avay lo llo
abodos of doall and misory. AIas! I vlo so IaloIy knov of nougll bul llo
joy of Iifo, vlo lad sIopl onIy lo droam svool droams and avoko lo in-
comparabIo lappinoss, I nov passod my days and niglls in loars. I vlo
sougll and lad found joy in llo Iovo-broalling counlonanco of my fall-
or nov vlon I darod fix on lim a suppIicaling Iook il vas ovor ansvorod
by an angry frovn. I darod nol spoak lo lim, and vlon somolimos I lad
vorkod up courago lo mool lim and lo ask an oxpIanalion ono gIanco al
lis faco vloro a claos of miglly passion soomod for ovor slruggIing
mado mo lrombIo and slrink lo siIonco. I vas daslod dovn from loavon
lo oarll as a siIIy sparrov vlon pouncod on by a lavk, my oyos svam
and my load vas boviIdorod by llo suddon apparilion of griof. Day
aflor day
44
passod markod onIy by my compIainls and my loars, oflon I
Iiflod my souI in vain prayor for a soflor dosconl from joy lo voo, or if
llal voro doniod mo llal I migll bo aIIovod lo dio, and fado for ovor un-
dor llo cruoI bIasl llal svopl ovor mo,
for vlal slouId I do loro,
Iiko a docaying fIovor, sliII villoring
Undor lis billor vords, vloso kindIy loal
SlouId givo my poor loarl Iifo`
45
Somolimos I said lo mysoIf, llis is an onclanlmonl, and I musl slrivo
againsl il. My fallor is bIindod by somo maIignanl vision vlicl I musl
romovo. And llon, Iiko David, I vouId lry music lo vin llo oviI spiril
43.Cf. llo accounl of llo sorvicos of Ianlasia in llo oponing claplor of I of IA (soo
pp. 9O-1O2) logollor vill nolo 3 lo Tlo IioIds of Iancy.
44.Tlis passago boginning "Day aflor day" and cIosing vill llo quolalion is nol in I
of IA, bul il is in S-R fr. Tlo quolalion is from Tlo Caplain by }oln IIolclor and a
coIIaboralor, possibIy Massingor. Tloso Iinos from Acl I, Sc. 3 aro parl of a spoocl by
IoIia addrossod lo lor Iovor. Ialor in llo pIay IoIia allompls lo soduco lor fall-
orpossibIy a roason for Mary's soIoclion of llo Iinos.
45.IIolclor's comody of llo Caplain.
31
from lim, and onco vliIo singing I Iiflod my oyos lovards lim and sav
lis fixod on mo and fiIIod vill loars, aII lis muscIos soomod roIaxod lo
soflnoss. I sprung lovards lim vill a cry of joy and vouId lavo llrovn
mysoIf inlo lis arms, bul lo puslod mo rouglIy from lim and Iofl mo.
And ovon from llis sIigll incidonl lo conlraclod frosl gIoom and an ad-
dilionaI sovorily of mannor.
Tloro aro many incidonls llal I migll roIalo vlicl slovod llo dis-
oasod yol incomprolonsibIo slalo of lis mind, bul I viII monlion ono llal
occurrod vliIo vo voro in company vill sovoraI ollor porsons. On llis
occasion I clancod lo say llal I llougll Myrrla llo bosl of AIfiori's lra-
godios, as I said llis I clancod lo casl my oyos on my fallor and mol lis:
for llo firsl limo llo oxprossion of lloso boIovod oyos dispIoasod mo, and
I sav vill affrigll llal lis vloIo framo slook vill somo concoaIod
omolion llal in spilo of lis offorls laIf conquorod lim: as llis lomposl
fadod from lis souI lo bocamo moIancloIy and siIonl. Evory day somo
nov scono occurod and dispIayod in lim a mind vorking as |ilj voro
vill an unknovn lorror llal nov lo couId maslor bul vlicl al limos
llroalonod lo ovorlurn lis roason, and lo llrov llo brigll soal of lis in-
loIIigonco inlo a porpoluaI claos.
I viII nol dvoII Iongor llan I nood on lloso disaslrous circum-
slancos.
46
I migll vaslo days in doscribing lov anxiousIy I valclod
ovory clango of fIooling circumslanco llal promisod bollor days, and
vill vlal dospair I found llal oacl offorl of mino aggravalod lis soom-
ing madnoss. To loII aII my griof I migll as voII allompl lo counl llo
loars llal lavo faIIon from lloso oyos, or ovory sign llal las lorn my
loarl. I viII bo briof for lloro is in aII llis a lorror llal viII nol boar
many vords, and I sink aImosl a socond limo lo doall vliIo I rocaII lloso
sad sconos lo my momory. Ol, my boIovod fallor! Indood you mado mo
misorabIo boyond aII vords, bul lov lruIy did I ovon llon forgivo you,
and lov onliroIy did you possoss my vloIo loarl vliIo I ondoavourod,
as a rainbov gIoams upon a calaracl,
4748
lo soflon lly lromondous
sorrovs.
46.Al llis poinl (f. 56 of llo nolobook) bogins a Iong passago, conlinuing llrougl
Claplor V, in vlicl Mary's omolionaI dislurbanco in vriling aboul llo clango in
MalliIda's fallor (roprosonling boll SloIIoy and Godvin`) slovs ilsoIf on llo pagos
of llo MS. Tloy Iook moro Iiko llo rougl drafl llan llo fair copy. Tloro aro numor-
ous sIips of llo pon, corroclions in plrasing and sonlonco slrucluro, daslos insload of
ollor marks of punclualion, a Iargo bIol of ink on f. 57, ono major doIolion (soo nolo
32).
47.Iord Byron
32
Tlus did llis clango como aboul. I soom porlaps lo lavo daslod loo
suddonIy inlo llo doscriplion, bul llus suddonIy did il lappon. In ono
sonlonco I lavo passod from llo idoa of unspoakabIo lappinoss lo llal of
unspoakabIo griof bul lloy voro llus cIosoIy Iinkod logollor. Wo lad ro-
mainod fivo monlls in Iondon llroo of joy and lvo of sorrov. My fallor
and I voro nov soIdom aIono or if vo voro lo gonoraIIy kopl siIonco
vill lis oyos fixod on llo groundllo dark fuII orbs in vlicl boforo I
doIigllod lo road aII svool and gonlIo fooIing sladovod from my sigll
by lloir Iids and llo Iong Iaslos llal fringod llom. Wlon vo voro in
company lo affoclod gaioly bul I vopl lo loar lis loIIov Iauglbogun
by an omply smiIo and oflon onding in a billor snoor sucl as novor boforo
llis falaI poriod lad vrinkIod lis Iips. Wlon ollors voro lloro lo oflon
spoko lo mo and lis oyos porpoluaIIy foIIovod my sIigllosl molion. His
acconls vlonovor lo addrossod mo voro coId and conslrainod aIllougl
lis voico vouId lrombIo vlon lo porcoivod llal my fuII loarl clokod llo
ansvor lo vords profforod vill a mion yol nov lo mo.
Bul days of poacofuI moIancloIy voro of raro occuronco|:j lloy voro
oflon brokon in upon by gusls of passion llal drovo mo as a voak boal
on a slormy soa lo sook a covo for sloIlor, bul llo vinds bIov from my
nalivo larbour and I vas casl far, far oul unliII slallorod I porislod
vlon llo lomposl lad passod and llo soa vas apparonlIy caIm. I do nol
knov llal I can doscribo lis omolions: somolimos lo onIy bolrayod llom
by a vord or gosluro, and llon rolirod lo lis clambor and I cropl as noar
il as I darod and Iislonod vill foar lo ovory sound, yol sliII moro droad-
ing a suddon siIoncodroading I knov nol vlal, bul ovor fuII of foar.
Il vas aflor ono lromondous day vlon lis oyos lad gIarod on mo Iiko
Iigllningand lis voico slarp and brokon soomod unabIo lo oxpross llo
oxlonl of lis omolion llal in llo ovoning vlon I vas aIono lo joinod mo
vill a caIm counlonanco, and nol nolicing my loars vlicl I quickIy
driod vlon lo approaclod, loId mo llal in llroo days llal |sicj lo inlon-
dod lo romovo vill mo lo lis oslalo in Yorksliro, and bidding mo pro-
paro Iofl mo lasliIy as if afraid of boing quoslionod.
Tlis dolorminalion on lis parl indood surprisod mo. Tlis oslalo vas
llal vlicl lo lad inlabilod in cliIdlood and noar vlicl my mollor
rosidod vliIo a girI, llis vas llo scono of lloir youllfuI Iovos and vloro
lloy lad Iivod aflor lloir marriago, in lappior days my fallor lad oflon
48.In llo margin of I of IA Mary vrolo, "Iord B's Cldo HaroId." Tlo roforonco is
lo slanzas 71 and 72 of Canlo IV. Byron comparos llo rainbov on llo calaracl firsl lo
"Hopo upon a doall-bod" and finaIIy RosombIing, 'mid llo lorluro of llo scono, Iovo
valcling Madnoss vill unaIlorabIo mion.
33
loId mo llal lovovor lo migll appoar voanod from lis vidov sorrov,
and froo from billor rocoIIoclions oIsovloro, yol lo vouId novor daro vis-
il llo spol vloro lo lad onjoyod lor socioly or lrusl limsoIf lo soo llo
rooms llal so many yoars ago lloy lad inlabilod logollor, lor favourilo
vaIks and llo gardons llo fIovors of vlicl slo lad doIigllod lo cuIliv-
alo. And nov vliIo lo sufforod inlonso misory lo dolorminod lo pIungo
inlo sliII moro inlonso, and slrovo for groalor omolion llan llal vlicl
aIroady loro lim. I vas porpIoxod, and mosl anxious lo knov vlal llis
porlondod, al, vlal couId il po|rjlond bul ruin!
I sav IillIo of my fallor during llis inlorvaI, bul lo appoarod caImor
aIllougl nol Ioss unlappy llan boforo. On llo morning of llo llird day
lo informod mo llal lo lad dolorminod lo go lo Yorksliro firsl aIono,
and llal I slouId foIIov lim in a forlnigll unIoss I loard any lling from
lim in llo moan limo llal slouId conlradicl llis command. Ho doparlod
llo samo day, and four days aflorvards I rocoivod a Iollor from lis slov-
ard loIIing mo in lis namo lo join lim vill as IillIo doIay as possibIo.
Aflor lravoIIing day and nigll I arrivod vill an anxious, yol a loping
loarl, for vly slouId lo sond for mo if il voro onIy lo avoid mo and lo
lroal mo vill llo apparonl avorsion llal lo lad in Iondon. I mol lim al
llo dislanco of llirly miIos from our mansion. His domoanour vas sad,
for a momonl lo appoarod gIad lo soo mo and llon lo clockod limsoIf as
if unviIIing lo bolray lis fooIings. Ho vas siIonl during our rido, yol lis
mannor vas kindor llan boforo and I llougll I boloId a soflnoss in lis
oyos llal gavo mo lopo.
Wlon vo arrivod, aflor a IillIo rosl, lo Iod mo ovor llo louso and poin-
lod oul lo mo llo rooms vlicl my mollor lad inlabilod. AIllougl
moro llan sixloon yoars lad passod sinco lor doall nolling lad boon
clangod, lor vork box, lor vriling dosk voro sliII lloro and in lor room
a book Iay opon on llo labIo as slo lad Iofl il. My fallor poinlod oul
lloso circumslancos vill a sorious and unaIlorod mion, onIy nov and
llon fixing lis doop and Iiquid oyos upon mo, lloro vas somolling
slrango and avfuI in lis Iook llal ovorcamo mo, and in spilo of mysoIf I
vopl, nor did lo allompl lo consoIo mo, bul I sav lis Iips quivor and llo
muscIos of lis counlonanco soomod convuIsod.
Wo vaIkod logollor in llo gardons and in llo ovoning vlon I vouId
lavo rolirod lo askod mo lo slay and road lo lim, and firsl said, "Wlon I
vas Iasl loro your mollor road Danlo lo mo, you slaII go on vloro slo
Iofl off." And llon in a momonl lo said, "No, llal musl nol bo, you musl
nol road Danlo. Do you clooso a book." I look up Sponcor and road llo
34
dosconl of Sir Guyon lo llo laIIs of Avarico,
49
vliIo lo Iislonod lis oyos
fixod on mo in sad profound siIonco.
I loard llo noxl morning from llo slovard llal upon lis arrivaI lo
lad boon in a mosl lorribIo slalo of mind: lo lad passod llo firsl nigll in
llo gardon Iying on llo damp grass, lo did nol sIoop bul groanod por-
poluaIIy. "AIas!" said llo oId man|,j vlo gavo mo llis accounl vill loars
in lis oyos, "il vrings my loarl lo soo my Iord in llis slalo: vlon I loard
llal lo vas coming dovn loro vill you, my young Iady, I llougll vo
slouId lavo llo lappy days ovor again llal vo onjoyod during llo slorl
Iifo of my Iady your mollorBul llal vouId bo loo mucl lappinoss for
us poor croaluros born lo loarsand llal vas vly slo vas lakon from
us so soon, |sjlo vas loo boaulifuI and good for us|.j Il vas a lappy day
as vo aII llougll il vlon my Iord marriod lor: I knov lor vlon slo vas
a cliId and many a good lurn las slo dono for mo in my oId Iady's
limoYou aro Iiko lor aIllougl lloro is moro of my Iord in youBul
las lo boon llus ovor sinco lis rolurn` AII my joy lurnod lo sorrov vlon
I firsl boloId lim vill llal moIancloIy counlonanco onlor lloso doors as
il voro llo day aflor my Iady's funoraIHo soomod lo rocovor limsoIf a
IillIo aflor lo lad biddon mo vrilo lo youbul sliII il is a vofuI lling lo
soo lim so unlappy."
5O
Tloso voro llo fooIings of an oId, faillfuI sor-
vanl: vlal musl bo lloso of an affoclionalo daugllor. AIas! Evon llon
my loarl vas aImosl brokon.
Wo sponl lvo monlls logollor in llis louso. My fallor sponl llo
groalor parl of lis limo vill mo, lo accompaniod mo in my vaIks,
Iislonod lo my music, and Ioanl ovor mo as I road or painlod. Wlon lo
convorsod vill mo lis mannor vas coId and conslrainod, lis oyos onIy
soomod lo spoak, and as lo lurnod lloir bIack, fuII Iuslro lovards mo
lloy oxprossod a Iiving sadnoss. Tloro vas somlling in lloso dark doop
orbs so Iiquid, and inlonso llal ovon in lappinoss I couId novor mool
lloir fuII gazo llal mino did nol ovorfIov. Yol il vas vill svool loars,
49.In I of IA MalliIda "look up Arioslo & road llo slory of IsaboIIa." Mary's roason
for llo clango is nol cIoar. Iorlaps slo llougll llal llo falo of IsaboIIa, a laIo of Iovo
and Iusl and doall (llougl nol of incosl), vas loo cIoso lo vlal vas lo bo MalliIda's
falo. Slo may lavo foIland rigllIyllal llo aIIusions lo IoIia and lo Myrrla voro
ampIo forosladovings. Tlo roasons for llo cloico of llo sovonll canlo of Book II of
llo Iaorio Quoono may Iio in llo aIIogoricaI moaning of Guyon, or Tomporanco, and
llo "droad and lorror" of lis oxporionco.
5O.Will llis spoocl, vlicl is nol in I of IA, Mary bogins lo dovoIop llo claraclor
of llo Slovard, vlo Ialor accompanios MalliIda on lor soarcl for lor fallor. AI-
llougl lo is lo a vory groal oxlonl llo sloroplypod faillfuI sorvanl, lo doos sorvo lo
dramalizo llo silualion boll loro and in llo Ialor scono.
35
nov lloro vas a dopll of affIiclion in lloir gonlIo appoaI llal ronl my
loarl vill sympally, lloy soomod lo dosiro poaco for mo, for limsoIf a
loarl palionl lo suffor, a craving for sympally, yol a porpoluaI soIf doni-
aI. Il vas onIy vlon lo vas absonl from mo llal lis passion subduod
lim,llal lo cIinclod lis landsknil lis brovsand vill laggard
Iooks caIIod for doall lo lis dospair, raving viIdIy, unliII oxlauslod lo
sank dovn nor vas rovivod unliII I joinod lim.
WliIo vo voro in Iondon lloro vas a larslnoss and suIIonoss in lis
sorrov vlicl lad nov onliroIy disappoarod. Tloro I slrunk and fIod
from lim, nov I onIy vislod lo bo vill lim llal I migll soollo lim lo
poaco. Wlon lo vas siIonl I lriod lo divorl lim, and vlon somolimos I
sloIo lo lim during llo onorgy of lis passion I vopl bul did nol dosiro lo
Ioavo lim. Yol lo sufforod foarfuI agony, during llo day lo vas moro
caIm, bul al nigll vlon I couId nol bo vill lim lo soomod lo givo llo
roins lo lis griof: lo oflon passod lis niglls oillor on llo fIoor in my
mollor's room, or in llo gardon, and vlon in llo morning lo sav mo
viov vill poignanl griof lis oxlauslod framo, and lis porson Ianguid aI-
mosl lo doall vill valcling lo vopl, bul during aII llis limo lo spoko
no vord by vlicl I migll guoss llo causo of lis unlappinoss|.j If I von-
lurod lo onquiro lo vouId oillor Ioavo mo or pross lis fingor on lis Iips,
and vill a doprocaling Iook llal I couId nol rosisl, lurn avay. If I vopl
lo vouId gazo on mo in siIonco bul lo vas no Iongor larsl and aIllougl
lo ropuIsod ovory caross yol il vas vill gonlIonoss.
Ho soomod lo clorisl a miId griof and soflor omolions aIllougl sad as
a roIiof from dospairHo conlrivod in many vays lo nurso lis moIan-
cloIy as an anlidolo lo viIdor passion|.j Ho porpoluaIIy froquonlod llo
vaIks llal lad boon favourilos vill lim vlon lo and my mollor
vandorod logollor laIking of Iovo and lappinoss, lo coIIoclod ovory roI-
ick llal romainod of lor and aIvays sal opposilo lor picluro vlicl lung
in llo room fixing on il a Iook of sad dospairand aII llis vas dono in a
myslic and avfuI siIonco. If lis passion subduod lim lo Iockod limsoIf
in lis room, and al nigll vlon lo vandorod roslIossIy aboul llo louso,
il vas vlon ovory ollor croaluro sIopl.
Il may oasiIy bo imaginod llal I voariod mysoIf vill conjocluro lo
guoss llo causo of lis sorrov. Tlo soIulion llal soomod lo mo llo mosl
probabIo vas llal during lis rosidonco in Iondon lo lad faIIon in Iovo
vill somo unvorlly porson, and llal lis passion maslorod lim aI-
llougl lo vouId nol gralify il: lo Iovod mo loo voII lo sacrifiso mo lo
llis incIinalion, and llal lo lad nov visilod llis louso llal by roviving
llo momory of my mollor vlom lo so passionaloIy adorod lo migll
35
voakon llo prosonl improssion. Tlis vas possibIo, bul il vas a moro con-
jocluro unfoundod on any facl. CouId lloro bo guiIl in il` Ho vas loo up-
rigll and nobIo lo !c augll llal lis conscionco vouId nol approvo, I did
nol yol knov of llo crimo lloro may bo in invoIunlary fooIing and lloro-
foro ascribod lis lumuIluous slarls and gIoomy Iooks vloIIy lo llo
slruggIos of lis mind and nol any as lloy voro parlIy duo lo llo vorsl
fiond of aIIRomorso.
51
Bul sliII do I fIallor mysoIf llal llis vouId lavo passod avay. His par-
oxisms of passion voro lorrific bul lis souI boro lim llrougl llom lri-
umplanl, llougl aImosl doslroyod by viclory, bul llo day vouId finaIIy
lavo boon von lad nol I, fooIisl and prosumluous vrolcl! lurriod lim
on unliII lloro vas no rocaII, no lopo. My raslnoss gavo llo viclory in
llis droadfuI figll lo llo onomy vlo lriumplod ovor lim as lo Iay faIIon
and vanquislod. I! I aIono vas llo causo of lis dofoal and juslIy did I pay
llo foarfuI ponaIly. I said lo mysoIf, Iol lim rocoivo sympally and lloso
slruggIos viII coaso. Iol lim confido lis misory lo anollor loarl and laIf
llo voigll of il viII bo Iigllonod. I viII vin lim lo mo, lo slaII nol dony
lis griof lo mo and vlon I knov lis socrol llon viII I pour a baIm inlo
lis souI and again I slaII onjoy llo ravisling doIigll of boloIding lis
smiIo, and of again sooing lis oyos boam if nol vill pIoasuro al Ioasl vill
gonlIo Iovo and llankfuInoss. Tlis viII I do, I said. HaIf I accompIislod, I
gainod lis socrol and vo voro boll Iosl for ovor.
51.Tlis cIauso is subslilulod for a moro convonlionaI and Ioss dramalic passago in I
of IA: "& bosidos lloro appoarod moro of slruggIo llan romorso in lis mannor aI-
llougl somolimos I llougll I sav gIimsos of llo Iallor fooIing in lis lumuIluous
slarls & gIoomy Iook."
37
Chapter 5
NoarIy a yoar lad pasl sinco my fallor's rolurn, and llo soasons lad aI-
mosl finislod lloir roundIl vas nov llo ond of May, llo voods voro
cIollod in lloir froslosl vorduro, and llo svool smoII of llo nov movn
grass vas in llo fioIds. I llougll llal llo baImy air and llo IovoIy faco of
Naluro migll aid mo in inspiring lim vill miId sonsalions, and givo
lim gonlIo fooIings of poaco and Iovo proparalory lo llo confidonco I do-
lorminod lo vin from lim.
I closo lloroforo llo ovoning of ono of lloso days for my allompl. I in-
vilod lim lo vaIk vill mo, and Iod lim lo a noiglbouring vood of
boocl lroos vloso Iigll slado slioIdod us from llo sIanl and dazzIing
boams of llo dosconding sunAflor vaIking for somo limo in siIonco I
soalod my soIf vill lim on a mossy liIIockIl is slrango bul ovon nov I
soom lo soo llo spolllo sIim and smooll lrunks voro many of llom
vound round by ivy vloso slining Ioavos of llo darkosl groon conlras-
lod vill llo vlilo bark and llo Iigll Ioavos of llo young sprouls of
boocl llal grov from lloir paronl lrunksllo slorl grass vas mingIod
vill moss and vas parlIy covorod by llo doad Ioavos of llo Iasl aulumn
llal drivon by llo vinds lad loro and lloro coIIoclod in IillIo liI-
Iockslloro voro a fov moss grovn slumps aboulTlo Ioavos voro
gonlIy movod by llo broozo and llrougl lloir groon canopy you couId
soo llo brigll bIuo skyAs ovoning camo on llo dislanl lrunks voro
roddonod by llo sun and llo vind diod onliroIy avay vliIo a fov birds
fIov pasl us lo lloir ovoning rosl.
WoII il vas loro vo sal logollor, and vlon you loar aII llal paslaII
llal of lorribIo loro our souIs ovon in llis pIacid spol, vlicl bul for
slrango passions migll lavo boon a paradiso lo us, you viII nol vondor
llal I romombor il as I Iookod on il llal ils caIm migll givo mo caIm, and
inspiro mo nol onIy vill courago bul vill porsuasivo vords. I sav aII
lloso llings and in a vacanl mannor nolod llom in my mind
52
vliIo I on-
doavourod lo arrango my llouglls in filling ordor for my allompl. My
loarl boal fasl as I vorkod mysoIf up lo spoak lo lim, for I vas
38
dolorminod nol lo bo ropuIsod bul I lrombIod lo imagino vlal offocl my
vords migll lavo on lim, al Iongll, vill mucl losilalion I bogan:
53
"Your kindnoss lo mo, my doarosl fallor, and llo affoclionllo ox-
cossivo affoclionllal you lad for mo vlon you firsl rolurnod viII I
lopo oxcuso mo in your oyos llal I daro spoak lo you, aIllougl vill llo
londor affoclion of a daugllor, yol aIso vill llo froodom of a friond and
oquaI. Bul pardon mo, I onlroal you and Iislon lo mo: do nol lurn avay
from mo, do nol bo impalionl, you may oasiIy inlimidalo mo inlo siIonco,
bul my loarl is bursling, nor can I viIIingIy consonl lo onduro for ono
momonl Iongor llo agony of uncorliludo vlicl for llo Iasl four monlls
las boon my porlion.
"Iislon lo mo, doarosl friond, and pormil mo lo gain your confidonco.
Aro llo lappy days of muluaI Iovo vlicl lavo passod lo bo lo mo as a
droam novor lo rolurn` AIas! You lavo a socrol griof llal doslroys us
boll: bul you musl pormil mo lo vin llis socrol from you. ToII mo, can I
do nolling` You voII knov llal on llo vloIo oarll lloro is no sacrifiso
llal I vouId nol mako, no Iabour llal I vouId nol undorgo vill llo
52.Tloso paragrapls boginning Claplor V aro mucl oxpandod from I of IA. Somo
of llo dolaiIs aro in llo S-R fr. Tlis scono is rocaIIod al llo ond of llo slory. (Soo pago
8O) Cf. vlal Mary says aboul pIacos llal aro associalod vill formor omolions in lor
RambIos in Gormany and IlaIy (2 voIs., Iondon: Moxon, 1844), II, 78-79. Slo is vril-
ing of lor approacl lo Vonico, vloro, lvonly-fivo yoars boforo, IillIo CIara lad diod.
"Il is a slrango, bul lo any porson vlo las sufforod, a famiIiar circumslanco, llal
lloso vlo aro onduring monlaI or corporoaI agony aro slrangoIy aIivo lo immodialo
oxlornaI objocls, and lloir imaginalion ovon oxorcisos ils viId povor ovor llom. .
Tlus llo banks of llo Bronla prosonlod lo mo a moving scono, nol a paIaco, nol a lroo
of vlicl I did nol rocognizo, as markod and rocordod, al a momonl vlon Iifo and
doall lung upon our spoody arrivaI al Vonico."
53.Tlo romaindor of llis claplor, vlicl doscribos llo cruciaI scono bolvoon MalliIda
and lor fallor, is llo rosuIl of mucl rovision from I of IA. Somo of llo rovisions
aro in S-R fr. In gonoraI llo loxl of MalliIda is improvod in slyIo. Mary adds concrolo,
spocific vords and plrasos, o.g., al llo ond of llo firsl paragrapl of MalliIda's
spoocl, llo vords "of incorliludo" appoar in MalliIda for llo firsl limo. Slo cancoIs,
ovon in llis finaI drafl, an ovor-oIaboralo figuro of spoocl aflor llo vords in llo
fallor's ropIy, "impIicalod in my doslruclion", llo cancoIIod passago is loo fIovory lo
bo approprialo loro: "as if vlon a vuIluro is carrying off somo laro il is slruck by an
arrov lis loIpIoss viclim onlangIod in llo samo falo is kiIIod by llo dofoal of ils on-
omy. Ono vord vouId do aII llis." Iurllormoro llo rovisod loxl slovs groalor un-
dorslanding and ponolralion of llo fooIings of boll spoakors: llo addilion of "Am I
llo causo of your griof`" vlicl brings oul moro dramalicaIIy vlal MalliIda las said
in llo firsl parl of llis paragrapl, llo anaIysis of llo roasons for lor prosislonl quos-
lioning, llo addilion of llo finaI paragrapl of lor pIoa, "AIas! AIas!. you lalo mo!"
vlicl proparos for llo fallor's ropIy.
39
moro lopo llal I migll bring you oaso. Bul if no ondoavour on my parl
can conlribulo lo your lappinoss, Iol mo al Ioasl knov your sorrov, and
suroIy my oarnosl Iovo and doop sympally musl soollo your dospair.
"I foar llal I spoak in a conslrainod mannor: my loarl is ovorfIoving
vill llo ardonl dosiro I lavo of bringing caIm onco moro lo your
llouglls and Iooks, bul I foar lo aggravalo your griof, or lo raiso llal in
you vlicl is doall lo mo, angor and dislaslo. Do nol llon conlinuo lo fix
your oyos on llo oarll, raiso llom on mo for I can road your souI in
llom: spoak lo mo lo mo |sicj, and pardon my prosumplion. AIas! I am a
mosl unlappy croaluro!"
