anner.vittoriothevampire-第23部分

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ous　soothing　voices　of　the　choir。　And　fools　that　they　were；　they　had　never　known　that　what　they　said　simply　had　not　mattered。
　〃And　you　could　have　been　our　young　prince。〃　Was　it　Florian　at　my　side？　Cool；　dauntless　Florian。　〃We　could　have　loved　you　as　she　loves　you。〃
　〃A　young　prince；〃　said　Godric；　〃to　rule　here　with　us　forever。〃
　〃Bee　the　jester　of　alchemists　and　old　wives；〃　said　Florian　sadly；　solemnly。　〃Yes；〃　said　a　childish　voice；　〃fool　to　leave　us。〃
　How　wondrous　were　the　anthems　that　made　their　words　mere　sweet　and　contrapuntal　syllables。
　I　think　I　felt　her　kiss　through　the　silk。　I　think　I　felt　it。　I　think。　It　seemed　in　the　tiniest　of　feminine　whispers；　she　said　simply；　without　ceremony：
　〃My　love。〃　It　had　her　triumph　and　her　farewell　within　it。
　Down；　down；　down　into　the　richest；　kindest　sleep　that　God　can　give；　I　sank。　The　music　gave　a　shape　to　my　limbs；　gave　air　to　my　lungs；　when　all　other　senses　had　been　abandoned。
　
　
　9
　ANGELS　WE　HAVE　HEARD　ON　HIGH
　
　IT　was　pouring　down　rain。　No；　the　rain　had　stopped。　They　still　couldn't　understand　me。
　I　was　surrounded　by　these　men。　We　were　right　near　Fra　Filippo's　workshop。　I　knew　this　street。　I'd　just　been　here　with　my　father　a　year　ago。
　〃Speak　more　slowly。　Corrr。。。　blub；　it　doesn't　make　sense！〃
　〃Look；〃　said　the　other　one。　〃We　want　to　help　you。　Tell　me　your　father's　name。　Speak　it　slowly。〃
　They　shook　their　heads。　I　thought　I　was　making　perfect　sense；　I　could　hear　it；　Lorenzo　di　Raniari；　why　couldn't　they　hear　it；　and　I　was　his　son；　Vittorio　di　Raniari。　But　I　could　feel　my　lips；　how　swollen　they　were。　I　knew　I　was　filthy　from　the　rain。
　〃Look；　take　me　to　Fra　Filippo's　shop。　I　know　them　there；〃　I　said。　My　great　painter；　my　passionate　and　tormented　painter；　his　apprentices　would　know　me。　He　would　not；　but　the　helpers　who　had　seen　me　weep　that　day　at　his　work。　And　then；　then；　these　men　would　take　me　to　the　house　of　Cosimo　in　the　Via　del　Largo。
　〃Fee；　fee？〃　they　said。　They　repeated　my　clumsy　attempts　at　speech。　I　had　failed　again。
　I　started　towards　the　workshop。　I　staggered　and　almost　fell。　These　were　honest　men。　I　had　the　heavy　bags　over　my　right　shoulder；　and　my　sword　was　clanking　against　me；　practically　throwing　me　off　balance。　The　high　walls　of　Florence　were　closing　in　on　me。　I　almost　hit　the　stones。　〃Cosimo！〃　I　shouted　at　the　top　of　my　voice。
　〃We　can't　take　you　to　Cosimo　like　this！　Cosimo　won't　see　you。〃
　〃Ah；　you　understand；　you　heard　me。〃
　But　the　man　now　cocked　his　ear。　An　honest　merchant；　drenched　to　the　skin　in　his　somber　green　robes；　and　all　because　of　me　no　doubt。　I　wouldn't　e　in　out　of　the　rain。　No　sense。　They'd　found　me　lying　in　the　rain　right　in　the　middle　of　the　Piazza　della　Signoria。　〃It's　ing　back；　it's　ing　clear。〃
　I　saw　the　entrance　to　Fra　Filippo's　workshop　up　ahead。　The　shutters　were　being　taken　down。　They　were　opening　it　up　now　that　the　thunderous　storm　had　ceased；　and　the　water　was　drying　up　on　the　stone　streets。　People　were　ing　out。　〃Those　men　in　there；〃　I　shouted。　〃What；　what　are　you　saying？〃
　Shrugs　all　around；　but　they　aided　me。　An　old　man　held　my　elbow。
　〃We　should　take　him　to　San　Marco；　let　the　monks　care　for　him。〃
　〃No；　no；　no；　I　need　to　talk　to　Cosimo！〃　I　shouted。　Again；　they　shrugged　and　shook　their　heads。
　Suddenly　I　stopped。　I　rocked　and　steadied　myself　by　rudely　grabbing　hold　of　the　younger　man's　shoulder。　I　stared　at　the　distant　workshop。
