the coming race-第2章

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e　or　drooped　long　slender　branches。　　The　whole　scene　behind；　before；　and　beside　me　far　as　the　eye　could　reach；　was　brilliant　with　innumerable　lamps。　　The　world　without　a　sun　was　bright　and　warm　as　an　Italian　landscape　at　noon；　but　the　air　less　oppressive；　the　heat　softer。　　Nor　was　the　scene　before　me　void　of　signs　of　habitation。　　I　could　distinguish　at　a　distance；　whether　on　the　banks　of　the　lake　or　rivulet；　or　half…way　upon　eminences；　embedded　amidst　the　vegetation；　buildings　that　must　surely　be　the　homes　of　men。　　I　could　even　discover；　though　far　off；　forms　that　appeared　to　me　human　moving　amidst　the　landscape。　　As　I　paused　to　gaze；　I　saw　to　the　right；　gliding　quickly　through　the　air；　what　appeared　a　small　boat；　impelled　by　sails　shaped　like　wings。　　It　soon　passed　out　of　sight；　descending　amidst　the　shades　of　a　forest。　　Right　above　me　there　was　no　sky；　but　only　a　cavernous　roof。　　This　roof　grew　higher　and　higher　at　the　distance　of　the　landscapes　beyond；　till　it　became　imperceptible；　as　an　atmosphere　of　haze　formed　itself　beneath。

Continuing　my　walk；　I　started；…　from　a　bush　that　resembled　a　great　tangle　of　sea…weeds；　interspersed　with　fern…like　shrubs　and　plants　of　large　leafage　shaped　like　that　of　the　aloe　or　prickly…pear；…　a　curious　animal　about　the　size　and　shape　of　a　deer。　　But　as；　after　bounding　away　a　few　paces；　it　turned　round　and　gazed　at　me　inquisitively；　I　perceived　that　it　was　not　like　any　species　of　deer　now　extant　above　the　earth；　but　it　brought　instantly　to　my　recollection　a　plaster　cast　I　had　seen　in　some　museum　of　a　variety　of　the　elk　stag；　said　to　have　existed　before　the　Deluge。　　The　creature　seemed　tame　enough；　and；　after　inspecting　me　a　moment　or　two；　began　to　graze　on　the　singular　herbiage　around　undismayed　and　careless。


12　Chapter　IV。


I　now　came　in　full　sight　of　the　building。　　Yes；　it　had　been　made　by　hands；　and　hollowed　partly　out　of　a　great　rock。　　I　should　have　supposed　it　at　the　first　glance　to　have　been　of　the　earliest　form　of　Egyptian　architecture。　　It　was　fronted　by　huge　columns；　tapering　upward　from　massive　plinths；　and　with　capitals　that；　as　I　came　nearer；　I　perceived　to　be　more　ornamental　and　more　fantastically　graceful　that　Egyptian　architecture　allows。　　As　the　Corinthian　capital　mimics　the　leaf　of　the　acanthus；　so　the　capitals　of　these　columns　imitated　the　foliage　of　the　vegetation　neighbouring　them；　some　aloe…like；　some　fern…like。　　And　now　there　came　out　of　this　building　a　form…　human；…　was　it　human？　It　stood　on　the　broad　way　and　looked　around；　beheld　me　and　approached。　　It　came　within　a　few　yards　of　me；　and　at　the　sight　and　presence　of　it　an　indescribable　awe　and　tremor　seized　me；　rooting　my　feet　to　the　ground。　　It　reminded　me　of　symbolical　images　of　Genius　or　Demon　that　are　seen　on　Etruscan　vases　or　limned　on　the　walls　of　Eastern　sepulchres…　images　that　borrow　the　outlines　of　man；　and　are　yet　of　another　race。　　It　was　tall；　not　gigantic；　but　tall　as　the　tallest　man　below　the　height　of　giants。

Its　chief　covering　seemed　to　me　to　be　composed　of　large　wings　folded　over　its　breast　and　reaching　to　its　knees；　the　rest　of　its　attire　was　composed　of　an　under　tunic　and　leggings　of　some　thin　fibrous　material。　　It　wore　on　its　head　a　kind　of　tiara　that　shone　with　jewels；　and　carried　in　its　right　hand　a　slender　staff　of　bright　metal　like　polished　steel。　　But　the　face！　it　was　that　which　inspired　my　awe　and　my　terror。　　It　was　the　face　of　man；　but　yet　of　a　type　of　man　distinct　from　our　known　extant　races。　　The　nearest　approach　to　it　in　outline　and　expression　is　the　face　of　the　sculptured　sphinx…　so　regular　in　its　calm；　intellectual；　mysterious　beauty。　　Its　colour　was　peculiar；　more　13like　that　of　the　red　man　than　any　other　variety　of　our　species；　and　yet　different　from　it…　a　richer　and　a　softer　hue；　with　large　black　eyes；　deep　and　brilliant；　and　brows　arched　as　a　semicircle。　　The　face　was　beardless；　but　a　nameless　something　in　the　aspect；　tranquil　though　the　expression；　and　beauteous　though　the　features；　roused　that　instinct　of　danger　which　the　sight　of　a　tiger　or　serpent　arouses。　　I　felt　that　this　manlike　image　was　endowed　with　forces　inimical　to　man。　　As　it　drew　near；　a　cold　shudder　came　over　me。　　I　fell　on　my　knees　and　covered　my　face　with　my　hands。