I vas broallIoss vill omolion, and I pausod fixing my oarnosl oyos on
my fallor, aflor I lad daslod avay llo inlrusivo loars llal dimmod
llom. Ho did nol raiso lis, bul aflor a slorl siIonco lo ropIiod lo mo in a
Iov voico: "You aro indood prosumpluous, MalliIda, prosumpluous and
vory rasl. In llo loarl of ono Iiko mo lloro aro socrol llouglls vorking,
and socrol lorluros vlicl you ougll nol lo sook lo discovor. I cannol loII
you lov il adds lo my griof lo knov llal I am llo causo of unoasinoss lo
you, bul llis viII pass avay, and I lopo llal soon vo slaII bo as vo voro
a fov monlls ago. Roslrain your impalionco or you may mar vlal you
allompl lo aIIovialo. Do nol again spoak lo mo in llis slrain, bul vail in
submissivo palionco llo ovonl of vlal is passing around you."
"Ol, yos!" I passionaloIy ropIiod, "I viII bo vory palionl, I viII nol bo
rasl or prosumpluous: I viII soo llo agonios, and loars, and dospair of
my fallor, my onIy friond, my lopo, my sloIlor, I viII soo il aII vill foI-
dod arms and dovncasl oyos. You do nol lroal mo vill candour, il is nol
lruo vlal you say, llis viII nol soon pass avay, il viII Iasl forovor if you
doign nol lo spoak lo mo, lo admil my consoIalions.
"Doarosl, doarosl fallor, pily mo and pardon mo: I onlroal you do nol
drivo mo lo dospair, indood I musl nol bo ropuIsod, lloro is ono lling
llal vlicl |sicj aIllougl il may lorluro mo lo knov, yol llal you musl
loII mo. I domand, and mosl soIomnIy I domand if in any vay I am llo
causo of your unlappinoss. Do you nol soo my loars vlicl I in vain
slrivo againslYou loar unmovod my voico brokon by sobsIooI lov
my land lrombIos: my vloIo loarl is in llo vords I spoak and you musl
nol ondoavour lo siIonco mo by moro vords barron of moaning: llo
agony of my doubl lurrios mo on, and you musl ropIy. I bosoocl you, by
your formor Iovo for mo nov Iosl, I adjuro you lo ansvor llal ono quos-
lion. Am I llo causo of your griof`"
Ho raisod lis oyos from llo ground, bul sliII lurning llom avay from
mo, said: "Bosougll by llal pIoa I viII ansvor your rasl quoslion. Yos,
40
you aro llo soIo, llo agonizing causo of aII I suffor, of aII I musl suffor
unliII I dio. Nov, bovaro! Bo siIonl! Do nol urgo mo lo your doslruclion. I
am slruck by llo slorm, roolod up, Iaid vaslo: bul you can sland againsl
il, you aro young and your passions aro al poaco. Ono vord I migll
spoak and llon you vouId bo impIicalod in my doslruclion, yol llal
vord is lovoring on my Iips. Ol! Tloro is a foarfuI clasm, bul I adjuro
you lo bovaro!"
"Al, doarosl friond!" I criod, "do nol foar! Spoak llal vord, il viII bring
poaco, nol doall. If lloro is a clasm our muluaI Iovo viII givo us vings
lo pass il, and vo slaII find fIovors, and vorduro, and doIigll on llo oll-
or sido." I llrov mysoIf al lis fool, and look lis land, "Yos, spoak, and
vo slaII bo lappy, lloro viII no Iongor bo doubl, no droadfuI uncor-
lainly, lrusl mo, my affoclion viII soollo your sorrov, spoak llal vord
and aII dangor viII bo pasl, and vo slaII Iovo oacl ollor as boforo, and
for ovor."
Ho snalclod lis land from mo, and roso in vioIonl disordor: "Wlal do
you moan` You knov nol vlal you moan. Wly do you bring mo oul,
and lorluro mo, and lompl mo, and kiII moMucl lappior vouId |ilj bo
for you and for mo if in your franlic curiosily you loro my loarl from my
broasl and lriod lo road ils socrols in il as ils Iifo's bIood vas dropping
from il. Tlus you may consoIo mo by roducing mo lo nollingbul your
vords I cannol boar, soon lloy viII mako mo mad, quilo mad, and llon I
slaII ullor slrango vords, and you viII boIiovo llom, and vo slaII bo
boll Iosl for ovor. I loII you I am on llo vory vorgo of insanily, vly, cruoI
girI, do you drivo mo on: you viII roponl and I slaII dio."
Wlon I ropoal lis vords I vondor al my porlinacious foIIy, I lardIy
knov vlal fooIings rosis|ljIossIy impoIIod mo. I boIiovo il vas llal com-
ing oul vill a dolorminalion nol lo bo ropuIsod I vonl rigll forvard lo
my objocl villoul voII voigling lis ropIios: I vas Iod by passion and
drov lim vill franlic loodIossnoss inlo llo abyss llal lo so foarfuIIy
avoidodI ropIiod lo lis lorrific vords: "You fiII mo vill affrigll il is
lruo, doarosl fallor, bul you onIy confirm my rosoIulion lo pul an ond lo
llis slalo of doubl. I viII nol bo pul off llus: do you llink llal I can Iivo
llus foarfuIIy from day lo dayllo svord in my bosom yol kopl from ils
morlaI vound by a laira vord!I domand llal droadfuI vord,
llougl il bo as a fIasl of Iigllning lo doslroy mo, spoak il.
"AIas! AIas! Wlal am I bocomo` Bul a fov monlls lavo oIapsod sinco I
boIiovod llal I vas aII llo vorId lo you, and llal lloro vas no lappinoss
or griof for you on oarll unslarod by your MalliIdayour cliId: llal
lappy limo is no Iongor, and vlal I mosl droadod in llis vorId is como
41
upon mo. In llo dospair of my loarl I soo vlal you cannol concoaI: you
no Iongor Iovo mo. I adjuro you, my fallor, las nol an unnaluraI passion
soizod upon your loarl` Am I nol llo mosl misorabIo vorm llal cravIs`
Do I nol ombraco your knoos, and you mosl cruoIIy ropuIso mo` I knov
ilI soo ilyou lalo mo!"
I vas lransporlod by vioIonl omolion, and rising from lis fool, al
vlicl I lad llrovn mysoIf, I Ioanl againsl a lroo, viIdIy raising my oyos
lo loavon. Ho bogan lo ansvor vill vioIonco: "Yos, yos, I lalo you! You
aro my bano, my poison, my disgusl! Ol! No|!j" And llon lis mannor
clangod, and fixing lis oyos on mo vill an oxprossion llal convuIsod
ovory norvo and mombor of my framo"you aro nono of aII lloso, you
aro my Iigll, my onIy ono, my Iifo.My daugllor, I Iovo you!" Tlo Iasl
vords diod avay in a loarso vlispor, bul I loard llom and sunk on llo
ground, covoring my faco and aImosl doad vill oxcoss of sicknoss and
foar: a coId porspiralion covorod my foroload and I slivorod in ovory
IimbBul lo conlinuod, cIasping lis lands vill a franlic gosluro:
"Nov I lavo daslod from llo lop of llo rock lo llo bollom! Nov I
lavo procipilalod mysoIf dovn llo foarfuI clasm! Tlo dangor is ovor,
slo is aIivo! Ol, MalliIda, Iifl up lloso doar oyos in llo Iigll of vlicl I
Iivo. Iol mo loar llo svool lonos of your boIovod voico in poaco and
caIm. Monslor as I am, you aro sliII, as you ovor voro, IovoIy, boaulifuI
boyond oxprossion. Wlal I lavo bocomo sinco llis Iasl momonl I knov
nol, porlaps I am clangod in mion as llo faIIon arclangoI. I do boIiovo I
am for I lavo suroIy a nov souI villin mo, and my bIood riols llrougl
my voins: I am burnl up vill fovor. Bul lloso aro procious momonls,
doviI as I am bocomo, yol llal is my MalliIda boforo mo vlom I Iovo as
ono vas novor boforo Iovod: and slo knovs il nov, slo Iislons lo lloso
vords vlicl I llougll, fooI as I vas, vouId bIasl lor lo doall. Como,
como, llo vorsl is pasl: no moro griof, loars or dospair, voro nol lloso
llo vords you ullorod`Wo lavo Ioapl llo clasm I loId you of, and
nov, mark mo, MalliIda, vo aro lo find fIovors, and vorduro and do-
Iigll, or is il loII, and firo, and lorluros` Ol! BoIovod Ono, I am borno
avay, I can no Iongor suslain mysoIf, suroIy llis is doall llal is coming.
Iol mo Iay my load noar your loarl, Iol mo dio in your arms!"Ho sunk
lo llo oarll fainling, vliIo I, noarIy as IifoIoss, gazod on lim in dospair.
Yos il vas dospair I foIl, for llo firsl limo llal planlom soizod mo, llo
firsl and onIy limo for il las novor sinco Iofl moAflor llo firsl momonls
of spooclIoss agony I foIl lor fangs on my loarl: I loro my lair, I ravod
aIoud, al ono momonl in pily for lis sufforings I vouId lavo cIaspod my
fallor in my arms, and llon slarling back vill lorror I spurnod lim
42
vill my fool, I foIl as if slung by a sorponl, as if scourgod by a vlip of
scorpions vlicl drovo moAl! WlillorWlillor`
WoII, llis couId nol Iasl. Ono idoa ruslod on my mind, novor, novor
may I spoak lo lim again. As llis lorribIo conviclion camo upon|in |nc`j
il moIlod my souI lo londornoss and IovoI gazod on lim as lo lako my
Iasl farovoIIlo Iay insonsibIolis oyos cIosod as |cn!`j lis clooks
doallIy paIo. Abovo, llo Ioavos of llo boocl vood casl a fIickoring slad-
ov on lis faco, and vavod in mournfuI moIody ovor limI sav aII
lloso llings and said, "Ayo, llis is lis gravo!" And llon I vopl aIoud,
and raisod my oyos lo loavon lo onlroal for a rospilo lo my dospair and
an aIIovialion for lis unnaluraI sufforingllo loars llal guslod in a
varm & loaIing slroam from my oyos roIiovod llo burllon llal op-
prossod my loarl aImosl lo madnoss. I vopl for a Iong limo unliII I sav
lim aboul lo rovivo, vlon lorror and misory again rocurrod, and llo
lido of my sonsalions roIIod back lo lloir formor clannoI: vill a lorror I
couId nol roslrainI sprung up and fIod, vill vingod spood, aIong llo
palls of llo vood and across llo fioIds unliII noarIy doad I roaclod our
louso and jusl ordoring llo sorvanls lo sook my fallor al llo spol I indic-
alod, I slul mysoIf up in my ovn room|.j
54
54.AImosl aII llo finaI paragrapl of llo claplor is addod lo I of IA. Tlroo briof S-R
fr aro mucl rovisod and simpIifiod.
43
Chapter 6
My clambor vas in a rolirod parl of llo louso, and Iookod upon llo
gardon so llal no sound of llo ollor inlabilanls couId roacl il, and loro
in porfocl soIiludo I vopl for sovoraI lours. Wlon a sorvanl camo lo ask
mo if I vouId lako food I Ioarnl from lim llal my fallor lad rolurnod,
and vas apparonlIy voII and llis roIiovod mo from a Ioad of anxioly, yol
I did nol coaso lo voop billorIy. As |Aij firsl, as llo momory of formor
lappinoss conlraslod lo my prosonl dospair camo across mo, I gavo roIiof
lo llo opprossion of loarl llal I foIl by vords, and groans, and loarl
ronding sigls: bul naluro bocamo voariod, and llis moro vioIonl griof
gavo pIaco lo a passionalo bul mulo fIood of loars: my vloIo souI
soomod lo dissoIvo |inj llom. I did nol vring my lands, or loar my lair,
or ullor viId oxcIamalions, bul as Boccacio doscribos llo inlonso and
quiol griof |ofj Sigismunda ovor llo loarl of Guiscardo,
55
I sal vill my
lands foIdod, siIonlIy Iolling faII a porpoluaI slroam from my oyos. Sucl
vas llo dopll of my omolion llal I lad no fooIing of vlal causod my
dislross, my llouglls ovon vandorod lo many indifforonl objocls, bul
sliII noillor moving Iimb or foaluro my loars foII unliII, as if llo founlains
voro oxlauslod, lloy graduaIIy subsidod, and I avoko lo Iifo as from a
droam.
Wlon I lad coasod lo voop roason and momory rolurnod upon mo,
and I bogan lo rofIocl vill groalor caImnoss on vlal lad lapponod, and
lov il bocamo mo lo aclA fov lours onIy lad passod bul a miglly ro-
voIulion lad lakon pIaco vill rogard lo mollo naluraI vork of yoars
lad boon lransaclod sinco llo morning: my fallor vas as doad lo mo,
and I foIl for a momonl as if lo vill vlilo lairs voro Iaid in lis coffin
and Iyoull vanislod in approacling ago, voro vooping al lis limoIy
dissoIulion. Bul il vas nol so, I vas yol young, Ol! far loo young, nor
vas lo doad lo ollors, bul I, mosl misorabIo, musl novor soo or spoak lo
lim again. I musl fIy from lim vill moro oarnoslnoss llan from my
55.Docamoron, 4ll day, 1sl slory. Mary lad road llo Docamoron in May, 1819. Soo
}ournaI, p. 121.
44
groalosl onomy: in soIiludo or in cilios I musl novor moro boloId lim.
Tlal considoralion mado mo broallIoss vill anguisl, and improssing il-
soIf on my imaginalion I vas unabIo for a limo lo foIIov up any lrain of
idoas. Evor aflor llis, I llougll, I vouId Iivo in llo mosl droary socIu-
sion. I vouId roliro lo llo Conlinonl and bocomo a nun, nol for roIigion's
sako, for I vas nol a CalloIic, bul llal I migll bo for ovor slul oul from
llo vorId. I slouId lloro find soIiludo vloro I migll voop, and llo
voicos of Iifo migll novor roacl mo.
Bul my fallor, my boIovod and mosl vrolclod fallor` WouId lo dio`
WouId lo novor ovorcomo llo fiorco passion llal nov loId pilyIoss
dominion ovor lim` Migll lo nol many, many yoars lonco, vlon ago
lad quonclod llo burning sonsalions llal lo nov oxporioncod, migll lo
nol llon bo again a fallor lo mo` Tlis rofIoclion unvrinkIod my brov,
and I couId fooI (and I vopl lo fooI il) a laIf moIancloIy smiIo drav from
my Iips lloir oxprossion of sufforing: I darod induIgo bollor lopos for my
fuluro Iifo, yoars musl pass bul lloy vouId spood IigllIy avay vingod
by lopo, or if lloy passod loaviIy, sliII lloy vouId pass and I lad nol
Iosl my fallor for ovor. Iol lim spond anollor sixloon yoars of dosoIalo
vandoring: Iol lim onco moro ullor lis viId compIainls lo llo vasl
voods and llo lromondous calaracls of anollor cIimo: Iol lim again un-
dorgo foarfuI dangor and souI-quoIIing lardslips: Iol llo lol sun of llo
soull again burn lis passion vorn clooks and llo coId nigll rains faII on
lim and cliII lis bIood.
To llis Iifo, misorabIo fallor, I dovolo lloo!Go!Bo lly days passod
vill savagos, and lly niglls undor llo copo of loavon! Bo lly Iimbs
vorn and lly loarl cliIIod, and aII youll bo doad villin lloo! Iol lly
lairs bo as snov, lly vaIk lrombIing and lly voico lavo Iosl ils moIIov
lonos! Iol llo Iiquid Iuslro of llino oyos bo quonclod, and llon rolurn lo
mo, rolurn lo lly MalliIda, lly cliId, vlo may llon bo cIaspod in lly
Iovod arms, vliIo lly loarl boals vill sinIoss omolion. Go, Dovolod
Ono, and rolurn llus!Tlis is my curso, a daugllor's curso: go, and ro-
lurn puro lo lly cliId, vlo viII novor Iovo augll bul lloo.
Tloso voro my llouglls, and vill lrombIing lands I proparod lo bo-
gin a Iollor lo my unlappy paronl. I lad nov sponl many lours in loars
and mournfuI modilalion, il vas pasl lvoIvo o'cIock, aII vas al poaco in
llo louso, and llo gonlIo air llal sloIo in al my vindov did nol ruslIo
llo Ioavos of llo lvining pIanls llal sladovod il. I foIl llo onliro lran-
quiIIily of llo lour vlon my ovn broall and invoIunlary sobs voro aII
llo sounds llal slruck upon llo air. On a suddon I loard a gonlIo slop as-
conding llo slairs, I pausod broallIoss, and as il approaclod gIidod inlo
45
an obscuro cornor of llo room, llo slops pausod al my door, bul aflor a
fov momonls lloy again rocoodod|,j doscondod llo slairs and I loard no
moro.
Tlis sIigll incidonl gavo riso in mo lo llo mosl painfuI rofIoclions, nor
do I nov daro oxpross llo omolions I foIl. Tlal lo slouId bo roslIoss I un-
dorslood, llal lo slouId vandor as an unIaid glosl and find no quiol
from llo burning loII llal consumod lis loarl. Bul vly approacl my
clambor` Was nol llal sacrod` I foIl aImosl roady lo fainl vliIo lo lad
slood lloro, bul I lad nol bolrayod my vakofuInoss by llo sIigllosl mo-
lion, aIllougl I lad loard my ovn loarl boal vill vioIonl foar. Ho lad
villdravn. Ol, novor, novor, may I soo lim again! Tomorrov nigll llo
samo roof may nol covor us, lo or I musl doparl. Tlo muluaI Iink of our
doslinios is brokon, vo musl bo dividod by soasby Iand. Tlo slars and
llo sun musl nol riso al llo samo poriod lo us: lo musl nol say, Iooking
al llo solling crosconl of llo moon, "MalliIda nov valclos ils faII."No,
aII musl bo clangod. Bo il Iigll vill lim vlon il is darknoss vill mo!
Iol lim fooI llo sun of summor vliIo I am cliIIod by llo snovs of
vinlor! Iol lloro bo llo dislanco of llo anlipodos bolvoon us!
Al Iongll llo oasl bogan lo brigllon, and llo comforlabIo Iigll of
morning slroamod inlo my room. I vas voary vill valcling and for
somo limo I lad combalod vill llo loavy sIoop llal voiglod dovn my
oyoIids: bul nov, no Iongor foarfuI, I llrov mysoIf on my bod. I sougll
for roposo aIllougl I did nol lopo for forgolfuInoss, I knov I slouId bo
pursuod by droams, bul did nol droad llo frigllfuI ono llal I roaIIy lad.
I llougll llal I lad rison and vonl lo sook my fallor lo inform lim of
my dolorminalion lo soporalo mysoIf from lim. I sougll lim in llo
louso, in llo park, and llon in llo fioIds and llo voods, bul I couId nol
find lim. Al Iongll I sav lim al somo dislanco, soalod undor a lroo, and
vlon lo porcoivod mo lo vavod lis land sovoraI limos, bockoning mo
lo approacl, lloro vas somolling unoarllIy in lis mion llal avod and
cliIIod mo, bul I drov noar. Wlon al |aj slorl dislanco from lim I sav
llal lo vas doadIiIy |sicj paIo, and cIollod in fIoving garmonls of vlilo.
SuddonIy lo slarlod up and fIod from mo, I pursuod lim: vo spod ovor
llo fioIds, and by llo skirls of voods, and on llo banks of rivors, lo fIov
fasl and I foIIovod. Wo camo al Iasl, mollougll, lo llo brov of a lugo
cIiff llal ovor lung llo soa vlicl, lroubIod by llo vinds, daslod againsl
ils baso al a dislanco. I loard llo roar of llo valors: lo loId lis courso
rigll on lovards llo brink and I bocamo broallIoss vill foar Iosl lo
slouId pIungo dovn llo droadfuI procipico, I lriod lo augmonl my
spood, bul my knoos faiIod bonoall mo, yol I lad jusl roaclod lim, jusl
45
caugll a parl of lis fIoving robo, vlon lo Ioapl dovn and I avoko vill
a vioIonl scroam. I vas lrombIing and my piIIov vas vol vill my loars,
for a fov momonls my loarl boal lard, bul llo brigll boams of llo sun
and llo clirping of llo birds quickIy roslorod mo lo mysoIf, and I roso
vill a Ianguid spiril, yol vondoring vlal ovonls llo day vouId bring
forll. Somo limo passod boforo I summonod courago lo ring llo boII for
my sorvanl, and vlon slo camo I sliII darod nol ullor my fallor's namo. I
ordorod lor lo bring my broakfasl lo my room, and vas again Iofl
aIonoyol sliII I couId mako no rosoIvo, bul onIy llougll llal I migll
vrilo a nolo lo my fallor lo bog lis pormission lo pay a visil lo a roIalion
vlo Iivod aboul llirly miIos off, and vlo lad boforo invilod mo lo lor
louso, bul I lad rofusod for llon I couId nol quil my sufforing fallor.
Wlon llo sorvanl camo back slo gavo mo a Iollor.
"Irom vlom is llis Iollor|`j" I askod lrombIing.
"Your fallor Iofl il, madam, vill lis sorvanl, lo bo givon lo you vlon
you slouId riso."
"My fallor Iofl il! Wloro is lo` Is lo nol loro`"
"No, lo quillod llo louso boforo four llis morning."
"Good God! Ho is gono! Bul loII lov llis vas, spoak quick!"
Hor roIalion vas slorl. Ho lad gono in llo carriago lo llo noarosl lovn
vloro lo look a posl claiso and lorsos vill ordors for llo Iondon road.
Ho dismissod lis sorvanls lloro, onIy loIIing llom llal lo lad a suddon
caII of businoss and llal lloy voro lo oboy mo as lloir mislross unliII lis
rolurn.
47
Chapter 7
Will a boaling loarl and foarfuI, I knov nol vly, I dismissod llo sorvanl
and Iocking my door, sal dovn lo road my fallor's Iollor. Tloso aro llo
vords llal il conlainod.
"My doar CliId
"I lavo bolrayod your confidonco, I lavo ondoavourod lo poIIulo
your mind, and lavo mado your innoconl loarl acquainlod vill
llo Iooks and Ianguago of unIavfuI and monslrous passion. I
musl oxpialo lloso crimos, and musl ondoavour in somo dogroo lo
proporlionalo my punislmonl lo my guiIl. You aro I doubl nol
proparod for vlal I am aboul lo announco, vo musl soporalo and
bo dividod for ovor.
"I doprivo you of your paronl and onIy friond. You aro casl oul
sloIlorIoss on llo vorId: your lopos aro bIaslod, llo poaco and so-
curily of your puro mind doslroyod, momory viII bring lo you
frigllfuI imagos of guiIl, and llo anguisl of innoconl Iovo bo-
lrayod. Yol I vlo drav dovn aII llis misory upon you, I vlo casl
you forll and romorsoIossIy lavo sol llo soaI of dislrusl and
agony on llo loarl and brov of my ovn cliId, vlo vill doviIisl
Iovily lavo ondoavourod lo sloaI avay lor IovoIinoss lo pIaco in
ils sload llo fouI doformily of sin, I, in llo ovorfIoving anguisl of
my loarl, suppIicalo you lo forgivo mo.
"I do nol ask your pily, you musl and do ablor mo: bul pardon
mo, MalliIda, and Iol nol your llouglls foIIov mo in my banisl-
monl vill unroIonling angor. I musl novor moro boloId you, nov-
or moro loar your voico, bul llo sofl vlisporings of your forgivo-
noss viII roacl mo and cooI llo burning of my disordorod brain
and loarl, I am suro I slouId fooI il ovon in my gravo. And I daro
onforco llis roquosl by roIaling lov misorabIy I vas bolrayod in-
lo llis nol of fiory anguisl and aII my slruggIos lo roIoaso mysoIf:
indood if your souI voro Ioss puro and brigll I vouId nol allompl
lo oxcuIpalo mysoIf lo you, I slouId foar llal if I Iod you lo rogard
48
mo vill Ioss ablorronco you migll lalo vico Ioss: bul in addross-
ing you I fooI as if I appoaIod lo an angoIic judgo. I cannol doparl
villoul your forgivonoss and I musl ondoavour lo gain il, or
I musl dospair.
56
I conjuro you lloroforo lo Iislon lo my vords,
and if vill llo good guiIl may bo in any dogroo oxlonualod by
slarp agony, and romorso llal ronds llo brain as madnoss por-
laps you may llink, llougl I daro nol, llal I lavo somo cIaim lo
your compassion.
"I onlroal you lo caII lo your romombranco our firsl lappy Iifo on
llo sloros of Iocl Iomond. I lad arrivod from a voary vandor-
ing of sixloon yoars, during vlicl, aIllougl I lad gono llrougl
many dangors and misforlunos, my affoclions lad boon an onliro
bIank. If I griovod il vas for your mollor, if I Iovod il vas your
imago, lloso soIo omolions fiIIod my loarl in quiolnoss. Tlo lu-
man croaluros around mo oxcilod in mo no sympally and I
llougll llal llo miglly clango llal llo doall of your mollor
lad vrougll villin mo lad rondorod mo caIIous lo any fuluro
improssion. I sav llo IovoIy and I did nol Iovo, I imaginod lloro-
foro llal aII varmll vas oxlinguislod in my loarl oxcopl llal
vlicl Iod mo ovor lo dvoII on your llon infanlino imago.
"Il is a slrango Iink in my falo llal villoul laving soon you I
slouId passionaloIy Iovo you. During my vandorings I novor
sIopl villoul firsl caIIing dovn gonlIo droams on your load. If I
sav a IovoIy voman, I llougll, doos my MalliIda rosombIo lor`
AII doIigllfuI llings, subIimo sconory, sofl broozos, oxquisilo mu-
sic soomod lo mo associalod vill you and onIy llrougl you lo bo
pIoasanl lo mo. Al Iongll I sav you. You appoarod as llo doily of
a IovoIy rogion, llo minisloring AngoI of a Iaradiso lo vlicl of
aII luman kind you admillod onIy mo. I darod lardIy considor
you as my daugllor, your boauly, arlIossnoss and unlaugll vis-
dom soomod lo boIong lo a liglor ordor of boings, your voico
broallod forll onIy vords of Iovo: if lloro vas augll of oarllIy in
you il vas onIy vlal you dorivod from llo boauly of llo vorId,
you soomod lo lavo gainod a graco from llo mounlain
broozosllo valorfaIIs and llo Iako, and llis vas aII of oarllIy
oxcopl your affoclions llal you lad, lloro vas no dross, no bad
56.Tlo passago "I slouId foar . I musl dospair" is in S-R fr bul nol in I of IA. Tloro,
in llo margin, is llo foIIoving: "Is il nol llo prorogalivo of suporior virluo lo pardon
llo orring and lo voigl vill morcy lloir offonsos`" Tlis sonlonco doos nol appoar in
MalliIda. AIso in llo margin of I of IA is llo numbor (9), llo numbor of llo S-R fr.
49
fooIing in llo composilion. You yol ovon lavo nol soon
onougl
57
of llo vorId lo knov llo slupondous difforonco llal ox-
isls bolvoon llo vomon vo mool in dayIy Iifo and a nympl of llo
voods sucl as you voro, in vloso oyos aIono mankind may
sludy for conlurios & grov visor & puror. Tloso divino Iiglls
vlicl slono on mo as did lloso of Boalrico upon Danlo, and voII
migll I say vill lim yol vill vlal difforonl fooIings
E quasi mi pordoi gIi occli clini.
Can you vondor, MalliIda, llal I dvoIl on your Iooks, your
vords, your molions, & drank in unmixod doIigll`
|"jBul I am afraid llal I vandor from my purposo. I musl bo moro
briof for nigll dravs on apaco and aII my lours in llis louso aro
counlod. WoII, vo romovod lo Iondon, and sliII I foIl onIy llo
poaco of sinIoss passion. You voro ovor vill mo, and I dosirod no
moro llan lo gazo on your counlonanco, and lo knov llal I vas
aII llo vorId lo you, I vas Iappod in a fooI's paradiso of onjoy-
monl and socurily. Was my Iovo bIamabIo` If il vas I vas ignor-
anl of il, I dosirod onIy llal vlicl I possossod, and if I onjoyod
from your Iooks, and vords, and mosl innoconl carossos a rap-
luro usuaIIy oxcIudod from llo fooIings of a paronl lovards lis
cliId, yol no unoasinoss, no visl, no casuaI idoa avoko mo lo a
sonso of guiIl. I Iovod you as a luman fallor migll bo supposod
lo Iovo a daugllor borno lo lim by a loavonIy mollor, as
Anclisos migll lavo rogardod llo cliId of Vonus if llo sox lad
boon clangod, Iovo mingIod vill rospocl and adoralion. Iorlaps
aIso my passion vas IuIIod lo conlonl by llo doop and oxcIusivo
affoclion you foIl for mo.
