by T. Smollett
CHAPTER SIXTY
HE RECOMPENSES THE ATTACHMENT OF HIS FRIEND; AND RECEIVES A LETTER THATREDUCES HIM TO THE VERGE OF DEATH AND DISTRACTION.
This step being taken, his mind in some measure retrieved its formertranquillity. He soothed himself with the prospect of a happyreconciliation with the divine Monimia, and his fancy was decoyed fromevery disagreeable presage by the entertaining conversation of hissister, with whom in two days he set out for Presburg, attended by hisfriend the Major, who had never quitted him since their meeting atBrussels. Here they found Count Trebasi entirely rid of the fever whichhad been occasioned by his wound, and in a fair way of doing well; acircumstance that afforded unspeakable pleasure to Melvil, whose mannerof thinking was such, as would have made him unhappy, could he havecharged himself with the death of his mother's husband, howsoevercriminal he might have been.
The Count's ferocity did not return with his health. His eyes wereopened by the danger he had incurred, and his sentiments turned in a newchannel. He heartily asked pardon of Mademoiselle for the rigorous usageshe had suffered from the violence of his temper; thanked Renaldo for theseasonable lesson he had administered to him; and not only insisted uponbeing removed from the castle to a house of his own in Presburg, butproffered to make immediate restitution of all the rents which he hadunjustly converted to his own use.
These things being settled in the most amicable manner, to the entiresatisfaction of the parties concerned, as well as of the neighbouringnoblesse, among whom the house of Melvil was in universal esteem, Renaldoresolved to solicit leave at the Imperial court to return to England, inorder to investigate that affair of Monimia, which was more interestingthan all the points he had hitherto adjusted. But, before he quittedPresburg, his friend Farrel taking him aside one day, "Count," said he,"will you give me leave to ask, if, by my zeal and attachment for you, Ihave had the good fortune to acquire your esteem?" "To doubt thatesteem," replied Renaldo, "were to suspect my gratitude and honour, ofwhich I must be utterly destitute before I lose the sense of thoseobligations I owe to your gallantry and friendship--obligations which Ilong for a proper occasion to repay."
"Well then," resumed the Major, "I will deal with you like a downrightSwiss, and point out a method by which you may shift the load ofobligation from your own shoulders to mine. You know my birth, rank, andexpectations in the service; but perhaps you do not know, that, as myexpense has always unavoidably exceeded my income, I find myself a littleout at elbows in my circumstances, and want to piece them up bymatrimony. Of those ladies with whom I think I have any chance ofsucceeding, Mademoiselle de Melvil seems the best qualified to render mysituation happy in all respects. Her fortune is more than sufficient todisembarrass my affairs; her good sense will be a seasonable check uponmy vivacity; her agreeable accomplishments will engage a continuation ofaffection and regard. I know my own disposition well enough to think Ishall become a most dutiful and tractable husband; and shall deem myselfhighly honoured in being more closely united to my dear Count de Melvil,the son and representative of that worthy officer under whom my youth wasformed. If you will therefore sanction my claim, I will forthwith beginmy approaches, and doubt not, under your auspices, to bring the place toa capitulation."
Renaldo was pleased with the frankness of this declaration, approved ofhis demand, and desired him to depend upon his good offices with hissister, whom he sounded that same evening upon the subject, recommendingthe Major to her favour, as a gentleman well worthy of her choice.Mademoiselle, who had never been exercised in the coquetries of her sex,and was now arrived at those years when the vanity of youth ought toyield to discretion, considered the proposal as a philosopher, and afterdue deliberation candidly owned she had no objection to the match.Farrel was accordingly introduced in the character of a lover, after thepermission of the Countess had been obtained; and he carried on hisaddresses in the usual form, so much to the satisfaction of all concernedin the event, that a day was appointed for the celebration of hisnuptials, when he entered into peaceable possession of his prize.
A few days after this joyful occasion, while Renaldo was at Vienna, wherehe had been indulged with leave of absence for six months, and employedin making preparations for his journey to Britain, he was one eveningpresented by his servant with a package from London, which he no sooneropened, than he found enclosed a letter directed to him, in thehandwriting of Monimia. He was so much affected at sight of thosewell-known characters, that he stood motionless as a statue, eager toknow the contents, yet afraid to peruse the billet. While he hesitatedin this suspense, he chanced to cast his eye on the inside of the cover,and perceived the name of his Jewish friend at the bottom of a few lines,importing, that the enclosed was delivered to him by a physician of hisacquaintance, who had recommended it in a particular manner to his care.This intimation served only to increase the mystery, and whet hisimpatience; and as he had the explanation in his hand, he summoned allhis resolution to his aid, and, breaking the seal, began to read thesewords: "Renaldo will not suppose that this address proceeds frominterested motives, when he learns, that, before it can be presented tohis view, the unfortunate Monimia will be no more."
