green mansions-第15节
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o doubt to lead me a dance through the wood with her mocking voice； as on previous occasions； when my attack on the serpent caused that outburst of wrath。 The torrent of ringing and to me inarticulate sounds in that unknown tongue； her rapid gestures； and； above all； her wide…open sparkling eyes and face aflame with colour made it impossible to mistake the nature of her feeling。
In casting about for some term or figure of speech in which to describe the impression produced on me at that moment； I think of waspish； and； better still； avispadaliterally the same word in Spanish； not having precisely the same meaning nor ever applied contemptuouslyonly to reject both after a moment's reflection。 Yet I go back to the image of an irritated wasp as perhaps offering the best illustration； of some large tropical wasp advancing angrily towards me； as I have witnessed a hundred times； not exactly flying； but moving rapidly； half running and half flying； over the ground； with loud and angry buzz； the glistening wings open and agitated； beautiful beyond most animated creatures in its sharp but graceful lines； polished surface； and varied brilliant colouring； and that wrathfulness that fits it so well and seems to give it additional lustre。
Wonder…struck at the sight of her strange beauty and passion； I forgot the advancing snake until she came to a stop at about five yards from me； then to my horror I saw that it was beside her naked feet。 Although no longer advancing； the head was still raised high as if to strike； but presently the spirit of anger appeared to die out of it； the lifted head； oscillating a little from side to side； sunk down lower and lower to rest finally on the girl's bare instep； and lying there motionless； the deadly thing had the appearance of a gaily coloured silken garter just dropped from her leg。 It was plain to see that she had no fear of it； that she was one of those exceptional persons； to be found； it is said； in all countries； who possess some magnetic quality which has a soothing effect on even the most venomous and irritable reptiles。
Following the direction of my eyes； she too glanced down； but did not move her foot； then she made her voice heard again； still loud and sharp； but the anger was not now so pronounced。
〃Do not fear； I shall not harm it；〃 I said in the Indian tongue。
She took no notice of my speech and continued speaking with increasing resentment。
I shook my head； replying that her language was unknown to me。 Then by means of signs I tried to make her understand that the creature was safe from further molestation。 She pointed indignantly at the stone in my hand； which I had forgotten all about。 At once I threw it from me； and instantly there was a change； the resentment had vanished； and a tender radiance lit her face like a smile。
I advanced a little nearer； addressing her once more in the Indian tongue； but my speech was evidently unintelligible to her； as she stood now glancing at the snake lying at her feet； now at me。 Again I had recourse to signs and gestures； pointing to the snake； then to the stone I had cast away； I endeavoured to convey to her that in the future I would for her sake be a friend to all venomous reptiles； and that I wished her to have the same kindly feelings towards me as towards these creatures。 Whether or not she understood me； she showed no disposition to go into hiding again； and continued silently regarding me with a look that seemed to express pleasure at finding herself at last thus suddenly brought face to face with me。 Flattered at this； I gradually drew nearer until at the last I was standing at her side； gazing down with the utmost delight into that face which so greatly surpassed in loveliness all human faces I had ever seen or imagined。
And yet to you； my friend； it probably will not seem that she was so beautiful； since I have； alas！ only the words we all use to paint commoner； coarser things； and no means to represent all the exquisite details； all the delicate lights； and shades； and swift changes of colour and expression。 Moreover； is it not a fact that the strange or unheard of can never appear beautiful in a mere description； because that which is most novel in it attracts too much attention and is given undue prominence in the picture； and we miss that which would have taken away the effect of strangenessthe perfect balance of the parts and harmony of the whole？ For instance； the blue eyes of the northerner would； when first described to the black…eyed inhabitants of warm regions； seem unbeautiful and a monstrosity； because they would vividly see with the mental vision that unheard…of blueness； but not in the same vivid way the accompanying flesh and hair tints with which it harmonizes。
Think； then； less of the picture as I have to paint it in words than of the feeling its original inspired in me when； looking closely for the first time on that rare loveliness； trembling with delight； I mentally cried： 〃Oh； why has Nature； maker of so many types and of innumerable individuals of each； given to the world but one being like this？〃
Scarcely had the thought formed itself in my mind before I dismissed it as utterly incredible。 No； this exquisite being was without doubt one of a distinct race which had existed in this little…known corner of the continent for thousands of generations； albeit now perhaps reduced to a small and dwindling remnant。
Her figure and features were singularly delicate； but it was her colour that struck me most； which indeed made her differ from all other human beings。 The colour of the skin would be almost impossible to describe； so greatly did it vary with every change of moodand the moods were many and transientand with the angle on which the sunlight touched it； and the degree of light。
Beneath the trees； at a distance； it had seemed a somewhat dim white or pale grey； near in the strong sunshine it was not white； but alabastrian； semi…pellucid； showing an underlying rose colour； and at any point where the rays fell direct this colour was bright and luminous； as we see in our fingers when held before a strong firelight。 But that part of her skin that remained in shadow appeared of a dimmer white； and the underlying colour varied from dim； rosy purple to dim blue。 With the skin the colour of the eyes harmonized perfectly。 At first； when lit with anger； they had appeared flame…like； now the iris was of a peculiar soft or dim and tender red； a shade sometimes seen in flowers。 But only when looked closely at could this delicate hue be discerned； the pupils being large； as in some grey eyes； and the long； dark； shading lashes at a short distance made the whole eye appear dark。 Think not； then； of the red flower； exposed to the light and sun in conjunction with the vivid green of the foliage； think only of such a hue in the half…hidden iris； brilliant and moist with the eye's moisture； deep with the eye's depth； glorified by the outward look of a bright； beautiful soul。 Most variable of all in colour was the hair； this being due to its extreme fineness and glossiness； and to its elasticity； which made it lie fleecy and loose on head； shoulders； and back； a cloud with a brightness on its surface made by the freer outer hairs； a fit setting and crown for a countenance of such rare changeful loveliness。 In the shade； viewed closely； the general colour appeared a slate； deepening in places to purple； but even in the shade the nimbus of free flossy hairs half veiled the darker tints with a downy pallor； and at a distance of a few yards it gave the whole hair a vague； misty appearance。 In the sunlight the colour varied more； looking now dark； sometimes intensely black； now of a light uncertain hue； with a play of iridescent colour on the loose surface； as we see on the glossed plumage of some birds； and at a short distance； with the sun shining full on her head； it sometimes looked white as a noonday cloud。 So changeful was it and ethereal in appearance with its cloud colours that all other human hair； even of the most beautiful golden shades； pale or red； seemed heavy and dull and dead…looking by comparison。
But more than form and colour and that enchanting variability was the look of intelligence； which at the same time seemed complementary to and one with the all…seeing； all…hearing alertness appearing in her face； the alertness one remarks in a wild creature； even when in repose and fearing nothing； but seldom in man； never perhaps in intellectual or studious man。 She was a wild； solitary girl of the woods； and did not understand the language of the country in which I had addressed her。 What inner or mind life could such a one have more than that of any wild animal existing in the same conditions？ Yet looking at her face it was not possible to doubt its intelligence。 This union in her of two opposite qualities； which； with us； cannot or do not exist together； although so novel； yet struck me as the girl's principal charm。 Why had Nature not done this beforewhy in all others does the brightness of the mind dim that beautiful physical brightness which the wild animals have？ But enough for me that that which no man had ever looked for or hoped to find existed here； that through that un
