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』

the wind in the willows(柳间风)-第20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!



kingdom; and patiently explored the hedges; the hollow trees; the runnels 

and their little culverts; the ditches and dry water…ways。 Embarking again 



                                              75 


… Page 76…

                                THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS 



and   crossing   over;   they  worked   their   way  up   the   stream   in   this   manner; 

while   the   moon;   serene   and   detached   in   a   cloudless   sky;   did   what   she 

could; though so far off; to help them in their quest; till her hour came and 

she   sank   earthwards   reluctantly;   and   left   them;   and   mystery   once   more 

held field and river。 

     Then   a   change   began   slowly   to   declare   itself。   The   horizon   became 

clearer; field and tree came more into sight; and somehow with a different 

look; the mystery began to drop away from them。 A bird piped suddenly; 

and was still; and a light breeze sprang up and set the reeds and bulrushes 

rustling。 Rat; who was in the stern of the boat; while Mole sculled; sat up 

suddenly and listened with a passionate intentness。 Mole; who with gentle 

strokes was just keeping the boat moving while he scanned the banks with 

care; looked at him with curiosity。 

     ‘It's gone!' sighed the Rat; sinking back in his seat again。 ‘So beautiful 

and   strange   and   new。   Since   it   was   to   end   so   soon;   I   almost   wish   I   had 

never heard it。 For it has roused a longing in me that is pain; and nothing 

seems   worth   while   but   just   to   hear   that   sound   once   more   and   go   on 

listening to it for ever。   No! There it is again!'   he cried; alert once   more。 

Entranced; he was silent for a long space; spellbound。 

     ‘Now it passes on and I begin to lose it;' he said presently。 ‘O Mole! 

the beauty of it! The merry bubble and joy; the thin; clear; happy call of 

the   distant   piping!   Such   music   I   never   dreamed   of;   and   the   call   in   it   is 

stronger even than the music is sweet! Row on; Mole; row! For the music 

and the call must be for us。' 

     The Mole; greatly wondering; obeyed。 ‘I hear nothing myself;' he said; 

‘but the wind playing in the reeds and rushes and osiers。' 

     The     Rat   never     answered;     if  indeed     he   heard。    Rapt;    transported; 

trembling; he was possessed in all his senses by this new divine thing that 

caught   up   his   helpless   soul   and   swung   and   dandled   it;   a   powerless   but 

happy infant in a strong sustaining grasp。 

     In silence Mole rowed steadily; and soon they came to a point where 

the river divided; a long backwater branching off to one side。 With a slight 

movement        of   his  head    Rat;   who     had   long    dropped     the   rudder…lines; 

directed the rower to take the backwater。 The creeping tide of light gained 



                                               76 


… Page 77…

                                THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS 



and gained; and now they could see the colour of the flowers that gemmed 

the water's edge。 

     ‘Clearer and nearer still;' cried the Rat joyously。 ‘Now you must surely 

hear it! Ahat lastI see you do!' 

     Breathless and transfixed the Mole stopped rowing as the liquid run of 

that glad piping broke on him like a wave; caught him up; and possessed 

him utterly。 He saw the tears on his comrade's cheeks; and bowed his head 

and understood。 For a space they hung there; brushed by the purple loose… 

strife    that  fringed    the   bank;    then   the   clear   imperious      summons       that 

marched   hand…in…hand   with   the   intoxicating   melody   imposed   its   will   on 

Mole;   and   mechanically   he   bent   to   his   oars   again。   And   the   light   grew 

steadily     stronger;    but  no   birds    sang   as   they   were    wont    to  do   at  the 

approach of dawn;   and but   for  the  heavenly  music  all   was   marvellously 

still。 

     On either side of them; as they glided onwards; the rich meadow…grass 

seemed that morning of a freshness and a greenness unsurpassable。 Never 

had    they    noticed    the   roses   so   vivid;   the  willow…herb       so  riotous;    the 

meadow…sweet          so   odorous     and    pervading。     Then     the   murmur      of   the 

approaching weir began to hold the air; and they felt a consciousness that 

they were nearing the end; whatever it might be; that surely awaited their 

expedition。 

     A wide half…circle of foam and glinting lights and shining shoulders of 

green   water;     the   great   weir   closed   the   backwater      from   bank     to  bank; 

troubled     all  the   quiet   surface    with   twirling    eddies   and    floating   foam… 

streaks;     and   deadened      all  other   sounds    with    its  solemn     and   soothing 

rumble。   In   midmost   of   the   stream;   embraced   in   the   weir's   shimmering 

arm…spread;   a   small   island   lay   anchored;   fringed   close   with   willow   and 

silver    birch   and    alder。   Reserved;     shy;   but   full  of  significance;     it  hid 

whatever it might hold behind a veil; keeping it till the hour should come; 

and; with the hour; those who were called and chosen。 

     Slowly; but with no doubt or hesitation whatever; and in something of 

a    solemn     expectancy;      the    two    animals     passed     through     the   broken 

tumultuous   water   and   moored   their   boat   at   the   flowery   margin   of   the 

island。    In   silence   they    landed;    and   pushed     through     the   blossom     and 



