seraphita-第5章

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himself；　could　have　conceived　the　ineffable　emotions　imprinted　on　his

face？　Who　would　have　divined；　even　in　the　dreams　of　artists；　where　all

things　become　possible；　the　shadow　cast　by　some　mysterious　awe　upon

that　brow；　shining　with　intellect；　which　seemed　to　question　Heaven　and

to　pity　Earth？　The　head　hovered　awhile　disdainfully；　as　some　majestic

bird　whose　cries　reverberate　on　the　atmosphere；　then　bowed　itself

resignedly；　like　the　turtledove　uttering　soft　notes　of　tenderness　in

the　depths　of　the　silent　woods。　His　complexion　was　of　marvellous

whiteness；　which　brought　out　vividly　the　coral　lips；　the　brown

eyebrows；　and　the　silken　lashes；　the　only　colors　that　trenched　upon

the　paleness　of　that　face；　whose　perfect　regularity　did　not　detract

from　the　grandeur　of　the　sentiments　expressed　in　it；　nay；　thought　and

emotion　were　reflected　there；　without　hindrance　or　violence；　with　the

majestic　and　natural　gravity　which　we　delight　in　attributing　to

superior　beings。　That　face　of　purest　marble　expressed　in　all　things

strength　and　peace。



Minna　rose　to　take　the　hand　of　Seraphitus；　hoping　thus　to　draw　him　to

her；　and　to　lay　on　that　seductive　brow　a　kiss　given　more　from

admiration　than　from　love；　but　a　glance　at　the　young　man's　eyes；　which

pierced　her　as　a　ray　of　sunlight　penetrates　a　prism；　paralyzed　the

young　girl。　She　felt；　but　without　comprehending；　a　gulf　between　them；

then　she　turned　away　her　head　and　wept。　Suddenly　a　strong　hand　seized

her　by　the　waist；　and　a　soft　voice　said　to　her：　〃Come！〃　She　obeyed；

resting　her　head；　suddenly　revived；　upon　the　heart　of　her　companion；

who；　regulating　his　step　to　hers　with　gentle　and　attentive　conformity；

led　her　to　a　spot　whence　they　could　see　the　radiant　glories　of　the

polar　Nature。



〃Before　I　look；　before　I　listen　to　you；　tell　me；　Seraphitus；　why　you

repulse　me。　Have　I　displeased　you？　and　how？　tell　me！　I　want　nothing

for　myself；　I　would　that　all　my　earthly　goods　were　yours；　for　the

riches　of　my　heart　are　yours　already。　I　would　that　light　came　to　my

eyes　only　though　your　eyes　just　as　my　thought　is　born　of　your　thought。

I　should　not　then　fear　to　offend　you；　for　I　should　give　you　back　the

echoes　of　your　soul；　the　words　of　your　heart；　day　by　day；as　we

render　to　God　the　meditations　with　which　his　spirit　nourishes　our

minds。　I　would　be　thine　alone。〃



〃Minna；　a　constant　desire　is　that　which　shapes　our　future。　Hope　on！

But　if　you　would　be　pure　in　heart　mingle　the　idea　of　the　All…Powerful

with　your　affections　here　below；　then　you　will　love　all　creatures；　and

your　heart　will　rise　to　heights　indeed。〃



〃I　will　do　all　you　tell　me；〃　she　answered；　lifting　her　eyes　to　his

with　a　timid　movement。



〃I　cannot　be　your　companion；〃　said　Seraphitus　sadly。



He　seemed　to　repress　some　thoughts；　then　stretched　his　arms　towards

Christiana；　just　visible　like　a　speck　on　the　horizon　and　said：



〃Look！〃



〃We　are　very　small；〃　she　said。



〃Yes；　but　we　become　great　through　feeling　and　through　intellect；〃

answered　Seraphitus。　〃With　us；　and　us　alone；　Minna；　begins　the

knowledge　of　things；　the　little　that　we　learn　of　the　laws　of　the

visible　world　enables　us　to　apprehend　the　immensity　of　the　worlds

invisible。　I　know　not　if　the　time　has　come　to　speak　thus　to　you；　but　I

would；　ah；　I　would　communicate　to　you　the　flame　of　my　hopes！　Perhaps

we　may　one　day　be　together　in　the　world　where　Love　never　dies。〃



〃Why　not　here　and　now？〃　she　said；　murmuring。



〃Nothing　is　stable　here；〃　he　said；　disdainfully。　〃The　passing　joys　of

earthly　love　are　gleams　which　reveal　to　certain　souls　the　coming　of

joys　more　durable；　just　as　the　discovery　of　a　single　law　of　nature

leads　certain　privileged　beings　to　a　conception　of　the　system　of　the

universe。　Our　fleeting　happiness　here　below　is　the　forerunning　proof

of　another　and　a　perfect　happiness；　just　as　the　earth；　a　fragment　of

the　world；　attests　the　universe。　We　cannot　measure　the　vast　orbit　of

