Mosses from an Old Manse, and other stories

his own countrymen as well as to the student of foreign literature. As a writer, he seems to occupy an unfortunate position between the Transcendentalists (who, under one n

s apt to invest his plots and characters with the aspect of scenery and people in the clouds, and to steal away the human warmth out of his conceptions. His fictions are sometimes historical, sometimes of the present day, and sometimes, so far as can be discovered, have little or no reference either to time or space. In any case, he generally contents himself with a very slight embroidery of outward manners, - the faintest possible counterfeit of real life, - and endeavors to create an interest by some less obvious peculiarity o

Pere Adam et la nouvelle Mere Eve," 2 tom., 1839; "Roderic; ou le Serpent a l'estomac," 2 tom., 1840; "Le Culte du Feu," a folio volume of ponderous research into the religion and ritual of the old Persian Ghebers, published in 1841; "La Soiree du Chateau en Espagne," 1 tom., 8vo, 1842; and "L'Artiste du Beau; ou le Papillon Mecanique," 5 tom., 4to, 1843. Our somewhat wearisome perusal of this startling catalogue of volumes has left behind it a certain personal affection and s

en the palace of a Paduan noble, and which, in fact, exhibited over its entrance the armorial bearings of a family long since extinct. The young stranger, who was not unstudied in the great poem of his country, recollected that one of the ancestors of this family, and perhaps an occupant of this very mansion, had

give the chamber a habitable air, "what a sigh was that to come out of a young man's heart! Do you find this old mansion gloomy?

was as cheerful as that of southern Italy. Such as it was, however, it fell upon a garden beneath the window and

belong to the hous

of Signor Giacomo Rappaccini, the famous doctor, who, I warrant him, has been heard of as far as Naples. It is said that he distils these plants into medicines that are as

spect of the chamber; and, commending the young man

ade him feel as if the fountain were an immortal spirit that sung its song unceasingly and without heeding the vicissitudes around it, while one century imbodied it in marble and another scattered the perishable garniture on the soil. All about the pool into which the water subsided grew various plants, that seemed to require a plentiful supply of moisture for the nourishment of gigantic leaves, and in some instances, flowers gorgeously magnificent. There was one shrub in particular, set in a marble vase in the midst of the pool, that bore a profusion of purple blossoms, each of which had the lustre and richness of a gem; and the whole together made a show so resplendent that

wed itself to be that of no common laborer, but a tall, emaciated, sallow, and sickly-looking man, dressed in a scholar's garb of black. He was beyond the middle term of life, with g

his part, there was no approach to intimacy between himself and these vegetable existences. On the contrary, he avoided their actual touch or the direct inhaling of their odors with a caution that impressed Giovanni most disagreeably; for the man's demeanor was that of one walking among malignant influences, such as savage beasts, or deadly snakes, or evil spirits, which, should he allow them one moment of license, would wreak u

s walk through the garden, he came to the magnificent plant that hung its purple gems beside the marble fountain, he placed a kind of mask over his mouth and nostrils, as if all this beauty did but conce

site house - a voice as rich as a tropical sunset, and which made Giovanni, though he knew not why,

ered the gardener, "a

attributes were bound down and compressed, as it were and girdled tensely, in their luxuriance, by her virgin zone. Yet Giovanni's fancy must have grown morbid while he looked down into the garden; for the impression which the fair stranger made upon him was as if here were another flower, the human sister of those veg

f treasure. Yet, shattered as I am, my life might pay the penalty of approaching it so closely

plant and opened her arms as if to embrace it. "Yes, my sister, my splendour, it shall be Beatrice's task to nurse a

ne sister performing the duties of affection to another. The scene soon terminated. Whether Dr. Rappaccini had finished his labors in the garden, or that his watchful eye had caught the stranger's face, he now took his daughter's arm and retired. Night was already closing in; oppressive e

