首页 >出版文学> The Works of Edgar Allan Poe>第184章
  TokeepwatchwithdelightOntheharmonythere?
  Ligeia!whateverThyimagemaybe,NomagicshallseverThymusicfromthee。
  ThouhastboundmanyeyesInadreamysleep-
  ButthestrainsstillariseWhich_thy_vigilancekeep-
  ThesoundoftherainWhichleapsdowntotheflower,AnddancesagainIntherhythmoftheshower-
  員hemurmurthatspringsFromthegrowingofgrass*TheAlbatrossissaidtosleeponthewing。?ImetwiththisideainanoldEnglishtale,whichIamnowunabletoobtainandquotefrommemory:-“Theverieessenceand,asitwere,springe-heade,andorigineofallmusicheistheveriepleasauntesoundewhichthetreesoftheforestdomakewhentheygrowe。”
  Arethemusicofthings-
  Butaremodell’d,alas!-
  Away,thenmydearest,O!hietheeawayTospringsthatlieclearestBeneaththemoon-ray-
  Tolonelakethatsmiles,Initsdreamofdeeprest,Atthemanystar-islesThatenjewelitsbreast-
  Wherewildflowers,creeping,Havemingledtheirshade,OnitsmarginissleepingFullmanyamaid-
  Somehaveleftthecoolglade,and*Havesleptwiththebee-
  Arousethemmymaiden,Onmoorlandandlea-
  Go!breatheontheirslumber,Allsoftlyinear,ThemusicalnumberTheyslumber’dtohear-
  ForwhatcanawakenAnangelsosoon*Thewildbeewillnotsleepintheshadeiftherebemoonlight。
  Therhymeinthisverse,asinoneaboutsixtylinesbefore,hasanappearanceofaffectation。Itis,however,imitatedfromSirW。Scott,orratherfromClaudHalcro-inwhosemouthIadmireditseffect:
  O!werethereanisland,Tho’eversowildWherewomanmightsmile,andNomanbebeguil’d,&c。
  WhosesleephathbeentakenBeneaththecoldmoon,AsthespellwhichnoslumberOfwitcherymaytest,TherythmicalnumberWhichlull’dhimtorest?”
  Spiritsinwing,andangelstotheview,Athousandseraphsburstth’Empyreanthro’,Youngdreamsstillhoveringontheirdrowsyflight-
  Seraphsinallbut“Knowledge。”thekeenlightThatfell,refracted,thro’thybounds,afarODeath!fromeyeofGoduponthatstar:
  Sweetwasthaterror-sweeterstillthatdeath-
  Sweetwasthaterror-ev’nwith_us_thebreathOfsciencedimsthemirrorofourjoy-
  Tothem’tweretheSimoom,andwoulddestroy-
  ForwhattothemavailethittoknowThatTruthisFalsehood-orthatBlissisWoe?
  Sweetwastheirdeath-withthemtodiewasrifeWiththelastecstacyofsatiatelife-
  Beyondthatdeathnoimmortality-
  Butsleepthatponderethandisnot“tobe“-
  Andthere-oh!maymywearyspiritdwell-
  *ApartfromHeaven’sEternity-andyethowfarfromHell!
  *WiththeArabiansthereisamediumbetweenHeavenandHell,wheremensuffernopunishment,butyetdonotattainthattranquilandevenhappinesswhichtheysupposetobecharacteristicofheavenlyenjoyment。
  Unnorompidosueno-
  Undiapuro-allegre-libreQuiera-
  Libredeamor-dezelo-
  Deodio-deesperanza-derezelo-_LuisPoncedeLeon_。
  Sorrowisnotexcludedfrom“AlAaraaf。”butitisthatsorrowwhichthelivinglovetocherishforthedead,andwhich,insomeminds,resemblesthedeliriumofopium。ThepassionateexcitementofLoveandthebuoyancyofspiritattendantuponintoxicationareitslessholypleasures-thepriceofwhich,tothosesoulswhomakechoiceof“AlAaraaf“astheirresidenceafterlife,isfinaldeathandannihilation。
  Whatguiltyspirit,inwhatshrubberydim,Heardnotthestirringsummonsofthathymn?
