第2章

Anditwasnightinhisheartalso。 Thenfromthemarshestohisrightandleftcoldmistsaroseandclosedabouthim。Afine，imperceptiblerainfellinthedark，andgreatdropsgatheredonhishairandclothes。Hisheartbeatslowly，andanumbnesscreptthroughallhislimbs。Then，lookingup，twomerrywisplightscamedancing。Heliftedhisheadtolookatthem。Nearer，nearertheycame。 Sowarm，sobright，theydancedlikestarsoffire。Theystoodbeforehimatlast。Fromthecentreoftheradiatingflameinonelookedoutawoman’sface，laughing，dimpled，withstreamingyellowhair。Inthecentreoftheotherweremerrylaughingripples，likethebubblesonaglassofwine。Theydancedbeforehim。 \"Whoareyou，\"askedthehunter，\"whoalonecometomeinmysolitudeanddarkness？\" \"WearethetwinsSensuality，\"theycried。\"Ourfather’snameisHuman— Nature，andourmother’snameisExcess。Weareasoldasthehillsandrivers，asoldasthefirstman;butweneverdie，\"theylaughed。 \"Oh，letmewrapmyarmsaboutyou！\"criedthefirst;\"theyaresoftandwarm。Yourheartisfrozennow，butIwillmakeitbeat。Oh，cometome！\" \"Iwillpourmyhotlifeintoyou，\"saidthesecond;\"yourbrainisnumb，andyourlimbsaredeadnow;buttheyshalllivewithafiercefreelife。 Oh，letmepouritin！\" \"Oh，followus，\"theycried，\"andlivewithus。Noblerheartsthanyourshavesathereinthisdarknesstowait，andtheyhavecometousandwetothem;andtheyhaveneverleftus，never。Allelseisadelusion，butwearereal，wearereal，wearereal。Truthisashadow;thevalleysofsuperstitionareafarce:theearthisofashes，thetreesallrotten;butwe——feelus——welive！Youcannotdoubtus。Feelushowwarmweare！Oh，cometous！Comewithus！\" Nearerandnearerroundhisheadtheyhovered，andthecolddropsmeltedonhisforehead。Thebrightlightshotintohiseyes，dazzlinghim，andthefrozenbloodbegantorun。Andhesaid: \"Yes，whyshouldIdiehereinthisawfuldarkness？Theyarewarm，theymeltmyfrozenblood！\"andhestretchedouthishandstotakethem。 Theninamomenttherearosebeforehimtheimageofthethinghehadloved，andhishanddroppedtohisside。 \"Oh，cometous！\"theycried。 Butheburiedhisface。 \"Youdazzlemyeyes，\"hecried，\"youmakemyheartwarm;butyoucannotgivemewhatIdesire。Iwillwaithere——waittillIdie。Go！\" Hecoveredhisfacewithhishandsandwouldnotlisten;andwhenhelookedupagaintheyweretwotwinklingstars，thatvanishedinthedistance。 Andthelong，longnightrolledon。 Allwholeavethevalleyofsuperstitionpassthroughthatdarkland;butsomegothroughitinafewdays，somelingerthereformonths，someforyears，andsomediethere。 Atlastforthehunterafaintlightplayedalongthehorizon，andherosetofollowit;andhereachedthatlightatlast，andsteppedintothebroadsunshine。ThenbeforehimrosethealmightymountainsofDry—factsandRealities。Theclearsunshineplayedonthem，andthetopswerelostintheclouds。Atthefootmanypathsranup。Anexultantcryburstfromthehunter。Hechosethestraightestandbegantoclimb;andtherocksandridgesresoundedwithhissong。Theyhadexaggerated;afterall，itwasnotsohigh，norwastheroadsosteep！Afewdays，afewweeks，afewmonthsatmost，andthenthetop！Notonefeatheronlywouldhepickup; hewouldgatherallthatothermenhadfound——weavethenet——captureTruth— —holdherfast——touchherwithhishands——claspher！ Helaughedinthemerrysunshine，andsangloud。Victorywasverynear。 Nevertheless，afterawhilethepathgrewsteeper。Heneededallhisbreathforclimbing，andthesingingdiedaway。Ontherightandleftrosehugerocks，devoidoflichenormoss，andinthelava—likeearthchasmsyawned。Hereandtherehesawasheenofwhitebones。Nowtoothepathbegantogrowlessandlessmarked;thenitbecameameretrace，withafootmarkhereandthere;thenitceasedaltogether。Hesangnomore，butstruckforthapathforhimself，untilitreachedamightywallofrock，smoothandwithoutbreak，stretchingasfarastheeyecouldsee。\"Iwillrearastairagainstit;and，oncethiswallclimbed，Ishallbealmostthere，\"hesaidbravely;andworked。