Giovannihadnotconsideredwithhimselfwhatshouldbehis
deportment；whetherheshouldapologizeforhisintrusionintothe
garden，orassumethathewastherewiththeprivity，atleast，ifnot
bythedesire，ofDoctorRappacciniorhisdaughter。ButBeatrice’s
mannerplacedhimathisease，thoughleavinghimstillindoubtby
whatagencyhehadgainedadmittance。Shecamelightlyalongthepath，
andmethimnearthebrokenfountain。Therewassurpriseinher
face，butbrightenedbyasimpleandkindexpressionofpleasure。
“Youareaconnoisseurinflowers，Signor。”saidBeatricewitha
smile，alludingtothebouquetwhichhehadflungherfromthewindow。
“Itisnomarvel，therefore，ifthesightofmyfather’srare
collectionhastemptedyoutotakeanearerview。Ifhewerehere，
hecouldtellyoumanystrangeandinterestingfactsastothe
natureandhabitsoftheseshrubs，forhehasspentalife-timein
suchstudies，andthisgardenishisworld。”
“Andyourself，lady“-observedGiovanni-“iffamesaystrue-you，
likewise，aredeeplyskilledinthevirtuesindicatedbytheserich
blossoms，andthesespicyperfumes。Wouldyoudeigntobemy
instructress，IshouldproveanapterscholarthanunderSignor
Rappaccinihimself。”
“Aretheresuchidlerumors？”askedBeatrice，withthemusicofa
pleasantlaugh。“DopeoplesaythatIamskilledinmyfather’s
scienceofplants？Whatajestisthere！No；thoughIhavegrownup
amongtheseflowers，Iknownomoreofthemthantheirhuesand
perfume；andsometimes，methinksIwouldfainridmyselfofeven
thatsmallknowledge。Therearemanyflowershere，andthosenotthe
leastbrilliant，thatshockandoffendme，whentheymeetmyeye。But，
pray，Signor，donotbelievethesestoriesaboutmyscience。Believe
nothingofmesavewhatyouseewithyourowneyes。”
“AndmustIbelieveallthatIhaveseenwithmyowneyes？”asked
Giovannipointedly，whiletherecollectionofformerscenesmadehim
shrink。“No，Signora，youdemandtoolittleofme。Bidmebelieve
nothing，savewhatcomesfromyourownlips。”
ItwouldappearthatBeatriceunderstoodhim。Therecameadeep
flushtohercheek；butshelookedfullintoGiovanni’seyes，and
respondedtohisgazeofuneasysuspicionwithaqueen-like
haughtiness。
Idosobidyou，Signor！”shereplied。“Forgetwhateveryoumay
havefanciedinregardtome。Iftruetotheoutwardsenses，still
itmaybefalseinitsessence。ButthewordsofBeatriceRappaccini’s
lipsaretruefromtheheartoutward。Thoseyoumaybelieve！”
Afervorglowedinherwholeaspect，andbeameduponGiovanni’s
consciousnesslikethelightoftruthitself。Butwhileshespoke，
therewasafragranceintheatmospherearoundherrichand
delightful，thoughevanescent，yetwhichtheyoungman，froman
indefinablereluctance，scarcelydaredtodrawintohislungs。It
mightbetheodoroftheflowers。CoulditbeBeatrice’sbreath，which
thusembalmedherwordswithastrangerichness，asifbysteeping
theminherheart？AfaintnesspassedlikeashadowoverGiovanni，and
flittedaway；heseemedtogazethroughthebeautifulgirl’seyesinto
hertransparentsoul，andfeltnomoredoubtorfear。
ThetingeofpassionthathadcoloredBeatrice’smannervanished；
shebecamegay，andappearedtoderiveapuredelightfromher
communionwiththeyouth，notunlikewhatthemaidenofalonely
islandmighthavefelt，conversingwithavoyagerfromthecivilized
world。Evidentlyherexperienceoflifehadbeenconfinedwithinthe
limitsofthatgarden。Shetalkednowaboutmattersassimpleasthe
day-lightorsummer-clouds，andnowaskedquestionsinreferenceto
thecity，orGiovanni’sdistanthome，hisfriends，hismother，andhis
sisters；questionsindicatingsuchseclusion，andsuchlackof
familiaritywithmodesandforms，thatGiovannirespondedasifto
aninfant。Herspiritgushedoutbeforehimlikeafreshrill，that
wasjustcatchingitsfirstglimpseofthesunlight，andwondering，at
thereflectionsofearthandskywhichwereflungintoitsbosom。
Therecamethoughts，too，fromadeepsource，andfantasiesofa
gem-likebrilliancy，asifdiamondsandrubiessparkledupwardamong
thebubblesofthefountain。Everandanon，theregleamedacrossthe
youngman’smindasenseofwonder，thatheshouldbewalkingside
bysidewiththebeingwhohadsowroughtuponhisimagination-whom
hehadidealizedinsuchhuesofterror-inwhomhehadpositively
witnessedsuchmanifestationsofdreadfulattributes-thatheshould
beconversingwithBeatricelikeabrother，andshouldfindherso
humanandsomaiden-like。Butsuchreflectionswereonlymomentary；
