the dryad-第2章

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the　tropical　forest；　whole　gardens　brought　from　Damascus；　and　blooming

under　one　roof。　What　colors；　what　fragrance！

　　　　Artificial　grottoes　surrounded　bodies　of　fresh　or　salt　water；

and　gave　a　glimpse　into　the　empire　of　the　fishes；　the　visitor　seemed

to　wander　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea；　among　fishes　and　polypi。

　　　　〃All　this；〃　they　said；　〃the　Champ　de　Mars　offers；〃　and　around

the　great　richly…spread　table　the　crowd　of　human　beings　moves　like　a

busy　swarm　of　ants；　on　foot　or　in　little　carriages；　for　not　all　feet

are　equal　to　such　a　fatiguing　journey。

　　　　Hither　they　swarm　from　morning　till　late　in　the　evening。　Steamer

after　steamer；　crowded　with　people；　glides　down　the　Seine。　The

number　of　carriages　is　continually　on　the　increase。　The　swarm　of

people　on　foot　and　on　horseback　grows　more　and　more　dense。　Carriages

and　omnibuses　are　crowded；　stuffed　and　embroidered　with　people。　All

these　tributary　streams　flow　in　one　direction…　towards　the　Exhibition。

On　every　entrance　the　flag　of　France　is　displayed；　around　the

world's　bazaar　wave　the　flags　of　all　nations。　There　is　a　humming　and　a

murmuring　from　the　hall　of　the　machines；　from　the　towers　the　melody　of

the　chimes　is　heard；　with　the　tones　of　the　organs　in　the　churches

mingle　the　hoarse　nasal　songs　from　the　cafes　of　the　East。　It　is　a

kingdom　of　Babel；　a　wonder　of　the　world！

　　　　In　very　truth　it　was。　That's　what　all　the　reports　said；　and　who

did　not　hear　them？　The　Dryad　knew　everything　that　is　told　here　of

the　new　wonder　in　the　city　of　cities。

　　　　〃Fly　away；　ye　birds！　fly　away　to　see；　and　then　come　back　and

tell　me；〃　said　the　Dryad。

　　　　The　wish　became　an　intense　desire…　became　the　one　thought　of　a

life。　Then；　in　the　quiet　silent　night；　while　the　full　moon　was

shining；　the　Dryad　saw　a　spark　fly　out　of　the　moon's　disc；　and　fall

like　a　shooting　star。　And　before　the　tree；　whose　leaves　waved　to　and

fro　as　if　they　were　stirred　by　a　tempest；　stood　a　noble；　mighty；　and

grand　figure。　In　tones　that　were　at　once　rich　and　strong；　like　the

trumpet　of　the　Last　Judgment　bidding　farewell　to　life　and　summoning　to

the　great　account；　it　said：

　　　　〃Thou　shalt　go　to　the　city　of　magic；　thou　shalt　take　root　there；

and　enjoy　the　mighty　rushing　breezes；　the　air　and　the　sunshine

there。　But　the　time　of　thy　life　shall　then　be　shortened；　the　line　of

years　that　awaited　thee　here　amid　the　free　nature　shall　shrink　to

but　a　small　tale。　Poor　Dryad！　It　shall　be　thy　destruction。　Thy

yearning　and　longing　will　increase；　thy　desire　will　grow　more

stormy；　the　tree　itself　will　be　as　a　prison　to　thee；　thou　wilt　quit

thy　cell　and　give　up　thy　nature　to　fly　out　and　mingle　among　men。

Then　the　years　that　would　have　belonged　to　thee　will　be　contracted

to　half　the　span　of　the　ephemeral　fly；　that　lives　but　a　day：　one

night；　and　thy　life…taper　shall　be　blown　out…　the　leaves　of　the　tree

will　wither　and　be　blown　away；　to　become　green　never　again！〃

　　　　Thus　the　words　sounded。　And　the　light　vanished　away；　but　not　the

longing　of　the　Dryad。　She　trembled　in　the　wild　fever　of　expectation。

　　　　〃I　shall　go　there！〃　she　cried；　rejoicingly。　〃Life　is　beginning　and

swells　like　a　cloud；　nobody　knows　whither　it　is　hastening。〃

　　　　When　the　gray　dawn　arose　and　the　moon　turned　pale　and　the　clouds

were　tinted　red；　the　wished…for　hour　struck。　The　words　of　promise　were

fulfilled。

　　　　People　appeared　with　spades　and　poles；　they　dug　round　the　roots　of

the　tree；　deeper　and　deeper；　and　beneath　it。　A　wagon　was　brought

out；　drawn　by　many　horses；　and　the　tree　was　lifted　up；　with　its

roots　and　the　lumps　of　earth　that　adhered　to　them；　matting　was

