首页 >出版文学> M119>第23章

第23章

  WhereGrisnezwinksatDungenessAcrosstheruffledstripofsalt,Youlook,andliketheprospectless。
  Onmenandgunswouldyoulaystress,TobidtheIsland’sfoemenhalt。
  WhileloudtheYearisraisingcryAtbirthtoknowifitmustbearInhistorythebloodydye,AnEnglishheart,asoldier’seye,Fortheoldcountryfirstwillcare。
  Andhowstandsshe,artillerist,Amongthevapourswangdense,Withcannoncharged?’Tishist!andhist!
  Andnowshescrewsagoutyfist,Andnowshecountstoclutchherpence。
  Withshudderschillasaconite,ThecouchantchewerofthecudWillstartattimesinpussyfrightBeforethedogs,whenreadsherspriteThestreakspredictingstreamsofblood。
  Shethinkstheymaymeansomething;thinksTheymaymeannothing:haplyboth。
  Wheredarknessallherdaylightdrinks,Shefainwouldfindaleaderlynx,Nottoomuchtangmentalsloth。
  Cleftlikethefatedhouseintwain,Onehalfis,Arm!andone,Retrench!
  Gambetta’swordondullMacMahon:
  ’Thecowthatseesapassingtrain’:
  SospiessheRussian,German,French。
  She?no,herweakness:sheunbracedAmongthoseathletesfrontingstorms!
  Themuscleslessofsteelthanpaste,Why,theyofnaturefeeldistasteForflash,muchmoreforpush,ofarms。
  Thepoetsings,andwellknowwe,That’irondrawsmenafterit。’
  ButtoweringwealthmayseemthetreeWhichbearsthefruitINDEMNITY,Anddrawasfastasbattle’sfit,X
  Iffeeblebethehandonguard,Alas,alas!AndnationsareStillthemadforces,thoughthescarred。
  ShouldtheyoncedeemouremblemPardWaggeroftailforallsavewar;-
  MechanicallyscrewedtoflailHisflanksbyPressesconjuringfear;-
  Amoney-bagwithheadandtail;-
  Toolatemayvalourthenavail!
  Asyoubeheld,mycannonier,X
  WhenwiththestaffofBenedek,OntheplateauofKoniggratz,Yousawbelowthatwedgeingspeck;
  ForesawproudAustriarammedtowreck,WhereChlumdrovedeepinsmokyjets。
  February1887。
  Strikenotthydogwithastick!
  Ididityesterday:
  NottoundothoughIgainedTheParadise:heavyitrainedOnKobold’sflanks,andhelay。
  LittleBruno,ourlong-earpup,Fromhishunthadcomebacktomyheel。
  Iheardasharpworryingsound,AndBrunofoamedontheground,WithKobyasmakingameal。
  IdidwhatIcouldnotundoWerethegatesoftheParadiseshutBehindme:Ideemeditwasjust。
  IleftKobycrouchedinthedust,Someyardsfromthewoodman’shut。
  Hebewhimperedhiswelting,andI
  Scarcethoughtitenoughforhim:so,Bydegrees,throughtheupperbox-grove,Withinmeanoldstoryhove,Ofamanandadog:youshallknow。
  Thedogwasofnovelbreed,TheShannonretriever,untried:
  Hismaster,anoldIrishlord,InanoakenarmchairsnoredAtmidnight,whiskybeside。
  Perchedupadesolatetower,Wheretheblackstorm-windwasawhipTosetitnighspinning,thesetwoWerealone,likethelastofacrew,Outworninawave-beatenship。
  Thedogliftedmuzzle,andsniffed;
  Hequittedhiscouchontherug,Nosetofloor,nosealoft;whined,barked;
  And,findingthesignalsunmarked,Caughtahandinadeath-grappletug。
  HepulledtillhismasterjumpedForfuryofwrath,andlaidonWiththelengthofatoughknottedstaff,Fittodrethelifeflyinglikechaff,Andleaveasheercarcaseanon。
  Thatdone,hesat,panted,andcursedThelecrossofthisbrute:nevermoreWouldhehouseittorearsuchacur!
