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 WHY do you
call me Eiros?So henceforward will you always be
called. You
must
forget, too, my earthly name, and speak to me as Charmion.This is indeed no dream!Dreams are with us no more — but of
these
mysteries
anon. I rejoice to see you looking life-like and rational. The film of
the shadow has already passed from off your eyes. Be of heart, and fear
nothing. Your allotted days of stupor have expired; and, to-morrow, I
will
myself induct you into the full joys and wonders of your novel
existence. [page 214:]True — I feel no stupor — none at
all. The wild
sickness
and the terrible darkness have left me, and I hear no longer that mad,
rushing, horrible sound, like the "voice of many waters." Yet my senses
are bewildered, Charmion, with the keenness of their perception of the
new.A few days will remove all this — but
I fully
understand
you, and feel for you. It is now ten earthly years since I underwent
what
you undergo — yet the remembrance of it hangs by me still. You have now
suffered all of pain, however, which you will suffer in Aidenn.In Aidenn?In Aidenn.Oh God! — pity me, Charmion! — I am
overburthened
with the majesty of all things — of the unknown now known — of the
speculative
Future merged in the august and certain Present.Grapple not now with such thoughts.
To-morrow we
will speak of this. Your mind wavers, and its [page 215:]
agitation will find relief in the exercise of simple memories. Look not
around, nor forward — but back. I am burning with anxiety to hear the
details
of that stupendous event which threw you among us. Tell me of it. Let
us
converse of familiar things, in the old familiar language of the world
which has so fearfully perished.Most fearfully, fearfully! — this is
indeed no
dream.Dreams are no more. Was I much
mourned, my Eiros?Mourned, Charmion? — oh deeply. To
that last hour
of all there hung a cloud of intense gloom and devout sorrow over your
household.And that last hour — speak of it.
Remember that,
beyond the naked fact of the catastrophe itself, I know nothing. When,
coming out from among mankind, I passed into Night through the Grave —
at that period, if I remember aright, the calamity which overwhelmed
you
was utterly unanticipated. But, indeed, I knew little of the
speculative
philosophy of the day. [page 216:]The individual calamity was, as you
say, entirely
unanticipated; but analogous misfortunes had been long a subject of
discussion
with astronomers. I need scarce tell you, my friend, that, even when
you
left us, men had agreed to understand those passages in the most holy
writings
which speak of the final destruction of all things by fire, as having
reference
to the orb of the earth alone. But in regard to the immediate agency of
the ruin, speculation had been at fault from that epoch in astronomical
knowledge in which the comets were divested of the terrors of flame.
The
very moderate density of these bodies had been well established. They
had
been observed to pass among the satellites of Jupiter, without bringing
about any sensible alteration either in the masses or in the orbits of
these secondary planets. We had long regarded the wanderers as vapory
creations
of inconceivable tenuity, and as altogether incapable of doing injury
to
our substantial globe, even in the event of contact. But contact was
not
in any degree dreaded; for the elements of all the comets were
accurately
known. That among them we should look for the agency of the
threatened
fiery destruction had been for many years considered an inadmissible
idea.
But wonders and wild fancies had been, of late days, strangely rife
among
mankind; and, although it was only with a few of the ignorant that
actual
apprehension prevailed upon [page 217:] the
announcement
by astronomers of a new comet, yet this announcement was
generally
received with I know not what of agitation and mistrust. The elements of the strange orb were
immediately
calculated, and it was at once conceded by all observers that its path,
at perihelion, would bring it into very close proximity with the earth.
There were two or three astronomers, and these of secondary note, who
resolutely
maintained that a contact was inevitable. I cannot very well express to
you the effect of this intelligence upon the people. For a few short
days
they would not believe an assertion which their intellect, so long
employed
among worldly considerations, could not in any manner grasp. But the
truth
of a vitally important fact soon makes it [[its]] way into the
understanding of
even the most stolid. Finally, all men saw that astronomical knowledge
lied not, and they awaited the comet. Its approach was not, at first,
seemingly
rapid — nor was its appearance of very unusual character. It was of a
dull
red, and had little perceptible train. For seven or eight days we saw
no
material increase in its apparent diameter, and but a partial
alteration
in its colour. Meantime, the ordinary affairs of men were discarded,
and
all interests absorbed in a growing discussion, instituted by the
philosophic,
in respect to the cometary nature. Even the grossly ignorant aroused
their
sluggish capacities to such considerations. The learned now
gave
their intellect — their soul — to no such points as the allaying of
fear,
or [page 218:] to the sustenance of loved theory.
