robert louis stevenson-第14章
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appiness shall be our portion； and if the day be marked for sorrow； strong to endure it。
〃We thank Thee and praise Thee； and in the words of Him to whom this day is sacred； close our oblations。〃
Mr Bazzet M。 Haggard； H。B。M。； Land…Commissioner； tells； by way of reminiscence； the story of 〃The Road of Good Heart；〃 how it came to be built； and of the great feast Mr Stevenson gave at the close of the work； at which； in the course of his speech； he said：
〃You are all aware in some degree of what has happened。 You know those chiefs to have been prisoners； you perhaps know that during the term of their confinement I had it in my power to do them certain favours。 One thing some of you cannot know； that they were immediately repaid by answering attentions。 They were liberated by the new Administration。 。 。 。 As soon as they were free men … owing no man anything … instead of going home to their own places and families； they came to me。 They offered to do this work （to make this road） for me as a free gift； without hire； without supplies； and I was tempted at first to refuse their offer。 I knew the country to be poor； I knew famine threatening； I knew their families long disorganised for want of supervision。 Yet I accepted； because I thought the lesson of that road might be more useful to Samoa than a thousand bread…fruit trees； and because to myself it was an exquisite pleasure to receive that which was so handsomely offered。 It is now done； you have trod it to…day in coming hither。 It has been made for me by chiefs； some of them old； some sick； all newly delivered from a harassing confinement； and in spite of weather unusually hot and insalubrious。 I have seen these chiefs labour valiantly with their own hands upon the work； and I have set up over it； now that it is finished the name of 'The Road of Gratitude' （the road of loving hearts）； and the names of those that built it。 'In perpetuam memoriam；' we say； and speak idly。 At least； as long as my own life shall be spared it shall be here perpetuated； partly for my pleasure and in my gratitude； partly for others continually to publish the lesson of this road。〃
And turning to the chiefs； Mr Stevenson said：
〃I will tell you； chiefs； that when I saw you working on that road； my heart grew warm； not with gratitude only； but with hope。 It seemed to me that I read the promise of something good for Samoa； it seemed to me as I looked at you that you were a company of warriors in a battle； fighting for the defence of our common country against all aggression。 For there is a time to fight and a time to dig。 You Samoans may fight； you may conquer twenty times； and thirty times； and all will be in vain。 There is but one way to defend Samoa。 Hear it； before it is too late。 It is to make roads and gardens； and care for your trees； and sell their produce wisely； and； in one word； to occupy and use your country。 If you do not； others will。 。 。 。
〃I love Samoa and her people。 I love the land。 I have chosen it to be my home while I live； and my grave after I am dead； and I love the people； and have chosen them to be my people； to live and die with。 And I see that the day is come now of the great battle； of the great and the last opportunity by which it shall be decided whether you are to pass away like those other races of which I have been speaking； or to stand fast and have your children living on and honouring your memory in the land you received of your fathers。〃
Mr James H。 Mulligan； U。S。 Consul； told of the feast of Thanksgiving Day on the 29th November prior to Mr Stevenson's death； and how at great pains he had procured for it the necessary turkey； and how Mrs Stevenson had found a fair substitute for the pudding。 In the course of his speech in reply to an unexpected proposal of 〃The Host；〃 Mr Stevenson said：
〃There on my right sits she who has but lately from our own loved native land come back to me … she to whom； with no lessening of affection to those others to whom I cling； I love better than all the world besides … my mother。 From the opposite end of the table； my wife； who has been all in all to me； when the days were very dark； looks to…night into my eyes … while we have both grown a bit older … with undiminished and undiminishing affection。
〃Childless； yet on either side of me sits that good woman； my daughter； and the stalwart man； my son； and both have been and are more than son and daughter to me； and have brought into my life mirth and beauty。 Nor is this all。 There sits the bright boy dear to my heart； full of the flow and the spirits of boyhood； so that I can even know that for a time at least we have still the voice of a child in the house。〃
Mr A。 W。 Mackay gives an account of the funeral and a description of the burial…place； ending：
〃Tofa Tusitala！ Sleep peacefully！ on thy mountain…top； alone in Nature's sanctity； where the wooddove's note； the moaning of the waves as they break unceasingly on the distant reef； and the sighing of the winds in the distant tavai trees chant their requiem。〃
The Rev。 Mr Clarke tells of the constant and active interest Mr Stevenson took in the missionaries and their work； often aiding them by his advice and fine insight into the character of the natives； and a translation follows of a dirge by one of the chiefs； so fine that we must give it：
I。
〃Listen； O this world； as I tell of the disaster That befell in the late afternoon； That broke like a wave of the sea Suddenly and swiftly； blinding our eyes。 Alas for Loia who speaks tears in his voice！
REFRAIN … Groan and weep； O my heart； in its sorrow。 Alas for Tusitala； who rests in the forest！ Aimlessly we wait； and sorrowing。 Will he again return？ Lament； O Vailima； waiting and ever waiting！ Let us search and inquire of the captain of ships； 'Be not angry； but has not Tusitala come？'
II。
〃Teuila； sorrowing one； come thou hither！ Prepare me a letter； and I will carry it。 Let her Majesty Victoria be told That Tusitala； the loving one； has been taken hence。
REFRAIN … Groan and weep； O my heart； etc。； etc。
III。
〃Alas！ my heart weeps with anxious grief As I think of the days before us： Of the white men gathering for the Christmas assembly！ Alas for Aolele！ left in her loneliness； And the men of Vailima； who weep together Their leader … their leader being taken。
REFRAIN … Groan and weep； O my heart； etc。； etc。
IV。
〃Alas！ O my heart！ it weeps unceasingly When I think of his illness Coming upon him with fatal swiftness。 Would that it waited a glance or a word from him； Or some token； some token from us of our love。
REFRAIN … Groan and weep； O my heart； etc。； etc。
V。
〃Grieve； O my heart！ I cannot bear to look on All the chiefs who are there now assembling： Alas； Tusitala！ Thou art not here！ I look hither and thither in vain for thee。
REFRAIN … Groan and weep； O my heart； etc。； etc。〃
And the little booklet closes with Mr Stevenson's own lines：
〃REQUIEM。
Under the wide and starry sky； Dig the grave and let me lie； Glad did I live and gladly die； And I laid me down with a will。 This be the verse you grave for me： 'Here he lies where he longed to be； Home is the sailor； home from sea； And the hunter home from the hill。'〃
Every touch tells here was a man； with heart and head； with soul and mind intent on the loftiest things； simple； great；
〃Like one of the simple great ones gone For ever and ever by。
His character towered after all far above his books； great and beautiful though they were。 Ready for friendship； from all meanness free。 So； too； the Samoans felt。 This； surely； was what Goethe meant when he wrote：
〃The clear head and stout heart； However far they roam； Yet in every truth have part； Are everywhere at home。〃
His manliness； his width of sympathy； his practicality； his range of interests were in nothing more seen than in his contributions to the history of Samoa； as specially exhibited in A FOOTNOTE TO HISTORY and his letters to the TIMES。 He was； on this side； in no sense a dreamer； but a man of acute observation and quick eye for passing events and the character
