men, women and ghosts(男人、女人和鬼魂)-第9章
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was not sheer Impertinence。 I thought no one was here； And really
gardens cry to be admired。 To…night especially it seemed required。
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Men； Women and Ghosts
And may I beg to introduce myself？ Heinrich Marohl of Munich。
And your name？〃 Charlotta told him。 And the artful elf Promptly
exclaimed about her husband's fame。 So Lotta； half…unwilling； slowly
came To conversation with him。 When she went Into the house； she
found the evening spent。
Theodore arrived quite wearied out and teased； With all excitement in
him burned away。 It had gone well； he said； the audience pleased； And he
had played his very best to…day； But afterwards he had been forced to stay
And practise with the stupid ones。 His head Ached furiously； and he
must get to bed。
Part Second
Herr Concert…Meister Altgelt played； And the four strings of
his violin Were spinning like bees on a day in Spring。 The notes
rose into the wide sun…mote Which slanted through the window；
They lay like coloured beads a…row； They knocked together and parted；
And started to dance； Skipping； tripping； each one slipping Under
and over the others so That the polychrome fire streamed like a lance
Or a comet's tail； Behind them。 Then a wail arose crescendo
And dropped from off the end of the bow； And the dancing stopped。
A scent of lilies filled the room； Long and slow。 Each large white
bloom Breathed a sound which was holy perfume from a blessed
censer； And the hum of an organ tone； And they waved like fans
in a hall of stone Over a bier standing there in the centre； alone。
Each lily bent slowly as it was blown。 Like smoke they rose from the
violin Then faded as a swifter bowing Jumbled the notes like
wavelets flowing In a splashing； pashing； rippling motion
Between broad meadows to an ocean Wide as a day and blue as a
flower； Where every hour Gulls dipped； and scattered； and
squawked； and squealed； And over the marshes the Angelus pealed；
And the prows of the fishing…boats were spattered With spray。
And away a couple of frigates were starting To race to Java with all
sails set； Topgallants； and royals； and stunsails； and jibs； And
wide moonsails； and the shining rails Were polished so bright they
sparked in the sun。 All the sails went up with a run： 〃They
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Men； Women and Ghosts
call me Hanging Johnny； Away…i…oh； They call me
Hanging Johnny； So hang； boys； hang。〃 And the sun had
set and the high moon whitened； And the ship heeled over to the
breeze。 He drew her into the shade of the sails； And whispered
tales Of voyages in the China seas； And his arm around her
Held and bound her。 She almost swooned； With the breeze and
the moon And the slipping sea； And he beside her； Touching
her； leaning The ship careening； With the white moon steadily
shining over Her and her lover； Theodore； still her lover！
Then a quiver fell on the crowded notes； And slowly floated
A single note which spread and spread Till it filled the room with a
shimmer like gold； And noises shivered throughout its length；
And tried its strength。 They pulled it； and tore it； And the stuff
waned thinner； but still it bore it。 Then a wide rent Split the
arching tent； And balls of fire spurted through； Spitting yellow；
and mauve； and blue。 One by one they were quenched as they fell；
Only the blue burned steadily。 Paler and paler it grew； and faded
away。 Herr Altgelt stopped。
〃Well； Lottachen； my Dear； what do you say？ I think I'm in good trim。
Now let's have dinner。 What's this； my Love； you're very sweet to…day。 I
wonder how it happens I'm the winner Of so much sweetness。 But I
think you're thinner； You're like a bag of feathers on my knee。 Why； Lotta
child； you're almost strangling me。
I'm glad you're going out this afternoon。 The days are getting short；
and I'm so tied At the Court Theatre my poor little bride Has not much
junketing I fear； but soon I'll ask our manager to grant a boon。 To…night；
perhaps； I'll get a pass for you； And when I go； why Lotta can come too。
Now dinner； Love。 I want some onion soup To whip me up till that
rehearsal's over。 You know it's odd how some women can stoop！ Fraeulein
Gebnitz has taken on a lover； A Jew named Goldstein。 No one can
discover If it's his money。 But she lives alone Practically。 Gebnitz is a
stone；
Pores over books all day； and has no ear For his wife's singing。
Artists must have men； They need appreciation。 But it's queer What
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Men； Women and Ghosts
messes people make of their lives； when They should know more。 If
Gebnitz finds out； then His wife will pack。 Yes； shut the door at once。 I
did not feel it cold； I am a dunce。〃
Frau Altgelt tied her bonnet on and went Into the streets。 A bright；
crisp Autumn wind Flirted her skirts and hair。 A turbulent； Audacious
wind it was； now close behind； Pushing her bonnet forward till it twined
The strings across her face； then from in front Slantingly swinging at her
with a shunt；
Until she lay against it； struggling； pushing； Dismayed to find her
clothing tightly bound Around her； every fold and wrinkle crushing Itself
upon her； so that she was wound In draperies as clinging as those found
Sucking about a sea nymph on the frieze Of some old Grecian temple。 In
the breeze
The shops and houses had a quality Of hard and dazzling colour；
something sharp And buoyant； like white； puffing sails at sea。 The city
streets were twanging like a harp。 Charlotta caught the movement；
skippingly She blew along the pavement； hardly knowing Toward what
destination she was going。
She fetched up opposite a jeweller's shop； Where filigreed tiaras shone
like crowns； And necklaces of emeralds seemed to drop And then float up
again with lightness。 Browns Of striped agates struck her like cold
frowns Amid the gaiety of topaz seals； Carved though they were with
heads； and arms； and wheels。
A
