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the Power in whose eye pyramids； palaces； and the worms whose toil
has formed them； and the worms who toil out their existence under
their shadow or their pressure； are perhaps all alike contemptible；
he stood collected； and for a moment felt that defiance of danger
which danger itself excites； and we love to encounter it as a
physical enemy； to bid it 〃do its worst；〃 and feel that its worst
will perhaps be ultimately its best for us。 He stood and saw
another flash dart its bright； brief； and malignant glance over the
ruins of ancient power； and the luxuriance of recent fertility。
Singular contrast！ The relics of art forever decaying；the
productions of nature forever renewed。（Alas！ for what purpose are
they renewed； better than to mock at the perishable monuments which
men try in vain to rival them by。） The pyramids themselves must
perish； but the grass that grows between their disjointed stones
will be renewed from year to year。
Stanton was thinking thus； when all power of thought was suspended；
by seeing two persons bearing between them the body of a young； and
apparently very lovely girl； who had been struck dead by the
lightning。 Stanton approached； and heard the voices of the bearers
repeating； 〃There is none who will mourn for her！〃 〃There is none
who will mourn for her！〃 said other voices； as two more bore in
their arms the blasted and blackened figure of what had once been a
man； comely and graceful；〃there is not ONE to mourn for her now！〃
They were lovers； and he had been consumed by the flash that had
destroyed her； while in the act of endeavoring to defend her。 As
they were about to remove the bodies； a person approached with a
calmness of step and demeanor； as if he were alone unconscious of
danger； and incapable of fear； and after looking on them for some
time； burst into a laugh so loud； wild； and protracted； that the
peasants； starting with as much horror at the sound as at that of
the storm； hurried away； bearing the corpses with them。 Even
Stanton's fears were subdued by his astonishment； and； turning to
the stranger； who remained standing on the same spot； he asked the
reason of such an outrage on humanity。 The stranger； slowly
turning round； and disclosing a countenance which（Here the
manuscript was illegible for a few lines）； said in English（A long
hiatus followed here； and the next passage that was legible； though
it proved to be a continuation of the narrative； was but a
fragment。）
。 。 。 。 。
The terrors of the night rendered Stanton a sturdy and unappeasable
applicant； and the shrill voice of the old woman； repeating； 〃no
hereticno EnglishMother of God protect usavaunt Satan！〃
combined with the clatter of the wooden casement （peculiar to the
houses in Valencia） which she opened to discharge her volley of
anathematization； and shut again as the lightning glanced through
the aperture； were unable to repel his importunate request for
admittance； in a night whose terrors ought to soften all the
miserable petty local passions into one awful feeling of fear for
the Power who caused it； and compassion for those who were exposed
to it。But Stanton felt there was something more than national
bigotry in the exclamations of the old woman； there was a peculiar
and personal horror of the English。And he was right； but this did
not diminish the eagerness of his。 。 。 。
。 。 。 。 。
The house was handsome and spacious； but the melancholy appearance
of desertion 。 。 。 。
。 。 。 。 。
The benches were by the wall； but there were none to sit there；
the tables were spread in what had been the hall； but it seemed as
if none had gathered round them for many years；the clock struck
audibly； there was no voice of mirth or of occupation to drown its
sound； time told his awful lesson to silence alone；the hearths
were black with fuel long since consumed；the family portraits
looked as if they were the only tenants of the mansion； they seemed
to say； from their moldering frames； 〃there are none to gaze on
us；〃 and the echo of the steps of Stanton and his feeble guide； was
the only sound audible between the peals of thunder that rolled
still awfully； but more distantly；every peal like the exhausted
murmurs of a spent heart。 As they passed on； a shriek was heard。
Stanton paused； and fearful images of the dangers to which
travelers on the Continent are exposed in deserted and remote
habitations； came into his mind。 〃Don't heed it；〃 said the old