  Thedogdraggedhislegs,painedtostir,Eyedhismaster,dropped,barkedatthedoor。
  Thenhismasterraisedheadtoo,andsniffed:
  ItstruckhimthedoghadasenseThathonouredbothdamandsire。
  Youhaveguessedhowthetowerwasafire。
  TheShannonretrieverdatesthence。
  Imused:sawthepupeasehisheartOfhisinstinctforchasing,andsinkOverwroughtbyexcitementsonew:
  AscenethatforKobytoewWastheseizureofnervesinalink。
  Andpartsympathetic,andpartImitately,ragedmypoorbrute;
  AndI,notthinkingofill,Doingeller:nervesarestillOursavagetooquickattheroot。
  Theyspringus:Iprovedit,albeitIplayedexecutionerthenFordiscipline,justice,thelike。
  YonstickIhadhandytostrikeShouldhavewarnedofthetyrantinmen。
  YoureadinyourHistorybooks,HowthePrinceinhisyouthhadamindForgoverninggentlyhisland。
  Ah,theuseofthatweaponathand,Whenthetemperisotherthankind!
  Athomeallwaswell;Koby’sribsNotsosoreasmythoughts:if,beguiled,Heforgesme,hiscriminalairThrowsashadeofLlewellyn’sdespairForthehoundslainforsanghischild。
  Entertheseenchantedwoods,Youwhodare。
  NothingharmsbeneaththeleavesMorethanwavesaswimmercleaves。
  Tossyourheartupwiththelark,Footatpeacewithmouseandworm,Fairyoufare。
  OnlyatadreadofdarkQuaver,andtheyquittheirform:
  ThousandeyeballsunderhoodsHaveyoubythehair。
  Entertheseenchantedwoods,Youwhodare。
  HerethesnakeacrossyourpathStretchesinhisgoldenbath:
  Mossy-footedsquirrelsleapSoftaswinnowingplumesofSleep:
  YafflesonachuckleskimLowtolaughfrombranchesdim:
  Upthepine,wheresitsthestar,Rattlesdeepthemoth-wingedjar。
  Eachhasbusinessofhisown;
  Butshouldyoudistrustatone,Thenbeware。
  Shudderallthehauntedroods,AlltheeyeballsunderhoodsShroudyouintheirglare。
  Entertheseenchantedwoods,Youwhodare。
  Openhither,openhence,Scarceabrambleweavesafence,Wherethestrawberryrunsred,Withwhitestar-floweroverhead;
  Cumberedbydrytwigandcone,Shreddedhusksofseedlingsflown,Mineofmoleandspottedflint:
  Ofdirewizardrynohint,SavemayhaptheprintthatshowsHastyoutward-trippingtoes,Heelstoterroronthemould。
  These,thewoodsofWestermain,Areasotherstobehold,Richofwreathingsunandrain;
  FoliagelustrefularoundShadowedleaguesofslumberingsound。
  Wavytree-tops,yellowwhins,Sheltereagerminikins,Myriads,freetopeckandpipe:
  Wouldyoubetter?wouldyouworse?
