dreams-第5节

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And　I　cried；　〃At　least　he　will　not　hinder　her！　　See；　he　moves　farther　from　her；　and　tightens　the　cord　between　them；　and　he　drags　her　down。〃

And　he　answered；　〃He　does　not　understand。　　When　she　moves　she　draws　the　band　that　binds　them；　and　hurts　him；　and　he　moves　farther　from　her。　　The　day　will　come　when　he　will　understand；　and　will　know　what　she　is　doing。　　Let　her　once　stagger　on　to　her　knees。　　In　that　day　he　will　stand　close　to　her；　and　look　into　her　eyes　with　sympathy。〃

And　she　stretched　her　neck；　and　the　drops　fell　from　her。　　And　the　creature　rose　an　inch　from　the　earth　and　sank　back。

And　I　cried；　〃Oh；　she　is　too　weak！　she　cannot　walk！　　The　long　years　have　taken　all　her　strength　from　her。　　Can　she　never　move？〃

And　he　answered　me；　〃See　the　light　in　her　eyes！〃

And　slowly　the　creature　staggered　on　to　its　knees。

And　I　awoke：　　and　all　to　the　east　and　to　the　west　stretched　the　barren　earth；　with　the　dry　bushes　on　it。　　The　ants　ran　up　and　down　in　the　red　sand；　and　the　heat　beat　fiercely。　　I　looked　up　through　the　thin　branches　of　the　tree　at　the　blue　sky　overhead。　　I　stretched　myself；　and　I　mused　over　the　dream　I　had　had。　　And　I　fell　asleep　again；　with　my　head　on　my　saddle。　And　in　the　fierce　heat　I　had　another　dream。

I　saw　a　desert　and　I　saw　a　woman　coming　out　of　it。　　And　she　came　to　the　bank　of　a　dark　river；　and　the　bank　was　steep　and　high。　　（The　banks　of　an　African　river　are　sometimes　a　hundred　feet　high；　and　consist　of　deep　shifting　sands；　through　which　in　the　course　of　ages　the　river　has　worn　its　gigantic　bed。）　　And　on　it　an　old　man　met　her；　who　had　a　long　white　beard；　and　a　stick　that　curled　was　in　his　hand；　and　on　it　was　written　Reason。　　And　he　asked　her　what　she　wanted；　and　she　said　〃I　am　woman；　and　I　am　seeking　for　the　land　of　Freedom。〃

And　he　said；　〃It　is　before　you。〃

And　she　said；　〃I　see　nothing　before　me　but　a　dark　flowing　river；　and　a　bank　steep　and　high；　and　cuttings　here　and　there　with　heavy　sand　in　them。〃

And　he　said；　〃And　beyond　that？〃

She　said；　〃I　see　nothing；　but　sometimes；　when　I　shade　my　eyes　with　my　hand；　I　think　I　see　on　the　further　bank　trees　and　hills；　and　the　sun　shining　on　them！〃

He　said；　〃That　is　the　Land　of　Freedom。〃

She　said；　〃How　am　I　to　get　there？〃

He　said；　〃There　is　one　way；　and　one　only。　　Down　the　banks　of　Labour；　through　the　water　of　Suffering。　　There　is　no　other。〃

She　said；　〃Is　there　no　bridge？〃

He　answered。　　〃None。〃

She　said；　〃Is　the　water　deep？〃

He　said；　〃Deep。〃

She　said；　〃Is　the　floor　worn？〃

He　said；　〃It　is。　　Your　foot　may　slip　at　any　time；　and　you　may　be　lost。〃

She　said；　〃Have　any　crossed　already？〃

He　said；　〃Some　have　tried！〃

She　said；　〃Is　there　a　track　to　show　where　the　best　fording　is？〃

He　said；　〃It　has　to　be　made。〃

She　shaded　her　eyes　with　her　hand；　and　she　said；　〃I　will　go。〃

And　he　said；　〃You　must　take　off　the　clothes　you　wore　in　the　desert：　　they　are　dragged　down　by　them　who　go　into　the　water　so　clothed。〃

