Wieland's Maddness by Charles Brockden Brown
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13]
to recover myself, and to reflect upon my situation .

this_was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on_the side where I sat . between_the rock and_the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in_this chasm he that spoke appeared to_be stationed ." attend ! attend ! but be not terrified ."

I started, and exclaimed, " good heavens ! what_is that ? who_are you ? "

"A friend; one come not to injure but to save you: fear nothing ."

this voice was immediately recognized to_be the same with one of_those which I had heard in_the closet; it was_the voice of him who had proposed to shoot rather than to strangle his victim . my terror made me at once mute and motionless . he continued, "I leagued to murder you .I repent . mark my bidding, and be safe . avoid this spot . the snares of death encompass it . elsewhere danger will_be distant; but this spot, shun it as_you value your life . mark me further: profit by_this warning, but divulge it not . if a syllable of what has passed escape you, your doom is sealed . remember your father, and be faithful ."

here the accents ceased, and left me overwhelmed with dismay . i_was fraught with_the persuasion that during every moment I remained here my life was endangered; but I_could_not take a step without hazard of falling to_the bottom of_the precipice . the path leading to_the summit was short, but rugged and intricate . even starlight was excluded by_the umbrage, and not the faintest gleam was afforded to guide my steps . what should I_do ? to depart or remain was equally and eminently perilous .

in_this state of uncertainty, I perceived a ray flit across the gloom and disappear . another succeeded, which_was stronger, and remained for apassing moment . it glittered on_the shrubs that were scattered at_the entrance, and gleam continued to succeed gleam for a few seconds, till they finally gave place to unintermitted darkness .

the first visitings of_this light called up a train of horrors in my mind; destruction impended over this spot; the voice which I had lately heard had warned me to retire, and had menaced me with_the fate of_my father if I refused . i_was desirous, but unable to obey; these gleams were such as preluded the stroke by_which he fell; the hour, perhaps, was_the same .I shuddered as_if I had beheld suspended over me the exterminating sword .

presently a new and stronger illumination burst through_the lattice on_the right hand, and a voice from_the edge of_the precipice above called out my name . it_was Pleyel . joyfully did I recognize his accents; but such was_the tumult of_my thoughts that I had_not power to answer him till he had frequently repeated his summons .I hurried at_length from_the fatal spot, and, directed by_the lantern which he bore, ascended the hill .

pale and breathless, it_was with difficulty I_could support myself . he anxiously inquired into_the cause of_my affright and_the motive of_my unusual absence . he had returned from my brother's at a late hour, and was informed by Judith that I had walked out before sunset and had_not yet returned . this intelligence was somewhat alarming . he waited some_time; but, my absence continuing, he had set out in search of me . he had explored the neighborhood with_the utmost care, but, receiving no tidings of me, he_was preparing to acquaint my brother with_this circumstance, when he recollected the summer- house on_the bank, and conceived it possible that some accident had detained me there . he again inquired into_the cause of_this detention, and of_that confusion and dismay which my looks testified .

i_told him that I had strolled hither in_the afternoon, that sleep had overtaken me as I sat, and_that I had awakened a few_minutes before his arrival . I_could tell him no more . in_the present impetuosity of_my thoughts, i_was almost dubious whether the pit into which my brother had endeavored to entice me, and_the voice that talked through_the lattice, were_not parts of_the same dream .I remembered, likewise, the charge of secrecy, and_the penalty denounced if i_should rashly divulge what I had heard . for_these reasons i_was silent on_that subject, and, shutting myself in my chamber, delivered myself up_to contemplation .

what I_have related will, no_doubt, appear to_you a fable . you_will believe that calamity has subverted my reason, and_that I_am amusing you with_the chimeras of_my brain instead of facts that_have really happened . I_shall_not_be surprised or offended if these be your suspicions . I_know not, indeed, how you_can deny them admission . for, if to_me, the immediate witness, they were fertile of perplexity and doubt, how must they affect another to_whom they_are recommended only by my testimony ? it_was only by subsequent events that i_was fully and incontestably assured of_the veracity of_my senses .

meanwhile, what_was I to_think ? I had_been assured that a design had_been formed against my life . the ruffians had leagued to murder me . whom had I offended ? who was there, with_whom I had ever maintained intercourse, who was capable of harboring such atrocious purposes ?

my temper was_the reverse of cruel and imperious . my heart was touched with sympathy for_the children of misfortune . but this sympathy was not a barren sentiment . my purse, scanty as it_was, was ever open, and my hands ever active, to relieve distress . many were the wretches whom my personal exertions had extricated from want and disease, and who rewarded me with their gratitude . there_was no face which lowered at my approach, and no lips which uttered imprecations in my hearing . on_the contrary, there_was none, over whose fate I had exerted any influence or to_whom i_was known by reputation, who did_not greet me with smiles and dismiss me with proofs of veneration: yet did_not my senses assure me that a plot was laid against my life ?