Here the light forsook Renaldo's eyes, his knees knocked together, and hefell at full length insensible on the floor. His valet, hearing thenoise, ran into the apartment, lifted him upon a couch, and despatched amessenger for proper assistance, while he himself endeavoured to recallhis spirits by such applications as chance afforded. But before theCount exhibited any signs of life, his brother-in-law entered his chamberby accident, and as soon as he recollected himself from the extremeconfusion and concern produced by this melancholy spectacle, he perceivedthe fatal epistle, which Melvil, though insensible, still kept within hisgrasp; justly suspecting this to be the cause of that severe paroxysm, hedrew near the couch, and with difficulty read what is above rehearsed,and the sequel, to this effect:--
"Yes, I have taken such measures as will prevent it from falling intoyour hands, until after I shall have been released from a beingembittered with inexpressible misery and anguish. It is not myintention, once loved, and ah! still too fondly remembered youth, toupbraid you as the source of that unceasing woe which hath been so longthe sole inhabitant of my lonely bosom. I will not call you inconstantor unkind. I dare not think you base or dishonourable; yet I wasabruptly sacrificed to a triumphant rival, before I had learned to bearsuch mortification; before I had overcome the prejudices which I hadimbibed in my father's house. I was all at once abandoned to despair, toindigence, and distress, to the vile practices of a villain, who, I fear,hath betrayed us both. What have not I suffered from the insults andvicious designs of that wretch, whom you cherished in your bosom! Yetto these I owe this near approach to that goal of peace, where thecanker-worm of sorrow will expire. Beware of that artful traitor; and,oh! endeavour to overcome that levity of disposition, which, if indulged,will not only stain your reputation, but also debauch the good qualitiesof your heart. I release you, in the sight of Heaven, from allobligations. If I have been injured, let not my wrongs be visited on thehead of Renaldo, for whom shall be offered up the last fervent prayers ofthe hapless Monimia."
This letter was a clue to the labyrinth of Melvil's distress. Though theMajor had never heard him mention the name of this beauty, he hadreceived such hints from his own wife, as enabled him to comprehend thewhole of the Count's disaster. By the administration of stimulatingmedicines, Renaldo recovered his perception; but this was a cruelalternative, considering the situation of his thoughts. The first wordhe pronounced was Monimia, with all the emphasis of the most violentdespair. He perused the letter, and poured forth incoherent execrationsagainst Fathom and himself. He exclaimed, in a frantic tone, "She islost for ever! murdered by my unkindness! We are both undone by theinfernal arts of Fathom! execrable monster! Restore her to my arms. Ifthou art not a fiend in reality, I will tear out thy false heart."
So saying, he sprung upon his valet, who would have fallen
a sacrifice tohis undistinguishing fury, had not he been saved by the interposition ofFarrel and the family, who disengaged him from his master's gripe by dintof force; yet, notwithstanding their joint endeavours, he broke from thisrestraint, leaped upon the floor, and seizing his sword, attempted toplunge it in his own breast. When he was once more overcome by numbers,he cursed himself, and all those who withheld him; swore he would notsurvive the fair victim who had perished by his credulity andindiscretion; and the agitation of his spirits increased to such adegree, that he was seized with strong convulsions, which nature wasscarce able to sustain. Every medical expedient was used to quiet hisperturbation, which at length yielded so far as to subside into acontinual fever and confirmed delirium, during which he ceased not topour forth the most pathetic complaints, touching his ruined love, and torave about the ill-starred Monimia. The Major, half distracted by thecalamity of his friend, would have concealed it from the knowledge of hisfamily, had not the physician, by despairing of his life, laid him underthe necessity of making them acquainted with his condition.
