anner.vittoriothevampire-第21部分

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and　standing　by　the　arms。
　My　mind　had　cleared；　but　only　somewhat。　The　wet　cloth　was　once　again　pressed　to　my　eyes　and　forehead。　The　water　was　as　if　from　a　mountain　stream　of　flowing　melted　snow。　In　my　sickness；　in　my　fever；　I　saw　everything。
　I　saw　the　demons　fashioned　in　the　glittering　windows；　as　artfully　put　together　of　red　and　gold　and　blue　glass　as　any　angels　or　saints。　I　saw　their　leering　faces　as　they　peered　down；　these　monsters　with　their　webbed　wings　and　clawlike　hands；　upon　the　congregation。
　Below；　allowing　a　broad　central　aisle；　was　gathered　in　its　ruby　dark　finery　the　great　Court　on　either　side；　standing　to　face　the　long　heavily　carved　and　broad　munion　Rail　and　the　high　altar　behind　it。
　Paintings　covered　the　cove　behind　the　altar。　Demons　dancing　in　Hell；　graceful　among　the　flames　as　though　they　bathed　in　a　wele　radiance；　and　strung　above　them　on　loose　and　unfurling　banners　the　golden　letters　from　St。　Augustine's　words；　so　familiar　to　my　study；　that　these　flames　were　not　the　flames　of　real　fire　but　only　the　absence　from　God；　but　the　word　〃absence〃　had　been　replaced　by　the　Latin　word　for　〃freedom。〃
　〃Freedom〃　was　the　word　in　Latin　worked　into　the　high　white　marble　walls；　in　a　frieze　that　ran　beneath　the　balconies　on　either　side　of　the　church；　on　the　same　level　as　this；　my　place；　in　which　more　of　the　Court　beheld　the　spectacle。
　Light　rose　to　flood　the　high…groined　arches　of　the　roof。　And　what　was　this　spectacle？
　The　high　altar　was　draped　in　crimson　trimmed　in　gilt　fringe；　its　abundant　cloths　short　enough　to　reveal　the　tableau　in　white　carving　of　figures　prancing　in　Hell；　though　from　this　great　distance　my　eyes　might　have　deceived　me　as　to　their　levity。
　What　I　did　see　with　perfection　were　the　thick　candlesticks　before　not　a　crucifix　but　a　huge　carved　stone　replica　of　Lucifer；　the　fallen　angel；　long　locks　aflame；　and　garments　too　a　torrent　of　rising　fire；　frozen　in　marble；　and　in　his　upraised　hands　the　symbols　of　death　…　in　the　right　the　scythe　of　the　grim　reaper　…　and　in　the　other　the　sword　of　the　executioner。
　I　gasped　when　I　beheld　the　image！　Monstrous；　it　was　positioned　precisely　where　I　wanted　so　to　see　my　Crucified　Christ；　and　yet　in　a　moment　of　delirium　and　agitation；　I　felt　my　lips　curl　in　a　smile；　and　I　heard　my　own　mind　tell　me　cunningly　that　there　was　nothing　less　grotesque　about　the　Crucified　God　if　He　Himself　had　been　there。　My　guards　held　me　firm。　Had　I　tottered？
　From　the　assemblage　around　me　and　behind　me；　from　those　whom　I　had　not　even　regarded；　there　came　suddenly　the　muted　roll　of　drums；　ominous　and　slow；　mournful　and　beautiful　in　their　own　muffled　simplicity。
　At　once　there　followed　a　deep…throated　chorus　of　horns；　in　lovely　weaving　song　and　effortless　sweet　intermingling；　playing　not　the　repetitious　chord　music　of　the　night　before；　but　a　strong　plaintive　and　imploring　polyphony　of　melodies　so　sad　that　they　flooded　my　heart　with　sadness；　stroked　my　heart　and　made　the　tears　nearly　spring　to　my　eyes。　Oh；　what　is　this？　What　is　this　blended　and　rich　155　music；　surrounding　me　and　pouring　forth　into　the　nave　to　echo　off　the　satiny　marble　and　rebound　gently　and　with　perfect　modulation　to　the　place　where　I　stood；　staring；　rapt　at　the　distant　figure　of　Lucifer？
