men, women and ghosts(男人、女人和鬼魂)-第3章
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quite forgets who's speaking in the gladness Of being this man's wife。
Gervase is wounded； grave indeed； the word Is kindly said； but to a softer
chord She strings her voice to ask with wistful sadness；
XVIII
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〃And is Sir Everard still unscathed？ I fain Would know the truth。〃
〃Quite well； dear Lady； quite。〃 She smiled in her content。 〃So many slain；
You must forgive me for a little fright。〃 And he forgave her； not alone for
that； But because she was fingering his heart； Pressing and
squeezing it； and thinking so Only to ease her smart Of painful；
apprehensive longing。 At Their feet the river swirled and chucked。
They sat An hour there。 The thrush flew to and fro。
XIX
The Lady Eunice supped alone that day； As always since Sir Everard
had gone； In the oak…panelled parlour； whose array Of faded portraits in
carved mouldings shone。 Warriors and ladies； armoured； ruffed； peruked。
Van Dykes with long； slim fingers； Holbeins； stout And heavy…
featured； and one Rubens dame； A peony just burst out； With flaunting；
crimson flesh。 Eunice rebuked Her thoughts of gentler blood； when these
had duked It with the best； and scorned to change their name。
XX
A sturdy family； and old besides； Much older than her own； the Earls
of Crowe。 Since Saxon days； these men had sought their brides Among
the highest born； but always so； Taking them to themselves； their wealth；
their lands； But never their titles。 Stern perhaps； but strong； The
Framptons fed their blood from richest streams； Scorning the common
throng。 Gazing upon these men； she understands The toughness of the web
wrought from such strands And pride of Everard colours all her
dreams。
XXI
Eunice forgets to eat； watching their faces Flickering in the wind…
blown candle's shine。 Blue…coated lackeys tiptoe to their places； And set
out plates of fruit and jugs of wine。 The table glitters black like Winter ice。
The Dartle's rushing； and the gentle clash Of blossomed branches；
drifts into her ears。 And through the casement sash She sees each cherry
stem a pointed slice Of splintered moonlight； topped with all the spice
And shimmer of the blossoms it uprears。
XXII
〃In such a night 〃 she laid the book aside； She could outnight the
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poet by thinking back。 In such a night she came here as a bride。 The date
was graven in the almanack Of her clasped memory。 In this very room
Had Everard uncloaked her。 On this seat Had drawn her to him；
bade her note the trees； How white they were and sweet And later；
coming to her； her dear groom； Her Lord； had lain beside her in the gloom
Of moon and shade； and whispered her to ease。
XXIII
Her little taper made the room seem vast； Caverned and empty。
And her beating heart Rapped through the silence all about her cast Like
some loud； dreadful death…watch taking part In this sad vigil。 Slowly she
undrest； Put out the light and crept into her bed。 The linen sheets
were fragrant； but so cold。 And brimming tears she shed； Sobbing and
quivering in her barren nest； Her weeping lips into the pillow prest；
Her eyes sealed fast within its smothering fold。
XXIV
The morning brought her a more stoic mind； And sunshine struck
across the polished floor。 She wondered whether this day she should find
Gervase a…fishing； and so listen more； Much more again； to all he had to
tell。 And he was there； but waiting to begin Until she came。 They
fished awhile； then went To the old seat within The cherry's shade。 He
pleased her very well By his discourse。 But ever he must dwell
Upon Sir Everard。 Each incident
XXV
Must be related and each term explained。 How troops were set in
battle； how a siege Was ordered and conducted。 She complained
Because he bungled at the fall of Liege。 The curious names of parts of
forts she knew； And aired with conscious pride her ravelins； And
counterscarps； and lunes。 The day drew on； And his dead fish's fins In
the hot sunshine turned a mauve…green hue。 At last Gervase； guessing the
hour； withdrew。 But she sat long in still oblivion。
XXVI
Then he would bring her books； and read to her The poems of Dr。
Donne； and the blue river Would murmur through the reading； and a stir
Of birds and bees make the white petals shiver； And one or two would
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flutter prone and lie Spotting the smooth…clipped grass。 The days went
by Threaded with talk and verses。 Green leaves pushed Through
blossoms stubbornly。 Gervase； unconscious of dishonesty； Fell into strong
and watchful loving； free He thought； since always would his lips be
hushed。
XXVII
But lips do not stay silent at command； And Gervase strove in vain
to order his。 Luckily Eunice did not understand That he but read himself
aloud； for this Their friendship would have snapped。 She treated him
And spoilt him like a brother。 It was now 〃Gervase〃 and 〃Eunice〃
with them； and he dined Whenever she'd allow； In the oak parlour；
underneath the dim Old pictured Framptons； opposite her slim
Figure； so bright against the chair behind。
XXVIII
Eunice was happier than she had been For many days； and yet the
hours were long。 All Gervase told to her but made her lean More heavily
upon the past。 Among Her hopes she lived； even when she was giving
Her morning orders； even when she twined Nosegays to deck her
parlours。 With the thought Of Everard； her mind Solaced its solitude；
and in her striving To do as he would wish was all her living。 She
welcomed Gervase for the news he brought。
XXIX
Black…hearts and white…hearts； bubbled with the sun； Hid in their
leaves and knocked against each other。 Eunice was standing； panting with
her run Up to the tool…house just to get another Basket。 All those which
she had brought were filled； And still Gervase pelted her from above。
The buckles of his shoes flashed higher and higher Until his shoulders
strove Quite through the top。 〃Eunice； your spirit's filled This tree。
White…hearts！〃 He shook； and cherries spilled And spat out from
the leaves like falling fire。
XXX
The wide； sun…winged June morning spread itself Over the quiet
garden。 And they packed Full twenty baskets with the fruit。 〃My shelf
Of cordials will be stored with what it lacked。 In future； none of us will
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drink strong ale； But cherry…brandy。〃 〃Vastly good； I vow；〃 And
Gervase gave the tree another shake。 The cherries seemed to flow Out of
the sky in cloudfuls； like blown hail。 Swift Lady Eunice ran； her
farthingale； Unnoticed； tangling in a fallen rake。
XXXI
She gave a little cry and fell quite prone In the long grass； and lay
there very still。 Gervase leapt from the tree at her soft moan； And
kneeling over her； with clumsy skill Unloosed her bodice； fanned her with
his hat； And his unguarded lips pronounced his heart。 〃Eunice； my
Dearest Girl； where are you hurt？〃 His trembling fingers dart Over her
limbs seeking some wound。 She strove To answer； opened wide her eyes；
above Her knelt Sir Everard； with face alert。
XXXII
Her eyelids fell again at that sweet sight； 〃My Love！〃 she murmured；
〃Dearest！ Oh； my Dear！〃 He took her in his arms and bore her right
And tenderly to the old seat； and 〃Here I have you mine at last；〃 she said；
and swooned Under his kisses。 When she came once more To
sight of him； she smiled in comfort knowing Herself laid as before Close
covered on his breast。 And all her glowing Youth answered him； and
ever nearer growing She twined him in her arms and soft festooned
XXXIII
Herself about him like a flowering vine； Drawing his lips to cling
upon her own。 A ray of sunlight pierced the leaves to shine Where her
half…opened bodice let be shown Her white throat fluttering to his soft
caress； Half…gasping with her gladness。 And her pledge She
whispers； melting with delight。 A twig Snaps in the hornbeam hedge。 A
cackling laugh tears through the quietness。 Eunice starts up in terrible
distress。 〃My God！ What's that？〃 Her staring eyes are big。
XXXIV
Revulsed emotion set her body shaking As though she had an ague。
Gervase
