the works of edgar allan poe-2-第54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！


fish　haunted　the　river；　out　of　the　bosom　of　which　issued；　little　by
little；　a　murmur　that　swelled；　at　length；　into　a　lulling　melody　more
divine　than　that　of　the　harp　of　Aeolus…sweeter　than　all　save　the
voice　of　Eleonora。　And　now；　too；　a　voluminous　cloud；　which　we　had
long　watched　in　the　regions　of　Hesper；　floated　out　thence；　all
gorgeous　in　crimson　and　gold；　and　settling　in　peace　above　us；　sank；
day　by　day；　lower　and　lower；　until　its　edges　rested　upon　the　tops　of
the　mountains；　turning　all　their　dimness　into　magnificence；　and
shutting　us　up；　as　if　forever；　within　a　magic　prison…house　of
grandeur　and　of　glory。

The　loveliness　of　Eleonora　was　that　of　the　Seraphim；　but　she　was　a
maiden　artless　and　innocent　as　the　brief　life　she　had　led　among　the
flowers。　No　guile　disguised　the　fervor　of　love　which　animated　her
heart；　and　she　examined　with　me　its　inmost　recesses　as　we　walked
together　in　the　Valley　of　the　Many…Colored　Grass；　and　discoursed　of
the　mighty　changes　which　had　lately　taken　place　therein。

At　length；　having　spoken　one　day；　in　tears；　of　the　last　sad　change
which　must　befall　Humanity；　she　thenceforward　dwelt　only　upon　this
one　sorrowful　theme；　interweaving　it　into　all　our　converse；　as；　in
the　songs　of　the　bard　of　Schiraz；　the　same　images　are　found
occurring；　again　and　again；　in　every　impressive　variation　of　phrase。

She　had　seen　that　the　finger　of　Death　was　upon　her　bosom　　that；
like　the　ephemeron；　she　had　been　made　perfect　in　loveliness　only　to
die；　but　the　terrors　of　the　grave　to　her　lay　solely　in　a
consideration　which　she　revealed　to　me；　one　evening　at　twilight；　by
the　banks　of　the　River　of　Silence。　She　grieved　to　think　that；　having
entombed　her　in　the　Valley　of　the　Many…Colored　Grass；　I　would　quit
forever　its　happy　recesses；　transferring　the　love　which　now　was　so
passionately　her　own　to　some　maiden　of　the　outer　and　everyday　world。
And；　then　and　there；　I　threw　myself　hurriedly　at　the　feet　of
Eleonora；　and　offered　up　a　vow；　to　herself　and　to　Heaven；　that　I
would　never　bind　myself　in　marriage　to　any　daughter　of　Earth　　that
I　would　in　no　manner　prove　recreant　to　her　dear　memory；　or　to　the
memory　of　the　devout　affection　with　which　she　had　blessed　me。　And　I
called　the　Mighty　Ruler　of　the　Universe　to　witness　the　pious
solemnity　of　my　vow。　And　the　curse　which　I　invoked　of　Him　and　of　her；
a　saint　in　Helusion　should　I　prove　traitorous　to　that　promise；
involved　a　penalty　the　exceeding　great　horror　of　which　will　not
permit　me　to　make　record　of　it　here。　And　the　bright　eyes　of　Eleonora
grew　brighter　at　my　words；　and　she　sighed　as　if　a　deadly　burthen　had
been　taken　from　her　breast；　and　she　trembled　and　very　bitterly　wept；
but　she　made　acceptance　of　the　vow；　（for　what　was　she　but　a　child？）
and　it　made　easy　to　her　the　bed　of　her　death。　And　she　said　to　me；　not
many　days　afterward；　tranquilly　dying；　that；　because　of　what　I　had
done　for　the　comfort　of　her　spirit　she　would　watch　over　me　in　that
spirit　when　departed；　and；　if　so　it　were　permitted　her　return　to　me
visibly　in　the　watches　of　the　night；　but；　if　this　thing　were；　indeed；
beyond　the　power　of　the　souls　in　Paradise；　that　she　would；　at　least；
give　me　frequent　indications　of　her　presence；　sighing　upon　me　in　the
evening　winds；　or　filling　the　air　which　I　breathed　with　perfume　from
the　censers　of　the　angels。　And；　with　these　words　upon　her　lips；　she
yielded　up　her　innocent　life；　putting　an　end　to　the　first　epoch　of　my
own。