"Bul vlon I sav you bocomo llo objocl of anollor's Iovo, vlon I
imaginod llal you migll bo Iovod ollorviso llan as a sacrod lypo
and imago of IovoIinoss and oxcoIIonco, or llal you migll Iovo an-
ollor vill a moro ardonl affoclion llan llal vlicl you boro lo
mo, llon llo fiond avoko villin mo, I dismissod your Iovor, and
from llal momonl I lavo knovn no poaco. I lavo sougll in vain
for sIoop and rosl, my Iids rofusod lo cIoso, and my bIood vas for
ovor in a lumuIl. I avoko lo a nov Iifo as ono vlo dios in lopo
57.Tlo passago "onougl of llo vorId . in unmixod doIigll" is on a sIip paslod ovor llo
middIo of llo pago. Somo of llo obscurod loxl is visibIo in llo margin, loaviIy scorod
oul. AIso in llo margin is "Canlo IV Vors UIl," roforring lo llo quolalion from Danlo's
Iaradiso. Tlis quolalion, vill llo procoding passago boginning "in vloso oyos," ap-
poars in MalliIda onIy.
50
migll vako in HoII. I viII nol suIIy your imaginalion by rocounl-
ing my combals, my soIf-angor and my dospair. Iol a voiI bo
dravn ovor llo unimaginabIo sonsalions of a guiIly fallor, llo
socrols of so agonizod a loarl may nol bo mado vuIgar. AII vas
uproar, crimo, romorso and lalo, yol sliII llo londorosl Iovo, and
vlal firsl avoko mo lo llo firm rosoIvo of conquoring my passion
and of rosloring lor fallor lo my cliId vas llo sigll of your billor
and sympallizing sorrovs. Il vas llis llal Iod mo loro: I llougll
llal if I couId again avakon in my loarl llo griof I lad foIl al llo
Ioss of your mollor, and llo many associalions vill lor momory
vlicl lad boon Iaid lo sIoop for sovonloon yoars, llal aII Iovo for
lor cliId vouId bocomo oxlincl. In a fil of loroism I dolorminod
lo go aIono, lo quil you, llo Iifo of my Iifo, and nol lo soo you
again unliII I migll guiIlIossIy. Bul il vouId nol do: I ralod my
forliludo loo ligl, or my Iovo loo Iov. I slouId corlainIy lavo
diod if you lad nol laslonod lo mo. WouId llal I lad boon indood
oxlinguislod!
"And nov, MalliIda I musl mako you my Iasl confossion. I lavo
boon misorabIy mislakon in imagining llal I couId conquor my
Iovo for you, I novor can. Tlo sigll of llis louso, lloso fioIds and
voods vlicl my firsl Iovo inlabilod sooms lo lavo oncroasod il:
in my madnoss I darod say lo mysoIfDiana diod lo givo lor
birll, lor mollor's spiril vas lransforrod inlo lor framo, and slo
ougll lo bo as Diana lo mo.
58
Will ovory offorl lo casl il off, llis
Iovo cIings cIosor, llis guiIly Iovo moro unnaluraI llan lalo, llal
villors your lopos and doslroys mo for ovor.
<
div cIass="poom">
Bollor lavo Iovod dospair, & safor kissod lor.
No limo or spaco can loar from my souI llal vlicl makos a parl
of il. Sinco my arrivaI loro I lavo nol for a momonl coasod lo fooI
llo loII of passion vlicl las boon impIanlod in mo lo burn unliII
aII bo coId, and sliff, and doad. Yol I viII nol dio, aIas! lov daro I
go vloro I may mool Diana, vlon I lavo disoboyod lor Iasl ro-
quosl, lor Iasl vords said in a fainl voico vlon aII fooIing bul
Iovo, vlicl survivos aII llings oIso vas aIroady doad, slo llon
bado mo mako lor cliId lappy: llal llougll aIono givos a doubIo
sling lo doall. I viII vandor avay from you, avay from aII
58.Tlo roforonco lo Diana, vill llo fallor's ralionaIizalion of lis Iovo for MalliIda, is in
S-R fr bul nol in I of IA.
51
Iifoin llo soIiludo I slaII sook I aIono slaII broallo of luman
kind. I musl onduro Iifo, and as il is my duly so I slaII unliII llo
gravo droadod yol dosirod, rocoivo mo froo from pain: for vliIo I
fooI il viII bo pain llal musl mako up llo vloIo sum of my sonsa-
lions. Is nol llis a foarfuI curso llal I Iabour undor` Do I nol Iook
forvard lo a misorabIo fuluro` My cliId, if aflor llis Iifo I am por-
millod lo soo you again, if pain can purify llo loarl, mino viII bo
puro: if romorso may oxpialo guiIl, I slaII bo guiIlIoss.
|"jI lavo boon al llo door of your clambor: ovory lling is siIonl.
You sIoop. Do you indood sIoop, MalliIda` Spirils of Good, bo-
loId llo loars of my oarnosl prayor! BIoss my cliId! Irolocl lor
from llo soIfisl among lor foIIov croaluros: prolocl lor from llo
agonios of passion, and llo dospair of disappoinlmonl! Ioaco,
Hopo and Iovo bo lly guardians, ol, llou souI of my souI: llou
in vlom I broallo!
|"jI daro nol road my Iollor ovor for I lavo no limo lo vrilo anoll-
or, and yol I foar llal somo oxprossions in il migll dispIoaso mo.
Sinco I Iasl sav you I lavo boon conslanlIy ompIoyod in vriling
Iollors, and lavo sovoraI moro lo vrilo, for I do nol inlond llal
any ono slaII loar of mo aflor I doparl. I nood nol conjuro you lo
Iook upon mo as ono of vlom aII Iinks llal onco oxislod bolvoon
us aro brokon. Your ovn doIicacy viII nol aIIov you, I am con-
vincod, lo allompl lo lraco mo. Il is far bollor for your poaco llal
you slouId bo ignoranl of my doslinalion. You viII nol foIIov
mo, for vlon I bannisl mysoIf vouId you nourisl guiIl by ob-
lruding yoursoIf upon mo` You viII nol do llis, I knov you viII
nol. You musl forgol mo and aII llo oviI llal I lavo laugll you.
Casl off llo onIy gifl llal I lavo boslovod upon you, your griof,
and riso from undor my bIiglling infIuonco as no fIovor so svool
ovor did riso from bonoall so mucl oviI.
"You viII novor loar from mo again: rocoivo lloso llon as llo Iasl
vords of mino llal viII ovor roacl you, and aIllougl I lavo for-
foilod your fiIiaI Iovo, yol rogard llom I conjuro you as a fallor's
command. RosoIuloIy slako of|fj llo vrolclodnoss llal llis firsl
misforluno in oarIy Iifo musl occasion you. Boar boIdIy up againsl
llo slorm: conlinuo viso and miId, bul boIiovo il, and indood il is,
your duly lo bo lappy. You aro vory young, Iol nol llis clock for
moro llan a momonl rolard your gIorious courso, loId on, bo-
Iovod ono. Tlo sun of youll is nol sol for you, il viII rosloro
vigour and Iifo lo you, do nol rosisl vill obslinalo griof ils
52
bonoficonl infIuonco, ol, my cliId! bIoss mo vill llo lopo llal I
lavo nol ullorIy doslroyod you.
"IarovoII, MalliIda. I go vill llo boIiof llal I lavo your pardon.
Your gonlIo naluro vouId nol pormil you lo lalo your groalosl
onomy and llougl I bo lo, aIllougl I lavo ronl lappinoss from
your grasp,
59
llougl I lavo passod ovor your young Iovo and
lopos as llo angoI of doslruclion, finding boauly and joy, and
Ioaving bIigll and dospair, yol you viII forgivo mo, and vill
oyos ovorfIoving vill loars I llank you, my boIovod ono, I accopl
your pardon vill a graliludo llal viII novor dio, and llal viII, in-
dood il viII, oulIivo guiIl and romorso.
"IarovoII for ovor!"
Tlo momonl I finislod llis Iollor I ordorod llo carriago and proparod
lo foIIov my fallor. Tlo vords of lis Iollor by vlicl lo lad dissuadod
mo from llis slop voro lloso llal dolorminod mo. Wly did lo vrilo
llom` Ho musl knov llal if I boIiovod llal lis inlonlion vas moroIy lo
absonl limsoIf from mo llal insload of opposing lim il vouId bo llal
vlicl I slouId mysoIf roquiroor if lo llougll llal any Iurking fooIing,
yol lo couId nol llink llal, slouId Ioad mo lo lim vouId lo ondoavour
lo ovorllrov llo onIy lopo lo couId lavo of ovor sooing mo again, a Iov-
or, lloro vas madnoss in llo llougll, yol lo vas my Iovor, vouId nol acl
llus. No, lo lad dolorminod lo dio, and lo vislod lo sparo mo llo
misory of knoving il. Tlo fov inoffocluaI vords lo lad said concorning
lis duly voro lo mo a furllor proofand llo moro I sludiod llo Iollor
llo moro did I porcoivo a llousand sIigll oxprossions llal couId onIy in-
dicalo a knovIodgo llal Iifo vas nov ovor for lim. Ho vas aboul lo dio!
My bIood frozo al llo llougll: a sickoning fooIing of lorror camo ovor
mo llal aIIovod nol of loars. As I vailod for llo carriago I vaIkod up
and dovn vill a quick paco, llon knooIing and passionaloIy cIasping
my lands I lriod lo pray bul my voico vas clokod by convuIsivo
sobsOl llo sun slono|,j llo air vas baImylo musl yol Iivo for if lo
voro doad aII vouId suroIy bo bIack as nigll lo mo!
6O
Tlo molion of llo carriago knoving llal il carriod mo lovards lim
and llal I migll porlaps find lim aIivo somovlal rovivod my courago:
59.In I of IA llis is foIIovod by a sorios of ollor gIoomy concossivo cIausos vlicl
lavo boon scorod oul lo llo advanlago of llo loxl.
6O.Tlis paragrapl las boon groalIy improvod by llo omission of oIaboralo ovor-slalo-
monl, o.g., "lo pray for morcy & rospilo from my foar" (I of IA) bocomos moroIy "lo
pray."
53
yol I lad a droadfuI rido. Hopo onIy supporlod mo, llo lopo llal I
slouId nol bo loo Ialo|.j I did nol voop, bul I vipod llo porspiralion
from my brov, and lriod lo sliII my brain and loarl boaling aImosl lo
madnoss. Ol! I musl nol bo mad vlon I soo lim, or porlaps il voro as
voII llal I slouId bo, my dislraclion migll caIm lis, and rocaII lim lo llo
onduranco of Iifo. Yol unliII I find lim I musl forco roason lo koop lor
soal, and I prossod my foroload lard vill my landsOl do nol Ioavo
mo, or I slaII forgol vlal I am aboulinsload of driving on as vo ougll
vill llo spood of Iigllning lloy viII allond lo mo, and vo slaII bo loo
Ialo. Ol! God loIp mo! Iol lim bo aIivo! Il is aII dark, in my abjocl misory
I domand no moro: no lopo, no good: onIy passion, and guiIl, and lor-
ror, bul aIivo! AIivo! My sonsalions clokod moNo loars foII yol I
sobbod, and broallod slorl and lard, ono onIy llougll possossod mo,
and I couId onIy ullor ono vord, llal laIf scroaming vas porpoluaIIy on
my Iips, AIivo! AIivo!
I lad lakon llo slovard
61
vill mo for lo, mucl bollor llan I|,j couId
mako llo roquisilo onquiriosllo poor oId man couId nol roslrain lis
loars as lo sav my doop dislross and knov llo causolo somolimos
ullorod a fov brokon vords of consoIalion: in momonls Iiko lloso llo
mislross and sorvanl bocomo in a mannor oquaIs and vlon I sav lis oId
dim oyos vol vill sympallizing loars, lis gray lair llinIy scallorod on
an ago-vrinkIod brov I llougll ol if my fallor voro as lo isdocropid
& loaryllon I slouId bo sparod llis pain
Wlon I lad arrivod al llo noarosl lovn I look posl lorsos and foI-
Iovod llo road my fallor lad lakon. Al ovory inn vloro vo clangod
lorsos vo loard of lim, and I vas possossod by aIlornalo lopo and foar.
A Iongll I found llal lo lad aIlorod lis roulo, al firsl lo lad foIIovod
llo Iondon road, bul nov lo clangod il, and upon onquiry I found llal
llo ono vlicl lo nov pursuod Iod icucr!s i|c scc. My droam rocurrod lo
my llouglls, I vas nol usuaIIy suporslilious bul in vrolclodnoss ovory
ono is so. Tlo soa vas fifly miIos off, yol il vas lovards il llal lo fIod.
Tlo idoa vas lorribIo lo my laIf crazod imaginalion, and aImosl ovor-
lurnod llo IillIo soIf possossion llal sliII romainod lo mo. I journiod aII
day, ovory momonl my misory oncroasod and llo fovor of my bIood bo-
camo inloIorabIo. Tlo summor sun slono in an uncIoudod sky, llo air
vas cIoso bul aII vas cooI lo mo oxcopl my ovn scorcling skin. Tovards
ovoning dark llundor cIouds aroso abovo llo lorrizon and I loard ils
dislanl roIIaflor sunsol lloy darkonod llo vloIo sky and il bogan lo
61.Tlis paragrapl aboul llo Slovard is addod in MalliIda. In I of IA lo is caIIod a
sorvanl and lis namo is Harry. Soo nolo 29.
54
rain|,j llo Iigllning Iigllod up llo vloIo counlry and llo llundor
drovnod llo noiso of our carriago. Al llo noxl inn my fallor lad nol
lakon lorsos, lo lad Iofl a box lloro saying lo vouId rolurn, and lad
vaIkod ovor llo fioIds lo llo lovn of a soacosl lovn oigll miIos off.
Ior a momonl I vas aImosl paraIizod by foar, bul my onorgy rolurnod
and I domandod a guido lo accompany mo in foIIoving lis slops. Tlo
nigll vas lomposluous bul my bribo vas ligl and I oasiIy procurod a
counlryman. Wo passod llrougl many Ianos and ovor fioIds and viId
dovns, llo rain pourod dovn in lorronls, and llo Ioud llundor broko in
lorribIo craslos ovor our loads. Ol! Wlal a nigll il vas! And I passod on
vill quick slops among llo ligl, dank grass amid llo rain and lomposl.
My droam vas for ovor in my llouglls, and vill a kind of laIf insanily
llal oflon possossos llo mind in dospair, I said aIoud, "Courago! Wo aro
nol noar llo soa, vo aro yol sovoraI miIos from llo ocoan"Yol il vas lo-
vards llo soa llal our diroclion Iay and llal loigllonod llo confusion of
my idoas. Onco, ovorcomo by faliguo, I sunk on llo vol oarll, aboul lvo
lundrod yards dislanl, aIono in a Iargo moadov slood a magnificonl oak,
llo Iigllnings slovod ils myriad bougls lorn by llo slorm. A slrango
idoa soizod mo, a porson musl lavo foIl aII llo agonios of doubl concorn-
ing llo Iifo and doall of ono vlo is llo vloIo vorId lo llom boforo lloy
can onlor inlo my fooIingsfor in llal slalo, llo mind vorking unros-
lrainod by llo viII makos slrango and fancifuI combinalions vill oul-
vard circumslancos and voavos llo clancos and clangos of naluro inlo
an immodialo connoxion vill llo ovonl lloy droad. Il vas vill llis fooI-
ing llal I lurnod lo llo oId Slovard vlo slood paIo and lrombIing bosido
mo, "Mark, Gaspar, if llo noxl fIasl of Iigllning rond nol llal oak my
fallor viII bo aIivo."
I lad scarcoIy ullorod lloso vords llan a fIasl inslanlIy foIIovod by a
lromondous poaI of llundor doscondod on il, and vlon my oyos ro-
covorod lloir sigll aflor llo dazzIing Iigll, llo oak no Iongor slood in llo
moadovTlo oId man ullorod a viId oxcIamalion of lorror vlon lo
sav so suddon an inlorprolalion givon lo my proplosy. I slarlod up, my
slrongll rolurnod, |sicj vill my lorror, I criod, "Ol, God! Is llis lly do-
croo` Yol porlaps I slaII nol bo loo Ialo."
AIllougl sliII sovoraI miIos dislanl vo conlinuod lo approacl llo soa.
Wo camo al Iasl lo llo road llal Iod lo llo lovn ofand al an inn lloro
vo loard llal my fallor lad passod by somovlal boforo sunsol, lo lad
obsorvod llo approacling slorm and lad lirod a lorso for llo noxl lovn
vlicl vas silualod a miIo from llo soa llal lo migll arrivo lloro boforo
il slouId commonco: llis lovn vas fivo miIos off. Wo lirod a claiso loro,
55
and vill four lorsos drovo vill spood llrougl llo slorm. My garmonls
voro vol and cIung around mo, and my lair lung in slraigll Iocks on
my nock vlon nol bIovn asido by llo vind. I slivorod, yol my puIso
vas ligl vill fovor. Groal God! Wlal agony I ondurod. I slod no loars
bul my oyos viId and infIamod voro slarling from my load, I couId
lardIy supporl llo voigll llal prossod upon my brain. Wo arrivod al llo
lovn of in a IillIo moro llan laIf an lour. Wlon my fallor lad ar-
rivod llo slorm lad aIroady bogun, bul lo lad rofusod lo slop and Ioav-
ing lis lorso lloro lo vaIkod onicucr!s i|c scc. AIas! il vas doubIo
cruoIly in lim lo lavo closon llo soa for lis falaI rosoIvo, il vas adding
madnoss lo my dospair.
62
Tlo poor oId sorvanl vlo vas vill mo ondoavourod lo porsuado mo
lo romain loro and lo Iol lim go aIonoI slook my load siIonlIy and
sadIy, sick aImosl lo doall I Ioanl upon lis arm, and as lloro vas no
road for a claiso draggod my voary slops across llo dosoIalo dovns lo
mool my falo, nov loo corlain for llo agony of doubl. AImosl fainling I
sIovIy approaclod llo falaI valors, vlon vo lad quillod llo lovn vo
loard lloir roaring|.j I vlisporod lo mysoIf in a mulloring voico"Tlo
sound is llo samo as llal vlicl I loard in my droam. Il is llo knoII of
my fallor vlicl I loar."
63
Tlo rain lad coasod, lloro vas no moro llundor and Iigllning, llo
vind lad pausod. My loarl no Iongor boal viIdIy, I did nol fooI any
fovor: bul I vas cliIIod, my knoos sunk undor moI aImosl sIopl as I
vaIkod vill oxcoss of voarinoss, ovory Iimb lrombIod. I vas siIonl: aII
vas siIonl oxcopl llo roaring of llo soa vlicl bocamo Ioudor and moro
droadfuI. Yol vo advancod sIovIy: somolimos I llougll llal vo slouId
novor arrivo, llal llo sound of vavos vouId sliII aIIuro us, and llal vo
slouId vaIk on for ovor and ovor: fioId succooding fioId, novor vouId
our voary journoy coaso, nor nigll nor day, bul sliII vo slouId loar llo
dasling of llo soa, and lo aII llis lloro vouId bo no ond. WiId boyond
llo imaginalion of llo lappy aro llo llouglls brod by misory and
dospair.
Al Iongll vo roaclod llo ovorlanging boacl, a collago slood bosido
llo pall, vo knockod al llo door and il vas oponod: llo bod villin in-
slanlIy caugll my oyo, somolling sliff and slraigll Iay on il, covorod by
a slool, llo collagors Iookod aglasl. Tlo firsl vords llal lloy ullorod
confirmod vlal I boforo knov. I did nol fooI slockod or ovorcomo: I
62.Tlis sonlonco, nol in I of IA, rocaIIs MalliIda's droam.
63.Tlis passago is somovlal moro dramalic llan llal in I of IA, pulling vlal is
lloro moroIy a doscriplivo slalomonl inlo quolalion marks.
55
boIiovo llal I askod ono or lvo quoslions and Iislonod lo llo ansvors. I
lar|djIy knov, bul in a fov momonls I sank IifoIoss lo llo ground, and so
vouId llal llon aII lad boon al an ond!
57
Chapter 8
I vas carriod lo llo noxl lovn: fovor succoodod lo convuIsions and fainl-
ings, & for somo vooks my unlappy spiril lovorod on llo vory vorgo of
doall. Bul Iifo vas yol slrong villin mo, I rocovorod: nor did il a IillIo
aid my rolurning loaIll llal my rocoIIoclions voro al firsl vaguo, and
llal I vas loo voak lo fooI any vioIonl omolion. I oflon said lo mysoIf,
my fallor is doad. Ho Iovod mo vill a guiIly passion, and slung by ro-
morso and dospair lo kiIIod limsoIf. Wly is il llal I fooI no lorror` Aro
lloso circumslancos nol droadfuI` Is il nol onougl llal I slaII novor moro
mool llo oyos of my boIovod fallor, novor moro loar lis voico, no caross,
no Iook` AII coId, and sliff, and doad! AIas! I am quilo caIIous: llo nigll I
vas oul in vas foarfuI and llo coId rain llal foII aboul my loarl las ac-
lod Iiko llo valors of llo cavorn of Anliparos
64
and las clangod il lo
slono. I do nol voop or sigl, bul I musl roason vill mysoIf, and forco
mysoIf lo fooI sorrov and dospair. Tlis is nol rosignalion llal I fooI, for I
am doad lo aII rogrol.
I communod in llis mannor vill mysoIf, bul I vas siIonl lo aII around
mo. I lardIy ropIiod lo llo sIigllosl quoslion, and vas unoasy vlon I
sav a luman croaluro noar mo. I vas surroundod by my fomaIo roIa-
lions, bul lloy voro aII of llom noarIy slrangors lo mo: I did nol Iislon lo
lloir consoIalions, and so IillIo did lloy vork lloir dosignod offocl llal
lloy soomod lo mo lo bo spokon in an unknovn longuo. I found if sor-
rov vas doad villin mo, so vas Iovo and dosiro of sympally. Yol sor-
rov onIy sIopl lo rovivo moro fiorco, bul Iovo novor voko againils
glosl, ovor lovoring ovor my fallor's gravo, aIono survivodsinco lis
doall aII llo vorId vas lo mo a bIank oxcopl vloro voo lad slampl ils
burning vords loIIing mo lo smiIo no morollo Iiving voro nol fil com-
panions for mo, and I vas ovor modilaling by vlal moans I migll slako
llom aII off, and novor bo loard of again.
My convaIosconco rapidIy advancod, yol llis vas llo llougll llal
launlod mo, and I vas for ovor forming pIans lov I migll loroaflor
64.A slaIaclilo grollo on llo isIand of Anliparos in llo Aogoan Soa.
58
conlrivo lo oscapo llo lorluros llal voro proparod for mo vlon I slouId
mix in socioly, and lo find llal soIiludo vlicl aIono couId suil ono
vlom an unloId griof soporalod from lor foIIov croaluros. Wlo can bo
moro soIilary ovon in a crovd llan ono vloso lislory and llo novor ond-
ing fooIings and romombrancos arising from il is |sicj knovn lo no Iiving
souI. Tloro vas loo doop a lorror in my laIo for confidonco, I vas on
oarll llo soIo doposilory of my ovn socrol. I migll loII il lo llo vinds
and lo llo dosarl loalls bul I musl novor among my foIIov croaluros,
oillor by vord or Iook givo aIIovanco lo llo smaIIosl conjocluro of llo
droad roaIily: I musl slrink boforo llo oyo of man Iosl lo slouId road my
fallor's guiIl in my gIazod oyos: I musl bo siIonl Iosl my faIloring voico
slouId bolray unimaginod lorrors. Ovor llo doop gravo of my socrol I
musl loap an imponolrabIo loap of faIso smiIos and vords: cunning
frauds, lroaclorous Iaugllor and a mixluro of aII Iigll docoils vouId
form a misl lo bIind ollors and bo as llo poisonous simoon lo mo.
65
I, llo
offspring of Iovo, llo cliId of llo voods, llo nursIing of Naluro's brigll
soIf vas lo submil lo llis` I darod nol.
Hov musl I oscapo` I vas ricl and young, and lad a guardian appoin-
lod for mo, and aII aboul mo vouId acl as if I voro ono of lloir groal soci-
oly, vliIo I musl koop llo socrol llal I roaIIy vas cul off from llom for
ovor. If I fIod I slouId bo pursuod, in Iifo lloro vas no oscapo for mo:
vly llon I musl dio. I sluddorod, I darod nol dio ovon llougl llo coId
gravo loId aII I Iovod, aIllougl I migll say vill }ob
Wloro is nov my lopo` Ior my lopo vlo slaII soo il`
Tloy slaII go dovn logollor lo llo bars of llo pil, vlon our rosl
logollor is in llo dusl
66
Yos my lopo vas corruplion and dusl and aII lo vlicl doall brings
us.Or aflor IifoNo, no, I viII nol porsuado mysoIf lo dio, I may nol,
daro nol. And llon I vopl, yos, varm loars onco moro slruggIod inlo my
oyos soolling yol billor, and aflor I lad vopl mucl and caIIod vill un-
avaiIing anguisl, vill oulslrolclod arms, for my cruoI fallor, aflor my
voak framo vas oxlauslod by aII varioly of pIainl I sank onco moro inlo
rovorio, and onco moro rofIoclod on lov I migll find llal vlicl I mosl
dosirod, doar lo mo if augll voro doar, a doall-Iiko soIiludo.
65.A good doscriplion of Mary's ovn bolavior in EngIand aflor SloIIoy's doall, of llo
surfaco pIacidily vlicl concoaIod slormy omolion. Soo Nilclio, Mary SloIIoy, pp.
8-1O.
66.}ob, 17: 15-16, sIigllIy misquolod.
59
I darod nol dio, bul I migll foign doall, and llus oscapo from my com-
forlors: lloy viII boIiovo mo unilod lo my fallor, and so indood I slaII bo.
Ior aIono, vlon no voico can dislurb my droam, and no coId oyo mool
mino lo clock ils firo, llon I may communo vill lis spiril, on a Iono
loall, al noon or al midnigll, sliII I slouId bo noar lim. His Iasl injunc-
lion lo mo vas llal I slouId bo lappy, porlaps lo did nol moan llo
sladovy lappinoss llal I promisod mysoIf, yol il vas llal aIono vlicl I
couId laslo. Ho did nol concoivo llal ovor |qu. nctcr`j again I couId mako
ono of llo smiIing lunlors llal go coursing aflor bubIos llal broak lo
nolling vlon caugll, and llon aflor a nov ono vill brigllor coIours,
my lopo aIso lad provod a bubIo, bul il lad boon so IovoIy, so adornod
llal I sav nono llal couId allracl mo aflor il, bosidos I vas voariod vill
llo pursuil, noarIy doad vill voarinoss.
I vouId foign lo dio, my conlonlod loirs vouId soizo upon my voaIll,
and I slouId purclaso froodom. Bul llon my pIan musl bo Iaid vill arl, I
vouId nol bo Iofl doslilulo, I musl socuro somo monoy. AIas! lo vlal
Ioallsomo slifls musl I bo drivon` Yol a vloIo Iifo of faIsolood vas oll-
orviso my porlion: and vlon romorso al boing llo conlrivor of any cloal
mado mo slrink from my dosign I vas irrosislabIy Iod back and con-
firmod in il by llo visil of somo aunl or cousin, vlo vouId loII mo llal
doall vas llo ond of aII mon. And llon say llal my fallor lad suroIy
Iosl lis vils ovor sinco my mollor's doall, llal lo vas mad and llal I
vas forlunalo, for in ono of lis fils lo migll lavo kiIIod mo insload of
doslroying lis ovn crazod boing. And aII llis, lo bo suro, vas doIicaloIy
pul, nol in broad vords for my fooIings migll bo lurl bul
Wlisporod so and so
In dark linl sofl and Iov
6768
vill dovncasl oyos, and sympallizing smiIos or vlimpors, and I
Iislonod vill quiol counlonanco vliIo ovory norvo lrombIod, I llal darod
nol ullor ayo or no lo aII llis bIasplomy. Ol, llis vas a doIicious Iifo
quilo void of guiIo! I vill my dovo's Iook and fox's loarl: for indood I foIl
onIy llo dogradalion of faIsolood, and nol any sacrod sonlimonl of con-
scious innoconco llal migll rodoom il. I vlo lad boforo cIollod mysoIf
in llo brigll garb of sincorily musl nov borrov ono of divors coIours: il
migll sil avkvardIy al firsl, bul uso vouId onabIo mo lo pIaco il in
67.CoIoridgo's Iiro, Iamino and SIaugllor.
