The Mysteries of Udolpho

On counting over this, Du Pont found, that it would be more than

sufficient to carry them all to France, where he now determined to

accompany Emily, whether he should obtain intelligence of his regiment,

or not; for, though he had as much confidence in the integrity of

Ludovico, as his small knowledge of him allowed, he could not endure the

thought of committing her to his care for the voyage; nor, perhaps, had

he resolution enough to deny himself the dangerous pleasure, which he

might derive from her presence.

He now consulted them, concerning the sea-port, to which they should

direct their way, and Ludovico, better informed of the geography of the

country, said, that Leghorn was the nearest port of consequence, which

Du Pont knew also to be the most likely of any in Italy to assist

their plan, since from thence vessels of all nations were continually

departing. Thither, therefore, it was determined, that they should

proceed.

Emily, having purchased a little straw hat, such as was worn by the

peasant girls of Tuscany, and some other little necessary equipments for

the journey, and the travellers, having exchanged their tired horses for

others better able to carry them, re-commenced their joyous way, as the

sun was rising over the mountains, and, after travelling through this

romantic country, for several hours, began to descend into the vale

of Arno.

And here Emily beheld all the charms of sylvan and pastoral

landscape united, adorned with the elegant villas of the Florentine

nobles, and diversified with the various riches of cultivation. How

vivid the shrubs, that embowered the slopes, with the woods, that

stretched amphitheatrically along the mountains! and, above all, how

elegant the outline of these waving Apennines, now softening from the

wildness, which their interior regions exhibited! At a distance, in the

east, Emily discovered Florence, with its towers rising on the

brilliant horizon, and its luxuriant plain, spreading to the feet of

the Apennines, speckled with gardens and magnificent villas, or coloured

with groves of orange and lemon, with vines, corn, and plantations of

olives and mulberry; while, to the west, the vale opened to the waters

of the Mediterranean, so distant, that they were known only by a blueish

line, that appeared upon the horizon, and by the light marine vapour,

which just stained the aether above.

With a full heart, Emily hailed the waves, that were to bear her back to

her native country, the remembrance of which, however, brought with it

a pang; for she had there no home to receive, no parents to welcome her,

but was going, like a forlorn pilgrim, to weep over the sad spot, where

he, who WAS her father, lay interred. Nor were her spirits cheered,

when she considered how long it would probably be before she should see

Valancourt, who might be stationed with his regiment in a distant part

of France, and that, when they did meet, it would be only to lament

the successful villany of Montoni; yet, still she would have felt

inexpressible delight at the thought of being once more in the same

country with Valancourt, had it even been certain, that she could not

see him.