evangeline-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Nearer　and　round　about　her；　the　manifold　flowers　of　the　garden
Poured　out　their　souls　in　odors；　that　were　their　prayers　and　confessions
Unto　the　night；　as　it　went　its　way；　like　a　silent　Carthusian。
Fuller　of　fragrance　than　they；　and　as　heavy　with　shadows　and　night…dews；
Hung　the　heart　of　the　maiden。　　The　calm　and　the　magical　moonlight
Seemed　to　inundate　her　soul　with　indefinable　longings；
As；　through　the　garden　gate；　beneath　the　shade　of　the　oak…trees；
Passed　she　along　the　path　to　the　edge　of　the　measureless　prairie。
Silent　it　lay；　with　a　silvery　haze　upon　it；　and　the　fire…flies
Gleaming　and　floating　away　in　mingled　and　infinite　numbers。
Over　her　head　the　stars；　the　thoughts　of　God　in　the　heavens；
Shone　on　the　eyes　of　man；　who　had　ceased　to　marvel　and　worship；
Save　when　a　blazing　comet　was　seen　on　the　walls　of　that　temple；
As　if　a　hand　had　appeared　and　written　upon　them；　〃Upharsin。〃
And　the　soul　of　the　maiden；　between　the　stars　and　the　fire…flies；
Wandered　alone；　and　she　cried；　〃O　Gabriel！　　O　my　beloved！
Art　thou　so　near　unto　me；　and　yet　I　cannot　behold　thee？
Art　thou　so　near　unto　me；　and　yet　thy　voice　does　not　reach　me？
Ah！　how　often　thy　feet　have　trod　this　path　to　the　prairie！
Ah！　how　often　thine　eyes　have　looked　on　the　woodlands　around　me！
Ah！　how　often　beneath　this　oak；　returning　from　labor；
Thou　hast　lain　down　to　rest；　and　to　dream　of　me　in　thy　slumbers！
When　shall　these　eyes　behold；　these　arms　be　folded　about　thee？〃
Loud　and　sudden　and　near　the　note　of　a　whippoorwill　sounded
Like　a　flute　in　the　woods；　and　anon；　through　the　neighboring　thickets；
Farther　and　farther　away　it　floated　and　dropped　into　silence。
〃Patience！〃　whispered　the　oaks　from　oracular　caverns　of　darkness；
And；　from　the　moonlit　meadow；　a　sigh　responded；　〃To…morrow！〃

　　Bright　rose　the　sun　next　day；　and　all　the　flowers　of　the　garden
Bathed　his　shining　feet　with　their　tears；　and　anointed　his　tresses
With　the　delicious　balm　that　they　bore　in　their　vases　of　crystal。
〃Farewell！〃　said　the　priest；　as　he　stood　at　the　shadowy　threshold；
〃See　that　you　bring　us　the　Prodigal　Son　from　his　fasting　and　famine；
And；　too；　the　Foolish　Virgin；　who　slept　when　the　bridegroom　was　coming。〃
〃Farewell！〃　answered　the　maiden；　and；　smiling；　with　Basil　descended
Down　to　the　river's　brink；　where　the　boatmen　already　were　waiting。
Thus　beginning　their　journey　with　morning；　and　sunshine；　and　gladness；
Swiftly　they　followed　the　flight　of　him　who　was　speeding　before　them；
Blown　by　the　blast　of　fate　like　a　dead　leaf　over　the　desert。
Not　that　day；　nor　the　next；　nor　yet　the　day　that　succeeded；
Found　they　trace　of　his　course；　in　lake　or　forest　or　river；
Nor；　after　many　days；　had　they　found　him；　but　vague　and　uncertain
Rumors　alone　were　their　guides　through　a　wild　and　desolate　country；
Till；　at　the　little　inn　of　the　Spanish　town　of　Adayes；
Weary　and　worn；　they　alighted；　and　learned　from　the　garrulous　landlord；
That　on　the　day　before；　with　horses　and　guides　and　companions；
Gabriel　left　the　village；　and　took　the　road　of　the　prairies。



