the works of edgar allan poe-2-第42部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


The　late　death　of　my　friend；　in　causing　his　domain　to　be　thrown　open
to　certain　classes　of　visiters；　has　given　to　Arnheim　a　species　of
secret　and　subdued　if　not　solemn　celebrity；　similar　in　kind；　although
infinitely　superior　in　degree；　to　that　which　so　long　distinguished
Fonthill。

The　usual　approach　to　Arnheim　was　by　the　river。　The　visiter　left　the
city　in　the　early　morning。　During　the　forenoon　he　passed　between
shores　of　a　tranquil　and　domestic　beauty；　on　which　grazed　innumerable
sheep；　their　white　fleeces　spotting　the　vivid　green　of　rolling
meadows。　By　degrees　the　idea　of　cultivation　subsided　into　that　of
merely　pastoral　care。　This　slowly　became　merged　in　a　sense　of
retirement　　this　again　in　a　consciousness　of　solitude。　As　the
evening　approached；　the　channel　grew　more　narrow；　the　banks　more　and
more　precipitous；　and　these　latter　were　clothed　in　rich；　more
profuse；　and　more　sombre　foliage。　The　water　increased　in
transparency。　The　stream　took　a　thousand　turns；　so　that　at　no　moment
could　its　gleaming　surface　be　seen　for　a　greater　distance　than　a
furlong。　At　every　instant　the　vessel　seemed　imprisoned　within　an
enchanted　circle；　having　insuperable　and　impenetrable　walls　of
foliage；　a　roof　of　ultramarine　satin；　and　no　floor　　the　keel
balancing　itself　with　admirable　nicety　on　that　of　a　phantom　bark
which；　by　some　accident　having　been　turned　upside　down；　floated　in
constant　company　with　the　substantial　one；　for　the　purpose　of
sustaining　it。　The　channel　now　became　a　gorge　　although　the　term　is
somewhat　inapplicable；　and　I　employ　it　merely　because　the　language
has　no　word　which　better　represents　the　most　striking　　not　the　most
distinctive…feature　of　the　scene。　The　character　of　gorge　was
maintained　only　in　the　height　and　parallelism　of　the　shores；　it　was
lost　altogether　in　their　other　traits。　The　walls　of　the　ravine
（through　which　the　clear　water　still　tranquilly　flowed）　arose　to　an
elevation　of　a　hundred　and　occasionally　of　a　hundred　and　fifty　feet；
and　inclined　so　much　toward　each　other　as；　in　a　great　measure；　to
shut　out　the　light　of　day；　while　the　long　plume…like　moss　which
depended　densely　from　the　intertwining　shrubberies　overhead；　gave　the
whole　chasm　an　air　of　funereal　gloom。　The　windings　became　more
frequent　and　intricate；　and　seemed　often　as　if　returning　in　upon
themselves；　so　that　the　voyager　had　long　lost　all　idea　of　direction。
He　was；　moreover；　enwrapt　in　an　exquisite　sense　of　the　strange。　The
thought　of　nature　still　remained；　but　her　character　seemed　to　have
undergone　modification；　there　was　a　weird　symmetry；　a　thrilling
uniformity；　a　wizard　propriety　in　these　her　works。　Not　a　dead　branch
　not　a　withered　leaf　　not　a　stray　pebble　　not　a　patch　of　the
brown　earth　was　anywhere　visible。　The　crystal　water　welled　up　against
the　clean　granite；　or　the　unblemished　moss；　with　a　sharpness　of
outline　that　delighted　while　it　bewildered　the　eye。

