messer marco polo-第9节

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in　warm；　brown　October；　and　all　of　it's　gone　by　me。　　And　in　a　little　while　I'll　sleep；　and　'tis　I　need　it；　God　help　me！　　The　old　don't　sleep　much；　wee　Golden　Bells；　so　'tis　a　comfort　to　look　forward　to　one's　rest　after　the　hardness　of　the　world。　　In　a　hundred　or　more　years　or　five　hundred；　just　as　the　fancy　takes　me；　I'll　wake　up　for　a　while　and　wander　down　the　world　to　hear　the　people　sing　my　songs；　and　then　I'll　go　back　to　my　sleep。〃

And　she　was　going　to　ask　him　another　question　when　the　Sanang　came　up。　The　magician　was　a　thick　man　with　merry　eyes　and　a　cruel　mouth。

〃Golden　Bells；〃　he　says；　〃there's　rare　entertainment　in　the　crystal　glass。〃

〃What　is　it；　Sanang！〃

〃The　warlocks　of　the　Gobi　have　a　young　lad　down；　and　they're　waiting　until　the　soul　comes　out　of　his　body。　　Come；　I'll　show　you。〃

And　in　the　crystal　glass　he　showed　her　Marco　Polo；　and　the　knees　going　from　under　him　in　the　roaring　sands。　　She　gave　a　quick　cry　of　pity。

〃Oh；　the　poor　lad！〃

Sanang　chuckled。　　〃He　started　out　with　a　big　caravan　to　preach　what　he　thought　was　a　truth　to　China。　　I've　been　watching　him　all　along；　and　it's　been　rare　sport。　　I　knew　it　would　come　to　this。〃

〃Couldn't　you　save　him；　Sanang？〃　she　cried。　　〃O；　Sanang；　he's　so　young；　and　he　set　out　to　come　to　us。　　Couldn't　you　save　him？〃

〃Well；　I　might。〃　　Sanang　was　not　pleased。　　〃It'll　be　a　while　before　the　shadow　comes　out　of　him。　　But　it　would　be　rare　sport　to　watch　and　see　the　warlocks　and　the　ghouls　and　the　goblins　set　on　it　the　way　terriers　do　be　setting　on　an　otter。〃

〃Oh；　save　him；　Sanang！　Save　him！〃

〃Now；　Golden　Bells；　I　might　be　able　to　save　him；　and　again　I　mightn't。〃

〃Save　him；　Sanang！〃　　Li　Po　broke　in。　　〃Save　him　the　way　the　wee　one　wants。　　For　if　you　don't；　Sanang；　I'll　write　a　song　about　you　that'll　be　remembered　for　generations；　and　they'll　point　out　your　grandchildren　and　your　grandchildren's　grandchildren；　and　they'll　laugh　and　sing　Li　Po's　song：

〃'There　was　a　fat　worm　who　considered　himself　a　serpent　　'〃

〃Oh；　now；　Li　Po；　for　God's　sake；　let　you　not　be　composing　poems　on　me；　for　'tis　you　have　the　bitter　tongue。　　Promise　me　now；　and　I'll　save　him。　　We'll　send　for　the　keeper　of　the　khan's　drums。〃

And　they　sent　for　the　keeper；　and　Sanang　gave　a　message　to　be　put　on　the　Speaking　Drums。

〃Let　you　now；〃　he　told　his　helper；　〃get　me　the　Distant　Ears。〃

And　the　helper　brought　him　the　Golden　Ears；　which　were　the　like　of　a　great　bird's　wings；　and　he　put　them　on　his　head　and　he　listened。

〃I　hear　the　drums　of　the　battlements；〃　he　said；　〃。　。　。and　I　hear　the　Drums　of　the　Hill　of　Graves。　。　。〃

And　he　listened　a　while；　and　Golden　Bells　was　white。

〃I　hear　the　Drums　of　the　Dim　Mountain；〃。　。　。and　for　a　while　he　said　nothing。

〃Those　would　be　the　drums　of　Yung　Chang。　。　。〃

〃I　hear　the　Drums　of　Kai　Yu　Kwan；〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　Sanang；　yes。〃　　Little　Golden　Bells　was　one　quiver　of　fear。