placed　around　the　roots；　as　though　the　tree　had　its　feet　in　a　warm

bag。　And　now　the　tree　was　lifted　on　the　wagon　and　secured　with　chains。

The　journey　began…　the　journey　to　Paris。　There　the　tree　was　to　grow　as

an　ornament　to　the　city　of　French　glory。

　　　　The　twigs　and　the　leaves　of　the　chestnut　tree　trembled　in　the

first　moments　of　its　being　moved；　and　the　Dryad　trembled　in　the

pleasurable　feeling　of　expectation。

　　　　〃Away！　away！〃　it　sounded　in　every　beat　of　her　pulse。　〃Away！

away〃　sounded　in　words　that　flew　trembling　along。　The　Dryad　forgot

to　bid　farewell　to　the　regions　of　home；　she　thought　not　of　the

waving　grass　and　of　the　innocent　daisies；　which　had　looked　up　to　her

as　to　a　great　lady；　a　young　Princess　playing　at　being　a　shepherdess

out　in　the　open　air。

　　　　The　chestnut　tree　stood　upon　the　wagon；　and　nodded　his　branches；

whether　this　meant　〃farewell〃　or　〃forward；〃　the　Dryad　knew　not；　she

dreamed　only　of　the　marvellous　new　things；　that　seemed　yet　so

familiar；　and　that　were　to　unfold　themselves　before　her。　No　child's

heart　rejoicing　in　innocence…　no　heart　whose　blood　danced　with

passion…　had　set　out　on　the　journey　to　Paris　more　full　of

expectation　than　she。

　　　　Her　〃farewell〃　sounded　in　the　words　〃Away！　away！〃

　　　　The　wheels　turned；　the　distant　approached；　the　present　vanished。

The　region　was　changed；　even　as　the　clouds　change。　New　vineyards；

forests；　villages；　villas　appeared…　came　nearer…　vanished！

　　　　The　chestnut　tree　moved　forward；　and　the　Dryad　went　with　it。

Steam…engine　after　steam…engine　rushed　past；　sending　up　into　the　air

vapory　clouds；　that　formed　figures　which　told　of　Paris；　whence　they

came；　and　whither　the　Dryad　was　going。

　　　　Everything　around　knew　it；　and　must　know　whither　she　was　bound。　It

seemed　to　her　as　if　every　tree　she　passed　stretched　out　its　leaves

towards　her；　with　the　prayer…　〃Take　me　with　you！　take　me　with　you！〃

for　every　tree　enclosed　a　longing　Dryad。

　　　　What　changes　during　this　flight！　Houses　seemed　to　be　rising　out　of

the　earth…　more　and　more…　thicker　and　thicker。　The　chimneys　rose

like　flower…pots　ranged　side　by　side；　or　in　rows　one　above　the

other；　on　the　roofs。　Great　inscriptions　in　letters　a　yard　long；　and

figures　in　various　colors；　covering　the　walls　from　cornice　to

basement；　came　brightly　out。

　　　　〃Where　does　Paris　begin；　and　when　shall　I　be　there？〃　asked　the

Dryad。

　　　　The　crowd　of　people　grew；　the　tumult　and　the　bustle　increased；

carriage　followed　upon　carriage；　people　on　foot　and　people　on

horseback　were　mingled　together；　all　around　were　shops　on　shops；　music

and　song；　crying　and　talking。

　　　　The　Dryad；　in　her　tree；　was　now　in　the　midst　of　Paris。　The　great

heavy　wagon　all　at　once　stopped　on　a　little　square　planted　with　trees。

The　high　houses　around　had　all　of　them　balconies　to　the　windows；

from　which　the　inhabitants　looked　down　upon　the　young　fresh　chestnut

tree；　which　was　coming　to　be　planted　here　as　a　substitute　for　the　dead

tree　that　lay　stretched　on　the　ground。

　　　　The　passers…by　stood　still　and　smiled　in　admiration　of　its　pure

vernal　freshness。　The　older　trees；　whose　buds　were　still　closed；

whispered　with　their　waving　branches；　〃Welcome！　welcome！〃　The

fountain；　throwing　its　jet　of　water　high　up　in　the　air；　to　let　it　fall

again　in　the　wide　stone　basin；　told　the　wind　to　sprinkle　the　new…comer

with　pearly　drops；　as　if　it　wished　to　give　him　a　refreshing　draught　to

welcome　him。

　　　　The　Dryad　felt　how　her　tree　was　being　lifted　from　the　wagon　to

be　placed　in　the　spot　where　it　was　to　stand。　The　roots　were　covered

with　earth；　and　fresh　turf　was　laid　on　top。　Blooming　shrubs　and

flowers　in　pots　were　ranged　around；　and　thus　a　little　garden　arose

in　the　square。

　　　　The　tree　that　had　been　killed　by　the　fumes　of　gas；　the　steam　of