Having　threaded　the　mazes　of　this　channel　for　some　hours；　the　gloom
deepening　every　moment；　a　sharp　and　unexpected　turn　of　the　vessel
brought　it　suddenly；　as　if　dropped　from　heaven；　into　a　circular　basin
of　very　considerable　extent　when　compared　with　the　width　of　the
gorge。　It　was　about　two　hundred　yards　in　diameter；　and　girt　in　at　all
points　but　one　　that　immediately　fronting　the　vessel　as　it　entered
　by　hills　equal　in　general　height　to　the　walls　of　the　chasm；
although　of　a　thoroughly　different　character。　Their　sides　sloped　from
the　water's　edge　at　an　angle　of　some　forty…five　degrees；　and　they
were　clothed　from　base　to　summit　　not　a　perceptible　point　escaping
　in　a　drapery　of　the　most　gorgeous　flower…blossoms；　scarcely　a
green　leaf　being　visible　among　the　sea　of　odorous　and　fluctuating
color。　This　basin　was　of　great　depth；　but　so　transparent　was　the
water　that　the　bottom；　which　seemed　to　consist　of　a　thick　mass　of
small　round　alabaster　pebbles；　was　distinctly　visible　by　glimpses　
that　is　to　say；　whenever　the　eye　could　permit　itself　not　to　see；　far
down　in　the　inverted　heaven；　the　duplicate　blooming　of　the　hills。　On
these　latter　there　were　no　trees；　nor　even　shrubs　of　any　size。　The
impressions　wrought　on　the　observer　were　those　of　richness；　warmth；
color；　quietude；　uniformity；　softness；　delicacy；　daintiness；
voluptuousness；　and　a　miraculous　extremeness　of　culture　that
suggested　dreams　of　a　new　race　of　fairies；　laborious；　tasteful；
magnificent；　and　fastidious；　but　as　the　eye　traced　upward　the
myriad…tinted　slope；　from　its　sharp　junction　with　the　water　to　its
vague　termination　amid　the　folds　of　overhanging　cloud；　it　became；
indeed；　difficult　not　to　fancy　a　panoramic　cataract　of　rubies；
sapphires；　opals；　and　golden　onyxes；　rolling　silently　out　of　the　sky。

The　visiter；　shooting　suddenly　into　this　bay　from　out　the　gloom　of
the　ravine；　is　delighted　but　astounded　by　the　full　orb　of　the
declining　sun；　which　he　had　supposed　to　be　already　far　below　the
horizon；　but　which　now　confronts　him；　and　forms　the　sole　termination
of　an　otherwise　limitless　vista　seen　through　another　chasm　　like
rift　in　the　hills。

But　here　the　voyager　quits　the　vessel　which　has　borne　him　so　far；　and
descends　into　a　light　canoe　of　ivory；　stained　with　arabesque　devices
in　vivid　scarlet；　both　within　and　without。　The　poop　and　beak　of　this
boat　arise　high　above　the　water；　with　sharp　points；　so　that　the
general　form　is　that　of　an　irregular　crescent。　It　lies　on　the　surface
of　the　bay　with　the　proud　grace　of　a　swan。　On　its　ermined　floor
reposes　a　single　feathery　paddle　of　satin…wood；　but　no　oarsmen　or
attendant　is　to　be　seen。　The　guest　is　bidden　to　be　of　good　cheer　
that　the　fates　will　take　care　of　him。　The　larger　vessel　disappears；
and　he　is　left　alone　in　the　canoe；　which　lies　apparently　motionless
in　the　middle　of　the　lake。　While　he　considers　what　course　to　pursue；
however；　he　becomes　aware　of　a　gentle　movement　in　the　fairy　bark。　It
slowly　swings　itself　around　until　its　prow　points　toward　the　sun。　It
advances　with　a　gentle　but　gradually　accelerated　velocity；　while　the
slight　ripples　it　creates　seem　to　break　about　the　ivory　side　in
divinest　melody…seem　to　offer　the　only　possible　explanation　of　the
soothing　yet　melancholy　music　for　whose　unseen　origin　the　bewildered
voyager　looks　around　him　in　vain。

