the magic skin(驴皮记)-第51部分

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took　upon　itself　the　most　fantastic　shapes；　and　assumed　those　misty
tints　that　give　to　high　mountains　a　dim　resemblance　to　clouds　in　the
sky。　The　bare；　bleak　cliffs；　with　the　fearful　rents　in　their　sides；
pictures　of　wild　and　barren　desolation；　contrasted　strongly　with　the
pretty　view　of　the　valley；　and　so　strange　were　the　shapes　they
assumed；　that　one　of　the　cliffs　had　been　called　〃The　Capuchin；〃
because　it　was　so　like　a　monk。　Sometimes　these　sharp…pointed　peaks；
these　mighty　masses　of　rock；　and　airy　caverns　were　lighted　up　one　by
one；　according　to　the　direction　of　the　sun　or　the　caprices　of　the
atmosphere；　they　caught　gleams　of　gold；　dyed　themselves　in　purple；
took　a　tint　of　glowing　rose…color；　or　turned　dull　and　gray。　Upon　the
heights　a　drama　of　color　was　always　to　be　seen；　a　play　of　ever…
shifting　iridescent　hues　like　those　on　a　pigeon's　breast。

Oftentimes　at　sunrise　or　at　sunset　a　ray　of　bright　sunlight　would
penetrate　between　two　sheer　surfaces　of　lava；　that　might　have　been
split　apart　by　a　hatchet；　to　the　very　depths　of　that　pleasant　little
garden；　where　it　would　play　in　the　waters　of　the　pool；　like　a　beam　of
golden　light　which　gleams　through　the　chinks　of　a　shutter　into　a　room
in　Spain；　that　has　been　carefully　darkened　for　a　siesta。　When　the　sun
rose　above　the　old　crater　that　some　antediluvian　revolution　had　filled
with　water；　its　rocky　sides　took　warmer　tones；　the　extinct　volcano
glowed　again；　and　its　sudden　heat　quickened　the　sprouting　seeds　and
vegetation；　gave　color　to　the　flowers；　and　ripened　the　fruits　of　this
forgotten　corner　of　the　earth。

As　Raphael　reached　it；　he　noticed　several　cows　grazing　in　the　pasture…
land；　and　when　he　had　taken　a　few　steps　towards　the　water；　he　saw　a
little　house　built　of　granite　and　roofed　with　shingle　in　the　spot
where　the　meadowland　was　at　its　widest。　The　roof　of　this　little
cottage　harmonized　with　everything　about　it；　for　it　had　long　been
overgrown　with　ivy；　moss；　and　flowers　of　no　recent　date。　A　thin　smoke；
that　did　not　scare　the　birds　away；　went　up　from　the　dilapidated
chimney。　There　was　a　great　bench　at　the　door　between　two　huge　honey…
suckle　bushes；　that　were　pink　with　blossom　and　full　of　scent。　The
walls　could　scarcely　be　seen　for　branches　of　vine　and　sprays　of　rose
and　jessamine　that　interlaced　and　grew　entirely　as　chance　and　their
own　will　bade　them；　for　the　inmates　of　the　cottage　seemed　to　pay　no
attention　to　the　growth　which　adorned　their　house；　and　to　take　no　care
of　it；　leaving　to　it　the　fresh　capricious　charm　of　nature。

Some　clothes　spread　out　on　the　gooseberry　bushes　were　drying　in　the
sun。　A　cat　was　sitting　on　a　machine　for　stripping　hemp；　beneath　it　lay
a　newly　scoured　brass　caldron；　among　a　quantity　of　potato…parings。　On
the　other　side　of　the　house　Raphael　saw　a　sort　of　barricade　of　dead
thorn…bushes；　meant　no　doubt　to　keep　the　poultry　from　scratching　up
the　vegetables　and　pot…herbs。　It　seemed　like　the　end　of　the　earth。　The
dwelling　was　like　some　bird's…nest　ingeniously　set　in　a　cranny　of　the
rocks；　a　clever　and　at　the　same　time　a　careless　bit　of　workmanship。　A
simple　and　kindly　nature　lay　round　about　it；　its　rusticity　was
genuine；　but　there　was　a　charm　like　that　of　poetry　in　it；　for　it　grew
and　throve　at　a　thousand　miles'　distance　from　our　elaborate　and
conventional　poetry。　It　was　like　none　of　our　conceptions；　it　was　a
spontaneous　growth；　a　masterpiece　due　to　chance。

