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VOL. 4.]

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ry precaution of counting our number. alarm. My eyesight waxed gradually I was an utter stranger to all present, dull to all but the fleshless skulls which and felt at first, as if I should have were glaring in the yellow light of the wished to view the sight, towards tapers-the hum of human voices was which we hurried our conductor, with stifled in my ears, and I thought myself him alone, or at least with fewer and alone, already with the dead. The less vociferous companions: but when guide thrust the light he carried into a we had descended many steps into the huge skull that was lying separate in a bowels of the earth, and the cold air niche; but I marked not the action or from the dwellings of mortality smote the man, but only the fearful glimmermy brow, I owned a sensible relief from ing of the transparent bone, which I the presence of the living around me, thought a smile of triumphant malice and was cheered by the sound of their from the presiding spectre of the place, various exclamations. Even with these while imagined accents whispered, in accompaniments, however, it was with my hearing, "Welcome to our charnelmore than astonishment that I gazed house, for THIS shall be your chamupon the opening scene, and ever and ber!" Dizzy with indescribable emoanon, wrapped up in my thoughts, I tions, I felt nothing but a painful sense anticipated with secret forebodings, the of oppression from the presence of othhorrors I was doomed to undergo. ers, as if I could not breathe for the It would be superfluous to describe black shapes that were crowding near what has been described so often, yet me; and turning unperceived, down a none can have received, from a survey long and gloomy passage of the cataof the catacombs, such impressions as combs, I rushed as far as I could penemy mind was prepared to admit; and trate, to feed in solitude the growing few can have retained so vivid and dis- appetite for horror, that had quelled for tinct a picture of their appearance, as the moment, in my bosom, the sense of has been branded on my soul in charac- fear, and even the feeling of identity. ters not to be effaced. Alas! I enter- To the rapid whirl of various sensations ed them with little of that fine exalting that had bewildered me ever since I spirit so divinely eulogized by Virgil, left the light of day, a season of intense in the motto that is inscribed upon their abstraction now succeeded. I held my walls: burning eyeballs full upon the skulls in front, till they almost seemed to answer my fixed regard, and claim a dreadful “Subjecit pedibus,strepitumque Acheronti avari." fellowship with the being that beheld The interminable rows of bare and them. How long I stood motionless blackening ulls-the masses inter- in this condition I know not-my taposed of gaunt and rotting bones, that per was calculated to last a considerable once gave strength and symmetry to the time, and I was wakened from my young, the beautiful, the brave, now trance by the scorching heat of it's exmildewed by the damp of the cavern, piring in my hand. Still insensible of and heaped together in indiscriminate what I was about, I threw it to the arrangement-the faint mouldering and ground; and, gleaming once more, as deathlike smell that pervaded these if to shew the darkness and solitude to gloomy labyrinths, and the long recess which I was consigned, it was speedily es in the low-roofed rock, to which I extinguished. But, by the strong imdared not turn my eyes except by short pression on my brain, the whole scene and fitful glances, as if expecting some- remained distinct, and it was not for thing terrible and ghastly to start from some time that my fit of abstraction the indistinctness of their distance, passed away, and the horrific conviction all had associations for my thoughts came upon me, that I was left desertvery different from the solemn, and edi- ed, as I fancied in my first confusion, fying sentiments they must rouse in a by faithless friends, and abandoned to well regulated breast, and, by degrees, the mercy of a thousand demons. I yielded up every faculty to the influ- the ideal terrors I had cherished from ance of an ill-defined and mysterious my childhood, exalted to temporary

"Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas, "Atque metus omnes, et inexorabile fatum