The Countess and Mrs. Farrel were no sooner informed of his case thanthey hastened to the melancholy scene, where they found Renaldo deprivedof his senses, panting under the rage of an exasperated disease. Theysaw his face distorted, and his eyes glaring with frenzy; they heard himinvoke the name of Monimia with a tenderness of accent which even theimpulse of madness could not destroy. Then, with a sudden transition oftone and gesture, he denounced vengeance against her betrayer, and calledupon the north wind to cool the fervour of his brain. His hair hung indishevelled parcels, his cheeks were wan, his looks ghastly, his vigourwas fled, and all the glory of his youth faded; the physician hung hishead in silence, the attendants wrung their hands in despair, and thecountenance of his friend was bathed in tears.
Such a picture would have moved the most obdurate heart; what impressionthen must it have made upon a parent and sister, melting with all theenthusiasm of affection! The mother was struck dumb, and stupefied withgrief; the sister threw herself on the bed in a transport of sorrow,caught her loved Renaldo in her arms, and was, with great difficulty,torn from his embrace. Such was the dismal reverse that overtook thelate so happy family of Melvil; such was the extremity to which thetreachery of Fathom had reduced his best benefactor!
Three days did nature struggle with surprising efforts, and then theconstitution seemed to sink under the victorious fever; yet, as hisstrength diminished, his delirium abated, and on the fifth morning helooked round, and recognised his weeping friends. Though now exhaustedto the lowest ebb of life, he retained the perfect use of speech, and hisreason being quite unclouded, spoke to each with equal kindness andcomposure; he congratulated himself upon the sight of shore after thehorrors of such a tempest; called upon the Countess and his sister, whowere not permitted to see him at such a conjuncture; and being apprisedby the Major of his reason for excluding them from his presence, heapplauded his concern, bequeathed them to his future care, and took leaveof that gentleman with a cordial embrace. Then he desired to be left inprivate with a certain clergyman, who regulated the concerns of his soul,and he being dismissed, turned his face from the light, in expectation ofhis final discharge. In a few minutes all was still and dreary, he wasno longer heard to breathe, no more the stream of life was perceived tocirculate, he was supposed to be absolved from all his cares, and anuniversal groan from the bystanders announced the decease of the gallant,generous, and tender-hearted Renaldo.
"Come hither, ye whom the pride of youth and health, of birth andaffluence inflames, who tread the flowery maze of pleasure, trusting tothe fruition of ever-circling joys; ye who glory in your accomplishments,who indulge the views of ambition, and lay schemes for future happinessand grandeur, contemplate here the vanity of life! behold how low thisexcellent young man is laid! mowed down even in the blossom of his youth,when fortune seemed to open all her treasures to his worth!"
Such were the reflections of the generous Farrel, who, while he performedthe last office of friendship, in closing the eyes of the much-lamentedMelvil, perceived a warmth on the skin, which the hand of death seldomleaves unextinguished. This uncommon sensation he reported to thephysician, who, though he could feel no pulsation of the heart orarteries, conjectured that life still lingered in some of its interiorhaunts, and immediately ordered such applications to the extremities andsurface of the body, as might help to concentrate and reinforce thenatural heat.
By these prescriptions, which for some time produced no sensible effect,the embers were, in all probability, kept glowing, and the vital powerrevived, for, after a considerable pause, respiration was graduallyrenewed at long intervals, a languid motion was perceived at the heart,a few feeble and irregular pulsations were felt at the wrist, theclay-coloured livery of death began to vanish from his face, thecirculation acquired new force, and he opened his eyes with a sigh,which proclaimed his return from the shades of death.
When he recovered the faculty of swallowing, a cordial was administered,and whether the fever abated, in consequence of the blood's being cooledand condensed during the recess of action in the solids, or nature, inthat agony, had prepared a proper channel for the expulsion of thedisease, certain it is, he was from this moment rid of all bodily pain;he retrieved the animal functions, and nothing remained of his malady butan extreme weakness and languor, the effect of nature's being fatigued inthe battle she had won.
Unutterable was the joy that took possession of his mother and sisterwhen Farrel flew into her apartment to intimate this happy turn. Scarcecould they be restrained from pouring forth their transports in thepresence of Renaldo, who was still too feeble to endure suchcommunication; indeed, he was extremely mortified and dejected at thisevent, which had diffused such pleasure and satisfaction among hisfriends, for though his distemper was mastered, the fatal cause of itstill rankled at his heart, and he considered this respite from death asa protraction of his misery.
