messer marco polo-第6节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e　kings；　like　Baldwin　of　Constantinople。　　Mighty　wonders　were　seen　and　miracles　performed；　so　that　people　said；　〃Now　will　be　the　second　coming　of　Christ　and　the　end　of　the　world。〃

And　a　great　desire　came　on　the　Christian　people　to　tell　the　truth　of　Christ　to　the　strange　and　foreign　peoples　of　the　world。　　So　that　every　day　out　of　Jerusalem　you　would　see　friars　hitting　the　road；　some　of　them　to　confront　the　wizards　of　the　Land　of　Darkness；　and　some　to　argue　theology　with　the　old　lamas　of　Tibet；　and　some　to　convert　the　sunny　Southern　islands；　where　the　young　women　do　be　letting　down　their　hair　and　the　men　do　be　forgetting　God　for　them。　And　all　over　the　world　there　was　spreading　a　great　rumor　that　the　truth　of　all　things　was　at　last　known。

Even　Kubla　Khan　had　heard　of　it　far　off　in　China；　and　he　had　charged　the　uncle　and　father　of　Marco　with　a　message　to　the　Pope　of　Rome。　Let　the　pope　be　sending　some　theologians　to　his　court；　and　they'd　argue　the　matter　out；　and　if　he　was　satisfied　that　this　new　religion　was　the　True　Religion；　then　he'd　turn　Christian　and　tell　his　people　to　turn　Christian；　too。　　And　let　them　be　bringing　back　some　of　the　Oil　of　the　Lamp　which　burns　in　the　Holy　Sepulchre　at　Jerusalem　and　is　a　cure　for　all　the　ills　in　the　world。

And　when　they　came　to　the　City　of　Acre；　sure　the　pope　was　dead。　And　they　waited　a　long　time；　but　no　new　pope　was　chosen；　so　they　decided　to　go　back；　because　they　had　a　good　business　there；　and　they　didn't　want　to　lose　it。　　And　yet　they　knew　there'd　be　trouble　with　the　Grand　Khan；　if　they　didn't　bring　back　the　news　of　the　True　Religion　and　people　to　argue　it。

〃I've　been　a　long　time　trading；〃　says　Nicolo；　and　it's　a　queer　thing；　but　the　more　trading　you　do；　the　less　religion　you　have。　　The　arguing　of　religion　would　not　come　easy　to　me。　　And　I'd　be　up　against　experts。　I'm　not　the　man　for　it；〃　says　he。　　〃How　about　you；　Matthew？〃

〃Oh；　sure；　they'd　never　listen　to　me；〃　Matthew　laughs　　〃me　that's　drank　with　them；　and　deludhered　their　women；　and　gambled　until　I　left　them　nothing　but　the　sweat　of　their　brows。　　I'd　be　a　great　one　to　preach　religion　to　them。　　Why；　man；　they'd　laugh　at　me。　　But　I　tell　you　what；　Nicolas。　　There's　a　bishop　in　Negropont；　and　I　know　where　he　lives；　and　I　know　his　house　and　everything。　　What　do　you　say；　Nicolas？　　We'll　just　throw　a　bag　over　his　head　and　tie　him　on　a　horse。　　Oh；　sure；　he'd　give　grand　discourses　to　the　Great　Khan！〃

〃Have　sense；　Matthew；　have　sense。　　You're　always　too　rough；　always　ready　to　end　an　argument　with　a　knife；　or　just　lift　what　you　want。　Have　sense；　man；　you　can't　kidnap　a　bishop　like　you'd　kidnap　a　woman。

〃Well；　I　don't　see　why　not；〃　says　Matthew。　　〃It　would　be　easier；　too；　because　a　woman　will　scratch　like　a　wildcat。　　But　if　you're　set　against　it；　I　won't　do　it；〃　he　says。　　〃Well；　then；　how　about　young　Marco？〃

〃My　sound　man　Matthew！　　My　bully　fellow！　　Sure　you　were　never　at　a　loss　yet！　　Young　Marco　it　is；　sure；　'tis　the　elegant　idea。　　There's　not　a　man　born　of　woman　better　for　the　job。〃

