the chimes(教堂钟声)-第13节
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himself； by striking it with his foot； and causing it to rebound back heavily；
he couldn't open it again。
This was another reason； however； for going on。 Trotty groped his
way； and went on。 Up； up； up； and round； and round； and up； up； up；
higher； higher； higher up！
It was a disagreeable staircase for that groping work； so low and
narrow； that his groping hand was always touching something； and it often
felt so like a man or ghostly figure standing up erect and making room for
him to pass without discovery； that he would rub the smooth wall upward
searching for its face； and downward searching for its feet； while a chill
tingling crept all over him。 Twice or thrice； a door or niche broke the
monotonous surface； and then it seemed a gap as wide as the whole church；
and he felt on the brink of an abyss； and going to tumble headlong down；
until he found the wall again。
Still up； up； up； and round and round； and up； up； up； higher； higher；
higher up！
At length； the dull and stifling atmosphere began to freshen： presently
to feel quite windy： presently it blew so strong； that he could hardly keep
his legs。 But； he got to an arched window in the tower； breast high； and
holding tight； looked down upon the house…tops； on the smoking chimneys；
on the blur and blotch of lights （towards the place where Meg was
wondering where he was and calling to him perhaps）； all kneaded up
together in a leaven of mist and darkness。
This was the belfry； where the ringers came。 He had caught hold of
one of the frayed ropes which hung down through apertures in the oaken
roof。 At first he started； thinking it was hair； then trembled at the very
thought of waking the deep Bell。 The Bells themselves were higher。
Higher； Trotty； in his fascination； or in working out the spell upon him；
groped his way。 By ladders now； and toilsomely； for it was steep； and not
too certain holding for the feet。
Up； up； up； and climb and clamber； up； up； up； higher； higher； higher
up！
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Until； ascending through the floor； and pausing with his head just
raised above its beams； he came among the Bells。 It was barely possible
to make out their great shapes in the gloom； but there they were。
Shadowy； and dark； and dumb。
A heavy sense of dread and loneliness fell instantly upon him； as he
climbed into this airy nest of stone and metal。 His head went round and
round。 He listened； and then raised a wild 'Holloa！' Holloa！ was
mournfully protracted by the echoes。
Giddy； confused； and out of breath； and frightened； Toby looked about
him vacantly； and sunk down in a swoon。
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CHAPTER III … Third Quarter。
BLACK are the brooding clouds and troubled the deep waters； when
the Sea of Thought； first heaving from a calm； gives up its Dead。 Monsters
uncouth and wild； arise in premature； imperfect resurrection； the several
parts and shapes of different things are joined and mixed by chance； and
when； and how； and by what wonderful degrees； each separates from each；
and every sense and object of the mind resumes its usual form and lives
again； no man … though every man is every day the casket of this type of
the Great Mystery … can tell。
So； when and how the darkness of the night…black steeple changed to
shining light； when and how the solitary tower was peopled with a myriad
figures； when and how the whispered 'Haunt and hunt him；' breathing
monotonously through his sleep or swoon； became a voice exclaiming in
the waking ears of Trotty； 'Break his slumbers；' when and how he ceased
to have a sluggish and confused idea that such things were； companioning
a host of others that were not； there are no dates or means to tell。 But；
awake and standing on his feet upon the boards where he had lately lain；
he saw this Goblin Sight。
He saw the tower； whither his charmed footsteps had brought him；
swarming with dwarf phantoms； spirits； elfin creatures of the Bells。 He
saw them leaping； flying； dropping； pouring from the Bells without a
pause。 He saw them； round him on the ground； above him； in the air；
clambering from him； by the ropes below； looking down upon him； from
the massive iron…girded beams； peeping in upon him； through the chinks
and loopholes in the walls； spreading away and away from him in
enlarging circles； as the water ripples give way to a huge stone that
suddenly comes plashing in among them。 He saw them； of all aspects
and all shapes。 He saw them ugly； handsome； crippled； exquisitely
formed。 He saw them young； he saw them old； he saw them kind； he saw
them cruel； he saw them merry； he saw them grim； he saw them dance；
and heard them sing； he saw them tear their hair； and heard them howl。
He saw the air thick with them。 He saw them come and go； incessantly。
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He saw them riding downward； soaring upward； sailing off afar； perching
near at hand； all restless and all violently active。 Stone； and brick； and
slate； and tile； became transparent to him as to them。 He saw them IN the
houses； busy at the sleepers' beds。 He saw them soothing people in their
dreams； he saw them beating them with knotted whips； he saw them
yelling in their ears； he saw them playing softest music on their pillows；
he saw them cheering some with the songs of birds and the perfume of
flowers； he saw them flashing awful faces on the troubled rest of others；
from enchanted mirrors which they carried in their hands。
He saw these creatures； not only among sleeping men but waking also；
active in pursuits irreconcilable with one another； and possessing or
assuming natures the most opposite。 He saw one buckling on
innumerable wings to increase his speed； another loading himself with
chains and weights； to retard his。 He saw some putting the hands of
clocks forward； some putting the hands of clocks backward； some
endeavouring to stop the clock entirely。 He saw them representing； here
a marriage ceremony； there a funeral； in this chamber an election； in that a
ball he saw； everywhere； restless and untiring motion。
Bewildered by the host of shifting and extraordinary figures； as well as
by the uproar of the Bells； which all this while were ringing； Trotty clung
to a wooden pillar for support； and turned his white face here and there； in
mute and stunned astonishment。
As he gazed； the Chimes stopped。 Instantaneous change！ The
whole swarm fainted！ their forms collapsed； their speed deserted them；
they sought to fly； but in the act of falling died and melted into air。 No
fresh supply succeeded them。 One straggler leaped down pretty briskly
from the surface of the Great Bell； and alighted on his feet； but he was
dead and gone before he could turn round。 Some few of the late company
who had gambolled in the tower； remained there； spinning over and over a
little longer； but these became at every turn more faint； and few； and
feeble； and soon went the way of the rest。 The last of all was one small
hunchback； who had got into an echoing corner； where he twirled and
twirled； and floated by himself a long time； showing such perseverance；
that at last he dwindled to a leg and even to a foot； before he finally retired；
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but he vanished in the end； and then the tower was silent。
Then and not before； did Trotty see in every Bell a bearded figure of
the bulk and stature of the Bell … incomprehensibly； a figure and the Bell
itself。 Gigantic
