spurred my horse, who addressed his free limbs to speed, and tossed his

gallant head in pride. The constellations reeled swiftly by, swiftly each

tree and stone and landmark fled past my onward career. I bared my head to

the rushing wind, which bathed my brow in delightful coolness. As I lost

sight of Villeneuve-la-Guiard, I forgot the sad drama of human misery;

methought it was happiness enough to live, sensitive the while of the

beauty of the verdure-clad earth, the star-bespangled sky, and the tameless

wind that lent animation to the whole. My horse grew tired--and I,

forgetful of his fatigue, still as he lagged, cheered him with my voice,

and urged him with the spur. He was a gallant animal, and I did not wish to

exchange him for any chance beast I might light on, leaving him never to be

refound. All night we went forward; in the morning he became sensible that

we approached Versailles, to reach which as his home, he mustered his

flagging strength. The distance we had come was not less than fifty miles,

yet he shot down the long Boulevards swift as an arrow; poor fellow, as I

dismounted at the gate of the castle, he sunk on his knees, his eyes were

covered with a film, he fell on his side, a few gasps inflated his noble

chest, and he died. I saw him expire with an anguish, unaccountable even to

myself, the spasm was as the wrenching of some limb in agonizing torture,

but it was brief as it was intolerable. I forgot him, as I swiftly darted

through the open portal, and up the majestic stairs of this castle of

victories--heard Adrian's voice--O fool! O woman nurtured, effeminate

and contemptible being--I heard his voice, and answered it with

convulsive shrieks; I rushed into the Hall of Hercules, where he stood

surrounded by a crowd, whose eyes, turned in wonder on me, reminded me that

on the stage of the world, a man must repress such girlish extacies. I

530

The Last Man