a24-第2章

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〃Now　who　do　you　think　this　poor　woman　was？　Listen；　I　will　tell　you
a　story。

〃It　happened；　in　the　Revolution　of　July；　on　the　evening　of　the
most　brilliantly　victorious　day；　when　every　house　was　a　fortress；
every　window　a　breastwork。　The　people　stormed　the　Tuileries。　Even
women　and　children　were　to　be　found　among　the　combatants。　They
penetrated　into　the　apartments　and　halls　of　the　palace。　A　poor
half…grown　boy　in　a　ragged　blouse　fought　among　the　older　insurgents。
Mortally　wounded　with　several　bayonet　thrusts；　he　sank　down。　This
happened　in　the　throne…room。　They　laid　the　bleeding　youth　upon　the
throne　of　France；　wrapped　the　velvet　around　his　wounds；　and　his
blood　streamed　forth　upon　the　imperial　purple。　There　was　a　picture！
The　splendid　hall；　the　fighting　groups！　A　torn　flag　upon　the　ground；
the　tricolor　was　waving　above　the　bayonets；　and　on　the　throne　lay
the　poor　lad　with　the　pale　glorified　countenance；　his　eyes　turned
towards　the　sky；　his　limbs　writhing　in　the　death　agony；　his　breast
bare；　and　his　poor　tattered　clothing　half　hidden　by　the　rich　velvet
embroidered　with　silver　lilies。　At　the　boy's　cradle　a　prophecy　had
been　spoken：　'He　will　die　on　the　throne　of　France！'　The　mother's　heart
dreamt　of　a　second　Napoleon。

〃My　beams　have　kissed　the　wreath　of　immortelles　on　his　grave；
and　this　night　they　kissed　the　forehead　of　the　old　grandame；　while
in　a　dream　the　picture　floated　before　her　which　thou　mayest　draw…
the　poor　boy　on　the　throne　of　France。〃

SIXTH　EVENING
〃I've　been　in　Upsala；〃　said　the　Moon：　〃I　looked　down　upon　the
great　plain　covered　with　coarse　grass；　and　upon　the　barren　fields。　I
mirrored　my　face　in　the　Tyris　river；　while　the　steamboat　drove　the
fish　into　the　rushes。　Beneath　me　floated　the　waves；　throwing　long
shadows　on　the　so…called　graves　of　Odin；　Thor；　and　Friga。　In　the
scanty　turf　that　covers　the　hill…side　names　have　been　cut。　There　is　no
monument　here；　no　memorial　on　which　the　traveller　can　have　his　name
carved；　no　rocky　wall　on　whose　surface　he　can　get　it　painted；　so
visitors　have　the　turf　cut　away　for　that　purpose。　The　naked　earth
peers　through　in　the　form　of　great　letters　and　names；　these　form　a
network　over　the　whole　hill。　Here　is　an　immortality；　which　lasts
till　the　fresh　turf　grows！

〃Up　on　the　hill　stood　a　man；　a　poet。　He　emptied　the　mead　horn　with
the　broad　silver　rim；　and　murmured　a　name。　He　begged　the　winds　not
to　betray　him；　but　I　heard　the　name。　I　knew　it。　A　count's　coronet
sparkles　above　it；　and　therefore　he　did　not　speak　it　out。　I　smiled；
for　I　knew　that　a　poet's　crown　adorns　his　own　name。　The　nobility　of
Eleanora　d'Este　is　attached　to　the　name　of　Tasso。　And　I　also　know
where　the　Rose　of　Beauty　blooms！〃

Thus　spake　the　Moon；　and　a　cloud　came　between　us。　May　no　cloud
separate　the　poet　from　the　rose！

SEVENTH　EVENING
〃Along　the　margin　of　the　shore　stretches　a　forest　of　firs　and
beeches；　and　fresh　and　fragrant　is　this　wood；　hundreds　of　nightingales
visit　it　every　spring。　Close　beside　it　is　the　sea；　the　ever…changing
sea；　and　between　the　two　is　placed　the　broad　high…road。　One　carriage
after　another　rolls　over　it；　but　I　did　not　follow　them；　for　my　eye
loves　best　to　rest　upon　one　point。　A　Hun's　Grave　lies　there；　and　the
sloe　and　blackthorn　grow　luxuriantly　among　the　stones。　Here　is　true
poetry　in　nature。

