the blue flower-第27节

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summit　of　life　had　been　attained；　the　highest　possible　point
of　felicity。　　Henceforward　the　course　could　only　be　at　a
levelperhaps　downward。　　It　might　be　brief；　at　the　best　it
could　not　be　very　long。　　It　was　madness　to　lose　a　day；　an
hour。　　That　would　be　the　only　fatal　mistake：　to　forfeit
anything　of　the　bargain　that　he　had　made。　He　would　have　it；　and
hold　it；　and　enjoy　it　all　to　the　full。　　The　world　might　have
nothing　better　to　give　than　it　had　already　given；　but　surely　it
had　many　things　that　were　new；　and　Marcion　should　help　him　to
find　them。

Under　his　learned　counsel　the　House　of　the　Golden　Pillars
took　on　a　new　magnificence。　　Artists　were　brought　from　Corinth
and　Rome　and　Alexandria　to　adorn　it　with　splendour。　　Its　fame
glittered　around　the　world。　　Banquets　of　incredible　luxury
drew　the　most　celebrated　guests　into　its　triclinium；　and
filled　them　with　envious　admiration。　　The　bees　swarmed　and
buzzed　about　the　golden　hive。　　The　human　insects；　gorgeous
moths　of　pleasure　and　greedy　flies　of　appetite；　parasites　and
flatterers　and　crowds　of　inquisitive　idlers；　danced　and
fluttered　in　the　dazzling　light　that　surrounded　Hermas。

Everything　that　he　touched　prospered。　　He　bought　a　tract
of　land　in　the　Caucasus；　and　emeralds　were　discovered　among
the　mountains。　　He　sent　a　fleet　of　wheat…ships　to　Italy；　and
the　price　of　grain　doubled　while　it　was　on　the　way。　　He　sought
political　favour　with　the　emperor；　and　was　rewarded　with　the
governorship　of　the　city。　　His　name　was　a　word　to　conjure　with。

The　beauty　of　Athenais　lost　nothing　with　the　passing
seasons；　but　grew　more　perfect；　even　under　the　inexplicable
shade　of　dissatisfaction　that　sometimes　veiled　it。　　〃Fair　as
the　wife　of　Hermas〃　was　a　proverb　in　Antioch；　and　soon　men
began　to　add　to　it；　〃Beautiful　as　the　son　of　Hermas〃；　for　the
child　developed　swiftly　in　that　favouring　clime。　　At　nine
years　of　age　he　was　straight　and　strong；　firm　of　limb　and
clear　of　eye。　　His　brown　head　was　on　a　level　with　his　father's
heart。　　He　was　the　jewel　of　the　House　of　the　Golden　Pillars；
the　pride　of　Hermas；　the　new　Fortunatus。

That　year　another　drop　of　success　fell　into　his　brimming
cup。　　His　black　Numidian　horses；　which　he　had　been　training
for　the　world…renowned　chariot…races　of　Antioch；　won　the
victory　over　a　score　of　rivals。　　Hermas　received　the　prize
carelessly　from　the　judge's　hands；　and　turned　to　drive　once
more　around　the　circus；　to　show　himself　to　the　people。　　He
lifted　the　eager　boy　into　the　chariot　beside　him　to　share　his
triumph。

Here；　indeed；　was　the　glory　of　his　lifethis　matchless
son；　his　brighter　counterpart　carved　in　breathing　ivory；
touching　his　arm；　and　balancing　himself　proudly　on　the　swaying
floor　of　the　chariot。　　As　the　horses　pranced　around　the　ring；
a　great　shout　of　applause　filled　the　amphitheatre；　and
thousands　of　spectators　waved　their　salutations　of　praise：
〃Hail；　fortunate　Hermas；　master　of　success！　　Hail；　little
Hermas；　prince　of　good　luck！〃

