evangeline-第6部分

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Dreamlike；　and　indistinct；　and　strange　were　all　things　around　them；
And　o'er　their　spirits　there　came　a　feeling　of　wonder　and　sadness；
Strange　forebodings　of　ill；　unseen　and　that　cannot　be　compassed。
As；　at　the　tramp　of　a　horse's　hoof　on　the　turf　of　the　prairies；
Far　in　advance　are　closed　the　leaves　of　the　shrinking　mimosa；
So；　at　the　hoof…beats　of　fate；　with　sad　forebodings　of　evil；
Shrinks　and　closes　the　heart；　ere　the　stroke　of　doom　has　attained　it。
But　Evangeline's　heart　was　sustained　by　a　vision；　that　faintly
Floated　before　her　eyes；　and　beckoned　her　on　through　the　moonlight。
It　was　the　thought　of　her　brain　that　assumed　the　shape　of　a　phantom。
Through　those　shadowy　aisles　had　Gabriel　wandered　before　her；
And　every　stroke　of　the　oar　now　brought　him　nearer　and　nearer。

　　Then　in　his　place；　at　the　prow　of　the　boat；　rose　one　of　the　oarsmen；
And；　as　a　signal　sound；　if　others　like　them　peradventure
Sailed　on　those　gloomy　and　midnight　streams；　blew　a　blast　on　his　bugle。
Wild　through　the　dark　colonnades　and　corridors　leafy　the　blast　rang；
Breaking　the　seal　of　silence；　and　giving　tongues　to　the　forest。
Soundless　above　them　the　banners　of　moss　just　stirred　to　the　music。
Multitudinous　echoes　awoke　and　died　in　the　distance；
Over　the　watery　floor；　and　beneath　the　reverberant　branches；
But　not　a　voice　replied；　no　answer　came　from　the　darkness；
And；　when　the　echoes　had　ceased；　like　a　sense　of　pain　was　the　silence。
Then　Evangeline　slept；　but　the　boatmen　rowed　through　the　midnight；
Silent　at　times；　then　singing　familiar　Canadian　boat…songs；
Such　as　they　sang　of　old　on　their　own　Acadian　rivers；
And　through　the　night　were　heard　the　mysterious　sounds　of　the　desert；
Far　off；indistinct；as　of　wave　or　wind　in　the　forest；
Mixed　with　the　whoop　of　the　crane　and　the　roar　of　the　grim　alligator。

　　Thus　ere　another　noon　they　emerged　from　the　shades；　and　before　them
Lay；　in　the　golden　sun；　the　lakes　of　the　Atchafalaya。
Water…lilies　in　myriads　rocked　on　the　slight　undulations
Made　by　the　passing　oars；　and；　resplendent　in　beauty；　the　lotus
Lifted　her　golden　crown　above　the　heads　of　the　boatmen。
Faint　was　the　air　with　the　odorous　breath　of　magnolia　blossoms；
And　with　the　heat　of　noon；　and　numberless　sylvan　islands；
Fragrant　and　thickly　embowered　with　blossoming　hedges　of　roses；
Near　to　whose　shores　they　glided　along；　invited　to　slumber。
Soon　by　the　fairest　of　these　their　weary　oars　were　suspended。
Under　the　boughs　of　Wachita　willows；　that　grew　by　the　margin；
Safely　their　boat　was　moored；　and　scattered　about　on　the　greensward；
Tired　with　their　midnight　toil；　the　weary　travellers　slumbered。
Over　them　vast　and　high　extended　the　cope　of　a　cedar。
Swinging　from　its　great　arms；　the　trumpet…flower　and　the　grape…vine
Hung　their　ladder　of　ropes　aloft　like　the　ladder　of　Jacob；
On　whose　pendulous　stairs　the　angels　ascending；　descending；
Were　the　swift　humming…birds；　that　flitted　from　blossom　to　blossom。
Such　was　the　vision　Evangeline　saw　as　she　slumbered　beneath　it。
Filled　was　her　heart　with　love；　and　the　dawn　of　an　opening　heaven
Lighted　her　soul　in　sleep　with　the　glory　of　regions　celestial。

