two hours after noon
In silence they walked together to the priest 's house . Marcian had now put off all irresolution . He gave orders to his guard ; as soon as the horses had sufficiently rested , they would push on for Aletrium , and there pass the night . The start was made some two hours after noon . Riding once more beside the carriage , Marcian felt his heart light : passions and fears were all forgotten ; the sun flaming amid the pale blue sky , the violet shadows of the mountains , the voice of cicadas made rapture to his senses . It was as though Veranilda 's beauty , not even yet beheld , rayed something of itself upon all the visible world . Never had a summer 's day shone so gloriously for him ; never had he so marked the hues of height and hollow , the shape of hills , the winding of a stream .