Wieland's Maddness by Charles Brockden Brown
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introduction to "Wieland's madness," from "Wieland, or the transformation ."

from virtue's blissful paths away the double- tongued are_sure to stray; good is a forth- right journey still . and mazy paths but lead to ill .

"WIELAND" is_the first American novel . it appeared in 1798; its author was soon recognized as_the earliest American novelist; and he remained the greatest, until Fenimore Cooper brought forth his leather-stocking Tales, a quarter of a century later .

although modern sophistication easily points out flaws in Charles Brockden brown's story- structure, and reproves him for improbability, morbidness, and a style often too elevated, yet his work lives . his downright originality is worthy of Cooper himself, and_his weird imaginations and horribly sustained scenes of terror have_been surpassed by few writers save Edgar Allan Poe .

Wieland's madness

by Charles Brockden brown

first part

I

[ as_the story opens, the narratress, Clara Wieland, is entering upon_the happy realization of her love for Henry Pleyel, closest friend of her brother "Wieland ."

their woodland home, Mettingen, on_the banks of_the then remote Schuylkill, is_the abode of music, letters and thorough culture . the peace of high thinking and simple outdoor life hovers over all .]

one sunny afternoon i_was standing in_the door of_my house, when I marked a person passing close to_the edge of_the bank that was in front . his pace was a careless and lingering one, and had none of_that gracefulness and ease which distinguish a person with certain advantages of education from a clown . his gait was rustic and awkward . his form was ungainly and disproportioned .Shoulders broad and square, breast sunken, his head drooping, his body of uniform breadth, supported by long and lank legs, were the ingredients of_his frame . his garb was not ill adapted to such a figure .a slouched hat, tarnished by_the weather, a coat of thick gray cloth, cut and wrought, as it seemed, by a country tailor, blue worsted stockings, and shoes fastened by thongs and deeply discolored by dust, which brush had never disturbed, constituted his dress .

there_was nothing remarkable in_these appearances: they were frequently to_be met with on_the road and in_the harvest- field . I_cannot tell why I gazed upon them, on_this occasion, with more than ordinary attention, unless it were that such figures were seldom seen by me except on_the road or field . this lawn was only traversed by men whose views were directed to_the pleasures of_the walk or the grandeur of_the scenery .

he passed slowly along, frequently pausing, as_if to examine the prospect more deliberately, but never turning his eye toward the house, so as_to allow me a view of_his countenance . presently he entered acopse at a small distance, and disappeared . my eye followed him while he remained in sight . if his image remained for any duration in my fancy after his departure, it_was because no other object occurred sufficient to expel it .

I continued in_the same spot for half an hour, vaguely, and by fits, contemplating the image of_this wanderer, and drawing from outward appearances those inferences, with respect to_the intellectual history of_this person, which experience affords us .I reflected on_the alliance which commonly subsists between ignorance and_the practice of agriculture, and indulged myself in airy speculations as_to_the influence of progressive knowledge in dissolving this alliance and embodying the dreams of_the poets .I asked why the plow and_the hoe might_not become the trade of every human being, and how this trade might_be made conducive to, or at_least consistent with, the acquisition of wisdom and eloquence .

weary with_these reflections, I returned to_the kitchen to perform some household office .I had usually but one servant, and she was a girl about_my own age . i_was busy near the chimney, and she was employed near the door of_the apartment, when some one knocked . the door was opened by her, and she was immediately addressed with, "Prythee, good girl, canst thou supply a thirsty man with a glass of buttermilk ? " she answered that there_was none in_the house ."Aye, but there_is some in_the dairy yonder . thou knowest as_well as I, though Hermes never taught thee, that, though every dairy be a house, every house is_not a dairy ." to_this speech, though she understood only a part of it, she replied by repeating her assurances that she had none to_give ." well, then," rejoined the stranger, " for charity's sweet sake, hand me forth a cup of cold water ." the girl said she_would go to_the spring and fetch it ."Nay, give_me the cup, and suffer me to help myself . neither manacled nor lame, i_should merit burial in_the maw of carrion crows if I laid this task upon thee ." she gave him the cup, and he turned to_go to_the spring .

I listened to_this dialogue in silence . the words uttered by_the person without affected me as somewhat singular; but what chiefly rendered them remarkable was_the tone that accompanied them . it_was wholly new . my brother's voice and Pleyel's were musical and energetic .I had fondly imagined that, in_this respect, they were surpassed by none . now my mistake was detected . I_cannot pretend to communicate the impression that was_made upon me by_these accents, or to depict the degree in_which force and sweetness were blended in_them . they were articulated with a distinctness that was unexampled in my experience . but this_was not all . the voice was not_only mellifluent and clear, but the emphasis was so just, and_the modulation so impassioned, that_it seemed as_if a heart of stone could_not fail of being moved by_it . it imparted to_me an emotion altogether involuntary and uncontrollable . when he uttered the words, " for charity's sweet sake," I dropped the cloth that I held in my hand; my heart overflowed with sympathy and my eyes with unbidden tears .

this description will appear to_you trifling or incredible . the importance of_these circumstances will_be manifested in_the sequel . the manner in_which i_was affected on_this occasion was, to my own apprehension, a subject of astonishment . the tones were indeed such as I never heard before; but that_they should in an instant, as it were, dissolve me in tears, will not easily be believed by others, and can scarcely be comprehended by_myself .

it_will_be readily supposed that i_was somewhat inquisitive as_to_the person and demeanor of_our visitant . after a moment's pause, I stepped to_the door and looked after him . judge my surprise when I beheld the selfsame figure that had appeared a half- hour before upon_the bank . my fancy had conjured up a very different image .a form and attitude and garb were instantly created worthy to accompany such elocution; but this person was, in all visible respects, the reverse of_this phantom . strange as it may seem, I_could_not speedily reconcile myself to_this disappointment . instead of returning to my employment, I threw myself in a chair that was placed opposite the door, and sunk into a fit of musing .