I_am not destitute of courage . I_have shown myself deliberative and calm in_the midst of peril . I_have hazarded my own life for_the preservation of another; but now was I confused and panic- struck . I_have_not lived so as_to fear death; yet to perish by an unseen and secret stroke, to_be mangled by_the knife of an assassin, was a thought at which I shuddered: what had I done to deserve to_be made the victim of malignant passions ?

but soft ! was I not assured that my life was safe in all places but one ? and why was_the treason limited to_take effect in_this spot ? i_was everywhere equally defenseless . my house and chamber were at all times accessible . danger still impended over me; the bloody purpose was still entertained, but the hand that was to execute it_was powerless in all places but one !

here I had remained for_the_last four or five hours, without the means of resistance or defense; yet I had_not_been attacked .a human being was at hand, who was conscious of_my presence, and warned me hereafter to avoid this retreat . his voice was not absolutely new, but had I never heard it but once before ? but why did he prohibit me from relating this incident to others, and what species of death will_be awarded if I disobey ?

such were the reflections that haunted me during the night, and which effectually deprived me of sleep . next morning, at breakfast, Pleyel related an event which my disappearance had hindered him from mentioning the night before . early the preceding morning, his occasions called him to_the city: he had stepped into a coffee- house to while away an hour; here he had met a person whose appearance instantly bespoke him to_be the same whose hasty visit I_have mentioned, and whose extraordinary visage and tones had so powerfully affected me . on an attentive survey, however, he proved, likewise, to_be one with_whom my friend had had some intercourse in Europe . this authorized the liberty of accosting him, and after some conversation, mindful, as Pleyel said, of_the footing which this stranger had gained in my heart, he had ventured to invite him to Mettingen . the invitation had_been cheerfully accepted, and a visit promised on_the afternoon of_the next_day .

this_information excited no sober emotions in my breast . i_was, of_course, eager to_be informed as_to_the circumstances of_their ancient intercourse . when and where had they met ? what knew he of_the life and character of_this man ?

in answer to my inquiries, he informed me that, three years before, he_was a traveler in Spain . he had made an excursion from Valencia to Murviedro, with a view to inspect the remains of Roman magnificence scattered in_the environs of_that town . while traversing the site of_the theater of old Saguntum, he alighted upon_this man, seated on a stone, and deeply engaged in perusing the work of_the deacon Marti .a short conversation ensued, which proved the stranger to_be English . they returned to Valencia together .

his garb, aspect, and deportment were wholly Spanish .a residence of three years in_the country, indefatigable attention to_the language, and a studious conformity with_the customs of_the people, had made him indistinguishable from a native when he chose to assume that character .Pleyel found him to_be connected, on_the footing of friendship and respect, with many eminent merchants in_that city . he had embraced the catholic religion, and adopted a Spanish name instead of_his own, which_was CARWIN, and devoted himself to_the literature and religion of_his new country . he pursued no profession, but subsisted on remittances from England .

while Pleyel remained in Valencia, Carwin betrayed no aversion to intercourse, and_the former found no small attractions in_the society of_this new acquaintance, on general topics he_was highly intelligent and communicative . he had visited every corner of Spain, and could furnish the most accurate details respecting its ancient and present state . on topics of religion and of_his own history, previous to_his transformation into a Spaniard, he_was invariably silent . you_could merely gather from_his discourse that he_was English, and_that he_was well acquainted with_the neighboring countries .

his character excited considerable curiosity in_the observer . it_was not easy to reconcile his conversion to_the Romish faith with those proofs of knowledge and capacity that were exhibited by him on different occasions .a suspicion was sometimes admitted that his belief was counterfeited for some political purpose . the most careful observation, however, produced no discovery . his manners were at all times harmless and inartificial, and_his habits those of a lover of contemplation and seclusion . he appeared to_have contracted an affection for Pleyel, who was not slow to return it .

my friend, after a month's residence in_this city, returned into France, and, since that period, had heard nothing concerning Carwin till his appearance at Mettingen .

on_this occasion Carwin had received Pleyel's greeting with a certain distance and solemnity to_which_the latter had_not_been accustomed . he had waived noticing the inquiries of Pleyel respecting his desertion of Spain, in_which he had formerly declared that_it_was his purpose to_spend his life . he had assiduously diverted the attention of_the latter to indifferent topics, but was still, on every theme, as eloquent and judicious as formerly . why he had assumed the garb of a rustic Pleyel was unable to conjecture . perhaps it might_be poverty; perhaps he_was swayed by motives which it_was his interest to conceal, but which were connected with consequences of_the utmost moment .

such was_the sum of_my friend's information . i_was not sorry to_be left alone during the greater part of_this day . every employment was irksome which did_not leave me at liberty to meditate .I had now a new subject on_which to exercise my thoughts . before evening i_should_be ushered into his presence, and listen to_those tones whose magical and thrilling power I had already experienced . but with what new images would he then be accompanied ?

Carwin was an adherent to_the Romish faith, yet was an Englishman by birth, and, perhaps, a protestant by education . he had adopted Spain for_his country, and had intimated a design to_spend his days there, yet now was an inhabitant of_this district, and disguised by_the habiliments of a clown ! what could_have obliterated the impressions of_his youth and made him abjure his religion and_his country ? what subsequent events had introduced so total a change in_his plans ? in withdrawing from Spain, had he reverted to_the religion of_his ancestors ? or was_it true that his former conversion was deceitful, and_that his conduct had_been swayed by motives which it_was prudent to conceal ?

Hours were consumed in revolving these ideas . my meditations were intense; and, when_the series was broken, I began to reflect with astonishment on my situation . from_the death of_my parents till the commencement of_this year my life had_been serene and blissful beyond the ordinary portion of humanity; but now my bosom was corroded by anxiety . i_was visited by dread of unknown dangers, and_the future was ascene over which clouds rolled and thunders muttered .I compared the cause with_the effect, and_they seemed disproportioned to each_other . all unaware, and in a manner which I had no power to explain, i_was pushed from my immovable and lofty station and cast upon a sea of troubles .

I determined to_be my brother's visitant on_this evening; yet my resolves were_not unattended with wavering and reluctance

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