lucile-第12章
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love…tales； He has laugh'd with the girls； he has leap'd with the boys； Ever blithe； ever bold； ever boon； he enjoys An existence untroubled by envy or strife； While he feeds on the dews and the juices of life。 And so lightly he sings； and so gayly he rides； For BERNARD LE SAUTEUR is the king of all guides！
V。
But Bernard found； that day； neither song not love…tale； Nor adventure； nor laughter； nor legend avail To arouse from his deep and profound revery Him that silent beside him rode fast as could be。
VI。
Ascending the mountain they slacken'd their pace； And the marvellous prospect each moment changed face。 The breezy and pure inspirations of morn Breathed about them。 The scarp'd ravaged mountains； all worn By the torrents； whose course they watch'd faintly meander； Were alive with the diamonded shy salamander。 They paused o'er the bosom of purple abysses； And wound through a region of green wildernesses； The waters went whirling above and around； The forests hung heap'd in their shadows profound。 Here the Larboust； and there Aventin； Castellon； Which the Demon of Tempest； descending upon； Had wasted with fire； and the peaceful Cazeaux They mark'd； and far down in the sunshine below； Half dipp'd in a valley of airiest blue； The white happy homes of the valley of Oo； Where the age is yet golden。 And high overhead The wrecks of the combat of Titans were spread。 Red granite； and quartz； in the alchemic sun； Fused their splendors of crimson and crystal in one； And deep in the moss gleam'd the delicate shells； And the dew linger'd fresh in the heavy harebells； The large violet burn'd； the campanula blue； And Autumn's own flower； the saffron； peer'd through The red…berried brambles and thick sassafras； And fragrant with thyme was the delicate grass； And high up； and higher； and highest of all； The secular phantom of snow！ O'er the wall Of a gray sunless glen gaping drowsy below； That aerial spectre； reveal'd in the glow Of the great golden dawn； hovers faint on the eye And appears to grow in； and grow out of； the sky And plays with the fancy； and baffles the sight。 Only reach'd by the vast rosy ripple of light； And the cool star of eve； the Imperial Thing； Half unreal； like some mythological king That dominates all in a fable of old； Takes command of a valley as fair to behold As aught in old fables； and； seen or unseen； Dwells aloof over all； in the vast and serene Sacred sky； where the footsteps of spirits are furl'd 'Mid the clouds beyond which spreads the infinite world Of man's last aspirations； unfathom'd； untrod； Save by Even and Morn； and the angels of God。
VII。
Meanwhile； as they journey'd； that serpentine road； Now abruptly reversed； unexpectedly show'd A gay cavalcade some few feet in advance。 Alfred Vargrave's heart beat； for he saw at a glance The slight form of Lucile in the midst。 His next look Show'd him； joyously ambling beside her； the Duke The rest of the troop which had thus caught his ken He knew not； nor noticed them （women and men）。 They were laughing and talking together。 Soon after His sudden appearance suspended their laughter。
VIII。
〃You here！ 。 。 。 I imagined you far on your way To Bigorre！〃 。 。 。 said Lucile。 〃What has caused you to stay？〃 〃I AM on my way to Bigorre；〃 he replied； 〃But since MY way would seem to be YOURS； let me ride For one moment beside you。〃 And then； with a stoop At her ear； 。 。 。 〃and forgive me！〃
IX。
By this time the troop Had regather'd its numbers。 Lucile was as pale As the cloud 'neath their feet； on its way to the vale。 The Duke had observed it； nor quitted her side； For even one moment； the whole of the ride。 Alfred smiled； as he thought； 〃he is jealous of her！〃 And the thought of this jealousy added a spur To his firm resolution and effort to please。 He talk'd much； was witty； and quite at his ease。
X。
After noontide； the clouds； which had traversed the east Half the day； gather'd closer； and rose and increased。 The air changed and chill'd。 As though out of the ground； There ran up the trees a confused hissing sound； And the wind rose。 The guides sniff'd； like chamois； the air； And look'd at each other； and halted； and there Unbuckled the cloaks from the saddles。 The white Aspens rustled； and turn'd up their frail leaves in fright。 All announced the approach of the tempest。 Erelong； Thick darkness descended the mountains among； And a vivid； vindictive； and serpentine flash Gored the darkness； and shore it across with a gash。 The rain fell in large heavy drops。 And anon Broke the thunder。 The horses took fright； every one。 The Duke's in a moment was far out of sight。 The guides whoop'd。 The band was obliged to alight； And； dispersed up the perilous pathway； walk'd blind To the darkness before from the darkness behind。
XI。
And the Storm is abroad in the mountains！ He fills The crouch'd hollows and all the oracular hills With dread voices of power。 A roused million or more Of wild echoes reluctantly rise from their hoar Immemorial ambush； and roll in the wake Of the cloud； whose reflection leaves vivid the lake。 And the wind； that wild robber； for plunder descends From invisible lands； o'er those black mountain ends； He howls as he hounds down his prey； and his lash Tears the hair of the timorous wan mountain…ash； That clings to the rocks； with her garments all torn； Like a woman in fear； then he blows his hoarse horn And is off； the fierce guide of destruction and terror； Up the desolate heights； 'mid an intricate error Of mountain and mist。
XII。
There is war in the skies！ Lo！ the black…winged legions of tempest arise O'er those sharp splinter'd rocks that are gleaming below In the soft light； so fair and so fatal； as though Some seraph burn'd through them； the thunderbolt searching Which the black cloud unbosom'd just now。 Lo！ the lurching And shivering pine…trees； like phantoms； that seem To waver above； in the dark； and yon stream； How it hurries and roars； on its way to the white And paralyzed lake there； appall'd at the sight of the things seen in heaven！
XIII。
Through the darkness and awe That had gather'd around him； Lord Alfred now saw； Reveal'd in the fierce and evanishing glare Of the lightning that momently pulsed through the air A woman alone on a shelf of the hill； With her cheek coldly propp'd on her hand；and as still As the rock that she sat on； which beetled above The black lake beneath her。 All terror； all love Added speed to the instinct with which he rush'd on。 For one moment the blue lightning swathed the whole stone In its lurid embrace： like the sleek dazzling snake That encircles a sorceress； charm'd for her sake And lull'd by her loveliness； fawning； it play'd And caressingly twined round the feet and the head Of the woman who sat there； undaunted and calm As the soul of that solitude； listing the psalm Of the plangent and laboring tempests roll slow From the caldron of midnight and vapor below。 Next moment from bastion to bastion； all round； Of the siege…circled mountains； there tumbled the sound Of the battering thunder's indefinite peal； And Lord Alfred had sprung to the feet of Lucile。
XIV。
She started。 Once more； with its flickering wand； The lightning approach'd her。 In terror； her hand Alfred Vargrave had seized within his； and he felt The light fingers； that coldly and lingeringly dwelt In the grasp of his own； tremble faintly。 〃See！ see！ Where the whirlwind hath stricken and strangled yon tree！〃 She exclaim'd； 。 。 。 〃like the passion that brings on its breath； To the being it embraces； destruction and death！ Alfred Vargrave； the lightning is round you！〃 〃Lucile！ I hearI seenaught but yourself。 I can feel Nothing here but your presence。 My pride fights in vain With the truth that leaps from me。 We two meet again 'Neath yon terrible heaven that is w
