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<h2> Chapter X </h2>
<h3> THE NEXT MORNING. THE FATE OF NYDIA. </h3>
<p>AND meekly, softly, beautifully, dawned at last the light over the
trembling deep!—the winds were sinking into rest—the foam died
from the glowing azure of that delicious sea. Around the east, thin mists
caught gradually the rosy hues that heralded the morning; Light was about
to resume her reign. Yet, still, dark and massive in the distance, lay the
broken fragments of the destroying cloud, from which red streaks, burning
dimlier and more dim, betrayed the yet rolling fires of the mountain of
the 'Scorched Fields'. The white walls and gleaming columns that had
adorned the lovely coasts were no more. Sullen and dull were the shores so
lately crested by the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. The darlings of
the deep were snatched from her embrace! Century after century shall the
mighty Mother stretch forth her azure arms, and know them not—moaning
round the sepulchres of the Lost!</p>
<p>There was no shout from the mariners at the dawning light—it had
come too gradually, and they were too wearied for such sudden bursts of
joy—but there was a low, deep murmur of thankfulness amidst those
watchers of the long night. They looked at each other and smiled—they
took heart—they felt once more that there was a world around, and a
God above them! And in the feeling that the worst was passed, the
overwearied ones turned round, and fell placidly to sleep. In the growing
light of the skies there came the silence which night had wanted: and the
bark drifted calmly onward to its port. A few other vessels, bearing
similar fugitives, might be seen in the expanse, apparently motionless,
yet gliding also on. There was a sense of security, of companionship, and
of hope, in the sight of their slender masts and white sails. What beloved
friends, lost and missed in the gloom, might they not bear to safety and
to shelter!</p>
<p>In the silence of the general sleep, Nydia rose gently. She bent over the
face of Glaucus—she inhaled the deep breath of his heavy slumber—timidly
and sadly she kissed his brow—his lips; she felt for his hand—it
was locked in that of Ione; she sighed deeply, and her face darkened.
Again she kissed his brow, and with her hair wiped from it the damps of
night. 'May the gods bless you, Athenian!' she murmured: 'may you be happy
with your beloved one!—may you sometimes remember Nydia! Alas! she
is of no further use on earth!'</p>
<p>With these words she turned away. Slowly she crept along by the fori, or
platforms, to the farther side of the vessel, and, pausing, bent low over
the deep; the cool spray dashed upward on her feverish brow. 'It is the
kiss of death,' she said 'it is welcome.' The balmy air played through her
waving tresses—she put them from her face, and raised those eyes—so
tender, though so lightless—to the sky, whose soft face she had
never seen!</p>
<p>'No, no!' she said, half aloud, and in a musing and thoughtful tone, 'I
cannot endure it; this jealous, exacting love—it shatters my whole
soul in madness! I might harm him again—wretch that I was! I have
saved him—twice saved him—happy, happy thought: why not die
happy?—it is the last glad thought I can ever know. Oh! sacred Sea!
I hear thy voice invitingly—it hath a freshening and joyous call.
They say that in thy embrace is dishonour—that thy victims cross not
the fatal Styx—be it so!—I would not meet him in the Shades,
for I should meet him still with her! Rest—rest—rest! there is
no other Elysium for a heart like mine!'</p>
<p>A sailor, half dozing on the deck, heard a slight splash on the waters.
Drowsily he looked up, and behind, as the vessel merrily bounded on, he
fancied he saw something white above the waves; but it vanished in an
instant. He turned round again, and dreamed of his home and children.</p>
<p>When the lovers awoke, their first thought was of each other—their
next of Nydia! She was not to be found—none had seen her since the
night. Every crevice of the vessel was searched—there was no trace
of her. Mysterious from first to last, the blind Thessalian had vanished
for ever from the living world! They guessed her fate in silence: and
Glaucus and Ione, while they drew nearer to each other (feeling each other
the world itself), forgot their deliverance, and wept as for a departed
sister.</p>
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