〃And　how　do　you　think　men　appreciate　this　poetry？　I　will　tell
you　what　I　heard　there　last　evening　and　during　the　night。
〃First；　two　rich　landed　proprietors　came　driving　by。　'Those　are
glorious　trees！'　said　the　first。　'Certainly；　there　are　ten　loads　of
firewood　in　each；'　observed　the　other：　'it　will　be　a　hard　winter；
and　last　year　we　got　fourteen　dollars　a　load'…　and　they　were　gone。
'The　road　here　is　wretched；'　observed　another　man　who　drove　past。
'That's　the　fault　of　those　horrible　trees；'　replied　his　neighbour；
'there　is　no　free　current　of　air；　the　wind　can　only　come　from　the
sea'…　and　they　were　gone。　The　stage　coach　went　rattling　past。　All
the　passengers　were　asleep　at　this　beautiful　spot。　The　postillion　blew
his　horn；　but　he　only　thought；　'I　can　play　capitally。　It　sounds　well
here。　I　wonder　if　those　in　there　like　it？'…　and　the　stage　coach
vanished。　Then　two　young　fellows　came　gallopping　up　on　horseback。
There's　youth　and　spirit　in　the　blood　here！　thought　I；　and；　indeed；
they　looked　with　a　smile　at　the　moss…grown　hill　and　thick　forest。　'I
should　not　dislike　a　walk　here　with　the　miller's　Christine；'　said　one…
and　they　flew　past。

〃The　flowers　scented　the　air；　every　breath　of　air　was　hushed；　it
seemed　as　if　the　sea　were　a　part　of　the　sky　that　stretched　above　the
deep　valley。　A　carriage　rolled　by。　Six　people　were　sitting　in　it。　Four
of　them　were　asleep；　the　fifth　was　thinking　of　his　new　summer　coat；
which　would　suit　him　admirably；　the　sixth　turned　to　the　coachman　and
asked　him　if　there　were　anything　remarkable　connected　with　yonder　heap　of　stones。　'No；'　replied　the　coachman；　'it's　only　a　heap　of　stones；　but　the　trees　are　remarkable。'　'How　so？'　'Why　I'll　tell　you　how　they　are　very　remarkable。　You　see；　in　winter；　when　the　snow　lies　very　deep；　and　has　hidden　the　whole　road　so　that　nothing　is　to　be　seen；　those　trees　serve　me　for　a　landmark。　I　steer　by　them；　so　as　not　to　drive　into　the　sea；　and　you　see　that　is　why　the　trees　are　remarkable。'
〃Now　came　a　painter。　He　spoke　not　a　word；　but　his　eyes　sparkled。
He　began　to　whistle。　At　this　the　nightingales　sang　louder　than　ever。
'Hold　your　tongues！'　he　cried　testily；　and　he　made　accurate　notes　of
all　the　colours　and　transitions…　blue；　and　lilac；　and　dark　brown。
'That　will　make　a　beautiful　picture；'　he　said。　He　took　it　in　just　as　a
mirror　takes　in　a　view；　and　as　he　worked　he　whistled　a　march　of
Rossini。　And　last　of　all　came　a　poor　girl。　She　laid　aside　the　burden
she　carried；　and　sat　down　to　rest　upon　the　Hun's　Grave。　Her　pale
handsome　face　was　bent　in　a　listening　attitude　towards　the　forest。　Her
eyes　brightened；　she　gazed　earnestly　at　the　sea　and　the　sky；　her　hands
were　folded；　and　I　think　she　prayed；　'Our　Father。'　She　herself　could
not　understand　the　feeling　that　swept　through　her；　but　I　know　that
this　minute；　and　the　beautiful　natural　scene；　will　live　within　her
memory　for　years；　far　more　vividly　and　more　truly　than　the　painter
could　portray　it　with　his　colours　on　paper。　My　rays　followed　her
till　the　morning　dawn　kissed　her　brow。〃

EIGHTH　EVENING
Heavy　clouds　obscured　the　sky；　and　the　Moon　did　not　make　his
appearance　at　all。　I　stood　in　my　little　room；　more　lonely　than　ever；
and　looked　up　at　the　sky　where　he　ought　to　have　shown　himself。　My
thoughts　flew　far　away；　up　to　my　great　friend；　who　every　evening
told　me　such　pretty　tales；　and　showed　me　pictures。　Yes；　he　has　had
an　experience　indeed。　He　glided　over　the　waters　of　the　Deluge；　and
smiled　on　Noah's　ark　just　as　he　lately　glanced　down　upon　me；　and
brought　comfort　and　promise　of　a　new　world　that　was　to　spring　forth
from　the　old。　When　the　Children　of　Israel　sat　weeping　by　the　waters　of　Babylon；　he　glanced　mournfully　upon　the　willows　where　hung　the
silent　harps。　When　Romeo　climbed　the　balcony；　and　the　promise　of
true　love　fluttered　like　a　cherub　toward　heaven；　the　round　Moon
hung；　half　hidden　among　the　dark　cypresses；　in　the　lucid　air。　He　saw
the　captive　giant　at　St。　Helena；　looking　from　the　lonely　rock　across
the　wide　ocean；　while　great　thoughts　swept　through　his　soul。　Ah！
what　tales　the　Moon　can　tell。　Human　life　is　like　a　story　to　him。

