dreams-第3部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



He　laughed　in　the　merry　sunshine；　and　sang　loud。　　Victory　was　very　near。　　Nevertheless；　after　a　while　the　path　grew　steeper。　　He　needed　all　his　breath　for　climbing；　and　the　singing　died　away。　　On　the　right　and　left　rose　huge　rocks；　devoid　of　lichen　or　moss；　and　in　the　lava…like　earth　chasms　yawned。　　Here　and　there　he　saw　a　sheen　of　white　bones。　　Now　too　the　path　began　to　grow　less　and　less　marked；　then　it　became　a　mere　trace；　with　a　footmark　here　and　there；　then　it　ceased　altogether。　　He　sang　no　more；　but　struck　forth　a　path　for　himself；　until　it　reached　a　mighty　wall　of　rock；　smooth　and　without　break；　stretching　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see。　　〃I　will　rear　a　stair　against　it；　and；　once　this　wall　climbed；　I　shall　be　almost　there；〃　he　said　bravely；　and　worked。　　With　his　shuttle　of　imagination　he　dug　out　stones；　but　half　of　them　would　not　fit；　and　half　a　month's　work　would　roll　down　because　those　below　were　ill　chosen。　　But　the　hunter　worked　on；　saying　always　to　himself；　〃Once　this　wall　climbed；　I　shall　be　almost　there。　　This　great　work　ended！〃

At　last　he　came　out　upon　the　top；　and　he　looked　about　him。　　Far　below　rolled　the　white　mist　over　the　valleys　of　superstition；　and　above　him　towered　the　mountains。　　They　had　seemed　low　before；　they　were　of　an　immeasurable　height　now；　from　crown　to　foundation　surrounded　by　walls　of　rock；　that　rose　tier　above　tier　in　mighty　circles。　　Upon　them　played　the　eternal　sunshine。　　He　uttered　a　wild　cry。　　He　bowed　himself　on　to　the　earth；　and　when　he　rose　his　face　was　white。　　In　absolute　silence　he　walked　on。　　He　was　very　silent　now。　　In　those　high　regions　the　rarefied　air　is　hard　to　breathe　by　those　born　in　the　valleys；　every　breath　he　drew　hurt　him；　and　the　blood　oozed　out　from　the　tips　of　his　fingers。　　Before　the　next　wall　of　rock　he　began　to　work。　　The　height　of　this　seemed　infinite；　and　he　said　nothing。　　The　sound　of　his　tool　rang　night　and　day　upon　the　iron　rocks　into　which　he　cut　steps。　　Years　passed　over　him；　yet　he　worked　on；　but　the　wall　towered　up　always　above　him　to　heaven。　　Sometimes　he　prayed　that　a　little　moss　or　lichen　might　spring　up　on　those　bare　walls　to　be　a　companion　to　him；　but　it　never　came。

And　the　years　rolled　on；　he　counted　them　by　the　steps　he　had　cuta　few　for　a　yearonly　a　few。　　He　sang　no　more；　he　said　no　more；　〃I　will　do　this　or　that〃he　only　worked。　　And　at　night；　when　the　twilight　settled　down；　there　looked　out　at　him　from　the　holes　and　crevices　in　the　rocks　strange　wild　faces。

〃Stop　your　work；　you　lonely　man；　and　speak　to　us；〃　they　cried。

〃My　salvation　is　in　work；　if　I　should　stop　but　for　one　moment　you　would　creep　down　upon　me；〃　he　replied。　　And　they　put　out　their　long　necks　further。

〃Look　down　into　the　crevice　at　your　feet；〃　they　said。　　〃See　what　lie　there…　…white　bones！　　As　brave　and　strong　a　man　as　you　climbed　to　these　rocks。〃　　And　he　looked　up。　　He　saw　there　was　no　use　in　striving；　he　would　never　hold　Truth；　never　see　her；　never　find　her。　　So　he　lay　down　here；　for　he　was　very　tired。　　He　went　to　sleep　forever。　　He　put　himself　to　sleep。　　Sleep　is　very　tranquil。　　You　are　not　lonely　when　you　are　asleep；　neither　do　your　hands　ache；　nor　your　heart。　　And　the　hunter　laughed　between　his　teeth。

〃Have　I　torn　from　my　heart　all　that　was　dearest；　have　I　wandered　alone　in　the　land　of　night；　have　I　resisted　temptation；　have　I　dwelt　where　the　voice　of　my　kind　is　never　heard；　and　laboured　alone；　to　lie　down　and　be　food　for　you；　ye　harpies？〃

