Tales, Poems, and Other Writings - Rilegato

Melville, Herman

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 067964105X ISBN 13: 9780679641056

Casa editrice: Modern Library, 2001

Riassunto

Presents a collection of stories, poems, literary criticism, letters, and lectures.

Su questo libro

Informazioni sull?autore

John Bryant is professor of English at Hofstra University. He has published five books on Melville and numerous articles. He has been the general editor of the Melville Society, one of the oldest and largest single-author societies in America, since 1990.

Dalla quarta di copertina

asterpieces like “Bartleby the Scrivener” and “Billy Budd” to more obscure, even completely unknown works like the epic poem “Clarel,” Melville’s stories and poems rank among his greatest and most gripping work. This unique anthology–the first of its kind in fifty years–gathers together all of Melville’s tales, as well as a judiciously edited array of his prose poems, literary criticism, letters, lectures, and poetry. Though few realize it today, poetry was Melville’s abiding passion; yet his poetry has never received the recognition it deserves, until now.

Containing many writings available nowhere else, and edited by leading Melville scholar John Bryant, Tales, Poems, and Other Writings includes a comprehensive introductory essay and extensive, in many cases groundbreaking, editorial commentary. It opens a window onto Melville’s writing process–he was a ceaseless reviser and experimenter–and reveals

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Excerpt

Fragments from a Writing Desk, No. 2

“Confusion seize the Greek!” exclaimed I, as wrathfully rising frommy chair, I flung my ancient Lexicon across the room, and seizing my hat andcane, and throwing on my cloak, I sallied out into the clear air of heaven. Thebracing coolness of an April evening calmed my aching temples, and I slowlywended my way to the river side. I had promenaded the bank for about half anhour, when flinging myself upon the grassy turf, I was soon lost in revery, andup to the lips in sentiment.

I had not lain more than five minutes, when a figure effectually concealed inthe ample folds of a cloak, glided past me, and hastily dropping something at myfeet, disappeared behind the angle of an adjoining house, ere I could recoverfrom my astonishment at so singular an occurrence.—“Certes!”cried I, springing up, “here is a spice of the marvelous!” andstooping down, I picked up an elegant little, rose-coloured, lavender-scentedbillet-doux, and hurriedly breaking the seal (a heart, transfixed with an arrow)I read by the light of the moon, the following:

“Gentle Sir—

If my fancy has painted you in genuine colours, you will on the receipt of this,incontinently follow the bearer where she will lead you.

Inamorata.”

“The deuce I will!” exclaimed I,—“Butsoft!”—And I reperused this singular document, turned over thebillet in my fingers, and examined the hand-writing; which was femininelydelicate, and I could have sworn was a woman’s. Is it possible, thought I,that the days of romance are revived?—No, “The days of chivalry areover!” says Burke.

As I made this reflection, I looked up, and beheld the same figure which hadhanded me this questionable missive, beckoning me forward. I started towardsher; but, as I approached, she receded from me, and fled swiftly along themargin of the river at a pace, which, encumbered as I was with my heavy cloakand boots, I was unable to follow; and which filled me with sundry misgivings,as to the nature of the being, who could travel with such amazing celerity. Atlast perfectly breathless, I fell into a walk; which, my mysterious fugitiveperceiving, she likewise lessened her pace, so as to keep herself still insight, although at too great a distance to permit me to address her.

Having recovered from my fatigue and regained my breath: I loosened the clasp ofmy cloak, and inwardly resolving that I would come at the bottom of the mystery,I desperately flung the mantle from my shoulders, and dashing my beaver to theground, gave chase in good earnest to the tantalizing stranger. No sooner did Ifrom my extravagant actions announce my intention to overtake her, than with alight laugh of derision, she sprang forward at a rate, which in attempting tooutstrip, soon left me far in the rear, heartily disconcerted and crest-fallen,and inly cursing the ignus fatuus, that danced so provokingly before me.

At length, like every one else, learning wisdom from experience; I thought mypolicy lay in silently following the footsteps of my eccentric guide, andquietly waiting the denouement of this extraordinary adventure. So soon as Irelaxed my speed, and gave evidence of having renounced my more summary mode ofprocedure; the stranger, regulating her movements by mine, proceeded at a pacewhich preserved between us a uniform distance, ever and anon, looking back likea wary general to see if I were again inclined to try the mettle of her limbs.

