evangeline-第9章

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Speaking　these　words；　he　blew　a　wrathful　cloud　from　his　nostrils；
While　his　huge；　brown　hand　came　thundering　down　on　the　table；
So　that　the　guests　all　started；　and　Father　Felician；　astounded；
Suddenly　paused；　with　a　pinch　of　snuff　halfway　to　his　nostrils。
But　the　brave　Basil　resumed；　and　his　words　were　milder　and　gayer：
〃Only　beware　of　the　fever；　my　friends；　beware　of　the　fever！
For　it　is　not　like　that　of　our　cold　Acadian　climate；
Cured　by　wearing　a　spider　hung　round　one's　neck　in　a　nutshell！〃
Then　there　were　voices　heard　at　the　door；　and　footsteps　approaching
Sounded　upon　the　stairs　and　the　floor　of　the　breezy　veranda。
It　was　the　neighboring　Creoles　and　small　Acadian　planters；
Who　had　been　summoned　all　to　the　house　of　Basil　the　Herdsman。
Merry　the　meeting　was　of　ancient　comrades　and　neighbors：
Friend　clasped　friend　in　his　arms；　and　they　who　before　were　as　strangers；
Meeting　in　exile；　became　straightway　as　friends　to　each　other；
Drawn　by　the　gentle　bond　of　a　common　country　together。
But　in　the　neighboring　hall　a　strain　of　music；　proceeding
From　the　accordant　strings　of　Michael's　melodious　fiddle；
Broke　up　all　further　speech。　　Away；　like　children　delighted；
All　things　forgotten　beside；　they　gave　themselves　to　the　maddening
Whirl　of　the　dizzy　dance；　as　it　swept　and　swayed　to　the　music；
Dreamlike；　with　beaming　eyes　and　the　rush　of　fluttering　garments。

　　Meanwhile；　apart；　at　the　head　of　the　hall；　the　priest　and　the　herdsman
Sat；　conversing　together　of　past　and　present　and　future；
While　Evangeline　stood　like　one　entranced；　for　within　her
Olden　memories　rose；　and　loud　in　the　midst　of　the　music
Heard　she　the　sound　of　the　sea；　and　an　irrepressible　sadness
Came　o'er　her　heart；　and　unseen　she　stole　forth　into　the　garden。
Beautiful　was　the　night。　　Behind　the　black　wall　of　the　forest；
Tipping　its　summit　with　silver；　arose　the　moon。　　On　the　river
Fell　here　and　there　through　the　branches　a　tremulous　gleam　of　the　moonlight；
Like　the　sweet　thoughts　of　love　on　a　darkened　and　devious　spirit。
Nearer　and　round　about　her；　the　manifold　flowers　of　the　garden
Poured　out　their　souls　in　odors；　that　were　their　prayers　and　confessions
Unto　the　night；　as　it　went　its　way；　like　a　silent　Carthusian。
Fuller　of　fragrance　than　they；　and　as　heavy　with　shadows　and　night…dews；
Hung　the　heart　of　the　maiden。　　The　calm　and　the　magical　moonlight
Seemed　to　inundate　her　soul　with　indefinable　longings；
As；　through　the　garden　gate；　beneath　the　shade　of　the　oak…trees；
Passed　she　along　the　path　to　the　edge　of　the　measureless　prairie。
Silent　it　lay；　with　a　silvery　haze　upon　it；　and　the　fire…flies
Gleaming　and　floating　away　in　mingled　and　infinite　numbers。
Over　her　head　the　stars；　the　thoughts　of　God　in　the　heavens；
Shone　on　the　eyes　of　man；　who　had　ceased　to　marvel　and　worship；
Save　when　a　blazing　comet　was　seen　on　the　walls　of　that　temple；
As　if　a　hand　had　appeared　and　written　upon　them；　〃Upharsin。〃
And　the　soul　of　the　maiden；　between　the　stars　and　the　fire…flies；
Wandered　alone；　and　she　cried；　〃O　Gabriel！　　O　my　beloved！
Art　thou　so　near　unto　me；　and　yet　I　cannot　behold　thee？
Art　thou　so　near　unto　me；　and　yet　thy　voice　does　not　reach　me？
Ah！　how　often　thy　feet　have　trod　this　path　to　the　prairie！
Ah！　how　often　thine　eyes　have　looked　on　the　woodlands　around　me！
Ah！　how　often　beneath　this　oak；　returning　from　labor；
Thou　hast　lain　down　to　rest；　and　to　dream　of　me　in　thy　slumbers！
When　shall　these　eyes　behold；　these　arms　be　folded　about　thee？〃
Loud　and　sudden　and　near　the　note　of　a　whippoorwill　sounded
Like　a　flute　in　the　woods；　and　anon；　through　the　neighboring　thickets；
Farther　and　farther　away　it　floated　and　dropped　into　silence。
〃Patience！〃　whispered　the　oaks　from　oracular　caverns　of　darkness；
And；　from　the　moonlit　meadow；　a　sigh　responded；　〃To…morrow！〃

