evangeline-第5章

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Lowly　and　meek　in　spirit；　and　patiently　suffering　all　things。
Fair　was　she　and　young；　but；　alas！　before　her　extended；
Dreary　and　vast　and　silent；　the　desert　of　life；　with　its　pathway
Marked　by　the　graves　of　those　who　had　sorrowed　and　suffered　before　her；
Passions　long　extinguished；　and　hopes　long　dead　and　abandoned；
As　the　emigrant's　way　o'er　the　Western　desert　is　marked　by
Camp…fires　long　consumed；　and　bones　that　bleach　in　the　sunshine。
Something　there　was　in　her　life　incomplete；　imperfect；　unfinished；
As　if　a　morning　of　June；　with　all　its　music　and　sunshine；
Suddenly　paused　in　the　sky；　and；　fading；　slowly　descended
Into　the　east　again；　from　whence　it　late　had　arisen。
Sometimes　she　lingered　in　towns；　till；　urged　by　the　fever　within　her；
Urged　by　a　restless　longing；　the　hunger　and　thirst　of　the　spirit；
She　would　commence　again　her　endless　search　and　endeavor；
Sometimes　in　churchyards　strayed；　and　gazed　on　the　crosses　and　tombstones；
Sat　by　some　nameless　grave；　and　thought　that　perhaps　in　its　bosom
He　was　already　at　rest；　and　she　longed　to　slumber　beside　him。
Sometimes　a　rumor；　a　hearsay；　an　inarticulate　whisper；
Came　with　its　airy　hand　to　point　and　beckon　her　forward。
Sometimes　she　spake　with　those　who　had　seen　her　beloved　and　known　him；
But　it　was　long　ago；　in　some　far…off　place　or　forgotten。
〃Gabriel　Lajeunesse！〃　they　said；　〃O　yes！　we　have　seen　him。
He　was　with　Basil　the　blacksmith；　and　both　have　gone　to　the　prairies；
Coureurs…des…Bois　are　they；　and　famous　hunters　and　trappers；〃
〃Gabriel　Lajeunesse！〃　said　others；　〃O　yes！　we　have　seen　him。
He　is　a　Voyageur　in　the　lowlands　of　Louisiana。〃
Then　would　they　say：　〃Dear　child！　why　dream　and　wait　for　him　longer？
Are　there　not　other　youths　as　fair　as　Gabriel？　others
Who　have　hearts　as　tender　and　true；　and　spirits　as　loyal？
Here　is　Baptiste　Leblanc；　the　notary's　son；　who　has　loved　thee
Many　a　tedious　year；　come；　give　him　thy　hand　and　be　happy！
Thou　art　too　fair　to　be　left　to　braid　St。　Catherine's　tresses。〃
Then　would　Evangeline　answer；　serenely　but　sadly；　〃I　cannot！
Whither　my　heart　has　gone；　there　follows　my　hand；　and　not　elsewhere。
For　when　the　heart　goes　before；　like　a　lamp；　and　illumines　the　pathway；
Many　things　are　made　clear；　that　else　lie　hidden　in　darkness。〃
Thereupon　the　priest；　her　friend　and　father…confessor；
Said；　with　a　smile；　〃O　daughter！　thy　God　thus　speaketh　within　thee！
Talk　not　of　wasted　affection；　affection　never　was　wasted；
If　it　enrich　not　the　heart　of　another；　its　waters；　returning
Back　to　their　springs；　like　the　rain；　shall　fill　them　full　of　refreshment；
That　which　the　fountain　sends　forth　returns　again　to　the　fountain。
Patience；　accomplish　thy　labor；　accomplish　thy　work　of　affection！
Sorrow　and　silence　are　strong；　and　patient　endurance　is　godlike。
Therefore　accomplish　thy　labor　of　love；　till　the　heart　is　made　godlike；
Purified；　strengthened；　perfected；　and　rendered　more　worthy　of　heaven！〃
Cheered　by　the　good　man's　words；　Evangeline　labored　and　waited。
Still　in　her　heart　she　heard　the　funeral　dirge　of　the　ocean；
But　with　its　sound　there　was　mingled　a　voice　that　whispered；　〃Despair　not！〃
Thus　did　that　poor　soul　wander　in　want　and　cheerless　discomfort；
Bleeding；　barefooted；　over　the　shards　and　thorns　of　existence。
Let　me　essay；　O　Muse！　to　follow　the　wanderer's　footsteps；
Not　through　each　devious　path；　each　changeful　year　of　existence；
But　as　a　traveller　follows　a　streamlet's　course　through　the　valley：
Far　from　its　margin　at　times；　and　seeing　the　gleam　of　its　water
Here　and　there；　in　some　open　space；　and　at　intervals　only；
Then　drawing　nearer　its　banks；　through　sylvan　glooms　that　conceal　it；
Though　he　behold　it　not；　he　can　hear　its　continuous　murmur；
Happy；　at　length；　if　he　find　the　spot　where　it　reaches　an　outlet。



