友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
合租小说网 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

dreams-第4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!


It was passing swiftly; it seemed as if no one propelled it; the moonlight's shimmer did not let her see clearly; and the boat was far from shore; but it seemed almost as if there was another figure sitting in the stern。  Faster and faster it glided over the water away; away。  She ran along the shore; she came no nearer it。  The garment she had held closed fluttered open; she stretched out her arms; and the moonlight shone on her long loose hair。

Then a voice beside her whispered; 〃What is it?〃

She cried; 〃With my blood I bought the best of all gifts for him。  I have come to bring it him!  He is going from me!〃

The voice whispered softly; 〃Your prayer was answered。  It has been given him。〃

She cried; 〃What is it?〃

The voice answered; 〃It is that he might leave you。〃

The girl stood still。

Far out at sea the boat was lost to sight beyond the moonlight sheen。

The voice spoke softly; 〃Art thou contented?〃

She said; 〃I am contented。〃

At her feet the waves broke in long ripples softly on the shore。



V。  THREE DREAMS IN A DESERT。

Under a Mimosa…Tree。

As I travelled across an African plain the sun shone down hotly。  Then I drew my horse up under a mimosa…tree; and I took the saddle from him and left him to feed among the parched bushes。  And all to right and to left stretched the brown earth。  And I sat down under the tree; because the heat beat fiercely; and all along the horizon the air throbbed。  And after a while a heavy drowsiness came over me; and I laid my head down against my saddle; and I fell asleep there。  And; in my sleep; I had a curious dream。

I thought I stood on the border of a great desert; and the sand blew about everywhere。  And I thought I saw two great figures like beasts of burden of the desert; and one lay upon the sand with its neck stretched out; and one stood by it。  And I looked curiously at the one that lay upon the ground; for it had a great burden on its back; and the sand was thick about it; so that it seemed to have piled over it for centuries。

And I looked very curiously at it。  And there stood one beside me watching。 And I said to him; 〃What is this huge creature who lies here on the sand?〃

And he said; 〃This is woman; she that bears men in her body。〃

And I said; 〃Why does she lie here motionless with the sand piled round her?〃

And he answered; 〃Listen; I will tell you!  Ages and ages long she has lain here; and the wind has blown over her。  The oldest; oldest; oldest man living has never seen her move:  the oldest; oldest book records that she lay here then; as she lies here now; with the sand about her。  But listen! Older than the oldest book; older than the oldest recorded memory of man; on the Rocks of Language; on the hard…baked clay of Ancient Customs; now crumbling to decay; are found the marks of her footsteps!  Side by side with his who stands beside her you may trace them; and you know that she who now lies there once wandered free over the rocks with him。〃

And I said; 〃Why does she lie there now?〃

And he said; 〃I take it; ages ago the Age…of…dominion…of…muscular…force found her; and when she stooped low to give suck to her young; and her back was broad; he put his burden of subjection on to it; and tied it on with the broad band of Inevitable Necessity。  Then she looked at the earth and the sky; and knew there was no hope for her; and she lay down on the sand with the burden she could not loosen。  Ever since she has lain here。  And the ages have come; and the ages have gone; but the band of Inevitable Necessity has not been cut。〃

And I looked and saw in her eyes the terrible patience of the centuries; the ground was wet with her tears; and her nostrils blew up the sand。

And I said; 〃Has she ever tried to move?〃

And he said; 〃Sometimes a limb has quivered。  But she is wise; she knows she cannot rise with the burden on her。〃

And I said; 〃Why does not he who stands by her leave her and go on?〃

And he said; 〃He cannot。  Look〃

And I saw a broad band passing along the ground from one to the other; and it bound them together。

He said; 〃While she lies there he must stand and look across the desert。〃

And I said; 〃Does he know why he cannot move?〃

And he said; 〃No。〃

And I heard a sound of something cracking; and I looked; and I saw the band that bound the burden on to her back broken asunder; and the burden rolled on to the ground。

And I said; 〃What is this?〃

And he said; 〃The Age…of…muscular…force is dead。  The Age…of…nervous…force has killed him with the knife he holds in his hand; and silently and invisibly he has crept up to the woman; and with that knife of Mechanical Invention he has cut the band that bound the burden to her back。  The Inevitable Necessity it broken。  She might rise now。〃

And I saw that she still lay motionless on the sand; with her eyes open and her neck stretched out。  And she seemed to look for something on the far… off border of the desert that never came。  And I wondered if she were awake or asleep。  And as I looked her body quivered; and a light came into her eyes; like when a sunbeam breaks into a dark room。