theeffectofhercharacterwastooreal，nottomakeitself
familiaratonce。
Inthisfreeintercourse，theyhadstrayedthroughthegarden，
andnow，aftermanyturnsamongitsavenues，werecometothe
shatteredfountain，besidewhichgrewthemagnificentshrubwithits
treasuryofglowingblossoms。Afragrancewasdiffusedfromit，
whichGiovannirecognizedasidenticalwiththatwhichhehad
attributedtoBeatrice’sbreath，butincomparablymorepowerful。As
hereyesfelluponit，Giovannibeheldherpressherhandtoher
bosom，asifherheartwerethrobbingsuddenlyandpainfully。
“Forthefirsttimeinmylife。”murmuredshe，addressingthe
shrub，“Ihadforgottenthee！”
“Iremember，Signora。”saidGiovanni，“thatyouoncepromisedto
rewardmewithoneoftheselivinggemsforthebouquet，whichIhad
thehappyboldnesstoflingtoyourfeet。Permitmenowtopluckitas
amemorialofthisinterview。”
Hemadeasteptowardstheshrub，withextendedhand。But
Beatricedartedforward，utteringashriekthatwentthroughhisheart
likeadagger。Shecaughthishand，anddrewitbackwiththewhole
forceofherslenderfigure。Giovannifelthertouchthrillingthrough
hisfibres。
“Touchitnot！”exclaimedshe，inavoiceofagony。“Notforthy
life！Itisfatal！”
Then，hidingherface，shefledfromhim，andvanishedbeneath
thesculpturedportal。AsGiovannifollowedherwithhiseyes，he
beheldtheemaciatedfigureandpaleintelligenceofDoctor
Rappaccini，whohadbeenwatchingthescene，heknewnothowlong，
withintheshadowoftheentrance。
NosoonerwasGuascontialoneinhischamber，thantheimageof
Beatricecamebacktohispassionatemusings，investedwithallthe
witcherythathadbeengatheringarounditeversincehisfirst
glimpseofher，andnowlikewiseimbuedwithatenderwarmthof
girlishwomanhood。Shewashuman：hernaturewasendowedwithall
gentleandfemininequalities；shewasworthiesttobeworshipped；she
wascapable，surely，onherpart，oftheheightandheroismoflove。
Thosetokens，whichhehadhithertoconsideredasproofsofa
frightfulpeculiarityinherphysicalandmoralsystem，werenow
eitherforgotten，or，bythesubtlesophistryofpassion，transmuted
intoagoldencrownofenchantment，renderingBeatricethemore
admirable，bysomuchasshewasthemoreunique。Whateverhad
lookedugly，wasnowbeautiful；or，ifincapableofsuchachange，
itstoleawayandhiditselfamongthoseshapelesshalf-ideas，which
throngthedimregionbeyondthedaylightofourperfect
consciousness。ThusdidGiovannispendthenight，norfellasleep，
untilthedawnhadbeguntoawaketheslumberingflowersinDoctor
Rappaccini’sgarden，whitherhisdreamsdoubtlessledhim。Uprosethe
suninhisdueseason，andflinginghisbeamsupontheyoungman’s
eyelids，awokehimtoasenseofpain。Whenthoroughlyaroused，he
becamesensibleofaburningandtinglingagonyinhishand-inhis
righthand-theveryhandwhichBeatricehadgraspedinherown，
whenhewasonthepointofpluckingoneofthegem-likeflowers。On
thebackofthathandtherewasnowapurpleprint，likethatof
foursmallfingers，andthelikenessofaslenderthumbuponhis
wrist。
Oh，howstubbornlydoeslove-oreventhatcunningsemblanceof
lovewhichflourishesintheimagination，butstrikesnodepthofroot
intotheheart-howstubbornlydoesitholditsfaith，untilthe
momentcome，whenitisdoomedtovanishintothinmist！Giovanni
wraptahandkerchiefabouthishand，andwonderedwhatevilthing
hadstunghim，andsoonforgothispaininareverieofBeatrice。
Afterthefirstinterview，asecondwasintheinevitablecourseof
whatwecallfate。Athird；afourth；andameetingwithBeatricein
thegardenwasnolongeranincidentinGiovanni’sdailylife，butthe
wholespaceinwhichhemightbesaidtolive；fortheanticipation
andmemoryofthatecstatichourmadeuptheremainder。Norwasit
otherwisewiththedaughterofRappaccini。Shewatchedfortheyouth’s
appearance，andflewtohissidewithconfidenceasunreservedasif
theyhadbeenplaymatesfromearlyinfancy-asiftheyweresuch
playmatesstill。If，byanyunwontedchance，hefailedtocomeat
theappointedmoment，shestoodbeneaththewindow，andsentupthe
richsweetnessofhertonestofloataroundhiminhischamber，and
echoandreverberatethroughouthisheart-“Giovanni！Giovanni！Why
tarriestthou？Comedown！”AnddownhehastenedintothatEdenof
poisonousflowers。
But，withallthisintimatefamiliarity，therewasstilla
reserveinBeatrice’sdemeanor，sorigidlyandinvariablysustained，