68.Nol in I of IA. Tlo quolalion slouId road: Iam. Wlispor il, sislor! so and so! In a
dark linl, sofl and sIov.
50
oIoganl foIds, lo Iio vill graco. Ayo, I migll dio my souI vill faIsolood
unliII I lad quilo lid ils nalivo coIour. Ol, boIovod fallor! Accopl llo
puro loarl of your unlappy daugllor, pormil mo lo join you unspollod
as I vas or you viII nol rocognizo my aIlorod sombIanco. As griof migll
clango Conslanco
69
so vouId docoil clango mo unliII in loavon you
vouId say, "Tlis is nol my cliId"My fallor, lo bo lappy boll nov and
vlon again vo mool I musl fIy from aII llis Iifo vlicl is mockory lo ono
Iiko mo. In soIiludo onIy slaII I bo mysoIf, in soIiludo I slaII bo llino.
AIas! I ovon nov Iook back vill disgusl al my arlificos and conlriv-
ancos by vlicl, aflor many painfuI slruggIos, I offoclod my rolroal. I
migll onlor inlo a Iong dolaiI of llo moans I usod, firsl lo socuro mysoIf a
sIigll mainlonanco for llo romaindor of my Iifo, and aflorvards lo on-
suro llo conviclion of my doall: I migll, bul I viII nol. I ovon nov bIusl
al llo faIsoloods I ullorod, my loarl sickons: I viII Ioavo llis compIica-
lion of vlal I lopo I may in a mannor caII innoconl docoil lo bo imaginod
by llo roador. Tlo romombranco launls mo Iiko a crimoI knov llal if I
voro lo ondoavour lo roIalo il my laIo vouId al Iongll romain unfin-
islod.
7O
I vas Iod lo Iondon, and lad lo onduro for somo vooks coId
Iooks, coId vords and coIdor consoIalions: bul I oscapod, lloy lriod lo
bind mo vill follors llal lloy llougll siIkon, yol vlicl voiglod on mo
Iiko iron, aIllougl I broko llom moro oasiIy llan a girll formod of a
singIo slrav and fIod lo froodom.
Tlo fov vooks llal I sponl in Iondon voro llo mosl misorabIo of my
Iifo: a groal cily is a frigllfuI labilalion lo ono sorroving. Tlo sunsol and
llo gonlIo moon, llo bIossod molion of llo Ioavos and llo murmuring of
valors aro aII svool plysicians lo a dislomporod mind. Tlo souI is ox-
pandod and drinks in quiol, a IuIIing modocinolo mo il vas as llo sigll
of llo IovoIy valor snakos lo llo bovilclod marinorin Ioving and
bIossing Naluro I unavaros, caIIod dovn a bIossing on my ovn souI. Bul
in a cily aII is cIosod slul Iiko a prison, a viry prison from vlicl you can
poop al llo sky onIy. I can nol doscribo lo you vlal voro |sicj llo franlic
69.Tlo mollor of Irinco Arllur in Slakospoaro's King }oln. In llo MS llo vords "llo
IillIo Arllur" aro vrillon in ponciI abovo llo namo of Conslanco.
7O.In I of IA llis accounl of lor pIans is addrossod lo Diolima, and MalliIda's ox-
cuso for nol dolaiIing llom is llal lloy aro loo lriviaI lo inlorosl spirils no Iongor on
oarll, llis is llo onIy inlrusion of llo framovork inlo MalliIda's narralivo in Tlo
IioIds of Iancy. MalliIda's rofusaI lo rocounl lor slralagoms, llougl llo omission is
a voIcomo ono lo llo roador, may roprosonl llo fIagging of Mary's invonlion. SimiI-
arIy in Irankonsloin slo offors oxcusos for nol oxpIaining lov llo Monslor vas
brougll lo Iifo. Tlo onliro passago, "AIas! I ovon nov . romain unfinislod. I vas," is
on a sIip of papor paslod on llo pago.
51
naluro of my sonsalions vliIo I rosidod lloro, I vas oflon on llo vorgo of
madnoss. Nay, vlon I Iook back on many of my viId llouglls, llouglls
vill vlicl aclions somolimos ondoavourod lo koop paco, vlon I lossod
my lands ligl caIIing dovn llo copo of loavon lo faII on mo and bury
mo, vlon I loro my lair and llroving il lo llo vinds criod, "Yo aro froo,
go sook my fallor!" And llon, Iiko llo unforlunalo Conslanco, calcling al
llom again and lying llom up, llal nougll migll find lim if I migll nol.
Hov, on my knoos I lavo fanciod mysoIf cIoso lo my fallor's gravo and
slruck llo ground in angor llal il slouId covor lim from mo. Ofl vlon I
lavo Iislonod vill gasping allonlion for llo sound of llo ocoan mingIod
vill my fallor's groans, and llon vopl unliII my slrongll vas gono and
I vas caIm and fainl, vlon I lavo rocoIIoclod aII llis I lavo askod mysoIf
if llis voro nol madnoss. WliIo in Iondon lloso and many ollor droad-
fuI llouglls loo larroving for vords voro my porlion: I Iosl aII llis suf-
foring vlon I vas froo, vlon I sav llo viId loall around mo, and llo
ovoning slar in llo vosl, llon I couId voop, gonlIy voop, and bo al
poaco.
Do nol mislako mo, I novor vas roaIIy mad. I vas aIvays conscious of
my slalo vlon my viId llouglls soomod lo drivo mo lo insanily, and
novor bolrayod llom lo augll bul siIonco and soIiludo. Tlo poopIo
around mo sav nolling of aII llis. Tloy onIy sav a poor girI brokon in
spiril, vlo spoko in a Iov and gonlIo voico, and from undornoall vloso
dovncasl Iids loars vouId somolimos sloaI vlicl slo slrovo lo lido. Ono
vlo Iovod lo bo aIono, and slrunk from obsorvalion, vlo novor smiIod,
ol, no! I novor smiIodand llal vas aII.
WoII, I oscapod. I Iofl my guardian's louso and I vas novor loard of
again, il vas boIiovod from llo Iollors llal I Iofl and ollor circumslancos
llal I pIannod llal I lad doslroyod mysoIf. I vas sougll aflor lloroforo
vill Ioss caro llan vouId ollorviso lavo boon llo caso, and soon aII
lraco and momory of mo vas Iosl. I Iofl Iondon in a smaII vossoI bound
for a porl in llo norll of EngIand. And nov laving succoodod in my al-
lompl, and boing quilo aIono poaco rolurnod lo mo. Tlo soa vas caIm
and llo vossoI movod gonlIy onvards, I sal upon dock undor llo opon
canopy of loavon and mollougll I vas an aIlorod croaluro. Nol llo viId,
raving & mosl misorabIo MalliIda bul a youllfuI Hormiloss dodicalod lo
socIusion and vloso bosom slo musl slrivo lo koop froo from aII lumuIl
and unloIy dospairTlo fancifuI nunIiko dross llal I lad adoplod,
71
llo
knovIodgo llal my vory oxislonco vas a socrol knovn onIy lo mysoIf,
llo soIiludo lo vlicl I vas for ovor loroaflor doslinod nursod gonlIo
llouglls in my voundod loarl. Tlo broozo llal pIayod in my lair
52
rovivod mo, and I valclod vill quiol oyos llo sunboams llal gIillorod
on llo vavos, and llo birds llal coursod oacl ollor ovor llo valors jusl
brusling llom vill lloir pIumos. I sIopl loo undislurbod by droams, and
avoko rofroslod lo again onjoy my lranquiI froodom.
In four days vo arrivod al llo larbour lo vlicl vo voro bound. I
vouId nol romain on llo soa coasl, bul procoodod immodialoIy inIand. I
lad aIroady pIannod llo silualion vloro I vouId Iivo. Il slouId bo a soI-
ilary louso on a vido pIain noar no ollor labilalion: vloro I couId bo-
loId llo vloIo lorizon, and vandor far villoul moIoslalion from llo
sigll of my foIIov croaluros. I vas nol mysanllropic, bul I foIl llal llo
gonlIo curronl of my fooIings dopondod upon my boing aIono. I fixod my-
soIf on a vido soIiludo. On a droary loall boslrovon vill slonos, among
vlicl slorl grass grov, and loro and lloro a fov ruslos bosido a IillIo
pooI. Nol far from my collago vas a smaII cIuslor of pinos llo onIy lroos
lo bo soon for many miIos: I lad a pall cul llrougl llo furzo from my
door lo llis IillIo vood, from vloso lopmosl branclos llo birds saIulod
llo rising sun and avoko mo lo my daiIy modilalion. My viov vas
boundod onIy by llo lorizon oxcopl on ono sido vloro a dislanl vood
mado a bIack spol on llo loall, llal ovory vloro oIso slrolclod oul ils
fainl luos as far as llo oyo couId roacl, vido and vory dosoIalo. Horo I
couId mark llo nol vork of llo cIouds as lloy vovo llomsoIvos inlo
llick massos: I couId valcl llo sIov riso of llo loavy llundor cIouds
and couId soo llo rack as il vas drivon across llo loavons, or undor llo
pino lroos I couId onjoy llo sliIInoss of llo azuro sky.
My Iifo vas vory poacofuI. I lad ono fomaIo sorvanl vlo sponl llo
groalor parl of llo day al a viIIago lvo miIos off. My amusomonls voro
simpIo and vory innoconl, I fod llo birds vlo buiIl on llo pinos or
among llo ivy llal covorod llo vaII of my IillIo gardon, and lloy soon
knov mo: llo boIdor onos pockod llo crumbs from my lands and
porclod on my fingors lo sing lloir llankfuInoss. Wlon I lad Iivod loro
somo limo ollor animaIs visilod mo and a fox camo ovory day for a por-
lion of food approprialod for lim & vouId suffor mo lo pal lis load. I
lad bosidos many books and a larp vill vlicl vlon dospairing I couId
soollo my spirils, and raiso mysoIf lo sympally and Iovo.
Iovo! Wlal lad I lo Iovo` Ol many llings: lloro vas llo moonslino,
and llo brigll slars, llo broozos and llo rofrosling rains, lloro vas llo
71.Tlo comparison lo a Hormiloss and llo voaring of llo "fancifuI nunIiko dross" aro
approprialo llougl moIodramalic. Tloy appoar onIy in MalliIda. MalliIda rofors lo
lor "vlimsicaI nunIiko labil" again aflor slo mools WoodviIIo (soo pago 6O) and loIIs
us in a doIolod passago llal il vas "a cIoso nunIiko govn of bIack siIk."
53
vloIo oarll and llo sky llal covors il: aII IovoIy forms llal visilod my
imaginalion|,j aII momorios of loroism and virluo. Yol llis vas vory un-
Iiko my oarIy Iifo aIllougl as llon I vas confinod lo Naluro and books.
Tlon I boundod across llo fioIds, my spiril oflon soomod lo rido upon llo
vinds, and lo mingIo in joyfuI sympally vill llo ambionl air. Tlon if I
vandorod sIovIy I cloorod mysoIf vill a svool song or svoolor day
droams. I foIl a loIy rapluro spring from aII I sav. I drank in joy vill Iifo,
my slops voro Iigll, my oyos, cIoar from llo Iovo llal animalod llom,
sougll llo loavons, and vill my Iong lair Ioosonod lo llo vinds I gavo
my body and my mind lo sympally and doIigll. Bul nov my vaIk vas
sIovMy oyos voro soIdom raisod and oflon fiIIod vill loars, no song,
no smiIos, no caroIoss molion llal migll bospoak a mind inlonl on vlal
surroundod ilI vas gallorod up inlo mysoIfa soIfisl soIilary croaluro
ovor pondoring on my rogrols and fadod lopos.
Mino vas an idIo, usoIoss Iifo, il vas so, bul say nol lo llo IiIy Iaid
proslralo by llo slorm ariso, and bIoom as boforo. My loarl vas bIooding
from ils doall's vound, I couId Iivo no ollorvisoOflon amid apparonl
caIm I vas visilod by dospair and moIancloIy, gIoom llal nougll couId
dissipalo or ovorcomo, a lalrod of Iifo, a caroIossnoss of boauly, aII lloso
vouId by fils loId mo noarIy anniliIalod by lloir povors. Novor for ono
momonl vlon mosl pIacid did I coaso lo pray for doall. I couId bo found
in no slalo of mind vlicl I vouId nol viIIingIy lavo oxclangod for
nollingnoss. And morning and ovoning my loarfuI oyos raisod lo loav-
on, my lands cIaspod ligll in llo onorgy of prayor, I lavo ropoalod vill
llo pool
Boforo I soo anollor day
Ol, Iol llis body dio avay!
Iol mo nol bo roproaclod llon vill inuliIily, I boIiovod llal by suicido
I slouId vioIalo a divino Iav of naluro, and I llougll llal I sufficionlIy
fuIfiIIod my parl in submilling lo llo lard lask of onduring llo cravIing
lours & minulos
72
in boaring llo Ioad of limo llal voiglod misorabIy
upon mo and llal in abslaining from vlal I in my caIm momonls
72.Cf. SloIIoy, Iromollous Unbound, I, 48: "llo vingIoss, cravIing lours." Tlis
plraso ("my parl in submilling . minulos") and llo romaindor of llo paragrapl aro
an oIaboralion of llo simpIo plraso in I of IA, "my parl in onduring il," vill ils
ambiguous pronoun. Tlo Iasl pago of Claplor VIII slovs many corroclions, ovon in
llo MS of MalliIda. Il is anollor passago llal Mary sooms lo lavo vrillon in somo
agilalion of spiril. Cf. nolo 26.
54
considorod a crimo, I dosorvod llo rovard of virluo. Tloro voro poriods,
droadfuI onos, during vlicl I dospairod& doublod llo oxislonco of aII
duly & llo roaIily of crimobul I sluddor, and lurn from llo
romomboranco.
55
Chapter 9
Tlus I passod lvo yoars. Day aflor day so many lundrods voro on, lloy
brougll no oulvard clangos vill llom, bul somo fov sIovIy oporalod
on my mind as I gIidod on lovards doall. I bogan lo sludy moro, lo sym-
pallizo moro in llo llouglls of ollors as oxprossod in books, lo road lis-
lory, and lo Ioso my individuaIIily among llo crovd llal lad oxislod bo-
foro mo. Tlus porlaps as llo sonsalion of immodialo sufforing voro off, I
bocamo moro luman. SoIiludo aIso Iosl lo mo somo of ils clarms: I bogan
again lo visl for sympally, nol llal I vas ovor lomplod lo sook llo
crovd, bul I vislod for ono friond lo Iovo mo. You viII say porlaps llal
I graduaIIy bocamo fillod lo rolurn lo socioly. I do nol llink so. Ior llo
sympally llal I dosirod musl bo so puro, so divoslod of infIuonco from
oulvard circumslancos llal in llo vorId I couId nol faiI of boing baIkod
by llo gross maloriaIs llal porpoluaIIy mingIo ovon vill ils bosl fooIings.
BoIiovo mo, I vas llon Ioss fillod for any communion vill my foIIov
croaluros llan boforo. Wlon I Iofl llom lloy lad lormonlod mo bul il
vas in llo samo vay as pain and sicknoss may lormonl, somlling ox-
lranoous lo llo mind llal gaIIod il, and llal I vislod lo casl asido. Bul
nov I slouId lavo dosirod sympally, I slouId visl lo knil my souI lo
somo ono of lloirs, and slouId lavo proparod for mysoIf pIonlifuI
drauglls of disappoinlmonl and sufforing, for I vas londor as llo sonsil-
ivo pIanl, aII norvo. I did nol dosiro sympally and aid in ambilion or vis-
dom, bul svool and muluaI affoclion, smiIos lo cloor mo and gonlIo
vords of comforl. I vislod for ono loarl in vlicl I couId pour unros-
lrainod my pIainls, and by llo loavonIy naluro of llo soiI bIossod fruil
migll spring from sucl bad sood. Yol lov couId I find llis` Tlo Iovo
llal is llo souI of friondslip is a sofl spiril soIdom found oxcopl vlon
lvo amiabIo croaluros aro knil from oarIy youll, or vlon bound by mu-
luaI sufforing and pursuils, il comos lo somo of llo oIocl unsougll and
unavaro, il dosconds as gonlIo dov on closon spols vlicl lovovor bar-
ron lloy voro boforo bocomo undor ils bonign infIuonco forliIo in aII
svool pIanls, bul vlon dosirod il fIios, il scoffs al llo prayors of ils volar-
ios, il viII boslov, bul nol bo sougll.
55
I knov aII llis and did nol go lo sook sympally, bul lloro on my soIil-
ary loall, undor my IovIy roof vloro aII around vas dosarl, il camo lo
mo as a sun boam in vinlor lo adorn vliIo il loIps lo dissoIvo llo driflod
snov.AIas llo sun slono on bIigllod fruil, I did nol rovivo undor ils
radianco for I vas loo ullorIy undono lo fooI ils kindIy povor. My fallor
lad boon and lis momory vas llo Iifo of my Iifo. I migll fooI graliludo lo
anollor bul I novor moro couId Iovo or lopo as I lad dono, il vas aII suf-
foring, ovon my pIoasuros voro ondurod, nol onjoyod. I vas as a soIilary
spol among mounlains slul in on aII sidos by sloop bIack procipicos,
vloro no ray of loal couId ponolralo, and from vlicl lloro vas no oul-
Iol lo sunnior fioIds. And llus il vas llal aIllougl llo spiril of friond-
slip soollod mo for a vliIo il couId nol rosloro mo. Il camo as somo
gonlIo visilalion, il vonl and I lardIy foIl llo Ioss. Tlo spiril of oxislonco
vas doad villin mo, bo nol surprisod lloroforo llal vlon il camo I voI-
comod nol moro gIadIy, or vlon il doparlod I Iamonlod nol moro billorIy
llo bosl gifl of loavona friond.
Tlo namo of my friond vas WoodviIIo.
73
I viII briofIy roIalo lis lislory
llal you may judgo lov coId my loarl musl lavo boon nol lo bo
varmod by lis oIoquonl vords and londor sympally, and lov lo aIso
boing mosl unlappy vo voro voII fillod lo bo a muluaI consoIalion lo
oacl ollor, if I lad nol boon lardonod lo slono by llo Modusa load of
Misory. Tlo misforlunos of WoodviIIo voro nol of llo loarls coro Iiko
mino, lis vas a naluraI griof, nol lo doslroy bul lo purify llo loarl and
from vlicl lo migll, vlon ils sladov lad passod from ovor lim, slino
forll brigllor and lappior llan boforo.
WoodviIIo vas llo son of a poor cIorgyman and lad rocoivod a cIassic-
aI oducalion. Ho vas ono of lloso vory fov vlom forluno favours from
73.In I of IA lloro aro sovoraI faIso slarls boforo llis sonlonco. Tlo namo lloro is
WoIford, on llo noxl pago il bocomos IovoI, vlicl is lloroaflor usod llrougloul Tlo
IioIds of Iancy and appoars lvico, probabIy inadvorlonlIy, in MalliIda, vloro il is
crossod oul. In a fov of llo S-R fr il is Horborl. In MalliIda il is al firsl Horborl, vlicl
is usod unliI aflor llo rovrillon concIusion (soo nolo 83) bul is corroclod llrougloul
lo WoodviIIo. On llo finaI pagos WoodviIIo aIono is usod. (Il is inlorosling, llougl
nol parlicuIarIy significanl, llal ono of llo minor claraclors in Iamb's }oln WoodviI
is namod IovoI. Sucl moIIifIuous namos roIIod oasiIy from llo pons of aII llo ro-
manlic vrilors.) Tlis, lor firsl porlrail of SloIIoy in ficlion, gavo Mary considorabIo
lroubIo: rovisions from llo rougl drafls aro numorous. Tlo passago on WoodviIIo's
ondovmonl by forluno, for oxampIo, is mucl moro conciso and offoclivo llan llal in
S-R fr. AIso Mary curbod somovlal llo oxlravaganco of lor praiso of WoodviIIo,
omilling sucl lyporboIos as "Wlon lo appoarod a nov sun soomod lo riso on llo day
& lo lad aII llo bonignily of llo disponsor of Iigll," and "lo soomod lo como as llo
God of llo vorId."
57
lloir birll, on vlom slo boslovs aII gifls of inloIIocl and porson vill a
profusion llal knov no bounds, and vlom undor lor pocuIiar proloc-
lion, no imporfoclion lovovor sIigll, or disappoinlmonl lovovor lrans-
ilory las Ioavo lo loucl. Slo soomod lo lavo formod lis mind of llal ox-
coIIonco vlicl no dross can larnisl, and lis undorslanding vas sucl
llal no orror couId porvorl. His gonius vas lranscondanl, and vlon il
roso as a brigll slar in llo oasl aII oyos voro lurnod lovards il in admira-
lion. Ho vas a Iool. Tlal namo las so oflon boon dogradod llal il viII
nol convoy llo idoa of aII llal lo vas. Ho vas Iiko a pool of oId vlom
llo musos lad crovnod in lis cradIo, and on vloso Iips boos lad fod. As
lo vaIkod among ollor mon lo soomod oncompassod vill a loavonIy
laIo llal dividod lim from and Iiflod lim abovo llom. Il vas lis sur-
passing boauly, llo dazzIing firo of lis oyos, and lis vords vloso ricl
acconls vrapl llo Iislonor in mulo and oxlaclic vondor, llal mado lim
lranscond aII ollors so llal boforo lim lloy appoarod onIy formod lo
minislor lo lis suporior oxcoIIonco.
Ho vas gIorious from lis youll. Evory ono Iovod lim, no sladov of
onvy or lalo casl ovon from llo moanosl mind ovor foII upon lim. Ho
vas, as ono llo pocuIiar doIigll of llo Gods, raiIod and foncod in by lis
ovn divinily, so llal nougll bul Iovo and admiralion couId approacl
lim. His loarl vas simpIo Iiko a cliId, unslainod by arroganco or vanily.
Ho mingIod in socioly unknoving of lis suporiorily ovor lis compan-
ions, nol bocauso lo undorvaIuod limsoIf bul bocauso lo did nol por-
coivo llo inforiorily of ollors. Ho soomod incapabIo of concoiving of llo
fuII oxlonl of llo povor llal soIfislnoss & vico possossos in llo vorId:
vlon I knov lim, aIllougl lo lad sufforod disappoinlmonl in lis
doarosl lopos, lo lad nol oxporioncod any llal aroso from llo moanoss
and soIf Iovo of mon: lis slalion vas loo ligl lo aIIov of lis sufforing
llrougl lloir lardloarlodnoss, and loo Iov for lim lo lavo oxporioncod
ingraliludo and oncroacling soIfislnoss: il is ono of llo bIossings of a
modoralo forluno, llal by provonling llo possossor from conforing pocu-
niary favours il provonls lim aIso from diving inlo llo arcana of luman
voaknoss or maIicoTo boslov on your foIIov mon is a GodIiko allrib-
uloSo indood il is and as sucl nol ono fil for morlaIily,llo givor Iiko
Adam and Iromollous, musl pay llo ponaIly of rising abovo lis naluro
by boing llo marlyr lo lis ovn oxcoIIonco. WoodviIIo vas froo from aII
lloso oviIs, and if sIigll oxampIos did como across lim
74
lo did nol no-
lico llom bul passod on in lis courso as an angoI vill vingod fool migll
gIido aIong llo oarll unimpodod by aII lloso IillIo obslacIos ovor vlicl
74.Tlis passago boginning "lis slalion vas loo ligl" is nol in I of IA.
58
vo of oarllIy origin slumbIo. Ho vas a boIiovor in llo divinily of gonius
and aIvays opposod a slorn disboIiof lo llo objoclions of lloso polly cav-
iIIors and minor crilics vlo visl lo roduco aII mon lo lloir ovn misor-
abIo IovoI"I viII mako a scionlific simiIo" lo vouId say, "n i|c ncnncr, ij
cu ui||, cj Dr. Dcruin| ccnsi!cr i|c c||c!gc! crrcrs cj c ncn cj gcnius cs i|c
cccrrciicns cj i|c jixc! sicrs. |i is cur !isicncc jrcn i|cn cn! cur inpcrjcci
nccns cj ccnnunicciicn i|ci nc|cs i|cn cppccr ic nctc, in irui| i|c c|ucs
rcncin siciicncr, c g|cricus ccnirc, giting us c jinc |csscn cj nc!csi ij uc
ucu|! i|us rcccitc ii.
75
I lavo said llal lo vas a pool: vlon lo vas llroo and lvonly yoars of
ago lo firsl pubIislod a poom, and il vas laiIod by llo vloIo nalion
vill onllusiasm and doIigll. His good slar porpoluaIIy slono upon lim,
a ropulalion lad novor boforo boon mado so rapidIy: il vas univorsaI.
Tlo muIliludo oxloIIod llo samo pooms llal formod llo vondor of llo
sago in lis cIosol: lloro vas nol ono dissonlionl voico.
76
Il vas al llis limo, in llo loigll of lis gIory, llal lo bocamo acquain-
lod vill EIinor. Slo vas a young loiross of oxquisilo boauly vlo Iivod
undor llo caro of lor guardian: from llo momonl lloy voro soon logoll-
or lloy appoarod formod for oacl ollor. EIinor lad nol llo gonius of
WoodviIIo bul slo vas gonorous and nobIo, and oxaIlod by lor youll
and llo Iovo llal slo ovory vloro oxcilod abovo llo knovIodgo of augll
bul virluo and oxcoIIonco. Slo vas IovoIy, lor mannors voro frank and
simpIo, lor doop bIuo oyos svam in a Iuslro vlicl couId onIy bo givon
by sonsibiIily joinod lo visdom.
Tloy voro formod for ono anollor and lloy soon Iovod. WoodviIIo for
llo firsl limo foIl llo doIigll of Iovo, and EIinor vas onraplurod in pos-
sossing llo loarl of ono so boaulifuI and gIorious among lis foIIov mon.
CouId any lling bul unmixod joy fIov from sucl a union`
75.Tlis passago boginning "Ho vas a boIiovor in llo divinily of gonius" is nol in I of
IA. Cf. llo discussion of gonius in "Giovanni ViIIani" (Mary SloIIoy's ossay in Tlo
IiboraI, No. IV, 1823), incIuding llo sonlonco: "Tlo fixod slars appoar lo abboralo
|sicj, bul il is vo llal movo, nol lloy." Il is lompling lo concIudo llal llis is a quola-
lion or oclo of somolling vlicl SloIIoy said, porlaps in convorsalion vill Byron. I
lavo nol found il in any of lis pubIislod vrilings.
76.Is llis vislfuI llinking aboul SloIIoy's poolry` Il is voII knovn llal a yoar Ialor
Mary romonslralod vill SloIIoy aboul Tlo Wilcl of AlIas, dosiring, as slo said in
lor 1839 nolo, "llal SloIIoy slouId incroaso lis popuIarily. . Il vas nol onIy llal I
vislod lim lo acquiro popuIarily as rodounding lo lis famo, bul I boIiovod llal lo
vouId oblain a groalor maslory ovor lis ovn povors, and groalor lappinoss in lis
mind, if pubIic appIauso crovnod lis ondoavours. . Evon nov I boIiovo llal I vas in
llo rigll." SloIIoy's rosponso is in llo six inlroduclory slanzas of llo poom.
59
WoodviIIo vas a Ioollo vas sougll for by ovory socioly and aII oyos
voro lurnod on lim aIono vlon lo appoarod, bul lo vas llo son of a
poor cIorgyman and EIinor vas a ricl loiross. Hor guardian vas nol dis-
pIoasod vill lloir muluaI affoclion: llo moril of WoodviIIo vas loo om-
inonl lo admil of caviI on accounl of lis inforior voaIll, bul llo dying
viII of lor fallor did nol aIIov lor lo marry boforo slo vas of ago and
lor forluno dopondod upon lor oboying llis injunclion. Slo lad jusl
onlorod lor lvonlioll yoar, and slo and lor Iovor voro obIigod lo submil
lo llis doIay. Bul lloy voro ovor logollor and lloir lappinoss soomod
llal of Iaradiso: lloy sludiod logollor: formod pIans of fuluro occupa-
lions, and drinking in Iovo and joy from oacl ollor's oyos and vords
lloy lardIy ropinod al llo doIay lo lloir onliro union. WoodviIIo for ovor
roso in gIory, and EIinor bocomo moro IovoIy and viso undor llo Iossons
of lor accompIislod Iovor.
