lucile-第17章

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lighten'd　and　led　by　thine　erudite　hand；　May　each　novice　in　science　nomadic　unravel　Statistical　mazes　of　modernized　travel！　May　each　inn…keeper　knave　long　thy　judgment　revere；　And　the　postboys　of　Europe　regard　thee　with　fear；　While　they　feel；　in　the　silence　of　baffled　extortion；　That　knowledge　is　power！　　Long；　long；　like　that　portion　Of　the　national　soil　which　the　Greek　exile　took　In　his　baggage　wherever　he　went；　may　thy　book　Cheer　each　poor　British　pilgrim；　who　trusts　to　thy　wit　Not　to　pay　through　his　nose　just　for　following　it！　May'st　thou　long；　O　instructor！　preside　o'er　his　way；　And　teach　him　alike　what　to　praise　and　to　pay！　Thee；　pursuing　this　pathway　of　song；　once　again　I　invoke；　lest；　unskill'd；　I　should　wander　in　vain。　To　my　call　be　propitious；　nor；　churlish；　refuse　Thy　great　accents　to　lend　to　the　lips　of　my　Muse；　For　I　sing　of　the　Naiads　who　dwell　'mid　the　stems　Of　the　green　linden…trees　by　the　waters　of　Ems。　Yes！　thy　spirit　descends　upon　mine；　O　John　Murray！　And　I　startwith　thy　bookfor　the　Baths　in　a　hurry。


II。


〃At　Coblentz　a　bridge　of　boats　crosses　the　Rhine；　And　from　thence　the　road；　winding　by　Ehrenbreitstein；　Passes　over　the　frontier　of　Nassua。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（〃N。　B。　No　custom…house　here　since　the　Zollverein。〃　　See　Murray；　paragraph　30。）　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃The　route；　at　each　turn；　Here　the　lover　of　nature　allows　to　discern；　In　varying　prospect；　a　rich　wooded　dale：　The　vine　and　acacia…tree　mostly　prevail　In　the　foliage　observable　here：　and；　moreover；　The　soil　is　carbonic。　　The　road；　under　cover　Of　the　grape…clad　and　mountainous　upland　that　hems　Round　this　beautiful　spot；　brings　the　traveller　to〃EMS。　A　Schnellpost　from　Frankfort　arrives　every　day。　At　the　Kurhaus　（the　old　Ducal　mansion）　you　pay　Eight　florins　for　lodgings。　　A　Restaurateur　Is　attach'd　to　the　place；　but　most　travellers　prefer　（Including；　indeed；　many　persons　of　note）　To　dine　at　the　usual…priced　table　d'hote。　Through　the　town　runs　the　Lahn；　the　steep　green　banks　of　which　Two　rows　of　white　picturesque　houses　enrich；　And　between　the　high　road　and　the　river　is　laid　Out　a　sort　of　a　garden；　call'd　'THE　Promenade。'　Female　visitors　here；　who　may　make　up　their　mind　To　ascend　to　the　top　of　these　mountains；　will　find　On　the　banks　of　the　stream；　saddled　all　the　day　long；　Troops　of　donkeyssure…footedproverbially　strong；〃　And　the　traveller　at　Ems　may　remark；　as　he　passes；　Here；　as　elsewhere；　the　women　run　after　the　asses。


III。


'Mid　the　world's　weary　denizens　bound　for　these　springs　In　the　month　when　the　merle　on　the　maple…bough　sings；　Pursued　to　the　place　from　dissimilar　paths　By　a　similar　sickness；　there　came　to　the　Baths　Four　suffererseach　stricken　deep　through　the　heart；　Or　the　head；　by　the　self…same　invisible　dart　Of　the　arrow　that　flieth　unheard　in　the　noon；　From　the　sickness　that　walketh　unseen　in　the　moon；　Through　this　great　lazaretto　of　life；　wherein　each　Infects　with　his　own　sores　the　next　within　reach。　First　of　these　were　a　young　English　husband　and　wife；　Grown　weary　ere　half　through　the　journey　of　life。　O　Nature；　say　where；　thou　gray　mother　of　earth；　Is　the　strength　of　thy　youth？　that　thy　womb　brings　to　birth　Only　old　men　to…day！　　On　the　winds；　as　of　old；　Thy　voice　in　its　accent　is　joyous　and　bold；　Thy　forests　are　green　as　of　yore；　and　thine　oceans　Yet　move　in　the　might　of　their　ancient　emotions：　But　manthy　last　birth　and　thy　bestis　no　more　Life's　free　lord；　that　look'd　up　to　the　starlight　of　yore；　With　the　faith　on　the　brow；　and　the　fire　in　the　eyes；　The　firm　foot　on　the　earth；　the　high　heart　in　the　skies；　But　a　gray…headed　infant；　defrauded　of　youth；　Born　too　late　or　too　early。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　lady；　in　truth；　Was　young；　fair；　and　gentle；　and　never　was　given　To　more　heavenly　eyes　the　pure　azure　of　heaven。　Never　yet　did　the　sun　touch　to　ripples　of　gold　Tresses　brighter　than　those　which　her　soft　hand　unroll'd　From　her　noble　and　innocent　brow；　when　she　rose；　An　Aurora；　at　dawn；　from　her　balmy　repose；　And　into　the　mirror　the　bloom　and　the　blush　Of　her　beauty　broke；　glowing；　like　light　in　a　gush　From　the　sunrise　in　summer。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Love；　roaming；　shall　meet　But　rarely　a　nature　more　sound　or　more　sweet　Eyes　brighterbrows　whitera　figure　more　fair　Or　lovelier　lengths　of　more　radiant　hair　Than　thine；　Lady　Alfred！　　And　here　I　aver　（May　those　that　have　seen　thee　declare　if　I　err）　That　not　all　the　oysters　in　Britain　contain　A　pearl　pure　as　thou　art。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Let　some　one　explain；　Who　may　know　more　than　I　of　the　intimate　life　Of　the　pearl　with　the　oyster；why　yet　in　his　wife；　In　despite　of　her　beautyand　most　when　he　felt　His　soul　to　the　sense　of　her　loveliness　melt　Lord　Alfred　miss'd　something　he　sought　for：　indeed；　The　more　that　he　miss'd　it　the　greater　the　need；　Till　it　seem'd　to　himself　he　could　willingly　spare　All　the　charms　that　he　found　for　the　one　charm　not　there。