As　Raphael　reached　the　place；　the　sunlight　fell　across　it　from　right
to　left；　bringing　out　all　the　colors　of　its　plants　and　trees；　the
yellowish　or　gray　bases　of　the　crags；　the　different　shades　of　the
green　leaves；　the　masses　of　flowers；　pink；　blue；　or　white；　the
climbing　plants　with　their　bell…like　blossoms；　and　the　shot　velvet　of
the　mosses；　the　purple…tinted　blooms　of　the　heather；everything　was
either　brought　into　relief　or　made　fairer　yet　by　the　enchantment　of
the　light　or　by　the　contrasting　shadows；　and　this　was　the　case　most　of
all　with　the　sheet　of　water；　wherein　the　house；　the　trees；　the　granite
peaks；　and　the　sky　were　all　faithfully　reflected。　Everything　had　a
radiance　of　its　own　in　this　delightful　picture；　from　the　sparkling
mica…stone　to　the　bleached　tuft　of　grass　hidden　away　in　the　soft
shadows；　the　spotted　cow　with　its　glossy　hide；　the　delicate　water…
plants　that　hung　down　over　the　pool　like　fringes　in　a　nook　where　blue
or　emerald　colored　insects　were　buzzing　about；　the　roots　of　trees　like
a　sand…besprinkled　shock　of　hair　above　grotesque　faces　in　the　flinty
rock　surface；all　these　things　made　a　harmony　for　the　eye。

The　odor　of　the　tepid　water；　the　scent　of　the　flowers；　and　the　breath
of　the　caverns　which　filled　the　lonely　place　gave　Raphael　a　sensation
that　was　almost　enjoyment。　Silence　reigned　in　majesty　over　these
woods；　which　possibly　are　unknown　to　the　tax…collector；　but　the
barking　of　a　couple　of　dogs　broke　the　stillness　all　at　once；　the　cows
turned　their　heads　towards　the　entrance　of　the　valley；　showing　their
moist　noses　to　Raphael；　stared　stupidly　at　him；　and　then　fell　to
browsing　again。　A　goat　and　her　kid；　that　seemed　to　hang　on　the　side　of
the　crags　in　some　magical　fashion；　capered　and　leapt　to　a　slab　of
granite　near　to　Raphael；　and　stayed　there　a　moment；　as　if　to　seek　to
know　who　he　was。　The　yapping　of　the　dogs　brought　out　a　plump　child；
who　stood　agape；　and　next　came　a　white…haired　old　man　of　middle
height。　Both　of　these　two　beings　were　in　keeping　with　the
surroundings；　the　air；　the　flowers；　and　the　dwelling。　Health　appeared
to　overflow　in　this　fertile　region；　old　age　and　childhood　thrived
there。　There　seemed　to　be；　about　all　these　types　of　existence；　the
freedom　and　carelessness　of　the　life　of　primitive　times；　a　happiness
of　use　and　wont　that　gave　the　lie　to　our　philosophical　platitudes；　and
wrought　a　cure　of　all　its　swelling　passions　in　the　heart。

The　old　man　belonged　to　the　type　of　model　dear　to　the　masculine　brush
of　Schnetz。　The　countless　wrinkles　upon　his　brown　face　looked　as　if
they　would　be　hard　to　the　touch；　the　straight　nose；　the　prominent
cheek…bones；　streaked　with　red　veins　like　a　vine…leaf　in　autumn；　the
angular　features；　all　were　characteristics　of　strength；　even　where
strength　existed　no　longer。　The　hard　hands；　now　that　they　toiled　no
longer；　had　preserved　their　scanty　white　hair；　his　bearing　was　that　of
an　absolutely　free　man；　it　suggested　the　thought　that；　had　he　been　an
Italian；　he　would　have　perhaps　turned　brigand；　for　the　love　of　the
liberty　so　dear　to　him。　The　child　was　a　regular　mountaineer；　with　the
black　eyes　that　can　face　the　sun　without　flinching；　a　deeply　tanned
complexion；　and　rough　brown　hair。　His　movements　were　like　a　bird's
swift；　decided；　and　unconstrained；　his　clothing　was　ragged；　the　white；
fair　skin　showed　through　the　rents　in　his　garments。　There　they　both
stood　in　silence；　side　by　side；　both　obeying　the　same　impulse；　in　both

faces　were　clear　tokens　of　an　absolutely　identical　and　idle　life。　The
old　man　had　adopted　the　child's　amusements；　and　the　child　had　fallen
in　with　the　old　man's　humor；　there　was　a　sort　of　tacit　agreement
between　two　kinds　of　feebleness；　between　failing　powers　well…nigh
spent　and　powers　just　about　to　unfold　themselves。

