the magic skin(驴皮记)-第64章

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peaks；　and　the　sky　were　all　faithfully　reflected。　Everything　had　a
radiance　of　its　own　in　this　delightful　picture；　from　the　sparkling
mica…stone　to　the　bleached　tuft　of　grass　hidden　away　in　the　soft
shadows；　the　spotted　cow　with　its　glossy　hide；　the　delicate　water…
plants　that　hung　down　over　the　pool　like　fringes　in　a　nook　where　blue
or　emerald　colored　insects　were　buzzing　about；　the　roots　of　trees　like
a　sand…besprinkled　shock　of　hair　above　grotesque　faces　in　the　flinty
rock　surface；all　these　things　made　a　harmony　for　the　eye。

The　odor　of　the　tepid　water；　the　scent　of　the　flowers；　and　the　breath
of　the　caverns　which　filled　the　lonely　place　gave　Raphael　a　sensation
that　was　almost　enjoyment。　Silence　reigned　in　majesty　over　these
woods；　which　possibly　are　unknown　to　the　tax…collector；　but　the
barking　of　a　couple　of　dogs　broke　the　stillness　all　at　once；　the　cows
turned　their　heads　towards　the　entrance　of　the　valley；　showing　their
moist　noses　to　Raphael；　stared　stupidly　at　him；　and　then　fell　to
browsing　again。　A　goat　and　her　kid；　that　seemed　to　hang　on　the　side　of
the　crags　in　some　magical　fashion；　capered　and　leapt　to　a　slab　of
granite　near　to　Raphael；　and　stayed　there　a　moment；　as　if　to　seek　to
know　who　he　was。　The　yapping　of　the　dogs　brought　out　a　plump　child；
who　stood　agape；　and　next　came　a　white…haired　old　man　of　middle
height。　Both　of　these　two　beings　were　in　keeping　with　the
surroundings；　the　air；　the　flowers；　and　the　dwelling。　Health　appeared
to　overflow　in　this　fertile　region；　old　age　and　childhood　thrived
there。　There　seemed　to　be；　about　all　these　types　of　existence；　the
freedom　and　carelessness　of　the　life　of　primitive　times；　a　happiness
of　use　and　wont　that　gave　the　lie　to　our　philosophical　platitudes；　and
wrought　a　cure　of　all　its　swelling　passions　in　the　heart。

The　old　man　belonged　to　the　type　of　model　dear　to　the　masculine　brush
of　Schnetz。　The　countless　wrinkles　upon　his　brown　face　looked　as　if
they　would　be　hard　to　the　touch；　the　straight　nose；　the　prominent
cheek…bones；　streaked　with　red　veins　like　a　vine…leaf　in　autumn；　the
angular　features；　all　were　characteristics　of　strength；　even　where
strength　existed　no　longer。　The　hard　hands；　now　that　they　toiled　no
longer；　had　preserved　their　scanty　white　hair；　his　bearing　was　that　of
an　absolutely　free　man；　it　suggested　the　thought　that；　had　he　been　an
Italian；　he　would　have　perhaps　turned　brigand；　for　the　love　of　the
liberty　so　dear　to　him。　The　child　was　a　regular　mountaineer；　with　the
black　eyes　that　can　face　the　sun　without　flinching；　a　deeply　tanned
complexion；　and　rough　brown　hair。　His　movements　were　like　a　bird's
swift；　decided；　and　unconstrained；　his　clothing　was　ragged；　the　white；
fair　skin　showed　through　the　rents　in　his　garments。　There　they　both
stood　in　silence；　side　by　side；　both　obeying　the　same　impulse；　in　both

faces　were　clear　tokens　of　an　absolutely　identical　and　idle　life。　The
old　man　had　adopted　the　child's　amusements；　and　the　child　had　fallen
in　with　the　old　man's　humor；　there　was　a　sort　of　tacit　agreement
between　two　kinds　of　feebleness；　between　failing　powers　well…nigh
spent　and　powers　just　about　to　unfold　themselves。

Very　soon　a　woman　who　seemed　to　be　about　thirty　years　old　appeared　on
the　threshold　of　the　door；　spinning　as　she　came。　She　was　an
Auvergnate；　a　high…colored；　comfortable…looking；　straightforward　sort
of　person；　with　white　teeth；　her　cap　and　dress；　the　face；　full　figure；
and　general　appearance；　were　of　the　Auvergne　peasant　stamp。　So　was　her
dialect；　she　was　a　thorough　embodiment　of　her　district；　its
hardworking　ways；　its　thrift；　ignorance；　and　heartiness　all　met　in
her。

She　greeted　Raphael；　and　they　began　to　talk。　The　dogs　quieted　down；
the　old　man　went　and　sat　on　a　bench　in　the　sun；　the　child　followed　his
mother　about　wherever　she　went；　listening　without　saying　a　word；　and
staring　at　the　stranger。

〃You　are　not　afraid　to　live　here；　good　woman？〃

〃What　should　we　be　afraid　of；　sir？　When　we　bolt　the　door；　who　ever
could　get　inside？　Oh；　no；　we　aren't　afraid　at　all。　And　besides；〃　she
said；　as　she　brought　the　Marquis　into　the　principal　room　in　the　house；
〃what　should　thieves　come　to　take　from　us　here？〃