　　Nearer　and　ever　nearer；　among　the　numberless　islands；
Darted　a　light；　swift　boat；　that　sped　away　o'er　the　water；
Urged　on　its　course　by　the　sinewy　arms　of　hunters　and　trappers。
Northward　its　prow　was　turned；　to　the　land　of　the　bison　and　beaver。
At　the　helm　sat　a　youth；　with　countenance　thoughtful　and　care…worn。
Dark　and　neglected　locks　overshadowed　his　brow；　and　a　sadness
Somewhat　beyond　his　years　on　his　face　was　legibly　written。
Gabriel　was　it；　who；　weary　with　waiting；　unhappy　and　restless；
Sought　in　the　Western　wilds　oblivion　of　self　and　of　sorrow。
Swiftly　they　glided　along；　close　under　the　lee　of　the　island；
But　by　the　opposite　bank；　and　behind　a　screen　of　palmettos；
So　that　they　saw　not　the　boat；　where　it　lay　concealed　in　the　willows；
And　undisturbed　by　the　dash　of　their　oars；　and　unseen；　were　the　sleepers；
Angel　of　God　was　there　none　to　awaken　the　slumbering　maiden。
Swiftly　they　glided　away；　like　the　shade　of　a　cloud　on　the　prairie。
After　the　sound　of　their　oars　on　the　tholes　had　died　in　the　distance；
As　from　a　magic　trance　the　sleepers　awoke；　and　the　maiden
Said　with　a　sigh　to　the　friendly　priest；　〃O　Father　Felician！
Something　says　in　my　heart　that　near　me　Gabriel　wanders。
Is　it　a　foolish　dream；　an　idle　and　vague　superstition？
Or　has　an　angel　passed；　and　revealed　the　truth　to　my　spirit？〃
Then；　with　a　blush；　she　added；　〃Alas　for　my　credulous　fancy！
Unto　ears　like　thine　such　words　as　these　have　no　meaning。〃
But　made　answer　the　reverend　man；　and　he　smiled　as　he　answered；
〃Daughter；　thy　words　are　not　idle；　nor　are　they　to　me　without　meaning。
Feeling　is　deep　and　still；　and　the　word　that　floats　on　the　surface
Is　as　the　tossing　buoy；　that　betrays　where　the　anchor　is　hidden。
Therefore　trust　to　thy　heart；　and　to　what　the　world　calls　illusions。
Gabriel　truly　is　near　thee；　for　not　far　away　to　the　southward；
On　the　banks　of　the　T阠he　are　the　towns　of　St。　Maur　and　St。　Martin。
There　the　long…wandering　bride　shall　be　given　again　to　her　bridegroom；
There　the　long…absent　pastor　regain　his　flock　and　his　sheepfold。
Beautiful　is　the　land；　with　its　prairies　and　forests　of　fruit…trees；
Under　the　feet　a　garden　of　flowers；　and　the　bluest　of　heavens
Bending　above；　and　resting　its　dome　on　the　walls　of　the　forest。
They　who　dwell　there　have　named　it　the　Eden　of　Louisiana。〃

　　With　these　words　of　cheer　they　arose　and　continued　their　journey。
Softly　the　evening　came。　　The　sun　from　the　western　horizon
Like　a　magician　extended　his　golden　wand　o'er　the　landscape；
Twinkling　vapors　arose；　and　sky　and　water　and　forest
Seemed　all　on　fire　at　the　touch；　and　melted　and　mingled　together。
Hanging　between　two　skies；　a　cloud　with　edges　of　silver；
Floated　the　boat；　with　its　dripping　oars；　on　the　motionless　water。
Filled　was　Evangeline's　heart　with　inexpressible　sweetness。
Touched　by　the　magic　spell；　the　sacred　fountains　of　feeling
Glowed　with　the　light　of　love；　as　the　skies　and　waters　around　her。
Then　from　a　neighboring　thicket　the　mockingbird；　wildest　of　singers；
Swinging　aloft　on　a　willow　spray　that　hung　o'er　the　water；
Shook　from　his　little　throat　such　floods　of　delirious　music；
That　the　whole　air　and　the　woods　and　the　waves　seemed　silent　to　listen。
Plaintive　at　first　were　the　tones　and　sad；　then　soaring　to　madness
Seemed　they　to　follow　or　guide　the　revel　of　frenzied　Bacchantes。
Single　notes　were　then　heard；　in　sorrowful；　low　lamentation；
Till；　having　gathered　them　all；　he　flung　them　abroad　in　derision；
As　when；　after　a　storm；　a　gust　of　wind　through　the　tree　tops
Shakes　down　the　rattling　rain　in　a　crystal　shower　on　the　branches。
With　such　a　prelude　as　this；　and　hearts　that　throbbed　with　emotion；
Slowly　they　entered　the　T阠he；　where　it　flows　through　the　green　Opelousas；
And；　through　the　amber　air；　above　the　crest　of　the　woodland；
Saw　the　column　of　smoke　that　arose　from　a　neighboring　dwelling；
Sounds　of　a　horn　they　heard；　and　the　distant　lowing　of　cattle。



