the coming race(一个即临种族)-第41节
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leisure for a stroll beyond the streets of the city。 His countenance seemed
to me graver than usual as he replied； 〃I came hither on purpose to invite
you forth。〃
We soon found ourselves in the street； and had not got far from the
house when we encountered five or six young Gy…ei； who were returning
from the fields with baskets full of flowers； and chanting a song in chorus
as they walked。 A young Gy sings more often than she talks。 They
stopped on seeing us； accosting Taee with familiar kindness； and me with
the courteous gallantry which distinguishes the Gy…ei in their manner
towards our weaker sex。
And here I may observe that； though a virgin Gy is so frank in her
courtship to the individual she favours； there is nothing that approaches to
that general breadth and loudness of manner which those young ladies of
the Anglo…Saxon race； to whom the 149distinguished epithet of 'fast' is
accorded； exhibit towards young gentlemen whom they do not profess to
love。 No； the bearing of the Gy…ei towards males in ordinary is very
much that of high…bred men in the gallant societies of the upper world
towards ladies whom they respect but do not woo； deferential；
complimentary； exquisitely polished… what we should call 'chivalrous。'
Certainly I was a little put out by the number of civil things addressed
to my 'amour propre；' which were said to me by those courteous young
Gy…ei。 In the world I came from； a man would have thought himself
aggrieved； treated with irony； 'chaffed' （if so vulgar a slang word may be
allowed on the authority of the popular novelists who use it so freely）；
when one fair Gy complimented me on the freshness of my complexion；
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another on the choice of colours in my dress； a third； with a sly smile； on
the conquests I had made at Aph…Lin's entertainment。 But I knew already
that all such language was what the French call 'banal；' and did but express
in the female mouth； below earth； that sort of desire to pass for amiable
with the opposite sex which； above earth； arbitrary custom and hereditary
transmission demonstrate by the mouth of the male。 And just as a high…
bred young lady； above earth； habituated to such compliments； feels that
she cannot； without impropriety； return them； nor evince any great
satisfaction at receiving them； so I who had learned polite manners at the
house of so wealthy and dignified a Minister of that nation； could but
smile and try to look pretty in bashfully disclaiming the compliments
showered upon me。 While we were thus talking； Taee's sister； it seems；
had seen us from the upper rooms of the Royal Palace at the entrance of
the town； and； precipitating herself on her wings； alighted in the midst of
the group。
Singling me out； she said； though still with the inimitable deference of
manner which I have called 'chivalrous；' yet not without a certain
abruptness of tone which； as addressed to the weaker sex； Sir Philip
Sydney might have termed 'rustic；' 〃Why do you never come to see us？〃
150 While I was deliberating on the right answer to give to this unlooked…
for question； Taee said quickly and sternly； 〃Sister； you forget… the stranger
is of my sex。 It is not for persons of my sex； having due regard for
reputation and modesty； to lower themselves by running after the society
of yours。〃
This speech was received with evident approval by the young Gy…ei in
general； but Taee's sister looked greatly abashed。 Poor thing！… and a
PRINCESS too！
Just at this moment a shadow fell on the space between me and the
group； and； turning round； I beheld the chief magistrate coming close upon
us； with the silent and stately pace peculiar to the Vril…ya。 At the sight of
his countenance； the same terror which had seized me when I first beheld
it returned。 On that brow； in those eyes； there was that same indefinable
something which marked the being of a race fatal to our own… that strange
expression of serene exemption from our common cares and passions； of
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conscious superior power； compassionate and inflexible as that of a judge
who pronounces doom。 I shivered； and； inclining low； pressed the arm of
my child…friend； and drew him onward silently。 The Tur placed himself
before our path； regarded me for a moment without speaking； then turned
his eye quietly on his daughter's face； and； with a grave salutation to her
and the other Gy…ei； went through the midst of the group；… still without a
word。
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CHAPTER XXVIII。
When Taee and I found ourselves alone on the broad road that lay
between the city and the chasm through which I had descended into this
region beneath the light of the stars and sun； I said under my breath；
〃Child and friend； there is a look 151in your father's face which appals me。
I feel as if； in its awful tranquillity； I gazed upon death。〃
Taee did not immediately reply。 He seemed agitated； and as if
debating with himself by what words to soften some unwelcome
intelligence。 At last he said； 〃None of the Vril…ya fear death： do you？〃
〃The dread of death is implanted in the breasts of the race to which I
belong。 We can conquer it at the call of duty； of honour； of love。 We
can die for a truth； for a native land； for those who are dearer to us than
ourselves。 But if death do really threaten me now and here； where are
such counteractions to the natural instinct which invests with awe and
terror the contemplation of severance between soul and body？〃
Taee looked surprised； but there was great tenderness in his voice as he
replied； 〃I will tell my father what you say。 I will entreat him to spare
your life。〃
〃He has； then； already decreed to destroy it？〃
〃'Tis my sister's fault or folly；〃 said Taee； with some petulance。 〃But
she spoke this morning to my father； and； after she had spoken； he
summoned me； as a chief among the children who are commissioned to
destroy such lives as threaten the community； and he said to me； 'Take thy
vril staff； and seek the stranger who has made himself dear to thee。 Be
his end painless and prompt。'〃
〃And；〃 I faltered； recoiling from the child… 〃and it is； then； for my
murder that thus treacherously thou hast invited me forth？ No； I cannot
believe it。 I cannot think thee guilty of such a crime。〃
〃It is no crime to slay those who threaten the good of the community；
it would be a crime to slay the smallest insect that cannot harm us。〃
〃If you mean that I threaten the good of the community because your
sister honours me with the sort of preference which a child may feel for a
strange plaything； it is not necessary to kill me。 Let me return to the
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people I have left； and by the chasm through which I descended。 With a
slight help from you I 152might do so now。 You； by the aid of your
wings； could fasten to the rocky ledge within the chasm the cord that you
found； and have no doubt preserved。 Do but that； assist me but to the
spot from which I alighted； and I vanish from your world for ever； and as
surely as if I were among the dead。〃
〃The chasm through which you descended！ Look round； we stand
now on the very place where it yawned。 What see you？ Only solid
rock。 The chasm was closed； by the orders of Aph…Lin； as soon as
communication between him and yourself was established in your tr
