the coming race(一个即临种族)-第43节
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passion； and said； as the tears gushed from her eyes； 〃Farewell for ever。
Thou wilt not let me go into thy world… thou canst never return to mine。
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Ere our household shake off slumber； the rocks will have again closed
over the chasm not to be re…opened by me； nor perhaps by others； for ages
yet unguessed。 Think of me sometimes； and with kindness。 When I
reach the life that lies beyond this speck in time； I shall look round for thee。
Even there； the world consigned to thyself and thy people may have rocks
and gulfs which divide it from that in which I rejoin those of my race that
have gone before； and I may be powerless to cleave way to regain thee as I
have cloven way to lose。〃
Her voice ceased。 I heard the swan…like sough of her wings； and saw
the rays of her starry diadem receding far and farther through the gloom。
I sate myself down for some time； musing sorrowfully； then I rose and
took my way with slow footsteps towards the place in which I heard the
sounds of men。 The miners I encountered were strange to me； of another
nation than my own。 They turned to look at me with some surprise； but
finding that I could not answer their brief questions in their own language；
they returned to their work and suffered me to pass on unmolested。 In
fine； I regained the mouth of the mine； little troubled by other
interrogatories；… save those of a friendly official to whom I was known；
and luckily he was too busy to talk much with me。 I took care not to
return to my former lodging； but hastened that very day to quit a
neighbourhood where I could not long have escaped inquiries to which I
could have given no satisfactory answers。 I regained in safety my own
country； in which I have been long peacefully settled； and engaged in
practical business； till I retired on a competent fortune； three years ago。 I
have been little invited and little tempted to talk of the rovings and
adventures of my youth。 Somewhat 157disappointed； as most men are；
in matters connected with household love and domestic life； I often think
of the young Gy as I sit alone at night； and wonder how I could have
rejected such a love； no matter what dangers attended it； or by what
conditions it was restricted。 Only； the more I think of a people calmly
developing； in regions excluded from our sight and deemed uninhabitable
by our sages； powers surpassing our most disciplined modes of force； and
virtues to which our life； social and political； becomes antagonistic in
proportion as our civilisation advances；… the more devoutly I pray that ages
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may yet elapse before there emerge into sunlight our inevitable destroyers。
Being； however； frankly told by my physician that I am afflicted by a
complaint which； though it gives little pain and no perceptible notice of its
encroachments； may at any moment be fatal； I have thought it my duty to
my fellow…men to place on record these forewarnings of The Coming
Race。
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