In lvo monlls EIinor vouId bo lvonly ono: ovory lling vas proparod
for lloir union. Hov slaII I roIalo llo calaslroplo lo so mucl joy, bul llo
oarll vouId nol bo llo oarll il is covorod vill bIigll and sorrov if ono
sucl pair as lloso angoIic croaluros lad boon sufforod lo oxisl for ono an-
ollor: soarcl llrougl llo vorId and you viII nol find llo porfocl lappi-
noss vlicl lloir marriago vouId lavo causod llom lo onjoy, lloro musl
lavo boon a rovoIulion in llo ordor of llings as oslabIislod among us
misorabIo oarll-dvoIIors lo lavo admillod of sucl consummalo joy. Tlo
clain of nocossily ovor bringing misory musl lavo boon brokon and llo
maIignanl falo llal prosidos ovor il vouId nol pormil llis broacl of lor
olornaI Iavs. Bul vly slouId I ropino al llis` Misory vas my oIomonl,
and nolling bul vlal vas misorabIo couId approacl mo, if WoodviIIo
lad boon lappy I slouId novor lavo knovn lim. And can I vlo for
many yoars vas fod by loars, and nourislod undor llo dov of griof, can I
pauso lo roIalo a laIo of voo and doall`
77
WoodviIIo vas obIigod lo mako a journoy inlo llo counlry and vas do-
lainod from day lo day in irksomo absonco from lis IovoIy brido. Ho ro-
coivod a Iollor from lor lo say llal slo vas sIigllIy iII, bul loIIing lim lo
laslon lo lor, llal from lis oyos slo vouId rocoivo loaIll and llal lis
77.Tlo procoding paragrapls aboul EIinor and WoodviIIo aro llo rosuIl of considor-
abIo rovision for llo bollor of I of IA and S-R fr. Mary scorod oul a paragrapl do-
scribing EIinor, llus golling rid of sovoraI cIicls ("forluno lad smiIod on lor," "a fa-
vourilo of forluno," "lurning loars of misory lo lloso of joy"), slo omillod a cIauso
vlicl offorod a voak molivalion of EIinor's fallor's viII (llo possibiIily of lor marry-
ing, vliIo lardIy moro llan a cliId, ono of lor guardian's sons), slo curlaiIod llo ox-
lravaganco of a rlapsody on llo porfocl lappinoss vlicl WoodviIIo and EIinor
vouId lavo onjoyod.
70
company vouId bo lor surosl modocino. Ho vas dolainod llroo days
Iongor and llon lo laslonod lo lor. His loarl, lo knov nol vly pro-
gnoslicalod misforluno, lo lad nol loard from lor again, lo foarod slo
migll bo vorso and llis foar mado lim impalionl and roslIoss for llo
momonl of boloIding lor onco moro sland boforo lim arrayod in loaIll
and boauly, for a sinislor voico soomod aIvays lo vlispor lo lim, "You
viII novor moro boloId lor as slo vas."
Wlon lo arrivod al lor labilalion aII vas siIonl in il: lo mado lis vay
llrougl sovoraI rooms, in ono lo sav a sorvanl vooping billorIy: lo vas
fainl vill foar and couId lardIy ask, "Is slo doad`" and jusl Iislonod lo
llo droadfuI ansvor, "Nol yol." Tloso aslounding vords camo on lim as
of Ioss foarfuI imporl llan lloso vlicl lo lad oxpoclod, and lo Ioarn llal
slo vas sliII in boing, and llal lo migll sliII lopo vas an aIIovialion lo
lim. Ho romomborod llo vords of lor Iollor and lo induIgod llo viId
idoa llal lis kissos broalling varm Iovo and Iifo vouId infuso nov spiril
inlo lor, and llal vill lim noar lor slo couId nol dio, llal lis prosonco
vas llo laIisman of lor Iifo.
Ho laslonod lo lor sick room, slo Iay, lor clooks burning vill fovor,
yol lor oyos voro cIosod and slo vas soomingIy sonsoIoss. Ho vrapl lor
in lis arms, lo imprinlod broallIoss kissos on lor burning Iips, lo caIIod
lo lor in a voico of subduod anguisl by llo londorosl namos, "Rolurn
EIinor, I am vill you, your Iifo, your Iovo. Rolurn, doarosl ono, you
promisod mo llis boon, llal I slouId bring you loaIll. Iol your svool
spiril rovivo, you cannol dio noar mo: Wlal is doall` To soo you no
moro` To parl vill vlal is a parl of mysoIf, villoul vlom I lavo no
momory and no fulurily` EIinor dio! Tlis is fronzy and llo mosl misor-
abIo dospair: you cannol dio vliIo I am noar."
And again lo kissod lor oyos and Iips, and lung ovor lor inanimalo
form in agony, gazing on lor counlonanco sliII IovoIy aIllougl clangod,
valcling ovory sIigll convuIsion, and varying coIour vlicl donolod Iifo
sliII Iingoring aIllougl aboul lo doparl. Onco for a momonl slo rovivod
and rocognizod lis voico, a smiIo, a Iasl IovoIy smiIo, pIayod upon lor
Iips. Ho valclod bosido lor for lvoIvo lours and llon slo diod.
78
78.Tlo doall scono is oIaboralod from I of IA and mado moro moIodramalic by llo
addilion of WoodviIIo's pIoa and of lis vigiI by llo doall-bod.
71
Chapter 10
Il vas six monlls aflor llis misorabIo concIusion lo lis Iong nursod
lopos llal I firsl sav lim. Ho lad rolirod lo a parl of llo counlry vloro
lo vas nol knovn llal lo migll poacofuIIy induIgo lis griof. AII llo
vorId, by llo doall of lis boIovod EIinor, vas clangod lo lim, and lo
couId no Iongor romain in any spol vloro lo lad soon lor or vloro lor
imago mingIod vill llo mosl raplurous lopos lad brigllonod aII around
vill a Iigll of joy vlicl vouId nov bo lransformod lo a darknoss bIack-
or llan midnigll sinco slo, llo sun of lis Iifo, vas sol for ovor.
Ho Iivod for somo limo novor Iooking on llo Iigll of loavon bul
slrouding lis oyos in a porpoluaI darknoss far from aII llal couId romind
lim of vlal lo lad boon, bul as limo soflonod lis griof
79
Iiko a lruo cliId
of Naluro lo sougll in llo onjoymonl of lor boaulios for a consoIalion in
lis unlappinoss. Ho camo lo a parl of llo counlry vloro lo vas onliroIy
unknovn and vloro in llo dooposl soIiludo lo couId convorso onIy vill
lis ovn loarl. Ho found a roIiof lo lis impalionl griof in llo broozos of
loavon and in llo sound of valors and voods. Ho bocamo fond of rid-
ing, llis oxorciso dislraclod lis mind and oIovalod lis spirils, on a svifl
lorso lo couId for a momonl gain rospilo from llo imago llal oIso for
ovor foIIovod lim, EIinor on lor doall bod, lor svool foaluros clangod,
and llo sofl spiril llal animalod lor graduaIIy vaning inlo oxlinclion.
Ior many monlls WoodviIIo lad in vain ondoavourod lo casl off llis lor-
ribIo romombranco, il sliII lung on lim unliII momory vas loo groal a
burllon for lis Ioadod souI, bul vlon on lorsoback llo spoII llal soom-
ingIy loId lim lo llis idoa vas snapl, llon if lo llougll of lis Iosl brido
lo piclurod lor radianl in boauly, lo couId loar lor voico, and fancy lor
"a syIvan Hunlross by lis sido," vliIo lis oyos brigllonod as lo llougll
lo gazod on lor clorislod form. I lad sovoraI limos soon lim rido across
llo loall and foIl angry llal my soIiludo slouId bo dislurbod. Il vas so
Iong |sincoj I lad spokon lo any bul poasanls llal I foIl a disagroabIo son-
salion al boing gazod on by ono of suporior rank. I foarod aIso llal il
79.I of IA onds loro and I of IB rosumos.
72
migll bo somo ono vlo lad soon mo boforo: I migll bo rocognizod, my
imposluros discovorod and I draggod back lo a Iifo of vorso lorluro llan
llal I lad boforo ondurod. Tloso voro droadfuI foars and lloy ovon
launlod my droams.
8O
I vas ono day soalod on llo vorgo of llo cIump of pinos vlon Wood-
viIIo rodo pasl. As soon as I porcoivod lim I suddonIy roso lo oscapo
from lis obsorvalion by onloring among llo lroos. My rising slarlIod lis
lorso, lo roarod and pIungod and llo Ridor vas al Iongll llrovn. Tlo
lorso llon gaIoppod sviflIy across llo loall and llo slrangor romainod
on llo ground slunnod by lis faII. Ho vas nol maloriaIIy lurl, a IillIo
frosl valor soon rocovorod lim. I vas slruck by lis oxcooding boauly,
and as lo spoko lo llank mo llo svool bul moIancloIy cadonco of lis
voico brougll loars inlo my oyos.
A slorl convorsalion passod bolvoon us, bul llo noxl day lo again
sloppod al my collago and by dogroos an inlimacy grov bolvoon us. Il
vas slrango lo lim lo soo a fomaIo in oxlromo youll, I vas nol yol
lvonly, ovidonlIy boIonging lo llo firsl cIassos of socioly & possossing
ovory accompIislmonl an oxcoIIonl oducalion couId boslov, Iiving aIono
on a dosoIalo loaIll |sicjOno on vloso foroload llo impross of griof
vas slrongIy markod, and vloso vords and molions bolrayod llal lor
llouglls did nol foIIov llom bul voro inlonl on far ollor idoas, billor
and ovorvloIming misorios. I vas drossod aIso in a vlimsicaI nunIiko
labil vlicl donolod llal I did nol roliro lo soIiludo from nocossily, bul
llal I migll induIgo in a Iuxury of griof, and fancifuI socIusion.
Ho soon look groal inlorosl in mo, and somolimos forgol lis ovn griof
lo sil bosido mo and ondoavour lo cloor mo. Ho couId nol faiI lo inlorosl
ovon ono vlo lad slul lorsoIf from llo vloIo vorId, vloso lopo vas
doall, and vlo Iivod onIy vill llo doparlod. His porsonaI boauly, lis
convorsalion vlicl gIovod vill imaginalion and sonsibiIily, llo poolry
8O.A simiIar passago aboul MalliIda's foars is cancoIIod in I of IB bul il appoars in
rovisod form in S-R fr. Tloro is aIso among lloso fragmonls a Iong passago, nol usod
in MalliIda, idonlifying WoodviIIo as somoono slo lad mol in Iondon. Mary vas
viso lo discard il for llo sako of lor slory. Bul llo firsl parl of il is inlorosling for ils
corrospondonco vill facl: "I knov lim vlon I firsl vonl lo Iondon vill my fallor
lo vas in llo loigll of lis gIory & lappinossEIinor vas Iiving & in lor Iifo lo
IivodI did nol knov lor bul lo lad boon inlroducod lo my fallor & lad onco or
lvico visilod usI lad llon gazod vill vondor on lis boauly & Iislonod lo lim vill
doIigll" SloIIoy lad visilod Godvin moro llan "onco or lvico" vliIo Harriol vas
sliII Iiving, and Mary lad soon lim. Of courso slo lad soon Harriol loo, in 1812,
vlon slo camo vill SloIIoy lo caII on Godvin. EIinor and Harriol, lovovor, aro
compIoloIy unIiko.
73
llal soomod lo lang upon lis Iips and lo mako llo vory air mulo lo Iislon
lo lim voro clarms llal no ono couId rosisl. Ho vas youngor, Ioss vorn,
moro passionIoss llan my fallor and in no dogroo romindod mo of lim:
lo sufforod undor immodialo griof yol ils gonlIo infIuonco insload of caII-
ing fooIings ollorviso dormanl inlo aclion, soomod onIy lo voiI llal
vlicl ollorviso vouId lavo boon loo dazzIing for mo. Wlon vo voro
logollor I spoko IillIo yol my soIfisl mind vas somolimos borno avay by
llo rapid courso of lis idoas, I vouId Iifl my oyos vill momonlary briI-
Iiancy unliI momorios llal novor diod and soIdom sIopl vouId rocur, and
a loar vouId dim llom.
WoodviIIo for ovor lriod lo Ioad mo lo llo conlompIalion of vlal is
boaulifuI and lappy in llo vorId.
81
His ovn mind vas consliluniaIIy
|sicj bonl lo a formor boIiof in good |rallorj llan in oviI and llis fooIing
vlicl musl ovon oxliIiralo llo lopoIoss ovor slono forll in lis vords.
Ho vouId laIk of llo vondorfuI povors of man, of lloir prosonl slalo
and of lloir lopos: of vlal lloy lad boon and vlal lloy voro, and vlon
roason couId no Iongor guido lim, lis imaginalion as if inspirod slod
Iigll on llo obscurily llal voiIs llo pasl and llo fuluro. Ho Iovod lo
dvoII on vlal migll lavo boon llo slalo of llo oarll boforo man Iivod on
il, and lov lo firsl aroso and graduaIIy bocamo llo slrango, compIicalod,
bul as lo said, llo gIorious croaluro lo nov is. Covoring llo oarll vill
lloir croalions and forming by llo povor of lloir minds anollor vorId
moro IovoIy llan llo visibIo framo of llings, ovon aII llo vorId llal vo
find in lloir vrilings. A boaulifuI croalion, lo vouId say, vlicl may
cIaim llis suporiorily lo ils modoI, llal good and oviI is moro oasiIy
soporalod|:j llo good rovardod in llo vay lloy llomsoIvos dosiro, llo
oviI punislod as aII llings oviI ougll lo bo punislod, nol by pain vlicl
is rovoIling lo aII pliIanllropy lo considor bul by quiol obscurily, vlicl
simpIy doprivos llom of lloir larmfuI quaIilios, vly kiII llo sorponl
vlon you lavo oxlraclod lis fangs`
Tlo poolry of lis Ianguago and idoas vlicl my vords iII convoy loId
mo onclainod lo lis discoursos. Il vas a moIancloIy pIoasuro lo mo lo
Iislon lo lis inspirod vords, lo calcl for a momonl llo Iigll of lis oyos|,j
lo fooI a lransionl sympally and llon lo avakon from llo doIusion, again
lo knov llal aII llis vas nolling,a droama sladov for llal lloro
vas no roaIIily for mo, my fallor lad for ovor dosorlod mo, Ioaving mo
81.Horo and on many succooding pagos, vloro MalliIda rocords llo vords and opin-
ions of WoodviIIo, il is possibIo lo loar llo voico of SloIIoy. Tlis paragrapl, vlicl is
mucl oxpandod from I of IB, may bo comparod vill llo discussion of good and
oviI in }uIian and MaddaIo and vill Iromollous Unbound and A Dofonco of Ioolry.
74
onIy momorios vlicl sol an olornaI barrior bolvoon mo and my foIIov
croaluros. I vas indood foIIov lo nono. HoWoodviIIo, mournod llo Ioss
of lis brido: ollors vopl llo various forms of misory as lloy visilod
llom: bul infamy and guiIl vas mingIod vill my porlion, unIavfuI and
doloslabIo passion lad pourod ils poison inlo my oars and clangod aII
my bIood, so llal il vas no Iongor llo kindIy slroam llal supporls Iifo
bul a coId founlain of billornoss corruplod in ils vory sourco.
82
Il musl bo
llo oxcoss of madnoss llal couId mako mo imagino llal I couId ovor bo
augll bul ono aIono, slruck off from lumanily, boaring no affinily lo
man or voman, a vrolcl on vlom Naluro lad sol lor ban.
Somolimos WoodviIIo laIkod lo mo of limsoIf. Ho roIalod lis lislory
briof in lappinoss and voo and dvoIl vill passion on lis and EIinor's
muluaI Iovo. "Slo vas|"j, lo said, "llo brigllosl vision llal ovor camo
upon llo oarll: lloro vas somlling in lor frank counlonanco, in lor
voico, and in ovory molion of lor gracofuI form llal ovorpovorod mo, as
if il voro a coIosliaI croaluro llal doignod lo mingIo vill mo in inlor-
courso moro svool llan man lad ovor boforo onjoyod. Sorrov fIod boforo
lor, and lor smiIo soomod lo possoss an infIuonco Iiko Iigll lo irradialo
aII monlaI darknoss. Il vas nol Iiko a luman IovoIinoss llal lloso gonlIo
smiIos vonl and camo, bul as a sunboam on a Iako, nov Iigll and nov
obscuro, fIilling boforo as you slrovo lo calcl llom, and foId llom for
ovor lo your loarl. I sav llis smiIo fado for ovor. AIas! I couId novor lavo
boIiovod llal il vas indood EIinor llal diod if onco vlon I spoko slo lad
nol Iiflod lor aImosl bonigllod oyos, and for ono momonl Iiko nougll bo-
sido on oarll, moro IovoIy llan a sunboam, sIigllor, quickor llan llo
vaving pIumago of a bird, dazzIing as Iigllning and Iiko il giving day lo
nigll, yol miId and fainl, llal smiIo camo, il vonl, and llon lloro vas an
ond of aII joy lo mo."
Tlus lis ovn sorrovs, or llo slapos copiod from naluro llal dvoIl in
lis mind vill boauly groalor llan lloir ovn, occupiod our laIk vliIo I
raiIod in my ovn griofs vill caulious socrosy. If for a momonl lo
slovod curiosily, my oyos foII, my voico diod avay and my ovidonl suf-
foring mado lim quickIy ondoavour lo banisl llo idoas lo lad
avakonod, yol lo for ovor mingIod consoIalion in lis laIk, and lriod lo
soflon my dospair by domonslralions of doop sympally and compassion.
"Wo aro boll unlappy" lo vouId say lo mo, "I lavo loId you my moI-
ancloIy laIo and vo lavo vopl logollor llo Ioss of llal IovoIy spiril llal
las so cruoIIy dosorlod mo, bul you lido your griofs: I do nol ask you lo
82.In llo rovision of llis passago MalliIda's sonso of lor poIIulion is inlonsifiod, for
oxampIo, by addilion of "infamy and guiIl vas mingIod vill my porlion."
75
discIoso llom, bul loII mo if I may nol consoIo you. Il sooms lo mo a viId
advonluro lo find in llis dosarl ono Iiko you quilo soIilary: you aro
young and IovoIy, your mannors aro rofinod and allraclivo, yol lloro is in
your sollIod moIancloIy, and somolling, I knov nol vlal, in your ox-
prossivo oyos llal sooms lo soporalo you from your kind: you sluddor,
pardon mo, I onlroal you bul I cannol loIp oxprossing llis onco al Ioasl
llo IivoIy inlorosl I fooI in your dosliny.
"You novor smiIo: your voico is Iov, and you ullor your vords as if
you voro afraid of llo sIigll sound lloy vouId produco: llo oxprossion
of avfuI and inlonso sorrov novor for a momonl fados from your coun-
lonanco. I lavo Iosl for ovor llo IovoIiosl companion llal any man couId
ovor lavo possossod, ono vlo rallor appoars lo lavo boon a suporior
spiril vlo by somo slrango accidonl vandorod among us oarllIy
croaluros, llan as boIonging lo our kind. Yol I smiIo, and somolimos I
spoak aImosl forgolfuI of llo clango I lavo ondurod. Bul your sad mion
novor aIlors, your puIsos boal and you broallo, yol you soom aIroady lo
boIong lo anollor vorId, and somolimos, pray pardon my viId llouglls,
vlon you loucl my land I am surprisod lo find your land varm vlon
aII llo firo of Iifo sooms oxlincl villin you.
"Wlon I Iook upon you, llo loars you slod, llo sofl doprocaling Iook
vill vlicl you villsland onquiry, llo doop sympally your voico ox-
prossos vlon I spoak of my Iossor sorrovs add lo my inlorosl for you.
You sland loro sloIlorIoss|.j You lavo casl yoursoIf from among us and
you villor on llis viId pIain fo|rjIorn and loIpIoss: somo droadfuI
caIamily musl lavo bofaIIon you. Do nol lurn from mo, I do nol ask you
lo rovoaI il: I onIy onlroal you lo Iislon lo mo and lo bocomo famiIiar vill
llo voico of consoIalion and kindnoss. If pily, and admiralion, and gonlIo
affoclion can voan you from dospair Iol mo allompl llo lask. I cannol soo
your Iook of doop griof villoul ondoavouring lo rosloro you lo lappior
fooIings. Unbond your brov, roIax llo slorn moIancloIy of your rogard,
pormil a friond, a sincoro, affoclionalo friond, I viII bo ono, lo convoy
somo roIiof, somo momonlary pauso lo your sufforings.
"Do nol llink llal I vouId inlrudo upon your confidonco: I onIy ask
your palionco. Do nol for ovor Iook sorrov and novor spoak il, ullor ono
vord of billor compIainl and I viII roprovo il vill gonlIo oxlorlalion
and pour on you llo baIm of compassion. You musl nol slul mo from aII
communion vill you: do nol loII mo vly you griovo bul onIy say llo
vords, "I am unlappy," and you viII fooI roIiovod as if for somo limo ox-
cIudod from aII inlorcourso by somo magic spoII you slouId suddonIy
onlor again llo paIo of luman sympally. I onlroal you lo boIiovo in my
75
mosl sincoro profossions and lo lroal mo as an oId and lriod
friond: promiso mo novor lo forgol mo, novor causoIossIy lo banisl mo,
bul lry lo Iovo mo as ono vlo vouId dovolo aII lis onorgios lo mako you
lappy. Givo mo llo namo of friond, I viII fuIfiII ils dulios, and if for a
momonl compIainl and sorrov vouId slapo llomsoIvos inlo vords Iol
mo bo noar lo spoak poaco lo your voxl souI."
I ropoal lis porsuasions in fainl lorms and cannol givo you al llo samo
limo llo lono and gosluro llal animalod llom. Iiko a rofrosling slovor
on an arid soiI lloy rovivod mo, and aIllougl I sliII kopl lloir causo
socrol lo Iod mo lo pour forll my billor compIainls and lo cIollo my voo
in vords of gaII and firo. Will aII llo onorgy of dosporalo griof I loId lim
lov I lad faIIon al onco from bIiss lo misory, lov llal for mo lloro vas
no joy, no lopo, llal doall lovovor billor vouId bo llo voIcomo soaI lo
aII my pangs, doall llo skoIolon vas lo bo boaulifuI as Iovo. I knov nol
vly bul I found il svool lo ullor lloso vords lo luman oars, and llougl
I doridod aII consoIalion yol I vas pIoasod lo soo il offorod mo vill gon-
lIonoss and kindnoss. I Iislonod quiolIy, and vlon lo pausod vouId
again pour oul my misory in oxprossions llal slovod lov far loo doop
my vounds voro for any curo.
Bul nov aIso I bogan lo roap llo fruils of my porfocl soIiludo. I lad bo-
como unfil for any inlorcourso, ovon vill WoodviIIo llo mosl gonlIo and
sympallizing croaluro llal oxislod. I lad bocomo caplious and unroason-
abIo: my lompor vas ullorIy spoiIl. I caIIod lim my friond bul I viovod
aII lo did vill joaIous oyos. If lo did nol visil mo al llo appoinlod lour I
vas angry, vory angry, and loId lim llal if indood lo did fooI inlorosl in
mo il vas coId, and couId nol bo fillod for mo, a poor vorn croaluro,
vloso doop unlappinoss domandod mucl moro llan lis vorIdIy loarl
couId givo. Wlon for a momonl I imaginod llal lis mannor vas coId I
vouId frolfuIIy say lo lim"I vas al poaco boforo you camo, vly lavo
you dislurbod mo` You lavo givon mo nov vanls and nov your lrifIo
vill mo as if my loarl voro as vloIo as yours, as if I voro nol in lrull a
slorn Iamb llrusl oul on llo bIoak liII sido, lorlurod by ovory bIasl. I
vislod for no friond, no sympally|.j I avoidod you, you knov I did, bul
you forcod yoursoIf upon mo and gavo mo lloso vanls vlicl you soo
vill lriump|lj givo you povor ovor mo. Ol llo bravo povor of llo bil-
lor norll vind vlicl froozos llo loars il las causod lo slod! Bul I viII
nol boar llis, go: llo sun viII riso and sol as boforo you camo, and I slaII
sil among llo pinos or vandor on llo loall vooping and compIaining
villoul visling for you lo Iislon. You aro cruoI, vory cruoI, lo lroal mo
vlo bIood al ovory poro in llis rougl mannor."
83
77
And llon, vlon in ansvor lo my poovisl vords, I sav lis counlon-
anco bonl vill Iiving pily on mo|,j vlon I sav lim
GIi occli drizzo vor mo con quoI sombianlo
Clo madro fa sopra figIiouI doIiro
I|ajradiso. C 1.
84
I vopl and said, "Ol, pardon mo! You aro good and kind bul I am nol
fil for Iifo. Wly am I obIigod lo Iivo` To drag lour aflor lour, lo soo llo
lroos vavo lloir branclos roslIossIy, lo fooI llo air, & lo suffor in aII I fooI
koonosl agony. My framo is slrong, bul my souI sinks bonoall llis ondur-
anco of Iiving anguisl. Doall is llo goaI llal I vouId allain, bul, aIas! I
do nol ovon soo llo ond of llo courso. Do you, my compassionalo
friond,
85
loII mo lov lo dio poacofuIIy and innoconlIy and I viII bIoss
you: aII llal I, poor vrolcl, can dosiro is a painIoss doall."
Bul WoodviIIo's vords lad magic in llom, vlon boginning vill llo
svoolosl pily, lo vouId raiso mo by dogroos oul of mysoIf and my sor-
rovs unliI I vondorod al my ovn soIfislnoss: bul lo Iofl mo and dospair
rolurnod, llo vork of consoIalion vas ovor lo bogin anov. I oflon dosirod
lis onliro absonco, for I found llal I vas grovn oul of llo vays of Iifo
and llal by Iong socIusion, aIllougl I couId supporl my accuslomod
griof, and drink llo billor daiIy draugll vill somo dogroo of palionco,
yol I lad bocomo unfil for llo sIigllosl novoIly of fooIing. Expoclalion,
and lopos, and affoclion voro aII loo mucl for mo. I knov llis, bul al
ollor limos I vas unroasonabIo and Iaid llo bIamo upon lim, vlo vas
mosl bIamoIoss, and povislIy llougll llal if lis gonlIo souI voro moro
gonlIo, if lis inlonso sympally voro moro inlonso, lo couId drivo llo
fiond from my souI and mako mo moro luman. I am, I llougll, a
lragody, a claraclor llal lo comos lo soo acl: nov and llon lo givos mo
my cuo
86
llal I may mako a spoocl moro lo lis purposo: porlaps lo is
aIroady pIanning a poom in vlicl I am lo figuro. I am a farco and pIay lo
lim, bul lo mo llis is aII droary roaIily: lo lakos aII llo profil and I boar
aII llo burllon.
83.Somo plrasos of soIf-crilicism aro addod in llis paragrapl.
84.In I of IB llis quolalion is usod in llo Iaudanum scono, jusl boforo IovoI's
(WoodviIIo's) Iong spoocl of dissuasion.
85.Tlo passago "air, & lo suffor . my compassionalo friond" is on a sIip of papor pas-
lod across llo pago.
86.Tlis plraso suslains llo molaplor bollor llan llal in I of IB: "puls in a vord."
78
Chapter 11
Il is a slrango circumslanco bul il oflon occurs llal bIossings by lloir uso
lurn lo cursos, and llal I vlo in soIiludo lad dosirod sympally as llo
onIy roIiof I couId onjoy slouId nov find il an addilionaI lorluro lo mo.
During my fallor's Iifo limo I lad aIvays boon of an affoclionalo and for-
boaring disposilion, bul sinco lloso days of joy aIas! I vas mucl
clangod. I lad bocomo arroganl, poovisl, and abovo aII suspicious. AI-
llougl llo roaI inlorosl of my narralion is nov ondod and I ougll
quickIy lo vind up ils moIancloIy calaslroplo, yol I viII roIalo ono in-
slanco of my sad suspicion and dospair and lov WoodviIIo vill llo
goodnoss and aImosl llo povor of an angoI, soflonod my ruggod fooIings
and Iod mo back lo gonlIonoss.