　The　street　was　no　more　than　an　alleyway　here；　barely　sufficient　for　horses　to　pass　and　for　the　pedestrians　not　to　be　injured；　and　the　stone　facades　all　but　closed　out　the　slate…gray　sky　above。　Windows　were　opened；　and　it　seemed　that　a　woman　could　reach　across　upstairs　and　touch　the　house　opposite　her。　But　look　what　was　there；　right　before　the　shop。
　I　saw　them。　I　saw　the　two　of　them！　〃Look；〃　I　said　again。　〃Do　you　see　them？〃
　The　men　couldn't　see。　Lord；　the　two　figures　before　the　shop　were　bright　as　if　illuminated　from　within　their　flushed　skin　and　loosely　girdled　robes。
　I　held　the　shoulder　bags　over　my　left　shoulder　and　put　my　hand　on　my　sword。　I　could　stand；　but　my　eyes　must　have　been　wide　as　plates　staring　blindly　at　what　I　beheld。
　The　two　angels　were　arguing。　The　two　angels；　with　their　wings　moving　ever　so　slightly　in　time　with　their　words　and　their　gestures；　were　arguing　with　each　other　where　they　stood；　right　before　the　shop。
　They　stood　oblivious　to　all　humans　who　passed　them　and　couldn't　see　them；　and　they　argued　one　with　another；　both　angels　blond；　both　angels　I　knew；　I　knew　these　angels；　I　knew　them　from　the　paintings　of　Fra　Filippo；　and　I　could　hear　their　voices。
　I　knew　the　rolled　curls　of　the　one；　whose　head　was　crowned　with　a　wreath　of　small　perfectly　matched　flowerlets；　his　loose　mantle　crimson；　his　undergarment　a　bright　clear　sky　blue　trimmed　in　gold。
　And　the　other；　I　knew　him　as　well；　knew　his　bare　head　and　soft　shorter　hair；　and　his　golden　collar；　and　the　insignia　on　his　mantle；　and　the　thick　bands　of　ornament　on　his　wrists。
　But　above　all　I　knew　their　faces；　their　innocent　pink…tinged　faces；　their　serene　full　yet　narrow　eyes。
　The　light　melted　down；　somber　and　stormy　still；　though　the　sun　was　burning　up　there　behind　the　gray　sky。　My　eyes　began　to　water。　〃Look　at　their　wings；〃　I　whispered。　The　men　couldn't　see。
　〃I　know　the　wings。　I　know　them　both；　look；　the　angel　with　the　blond　hair；　the　ringlets　in　rows　ing　down　his　head；　it's　from　the　Annunciation；　and　the　wings；　his　wings　are　made　like　the　peacock；　brilliantly　blue；　and　the　other；　his　feathers　are　tipped　in　the　purest　dust　of　gold。〃
　The　angel　with　the　crown　of　flowers　gestured　excitedly　to　the　other；　from　a　mortal　man；　the　gestures；　the　posture；　would　have　evinced　anger；　but　it　was　nothing　so　heated　as　that。　The　angel　was　only　seeking　to　be　understood。
　I　moved　slowly；　pulling　loose　of　my　helpful　panions；　who　couldn't　see　what　I　saw！
　What　did　they　think　I　stared　at？　The　gaping　shop；　the　apprentices　in　the　deep　shadows　within；　the　meager　half…tinted　flashes　of　canvases　and　panels；　the　yawning　mouth　beyond　which　the　work　was　carried　out。
　The　other　angel　shook　his　head　somberly。　〃I　don't　go　along　with　it；〃　he　said　in　the　most　serene　and　lilting　voice。　〃We　can't　go　that　far。　Do　you　think　this　doesn't　make　me　weep？〃
　〃What？〃　I　cried　out。　〃What　makes　you　weep？〃
　Both　angels　turned。　They　stared　at　me。　In　unison；　they　collected　their　dark；　multicolored　and　spectacled　wings　close　to　themselves；　as　though　they　meant　to　shrink　thereby　into　invisibility；　but　they　were　no　less　visible　to　me；　shining；　both　so　fair；　so　recognizable。　Their　eyes　were　full　of　wonder　as　they　gazed　at　me。　Wonder　at　the　sight　of　me？
　〃Gabriel！〃　I　cried　out。　I　pointed；　〃I　know　you；　I　know　you　from　the　Annunciation。　You　are　both　Gabriel；　I　know　the　paintings；　I　have　seen　you；　Gabriel　and　Gabriel；　how　can　it　be？〃