They
sought — they panted for right views. They groaned for perfected
knowledge. Truth arose in the purity of her strength and
exceeding majesty,
and the wise bowed down and adored. That material injury to our globe or
to its
inhabitants
would result from the apprehended contact, was an opinion which hourly
lost ground among the wise — and the wise were now freely permitted to
rule the reason and the fancy of the crowd. It was demonstrated, that
the
density of the comet's nucleus was far less than that of our rarest
gas;
and its harmless passage among the satellites of Jupiter was a point
strongly
insisted upon, and which served greatly to allay terror. Theologists,
with
an earnestness fear-enkindled, dwelt upon the biblical prophecies,
and
expounded them to the people with a directness and simplicity, of which
no previous instance had been known. That the final destruction of the
earth must be brought about by the agency of fire, was urged with a
spirit
that enforced every where conviction; and that the comets were of no
fiery
nature (as all men now knew) was a truth which relieved all, in a great
measure, from the apprehension of the great calamity foretold. It is
noticeable
that the popular prejudices and vulgar errors in regard to pestilences
and wars — errors which were wont to prevail upon every appearance of a
comet — were now altogether unknown. As if by some sudden convulsive
exertion,
reason had [page 219:] at once hurled superstition
from her throne. The feeblest intellect had derived vigor from
excessive
interest. What minor evils might arise from the
contact
were
points of elaborate question. The learned spoke of slight geological
disturbances;
of probable alterations in climate and consequently in vegetation; of
possible
magnetic and electric influences. Many held that no visible or
perceptible
effect would in any manner be produced. While such discussions were
going
on their subject gradually approached, growing larger in apparent
diameter,
and of a more brilliant lustre. Mankind grew paler as it came. All
human
operations were suspended. There was an epoch in the course of
the general
sentiment
when the comet had attained at length a size surpassing that of any
previously
recorded visitation. The people now, dismissing any lingering hope that
the astronomers were wrong, experienced all the certainty of evil. The
chimerical aspect of their terror was gone. The hearts of the stoutest
of our race beat violently within their bosoms. A very few days
sufficed,
however, to merge even such feelings in sentiments more unendurable. We
could no longer apply to the strange orb any accustomed
thoughts.
Its historical attributes had disappeared. It oppressed us with
a hideous novelty of emotion. We saw it not as an astronomical
phenomenon
in the heavens — but as an incubus upon our hearts, and a shadow upon
our
brain. It had taken, with inconceivable rapidity, [page 220:]
the character of a gigantic mantle of rare flame, extending from
horizon
to horizon. Yet a day, and men breathed with
greater freedom.
It was clear that we were already within the influence of the comet —
yet
we lived. We even felt an unusual elasticity of frame and vivacity of
mind.
The exceeding tenuity of the object of our dread was apparent, all
heavenly
objects were plainly visible through it. Meantime, our vegetation had
perceptibly
altered — and we gained faith, from this predicted circumstance, in the
foresight of the wise. A wild luxuriance of foliage — utterly unknown
before
— burst out upon every vegetable thing. Yet another day — and the evil was
not altogether
upon us. It was now evident that its nucleus would first reach us. A
wild
change had come over all men — and the first sense of pain —
was the
wild
signal for general lamentation and horror. This first sense of pain lay
in a rigorous constriction of the breast and lungs, and an insufferable
dryness of the skin. It could not be denied that our atmosphere was
radically
affected — the conformation of this atmosphere and the possible
modifications
to which it might be subjected, were now the topics of discussion. The
result of investigation sent an electric thrill of the intensest terror
through the universal heart of man. It had been long known that the air
which
encircled
us was a compound of oxygen and nitrogen gases, in the proportion of
twenty-one
measures of oxygen, and seventy-nine of nitrogen, in every one [page
221:] hundred of the atmosphere. Oxygen, which was the
principle
of combustion, and the vehicle of heat, was absolutely necessary to the
support of animal life, and was the most powerful and energetic agent
in
nature. Nitrogen, on the contrary, was incapable of supporting either
animal
life or flame. An unnatural excess of oxygen would result, it had been
ascertained, in just such an elevation of the animal spirits as we had
latterly experienced. It was the pursuit, the extension of the idea,
which
had engendered awe. What would be the result of a total extraction
of
the nitrogen? A combustion irresistible, all-devouring,
omni-prevalent,
immediate — the entire fulfilment, in all its minute and terrible
details,
of the fiery and horror-inspiring denunciations of the prophecies of
the
Holy Book. Why need I paint, Charmion, the now disenchained
frenzy of mankind? That tenuity in the comet which had previously
inspired
us with hope, was now the source of the bitterness of despair. In its
impalpable
gaseous character we clearly perceived the consummation of Fate.
Meantime
a day again passed — bearing away with it the last shadow of Hope. We
gasped
in the rapid modification of the air. The red blood bounded
tumultuously
through its strict channels. A furious delirium possessed all men; and,
with arms immoveably outstretched towards the threatening heavens, they
trembled and shrieked aloud. But the nucleus of the destroyer was now
upon
us. Even here in Aidenn, I shudder while I speak. Let me be brief —
brief
as the ruin that [page 222:] overwhelmed. For a
short
moment there was a wild lurid light alone, visiting and penetrating all
things. Then — let us bow down, Charmion, before the excessive majesty
of the great God! — then, there came a great pervading sound, as if
from
the mouth itself of HIM; while the whole
incumbent
mass of ether in which we existed burst at once into a species of
intense
flame, for whose surpassing brilliancy and all-fervid heat even the
angels
in the great Heaven of pure knowledge have no name. Thus ended all. |
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