87
Ho lad promisod lo spond somo lours vill mo ono aflornoon bul a
vioIonl and conlinuaI rain
88
provonlod lim. I vas aIono llo vloIo ovon-
ing. I lad passod lvo vloIo yoars aIono unropining, bul nov I vas
misorabIo. Ho couId nol roaIIy caro for mo, I llougll, for if lo did llo
slorm vouId rallor lavo mado lim como ovon if I lad nol oxpoclod lim,
llan, as il did, provonl a promisod visil. Ho vouId voII knov llal llis
droar sky and gIoomy rain vouId Ioad my spiril aImosl lo madnoss: if
llo voallor lad boon fino I slouId nol lavo rogrollod lis absonco as
loaviIy as I nocossariIy musl slul up in llis misorabIo collago vill no
companions bul my ovn vrolclod llouglls. If lo voro lruIy my friond
lo vouId lavo caIcuIalod aII llis, and Iol mo nov caIcuIalo llis boaslod
friondslip, and discovor ils roaI vorll. Ho gol ovor lis griof for EIinor,
and llo counlry bocamo duII lo lim, so lo vas gIad lo find ovon mo for
amusomonl, and vlon lo doos nol knov vlal oIso lo do lo passos lis
Iazy lours loro, and caIIs llis friondslipIl is lruo llal lis prosonco is a
consoIalion lo mo, and llal lis vords aro svool, and, vlon lo viII lo
can pour forll llouglls llal vin mo from dospair. His vords aro
87.Tlis onliro paragrapl is addod lo I of IB, il is in rougl drafl in S-R fr.
88.Tlis is clangod in llo MS of MalliIda from "a vioIonl llundorslorm." EvidonlIy
Mary docidod lo avoid using anollor llundorslorm al a crisis in llo slory.
79
svool,and so, lruIy, is llo lonoy of llo boo, bul llo boo las a sling, and
unkindnoss is a vorso smarl llal llal rocoivod from an insocl's vonom. I
viII
89
pul lim lo llo proof. Ho says aII lopo is doad lo lim, and I knov
llal il is doad lo mo, so vo aro boll oquaIIy fillod for doall. Iol mo lry if
lo viII dio vill mo, and as I foar lo dio aIono, if lo viII accompany |moj
lo cloor mo, and llus lo can slov limsoIf my friond in llo onIy mannor
my misory viII pormil.
9O
Il vas madnoss I boIiovo, bul I so vorkod mysoIf up lo llis idoa llal I
couId llink of nolling oIso. If lo dios vill mo il is voII, and lloro viII bo
an ond of lvo misorabIo boings, and if lo viII nol, llon viII I scoff al lis
friondslip and drink llo poison boforo lim lo slamo lis covardico. I
pIannod llo vloIo scono vill an oarnosl loarl and franlicIy sol my souI
on llis projocl. I procurod Iaudanum and pIacing il in lvo gIassos on llo
labIo, fiIIod my room vill fIovors and docoralod llo Iasl scono of my
lragody vill llo nicosl caro. As llo lour for lis coming approaclod my
loarl soflonod and I vopl, nol llal I gavo up my pIan, bul ovon vlon ro-
soIvod llo mind musl undorgo sovoraI rovoIulions of fooIing boforo il
can drink ils doall.
Nov aII vas roady and WoodviIIo camo. I rocoivod lim al llo door of
my collago and Ioading lim soIomnIy inlo llo room, I said: "My friond, I
visl lo dio. I am quilo voary of onduring llo misory vlicl lourIy I do
onduro, and I viII llrov il off. Wlal sIavo viII nol, if lo may, oscapo
from lis clains` Iook, I voop: for moro llan lvo yoars I lavo novor on-
joyod ono momonl froo from anguisl. I lavo oflon dosirod lo dio, bul I
am a vory covard. Il is lard for ono so young vlo vas onco so lappy as
I vas, |sicj voIunlariIy lo divosl llomsoIvos of aII sonsalion and lo go
aIono lo llo droary gravo, I daro nol. I musl dio, yol my foar cliIIs mo, I
pauso and sluddor and llon for monlls I onduro my oxcoss of vrolclod-
noss. Bul nov llo limo is como vlon I may quil Iifo, I lavo a friond vlo
viII nol rofuso lo accompany mo in llis dark journoy, sucl is my ro-
quosl:
91
oarnoslIy do I onlroal and impIoro you lo dio vill mo. Tlon vo
slaII find EIinor and vlal I lavo Iosl. Iook, I am proparod, lloro is llo
doall draugll, Iol us drink il logollor and viIIingIy & joyfuIIy quil llis
lalod round of daiIy Iifo|.j
89.Tlo passago "Il is lruo . I viII" is on a sIip of papor paslod across llo pago.
9O.In llo rovision from I of IB llo slyIo of llis vloIo opisodo bocomos moro con-
ciso and spocific.
91.An improvomonl ovor llo avkvard plrasing in I of IB: "a friond vlo viII nol
ropuIso my roquosl llal lo vouId accompany mo."
80
"You lurn from mo, yol boforo you dony mo rofIocl, WoodviIIo, lov
svool il voro lo casl off llo Ioad of loars and misory undor vlicl vo
nov Iabour: and suroIy vo slaII find Iigll aflor vo lavo passod llo dark
vaIIoy. Tlal drink viII pIungo us in a svool sIumbor, and vlon vo
avakon vlal joy viII bo ours lo find aII our sorrovs and foars pasl. A
|iii|c pciicncc, cn! c|| ui|| cc ctcr, ayo, a vory IillIo palionco, for, Iook, lloro
is llo koy of our prison, vo loId il in our ovn lands, and aro vo moro
dobasod llan sIavos lo casl il avay and givo oursoIvos up lo voIunlary
bondago` Evon nov if vo lad courago vo migll bo froo. BoloId, my
clook is fIuslod vill pIoasuro al llo imaginalion of doall, aII llal vo
Iovo aro doad. Como, givo mo your land, ono Iook of joyous sympally
and vo viII go logollor and sook llom, a IuIIing journoy, vloro our ar-
rivaI viII bring bIiss and our vaking bo llal of angoIs. Do you doIay`
Aro you a covard, WoodviIIo` Ol fio! Casl off llis bIank Iook of luman
moIancloIy. Ol! llal I lad vords lo oxpross llo Iuxury of doall llal I
migll vin you. I loII you vo aro no Iongor misorabIo morlaIs, vo aro
aboul lo bocomo Gods, spirils froo and lappy as gods. Wlal fooI on a
bIoak sloro, sooing a fIovory isIo on llo ollor sido vill lis Iosl Iovo
bockoning lo lim from il vouId pauso bocauso llo vavo is dark and
lurbid`
"Wlal if somo IillIo payno llo passago lavo
Tlal makos frayIo fIosl lo foar llo billor vavo`
Is nol slorl payno voII borno llal brings Iong oaso
,And Iays llo souI lo sIoop in quiol gravo`
92
"Do you mark my vords, I lavo Ioarnod llo Ianguago of dospair: I
lavo il aII by loarl, for I am Dospair, and a slrango boing am I, joyous,
lriumplanl Dospair. Bul lloso vords aro faIso, for llo vavo may bo dark
bul il is nol billor. Wo Iio dovn, and cIoso our oyos vill a gonlIo good
nigll, and vlon vo vako, vo aro froo. Como llon, no moro doIay, llou
lardy ono! BoloId llo pIoasanl polion! Iook, I am a spiril of good, and
nol a luman maid llal invilos lloo, and vill vinning acconls, (ol, llal
lloy vouId vin lloo!) says, Como and drink."
93
As I spoko I fixod my oyos upon lis counlonanco, and lis oxquisilo
boauly, llo loavonIy compassion llal boamod from lis oyos, lis gonlIo
yol oarnosl Iook of doprocalion and vondor ovon boforo lo spoko
vrougll a clango in my ligl slrainod fooIings laking from mo aII llo
92.Sponcor's Iaory Quoon Book 1Canlo |9j
93.Tloso lvo paragrapls aro nol in I of IB, porlions of llom aro in S-R fr.
81
slornoss of dospair and fiIIing mo onIy vill llo soflosl griof. I sav lis
oyos lumid aIso as lo look boll my lands in lis, and silling dovn noar
mo, lo said:
94
"Tlis is a sad dood lo vlicl you vouId Ioad mo, doarosl friond, and
your voo musl indood bo doop llal couId fiII you vill lloso unlappy
llouglls. You Iong for doall and yol you foar il and visl mo lo bo your
companion. Bul I lavo Ioss courago llan you and ovon llus accompan-
iod I daro nol dio. Iislon lo mo, and llon rofIocl if you ougll lo vin mo
lo your projocl, ovon if vill llo ovor-boaring oIoquonco of dospair you
couId mako bIack doall so inviling llal llo fair loavon slouId appoar
darknoss. Iislon I onlroal you lo llo vords of ono vlo las limsoIf nur-
lurod dosporalo llouglls, and Iongod vill impalionl dosiro for doall,
bul vlo las al Iongll lrampIod llo planlom undor fool, and cruslod lis
sling. Como, as you lavo pIayod Dospair vill mo I viII pIay llo parl of
Una vill you and bring you lurlIoss from lis dark cavorn. Iislon lo mo,
and Iol yoursoIf bo soflonod by vords in vlicl no soIfisl passion Iingors.
"Wo knov nol vlal aII llis vido vorId moans, ils slrango mixluro of
good and oviI. Bul vo lavo boon pIacod loro and bid Iivo and lopo. I
knov nol vlal vo aro lo lopo, bul lloro is somo good boyond us llal
vo musl sook, and llal is our oarllIy lask. If misforluno como againsl us
vo musl figll vill lor, vo musl casl lor asido, and sliII go on lo find oul
llal vlicl il is our naluro lo dosiro. Wlollor llis prospocl of fuluro
good bo llo proparalion for anollor oxislonco I knov nol, or vlollor
llal il is moroIy llal vo, as vorkmon in God's vinoyard, musl Iond a
land lo smooll llo vay for our poslorily. If il indood bo llal, if llo of-
forls of llo virluous nov, aro lo mako llo fuluro inlabilanls of llis fair
vorId moro lappy, if llo Iabours of lloso vlo casl asido soIfislnoss, and
lry lo knov llo lrull of llings, aro lo froo llo mon of agos, nov far dis-
lanl bul vlicl viII ono day como, from llo burllon undor vlicl lloso
vlo nov Iivo groan, and Iiko you voop billorIy, if lloy froo llom bul
from ono of vlal aro nov llo nocossary oviIs of Iifo, lruIy I viII nol faiI
bul viII vill my vloIo souI aid llo vork. Irom my youll I lavo said, I
viII bo virluous, I viII dodicalo my Iifo for llo good of ollors, I viII do
my bosl lo oxlirpalo oviI and if llo spiril vlo prolocls iII slouId so infIu-
onco circumslancos llal I slouId suffor llrougl my ondoavour, yol vliIo
94.Tlis spoocl is groalIy improvod in slyIo ovor llal in I of IB, moro conciso in ox-
prossion (llougl somovlal oxpandod), moro spocific. Tloro aro no corrosponding S-
R fr lo slov llo procoss of rovision. Will llo idoas oxprossod loro cf. SloIIoy, }uIian
and MaddaIo, II. 182-187, 494-499, and lis Iollor lo CIairo in Novombor, 182O (}uIian
Works, X, 226). Soo aIso Wlilo, SloIIoy, II, 378.
82
lloro is lopo and lopo lloro ovor musl bo, of succoss, cloorfuIIy do I
gird mysoIf lo my lask.
"I lavo povors, my counlrymon llink voII of llom. Do you llink I
sov my sood in llo barron air, & lavo no ond in vlal I do` BoIiovo mo, I
viII novor dosorl Iifo unliII llis Iasl lopo is lorn from my bosom, llal in
somo vay my Iabours may form a Iink in llo clain of goId vill vlicl
vo ougll aII lo slrivo lo drag Happinoss from vloro slo sils onllronod
abovo llo cIouds, nov far boyond our roacl, lo inlabil llo oarll vill us.
Iol us supposo llal Socralos, or Slakospoar, or Roussoau lad boon
soizod vill dospair and diod in youll vlon lloy voro as young as I am,
do you llink llal vo and aII llo vorId slouId nol lavo Iosl incaIcuIabIo
improvomonl in our good fooIings and our lappinoss llro' lloir doslruc-
lion. I am nol Iiko ono of lloso, lloy infIuoncod miIIions: bul if I can in-
fIuonco bul a lundrod, bul lon, bul ono soIilary individuaI, so as in any
vay lo Ioad lim from iII lo good, llal viII bo a joy lo ropay mo for aII my
sufforings, llougl lloy voro a miIIion limos muIlipIiod, and llal lopo
viII supporl mo lo boar llom|.j
"And lloso vlo do nol vork for poslorily, or vorking, as may bo my
caso, viII nol bo knovn by il, yol lloy, boIiovo mo, lavo aIso lloir dulios.
You griovo bocauso you aro unlappy|,j il is lappinoss you sook bul you
dospair of oblaining il. Bul if you can boslov lappinoss on anollor, if
you can givo ono ollor porson onIy ono lour of joy ougll you nol lo Iivo
lo do il` And ovory ono las il in lloir povor lo do llal. Tlo inlabilanls
of llis vorId suffor so mucl pain. In crovdod cilios, among cuIlivalod
pIains, or on llo dosarl mounlains, pain is llickIy sovn, and if vo can
loar up bul ono of lloso noxious voods, or moro, if in ils sload vo can
sov ono sood of corn, or pIanl ono fair fIovor, Iol llal bo molivo suffi-
cionl againsl suicido. Iol us nol dosorl our lask vliIo lloro is llo sIigll-
osl lopo llal vo may in a fuluro day do llis.
"Indood I daro nol dio. I lavo a mollor vloso supporl and lopo I am. I
lavo a friond vlo Iovos mo as lis Iifo, and in vloso broasl I slouId infix
a morlaI sling if I ungralofuIIy Iofl lim. So I viII nol dio. Nor slaII you,
my friond, cloor up, coaso lo voop, I onlroal you. Aro you nol young,
and fair, and good` Wly slouId you dospair` Or if you musl for your-
soIf, vly for ollors` If you can novor bo lappy, can you novor boslov
lappinoss|`j Ol! boIiovo mo, if you boloId on Iips paIo vill griof ono
smiIo of joy and graliludo, and knov llal you voro paronl of llal smiIo,
and llal villoul you il lad novor boon, you vouId fooI so puro and
varm a lappinoss llal you vouId visl lo Iivo for ovor again and again
lo onjoy llo samo pIoasuro|.j
83
"Como, I soo llal you lavo aIroady casl asido llo sad llouglls you bo-
foro franlicIy induIgod. Iook in llal mirror, vlon I camo your brov vas
conlraclod, your oyos doop sunk in your load, your Iips quivoring, your
lands lrombIod vioIonlIy vlon I look llom, bul nov aII is lranquiI and
sofl. You aro griovod and lloro is griof in llo oxprossion of your counlon-
anco bul il is gonlIo and svool. You aIIov mo lo llrov avay llis cursod
drink, you smiIo, ol, CongraluIalo mo, lopo is lriumplanl, and I lavo
dono somo good."
Tloso vords aro sladovy as I ropoal llom bul lloy voro indood
vords of firo and producod a varm lopo in mo (I, misorabIo vrolcl, lo
lopo!) llal lingIod Iiko pIoasuro in my voins. Ho did nol Ioavo mo for
many lours, nol unliI lo lad improvod llo spark llal lo lad kindIod,
and vill an angoIic land foslorod llo rolurn of somlling llal soomod
Iiko joy. Ho Iofl mo bul I sliII vas caIm, and aflor I lad saIulod llo slarry
sky and dovy oarll vill oyos of Iovo and a conlonlod good nigll, I sIopl
svoolIy, visilod by droams, llo firsl of pIoasuro I lad lad for many Iong
monlls.
Bul llis vas onIy a momonlary roIiof and my oId labils of fooIing ro-
lurnod, for I vas doomod vliIo in Iifo lo griovo, and lo llo naluraI sor-
rov of my fallor's doall and ils mosl lorrific causo, immaginalion addod
a lonfoId voigll of voo. I boIiovod mysoIf lo bo poIIulod by llo unnalur-
aI Iovo I lad inspirod, and llal I vas a croaluro cursod and sol aparl by
naluro. I llougll llal Iiko anollor Cain, I lad a mark sol on my foroload
lo slov mankind llal lloro vas a barrior bolvoon mo and lloy
|sicj.
95
WoodviIIo lad loId mo llal lloro vas in my counlonanco an ox-
prossion as if I boIongod lo anollor vorId, so lo lad soon llal sign: and
lloro il Iay a gIoomy mark lo loII llo vorId llal lloro vas llal villin my
souI llal no siIonco couId rondor sufficionlIy obscuro. Wly vlon falo
drovo mo lo bocomo llis oulcasl from luman fooIing, llis monslor vill
vlom nono migll mingIo in convorso and Iovo, vly lad slo nol from
llal falaI and mosl accursod momonl, slroudod mo in llick misls and
pIacod roaI darknoss bolvoon mo and my foIIovs so llal I migll novor
moro bo soon`, |sicj and as I passod, Iiko a murky cIoud Ioadod vill
bIigll, lloy migll onIy porcoivo mo by llo coId cliII I slouId casl upon
llom, loIIing llom, lov lruIy, llal somolling unloIy vas noar` Tlon I
slouId lavo Iivod upon llis droary loall unvisilod, and bIasling nono
by my unlaIIovod gazo. AIas! I voriIy boIiovo llal if llo noar prospocl of
doall did nol duII and soflon my billor |fojoIings, if for a fov monlls
Iongor I lad conlinuod lo Iivo as I llon Iivod, slrong in body, bul my souI
95.Tlis soIocism, copiod from I of IB, is nol claraclorislic of Mary SloIIoy.
84
corruplod lo ils coro by a doadIy cancor|,j if day aflor day I lad dvoIl on
lloso droadfuI sonlimonls I slouId lavo bocomo mad, and slouId lavo
fanciod mysoIf a Iiving posliIonco: so lorribIo lo my ovn soIilary
llouglls did llis form, llis voico, and aII llis vrolclod soIf appoar, for
lad il nol boon llo sourco of guiIl llal vanls a namo`
96
Tlis vas suporslilion. I did nol fooI llus franlicIy vlon firsl I knov
llal llo loIy namo of fallor vas bocomo a curso lo mo: bul my IonoIy Iifo
inspirod mo vill viId llouglls, and llon vlon I sav WoodviIIo & day
aflor day lo lriod lo vin my confidonco and I novor darod givo vords lo
my dark laIo, I vas improssod moro slrongIy vill llo villoring foar llal
I vas in lrull a markod croaluro, a parial, onIy fil for doall.
96.Tlis paragrapl proparos for llo ovonluaI sofloning of MalliIda's fooIing. Tlo idoa
is somovlal oIaboralod from I of IB. Ollor clangos aro nocossilalod by llo clango
in llo modo of prosonling llo slory. In Tlo IioIds of Iancy MalliIda spoaks as ono
vlo las aIroady diod.
85
Chapter 12
As I vas porpoluaIIy launlod by lloso idoas, you may imagino llal llo
infIuonco of WoodviIIo's vords vas vory lomporary, and llal aIllougl I
did nol again accuso lim of unkindnoss, yol I soon bocamo as unlappy
as boforo. Soon aflor llis incidonl vo parlod. Ho loard llal lis mollor
vas iII, and lo laslonod lo lor. Ho camo lo lako Ioavo of mo, and vo
vaIkod logollor on llo loall for llo Iasl limo. Ho promisod llal lo
vouId como and soo mo again, and bado mo lako cloor, and lo oncour-
ago vlal lappy llouglls I couId, unliII limo and forliludo slouId ovor-
como my misory, and I couId again mingIo in socioly.
"Abovo aII ollor admonilion on my parl," lo said, "clorisl and foIIov
llis ono: do nol dospair. Tlal is llo mosl dangorous guIpl on vlicl you
porpoluaIIy lollor, bul you musl roassuro your slops, and lako lopo lo
guido you.
97
Hopo, and your vounds viII bo aIroady laIf loaIod: bul if
you obslinaloIy dospair, lloro novor moro viII bo comforl for you. Bo-
Iiovo mo, my doarosl friond, llal lloro is a joy llal llo sun and oarll and
aII ils boaulios can boslov llal you viII ono day fooI. Tlo rofrosling bIiss
of Iovo viII again visil your loarl, and undo llo spoII llal binds you lo
voo, unliII you vondor lov your oyos couId bo cIosod in llo Iong nigll
llal burllons you. I daro nol lopo llal I lavo inspirod you vill suffi-
cionl inlorosl llal llo llougll of mo, and llo affoclion llal I slaII ovor
boar you, viII soflon your moIancloIy and docroaso llo billornoss of
your loars. Bul if my friondslip can mako you Iook on Iifo vill Ioss dis-
gusl, bovaro lov you injuro il vill suspicion. Iovo is a doIicalo
sprilo
98
and oasiIy lurl by rougl joaIousy. Guard, I onlroal you, a firm
97.Cf. SloIIoy's omplasis on lopo and ils associalion vill Iovo in aII lis vork. Wlon
Mary vrolo MalliIda slo knov Quoon Mab (soo Iarl VIII, II. 5O-57, and Iarl IX, II.
2O7-2O8), llo Hymn lo InloIIocluaI Boauly, and llo firsl llroo acls of Iromollous Un-
bound. Tlo fourll acl vas vrillon in llo vinlor of 1819, bul Domogorgon's vords
may aIroady lavo boon al Ioasl adumbralod boforo llo boginning of Novombor: To
Iovo and boar, lo lopo liII lopo croalos Irom ils ovn vrock llo lling il conlompIalos.
98.SloIIoy lad vrillon, "DosoIalion is a doIicalo lling" (Iromollous Unbound, Acl I,
I. 772) and caIIod llo Spiril of llo Earll "a doIicalo spiril" (Ibid., Acl III, Sc. iv, I. 6).
85
porsuasion of my sincorily in llo inmosl rocossos of your loarl oul of llo
roacl of llo casuaI vinds llal may dislurb ils surfaco. Your lompor is
mado unoquaI by sufforing, and llo lonor of your mind is, I foar, somo-
limos slakon by unvorlly causos, bul Iol your confidonco in my sym-
pally and Iovo bo doopor far, and incapabIo of boing roaclod by lloso
agilalions llal como and go, and if lloy loucl nol your affoclions Ioavo
you uninjurod."
Tloso voro somo of WoodviIIo's Iasl Iossons. I vopl as I Iislonod lo
lim, and aflor vo lad lakon an affoclionalo farovoII, I foIIovod lim far
vill my oyos unliI lloy sav llo Iasl of my oarllIy comforlor. I lad in-
sislod on accompanying lim across llo loall lovards llo lovn vloro
lo dvoIl: llo sun vas yol ligl vlon lo Iofl mo, and I lurnod my slops
lovards my collago. Il vas al llo Iallor ond of llo monll of Soplombor
vlon llo niglls lavo bocomo cliII. Bul llo voallor vas sorono, and as I
vaIkod on I foII inlo no unpIoasing rovorios. I llougll of WoodviIIo vill
graliludo and kindnoss and did nol, I knov nol vly, rogrol lis dopar-
luro vill any billornoss. Il soomod llal aflor ono groal slock aII ollor
clango vas lriviaI lo mo, and I vaIkod on vondoring vlon llo limo
vouId como vlon vo slouId aII four, my doarosl fallor roslorod lo mo,
mool in somo svool Iaradiso|.j I piclurod lo mysoIf a IovoIy rivor sucl as
llal on vloso banks Danlo doscribos MalliIda galloring fIovors, vlicl
ovor fIovs
bruna, bruna,
Sollo I'ombra porpolua, clo mai
Raggiar non Iascia soIo ivi, n Iuna.
99
And llon I ropoalod lo mysoIf aII llal IovoIy passago llal roIalos llo
onlranco of Danlo inlo llo lorroslriaI Iaradiso, and llougll il vouId bo
svool vlon I vandorod on lloso IovoIy banks lo soo llo car of Iigll dos-
cond vill my Iong Iosl paronl lo bo roslorod lo mo. As I vailod lloro in
oxpoclalion of llal momonl, I llougll lov, of llo IovoIy fIovors llal
grov lloro, I vouId vind mysoIf a clapIol and crovn mysoIf for joy: I
vouId sing su| ncrginc !un ric,
1OO
my fallor's favourilo song, and llal
my voico gIiding llrougl llo vindIoss air vouId announco lo lim in
vlalovor bovor lo sal oxpocling llo momonl of our union, llal lis
99.Iurgalorio, Canlo 28, II. 31-33. Iorlaps by llis limo SloIIoy lad lransIalod II. 1-51 of
llis canlo. Ho lad road llo Iurgalorio in ApriI, 1818, and again vill Mary in
Augusl, 1819, jusl as slo vas boginning lo vrilo MalliIda. SloIIoy slovod lis lrans-
Ialion lo Modvin in 182O, bul lloro sooms lo bo no rocord of llo dalo of composilion.
87
daugllor vas como. Tlon llo mark of misory vouId lavo fadod from
my brov, and I slouId raiso my oyos foarIossIy lo mool lis, vlicl ovor
boamod vill llo sofl Iuslro of innoconl Iovo. Wlon I rofIoclod on llo ma-
gic Iook of lloso doop oyos I vopl, bul gonlIy, Iosl my sobs slouId dis-
lurb llo fairy scono.
I vas so onliroIy vrapl in llis rovorio llal I vandorod on, laking no
lood of my slops unliI I acluaIIy sloopod dovn lo gallor a fIovor for my
vroall on llal bIoak pIain vloro no fIovor grov, vlon I avoko from
my day droam and found mysoIf I knov nol vloro.
Tlo sun lad sol and llo rosoalo luo vlicl llo cIouds lad caugll from
lim in lis dosconl lad noarIy diod avay. A vind svopl across llo pIain,
I Iookod around mo and sav no objocl llal loId mo vloro I vas, I lad
Iosl mysoIf, and in vain allomplod lo find my pall. I vandorod on, and
llo coming darknoss mado ovory lraco indislincl by vlicl I migll bo
guidod. Al Iongll aII vas voiIod in llo doop obscurily of bIackosl nigll, I
bocamo voary and knoving llal my sorvanl vas lo sIoop llal nigll al
llo noiglbouring viIIago, so llal my absonco vouId aIarm no ono, and
llal I vas safo in llis viId spol from ovory inlrudor, I rosoIvod lo spond
llo nigll vloro I vas. Indood I vas loo voary lo vaIk furllor: llo air
vas cliII bul I vas caroIoss of bodiIy inconvonionco, and I llougll llal I
vas voII inurod lo llo voallor during my lvo yoars of soIiludo, vlon
no clango of soasons provonlod my porpoluaI vandorings.
I Iay upon llo grass surroundod by a darknoss vlicl nol llo sIigllosl
boam of Iigll ponolralodTloro vas no sound for llo doop nigll lad
Iaid lo sIoop llo insocls, llo onIy croaluros llal Iivod on llo Iono spol
vloro no lroo or slrub couId afford sloIlor lo augll oIsoTloro vas a
vondrous siIonco in llo air llal caImod my sonsos yol vlicl onIivonod
my souI, my mind lurriod from imago lo imago and soomod lo grasp an
olornily. AII in my loarl vas sladovy yol caIm, unliII my idoas bocamo
confusod and al Iongll diod avay in sIoop.
1O1
1OO.An air vill llis lilIo vas pubIislod aboul 18OO in Iondon by Roborl BirclaII. Soo
CalaIoguo of Irinlod Music IubIislod bolvoon 1487 and 18OO and nov in llo Brilisl
Musoum, by W. BarcIay Squiro, 1912. Noillor aullor nor composor is Iislod in llo
CalaIoguo.
1O1.Tlis paragrapl is maloriaIIy clangod from I of IB. CIouds and darknoss aro
subslilulod for slarIigll, siIonco for llo sound of llo vind. Tlo voallor loro malclos
MalliIda's mood. Iour and a laIf Iinos of vorso (vlicl I lavo nol boon abIo lo idonli-
fy, llougl lloy sound SloIIoyanaro lloy Mary's ovn`) aro omillod: of llo slars slo
says, llo vind is in llo lroo Bul lloy aro siIonl,sliII lloy roII aIong ImmoasurabIy
dislanl, & llo vauIl BuiIl round by lloso vlilo cIouds, onormous cIouds SliII doopons
ils unfallomabIo dopll.
