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what the moon saw-第4章

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On the high…road the pace was quicker yet。 The coachman looked

nervously round every now and then… I fancy he half expected to see

her sitting on the coffin; in her yellow satin wrapper。 And because he

was startled; he foolishly lashed his horses; while he held the

reins so tightly that the poor beasts were in a foam: they were

young and fiery。 A hare jumped across the road and startled them;

and they fairly ran away。 The old sober maiden; who had for years

and years moved quietly round and round in a dull circle; was now;

in death; rattled over stock and stone on the public highway。 The

coffin in its covering of straw tumbled out of the van; and was left

on the high…road; while horses; coachman; and carriage flew past in

wild career。 The lark rose up carolling from the field; twittering her

morning lay over the coffin; and presently perched upon it; picking

with her beak at the straw covering; as though she would tear it up。

The lark rose up again; singing gaily; and I withdrew behind the red

morning clouds。〃

                         ELEVENTH EVENING



    〃I will give you a picture of Pompeii;〃 said the Moon。 〃I was in

the suburb in the Street of Tombs; as they call it; where the fair

monuments stand; in the spot where; ages ago; the merry youths;

their temples bound with rosy wreaths; danced with the fair sisters of

Lais。 Now; the stillness of death reigned around。 German

mercenaries; in the Neapolitan service; kept guard; played cards;

and diced; and a troop of strangers from beyond the mountains came

into the town; accompanied by a sentry。 They wanted to see the city

that had risen from the grave illumined by my beams; and I showed them

the wheel…ruts in the streets paved with broad lava slabs; I showed

them the names on the doors; and the signs that hung there yet: they

saw in the little courtyard the basins of the fountains; ornamented

with shells; but no jet of water gushed upwards; no songs sounded

forth from the richly…painted chambers; where the bronze dog kept

the door。

    〃It was the City of the Dead; only Vesuvius thundered forth his

everlasting hymn; each separate verse of which is called by men an

eruption。 We went to the temple of Venus; built of snow…white

marble; with its high altar in front of the broad steps; and the

weeping willows sprouting freshly forth among the pillars。 The air was

transparent and blue; and black Vesuvius formed the background; with

fire ever shooting forth from it; like the stem of the pine tree。

Above it stretched the smoky cloud in the silence of the night; like

the crown of the pine; but in a blood…red illumination。 Among the

company was a lady singer; a real and great singer。 I have witnessed

the homage paid to her in the greatest cities of Europe。 When they

came to the tragic theatre; they all sat down on the amphitheatre

steps; and thus a small part of the house was occupied by an audience;

as it had been many centuries ago。 The stage still stood unchanged;

with its walled side…scenes; and the two arches in the background;

through which the beholders saw the same scene that had been exhibited

in the old times… a scene painted by nature herself; namely; the

mountains between Sorento and Amalfi。 The singer gaily mounted the

ancient stage; and sang。 The place inspired her; and she reminded me

of a wild Arab horse; that rushes headlong on with snorting nostrils

and flying mane… her song was so light and yet so firm。 Anon I thought

of the mourning mother beneath the cross at Golgotha; so deep was

the expression of pain。 And; just as it had done thousands of years

ago; the sound of applause and delight now filled the theatre。 'Happy;

gifted creature!' all the hearers exclaimed。 Five minutes more; and

the stage was empty; the company had vanished; and not a sound more

was heard… all were gone。 But the ruins stood unchanged; as they

will stand when centuries shall have gone by; and when none shall know

of the momentary applause and of the triumph of the fair songstress;

when all will be forgotten and gone; and even for me this hour will be

but a dream of the past。〃

                         TWELFTH EVENING



    〃I looked through the windows of an editor's house;〃 said the

Moon。 〃It was somewhere in Germany。 I saw handsome furniture; many

books; and a chaos of newspapers。 Several young men were present:

the editor himself stood at his desk; and two little books; both by

young authors; were to be noticed。 'This one has been sent to me;'

said he。 'I have not read it yet; what think you of the contents?'

'Oh;' said the person addressed… he was a poet himself… 'it is good

enough; a little broad; certainly; but; you see; the author is still

young。 The verses might be better; to be sure; the thoughts are sound;

though there is certainly a good deal of common…place among them。

But what will you have? You can't be always getting something new。

That he'll turn out anything great I don't believe; but you may safely

praise him。 He is well read; a remarkable Oriental scholar; and has

a good judgment。 It was he who wrote that nice review of my

'Reflections on Domestic Life。' We must be lenient towards the young

man。〃

    〃'But he is a complete hack!' objected another of the gentlemen。

'Nothing worse in poetry than mediocrity; and he certainly does not go

beyond this。'

    〃'Poor fellow;' observed a third; 'and his aunt is so happy

about him。 It was she; Mr。 Editor; who got together so many

subscribers for your last translation。'

    〃'Ah; the good woman! Well; I have noticed the book briefly。

Undoubted talent… a welcome offering… a flower in the garden of

poetry… prettily brought out… and so on。 But this other book… I

suppose the author expects me to purchase it? I hear it is praised。 He

has genius; certainly: don't you think so?'

    〃'Yes; all the world declares as much;' replied the poet; 'but

it has turned out rather wildly。 The punctuation of the book; in

particular; is very eccentric。'

    〃'It will be good for him if we pull him to pieces; and anger

him a little; otherwise he will get too good an opinion of himself。'

    〃'But that would be unfair;' objected the fourth。 'Let us not carp

at little faults; but rejoice over the real and abundant good that

we find here: he surpasses all the rest。'

    〃'Not so。 If he is a true genius; he can bear the sharp voice of

censure。 There are people enough to praise him。 Don't let us quite

turn his head。'

    〃'Decided talent;' wrote the editor; 'with the usual carelessness。

that he can write incorrect verses may be seen in page 25; where there

are two false quantities。 We recommend him to study the ancients;

etc。'

    〃I went away;〃 continued the Moon; 〃and looked through the windows

in the aunt's house。 There sat the be…praised poet; the tame one;

all the guests paid homage to him; and he was happy。

    〃I sought the other poet out; the wild one; him also I found in

a great assembly at his patron's; where the tame poet's book was being

discussed。

    〃'I shall read yours also;' said Maecenas; 'but to speak honestly…

you know I never hide my opinion from you… I don't expect much from

it; for you are much too wild; too fantastic。 But it must be allowed

that; as a man; you are highly respectable。'

    〃A young girl sat in a corner; and she read in a book these words:



                   〃'In the dust lies genius and glory;

                     But ev'ry…day talent will pay。

                   It's only the old; old story;

                     But the piece is repeated each day。'〃

                         THIRTEENTH EVENING



    The Moon said; 〃Beside the woodland path there are two small

farm…houses。 The doors are low; and some of the windows are placed

quite high; and others close to the ground; and whitethorn and

barberry bushes grow around them。 The roof of each house is

overgrown with moss and with yellow flowers and houseleek。 Cabbage and

potatoes are the only plants cultivated in the gardens; but out of the

hedge there grows a willow tree; and under this willow tree sat a

little girl; and she sat w
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