All

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madness by the sense and certainty of lence palpable like a soft mantle on my the horrid objects that surrounded me, ear-I figured dreadful hands within a rushed at once upon my soul; and in hair-breadth of my body, ready to tear an agony of impatient consternation, I me if I stirred, and in desperation flung screamed and shouted, loud and long, myself upon the ground. Then would for assistance. Not an answer was re- I creep close to the mouldering fragturned, but the dreary echoes of this ments at the bottom of the wall, and dreadful tomb. I saw that my cries for try to dig with my nails, from the hard succour were hopeless and in vain, and rock something to cover me. Oh! how my voice failed me for very fear-my I longed for a cloak to wrap and hide jaws were fixed and open, my palate me, though it had been my mother's dry-a cold sweat distilled from every winding-sheet, or a grave-flannel anipore, and my limbs were chill and mated with worms. I buried my head powerless as death. Their vigour at in the skirts of my coat, and prayed for length revived, and I rushed in a deli- slumber; but a fearful train of images rium through the passages, struggling forced me again to rise and stumble on, through their various windings to re- shivering in frame with unearthly cold, trace my path, and plunging at every and yet internally fevered with a tumult step in more inexplicable error, till run of agonizing thoughts. Any one must ning with the speed of lightning along have suffered somewhat in such a situone of the longest corridors, I came ation; but no one's sufferings could with violence in full and loathsome con- resemble mine, unless he carried to the tact with the skeleton relics at the end. scene a mind so hideously prepared. The shock was like fire to my brain- Part of these awful excavations are said I wept tears of rage and despair; and to have been once haunted by banditti; thrusting my fingers in the sockets of but I had no fears of them, and should the empty skulls, to wrench them from have swooned with transport to have the wall, I clutched their bony edges come upon their fires at one of the turntill the blood sprung from my lacerated ings in the rock, though my appearance hand. In short, I cannot paint to you had been the instant signal for their the extravagancies I acted, or the wild daggers. alternation of my feelings that endured In my wanderings I recovered for a for many hours. Sometimes excited to moment the path taken by the guides, frenzy, I imagined I know not what of and found myself in a sort of cell withhorrid and appalling, and saw, with pre- in the rock, where particular specimens ternatural acuteness, through the dark- of mortality were preserved. My arm ness as clear as noon,-while grisly rested on the table, where two or three. visages seemed glaring on me near, and loosened skulls, and a igh-bone of a red and bloody haze enveloped the extravagant dimensions, were lying, and more fearful distance. Then, when a new fit of madness seized me. My reason was on the point of going, an heart beat with redoubled violence, interval of terrible collection would while I brandished the enormous bone, succeed. I felt in my very soul how I and hoarsely called for its original poswas left alone-perhaps not to be dis- sessor to come in all the terrors of the covered, at any rate for what appeared grave, and there would I wrestle with to me an endless period, in which I him for the relic of his own miserable should perhaps expire of terror, and I carcase. I struck repeatedly, and hard, longed for deep deep sleep, or to be as the hollow-sounding sides of the cell, cold and insensate as the things around shouting my defiance; then throwing me. I tried to recollect the courage, myself with violence towards the openthat only on one point had ever failed ing, I missed my balance, and, snatchme, but judgment missed her stays, and ing at the wall round the corner to save the whispers of the subterraneous wind, myself, I jammed my hand in an aperor the stealthy noises I seemed to hear ture among the bones, and fancied that in concert with the audible beatings of the grisly adversary invoked had graspmy heart, overcome me irresistibly. ed my arm in answer to my challenge. Sometimes I thought I could feel si- My shrieks of agony rang through the

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caverns, and, staggering back into the and animation of my faculties, and I cell, I fell upon my face, hardly daring felt as if a cemented load bad broken to respire, and expecting unimagined and crumbled off my soul, and left me horrors or speedy dissolution. fearless and serene. I was never happy, -I was never worthy the stile of Man, till then; and, as I lay, I faltered out my thanks in ecstacy to Heaven, for all that had befallen me.

