the canterbury pilgrims-第3部分

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might　have　renewed　all　their　old　feelings；　and　sent　them　back；

resolved　to　sustain　each　other　amid　the　struggles　of　the　world。

But　the　crisis　passed　and　never　came　again。　Just　then；　also；　the

children；　roused　by　their　mother's　voice；　looked　up；　and　added

their　wailing　accents　to　the　testimony　borne　by　all　the

Canterbury　pilgrims　against　the　world　from　which　they　fled。



〃We　are　tired　and　hungry！〃　cried　they。　〃Is　it　far　to　the　Shaker

village？〃



The　Shaker　youth　and　maiden　looked　mournfully　into　each　other's

eyes。　They　had　but　stepped　across　the　threshold　of　their　homes；

when　lo！　the　dark　array　of　cares　and　sorrows　that　rose　up　to　warn

them　back。　The　varied　narratives　of　the　strangers　had　arranged

themselves　into　a　parable；　they　seemed　not　merely　instances　of

woful　fate　that　had　befallen　others；　but　shadowy　omens　of

disappointed　hope　and　unavailing　toil；　domestic　grief　and

estranged　affection；　that　would　cloud　the　onward　path　of　these

poor　fugitives。　But　after　one　instant's　hesitation；　they　opened

their　arms；　and　sealed　their　resolve　with　as　pure　and　fond　an

embrace　as　ever　youthful　love　had　hallowed。



〃We　will　not　go　back；〃　said　they。　〃The　world　never　can　be　dark　to

us；　for　we　will　always　love　one　another。〃



Then　the　Canterbury　pilgrims　went　up　the　hill；　while　the　poet

chanted　a　drear　and　desperate　stanza　of　the　Farewell　to　his　Harp；

fitting　music　for　that　melancholy　band。　They　sought　a　home　where

all　former　ties　of　nature　or　society　would　be　sundered；　and　all

old　distinctions　levelled；　and　a　cold　and　passionless　security　be

substituted　for　mortal　hope　and　fear；　as　in　that　other　refuge　of

the　world's　weary　outcasts；　the　grave。　The　lovers　drank　at　the

Shaker　spring；　and　then；　with　chastened　hopes；　but　more　confiding

affections；　went　on　to　mingle　in　an　untried　life。