_On Love_ 426 ZASTROZZI, A ROMANCE. BY P. B. S. ----That their God May prove their foe, and with repenting hand Abolish his own works.--This would surpass Common revenge. Paradise Lost. LONDON, Printed for G. Wilkie and J. Robinson: 57, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1810. [Decoration] ZASTROZZI. A Romance. CHAPTER I. Torn from the society of all he held dear on earth, the victim of secret enemies, and exiled from happiness, was the wretched Verezzi! All was quiet; a pitchy darkness involved the face of things, when, urged by fiercest revenge, Zastrozzi placed himself at the door of the inn where, undisturbed, Verezzi slept. Loudly he called the landlord. The landlord, to whom the bare name of Zastrozzi was terrible, trembling obeyed the summons. “Thou knowest Verezzi the Italian? He lodges here.” “He does,” answered the landlord. “Him, then, have I devoted to destruction,” exclaimed Zastrozzi. “Let Ugo and Bernardo follow you to his apartment; I will be with you to prevent mischief.” Cautiously they ascended--successfully they executed their revengeful purpose, and bore the sleeping Verezzi to the place, where a chariot waited to convey the vindictive Zastrozzi’s prey to the place of its destination. Ugo and Bernardo lifted the still sleeping Verezzi into the chariot. Rapidly they travelled onwards for several hours. Verezzi was still wrapped in deep sleep, from which all the movements he had undergone had been insufficient to rouse him. Zastrozzi and Ugo were masked, as was Bernardo, who acted as postilion. It was still dark, when they stopped at a small inn, on a remote and desolate heath; and waiting but to change horses, again advanced. At last day appeared--still the slumbers of Verezzi remained unbroken. Ugo fearfully questioned Zastrozzi as to the cause of his extraordinary sleep. Zastrozzi, who, however, was well acquainted with it, gloomily answered, “I know not.” Swiftly they travelled during the whole of the day, over which Nature seemed to have drawn her most gloomy curtain. They stopped occasionally at inns, to change horses and obtain refreshments. Night came on--they forsook the beaten track, and, entering an immense forest, made their way slowly through the rugged underwood. At last they stopped--they lifted their victim from the chariot, and bore him to a cavern, which yawned in a dell close by. Not long did the hapless victim of unmerited persecution enjoy an oblivion which deprived him of a knowledge of his horrible situation. He awoke--and overcome by excess of terror, started violently from the ruffians’ arms. They had now entered the cavern; Verezzi supported himself against a fragment of rock which jutted out. “Resistance is useless,” exclaimed Zastrozzi. “Following us in submissive silence can alone procure the slightest mitigation of your punishment.”