kitchens；　and　the　bad　air　of　the　city；　was　put　upon　the　wagon　and

driven　away。　The　passers…by　looked　on。　Children　and　old　men　sat　upon

the　bench；　and　looked　at　the　green　tree。　And　we　who　are　telling　this

story　stood　upon　a　balcony；　and　looked　down　upon　the　green　spring

sight　that　had　been　brought　in　from　the　fresh　country　air；　and　said；

what　the　old　clergyman　would　have　said；　〃Poor　Dryad！〃

　　　　〃I　am　happy！　I　am　happy！〃　the　Dryad　cried；　rejoicing；　〃and　yet　I

cannot　realize；　cannot　describe　what　I　feel。　Everything　is　as　I

fancied　it；　and　yet　as　I　did　not　fancy　it。〃

　　　　The　houses　stood　there；　so　lofty；　so　close！　The　sunlight　shone

on　only　one　of　the　walls；　and　that　one　was　stuck　over　with　bills　and

placards；　before　which　the　people　stood　still；　and　this　made　a　crowd。

　　　　Carriages　rushed　past；　carriages　rolled　past；　light　ones　and　heavy

ones　mingled　together。　Omnibuses；　those　over…crowded　moving　houses；

came　rattling　by；　horsemen　galloped　among　them；　even　carts　and

wagons　asserted　their　rights。

　　　　The　Dryad　asked　herself　if　these　high…grown　houses；　which　stood　so

close　around　her；　would　not　remove　and　take　other　shapes；　like　the

clouds　in　the　sky；　and　draw　aside；　so　that　she　might　cast　a　glance

into　Paris；　and　over　it。　Notre　Dame　must　show　itself；　the　Vendome

Column；　and　the　wondrous　building　which　had　called　and　was　still

calling　so　many　strangers　to　the　city。

　　　　But　the　houses　did　not　stir　from　their　places。　It　was　yet　day　when

the　lamps　were　lit。　The　gas…jets　gleamed　from　the　shops；　and　shone

even　into　the　branches　of　the　trees；　so　that　it　was　like　sunlight　in

summer。　The　stars　above　made　their　appearance；　the　same　to　which　the

Dryad　had　looked　up　in　her　home。　She　thought　she　felt　a　clear　pure

stream　of　air　which　went　forth　from　them。　She　felt　herself　lifted　up

and　strengthened；　and　felt　an　increased　power　of　seeing　through

every　leaf　and　through　every　fibre　of　the　root。　Amid　all　the　noise　and

the　turmoil；　the　colors　and　the　lights；　she　knew　herself　watched　by

mild　eyes。

　　　　From　the　side　streets　sounded　the　merry　notes　of　fiddles　and

wind　instruments。　Up！　to　the　dance；　to　the　dance！　to　jollity　and

pleasure！　that　was　their　invitation。　Such　music　it　was；　that　horses；

carriages；　trees；　and　houses　would　have　danced；　if　they　had　known　how。

The　charm　of　intoxicating　delight　filled　the　bosom　of　the　Dryad。

　　　　〃How　glorious；　how　splendid　it　is！〃　she　cried；　rejoicingly。　〃Now　I

am　in　Paris！〃

　　　　The　next　day　that　dawned；　the　next　night　that　fell；　offered　the

same　spectacle；　similar　bustle；　similar　life；　changing；　indeed；　yet

always　the　same；　and　thus　it　went　on　through　the　sequence　of　days。

　　　　〃Now　I　know　every　tree；　every　flower　on　the　square　here！　I　know

every　house；　every　balcony；　every　shop　in　this　narrow　cut…off

corner；　where　I　am　denied　the　sight　of　this　great　mighty　city。　Where

are　the　arches　of　triumph；　the　Boulevards；　the　wondrous　building　of

the　world？　I　see　nothing　of　all　this。　As　if　shut　up　in　a　cage；　I　stand

among　the　high　houses；　which　I　now　know　by　heart；　with　their

inscriptions；　signs；　and　placards；　all　the　painted　confectionery；　that

is　no　longer　to　my　taste。　Where　are　all　the　things　of　which　I　heard；

for　which　I　longed；　and　for　whose　sake　I　wanted　to　come　hither？　what

have　I　seized；　found；　won？　I　feel　the　same　longing　I　felt　before；　I

feel　that　there　is　a　life　I　should　wish　to　grasp　and　to　experience。

I　must　go　out　into　the　ranks　of　living　men；　and　mingle　among　them。　I

must　fly　about　like　a　bird。　I　must　see　and　feel；　and　become　human

altogether。　I　must　enjoy　the　one　half…day；　instead　of　vegetating　for

years　in　every…day　sameness　and　weariness；　in　which　I　become　ill；

and　at　last　sink　and　disappear　like　the　dew　on　the　meadows。　I