Chapter　V。


A　voice　accosted　me…　a　very　quiet　and　very　musical　key　of　voice…　in　a　language　of　which　I　could　not　understand　a　word；　but　it　served　to　dispel　my　fear。　　I　uncovered　my　face　and　looked　up。　　The　stranger　（I　could　scarcely　bring　myself　to　call　him　man）　surveyed　me　with　an　eye　that　seemed　to　read　to　the　very　depths　of　my　heart。　　He　then　placed　his　left　hand　on　my　forehead；　and　with　the　staff　in　his　right；　gently　touched　my　shoulder。　　The　effect　of　this　double　contact　was　magical。　　In　place　of　my　former　terror　there　passed　into　me　a　sense　of　contentment；　of　joy；　of　confidence　in　myself　and　in　the　being　before　me。　　I　rose　and　spoke　in　my　own　language。　　He　listened　to　me　with　apparent　attention；　but　with　a　slight　surprise　in　his　looks；　and　shook　his　head；　as　if　to　signify　that　I　was　not　understood。　　He　then　took　me　by　the　hand　and　led　me　in　silence　to　the　building。　　The　entrance　was　open…　indeed　there　was　no　door　to　it。　　We　entered　an　immense　hall；　lighted　by　the　same　kind　of　lustre　as　in　the　scene　without；　but　diffusing　a　fragrant　odour。　　The　floor　was　in　large　tesselated　blocks　of　precious　metals；　and　partly　covered　with　a　sort　of　matlike　14carpeting。　　A　strain　of　low　music；　above　and　around；　undulated　as　if　from　invisible　instruments；　seeming　to　belong　naturally　to　the　place；　just　as　the　sound　of　murmuring　waters　belongs　to　a　rocky　landscape；　or　the　warble　of　birds　to　vernal　groves。

A　figure　in　a　simpler　garb　than　that　of　my　guide；　but　of　similar　fashion；　was　standing　motionless　near　the　threshold。　　My　guide　touched　it　twice　with　his　staff；　and　it　put　itself　into　a　rapid　and　gliding　movement；　skimming　noiselessly　over　the　floor。　　Gazing　on　it；　I　then　saw　that　it　was　no　living

form；　but　a　mechanical　automaton。　　It　might　be　two　minutes　after　it　vanished　through　a　doorless　opening；　half　screened　by　curtains　at　the　other　end　of　the　hall；　when　through　the　same　opening　advanced　a　boy　of　about　twelve　years　old；　with　features　closely　resembling　those　of　my　guide；　so　that　they　seemed　to　me　evidently　son　and　father。　　On　seeing　me　the　child　uttered　a　cry；　and　lifted　a　staff　like　that　borne　by　my　guide；　as　if　in　menace。　　At　a　word　from　the　elder　he　dropped　it。　　The　two　then　conversed　for　some　moments；　examining　me　while　they　spoke。　　The　child　touched　my　garments；　and　stroked　my　face　with　evident　curiosity；　uttering　a　sound　like　a　laugh；　but　with　an　hilarity　more　subdued　that　the　mirth　of　our　laughter。　　Presently　the　roof　of　the　hall　opened；　and　a　platform　descended；　seemingly　constructed　on　the　same　principle　as　the　'lifts'　used　in　hotels　and　warehouses　for　mounting　from　one　story　to　another。

The　stranger　placed　himself　and　the　child　on　the　platform；　and　motioned　to　me　to　do　the　same；　which　I　did。　　We　ascended　quickly　and　safely；　and　alighted　in　the　midst　of　a　corridor　with　doorways　on　either　side。

