_(A Tale, from the German of Goethe.)_
When I was in Italy, Antonelli, an opera-singer, was the favourite of the
Neapolitan public. Her youth, beauty, and talents insured her applause on
the stage; nor was she deficient in any quality that could render her
agreeable to a small circle of friends. She was not indifferent either
to love or praise; but her discretion was such as to enable her to enjoy
both with becoming dignity. Every young man of rank or fortune in Naples,
was eager to be numbered among her suitors; few however, met with a
favourable reception; and though she was, in the choice of her lovers,
directed chiefly by her eyes and her heart, she displayed on all
occasions a firmness, and stability of character, that never failed to
engage even such as were indifferent to her favours. I had frequent
opportunities of seeing her, being on terms of the closest intimacy with
one of her favoured admirers.
Several years were now elapsed, and she had become acquainted with a
number of gentlemen, many of whom had rendered themselves disgusting by
the extreme levity and fickleness of their manners. She had repeatedly
observed young gentlemen, whose professions of constancy and attachment
would persuade their mistress of the impossibility of their ever
deserting her, withhold their protection in those very cases where it
was most needed; or, what is still worse, incited by the temptation of
ridding themselves of a troublesome connexion, she had known them give
advice which has entailed misery and ruin.
Her acquaintance hitherto had been of such a nature as to leave her mind
inactive. She now began to feel a desire, to which she had before been a
stranger. She wished to possess a friend, to whom she might communicate
her most secret thoughts, and happily, just at that time, she found one
among those who surrounded her, possessed of every requisite quality,
and who seemed, in every respect, worthy of her confidence.
This gentleman was by birth a Genoese, and resided at Naples, for the
purpose of transacting some commercial business of great importance, for
the house with which he was connected. In possession of good parts, he had,
in addition received a very finished education. His knowledge was
extensive; and no less care had been bestowed on his body, than on his
mind. He was inspired with the commercial spirit natural to his countrymen,
and considered mercantile affairs on a grand scale. His situation was,
however, not the most enviable; his house had unfortunately been drawn
into hazardous speculations, which were afterwards attended with expensive
law-suits. The state of his affairs grew daily more intricate, and the
uneasiness thereby produced gave him an air of seriousness, which in the
present case was not to his disadvantage; for it encouraged our young
heroine to seek his friendship, rightly judging, that he himself stood in
need of a friend.
Hitherto, he had seen her only occasionally, and at places of public
resort; she now, on his first request, granted him access to her house;
she even invited him very pressingly, and he was not remiss in obeying the
invitation.
She lost no time in making him acquainted with her wishes, and the
confidence she reposed in him. He was surprised, and rejoiced at the
proposal. She was urgent in the request that he might always remain her
friend, and never shade that sacred name with the ambiguous claims of a
lover. She made him acquainted with some difficulties which then perplexed
her, and on which his experience would enable him to give the best advice,
and propose the most speedy means for her relief. In return for this
confidence, he did not hesitate to disclose to her his own situation; and
her endeavours to soothe and console him were, in reality, not without a
beneficial consequence, as they served to put him in that state of mind,
so necessary for acting with deliberation and effect. Thus a friendship
was in a short time cemented, founded on the most exalted esteem, and on
the consciousness that each was necessary to the well-being of the other.
It happens but too often, that we make agreements without considering
whether it is in our power to fulfil their conditions. He had promised to
be only her friend, and not to think of her as a mistress; and yet he
could not deny that he was mortified and disgusted with the sight of any
other visiter. His ill-humour was particularly excited by hearing her, in
a jesting manner, enumerate the good or bad qualities of some favourite,
and after having shown much good sense in pointing out his blemishes,
neglect her friend, and prefer his company that very evening.