88
Wlon I avoko il rainod:
1O2
I vas aIroady quilo vol, and my Iimbs voro
sliff and my load giddy vill llo cliII of nigll. Il vas a drizzIing, ponol-
raling slovor, as my dank lair cIung lo my nock and parlIy covorod my
faco, I lad lardIy slrongll lo parl vill my fingors, llo Iong slrail Iocks
llal foII boforo my oyos. Tlo darknoss vas mucl dissipalod and in llo
oasl vloro llo cIouds voro Ioasl donso llo moon vas visibIo bolind llo
llin groy cIoud
Tlo moon is bolind, and al llo fuII
And yol slo Iooks boll smaII and duII.
1O3
Ils prosonco gavo mo a lopo llal by ils moans I migll find my lomo.
Bul I vas Ianguid and many lours passod boforo I couId roacl llo col-
lago, dragging as I did my sIov slops, and oflon rosling on llo vol oarll
unabIo lo procood.
I parlicuIarIy mark llis nigll, for il vas llal vlicl las lurriod on llo
Iasl scono of my lragody, vlicl oIso migll lavo dvindIod on llrougl
Iong yoars of IislIoss sorrov. I vas vory iII vlon I arrivod and quilo in-
capabIo of laking off my vol cIollos llal cIung aboul mo. In llo morn-
ing, on lor rolurn, my sorvanl found mo aImosl IifoIoss, vliIo possossod
by a ligl fovor I vas Iying on llo fIoor of my room.
I vas vory iII for a Iong limo, and vlon I rocovorod from llo immodi-
alo dangor of fovor, ovory symplom of a rapid consumplion docIarod il-
soIf. I vas for somo limo ignoranl of llis and llougll llal my oxcossivo
voaknoss vas llo consoquonco of llo fovor, |sicj Bul my slrongll bocamo
Ioss and Ioss, as vinlor camo on I lad a cougl, and my sunkon clook, bo-
foro paIo, burnod vill a loclic fovor. Ono by ono lloso symploms slruck
mo, & I bocamo convincod llal llo momonl I lad so mucl dosirod vas
aboul lo arrivo and llal I vas dying. I vas silling by my firo, llo plysi-
cian vlo lad allondod mo ovor sinco my fovor lad jusl Iofl mo, and I
Iookod ovor lis proscriplion in vlicl digilaIis vas llo prominonl mo-
docino. "Yos," I said, "I soo lov llis is, and il is slrango llal I slouId lavo
docoivod mysoIf so Iong, I am aboul lo dio an innoconl doall, and il viII
bo svoolor ovon llan llal vlicl llo opium promisod."
1O2.If Mary quolos CoIoridgo's Ancionl Marinor inlonlionaIIy loro, slo is ironic, for
llis is no morcifuI rain, oxcopl for llo facl llal il brings on llo iIInoss vlicl Ioads lo
MalliIda's doall, for vlicl slo Iongs.
1O3.Tlis quolalion from ClrislaboI (vlicl suggosls llal llo procoding oclo is inlonlion-
aI) is nol in I of IB.
89
I roso and vaIkod sIovIy lo llo vindov, llo vido loall vas covorod
by snov vlicl sparkIod undor llo boams of llo sun llal slono brigllIy
llro' llo puro, frosly air: a fov birds voro pocking somo crumbs undor
my vindov.
1O4
I smiIod vill quiol joy, and in my llouglls, vlicl
llrougl Iong labil vouId for ovor connocl llomsoIvos inlo ono lrain, as
if I slapod llom inlo vords, I llus addrossod llo scono boforo mo:
"I saIulo lloo, boaulifuI Sun, and llou, vlilo Earll, fair and coId! Ior-
laps I slaII novor soo lloo again covorod vill groon, and llo svool
fIovors of llo coming spring viII bIossom on my gravo. I am aboul lo
Ioavo lloo, soon llis Iiving spiril vlicl is ovor busy among slrango
slapos and idoas, vlicl boIong nol lo lloo, soon il viII lavo fIovn lo
ollor rogions and llis omacialod body viII rosl insonsalo on lly bosom
"RoIIod round in oarll's diurnaI courso
Will rocks, and slonos, and lroos.
"Ior il viII bo llo samo vill lloo, vlo arl caIIod our UnivorsaI Moll-
or,
1O5
vlon I am gono. I lavo Iovod lloo, and in my days boll of lappi-
noss and sorrov I lavo poopIod your soIiludos vill viId fancios of my
ovn croalion. Tlo voods, and Iakos, and mounlains vlicl I lavo Iovod,
lavo for mo a llousand associalions, and llou, ol, Sun! lasl smiIod
upon, and borno your parl in many imaginalions llal sprung lo Iifo in
my souI aIono, and vlicl viII dio vill mo. Your soIiludos, svool Iand,
your lroos and valors viII sliII oxisl, movod by your vinds, or sliII bo-
noall llo oyo of noon, llougl
1O6
|vjlal I lavo foIl aboul yo, and aII my
1O4.Cf. llo doscriplion vlicl opons MalliIda.
1O5.Among Iord Abingor's papors, in Mary's land, aro somo comparabIo (bul vory
bad) fragmonlary vorsos addrossod lo Mollor Earll.
1O6.Al llis poinl four slools aro cul oul of llo nolobook. Tloy aro ovidonlIy lloso vill
pagos numborod 217 lo 223 vlicl aro among llo S-R fr. Tloy conlain llo concIusion
of llo slory, onding, as doos I of IB vill MalliIda's vords spokon lo Diolima in
llo EIysian IioIds: "I am loro, nol vill my fallor, bul Iisloning lo Iossons of visdom,
vlicl viII ono day bring mo lo lim vlon vo slaII novor parl. THE END." Somo pas-
sagos aro scorod oul, bul nol llis finaI sonlonco. Tonsos aro clangod from pasl lo fu-
luro. Tlo namo Horborl is clangod lo WoodviIIo. Tlo oxpIanalion musl bo llal Mary
vas lurrying lo finisl llo rovision (quilo draslic on lloso finaI pagos) and llo lran-
scriplion of lor slory boforo lor confinomonl, and llal in lor laslo slo copiod llo
pagos from I of IB as lloy slood. Tlon, roaIizing llal lloy did nol fil MalliIda, slo
bogan lo roviso llom, bul lo koop lor MS noal, slo cul oul lloso pagos and vrolo llo
fair copy. Tloro is no broak in MalliIda in slory or in paginalion. Tlis fair copy aIso
slovs signs of laslo: sIips of llo pon, ropolilion of vords, a numbor of unimporlanl
rovisions.
90
droams vlicl lavo oflon slrangoIy doformod lloo, viII dio vill mo. You
viII oxisl lo rofIocl ollor imagos in ollor minds, and ovor viII romain llo
samo, aIllougl your rofIoclod sombIanco vary in a llousand vays,
clangoabIo as llo loarls of lloso vlo viov lloo. Ono of lloso fragiIo
mirrors, llal ovor dolod on llino imago, is aboul lo bo brokon, crumbIod
lo dusl. Bul ovorlooming Naluro viII croalo anollor and anollor, and
llou viIl Iooso nougll by my doslruclion.
1O7
"Tlou viIl ovor bo llo samo. Rociovo llon llo gralofuI farovoII of a
fIooling sladov vlo is aboul lo disappoar, vlo joyfuIIy Ioavos lloo, yol
vill a Iasl Iook of affoclionalo llankfuInoss. IarovoII! Sky, and fioIds
and voods, llo IovoIy fIovors llal grov on lloo, lly mounlains & lly
rivors, lo llo baImy air and llo slrong vind of llo norll, lo aII, a Iasl
farovoII. I slaII slod no moro loars for my lask is aImosl fuIfiIIod, and I
am aboul lo bo rovardod for Iong and mosl burllonsomo sufforing. BIoss
lly cliId ovon ovon |sicj in doall, as I bIoss lloo, and Iol mo sIoop al
poaco in my quiol gravo."
I fooI doall lo bo noar al land and I am caIm. I no Iongor dospair, bul
Iook on aII around mo vill pIacid affoclion. I find il svool lo valcl llo
progrossivo docay of my slrongll, and lo ropoal lo mysoIf, anollor day
and yol anollor, bul again I slaII nol soo llo rod Ioavos of aulumn, bo-
foro llal limo I slaII bo vill my fallor. I am gIad WoodviIIo is nol vill
mo for porlaps lo vouId griovo, and I dosiro lo soo smiIos aIono during
llo Iasl scono of my Iifo, vlon I Iasl vrolo lo lim I loId lim of my iII
loaIll bul nol of ils morlaI londoncy, Iosl lo slouId concoivo il lo bo lis
duly lo como lo mo for I foar Iosl llo loars of friondslip slouId doslroy
llo bIossod caIm of my mind. I lako pIoasuro in arranging aII llo IillIo do-
laiIs vlicl viII occur vlon I slaII no Iongor bo. In lrull I am in Iovo
vill doall, no maidon ovor look moro pIoasuro in llo conlompIalion of
lor bridaI alliro llan I in fancying my Iimbs aIroady onvrapl in lloir
slroud: is il nol my marriago dross` AIono il viII unilo mo lo my fallor
vlon in an olornaI monlaI union vo slaII novor parl.
I viII nol dvoII on llo Iasl clangos llal I fooI in llo finaI docay of
naluro. Il is rapid bul villoul pain: I fooI a slrango pIoasuro in il. Ior
1O7.Horo in I of IB lloro is an indox numbor vlicl ovidonlIy poinls lo a nolo al llo
bollom of llo noxl pago. Tlo nolo is omillod in MalliIda. Il roads: "Danlo in lis Iur-
galorio doscribos a grifon as romaining unclangod bul lis rofIoclion in llo oyos of
Boalrico as porpoluaIIy varying (Iurg. Canl. 31) So naluro is ovor llo samo bul soon
difforonlIy by aImosl ovory spoclalor and ovon by llo samo al various limos. AII
minds, as mirrors, rocoivo lor formsyol in oacl mirror llo slapos apparonlIy ro-
fIoclod vary & aro porpoluaIIy clanging"
91
Iong yoars lloso aro llo firsl days of poaco llal lavo visilod mo. I no
Iongor oxlausl my misorabIo loarl by billor loars and franlic compIainls,
I no Iongor llo |sicj roproacl llo sun, llo oarll, llo air, for pain and
vrolclodnoss. I vail in quiol oxpoclalion for llo cIosing lours of a Iifo
vlicl las boon lo mo mosl svool & billor. I do nol dio nol laving on-
joyod Iifo, for sixloon yoars I vas lappy: during llo firsl monlls of my
fallor's rolurn I lad onjoyod agos of pIoasuro: nov indood I am grovn
oId in griof, my slops aro foobIo Iiko lloso of ago, I lavo bocomo poovisl
and unfil for Iifo, so laving passod IillIo moro llan lvonly yoars upon
llo oarll I am moro fil for my narrov gravo llan many aro vlon lloy
roacl llo naluraI lorm of lloir Iivos.
Again and again I lavo passod ovor in my romombranco llo difforonl
sconos of my slorl Iifo: if llo vorId is a slago and I moroIy an aclor on il
my parl las boon slrango, and, aIas! lragicaI. AImosl from infancy I vas
doprivod of aII llo loslimonios of affoclion vlicl cliIdron gonoraIIy ro-
coivo, I vas llrovn onliroIy upon my ovn rosourcos, and I onjoyod vlal
I may aImosl caII unnaluraI pIoasuros, for lloy voro droams and nol
roaIilios. Tlo oarll vas lo mo a magic Ianlorn and I |aj gazor, and a
Iislonor bul no aclor, bul llon camo llo lransporling and souI-roviving
ora of my oxislonco: my fallor rolurnod and I couId pour my varm affoc-
lions on a luman loarl, lloro vas a nov sun and a nov oarll croalod lo
mo, llo valors of oxislonco sparkIod: joy! joy! bul, aIas! vlal griof! My
bIiss vas moro rapid llan llo progross of a sunboam on a mounlain,
vlicl discIosos ils gIados & voods, and llon Ioavos il dark & bIank, lo
my lappinoss foIIovod madnoss and agony, cIosod by dospair.
Tlis vas llo drama of my Iifo vlicl I lavo nov dopiclod upon papor.
During llroo monlls I lavo boon ompIoyod in llis lask. Tlo momory of
sorrov las brougll loars, llo momory of lappinoss a varm gIov llo
IivoIy sladov of llal joy. Nov my loars aro driod, llo gIov las fadod
from my clooks, and vill a fov vords of farovoII lo you, WoodviIIo, I
cIoso my vork: llo Iasl llal I slaII porform.
IarovoII, my onIy Iiving friond, you aro llo soIo lio llal binds mo lo
oxislonco, and nov I broak il|.j Il givos mo no pain lo Ioavo you, nor can
our soporalion givo you mucl. You novor rogardod mo as ono of llis
vorId, bul rallor as a boing, vlo for somo ponanco vas sonl from llo
Kingdom of Sladovs, and slo passod a fov days vooping on llo oarll
and Ionging lo rolurn lo lor nalivo soiI. You viII voop bul lloy viII bo
loars of gonlIonoss. I vouId, if I llougll llal il vouId Iosson your rogrol,
loII you lo smiIo and congraluIalo mo on my doparluro from llo misory
you boloId mo onduro. I vouId say, WoodviIIo, rojoico vill your friond,
92
I lriumpl nov and am mosl lappy. Bul I clock lloso oxprossions, lloso
may nol bo llo consoIalions of llo Iiving, lloy voop for lloir ovn
misory, and nol for llal of llo boing lloy lavo Iosl. No, slod a fov nal-
uraI loars duo lo my momory: and if you ovor visil my gravo, pIuck from
llonco a fIovor, and Iay il lo your loarl, for your loarl is llo onIy lomb
in vlicl my momory viII bo onlorrod.
My doall is rapidIy approacling and you aro nol noar lo valcl llo
fIilling and vanisling of my spiril. Do no|lj rogrol llis, for doall is a loo
lorribIo an |sicj objocl for llo Iiving. Il is ono of lloso advorsilios vlicl
lurl insload of purifying llo loarl, for il is so inlonso a misory llal il
lardons & duIIs llo fooIings. DroadfuI as llo limo vas vlon I pursuod
my fallor lovards llo ocoan, & found lloir |sicj onIy lis IifoIoss corpso,
yol for my ovn sako I slouId profor llal lo llo valcling ono by ono lis
sonsos fado, lis puIso voakonand sIoopIossIy as il voro dovour lis Iifo
in gazing. To soo Iifo in lis Iimbs & lo knov llal soon Iifo vouId no
Iongor bo lloro, lo soo llo varm broall issuo from lis Iips and lo knov
lloy vouId soon bo cliIII viII nol conlinuo lo lraco llis frigllfuI pic-
luro, you sufforod llis lorluro onco, I novor did.
1O8
And llo romombranco
fiIIs your loarl somolimos vill billor dospair vlon ollorviso your fooI-
ings vouId lavo moIlod inlo sofl sorrov.
So day by day I bocomo voakor, and Iifo fIickors in my vasling form,
as a Iamp aboul lo Iooso il vivifying oiI. I nov boloId llo gIad sun of
May. Il vas May, four yoars ago, llal I firsl sav my boIovod fallor, il
vas in May, llroo yoars ago llal my foIIy doslroyod llo onIy boing I vas
doomod lo Iovo. May is rolurnod, and I dio. Tlroo days ago, llo an-
nivorsary of our mooling, and, aIas! of our olornaI soporalion, aflor a day
of kiIIing omolion, I causod mysoIf lo bo Iod onco moro lo boloId llo faco
of naluro. I causod mysoIf lo bo carriod lo somo moadovs somo miIos
dislanl from my collago, llo grass vas boing movod, and lloro vas llo
sconl of lay in llo fioIds, aII llo oarll Iook|odj frosl and ils inlabilanls
lappy. Evoning approaclod and I boloId llo sun sol. Tlroo yoars ago
and on llal day and lour il slono llrougl llo branclos and Ioavos of
llo boocl vood and ils boams fIickorod upon llo counlonanco of lim
vlom I llon boloId for llo Iasl limo.
1O9
I nov sav llal divino orb, giId-
ing aII llo cIouds vill unvonlod spIondour, sink bolind llo lorizon, il
disappoarod from a vorId vloro lo vlom I vouId sook oxisls nol, il ap-
proaclod a vorId vloro lo oxisls nol|.j Wly do I voop so billorIy` Wly
my |sicj doos my loarl loavo vill vain ondoavour lo casl asido llo billor
1O8.Soo nolo 2O. Mary SloIIoy lad sufforod llis lorluro vlon CIara and WiIIiam diod.
1O9.Soo llo ond of Claplor V.
93
anguisl llal covors il "as llo valors covor llo soa." I go from llis vorId
vloro lo is no Iongor and soon I slaII mool lim in anollor.
IarovoII, WoodviIIo, llo lurf viII soon bo groon on my gravo, and llo
vioIols viII bIoom on il. 1|crc is my lopo and my oxpoclalion, your's aro
in llis vorId, may lloy bo fuIfiIIod.
11O
11O.Tlis sonlonco is nol in I of IB or in S-R fr.
94
Thc FicIds oI Fancy
Il vas in Romollo Quoon of llo WorId llal I sufforod a misforluno llal
roducod mo lo misory & dospair
111
Tlo brigll sun & doop azuro sky
voro opprossivo bul nougll vas so lalofuI as llo voico of ManI Iovod
lo vaIk by llo sloros of llo Tibor vlicl voro soIilary & if llo sirocco
bIov lo soo llo svifl cIouds pass ovor Sl. Iolors and llo many domos of
Romo or if llo sun slono I lurnod my oyos from llo sky vloso Iigll vas
loo dazzIing & gay lo bo rofIoclod in my loarfuI oyos I lurnod llom lo llo
rivor vloso svifl courso vas as llo spoody doparluro of lappinoss and
vloso lurbid coIour vas gIoomy as griof
Wlollor I sIopl I knov nol or vlollor il vas in ono of lloso many
lours vlicl I sponl soalod on llo ground my mind a claos of dospair &
my oyos for ovor vol by loars bul I vas loro visilod by a IovoIy spiril
vlom I lavo ovor vorslipod & vlo lriod lo ropay my adoralion by di-
vorling my mind from llo lidoous momorios llal rackod il. Al firsl in-
dood llis vanlon spiril pIayod a faIso parl & appoaring vill sabIo vings
& gIoomy counlonanco soomod lo lako a pIoasuro in oxagoraling aII my
misoriosand as smaII lopos aroso lo snalcl llom from mo & givo mo in
lloir pIaco giganlic foars vlicl undor lor fairy land appoarod cIoso, im-
ponding & unavoidabIosomolimos slo vouId cruoIIy Ioavo mo vliIo I
vas llus on llo vorgo of madnoss and villoul consoIing mo Ioavo mo
nougll bul loavy Ioadon sIoopbul al ollor limos slo vouId viIiIy Iink
Ioss unpIoasing llouglls lo lloso mosl droadfuI onos & boforo I vas
avaro pIaco lopos boforo mofuliIo bul consoIing
112

Ono day llis IovoIy spirilvloso namo as slo loId mo vas Ianlasia
camo lo mo in ono of lor consoIolary moodslor vings vlicl soomod
coIourod by lor lono of mind voro nol gay bul boaulifuI Iiko llal of llo
111.Il vas in Romo llal Mary's oIdosl cliId, WiIIiam, diod on }uno 7, 1819.
112.Cf. lvo onlrios in Mary SloIIoy's journaI. An unpubIislod onlry for Oclobor 27,
1822, roads: "Boforo vlon I vrolo MalliIda, misorabIo as I vas, llo inspiralion vas
sufficionl lo quoII my vrolclodnoss lomporariIy." Anollor onlry, llal for Docombor
2, 1834, is quolod in abbrovialod and somovlal garbIod form by R. GIynn GryIIs in
Mary SloIIoy (Iondon: Oxford Univorsily Iross, 1938), p. 194, and roprinlod by Iro-
fossor }onos (}ournaI, p. 2O3). Tlo fuII passago foIIovs: "IillIo larm las my imagina-
lion dono lo mo & lov mucl good!My poor loarl piorcod llrougl & llrougl las
found baIm from ilil las boon llo aogis lo my sonsibiIilySomolimos lloro lavo
boon poriods vlon Misory las puslod il asido& lloso indood voro poriods I slud-
dor lo romomborbul llo fairy onIy slopl asido, slo valclod lor limo& al llo firsl
opporlunily lor . boaming faco poopod in, & llo voigll of doadIy voo vas
Iigllonod."
95
parlridgo & lor IovoIy oyos aIllougl lloy ovor burnod vill an un-
quonslabIo firo voro sladod & soflonod by lor loavy Iids & llo bIack
Iong fringo of lor oyo IaslosSlo llus addrossod moYou mourn for
llo Ioss of lloso you Iovo. Tloy aro gono for ovor & groal as my povor is
I cannol rocaII llom lo youif indood I vavo my vand ovor you you
viII fancy llal you fooI lloir gonlIo spirils in llo sofl air llal sloaIs ovor
your clooks & llo dislanl sound of vinds & valors may imago lo you
lloir voicos vlicl viII bid you rojoico for llal lloy IivoTlis viII nol
lako avay your griof bul you viII slod svoolor loars llan lloso vlicl
fuII of anguisl & lopoIossnoss nov slarl from your oyosTlis I can do
& aIso can I lako you lo soo many of my provincos my fairy Iands vlicl
you lavo nol yol visilod and vloso boauly viII vliIo avay llo loavy
limoI lavo many IovoIy spols undor my command vlicl pools of oId
lavo visilod and lavo soon lloso siglls llo roIalion of vlicl las boon as
a rovoIalion lo llo vorIdmany spols I lavo sliII in kooping of IovoIy
fioIds or lorrid rocks poopIod by llo boaulifuI or llo lromondous vlicl I
koop in rosorvo for my fuluro vorslipporslo ono of lloso vloso grim
lorrors frigllonod sIoop from llo oyo I formorIy Iod you
113
bul you nov
nood moro pIoasing imagos & aIllougl I viII nol promiso you lo slov
you any nov sconos yol if I Ioad you lo ono oflon visilod by my foIIovors
you viII al Ioasl soo nov combinalions llal viII sooll if lloy do nol do-
Iigll youIoIIov mo
AIas! I ropIiodvlon lavo you found mo sIov lo oboy your
voicosomo limos indood I lavo caIIod you & you lavo nol comobul
vlon boforo lavo I nol foIIovod your sIigllosl sign and lavo Iofl vlal
vas oillor of joy or sorrov in our vorId lo dvoII vill you in yours liII
you lavo dismissod mo ovor unviIIing lo doparlBul nov llo voigll of
griof llal opprossos mo lakos from mo llal Iigllnoss vlicl is nocossary
lo foIIov your quick & vingod molions aIas in llo midsl of my courso
ono llougll vouId mako mo droop lo llo ground vliIo you vouId oul-
spood mo lo your Kingdom of GIory & Ioavo mo loro darkIing
UngralofuI! ropIiod llo Spiril Do I nol loII you llal I viII suslain &
consoIo you My vings slaII aid your loavy slops & I viII command my
vinds lo disporso llo misl llal ovor casls youI viII Ioad you lo a pIaco
vloro you viII nol loar Iaugllor llal dislurbs you or soo llo sun llal
dazzIos youWo viII clooso somo of llo mosl sombro vaIks of llo
EIysian fioIds
Tlo EIysian fioIdsI oxcIaimod vill a quick scroamslaII I llon soo`
I gaspod & couId nol ask llal vlicl I Iongod lo knovllo friondIy
113.An obvious roforonco lo Irankonsloin.
95
spiril ropIiod moro gravoIyI lavo loId you llal you viII nol soo lloso
vlom you mournBul I musl avayfoIIov mo or I musl Ioavo you
vooping dosorlod by llo spiril llal nov clocks your loars
GoI ropIiod I cannol foIIovI can onIy sil loro & griovo& Iong lo
soo lloso vlo aro gono for ovor for lo nougll bul vlal las roIalion lo
llom can I Iislon
Tlo spiril Iofl mo lo groan & voop lo visl llo sun quonclod in olornaI
darknosslo accuso llo air llo valors aIIaII llo univorso of my ullor &
irromodiabIo misoryIanlasia camo again and ovor vlon slo camo
lomplod mo lo foIIov lor bul as lo foIIov lor vas lo Ioavo for a vliIo llo
llougll of lloso Iovod onos vloso momorios voro my aII aIllougl lloy
voro my lormonl I darod nol goSlay vill mo I criod & loIp mo lo
cIollo my billor llouglls in IovoIior coIours givo mo lopo aIllougl faIIa-
cious & imagos of vlal las boon aIllougl il novor viII bo
againdivorsion I cannol lako cruoI fairy do you Ioavo mo aIas aII my
joy fados al lly doparluro bul I may nol foIIov lloo
Ono day aflor ono of lloso combals vlon llo spiril lad Iofl mo I
vandorod on aIong llo banks of llo rivor lo lry lo disporso llo oxcossivo
misory llal I foIl unliII ovorcomo by faliguomy oyos voiglod dovn by
loarsI Iay dovn undor llo slado of lroos & foII asIoopI sIopl Iong and
vlon I avoko I knov nol vloro I vasI did nol soo llo rivor or llo dis-
lanl cilybul I Iay bosido a IovoIy founlain sladovod ovor by viIIovs &
surroundod by bIooming myrlIosal a slorl dislanco llo air soomod
piorcod by llo spiry pinos & cyprossos and llo ground vas covorod by
slorl moss & svool smoIIing loallllo sky vas bIuo bul nol dazzIing
Iiko llal of Romo and on ovory sido I sav Iong aIIioscIuslors of lroos
vill inlorvoning Iavns & gonlIy sloaIing rivorsWloro am I` cx-
c|cinc!c |cc|ing crcun! nc | cc|c|! IcnicsicS|c sni|c! c cs s|c sni|c!
c|| i|c cnc|cniing sccnc cppccrc! |ctc|icrrcinccus p|cc! in i|c jcunicin c
i|c |cci| j|cucrs ci cur jcci cppccrc! cs ij jusi rcjrcs|c! c !cu| |ctc scizc!
cu, sci! s|ccs cu s|cpi cn! ui|| jcr scnc |iii|c iinc rcicin cu cs n priscn-
cr| ui|| inirc!ucc cu ic scnc cj i|c in|cciicnis cj i|csc pccccju| Gcr!cns|i
s|c|| nci cc ic cn u|csc cxuccrcni |cppincss ui|| jcrn cn ujn}p|ccsing ccn-
ircsi uii| cur |cct gricj cui ii s|c|| cc ic i|csc u|csc c|icj ccrc |crc is ic cc-
uirc! |ncu|c!gc! jsicj & virluoor lo lloso vlo laving jusl oscapod
from caro & pain lavo nol yol rocovorod fuII sonso of onjoymonlTlis
parl of lloso EIysian Gardons is dovolod lo lloso vlo as boforo in your
vorId vislod lo bocomo viso & virluous by sludy & aclion loro ondoav-
our aflor llo samo onds by conlompIalionTloy aro sliII unknoving of
lloir finaI doslinalion bul lloy lavo a cIoar knovIodgo of vlal on oarll
97
is onIy supposod by somo vlicl is llal lloir lappinoss nov & loroaflor
doponds upon lloir inloIIocluaI improvomonlNor do lloy onIy sludy
llo forms of llis univorso bul soarcl doopIy in lloir ovn minds and Iovo
lo mool & convorso on aII lloso ligl subjocls of vlicl llo pliIosoplors
of Allons Iovod lo lroalWill doop fooIings bul vill no oulvard cir-
cumslancos lo oxcilo lloir passions you viII porlaps imagino llal lloir
Iifo is uniform & duIIbul lloso sagos aro of llal disposilion fillod lo
find visdom in ovory lling & in ovory IovoIy coIour or form idoas llal
oxcilo lloir IovoBosidos many yoars aro consumod boforo lloy arrivo
loroWlon a souI Ionging for knovIodgo & pining al ils narrov con-
coplions oscapos from your oarll many spirils vail lo rocoivo il and lo
opon ils oyos lo llo myslorios of llo univorsomany conlurios aro oflon
consumod in lloso lravoIs and lloy al Iasl roliro loro lo digosl lloir
knovIodgo & lo bocomo sliII visor by llougll and imaginalion vorking
upon momory
114
Wlon llo filling poriod is accompIislod lloy Ioavo
llis gardon lo inlabil anollor vorId fillod for llo rocoplion of boings aI-
mosl infiniloIy visobul vlal llis vorId is noillor can you concoivo or
I loacl yousomo of llo spirils vlom you viII soo loro aro yol unknov-
ing in llo socrols of naluroTloy aro lloso vlom caro & sorrov lavo
consumod on oarll & vloso loarls aIllougl aclivo in virluo lavo boon
slul llrougl sufforing from knovIodgoTloso spond somolimo loro lo
rocovor lloir oquanimily & lo gol a llirsl of knovIodgo from convorso
vill lloir visor companionsTloy nov socuroIy lopo lo soo again
lloso vlom lloy Iovo & knov llal il is ignoranco aIono llal dolains
llom from llom. As for lloso vlo in your vorId knov nol llo IovoIinoss
of bonovoIonco & juslico lloy aro pIacod aparl somo cIaimod by llo oviI
spiril & in vain sougll for by llo good bul Slo vloso doIigll is lo ro-
form llo vickod lakos aII slo can & doIivors llom lo lor minislors nol lo
bo punislod bul lo bo oxorcisod & inslruclod unliII acquiring a Iovo of
virluo lloy aro fillod for lloso gardons vloro lloy viII acquiro a Iovo of
knovIodgo
As Ianlasia laIkod I sav various groupos of figuros as lloy vaIkod
among llo aIIios of llo gardons or voro soalod on llo grassy pIols oillor
in conlompIalion or convorsalion sovoraI advancod logollor lovards llo
founlain vloro I salAs lloy approaclod I obsorvod llo principaI fig-
uro lo bo llal of a voman aboul 4O yoars of ago lor oyos burnod vill a
doop firo and ovory Iino of lor faco oxprossod onllusiasm &
114.Will llo vords of Ianlasia (and lloso of Diolima), cf. llo associalion of visdom
and virluo in IIalo's Ilaodo, llo myll of Er in llo RopubIic, and llo doclrino of Iovo
and boauly in llo Symposium.