〃I　hear　the　Drums　of　the　Convent　of　the　Red　Monks；〃　said　Sanang。　〃I　hear　drums　calling　the　Tatar　tribes。　。　。I　hear　the　slap　of　saddles。　I　hear　the　jingle　of　bits。　。　。I　hear　galloping　ponies。　。　。〃

〃Yes；　Sanang；　Oh；　hurry；　Sanang！　　hurry！〃

He　listened　a　little　while　longer；　and　then　he　took　off　the　Distant　Ears。

〃Your　man's　saved；〃　he　said。

Then　little　Golden　Bells　laughed　and　then　she　cried。　　She　caught　Li　Po's　hand　and　laughed　again　and　again　she　cried。　　Sanang　shook　his　head　to　get　out　of　his　ears　the　deafening　noises　of　the　world。　And　Li　Po　smiled　out　of　his　sad　eyes。

〃I　think　I'll　go　and　write　a　marriage…song；　Golden　Bells。

〃Whom　will　you　write　the　marriage…song　for；　Li　Po？〃

〃I'll　write　it　for　you；　Golden　Bells。〃

〃But　I'm　not　going　to　be　married；　Li　Po。　　There　is　no　one。　　I　love　no　one；　Li　Po。　　I　do　not。　　I　do　not；　indeed。〃

〃Then　take　your　lute　and　sing　me　the　'Song　of　the　Willow　Branches；'　which　is　the　saddest　song　in　the　world。〃

She　shook　her　head；　and　blushed。　　〃I　cannot　sing　that　song；　Li　Po。　I　don't　feel　like　singing　that　song。〃

〃Then　I　must　write　you　another　song；　Little　Golden　Bells。　。　。〃



CHAPTER　XIII

And　now　when　Marco　Polo　was　rested　and　had　recovered；　they　brought　him　from　the　Convent　of　the　Red　Monks　to　where　the　khan　was　in　the　city　of　Chandu。　　Now；　there　were　two　palaces　in　Chandu；　there　was　the　winter　palace；　which　was　of　marble；　and　the　summer　palace；　which　was　of　gilt　cane。　　Around　these　palaces　there　was　built　a　wall　sixteen　miles　in　compass；　and　inside　of　it　was　a　park　of　fountains；　and　rivers　and　brooks　with　the　speckled　trout　in　them；　and　meadows　with　the　lark　at　her　ease　in　the　grass；　and　trees　of　all　varieties　where　the　little　birds　do　be　building　and　none　to　grudge　them　a　home。　　And　all　the　wild　animals　were　abundant；　the　timid　hare　and　the　wild　deer　and　the　wee　croaking　frogs；　long…legged　colts　by　their　white　mothers；　and　little　dogs　tumbling　over　themselves　with　the　sport　of　spring。　　Brown　bees　among　the　clover；　strawberries　in　profusion；　trees　would　delight　your　eyes；　and　brown　cows　and　black　cows；　and　dappled　moilies　under　the　great　leaves　of　them；　and　lambs　would　be　snowy　of　fleece。　　All　the　flowers　of　the　world　were　there；　the　paradise　of　wild　things　it　was；　the　park　of　Kubla　Khan。

　　　〃In　Xanadu　did　Kubla　Khan；〃　quoted　young　Randall；　　　　〃A　stately　pleasure　dome　decree；　　　　Where　Alph；　the　sacred　river；　ran　　　　Through　caverns　measureless　to　man；　　　　Down　to　a　sunless　sea。　　　　So　twice　five　miles　of　fertile　ground　　　　With　walls　and　towers　were　girdled　round：　　　　And　there　were　gardens；　bright　with　sinuous　rills；　　　　Where　blossomed　many　an　incense…bearing　tree；　　　　And　here　were　forests　ancient　as　the　hills；　　　　Enfolding　sunny　spots　of　greenery。〃

〃Whose　poem　is　that　poem；　Brian　0ge？〃

〃It　is　a　poem　of　Coleridge's；　Malachi。〃

〃I　though　it　was　maybe　a　poem　of　Colquitto　Dall　McCracken　of　Skye；　that　one　of　you　lads　had　put　English　on。　　It　is　a　poem　of　the　head；　you　ken；　and　Colquitto；　being　a　dark　man；　could　only　see　with　the　eye's　ghost。　　But　it　hasn't　the　warmth；　the　life　of　the　work　of　Blind　Colquitto；　Brian　Oge；　do　you　mind　the　poem　Angus　More　Campbell　of　Rathlin　wrote　to　Colquitto　Dall？〃