II。


　　IT　was　the　month　of　May。　　Far　down　the　Beautiful　River；
Past　the　Ohio　shore　and　past　the　mouth　of　the　Wabash；
Into　the　golden　stream　of　the　broad　and　swift　Mississippi；
Floated　a　cumbrous　boat；　that　was　rowed　by　Acadian　boatmen。
It　was　a　band　of　exiles：　a　raft；　as　it　were；　from　the　shipwrecked
Nation；　scattered　along　the　coast；　now　floating　together；
Bound　by　the　bonds　of　a　common　belief　and　a　common　misfortune；
Men　and　women　and　children；　who；　guided　by　hope　or　by　hearsay；
Sought　for　their　kith　and　their　kin　among　the　few…acred　farmers
On　the　Acadian　coast；　and　the　prairies　of　fair　Opelousas。
With　them　Evangeline　went；　and　her　guide；　the　Father　Felician。
Onward　o'er　sunken　sands；　through　a　wilderness　somber　with　forests；
Day　after　day　they　glided　adown　the　turbulent　river；
Night　after　night；　by　their　blazing　fires；　encamped　on　its　borders。
Now　through　rushing　chutes；　among　green　islands；　where　plumelike
Cotton…trees　nodded　their　shadowy　crests；　they　swept　with　the　current；
Then　emerged　into　broad　lagoons；　where　silvery　sand…bars
Lay　in　the　stream；　and　along　the　wimpling　waves　of　their　margin；
Shining　with　snow…white　plumes；　large　flocks　of　pelicans　waded。
Level　the　landscape　grew；　and　along　the　shores　of　the　river；
Shaded　by　china…trees；　in　the　midst　of　luxuriant　gardens；
Stood　the　houses　of　planters；　with　negro…cabins　and　dove…cots。
They　were　approaching　the　region　where　reigns　perpetual　summer；
Where　through　the　Golden　Coast；　and　groves　of　orange　and　citron；
Sweeps　with　majestic　curve　the　river　away　to　the　eastward。
They；　too；　swerved　from　their　course；　and；　entering　the　Bayou　of　Plaquemine；
Soon　were　lost　in　a　maze　of　sluggish　and　devious　waters；
Which；　like　a　network　of　steel；　extended　in　every　direction。
Over　their　heads　the　towering　and　tenebrous　boughs　of　the　cypress
Met　in　a　dusky　arch；　and　trailing　mosses　in　mid…air
Waved　like　banners　that　hang　on　the　walls　of　ancient　cathedrals。
Deathlike　the　silence　seemed；　and　unbroken；　save　by　the　herons
Home　to　their　roosts　in　the　cedar…trees　returning　at　sunset；
Or　by　the　owl；　as　he　greeted　the　moon　with　demoniac　laughter。
Lovely　the　moonlight　was　as　it　glanced　and　gleamed　on　the　water；
Gleamed　on　the　columns　of　cypress　and　cedar　sustaining　the　arches；
Down　through　whose　broken　vaults　it　fell　as　through　chinks　in　a　ruin。
Dreamlike；　and　indistinct；　and　strange　were　all　things　around　them；
And　o'er　their　spirits　there　came　a　feeling　of　wonder　and　sadness；
Strange　forebodings　of　ill；　unseen　and　that　cannot　be　compassed。
As；　at　the　tramp　of　a　horse's　hoof　on　the　turf　of　the　prairies；
Far　in　advance　are　closed　the　leaves　of　the　shrinking　mimosa；
So；　at　the　hoof…beats　of　fate；　with　sad　forebodings　of　evil；
Shrinks　and　closes　the　heart；　ere　the　stroke　of　doom　has　attained　it。
But　Evangeline's　heart　was　sustained　by　a　vision；　that　faintly
Floated　before　her　eyes；　and　beckoned　her　on　through　the　moonlight。
It　was　the　thought　of　her　brain　that　assumed　the　shape　of　a　phantom。
Through　those　shadowy　aisles　had　Gabriel　wandered　before　her；
And　every　stroke　of　the　oar　now　brought　him　nearer　and　nearer。

　　Then　in　his　place；　at　the　prow　of　the　boat；　rose　one　of　the　oarsmen；
And；　as　a　signal　sound；　if　others　like　them　peradventure
Sailed　on　those　gloomy　and　midnight　streams；　blew　a　blast　on　his　bugle。
Wild　through　the　dark　colonnades　and　corridors　leafy　the　blast　rang；
Breaking　the　seal　of　silence；　and　giving　tongues　to　the　forest。
Soundless　above　them　the　banners　of　moss　just　stirred　to　the　music。
Multitudinous　echoes　awoke　and　died　in　the　distance；
Over　the　watery　floor；　and　beneath　the　reverberant　branches；
But　not　a　voice　replied；　no　answer　came　from　the　darkness；
And；　when　the　echoes　had　ceased；　like　a　sense　of　pain　was　the　silence。
Then　Evangeline　slept；　but　the　boatmen　rowed　through　the　midnight；
Silent　at　times；　then　singing　familiar　Canadian　boat…songs；
Such　as　they　sang　of　old　on　their　own　Acadian　rivers；
And　through　the　night　were　heard　the　mysterious　sounds　of　the　desert；
Far　off；indistinct；as　of　wave　or　wind　in　the　forest；
Mixed　with　the　whoop　of　the　crane　and　the　roar　of　the　grim　alligator。