After pursuing our way in this monotonous style for some time; I observed thatmy conductress rather abated in her precautions, and had not for the last ten orfifteen minutes taken her periodical survey over her shoulder; whereat, pluckingup my spirits, which I can assure you courteous reader, had fallen considerablybelow zero by the ill-success of my previous efforts,—I again rushed madlyforward at the summit of my speed, and having advanced ten or twelve rodsunperceived, was flattering myself that I should this time make good my purpose;when, turning suddenly round, as though reminded of her late omission, anddescrying me plunging ahead like an infuriated steed, she gave a slightlyaudible scream of surprise, and once more fled, as though helped forward byinvisible wings.

This last failure was too much. I stopped short, and stamping the ground inungovernable rage, gave vent to my chagrin in a volley of exclamations: inwhich, perhaps, if narrowly inspected, might have been detected two or threeexpressions which savored somewhat of the jolly days of the jolly cavaliers. Butif a man was ever excusable for swearing; surely, the circumstances of the casewere palliative of the crime. What! to be thwarted by a woman? Peradventure,baffled by a girl? Confusion! It was too bad! To be outgeneraled, routed,defeated, by a mere rib of the earth? It was not to be borne! I thought I shouldnever survive the inexpressible mortification of the moment; and in the heighthof my despair, I bethought me of putting a romantic end to my existence upon thevery spot which had witnessed my discomfiture.

But when the first transports of my wrath had passed away, and perceiving thatthe waters of the river, instead of presenting an unruffled calm, as they arewont to do on so interesting an occasion, were discomposed and turbid; andremembering, that beside this, I had no other means of accomplishing my heroicpurpose, except the vulgar and inelegant one, of braining myself against thestone wall which traversed the road; I sensibly determined after taking intoconsideration the aforementioned particulars, together with the fact that I hadan unfinished game of chess to win, on which depended no inconsiderable wager,that to commit suicide under such circumstances would be highly inexpedient, andprobably be attended with many inconveniencies.—During the time I hadconsumed in arriving at this most wise and discreet conclusion, my mind had timeto recover its former tone, and had become comparatively calm and collected; andI saw my folly in endeavoring to trifle with one, apparently so mysterious andinexplicable.

I now resolved, that whatever might betide, I would patiently await the issue ofthe affair: and advancing forward in the direction of my guide, who all thistime had maintained her ground, stedfastly watching my actions,—we bothsimultaneously strode forward, and were soon on the same footing as before.

We walked on at an increased pace, and were just passed the suburbs of the town,when my conductress plunging into a neighboring grove, pursued her way withaugmented speed, till we arrived at a spot, whose singular and grotesque beauty,even amidst the agitating occurrences of the evening I could not refrain fromobserving. A circular space of about a dozen acres in extent had been cleared inthe very heart of the grove: leaving, however, two parallel rows of lofty trees,which at the distance of about twenty paces, and intersected in the centre bytwo similar ranges, traversed the whole diameter of the circle. These nobleplants shooting their enormous trunks to an amazing heighth, bore their verdanthonors far aloft, throwing their gigantic limbs abroad and embracing each otherwith their rugged arms. This fanciful union of their sturdy boughs formed amagnificent arch, whose grand proportions, swelling upward in proud preeminence,presented to the eye a vaulted roof, which to my perturbed imagination at thetime, seemed to have canopied the triumphal feasts of the sylvan god.—Thissingular prospect burst upon me in all its beauty, as we emerged from thesurrounding thicket, and I had unconsciously lingered on the borders of thewood, the better to enjoy so unrivalled a view; when as my eye was following thedusky outline of the grove, I caught the diminutive figure of my guide, whostanding at the entrance of the arched-way I have been endeavoring to describe,was making the most extravagant gestures of impatience at mydelay.—Reminded at once of the situation, which put me for a time underthe control of this capricious mortal, I replied to her summons by immediatelythrowing myself forward, and we soon entered the Atlantean arbor, in whoseumbrageous shades we were completely hid.

Lost in conjecture, during the whole of this eccentric ramble, as to itsprobable termination—the sombre gloom of these ancestral trees, gave adarkning hue to my imaginings, and I began to repent the inconsiderate hastewhich had hurried me on, in an expedition, so peculiar and suspicious. In spiteof all my efforts to exclude them, the fictions of the nursery poured in upon myrecollection, and I felt with Bob Acres in the “Rivals,” that“my valor was certainly going.” Once, I am almost ashamed to own itto thee, gentle reader, my mind was so haunted with ghostly images, that in anagony of apprehension, I was about to turn and flee, and had actually made somepreliminary movements to that effect, when my hand, accidentally straying intomy bosom, griped the billet, whose romantic summons had caused this nocturnaladventure. I felt my soul regain her fortitude, and smiling at the absurdconceits which infested my brain, I once more stalked proudly forward, under theoverhanging branches of these ancient trees.

