part 6-第9节
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combination hardly ever happens with sopranos。〃 Otten…
burg sat down and turned to the doctor； speaking calmly
and trying to dispel his friend's manifest bewilderment。
〃You see； Archie； there's the voice itself； so beautiful and
individual； and then there's something else； the thing in it
which responds to every shade of thought and feeling；
spontaneously； almost unconsciously。 That color has to
be born in a singer； it can't be acquired； lots of beautiful
voices haven't a vestige of it。 It's almost like another
giftthe rarest of all。 The voice simply is the mind and
is the heart。 It can't go wrong in interpretation； because it
has in it the thing that makes all interpretation。 That's
why you feel so sure of her。 After you've listened to her
for an hour or so； you aren't afraid of anything。 All the
little dreads you have with other artists vanish。 You lean
back and you say to yourself； ‘No； THAT voice will never be…
tray。' TREULICH GEFUHRT； TREULICH BEWACHT。〃
Archie looked envyingly at Fred's excited； triumphant
face。 How satisfactory it must be； he thought； to really
know what she was doing and not to have to take it on
hearsay。 He took up his glass with a sigh。 〃I seem to
need a good deal of cooling off to…night。 I'd just as lief
forget the Reform Party for once。
〃Yes； Fred；〃 he went on seriously； 〃I thought it
sounded very beautiful； and I thought she was very
beautiful； too。 I never imagined she could be as beautiful
as that。〃
〃Wasn't she？ Every attitude a picture； and always the
right kind of picture； full of that legendary； supernatural
thing she gets into it。 I never heard the prayer sung like
that before。 That look that came in her eyes； it went right
out through the back of the roof。 Of course； you get an
ELSA who can look through walls like that； and visions and
Grail…knights happen naturally。 She becomes an abbess；
that girl； after LOHENGRIN leaves her。 She's made to live
with ideas and enthusiasms； not with a husband。〃 Fred
folded his arms； leaned back in his chair； and began to
sing softly：
〃Doesn't she die； then； at the end？〃 the doctor asked
guardedly。
Fred smiled； reaching under the table。 〃Some ELSAS do；
she didn't。 She left me with the distinct impression that
she was just beginning。 Now； doctor； here's a cold one。〃
He twirled a napkin smoothly about the green glass； the
cork gave and slipped out with a soft explosion。 〃And now
we must have another toast。 It's up to you； this time。〃
The doctor watched the agitation in his glass。 〃The
same；〃 he said without lifting his eyes。 〃That's good
enough。 I can't raise you。〃
Fred leaned forward； and looked sharply into his face。
〃That's the point； how COULD you raise me？ Once again！〃
〃Once again； and always the same！〃 The doctor put
down his glass。 〃This doesn't seem to produce any symp…
toms in me to…night。〃 He lit a cigar。 〃Seriously； Freddy；
I wish I knew more about what she's driving at。 It makes
me jealous； when you are so in it and I'm not。〃
〃In it？〃 Fred started up。 〃My God； haven't you seen
her this blessed night？when she'd have kicked any
other man down the elevator shaft； if I know her。 Leave
me something； at least what I can pay my five bucks for。〃
〃Seems to me you get a good deal for your five bucks；〃
said Archie ruefully。 〃And that； after all； is what she cares
about；what people get。〃
Fred lit a cigarette； took a puff or two； and then threw it
away。 He was lounging back in his chair； and his face was
pale and drawn hard by that mood of intense concentration
which lurks under the sunny shallows of the vineyard。 In
his voice there was a longer perspective than usual； a slight
remoteness。 〃You see； Archie； it's all very simple； a natu…
ral development。 It's exactly what Mahler said back there
in the beginning； when she sang WOGLINDE。 It's the idea；
the basic idea； pulsing behind every bar she sings。 She
simplifies a character down to the musical idea it's built on；
and makes everything conform to that。 The people who
chatter about her being a great actress don't seem to get
the notion of where SHE gets the notion。 It all goes back to
her original endowment； her tremendous musical talent。
Instead of inventing a lot of business and expedients to
suggest character； she knows the thing at the root； and lets
the musical pattern take care of her。 The score pours her
into all those lovely postures； makes the light and shadow
go over her face； lifts her and drops her。 She lies on it； the
way she used to lie on the Rhine music。 Talk about
rhythm！〃
The doctor frowned dubiously as a third bottle made its
appearance above the cloth。 〃Aren't you going in rather
strong？〃
Fred laughed。 〃No； I'm becoming too sober。 You see
this is breakfast now； kind of wedding breakfast。 I feel
rather weddingish。 I don't mind。 You know；〃 he went on
as the wine gurgled out； 〃I was thinking to…night when
they sprung the wedding music； how any fool can have
that stuff played over him when he walks up the aisle with
some dough…faced little hussy who's hooked him。 But it
isn't every fellow who can seewell； what we saw to…
night。 There are compensations in life； Dr。 Howard Archie；
though they come in disguise。 Did you notice her when she
came down the stairs？ Wonder where she gets that bright…
and…morning star look？ Carries to the last row of the
family circle。 I moved about all over the house。 I'll tell
you a secret； Archie： that carrying power was one of the
first things that put me wise。 Noticed it down there in
Arizona； in the open。 That； I said； belongs only to the big
ones。〃 Fred got up and began to move rhythmically about
the room； his hands in his pockets。 The doctor was aston…
ished at his ease and steadiness； for there were slight lapses
in his speech。 〃You see； Archie； ELSA isn't a part that's
particularly suited to Thea's voice at all； as I see her voice。
It's over…lyrical for her。 She makes it； but there's nothing
in it that fits her like a glove； except； maybe； that long
duet in the third act。 There； of course；〃he held out his
hands as if he were measuring something；〃we know
exactly where we are。 But wait until they give her a chance
at something that lies properly in her voice； and you'll see
me rosier than I am to…night。〃
Archie smoothed the tablecloth with his hand。 〃I am
sure I don't want to see you any rosier； Fred。〃
Ottenburg threw back his head and laughed。 〃It's en…
thusiasm； doctor。 It's not the wine。 I've got as much in…
flated as this for a dozen trashy things： brewers' dinners
and political orgies。 You； too； have your extravagances；
Archie。 And what I like best in you is this particular
enthusiasm； which is not at all practical or sensible； which
is downright Quixotic。 You are not altogether what you
seem； and you have your reservations。 Living among the
wolves； you have not become one。 LUPIBUS VIVENDI NON
LUPUS SUM。〃
The doctor seemed embarrassed。 〃I was just thinking
how tired she looked； plucked of all her fine feathers； while
we get all the fun。 Instead of sitting here carousing； we
ought to go solemnly to bed。〃
〃I get your idea。〃 Ottenburg crossed to the window and
threw it open。 〃Fine night outside； a hag of a moon just
setting。 It begins to smell like morning。 After all； Archie；
think of the lonely and rather solemn hours we've spent
waiting for all this； while she's beenreveling。〃
Archie lifted his brows。 〃I somehow didn't get the idea
to…night that she revels much。〃
〃I don't mean this sort of thing。〃 Fred turned toward
the light and stood with his back to the window。 〃That；〃
with a nod toward the wine…cooler； 〃is only a cheap imita…
tion； that any poor stiff…fingered fool can buy and feel his
shell grow thinner。 But take it from me； no matter what
she pays； or how much she may see fit to lie about it； the
real；
