Maredata and Giulio, or the Ocean Spirit. an Italian Legend
MAREDATA AND GIULIO ;
OR , THE OCEAN SPIRIT .
An Italian Legend .
挿絵も前書きも付かない短編。
ヘイニング Great Tales Of Terror From Europe And America では
Maredata And Gulio, or The Ocean Spirit. Anonymous
としており、ほぼ本書の引き写し。
おそらく本書は、The Literary Magnet 第2巻から採録したのだろう。題名は少し違う。
THE
LITERARY MAGNET
OF THE
Belles Lettres , Science , and the fine Arts : Vol 2
London, 1824
p.225
MAREDATA .
A Tradition of the Fourteenth Century .
此方の記事では、最後に
J.G -- ns.
と、イニシャルらしきものがあるから、全く無名という訳でもない。ヘイニングがこれを知らなかったのか、黙殺したのかは解らない。
The sun , ere he sank on the bosom of the ocean , brightened the coast of Calabria with his farewell rays . A sweet twilight shed its “ softening influence over the earth ; the ocean flamed in gold and purple , and seemed adorned like the bed of a royal bridegroom , to receive its glorious guest . The gentle breeze of the west floated warm and mild through the air ; and the heat of a bright day had given way to a re freshing balm . With her mysterious veil , the approaching night covered the surrounding objects . A new world appeared to have fisen on the well - known shore , and new charms were added to its original grandeur . Yet still this beautiful scene was lifeless , no human form broke its soli tude . One might fancy the ocean and sky , enamoured of their own beauty , wished to disclose their charms only to each other , free from the profaning gaze of man . At length a youth arrives , to enjoy the silent wonders of nature , a youth worthy of seeing the goddess without her girdle . Giulio , the only son of the rich and powerful Count Montefuoco , was now verging into manhood , yet there was none , even in that early age , who could vie with him in either the arts of knighthood , or the accomplishments of the mind . His father , the Chancellor of the kingdom , wished that his son should suc ceed him in this dignity ; he gave him , therefore , an education very extraor : dinary for a young nobleman of those days . After Giulio had attained a high perfection in the arts of chivalry , he was sent to Rome , where he enjoyed the benefit of being instructed by the most celebrated doctors . The superiority of his intellectual powers made him victorious in his public disputations , and fame had long spread his name all over Italy , when his father recalled him to Naples ; for it was the intention of the Connt to add the last polish to the education of his son , by initiating him in all the arts of political intrigue and mysteries of government . But the ardent youth , in opposition to his father's designs , desired first to acquire a share of military glory in the wars , which , at that epoch , filled the beautiful fields of Italy with horror and desolation . The Count then thought it proper to proceed to his magnificent castle on the coast of Ca labria : here , surrounded by rich and delightful scenery , where land and sea offered an inexhaustible source of recreation , he hoped the charms of a peaceful life would make a stronger impression upon Giulio’s mind ; and here , the Count flattered himself , he would win his son by gentle persuasion to yield to his wisbes ; for he was master of the arts of elo quence , and possessed surprising influence over the mind . Since Giulio's arrival at the Castle Montefuoco , he delighted in swimming through the gentle waves flowing along the flowery shore . The heat of the season heightened the pleasure he took in those exercises , and soon the stormy element owned his power ; for the water seemed gratefully to yield to his efforts , and proud of bearing his god - like form . The more his skill increased , the stronger his attachment to the element grew . He imagined he found a sort of animation in the floods , which played so softly round his breast , and already at noon he felt impatient for the coolness of the evening , to immerge in the bosom of the waters . Giulio walked slowly along the shore , towards some bushes , from which a pleasant lawn stretched itself into the sea . Here he left his garments , and renewed his delightful sport . Never , he thought , the floods had played so warmly , so lovingly , round his limbs . It was as if out of every little wave , there rose a flattering voice ; the waters , sparkling in changing colours in the last rays of the sun , appeared to him like a thousand mirrors , presenting smiling eyes and divine forms to his enchanted soul . But , lo ! how he started , when suddenly he beheld close to him a woman of such heavenly beauty , that if he at first in his dreams had taken the phantoms of his imagination for beings of sub stance , he now mistook reality for a vision . But the idea of the dan gerous situation wherein the fair one was placed , recalled his senses ; he clasped his arms round her slender limbs , a grateful fascinating glance gave him strength , he swam towards the shore , where he soon beheld his de lightful burthen in safety ; here he left her in order that he might procure his garments . Having thrown his mantle over his shoulder , he rejoined the fair being , who had , in the mean time , repaired the disorder of her dress , which , in the splendour and brightness of its appearance , seemed to consist of the silver foam of the sea . On his approach , she fell on her knees and embraced his feet , with looks full of gratitude and love . He raised her hastily , and full of respect , asked to know whom he had had the happiness to save , and whence she came ? A tear clouded her eye ; she shook her head , laid her finger on her mouth , as if to say she was deprived of the power of speech , and pointed in answer to his question with her white hand to the sea . He addressed her in different languages , but although she seemed to understand him perfectly well , she remained silent . Giulio led the unknown lady to the Castle . The family received her with politeness ; but the Countess and her daughters , envious of the more than human beauty of the stranger , treated her with a degree of reserve bordering on coolness . They contrived , nevertheless , to give her the as sistance her misfortune seemed to require . Giulio's heart was now the seat of the most ardent passion ; the image of the silent lady never left his fancy for a moment . He endeavoured , in a thousand different ways , to induce her to utter a single sound , but all in vain ; neither was she able to answer to his questions written in different idioms . write no langnage ? " asked he - No ! was the sense of her replying gesture . The mother of Giulio made some contemptuous reflections respecting the education of the mysterious lady , but she , by her gentle and bumble behaviour , attempted to soften the haughty spirit of the Countess , and succeeded . She even gave proof of a more refined equ cation , in once taking a lute , and drawing from it the most celestial tones . All the deep feelings , which her eyes expressed , seemed now to have found a corresponding language . The sounds fell on the listeners ' ears like an unknown mysterious harmony of a better world , and filled their hearts with delight and / rapture . Inclining over her lute , she often fixed her eyes fall of the tenderest love on Giulio , and a tear stole slowly over her cheek . As still she remained silent , it became necessary to give her a name , and Giulio called her Maredata , which , in Italian , signifies , given by the sea . From the first moment , the old Count , partial to beauty , had been the declared champion of the silent lady , and he even did not blame the unconcealed passion of Giulio . Nevertheless , he was strangely surprised when once the youth declared , with a fire and vehemence that would admit of no contradiction , that he could no longer exist withont the pos session of Maredata . The wise Count knew that passion would be come more violent by opposition , and , as he hoped that Giulio , charmed by the ties of love , would forget every warlike idea , he did not withhold his consent to their union . The church sanctified their love , and Giu lio , in the possession of Maredata , thought himself the happiest mortal . A sweet boy soon increased their mutual felicity . Giulio accustomed himself in time to her silence , and understood so perfectly well her elo quent gestures , that he almost imagined her inaudible language to be the true idiom of love . Maredata had , since her first appearance , al ways shown a great aversion to the sight of the sea . She covered her eyes , and would rapidly turn away whenever she approached it . The family of the Count thought this to be in consequence of the danger to which she had been exposed in this element , and therefore had assigned for the young couple remote apartments , which looked towards the land side of the castle . Giulio , on the contrary , felt , since he had found Ma redata , an increasing pleasure in swimming through the softly murmuring Once , as he returned from the chace , and prepared to depart again to enjoy a refreshing sea - bath , his sister , Manuela , met him , and with an appearance of great anxiety , drew him into her lonely closet . “ My dearest brother , " said she , “ I tremble to impart to you a discovery I have made , for it may prove destructive to your happiness , but the fear of seeing you in the snares of some supernatural and malicious being , overcomes all other considerations . Know , then , that about an hour ago I passed Maredata's apartments , when I heard a tuneful voice singing to the accents of the lute . I entered suddenly , and found Maredata , who , blushing at my sudden appearance , seemed extremely embarrassed , and relapsed immediately into her accustomed silence . “ Now , " added Manuela , " what a false heart must her's be , if she , able to speak , can be silent for years to you , to you , the founder of all her happiness ! What can be her aim , but to destroy your body and your soul ? ” Giulio , deeply affected , hastened to Maredata , requesting an expla nation of this extraordinary event , and conjured her to break her long silence . But Maredata , with tears in her eyes , presented him their child , and seemed by the sweetest caresses to make amends for her disobe dience . Her loving husband was soon appeased . He entreated her to accompany him on a walk , and , perhaps without intention , he led her to the sea - coast . When he became aware of his mistake , it was too late to return , for the ocean lay before them , brightened by all the lustre of an Italian moon - light . The effect which the sight of the element made upon Maredata , was as unexpected as wonderful . Her eyes sparkled with delight , she spread out her arms , uttered a cry of joy , and threw herself into the waves . Giulio stood amazed , but soon he beheld her , who rose smiling and nodding at him , and swimming with an as tonishing agility and grace . Her slender form appearing through the floods and the silver light of the moon , seemed not to be that of a mortal . Love and anxiety filled her husband's bosom , and he followed her into the sea to protect her in the dangerous element . If ever the waters had appeared sweet to him , it was now . He thought a soft music sounded from the depths ; alluring voices invited the couple to sink in the mysterious bo som of the floods , and indeed , in the arms of Maredata , he sunk deeper