thattheideaofinfringingitscarcelyoccurredtohisimagination。
Byallappreciablesigns，theyloved；theyhadlookedlove，with
eyesthatconveyedtheholysecretfromthedepthsofonesoulinto
thedepthsoftheother，asifitweretoosacredtobewhisperedby
theway；theyhadevenspokenlove，inthosegushesofpassionwhen
theirspiritsdartedforthinarticulatedbreath，liketonguesof
long-hiddenflame；andyettherehadbeennosealoflips，noclaspof
hands，noranyslightestcaress，suchasloveclaimsandhallows。He
hadnevertouchedoneofthegleamingringletsofherhair；her
garment-somarkedwasthephysicalbarrierbetweenthem-hadnever
beenwavedagainsthimbyabreeze。OnthefewoccasionswhenGiovanni
hadseemedtemptedtooverstepthelimit，Beatricegrewsosad，so
stern，andwithalworesuchalookofdesolateseparation，
shudderingatitself，thatnotaspokenwordwasrequisitetorepel
him。Atsuchtimes，hewasstartledatthehorriblesuspicionsthat
rose，monster-like，outofthecavernsofhisheart，andstaredhimin
theface；hislovegrewthinandfaintasthemorning-mist；hisdoubts
alonehadsubstance。ButwhenBeatrice’sfacebrightenedagain，
afterthemomentaryshadow，shewastransformedatoncefromthe
mysterious，questionablebeing，whomhehadwatchedwithsomuchawe
andhorror；shewasnowthebeautifulandunsophisticatedgirl，whom
hefeltthathisspiritknewwithacertaintybeyondallother
knowledge。
AconsiderabletimehadnowpassedsinceGiovanni’slastmeeting
withBaglioni。Onemorning，however，hewasdisagreeablysurprised
byavisitfromtheProfessor，whomhehadscarcelythoughtoffor
wholeweeks，andwouldwillinglyhaveforgottenstilllonger。Given
up，ashehadlongbeen，toapervadingexcitement，hecould
toleratenocompanions，exceptuponconditionoftheirperfect
sympathywithhispresentstateoffeeling。Suchsympathywasnotto
beexpectedfromProfessorBaglioni。
Thevisitorchattedcarelessly，forafewmoments，aboutthegossip
ofthecityandtheUniversity，andthentookupanothertopic。
“Ihavebeenreadinganoldclassicauthorlately。”saidhe，“and
metwithastorythatstrangelyinterestedme。Possiblyyoumay
rememberit。ItisofanIndianprince，whosentabeautifulwoman
asapresenttoAlexandertheGreat。Shewasaslovelyasthedawn，
andgorgeousasthesunset；butwhatespeciallydistinguishedher
wasacertainrichperfumeinherbreath-richerthanagardenof
Persianroses。Alexander，aswasnaturaltoayouthfulconqueror，fell
inloveatfirstsightwiththismagnificentstranger。Butacertain
sagephysician，happeningtobepresent，discoveredaterrible
secretinregardtoher。”
“Andwhatwasthat？”askedGiovanni，turninghiseyesdownwardto
avoidthoseoftheProfessor。
“Thatthislovelywoman。”continuedBaglioni，withemphasis，“had
beennourishedwithpoisonsfromherbirthupward，untilherwhole
naturewassoimbuedwiththem，thatsheherselfhadbecomethe
deadliestpoisoninexistence。Poisonwasherelementoflife。With
thatrichperfumeofherbreath，sheblastedtheveryair。Herlove
wouldhavebeenpoison！herembracedeath！Isnotthisamarvellous
tale？”
“Achildishfable。”answeredGiovanni，nervouslystartingfrom
hischair。“Imarvelhowyourworshipfindstimetoreadsuch
nonsense，amongyourgraverstudies。”
“Bythebye。”saidtheProfessor，lookinguneasilyabouthim，“what
singularfragranceisthisinyourapartment？Isittheperfumeof
yourgloves？Itisfaint，butdelicious，andyet，afterall，byno
meansagreeable。WereItobreatheitlong，methinksitwouldmake
meill。Itislikethebreathofaflower-butIseenoflowersinthe
chamber。”
“Norarethereany。”repliedGiovanni，whohadturnedpaleasthe
Professorspoke；“nor，Ithink，isthereanyfragrance，exceptinyour
worship’simagination。Odors，beingasortofelementcombinedof
thesensualandthespiritual，areapttodeceiveusinthismanner。
Therecollectionofaperfume-thebareideaofit-mayeasilybe
mistakenforapresentreality。”
“Aye；butmysoberimaginationdoesnotoftenplaysuchtricks。”
saidBaglioni；“andwereItofancyanykindofodor，itwouldbethat
ofsomevileapothecarydrug，wherewithmyfingersarelikelyenough
tobeimbued。OurworshipfulfriendRappaccini，asIhaveheard，
tinctureshismedicamentswithodorsricherthanthoseofAraby。
Doubtless，likewise，thefairandlearnedSignoraBeatricewould
ministertoherpatientswithdraughtsassweetasamaiden’s
breath。Butwotohimthatsipsthem！”
