herland(她乡)-第41节
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their limited history； with its straight； smooth； upreaching lines； reaching
higher and going faster up to the smooth comfort of their present life。
We had learned a little of their psychology； a much wider field than the
history； but here we could not follow so readily。 We were now well used
to seeing women not as females but as people； people of all sorts； doing
every kind of work。
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This outbreak of Terry's； and the strong reaction against it； gave
us a new light on their genuine femininity。 This was given me with great
clearness by both Ellador and Somel。 The feeling was the samesick
revulsion and horror； such as would be felt at some climactic blasphemy。
They had no faintest approach to such a thing in their minds；
knowing nothing of the custom of marital indulgence among us。 To them
the one high purpose of motherhood had been for so long the governing
law of life； and the contribution of the father； though known to them； so
distinctly another method to the same end； that they could not； with all
their effort； get the point of view of the male creature whose desires quite
ignore parentage and seek only for what we euphoniously term 〃the joys
of love。〃
When I tried to tell Ellador that women too felt so； with us； she
drew away from me； and tried hard to grasp intellectually what she could
in no way sympathize with。
〃You meanthat with youlove between man and woman
expresses itself in that waywithout regard to motherhood？ To parentage；
I mean；〃 she added carefully。
〃Yes； surely。 It is love we think ofthe deep sweet love
between two。 Of course we want children； and children come but that
is not what we think about。〃
〃Butbutit seems so against nature！〃 she said。 〃None of the
creatures we know do that。 Do other animalsin your country？〃
〃We are not animals！〃 I replied with some sharpness。 〃At least
we are something moresomething higher。 This is a far nobler and more
beautiful relation； as I have explained before。 Your view seems to us
rathershall I say； practical？ Prosaic？ Merely a means to an end！ With
usoh； my dear girlcannot you see？ Cannot you feel？ It is the last；
sweetest； highest consummation of mutual love。〃
She was impressed visibly。 She trembled in my arms； as I held
her close； kissing her hungrily。 But there rose in her eyes that look I
knew so well； that remote clear look as if she had gone far away even
though I held her beautiful body so close； and was now on some snowy
mountain regarding me from a distance。
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〃I feel it quite clearly；〃 she said to me。 〃It gives me a deep
sympathy with what you feel； no doubt more strongly still。 But what I
feel； even what you feel； dearest； does not convince me that it is right。
Until I am sure of that； of course I cannot do as you wish。〃
Ellador； at times like this； always reminded me of Epictetus。 〃I
will put you in prison！〃 said his master。 〃My body； you mean；〃 replied
Epictetus calmly。 〃I will cut your head off；〃 said his master。 〃Have I
said that my head could not be cut off？〃 A difficult person； Epictetus。
What is this miracle by which a woman； even in your arms； may
withdraw herself； utterly disappear till what you hold is as inaccessible as
the face of a cliff？
〃Be patient with me； dear；〃 she urged sweetly。 〃I know it is
hard for you。 And I begin to seea littlehow Terry was so driven to
crime。〃
〃Oh； come； that's a pretty hard word for it。 After all； Alima
was his wife； you know；〃 I urged； feeling at the moment a sudden burst of
sympathy for poor Terry。 For a man of his temperament and habitsit
must have been an unbearable situation。
But Ellador； for all her wide intellectual grasp； and the broad
sympathy in which their religion trained them； could not make allowance
for suchto hersacrilegious brutality。
It was the more difficult to explain to her； because we three； in
our constant talks and lectures about the rest of the world； had naturally
avoided the seamy side； not so much from a desire to deceive； but from
wishing to put the best foot foremost for our civilization； in the face of the
beauty and comfort of theirs。 Also； we really thought some things were
right； or at least unavoidable； which we could readily see would be
repugnant to them； and therefore did not discuss。 Again there was much
of our world's life which we； being used to it； had not noticed as anything
worth describing。 And still further； there was about these women a
colossal innocence upon which many of the things we did say had made
no impression whatever。
I am thus explicit about it because it shows how unexpectedly
strong was the impression made upon Ellador when she at last entered our
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civilization。
She urged me to be patient； and I was patient。 You see； I loved
her so much that even the restrictions she so firmly established left me
much happiness。 We were lovers； and there is surely delight enough in
that。
Do not imagine that these young women utterly refused 〃the
Great New Hope；〃 as they called it； that of dual parentage。 For that they
had agreed to marry us； though the marrying part of it was a concession to
our prejudices rather than theirs。 To them the process was the holy thing…
…and they meant to keep it holy。
But so far only Celis； her blue eyes swimming in happy tears；
her heart lifted with that tide of race…motherhood which was their supreme
passion； could with ineffable joy and pride announce that she was to be a
mother。 〃The New Motherhood〃 they called it； and the whole country
knew。 There was no pleasure； no service； no honor in all the land that
Celis might not have had。 Almost like the breathless reverence with
which； two thousand years ago； that dwindling band of women had
watched the miracle of virgin birth； was the deep awe and warm
expectancy with which they greeted this new miracle of union。
All mothers in that land were holy。 To them； for long ages； the
approach to motherhood has been by the most intense and exquisite love
and longing； by the Supreme Desire； the overmastering demand for a child。
Every thought they held in connection with the processes of maternity was
open to the day； simple yet sacred。 Every woman of them placed
motherhood not only higher than other duties； but so far higher that there
were no other duties； one might almost say。 All their wide mutual love； all
the subtle interplay of mutual friendship and service； the urge of
progressive thought and invention； the deepest religious emotion； every
feeling and every act was related to this great central Power； to the River
of Life pouring through them； which made them the bearers of the very
Spirit of God。
Of all this I learned more and morefrom their books； from talk；
especially from Ellador。 She was at first； for a brief moment； envious of
her frienda thought she put away from her at once and forever。
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〃It is better；〃 she said to me。 〃It is much better that it has not
come to me yetto us； that is。 For if I am to go with you to your country；
we may have ‘adventures by sea and land；' as you say ＇and as in truth we
did＇； and it might not be at all safe for a baby。 So we won't try again； dear；
till it is safewill we？〃
This was a hard saying for a very loving husband。