How my feelings varied for a space of time, I know not; but sleep insensibly fell upon me. In my dream, I did not seem to change the scene, but still reclining in the cell, I fancied My limbs were numbed by the cold and the skulls upon the wall the same in damp of the floor on which I had been number, but magnified to a terrific size, lying; but, rising from it, a new being with black jetty eyes imbedded in their in all that is essential to existence, 1 ennaked sockets, and rivetted with mali- tered the passage, and walked briskly cious earnestness on me. A dim recess up and down, to recover the play and seemed opened beyond one side of the vigour of my frame. I found the thighcell, and each spectral eye turning with bone on the ground where I had dropa sidelong glance towards it, drew mine ped it,-and no longer tortured by the the same direction by an uncontrollable fears that were gone for ever, replaced fascination. Still appearing to gaze it quietly in its former situation. I determinedly upon them, I had power, kept near the entrance of the cell, that as I dreamed, to obey their impulse the first guide who descended might simultaneously, and to perceive a dread- not miss me; and it could not be more fal figure, black, bony and skull-head- than two hours, before Jerome, whose ed, with similar terrific eyes, whom hair stood on end when he heard where they seemed to hail as their minister of I had passed the night, came down cruelty, while with slow and silent with an early party of visitors, and freed paces, it drew near to clasp me in its me from my dungeon.-There was no hideous arms. Closer and closer it ad- straggling among the company for that vanced, but, thanks and praise to the day. all-gracious Power that stills the tempests of the soul !-the limit of suffering was reached, and the force of terror was exhausted. My nerves, so long weak, and prone to agitation, were recovered, by the over-violence of their momentum,-and, instead of losing reason in the shock, or waking in the extremity of fear,-the vision was suddenly changed, the scenery of horror melted into light, and a calm and joyful serenity took possession of my bosom. My animal powers must have been nearly worn out, for long-long I slept in this delightful tranquillity, and when I wakened, it was, for the first time of my life, in a peaceful and healthy state of mind, unfettered, and released for ever from all that had en- I hear in future some boisterous relater feebled and debased my nature. I had of my narrative condemn me for a passed in that celestial sleep from death coward. Eto life, from the dreams of weakness Place Rand lapses of insanity, to the full use

You well know, my dear friend, what have been my habits and employments since that night; and I could summon you with confidence, to give your testimony, that few persons are now less slaves of superstitious terror than myself. By a strange and singular anomaly of circumstances, the wild fancies I had imbibed in the free air of my native hills, and among the cheerful scenes of romantic nature, I unlearned in the dreary catacombs of Paris. If I still am fanciful, you will not charge me with extravagance; if I still have sensibility, I trust it does not verge on weakness;-and, as I have proved my personal courage on more than a single trial, I may be allowed to smile, when

Sept.

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"WHA

remarked, that although the disparity of years and the difference of habit is such betwixt this giddy youth and myself, yet, as he has nothing to hope and nothing to fear from me, and as I loved him in his childhood, he has every confidence in me, and tells me all his adventures and all his scrapes; for, from a degree of good-nature which I possess, I am universally trusted.

HAT a host of blunders I have been committing this morning!" said my rattle of a Cousin, "I had heard," recommenced be, the Guardsman ; "D- me if I ever "that my Aunt was very ill, and I make another morning call, or ever imagined that she was perhaps about to venture to talk upon religion, politics, quit; so I thought it was as polite to or any other topic but horse-racing or pay her a visit, and to do the pretty, by drinking, as long as I live. I have no shewing her a little attention for a short doubt but that I shall be disinherited by time. How are you, Aunt? said I as my aunt, Lady Agnes, that the General I entered her apartment: You don't will never speak to me again, and that look so ill (this was not true, she looked the money-lending agent will never very ill, which I thought rather promadvance me another shilling. The ising to me:) pray what is your comdevil is in the town. Such are the plaint?" It is what my physicians call sudden changes, religious, political, and dyspepsia,' replied she a debility of moral, that like an unsafe and an un- the stomach, which is scarcely able to steady climate, for which one would re- perform its office; I have not eaten an quire to alter one's dress half a dozen ounce of solid food (she said nothing times a day, a man would need a about drink) for the last fortnight; but diary of his acquaintances' actions, in this (continued she, laying her hand on order to regulate his features and con- a folio Bible,) this is my food.' "Rather versation by. Who on earth would have dry, Aunt! answered I: no wonder expected my old Aunt to have turned that you cannot digest it: why you methodist; the General to be a govern- don't think that I can swallow all that." ment man; or the old rascal Twenty-What do you mean?' answered she, per-cent to be a moralist? Why my who could not stomach my remark. Aunt was the gayest of the gay in her "Why, have the Bethel and Ebenezer youth, and used to sit up all night people, the Jumpers or the Methodists, playing at brag and drinking noyeau got hold of you?" Peace, reprobate,' like a dragoon in her later years. The cried she, I am under conviction." General used to put you to sleep with For what crime thought I to myself! his philippics against the administration, but I saw it was in vain to proceed. against bribery, corruption, violation of She gave me a very severe lecture on the privileges of the people, borough- leading an exemplary life, and quoted mongers, the influence of the aristocracy, scripture at every sentence, accompanied and court favour. And as for old by a turning up of her eyes, which so Cocker (as I used to call him,) he was alarmed me that I was glad to get clear the hardest going old villain I ever knew, of her. and cost me many a head-ache when I "From my Aunt's I proceeded to wanted a loan from him. Now, forsooth, the General's, where, as I had a favour he is all propriety and morality." to ask, I pretended (as usual) to be of "What a reprobate you are,' said I to his opinion in politics, by way of giving this scape-grace. "Not at all, Sir: but him an opportunity to grumble, and by hear my story." And here it may be that means to gain my point. I began