I said; 〃What is it?〃

He whispered 〃Hush! the thought has come to her; 'Might I not rise?'〃

And I looked。  And she raised her head from the sand; and I saw the dent where her neck had lain so long。  And she looked at the earth; and she looked at the sky; and she looked at him who stood by her:  but he looked out across the desert。

And I saw her body quiver; and she pressed her front knees to the earth; and veins stood out; and I cried; 〃She is going to rise!〃

But only her sides heaved; and she lay still where she was。

But her head she held up; she did not lay it down again。  And he beside me said; 〃She is very weak。  See; her legs have been crushed under her so long。〃

And I saw the creature struggle:  and the drops stood out on her。

And I said; 〃Surely he who stands beside her will help her?〃

And he beside me answered; 〃He cannot help her:  she must help herself。  Let her struggle till she is strong。〃

And I cried; 〃At least he will not hinder her!  See; he moves farther from her; and tightens the cord between them; and he drags her down。〃

And he answered; 〃He does not understand。  When she moves she draws the band that binds them; and hurts him; and he moves farther from her。  The day will come when he will understand; and will know what she is doing。  Let her once stagger on to her knees。  In that day he will stand close to her; and look into her eyes with sympathy。〃

And she stretched her neck; and the drops fell from her。  And the creature rose an inch from the earth and sank back。

And I cried; 〃Oh; she is too weak! she cannot walk!  The long years have taken all her strength from her。  Can she never move?〃

And he answered me; 〃See the light in her eyes!〃

And slowly the creature staggered on to its knees。

And I awoke:  and all to the east and to the west stretched the barren earth; with the dry bushes on it。  The ants ran up and down in the red sand; and the heat beat fiercely。  I looked up through the thin branches of the tree at the blue sky overhead。  I stretched myself; and I mused over the dream I had had。  And I fell asleep again; with my head on my saddle。 And in the fierce heat I had another dream。

I saw a desert and I saw a woman coming out of it。  And she came to the bank of a dark river; and the bank was steep and high。  (The banks of an African river are sometimes a hundred feet high; and consist of deep shifting sands; through which in the course of ages the river has worn its gigantic bed。)  And on it an old man met her; who had a long white beard; and a stick that curled was in his hand; and on it was written Reason。  And he asked her what she wanted; and she said 〃I am woman; and I am seeking for the land of Freedom。〃

And he said; 〃It is before you。〃

And she said; 〃I see nothing before me but a dark flowing river; and a bank steep and high; and cuttings here and there with heavy sand in them。〃

And he said; 〃And beyond that?〃

She said; 〃I see nothing; but sometimes; when I shade my eyes with my hand; I think I see on the further bank trees and hills; and the sun shining on them!〃

He said; 〃That is the Land of Freedom。〃

She said; 〃How am I to get there?〃

He said; 〃There is one way; and one only。  Down the banks of Labour; through the water of Suffering。  There is no other。〃

She said; 〃Is there no bridge?〃

He answered。  〃None。〃

She said; 〃Is the water deep?〃

He said; 〃Deep。〃

She said; 〃Is the floor worn?〃

He said; 〃It is。  Your foot may slip at any time; and you may be lost。〃

She said; 〃Have any crossed already?〃

He said; 〃Some have tried!〃

She said; 〃Is there a track to show where the best fording is?〃

He said; 〃It has to be made。〃

She shaded her eyes with her hand; and she said; 〃I will go。〃

And he said; 〃You must take off the clothes you wore in the desert:  they are dragged down by them who go into the water so clothed。〃

And she threw from her gladly the mantle of Ancient…received…opinions she wore; for it was worn full of holes。  And she took the girdle from her waist that she had treasured so long; and the moths flew out of it in a cloud。  And he said; 〃Take the shoes of dependence off your feet。〃

And she stood there naked; but for one white garment that clung close to her。

And he said; 〃That you may keep。  So they wear clothes in the Land of Freedom。  In the water it buoys; it always swims。〃

And I saw on its breast was written Truth; and it was white; the sun had not often shone on it; the other clothes had covered it up。  And he said; 〃Take this stick; hold it fast。  In that day when it slips from your hand you are lost。  Put it down before you; feel your way:  where it cannot find a bottom do not set your foot。〃

And she said; 〃I am ready; let me go。〃

And he said; 〃Nobut stay; what is thatin your breast?〃

She was silent。

He said; 〃Open it; and let me see。〃

And she opened it。  And against her breast was a tiny thing; who drank from it; and the yellow curls above his forehead pressed against it; and his knees were drawn up to her; and he held her breast fast with his hands。

And Reason said; 〃Who is he; and what is he doing her
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
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!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!