  YouwiththemmaygatherripePleasuresflowingnotfrompurse。
  QuickandfarasColourfliesTakingthedelightedeyes,YouofanywellthatspringsMayunfoldtheheavenofthings;
  Haveithomelyandwithin,Andthereofitslikenesswin,Willyousoinsoul’sdesire:
  Thisdosagesgrantt’thelyre。
  Thisisbeingbirdandmore,Morethangladmusicianthis;
  GranariesyouwillhaveastorePasttheworldofwoeandbliss;
  Sharingstillitsblissandwoe;
  Harnessedtoitshungers,no。
  OnthethroneSuccessusurps,YoushallseatthejoyyoufeelWherearaceofwaterchirps,Twistinghuesofflourishedsteel:
  OrwherelightiscaughtinhoopUpaclearing’sleafyrise,WherethecrossingdeerherdstroopClassicsplendours,knightlydyes。
  Or,whereold-eyedoxenchewSpeculationwiththecud,Readtheirpoolofsionthrough,Backtohourswhenmindwasmud;
  Nightheknot,whichdiduntwineTimelesslytodrowsysuns;
  SeeingEarthaslimyspine,Heavenaspaceforwingingtons。
  Farther,deeper,mayyouread,Haveyousightforthingsafield,Wherepeepsshe,theNurseofseed,Cloaked,butinthepeeprevealed;
  Showingakindfaceandsweet:
  Lookyouwiththesoulyousee’t。
  Glorynarrowingtograce,Gracetoglorymagnified,FollowingthatwillyouembraceCloseinarmsoraerywide。
  BanishedisthewhiteFoam-bornNotfromhere,norunderbanPhoebuslyrist,Phoebe’shorn,PipingsofthereedyPan。
  LovedofEarthofoldtheywere,Longdidinterprether;
  AndthesternerworshipbarsNonewhomSonghasmadeherstars。
  YouhaveseenthehuntressmoonRadiantlyfacingdawn,DuskymeadsbetweenthemstrewnGlimmeringlikedownyawn:
  ArgentWestwardglowsthehunt,Easttheblushabouttoclimb;
  Oneanotherfairtheyfront,Transient,yetoutshinethetime;
  EvenasdewlightofftheroseInthemindajewelsows。
  ThusopposinggrandeursleHereifBeautybetheirdower:
  Dothsheofherspiritge,Fleetingnesswillspareherflower。
  Thisisinthetuneweplay,Whichnospringofstrengthwouldquell;
  Insubduingdoesnotslay;
  Guidesthechannel,guardsthewell:
  Temperedholdstheyoungblood-heat,Yetthroughmeasuredgraveaccord,HearstheheartofwildnessbeatLikeacentaur’shoofonsward。
  Drinkthesensethenotesinfuse,Youalargerselfwillfind:
  SweetestfellowshipensuesWiththecreaturesofyourkind。
  Ay,andLove,ifLoveitbeFlamingoverIandME,LovemeettheywhodonotshoveCrangsinthevanofLove。
  Courtlydamesareheretowoo,Knowingloveifitbetrue。
  Reverencetheblossom-shootFervently,theyarethefruit。
  Markthemstepping,hearthemtalk,Goddess,isnomythinane,YouwillsayofthosewhowalkInthewoodsofWestermain。
  WatersthatfromthroatandthighDartthesunhisarrowsback;
  LeavesthatonawoodlandsighChatofsecretthingsnolack;
  Shadowybranch-leaves,watersclear,Bareorveiledtheymovesincere;
  NotbyslashterrorstrippedBeinganewinnaturedipped,Growthsofwhattheystepon,these;
  Withtherootsthegraceoftrees。
  Casket-breaststheyge,norhide,Foratyrant’sflatteredpride,Mind,whichnourishednotbylight,Lurkstheshufflingtrickstersprite:
  Whereofarestrangetalestotell;
  Someinbloodwrit,tombedinbell。
  Heretheancientbattleends,Joiningtwoastonishedfriends,WhothekisscangeandtakeWithmorewarmththaninthatworldWherethetigerclawsthesnake,Snakehertigerclaspsinfurled,AndtheissueoftheirfightPeoplelandsinsnarlingplight。
  HerehersplendidbeastsheleadsSilken-leashedanddeckedwithweedsWildashe,butbreathingfaintSweetnessofunfeltconstraint。
  Love,thegreatvolcano,flingsFiresoflowerEarthtosky;
  Love,thesolepermitted,singsSovereignlyofMEandI。
  Bowershehasofsacredshade,Spacesofsuperbparade,Voiceful……ButbringyouanoteWrangling,howsoe’erremote,DiscordsoutofdiscordspinRoundandroundderisedin:
  SuddenwillapallorpantChillatscreechesmiscreant;
  Owlsorspectres,thicktheyflee;
  Nightmareuponhorrorbroods;
  Hoodedlaughter,monkishglee,Gapsthetalair。
  EntertheseenchantedwoodsYouwhodare。
  YoumustlovethelightsowellThatnodarknesswillseemfell。
  LoveitsoyoucouldaccostFellowlyalidghost。
  Whish!thephantomwispsaway,Ownshimsmoketococksofday。
  InyourbreastthelightmustburnFedofyou,likecorninquernEverplumpingwhilethewheelSpeedsthemillanddrainsthemeal。