twice-told tales- the great stone face-第6章

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but　they　have　been　only　dreams；　because　I　have　lived…　and　that；　too；

by　own　choice…　among　poor　and　mean　realities。　Sometimes　even…　shall

I　dare　to　say　it？…　I　lack　faith　in　the　grandeur；　the　beauty；　and　the

goodness；　which　my　own　works　are　said　to　have　made　more　evident　in

nature　and　in　human　life。　Why；　then；　pure　seeker　of　the　good　and　true；

shouldst　thou　hope　to　find　me；　in　yonder　image　of　the　divine！〃

　　　The　poet　spoke　sadly；　and　his　eyes　were　dim　with　tears。　So；

likewise；　were　those　of　Ernest。

　　　At　the　hour　of　sunset；　as　had　long　been　his　frequent　custom；　Ernest

was　to　discourse　to　an　assemblage　of　the　neighboring　inhabitants；　in

the　open　air。　He　and　the　poet；　arm　in　arm；　still　talking　together　as

they　went　along；　proceeded　to　the　spot。　It　was　a　small　nook　among

the　hills；　with　a　gray　precipice　behind；　the　stern　front　of　which

was　relieved　by　the　pleasant　foliage　of　many　creeping　plants；　that

made　a　tapestry　for　the　naked　rock；　by　hanging　their　festoons　from　all

its　rugged　angles。　At　a　small　elevation　above　the　ground；　set　in　a

rich　frame…work　of　verdure；　there　appeared　a　niche；　spacious　enough　to

admit　a　human　figure；　with　freedom　for　such　gestures　as

spontaneously　accompany　earnest　thought　and　genuine　emotion。　Into　this

natural　pulpit　Ernest　ascended；　and　threw　a　look　of　familiar

kindness　around　upon　his　audience。　They　stood；　or　sat；　or　reclined

upon　the　grass；　as　seemed　good　to　each；　with　the　departing　sunshine

falling　obliquely　over　them；　and　mingling　its　subdued　cheerfulness

with　the　solemnity　of　a　grove　of　ancient　trees；　beneath　and　amid　the

boughs　of　which　the　golden　rays　were　constrained　to　pass。　In　another

direction　was　seen　the　Great　Stone　Face；　with　the　same　cheer；　combined

with　the　same　solemnity；　in　its　benignant　aspect。

　　　Ernest　began　to　speak；　giving　to　the　people　of　what　was　in　his

heart　and　mind。　His　words　had　power；　because　they　accorded　with　his

thoughts；　and　his　thoughts　had　reality　and　depth；　because　they

harmonized　with　the　life　which　he　had　always　lived。　It　was　not　mere

breath　that　this　preacher　uttered；　they　were　the　words　of　life；

because　a　life　of　good　deeds　and　holy　love　was　melted　into　them。

Pearls；　pure　and　rich；　had　been　dissolved　into　this　precious

draught。　The　poet；　as　he　listened；　felt　that　the　being　and　character

of　Ernest　were　a　nobler　strain　of　poetry　than　he　had　ever　written。　His

eyes　glistening　with　tears；　he　gazed　reverentially　at　the　venerable

man；　and　said　within　himself　that　never　was　there　an　aspect　so

worthy　of　a　prophet　and　a　sage　as　that　mild；　sweet；　thoughtful

countenance；　with　the　glory　of　white　hair　diffused　about　it。　At　a

distance；　but　distinctly　to　be　seen；　high　up　in　the　golden　light　of

the　setting　sun；　appeared　the　Great　Stone　Face；　with　hoary　mists

around　it；　like　the　white　hairs　around　the　brow　of　Ernest。　Its　look　of

grand　beneficence　seemed　to　embrace　the　world。

　　　At　that　moment；　in　sympathy　with　a　thought　which　he　was　about　to

utter；　the　face　of　Ernest　assumed　a　grandeur　of　expression；　so

imbued　with　benevolence；　that　the　poet；　by　an　irresistible　impulse；

threw　his　arms　aloft；　and　shouted；　〃Behold！　Behold！　Ernest　is

himself　the　likeness　of　the　Great　Stone　Face！〃

　　　Then　all　the　people　looked；　and　saw　that　what　the　deep…sighted　poet

said　was　true。　The　prophecy　was　fulfilled。　But　Ernest；　having　finished

what　he　had　to　say；　took　the　poet's　arm；　and　walked　slowly　homeward；

still　hoping　that　some　wiser　and　better　man　than　himself　would　by

and　by　appear；　bearing　a　resemblance　to　the　GREAT　STONE　FACE。





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

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