And　she　threw　from　her　gladly　the　mantle　of　Ancient…received…opinions　she　wore；　for　it　was　worn　full　of　holes。　　And　she　took　the　girdle　from　her　waist　that　she　had　treasured　so　long；　and　the　moths　flew　out　of　it　in　a　cloud。　　And　he　said；　〃Take　the　shoes　of　dependence　off　your　feet。〃

And　she　stood　there　naked；　but　for　one　white　garment　that　clung　close　to　her。

And　he　said；　〃That　you　may　keep。　　So　they　wear　clothes　in　the　Land　of　Freedom。　　In　the　water　it　buoys；　it　always　swims。〃

And　I　saw　on　its　breast　was　written　Truth；　and　it　was　white；　the　sun　had　not　often　shone　on　it；　the　other　clothes　had　covered　it　up。　　And　he　said；　〃Take　this　stick；　hold　it　fast。　　In　that　day　when　it　slips　from　your　hand　you　are　lost。　　Put　it　down　before　you；　feel　your　way：　　where　it　cannot　find　a　bottom　do　not　set　your　foot。〃

And　she　said；　〃I　am　ready；　let　me　go。〃

And　he　said；　〃Nobut　stay；　what　is　thatin　your　breast？〃

She　was　silent。

He　said；　〃Open　it；　and　let　me　see。〃

And　she　opened　it。　　And　against　her　breast　was　a　tiny　thing；　who　drank　from　it；　and　the　yellow　curls　above　his　forehead　pressed　against　it；　and　his　knees　were　drawn　up　to　her；　and　he　held　her　breast　fast　with　his　hands。

And　Reason　said；　〃Who　is　he；　and　what　is　he　doing　here？〃

And　she　said；　〃See　his　little　wings〃

And　Reason　said；　〃Put　him　down。〃

And　she　said；　〃He　is　asleep；　and　he　is　drinking！　　I　will　carry　him　to　the　Land　of　Freedom。　　He　has　been　a　child　so　long；　so　long；　I　have　carried　him。　In　the　Land　of　Freedom　he　will　be　a　man。　　We　will　walk　together　there；　and　his　great　white　wings　will　overshadow　me。　　He　has　lisped　one　word　only　to　me　in　the　desert'Passion！'　　I　have　dreamed　he　might　learn　to　say　'Friendship'　in　that　land。〃

And　Reason　said；　〃Put　him　down！〃

And　she　said；　〃I　will　carry　him　sowith　one　arm；　and　with　the　other　I　will　fight　the　water。〃

He　said；　〃Lay　him　down　on　the　ground。　　When　you　are　in　the　water　you　will　forget　to　fight；　you　will　think　only　of　him。　　Lay　him　down。〃　　He　said；　〃He　will　not　die。　　When　he　finds　you　have　left　him　alone　he　will　open　his　wings　and　fly。　　He　will　be　in　the　Land　of　Freedom　before　you。　　Those　who　reach　the　Land　of　Freedom；　the　first　hand　they　see　stretching　down　the　bank　to　help　them　shall　be　Love's。　　He　will　be　a　man　then；　not　a　child。　　In　your　breast　he　cannot　thrive；　put　him　down　that　he　may　grow。〃

And　she　took　her　bosom　from　his　mouth；　and　he　bit　her；　so　that　the　blood　ran　down　on　to　the　ground。　　And　she　laid　him　down　on　the　earth；　and　she　covered　her　wound。　　And　she　bent　and　stroked　his　wings。　　And　I　saw　the　hair　on　her　forehead　turned　white　as　snow；　and　she　had　changed　from　youth　to　age。

And　she　stood　far　off　on　the　bank　of　the　river。　　And　she　said；　〃For　what　do　I　go　to　this　far　land　which　no　one　has　ever　reached？　　Oh；　I　am　alone！　　I　am　utterly　alone！〃

And　Reason；　that　old　man；　said　to　her；　〃Silence！　　What　do　you　hear？〃

And　she　listened　intently；　and　she　said；　〃I　hear　a　sound　of　feet；　a　thousand　times　ten　thousand　and　thousands　of　thousands；　and　they　beat　this　way！〃