Withhisshuttleofimaginationhedugoutstones;buthalfofthemwouldnotfit，andhalfamonth’sworkwouldrolldownbecausethosebelowwereillchosen。Butthehunterworkedon，sayingalwaystohimself，\"Oncethiswallclimbed，Ishallbealmostthere。Thisgreatworkended！\" Atlasthecameoutuponthetop，andhelookedabouthim。Farbelowrolledthewhitemistoverthevalleysofsuperstition，andabovehimtoweredthemountains。Theyhadseemedlowbefore;theywereofanimmeasurableheightnow，fromcrowntofoundationsurroundedbywallsofrock，thatrosetierabovetierinmightycircles。Uponthemplayedtheeternalsunshine。Heutteredawildcry。Hebowedhimselfontotheearth，andwhenherosehisfacewaswhite。Inabsolutesilencehewalkedon。Hewasverysilentnow。Inthosehighregionstherarefiedairishardtobreathebythoseborninthevalleys;everybreathhedrewhurthim，andthebloodoozedoutfromthetipsofhisfingers。Beforethenextwallofrockhebegantowork。Theheightofthisseemedinfinite，andhesaidnothing。Thesoundofhistoolrangnightanddayupontheironrocksintowhichhecutsteps。Yearspassedoverhim，yetheworkedon;butthewalltoweredupalwaysabovehimtoheaven。Sometimesheprayedthatalittlemossorlichenmightspringuponthosebarewallstobeacompaniontohim;butitnevercame。 Andtheyearsrolledon;hecountedthembythestepshehadcut——afewforayear——onlyafew。Hesangnomore;hesaidnomore，\"Iwilldothisorthat\"——heonlyworked。Andatnight，whenthetwilightsettleddown，therelookedoutathimfromtheholesandcrevicesintherocksstrangewildfaces。 \"Stopyourwork，youlonelyman，andspeaktous，\"theycried。 \"Mysalvationisinwork，ifIshouldstopbutforonemomentyouwouldcreepdownuponme，\"hereplied。Andtheyputouttheirlongnecksfurther。 \"Lookdownintothecreviceatyourfeet，\"theysaid。\"Seewhatliethere— —whitebones！Asbraveandstrongamanasyouclimbedtotheserocks。\" Andhelookedup。Hesawtherewasnouseinstriving;hewouldneverholdTruth，neverseeher，neverfindher。Sohelaydownhere，forhewasverytired。Hewenttosleepforever。Heputhimselftosleep。Sleepisverytranquil。Youarenotlonelywhenyouareasleep，neitherdoyourhandsache，noryourheart。Andthehunterlaughedbetweenhisteeth。 \"HaveItornfrommyheartallthatwasdearest;haveIwanderedaloneinthelandofnight;haveIresistedtemptation;haveIdweltwherethevoiceofmykindisneverheard，andlabouredalone，toliedownandbefoodforyou，yeharpies？\" Helaughedfiercely;andtheEchoesofDespairslunkaway，forthelaughofabrave，strongheartisasadeathblowtothem。 Neverthelesstheycreptoutagainandlookedathim。 \"Doyouknowthatyourhairiswhite？\"theysaid，\"thatyourhandsbegintotremblelikeachild’s？Doyouseethatthepointofyourshuttleisgone？——itiscrackedalready。Ifyoushouldeverclimbthisstair，\"theysaid，\"itwillbeyourlast。Youwillneverclimbanother。\" Andheanswered，\"Iknowit！\"andworkedon。 Theold，thinhandscutthestonesillandjaggedly，forthefingerswerestiffandbent。Thebeautyandthestrengthofthemanwasgone。 Atlast，anold，wizened，shrunkenfacelookedoutabovetherocks。Itsawtheeternalmountainsrisewithwallstothewhiteclouds;butitsworkwasdone。 Theoldhunterfoldedhistiredhandsandlaydownbytheprecipicewherehehadworkedawayhislife。Itwasthesleepingtimeatlast。Belowhimoverthevalleysrolledthethickwhitemist。Onceitbroke;andthroughthegapthedyingeyeslookeddownonthetreesandfieldsoftheirchildhood。Fromafarseemedbornetohimthecryofhisownwildbirds，andheheardthenoiseofpeoplesingingastheydanced。Andhethoughtheheardamongthemthevoicesofhisoldcomrades;andhesawfaroffthesunlightshineonhisearlyhome。Andgreattearsgatheredinthehunter’seyes。 \"Ah！theywhodietheredonotdiealone，\"hecried。 Thenthemistsrolledtogetheragain;andheturnedhiseyesaway。 \"Ihavesought，\"hesaid，\"forlongyearsIhavelaboured;butIhavenotfoundher。Ihavenotrested，Ihavenotrepined，andIhavenotseenher; nowmystrengthisgone。