Very　soon　a　woman　who　seemed　to　be　about　thirty　years　old　appeared　on
the　threshold　of　the　door；　spinning　as　she　came。　She　was　an
Auvergnate；　a　high…colored；　comfortable…looking；　straightforward　sort
of　person；　with　white　teeth；　her　cap　and　dress；　the　face；　full　figure；
and　general　appearance；　were　of　the　Auvergne　peasant　stamp。　So　was　her
dialect；　she　was　a　thorough　embodiment　of　her　district；　its
hardworking　ways；　its　thrift；　ignorance；　and　heartiness　all　met　in
her。

She　greeted　Raphael；　and　they　began　to　talk。　The　dogs　quieted　down；
the　old　man　went　and　sat　on　a　bench　in　the　sun；　the　child　followed　his
mother　about　wherever　she　went；　listening　without　saying　a　word；　and
staring　at　the　stranger。

〃You　are　not　afraid　to　live　here；　good　woman？〃

〃What　should　we　be　afraid　of；　sir？　When　we　bolt　the　door；　who　ever
could　get　inside？　Oh；　no；　we　aren't　afraid　at　all。　And　besides；〃　she
said；　as　she　brought　the　Marquis　into　the　principal　room　in　the　house；
〃what　should　thieves　come　to　take　from　us　here？〃

She　designated　the　room　as　she　spoke；　the　smoke…blackened　walls；　with
some　brilliant　pictures　in　blue；　red；　and　green；　an　〃End　of　Credit；〃　a
Crucifixion；　and　the　〃Grenadiers　of　the　Imperial　Guard〃　for　their　sole
ornament；　the　furniture　here　and　there；　the　old　wooden　four…post
bedstead；　the　table　with　crooked　legs；　a　few　stools；　the　chest　that
held　the　bread；　the　flitch　that　hung　from　the　ceiling；　a　jar　of　salt；
a　stove；　and　on　the　mantleshelf　a　few　discolored　yellow　plaster
figures。　As　he　went　out　again　Raphael　noticed　a　man　half…way　up　the
crags；　leaning　on　a　hoe；　and　watching　the　house　with　interest。

〃That's　my　man；　sir；〃　said　the　Auvergnate；　unconsciously　smiling　in
peasant　fashion；　〃he　is　at　work　up　there。〃

〃And　that　old　man　is　your　father？〃

〃Asking　your　pardon；　sir；　he　is　my　man's　grandfather。　Such　as　you　see
him；　he　is　a　hundred　and　two；　and　yet　quite　lately　he　walked　over　to
Clermont　with　our　little　chap！　Oh；　he　has　been　a　strong　man　in　his
time；　but　he　does　nothing　now　but　sleep　and　eat　and　drink。　He　amuses
himself　with　the　little　fellow。　Sometimes　the　child　trails　him　up　the
hillsides；　and　he　will　just　go　up　there　along　with　him。〃

Valentin　made　up　his　mind　immediately。　He　would　live　between　this
child　and　old　man；　breathe　the　same　air；　eat　their　bread；　drink　the
same　water；　sleep　with　them；　make　the　blood　in　his　veins　like　theirs。
It　was　a　dying　man's　fancy。　For　him　the　prime　model；　after　which　the
customary　existence　of　the　individual　should　be　shaped；　the　real
formula　for　the　life　of　a　human　being；　the　only　true　and　possible
life；　the　life…ideal；　was　to　become　one　of　the　oysters　adhering　to
this　rock；　to　save　his　shell　a　day　or　two　longer　by　paralyzing　the
power　of　death。　One　profoundly　selfish　thought　took　possession　of　him；
and　the　whole　universe　was　swallowed　up　and　lost　in　it。　For　him　the
universe　existed　no　longer；　the　whole　world　had　come　to　be　within
himself。　For　the　sick；　the　world　begins　at　their　pillow　and　ends　at
the　foot　of　the　bed