men, women and ghosts(男人、女人和鬼魂)-第13章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
It matters nothing how one day she met Him on a bridge； and blushed；
and hurried by。 Nor how the following week he stood to let Her pass； the
pavement narrowing suddenly。 How once he took her basket； and once he
Pulled back a rearing horse who might have struck Her with his hoofs。 It
seemed the oddest luck
How many times their business took them each Right to the other。
Then at last he spoke； But she would only nod； he got no speech From her。
Next time he treated it in joke； And that so lightly that her vow she broke
And answered。 So they drifted into seeing Each other as before。 There
was no fleeing。
Christmas was over and the Carnival Was very near； and tripping from
each tongue Was talk of the new opera。 Each book…stall Flaunted it out
in bills； what airs were sung； What singers hired。 Pictures of the young
〃Maestro〃 were for sale。 The town was mad。 Only Charlotta felt
depressed and sad。
Each day now brought a struggle 'twixt her will And Heinrich's。
'Twixt her love for Theodore And him。 Sometimes she wished to kill
Herself to solve her problem。 For a score Of reasons Heinrich tempted
her。 He bore Her moods with patience； and so surely urged Himself upon
37
… Page 38…
Men； Women and Ghosts
her； she was slowly merged
Into his way of thinking； and to fly With him seemed easy。 But next
morning would The Stradivarius undo her mood。 Then she would realize
that she must cleave Always to Theodore。 And she would try To
convince Heinrich she should never leave； And afterwards she would go
home and grieve。
All thought in Munich centered on the part Of January when there
would be given ‘Idomeneo' by Wolfgang Mozart。 The twenty…ninth was
fixed。 And all seats； even Those almost at the ceiling； which were driven
Behind the highest gallery； were sold。 The inches of the theatre went for
gold。
Herr Altgelt was a shadow worn so thin With work； he hardly printed
black behind The candle。 He and his old violin Made up one person。
He was not unkind； But dazed outside his playing； and the rind； The pine
and maple of his fiddle； guarded A part of him which he had quite
discarded。
It woke in the silence of frost…bright nights； In little lights；
Like will…o'…the…wisps flickering； fluttering； Here there
Spurting； sputtering； Fading and lighting； Together； asunder
Till Lotta sat up in bed with wonder； And the faint grey patch of the
window shone Upon her sitting there； alone。 For Theodore slept。
The twenty…eighth was last rehearsal day； 'Twas called for noon； so
early morning meant Herr Altgelt's only time in which to play His part
alone。 Drawn like a monk who's spent Himself in prayer and fasting；
Theodore went Into the kitchen； with a weary word Of cheer to Lotta；
careless if she heard。
Lotta heard more than his spoken word。 She heard the
vibrating of strings and wood。 She was washing the dishes； her hands
all suds； When the sound began； Long as the span Of a white
road snaking about a hill。 The orchards are filled With cherry
blossoms at butterfly poise。 Hawthorn buds are cracking； And in
the distance a shepherd is clacking His shears； snip…snipping the wool
from his sheep。 The notes are asleep； Lying adrift on the air
In level lines Like sunlight hanging in pines and pines； Strung and
38
… Page 39…
Men； Women and Ghosts
threaded； All imbedded In the blue…green of the hazy pines。
Lines long； straight lines！ And stems； Long； straight stems
Pushing up To the cup of blue； blue sky。 Stems growing misty
With the many of them； Red…green mist Of the trees； And
these Wood…flavoured notes。 The back is maple and the belly is
pine。 The rich notes twine As though weaving in and out of leaves；
Broad leaves Flapping slowly like elephants' ears； Waving and
falling。 Another sound peers Through little pine fingers； And
lingers； peeping。 Ping！ Ping！ pizzicato； something is cheeping。
There is a twittering up in the branches； A chirp and a lilt； And
crimson atilt on a swaying twig。 Wings！ Wings！ And a little
ruffled…out throat which sings。 The forest bends； tumultuous With
song。 The woodpecker knocks； And the song…sparrow trills；
Every fir； and cedar； and yew Has a nest or a bird； It is quite
absurd To hear them cutting across each other： Peewits； and
thrushes； and larks； all at once； And a loud cuckoo is trying to smother
A wood…pigeon perched on a birch； 〃Roo coo oo oo 〃
〃Cuckoo！ Cuckoo！ That's one for you！〃 A blackbird whistles； how
sharp； how shrill！ And the great trees toss And leaves blow down；
You can almost hear them splash on the ground。 The whistle again：
It is double and loud！ The leaves are splashing； And water is
dashing Over those creepers； for they are shrouds； And men are
running up them to furl the sails； For there is a capful of wind to…day；
And we are already well under way。 The deck is aslant in the bubbling
breeze。 〃Theodore； please。 Oh； Dear； how you tease！〃 And
the boatswain's whistle sounds again； And the men pull on the sheets：
〃My name is Hanging Johnny； Away…i…oh； They call
me Hanging Johnny； So hang； boys； hang。〃 The trees of
the forest are masts； tall masts； They are swinging over Her and
her lover。 Almost swooning Under the ballooning canvas；
She lies Looking up in his eyes As he bends farther over。
Theodore； still her lover！
The suds were dried upon Charlotta's hands； She leant against the table
for support； Wholly forgotten。 Theodore's eyes were brands Burning
39
… Page 40…
Men； Women and Ghosts
upon his music。 He stopped short。 Charlotta almost heard the sound of
bands Snapping。 She put one hand up to her heart； Her fingers touched
the locket with a start。
Herr Altgelt put his violin away Listlessly。 〃Lotta； I must have some
rest。 The strain will be a hideous one to…day。 Don't speak to me at all。 It
will be best If I am quiet till I go。〃 And lest She disobey； he left her。
On the stairs She heard his mounting steps。 What use were prayers！
He could