Through　one　of　these　doorways　I　was　conducted　into　a　chamber　fitted　up　with　an　oriental　splendour；　the　walls　were　tesselated　with　spars；　and　metals；　and　uncut　jewels；　cushions　and　divans　abounded；　apertures　as　for　windows　but　unglazed；　were　made　in　the　chamber　opening　to　the　floor；　and　as　I　passed　along　I　15observed　that　these　openings　led　into　spacious　balconies；　and　commanded　views　of　the　illumined　landscape　without。　　In　cages　suspended　from　the　ceiling　there　were　birds　of　strange　form　and　bright　plumage；　which　at　our　entrance　set　up　a　chorus　of　song；　modulated　into　tune　as　is　that　of　our　piping　bullfinches。　　A　delicious　fragrance；　from　censers　of　gold　elaborately　sculptured；　filled　the　air。　　Several　automata；　like　the　one　I　had　seen；　stood　dumb　and　motionless　by　the　walls。　　The　stranger　placed　me　beside　him　on　a　divan　and　again　spoke　to　me；　and　again　I　spoke；　but　without　the　least　advance　towards　understanding　each　other。

But　now　I　began　to　feel　the　effects　of　the　blow　I　had　received　from　the　splinters　of　the　falling　rock　more　acutely　that　I　had　done　at　first。


There　came　over　me　a　sense　of　sickly　faintness；　accompanied　with　acute；　lancinating　pains　in　the　head　and　neck。　　I　sank　back　on　the　seat　and　strove　in　vain　to　stifle　a　groan。　　On　this　the　child；　who　had　hitherto　seemed　to　eye　me　with　distrust　or　dislike；　knelt　by　my　side　to　support　me；　taking　one　of　my　hands　in　both　his　own；　he　approached　his　lips　to　my　forehead；　breathing　on　it　softly。　　In　a　few　moments　my　pain　ceased；　a　drowsy；　heavy　calm　crept　over　me；　I　fell　asleep。

How　long　I　remained　in　this　state　I　know　not；　but　when　I　woke　I　felt　perfectly　restored。　　My　eyes　opened　upon　a　group　of　silent　forms；　seated　around　me　in　the　gravity　and　quietude　of　Orientals…　all　more　or　less　like　the　first　stranger；　the　same　mantling　wings；　the　same　fashion　of　garment；　the　same　sphinx…like　faces；　with　the　deep　dark　eyes　and　red　man's　colour；　above　all；　the　same　type　of　race…　race　akin　to　man's；　but　infinitely　stronger　of　form　and　grandeur　of　aspect…　and　inspiring　the　same　unutterable　feeling　of　dread。　　Yet　each　countenance　was　mild　and　tranquil；　and　even　kindly　in　expression。　　And；　strangely　enough；　it　seemed　to　me　that　in　this　very　calm　and　benignity　consisted　the　secret　of　the　dread　which　the　countenances　inspired。　　They　seemed　as　void　of　the　lines　and　shadows　which　care　and　sorrow；　and　passion　and　sin；　16leave　upon　the　faces　of　men；　as　are　the　faces　of　sculptured　gods；　or　as；　in　the　eyes　of　Christian　mourners；　seem　the　peaceful　brows　of　the　dead。

I　felt　a　warm　hand　on　my　shoulder；　it　was　the　child's。　　In　his　eyes　there　was　a　sort　of　lofty　pity　and　tenderness；　such　as　that　with　which　we　may　gaze　on　some　suffering　bird　or　butterfly。　　I　shrank　from　that　touch…　I　shrank　from　that　eye。　　I　was　vaguely　impressed　with　a　belief　that；　had　he　so　pleased；　that　child　could　have　killed　me　as　easily　as　a　man　can　kill　a　bird　or　a　butterfly。　　The　child　seemed　pained　at　my　repugnance；　quitted　me；　and　placed　himself　beside　one　of　the　windows。　　The　others　continued　to　converse　with　each　other　in　a　low　tone；　and　by　their　glances　towards　me　I　could　perceive　that　I　was　the　object　of　their　conversation。　　One　in　especial　seemed　to　be　urging　some　proposal　affecting　me　on　the　being　whom　I　had　first　met；　and　this　last　by　his　gesture　seemed　about　to　assent　to　it；　when　the　child　suddenly　quitted　his　post　by　the　window；　placed　himself　between　me　and　the　other　forms；　as　if　in　protection；　and　spoke　quickly　and　eagerly。　　By　some　intuition　or　instinct　I　felt　that　the　child　I　had　before　so　dreaded　was　pleading　in　my　behalf。　　Ere　he　had　ceased　another　stranger　entered　the　room。　　He　appeared　older　than　the　rest；　though　not　old；　his　countenance　less　smoothly　serene　than　theirs；　though　equally　regular　in　its　features；　seemed　to　me　to　have　more　the　touch　of　a　humanity　akin　to　my　own。　　He　listened　quietly　to　the　words　addressed　to　him；　first　by　my　guide；　next　by　two　others　of　the　group；　and　lastly　by　the　child；　then　turned　towards　myself；　and　addressed　me；　not　by　words；　but　by　signs　and　gestures。　　These　I　fancied　that　I　perfectly　understood；　and　I　was　not　mistaken。　　I　comprehended　that　he　inquired　whence　I　came。　　I　extended　my　arm；　an