amours de voyage(出航)-第7节
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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
we are still in our Aqueous Ages。
III。 Claude to Eustace。
Farewell； Politics； utterly！ What can I do？ I cannot Fight； you
know； and to talk I am wholly ashamed。 And although I Gnash my teeth
when I look in your French or your English papers； What is the good of
that？ Will swearing； I wonder； mend matters？ Cursing and scolding repel
the assailants？ No； it is idle； No； whatever befalls； I will hide； will ignore
or forget it。 Let the tail shift for itself； I will bury my head。 And what's
22
… Page 23…
AMOURS DE VOYAGE。
the Roman Republic to me； or I to the Roman Republic？ Why not
fight？In the first place； I haven't so much as a musket； In the next； if I
had； I shouldn't know how I should use it； In the third； just at present I'm
studying ancient marbles； In the fourth； I consider I owe my life to my
country； In the fifthI forget； but four good reasons are ample。 Meantime；
pray let 'em fight； and be killed。 I delight in devotion。 So that I 'list not；
hurrah for the glorious army of martyrs！ Sanguis martyrum semen
Ecclesiae； though it would seem this Church is indeed of the purely
Invisible； Kingdom…come kind： Militant here on earth！ Triumphant； of
course； then； elsewhere！ Ah； good Heaven； but I would I were out far
away from the pother！
IV。 Claude to Eustace。
Not； as we read in the words of the olden…time inspiration； Are there
two several trees in the place we are set to abide in； But on the apex most
high of the Tree of Life in the Garden； Budding； unfolding； and falling；
decaying and flowering ever； Flowering is set and decaying the transient
blossom of Knowledge； Flowering alone； and decaying； the needless
unfruitful blossom。 Or as the cypress…spires by the fair…flowing stream
Hellespontine； Which from the mythical tomb of the godlike Protesilaus
Rose sympathetic in grief to his love…lorn Laodamia； Evermore growing；
and when in their growth to the prospect attaining； Over the low sea…banks；
of the fatal Ilian city； Withering still at the sight which still they upgrow to
encounter。 Ah； but ye that extrude from the ocean your helpless faces；
Ye over stormy seas leading long and dreary processions； Ye； too； brood of
the wind； whose coming is whence we discern not； Making your nest on
the wave； and your bed on the crested billow； Skimming rough waters； and
crowding wet sands that the tide shall return to； Cormorants； ducks； and
gulls； fill ye my imagination！ Let us not talk of growth； we are still in our
Aqueous Ages。
V。 Mary Trevellyn to Miss Roper；from Florence。
Dearest Miss Roper；Alas！ we are all at Florence quite safe； and You；
we hear； are shut up！ indeed； it is sadly distressing！ We were most lucky；
they say； to get off when we did from the troubles。 Now you are really
23
… Page 24…
AMOURS DE VOYAGE。
besieged； they tell us it soon will be over； Only I hope and trust without
any fight in the city。 Do you see Mr。 Claude？I thought he might do
something for you。 I am quite sure on occasion he really would wish to be
useful。 What is he doing？ I wonder；still studying Vatican marbles？
Letters； I hope； pass through。 We trust your brother is better。
VI。 Claude to Eustace。
Juxtaposition； in fine； and what is juxtaposition？ Look you； we travel
along in the railway…carriage or steamer； And； pour passer le temps； till the
tedious journey be ended； Lay aside paper or book； to talk with the girl
that is next one； And； pour passer le temps； with the terminus all but in
prospect； Talk of eternal ties and marriages made in heaven。 Ah； did we
really accept with a perfect heart the illusion！ Ah； did we really believe
that the Present indeed is the Only！ Or through all transmutation； all shock
and convulsion of passion； Feel we could carry undimmed； unextinguished；
the light of our knowledge！ But for his funeral train which the
bridegroom sees in the distance； Would he so joyfully； think you； fall in
with the marriage procession？ But for that final discharge； would he dare
to enlist in that service？ But for that certain release； ever sign to that
perilous contract？ But for that exit secure； ever bend to that treacherous
doorway？ Ah； but the bride； meantime；do you think she sees it as he
does？ But for the steady fore…sense of a freer and larger existence；
Think you that man could consent to be circumscribed here into action？
But for assurance within a limitless ocean divine； o'er Whose great
tranquil depths unconscious the wind…tost surface Breaks into ripples of
trouble that come and change and endure not； But that in this； of a truth；
we have our being； and know it； Think you we men could submit to live
and move as we do here？ Ah； but the women；God bless them！ they don't
think at all about it。 Yet we must eat and drink； as you say。 And as
limited beings Scarcely can hope to attain upon earth to an Actual Abstract；
Leaving to God contemplation； to His hands knowledge confiding； Sure
that in us if it perish； in Him it abideth and dies not； Let us in His sight
accomplish our petty particular doings； Yes； and contented sit down to
the victual that He has provided。 Allah is great； no doubt； and
24
… Page 25…
AMOURS DE VOYAGE。
Juxtaposition his prophet。 Ah； but the women； alas！ they don't look at it
that way。 Juxtaposition is great；but； my friend； I fear me； the maiden
Hardly would thank or acknowledge the lover that sought to obtain her；
Not as the thing he would wish； but the thing he must even put up with；
Hardly would tender her hand to the wooer that candidly told her That she
is but for a space； an ad…interim solace and pleasure； That in the end she
shall yield to a perfect and absolute something； Which I then for myself
shall behold； and not another； Which amid fondest endearments；
meantime I forget not； forsake not Ah； ye feminine souls； so loving； and so
exacting； Since we cannot escape； must we even submit to deceive you？
Since； so cruel is truth； sincerity shocks and revolts you； Will you have us
your slaves to lie to you； flatter andleave you？
VII。 Claude to Eustace。
Juxtaposition is great；but； you tell me； affinity greater。 Ah； my friend；
there are many affinities； greater and lesser； Stronger and weaker； and each；
by the favour of juxtaposition； Potent； efficient； in force；for a time； but
none； let me tell you； Save by the law of the land and the ruinous force of
the will； ah； None； I fear me； at last quite sure to be final and perfect。 Lo；
as I pace in the street； from the peasant…girl to the princess； Homo sum；
nihil humani a me alienum puto； Vir sum； nihil faeminei；and e'en to the
uttermost circle； All that is Nature's is I； and I all things that are Nature's。
Yes； as I walk； I behold； in a luminous； large intuition； That I can be and
become anything that I meet with or look at： I am the ox in the dray； the
ass with the garden…stuff panniers； I am the dog in the doorway； the kitten
that plays in the window； On sunny slab of the ruin the furtive and fugitive
lizard； Swallow above me that twitters； and fly that is buzzing about me；
Yea； and detect； as I go； by a faint but a faithful assurance； E'en from the
stones of the street； as from rocks or trees of the forest； Something of
kindred； a common； though latent vitality； greets me； And to escape from
our strivings； mistakings； misgrowths； and perversions； Fain could demand
to return to that perfect and primitive silence； Fain be enfolded and fixed；
as of old； in their rigid embraces。
VIII。 Claude to Eustace。
25
… Page 26…
AMOURS DE VOYAGE。
And as I walk on my way； I behold them consorting and coupling；
Faithful it seemeth； and fond； very fond； very probably faithful； All as I go
on my way； with a pleasure sincere and unmingled。 Life is b