and deeper , till he almost lost his senses , when Maredata suddenly threw out a cry of despair , and seizing him with both her arms , moved towards the shore , where she deposited him on the very spot he once had placed her . Soon her endeavours and her caresses called him again to life . “ Who art thou ? " cried he , “ wonderful being , who art thou ? " But Maredata , taking his hand , fled with quick steps , and encircled her veil fast round her ears as if to avoid the seducing sound of the roaring waves , which rose bigher and higher , pursuing the beautiful fugitive . Arrived at the castle , he repeated his entreaties to her to solve this mys tery . But Maredata clasped her lily arms round him , and her soft ex- ' pressive eye asked him , “ Am I not thine ? Art thou not happy ? Why askest thou more ? " And indeed Giulio seemed to be satisfied : he even promised , he never would ask her again , and consented to lead her shortly to another castle in the heart of the country , where she would not be troubled by the sight of the sea . The joy which sparkled at this assurance in her eyes , was his sweet reward , and once more a happy husband , he pressed his happy wife to his heart . But next day his parents requested his company , and his father ad dressed him thus : “ My son , we were walking yesterday on the border of the sea , when we beheld the extraordinary scene which happened with Maredata . You easily see that you never saved her out of the waves , since she possesses such a wonderful power over the element . Manuela has told us , she has heard her sing , and notwithstanding your entreaties , she maintains , an obstinate silence . This must be broke , for the sake of your immortal soul : conjure her , command her to speak , and if she still remains silent , you must separate . ” Giulio , on the contrary , after having discoursed a long time with his parents , asserted , that he was himself perfectly happy ; that such a soft affectionate being as Mare data , could never endanger his soul , and finished by asking his parents ' leave to go with his family to their castle in the interior of the country . After some reflection , the Count granted his request : but , added he , before you depart for the country , you will accompany me to Naples , where I want to present you to the king , afterwards you may go . Giulio promised to obey , and in the space of a few days the Count and his family , Giulio , Maredata , and their child , proceeded to Naples . Soon after their arrival , Giulio was presented to the king ; his recep tion was not according to his expectations . The old Count , seeing that he could not prevail on his son to force Maredata to disclose her secret , discovered the whole to the king , who had engaged himself to end this affair . He therefore received Giulio with hard words ; reproaching him with a sinful alliance with a fairy , and commanded bim , under pain of dis grace , to learn immediately the truth from Maredata , and threatened even to burn his wife , as a being devoted to the demon . At these words of the king , Giulio lost his patience ; a spirit of rage seemed to have taken possession of his soul . He hastened home , rushed into the apartment of his wife , whom he found playing with her child in her arms . He brandished his sword over her head , and with flaming eyes , and thun dering voice , exclaimed “ Thou cursed witch , who art thou ? Speak , or instant death , " _ but he could not finish his sentence , for she fell into his arms , and cried out , “ Now indeed is it time to speak ! Now indeed we must part , and part for ever ! ” A flood of tears checked her words , but she overcame her emotion , and with a sweet voice she entreated her amazed husband , who , at the first sound of her voice had lost his rage , to sit down near her , and then she proceeded : u Know then , my only love , that I was born in the depth of the ocean . Once , as thou wert swimming near the shore , I beheld , I loved thee . But our laws will not permit us to speak to any mortal , or if we do , his life is forfeited to the powerful spirits of the deep . Oh ! how difficult is it to be mute when love fills the heart ! The word would part from the lips , yet I was silent , and now , that I have once spoke to thee , I must depart , and my child too . For the revenge of the spirits is dreadful , and all of us would soon be sacrificed to their wrath should I delay any longer . Farewell , Giulio ! from this moment , I take leave of joy , of love , and happiness ! Farewell ! ” She embraced him , and would depart , but Giulio , trem bling like a murderer at the sight of the gory wound of his victim , rose suddenly , and seizing the child , cried out , “ Never ! never , shalt thou depart ; never shalt thou carry off my child ! " But she gazed on him with a long , deep look , that chilled his blood to his very heart ; then she began to sing in such mournful , pensive sounds , that he lost his senses . When he recovered , she was gone . The inmates of the castle had seen her proceed towards , and leap into , the sea . From that moment a still melancholy preyed upon Giulio . He said not a single word to his amazed parents . Long time elapsed before he was able to leave the room , till he one evening walked down to the coast to his accustomed bathing - place . His anxious parents beheld him a long time swimming , when suddenly the sea glowed in a thousand colours , and Giulio disap peared . The beautiful phenomenon lasted for hours , but Giulio was seen no more .A tradition prevailed among the people , that the lustre of the sea had been a signal of the reunion of the faithful lovers .
