men, women and ghosts(男人、女人和鬼魂)-第2节
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was brought to me this morning by a rider from the Duke。 〃Madam； we
regret to inform you that Lord Hartwell Died in action Thursday
se'nnight。〃 As I read it in the white； morning sunlight； The letters squirmed
like snakes。 〃Any answer； Madam；〃 said my footman。 〃No；〃 I told him。
〃See that the messenger takes some refreshment。 No； no answer。〃 And I
walked into the garden； Up and down the patterned paths； In my stiff；
correct brocade。 The blue and yellow flowers stood up proudly in the sun；
Each one。 I stood upright too； Held rigid to the pattern By the stiffness of
my gown。 Up and down I walked； Up and down。
In a month he would have been my husband。 In a month； here；
underneath this lime； We would have broke the pattern； He for me； and I
for him； He as Colonel； I as Lady； On this shady seat。 He had a whim That
sunlight carried blessing。 And I answered； 〃It shall be as you have said。〃
Now he is dead。
In Summer and in Winter I shall walk Up and down The patterned
garden…paths In my stiff； brocaded gown。 The squills and daffodils Will
give place to pillared roses； and to asters； and to snow。 I shall go Up and
down； In my gown。 Gorgeously arrayed； Boned and stayed。 And the
softness of my body will be guarded from embrace By each button； hook；
and lace。 For the man who should loose me is dead； Fighting with the
Duke in Flanders； In a pattern called a war。 Christ！ What are patterns
for？
Pickthorn Manor
I
How fresh the Dartle's little waves that day！ A steely silver；
underlined with blue； And flashing where the round clouds； blown away；
Let drop the yellow sunshine to gleam through And tip the edges of the
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waves with shifts And spots of whitest fire； hard like gems Cut
from the midnight moon they were； and sharp As wind through leafless
stems。 The Lady Eunice walked between the drifts Of blooming cherry…
trees； and watched the rifts Of clouds drawn through the river's azure
warp。
II
Her little feet tapped softly down the path。 Her soul was listless；
even the morning breeze Fluttering the trees and strewing a light swath
Of fallen petals on the grass； could please Her not at all。 She brushed a
hair aside With a swift move； and a half…angry frown。 She stopped
to pull a daffodil or two； And held them to her gown To test the colours；
put them at her side； Then at her breast； then loosened them and tried
Some new arrangement； but it would not do。
III
A lady in a Manor…house； alone； Whose husband is in Flanders with
the Duke Of Marlborough and Prince Eugene； she's grown Too apathetic
even to rebuke Her idleness。 What is she on this Earth？ No woman
surely； since she neither can Be wed nor single； must not let her mind
Build thoughts upon a man Except for hers。 Indeed that were no dearth
Were her Lord here； for well she knew his worth； And when she
thought of him her eyes were kind。
IV
Too lately wed to have forgot the wooing。 Too unaccustomed as a
bride to feel Other than strange delight at her wife's doing。 Even at the
thought a gentle blush would steal Over her face； and then her lips would
frame Some little word of loving； and her eyes Would brim and
spill their tears； when all they saw Was the bright sun； slantwise Through
burgeoning trees； and all the morning's flame Burning and quivering round
her。 With quick shame She shut her heart and bent before the law。
V
He was a soldier； she was proud of that。 This was his house and she
would keep it well。 His honour was in fighting； hers in what He'd left her
here in charge of。 Then a spell Of conscience sent her through the
orchard spying Upon the gardeners。 Were their tools about？ Were
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Men； Women and Ghosts
any branches broken？ Had the weeds Been duly taken out Under the
'spaliered pears； and were these lying Nailed snug against the sunny bricks
and drying Their leaves and satisfying all their needs？
VI
She picked a stone up with a little pout； Stones looked so ill in well…
kept flower…borders。 Where should she put it？ All the paths about Were
strewn with fair； red gravel by her orders。 No stone could mar their sifted
smoothness。 So She hurried to the river。 At the edge She stood
a moment charmed by the swift blue Beyond the river sedge。 She
watched it curdling； crinkling； and the snow Purfled upon its wave…tops。
Then； 〃Hullo； My Beauty； gently； or you'll wriggle through。〃
VII
The Lady Eunice caught a willow spray To save herself from
tumbling in the shallows Which rippled to her feet。 Then straight away
She peered down stream among the budding sallows。 A youth in leather
breeches and a shirt Of finest broidered lawn lay out upon An
overhanging bole and deftly swayed A well…hooked fish which shone In
the pale lemon sunshine like a spurt Of silver； bowed and damascened；
and girt With crimson spots and moons which waned and played。
VIII
The fish hung circled for a moment； ringed And bright； then flung
itself out； a thin blade Of spotted lightning； and its tail was winged With
chipped and sparkled sunshine。 And the shade Broke up and splintered
into shafts of light Wheeling about the fish； who churned the air
And made the fish…line hum； and bent the rod Almost to snapping。
Care The young man took against the twigs； with slight； Deft movements
he kept fish and line in tight Obedience to his will with every prod。
IX
He lay there； and the fish hung just beyond。 He seemed uncertain
what more he should do。 He drew back； pulled the rod to correspond；
Tossed it and caught it； every time he threw； He caught it nearer to the
point。 At last The fish was near enough to touch。 He paused。
Eunice knew well the craft 〃What's got the thing！〃 She cried。
〃What can have caused Where is his net？ The moment will be past。
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The fish will wriggle free。〃 She stopped aghast。 He turned and
bowed。 One arm was in a sling。
X
The broad； black ribbon she had thought his basket Must hang from；
held instead a useless arm。 〃I do not wonder； Madam； that you ask it。〃
He smiled； for she had spoke aloud。 〃The charm Of trout fishing is in my
eyes enhanced When you must play your fish on land as well。〃
〃How will you take him？〃 Eunice asked。 〃In truth I really cannot tell。
'Twas stupid of me； but it simply chanced I never thought of that until he
glanced Into the branches。 'Tis a bit uncouth。〃
XI
He watched the fish against the blowing sky； Writhing and glittering；
pulling at the line。 〃The hook is fast； I might just let him die；〃 He mused。
〃But that would jar against your fine Sense of true sportsmanship； I know
it would；〃 Cried Eunice。 〃Let me do it。〃 Swift and light She ran
towards
