按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
this trouble of thine about the things of sin？ Is that which is
pleasant to eat not made for the eater？ Is there poison in that
which is sweet to drink？ Trouble not thyself； but come with me to
another city。 There is a little city hard by in which there is a
garden of tulip…trees。 And there dwell in this comely garden white
peacocks and peacocks that have blue breasts。 Their tails when
they spread them to the sun are like disks of ivory and like gilt
disks。 And she who feeds them dances for their pleasure； and
sometimes she dances on her hands and at other times she dances
with her feet。 Her eyes are coloured with stibium； and her
nostrils are shaped like the wings of a swallow。 From a hook in
one of her nostrils hangs a flower that is carved out of a pearl。
She laughs while she dances； and the silver rings that are about
her ankles tinkle like bells of silver。 And so trouble not thyself
any more； but come with me to this city。'
But the young Fisherman answered not his Soul； but closed his lips
with the seal of silence and with a tight cord bound his hands； and
journeyed back to the place from which he had come； even to the
little bay where his love had been wont to sing。 And ever did his
Soul tempt him by the way； but he made it no answer； nor would he
do any of the wickedness that it sought to make him to do； so great
was the power of the love that was within him。
And when he had reached the shore of the sea； he loosed the cord
from his hands； and took the seal of silence from his lips； and
called to the little Mermaid。 But she came not to his call； though
he called to her all day long and besought her。
And his Soul mocked him and said； 'Surely thou hast but little joy
out of thy love。 Thou art as one who in time of death pours water
into a broken vessel。 Thou givest away what thou hast； and nought
is given to thee in return。 It were better for thee to come with
me； for I know where the Valley of Pleasure lies； and what things
are wrought there。'
But the young Fisherman answered not his Soul； but in a cleft of
the rock he built himself a house of wattles； and abode there for
the space of a year。 And every morning he called to the Mermaid；
and every noon he called to her again； and at night…time he spake
her name。 Yet never did she rise out of the sea to meet him； nor
in any place of the sea could he find her though he sought for her
in the caves and in the green water； in the pools of the tide and
in the wells that are at the bottom of the deep。
And ever did his Soul tempt him with evil； and whisper of terrible
things。 Yet did it not prevail against him； so great was the power
of his love。
And after the year was over； the Soul thought within himself； 'I
have tempted my master with evil； and his love is stronger than I
am。 I will tempt him now with good； and it may be that he will
come with me。'
So he spake to the young Fisherman and said； 'I have told thee of
the joy of the world； and thou hast turned a deaf ear to me。
Suffer me now to tell thee of the world's pain； and it may be that
thou wilt hearken。 For of a truth pain is the Lord of this world；
nor is there any one who escapes from its net。 There be some who
lack raiment； and others who lack bread。 There be widows who sit
in purple； and widows who sit in rags。 To and fro over the fens go
the lepers； and they are cruel to each other。 The beggars go up
and down on the highways； and their wallets are empty。 Through the
streets of the cities walks Famine； and the Plague sits at their
gates。 Come； let us go forth and mend these things； and make them
not to be。 Wherefore shouldst thou tarry here calling to thy love；
seeing she comes not to thy call？ And what is love； that thou
shouldst set this high store upon it？'
But the young Fisherman answered it nought； so great was the power
of his love。 And every morning he called to the Mermaid； and every
noon he called to her again； and at night…time he spake her name。
Yet never did she rise out of the sea to meet him； nor in any place
of the sea could he find her； though he sought for her in the
rivers of the sea； and in the valleys that are under the waves； in
the sea that the night makes purple； and in the sea that the dawn
leaves grey。
And after the second year was over； the Soul said to the young
Fisherman at night…time； and as he sat in the wattled house alone；
'Lo！ now I have tempted thee with evil； and I have tempted thee
with good； and thy love is stronger than I am。 Wherefore will I
tempt thee no longer； but I pray thee to suffer me to enter thy
heart； that I may be one with thee even as before。'
'Surely thou mayest enter；' said the young Fisherman； 'for in the
days when with no heart thou didst go through the world thou must
have much suffered。'
'Alas！' cried his Soul； 'I can find no place of entrance； so
compassed about with love is this heart of thine。'
'Yet I would that I could help thee；' said the young Fisherman。
And as he spake there came a great cry of mourning from the sea；
even the cry that men hear when one of the Sea…folk is dead。 And
the young Fisherman leapt up； and left his wattled house； and ran
down to the shore。 And the black waves came hurrying to the shore；
bearing with them a burden that was whiter than silver。 White as
the surf it was； and like a flower it tossed on the waves。 And the
surf took it from the waves； and the foam took it from the surf；
and the shore received it； and lying at his feet the young
Fisherman saw the body of the little Mermaid。 Dead at his feet it
was lying。
Weeping as one smitten with pain he flung himself down beside it；
and he kissed the cold red of the mouth； and toyed with the wet
amber of the hair。 He flung himself down beside it on the sand；
weeping as one trembling with joy； and in his brown arms he held it
to his breast。 Cold were the lips； yet he kissed them。 Salt was
the honey of the hair； yet he tasted it with a bitter joy。 He
kissed the closed eyelids； and the wild spray that lay upon their
cups was less salt than his tears。
And to the dead thing he made confession。 Into the shells of its
ears he poured the harsh wine of his tale。 He put the little hands
round his neck； and with his fingers he touched the thin reed of
the throat。 Bitter； bitter was his joy； and full of strange
gladness was his pain。
The black sea came nearer； and the white foam moaned like a leper。
With white claws of foam the sea grabbled at the shore。 From the
palace of the Sea…King came the cry of mourning again； and far out
upon the sea the great Tritons blew hoarsely upon their horns。
'Flee away；' said his Soul； 'for ever doth the sea come nigher； and
if thou tarriest it will slay thee。 Flee away； for I am afraid；
seeing that thy heart is closed against me by reason of the
greatness of thy love。 Flee away to a place of safety。 Surely
thou wilt not send me without a heart into another world？'
But the young Fisherman listened not to his Soul； but called on the
little Mermaid and said； 'Love is better than wisdom； and more
precious than riches； and fairer than the feet of the daughters of
men。 The fires cannot destroy it； nor can the waters quench it。 I
called on thee at dawn； and thou didst not come to my call。 The
moon heard thy name； yet hadst thou no heed of me。 For evilly had
I left thee； and to my own hurt had I wandered away。 Yet ever did
thy love abide with me； and ever was it strong； nor did aught
prevail against it； though I have looked upon evil and looked upon
good。 And now that thou art dead； surely I will die with thee
also。'
And his Soul besought him to depart； but he would not； so great was
his love。 And the sea came nearer； and sought to cover him with
its waves； and when he knew that the end was at hand he kissed with
mad lips the cold lips of the Mermaid； and the heart that was
wit