men, women and ghosts(男人、女人和鬼魂)-第7章
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LVI
He could not credit it； and misery fed Upon his spirit； day by day it
grew。 To Gervase he forbade the house； and led The Lady Eunice such a
life she flew At his approaching footsteps。 Winter came Snowing and
blustering through the Manor trees。 All the roof…edges spiked with
icicles In fluted companies。 The Lady Eunice with her tambour…frame
Kept herself sighing company。 The flame Of the birch fire glittered
on the walls。
LVII
A letter was brought to her as she sat； Unsealed； unsigned。 It told
her that his wound； The writer's； had so well recovered that To join his
regiment he felt him bound。 But would she not wish him one short
〃Godspeed〃； He asked no more。 Her greeting would suffice。 He
had resolved he never should return。 Would she this sacrifice Make for a
dying man？ How could she read The rest！ But forcing her eyes to the
deed； She read。 Then dropped it in the fire to burn。
LVIII
Gervase had set the river for their meeting As farthest from the farms
where Everard Spent all his days。 How should he know such cheating
Was quite expected； at least no dullard Was Everard Frampton。 Hours by
hours he hid Among the willows watching。 Dusk had come； And
from the Manor he had long been gone。 Eunice her burdensome Task set
about。 Hooded and cloaked； she slid Over the slippery paths； and soon
amid The sallows saw a boat tied to a stone。
LIX
Gervase arose； and kissed her hand； then pointed Into the boat。 She
shook her head； but he Begged her to realize why； and with disjointed
Words told her of what peril there might be From listeners along the river
bank。 A push would take them out of earshot。 Ten Minutes was
all he asked； then she should land； He go away again； Forever this time。
Yet how could he thank Her for so much compassion。 Here she sank
Upon a thwart； and bid him quick unstrand
LX
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Men； Women and Ghosts
His boat。 He cast the rope； and shoved the keel Free of the gravel；
jumped； and dropped beside Her； took the oars； and they began to steal
Under the overhanging trees。 A wide Gash of red lantern…light cleft like a
blade Into the gloom； and struck on Eunice sitting Rigid and stark
upon the after thwart。 It blazed upon their flitting In merciless light。 A
moment so it stayed； Then was extinguished； and Sir Everard made
One leap； and landed just a fraction short。
LXI
His weight upon the gunwale tipped the boat To straining balance。
Everard lurched and seized His wife and held her smothered to his coat。
〃Everard； loose me； we shall drown 〃 and squeezed Against him； she
beat with her hands。 He gasped 〃Never； by God！〃 The slidden boat
gave way And the black foamy water split and met。 Bubbled up
through the spray A wailing rose and in the branches rasped； And creaked；
and stilled。 Over the treetops； clasped In the blue evening； a clear
moon was set。
LXII
They lie entangled in the twisting roots； Embraced forever。 Their
cold marriage bed Close…canopied and curtained by the shoots Of
willows and pale birches。 At the head； White lilies； like still swans；
placidly float And sway above the pebbles。 Here are waves Sun…
smitten for a threaded counterpane Gold…woven on their graves。 In
perfect quietness they sleep； remote In the green； rippled twilight。 Death
has smote Them to perpetual oneness who were twain。
The Cremona Violin
Part First
Frau Concert…Meister Altgelt shut the door。 A storm was rising； heavy
gusts of wind Swirled through the trees； and scattered leaves before Her
on the clean； flagged path。 The sky behind The distant town was black；
and sharp defined Against it shone the lines of roofs and towers；
Superimposed and flat like cardboard flowers。
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Men； Women and Ghosts
A pasted city on a purple ground； Picked out with luminous paint； it
seemed。 The cloud Split on an edge of lightning； and a sound Of rivers
full and rushing boomed through bowed； Tossed； hissing branches。
Thunder rumbled loud Beyond the town fast swallowing into gloom。 Frau
Altgelt closed the windows of each room。
She bustled round to shake by constant moving The strange； weird
atmosphere。 She stirred the fire； She twitched the supper…cloth as though
improving Its careful setting； then her own attire Came in for notice；
tiptoeing higher and higher She peered into the wall…glass； now adjusting
A straying lock； or else a ribbon thrusting
This way or that to suit her。 At last sitting； Or rather plumping down
upon a chair； She took her work； the stocking she was knitting； And
watched the rain upon the window glare In white； bright drops。 Through
the black glass a flare Of lightning squirmed about her needles。 〃Oh！〃
She cried。 〃What can be keeping Theodore so！〃
A roll of thunder set the casements clapping。 Frau Altgelt flung her
work aside and ran； Pulled open the house door； with kerchief flapping
She stood and gazed along the street。 A man Flung back the garden…gate
and nearly ran Her down as she stood in the door。 〃Why； Dear； What in
the name of patience brings you here？
Quick； Lotta； shut the door； my violin I fear is wetted。 Now； Dear；
bring a light。 This clasp is very much too worn and thin。 I'll take the other
fiddle out to…night If it still rains。 Tut！ Tut！ my child； you're quite
Clumsy。 Here； help me； hold the case while I Give me the candle。
No； the inside's dry。
Thank God for that！ Well； Lotta； how are you？ A bad storm； but the
house still stands； I see。 Is my pipe filled； my Dear？ I'll have a few Puffs
and a snooze before I eat my tea。 What do you say？ That you were
feared for me？ Nonsense； my child。 Yes； kiss me； now don't talk。 I need
a rest； the theatre's a long walk。〃
Her needles still； her hands upon her lap Patiently laid； Charlotta
Altgelt sat And watched the rain…run window。 In his nap Her husband
stirred and muttered。 Seeing that； Charlotta rose and softly； pit…a…pat；
Climbed up the stairs； and in her little room Found sighing comfort with a
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moon in bloom。
But even rainy windows； silver…lit By a new…bu