He　laughed　fiercely；　and　the　Echoes　of　Despair　slunk　away；　for　the　laugh　of　a　brave；　strong　heart　is　as　a　death　blow　to　them。

Nevertheless　they　crept　out　again　and　looked　at　him。

〃Do　you　know　that　your　hair　is　white？〃　they　said；　〃that　your　hands　begin　to　tremble　like　a　child's？　　Do　you　see　that　the　point　of　your　shuttle　is　gone？it　is　cracked　already。　　If　you　should　ever　climb　this　stair；〃　they　said；　〃it　will　be　your　last。　　You　will　never　climb　another。〃

And　he　answered；　〃I　know　it！〃　and　worked　on。

The　old；　thin　hands　cut　the　stones　ill　and　jaggedly；　for　the　fingers　were　stiff　and　bent。　　The　beauty　and　the　strength　of　the　man　was　gone。

At　last；　an　old；　wizened；　shrunken　face　looked　out　above　the　rocks。　　It　saw　the　eternal　mountains　rise　with　walls　to　the　white　clouds；　but　its　work　was　done。

The　old　hunter　folded　his　tired　hands　and　lay　down　by　the　precipice　where　he　had　worked　away　his　life。　　It　was　the　sleeping　time　at　last。　　Below　him　over　the　valleys　rolled　the　thick　white　mist。　　Once　it　broke；　and　through　the　gap　the　dying　eyes　looked　down　on　the　trees　and　fields　of　their　childhood。　　From　afar　seemed　borne　to　him　the　cry　of　his　own　wild　birds；　and　he　heard　the　noise　of　people　singing　as　they　danced。　　And　he　thought　he　heard　among　them　the　voices　of　his　old　comrades；　and　he　saw　far　off　the　sunlight　shine　on　his　early　home。　　And　great　tears　gathered　in　the　hunter's　eyes。

〃Ah！　they　who　die　there　do　not　die　alone；〃　he　cried。

Then　the　mists　rolled　together　again；　and　he　turned　his　eyes　away。

〃I　have　sought；〃　he　said；　〃for　long　years　I　have　laboured；　but　I　have　not　found　her。　　I　have　not　rested；　I　have　not　repined；　and　I　have　not　seen　her；　now　my　strength　is　gone。　　Where　I　lie　down　worn　out　other　men　will　stand；　young　and　fresh。　　By　the　steps　that　I　have　cut　they　will　climb；　by　the　stairs　that　I　have　built　they　will　mount。　　They　will　never　know　the　name　of　the　man　who　made　them。　　At　the　clumsy　work　they　will　laugh；　when　the　stones　roll　they　will　curse　me。　　But　they　will　mount；　and　on　my　work；　they　will　climb；　and　by　my　stair！　　They　will　find　her；　and　through　me！　　And　no　man　liveth　to　himself　and　no　man　dieth　to　himself。〃

The　tears　rolled　from　beneath　the　shrivelled　eyelids。　　If　Truth　had　appeared　above　him　in　the　clouds　now　he　could　not　have　seen　her；　the　mist　of　death　was　in　his　eyes。

〃My　soul　hears　their　glad　step　coming；〃　he　said；　〃and　they　shall　mount！　they　shall　mount！〃　　He　raised　his　shrivelled　hand　to　his　eyes。

Then　slowly　from　the　white　sky　above；　through　the　still　air；　came　something　falling；　falling；　falling。　　Softly　it　fluttered　down；　and　dropped　on　to　the　breast　of　the　dying　man。　　He　felt　it　with　his　hands。　　It　was　a　feather。　　He　died　holding　it。



III。　　THE　GARDENS　OF　PLEASURE。

She　walked　upon　the　beds；　and　the　sweet　rich　scent　arose；　and　she　gathered　her　hands　full　of　flowers。　　Then　Duty；　with　his　white　clear　features；　came　and　looked　at　her。　　Then　she　ceased　from　gathering；　but　she　walked　away　among　the　flowers；　smiling；　and　with　her　hands　full。

Then　Duty；　with　his　still　white　face；　came　again；　and　looked　at　her；　but　she；　she　turned　her　head　away　from　him。　　At　last　she　saw　his　face；　and　she　dropped　the　fairest　of　the　flowers　she　had　held；　and　walked　silently　away。