〃'Is　aoibhinn　duid；　Colquitto　Dall；'〃　　I　remembered：　〃It　is　happy　for　thee；　blind　Colquitto；　who　dost　not　see　much　of　women。　　If　thou　wert　to　see　what　we　see；　thou　wouldst　be　tormented　even　as　I　am。　My　sorrow；　O　God；　that　I　was　not　stricken　blind　before　I　saw　her　amber；　twisted　hair！〃

〃That's　it；　that's　it；　Brian　Oge。　　But　this　is　not　the　place　to　be　talking　of　poetry。　　There　is　no　poetry　in　this　story。

〃I　will　now　tell　you　of　Marco　Polo　and　him　entering　the　presence　of　the　great　khan。　。　。〃



CHAPTER　XIV

And　Marco　Polo　was　brought　into　the　presence。　　And　among　all　assembled　there　you　could　hear　a　pin　drop。

At　the　north　end　of　the　great　hall　sat　the　Khan　himself；　and　Marco　Polo　nearly　dropped　with　surprise；　for　where　he　expected　a　great；　magnificent　figure　of　a　man；　with　majesty　shining　from　his　eyes；　he　saw　only　a　pleasant；　bearded　man；　not　quarter　so　well　dressed　as　the　meanest　servant　on　the　room；　and　a　fine；　welcoming　smile　in　his　face。　　His　throne　was　elevated　so　that　his　feet　were　on　the　level　of　the　heads　of　the　kinsmen　of　the　Blood　Royal　beneath　him；　and　they　in　silk　and　ermine　and　fine　brocades　and　jewels。　　And　beneath　these　were　the　barons　and　dukes　and　knights。　　And　beneath　these　were　the　captains　of　the　fighting　men；　three　thousand　and　three。　And　beneath　these　were　the　musicians　and　the　sorcerers。　　And　behind　Kubla　Khan；　very　big；　very　erect；　stood　his　three　great　servants；　the　Keeper　of　the　Hunting　Leopards；　the　Keeper　of　the　Speaking　Drums；　and　the　Keeper　of　the　Khan's　Swords。

And　beside　Kubla　Khan；　on　a　little　throne；　sat　Golden　Bells。　。　。　And　it　was　the　sight　of　her　more　than　the　sight　of　the　great　assembly　that　dumbed　the　words　in　his　mouth。　　And　Kubla　was　smiling　at　him；　and　she　was　smiling；　too。

And　Kubla　saw　there　was　something　wrong　with　him；　that　there　was　embarrassment　on　him　and　he　rose　from　his：　throne。

〃There　is　welcome　for　you　here；　Marco　Polo；　and　no　enmity。　　There　is　interest；　in　and　eagerness　for　your　message。　　There　is　none　here　will　criticize　you　or　make　it　hard　for　you。　　Let　there　be　no　shame　on　you　in　speaking　before　so　many　people。　　Say　what　you　have　to　say　as　if　there　were　nobody　here；　if　that　will　help　you；　barring　myself　and　the　little　daughter　beside　me。　。　。〃

〃O　Emperor；〃　the　words　came　back　to　Marco　Polo；　〃and　ye；　great　princes；　dukes；　and　marquises；　counts；　knights；　and　burgesses；　and　people　of　all　degrees　who　desire　the　light　of　the　world；　grace　be　to　you　and　peace；　from　God　our　Father；　and　from　the　Lord　Jesus　Christ！

〃The　message　I　have　to　give　you；　I　shall　give　in　the　words　of　Him；　Whose　perfect　message　it　is：

〃'Beati　pauperes　spiritu；　　Blessed　are　the　poor　in　spirit。

〃'Quoniam　ipsorum　est　regnum　caelorum；　　for　theirs　is　the　kingdom　of　heaven。

〃'Beati　mites；　　Blessed　are　the　meek。　。　。'〃

And　Marco　Polo　went　on　and　quoted　for　them　the　words　that　were　spoken　on　the　Mount　in　Galilee。　　And　they　listened　to　him　with　great　civility　and　attention。　　And　little　Golden　Bells　leaned　forward；　with　her　chin　on　her　hands；　and　Kubla　leaned　back　in　his　throne；　with　his　eyes　half　closed。

〃'But　I　say　unto　you；　that　ye　resist　not　evil；　but　whoev