首页 >出版文学> The Works of Rudyard Kipling One>第6章
  Howshallsheknowtheworshipwewoulddoher?
  Thewallsarehigh,andsheisveryfar。
  Howshallthewoman’smessagereachuntoherAbovethetumultofthepackedbazaar?
  FreewindofMarch,againstthelatticeblowing,Bearthouourthanks,lestshedepartunknowing。
  Goforthacrossthefieldswemaynotroamin,Goforthbeyondthetreesthatrimthecity,Towhatsoe’erfairplaceshehathherhomein,Whodowereduswithwalthofloveandpity。
  Outofourshadowpass,andseekhersinging——
  “IhavenogiftsbutLovealoneforbringing。”
  Saythatwebeafeeblefolkwhogreether,Butoldingrief,andverywiseintears;
  Saythatwe,beingdesolate,entreatherThatsheforgetusnotinafteryears;
  Forwehaveseenthelight,anditweregrievousTodimthatdawningifourladyleaveus。
  BylifethatebbedwithnonetostanchthefailingByLove’ssadharvestgarneredinthespring,WhenLoveinignoranceweptunavailingO’eryoungbudsdeadbeforetheirblossoming;
  Byallthegreyowlwatched,thepalemoonviewed,Inpastgrimyears,declareourgratitude!
  ByhandsupliftedtotheGodsthatheardnot,Byfitsthatfoundnofavorintheirsight,Byfacesbentabovethebabethatstirrednot,Bynamelesshorrorsofthestiflingnight;
  Byillsforedone,bypeacehertoilsdiscover,BidEarthbegoodbeneathandHeavenaboveher!
  IfshehavesentherservantsinourpainIfshehavefoughtwithDeathanddulledhissword;
  Ifshehavegivenbackoursickagain。
  Andtothebreastthewaklinglipsrestored,Isitalittlethingthatshehaswrought?
  ThenLifeandDeathandMotherhoodbenought。
  Goforth,Owind,ourmessageonthywings,Andtheyshallheartheepassandbidtheespeed,Inreed-roofedhut,orwhite-walledhomeofkings,Whohavebeenhelpenbytherintheirneed。
  Allspringshallgivetheefragrance,andthewheatShallbeatasselledfloorclothtothyfeet。
  Haste,forourheartsarewiththee,takenorest!
  Loud-voicedambassador,fromseatoseaProclaimtheblessing,mainfold,confessed。
  Ofthoseindarknessbyherhandsetfree。
  Thenverysoftlytoherpresencemove,Andwhisper:“Lady,lo,theyknowandlove!”
  ABALLADOFJAKKOHILL
  Onemomentbidthehorseswait,Sincetiffinisnotlaidtillthree,BelowtheupwardpathandstraightYouclimbedayearagowithme。
  LovecameuponussuddenlyAndloosed——anidlehourtokill——
  Aheadless,armlessarmoryThatsmoteusbothonJakkoHill。
  AhHeaven!wewouldwaitandwaitThroughTimeandtoEternity!
  AhHeaven!wecouldconquerFateWithmorethanGodlikeconstancyIcutthedateuponatree——
  Herestandtheclumsyfiguresstill:
  DampwiththemistofJakkoHill。
  Whatcameofhighresolveandgreat,AnduntilDeathfidelity!
  Whosehorseiswaitingatyourgate?
  Whose’rickshaw-wheelsrideoverme?
  NoSaint’s,Iswear;and——letmeseeTo-nightwhatnamesyourprogrammefill
  Wedriftasundermerrily,AsdriftsthemistonJakkoHill。
  Princess,beholdourancientstateHascleandeparted;andwesee’TwasIdlenesswetookforFateThatboundlightbondsonyouandme。
  Amen!HereendsthecomedyWhereitbeganinallgoodwill;
  SinceLoveandLeavetogetherfleeAsdrivenmistonJakkoHill!
  THEPLEAOFTHESIMLADANCERS
  Toolate,alas!thesongToremedythewrong;——
  Theroomsaretakenfromus,sweptandgarnishedfortheirfate。
  Butthesetear-besprinkledpagesShallattesttofutureagesThatwecriedagainstthecrimeofit——
  toolate,alas!toolate!
  “Whathaveweeverdonetobearthisgrudge?”
