messer marco polo(马可·波罗)-第13章
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himself and no one there：
。 。 。〃'la bella persona Che mi fu tolta。 。 。che mi fu tolta'； who
was taken from me； Taken！ Taken from me！〃
And oftentimes a look would come over his face as if he were listening
for a voice to speak listening； listening； and then a wee harsh laugh
would come from him； very heartbreaking to hear； and whatever was in
his hand； papers or a riding…whip； he would pitch down and walk away。 。 。
He had just come in from the borders of the Arctic lands； from giving
the khan's orders to the squat； hairy tribes who live by the icy shores； and
had come to the garden by the Lake of Cranes； the garden where the
Golden Bells of singing and laughter were dumb this armful of years； and
he was alone； and the listening look was on his face； when there came
Kubla and Li Po and the old magician。 。 。
Now Kubla was very old； so old he could hardly walk； and very frail；
and Li Po was very old； too； and gray in the face； and sadder in the eyes
than ever； and the magician's white beard had grown to his knees； but there
was no more humor in his eyes。 。 。And Marco Polo helped the old khan to
sit down。
〃Oh； sir； why did you come to me？ Sure I was going to you the
moment I had changed my riding…clothes。 。 。Sir； you should have stayed in
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your bed。 。 。〃
〃There was something on my mind； Marco； and the old do be thinking
long to get things off their mind。〃
〃What can I do sir？〃
〃Marco； my child； you mustn't take what I say amiss。 But I want you
to be going back； to be going back to Venice。〃
〃Sir； what have I done to dissatisfy you？ In all my embassies have I
been weak to the strong or bullying toward the weak？ Does an oppressed
man complain of injustice； does a merchant complain of being cheated； or
a woman say she was wronged？〃
〃Now； Marco of my heart； didn't I say not to be taking it amiss？ Is
there any one closer to me nor you； or is it likely I'd be listening to stories
brought against you？ It's just this。 I'm an old and tired man； Marco
Beag； and in a week or a moon at most I'm due to die； so the Sanang tells
me。 Don't be sorry； son。 Be glad for me。 Life has been a wee bit too
long。
〃And now； son dear； I want to tell you。 You've been closer to me than
my own sons； and you've been the dear lad。 And there's not one man in
all China can say you did a harsh or an unjust thing； but； my dear son； 'tis
just the way of people； there's a power of hard feeling against you in this
land； you being a stranger and having stood so high。
〃So when I'm dead； dear son； there's many would do you an injury； and
treat you badly； aye； in our family itself； though they smile on you now。
Let you be going now； Marco。 I'll miss you to close my eyes for me； but
my heart will be lighter。 It will so。 I couldn't sleep easy； and you ill
treated in this land of mine。 You ask him； too； Li Po。〃
〃Ah； sir；〃 Marco laughed； 〃and； Li Po； what is ill treatment to me？
Sorrow's my blood brother。 What I've suffered！ Do you think I could
suffer more？〃
〃I know； Marco； I know。〃
〃Don't you think I suffer now； sir？ Fourteen years she's dead now； the
wee one who lay by my side in sleep。 And never a word and never a sign。
In the house where we were married I can see the pool and the willows
and the hibiscus； but there is never a token of her；〃 he broke out。 〃The
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leaves of trees cover the pavilion； the hair of the musicians is silver； and
dust is on the blue and white tiles。 And she never comes to comfort pie。 I
can't sleep with waiting。 The stars never seem to wane； and the hoar frost
comes on the grass； and I'm always waiting。 Christ！ Why should I go
back？ I've forgotten Venice。 I've even forgotten my God for her！〃
〃Sanang；〃 says Kubla Khan to the magician； 〃couldn't you do
something for this poor lad？〃
It was now dusk in the garden by the Lake of Cranes。 。 。
〃I don't need any damned wizard to bring my wife to me；〃 raged
Marco Polo。 〃If she were to come； she would come； and I in the dark of
the moon and the moorfowl calling。 She would have come because my
heart needed her。〃 And he raged through the dusk by the Lake of
Cranes。 。 。
〃Now； Marco； dear lad； don't be flying off again； but remember that
there is science needed to all things。 And think； too； that maybe she was
not permitted。 The older we get； the more we understand the destiny that
rules all things； with now a nudge； with now a leading finger； with now a