  Buttwo:theyfell:forHeavennograceimpartsTothosewhohearnotfortheirbeatinghearts。
  Amaiden-angelandherseraph-lover-
  O!whereandyemayseekthewideskiesover
  WasLove,theblind,nearsoberDutyknown?
  *UnguidedLovehathfallen-’mid“tearsofperfectmoan。”
  Hewasagoodlyspirit-hewhofell:
  Awandererbymoss-y-mantledwell-
  Agazeronthelightsthatshineabove-
  Adreamerinthemoonbeambyhislove:
  Whatwonder?Foreachstariseye-likethere,AndlookssosweetlydownonBeauty’shair-
  Andthey,andev’rymossyspringwereholyTohislove-hauntedheartandmelancholy。
  Thenighthadfoundtohimanightofwo
  Uponamountaincrag,youngAngelo-
  Beetlingitbendsathwartthesolemnsky,Andscowlsonstarryworldsthatdownbeneathitlie。
  Heresatehewithhislove-hisdarkeyebentWitheaglegazealongthefirmament:
  Nowturn’dituponher-buteverthenIttrembledtotheorbofEARTHagain。
  “Iante,dearest,see!howdimthatray!
  Howlovely’tistolooksofaraway!
  *TherebetearsofperfectmoanWeptfortheeinHelicon-_Milton。_
  Sheseem’dnotthusuponthatautumneveIlefthergorgeoushalls-normourn’dtoleave。
  Thateve-thateve-Ishouldrememberwell-
  Thesun-raydropp’d,inLemnos,withaspellOnth’ArabesquecarvingofagildedhallWhereinIsate,andonthedraperiedwall-
  Andonmyeye-lids-Otheheavylight!
  Howdrowsilyitweigh’dthemintonight!
  Onflowers,before,andmist,andlovetheyranWithPersianSaadiinhisGulistan:
  ButOthatlight!-Islumber’d-Death,thewhile,Stoleo’ermysensesinthatlovelyisleSosoftlythatnosinglesilkenhairAwokethatslept-orknewthatitwasthere。
  ThelastspotofEarth’sorbItrodupon*Wasaproudtemplecall’dtheParthenon-
  Morebeautyclungaroundhercolumn’dwall員hanev’nthyglowingbosombeatswithal,AndwhenoldTimemywingdiddisenthralThencesprangI-astheeaglefromhistower,AndyearsIleftbehindmeinanhour。
  WhattimeuponherairyboundsIhungOnehalfthegardenofherglobewasflungUnrollingasachartuntomyview-
  Tenantlesscitiesofthedeserttoo!
  Ianthe,beautycrowdedonmethen,AndhalfIwish’dtobeagainofmen。”
  “MyAngelo!andwhyofthemtobe?
  Abrighterdwelling-placeishereforthee-
  *Itwasentirein1687-themostelevatedspotinAthens。?ShadowingmorebeautyintheirairybrowsThanhavethewhitebreastsoftheQueenofLove-_Marlowe。_
  Andgreenerfieldsthaninyonworldabove,Andwomen’sloveliness-andpassionatelove。”
  “But,list,Ianthe!whentheairsosoft*Fail’d,asmypennon’dspiritleaptaloft,Perhapsmybraingrewdizzy-buttheworldIleftsolatewasintochaoshurl’d-
  Sprangfromherstation,onthewindsapart,Androll’d,aflame,thefieryHeavenathwart。
  Methought,mysweetone,thenIceasedtosoarAndfell-notswiftlyasIrosebefore,Butwithadownward,tremulousmotionthro’
  Light,brazenrays,thisgoldenstarunto!
  Norlongthemeasureofmyfallinghours,Fornearestofallstarswasthinetoours-
  Dreadstar!thatcame,amidanightofmirth,AredD鎑aliononthetimidEarth。
  “Wecame-andtothyEarth-butnottousBegivenourlady’sbiddingtodiscuss:
  Wecame,mylove;around,above,below,Gayfire-flyofthenightwecomeandgo,Noraskareasonsavetheangel-nod_She_grantstous,asgrantedbyherGod-
  But,Angelo,thanthinegreyTimeunfurl’dNeverhisfairywingo’erfairierworld!