  WastherenoroomsaveonlyinBenmoreFordocket,duftar,andforofficedrudge,Thatyouusurpoursmoothestdancingfloor?
  Mustbabusdotheirworkonpolishedteak?
  Areball-roomsfittestfortheinkyouspill?
  Wastherenoothercheaperhousetoseek?
  YoumighthaveleftthemallatStrawberryHill。
  Weneverharmedyou!Innocentourguise,Daintyourshiningfeet,ourvoiceslow;
  Andwerevolvedtodiversmelodies,Andwewerehappybutayearago。
  To-night,themoonthatwatchedourlightsomewiles——
  Thatbeameduponusthroughthedeodars——
  Iswanwithgazingonofficialfiles,Anddesecratingdesksdisgustthestars。
  Nay!bythememoryoftunefulnights——
  Nay!bythewitcheryofflyingfeet——
  Nay!bytheglamourofforedonedelights——
  Byallthingsmerry,musical,andmeet——
  Bywinethatsparkled,andbysparklingeyes——
  Bywailingwaltz——byrecklessgallop’sstrain——
  Bydimverandasandbysoftreplies,Giveusourravishedball-roombackagain!
  Or——hearkentothecursewelayonyou!
  Theghostsofwaltzesshallperplexyourbrain,AndmurmursofpastmerrimentpursueYour’wilderedclerksthattheyinditeinvain;
  AndwhenyoucountyourpoorProvincialmillions,TheonlyfiguresthatyourpenshallframeShallbethefiguresofdear,dearcotillionsDancedoutintumultlongbeforeyoucame。
  Yea!“SeeSaw“shallupsetyourestimates,“DreamFaces“shallyourheavyheadsbemuse,Becauseyourhand,unheeding,desecratesOurtemple;fitforhigher,worthieruse。
  Andallthelongverandas,eloquentWithechoesofascoreofSimlayears,Shallplagueyouwithunbiddensentiment——
  Babblingofkisses,laughter,love,andtears。
  Soshallyoumazedamidoldmemoriesstand,Soshallyoutoil,andshallaccomplishnought,AndeverinyourearsaphantomBandShallblareawaythestaidofficialthought。
  Wherefore——anderethisawfulcursehespoken,Castoutyourswarthysacrilegioustrain,Andgive——eredancingceaseandheartsbebroken——
  Giveusourravishedball-roombackagain!
  THEBALLADOFFISHER’SBOARDING-HOUSE
  Thatnight,whenthroughthemooring-chainsThewide-eyedcorpserolledfree,ToblunderdownbyGardenReachAndrotatKedgeree,ThetaletheHughlitoldtheshoalTheleanshoaltoldtome。
  ’TwasFultahFisher’sboarding-house,Wheresailor-menreside,AndthereweremenofalltheportsFromMississiptoClyde,Andregallytheyspatandsmoked,Andfearsomelytheylied。
  TheyliedaboutthepurpleSeaThatgavethemscantybread,TheyliedabouttheEarthbeneath,TheHeavensoverhead,FortheyhadlookedtoooftenonBlackrumwhenthatwasred。
  Theytoldtheirtalesofwreckandwrong,Ofshameandlustandfraud,TheybackedtheirtougheststatementswithTheBrimstoneoftheLord,AndcracklingoathswenttoandfroAcrossthefist-bangedboard。
  AndtherewasHanstheblue-eyedDane,Bull-throated,bareofarm,WhocarriedonhishairychestThemaidUltruda’scharm——
  ThelittlesilvercrucifixThatkeepsamanfromharm。
  AndtherewasJakeWithouth-the-Ears,AndPambatheMalay,AndCarboyGintheGuineacook,AndLuzfromVigoBay,AndHonestJackwhosoldthemslopsAndharvestedtheirpay。
  AndtherewasSalemHardieker,AleanBostonianhe——
  Russ,German,English,Halfbreed,Finn,Yank,Dane,andPortuguee,AtFultahFisher’sboarding-houseTherestedfromthesea。
  NowAnneofAustriasharedtheirdrinks,Collingaknewherfame,FromTarnauinGaliciaToJuanBazaarshecame,ToeatthebreadofinfamyAndtakethewageofshame。
  Sheheldadozenmentoheel——
  Richspoilofwarwashers,Inhoseandgownandringandchain,Fromtwentymariners,And,byPortLaw,thatweek,mencalledherSalemHardieker’s。
  Butseamenlearnt——whatlandsmenknow——
  ThatneithergiftsnorgainCanholdawinkingLighto’LoveOrFancy’sflightrestrain,WhenAnneofAustriarolledhereyesOnHanstheblue-eyedDane。
  SinceLifeisstrife,andstrifemeansknife,FromHowrahtotheBay,AndhemaydiebeforethedawnWholiquoredouttheday,InFultahFisher’sboarding-houseWewoowhileyetwemay。
  ButcoldwasHanstheblue-eyedDane,Bull-throated,bareofarm,AndlaughtershookthechestbeneathThemaidUltruda’scharm——
  ThelittlesilvercrucifixThatkeepsamanfromharm。
  “YouspeaktoSalemHardieker;
  “Youwashisgirl,Iknow。
  “Ishipmineselfsto-morrow,see,“UndroundtheSkawwego,“South,downtheCattegat,byHjelm,“ToBesserinSaro。”
  Whenloverejectedturnstohate,Allillbetidetheman。
  “YouspeaktoSalemHardieker“——
  Shespokeaswomancan。
  Ascream——asob——“Hecalledme——names!”