Emergent from the shades of this romantic region, we soon beheld an edifice,which seated on a gentle eminence, and embowered amidst surrounding trees, borethe appearance of a country villa; although its plain exterior showed none ofthose fantastic devices which usually adorn the elegant chateaux. My conductressas we neared this unpretending mansion seemed to redouble her precautions; andalthough she evinced no positive alarm, yet her quick and startled glancesbespoke no small degree of apprehension. Motioning me to conceal myself behindan adjacent tree, she approached the house with rapid but cautious steps; myeyes followed her until she disappeared behind the shadow of the garden wall,and I remained waiting her reappearance with the utmost anxiety.—Aninterval of several moments had elapsed, when I descried her, swinging open asmall postern, and beckoning me to advance. I obeyed the summons, and was soonby her side, not a little amazed at the complacency, which after what hadtranspired, brooked my immediate vicinity. Dissembling my astonishment, however,and rallying all my powers, I followed with noiseless strides the footsteps ofmy guide, fully persuaded that this mysterious affair was now about to bebrought to an eclaircissement.

The appearance of this spacious habitation was any thing but inviting; it seemedto have been built with a jealous eye to concealment; and its few, butwell-defended windows were sufficiently high from the ground, as effectually tobaffle the prying curiosity of the inquisitive stranger. Not a single lightshone from the narrow casement; but all was harsh, gloomy and forbidding. As myimagination, ever alert on such an occasion, was busily occupied in assigningsome fearful motive for such unusual precautions; my leader suddenly haltedbeneath a lofty window, and making a low call, I perceived slowly descendingtherefrom, a thick silken chord, attached to an ample basket, which was silentlydeposited at our feet. Amazed at this apparition, I was about soliciting anexplanation: when laying her fingers impressively upon her lips, and placingherself in the basket, my guide motioned me to seat myself beside her. I obeyed;but not without considerable trepidation: and in obedience to the same low callwhich had procured its descent our curious vehicle, with sundry creakings, rosein air.

To attempt an analysis of my feelings at this moment were impos- sible. Thesolemnity of the hour—the romantic nature of my presentsituation—the singularity of my whole adventure—the profoundstillness which prevailed—the solitude of the place, were enough ofthemselves to strike a panic into the stoutest heart, and to unsettle thestrongest nerves. But when to these, was added the thought,—that at thedead of night, and in the company of a being so perfectly inexplicable, I waseffecting a clandestine entrance into so remarkable an abode: the kind andsympathising reader will not wonder, when I wished myself safely bestowed in myown snug quarters in ——— street.

Such were the reflections which passed through my mind, during our aerialvoyage, throughout which my guide maintained the most rigid silence, only brokenat intervals by the occasional creakings of our machine, as it rubbed againstthe side of the house in its ascent. No sooner had we gained the window, thantwo brawny arms were extended circling me in their embrace, and ere I was awareof the change of locality, I found myself standing upright in an apartment,dimly illuminated by a solitary taper. My fellow voyager was quickly beside me,and again enjoining silence with her finger, she seized the lamp and bidding mefollow, conducted me through a long corridor, till we reached a low doorconcealed behind some old tapestry, which opening to the touch, disclosed aspectacle as beautiful and enchanting as any described in the Arabian Nights.

The apartment we now entered, was filled up in a style of Eastern splendor, andits atmosphere was redolent of the most delicious perfumes. The walls were hunground with the most elegant draperies, waving in graceful folds, on which weredelineated scenes of Arcadian beauty. The floor was covered with a carpet of thefinest texture, in which were wrought with exquisite skill, the most strikingevents in ancient mythology. Attached to the wall by chords composed ofalternate threads of crimson silk and gold, were several magnificent picturesillustrative of the loves of Jupiter and Semele,—Psyche before thetribunal of Venus, and a variety of other scenes, limned all with felicitousgrace. Disposed around the room, were luxurious couches, covered with the finestdamask, on which were likewise executed after the Italian fashion the earlyfables of Greece and Rome. Tripods, designed to represent the Graces bearingaloft vases, richly chiseled in the classic taste, were distributed in theangles of the room, and exhaled an intoxicating fragrance.

Copyright © 2000 Valerian Albanov. All rights reserved.
ISBN: 0-679-64100-9

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Modern Library
• Data di pubblicazione: 2001
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 067964105X
• ISBN 13: 9780679641056
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 622
• Redattore: Bryant John
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: non disponibile