Thus　far　I　have　faithfully　said。　But　as　I　pass　the　barrier　in　Times
path；　formed　by　the　death　of　my　beloved；　and　proceed　with　the　second
era　of　my　existence；　I　feel　that　a　shadow　gathers　over　my　brain；　and
I　mistrust　the　perfect　sanity　of　the　record。　But　let　me　on。　　Years
dragged　themselves　along　heavily；　and　still　I　dwelled　within　the
Valley　of　the　Many…Colored　Grass；　but　a　second　change　had　come　upon
all　things。　The　star…shaped　flowers　shrank　into　the　stems　of　the
trees；　and　appeared　no　more。　The　tints　of　the　green　carpet　faded；
and；　one　by　one；　the　ruby…red　asphodels　withered　away；　and　there
sprang　up；　in　place　of　them；　ten　by　ten；　dark；　eye…like　violets；　that
writhed　uneasily　and　were　ever　encumbered　with　dew。　And　Life　departed
from　our　paths；　for　the　tall　flamingo　flaunted　no　longer　his　scarlet
plumage　before　us；　but　flew　sadly　from　the　vale　into　the　hills；　with
all　the　gay　glowing　birds　that　had　arrived　in　his　company。　And　the
golden　and　silver　fish　swam　down　through　the　gorge　at　the　lower　end
of　our　domain　and　bedecked　the　sweet　river　never　again。　And　the
lulling　melody　that　had　been　softer　than　the　wind…harp　of　Aeolus；　and
more　divine　than　all　save　the　voice　of　Eleonora；　it　died　little　by
little　away；　in　murmurs　growing　lower　and　lower；　until　the　stream
returned；　at　length；　utterly；　into　the　solemnity　of　its　original
silence。　And　then；　lastly；　the　voluminous　cloud　uprose；　and；
abandoning　the　tops　of　the　mountains　to　the　dimness　of　old；　fell　back
into　the　regions　of　Hesper；　and　took　away　all　its　manifold　golden　and
gorgeous　glories　from　the　Valley　of　the　Many…Colored　Grass。

Yet　the　promises　of　Eleonora　were　not　forgotten；　for　I　heard　the
sounds　of　the　swinging　of　the　censers　of　the　angels；　and　streams　of　a
holy　perfume　floated　ever　and　ever　about　the　valley；　and　at　lone
hours；　when　my　heart　beat　heavily；　the　winds　that　bathed　my　brow　came
unto　me　laden　with　soft　sighs；　and　indistinct　murmurs　filled　often
the　night　air；　and　once　　oh；　but　once　only！　I　was　awakened　from　a
slumber；　like　the　slumber　of　death；　by　the　pressing　of　spiritual　lips
upon　my　own。

But　the　void　within　my　heart　refused；　even　thus；　to　be　filled。　I
longed　for　the　love　which　had　before　filled　it　to　overflowing。　At
length　the　valley　pained　me　through　its　memories　of　Eleonora；　and　I
left　it　for　ever　for　the　vanities　and　the　turbulent　triumphs　of　the
world。

I　found　myself　within　a　strange　city；　where　all　things　might　have
served　to　blot　from　recollection　the　sweet　dreams　I　had　dreamed　so
long　in　the　Valley　of　the　Many…Colored　Grass。　The　pomps　and
pageantries　of　a　stately　court；　and　the　mad　clangor　of　arms；　and　the
radiant　loveliness　of　women；　bewildered　and　intoxicated　my　brain。　But
as　yet　my　soul　had　proved　true　to　its　vows；　and　the　indications　of
the　presence　of　Eleonora　were　still　given　me　in　the　silent　hours　of
the　night。　Suddenly　these　manifestations　they　ceased；　and　the　world
grew　dark　before　mine　eyes；　and　I　stood　aghast　at　the　burning
thoughts　which　possessed；　at　the　terrible　temptations　which　beset　me；
for　there　came　from　some　far；　far　distant　and　unknown　land；　into　the
gay　court　of　the　king　I　served；　a　maiden　to　whose　beauty　my　whole
recreant　heart　yielded　at　once　　at　whose　footstool　I　bowed　down
without　a　struggle；　in　the　most　ardent；　in　the　most　abject　worship　of
love。　What；　indeed；　was　my　passion　for　the　young　girl　of　the　valley
in　comparison　with　the　fervor；　and　the　delirium；　and　the
spirit…lifting　ecstasy　of　adoration　with　which　I　poured　out　my　whole
soul　in　tears　at　the　feet　of　the　ethereal　Ermengarde？　　Oh；　bright
was　the　seraph　Ermengarde！　and　in　that　knowledge　I　had　room　for　none
other。　　Oh；　divine　was　the　angel　Ermengarde！　and　as　I　looked　down
into　the　depths　of　her　memorial　eyes；　I　thought　only　of　them　　and
of　her。