　At　his　feet；　all　flowers　laid　out　in　vessels　of　silver　and　gold　were　red；　the　red　of　roses　and　carnations；　the　red　of　the　iris；　the　red　of　wildflowers　I　could　not　name；　an　altar　alive　and　decked　and　crawling　with　all　those　things　which　were　high　color；　his　glorious　tint；　the　one　color　left　to　him　that　might　rise　from　his　inevitable　and　unredeemable　darkness。
　I　heard　the　dusty；　sonorous　songs　of　the　reed　shawm；　the　small　oboe　and　the　reed　dulcian；　and　other　small　reed　organs　played　by　mouth；　and　then　the　more　ringing　tone　of　the　brass　sackbut　horn；　and　perhaps　even　the　light　singing　of　the　hammers　striking　the　taut　strings　of　the　dulcimer。
　This　music　alone　might　have　engaged　me；　filled　my　soul；　its　threads　of　melody　interweaving；　overlapping；　harmonizing　and　then　drifting　apart。　It　left　me　no　breath　to　speak　or　eyes　for　other　things。　Yet　I　beheld　the　statues　of　the　demons　who　ran　from　right　to　left　…　so　like　the　Lords　and　Ladies　of　the　Courtly　table　of　last　night　…　from　the　imposing　figure　of　their　Devil。
　Were　they　blood　drinkers　all；　these　terrible　gaunt　saints　of　Hell；　carved　from　hardwood　with　its　own　reddish　mahogany　glint；　in　their　stark　stylized　garments；　cleaving　to　thin　bodies；　their　eyes　half…lidded；　their　mouths　open；　and　against　each　lower　lip　two　white　fangs；　as　if　made　from　tiny　bits　of　snow…white　ivory　to　mark　the　purpose　of　each　individual　monster。
　Oh；　Cathedral　of　horrors。　I　tried　to　turn　my　head；　to　close　my　eyes；　and　yet　the　monstrosity　of　it　enthralled　me。　Pathetic　unformed　thoughts　never　reached　my　lips。
　The　horns　died　around　me；　and　the　reedy　woodland　instruments　died　away。　Oh；　don't　go；　sweet　music。　Don't　leave　me　here。
　But　what　came　was　a　chorus　of　the　sweetest　softest　tenor　voices；　they　called　out　the　Latin　words　that　I　could　not　follow；　an　anthem　for　the　dead；　an　anthem　on　the　mutability　of　all　things；　and　at　once　came　a　full　lustrous　harmonizing　chorus　of　sopranos　male　and　female；　of　basses　and　baritones；　singing　heartily　in　splendid　polyphony　in　answer　to　these　lone　tenors：
　〃I　go　now　to　the　Lord；　for　He　has　allowed　these　Creatures　of　Darkness　to　answer　my　supplications。。。〃　What　nightmarish　words　were　these？
　Once　again　there　came　the　rich　thick　chorus　of　many　voices　to　underscore　the　tenors：
　〃The　instruments　of　death　await　me　in　their　warm　and　devout　kiss；　and　into　their　bodies；　by　the　will　of　God；　they　shall　take　my　life's　blood；　my　rapture；　my　soul's　ascent　through　their　own；　so　as　better　to　know　both　Heaven　and　Hell　in　their　Dark　Service。〃　The　reed　organ　played　its　solemn　song。　Into　the　Sanctuary　of　the　church；　there　proceeded　now；　to　the　fullest　most　lustrous　strength　of　the　polyphony　yet；　a　stream　of　priestly　figures。
　I　saw　the　Lord　Florian　in　a　rich　red　chasuble　as　if　he　were　the　bishop　of　Florence　himself；　only　this　garment　bore　the　Cross　of　Christ　impudently　upside　down　in　honor　of　the　Damned　One；　and　on　his　untonsured　head　of　dark　blond　hair　he　wore　a　gilded　jeweled　crown　as　if　he　were　both　Prankish　monarch　and　servant　of　the　Dark　Lord。
　The　strong　piercing　notes　of　the　horns　dominated　the　song。　A　march　had　begun。　The　drums　rumbled　beneath；　hushed　and　steady。
　Florian　had　taken　his　place　before　the　altar　with　his　face　to　the　congregation；　and　on　one　side　of　him　stood　the　fragile　Ursula；　her　hair　full　and　loose　and　down　on　her　shoulders；　though　shrouded　like　a　Mary　Magdalene　in　a　scarlet　veil　which　hung　to　the　very　edge　of　the　hem　of　her　tapering　gown。
　Her　upturned　face　was　directed　to　me；　and　I　could　see　even　from　this　great　airy　span　that　her　hands；　shaped　as　a　steeple；　with　fingers　pressed　together；　trembled。