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by abusing ministry, and by saying that free; I have left off drinking in a we were ruined; but I soon found that morning; and as for Mrs. Tripartite, as my Aunt, who was under conviction, Margaret that was, I must have her had received a new light, so the General, treated with the respect due to my who was about to get into the House, spouse.' I remembered having treated had embraced a new political creed. He her very often before; but I saw that had it seems had an offer of a seat, on the game was up here also, for the old condition that he should bind himself to usurer had been married that morning. a certain line of conduct, and he had I contented myself with asking for a readily agreed to these terms, from the hundred pounds by way of bill at two vanity of being a parliament man. My months, for which I offered ten guineas diatribe was therefore most inopportune. premium; but I was refused. I thereHe contented himself with observing, fore blew up the hoary humbug à la that men had a right to change their Congreve. I told him he was an old opinions upon conviction, and that his hypocrite and an usurer, that I had too former notions were erroneous, and he often demeaned myself by my condehad done so. He added,that I was very scensions towards him, that I regretted intemperate in my politics, and con- that I had been so often his dupe, that eluded that it was the duty of every in future I should keep company better military man to strengthen the hand of suited to my age and to my rank in life, government; and that when he did not and that Peg and he might go to the do so, he thought that his Sovereign devil their own way. ought to dispense with his services. This was truly alarming to one who had just embarked in a favourite profession so I explained away in the best manner I could, and withdrew, regretting my unsuccessful hypocrisy.

"Defeated thus at all points, I am come to you for the loan of the sum in question, which as a soldier and a gentleman I will return you in two months. I shall not offend you by talking of interest; but my gratitude may be some compensation for obliging me, and for laying out your money for this short time. I'll make no promises, but I will try and be steadier; for I know that I am going a little too hard. And now you have heard my whole story."

I am neither rich nor poor, but I live well, am independent, model my own conduct by prudence, and have leisure to watch the conduct of others.

"The want of money now drove me to the Agent and money-scrivener, with whom I was often obliged to misspend an hour in excessive drinking, in order to bring him into lending me at usurious interest. I found him (instead of being in a suit of mourning, and his bald head powdered, half tipsy, and a pen behind his ear) reclined on a sofa i. a new olive coloured tunique, a flaxen wig, white trowsers, and a white There appeared so much candour in hat, under which his purpureal coun- this youth's story, that I lent him the tenance, studded with topaz blotches, money; and-he paid me honourably. had a very curious effect. He was There are many instances of these fops moreover perfectly sober. "Well, old in the dressing-room being heroes Cocker," said I," how are you to day? abroad; and not unfrequently these Have you had your drop? and how's rakes of twenty turn to something very Peg?" (his house-keeper.) Sir,' re- good in ten years after.

·

.

plied the old villain, you make very

Mr. Editor,

THE HERMIT IN LONDON.

From the Literary Gazette.
MEMORABILIA IN 1818.

There are many matters of daily occurrence which pass rapidly into oblivion, without attracting even

CHURC

HURCH bells are rung on the entrance into a town, in a post-chaise, a moment's notice: yet do some of these bubbles of any low blackguard who has walked upon the stream of time merit a slight glance ere they burst and mingle in the indistinguishable tide ten miles a day more than any comfor ever. I have picked the following from the Journals of the last month, and submit them to mon individual would do, for eight successive days, Sundays included.

you.

I am, &c.

MAGPIE.

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