the blue flower-第2节

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leaves。　　Round　about　were　many　other　flowers；　of　all　hues。
Their　odours　mingled　in　a　perfect　chord　of　fragrance。　　He　saw
nothing　but　the　Blue　Flower。

Long　and　tenderly　he　gazed　at　it；　with　unspeakable　love。
At　last　he　felt　that　he　must　go　a　little　nearer　to　it；　when
suddenly　it　began　to　move　and　change。　　The　leaves　glistened
more　brightly；　and　drew　themselves　up　closely　around　the
swiftly　growing　stalk。　　The　flower　bent　itself　toward　him；　and
the　petals　showed　a　blue；　spreading　necklace　of　sapphires；　out　of
which　the　lovely　face　of　a　girl　smiled　softly　into　his　eyes。
His　sweet　astonishment　grew　with　the　wondrous　transformation。

All　at　once　he　heard　his　mother's　voice　calling　him；　and
awoke　in　his　parents'　room；　already　flooded　with　the　gold　of
the　morning　sun。

From　the　German　of　Novalis。




THE　　SOURCE

I

In　the　middle　of　the　land　that　is　called　by　its　inhabitants
Koorma；　and　by　strangers　the　Land　of　the　Half…forgotten；　I　was
toiling　all　day　long　through　heavy　sand　and　grass　as　hard　as
wire。　　Suddenly；　toward　evening；　I　came　upon　a　place　where　a
gate　opened　in　the　wall　of　mountains；　and　the　plain　ran　in
through　the　gate；　making　a　little　bay　of　level　country　among
the　hills。

Now　this　bay　was　not　brown　and　hard　and　dry；　like　the
mountains　above　me；　neither　was　it　covered　with　tawny　billows
of　sand　like　the　desert　along　the　edge　of　which　I　had　wearily
coasted。　　But　the　surface　of　it　was　smooth　and　green；　and　as
the　winds　of　twilight　breathed　across　it　they　were　followed　by
soft　waves　of　verdure；　with　silvery　turnings　of　the　under
sides　of　many　leaves；　like　ripples　on　a　quiet　harbour。　　There
were　fields　of　corn；　filled　with　silken　rustling；　and
vineyards　with　long　rows　of　trimmed　maple…trees　standing
each　one　like　an　emerald　goblet　wreathed　with　vines；　and
flower…gardens　as　bright　as　if　the　earth　had　been　embroidered
with　threads　of　blue　and　scarlet　and　gold；　and　olive…orchards
frosted　over　with　delicate　and　fragrant　blossoms。　　Red…roofed
cottages　were　scattered　everywhere　through　the　sea　of
greenery；　and　in　the　centre；　like　a　white　ship　surrounded　by
a　flock　of　little　boats；　rested　a　small；　fair；　shining　city。

I　wondered　greatly　how　this　beauty　had　come　into　being　on
the　border　of　the　desert。　　Passing　through　the　fields　and
gardens　and　orchards；　I　found　that　they　were　all　encircled　and
lined　with　channels　full　of　running　water。　　I　followed　up　one
of　the　smaller　channels　until　it　came　to　a　larger　stream；　and
as　I　walked　on　beside　it；　still　going　upward；　it　guided　me
into　the　midst　of　the　city；　where　I　saw　a　sweet；　merry　river
flowing　through　the　main　street；　with　abundance　of　water　and
a　very　pleasant　sound。

There　were　houses　and　shops　and　lofty　palaces　and　all　that
makes　a　city；　but　the　life　and　joy　of　all；　and　the　one　thing
that　I　remember　best；　was　the　river。　　For　in　the　open　square　at
the　edge　of　the　city　there　were　marble　pools　where　the　children
might　bathe　and　play；　at　the　corners　of　the　streets　and　on　the
sides　of　the　houses　there　were　fountains　for　the　drawing　of
water；　at　every　crossing　a　stream　was　turned　aside　to　run　out　to
the　vineyards；　and　the　river　was　the　mother　of　them　all。

There　were　but　few　people　in　the　streets；　and　none　of　the
older　folk　from　whom　I　might　ask　counsel　or　a　lodging；　so　I
stood　and　knocked　at　the　door　of　a　house。　　It　was　opened　by　an
old　man；　who　greeted　me　with　kindness　and　bade　me　enter　as　his
guest。　　After　much　courteous　entertainment；　and　when　supper
was　ended；　his　friendly　manner　and　something　of　singular
attractiveness　in　his　countenance　led　me　to　tell　him　of　my
strange　journeyings　in　the　land　of　Koorma　and　in　other　lands
where　I　had　been　seeking　the　Blue　Flower；　and　to　inquire　of
him　the　name　and　the　story　of　his　city　and　the　cause　of　the
river　which　made　it　glad。

〃My　son；〃　he　answered；　〃this　is　the　city　which　was　called
Ablis；　that　is　to　say；　Forsaken。　　For　long　ago　men　lived　here；
and　the　river　made　their　fields　fertile；　and　their　dwellings　were
full　of　plenty　and　peace。　　But　because　of　many　evil　things　which
have　been　half…forgotten；　the　river　was　turned　aside；　or　else　it
was　dried　up　at　its　source　in　the　high　place　among　the　mountains；
so　that　the　water　flowed　down　no　more。　　The　channels　and　the
trenches　and　the　marble　pools　and　the　basins　beside　the　houses
remained；　but　they　were　empty。　　So　the　gardens　withered；　the
fields　were　barren；　the　city　was　desolate；　and　in　the　broken
cisterns　there　was　scanty　water。