The　canoe　steadily　proceeds；　and　the　rocky　gate　of　the　vista　is
approached；　so　that　its　depths　can　be　more　distinctly　seen。　To　the
right　arise　a　chain　of　lofty　hills　rudely　and　luxuriantly　wooded。　It
is　observed；　however；　that　the　trait　of　exquisite　cleanness　where　the
bank　dips　into　the　water；　still　prevails。　There　is　not　one　token　of
the　usual　river　debris。　To　the　left　the　character　of　the　scene　is
softer　and　more　obviously　artificial。　Here　the　bank　slopes　upward
from　the　stream　in　a　very　gentle　ascent；　forming　a　broad　sward　of
grass　of　a　texture　resembling　nothing　so　much　as　velvet；　and　of　a
brilliancy　of　green　which　would　bear　comparison　with　the　tint　of　the
purest　emerald。　This　plateau　varies　in　width　from　ten　to　three
hundred　yards；　reaching　from　the　river…bank　to　a　wall；　fifty　feet
high；　which　extends；　in　an　infinity　of　curves；　but　following　the
general　direction　of　the　river；　until　lost　in　the　distance　to　the
westward。　This　wall　is　of　one　continuous　rock；　and　has　been　formed　by
cutting　perpendicularly　the　once　rugged　precipice　of　the　stream's
southern　bank；　but　no　trace　of　the　labor　has　been　suffered　to　remain。
The　chiselled　stone　has　the　hue　of　ages；　and　is　profusely　overhung
and　overspread　with　the　ivy；　the　coral　honeysuckle；　the　eglantine；
and　the　clematis。　The　uniformity　of　the　top　and　bottom　lines　of　the
wall　is　fully　relieved　by　occasional　trees　of　gigantic　height；
growing　singly　or　in　small　groups；　both　along　the　plateau　and　in　the
domain　behind　the　wall；　but　in　close　proximity　to　it；　so　that
frequent　limbs　（of　the　black　walnut　especially）　reach　over　and　dip
their　pendent　extremities　into　the　water。　Farther　back　within　the
domain；　the　vision　is　impeded　by　an　impenetrable　screen　of　foliage。

These　things　are　observed　during　the　canoe's　gradual　approach　to　what
I　have　called　the　gate　of　the　vista。　On　drawing　nearer　to　this；
however；　its　chasm…like　appearance　vanishes；　a　new　outlet　from　the
bay　is　discovered　to　the　left　　in　which　direction　the　wall　is　also
seen　to　sweep；　still　following　the　general　course　of　the　stream。　Down
this　new　opening　the　eye　cannot　penetrate　very　far；　for　the　stream；
accompanied　by　the　wall；　still　bends　to　the　left；　until　both　are
swallowed　up　by　the　leaves。

The　boat；　nevertheless；　glides　magically　into　the　winding　channel；
and　here　the　shore　opposite　the　wall　is　found　to　resemble　that
opposite　the　wall　in　the　straight　vista。　Lofty　hills；　rising
occasionally　into　mountains；　and　covered　with　vegetation　in　wild
luxuriance；　still　shut　in　the　scene。

Floating　gently　onward；　but　with　a　velocity　slightly　augmented；　the
voyager；　after　many　short　turns；　finds　his　progress　apparently　barred
by　a　gigantic　gate　or　rather　door　of　burnished　gold；　elaborately
carved　and　fretted；　and　reflecting　the　direct　rays　of　the　now
fast…sinking　sun　with　an　effulgence　that　seems　to　wreath　the　whole
surrounding　forest　in　flames。　This　gate　is　inserted　in　the　lofty
wall；　which　here　appears　to　cross　the　river　at　right　angles。　In　a　few
moments；　however；　it　is　seen　that　the　main　body　of　the　water　still
sweeps　in　a　gentle　and　extensive　curve　to　the　left；　the　wall
following　it　as　before；　while　a　stream　of　considerable　volume；
diverging　from　the　principal　one；　makes　its　way；　with　a　slight
ripple；　under　the　door；　and　is　thus　hidden　from　sight。　The　canoe
falls　into　the　lesser　channel　and　approaches　the　gate。　Its　ponderous
wings　are　slowly　and　musically　expanded。　The　boat　glides　between
them；　and　commences　a　rapid　descent　into　a　vast　amphitheatre　entirely
begirt　with　purple　mountains；　whose　bases　are　laved　by　a　gleaming
river　throughout　the　full　extent　of　their　circuit。　Meantime　the　whole
Paradise　of　Arnheim　bursts　upon　the　view。　There　is　a　gush　of
entrancing　melody；　there　is　an　oppressive　sense　of　strange　sweet
odor；　　there　is　a　dream　　like　intermingling　to　the　eye　of　tall
slender　Eastern　trees　　bosky　shrubberies　　flocks　of　golden　and
crimson　birds　　lily…fringed　lakes　　meadows　of　violets；　tulips；