WhereIliedownwornoutothermenwillstand，youngandfresh。BythestepsthatIhavecuttheywillclimb;bythestairsthatIhavebuilttheywillmount。Theywillneverknowthenameofthemanwhomadethem。Attheclumsyworktheywilllaugh;whenthestonesrolltheywillcurseme。Buttheywillmount，andonmywork;theywillclimb，andbymystair！Theywillfindher，andthroughme！Andnomanlivethtohimselfandnomandiethtohimself。\" Thetearsrolledfrombeneaththeshrivelledeyelids。IfTruthhadappearedabovehiminthecloudsnowhecouldnothaveseenher，themistofdeathwasinhiseyes。 \"Mysoulhearstheirgladstepcoming，\"hesaid;\"andtheyshallmount！ theyshallmount！\"Heraisedhisshrivelledhandtohiseyes。 Thenslowlyfromthewhiteskyabove，throughthestillair，camesomethingfalling，falling，falling。Softlyitfluttereddown，anddroppedontothebreastofthedyingman。Hefeltitwithhishands。Itwasafeather。Hediedholdingit。 III。THEGARDENSOFPLEASURE。 Shewalkeduponthebeds，andthesweetrichscentarose;andshegatheredherhandsfullofflowers。ThenDuty，withhiswhiteclearfeatures，cameandlookedather。Thensheceasedfromgathering，butshewalkedawayamongtheflowers，smiling，andwithherhandsfull。 ThenDuty，withhisstillwhiteface，cameagain，andlookedather;butshe，sheturnedherheadawayfromhim。Atlastshesawhisface，andshedroppedthefairestoftheflowersshehadheld，andwalkedsilentlyaway。 Thenagainhecametoher。Andshemoaned，andbentherheadlow，andturnedtothegate。Butasshewentoutshelookedbackatthesunlightonthefacesoftheflowers，andweptinanguish。Thenshewentout，anditshutbehindherforever;butstillinherhandsheheldofthebudsshehadgathered，andthescentwasverysweetinthelonelydesert。 Buthefollowedher。Oncemorehestoodbeforeherwithhisstill，white，death—likeface。Andsheknewwhathehadcomefor:sheunbentthefingers，andlettheflowersdropout，theflowersshehadlovedso，andwalkedonwithoutthem，withdry，achingeyes。Thenforthelasttimehecame。Andsheshowedhimheremptyhands，thehandsthatheldnothingnow。 Butstillhelooked。Thenatlengthsheopenedherbosomandtookoutofitonesmallflowershehadhiddenthere，andlaiditonthesand。Shehadnothingmoretogivenow，andshewanderedaway，andthegreysandwhirledabouther。 IV。INAFAR—OFFWORLD。 Thereisaworldinoneofthefar—offstars，andthingsdonothappenhereastheyhappenthere。 Inthatworldwereamanandwoman;theyhadonework，andtheywalkedtogethersidebysideonmanydays，andwerefriends——andthatisathingthathappensnowandtheninthisworldalso。 Buttherewassomethinginthatstar—worldthatthereisnothere。Therewasathickwood:wherethetreesgrewclosest，andthestemswereinterlocked，andthesummersunnevershone，therestoodashrine。Inthedayallwasquiet，butatnight，whenthestarsshoneorthemoonglintedonthetree—tops，andallwasquietbelow，ifonecreptherequitealoneandkneltonthestepsofthestonealtar，anduncoveringone’sbreast，sowoundeditthatthebloodfelldownonthealtarsteps，thenwhateverhewhoknelttherewishedforwasgrantedhim。Andallthishappens，asI said，becauseitisafar—offworld，andthingsoftenhappenthereastheydonothappenhere。 Now，themanandwomanwalkedtogether;andthewomanwishedwelltotheman。Onenightwhenthemoonwasshiningsothattheleavesofallthetreesglinted，andthewavesoftheseaweresilvery，thewomanwalkedalonetotheforest。Itwasdarkthere;themoonlightfellonlyinlittleflecksonthedeadleavesunderherfeet，andthebrancheswereknottedtightoverhead。Fartherinitgotdarker，notevenafleckofmoonlightshone。Thenshecametotheshrine;shekneltdownbeforeitandprayed; therecamenoanswer。Thensheuncoveredherbreast;withasharptwo— edgedstonethatlaythereshewoundedit。Thedropsdrippedslowlydownontothestone，andavoicecried，\"Whatdoyouseek？\" Sheanswered，\"Thereisaman;Iholdhimnearerthananything。Iwouldgivehimthebestofallblessings。\" Thevoicesaid，\"Whatisit？