Dantès Wounded
Dantès is almost glad of this affray, almost pleased at being wounded, for these are rude lessons teaching him with what eye he can view danger and with what endurance he can bear suffering. He has contemplated danger with a smile, and when wounded has exclaimed with the great philosopher, “Pain, thou art not an evil.” He has looked upon the customs officer wounded to death, and whether from heat of blood or the chill of human sentiment, this sight has made but slight impression upon him. Dantès is on the path he desires to follow, moving toward the end he wishes to achieve; his heart is in a fair way of petrifying in his bosom.
Jacopo’s Devotion
Jacopo, seeing Dantès fall, believes him killed and rushes to raise him up, attending to him with all the kindness of a devoted comrade. This world is not then so good as Doctor Pangloss believed it, neither is it so wicked as Dantès thinks it, for this man, who has nothing to expect from his comrade but the inheritance of his share of the prize-money, manifests so much sorrow when he sees him fall. Fortunately, Edmond is only wounded, and with certain herbs gathered at certain seasons and sold to the smugglers by old Sardinian women, the wound soon closes. Edmond resolves to try Jacopo and offers him a share of his prize-money in return for his attention, but Jacopo refuses it indignantly. The sympathetic devotion which Jacopo has from the first bestowed on Edmond moves the latter to a certain degree of affection. Jacopo instinctively feels that Edmond has a right to superiority of position—a superiority Edmond has concealed from all others. The kindness Edmond shows him suffices for the brave seaman.
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