ashamed to find how real and matter-of-fact an affair it proved to be, in the first rays of the sun which gilded the dew-drops that hung upon leaf and blossom, and, while giving a brighter beauty to each rare flower, brought everything within the limits of ordinary experience. The young man rejoiced that, in the heart of the barren city, he had the privilege of overlooking this spot of lovely and luxuriant vegetation. It would ser

of genial nature, and habits that might almost be called jovial. He kept the young man to dinner, and made himself very agreeable by the freedom and liveliness of his conversation, especially when warmed by a flask or two of Tuscan wine. Giovanni,

r hand, I should answer it but scantily to my conscience were I to permit a worthy youth like yourself, Signor Giovanni, the son of an ancient friend, to imbibe erroneous ideas respecting a man who might hereafter chance to hold your life and

they?" asked

ow the man well, can answer for its truth - that he cares infinitely more for science than for mankind. His patients are interesting to him only as subjects for some new experiment. He would

d and purely intellectual aspect of Rappaccini. "And yet, worshipful professor, is i

even to have produced new varieties of poison, more horribly deleterious than Nature, without the assistance of this learned person, would ever have plagued the world withal. That the signor doctor does less mischief than might be expected with such dangerous substances is undeniable. Now and then, it must be owned,

inuance between him and Dr. Rappaccini, in which the latter was generally thought to have gained the advantage. If the reader be inclined to

said of Rappaccini's exclusive zeal for science, - "I know not how dearly this physicia

good hap to see her face. I know little of the Signora Beatrice save that Rappaccini is said to have instructed her deeply in his science, and that, young and beautiful as fame reports her, she is already qua

used his brain to swim with strange fantasies in reference to Dr. Rappaccini and the beautifu

rich reflection that was steeped in it. At first, as we have said, the garden was a solitude. Soon, however, - as Giovanni had half hoped, half feared, would be the case, - a figure appeared beneath the antique sculptured portal, and came down between the rows of plants, inhaling their various perfumes as if she were one of those beings of old classic fable that lived upon sweet odors. On again beholding Beatrice, the young man was even startled to perceive how much her beauty exceeded his recollection of it; so brilliant, so vivid, was its character, that she glowed amid the sunlight, and, as Giovanni whispered to himself,

ew its branches into an intimate embrace - so intimate that her features were hidd

with common air. And give me this flower of thine, which I separate w

Giovanni, - but, at the distance from which he gazed, he could scarcely have seen anything so minute, - it appeared to him, however, that a drop or two of moisture from the broken stem of the flower descended upon the lizard's head. For an instant the reptile contorted itself violently, and then lay motionless in the sunshine. Beatrice observed this remarkable phenomenon and crossed herself, s

himself. "What is this being? Beautiful s

and found no flowers or verdure among those antique haunts of men until the heavy perfumes of Dr. Rappaccini's shrubs had lured it from afar. Without alighting on the flowers, this winged brightness seemed to be attracted by Beatrice, and lingered in the air and fluttered about her head. Now, here it could not be but that Giovanni Guasconti's eyes dec

cian than an Italian head, with fair, regular features, and a glistening of gold among his ringlets - gazing down upon her like a

and healthful flowers. Wear them f

ul expression half childish and half woman-like. "I accept your gift, and would fain recompense it with this precious purpl

homeward through the garden. But few as the moments were, it seemed to Giovanni, when she was on the point of vanishing beneath the sculptured portal, that his beautiful bouqu

all, while avoiding her sight, ought Giovanni to have remained so near this extraordinary being that the proximity and possibility even of intercourse should give a kind of substance and reality to the wild vagaries which his imagination ran riot continually in producing. Guasconti had not a deep heart - or, at all events, its depths were not sounded now; but he had a quick fancy, and an ardent southern temperament, which rose every instant to a higher fever pitch. Whether or no Beatrice possessed those terrible attributes, that fatal breath, the affinity with those so beautiful and deadly flowers which were indicated by what Giovanni had witnessed, she had at least instilled a fierce and subtle p

