MELCHIOR
Iamthedarkman,Melchior,AndIshalllivebutlittlemoreSinceIamoldandfeeblymove。
MykingdomisaburntuplandHalfburiedbythedriftingsand,SohotApolloshinesabove。
WhatcouldIbringbutsimplemyrrhWhiteblossomofthecordialfire?
Hail,PrinceofSouls,andLordofLove!
CHORUSOFANGELS
OPrinceofsoulsandLordofLove,O'ertheethepurplebreasteddoveShallwatchwithopensilverwings,ThouKingofKings。
SuavioleoflosVirginum,ApparuitRexGentium……
"Whoartthou,littleKingofKings?"
Hiswonderingmothersings。
THEBALLADOFHAMPSTEADHEATH
FromHeaven'sGatetoHampsteadHeathYoungBacchusandhiscrewCametumblingdown,ando'erthetownTheirburstingtrumpetsblew。
Thesilvernightwaswildlybright,AndmadlyshonetheMoonTohearasongsoclearandstrong,Withsuchalovelytune。
FromLondon'shouses,hutsandflats,Camebusmen,snobs,andEarls,AnduglymeninbowlerhatsWithcharminglittlegirls。
SirMosescamewitheyesofflame,Judd,whoislikeabloater,ThebraveLordMayorincoachandpair,KingEdward,inhismotor。
FarinarosymistwithdrawnTheGodandallhiscrew,Silenuspulledbynymphs,afaun,Asatyrdrenchedindew,SmiledastheyweptthoseshiningtearsOnlyImmortalsknow,Whosefeetaresetamongthestars,Abovetheshiftingsnow。
Andonespakeoutintothenight,Beforetheyleftforever,"Rejoice,rejoice!"andhisgreatvoiceRolledlikeasplendidriver。
HespakeinGreek,whichBritonsspeakSeldom,andcircumspectly;
ButMr。Judd,thatmanofmud,Translateditcorrectly。
Andwhentheyheardthathappyword,Policemenleaptandambled:
Thebusmenpranced,themaidensdanced,Themeninbowlersgambolled。
AwistfulEchostayedbehindTojointhemortaldances,ButMrJudd,withwordsunkind,Rejectedheradvances。
AndpassingdownthroughLondonTownShestopped,forallwaslonely,AttractedbyabigbrassplateInscribed,FORMEMBERSONLY。
AndsoshewenttoParliament,ButthoseungainlymenWokeupfromsleep,andturnedabout,Andfellasleepagain。
LITANYTOSATAN(fromBaudelaire。)
OgrandestoftheAngels,andmostwise,OfallenGod,fatedrivenfromtheskies,Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
Ofirstofexileswhoendurestwrong,Yetgrowest,inthyhatred,stillmorestrong,Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain!
OsubterraneanKing,omniscient,Healerofman'simmortaldiscontent,Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
TolepersandtooutcaststhoudostshowThatPassionistheParadisebelow。
Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
ThoubythymistressDeathhastgiventomanHope,theimperishablecourtesan。
Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
ThougivesttotheGuiltytheircalmmienWhichdamnsthecrowdaroundtheguillotine。
Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
ThouknowestthecornersofthejealousEarthWhereGodhashiddenjewelsofgreatworth。
Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
ThoudostdiscoverbymysterioussignsWheresleeptheburiedpeopleofthemines。
Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
ThoustretchestforthasavinghandtokeepSuchmenasroamupontheroofsinsleep。
Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
ThypowercanmakethehaltingDrunkard'sfeetAvoidtheperilofthesurgingstreet。
Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
Thou,toconsoleourhelplessness,didstplotThecunninguseofpowderandofshot。
Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
ThyawfulnameiswrittenaswithpitchOntheunrelentingforeheadsoftherich。
Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
InstrangeandhiddenplacesthoudostmoveWherewomencryfortortureintheirlove。
Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
FatherofthosewhomGod'stempestuousireHasflungfromParadisewithswordandfire,Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
PRAYER
Satan,totheebepraiseupontheHeightWherethouwastkingofold,andinthenightOfHell,wherethoudostdreamonsilently。
GrantthatonedaybeneaththeKnowledgetree,Whenitshootsforthtogracethyroyalbrow,Mysoulmaysit,thatcriesupontheenow。
THETRANSLATORANDTHECHILDREN
WhileItranslatedBaudelaire,Childrenwereplayingoutintheair。
Turningtowatch,IsawthelightThatmadetheirclothesandfacesbright。
IheardthetunetheymeanttosingAstheykeptdancinginaring;
ButIcouldnotforgetmybook,AndthoughtofmenwhosefacesshookWhenbabiespassedthemwithalook。
Theyareasterribleasdeath,Thosechildrenintheroadbeneath。
TheirwitlesschatterismoredreadThanvoicesinamadman'shead:
Theirdancemoreawfulandinspired,Becausetheirfeetarenevertired,ThansilentrevelwithsoftsoundOfpipes,onconsecratedground,Whenalltheghostsgoroundandround。
OPPORTUNITY(fromMachiavelli。)
"Butwhoartthou,withcuriousbeautygraced,Owoman,stampedwithsomebrightheavenlysealWhygothyfeetonwings,andinsuchhaste?"
"Iamthatmaidwhosesecretfewmaysteal,CalledOpportunity。IhastenbyBecausemyfeetaretreadingonawheel,Beingmoreswifttorunthanbirdstofly。
AndrightlyonmyfeetmywingsIwear,Toblindthesightofthosewhotrackandspy;
RightlyinfrontIholdmyscatteredhairToveilmyface,anddownmybreasttofall,LestmenshouldknowmynamewhenIamthere;
AndleavebehindmybacknowispatallForeagerfolktoclutch,whattimeIglideSonear,andturn,andpassbeyondrecall。"
第3章