I　wedded；　　nor　dreaded　the　curse　I　had　invoked；　and　its　bitterness
was　not　visited　upon　me。　And　once　　but　once　again　in　the　silence　of
the　night；　there　came　through　my　lattice　the　soft　sighs　which　had
forsaken　me；　and　they　modelled　themselves　into　familiar　and　sweet
voice；　saying：

〃Sleep　in　peace！　　for　the　Spirit　of　Love　reigneth　and　ruleth；　and；
in　taking　to　thy　passionate　heart　her　who　is　Ermengarde；　thou　art
absolved；　for　reasons　which　shall　be　made　known　to　thee　in　Heaven；　of
thy　vows　unto　Eleonora。〃

~~~　End　of　Text　~~~



Notes　to　This　Volume

Notes　…　Scherezade

｛*1｝　The　coralites。

｛*2｝　〃One　of　the　most　remarkable　natural　curiosities　in　Texas　is　a
petrified　forest；　near　the　head　of　Pasigno　river。　It　consists　of
several　hundred　trees；　in　an　erect　position；　all　turned　to　stone。
Some　trees；　now　growing；　are　partly　petrified。　This　is　a　startling
fact　for　natural　philosophers；　and　must　cause　them　to　modify　the
existing　theory　of　petrification。　　_Kennedy_。

This　account；　at　first　discredited；　has　since　been　corroborated　by
the　discovery　of　a　completely　petrified　forest；　near　the　head　waters
of　the　Cheyenne；　or　Chienne　river；　which　has　its　source　in　the　Black
Hills　of　the　rocky　chain。

There　is　scarcely；　perhaps；　a　spectacle　on　the　surface　of　the　globe
more　remarkable；　either　in　a　geological　or　picturesque　point　of　view
than　that　presented　by　the　petrified　forest；　near　Cairo。　The
traveller；　having　passed　the　tombs　of　the　caliphs；　just　beyond　the
gates　of　the　city；　proceeds　to　the　southward；　nearly　at　right　angles
to　the　road　across　the　desert　to　Suez；　and　after　having　travelled
some　ten　miles　up　a　low　barren　valley；　covered　with　sand；　gravel；　and
sea　shells；　fresh　as　if　the　tide　had　retired　but　yesterday；　crosses　a
low　range　of　sandhills；　which　has　for　some　distance　run　parallel　to
his　path。　The　scene　now　presented　to　him　is　beyond　conception
singular　and　desolate。　A　mass　of　fragments　of　trees；　all　converted
into　stone；　and　when　struck　by　his　horse's　hoof　ringing　like　cast
iron；　is　seen　to　extend　itself　for　miles　and　miles　around　him；　in　the
form　of　a　decayed　and　prostrate　forest。　The　wood　is　of　a　dark　brown
hue；　but　retains　its　form　in　perfection；　the　pieces　being　from　one　to
fifteen　feet　in　length；　and　from　half　a　foot　to　three　feet　in
thickness；　strewed　so　closely　together；　as　far　as　the　eye　can　reach；
that　an　Egyptian　donkey　can　scarcely　thread　its　way　through　amongst
them；　and　so　natural　that；　were　it　in　Scotland　or　Ireland；　it　might
pass　without　remark　for　some　enormous　drained　bog；　on　which　the
exhumed　trees　lay　rotting　in　the　sun。　The　roots　and　rudiments　of　the
branches　are；　in　many　cases；　nearly　perfect；　and　in　some　the
worm…holes　eaten　under　the　bark　are　readily　recognizable。　The　most
delicate　of　the　sap　vessels；　and　all　the　finer　portions　of　the　centre
of　the　wood；　are　perfectly　entire；　and　bear　to　be　examined　with　the
strongest　magnifiers。　The　whole　are　so　thoroughly　silicified　as　to
scratch　gl