　　Thus　ere　another　noon　they　emerged　from　the　shades；　and　before　them
Lay；　in　the　golden　sun；　the　lakes　of　the　Atchafalaya。
Water…lilies　in　myriads　rocked　on　the　slight　undulations
Made　by　the　passing　oars；　and；　resplendent　in　beauty；　the　lotus
Lifted　her　golden　crown　above　the　heads　of　the　boatmen。
Faint　was　the　air　with　the　odorous　breath　of　magnolia　blossoms；
And　with　the　heat　of　noon；　and　numberless　sylvan　islands；
Fragrant　and　thickly　embowered　with　blossoming　hedges　of　roses；
Near　to　whose　shores　they　glided　along；　invited　to　slumber。
Soon　by　the　fairest　of　these　their　weary　oars　were　suspended。
Under　the　boughs　of　Wachita　willows；　that　grew　by　the　margin；
Safely　their　boat　was　moored；　and　scattered　about　on　the　greensward；
Tired　with　their　midnight　toil；　the　weary　travellers　slumbered。
Over　them　vast　and　high　extended　the　cope　of　a　cedar。
Swinging　from　its　great　arms；　the　trumpet…flower　and　the　grape…vine
Hung　their　ladder　of　ropes　aloft　like　the　ladder　of　Jacob；
On　whose　pendulous　stairs　the　angels　ascending；　descending；
Were　the　swift　humming…birds；　that　flitted　from　blossom　to　blossom。
Such　was　the　vision　Evangeline　saw　as　she　slumbered　beneath　it。
Filled　was　her　heart　with　love；　and　the　dawn　of　an　opening　heaven
Lighted　her　soul　in　sleep　with　the　glory　of　regions　celestial。

　　Nearer　and　ever　nearer；　among　the　numberless　islands；
Darted　a　light；　swift　boat；　that　sped　away　o'er　the　water；
Urged　on　its　course　by　the　sinewy　arms　of　hunters　and　trappers。
Northward　its　prow　was　turned；　to　the　land　of　the　bison　and　beaver。
At　the　helm　sat　a　youth；　with　countenance　thoughtful　and　care…worn。
Dark　and　neglected　locks　overshadowed　his　brow；　and　a　sadness
Somewhat　beyond　his　years　on　his　face　was　legibly　written。
Gabriel　was　it；　who；　weary　with　waiting；　unhappy　and　restless；
Sought　in　the　Western　wilds　oblivion　of　self　and　of　sorrow。
Swiftly　they　glided　along；　close　under　the　lee　of　the　island；
But　by　the　opposite　bank；　and　behind　a　screen　of　palmettos；
So　that　they　saw　not　the　boat；　where　it　lay　concealed　in　the　willows；
And　undisturbed　by　the　dash　of　their　oars；　and　unseen；　were　the　sleepers；
Angel　of　God　was　there　none　to　awaken　the　slumbering　maiden。
Swiftly　they　glided　away；　like　the　shade　of　a　cloud　on　the　prairie。
After　the　sound　of　their　oars　on　the　tholes　had　died　in　the　distance；
As　from　a　magic　trance　the　sleepers　awoke；　and　the　maiden
Said　with　a　sigh　to　the　friendly　priest；　〃O　Father　Felician！
Something　says　in　my　heart　that　near　me　Gabriel　wanders。
Is　it　a　foolish　dream；　an　idle　and　vague　superstition？
Or　has　an　angel　passed；　and　revealed　the　truth　to　my　spirit？〃
Then；　with　a　blush；　she　added；　〃Alas　for　my　credulous　fancy！
Unto　ears　like　thine　such　words　as　these　have　no　meaning。〃
But　made　answer　the　reverend　man；　and　he　smiled　as　he　answered；
〃Daughter；　thy　words　are　not　idle；　nor　are　they　to　me　without　meaning。
Feeling　is　deep　and　still；　and　the　word　that　floats　on　the　surface
Is　as　the　tossing　buoy；　that　betrays　where　the　anchor　is　hidden。
Therefore　trust　to　thy　heart；　and　to　what　the　world　calls　illusions。
Gabriel　truly　is　near　thee；　for　not　far　away　to　the　southward；
On　the　banks　of　the　T阠he　are　the　towns　of　St。　Maur　and　St。　Martin。
There　the　long…wandering　bride　shall　be　given　again　to　her　bridegroom；
There　the　long…absent　pasto