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第2节

the nightingale and the rose-第2节

小说: the nightingale and the rose 字数: 每页4000字

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soul of a man and a maid。



And a delicate flush of pink came into the leaves of the rose; like

the flush in the face of the bridegroom when he kisses the lips of

the bride。  But the thorn had not yet reached her heart; so the

rose's heart remained white; for only a Nightingale's heart's…blood

can crimson the heart of a rose。



And the Tree cried to the Nightingale to press closer against the

thorn。  〃Press closer; little Nightingale;〃 cried the Tree; 〃or the

Day will come before the rose is finished。〃



So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn; and the thorn

touched her heart; and a fierce pang of pain shot through her。

Bitter; bitter was the pain; and wilder and wilder grew her song;

for she sang of the Love that is perfected by Death; of the Love

that dies not in the tomb。



And the marvellous rose became crimson; like the rose of the

eastern sky。  Crimson was the girdle of petals; and crimson as a

ruby was the heart。



But the Nightingale's voice grew fainter; and her little wings

began to beat; and a film came over her eyes。  Fainter and fainter

grew her song; and she felt something choking her in her throat。



Then she gave one last burst of music。  The white Moon heard it;

and she forgot the dawn; and lingered on in the sky。  The red rose

heard it; and it trembled all over with ecstasy; and opened its

petals to the cold morning air。  Echo bore it to her purple cavern

in the hills; and woke the sleeping shepherds from their dreams。

It floated through the reeds of the river; and they carried its

message to the sea。



〃Look; look!〃 cried the Tree; 〃the rose is finished now〃; but the

Nightingale made no answer; for she was lying dead in the long

grass; with the thorn in her heart。



And at noon the Student opened his window and looked out。



〃Why; what a wonderful piece of luck!〃 he cried; 〃here is a red

rose!  I have never seen any rose like it in all my life。  It is so

beautiful that I am sure it has a long Latin name〃; and he leaned

down and plucked it。



Then he put on his hat; and ran up to the Professor's house with

the rose in his hand。



The daughter of the Professor was sitting in the doorway winding

blue silk on a reel; and her little dog was lying at her feet。



〃You said that you would dance with me if I brought you a red

rose;〃 cried the Student。  〃Here is the reddest rose in all the

world。  You will wear it to…night next your heart; and as we dance

together it will tell you how I love you。〃



But the girl frowned。



〃I am afraid it will not go with my dress;〃 she answered; 〃and;

besides; the Chamberlain's nephew has sent me some real jewels; and

everybody knows that jewels cost far more than flowers。〃



〃Well; upon my word; you are very ungrateful;〃 said the Student

angrily; and he threw the rose into the street; where it fell into

the gutter; and a cart…wheel went over it。



〃Ungrateful!〃 said the girl。  〃I tell you what; you are very rude;

and; after all; who are you?  Only a Student。  Why; I don't believe

you have even got silver buckles to your shoes as the Chamberlain's

nephew has〃; and she got up from her chair and went into the house。



〃What I a silly thing Love is;〃 said the Student as he walked away。

〃It is not half as useful as Logic; for it does not prove anything;

and it is always telling one of things that are not going to

happen; and making one believe things that are not true。  In fact;

it is quite unpractical; and; as in this age to be practical is

everything; I shall go back to Philosophy and study Metaphysics。〃



So he returned to his room and pulled out a great dusty book; and

began to read。

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