ons, but which I swear to
accomplish for their benefit if you will walk beside me. What higher
mission can you ask for love? what nobler part can woman aspire to? I
came to Norway to meditate a grand design."

"And you will sacrifice its grandeur," she said, "to an innocent girl
who loves you, and who will lead you in the paths of peace."

"What matters sacrifice," he cried, "if I have you? Hear my secret. I
have gone from end to end of the North,--that great smithy from whose
anvils new races have spread over the earth, like human tides appointed
to refresh the wornout civilizations. I wished to begin my work at some
Northern point, to win the empire which force and intellect must ever
give over a primitive people; to form that people for battle, to drive
them to wars which should ravage Europe like a conflagration, crying
liberty to some, pillage to others, glory here, pleasure there!--I,
myself, remaining an image of Destiny, cruel, implacable, advancing like
the whirlwind, which sucks from the atmosphere the particles that make
the thunderbolt, and falls like a devouring scourge upon the nations.
Europe is at an epoch when she awaits the new Messiah who shall destroy
society and remake it. She can no longer believe except in him who
crushes her under foot. The day is at hand when poets and historians
will justify me, exalt me, and borrow my ideas, mine! And all the while
my triumph will be a jest, written in blood, the jest of my vengeance!
But not here, Seraphita; what I see in the North disgusts me. Hers is
a mere blind force; I thirst for the Indies! I would rather fight a
selfish, cowardly, mercantile government. Besides, it is easier to stir
the imagination of the peoples at the feet of the Caucasus than to argue
with the intellect of the icy lands which here surround me. Therefore am
I tempted to cross the Russian steps and pour my triumphant human tide
through Asia to the Ganges, and overthrow the British rule. Seven men
have done this thing before me in other epochs of the world. I will
emulate them. I will spread Art like the Saracens, hurled by Mohammed
upon Europe. Mine shall be no paltry sovereignty like those that govern
to-day the ancient provinces of the Roman empire, disputing with their
subjects about a customs right! No, nothing can bar my way! Like Genghis
Khan, my feet shall tread a third of the globe, my hand shall grasp
the throat of Asia like Aurung-Zeb. Be my companion! Let me seat thee,
bea