\" Thegirlsaid，\"Iknownot，butthatwhichismostgoodforhimIwishhimtohave。\" Thevoicesaid，\"Yourprayerisanswered;heshallhaveit。\" Thenshestoodup。Shecoveredherbreastandheldthegarmenttightuponitwithherhand，andranoutoftheforest，andthedeadleavesflutteredunderherfeet。Outinthemoonlightthesoftairwasblowing，andthesandglitteredonthebeach。Sheranalongthesmoothshore，thensuddenlyshestoodstill。Outacrossthewatertherewassomethingmoving。Sheshadedhereyesandlooked。Itwasaboat;itwasslidingswiftlyoverthemoonlitwaterouttosea。Onestooduprightinit;thefacethemoonlightdidnotshow，butthefiguresheknew。Itwaspassingswiftly;itseemedasifnoonepropelledit;themoonlight’sshimmerdidnotletherseeclearly，andtheboatwasfarfromshore，butitseemedalmostasiftherewasanotherfiguresittinginthestern。Fasterandfasteritglidedoverthewateraway，away。Sheranalongtheshore;shecamenonearerit。Thegarmentshehadheldclosedflutteredopen;shestretchedoutherarms，andthemoonlightshoneonherlongloosehair。 Thenavoicebesideherwhispered，\"Whatisit？\" Shecried，\"WithmybloodIboughtthebestofallgiftsforhim。Ihavecometobringithim！Heisgoingfromme！\" Thevoicewhisperedsoftly，\"Yourprayerwasanswered。Ithasbeengivenhim。\" Shecried，\"Whatisit？\" Thevoiceanswered，\"Itisthathemightleaveyou。\" Thegirlstoodstill。 Faroutatseatheboatwaslosttosightbeyondthemoonlightsheen。 Thevoicespokesoftly，\"Artthoucontented？\" Shesaid，\"Iamcontented。\" Atherfeetthewavesbrokeinlongripplessoftlyontheshore。 V。THREEDREAMSINADESERT。 UnderaMimosa—Tree。 AsItravelledacrossanAfricanplainthesunshonedownhotly。ThenI drewmyhorseupunderamimosa—tree，andItookthesaddlefromhimandlefthimtofeedamongtheparchedbushes。Andalltorightandtoleftstretchedthebrownearth。AndIsatdownunderthetree，becausetheheatbeatfiercely，andallalongthehorizontheairthrobbed。Andafterawhileaheavydrowsinesscameoverme，andIlaidmyheaddownagainstmysaddle，andIfellasleepthere。And，inmysleep，Ihadacuriousdream。 IthoughtIstoodontheborderofagreatdesert，andthesandblewabouteverywhere。AndIthoughtIsawtwogreatfigureslikebeastsofburdenofthedesert，andonelayuponthesandwithitsneckstretchedout，andonestoodbyit。AndIlookedcuriouslyattheonethatlayupontheground，forithadagreatburdenonitsback，andthesandwasthickaboutit，sothatitseemedtohavepiledoveritforcenturies。 AndIlookedverycuriouslyatit。Andtherestoodonebesidemewatching。 AndIsaidtohim，\"Whatisthishugecreaturewholieshereonthesand？\" Andhesaid，\"Thisiswoman;shethatbearsmeninherbody。\" AndIsaid，\"Whydoesshelieheremotionlesswiththesandpiledroundher？\" Andheanswered，\"Listen，Iwilltellyou！Agesandageslongshehaslainhere，andthewindhasblownoverher。Theoldest，oldest，oldestmanlivinghasneverseenhermove:theoldest，oldestbookrecordsthatshelayherethen，assheliesherenow，withthesandabouther。Butlisten！ Olderthantheoldestbook，olderthantheoldestrecordedmemoryofman，ontheRocksofLanguage，onthehard—bakedclayofAncientCustoms，nowcrumblingtodecay，arefoundthemarksofherfootsteps！Sidebysidewithhiswhostandsbesideheryoumaytracethem;andyouknowthatshewhonowliesthereoncewanderedfreeovertherockswithhim。\" AndIsaid，\"Whydoesshelietherenow？\" Andhesaid，\"Itakeit，agesagotheAge—of—dominion—of—muscular—forcefoundher，andwhenshestoopedlowtogivesucktoheryoung，andherbackwasbroad，heputhisburdenofsubjectionontoit，andtieditonwiththebroadbandofInevitableNecessity。Thenshelookedattheearthandthesky，andknewtherewasnohopeforher;andshelaydownonthesandwiththeburdenshecouldnotloosen。Eversinceshehaslainhere。Andtheageshavecome，andtheageshavegone，butthebandofInevitableNecessityhasnotbeencut。\" AndIlookedandsawinhereyestheterriblepatienceofthecenturies; thegroundwaswetwithhertears，andhernostrilsblewupthesand。