IV。


For　the　blessings　Life　lends　us；　it　strictly　demands　The　worth　of　their　full　usufruct　at　our　hands。　And　the　value　of　all　things　exists；　not　indeed　In　themselves；　but　man's　use　of　them；　feeding　man's　need。　Alfred　Vargrave；　in　wedding　with　beauty　and　youth；　Had　embraced　both　Ambition　and　Wealth。　　Yet　in　truth　Unfulfill'd　the　ambition；　and　sterile　the　wealth　（In　a　life　paralyzed　by　a　moral　ill…health）；　Had　remain'd；　while　the　beauty　and　youth；　unredeem'd　From　a　vague　disappointment　at　all　things；　but　seem'd　Day　by　day　to　reproach　him　in　silence　for　all　That　lost　youth　in　himself　they　had　fail'd　to　recall。　No　career　had　he　follow'd；　no　object　obtain'd　In　the　world　by　those　worldly　advantages　gain'd　From　nuptials　beyond　which　once　seem'd　to　appear；　Lit　by　love；　the　broad　path　of　a　brilliant　career。　All　that　glitter'd　and　gleam'd　through　the　moonlight　of　youth　With　a　glory　so　fair；　now　that　manhood　in　truth　Grasp'd　and　gather'd　it；　seem'd　like　that　false　fairy　gold　Which　leaves　in　the　hand　only　moss；　leaves；　and　mould！


V。


Fairy　gold！　moss　and　leaves！　and　the　young　Fairy　Bride？　Lived　there　yet　fairy…lands　in　the　face　at　his　side？　Say；　O　friend；　if　at　evening　thou　ever　hast　watch'd　Some　pale　and　impalpable　vapor；　detach'd　From　the　dim　and　disconsolate　earth；　rise　and　fall　O'er　the　light　of　a　sweet　serene　star；　until　all　The　chill'd　splendor　reluctantly　waned　in　the　deep　Of　its　own　native　heaven？　　Even　so　seem'd　to　creep　O'er　that　fair　and　ethereal　face；　day　by　day；　While　the　radiant　vermeil；　subsiding　away；　Hid　its　light　in　the　heart；　the　faint　gradual　veil　Of　a　sadness　unconscious。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　lady　grew　pale　As　silent　her　lord　grew：　and　both；　as　they　eyed　Each　the　other　askance；　turn'd；　and　secretly　sigh'd。　Ah；　wise　friend；　what　avails　all　experience　can　give？　True；　we　know　what　life　isbut；　alas！　do　we　live？　The　grammar　of　life　we　have　gotten　by　heart；　But　life's　self　we　have　made　a　dead　languagean　art；　Not　a　voice。　　Could　we　speak　it；　but　once；　as　'twas　spoken　When　the　silence　of　passion　the　first　time　was　broken！　Cuvier　knew　the　world　better　than　Adam；　no　doubt；　But　the　last　man；　at　best；　was　but　learned　about　What　the　first；　without　learning；　ENJOYED。　　What　art　thou　To　the　man　of　to…day；　O　Leviathan；　now？　A　science。　　What　wert　thou　to　him　that　from　ocean　First　beheld　thee　appear？　　A　surprise；an　emotion！　When　life　leaps　in　the　veins；　when　it　beats　in　the　heart；　When　it　thrills　as　it　fills　every　animate　part；　Where　lurks　it？　how　works　it？　。　。　。　We　scarcely　detect　it。　But　life　goes：　the　heart　dies：　haste；　O　leech；　and　dissect　it！　This　accursed　aesthetical；　ethical　age　Hath　so　finger'd　life's　hornbook；　so　blurr'd　every　page；　That　the　old　glad　romance；　the　gay　chivalrous　story　With　its　fables　of　faery；　its　legends　of　glory；　Is　turn'd　to　a　tedious　instruction；　not　new　To　the　children　that　read　it　insipidly　through。　We　know　too　much　of　Love　ere　we　love。　　We　can　trace　Nothing　new；　unexpected；　or　strange　in　his　face　When　we　see　it　at　last。　　'Tis　the　same　little　Cupid；　With　the　same　dimpled　cheek；　and　the　smile　almost　stupid；　We　have　seen　in　our　pictures；　and　stuck　on　our　shelves；　And　copied　a　hundred　times　over；　ourselves；　And　wherever　we　turn；　and　whatever　we　do；　Still；　that　horrible　sense　of　the　deja　connu！