It happened soon after that the heart of the fair was disengaged. Her
friend was rejoiced at the discovery, and represented to her, that he was
entitled to her affection before all others. She gave ear to his petition,
when she found resistance was vain. "I fear," said she, "that I am parting
with the most valuable possession on earth--a friend, and that I shall get
nothing in return but a lover." Her suspicions were well founded: he had
not enjoyed his double capacity long, when he showed a degree of
peevishness, of which he had before thought himself incapable; as a friend
he demanded her esteem; as a lover he claimed her undivided affection; and
as a man of sense and education, he expected rational and pleasing
conversation. These complicated claims, however, ill accorded with the
sprightly disposition of Antonelli; she could consent to no sacrifices,
and was unwilling to grant exclusive rights. She therefore endeavoured in
a delicate manner to shorten his visits, to see him less frequently, and
intimated that she would upon no consideration whatever give up her
freedom.
As soon as he remarked this new treatment, his misery was beyond endurance,
and unfortunately, this was not the only mischance that befel him; his
mercantile affairs assumed a very doubtful appearance; besides this, a
view of his past life called forth many mortifying reflections; he had
from his earliest youth looked upon his fortune as inexhaustible, his
business often lay neglected, while engaged in long and expensive travels,
endeavouring to make a figure in the fashionable world, far above his
birth and fortune. The lawsuits, which were now his only hope, proceeded
slowly, and were connected with a vast expense. These required his
presence in Palermo several times; and while absent on his last journey,
Antonelli made arrangements calculated, by degrees, to banish him entirely
from her house. On his return, he found she had taken another house at a
considerable distance from his own; the Marquess de S., who, at that time,
had great influence on plays and public diversions, visited her daily, and
to all appearance, with great familiarity. This mortified him severely,
and a serious illness was the consequence. When the news of his sickness
reached his friend, she hastened to him, was anxious to see him
comfortable, and discovering that he was in great pecuniary difficulties,
on going away she left him a sum of money sufficient to relieve his wants.
Her friend had once presumed to encroach on her freedom; this attempt was
with her an unpardonable offence, and the discovery of his having acted so
indiscreetly in his own affairs, had not given her the most favourable
opinion of his understanding and his character; notwithstanding the
decrease of her affection, her assiduity for him had redoubled. He did not,
however, remark the great change which had really taken place; her anxiety
for his recovery, her watching for hours at his bedside, appeared to him
rather proofs of friendship and love, than the effects of compassion, and
he hoped, on his recovery, to be re-instated in all his former rights.
But how greatly was he mistaken! In proportion as his health and strength
returned, all tenderness and affection for him vanished; nay, her aversion
for him now was equal to the pleasure with which she formerly regarded him.
He had also, in consequence of these multiplied reverses, contracted a
habit of ill-humour, of which he was himself not aware, and which greatly
contributed to alienate Antonelli. His own bad management in business he
attributed to others; so that, in his opinion, he was perfectly justified.
He looked upon himself as an unfortunate man, persecuted by the world, and
hoped for an equivalent to all his sufferings and misfortunes in the
undivided affection of his mistress.
This concession he insisted on, the first day he was able to leave his
chamber, and visit her. He demanded nothing less than that she should
resign herself up to him entirely, dismiss her other friends and
acquaintances, leave the stage, and live solely with him, and for him. She
showed him the impossibility of granting his demands, at first mildly, but
was at last obliged to confess the melancholy truth, that their former
relation existed no more. He left her, and never saw her again.
He lived some years longer, seeing but few acquaintances, and chiefly in
the company of a pious old lady, with whom he occupied the same dwelling,
and who lived on the rent of an adjoining house, her only income. During
this interval, he gained one of his law-suits, and soon after the other;
but his health was destroyed, and his future prospects blasted. A slight
cause brought on a relapse of his former illness; the physician acquainted
him with his approaching end. He was resigned to his fate, and his only
remaining wish was, once more to see his lovely friend. He sent the
servant to her, who, in more happy days, had often been the bearer of
tender messages. He prayed her to grant his request: she refused. He sent
a second time, entreating most ardently she might not be deaf to his
prayers, with no better success. She persisted in her first answer. The
night was already far advanced, when he sent a third time; she showed
great agitation, and confided to me the cause of her embarrassment, (for I
had just happened to be at supper, at her house, with the Marquess, and
some other friends.) I advised her--I entreated her, to show her friend
this last act of kindness. She seemed undecided, and in great emotion; but
after a few moments she became more collected. She sent away the servant
with a refusal, and he returned no more.