　On　the　other　side　of　this　high　priest　Florian　stood　his　bald　Elder；　in　his　own　chasuble　and　thick　embroidered　lace　sleeves；　another　priestly　assistant。
　Acolytes　came　from　either　side；　tallish　young　demons　with　faces　of　the　usual　chiseled　ivory；　and　the　simple　surplices　of　those　who　attend　the　Mass。　They　took　their　positions　ranked　down　the　long　marble　munion　Rail。
　Once　again；　there　rose　the　magnificent　chorus　of　voices　around　me；　falsettos　mingling　with　true　sopranos　and　the　throbbing　basses　of　the　males；　as　redolent　of　the　woodlands　as　the　wooden　horns；　and　beneath　it　all　the　heavy　driving　brass　declaration。
　What　did　they　mean　to　do？　What　was　this　hymn　which　now　the　tenors　sang；　and　what　was　the　answer　that　came　from　all　the　voices　so　close　to　me；　the　words　in　Latin　unstrung　and　only　incoherently　enveloping　me：
　〃Lord；　I　am　e　into　the　Valley　of　Death；　Lord；　I　am　e　to　the　end　of　my　Sorrow；　Lord；　in　thy　deliverance　I　give　life　to　those　who　would　be　idle　in　Hell　were　it　not　for　thy　divine　plan。〃
　My　soul　rebelled。　I　loathed　it；　and　yet　I　could　not　look　away　from　the　spectacle　below。　My　eyes　swept　the　church。　I　saw　for　the　first　time　the　gaunt；　demonic　fanged　demons　on　their　pedestals　rising　between　the　narrow　windows；　and　everywhere　the　glint　of　racks　upon　racks　of　tiny　candles。
　The　music　broke　again　for　the　solemn　declaration　of　the　tenors：
　〃Let　the　fount　be　brought　forward；　that　those　who　are　our　sacrifices　should　be　washed　clean。〃　And　it　was　done。
　Ranks　of　young　demons　in　their　guise　as　Altar　Boys　came　forward；　carrying　with　them　in　their　preternaturally　strong　hands　a　magnificent　baptismal　fount　of　deep…pink　Carrara　marble。　This　they　set　some　ten　feet　before　the　munion　Rail。
　〃Oh；　abominations；　to　make　it　so　beautiful；〃　I　whispered。　〃Quiet　now；　my　young　one；〃　said　the　regal　guard　beside　me。　〃Watch；　for　what　you　see　here　you　will　never　see　between　Heaven　and　Earth　again；　and　as　you　will　go　unconfessed　to　God；　you　will　burn　in　darkness　forever。〃　He　sounded　as　if　he　believed　it。
　〃You　have　no　power　to　damn　my　soul；〃　I　whispered；　trying　in　vain　to　clear　my　eyes；　not　to　so　love　the　weakness　that　still　caused　me　to　depend　upon　their　clamping　hands。
　〃Ursula；　farewell；〃　I　whispered；　making　of　my　lips　a　kiss。
　But　in　this　miraculous　and　private　little　moment；　seemingly　unnoticed　by　the　whole　congregation；　I　saw　her　head　shake　in　a　small　secretive　negation。
　No　one　saw　because　all　eyes　were　now　on　another　spectacle；　far　more　tragic　than　any　of　the　controlled　and　modulated　ritual　we　had　beheld。
　Up　the　aisle；　driven　by　acolyte　demons　in　tunics　of　red　and　lace　sleeves　trimmed　in　red　and　gold；　there　came　a　poor　wretched　sampling　of　the　lost　ones　of　the　coop；　shuffling　old　women；　drunken　men　and　little　boys；　mere　children；　clinging　to　the　very　demons　who　escorted　them　to　their　deaths；　like　piteous　victims　of　some　horrid　old　trial　where　the　offspring　of　the　condemned　are　led　to　execution　with　their　parents。　Horror。
　〃I　curse　you　all。　I　damn　you。　God；　bring　down　your　justice　on　this；〃　I　whispered。　〃God；　bring　down　your　tears。　Weep　for　us；　Christ；　that　this　is　happening。〃　My　eyes　turned　up　in　my　head。　It　seemed　I　dreamed；　and　once　again　came　the　bright　green　limitless　meadow　to　my　eyes；　and　once　again；　as　Ursula　ran　from　me；　as　her　spirited　young　form　rushed　across　the　high　breaking　field　of　grass　and　lilies；　there　rose　another　figure；