　　Bright　rose　the　sun　next　day；　and　all　the　flowers　of　the　garden
Bathed　his　shining　feet　with　their　tears；　and　anointed　his　tresses
With　the　delicious　balm　that　they　bore　in　their　vases　of　crystal。
〃Farewell！〃　said　the　priest；　as　he　stood　at　the　shadowy　threshold；
〃See　that　you　bring　us　the　Prodigal　Son　from　his　fasting　and　famine；
And；　too；　the　Foolish　Virgin；　who　slept　when　the　bridegroom　was　coming。〃
〃Farewell！〃　answered　the　maiden；　and；　smiling；　with　Basil　descended
Down　to　the　river's　brink；　where　the　boatmen　already　were　waiting。
Thus　beginning　their　journey　with　morning；　and　sunshine；　and　gladness；
Swiftly　they　followed　the　flight　of　him　who　was　speeding　before　them；
Blown　by　the　blast　of　fate　like　a　dead　leaf　over　the　desert。
Not　that　day；　nor　the　next；　nor　yet　the　day　that　succeeded；
Found　they　trace　of　his　course；　in　lake　or　forest　or　river；
Nor；　after　many　days；　had　they　found　him；　but　vague　and　uncertain
Rumors　alone　were　their　guides　through　a　wild　and　desolate　country；
Till；　at　the　little　inn　of　the　Spanish　town　of　Adayes；
Weary　and　worn；　they　alighted；　and　learned　from　the　garrulous　landlord；
That　on　the　day　before；　with　horses　and　guides　and　companions；
Gabriel　left　the　village；　and　took　the　road　of　the　prairies。



IV。


　　FAR　in　the　West　there　lies　a　desert　land；　where　the　mountains
Lift；　through　perpetual　snows；　their　lofty　and　luminous　summits。
Down　from　their　jagged；　deep　ravines；　where　the　gorge；　like　a　gateway；
Opens　a　passage　rude　to　the　wheels　of　the　emigrant's　wagon；
Westward　the　Oregon　flows　and　the　Walleway　and　Owyhee。
Eastward；　with　devious　course；　among　the　Windriver　Mountains；
Through　the　Sweet…water　Valley　precipitate　leaps　the　Nebraska；
And　to　the　south；　from　Fontaine…qui…bout　and　the　Spanish　sierras；
Fretted　with　sands　and　rocks；　and　swept　by　the　wind　of　the　desert；
Numberless　torrents；　with　ceaseless　sound；　descend　to　the　ocean；
Like　the　great　chords　of　a　harp；　in　loud　and　solemn　vibrations。
Spreading　between　these　streams　are　the　wondrous；　beautiful　prairies；
Billowy　bays　of　grass　ever　rolling　in　shadow　and　sunshine；
Bright　with　luxuriant　clusters　of　roses　and　purple　amorphas。
Over　them　wandered　the　buffalo　herds；　and　the　elk　and　the　roebuck；
Over　them　wandered　the　wolves；　and　herds　of　riderless　horses；
Fires　that　blast　and　blight；　and　winds　that　are　weary　with　travel；
Over　them　wander　the　scattered　tribes　of　Ishmael's　children；
Staining　the　desert　with　blood；　and　above　their　terrible　war…trails
Circles　and　sails　aloft；　on　pinions　majestic；　the　vulture；
Like　the　implacable　soul　of　a　chieftain　slaughtered　in　battle；
By　invisible　stairs　ascending　and　scaling　the　heavens。
Here　and　there　rise　smokes　from　the　camps　of　these　savage　marauders；
Here　and　there　rise　groves　from　the　margins　of　swift…running　rivers；
And　the　grim；　taciturn　bear；　the　anchorite　monk　of　the　desert；
Climbs　down　their　dark　ravines　to　dig　for　roots　by　the　brookside；
And　over　all　is　the　sky；　the　clear　and　crystalline　heaven；
Like　the　protecting　hand　of　God　inverted　above　them。

　　Into　this　wonderful　land；　at　the　base　of　the　Ozark　Mountains；
Gabriel　far　had　entered；　with　hunters　and　trappers　behind　him。
Day　after　day；　with　their　Indian　guides；　the　maiden　and　Basil
Followed　his　flying　steps；　and　thought　each　day　to　o'ertake　him。
Sometimes　they　saw；　or　thought　they　saw；　the　smoke　of　his　camp…fire
Rise　in　the　morning　air　from　the　distant　plain；　but　at　nightfall；
When　they　had　reached　the　place；　they　found　only　embers　and　ashes。
And；　though　their　hearts　were　sad　at　times　and　their　bodies　were　weary；
Hope　still　guided　them　on；　as　the　magic　Fata　Morgana
Showed　them　her　lakes　of　light；　that　retreated　and　vanished　before　them。

　　Once；　as　they　sat　by　their　evening　fire；　there　silently　entered
Into　the　little　camp　an　Indian　woman；　whose　features
Wore　deep　traces　of　sorrow；　and　patience　as　great　as　her　sorrow。
She　was　a　Shawnee　woman　returning　home　to　her　people；
From　the　far…off　hunting…grounds　of　the　cruel　Camanches；
Where　her　Canadian　husband；　a　Coureur…des…Bois；　had　been　murdered。
Touched　were　their　hearts　at　her　story；　and　warmest　and　friendliest　welcome
Gave　they；　with　words　of　cheer；　and　she　sat　and　feasted　among　them
On　the　buffalo…meat　and　the　venison　cooked　on　the　embers。
But　when　their　meal　was　done；　and　Basil　and　all　his　companions；
Worn　with　the　long　day's　march　and　the　chase　of　the　deer　and　the