To…night　I　shall　not　see　thee　again；　old　friend。　Tonight　I　can　draw　no
picture　of　the　memories　of　thy　visit。　And；　as　I　looked　dreamily
towards　the　clouds；　the　sky　became　bright。　There　was　a　glancing　light；　and　a　beam　from　the　Moon　fell　upon　me。　It　vanished　again；　and　dark　clouds　flew　past：　but　still　it　was　a　greeting；　a　friendly　good…night
offered　to　me　by　the　Moon。

NINTH　EVENING
The　air　was　clear　again。　Several　evenings　had　passed；　and　the　Moon
was　in　the　first　quarter。　Again　he　gave　me　an　outline　for　a　sketch。
Listen　to　what　he　told　me。

〃I　have　followed　the　polar　bird　and　the　swimming　whale　to　the
eastern　coast　of　Greenland。　Gaunt　ice…covered　rocks　and　dark　clouds
hung　over　a　valley；　where　dwarf　willows　and　barberry　bushes　stood
clothed　in　green。　The　blooming　lychnis　exhaled　sweet　odours。　My
light　was　faint；　my　face　pale　as　the　water　lily　that；　torn　from　its
stem；　has　been　drifting　for　weeks　with　the　tide。　The　crown…shaped
Northern　Light　burned　fiercely　in　the　sky。　Its　ring　was　broad；　and
from　its　circumference　the　rays　shot　like　whirling　shafts　of　fire
across　the　whole　sky；　flashing　in　changing　radiance　from　green　to　red。
The　inhabitants　of　that　icy　region　were　assembling　for　dance　and
festivity；　but；　accustomed　to　this　glorious　spectacle；　they　scarcely
deigned　to　glance　at　it。　'Let　us　leave　the　soul　of　the　dead　to　their
ball…play　with　the　heads　of　the　walruses；'　they　thought　in　their
superstition；　and　they　turned　their　whole　attention　to　the　song　and
dance。　In　the　midst　of　the　circle；　and　divested　of　his　furry　cloak；
stood　a　Greenlander；　with　a　small　pipe；　and　he　played　and　sang　a
song　about　catching　the　seal；　and　the　chorus　around　chimed　in　with；
'Eia；　Eia；　Ah。'　And　in　their　white　furs　they　danced　about　in　the
circle；　till　you　might　fancy　it　was　a　polar　bear's　ball。

〃And　now　a　Court　of　Judgment　was　opened。　Those　Greenlanders　who　had　quarrelled　stepped　forward；　and　the　offended　person　chanted　forth　the　faults　of　his　adversary　in　an　extempore　song；　turning　them　sharply　into　ridicule；　to　the　sound　of　the　pipe　and　the　measure　of　the　dance。　The　defendant　replied　with　satire　as　keen；　while　the　audience　laughed；　and　gave　their　verdict。　The　rocks　heaved；　the　glaciers　melted；　and　great　masses　of　ice　and　snow　came　crashing　down；　shivering　to　fragments　as　they　fall；　it　was　a　glorious　Greenland　summer　night。　A　hundred　paces　away；　under　the　open　tent　of　hides；　lay　a　sick　man。　Life　still　flowed　through　his　warm　blood；　but　still　he　was　to　die…　he　himself　felt　it；　and　all　who　stood　round　him　knew　it　also；　therefore　his　wife　was　already　sewing　round　him　the　shroud　of　furs；　that　she　might　not　afterwards　be　obliged　to　touch　the　dead　body。　And　she　asked；

'Wilt　thou　be　buried　on　the　rock；　in　the　firm　snow？　I　will　deck　the
spot　with　thy　kayak；　and　thy　arrows；　and　the　angekokk　shall　dance　over　it。　Or　wouldst　thou　rather　be　buried　in　the　sea？'　'In　the　sea；'　he
whispered；　and　nodded　with　a　mournful　smile。　'Yes；　it　is　a　pleasant
summer　tent；　the　sea；'　observed　the　wife。　'Thousands　of　seals　sport
there；　the　walrus　shall　lie　at　thy　feet；　and　the　hunt　will　be　safe　and
merry！'　And　the　yelling　children　tore　the　outspread　hide　from　the
window…hole；　that　the　dead　man　might　be　carried　to　the　ocean；　the
billowy　ocean；　that　had　given　him　food　in　life；　and　that　now；　in
death；　was　to　afford　him　a　place　of　rest。　For　his　monument；　he　had　the　floating；　ever…changing　icebergs；　whereon　the　seal　sleeps；　while　the　storm　bird　flies　round　their　gleaming　summits！〃

TENTH　EVENING
〃I　knew　an　old　maid；〃　said　the　Moon。　〃Every　winter　she　wore　a
wrapper　of　yellow　satin；　and　it　always　remained　new；　and　was　the
only　fashion　she　followed。　In　summer　she　always　wore　the　same　straw　hat；　and　I　verily　believe　the　very　same　gray…blue　dress。

〃She　never　went　out；　except　across　the　street　to