                                               77 


… Page 78…

                                THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS 



scented herbage and undergrowth that led up to the level ground; till they 

stood on a little lawn of a marvellous green; set round with Nature's own 

orchard…trees crab…apple; wild cherry; and sloe。 

     ‘This is the place of my song…dream; the place the music played to me;' 

whispered   the   Rat;   as   if   in   a   trance。   ‘Here;   in   this   holy   place;   here   if 

anywhere; surely we shall find Him!' 

     Then suddenly the Mole felt a great Awe fall upon him; an awe that 

turned   his   muscles   to   water;   bowed   his   head;   and   rooted   his   feet   to   the 

ground。   It   was   no   panic   terrorindeed   he   felt   wonderfully   at   peace   and 

happybut it was an awe that smote and held him and; without seeing; he 

knew it could only mean that some august Presence was very; very near。 

With difficulty  he turned   to look   for  his friend。  and saw  him at   his  side 

cowed; stricken; and trembling violently。 And still there was utter silence 

in   the   populous   bird…haunted   branches   around   them;   and   still   the   light 

grew and grew。 

     Perhaps he would never have dared to raise his eyes; but that; though 

the    piping    was    now    hushed;     the   call  and    the  summons       seemed      still 

dominant and imperious。 He might not refuse; were Death himself waiting 

to   strike   him   instantly;   once   he   had   looked   with   mortal   eye   on   things 

rightly kept hidden。 Trembling he obeyed; and raised his humble head; and 

then; in that utter clearness of the imminent dawn; while Nature; flushed 

with fulness of incredible colour; seemed to hold her breath for the event; 

he   looked   in   the   very  eyes   of   the   Friend   and   Helper;   saw   the   backward 

sweep   of   the   curved   horns;   gleaming   in   the   growing   daylight;   saw   the 

stern;   hooked   nose   between   the   kindly   eyes   that   were   looking   down   on 

them humourously; while the bearded mouth broke into a half…smile at the 

corners;   saw   the   rippling   muscles   on   the   arm   that   lay   across   the   broad 

chest;   the   long   supple   hand   still   holding   the   pan…pipes   only   just   fallen 

away  from  the   parted   lips;   saw   the  splendid   curves   of the   shaggy  limbs 

disposed in majestic ease on the sward; saw; last of all; nestling between 

his   very   hooves;   sleeping   soundly   in   entire   peace   and   contentment;   the 

little; round; podgy; childish form of the baby otter。 All this he saw; for one 

moment breathless and intense; vivid on the morning sky; and still; as he 

looked; he lived; and still; as he lived; he wondered。 



                                               78 


… Page 79…

                                THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS 



     ‘Rat!' he found breath to whisper; shaking。 ‘Are you afraid?' 

     ‘Afraid?'   murmured   the   Rat;   his   eyes   shining   with   unutterable   love。 

‘Afraid!   Of   HIM?   O;   never;   never!   And   yetand   yet   O;   Mole;   I   am 

afraid!' 

     Then the two animals; crouching to the earth; bowed their heads and 

did worship。 

     Sudden   and   magnificent;   the   sun's   broad   golden   disc   showed   itself 

over the horizon facing them; and the first rays; shooting across the level 

water…meadows; took the animals full in the eyes and dazzled them。 When 

they were able to look once more; the Vision had vanished; and the air was 

full of the carol of birds that hailed the dawn。 

     As   they   stared     blankly。   in   dumb   misery   deepening   as   they   slowly 

realised all they had seen and all they had lost; a capricious little breeze; 

dancing   up   from   the   surface   of   the   water;   tossed   the   aspens;   shook   the 

dewy  roses   and   blew   lightly   and   caressingly  in   their   faces;   and   with   its 

soft touch came instant oblivion。 For this is the last best gift that the kindly 

demi… god is careful to bestow on those to whom he has revealed himself 

in   their   helping:   the   gift   of   forgetfulness。   Lest   the   awful   remembrance 

should   remain   and   grow;   and   overshadow   m
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!