When supper was over, we sat together in familiar conversation, while
cheerfulness and good humour reigned among us. It was near midnight, when
suddenly a hollow, doleful sound was heard, like the groaning of a human
being; gradually it grew weaker, and at last died away entirely. A
momentary trembling seized us all; we stared at each other, and then
around us, unable to explain the mystery.
The Marquess ran to the window, while the rest of us were endeavouring to
restore the lady, who lay senseless on the floor. It was some time before
she recovered. The jealous Italian would scarcely give her time to open
her eyes, when he began to load her with reproaches. If you agree on signs
with your friends, said the Marquess, I pray you let them be less open and
terrifying. She replied, with her usual presence of mind, that, having the
right to see any person, at any time, in her house, she could hardly be
supposed to choose such appalling sounds as the forerunners of happy
moments.
And really there was something uncommonly terrifying in the sound; its
slowly lengthened vibrations were still fresh in our ears. Antonelli was
pale, confused, and every moment in danger of falling into a swoon. We
were obliged to remain with her half the night. Nothing more was heard. On
the following evening the same company was assembled; and although the
cheerfulness of the preceding day was wanting, we were not dejected.
Precisely at the same hour we heard the same hollow groan as the night
before.
We had in the meantime formed many conjectures on the origin of this
strange sound, which were as contradictory as they were extravagant. It is
unnecessary to relate every particular: in short, whenever Antonelli
supped at home, the alarming noise was heard at the same hour, sometimes
stronger, at others weaker. This occurrence was spoken of all over Naples.
Every inmate of the house, every friend and acquaintance, took the most
lively interest; even the police was summoned to attend. Spies were placed
at proper distances around the house. To such as stood in the street the
sound seemed to arise in the open air, while those in the room heard it
close by them. As often as she supped out all was silent, but whenever she
remained at home, she was sure to be visited by her uncivil guest; but
leaving her house was not always a means of escaping him. Her talent and
character gained her admittance into the first houses; the elegance of her
manners and her lively conversation, made her everywhere welcome; and, in
order to avoid her unpleasant visiter, she used to pass her evenings in
company out of the house.
A gentleman, whose age and rank made him respectable, accompanied her home
one evening in his coach. On taking leave of him at her door, the well
known voice issued from the steps beneath them; and the old gentleman, who
was perfectly well acquainted with the story, was helped into his coach
more dead than alive.
She was one evening accompanied by a young singer, in her coach, on a
visit to a friend's. He had heard of this mysterious affair, and being of
a lively disposition, expressed some doubts on the subject. I most
ardently wish, continued he, to hear the voice of your invisible companion;
do call him, there are two of us, we shall not be frightened. Without
reflecting, she had the courage to summon the spirit, and presently, from
the floor of the coach arose the appalling sound; it was repeated three
times, in rapid succession, and died away in a hollow moan. When the door
of the carriage was opened, both were found in a swoon, and it was some
time before they were restored and could inform those present of their
unhappy adventure.
This frequent repetition at length affected her health; and the spirit,
who seemed to have compassion on her, for some weeks gave no signs of his
presence. She even began to cherish a hope that she was now entirely rid
of him--but in this she was mistaken.
When the Carnival was over, she went into the country on a visit, in the
company of a lady, and attended only by one waiting maid. Night overtook
them before they could reach their journey's end; and suffering an
interruption, from the breaking of a chain, they were compelled to stop
for the night at an obscure inn by the road side. Fatigue made Antonelli
seek for repose immediately on their arrival; and she had just lain down,
when the waiting-maid, who was arranging a night-lamp, in a jesting tone,
observed, "We are here, in a manner, at the end of the earth, and the
weather is horrible; will he be able to find us here?" That moment the
voice was heard, louder and more terrible than ever. The lady imagined the
room filled with demons, and, leaping out of bed, ran down stairs,
alarming the whole house. Nobody slept a wink that night. This was the
last time the voice was heard. But this unwelcome visiter had soon another
and more disagreeable method of notifying his presence.