  Andthenthefraybegan。
  AnoathfromSalemHardieker,Ashriekuponthestairs,Adanceofshadowsonthewall,Aknife-thrustunawares——
  AndHanscamedown,ascattledrop,Acrossthebrokenchairs。
  *
  InAnneofAustria’stremblinghandsThewearyheadfelllow:——
  “Ishipmineselfsto-morrow,straight“ForBesserinSaro;
  “UndthereUltrudacomestome“AtEaster,undIgo“South,downtheCattegat——What’shere?
  “There——are——no——lights——toguide!”
  Themutterceased,thespiritpassed,AndAnneofAustriacriedInFultahFisher’sboarding-houseWhenHansthemightydied。
  ThusslewtheyHanstheblue-eyedDane,Bull-throated,bareofarm,ButAnneofAustrialootedfirstThemaidUltruda’scharm——
  ThelittlesilvercrucifixThatkeepsamanfromharm。
  ASTHEBELLCLINKS
  AsIlefttheHallsatLumley,rosethevisionofacomelyMaidlastseasonworshippeddumbly,watchedwithfervorfromafar;
  AndIwonderedidly,blindly,ifthemaidwouldgreetmekindly。
  Thatwasall——therestwassettledbytheclinkingtonga-bar。
  Yea,mylifeandherswerecoupledbythetongacoupling-bar。
  Formymistymeditation,atthesecondchangin-station,Sufferedsuddendislocation,fledbeforethetunelessjarOfaWagnerobbligato,scherzo,doublehandstaccato,Playedoneitherpony’ssaddlebytheclackingtonga-bar——
  Playedwithhumanspeech,Ifancied,bythejigging,joltingbar。
  “Shewassweet。”thoughtI,“lastseason,but’tweresurelywildunreasonSuchtinyhopetofreezeonaswasofferedbymyStar,Whenshewhispered,somethingsadly:’I——wefeelyourgoingbadly!’“
  “Andyouletthechanceescapeyou?”rappedtherattlingtonga-bar。
  “Whatachanceandwhatanidiot!”clickedthevicioustonga-bar。
  Heartofman——oh,heartofputty!HadIgonebyKakahutti,OntheoldHill-roadandrutty,Ihad’scapedthatfatalcar。
  Buthisfortuneeachmustbideby,soIwatchedthemilestonesslideby,To“YoucallonHerto-morrow!”——fuguewithcymbalsbythebar——
  YoumustcallonHerto-morrow!”——post-horngallopbythebar。
  Yetafurtherstagemygoalon——wewerewhirlingdowntoSolon,Withadoublelurchandrollon,bestfootforemost,ganzundgar——
  “Shewasverysweet。”Ihinted“Ifakisshadbeenimprinted?”——
  “’Wouldha’savedaworldoftrouble!”clashedthebusytonga-bar。
  “’Beenacceptedorrejected!”bangedandclangedthetonga-bar。
  Thenanotionwildanddaring,’spitetheincometax’sparing,Andahastythoughtofsharing——lessthanmanyincomesare,Mademeputaquestionprivate,youcanguesswhatIwoulddriveat。