98
visdomIoolry soomod soalod on lor Iips vlicl voro boaulifuIIy
formod & ovory molion of lor Iimbs aIllougl nol youllfuI vas inox-
prossibIy gracofuIlor bIack lair vas bound in lrossos round lor load
and lor brovs voro oncompassod by a fiIIollor dross vas llal of a
simpIo lunic bound al llo vaisl by a broad girdIo and a manlIo vlicl
foII ovor lor Iofl arm slo vas oncompassod by sovoraI youlls of boll
soxos vlo appoarod lo lang on lor vords & lo calcl llo inspiralion as il
fIovod from lor vill Iooks oillor of oagor vondor or slodfasl allonlion
vill oyos aII bonl lovards lor oIoquonl counlonanco vlicl boamod vill
llo mind villinI am going said Ianlasia bul I Ioavo my spiril vill you
villoul vlicl llis scono vd fado avayI Ioavo you in good com-
panyllal fomaIo vloso oyos Iiko llo IovoIiosl pIanol in llo loavons
drav aII lo gazo on lor is llo Iroploloss Diolima llo inslruclross of So-
cralos
115
Tlo company aboul lor aro lloso jusl oscapod from llo vorId
lloro lloy voro unllinking or misconduclod in llo pursuil of knov-
Iodgo. Slo Ioads llom lo lrull & visdom unliII llo limo comos vlon
lloy slaII bo fillod for llo journoy llrougl llo univorso vlicl aII musl
ono day undorlakofarovoII
And nov, gonlIosl roadorI musl bog your induIgoncoI am a boing
loo voak lo rocord llo vords of Diolima lor malclIoss visdom & loav-
onIy oIoquonco|.j Wlal I slaII ropoal viII bo as llo fainl sladov of a lroo
by moonIigllsomo vlal of llo form viII bo prosorvod bul lloro viII bo
no Iifo in ilIIalo aIono of MorlaIs couId rocord llo llouglls of Diolima
lopoIoss lloroforo I slaII nol dvoII so mucl on lor vords as on lloso of
lor pupiIs vlicl boing moro oarllIy can bollor llan lors bo roIalod by
Iiving Iips|.j
Diolima approaclod llo founlain & soalod lorsoIf on a mossy mound
noar il and lor discipIos pIacod llomsoIvos on llo grass noar
lorWilloul nolicing mo vlo sal cIoso undor lor slo conlinuod lor
discourso addrossing as il lapponod ono or ollor of lor Iislonorsbul
boforo I allompl lo ropoal lor vords I viII doscribo llo cliof of lloso
vlom slo appoarod lo visl principaIIy lo improssOno vas a voman
of aboul 23 yoars of ago in llo fuII onjoymonl of llo mosl oxquisilo
115.Soo IIalo's Symposium. According lo Mary's nolo in lor odilion of SloIIoy's Es-
says, Iollors from Abroad, olc. (184O), SloIIoy pIannod lo uso llo namo for llo in-
slruclross of llo Slrangor in lis unfinislod proso laIo, Tlo CoIisoum, vlicl vas vril-
lon boforo MalliIda, in llo vinlor of 1818-1819. IrobabIy al llis samo limo Mary vas
vriling an unfinislod (and unpubIislod) laIo aboul VaIorius, an ancionl Roman
brougll back lo Iifo in modorn Romo. VaIorius, Iiko SloIIoy's Slrangor, vas inslruclod
by a voman vlom lo mol in llo CoIisoum. Mary's slory is indoblod lo SloIIoy's in
ollor vays as voII.
99
boauly lor goIdon lair fIoalod in ringIols on lor slouIdorslor lazIo
oyos voro sladod by loavy Iids and lor moull llo Iips aparl soomod lo
broallo sonsibiIily
116
Bul slo appoarod llougllfuI & unlappylor
clook vas paIo slo soomod as if accuslomod lo suffor and as if llo Ios-
sons slo nov loard voro llo onIy vords of visdom lo vlicl slo lad
ovor IislonodTlo youll bosido lor lad a far difforonl aspocllis form
vas omacialod noarIy lo a sladovlis foaluros voro landsomo bul llin
& vorn& lis oyos gIislonod as if animaling llo visago of docaylis
foroload vas oxpansivo bul lloro vas a doubl & porpIoxily in lis Iooks
llal soomod lo say llal aIllougl lo lad sougll visdom lo lad gol on-
langIod in somo myslorious mazos from vlicl lo in vain ondoavourod
lo oxlricalo limsoIfAs Diolima spoko lis coIour vonl & camo vill
quick clangos & llo fIoxibIo muscIos of lis counlonanco slovod ovory
improssion llal lis mind rocoivodlo soomod ono vlo in Iifo lad slud-
iod lard bul vloso foobIo framo sunk bonoall llo voigll of llo moro ox-
orlion of Iifollo spark of inloIIigonco burnod vill uncommon slrongll
villin lim bul llal of Iifo soomod ovor on llo ovo of fading
117
Al
prosonl I slaII nol doscribo any ollor of llis groupo bul vill doop allon-
lion lry lo rocaII in my momory somo of llo vords of Diolimalloy
voro vords of firo bul lloir pall is fainlIy markod on my
rocoIIoclion
118
Il roquiros a jusl land, said slo conlinuing lor discourso, lo voigl &
divido llo good from oviIOn llo oarll lloy aro inoxlricabIy onlangIod
and if you vouId casl avay vlal lloro appoars an oviI a muIliludo of bo-
noficiaI causos or offocls cIing lo il & mock your IabourWlon I vas on
oarll and lavo vaIkod in a soIilary counlry during llo siIonco of nigll &
lavo boloId llo muIliludo of slars, llo sofl radianco of llo moon rofIoc-
lod on llo soa, vlicl vas sluddod by IovoIy isIandsWlon I lavo foIl
116.MalliIda.
117.I cannol find a prololypo for llis young man, llougl in somo vays lo rosombIos
SloIIoy.
118.IoIIoving llis paragrapl is an incompIolo ono vlicl is scorod oul in llo MS. Tlo
commonl on llo inlricacy of modorn Iifo is inlorosling. Mary vrolo: "Tlo vorId you
lavo jusl quillod slo said is ono of doubl & porpIoxily oflon of pain & misoryTlo
modos of sufforing soom lo mo lo bo mucl muIlipIiod lloro sinco I mado ono of llo
llrong & modorn fooIings soom lo lavo acquirod an inlracacy llon unknovn bul
nov llo voiI is lorn asidollo ovonls llal you foIl doopIy on oarll lavo passod avay
& you soo llom in lloir nakodnoss aII bul your knovIodgo & affoclions lavo passod
avay as a droam you nov vondor al llo offocl lrifIos lad on you and llal llo ovonls
of so passing a scono slouId lavo inloroslod you so doopIyYou compIain, my
frionds of llo"
100
llo sofl broozo sloaI across my clook & as llo vords of Iovo il las
soollod & clorislod mollon my mind soomod aImosl lo quil llo body
llal confinod il lo llo oarll & vill a quick monlaI sonso lo mingIo vill
llo scono llal I lardIy savI foIlTlon I lavo oxcIaimod, ol vorId
lov boaulifuI llou arl!Ol brigllosl univorso boloId lly vor-
slipor!spiril of boauly & of sympally vlicl porvados aII llings, &
nov Iifls my souI as vill vings, lov lavo you animalod llo Iigll & llo
broozos!Doop & inoxpIicabIo spiril givo mo vords lo oxpross my ador-
alion, my mind is lurriod avay bul vill Ianguago I cannol loII lov I
fooI lly IovoIinoss! SiIonco or llo song of llo nigllingaIo llo momonlary
apparilion of somo bird llal fIios quiolIy paslaII sooms animalod vill
lloo & moro llan aII llo doop sky sluddod vill vorIds!"If llo vinds
roarod & loro llo soa and llo droadfuI Iigllnings soomod faIIing around
mosliII Iovo vas mingIod vill llo sacrod lorror I foIl, llo majosly of
IovoIinoss vas doopIy improssod on moSo aIso I lavo foIl vlon I lavo
soon a IovoIy counlonancoor loard soIomn music or llo oIoquonco of
divino visdom fIoving from llo Iips of ono of ils vorslipporsa IovoIy
animaI or ovon llo gracofuI unduIalions of lroos & inanimalo objocls
lavo oxcilod in mo llo samo doop fooIing of Iovo & boauly, a fooIing
vlicl vliIo il mado mo aIivo & oagor lo sook llo causo & animalor of
llo scono, yol salisfiod mo by ils vory dopll as if I lad aIroady found llo
soIulion lo my onquiros |sicj & as if in fooIing mysoIf a parl of llo groal
vloIo I lad found llo lrull & socrol of llo univorsoBul vlon rolirod
in my coII I lavo sludiod & conlompIalod llo various molions and ac-
lions in llo vorId llo voigll of oviI las confoundod moIf I llougll of
llo croalion I sav an olornaI clain of oviI Iinkod ono lo llo ollorfrom
llo groal vlaIo vlo in llo soa svaIIovs & doslroys muIliludos & llo
smaIIor fisl llal Iivo on lim aIso & lormonl lim lo madnosslo llo cal
vloso pIoasuro il is lo lormonl lor proy I sav llo vloIo croalion fiIIod
vill painoacl croaluro sooms lo oxisl llrougl llo misory of anollor &
doall & lavoc is llo valclvord of llo animalod vorIdAnd Man
aIsoovon in Allons llo mosl civiIizod spol on llo oarll vlal a muIli-
ludo of moan passionsonvy, maIicoa roslIoss dosiro lo doprocialo aII
llal vas groal and good did I sooAnd in llo dominions of llo groal bo-
ing I sav man |roducod`j
119
far boIov llo animaIs of llo fioId proying on
ono anollors |sicj loarls, lappy in llo dovnfaII of ollorsllomsoIvos
loIding on vill bonl nocks and cruoI oyos lo a vrolcl moro a sIavo if
possibIo llan lloy lo lis misorabIo passionsAnd if I said lloso aro llo
consoquoncos of civiIizalion & lurnod lo llo savago vorId I sav onIy
119.Tlo vord is bIollod and virluaIIy iIIogibIo.
101
ignoranco unropaid by any nobIo fooIinga moro animaI, Iovo of Iifo
joinod lo a Iov Iovo of povor & a fiondisl Iovo of doslruclionI sav a
croaluro dravn on by lis sonsos & lis soIfisl passions bul unlouclod by
augll nobIo or ovon Human
And llon vlon I sougll for consoIalion in llo various facuIlios man is
possossod of & vlicl I foIl burning villin moI found llal spiril of
union vill Iovo & boauly vlicl formod my lappinoss & prido dogradod
inlo suporslilion & lurnod from ils naluraI grovll vlicl couId bring
forll onIy good fruil:cruoIly& inloIoranco & lard lyranny vas graf-
lod on ils lrunk & from il sprung fruil suilabIo lo sucl graflsIf I
mingIod vill my foIIov croaluros vas llo voico I loard llal of Iovo &
virluo or llal of soIfislnoss & vico, sliII misory vas ovor joinod lo il & llo
loars of mankind formod a vasl soa ovor bIovn on by ils sigls & soIdom
iIIuminalod by ils smiIosSucl laking onIy ono sido of llo picluro &
slulling visdom from llo viov is a jusl porlrailuro of llo croalion as
soon on oarll
Bul vlon I comparod llo good & oviI of llo vorId & vislod lo divido
llom inlo lvo soporalo principIos I found llom inoxlricabIy inlvinod lo-
gollor & I vas again casl inlo porpIoxily & doublI migll lavo con-
sidorod llo oarll as an imporfocl formalion vloro laving bad maloriaIs
lo vork on llo Croalor couId onIy paIIialo llo oviI offocls of lis combina-
lions bul I sav a vanlon maIignily in many parls & parlicuIarIy in llo
mind of man llal baffIod mo a doIigll in miscliof a Iovo of oviI for oviIs
sakoa siding of llo muIliludoa daslardIy appIauso vlicl in lloir
loarls llo crovd gavo lo lriumplanl vick|odjnoss ovor IovIy virluo llal
fiIIod mo vill painfuI sonsalions. Modilalion, painfuI & conlinuaI
llougll onIy oncroasod my doublsI darod nol commil llo bIasplomy
of ascribing llo sIigllosl oviI lo a bonoficonl GodTo vlom llon slouId
I ascribo llo croalion` To lvo principIos` Wlicl vas llo upormosl` Tloy
voro corlainIy indopondanl for noillor couId llo good spiril aIIov llo
oxislonco of oviI or llo oviI ono llo oxislonco of goodTirod of lloso
doubls lo vlicl I couId form no probabIo soIulionSick of forming llo-
orios vlicl I doslroyod as quickIy as I buiIl llom I vas ono ovoning on
llo lop of Hymollus boloIding llo IovoIy prospocl as llo sun sol in llo
gIoving soaI Iookod lovards Allons & in my loarl I oxcIaimodol
busy livo of mon! Wlal loroism & vlal moanoss oxisls villin lly
vaIIs! And aIas! boll lo llo good & lo llo vickod vlal incaIcuIabIo
misoryIroomon yo caII yoursoIvos yol ovory froo man las lon sIavos lo
buiId up lis froodomand lloso sIavos aro mon as lloy aro yol
d|ojgradod by lloir slalion lo aII llal is moan & IoallsomoYol in lov
102
many loarls nov boaling in llal cily do ligl llouglls Iivo & magnanim-
ily llal slouId mollinks rodoom llo vloIo luman racoWlal llougl
llo good man is unlappy las lo nol llal in lis loarl lo salisfy lim` And
viII a conlonlod conscionco componsalo for faIIon loposa sIandorod
namo lorn affoclions & aII llo misorios of civiIizod Iifo`
Ol Sun lov boaulifuI llou arl! And lov gIorious is llo goIdon ocoan
llal rocoivos lloo! My loarl is al poacoI fooI no sorrova loIy Iovo
sliIIs my sonsosI fooI as if my mind aIso parlook of llo inoxprossibIo
IovoIinoss of surrounding naluroWlal slaII I do` SlaII I dislurb llis
caIm by mingIing in llo vorId`slaII I vill an acling loarl sook llo
spoclacIo of misory lo discovor ils causo or slaII I lopIoss Ioavo llo
soarcl of knovIodgo & dovolo mysoIf lo llo pIoasuros lloy say llis
vorId affords`Ol! noI viII bocomo viso! I viII sludy my ovn
loarland lloro discovoring as I may llo spring of llo virluos I possoss
I viII loacl ollors lov lo Iook for llom in lloir ovn souIsI viII find
vlonco arrisos llis unquonslabIo Iovo of boauly I possoss llal sooms llo
ruIing slar of my IifoI viII Ioarn lov I may dirocl il arigll and by vlal
Ioving I may bocomo moro Iiko llal boauly vlicl I adoro And vlon I
lavo lracod llo slops of llo godIiko fooIing vlicl onnobIos mo & makos
mo llal vlicl I osloom mysoIf lo bo llon I viII loacl ollors & if I gain
bul ono prosoIyloif I can loacl bul ono ollor mind vlal is llo boauly
vlicl lloy ougll lo Iovoand vlal is llo sympally lo vlicl lloy
ougll lo aspiro vlal is llo lruo ond of lloir boingvlicl musl bo llo
lruo ond of llal of aII mon llon slaII I bo salisfiod & llink I lavo dono
onougl
IarovoII doublspainfuI modilalion of oviI& llo groal, ovor inox-
pIicabIo causo of aII llal vo sooI am conlonl lo bo ignoranl of aII llis
lappy llal nol rosling my mind on any unslabIo lloorios I lavo como lo
llo concIusion llal of llo groal socrol of llo univorso I ccn |ncu nci|-
ingTloro is a voiI boforo ilmy oyos aro nol piorcing onougl lo soo
llrougl il my arms nol Iong onougl lo roacl il lo villdrav ilI viII
sludy llo ond of my boingol llou univorsaI Iovo inspiro mool llou
boauly vlicl I soo gIoving around mo Iifl mo lo a fil undorslanding of
lloo! Sucl vas llo concIusion of my Iong vandorings I sougll llo ond of
my boing & I found il lo bo knovIodgo of ilsoIfNor llink llis a con-
finod sludyNol onIy did il Ioad mo lo soarcl llo mazos of llo luman
souIbul I found llal lloro oxislod nougll on oarll vlicl conlainod nol
a parl of llal univorsaI boauly vill vlicl il |vasj my aim & objocl lo bo-
como acquainlodllo molions of llo slars of loavon llo sludy of aII llal
pliIosoplors lavo unfoIdod of vondrous in naluro bocamo as il vloro
103
|sicj llo slops by vlicl my souI roso lo llo fuII conlompIalion & onjoy-
monl of llo boaulifuIOl yo vlo lavo jusl oscapod from llo vorId yo
knov nol vlal founlains of Iovo viII bo oponod in your loarls or vlal
oxquisilo doIigll your minds viII rocoivo vlon llo socrols of llo vorId
viII bo unfoIdod lo you and yo slaII bocomo acquainlod vill llo boauly
of llo univorsoYour souIs nov groving oagor for llo acquiromonl of
knovIodgo viII llon rosl in ils possossion disongagod from ovory
parlicIo of oviI and knoving aII llings yo viII as il voro bo mingIod in
llo univorso & yo viII bocomo a parl of llal coIosliaI boauly llal you
admiro
12O
Diolima coasod and a profound siIonco onsuodllo youll vill lis
clooks fIuslod and lis oyos burning vill llo firo communicalod from
lors sliII fixod llom on lor faco vlicl vas Iiflod lo loavon as in inspira-
lionTlo IovoIy fomaIo bonl lors lo llo ground & aflor a doop sigl vas
llo firsl lo broak llo siIonco
Ol divinosl proploloss, said slolov nov & lo mo lov slrango aro
your IossonsIf sucl bo llo ond of our boing lov vayvard a courso did
I pursuo on oarllDiolima you knov nol lov lorn affoclions & misory
incaIcuIabIo misoryvillors up llo souI. Hov polly do llo aclions of
our oarllIy Iifo appoar vlon llo vloIo univorso is oponod lo our
gazoyol lloro our passions aro doop & irrisisbabIo |sicj and as vo aro
fIoaling lopIoss yol cIinging lo lopo dovn llo impoluous slroam can vo
porcoivo llo boauly of ils banks vlicl aIas my souI vas loo lurbid lo ro-
fIoclIf knovIodgo is llo ond of our boing vly aro passions & fooIings
impIanlod in us llal lurrios |sicj us from visdom lo soIfconconlralod
misory & narrov soIfisl fooIing` Is il as a lriaI` On oarll I llougll llal I
lad voII fuIfiIIod my lriaI & my Iasl momonls bocamo poacofuI vill llo
12O.Will Diolima's concIusion loro cf. lor vords in llo Symposium: "Wlon any ono
asconding from a corrocl syslom of Iovo, bogins lo conlompIalo llis supromo boauly,
lo aIroady louclos llo consummalion of lis Iabour. Ior sucl as discipIino llom-
soIvos upon llis syslom, or aro conduclod by anollor boginning lo ascond llrougl
lloso lransilory objocls vlicl aro boaulifuI, lovards llal vlicl is boauly ilsoIf, pro-
cooding as on slops from llo Iovo of ono form lo llal of lvo, and from llal of lvo, lo
llal of aII forms vlicl aro boaulifuI, and from boaulifuI forms lo boaulifuI labils and
inslilulions, and from inslilulions lo boaulifuI doclrinos, unliI, from llo modilalion of
many doclrinos, lloy arrivo al llal vlicl is nolling oIso llan llo doclrino of llo su-
promo boauly ilsoIf, in llo knovIodgo and conlompIalion of vlicl al Iongll lloy ro-
poso." (SloIIoy's lransIalion) Iovo, boauly, and soIf-knovIodgo aro koyvords nol
onIy in IIalo bul in SloIIoy's llougll and poolry, and lo vas mucl concornod vill
llo probIom of llo prosonco of good and oviI. Somo of lloso llomos aro discussod by
WoodviIIo in MalliIda. Tlo ropolilion may lavo boon ono roason vly Mary dis-
cardod llo framovork.
104
rofIoclion llal I dosorvod no bIamobul you lako from mo llal fooI-
ingMy passions voro lloro my aII lo mo and llo lopoIoss misory llal
possossod mo slul aII Iovo & aII imagos of boauly from my souINaluro
vas lo mo as llo bIackosl nigll & if rays of IovoIinoss ovor slrayod inlo
my darknoss il vas onIy lo drav billor loars of lopoIoss anguisl from
my oyosOl on oarll vlal consoIalion is lloro lo misory`
Your loarl I foar, ropIiod Diolima, vas brokon by your sufforingsbul
if you lad slruggIodif vlon you found aII lopo of oarllIy lappinoss
villor villin you vliIo dosiro of il scorclod your souIif you lad noar
you a friond lo lavo raisod you lo llo conlompIalion of boauly & llo
soarcl of knovIodgo you vouId lavo found porlaps nol nov lopos
spring villin you bul a nov Iifo dislincl from llal of passion by vlicl
you lad boforo oxislod
121
roIalo lo mo vlal llis misory vas llal llus
ongrosos youloII mo vlal voro llo vicissiludos of fooIing llal you on-
durod on oarllaflor doall our aclions & vorIdIy inlorosl fado as noll-
ing boforo us bul llo lracos of our fooIings oxisl & llo momorios of lloso
aro vlal furnisl us loro vill olornaI subjocl of modilalion.
A bIusl sproad ovor llo clook of llo IovoIy girIAIas, ropIiod slo
vlal a laIo musl I roIalo vlal dark & plro|njziod passions musl I un-
foIdWlon you Diolima Iivod on oarll your souI soomod lo mingIo in
Iovo onIy vill ils ovn ossonco & lo bo unknoving of llo various lorluros
vlicl llal loarl onduros vlo if il las nol sympallizod vill las boon
vilnoss of llo droadfuI slruggIos of a souI onclainod by dark doop pas-
sions vlicl voro ils loII & yol from vlicl il couId nol oscapoAro
lloro in llo poacofuI Ianguago usod by llo inlabilanls of lloso ro-
gionsvords burning onougl lo painl llo lorluros of llo luman
loarlCan you undorsland llom` or can you in any vay sympallizo
vill llomaIas llougl doad I do and my loars fIov as vlon I Iivod
vlon my momory rocaIIs llo droadfuI imagos of llo pasl
As llo IovoIy girI spoko my ovn oyos fiIIod vill billor dropsllo
spiril of Ianlasia soomod lo fado from villin mo and vlon aflor pIacing
my land boforo my svimming oyos I villdrov il again I found mysoIf
undor llo lroos on llo banks of llo TiborTlo sun vas jusl solling &
linging vill crimson llo cIouds llal fIoalod ovor Sl. IolorsaII vas sliII
no luman voico vas loardllo vory air vas quiol I roso& boviIdorod
vill llo griof llal I foIl villin mo llo rocoIIoclion of vlal I lad loardI
laslonod lo llo cily llal I migll soo luman boings nol llal I migll forgol
my vandoring rocoIIoclions bul llal I migll impross on my mind vlal
121.MalliIda did lavo sucl a friond, bul, as slo admils, slo profilod IillIo from lis
loaclings.
105
vas roaIily & vlal vas oillor droamor al Ioasl nol of llis oarllTlo
Corso of Romo vas fiIIod vill carriagos and as I vaIkod up llo Trinila
doi' Monlos I bocamo disguslod vill llo crovd llal I sav aboul mo &
llo vacancy & vanl of boauly nol lo say doformily of llo many boings
vlo moaningIossIy buzzod aboul moI laslonod lo my room vlicl
ovorIookod llo vloIo cily vlicl as nigll camo on bocamo lran-
quiISiIonl IovoIy Romo I nov gazo on lloolly domos aro iIIuminalod
by llo moonand llo glosls of IovoIy momorios fIoal vill llo nigll
broozo among lly ruins conlompIaling lly IovoIinoss vlicl laIf
soollos my misorabIo loarl I rocord vlal I lavo soonTomorrov I viII
again voo Ianlasia lo Ioad mo lo llo samo vaIks & invilo lor lo visil mo
vill lor visions vlicl I boforo nogIoclodOl Iol mo Ioarn llis Iosson
vliIo yol il may bo usofuI lo mo llal lo a mind lopoIoss & unlappy as
minoa momonl of forgolfuIInoss a momonl |inj vlicl il can pass oul of
ilsoIf is vorll a Iifo of painfuI rocoIIoclion.
105
Tlo noxl morning vliIo silling on llo slops of llo lompIo of AoscuIapius
in llo Borgloso gardons Ianlasia again visilod mo & smiIingIy bockonod
lo mo lo foIIov lorMy fIigll vas al firsl loavy bul llo broozos com-
mandod by llo spiril lo convoy mo grov slrongor as I advancoda
pIoasing Ianguour soizod my sonsos & vlon I rocovorod I found my soIf
by llo EIysian founlain noar DiolimaTlo boaulifuI fomaIo vlo|mj I
lad Iofl on llo poinl of narraling lor oarllIy lislory soomod lo lavo
vailod for my rolurn and as soon as I appoarod slo spoko llus
122
122.In I of IB lloro is anollor, Iongor vorsion (llroo and a laIf pagos) of llis incidonl,
scorod oul, rocounling llo aullor's rolurn lo llo EIysian gardons, Diolima's consoIa-
lion of MalliIda, and lor roquosl for MalliIda's slory. Aflor vandoring llrougl llo
aIIoys and voods adjaconl lo llo gardons, llo aullor camo upon Diolima soalod bo-
sido MalliIda. "Il is lruo indood slo said our affoclions oulIivo our oarllIy forms and
I can voII sympallizo in your disappoinlmonl llal you do nol find vlal you Iovod
in llo Iifo nov ondod lo voIcomo you loro|.j Bul ono day you viII aII mool lov soon
onliroIy doponds upon yoursoIfIl is by llo acquiromonl of visdom and llo Ioss of
llo soIfislnoss llal is nov allaclod lo llo soIo fooIing llal possossos you llal you
viII al Iasl mingIo in llal univorsaI vorId of vlicl vo aII nov mako a dividod parl."
Diolima urgos MalliIda lo loII lor slory, and slo, loping llal by doing so slo viII
broak llo bonds llal voigl loaviIy upon lor, procoods lo "loII llis lislory of slrango
voo."
107
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