〃Then　there　came　one　from　a　distant　country　who　was　very
sorrowful　to　see　the　desolation。　　He　told　the　people　that　it
was　vain　to　dig　new　cisterns　and　to　keep　the　channels　and
trenches　clean；　for　the　water　had　come　only　from　above。　　The
Source　must　be　found　again　and　reopened。　　The　river　would　not
flow　unless　they　traced　it　back　to　the　spring；　and　visited　it
continually；　and　offered　prayers　and　praises　beside　it　without
ceasing。　　Then　the　spring　would　rise　to　an　outpouring；　and　the
water　would　run　down　plentifully　to　make　the　gardens　blossom
and　the　city　rejoice。

〃So　he　went　forth　to　open　the　fountain；　but　there　were　few
that　went　with　him；　for　he　was　a　poor　man　of　lowly　aspect；　and
the　path　upward　was　steep　and　rough。　　But　his　companions　saw
that　as　he　climbed　among　the　rocks；　little　streams　of　water
gushed　from　the　places　where　he　trod；　and　pools　began　to
gather　in　the　dry　river…bed。　　He　went　more　swiftly　than　they
could　follow　him；　and　at　length　he　passed　out　of　their　sight。
A　little　farther　on　they　came　to　the　rising　of　the　river　and
there；　beside　the　overflowing　Source；　they　found　their　leader
lying　dead。〃

〃That　was　a　strange　thing；〃　I　cried；　〃and　very　pitiful。
Tell　me　how　it　came　to　pass；　and　what　was　the　meaning　of　it。〃

〃I　cannot　tell　the　whole　of　the　meaning；〃　replied　the　old
man；　after　a　little　pause；　〃for　it　was　many　years　ago。　　But
this　poor　man　had　many　enemies　in　the　city；　chiefly　among　the
makers　of　cisterns；　who　hated　him　for　his　words。　　I　believe
that　they　went　out　after　him　secretly　and　slew　him。　　But　his
followers　came　back　to　the　city；　and　as　they　came　the　river
began　to　run　down　very　gently　after　them。　　They　returned　to　the
Source　day　by　day；　bringing　others　with　them；　for　they　said　that
their　leader　was　really　alive；　though　the　form　of　his　life　had
changed；　and　that　he　met　them　in　that　high　place　while　they
remembered　him　and　prayed　and　sang　songs　of　praise。　　More　and
more　the　people　learned　to　go　with　them；　and　the　path　grew
plainer　and　easier　to　find。　　The　more　the　Source　was　revisited；
the　more　abundant　it　became；　and　the　more　it　filled　the　river。
All　the　channels　and　the　basins　were　supplied　with　water；　and　men
made　new　channels　which　were　also　filled。　　Some　of　those　who　were
diggers　of　trenches　and　hewers　of　cisterns　said　that　it　was
their　work　which　had　wrought　the　change。　　But　the　wisest　and
best　among　the　people　knew　that　it　all　came　from　the　Source；
and　they　taught　that　if　it　should　ever　again　be　forgotten　and
left　unvisited　the　river　would　fail　again　and　desolation
return。　　So　every　day；　from　the　gardens　and　orchards　and　the
streets　of　the　city；　men　and　women　and　children　have　gone　up
the　mountain…path　with　singing；　to　rejoice　beside　the　spring
from　which　the　river　flows　and　to　remember　the　one　who　opened　it。
We　call　it　the　River　Carita。　　And　the　name　of　the　city　is　no　more
Ablis；　but　Saloma；　which　is　Peace。　　And　the　name　of　him　who　died
to　find　the　Source　for　us　is　so　dear　that　we　speak　it　only　when
we　pray。

〃But　there　are　many　things　yet　to　learn　about　our　city；
and　some　that　seem　dark　and　cast　a　shadow　on　my　thoughts。
Therefore；　my　son；　I　bid　you　to　be　my　guest；　for　there　is　a
room　in　my　house　for　the　stranger；　and　to…morrow　and　on　the
following　days　you　shall　see　how　life　goes　with　us；　and　read；
if　you　can；　the　secret　of　the　city。〃

That　night　I　slept　well；　as　one　who　has　heard　a　pleasant
tale；　with　the　murmur　of　running　water　woven　through　my
dreams；　and　the　next　day　I　went　out　early　into　the　streets；
for　I　was　curious　to　see　the　manner　of　the　visitation　of　the
Source。

Already　the　people　were　coming　forth　and　turning　their
steps　upward　in　the　mountain…path　beside　the　river。　　Some　of
them　went　alone；　swiftly　and　in　silence；　others　were　in　groups
of　two　or　three；　talking　as　they　went；　others　were　in　larger
companies；　and　they　sang　together　very　gladly　and　sweetly。
But　there　were　many　people　who　remained　working
in　their　fields　or　in　their　houses；　or　stayed　talking　on　the
corners　of　the　streets。　　Therefore　I　joined　myself　to　one　of
the　men　who　walked　alone　and　asked　him　why　all　the　people　did
not　go　to　the　spring；　since　the　life　of　the　city　depended　upon
it；　and　whether；　perhaps；　the　way　was　so　long　and　so　hard　that
none　but　the　strongest　could　undertake　it。

〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃I　perceive　that　you　are　a　stranger；　for
the　way　is　both　short　and　easy；　so　that　the　children　are　those
who　most　delight　in　it；　and　if　a　man　were　in　great　haste　he
could　go　there　and　return　in　a　little　while。　　But　of　those　who
remain　behind；　some　are　the　busy　ones　who　must　visit　the
fountain　at　another　hour；　and　some　are　the　careless　ones　who
take　life　as　it　comes　and　never　think　where　it　comes