Chapter X
THE NEXT MORNING. THE FATE OF NYDIA.
AND meekly, softly, beautifully, dawned at last the light over thetrembling deep!--the winds were sinking into rest--the foam died fromthe glowing azure of that delicious sea. Around the east, thin mistscaught gradually the rosy hues that heralded the morning; Light wasabout to resume her reign. Yet, still, dark and massive in thedistance, lay the broken fragments of the destroying cloud, from whichred streaks, burning dimlier and more dim, betrayed the yet rollingfires of the mountain of the 'Scorched Fields'. The white walls andgleaming columns that had adorned the lovely coasts were no more.Sullen and dull were the shores so lately crested by the cities ofHerculaneum and Pompeii. The darlings of the deep were snatched fromher embrace! Century after century shall the mighty Mother stretchforth her azure arms, and know them not--moaning round the sepulchres ofthe Lost!
There was no shout from the mariners at the dawning light--it had cometoo gradually, and they were too wearied for such sudden bursts ofjoy--but there was a low, deep murmur of thankfulness amidst thosewatchers of the long night. They looked at each other and smiled--theytook heart--they felt once more that there was a world around, and a Godabove them! And in the feeling that the worst was passed, theoverwearied ones turned round, and fell placidly to sleep. In thegrowing light of the skies there came the silence which night hadwanted: and the bark drifted calmly onward to its port. A few othervessels, bearing similar fugitives, might be seen in the expanse,apparently motionless, yet gliding also on. There was a sense ofsecurity, of companionship, and of hope, in the sight of their slendermasts and white sails. What beloved friends, lost and missed in thegloom, might they not bear to safety and to shelter!
In the silence of the general sleep, Nydia rose gently. She bent overthe face of Glaucus--she inhaled the deep breath of his heavyslumber--timidly and sadly she kissed his brow--his lips; she felt forhis hand--it was locked in that of Ione; she sighed deeply, and her facedarkened. Again she kissed his brow, and with her hair wiped from it thedamps of night. 'May the gods bless you, Athenian!' she murmured: 'mayyou be happy with your beloved one!--may you sometimes remember Nydia!Alas! she is of no further use on earth!'
With these words she turned away. Slowly she crept along by the fori,or platforms, to the farther side of the vessel, and, pausing, bent lowover the deep; the cool spray dashed upward on her feverish brow. 'Itis the kiss of death,' she said 'it is welcome.' The balmy air playedthrough her waving tresses--she put them from her face, and raised thoseeyes--so tender, though so lightless--to the sky, whose soft face shehad never seen!
'No, no!' she said, half aloud, and in a musing and thoughtful tone, 'Icannot endure it; this jealous, exacting love--it shatters my whole soulin madness! I might harm him again--wretch that I was! I have savedhim--twice saved him--happy, happy thought: why not die happy?--it isthe last glad thought I can ever know. Oh! sacred Sea! I hear thyvoice invitingly--it hath a freshening and joyous call. They say that inthy embrace is dishonour--that thy victims cross not the fatal Styx--beit so!--I would not meet him in the Shades, for I should meet him stillwith her! Rest--rest--rest! there is no other Elysium for a heart likemine!'
A sailor, half dozing on the deck, heard a slight splash on the waters.Drowsily he looked up, and behind, as the vessel merrily bounded on, hefancied he saw something white above the waves; but it vanished in aninstant. He turned round again, and dreamed of his home and children.
When the lovers awoke, their first thought was of each other--their nextof Nydia! She was not to be found--none had seen her since the night.Every crevice of the vessel was searched--there was no trace of her.Mysterious from first to last, the blind Thessalian had vanished forever from the living world! They guessed her fate in silence: andGlaucus and Ione, while they drew nearer to each other (feeling eachother the world itself), forgot their deliverance, and wept as for adeparted sister.
The Last Days of Pompeii Page 53