terrible blow over the heart； and what we think at twenty…five was a
trifling accident； at seventy…five we know to have been the enormous
gesture of God。 We are not asked when we like to be born； Marco； nor is
it up to us when to die。
〃And again； Marco； consider。 If she were to have come to you in the
dark of the moon…time； in the strange mystic hours when you can hear
eternity tick like a clock； your eyes would have been not on this world； but
the next。 Your look would have been vacant that's now keen to discover
injustice。 Your body would have been flabby that's now whalebone and
steel。 And there would have been no memory of you in China； that's now
like sweet honey in the mouth。
〃Would a wee dead spirit be proud of a man； Marco； and he just crying；
crying； crying； and letting the days go by while even the brown bee works；
and even the grass grows that cattle may fatten and men eat？ She might be
sorry； but would there be pride on her？ Even a dead woman wants a
strong man。
〃Now； I'm not saying that the silent dead should not have a voice in
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our affairs when we need them。 But they have wisdom； else what is the
use of having died？ And if the Sanang can bring her； she'll come now
and join with us in asking you； now being the time she's needed。
〃Child； be guided by us three ancient men。 I have lived long and
have knowledge of the world。 Li Po has lived long and has knowledge of
the heart。 The Sanang has lived long； and knows the secrets of the dead。
If to our three voices； who love you； there is added a sign from Golden
Bells； will you leave China？〃
〃If there is a sign from her I'll leave China；〃 said Marco Polo。
And it was dusk in the Garden by the Lake of Cranes。
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CHAPTER XXII
The Sanang came over to Marco Polo。
〃Give me the black tress that's over your heart。〃
And Marco Polo undid his coat and his undercoat and his fine sark and
took out the perfumed hair； and gave it to the Sanang。
〃Let you sing a little song； Li Po；〃 the magician said； 〃the way she'll
be hearing and come。 I have part of her here； and let you put in the
garden the atmosphere she loved。〃 And Li Po took his lute and plucked
gently at the strings。
〃The swish of your silken skirt is discontinued；〃
he sang；
〃And the grass grows through the broken hearth stone； And
your room that was so warm and swept is cold and mouldy。 But he；
the beloved of your heart； clings on； A fallen leaf in the chink of a
door； In the chink of a closed door！〃
And it was dusk in the garden； and the voice of Li Po broke； and his
lute stilled； and the old Emperor breathed his aged gentle breathing； and
the Sanang said his secret terrible formulae； and Marco Polo was tense as
a hunting dog。
And suddenly at the end of the garden； in the perfumed Asian dusk；
there was a beam like moonlight； and into the soft ray of it trod little
Golden Bells； with her wee warm face； and her wee warm hands； and her
hair dark as a cloud； and her eyes pleading； pleading。 。 。
〃Go now； Marco Polo； please go！〃 Her lips made the words； but no
sound came to him。
〃Oh； Golden Bells； Golden Bells！〃 he rushed forward； but the
moonlight of no moon faded； and there was nothing； and he dropped on
his knees sobbing in the dusk by the Lake of Cranes。 。 。
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CHAPTER XXIII
And after a while he got up from his knees and set his teeth on his
sobbing and threw his head back and squared his shoulders and notched
his belt and faced the three ancient men。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃that's that。〃
He went over and knelt and kissed the Khan's hand。
〃You'll be seeing her soon； sir； you'll be telling her。 。 。 everything。 。 。〃
〃Yes； son； I'll tell her。〃
Then he patted the Sanang on the shoulder； and 〃Thanks！〃 said he；
simply； and he took Li Po's hand in both his； and they looked at each other
for a moment and no words came to either。
〃Well；〃 he says at length； 〃I'll be hitting the road then。 I'll not say
good…by to any of you。 I'll be seeing you all pretty soon again。 There's a
war on between Venice and the Genoese； and where that's hottest you'll
find me； and the quicker my end； the better I'll be pleased。 But it would
be like my luck；〃 he said bitterly； 〃not to be killed； but to be taken prisoner
and to end my life in some lousy jail。 Oh； well； we'll hope for the best。〃
He laughed。 〃So so long！〃
And the four of them looked at one another； trying to smile； and great
grief on them。
〃China will miss you； my son；〃 said old Kubla。
〃It's nothin