He　said；　〃They　are　the　feet　of　those　that　shall　follow　you。　　Lead　on！　make　a　track　to　the　water's　edge！　　Where　you　stand　now；　the　ground　will　be　beaten　flat　by　ten　thousand　times　ten　thousand　feet。〃　　And　he　said；　〃Have　you　seen　the　locusts　how　they　cross　a　stream？　　First　one　comes　down　to　the　water…edge；　and　it　is　swept　away；　and　then　another　comes　and　then　another；　and　then　another；　and　at　last　with　their　bodies　piled　up　a　bridge　is　built　and　the　rest　pass　over。〃

She　said；　〃And；　of　those　that　come　first；　some　are　swept　away；　and　are　heard　of　no　more；　their　bodies　do　not　even　build　the　bridge？〃

〃And　are　swept　away；　and　are　heard　of　no　moreand　what　of　that？〃　he　said。

〃And　what　of　that〃　she　said。

〃They　make　a　track　to　the　water's　edge。〃

〃They　make　a　track　to　the　water's　edge。〃　　And　she　said；　〃Over　that　bridge　which　shall　be　built　with　our　bodies；　who　will　pass？〃

He　said；　〃The　entire　human　race。〃

And　the　woman　grasped　her　staff。

And　I　saw　her　turn　down　that　dark　path　to　the　river。

And　I　awoke；　and　all　about　me　was　the　yellow　afternoon　light：　　the　sinking　sun　lit　up　the　fingers　of　the　milk　bushes；　and　my　horse　stood　by　me　quietly　feeding。　　And　I　turned　on　my　side；　and　I　watched　the　ants　run　by　thousands　in　the　red　sand。　　I　thought　I　would　go　on　my　way　nowthe　afternoon　was　cooler。　　Then　a　drowsiness　crept　over　me　again；　and　I　laid　back　my　head　and　fell　asleep。

And　I　dreamed　a　dream。

I　dreamed　I　saw　a　land。　　And　on　the　hills　walked　brave　women　and　brave　men；　hand　in　hand。　　And　they　looked　into　each　other's　eyes；　and　they　were　not　afraid。

And　I　saw　the　women　also　hold　each　other's　hands。

And　I　said　to　him　beside　me；　〃What　place　is　this？〃

And　he　said；　〃This　is　heaven。〃

And　I　said；　〃Where　is　it？〃

And　he　answered；　〃On　earth。〃

And　I　said；　〃When　shall　these　things　be？〃

And　he　answered；　〃IN　THE　FUTURE。〃

And　I　awoke；　and　all　about　me　was　the　sunset　light；　and　on　the　low　hills　the　sun　lay；　and　a　delicious　coolness　had　crept　over　everything；　and　the　ants　were　going　slowly　home。　　And　I　walked　towards　my　horse；　who　stood　quietly　feeding。　　Then　the　sun　passed　down　behind　the　hills；　but　I　knew　that　the　next　day　he　would　arise　again。



VI。　　A　DREAM　OF　WILD　BEES。

A　mother　sat　alone　at　an　open　window。　　Through　it　came　the　voices　of　the　children　as　they　played　under　the　acacia…trees；　and　the　breath　of　the　hot　afternoon　air。　　In　and　out　of　the　room　flew　the　bees；　the　wild　bees；　with　their　legs　yellow　with　pollen；　going　to　and　from　the　acacia…trees；　droning　all　the　while。　　She　sat　on　a　low　chair　before　the　table　and　darned。　　She　took　her　work　from　the　great　basket　that　stood　before　her　on　the　table：　　some　lay　on　her　knee　and　half　covered　the　book　that　rested　there。　　She　watched　the　needle　go　in　and　out；　and　the　dreary　hum　of　the　bees　and　the　noise　of　the　children's　voices　became　a　confused　murmur　in　her　ears；　as　she　worked　slowly　and　more　slowly。　　Then　the　bees；　the　long…legged　wasp…like　fellows　who　make　no　honey；　flew　closer　and　closer　to　her　head；　droning。　　Then　she　grew　more　and　more　drowsy；　and　she　laid　her　hand；　with　the　stocking　over　it；　on　the　edge　of　the　table；　and　leaned　her　head　upon　it。　　And　the　voices　of　the　children　outside　grew　more　and　more　dreamy；　came　now　f