The；　sudden　tempest　of　acclamation；　the　swift　fluttering
of　innumerable　garments　in　the　air；　startled　the　horses。　　They
dashed　violently　forward；　and　plunged　upon　the　bits。　　The　left
rein　broke。　　They　swerved　to　the　right；　swinging　the　chariot
sideways　with　a　grating　noise；　and　dashing　it　against　the
stone　parapet　of　the　arena。　　In　an　instant　the　wheel　was
shattered。　　The　axle　struck　the　ground；　and　the　chariot　was
dragged　onward；　rocking　and　staggering。

By　a　strenuous　effort　Hermas　kept　his　place　on　the　frail
platform；　clinging　to　the　unbroken　rein。　　But　the　boy　was
tossed　lightly　from　his　side　at　the　first　shock。　　His　head　struck
the　wall。　　And　when　Hermas　turned　to　look　for　him；　he　was　lying
like　a　broken　flower　on　the　sand。



VI

They　carried　the　boy　in　a　litter　to　the　House　of　the　Golden
Pillars；　summoning　the　most　skilful　physician　of　Antioch　to
attend　him。　　For　hours　the　child　was　as　quiet　as　death。
Hermas　watched　the　white　eyelids；　folded　close　like　lily…buds
at　night；　even　as　one　watches　for　the　morning。　　At　last　they
opened；　but　the　fire　of　fever　was　burning　in　the　eyes；　and　the
lips　were　moving　in　a　wild　delirium。

Hour　after　hour　that　sweet　childish　voice　rang　through　the
halls　and　chambers　of　the　splendid；　helpless　house；　now　rising
in　shrill　calls　of　distress　and　senseless　laughter；　now
sinking　in　weariness　and　dull　moaning。　　The　stars　shone　and
faded；　the　sun　rose　and　set；　the　roses　bloomed　and　fell　in　the
garden；　the　birds　sang　and　slept　among　the　jasmine…bowers。
But　in　the　heart　of　Hermas　there　was　no　song；　no　bloom；　no
lightonly　speechless　anguish；　and　a　certain　fearful　looking…for
of　desolation。

He　was　like　a　man　in　a　nightmare。　　He　saw　the　shapeless
terror　that　was　moving　toward　him；　but　he　was　impotent　to　stay
or　to　escape　it。　　He　had　done　all　that　he　could。　　There　was
nothing　left　but　to　wait。

He　paced　to　and　fro；　now　hurrying　to　the　boy's　bed　as　if
he　could　not　bear　to　be　away　from　it；　now　turning　back　as　if
he　could　not　endure　to　be　near　it。　　The　people　of　the　house；
even　Athenais；　feared　to　speak　to　him；　there　was　something　so
vacant　and　desperate　in　his　face。

At　nightfall　on　the　second　of　those　eternal　days　he　shut
himself　in　the　library。　　The　unfilled　lamp　had　gone　out；
leaving　a　trail　of　smoke　in　the　air。　　The　sprigs　of　mignonette
and　rosemary；　with　which　the　room　was　sprinkled　every　day；
were　unrenewed；　and　scented　the　gloom　with　close　odours　of
decay。　　A　costly　manuscript　of　Theocritus　was　tumbled　in
disorder　on　the　floor。　　Hermas　sank　into　a　chair　like　a　man　in
whom　the　very　spring　of　being　is　broken。　　Through　the　darkness
some　one　drew　near。　　He　did　not　even　lift　his　head。　　A　hand
touched　him；　a　soft　arm　was　laid　over　his　shoulders。　　It　was
Athenais；　kneeling　beside　him　and　speaking　very　low：

〃Hermasit　is　almost　overthe　child！　　His　voice　grows
weaker　hour　by　hour。　　He　moans　and　calls　for　some　one　to　help
him；　then　he　laughs。　　It　breaks　my　heart。　　He　has　just　fallen
asleep。　　The　moon　is　rising　now。　　Unless　a　change　comes　he
cannot　last　till　sunrise。　　Is　there　nothing　we　can　do？　　Is
there　no　power　that　can　save　him？　　Is　there　no　one　to　pity　us
and　spare　us？　　Let　us　call；　let　us　beg　for　compassion　and
help；　let　us　pray　for　his　life！〃