ps kept time with the throbbings of his brain, so that the walk was apt to accelerate itself to a race. One day he found himself arreste

he. "Have you forgotten me? That might well be

e professor's sagacity would look too deeply into his secrets. Endeavoring to recover himself,

ti. You are Professor Pietr

outh with an earnest glance. "What! did I grow up side by side with your father? and shall his son pass me like a s

edily," said Giovanni, with feverish impatience

ercing and active intellect that an observer might easily have overlooked the merely physical attributes and have seen only this wonderful energy. As he passed, this person exchanged a cold and distant salutation with Baglioni, but fixed h

professor when the stranger had passed

answered Giovanni,

he same that coldly illuminates his face as he bends over a bird, a mouse, or a butterfly, which, in pursuance of some experiment, he has killed by the perfume of a flower;

ovanni, passionately. "THAT, signor pr

iovanni, that Rappaccini has a scientific interest in thee. Thou hast fallen into

roke away, and was gone before the professor could again seize hi

can preserve him. Besides, it is too insufferable an impertinence in Rappaccini, thus to snatch the lad out of my own hands, as I may say, and make use of h

ked and smiled, and was evidently desirous to attract his attention; vainly, however, as the ebullition of his feelings had momentarily subsided into a cold and dull vacuity

her visage, so that it looked not unlike a grotesque carving in wood, darken

bout, as if an inanimate thing should start into feveris

"Yes; into the worshipful doctor's garden, where you may see all his fine shrubbe

piece of gold

the way,"

The instant that he was aware of the possibility of approaching Beatrice, it seemed an absolute necessity of his existence to do so. It mattered not whether she were angel or demon; he was irrevocably within her sphere, and must obey the law that whirled him onward, in ever-lessening circles, towards a result which he did not attempt to foreshadow; and yet,

s it was opened, there came the sight and sound of rustling leaves, with the broken sunshine glimmering among them. Giovanni stepped forth, and, forcing himself

ush upon the scene, and lingers sluggishly behind when an appropriate adjustment of events would seem to summon his appearance. So was it now with Giovanni. Day after day his pulses had throbbed with feverish blood at the improbable idea of an interview with Beatrice, and of standing with her, face to face, in this very garden, basking in the Oriental s

artificialness indicating that there had been such commixture, and, as it were, adultery, of various vegetable species, that the production was no longer of God's making, but the monstrous offspring of man's depraved fancy, glowing with only an evil mockery of beauty. They were probably the result of experiment, which in one or two cases had succeeded in mingling plants individually lovely i

ity at least, if not by the desire, of Dr. Rappaccini or his daughter; but Beatrice's manner placed him at his ease, though leaving him still in doubt by what agency he had gai

marvel, therefore, if the sight of my father's rare collection has tempted you to take a nearer view. If he were here, he could tell you many str

in the virtues indicated by these rich blossoms and these spicy perfumes. Would you deign to be

up among these flowers, I know no more of them than their hues and perfume; and sometimes methinks I would fain rid myself of even that small knowledge. There are many flowers here, and those not

dly, while the recollection of former scenes made him shrink. "No, signora; you de

sh to her cheek; but she looked full into Giovanni's eyes, and resp

e. If true to the outward senses, still it may be false in its essence; but the words of Bea

nt, yet which the young man, from an indefinable reluctance, scarcely dared to draw into his lungs. It might be the odor of the flowers. Could it be Beatrice's breath which thus embalmed her words with a strange richn

is mother, and his sisters - questions indicating such seclusion, and such lack of familiarity with modes and forms, that Giovanni responded as if to an infant. Her spirit gushed out before him like a fresh rill that was just catching its first glimpse of the sunlight and wondering at the reflections of earth and sky which were flung into its bosom. There came thoughts, too, from a deep source, and fantasies of a gemlike brilliancy, as if diamonds and rubies sparkled upward among the bubbles of the fountain. Ever

ificent shrub, with its treasury of glowing blossoms. A fragrance was diffused from it which Giovanni recognized as identical with that which he had attributed to Beatric

