the golden age(金色时代)-第20节
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play； without any garden； or pigs； or things？〃
〃When I want to play；〃 he said； gravely； 〃I have to go and play in the
street； but it's poor fun； I grant you。 There's a goat； though； not far off；
and sometimes I talk to him when I'm feeling lonely； but he's very proud。〃
〃Goats ARE proud；〃 I admitted。 〃There's one lives near here； and if
you say anything to him at all； he hits you in the wind with his head。 You
know what it feels like when a fellow hits you in the wind？〃
〃I do； well；〃 he replied； in a tone of proper melancholy； and painted on。
〃And have you been to any other places；〃 I began again； presently；
〃besides Rome and Piccy…what's…his…name？〃
〃Heaps；〃 he said。 〃I'm a sort of Ulyssesseen men and cities； you
know。 In fact； about the only place I never got to was the Fortunate
Island。〃
I began to like this man。 He answered your questions briefly and to
the point； and never tried to be funny。 I felt I could be confidential with
him。
〃Wouldn't you like；〃 I inquired； 〃to find a city without any people in it
at all？〃
He looked puzzled。 〃I'm afraid I don't quite understand；〃 said he。
〃I mean；〃 I went on eagerly； 〃a city where you walk in at the gates； and
the shops are all full of beautiful things； and the houses furnished as grand
as can be； and there isn't anybody there whatever！ And you go into the
shops； and take anything you wantchocolates and magic lanterns and
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injirubber ballsand there's nothing to pay； and you choose your own
house and live there and do just as you like； and never go to bed unless
you want to！〃
The artist laid down his brush。 〃That WOULD be a nice city；〃 he
said。 〃Better than Rome。 You can't do that sort of thing in Rome；or in
Piccadilly either。 But I fear it's one of the places I've never been to。〃
〃And you'd ask your friends；〃 I went on； warming to my subject；
〃only those you really like； of course；and they'd each have a house to
themselves；there'd be lots of houses；and no relations at all； unless they
promised they'd be pleasant； and if they weren't they'd have to go。〃
〃So you wouldn't have any relations？〃 said the artist。 〃Well； perhaps
you're right。 We have tastes in common； I see。〃
〃I'd have Harold；〃 I said； reflectively； 〃and Charlotte。 They'd like it
awfully。 The others are getting too old。 Oh； and MarthaI'd have
Martha； to cook and wash up and do things。 You'd like Martha。 She's
ever so much nicer than Aunt Eliza。 She's my idea of a real lady。〃
〃Then I'm sure I should like her；〃 he replied； heartily； 〃and when I
come towhat do you call this city of yours？ Nephelo something； did
you say？〃
〃II don't know；〃 I replied； timidly。 〃I'm afraid it hasn't got a name
yet。〃
The artist gazed out over the downs。 〃‘The poet says； dear city of
Cecrops；'〃 he said； softly； to himself； 〃‘and wilt not thou say； dear city of
Zeus？' That's from Marcus Aurelius；〃 he went on； turning again to his
work。 〃You don't know him； I suppose； you will some day。〃
〃Who's he？〃 I inquired。
〃Oh； just another fellow who lived in Rome；〃 he replied； dabbing
away。
〃O dear！〃 I cried； disconsolately。 〃What a lot of people seem to live
at Rome； and I've never even been there！ But I think I'd like MY city
best。〃
〃And so would I；〃 he replied with unction。 〃But Marcus Aurelius
wouldn't； you know。〃
〃Then we won't invite him；〃 I said； 〃will we？〃 〃_I_ won't if you
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won't；〃 said he。 And that point being settled； we were silent for a while。
〃Do you know；〃 he said； presently； 〃I've met one or two fellows from
time to time who have been to a city like yours；perhaps it was the same
one。 They won't talk much about itonly broken hints； now and then；
but they've been there sure enough。 They don't seem to care about
anything in particularand every thing's the same to them； rough or
smooth； and sooner or later they slip off and disappear； and you never see
them again。 Gone back； I suppose。〃
〃Of course；〃 said I。 〃Don't see what they ever came away for； _I_
wouldn't；to be told you've broken things when you haven't； and stopped
having tea with the servants in the kitchen； and not allowed to have a dog
to sleep with you。 But _I've_ known people； too； who've gone there。〃
The artist stared； but without incivility。
〃Well； there's Lancelot；〃 I went on。 〃The book says he died； but it
never seemed to read right； somehow。 He just went away； like Arthur。
And Crusoe； when he got tired of wearing clothes and being respectable。
And all the nice men in the stones who don't marry the Princess； 'cos only
one man ever gets married in a book； you know。 They'll be there！〃
〃And the men who never come off；〃 he said； 〃who try like the rest； but
get knocked out； or somehow miss；or break down or get bowled over in
the melee；and get no Princess； nor even a second…class kingdom；some
of them'll be there； I hope？〃
〃Yes； if you like；〃 I replied； not quite understanding him； 〃if they're
friends of yours； we'll ask 'em； of course。〃
〃What a time we shall have！〃 said the artist； reflectively； 〃and how
shocked old Marcus Aurelius will be！〃
The shadows had lengthened uncannily； a tide of golden haze was
flooding the grey…green surface of the downs； and the artist began to put
his traps together； preparatory to a move。 I felt very low； we would have
to part； it seemed； just as we were getting on so well together。 Then he
stood up； and he was very straight and tall； and the sunset was in his hair
and beard as he stood there； high over me。 He took my hand like an
equal。 〃I've enjoyed our conversation very much；〃 he said。 〃That was
an interesting subject you started； and we haven't half exhausted it。 We
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shall meet again； I hope。〃
〃Of course we shall；〃 I replied； surprised that there should be any
doubt about it。
〃In Rome； perhaps？〃 said he。
〃Yes； in Rome；〃 I answered； 〃or Piccy…the…other…place； or somewhere。〃
〃Or else；〃 said he； 〃in that other city；when we've found the way there。
And I'll look out for you； and you'll sing out as soon as you see me。 And
we'll go down the street arm…in…arm； and into all the shops； and then I'll
choose my house； and you'll choose your house； and we'll live there like
princes and good fellows。〃
〃Oh； but you'll stay in my house； won't you？〃 I cried； 〃wouldn't ask
everybody； but I'll ask YOU。〃
He affected to consider a moment； then 〃Right！〃 he said： 〃I believe
you mean it； and I WILL come and stay with you。 I won't go to anybody
else； if they ask me ever so much。 And I'll stay quite a long time； too；
and I won't be any trouble。〃
Upon this compact we parted； and I went down…heartedly from the
man who understood me； back to the house where I never could do
anything right。 How was it that everything seemed natural and sensible
to him； which these uncles； vicars； and other grown…up men took for the
merest tomfoolery？ Well； he would explain this； and many another thing；
when we met again。 The Knights' Road！ How it always brought
consolation！ Was he possibly one of those vanished knights I had been
looking for so long？ Perhaps he would be in armour next time；why not？
He would look well in armour； I thought。 And I would take care to get
there first； and see the sunlight flash and play on his helmet
