Chapter 8 chapter eight

The road from Ravello to Sorrento is beautiful; I could not have expected a finer view on the ground this morning.The rocks are scorching hot, the air is plentiful, the wild grass is fragrant, and the sky is clear. All these make me feel the good taste of life and give me great satisfaction.Nostalgia or regret, hope or longing, the future and the past are all silent, and I only feel the life that is sent and taken away by the present. ——"The pleasure of the body!" I sighed loudly, "The sonorous rhythm of my muscles! Health!" Maceline's excessively quiet pleasure would dilute mine, as her footsteps would slow mine, so I started early in the morning, one step ahead of her.She was going to catch up with me in the car and we were supposed to have lunch in Positano.

When I was approaching Positano, I suddenly heard a strange singing, accompanied by the rumbling bass of the wheels, and I looked back at once, but at first I saw nothing, because the road turned here around the cliff.Then, a carriage appeared out of the blue, and it was the one that Marceline was riding in.The coachman stood on the seat, sang at the top of his voice, danced with his hands and feet, and whipped the frightened horse desperately.The beast!He passed in front of me and didn't stop when he heard me yelling; I was almost crushed and jumped to the side of the road... I rushed up, but the car was running too fast.I was terribly afraid that Maceline would fall, and that something might happen to her if she stayed on top; if the horse jumped, it might throw her into the sea.The horse suddenly stumbled and fell.Marceline jumped out of the car to run away, but I was already in front of her.As soon as the coachman saw me, he yelled at me.I was so furious that as soon as the guy uttered a bad word, I jumped on him, and yanked him off his seat, wrestling with him on the ground, but didn't lose the advantage.He seemed to be in a daze, I saw that he wanted to bite me, and I just punched him in the face, making him even more confused.Still holding on, I put my knees against his chest and twisted his arms as hard as I could.I looked at the ugly face, made even uglier by my fists.snort!The scoundrel, who spattered, drools all over his face, has a bloody nose, and keeps cursing!real!I should strangle him to death; maybe I can really do it... At least I think I have this ability, and I must be afraid of the police before I stop.

It took me a lot of effort to tie up the madman and throw him in the car like a sack. Hey!What a look Maceline and I exchanged afterwards!The danger was not great then, but I had to show my strength, and it was to protect her.Immediately I felt that I could give my life to her, give it all with joy... The horse stood up.We left the drunk in the compartment, climbed into the coachman's seat, and drove as far as Positano and then to Sorrento. It was that night that I completely possessed Maceline. Do you understand that I feel like a new person in sex?Do I have to repeat?Maybe because of the new ideas in love, our real wedding night is infinitely lingering.Because looking back on it today, I still think that night was unique: a burning passion.How much tenderness is added by the surprise of copulation; one night is enough to declare the greatest loves, and that one night is so deep that I can only think of it now and then.This is a moment of laughter where our hearts mingle.But I think this laughter is the end of love, and the only end, after which, alas!The soul can no longer overcome; and the soul can regenerate happiness only by wearing it out in its struggle; nothing prevents happiness so much as the memory of it.well!I always remember that night.

The hotel where we stayed was located outside the city, surrounded by gardens or orchards; a wide balcony protruded from our room, and the branches of the trees could be brushed.Morning light streamed in through the open windows.I propped myself up gently, and leaned affectionately towards Marceline.She was still asleep, smiling as if in sleep, and I felt stronger in myself and weaker in her, fragile in her beauty.Thoughts swirled in my mind, I thought she was not lying, I thought to myself that I was doing everything for her, and then I said, "What have I done for her happiness? I have left her almost all day; she expects something from me." Everything, and I leave her alone! Oh! Poor, poor Marceline!" When I thought about it, tears welled up in my eyes.I wanted to excuse myself on the grounds that I was weak in the past, but it was in vain; now I only care about myself and keep my body healthy, so why?Am I not healthier than her right now?

The smile faded from her cheeks; the morning glow, though reddening everything, made me suddenly see her pale, worried countenance.Maybe it was because of the dawn that my mood was lost: "Macelin, one day, do you want me to take care of you? Do you want me to worry about you?" I shouted in my heart.I shuddered; so, full of love, pity, tenderness, I kissed between her closed eyes: the most tender, most affectionate, most honest kiss.