the great god pan(潘恩大帝)-第15部分
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for several days。 The people of the place； I found； knew little and had
guessed less。 Those whom I spoke to on the matter seemed surprised that
an antiquarian （as I professed myself to be） should trouble about a village
tragedy； of which they gave a very commonplace version； and； as you may
imagine； I told nothing of what I knew。 Most of my time was spent in the
great wood that rises just above the village and climbs the hillside； and
goes down to the river in the valley； such another long lovely valley；
Raymond； as that on which we looked one summer night； walking to and
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fro before your house。 For many an hour I strayed through the maze of
the forest； turning now to right and now to left； pacing slowly down long
alleys of undergrowth； shadowy and chill； even under the midday sun； and
halting beneath great oaks； lying on the short turf of a clearing where the
faint sweet scent of wild roses came to me on the wind and mixed with the
heavy perfume of the elder； whose mingled odour is like the odour of the
room of the dead； a vapour of incense and corruption。 I stood at the
edges of the wood； gazing at all the pomp and procession of the foxgloves
towering amidst the bracken and shining red in the broad sunshine； and
beyond them into deep thickets of close undergrowth where springs boil
up from the rock and nourish the water…weeds； dank and evil。 But in all
my wanderings I avoided one part of the wood； it was not till yesterday
that I climbed to the summit of the hill； and stood upon the ancient Roman
road that threads the highest ridge of the wood。 Here they had walked；
Helen and Rachel； along this quiet causeway； upon the pavement of green
turf； shut in on either side by high banks of red earth； and tall hedges of
shining beech； and here I followed in their steps； looking out； now and
again； through partings in the boughs； and seeing on one side the sweep of
the wood stretching far to right and left； and sinking into the broad level；
and beyond； the yellow sea； and the land over the sea。 On the other side
was the valley and the river and hill following hill as wave on wave； and
wood and meadow； and cornfield； and white houses gleaming； and a great
wall of mountain； and far blue peaks in the north。 And so at least I came
to the place。 The track went up a gentle slope； and widened out into an
open space with a wall of thick undergrowth around it； and then；
narrowing again； passed on into the distance and the faint blue mist of
summer heat。 And into this pleasant summer glade Rachel passed a girl；
and left it； who shall say what？ I did not stay long there。
In a small town near Caermaen there is a museum； containing for the
most part Roman remains which have been found in the neighbourhood at
various times。 On the day after my arrival in Caermaen I walked over to
the town in question； and took the opportunity of inspecting the museum。
After I had seen most of the sculptured stones； the coffins； rings； coins；
and fragments of tessellated pavement which the place contains； I was
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shown a small square pillar of white stone； which had been recently
discovered in the wood of which I have been speaking； and； as I found on
inquiry； in that open space where the Roman road broadens out。 On one
side of the pillar was an inscription； of which I took a note。 Some of the
letters have been defaced； but I do not think there can be any doubt as to
those which I supply。 The inscription is as follows：
DEVOMNODENTi FLAvIVSSENILISPOSSvit
PROPTERNVPtias quaSVIDITSVBVMra
〃To the great god Nodens （the god of the Great Deep or Abyss） Flavius
Senilis has erected this pillar on account of the marriage which he saw
beneath the shade。〃
The custodian of the museum informed me that local antiquaries were
much puzzled； not by the inscription； or by any difficulty in translating it；
but as to the circumstance or rite to which allusion is made。
* * *
。。。And now； my dear Clarke； as to what you tell me about Helen
Vaughan； whom you say you saw die under circumstances of the utmost
and almost incredible horror。 I was interested in your account； but a
good deal； nay all； of what you told me I knew already。 I can understand
the strange likeness you remarked in both the portrait and in the actual
face； you have seen Helen's mother。 You remember that still summer
night so many years ago； when I talked to you of the world beyond the
shadows； and of the god Pan。 You remember Mary。 She was the
mother of Helen Vaughan； who was born nine months after that night。
Mary never recovered her reason。 She lay； as you saw her； all the
while upon her bed； and a few days after the child was born she died。 I
fancy that just at the last she knew me； I was standing by the bed； and the
old look came into her eyes for a second； and then she shuddered and
groaned and died。 It was an ill work I did that night when you were
present； I broke open the door of the house of life； without knowing or
caring what might pass forth or enter in。 I recollect your telling me at the
time； sharply enough； and rightly too； in one sense； that I had ruined the
reason of a human being by a foolish experiment； based on an absurd
theory。 You did well to blame me； but my theory was not all absurdity。
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What I said Mary would see she saw； but I forgot that no human eyes can
look on such a sight with impunity。 And I forgot； as I have just said； that
when the house of life is thus thrown open； there may enter in that for
which we have no name； and human flesh may become the veil of a horror
one dare not express。 I played with energies which I did not understand；
you have seen the ending of it。 Helen Vaughan did well to bind the cord
about her neck and die； though the death was horrible。 The blackened
face； the hideous form upon the bed； changing and melting before your
eyes from woman to man； from man to beast； and from beast to worse than
beast； all the strange horror that you witness； surprises me but little。 What
you say the doctor whom you sent for saw and shuddered at I noticed long
ago； I knew what I had done the moment the child was born； and when it
was scarcely five years old I surprised it； not once or twice but several
times with a playmate； you may guess of what kind。 It was for me a
constant； an incarnate horror； and after a few years I felt I could bear it no
more； and I sent Helen Vaughan away。 You know now what frightened
the boy in the wood。 The rest of the strange story； and all else that you
tell me； as discovered by your friend； I have contrived to learn from time
to time； almost to the last chapter。 And now Helen is with her
companions。。。
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