Belmour: A Modern Edition

Chapter 37

✦ 283 ✦ she so unexpectedly again saw Belmour—destined, as it were, to renew with so much additional interest, from a further knowledge of his character, from his passionate admiration of her, which she could no longer doubt, and from the thousand amiable qualities he possessed, those sentiments, which she had so often vainly endeavoured to banish from her heart. Chapter 37 it was now nearly three years since Belmour had quitted England; during which time, he had not only visited great parts of Europe, but extended his travels into Asia and Egypt. From Constantinople he had sailed to Smyrna, where he had by chance met with a Greek, a man of profound erudition, who had made it his particular study, to trace the remains of Grecian art, science, and grandeur, on the very spots where they had existed. He had already made several voyages and journeys for this purpose, was particularly acquainted with the different islands in the Archipelago, and had, with the enthusiasm of national pride, more than once visited that part of the Asiatic coast, where still are to be traced the ever memorable plains of Troy. He had even gone farther than any other traveller into the interior of the country, which afforded him the most curious speculations from the still remaining language and customs of ancient Greece.—On conversing with this man, Belmour found, that his circumstances, which were contracted , alone hindered his further prosecuting his travels and observation; and that if proper opportunity offered, he would not even object again to go over such parts of Greece and Asia, as he had already visited.—Such a companion, it appeared to ✦ 284 ✦ Belmour, would be of infinite use to him; and circumstances thus uniting to make it the advantage of both, their plan was easily settled, and they agreed to travel together.—The Greek was a man of a thoughtful and serious turn, who, in addition, having had misfortunes in his youth, was uncommonly silent, though without any unpleasant reserve, when once engaged to enter into conversation.—Yet as there existed not that sympathy between them, which renders confidence the necessary consequence of intimacy, without further investigation of Belmour’s character, he considered him in the light only of a young Englishman of fortune, who travelled for amusement, and to dissipate some secret chagrin, the cause of which he had no wish to penetrate. Belmour, often in the course of their travels, when for any time they remained at particular places, made solitary rambles for several days, and even weeks together;—when he returned , he found the Greek void of surprise or curiosity at the length of his absence; and to appearance indifferent as to his return.—Love, when occasionally the subject occurred, he treated as a mere delirium of the imagination; and admitted of no circumstances, which could make it otherwise.—This did not encourage confidence on the part of Belmour—his sorrows remained wholly locked up in his own bosom—those sorrows time had only more deeply impressed on his heart, where Emily still reigned without control.—To muse over his own hard fate, and to recall to his mind her perfections, was the great charm of his life, and could, he thought, best be indulged, while thus far distant from that vain and insignificant society of the world, for which he then felt only disgust.— While his eyes wandered over the various new and interesting scenes everywhere presented to his view, a calm and composed sensation often took place in his breast, which, by leading to the consolations of philosophy and virtue, so softened his melancholy , as to allow it almost to merit the name of pleasure. ✦ 285 ✦ From that spice too of romance inherent in his character, the gratification of every act of benevolence, which, when the occasion occurred, he never neglected, was redoubled to him by his name and fortune not being known, and consequently less expectations formed of his powers to relieve by munificence . On one occasion, in particular, he had the satisfaction, so touching to his own heart, of completing the happiness of another. A young man of the name of Wilmot, with whom he happened to form some degree of acquaintance on his first coming to Smyrna, (where Belmour now was for the second time) had, during his absence, become passionately in love with a Turkish girl, whom a merchant there, of that nation, had bred...