IV。


　　FAR　in　the　West　there　lies　a　desert　land；　where　the　mountains
Lift；　through　perpetual　snows；　their　lofty　and　luminous　summits。
Down　from　their　jagged；　deep　ravines；　where　the　gorge；　like　a　gateway；
Opens　a　passage　rude　to　the　wheels　of　the　emigrant's　wagon；
Westward　the　Oregon　flows　and　the　Walleway　and　Owyhee。
Eastward；　with　devious　course；　among　the　Windriver　Mountains；
Through　the　Sweet…water　Valley　precipitate　leaps　the　Nebraska；
And　to　the　south；　from　Fontaine…qui…bout　and　the　Spanish　sierras；
Fretted　with　sands　and　rocks；　and　swept　by　the　wind　of　the　desert；
Numberless　torrents；　with　ceaseless　sound；　descend　to　the　ocean；
Like　the　great　chords　of　a　harp；　in　loud　and　solemn　vibrations。
Spreading　between　these　streams　are　the　wondrous；　beautiful　prairies；
Billowy　bays　of　grass　ever　rolling　in　shadow　and　sunshine；
Bright　with　luxuriant　clusters　of　roses　and　purple　amorphas。
Over　them　wandered　the　buffalo　herds；　and　the　elk　and　the　roebuck；
Over　them　wandered　the　wolves；　and　herds　of　riderless　horses；
Fires　that　blast　and　blight；　and　winds　that　are　weary　with　travel；
Over　them　wander　the　scattered　tribes　of　Ishmael's　children；
Staining　the　desert　with　blood；　and　above　their　terrible　war…trails
Circles　and　sails　aloft；　on　pinions　majestic；　the　vulture；
Like　the　implacable　soul　of　a　chieftain　slaughtered　in　battle；
By　invisible　stairs　ascending　and　scaling　the　heavens。
Here　and　there　rise　smokes　from　the　camps　of　these　savage　marauders；
Here　and　there　rise　groves　from　the　margins　of　swift…running　rivers；
And　the　grim；　taciturn　bear；　the　anchorite　monk　of　the　desert；
Climbs　down　their　dark　ravines　to　dig　for　roots　by　the　brookside；
And　over　all　is　the　sky；　the　clear　and　crystalline　heaven；
Like　the　protecting　hand　of　God　inverted　above　them。

　　Into　this　wonderful　land；　at　the　base　of　the　Ozark　Mountains；
Gabriel　far　had　entered；　with　hunters　and　trappers　behind　him。
Day　after　day；　with　their　Indian　guides；　the　maiden　and　Basil
Followed　his　flying　steps；　and　thought　each　day　to　o'ertake　him。
Sometimes　they　saw；　or　thought　they　saw；　the　smoke　of　his　camp…fire
Rise　in　the　morning　air　from　the　distant　plain；　but　at　nightfall；
When　they　had　reached　the　place；　they　found　only　embers　and　ashes。
And；　though　their　hearts　were　sad　at　times　and　their　bodies　were　weary；
Hope　still　guided　them　on；　as　the　magic　Fata　Morgana
Showed　them　her　lakes　of　light；　that　retreated　and　vanished　before　them。

　　Once；　as　they　sat　by　their　evening　fire；　there　silently　entered
Into　the　little　camp　an　Indian　woman；　whose　features
Wore　deep　traces　of　sorrow；　and　patience　as　great　as　her　sorrow。
She　was　a　Shawnee　woman　returning　home　to　her　people；
From　the　far…off　hunting…grounds　of　the　cruel　Camanches；
Where　her　Canadian　husband；　a　Coureur…des…Bois；　had　been　murdered。
Touched　were　their　hearts　at　her　story；　and　warmest　and　friendliest　welcome
Gave　they；　with　words　of　cheer；　and　she　sat　and　feasted　among　them
On　the　buffalo…meat　and　the　venison　cooked　on　the　embers。
But　when　their　meal　was　done；　and　Basil　and　all　his　companions；
Worn　with　the　long　day's　march　and　the　chase　of　the　deer　and　the　bison；
Stretched　themselves　on　the　ground；　and　slept　where　the　quivering　fire…light
Flashed　on　their　swarthy　cheeks；　and　their　forms　wrapped　up　in　their　blankets；
Then　at　the　door　of　Evangeline's　tent　she　sat　and　repeated
Slowly；　with　soft；　low　voice；　and　the　charm　of　her　Indian　accent；
All　the　tale　of　her　love；　with　its　pleasures；　and　pains；　and　reverses。
Much　Evangeline　wept　at　the　tale；　and　to　know　that　another
Hapless　heart　like　her　own　had　loved　and　had　been　disappointed。
Moved　to　the　depths　of　her　soul　by　pity　and　woman's　compassion；
Yet　in　her　sorrow　pleased　that　one　who　had　suffered　was　near　her；
She　in　turn　related　her　love　and　all　its　disasters。
Mute　with　wonder　the　Shawnee　sat；　and　when　she　had　ended
Still　was　mute；　but　at　length；　as　if　a　mysterious　horror
Passed　through　her　brain；　she　spake；　and　repeated　the　tale　of　the　Mowis；
Mowis；　the　bridegroom　of　snow；　who　won　and　wedded　a　maiden；
But；　when　the　morning　came；　arose　and　passed　from　the　wigwam；
Fading　and　melting　away　and　dissolving　into　the　sunshine；
Till　she　beheld　him　no　more；　though　she　followed　far　into　the　forest。
Then；　in　those　sweet；　low　tones；　that　seemed　like　a　weird　incantation；
Told　she　the　tale　of　the　fair　Lilinau；　who　was　wooed　by　a　phantom；
That；　through　the　pines　o'er　her　father's　lodge；　in　the　hush　of　the　twilight；
Breathed　like　the　evening　wind；　and　whispered　love　to　the　maiden；
Till　she　followed　his　green　and　waving　plume　through　the　forest；
And　never　more　returned；　nor　was　seen　again　by　her　people。
Silent　with　wonder　and　strange　surprise；　Evangeline　listened
To　the　soft　flow　of　her　magical　words；　till　the　region　around　her
Seemed　like　enchanted　ground；　and　her　swarthy　guest　the　enchantress。
Slowly　over　the　tops　of　the　Ozark　Mountains　the　moon　rose；
Lighting　the　little　tent；　and　with　a　mysterious　splendor
Touching　the　sombre　leaves；　and　embracing　and　filling　the　woodland。
With　a　delicious　sound　the　brook　rushed　by；　and　the　branches
Swayed　and　sighed　overhead　in　scarcely　audible　whispers。
Filled　with　the　thoughts　of　love　was　Evangeline's　heart；　but　a　secret；
Subtile　sense　crept　in　of　pain　and　indefinite　terror；
As　the　cold；　poisonous　snake　creeps　into　the　nest　of　the　swallow。
It　was　no　earthly　fear。　　A　breath　from　the　region　of　spirits
Seemed　to　float　in　the　air　of　night；　and　she　felt　for　a　moment
That；　like　the　Indian　maid；　she；　too；　was　pursuing　a　phantom。
With　this　thought　she　slept；　and　the　fear　and　the　phantom　had　vanished。