When he was congratulated by the Major on the triumph of hisconstitution, he replied, with a groan, "I would to heaven it had beenotherwise, for I am reserved for all the horrors of the most poignantsorrow and remorse. O Monimia! Monimia! I hoped by this time to haveconvinced thy gentle shade, that I was, at least intentionally, innocentof that ruthless barbarity which hath brought thee to an untimely grave.Heaven and earth! do I still survive the consciousness of that direcatastrophe! and lives the atrocious villain who hath blasted all ourhopes!"
With these last words the fire darted from his eyes, and his brother,snatching this occasional handle for reconciling him to life, joined inhis exclamations against the treacherous Fathom, and observed, that heshould not, in point of honour, wish to die, until he should havesacrificed that traitor to the manes of the beauteous Monimia. Thisincitement acted as a spur upon exhausted nature, causing the blood tocirculate with fresh vigour, and encouraging him to take such sustenanceas would recruit his strength, and repair the damage which his health hadsustained.
His sister assiduously attended him in his recovery, flattering hisappetite, and amusing his sorrow at the same time; the clergymanassailed his despondence with religious weapons, as well as witharguments drawn from philosophy; and the fury of his passions beingalready expended, he became so tractable as to listen to hisremonstrances. But notwithstanding the joint endeavours of all hisfriends, a deep fixed melancholy remained after every consequence of hisdisease had vanished. In vain they essayed to elude his grief by gaietyand diversions, in vain they tried to decoy his heart into some newengagement.
These kind attempts served only to feed and nourish that melancholy whichpined within his bosom. Monimia still haunted him in the midst of theseamusements, while his reflection whispered to him, "Pleasures like theseI might have relished with her participation." That darling idea mingledin all the female assemblies at which he was present, eclipsing theirattractions, and enhancing the bitterness of his loss; for absence,enthusiasm, and even his despair had heightened the charms of the fairorp
han into something supernatural and divine.
Time, that commonly weakens the traces of remembrance, seemed to deepenits impressions in his breast; nightly, in his dreams, did he conversewith his dear Monimia, sometimes on the verdant bank of a delightfulstream, where he breathed, in soft murmurs, the dictates of his love andadmiration; sometimes reclined within the tufted grove, his arm encircledand sustained her snowy neck, whilst she, with looks of love ineffable,gazed on his face, invoking Heaven to bless her husband and her lord.Yet, even in these illusions was his fancy oft alarmed for the ill-fatedfair. Sometimes he viewed her tottering on the brink of a steepprecipice, far distant from his helping hand; at other times she seemedto sail along the boisterous tide, imploring his assistance, then wouldhe start with horror from his sleep, and feel his sorrows more thanrealised; he deserted his couch, he avoided the society of mankind, hecourted sequestered shades where he could indulge his melancholy; therehis mind brooded over his calamity until his imagination became familiarwith all the ravages of death; it contemplated the gradual decline ofMonimia's health, her tears, her distress, her despair at his imaginedcruelty; he saw, through that perspective, every blossom of her beautywither, every sparkle vanish from her eyes; he beheld her faded lips, herpale cheek, and her inanimated features, the symmetry of which not deathitself was able to destroy. His fancy conveyed her breathless corse tothe cold grave, o'er which, perhaps, no tear humane was shed, where herdelicate limbs were consigned to dust, where she was dished out adelicious banquet to the unsparing worm.
Over these pictures he dwelt with a sort of pleasing anguish, until hebecame so enamoured of her tomb, that he could no longer resist thedesire that compelled him to make a pilgrimage to the dear hallowed spot,where all his once gay hopes lay buried; that he might nightly visit thesilent habitation of his ruined love, embrace the sacred earth with whichshe was now compounded, moisten it with his tears, and bid the turf lieeasy on her breast. Besides the prospect of this gloomy enjoyment, hewas urged to return to England, by an eager desire of taking vengeance onthe perfidious Fathom, as well as of acquitting himself of theobligations he owed in that kingdom, to those who had assisted him in hisdistress. He therefore communicated his intention to Farrel, who wouldhave insisted upon attending him in the journey, had not he been conjuredto stay and manage Renaldo's affairs in his absence. Every previous stepbeing taken, he took leave of the Countess and his sister, who had, withall their interest and elocution, opposed his design, the execution ofwhich, they justly feared, would, instead of dissipating, augment hischagrin; and now, seeing him determined, they shed a flood of tears athis departure, and he set out from Vienna in a post-chaise, accompaniedby a trusty valet-de-chambre on horseback.