woman； lighting him on with a miserable lamp；〃it is only he。 。 。 。
。 。 。 。 。
The old woman having now satisfied herself； by ocular
demonstration； that her English guest； even if he was the devil；
had neither horn； hoof； nor tail； that he could bear the sign of
the cross without changing his form； and that； when he spoke； not a
puff of sulphur came out of his mouth； began to take courage； and
at length commenced her story； which； weary and comfortless as
Stanton was； 。 。 。 。
。 。 。 。 。
Every obstacle was now removed； parents and relations at last gave
up all opposition； and the young pair were united。 Never was there
a lovelier；they seemed like angels who had only anticipated by a
few years their celestial and eternal union。 The marriage was
solemnized with much pomp； and a few days after there was a feast
in that very wainscoted chamber which you paused to remark was so
gloomy。 It was that night hung with rich tapestry； representing
the exploits of the Cid； particularly that of his burning a few
Moors who refused to renounce their accursed religion。 They were
represented beautifully tortured； writhing and howling； and
〃Mahomet！ Mahomet！〃 issuing out of their mouths； as they called on
him in their burning agonies；you could almost hear them scream。
At the upper end of the room； under a splendid estrade； over which
was an image of the blessed Virgin； sat Donna Isabella de Cardoza；
mother to the bride； and near her Donna Ines； the bride； on rich
almohadas； the bridegroom sat opposite to her； and though they
never spoke to each other； their eyes； slowly raised； but suddenly
withdrawn （those eyes that blushed）； told to each other the
delicious secret of their happiness。 Don Pedro de Cardoza had
assembled a large party in honor of his daughter's nuptials； among
them was an Englishman of the name of MELMOTH； a traveler； no one
knew who had brought him there。 He sat silent like the rest； while
the iced waters and the sugared wafers were presented to the
company。 The night was intensely hot； and the moon glowed like a
sun over the ruins of Saguntum； the embroidered blinds flapped
heavily； as if the wind made an effort to raise them in vain； and
then desisted。
（Another defect in the manuscript occurred here； but it was soon
supplied。）
。 。 。 。 。
The company were dispersed through various alleys of the garden；
the bridegroom and bride wandered through one where the delicious
perfume of the orange trees mingled itself with that of the myrtles
in blow。 On their return to the ball； both of them asked； Had the
company heard the exquisite sounds that floated through the garden
just before they quitted it？ No one had heard them。 They
expressed their surprise。 The Englishman had never quitted the
hall； it was said he smiled with a most particular and
extraordinary expression as the remark was made。 His silence had
been noticed before； but it was ascribed to his ignorance of the
Spanish language； an ignorance that Spaniards are not anxious
either to expose or remove by speaking to a stranger。 The subject
of the music was not again reverted to till the guests were seated
at supper； when Donna Ines and her young husband； exchanging a
smile of delighted surprise； exclaimed they heard the same
delicious sounds floating round them。 The guests listened； but no
one else could hear it；everyone felt there was something
extraordinary in this。 Hush！ was uttered by every voice almost at
the same moment。 A dead silence followed；you would think； from
their intent looks； that they listened with their very eyes。 This
deep silence； contrasted with the splendor of the feast； and the
light effused from torches held by the domestics； produced a
singular effect；it seemed for some moments like an assembly of
the dead。 The silence was interrupted； though the cause of wonder
had not ceased； by the entrance of Father Olavida； the Confessor of
Donna Isabella； who had been called away previous to the feast； to
administer extreme unction to a dying man in the neighborhood。 He
was a priest of uncommon sanctity； beloved in the family； and
respected in the neighborhood； where he had displayed uncommon
taste and talents for exorcism；in fact； this was the good
Father's forte； and he piqued himself on it accordingly。 The devil
never fell into worse hands than Father Olavida's； for when he was
so contumacious as to resist Latin； and even the first verses of
the Gospel of St。 John in Greek； which the good Father never had
recourse to but in cases of extreme stub