　　Early　upon　the　morrow　the　march　was　resumed；　and　the　Shawnee
Said；　as　they　journeyed　along；　〃On　the　western　slope　of　these　mountains
Dwells　in　his　little　village　the　Black　Robe　chief　of　the　Mission。
Much　he　teaches　the　people；　and　tells　them　of　Mary　and　Jesus；
Loud　laugh　their　hearts　with　joy；　and　weep　with　pain；　as　they　hear　him。〃
Then；　with　a　sudden　and　secret　emotion；　Evangeline　answered；
〃Let　us　go　to　the　Mission；　for　there　good　tidings　await　us！〃
Thither　they　turned　their　steeds；　and　behind　a　spur　of　the　mountains；
Just　as　the　sun　went　down；　they　heard　a　murmur　of　voices；
And　in　a　meadow　green　and　broad；　by　the　bank　of　a　river；
Saw　the　tents　of　the　Christians；　the　tents　of　the　Jesuit　Mission。
Under　a　towering　oak；　that　stood　in　the　midst　of　the　village；
Knelt　the　Black　Robe　chief　with　his　children。　　A　crucifix　fastened
High　on　the　trunk　of　the　tree；　and　overshadowed　by　grape…vines；
Looked　with　its　agonized　face　on　the　multitude　kneeling　beneath　it。
This　was　their　rural　chapel。　　Aloft；　through　the　intricate　arches
Of　its　aerial　roof；　arose　the　chant　of　their　vespers；
Mingling　its　notes　with　the　soft　susurrus　and　sighs　of　the　branches。
Silent；　with　heads　uncovered；　the　travellers；　nearer　approaching；
Knelt　on　the　swarded　floor；　and　joined　in　the　evening　devotions。
But　when　the　service　was　done；　and　the　benediction　had　fallen
Forth　from　the　hands　of　the　priest；　like　seed　from　the　hands　of　the　sower；
Slowly　the　reverend　man　advanced　to　the　strangers　and　bade　them
Welcome；　and　when　they　replied；　he　smiled　with　benignant　expression；
Hearing　the　homelike　sounds　of　his　mother…tongue　in　the　forest；
And；　with　words　of　kindness；　conducted　them　into　his　wigwam。
There　upon　mats　and　skins　they　reposed；　and　on　cakes　of　the　maize…ear
Feasted；　and　slaked　their　thirst　from　the　water…gourd　of　the　teacher。
Soon　was　their　story　told；　and　the　priest　with　solemnity　answered：
〃Not　six　suns　have　risen　and　set　since　Gabriel；　seated
On　this　mat　by　my　side；　where　now　the　maiden　reposes；
Told　me　this　same　sad　tale；　then　arose　and　continued　his　journey！〃
Soft　was　the　voice　of　the　priest；　and　he　spake　with　an　accent　of　kindness；
But　on　Evangeline's　heart　fell　his　words　as　in　winter　the　snow…flakes
Fall　into　some　lone　nest　from　which　the　birds　have　departed。
〃Far　to　the　north　he　has　gone；〃　continued　the　priest；　〃but　in　autumn；
When　the　chase　is　done；　will　return　again　to　the　Mission。〃
Then　Evangeline　said；　and　her　voice　was　meek　and　submissive；
〃Let　me　remain　with　thee；　for　my　soul　is　sad　and　afflicted。〃
So　seemed　it　wise　and　well　unto　all；　and　betimes　on　the