Matilda claims she would die, spiritually, for Verezzi; she says, “for him would I even lose my hopes of eternal happiness. In the sweet idea of calling him mine, […] no mistaken superstitious fear shall prevent me from deserving him by daring acts” (79).
Zastrozzi claims that his hatred toward Verezzi will last not only while they are on Earth, but will exist even in death; “Verezzi recognised him who had declared eternal enmity” (90).
In an attempt to see his beloved, dead Julia, Verezzi attempts to kill himself. He believes he will see Julia in death; he says he will “‘seek [her] unspotted soul’”; he declares he “‘will again clasp [his] lost Julia’” (93).
Zastrozzi would like to speak with Matilda, but she would not be willing to leave Verezzi, even if it concerned her “soul’s eternal happiness” because Verezzi, all she holds “dear on earth,” may soon die. She is willing to forgo eternal happiness for earthly (96).
Shelley, Percy B. Zastrozzi and St. Irvyne. Ed. Stephen C. Behrendt.