　〃He　can　see　us；〃　said　the　angel　who　had　been　gesturing　so　pointedly　His　voice　was　subdued　but　seemed　to　reach　my　ears　effortlessly　and　gently。　〃He　can　hear　us；〃　he　said；　and　the　wonder　in　his　face　increased；　and　he　looked　above　all　innocent　and　patient；　and　ever　so　gently　concerned。
　〃What　in　the　name　of　God　are　you　saying；　boy？〃　asked　the　old　man　beside　me。　〃Now；　collect　your　wits。　You're　carrying　a　fortune　in　your　bags。　Your　hands　are　covered　in　rings。　Now　speak　sensibly。　I'll　take　you　to　your　family；　if　you'll　only　tell　me　who　they　are。〃
　I　smiled。　I　nodded；　but　I　kept　my　eyes　fixed　on　the　two　startled　and　amazed　angels。　Their　clothes　appeared　light；　near　translucent；　as　though　the　fabric　were　not　of　a　natural　weave　any　more　than　their　incandescent　skin　was　natural。　All　of　their　makeup　was　more　rarefied；　and　fine…woven　with　light。
　Beings　of　air；　of　purpose；　made　up　of　presence　and　of　what　they　do　…　were　these　the　words　of　Aquinas　ing　back　to　me；　the　Summa　Theologica　on　which　I　had　learnt　my　Latin？
　Oh；　how　miraculously　beautiful　they　were；　and　so　safely　apart　from　all　around　them；　standing　transfixed　in　the　street　in　their　quiet　wide…eyed　simplicity；　pondering　as　they　gazed　with　passion　and　interest　at　me。
　One　of　them；　the　one　crowned　with　flowers；　the　one　who　wore　the　sky…blue　sleeves；　the　one　who　had　so　caught　my　heart　when　I　had　seen　him　in　the　Annunciation　with　my　father；　the　one　with　whom　I　had　fallen　in　love；　moved　towards　me。
　He　became　larger　as　he　drew　closer；　taller；　slightly　larger　all　over　than　an　ordinary　being；　and　so　full　of　love　in　the　soundless　shuffle　of　his　loose　and　gracefully　spilling　clothes　that　he　seemed　more　immaterial　and　monumentally　solid；　more　perhaps　the　very　expression　of　God's　creation；　than　anything　of　flesh　and　blood　might　be。
　He　shook　his　head　and　smiled。　〃No；　for　you　are　yourself　the　very　finest　of　God's　creation；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice　that　stole　its　way　through　the　chatter　that　surrounded　me。
　He　walked　as　if　he　were　a　mortal　being；　with　clean　naked　feet　over　the　wet　dirty　stones　of　the　Florentine　street；　oblivious　to　the　men　who　could　not　see　him　as　he　stood　now　so　close　to　me；　letting　his　wings　spread　out　and　then　folding　them　again　tight；　so　that　I　only　saw　the　high　feathered　bones　of　them　above　his　shoulders；　which　were　sloped　like　those　of　a　young　boy
　His　face　was　brilliantly　clean　and　flushed　with　all　the　radiant　color　Fra　Filippo　had　painted。　When　he　smiled；　I　felt　my　entire　body　tremble　violently　with　unadulterated　joy
　〃Is　this　my　madness；　Archangel？〃　I　asked。　〃Is　this　their　curse　e　true；　that　I　shall　see　this　as　I　gibber　and　incur　the　scorn　of　learned　men？〃　I　laughed　out　loud。
　I　startled　the　gentlemen　who　had　been　trying　so　much　to　help　me。　They　were　thoroughly　flustered。　〃What？　Speak　again？〃
　But　in　a　shimmering　instant；　a　memory　descended　upon　me；　illuminating　my　heart　and　soul　and　mind　all　in　one　stroke；　as　though　the　sun　itself　had　flooded　a　dark　and　hopeless　cell。
　〃It　was　you　I　saw　in　the　meadow；　you　I　saw　when　she　drank　my　blood。〃
　Into　my　eyes　he　looked；　this　cool　collected　angel；　with　the　rows　and　rows　of　immaculate　blond　curls　and　the　smooth　placid　cheeks。
　〃Gabriel；　the　Archangel；〃　I　said　in　reverence。　The　tears　flooded　to　my　eyes；　and　it　felt　like　singing　to　cry。
　〃My　boy；　my　poor　wretched　boy；〃　said　the　old　merchant。　〃There　is　no　angel　standing　in　front　of　you。　Pay　attention；　now；　p