  Dimwasitslittledisk,andangeleyesAlonecouldseethephantomintheskies,WhenfirstAlAaraafknewhercoursetobeHeadlongthitherwardo’erthestarrysea-
  Butwhenitsgloryswell’duponthesky,AsglowingBeauty’sbustbeneathman’seye,*Pennon-forpinion-_Milton_。
  Wepaus’dbeforetheheritageofmen,Andthystartrembled-asdothBeautythen!”
  Thus,indiscourse,theloverswhiledawayThenightthatwanedandwanedandbroughtnoday。
  Theyfell:forHeaventothemnohopeimpartsWhohearnotforthebeatingoftheirhearts。
  KINDsolaceinadyinghour!
  Such,father,isnotnowmytheme-
  IwillnotmadlydeemthatpowerOfEarthmayshrivemeofthesinUnearthlypridehathrevell’din-
  Ihavenotimetodoteordream:
  Youcallithope-thatfireoffire!
  Itisbutagonyofdesire:
  IfI_can_hope-OhGod!Ican-
  Itsfountisholier-moredivine-
  Iwouldnotcalltheefool,oldman,Butsuchisnotagiftofthine。
  KnowthouthesecretofaspiritBow’dfromitswildprideintoshame。
  O!yearningheart!IdidinheritThywitheringportionwiththefame,ThesearingglorywhichhathshoneAmidthejewelsofmythrone,HaloofHell!andwithapainNotHellshallmakemefearagain-
  O!cravingheart,forthelostflowersAndsunshineofmysummerhours!
  Th’undyingvoiceofthatdeadtime,Withitsinterminablechime,Rings,inthespiritofaspell,Uponthyemptiness-aknell。
  Ihavenotalwaysbeenasnow:
  Thefever’ddiademonmybrowIclaim’dandwonusurpingly-
  HathnotthesamefierceheirdomgivenRometotheCaesar-thistome?
  Theheritageofakinglymind,AndaproudspiritwhichhathstrivenTriumphantlywithhumankind。
  OnmountainsoilIfirstdrewlife:
  ThemistsoftheTaglayhaveshedNightlytheirdewsuponmyhead,And,Ibelieve,thewingedstrifeAndtumultoftheheadlongairHavenestledinmyveryhair。
  SolatefromHeaven-thatdew-itfellMiddreamsofanunholynight
  Uponme-withthetouchofHell,WhiletheredflashingofthelightFromcloudsthathung,likebanners,o’er,Appearedtomyhalf-closingeyeThepageantryofmonarchy,Andthedeeptrumpet-thunder’sroarCamehurriedlyuponme,tellingOfhumanbattle,wheremyvoice,Myownvoice,sillychild!-wasswellingO!howmyspiritwouldrejoice,Andleapwithinmeatthecry
  Thebattle-cryofVictory!
  TheraincamedownuponmyheadUnshelter’d-andtheheavywindWasgiantlike-sothou,mymind!-
  Itwasbutman,Ithought,whoshedLaurelsuponme:andtherush-
  ThetorrentofthechillyairGurgledwithinmyearthecrushOfempires-withthecaptive’sprayer-
  Thehumofsuiters-andthetoneOfflattery’roundasovereign’sthrone。
  Mypassions,fromthathaplesshour,Usurp’datyrannywhichmenHavedeem’d,sinceIhavereach’dtopower;
  Myinnatenature-beitso:
  But,father,thereliv’donewho,then,Then-inmyboyhood-whentheirfireBurn’dwithastillintenserglow,Forpassionmust,withyouth,expire
  E’en_then_whoknewthisironheartInwoman’sweaknesshadapart。
  Ihavenowords-alas!-totellThelovelinessoflovingwell!
  NorwouldInowattempttotraceThemorethanbeautyofafaceWhoselineaments,uponmymind,Areshadowsonth’unstablewind:
  ThusIrememberhavingdweltSomepageofearlyloreupon,Withloiteringeye,tillIhavefeltTheletters-withtheirmeaning-meltTofantasies-withnone。