Yes；　this　was　what　he　wantedthis　was　the　only　thing　that
could　bring　relief：　to　pray；　to　pour　out　his　sorrow　somewhere；
to　find　a　greater　strength　than　his　own　and　cling　to　it　and
plead　for　mercy　and　help。　　To　leave　this　undone　was　to　be
false　to　his　manhood；　it　was　to　be　no　better　than　the　dumb
beasts　when　their　young　perish。　　How　could　he　let　his　boy
suffer　and　die；　without　an　effort；　a　cry；　a　prayer？

He　sank　on　his　knees　beside　Athenais。

〃Out　of　the　depthsout　of　the　depths　we　call　for　pity。
The；　light　of　our　eyes　is　fadingthe　child　is　dying。　　Oh；　the
child；　the　child！　　Spare　the　child's　life；　thou　merciful〃

Not　a　word；　only　that　deathly　blank。　　The　hands　of　Hermas；
stretched　out　in　supplication；　touched　the　marble　table。　　He
felt　the　cool　hardness　of　the　polished　stone　beneath　his
fingers。　　A　roll　of　papyrus；　dislodged　by　his　touch；　fell
rustling　to　the　floor。　　Through　the　open　door；　faint　and　far
off；　came　the　footsteps　of　the　servants；　moving　cautiously。
The　heart　of　Hermas　was　like　a　lump　of　ice　in　his　bosom。　　He
rose　slowly　to　his　feet；　lifting　Athenais　with　him。

〃It　is　in　vain；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　nothing　for　us　to　do。
Long　ago　I　knew　something。　　I　think　it　would　have　helped　us。
But　I　have　forgotten　it。　　It　is　all　gone。　　But　I　would　give
all　that　I　have；　if　I　could　bring　it　back　again　now；　at　this
hour；　in　this　time　of　our　bitter　trouble。〃

A　slave　entered　the　room　while　he　was　speaking；　and
approached　hesitatingly。

〃Master；〃　he　said；　〃John　of　Antioch；　whom　we　were
forbidden　to　admit　to　the　house；　has　come　again。　　He　would
take　no　denial。　　Even　now　he　waits　in　the　peristyle；　and　the
old　man　Marcion　is　with　him；　seeking　to　turn　him　away。〃

〃Come；〃　said　Hermas　to　his　wife；　〃let　us　go　to　him。〃

In　the　central　hall　the　two　men　were　standing；　Marcion；
with　disdainful　eyes　and　sneering　lips；　taunting　the　unbidden
guest；　John；　silent；　quiet；　patient；　while　the　wondering
slaves　looked　on　in　dismay。　　He　lifted　his　searching　gaze　to
the　haggard　face　of　Hermas。

〃My　son；　I　knew　that　I　should　see　you　again；　even　though
you　did　not　send　for　me。　　I　have　come　to　you　because　I　have
heard　that　you　are　in　trouble。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　answered　Hermas；　passionately；　〃we　are　in
trouble；　desperate　trouble；　trouble　accursed。　　Our　child　is
dying。　　We　are　poor；　we　are　destitute；　we　are　afflicted。　　In
all　this　house；　in　all　the　world；　there　is　no　one　that　can
help　us。　　I　knew　something　long　ago；　when　I　was　with　you；a
word；　a　name；in　which　we　might　have　found　hope。　　But　I　have
lost　it。　　I　gave　it　to　this　man。　　He　has　taken　it　away　from　me
forever。〃

He　pointed　to　Marcion。　　The　old　man's　lips　curled
scornfully。　　〃A　word；　a　name！〃　he　sneered。　　〃What　is　that；　O
most　wise　man　and　holy　Presbyter？　　A　thing　of　air；　a　thing
that　men　make　to　describe　their　own　dreams　and　fancies。　　Who
would　go　about　to　rob　any　one　of　such　a　thing　as　that？　　It　is
a　prize　that　only　a　fool　would　think　of　taking。　　Besides；　the
young　man　pa