my attention was in_a_few_minutes recalled by_the stranger, who returned with_the empty cup in_his hand .I had_not thought of_the circumstance, or should certainly have chosen a different seat . he no sooner showed himself, than a confused sense of impropriety, added to_the suddenness of_the interview, for_which, not having foreseen it, I had made no preparation, threw me into a state of_the most painful embarrassment . he brought with_him a placid brow; but no sooner had he cast his eyes upon me than his face was as glowingly suffused as my own . he placed the cup upon_the bench, stammered out thanks, and retired .

it_was some_time before I_could recover my wonted composure .I had snatched a view of_the stranger's countenance . the impression that_it made was vivid and indelible . his cheeks were pallid and lank, his eyes sunken, his forehead overshadowed by coarse straggling hairs, his teeth large and irregular, though sound and brilliantly white, and_his chin discolored by atetter . his skin was of coarse grain and sallow hue . every feature was wide of beauty, and_the outline of_his face reminded you of an inverted cone .

and yet his forehead, so_far as shaggy locks would allow it to_be seen, his eyes lustrously black, and possessing, in_the midst of haggardness, a radiance inexpressibly serene and potent, and something in_the rest of_his features which it would_be in vain to describe, but which served to betoken a mind of_the highest order, were essential ingredients in_the portrait . this, in_the effects which immediately flowed from_it, I count among_the most extraordinary incidents of_my life . this face, seen for a moment, continued for hours to occupy my fancy, to_the exclusion of almost every_other image .I had proposed to_spend the evening with my brother; but I_could_not resist the inclination of forming a sketch upon paper of_this memorable visage . whether my hand was aided by any peculiar inspiration, or i_was deceived by my own fond conceptions, this portrait, though hastily executed, appeared unexceptionable to my own taste .

I placed it at all distances and in all lights; my eyes were riveted upon it . half the night passed away in wakefulness and in contemplation of_this picture . so flexible, and yet so stubborn, is_the human mind ! so obedient to impulses the most transient and brief, and yet so unalterably observant of_the direction which_is given to_it ! how little did I then foresee the termination of_that chain of_which this_may_be regarded as_the first link !

next_day arose in darkness and storm .Torrents of rain fell during the whole day, attended with incessant thunder, which reverberated in stunning echoes from_the opposite declivity . the inclemency of_the air would_not allow me to walk out .I had, indeed, no inclination to leave my apartment .I betook myself to_the contemplation of_this portrait, whose attractions time had rather enhanced than diminished .I laid aside my usual occupations, and, seating myself at a window, consumed the day in alternately looking out upon_the storm and gazing at_the picture which lay upon a table before me . you_will perhaps deem this conduct somewhat singular, and ascribe it to certain peculiarities of temper . I_am not aware of any such peculiarities . I_can account for_my devotion to_this image no otherwise than by supposing that its properties were rare and prodigious . perhaps you_will suspect that such were the first inroads of a passion incident to every female heart, and which frequently gains afooting by_means even more slight and more improbable than these . I_shall_not controvert the reasonableness of_the suspicion, but leave you at liberty to draw from my narrative what conclusions you please .

night at_length returned, and_the storm ceased . the air was once more clear and calm, and bore an affecting contrast to_that uproar of_the elements by_which it had_been preceded .I spent the darksome hours, as I spent the day, contemplative and seated at_the window . why was my mind absorbed in thoughts ominous and dreary ? why did my bosom heave with sighs and my eyes overflow with tears ? was_the tempest that had just passed a signal of_the ruin which impended over me ? my soul fondly dwelt upon_the images of_my brother and_his children; yet they only increased the mournfulness of_my contemplations . the smiles of_the charming babes were as bland as formerly . the same dignity sat on_the brow of_their father, and yet i_thought of_them with anguish . something whispered that_the happiness we at present enjoyed was set on mutable foundations . death must happen to all . whether our felicity was to_be subverted by_it to- morrow, or whether it_was ordained that we_should lay down our heads full of years and of honor, was a question that no human being could solve . at other times these ideas seldom intruded .I either forbore to reflect upon_the destiny that_is reserved for all men, or the reflection was mixed up with images that disrobed it of terror; but now the uncertainty of life occurred to_me without any of_its usual and alleviating accompaniments . I_said to myself, we_must die . sooner or later, we_must disappear forever from_the face of_the earth . whatever be the links that hold us to life, they_must_be broken . this scene of existence is, in all its parts, calamitous . the greater number is oppressed with immediate evils, and those the tide of whose fortunes is full, how small is their portion of enjoyment, since they know that_it_will terminate !

for some_time I indulged myself, without reluctance, in_these gloomy thoughts; but at_length the delection which they produced became insupportably painful .I endeavored to dissipate it with music .I had all my grandfather's melody as_well as poetry by rote .I now lighted by chance on a ballad which commemorated the fate of a German cavalier who fell at_the siege of nice under Godfrey of bouillon . my choice was unfortunate; for_the scenes of violence and carnage which were here wildly but forcibly portrayed only suggested to my thoughts a new topic in_the horrors of war .

I sought refuge, but ineffectually, in sleep . my mind was thronged by vivid but confused images, and no effort that I_made was sufficient to drive them away . in_this situation I heard the clock, which hung in_the room, give the signal for twelve . it was_the same instrument which formerly hung in my father's chamber, and which, on account of_its being his workmanship, was

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