the　Divine　thought　of　which　we　are　but　an　atom　as　small　as　God　is

great；　but　we　can　feel　its　vastness；　we　can　kneel；　adore；　and　wait。

Men　ever　mislead　themselves　in　science　by　not　perceiving　that　all

things　on　their　globe　are　related　and　co…ordinated　to　the　general

evolution；　to　a　constant　movement　and　production　which　bring　with

them；　necessarily；　both　advancement　and　an　End。　Man　himself　is　not　a

finished　creation；　if　he　were；　God　would　not　Be。〃



〃How　is　it　that　in　thy　short　life　thou　hast　found　the　time　to　learn　so

many　things？〃　said　the　young　girl。



〃I　remember；〃　he　replied。



〃Thou　art　nobler　than　all　else　I　see。〃



〃We　are　the　noblest　of　God's　greatest　works。　Has　He　not　given　us　the

faculty　of　reflecting　on　Nature；　of　gathering　it　within　us　by　thought；

of　making　it　a　footstool　and　stepping…stone　from　and　by　which　to　rise

to　Him？　We　love　according　to　the　greater　or　the　lesser　portion　of

heaven　our　souls　contain。　But　do　not　be　unjust；　Minna；　behold　the

magnificence　spread　before　you。　Ocean　expands　at　your　feet　like　a

carpet；　the　mountains　resemble　ampitheatres；　heaven's　ether　is　above

them　like　the　arching　folds　of　a　stage　curtain。　Here　we　may　breathe

the　thoughts　of　God；　as　it　were　like　a　perfume。　See！　the　angry　billows

which　engulf　the　ships　laden　with　men　seem　to　us；　where　we　are；　mere

bubbles；　and　if　we　raise　our　eyes　and　look　above；　all　there　is　blue。

Behold　that　diadem　of　stars！　Here　the　tints　of　earthly　impressions

disappear；　standing　on　this　nature　rarefied　by　space　do　you　not　feel

within　you　something　deeper　far　than　mind；　grander　than　enthusiasm；　of

greater　energy　than　will？　Are　you　not　conscious　of　emotions　whose

interpretation　is　no　longer　in　us？　Do　you　not　feel　your　pinions？　Let

us　pray。〃



Seraphitus　knelt　down　and　crossed　his　hands　upon　his　breast；　while

Minna　fell；　weeping；　on　her　knees。　Thus　they　remained　for　a　time；

while　the　azure　dome　above　their　heads　grew　larger　and　strong　rays　of

light　enveloped　them　without　their　knowledge。



〃Why　dost　thou　not　weep　when　I　weep？〃　said　Minna；　in　a　broken　voice。



〃They　who　are　all　spirit　do　not　weep；〃　replied　Seraphitus　rising；　〃Why

should　I　weep？　I　see　no　longer　human　wretchedness。　Here；　Good　appears

in　all　its　majesty。　There；　beneath　us；　I　hear　the　supplications　and

the　wailings　of　that　harp　of　sorrows　which　vibrates　in　the　hands　of

captive　souls。　Here；　I　listen　to　the　choir　of　harps　harmonious。　There；

below；　is　hope；　the　glorious　inception　of　faith；　but　here　is　faithit

reigns；　hope　realized！〃



〃You　will　never　love　me；　I　am　too　imperfect；　you　disdain　me；〃　said　the

young　girl。



〃Minna；　the　violet　hidden　at　the　feet　of　the　oak　whispers　to　itself：

'The　sun　does　not　love　me；　he　comes　not。'　The　sun　says：　'If　my　rays

shine　upon　her　she　will　perish；　poor　flower。'　Friend　of　the　flower；　he

sends　his　beams　through　the　oak　leaves；　he　veils；　he　tempers　them；　and

thus　they　color　the　petals　of　his　beloved。　I　have　not　veils　enough；　I

fear　lest　you　see　me　too　closely；　you　would　tremble　if　you　knew　me

better。　Listen：　I　have　no　taste　for　earthly　fruits。　Your　joys；　I　know

them　all　too　well；　and；　like　the　sated　emperors　of　pagan　Rome；　I　have

reached　disgust　of　all　things；　I　have　received　the　gift　of　vision。

Leave　me！　abandon　me！〃　he　murmured；　sorrowfully。



Seraphitus　turned　and　seated　himself　on　a　projecting　rock；　dropping

his　head　upon　his　breast。



〃Why　do　you　drive　me　to　despair？〃　said　Minna。



〃Go；　go！〃　cried　Seraphitus；　〃I　have　nothing　that　you　want　of　me。　Your

love　is　too　earthly　for　my　love。　Why　do　you　not　love　Wilfrid？　Wilfrid

is　a　man；　tested　by　passions；　he　would　clasp　you　in　his　vigorous　arms

and　make　you　feel　a　hand　both　broad　and　strong。　His　hair　is　black；　his

eyes　are　full　of　human　thoughts；　his　heart　pours　lava　in　every　word　he

utters；　he　could　kill　you　with　caresses。　Let　him　be　your　beloved；　your

husband！　Yes；　thine　be　Wilfrid！〃



Minna　wept　aloud。



〃Dare　you　say　that　you　do　not　love　him？〃　he　went　on；　in　a　voice　which

pierced　her　like　a　da