She　designated　the　room　as　she　spoke；　the　smoke…blackened　walls；　with
some　brilliant　pictures　in　blue；　red；　and　green；　an　〃End　of　Credit；〃　a
Crucifixion；　and　the　〃Grenadiers　of　the　Imperial　Guard〃　for　their　sole
ornament；　the　furniture　here　and　there；　the　old　wooden　four…post
bedstead；　the　table　with　crooked　legs；　a　few　stools；　the　chest　that
held　the　bread；　the　flitch　that　hung　from　the　ceiling；　a　jar　of　salt；
a　stove；　and　on　the　mantleshelf　a　few　discolored　yellow　plaster
figures。　As　he　went　out　again　Raphael　noticed　a　man　half…way　up　the
crags；　leaning　on　a　hoe；　and　watching　the　house　with　interest。

〃That's　my　man；　sir；〃　said　the　Auvergnate；　unconsciously　smiling　in
peasant　fashion；　〃he　is　at　work　up　there。〃

〃And　that　old　man　is　your　father？〃

〃Asking　your　pardon；　sir；　he　is　my　man's　grandfather。　Such　as　you　see
him；　he　is　a　hundred　and　two；　and　yet　quite　lately　he　walked　over　to
Clermont　with　our　little　chap！　Oh；　he　has　been　a　strong　man　in　his
time；　but　he　does　nothing　now　but　sleep　and　eat　and　drink。　He　amuses
himself　with　the　little　fellow。　Sometimes　the　child　trails　him　up　the
hillsides；　and　he　will　just　go　up　there　along　with　him。〃

Valentin　made　up　his　mind　immediately。　He　would　live　between　this
child　and　old　man；　breathe　the　same　air；　eat　their　bread；　drink　the
same　water；　sleep　with　them；　make　the　blood　in　his　veins　like　theirs。
It　was　a　dying　man's　fancy。　For　him　the　prime　model；　after　which　the
customary　existence　of　the　individual　should　be　shaped；　the　real
formula　for　the　life　of　a　human　being；　the　only　true　and　possible
life；　the　life…ideal；　was　to　become　one　of　the　oysters　adhering　to
this　rock；　to　save　his　shell　a　day　or　two　longer　by　paralyzing　the
power　of　death。　One　profoundly　selfish　thought　took　possession　of　him；
and　the　whole　universe　was　swallowed　up　and　lost　in　it。　For　him　the
universe　existed　no　longer；　the　whole　world　had　come　to　be　within
himself。　For　the　sick；　the　world　begins　at　their　pillow　and　ends　at
the　foot　of　the　bed；　and　this　countryside　was　Raphael's　sick…bed。

Who　has　not；　at　some　time　or　other　in　his　life；　watched　the　comings
and　goings　of　an　ant；　slipped　straws　into　a　yellow　slug's　one
breathing…hole；　studied　the　vagaries　of　a　slender　dragon…fly；　pondered
admiringly　over　the　countless　veins　in　an　oak…leaf；　that　bring　the
colors　of　a　rose　window　in　some　Gothic　cathedral　into　contrast　with
the　reddish　background？　Who　has　not　looked　long　in　delight　at　the
effects　of　sun　and　rain　on　a　roof　of　brown　tiles；　at　the　dewdrops；　or
at　the　variously　shaped　petals　of　the　flower…cups？　Who　has　not　sunk
into　these　idle；　absorbing　meditations　on　things　without；　that　have　no
conscious　end；　yet　lead　to　some　definite　thought　at　last。　Who；　in
short；　has　not　led　a　lazy　life；　the　life　of　childhood；　the　life　of　the
savage　without　his　labor？　This　life　without　a　care　or　a　wish　Raphael
led　for　some　days'　space。　He　felt　a　distinct　improvement　in　his
condition；　a　wonderful　sense　of　ease；　that　quieted　his　apprehensions
and　soothed　his　sufferings。

He　would　climb　the　crags；　and　then　find　a　seat　high　up　on　some　peak
whence　he　could　see　a　vast　expanse　of　distant　country　at　a　glance；　and
he　would　spend　whole　days　in　this　way；　like　a　plant　in　the　sun；　or　a
hare　in　its　form。　And　at　last；　growing　familiar　with　the　appearances
of　the　plant…life　about　him；　and　of　the　changes　in　the　sky；　he
minutely　noted　the　progress　of　everything　working　around　him　in　the
water；　on　the　earth；　or　in　the　air。　He　tried　to　share　the　secret
impulses　of　nature；　sought　by　passive　obedience　to　become　a　part　of
it；　and　to　lie　within　the　conservative　and　despotic　jurisdiction　that
regulates　instinctive　existence。　He　no　longer　wished　to　steer　his　own
course。

Just　as　criminals　in　olden　times　were　safe　from　the　pursuit　of
justice；　if　they　took　refuge　under　the　shadow　of　the　altar；　so　Raphael
made　an　effort　to　slip　into　the　sanctuary　of　life。　He　succeeded　in
becoming　an　integral　part　of　the　great　and　mighty　fruit…producing
org