padre ignacio(帕德拉·伊格纳西欧)-第1节
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PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
PADRE IGNACIO Or
The Song of Temptation
BY OWEN WISTER
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PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
I
At Santa Ysabel del Mar the season was at one of those moments
when the air rests quiet over land and sea。 The old breezes were gone； the
new ones were not yet risen。 The flowers in the mission garden opened
wide； no wind came by day or night to shake the loose petals from their
stems。 Along the basking； silent； many…colored shore gathered and
lingered the crisp odors of the mountains。 The dust hung golden and
motionless long after the rider was behind the hill； and the Pacific lay like
a floor of sapphire； whereon to walk beyond the setting sun into the East。
One white sail shone there。 Instead of an hour； it had been from dawn till
afternoon in sight between the short headlands； and the Padre had hoped
that it might be the ship his homesick heart awaited。 But it had slowly
passed。 From an arch in his garden cloisters he was now watching the last
of it。 Presently it was gone； and the great ocean lay empty。 The Padre put
his glasses in his lap。 For a short while he read in his breviary； but soon
forgot it again。 He looked at the flowers and sunny ridges； then at the huge
blue triangle of sea which the opening of the hills let into sight。
〃Paradise；〃 he murmured； 〃need not hold more beauty and peace。 But I
think I would exchange all my remaining years of this for one sight again
of Paris or Seville。 May God forgive me such a thought！〃
Across the unstirred fragrance of oleanders the bell for vespers began
to ring。 Its tones passed over the Padre as he watched the sea in his garden。
They reached his parishioners in their adobe dwellings near by。 The gentle
circles of sound floated outward upon the smooth； immense silenceover
the vines and pear…trees； down the avenues of the olives； into the planted
fields； whence women and children began to return； then out of the lap of
the valley along the yellow uplands； where the men that rode among the
cattle paused； looking down like birds at the map of their home。 Then the
sound widened； faint； unbroken； until it met Temptation in the guise of a
youth； riding toward the Padre from the South； and cheered the steps of
Temptation's jaded horse。
〃For a day； one single day of Paris！〃 repeated the Padre； gazing
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PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
through his cloisters at the empty sea。
Once in the year the mother…world remembered him。 Once in the year；
from Spain； tokens and home…tidings came to him； sent by certain beloved
friends of his youth。 A barkentine brought him these messages。 Whenever
thus the mother…world remembered him； it was like the touch of a warm
hand； a dear and tender caress； a distant life； by him long left behind；
seemed to be drawing the exile homeward from these alien shores。 As the
time for his letters and packets drew near； the eyes of Padre Ignacio would
be often fixed wistfully upon the harbor； watching for the barkentine。
Sometimes； as to…day； he mistook other sails for hers； but hers he mistook
never。 That Pacific Ocean； which； for all its hues and jeweled mists； he
could not learn to love； had； since long before his day； been furrowed by
the keels of Spain。 Traders； and adventurers； and men of God had passed
along this coast； planting their colonies and cloisters； but it was not his
ocean。 In the year that we； a thin strip of patriots away over on the Atlantic
edge of the continent； declared ourselves an independent nation； a Spanish
ship； in the name of Saint Francis； was unloading the centuries of her own
civilization at the Golden Gate。 San Diego had come earlier。 Then； slowly；
as mission after mission was built along the soft coast wilderness； new
ports were establishedat Santa Barbara； and by Point San Luis for San
Luis Obispo； which lay inland a little way up the gorge where it opened
among the hills。 Thus the world reached these missions by water； while on
land； through the mountains； a road led to them； and also to many more
that were too distant behind the hills for ships to servea rough road； long
and lonely； punctuated with church towers and gardens。 For the Fathers
gradually so stationed their settlements that the traveler might each
morning ride out from one mission and by evening of a day's fair journey
ride into the next。 A lonely； rough； dangerous road； but lovely； too； with a
name like musicEl Camino Real。 Like music also were the names of the
missionsSan Juan Capistrano； San Luis Rey de Francia； San Miguel；
Santa Ynestheir very list is a song。
So there； by…and…by； was our continent； with the locomotive whistling
from Savannah to Boston along its eastern edge； and on the western the
scattered chimes of Spain ringing among the unpeopIed mountains。 Thus
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PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
grew the two sorts of civilizationnot equally。 We know what has
happened since。 To…day the locomotive is whistling also from The Golden
Gate to San Diego； but still the old mission…road goes through the
mountains； and along it the footsteps of vanished Spain are marked with
roses； and broken cloisters； and the crucifix。
But this was 1855。 Only the barkentine brought to Padre Ignacio the
signs from the world that he once had known and loved so dearly。 As for
the new world making a rude noise to the northward； he trusted that it
might keep away from Santa Ysabel； and he waited for the vessel that was
overdue with its package containing his single worldly luxury。
As the little； ancient bronze bell continued swinging in the tower； its
plaintive call reached something in the Padre's memory。 Softly； absently；
he began to sing。 He took up the slow strain not quite correctly； and
dropped it； and took it up again； always in cadence with the bell。
＇musical score appears here＇
At length he heard himself； and； glancing at the belfry； smiled a little。
〃It is a pretty tune；〃 he said； 〃and it always made me sorry for poor Fra
Diavolo。 Auber himself confessed to me that he had made it sad and put
the hermitage bell to go with it； because he too was grieved at having to
kill his villain； and wanted him； if possible； to die in a religious frame of
mind。 And Auber touched glasses with me and saidhow well I remember
it！'Is it the good Lord； or is it merely the devil； that makes me always
have a weakness for rascals？' I told him it was the devil。 I was not a priest
then。 I could not be so sure with my answer now。〃 And then Padre Ignacio
repeated Auber's remark in French： 〃'Est…ce le bon Dieu； oui est…ce bien le
diable； qui veut tonjours que j'aime les coquins？〃 I don't know！ I don't
know！ I wonder if Auber has composed anything lately？ I wonder who is
singing 'Zerlina' now？〃
He cast a farewell look at the ocean； and took his steps between the
monastic herbs； the jasmines and the oleanders to the sacristy。 〃At least；〃
he said； 〃if we cannot carry with us into exile the friends and the places we
have loved； music will go whither we go； even to an end of the world such
as this。Felipe！〃 he called to his organist。 〃Can they sing the music I
taught them for the Dixit Dominus to…night？〃
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PADRE IGNACIO Or The Song of Temptation
〃Yes； father； surely。〃
〃Then we will have that。 And； Felipe〃 The Padre crossed the chancel
to the small； shabby organ。 〃Rise； my child； and listen。 Here is something
you can learn。 Why； see now if you cannot learn it from a single hearing。〃
The swarthy boy of sixteen stood watching his master's fingers；
delicate and white； as they played。 Thus； of his own accord； he had begun
to watch them when a child of six； and the Padre had taken the wild； half…
scared； spellbound creature and made a musician of him。
〃There； Felipe！〃 he said now。 〃Can you do it？ Slower； and more softly；