," murmured she, addressing th

h one of these living gems for the bouquet which I had the happy boldness to f

shriek that went through his heart like a dagger. She caught his hand and drew it back with

e, in a voice of agony. "Not

i followed her with his eyes, he beheld the emaciated figure and pale intelligence of Dr. Rappa

her physical and moral system were now either forgotten, or, by the subtle sophistry of passion transmitted into a golden crown of enchantment, rendering Beatrice the more admirable by so much as she was the more unique. Whatever had looked ugly was now beautiful; or, if incapable of such a change, it stole away and hid itself among those shapeless half ideas which throng the dim region beyond the daylight of our perfect consciousness. Thus did he spend the night, nor fell asleep until the dawn had begun to awake the slumbering flowers in Dr.

oot into the heart, - how stubbornly does it hold its faith until the moment comes when it is doomed to vanish into thin mist! Giovan

tic hour made up the remainder. Nor was it otherwise with the daughter of Rappaccini. She watched for the youth's appearance, and flew to his side with confidence as unreserved as if they had been playmates from early infancy - as if they were such playmates still. If, by any unwonted chance, he fai

den flame; and yet there had been no seal of lips, no clasp of hands, nor any slightest caress such as love claims and hallows. He had never touched one of the gleaming ringlets of her hair; her garment - so marked was the physical barrier between them - had never been waved against him by a breeze. On the few occasions when Giovanni had seemed tempted to overstep the limit, Beatrice grew so sad, so stern, and withal wore such a look of desolate separation, shuddering at itself, that not a spoken word was requisite to repel him. At

hom he had scarcely thought of for whole weeks, and would willingly have forgotten still longer. Given up as he had long been to a pervading excitement, he could to

ments about the gossip of the city and the

t to Alexander the Great. She was as lovely as the dawn and gorgeous as the sunset; but what especially distinguished her was a certain rich perfume in her breath - richer than a garden of Persian roses. Alex

anni, turning his eyes downward

ture was so imbued with them that she herself had become the deadliest poison in existence. Poison was her element of life. With that r

ting from his chair. "I marvel how your worship finds

it the perfume of your gloves? It is faint, but delicious; and yet, after all, by no means agreeable. Were I to brea

cept in your worship's imagination. Odors, being a sort of element combined of the sensual and the spiritual, are apt to de

herewith my fingers are likely enough to be imbued. Our worshipful friend Rappaccini, as I have heard, tinctures his medicaments with odors richer than those of Araby.

ture to his soul; and yet the intimation of a view of her character opposite to his own, gave instantaneous distinctness to a thousand dim suspic

thing towards you save respect and deference; but I pray you to observe, signor, that there is one subject on which we must not speak. You know not the Si

in respect to the poisoner Rappaccini and his poisonous daughter; yes, poisonous as she is beautiful. Listen; for, even should you do violence to my gray hairs, i

oaned and h

s do him justice, he is as true a man of science as ever distilled his own heart in an alembic. What, then, will be your fate? Beyond a doubt you are selected as the material of some

ed Giovanni to himself;

as estranged her. Behold this little silver vase! It was wrought by the hands of the renowned Benvenuto Cellini, and is well worthy to be a love gift to the fairest dame in Italy. But its contents are invaluable. One little sip of this antidote

ial on the table and withdrew, leaving what he had

confess the truth of him, he is a wonderful man - a wonderful man indeed; a vile empiric, however, in his pr

