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That basilisk glare held him fast. With every faculty of his mind he fought against the influence which was slowly, irresistibly, shackling his brain. He laughed, he shouted defiance at Bellward and Strangwise, he sang snatches of songs. But Bellward never moved a muscle. He seemed to be in a kind of cataleptic trance, so rigid his body, so unswerving his stare.
For over all this ground lay extended, then, in watchful strength all safe and unespied, the basilisk of whom the Fable goes, if he sees you first, you die for it, but if YOU SEE HIM FIRST, HE DIES. And this is the Bishop who fought with a mace, because he would kill his enemy and not wound him. Reason cannot be so sensible, nor examples so fit. Advancement of Learning.
To these heretical propositions some said that doubtless the devil wished to convert himself, and others that he remained in the shape of the canon to mock at the three nephews and heirs of this said brave confessor and make them wait until the day of their own death for the ample succession of this uncle, to whom they paid great attention every day, going to look if the good man had his eyes open, and in fact found him always with his eye clear, bright, and piercing as the eye of a basilisk, which pleased them greatly, since they loved their uncle very much in words.
"Mrs. Beckett " I began. "Mrs. Beckett is discussing with Mr. Beckett what they can do for Gerbéviller, and they'll ask your advice when they want it. No use worrying. They've boodle enough for all their charities, and for the shorn lambs, too." "Do you call yourself a shorn lamb?" I sniffed. "Certainly. Don't I look it? Good heavens, girl, you needn't basilisk me so, to see if I do!
She had none of that dazzling brilliancy, of that voluptuous Rubens beauty, of that pearly whiteness, and those vermilion tints, which immediately entranced with the power of a basilisk men who came within reach of Madeline Neroni. It was all be impossible to resist the signora, but no one was called upon for any resistance towards Eleanor.
He eyed Psmith for a moment like an elderly basilisk, then looked back at the ceiling again. 'I shall speak to you tomorrow, he said. Psmith heaved a heavy sigh. 'You will not see us tomorrow, he said, pushing the brandy a little nearer. Mr Bickersdyke's eyes left the ceiling once more. 'What do you mean? he said. 'Drink this, urged Psmith sympathetically, holding out the glass.
Persons of a figure remotely reconcilable with his were subjected to quite extraordinary inquisitions, made to scrub their faces before going on board ship, as if each white complexion were made up like a mask, of greasepaint. Every negro in England was put under special regulations and made to report himself; the outgoing ships would no more have taken a nigger than a basilisk.
Almost before I was aware that I was liberated, the shifty spectre, whose basilisk eye had not released me, stood at my side. "You oughter have seen," he began, "the time 't I was killed in Californy " Major! major! major! drop 'er, I say, an' come along, by clam!"
"After the dog, perhaps some Christian will come to welcome us," said poor Phoebe. Obedient to the wish, out walked Sophy, the English nurse, a scraggy woman, with a very cocked nose and thin, pinched lips, and an air of respectability and pertness mingled. She dropped a short courtesy, shot the glance of a basilisk at Ucatella, and said stiffly, "You are welcome home, ma'am."
Do you suppose that the favourite of Pallas Athene will condescend to charms and magic? Send her up. The girl retreated, with a look half of awe, half of doubt, at the lofty pretensions of her mistress, and returned with old Miriam, keeping, however, prudently behind her, in order to test as little as possible the power of her own amulet by avoiding the basilisk eye which had terrified her.
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