Quotation from: The Arrow of Gold

Written by: Joseph Conrad


I felt suddenly extremely exhausted, absolutely overcome with
fatigue since I had moved; as if to sit on that Pompeiian chair had
been a task almost beyond human strength, a sort of labour that
must end in collapse. I fought against it for a moment and then my
resistance gave way. Not all at once but as if yielding to an
irresistible pressure (for I was not conscious of any irresistible
attraction) I found myself with my head resting, with a weight I
felt must be crushing, on Dona Rita's shoulder which yet did not
give way, did not flinch at all. A faint scent of violets filled
the tragic emptiness of my head and it seemed impossible to me that
I should not cry from sheer weakness. But I remained dry-eyed. I
only felt myself slipping lower and lower and I caught her round
the waist clinging to her not from any intention but purely by
instinct. All that time she hadn't stirred. There was only the
slight movement of her breathing that showed her to be alive; and
with closed eyes I imagined her to be lost in thought, removed by
an incredible meditation while I clung to her, to an immense
distance from the earth. The distance must have been immense
because the silence was so perfect, the feeling as if of eternal
stillness. I had a distinct impression of being in contact with an
infinity that had the slightest possible rise and fall, was
pervaded by a warm, delicate scent of violets and through which
came a hand from somewhere to rest lightly on my head. Presently
my ear caught the faint and regular pulsation of her heart, firm
and quick, infinitely touching in its persistent mystery,
disclosing itself into my very ear--and my felicity became
complete.

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