, dissolving in the pure light of her character, had no longer the efficacy of facts, but were acknowledged as mistaken fantasies, by whatever testimony of the senses they might appear to be substantiated. There is something truer and more real than what we can see with the eyes and touch with the finger. On such better evidence had Giovanni founded his confidence in Beatrice, though rather by the necessary force of her high attributes than by any deep and generous faith on his part. But now his spirit was incapable of sustaining itself at the height to which the early enthusiasm of passion had exalted it; he fell down, grovelling among earthly doubts, and defiled therewith the pure whitene

xpected in a beautiful young man, yet, as displaying itself at that troubled and feverish moment, the token of a certain shallowness of feeling and insincerity of character. He d

not yet insinuated itself into my system

tful. He remembered Baglioni's remark about the fragrance that seemed to pervade the chamber. It must have been the poison in his breath! Then he shuddered - shuddered at himself. Recovering from his stupor, he began to watch with curious eye a spider that was busily at work hanging its web from the antique cornice of the apartment, crossing and recrossing the artful system of interwoven lines - as vigorous and active a spider as ever dangle

ssing himself. "Hast thou grown so poisonous t

sweet voice came floa

is past the hour! Why ta

e is the only being whom my breath

sh of her heart, when the pure fountain had been unsealed from its depths and made visible in its transparency to his mental eye; recollections which, had Giovanni known how to estimate them, would have assured him that all this ugly mystery was but an earthly illusion, and that, whatever mist of evil might seem to have gathered over her, the real Beatrice was a heavenly angel. Incapable as he was of such high faith, still her presence had not utterly lost its magic. Giovanni's rage was quelled into

e, abruptly, "whenc

it," answered she

!" repeated Giovanni. "

, while I was but his earthly child. Approach it not!" continued she, observing with terror that Giovanni was drawing nearer to the shrub. "It has qualities that you little dream of. But I, dearest Giovan

ed and trembled. But her faith in his tenderness reassured

l love of science, which estranged me from all society of my kind. Until

asked Giovanni, fixi

s," answered she, tenderly. "Oh, yes; but

m his sullen gloom like a light

g thy solitude wearisome, thou hast severed me likewise from all the

t eyes upon his face. The force of his words had not fo

with poison! Thou hast made me as hateful, as ugly, as loathsome and deadly a creature as thyself - a world's wonder of hideous monstrosit

with a low moan out of her heart. "Holy V

tmosphere with death. Yes, yes; let us pray! Let us to church and dip our fingers in the holy water at the portal! They that come after

? I, it is true, am the horrible thing thou namest me. But thou, - what hast thou to do, save with one other shudder at my hideous mi

scowling upon her. "Behold! this power have I

round Giovanni's head, and were evidently attracted towards him by the same influence which had drawn them for an instant within the sphere of sev

ee pass away, leaving but thine image in mine heart; for, Giovanni, believe it, though my body be nourished with poison, my spirit is God's creature, and craves love as its daily food. But my fathe

ty around them to press this insulated pair closer together? If they should be cruel to one another, who was there to be kind to them? Besides, thought Giovanni, might there not still be a hope of his returning within the limits of ordinary nature, and leading Beatrice, the redeemed Beatrice, by the hand? O, weak, and selfish, and unworthy spirit, that could dream of an earthl

nni did n

sperate. Behold! there is a medicine, potent, as a wise physician has assured me, and almost divine in its efficacy. It is composed of ingredients the most opposite to th

tle silver vial which Giovanni took from his bosom. She added, wit

the beautiful youth and maiden, as might an artist who should spend his life in achieving a picture or a group of statuary and finally be satisfied with his success. He paused; his bent form grew erect with conscious power; he spread out his hands

n his bosom. It will not harm him now. My science and the sympathy between thee and him have so wrought within his system that he now stands apart from common m

spoke she kept her hand upon her heart, - "wherefore

which no power nor strength could avail an enemy - misery, to be able to quell the mightiest with a breath - misery, to be as terrib

to mingle with my being will pass away like a dream-like the fragrance of these poisonous flowers, which will no longer taint my breath among the flowers of Eden. Farewell, Gi

f thwarted nature, and of the fatality that attends all such efforts of perverted wisdom, perished there, at the feet of her father and Giovanni. Just at that moment Professor Pietro Baglioni looked for