She had been left in peace some time, when one evening, at the usual hour,
while she was sitting at table with her friends, she was startled at the
discharge of a gun or a well-charged pistol; it seemed to have passed
through the window. All present heard the report and saw the flash, but on
examination the pane was found uninjured. The company was nevertheless
greatly concerned, and it was generally believed that some one's life had
been attempted. Some present ran to the police, while the rest searched
the adjoining houses;--but in vain; nothing was discovered that could
excite the least suspicion. The next evening sentinels were stationed at
all the neighbouring windows; the house itself, where Antonelli lived, was
closely searched, and spies were placed in the street.
But all this precaution availed nothing. Three months in succession, at
the same moment, the report was heard; the charge entered at the same pane
of glass without making the least alteration in its appearance; and what
is remarkable, it invariably took place precisely one hour before midnight;
although the Neapolitans have the Italian way of keeping time according to
which midnight forms no remarkable division. At length the shooting grew
as familiar as the voice had formerly been, and this innocent malice of
the spirit was forgiven him. The report often took place without
disturbing the company, or even interrupting their conversation.
One evening, after a very sultry day, Antonelli, without thinking of the
approaching hour, opened the window, and stepped with the Marquess on the
balcony. But a few moments had elapsed, when the invisible gun was
discharged, and both were thrown back into the room with a violent shock.
On recovering, the Marquess felt the pain of a smart blow on his right
check; and the singer, on her left. But no other injury being received,
this event gave rise to a number of merry observations. This was the last
time she was alarmed in her house, and she had hopes of being at last
entirely rid of her unrelenting persecutor, when one evening, riding out
with a friend, she was once more greatly terrified. They drove through the
Chiaja, where the once-favoured Genoese had resided. The moon shone bright.
The lady with her demanded, "Is not that the house where Mr. ---- died?"
"It is one of those two, if I am not mistaken," replied Antonelli. That
instant the report burst upon their ears louder than ever; the flash
issuing from one of the houses, seemed to pass through the carriage. The
coachman supposing they were attacked by robbers, drove off in great haste.
On arriving at the place of destination, the two ladies were taken out in
a state of insensibility.
This was, however, the last scene of terror. The invisible tormentor now
changed his manner, and used more gentle means. One evening, soon after, a
loud clapping of hands was heard under her window. Antonelli, as a
favourite actress and singer, was no stranger to these sounds; they
carried in them nothing terrifying, and they might be ascribed to one of
her admirers. She paid little attention to it; her friends, however, were
more vigilant, they sent out spies as formerly. The clapping was heard,
but no one was to be seen; and it was hoped that these mysterious doings
would soon entirely cease.
After some evenings the clapping was no longer heard, and more agreeable
sounds succeeded. They were not properly melodious, but unspeakably
delightful and agreeable; they seemed to issue from the corner of an
opposite street, approach the window, and die gently away. It seemed as if
some aerial spirit intended them as a prelude to some piece of music that
he was about to perform. These tones soon became weaker, and at last were
heard no more.
I had the curiosity, soon after the first disturbance, to go to the house
of the deceased, under the pretext of visiting the old lady who had so
faithfully attended him in his last illness. She told me her friend had an
unbounded affection for Antonelli; that he had, for some weeks previous to
his death, talked only of her, and sometimes represented her as an angel,
and then again as a devil. When his illness became serious, his only wish
was to see her before his dissolution, probably in hopes of receiving from
her some kind expression, or prevailing on her to give him some consoling;
proof of her love and attachment. Her obstinate refusal caused him the
greatest torments, and her last answer evidently hastened his end; for,
added she, he made one violent effort, and raising his head, he cried out
in despair, _"No, it shall avail her nothing; she avoids me, but I'll
torment her, though the grave divide us!"_ And indeed the event proved
that a man may perform his promise in spite of death itself.
_Weekly Review._
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