From the silence and deep
peace of this saintly summer night--from the pathetic blending of this
sweet moonlight, dawnlight, dreamlight--from the manly tenderness of
this flattering, whispering, murmuring love--suddenly as from the woods
and fields--suddenly as from the chambers of the air opening in
revelation--suddenly as from the ground yawning at her feet, leaped
upon her, with the flashing of cataracts, Death the crowned phantom,
with all the equipage of his terrors, and the tiger roar of his voice.
The moments were numbered; the strife was finished; the vision was
closed. In the twinkling of an eye, our flying horses had carried us to
the termination of the umbrageous aisle; at the right angles we wheeled
into our former direction; the turn of the road carried the scene out
of my eyes in an instant, and swept it into my dreams for ever.
SECTION III--DREAM-FUGUE:
FOUNDED ON THE PRECEDING THEME OF SUDDEN DEATH
"Whence the sound
Of instruments, that made melodious chime,
Was heard, of harp and organ; and who moved
Their stops and chords was seen; his volant touch
Instinct through all proportions, low and high,
Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue."
_Par. Lost_, Bk. XI.
_Tumultuosissimamente_
Passion of sudden death! that once in youth I read and interpreted by
the shadows of thy averted signs [Footnote: "_Averted signs_":--I
read the course and changes of the lady's agony in the succession of
her involuntary gestures; but it must be remembered that I read all
this from the rear, never once catching the lady's full face, and even
her profile imperfectly.
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