VI。


Perchance　'twas　the　fault　of　the　life　that　they　led；　Perchance　'twas　the　fault　of　the　novels　they　read；　Perchance　'twas　a　fault　in　themselves；　I　am　bound　not　To　say：　this　I　knowthat　these　two　creatures　found　not　In　each　other　some　sign　they　expected　to　find　Of　a　something　unnamed　in　the　heart　or　the　mind；　And；　missing　it；　each　felt　a　right　to　complain　Of　a　sadness　which　each　found　no　word　to　explain。　Whatever　it　was；　the　world　noticed　not　it　In　the　light…hearted　beauty；　the　light…hearted　wit。　Still；　as　once　with　the　actors　in　Greece；　'tis　the　case；　Each　must　speak　to　the　crowd　with　a　mask　on　his　face。　Praise　follow'd　Matilda　wherever　she　went；　She　was　flatter'd。　　Can　flattery　purchase　content？　Yes。　　While　to　its　voice　for　a　moment　she　listen'd；　The　young　cheek　still　bloom'd　and　the　soft　eyes　still　glisten'd；　And　her　lord；　when；　like　one　of　those　light　vivid　things　That　glide　down　the　gauzes　of　summer　with　wings　Of　rapturous　radiance；　unconscious　she　moved　Through　that　buzz　of　inferior　creatures；　which　proved　Her　beauty；　their　envy；　one　moment　forgot；　'Mid　the　many　charms　there；　the　one　charm　that　was　not：　And　when　o'er　her　beauty　enraptured　he　bow'd；　（As　they　turn'd　to　each　other；　each　flush'd　from　the　crowd；）　And　murmur'd　those　praises　which　yet　seem'd　more　dear　Than　the　praises　of　others　had　grown　to　her　ear；　She；　too；　ceased　awhile　her　own　fate　to　regret：　〃Yes！　。　。　。　he　loves　me；〃　she　sigh'd；　〃this　is　love；　thenand　YET！〃


VII。


Ah；　that　YET！　fatal　word！　'tis　the　moral　of　all　Thought　and　felt；　seen　or　done；　in　this　world　since　the　Fall！　It　stands　at　the　end　of　each　sentence　we　learn；　It　flits　in　the　vista　of　all　we　discern；　It　leads　us；　forever　and　ever；　away　To　find　in　to…morrow　what　flies　with　to…day。　'Twas　the　same　little　fatal　and　mystical　word　That　now；　like　a　mirage；　led　my　lady　and　lord　To　the　waters　of　Ems　from　the　waters　of　Marah；　Drooping　Pilgrims　in　Fashion's　blank；　arid　Sahara！


VIII。


At　the　same　time；　pursued　by　a　spell　much　the　same；　To　these　waters　two　other　worn　pilgrims　there　came：　One　a　man；　one　a　woman：　just　now；　at　the　latter；　As　the　Reader　I　mean　by　and　by　to　look　at　her　And　judge　for　himself；　I　will　not　even　glance。


IX。


Of　the　self…crown'd　young　kings　of　the　Fashion　in　France　Whose　resplendent　regalia　so　dazzled　the　sight；　Whose　horse　was　so　perfect；　whose　boots　were　so　bright；　Who　so　hail'd　in　the　salon；　so　mark'd　in　the　Bois；　Who　so　welcomed　by　all；　as　Eugene　de　Luvois？　Of　all　the　smooth…brow'd　premature　debauchees　In　that　town　of　all　towns；　where　Debauchery　sees　On　the　forehead　of　youth　her　mark　everywhere　graven；　In　Paris　I　mean；where　the　streets　are　all　paven　By　those　two　fiends　whom　Milton　saw　bridging　the　way　From　Hell　to　this　planet；who；　haughty　and　gay；　The　free　rebel　of　life；　bound　or　led　by　no　law；　Walk'd　that　causeway　as　bold　as　Eugene　de　Luvois？　Yes！　he　march'd　through　the　great　masquerade；　loud　of　tongue；　Bold　of　brow：　but　the　motley　he　mask'd　in；　it　hung　So　loose；　trail'd　so　wide；　and　appear'd　to　impede　So　strangely　at　times　the　vex'd　effort　at　speed；　That　a　keen　eye　might　guess　it　was　madenot　for　him；　But　so