The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 295: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BRONZE STATUE. 293 mine would know no bounds to their] appeared a long subterranean passage, despair! Maddened by these reflec- that first went sloping downward, then tions I quitted you hastily, mounted my | was continued straight, and then seem- horse, and galloped away with whirl-| ed to rise with a steep ascent, terminat- wind speed, as if to escape from the ing at last ata door. ‘This was opened, companionship of my wretched, wretch- and on we went through some vaulted ed thoughts. But as if nothing were to place, the air of which struck like a be wanting to drive me to desperation, | mortal chill to the very marrow of the accident threw me inthe way of the | bones, and the distant echoes bearing Baron of Altendorf; and the terrible | evidence to its vastness. My impres- chief, after some ironical congratula-| sion at the time seemed to be that it tions upon my marriage, reminded me| was a place of tombs ; for there was a of my compact which I formed with | sepulchral hollowness in those reverbe- him three years ago. Then, in the| rations of our footsteps, as if it were the course of a colloquy, every word of| profound silence of the grave that was which comes vividly back to my recol- | being thus awakened. At the expira- lection as if it were nota dream, the tion of a few minutes another door was baron entered into long and fearfully | opened, and I heard the gentle rippling minute explanutions concerning the tri- | of water. Then the bandage was sud- bunal of the Bronze Statue; and then} denly torn from my eyes, the glare of methought ts ‘torches flashed upon my sight, and the ‘ But those explanations, Ildegardo | shuddering looks which | threw around said Emilia, in a stifling voice, ‘as she!the vaulted chamber where we thus bent down her head upon his shoulder, paused, settled in another moment upon ‘» order to conceal her face ; for she felt | a huge piece of machinery, the aspect that she was ghastly pale, and that there | of which was enough to strike terror to was a rigid expression of horror im- | the boldest heart. But scarcely had my printed upon her features. vision embraced all the details of that ‘<< Would’st thou, then, really exact hideous spectacle, when I was hurried from me the minutest details of that} away by the Baron of Altendorf and his terrible dream 2” exclaimed Ildegardo, | party, and in an upper room did I be- caressing with his hand the beauteous hold the colossal image which gives its head which was thus pillowed upon his | name to the dread tribunal of the Bronze * = a -* . see ‘ * -* 7 = — = - . ——— CP i . » WY - » aA Aa ee eo shoulder: and he then repeated word | Statue ie ef for word all that the Baron of Altendorf| ‘* Proceed—proceed, my dear hus- ne 4 had said to him, but still believing the band!” exclaimed Emilia, in a voice YT whole to be a vision. that expressed all the terrible excite- Ass +s And now proceed with your nar- | ment of a rending anguish. ‘ Do not rative, dearest husband,” said Emilia, | pause to reflect upon these horrors.” swayed by an excruciating curiosity to| ‘** No, 1 will not, my beloved wife,” know the rest. said the baron; ‘ although they do be- ‘<¢T must hasten and bring the gloo-| long only to a frightful dream. Yes, my topic to an end,” replied the baron ; and the most hideous phase in that vi- ‘or 1 shall persuade myself into a be- sion now occurred - for while lL wus lost lief of its reality 1f I thus continue to lin the mingled amazement, admiration, ponder upon it. Know, then, that sud- and terror, with which J contemplated denly cutting short the conversation | the colossal image of the Blessed Virgin which I have just detailed, the Baron of| in whose presence L stood, the Baron of Altendorf blew a shrill whistle ; and the | Altendorf whispered over my shoulder, summons was obeyed by several armed | the awful mystery connected therewith! men, who fastened a bandage over my O, Almighty God, if this were anything eyes, and bound me upon my horse._-| more than a dream—if it were possible Then away, away we all went with that the tremendous secret which I maddening speed ; and fearful was the | then learnt could be associated with a excitement which | experienced in this reality ——”" portion of my dream—for remember, ++ Oh! give not way to these agonis- dearest Emilia, that it 1s but a dream |ing reflections, my heloved husband,” which I am relating. Well, on we interrupted Emilia, now raising her went for at least three hours, and then! head from his shoulder, and perceiving we suddenly stopped. I was made to| that his countenance was convulsed with dismount from my horse; but my eyes | horror: ‘*but hasten to bring this pain- remained blindfolded, as | was eonduct- | ful history—this narrative of a shocking ed down a flight of stone steps into what | vision, | mean—toe a conclusien,” for comicbooks.com