seraphita-第5节

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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　dagger。



〃Have　mercy；　have　mercy；　my　Seraphitus！〃



〃Love　him；　poor　child　of　Earth　to　which　thy　destiny　has　indissolubly

bound　thee；〃　said　the　strange　being；　beckoning　Minna　by　a　gesture；　and

forcing　her　to　the　edge　of　the　saeter；　whence　he　pointed　downward　to　a

scene　that　might　well　inspire　a　young　girl　full　of　enthusiasm　with　the

fancy　that　she　stood　above　this　earth。



〃I　longed　for　a　companion　to　the　kingdom　of　Light；　I　wished　to　show

you　that　morsel　of　mud；　I　find　you　bound　to　it。　Farewell。　Remain　on

earth；　enjoy　through　the　senses；　obey　your　nature；　turn　pale　with

pallid　men；　blush　with　women；　sport　with　children；　pray　with　the

guilty；　raise　your　eyes　to　heaven　when　sorrows　overtake　you；　tremble；

hope；　throb　in　all　your　pulses；　you　will　have　a　companion；　you　can

laugh　and　weep；　and　give　and　receive。　I；I　am　an　exile；　far　from

heaven；　a　monster；　far　from　earth。　I　live　of　myself　and　by　myself。　I

feel　by　the　spirit；　I　breathe　through　my　brow；　I　see　by　thought；　I　die

of　impatience　and　of　longing。　No　one　here　below　can　fulfil　my　desires

or　calm　my　griefs。　I　have　forgotten　how　to　weep。　I　am　alone。　I　resign

myself；　and　I　wait。〃



Seraphitus　looked　at　the　flowery　mound　on　which　he　had　seated　Minna；

then　he　turned　and　faced　the　frowning　heights；　whose　pinnacles　were

wrapped　in　clouds；　to　them　he　cast；　unspoken；　the　remainder　of　his

thoughts。



〃Minna；　do　you　hear　those　delightful　strains？〃　he　said　after　a　pause；

with　the　voice　of　a　dove；　for　the　eagle's　cry　was　hushed；　〃it　is　like

the　music　of　those　Eolian　harps　your　poets　hang　in　forests　and　on　the

mountains。　Do　you　see　the　shadowy　figures　passing　among　the　clouds；

the　winged　feet　of　those　who　are　making　ready　the　gifts　of　heaven？

They　bring　refreshment　to　the　soul；　the　skies　are　about　to　open　and

shed　the　flowers　of　spring　upon　the　earth。　See；　a　gleam　is　darting

from　the　pole。　Let　us　fly；　let　us　fly！　It　is　time　we　go！〃



In　a　moment　their　skees　were　refastened；　and　the　pair　descended　the

Falberg　by　the　steep　slopes　which　join　the　mountain　to　the　valleys　of

the　Sieg。　Miraculous　perception　guided　their　course；　or；　to　speak　more

properly；　their　flight。　When　fissures　covered　with　snow　intercepted

them；　Seraphitus　caught　Minna　in　his　arms　and　darted　with　rapid

motion；　lightly　as　a　bird；　over　the　crumbling　causeways　of　the　abyss。

Sometimes；　while　propelling　his　companion；　he　deviated　to　the　right　or

left　to　avoid　a　precipice；　a　tree；　a　projecting　rock；　which　he　seemed

to　see　beneath　the　snow；　as　an　old　sailor；　familiar　with　the　ocean；

discerns　the　hidden　reefs　by　the　color；　the　trend；　or　the　eddying　of

the　water。　When　they　reached　the　paths　of　the　Siegdahlen；　where　they

could　fearlessly　follow　a　straight　line　to　regain　the　ice　of　the

fiord；　Seraphitus　stopped　Minna。



〃You　have　nothing　to　say　to　me？〃　he　asked。



〃I　thought　you　would　rather　think　alone；〃　she　answered　respectfully。



〃Let　us　hasten；　Minette；　it　is　almost　night；〃　he　said。



Minna　quivered　as　she　heard　the　voice；　now　so　changed；　of　her　guide；

a　pure　voice；　like　that　of　a　young　girl；　which　dissolved　the　fantastic

dream　through　which　she　had　been　passing。　Seraphitus　seemed　to　be

laying　aside　his　male　force　and　the　too　keen　intellect　that　flames

from　his　eyes。　Presently　the　charming　pair　glided　across　the　fiord　and

reached　the　snow…field　which　divides　the　shore　from　the　first　range　of

houses；　then；　hurrying　forward　as　daylight　faded；　they　sprang　up　the

hill　toward　the　parsonage；　as　though　they　were　mounting　the　steps　of　a

great　staircase。



〃My　father　must　be　anxious；〃　said　Minna。



〃No；〃　answered　Seraphitus。



As　he　spoke　the　couple　reached　the　porch　of　the　humble　dwelling　where

Monsieur　Becker；　the　pastor　of　Jarvis；　sat　reading　while　awaiting　his

daughter　for　the　evening　meal。



〃Dear　Monsieur　Becker；〃　said　Seraphitus；　〃I　have　brought　Minna　back　to

you　safe　and　sound。〃



〃Thank　you；　mademoiselle；〃　said　the　old　man；　laying　his　spectacles　on

his　book；　〃you　must　be　very　tired。〃



〃Oh；　no；〃　said　Minna；　and　as　she　spoke　she　felt　the　soft　breath　of　her

companion　on　her　brow。



〃Dear　heart；　will　you　come　day　after　to…morrow　evening　and　take　tea

with　me？〃



〃Gladly；　dear。〃



〃Monsieur　Becker；　you　will　bring　her；　will　you　not？〃



〃Yes；　mademoiselle。〃



Seraphitus　inclined　his　head　with　a　pretty　gesture；　and　bowed　to　the

old　pastor　as　he　left　the　house。　A　few　moments　later　he　reached　the

great　courtyard　of　the　Swedish　villa。　An　old　servant；　over　eighty

years　of　age；　appeared　in　the　portico　bearing　a　lantern。　Seraphitus

slipped　off　his　snow…shoes　with　the　graceful　dexterity　of　a　woman；

then　darting　into　the　salon　he　fell　exhausted　and　motionless　on　a　wide

divan　covered　with　furs。



〃What　will　you　take？〃　asked　the　old　man；　lighting　the　immensely　tall

wax…candles　that　are　used　in　Norway。



〃Nothing；　David；　I　am　too　weary。〃



Seraphitus　unfastene