men, women and ghosts(男人、女人和鬼魂)-第9节
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heads； and arms； and wheels。
A row of pencils knobbed with quartz or sard Delighted her。 And
rings of every size Turned smartly round like hoops before her eyes；
Amethyst…flamed or ruby…girdled； jarred To spokes and flashing triangles；
and starred Like rockets bursting on a festal day。 Charlotta could not tear
herself away。
With eyes glued tightly on a golden box； Whose rare enamel piqued
her with its hue； Changeable； iridescent； shuttlecocks Of shades and
lustres always darting through Its level； superimposing sheet of blue；
Charlotta did not hear footsteps approaching。 She started at the words：
〃Am I encroaching？〃
〃Oh； Heinrich； how you frightened me！ I thought We were to meet at
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three； is it quite that？〃 〃No； it is not；〃 he answered； 〃but I've caught The
trick of missing you。 One thing is flat； I cannot go on this way。 Life is
what Might best be conjured up by the word： ‘Hell'。 Dearest； when will
you come？〃 Lotta； to quell
His effervescence； pointed to the gems Within the window； asked him
to admire A bracelet or a buckle。 But one stems Uneasily the burning of
a fire。 Heinrich was chafing； pricked by his desire。 Little by little she
wooed him to her mood Until at last he promised to be good。
But here he started on another tack； To buy a jewel； which one would
Lotta choose。 She vainly urged against him all her lack Of other trinkets。
Should she dare to use A ring or brooch her husband might accuse Her of
extravagance； and ask to see A strict accounting； or still worse might be。
But Heinrich would not be persuaded。 Why Should he not give her
what he liked？ And in He went； determined certainly to buy A thing so
beautiful that it would win Her wavering fancy。 Altgelt's violin He
would outscore by such a handsome jewel That Lotta could no longer be
so cruel！
Pity Charlotta； torn in diverse ways。 If she went in with him； the
shopman might Recognize her； give her her name； in days To come he
could denounce her。 In her fright She almost fled。 But Heinrich would
be quite Capable of pursuing。 By and by She pushed the door and
entered hurriedly。
It took some pains to keep him from bestowing A pair of ruby earrings；
carved like roses； The setting twined to represent the growing Tendrils and
leaves； upon her。 〃Who supposes I could obtain such things！ It simply
closes All comfort for me。〃 So he changed his mind And bought as slight
a gift as he could find。
A locket； frosted over with seed pearls； Oblong and slim； for wearing
at the neck； Or hidden in the bosom； their joined curls Should lie in it。
And further to bedeck His love； Heinrich had picked a whiff； a fleck； The
merest puff of a thin； linked chain To hang it from。 Lotta could not
refrain
From weeping as they sauntered down the street。 She did not want the
locket； yet she did。 To have him love her she found very sweet； But it is
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hard to keep love always hid。 Then there was something in her heart which
chid Her； told her she loved Theodore in him； That all these meetings were
a foolish whim。
She thought of Theodore and the life they led； So near together； but so
little mingled。 The great clouds bulged and bellied overhead； And the fresh
wind about her body tingled； The crane of a large warehouse creaked and
jingled； Charlotta held her breath for very fear； About her in the street she
seemed to hear： 〃They call me Hanging Johnny； Away…i…oh；
They call me Hanging Johnny； So hang； boys； hang。〃
And it was Theodore； under the racing skies； Who held her and who
whispered in her ear。 She knew her heart was telling her no lies； Beating
and hammering。 He was so dear； The touch of him would send her in a
queer Swoon that was half an ecstasy。 And yearning For Theodore； she
wandered； slowly turning
Street after street as Heinrich wished it so。 He had some aim； she had
forgotten what。 Their progress was confused and very slow； But at the last
they reached a lonely spot； A garden far above the highest shot Of soaring
steeple。 At their feet； the town Spread open like a chequer…board laid
down。
Lotta was dimly conscious of the rest； Vaguely remembered how he
clasped the chain About her neck。 She treated it in jest； And saw his face
cloud over with sharp pain。 Then suddenly she felt as though a strain Were
put upon her； collared like a slave； Leashed in the meshes of this thing he
gave。
She seized the flimsy rings with both her hands To snap it； but they
held with odd persistence。 Her eyes were blinded by two wind…blown
strands Of hair which had been loosened。 Her resistance Melted within
her； from remotest distance； Misty； unreal； his face grew warm and near；
And giving way she knew him very dear。
For long he held her； and they both gazed down At the wide city； and
its blue； bridged river。 From wooing he jested with her； snipped the blown
Strands of her hair； and tied them with a sliver Cut from his own head。
But she gave a shiver When； opening the locket； they were placed Under
the glass； commingled and enlaced。
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〃When will you have it so with us？〃 He sighed。 She shook her head。
He pressed her further。 〃No； No； Heinrich； Theodore loves me；〃 and she
tried To free herself and rise。 He held her so； Clipped by his arms； she
could not move nor go。 〃But you love me；〃 he whispered； with his face
Burning against her through her kerchief's lace。
Frau Altgelt knew she toyed with fire； knew That what her husband lit
this other man Fanned to hot flame。 She told herself that few Women
were so discreet as she； who ran No danger since she knew what things to
ban。 She opened her house door at five o'clock； A short half…hour before
her husband's knock。
Part Third
The ‘Residenz…Theater' sparked and hummed With lights and people。
Gebnitz was to sing； That rare soprano。 All the fiddles strummed With
tuning up； the wood…winds made a ring Of reedy bubbling noises； and the
sting Of sharp； red brass pierced every ear…drum； patting From muffled
tympani made a dark slatting
Across the silver shimmering of flutes； A bassoon grunted； and an
oboe wailed； The 'celli pizzicato…ed like great lutes； And mutterings of
double basses trailed Away to silence； while loud harp…strings hailed Their
thin； bright colours down in such a scatter They lost themselves amid the
general clatter。
Frau Altgelt in the gallery； alone； Felt lifted up into another world。
Before her eyes a thousand candles shone In the great chandeliers。 A
maze of curled And powdered periwigs past her eyes swirled。 She smelt
the smoke of candles guttering； And caught the glint of jewelled fans
fluttering
All round her in the boxes。 Red and gold； The house； like rubies set
in filigree； Filliped the candlelight about； and bold Young sparks with eye…
glasses； unblushingly Ogled fair beauties in the balcony。 An officer went
by； his steel spurs jangling。 Behind Charlotta an old man was wrangling
About a play…bill he had bought and lost。 Three drunken soldiers had
to be ejected。 Frau Altgelt's eyes stared at the vacant post Of Concert…
Meister； she at once detected The stir which brought him。 But she felt
neglected When with no glance about him or her way； He lifted up his
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violin to play。
The curtain went up？ Perhaps。 If so； Charlotta never saw it
go。 The famous Fraeulein Gebnitz' singing Only came to her li
