The Mysteries of Udolpho

The ruggedness of the unfrequented road often obliged the wanderers to

alight from their little carriage, but they thought themselves amply

repaid for this inconvenience by the grandeur of the scenes; and,

while the muleteer led his animals slowly over the broken ground, the

travellers had leisure to linger amid these solitudes, and to indulge

the sublime reflections, which soften, while they elevate, the heart,

and fill it with the certainty of a present God! Still the enjoyment

of St. Aubert was touched with that pensive melancholy, which gives

to every object a mellower tint, and breathes a sacred charm over all

around. They had provided against part of the evil to be encountered from a want

of convenient inns, by carrying a stock of provisions in the carriage,

so that they might take refreshment on any pleasant spot, in the open

air, and pass the nights wherever they should happen to meet with a

comfortable cottage. For the mind, also, they had provided, by a work on

botany, written by M. Barreaux, and by several of the Latin and Italian

poets; while Emily's pencil enabled her to preserve some of those

combinations of forms, which charmed her at every step.

The loneliness of the road, where, only now and then, a peasant was seen

driving his mule, or some mountaineer-children at play among the rocks,

heightened the effect of the scenery. St. Aubert was so much struck with

it, that he determined, if he could hear of a road, to penetrate further

among the mountains, and, bending his way rather more to the south, to

emerge into Rousillon, and coast the Mediterranean along part of that

country to Languedoc.

Soon after mid-day, they reached the summit of one of those cliffs,

which, bright with the verdure of palm-trees, adorn, like gems, the

tremendous walls of the rocks, and which overlooked the greater part of

Gascony, and part of Languedoc. Here was shade, and the fresh water of

a spring, that, gliding among the turf, under the trees, thence

precipitated itself from rock to rock, till its dashing murmurs were

lost in the abyss, though its white foam was long seen amid the darkness

of the pines below. This was a spot well suited for rest, and the travellers alighted to

dine, while the mules were unharnessed to browse on the savoury herbs

that enriched this summit.

It was some time before St. Aubert or Emily could withdraw their

attention from the surrounding objects, so as to partake of their little

repast. Seated in the shade of the palms, St. Aubert pointed out to her

observation the course of the rivers, the situation of great towns, and

the boundaries of provinces, which science, rather than the eye, enabled

him to describe. Notwithstanding this occupation, when he had talked

awhile he suddenly became silent, thoughtful, and tears often swelled to

his eyes, which Emily observed, and the sympathy of her own heart told

her their cause. The scene before them bore some resemblance, though it

was on a much grander scale, to a favourite one of the late Madame St.

Aubert, within view of the fishing-house. They both observed this, and

thought how delighted she would have been with the present landscape,

while they knew that her eyes must never, never more open upon this

world. St. Aubert remembered the last time of his visiting that spot in

company with her, and also the mournfully presaging thoughts which had

then arisen in his mind, and were now, even thus soon, realized! The

recollections subdued him, and he abruptly rose from his seat, and

walked away to where no eye could observe his grief.