what the moon saw-第2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！
her face； and I saw that she was dead。 There at the open window sat
the dead woman； preaching a sermon against sin… my poor faded rose out
of the parsonage garden！〃
FOURTH EVENING
〃This evening I saw a German play acted；〃 said the Moon。 〃It was
in a little town。 A stable had been turned into a theatre； that is
to say； the stable had been left standing； and had been turned into
private boxes； and all the timber work had been covered with
coloured paper。 A little iron chandelier hung beneath the ceiling； and
that it might be made to disappear into the ceiling； as it does in
great theatres； when the ting…ting of the prompter's bell is heard；
a great inverted tub has been placed just above it。
〃'Ting…ting！' and the little iron chandelier suddenly rose at
least half a yard and disappeared in the tub； and that was the sign
that the play was going to begin。 A young nobleman and his lady； who
happened to be passing through the little town； were present at the
performance； and consequently the house was crowded。 But under the
chandelier was a vacant space like a little crater： not a single
soul sat there； for the tallow was dropping； drip； drip！ I saw
everything； for it was so warm in there that every loophole had been
opened。 The male and female servants stood outside； peeping through
the chinks； although a real policeman was inside； threatening them
with a stick。 Close by the orchestra could be seen the noble young
couple in two old arm…chairs； which were usually occupied by his
worship the mayor and his lady； but these latter were to…day obliged
to content themselves with wooden forms； just as if they had been
ordinary citizens； and the lady observed quietly to herself； 'One
sees； now； that there is rank above rank；' and this incident gave an
air of extra festivity to the whole proceedings。 The chandelier gave
little leaps； the crowd got their knuckles rapped； and I； the Moon；
was present at the performance from beginning to end。〃
FIFTH EVENING
〃Yesterday；〃 began the Moon； 〃I looked down upon the turmoil of
Paris。 My eye penetrated into an apartment of the Louvre。 An old
grandmother； poorly clad… she belonged to the working class… was
following one of the under…servants into the great empty
throne…room； for this was the apartment she wanted to see… that she
was resolved to see； it had cost her many a little sacrifice； and many
a coaxing word； to penetrate thus far。 She folded her thin hands；
and looked round with an air of reverence； as if she had been in a
church。
〃'Here it was！' she said； 'here！' and she approached the throne；
from which hung the rich velvet fringed with gold lace。 'There；' she
exclaimed； 'there！' and she knelt and kissed the purple carpet。 I
think she was actually weeping。
〃'But it was not this very velvet！' observed the footman； and a
smile played about his mouth。 'True； but it was this very place；'
replied the woman； 'and it must have looked just like this。 'It looked
so； and yet it did not；' observed the man： 'the windows were beaten
in； and the doors were off their hinges； and there was blood upon
the floor。' 'But for all that you can say； my grandson died upon the
throne of France。 Died！' mournfully repeated the old woman。 I do not
think another word was spoken； and they soon quitted the hall。 The
evening twilight faded and my light shone doubly vivid upon the rich
velvet that covered the throne of France。
〃Now who do you think this poor woman was？ Listen； I will tell you
a story。
〃It happened； in the Revolution of July； on the evening of the
most brilliantly victorious day； when every house was a fortress；
every window a breastwork。 The people stormed the Tuileries。 Even
women and children were to be found among the combatants。 They
penetrated into the apartments and halls of the palace。 A poor
half…grown boy in a ragged blouse fought among the older insurgents。
Mortally wounded with several bayonet thrusts； he sank down。 This
happened in the throne…room。 They laid the bleeding youth upon the
throne of France； wrapped the velvet around his wounds； and his
blood streamed forth upon the imperial purple。 There was a picture！
The splendid hall； the fighting groups！ A torn flag upon the ground；
the tricolor was waving above the bayonets； and on the throne lay
the poor lad with the pale glorified countenance； his eyes turned
towards the sky； his limbs writhing in the death agony； his breast
bare； and his poor tattered clothing half hidden by the rich velvet
embroidered with silver lilies。 At the boy's cradle a prophecy had
been spoken： 'He will die on the throne of France！' The mother's heart
dreamt of a second Napoleon。
〃My beams have kissed the wreath of immortelles on his grave；
and this night they kissed the forehead of the old grandame； while
in a dream the picture floated before her which thou mayest draw…
the poor boy on the throne of France。〃
SIXTH EVENING
〃I've been in Upsala；〃 said the Moon： 〃I looked down upon the
great plain covered with coarse grass； and upon the barren fields。 I
mirrored my face in the Tyris river； while the steamboat drove the
fish into the rushes。 Beneath me floated the waves； throwing long
shadows on the so…called graves of Odin； Thor； and Friga。 In the
scanty turf that covers the hill…side names have been cut。 There is no
monument here； no memorial on which the traveller can have his name
carved； no rocky wall on whose surface he can get it painted； so
visitors have the turf cut away for that purpose。 The naked earth
peers through in the form of great letters and names； these form a
network over the whole hill。 Here is an immortality； which lasts
till the fresh turf grows！
〃Up on the hill stood a man； a poet。 He emptied the mead horn with
the broad silver rim； and murmured a name。 He begged the winds not
to betray him； but I heard the name。 I knew it。 A count's coronet
sparkles above it； and therefore he did not speak it out。 I smiled；
for I knew that a poet's crown adorns his own name。 The nobility of
Eleanora d'Este is attached to the name of Tasso。 And I also know
where the Rose of Beauty blooms！〃
Thus spake the Moon； and a cloud came between us。 May no cloud
separate the poet from the rose！
SEVENTH EVENING
〃Along the margin of the shore stretches a forest of firs and
beeches； and fresh and fragrant is this wood； hundreds of nightingales
visit it every spring。 Close beside it is the sea； the ever…changing
sea； and between the two is placed the broad high…road。 One carriage
after another rolls over it； but I did not follow them； for my eye
loves best to rest upon one point。 A Hun's Grave lies there； and the
sloe and blackthorn grow luxuriantly among the stones。 Here is true
poetry in nature。
〃And how do you think men appreciate this poetry？ I will tell
you what I heard there last evening and during the night。
〃First； two rich landed proprietors came driving by。 'Those are
glorious trees！' said the first。 'Certainly； there are ten loads of
firewood in each；' observed the other： 'it will be a hard winter；
and last year we got fourteen dollars a load'… and they were gone。
'The road here is wretched；' observed another man who drove past。
'That's the fault of those horrible trees；' replied his neighbour；
'there is no free current of air； the wind can only come from the
sea'… and they were gone。 The stage coach went rattling past。 All
the passengers were asleep at this beautiful spot。 The postillion blew
his horn； but he only thought； 'I can play capitally。 It sounds well
here。 I wonder if those in there like it？'… and the stage coach
vanished。 Then two young fellows came gallopping up on horseback。
There's youth and spirit in the blood here！ thought I； and； indeed；
they looked with a smile at the moss…grown hill and thick forest。 'I
should not dislike a walk here with the miller's Christine；' said one…
and they flew past。
〃The flowers scented the air； every breath of ai
