by Robert Reed
loved by Evadne . Overpowered by her new sensations, she did not
pause to examine them, or to regulate her conduct by any sentiments
except the tyrannical one which suddenly usurped the empire of her
heart. She yielded to its influence, and the too natural consequence in
a mind unattuned to soft emotions was, that the attentions of Adrian
became distasteful to her . She grew capricious; her gentle conduct
towards him was exchanged for asperity and repulsive coldness .
When she perceived the wild or pathetic appeal of his expressive
countenance, she would relent, and for a while resume her ancient
kindness. But these fluctuations shook to its depths the soul of the
sensitive youth; he no longer deemed the world subject to him, be-
cause he possessed Evadne’s love; he felt in every nerve that the dire
storms of the mental universe were about to attack his fragile being,
which quivered at the expectation of its advent .
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 858
Perdita, who then resided with Evadne, saw the torture that
Adrian endured . She loved him as a kind elder brother; a relation
to guide, protect, and instruct her, without the too frequent tyranny
of parental authority . She adored his virtues, and with mixed con-
tempt and indignation she saw Evadne pile drear sorrow on his head,
for the sake of one who hardly marked her . In his solitary despair
Adrian would often seek my sister, and in covered terms express his
misery, while fortitude and agony divided the throne of his mind .
Soon, alas! was one to conquer . Anger made no part of his emotion .
With whom should he be angry? Not with Raymond, who was un-
conscious of the misery he occasioned; not with Evadne, for her his
soul wept tears of blood—poor, mistaken girl, slave not tyrant was
she, and amidst his own anguish he grieved for her future destiny .
Once a writing of his fell into Perdita’s hands; it was blotted with
tears—well might any blot it with the like—
“Life”—it began thus—“is not the thing romance writers de-
scribe it; going through the measures of a dance, and after various
evolutions arriving at a conclusion, when the dancers may sit down
and repose . While there is life there is action and change . We go
on, each thought linked to the one which was its parent, each act to
a previous act . No joy or sorrow dies barren of progeny, which for
ever generated and generating, weaves the chain that make our life:
Un dia llama a otro dia y ass i llama, y encadena llanto
a llanto, y pena a pena.
Truly disappointment is the guardian deity of human life; she
sits at the threshold of unborn time, and marshals the events as they
come forth . Once my heart sat lightly in my bosom; all the beauty
of the world was doubly beautiful, irradiated by the sun-light shed
from my own soul . O wherefore are love and ruin for ever joined
in this our mortal dream? So that when we make our hearts a lair
for that gently seeming beast, its companion enters with it, and piti-
lessly lays waste what might have been an home and a shelter .”
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 859
By degrees his health was shaken by his misery, and then his
intellect yielded to the same tyranny . His manners grew wild; he
was sometimes ferocious, sometimes absorbed in speechless mel-
ancholy . Suddenly Evadne quitted London for Paris; he followed,
and overtook her when the vessel was about to sail; none knew what
passed between them, but Perdita had never seen him since; he lived
in seclusion, no one knew where, attended by such persons as his
mother selected for that purpose .
CHAPTER IV.
THE next day Lord Raymond called at Perdita’s cottage, on his
way to Windsor Castle . My sister’s heightened colour and sparkling
eyes half revealed her secret to me . He was perfectly self-possessed;
he accosted us both with courtesy, seemed immediately to enter into
our feelings, and to make one with us . I scanned his physiognomy,
which varied as he spoke, yet was beautiful in every change . The
usual expression of his eyes was soft, though at times he could make
them even glare with ferocity; his complexion was colourless; and
every trait spoke predominate self-will; his smile was pleasing,
though disdain too often curled his lips—lips which to female eyes
were the very throne of beauty and love . His voice, usually gentle,
often startled you by a sharp discordant note, which shewed that his
usual low tone was rather the work of study than nature . Thus full
of contradictions, unbending yet haughty, gentle yet fierce, tender
and again neglectful, he by some strange art found easy entrance
to the admiration and affection of women; now caressing and now
tyrannizing over them according to his mood, but in every change
a despot .
At the present time Raymond evidently wished to appear ami-
able . Wit, hilarity, and deep observation were mingled in his talk,
rendering every sentence that he uttered as a flash of light. He soon
conquered my latent distaste; I endeavoured to watch him and Per-
dita, and to keep in mind every thing I had heard to his disadvantage .
