the great god pan(潘恩大帝)-第17节
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side of the pillar was an inscription； of which I took a note。 Some of the
letters have been defaced； but I do not think there can be any doubt as to
those which I supply。 The inscription is as follows：
DEVOMNODENTi FLAvIVSSENILISPOSSvit
PROPTERNVPtias quaSVIDITSVBVMra
〃To the great god Nodens （the god of the Great Deep or Abyss） Flavius
Senilis has erected this pillar on account of the marriage which he saw
beneath the shade。〃
The custodian of the museum informed me that local antiquaries were
much puzzled； not by the inscription； or by any difficulty in translating it；
but as to the circumstance or rite to which allusion is made。
* * *
。。。And now； my dear Clarke； as to what you tell me about Helen
Vaughan； whom you say you saw die under circumstances of the utmost
and almost incredible horror。 I was interested in your account； but a
good deal； nay all； of what you told me I knew already。 I can understand
the strange likeness you remarked in both the portrait and in the actual
face； you have seen Helen's mother。 You remember that still summer
night so many years ago； when I talked to you of the world beyond the
shadows； and of the god Pan。 You remember Mary。 She was the
mother of Helen Vaughan； who was born nine months after that night。
Mary never recovered her reason。 She lay； as you saw her； all the
while upon her bed； and a few days after the child was born she died。 I
fancy that just at the last she knew me； I was standing by the bed； and the
old look came into her eyes for a second； and then she shuddered and
groaned and died。 It was an ill work I did that night when you were
present； I broke open the door of the house of life； without knowing or
caring what might pass forth or enter in。 I recollect your telling me at the
time； sharply enough； and rightly too； in one sense； that I had ruined the
reason of a human being by a foolish experiment； based on an absurd
theory。 You did well to blame me； but my theory was not all absurdity。
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THE GREAT GOD PAN
What I said Mary would see she saw； but I forgot that no human eyes can
look on such a sight with impunity。 And I forgot； as I have just said； that
when the house of life is thus thrown open； there may enter in that for
which we have no name； and human flesh may become the veil of a horror
one dare not express。 I played with energies which I did not understand；
you have seen the ending of it。 Helen Vaughan did well to bind the cord
about her neck and die； though the death was horrible。 The blackened
face； the hideous form upon the bed； changing and melting before your
eyes from woman to man； from man to beast； and from beast to worse than
beast； all the strange horror that you witness； surprises me but little。 What
you say the doctor whom you sent for saw and shuddered at I noticed long
ago； I knew what I had done the moment the child was born； and when it
was scarcely five years old I surprised it； not once or twice but several
times with a playmate； you may guess of what kind。 It was for me a
constant； an incarnate horror； and after a few years I felt I could bear it no
more； and I sent Helen Vaughan away。 You know now what frightened
the boy in the wood。 The rest of the strange story； and all else that you
tell me； as discovered by your friend； I have contrived to learn from time
to time； almost to the last chapter。 And now Helen is with her
companions。。。
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