III。


　　NEAR　to　the　bank　of　the　river；　o'ershadowed　by　oaks；　from　whose　branches
Garlands　of　Spanish　moss　and　of　mystic　mistletoe　flaunted；
Such　as　the　Druids　cut　down　with　golden　hatchets　at　Yule…tide；
Stood；　secluded　and　still；　the　house　of　the　herdsman。　　A　garden
Girdled　it　round　about　with　a　belt　of　luxuriant　blossoms；
Filling　the　air　with　fragrance。　　The　house　itself　was　of　timbers
Hewn　from　the　cypress…tree；　and　carefully　fitted　together。
Large　and　low　was　the　roof；　and　on　slender　columns　supported；
Rose…wreathed；　vine…encircled；　a　broad　and　spacious　veranda；
Haunt　of　the　humming…bird　and　the　bee；　extended　around　it。
At　each　end　of　the　house；　amid　the　flowers　of　the　garden；
Stationed　the　dove…cots　were；　as　love's　perpetual　symbol；
Scenes　of　endless　wooing；　and　endless　contentions　of　rivals。
Silence　reigned　o'er　the　place。　　The　line　of　shadow　and　sunshine
Ran　near　the　tops　of　the　trees；　but　the　house　itself　was　in　shadow；
And　from　its　chimney…top；　ascending　and　slowly　expanding
Into　the　evening　air；　a　thin　blue　column　of　smoke　rose。
In　the　rear　of　the　house；　from　the　garden　gate；　ran　a　pathway
Through　the　great　groves　of　oak　to　the　skirts　of　the　limitless　prairie；
Into　whose　sea　of　flowers　the　sun　was　slowly　descending。
Full　in　his　track　of　light；　like　ships　with　shadowy　canvas
Hanging　loose　from　their　spars　in　a　motionless　calm　in　the　tropics；
Stood　a　cluster　of　trees；　with　tangled　cordage　of　grape…vines。

　　Just　where　the　woodlands　met　the　flowery　surf　of　the　prairie；
Mounted　upon　his　horse；　with　Spanish　saddle　and　stirrups；
Sat　a　herdsman；　arrayed　in　gaiters　and　doublet　of　deerskin。
Broad　and　brown　was　the　face　that　from　under　the　Spanish　sombrero
Gazed　on　the　peaceful　scene；　with　the　lordly　look　of　its　master。
Round　about　him　were　numberless　herds　of　kine；　that　were　grazing
Quietly　in　the　meadows；　and　breathing　the　vapory　freshness
That　uprose　from　the　river；　and　spread　itself　over　the　landscape。
Slowly　lifting　the　horn　that　hung　at　his　side；　and　expanding
Fully　his　broad；　deep　chest；　he　blew　a　blast；　that　resounded
Wildly　and　sweet　and　far；　through　the　still　damp　air　of　the　evening。
Suddenly　out　of　the　grass　the　long　white　horns　of　the　cattle
Rose　like　flakes　of　foam　on　the　adverse　currents　of　ocean。
Silent　a　moment　they　gazed；　then　bellowing　rushed　o'er　the　prairie；
And　the　whole　mass　became　a　cloud；　a　shade　in　the　distance。
Then　as　the　herdsman　turned　to　the　house；　through　the　gate　of　the　garden
Saw　he　the　forms　of　the　priest　and　the　maiden　advancing　to　meet　him。
Suddenly　down　from　his　horse　he　sprang　in　amazement；　and　forward
Rushed　with　extended　arms　and　exclamations　of　wonder；
When　they　beheld　his　face；　they　recognized　Basil　the　blacksmith。
Hearty　his　welcome　was；　as　he　led　his　guests　to　the　garden。
There　in　an　arbor　of　roses　with　endless　question　and　answer
Gave　they　vent　to　their　hearts；　and　renewed　their　friendly　embraces；
Laughing　and　weeping　by　turns；　or　sitting　silent　and　thoughtful。
Thoughtful；　for　Gabriel　came　not；　and　now　dark　doubts　and　misgivings
Stole　o'er　the　maiden's　heart；　and　Basil；　somewhat　embarrassed；
Broke　the　silence　and　said；　〃If　you　came　by　the　Atchafalaya；
How　have　yo