Now；　all　the　Christian　world　had　gone　religious；　and　young　Marco　was　no　exception；　for't　is　not　only　the　old　that　are　religious。　The　young　are；　too；　but　there's　a　difference。　　The　religion　of　old　men　is　reason　and　translation；　the　religion　of　the　young　is　just　a　burning　cloud。　　The　Tragedy　of　the　Bitter　Tree　is　not　a　symbol　to　them；　but　a　reality；　and　their　tears　are　not　of　the　spirit；　but　of　the　body；　too。

And　there　are　no　half…way　houses；　no　compromises；　in　a　young　man's　creed。　　It's　swallow　all；　or　be　damned　to　you。　　It's　believe　or　be　lost。

And　thinking　over　the　little　girl　in　the　Chinese　garden；　there　had　come　into　Marco's　heart；　a　thought　past　enduring。　　If　little　Golden　Bells　did　not　believe；　then　little　Golden　Bells　was　lost。　　She　might　have　everything　in　this　world；　in　this　life；　an　emperor　for　a　father；　kings　for　suitors；　a　great　poet　for　a　minstrel；　a　wizard　for　an　entertainer；　but　once　the　little　blue　shadow　left　her　body；　she　was　lost　forever。　　And　the　sight　came　to　him　of　little　Golden　Bells　going　down　the　dim　and　lonely　alleys　of　death；　and　weeping；　weeping；　weeping。　。　。Her　eyes　would　be　shot　with　panic；　and　the　little　mouth　twisted；　and　the　little　flowery　hands　twitching　at　each　other。　　And　it　would　be　cold　there　for　her　who　was　so　warm；　and　it　would　be　dark　there　for　her　who　loved　light；　and　the　Golden　Bells　of　her　voice　would　be　lost　in　the　whistling　and　clanging　of　the　stars　as　they　swung　by　in　their　orbits。　　He　to　be　in　the　great　delight　of　paradise；　and　she　to　be　in　the　blue…gray　maze　between　the　worlds　　what　tragedy！

Kings　might　bring　her　presents；　a　husband　might　bring　her　happiness；　but　if　he　could　only　bring　her　salvation！　　If　he　could　only　tell　her　of　the　Bitter　Tree！

The　body；　when　you　came　to　think　of　it；　mattered　little。　　All　the　beauty　in　the　world　could　not　endure　more　than　its　appointed　span。　Helen　was　dust　now；　and　Deirdre　nothing。　　What　had　become　of　the　beauty　of　Semiramis；　Alexander's　darling；　and　Cleopatra；　who　loved　the　great　proconsul；　and　Bathsheba；　for　whom　David　of　the　Psalms　fell　from　grace？　　And　Balkis；　queen　of　Sheba；　with　her　apes；　ivory；　and　peacocks？　　Dust　and　ashes；　dust　and　ashes！　　And　Scheherazade　was　but　a　strange；　sad　sound。　　Beauty　increased　and　waned　like　the　moon。　A　little　shadow　around　the　eyes；　a　little　crinkle　in　the　neck；　the　backs　of　the　hands　stiffening　like　parchment。　　Dust　and　ashes；　dust　and　ashes！

But　the　little　blue　shadow　would　glow　like　an　Easter　morning。

Or　it　would　be　a　poor；　lonely；　unlit　shadow　in　the　cold　gloom　of　the　clanging　worlds。

Poor　Golden　Bells！　　Poor　little　weeping　Golden　Bells！　　If　he　could　only　tell　her　about　the　Bitter　Tree！

And　then　what　happens　but　his　uncle　Matthew　claps　him　on　the　back；

〃How　would　you　like　to　go　to　China；　Marco　Markeen；〃　says　he；　〃and　preach　religion　to　the　benighted　people！〃

〃How　did　you　know；　Uncle　Matthew？〃

〃How　did　I　know　what？〃

〃That　I　wanted　to　go　to　China　and　preach　religion　to　the　　the　people！〃

〃Well；　if　that　doesn't　beat　Banagher；〃　says　Matthew　Polo；　〃and　Banagher　beats　the　devil！　　Tell　me；　did　you　ever　hear　an　old　tune　called　'Bundle　and　Go！'？〃