But all appeared so ingenuous, and all was so fascinating, that I
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 860
forgot everything except the pleasure his society afforded me . Un-
der the idea of initiating me in the scene of English politics and
society, of which I was soon to become a part, he narrated a number
of anecdotes, and sketched many characters; his discourse, rich and
varied, flowed on, pervading all my senses with pleasure. But for
one thing he would have been completely triumphant . He alluded to
Adrian, and spoke of him with that disparagement that the worldly
wise always attach to enthusiasm . He perceived the cloud gathering,
and tried to dissipate it; but the strength of my feelings would not
permit me to pass thus lightly over this sacred subject; so I said em-
phatically, “Permit me to remark, that I am devotedly attached to the
Earl of Windsor; he is my best friend and benefactor . I reverence his
goodness, I accord with his opinions, and bitterly lament his pres-
ent, and I trust temporary, illness . That illness, from its peculiarity,
makes it painful to me beyond words to hear him mentioned, unless
in terms of respect and affection .”
Raymond replied; but there was nothing conciliatory in his reply .
I saw that in his heart he despised those dedicated to any but worldly
idols . “Every man,” he said, “dreams about something, love, hon-
our, and pleasure; you dream of friendship, and devote yourself to a
maniac; well, if that be your vocation, doubtless you are in the right
to follow it .”—
Some reflection seemed to sting him, and the spasm of pain that
for a moment convulsed his countenance, checked my indignation .
“Happy are dreamers,” he continued, “so that they be not awakened!
Would I could dream! but ‘broad and garish day’ is the element in
which I live; the dazzling glare o
f reality inverts the scene for me .
Even the ghost of friendship has departed, and love”——He broke
off; nor could I guess whether the disdain that curled his lip was
directed against the passion, or against himself for being its slave .
This account may be taken as a sample of my intercourse with
Lord Raymond . I became intimate with him, and each day afforded
me occasion to admire more and more his powerful and versatile
talents, that together with his eloquence, which was graceful and
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 861
witty, and his wealth now immense, caused him to be feared, loved,
and hated beyond any other man in England .
My descent, which claimed interest, if not respect, my former
connection with Adrian, the favour of the ambassador, whose secre-
tary I had been, and now my intimacy with Lord Raymond, gave me
easy access to the fashionable and political circles of England . To
my inexperience we at first appeared on the eve of a civil war; each
party was violent, acrimonious, and unyielding . Parliament was di-
vided by three factions, aristocrats, democrats, and royalists . After
Adrian’s declared predeliction to the republican form of government,
the latter party had nearly died away, chiefless, guideless; but, when
Lord Raymond came forward as its leader, it revived with redoubled
force . Some were royalists from prejudice and ancient affection, and
there were many moderately inclined who feared alike the capri-
cious tyranny of the popular party, and the unbending despotism of
the aristocrats . More than a third of the members ranged themselves
under Raymond, and their number was perpetually encreasing . The
aristocrats built their hopes on their preponderant wealth and influ-
ence; the reformers on the force of the nation itself; the debates were
violent, more violent the discourses held by each knot of politicians
as they assembled to arrange their measures . Opprobrious epithets
were bandied about, resistance even to the death threatened; meet-
ings of the populace disturbed the quiet order of the country; except
in war, how could all this end? Even as the destructive flames were
ready to break forth, I saw them shrink back; allayed by the absence
of the military, by the aversion entertained by every one to any vio-
lence, save that of speech, and by the cordial politeness and even
friendship of the hostile leaders when they met in private society .
I was from a thousand motives induced to attend minutely to the
course of events, and watch each turn with intense anxiety .
I could not but perceive that Perdita loved Raymond; methought
also that he regarded the fair daughter of Verney with admiration
and tenderness . Yet I knew that he was urging forward his marriage
with the presumptive heiress of the Earldom of Windsor, with keen
expectation of the advantages that would thence accrue to him . All
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 862
the ex-queen’s friends were his friends; no week passed that he did
not hold consultations with her at Windsor .
I had never seen the sister of Adrian . I had heard that she was
lovely, amiable, and fascinating . Wherefore should I see her? There
are times when we have an indefinable sentiment of impending
change for better or for worse, to arise from an event; and, be it for
better or for worse, we fear the change, and shun the event . For this
reason I avoided this high-born damsel . To me she was everything
and nothing; her very name mentioned by another made me start
and tremble; the endless discussion concerning her union with Lord
Raymond was real agony to me . Methought that, Adrian withdrawn
from active life, and this beauteous Idris, a victim probably to her
mother’s ambitious schemes, I ought to come forward to protect her
from undue influence, guard her from unhappiness, and secure to
her freedom of choice, the right of every human being . Yet how was
I to do this? She herself would disdain my interference . Since then I
must be an object of indifference or contempt to her, better, far bet-
ter avoid her, nor expose myself before her and the scornful world
to the chance of playing the mad game of a fond, foolish Icarus . One
day, several months after my return to England, I quitted London to
visit my sister . Her society was my chief solace and delight; and my
spirits always rose at the expectation of seeing her . Her conversation
was full of pointed remark and discernment; in her pleasant alcove,
redolent with sweetest flowers, adorned by magnificent casts, an-
tique vases, and copies of the finest pictures of Raphael, Correggio,
and Claude, painted by herself, I fancied myself in a fairy retreat
untainted by and inaccessible to the noisy contentions of politicians
and the frivolous pursuits of fashion . On this occasion, my sister
was not alone; nor could I fail to recognise her companion: it was
Idris, the till now unseen object of my mad idolatry .