Then　again　he　came　to　her。　　And　she　moaned；　and　bent　her　head　low；　and　turned　to　the　gate。　　But　as　she　went　out　she　looked　back　at　the　sunlight　on　the　faces　of　the　flowers；　and　wept　in　anguish。　　Then　she　went　out；　and　it　shut　behind　her　for　ever；　but　still　in　her　hand　she　held　of　the　buds　she　had　gathered；　and　the　scent　was　very　sweet　in　the　lonely　desert。

But　he　followed　her。　　Once　more　he　stood　before　her　with　his　still；　white；　death…like　face。　　And　she　knew　what　he　had　come　for：　　she　unbent　the　fingers；　and　let　the　flowers　drop　out；　the　flowers　she　had　loved　so；　and　walked　on　without　them；　with　dry；　aching　eyes。　　Then　for　the　last　time　he　came。　　And　she　showed　him　her　empty　hands；　the　hands　that　held　nothing　now。　But　still　he　looked。　　Then　at　length　she　opened　her　bosom　and　took　out　of　it　one　small　flower　she　had　hidden　there；　and　laid　it　on　the　sand。　　She　had　nothing　more　to　give　now；　and　she　wandered　away；　and　the　grey　sand　whirled　about　her。



IV。　　IN　A　FAR…OFF　WORLD。

There　is　a　world　in　one　of　the　far…off　stars；　and　things　do　not　happen　here　as　they　happen　there。

In　that　world　were　a　man　and　woman；　they　had　one　work；　and　they　walked　together　side　by　side　on　many　days；　and　were　friendsand　that　is　a　thing　that　happens　now　and　then　in　this　world　also。

But　there　was　something　in　that　star…world　that　there　is　not　here。　　There　was　a　thick　wood：　　where　the　trees　grew　closest；　and　the　stems　were　interlocked；　and　the　summer　sun　never　shone；　there　stood　a　shrine。　　In　the　day　all　was　quiet；　but　at　night；　when　the　stars　shone　or　the　moon　glinted　on　the　tree…tops；　and　all　was　quiet　below；　if　one　crept　here　quite　alone　and　knelt　on　the　steps　of　the　stone　altar；　and　uncovering　one's　breast；　so　wounded　it　that　the　blood　fell　down　on　the　altar　steps；　then　whatever　he　who　knelt　there　wished　for　was　granted　him。　　And　all　this　happens；　as　I　said；　because　it　is　a　far…off　world；　and　things　often　happen　there　as　they　do　not　happen　here。

Now；　the　man　and　woman　walked　together；　and　the　woman　wished　well　to　the　man。　　One　night　when　the　moon　was　shining　so　that　the　leaves　of　all　the　trees　glinted；　and　the　waves　of　the　sea　were　silvery；　the　woman　walked　alone　to　the　forest。　　It　was　dark　there；　the　moonlight　fell　only　in　little　flecks　on　the　dead　leaves　under　her　feet；　and　the　branches　were　knotted　tight　overhead。　　Farther　in　it　got　darker；　not　even　a　fleck　of　moonlight　shone。　　Then　she　came　to　the　shrine；　she　knelt　down　before　it　and　prayed；　there　came　no　answer。　　Then　she　uncovered　her　breast；　with　a　sharp　two…　edged　stone　that　lay　there　she　wounded　it。　　The　drops　dripped　slowly　down　on　to　the　stone；　and　a　voice　cried；　〃What　do　you　seek？〃

She　answered；　〃There　is　a　man；　I　hold　him　nearer　than　anything。　　I　would　give　him　the　best　of　all　blessings。〃

The　voice　said；　〃What　is　it？〃

The　girl　said；　〃I　know　not；　but　that　which　is　most　good　for　him　I　wish　him　to　have。〃

The　voice　said；　〃Your　prayer　is　answered；　he　shall　have　it。〃

Then　she　stood　up。　　She　covered　her　breast　and　held　the　garment　tight　upon　it　with　her　hand；　and　ran　out　of　the　forest；　and　the　dead　leaves　fluttered　under　her　feet。　　Out　in　the　moonlight　the　soft　air　was　blowing；　and　the　sand　glittered　on　the　beach。　　She　ran　along　the　smooth　shore；　then　suddenly　she　stood　still。　　Out　across　the　water　there　was　something　moving。　　She　shaded　her　eyes　and　looked。　　It　was　a　boat；　it　was　sliding　swiftly　over　the　moonlit　water　out　to　sea。　　One　stood　upright　in　it；　the　face　the　moonlight　did　not　show；　but　the　figure　she　knew。　　It　was　passing　swiftly；　it　seemed　as