And　so　the　three　of　them　leave　upon　their　journey；　but　at　Layas；　where　the　King　of　Armenia　had　his　castle；　they　heard　of　the　election　of　a　new　pope；　so　they　came　back　to　Acre　to　get　his　instructions　and　blessing。



CHAPTER　VII

The　pope　said　a　grand　mass　for　them；　and　at　the　gospel　he　enters　the　pulpit；　a　burly　figure　of　a　man　with　sad　eyes。

〃The　blessing　of　the　Father　and　the　Son　and　the　Holy　Ghost　be　with　you　and　about　you；　Amen。

〃It　is　not　to　you；　Nicolo　Polo；　that　I　wish　to　speak；　nor　to　you；　Matthew　Polo；　for　neither　of　you　are　my　ambassadors　to　the　Great　Khan。　Merchant　and　sportsmen；　I　honor　you；　and　you　have　my　blessing；　but　you　have　no　hopes　of　mine。　　The　dirty　diversions　of　the　world　are　between　your　eyes　and　glory；〃　said　he。　　〃It's　only　myself；　an　old　and　sorrowful　man；　and　this　child；　a　young　and　hopeful　one；　can　understand；　old　men　having　sight　of　visions；　and　young　men　dreaming　dreams。　。　。

〃Now　in　the　matter　of　converting　the　Great　Khan　and　his　numerous　millions；　first　let　wisdom　speak。　　I　have　little　hopes。　　He　wants　to　be　argued　into　it；　you　see。　　Religion　is　not　a　matter　of　argument。　It　is　a　wisdom　that　surpasses　wisdom。　　It　drifts　in　men's　souls　as　the　foggy　dew　comes　unbidden　to　the　trees。　　It　is　born　before　our　soul；　as　the　horned　moon　is　born　before　our　eyes。

〃And　now；　my　child；　you　might　say；　'What　is　the　use　of　sending　me　to　China　if　he　knows　I　cannot　bring　these　millions　into　the　fold？　My　dear　son；　there　is　the　wisdom　surpassing　wisdom。　　A　great　and　　noble　thought　must　not　die。　　Things　of　the　spirit　we　cannot　reckon　as　a　husband…man　reckons　his　crops。　　There　is　a　folk　on　the　marches　of　Europe；　and　they　are　ever　going　into　battle；　and　they　always　fall。　Their　results　are　nothing。　　But　their　name　and　their　glory　will　endure　forever。　。　。

〃My　dear　son；　God　has　put　wisdom　in　my　head　and　beauty　into　yours。　Wisdom　is　needed　for　the　governance　of　this　world；　but　beauty　is　needed　for　its　existence。　　In　arid　deserts　there　is　no　life。　　Birds　do　not　sing　in　the　dark　of　night。　　Show　me　a　waste　country；　and　I'll　show　you　a　brutal　people。　　No　faith　can　live　that　is　not　beautiful。　。　。

〃The　beauty　God　has　put　in　your　heart；　child；　you　must　always　keep　。　。　。How　much　I　think　of　it　I'll　tell　you。　　I'm　an　old　man　now；　an　old　and　broken　man；　and　in　a　few　years　I'll　stand　before　my　Master。

〃'What　have　you　seen　on　my　earth；'　He'll　ask　me；　'you　who　followed　St。　Peter！'

〃'Lord！　　Lord！'　I'll　tell　Him；　'I've　seen　mighty　things。　　I've　seen　the　bridegroom　leave　his　bride　and　the　king　his　kingdom；　the　huckster　leave　his　booth；　and　the　reaper　drop　his　hook；　that　they　might　rescue　Your　Holy　Sepulchre　from　pagan　hands。'

〃'And　anything　else？'　　He'll　ask。

〃'And　I've　seen　a　young　man　go　out　into　the　desert　and　over　his　head　was　a　star。　。　。'

〃You　may　think　you　have　failed；　child；　but　remember　that　in　the　coming　times　your　name　and　fame　will　awaken　beauty；　and　many's　the　traveler　on　the　hard　road　will　find　his　courage　again；　and　he　thinking　of　Marco　Polo。　　And　many's　the　young　man　will　dream　dreams；　and　many's　the　old　man　will　see　visi