In what fitting terms of wonder and delight, in what choice
expression and soft flow of language, can I usher in the loveliest,
wisest, best? How in poor assemblage of words convey the halo of
glory that surrounded her, the thousand graces that waited unwearied
on her. The first thing that struck you on beholding that charming
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 863
countenance was its perfect goodness and frankness; candour sat
upon her brow, simplicity in her eyes, heavenly benignity in her
smile. Her tall slim figure bent gracefully as a poplar to the breezy
west, and her gait, goddess-like, was as that of a winged angel new
alit from heaven’s high floor; the pearly fairness of her complexion
was stained by a pure suffusion; her voice resembled the low, sub-
dued tenor of a flute. It is easiest perhaps to describe by contrast. I
have detailed the perfections of my sister; and yet she was utterly
unlike Idris . Perdita, even where she loved, was reserved and timid;
Idris was frank and confiding. The one recoiled to solitude, that she
might there entrench herself from disappointment and injury; the
other walked forth in open day, believing that none would harm her .
Wordsworth has compared a beloved female to two fair objects in
nature; but his lines always appeared to me rather a contrast than a
similitude:
A violet by a mossy stone
Half hidden from the eye,
Fair as a star when only one
Is shining in the sky.
Such a violet was sweet Perdita, trembling to entrust herself to
the very air, cowering from observation, yet betrayed by her excel-
lences; and repaying with a thousand graces the labour of those who
sought her in her lonely bye-path . Idris was as the star, set in single
splendour in the dim anadem of balmy evening; ready to enlighten
and delight the subject world, shielded herself from every taint by
her unimagined distance from all that was not like herself akin to
heaven .
I found this vision of beauty in Perdita’s alcove, in earnest con-
versation with its inmate . Whe
n my sister saw me, she rose, and
taking my hand, said, “He is here, even at our wish; this is Lionel,
my brother .” Idris arose also, and bent on me her eyes of celestial
blue, and with grace peculiar said—“You hardly need an introduc-
tion; we have a picture, highly valued by my father, which declares
THE LAST MAN, by Mary Shelley | 864
at once your name . Verney, you will acknowledge this tie, and as my
brother’s friend, I feel that I may trust you .”
Then, with lids humid with a tear and trembling voice, she con-
tinued— “Dear friends, do not think it strange that now, visiting
you for the first time, I ask your assistance, and confide my wishes
and fears to you . To you alone do I dare speak; I have heard you
commended by impartial spectators; you are my brother’s friends,
therefore you must be mine . What can I say? if you refuse to aid me,
I am lost indeed!” She cast up her eyes, while wonder held her audi-
tors mute; then, as if carried away by her feelings, she cried—“My
brother! beloved, ill-fated Adrian! how speak of your misfortunes?
Doubtless you have both heard the current tale; perhaps believe the
slander; but he is not mad! Were an angel from the foot of God’s
throne to assert it, never, never would I believe it . He is wronged,
betrayed, imprisoned—save him! Verney, you must do this; seek
him out in whatever part of the island he is immured; find him, res-
cue him from his persecutors, restore him to himself, to me—on the
wide earth I have none to love but only him!”
Her earnest appeal, so sweetly and passionately expressed, filled
me with wonder and sympathy; and, when she added, with thrilling
voice and look, “Do you consent to undertake this enterprize?” I
vowed, with energy and truth, to devote myself in life and death to
the restoration and welfare of Adrian . We then conversed on the plan
I should pursue, and discussed the probable means of discovering
his residence . While we were in earnest discourse, Lord Raymond
entered unannounced: I saw Perdita tremble and grow deadly pale,
and the cheeks of Idris glow with purest blushes . He must have been
astonished at our conclave, disturbed by it I should have thought; but
nothing of this appeared; he saluted my companions, and addressed
me with a cordial greeting . Idris appeared suspended for a moment,