sartor resartus-第20章

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！


　awful　in　the　midst　thereof；　wanting。　　Perhaps　too　the　whole　is　but　the　lovelier；　if　Cherubim　and　a　Flaming　Sword　divide　it　from　all　footsteps　of　men；　and　grant　him；　the　imaginative　stripling；　only　the　view；　not　the　entrance。　　Happy　season　of　virtuous　youth；　when　shame　is　still　an　impassable　celestial　barrier；　and　the　sacred　air…cities　of　Hope　have　not　shrunk　into　the　mean　clay…hamlets　of　Reality；　and　man；　by　his　nature；　is　yet　infinite　and　free！

〃As　for　our　young　Forlorn；〃　continues　Teufelsdrockh　evidently　meaning　himself；　〃in　his　secluded　way　of　life；　and　with　his　glowing　Fantasy；　the　more　fiery　that　it　burnt　under　cover；　as　in　a　reverberating　furnace；　his　feeling　towards　the　Queens　of　this　Earth　was；　and　indeed　is；　altogether　unspeakable。　　A　visible　Divinity　dwelt　in　them；　to　our　young　Friend　all　women　were　holy；　were　heavenly。　　As　yet　he　but　saw　them　flitting　past；　in　their　many…colored　angel…plumage；　or　hovering　mute　and　inaccessible　on　the　outskirts　of　_AEsthetic　Tea_：　　all　of　air　they　were；　all　Soul　and　Form；　so　lovely；　like　mysterious　priestesses；　in　whose　hand　was　the　invisible　Jacob's…ladder；　whereby　man　might　mount　into　very　Heaven。　　That　he；　our　poor　Friend；　should　ever　win　for　himself　one　of　these　Gracefuls　（_Holden_）_Ach　Gott_！　　how　could　he　hope　it；　should　he　not　have　died　under　it？　　There　was　a　certain　delirious　vertigo　in　the　thought。

〃Thus　was　the　young　man；　if　all…sceptical　of　Demons　and　Angels　such　as　the　vulgar　had　once　believed　in；　nevertheless　not　unvisited　by　hosts　of　true　Sky…born；　who　visibly　and　audibly　hovered　round　him　wheresoever　he　went；　and　they　had　that　religious　worship　in　his　thought；　though　as　yet　it　was　by　their　mere　earthly　and　trivial　name　that　he　named　them。　　But　now；　if　on　a　soul　so　circumstanced；　some　actual　Air…maiden；　incorporated　into　tangibility　and　reality；　should　cast　any　electric　glance　of　kind　eyes；　saying　thereby；　'Thou　too　mayest　love　and　be　loved；'　and　so　kindle　him；good　Heaven；　what　a　volcanic；　earthquake…bringing；　all…consuming　fire　were　probably　kindled！〃

Such　a　fire；　it　afterwards　appears；　did　actually　burst　forth；　with　explosions　more　or　less　Vesuvian；　in　the　inner　man　of　Herr　Diogenes；　as　indeed　how　could　it　fail？　　A　nature；　which；　in　his　own　figurative　style；　we　might　say；　had　now　not　a　little　carbonized　tinder；　of　Irritability；　with　so　much　nitre　of　latent　Passion；　and　sulphurous　Humor　enough；　the　whole　lying　in　such　hot　neighborhood；　close　by　〃a　reverberating　furnace　of　Fantasy：〃　have　we　not　here　the　components　of　driest　Gunpowder；　ready；　on　occasion　of　the　smallest　spark；　to　blaze　up？　　Neither；　in　this　our　Life…element；　are　sparks　anywhere　wanting。　　Without　doubt；　some　Angel；　whereof　so　many　hovered　round；　would　one　day；　leaving　〃the　outskirts　of　_AEsthetic　Tea_；〃　flit　higher；　and；　by　electric　Promethean　glance；　kindle　no　despicable　firework。　　Happy；　if　it　indeed　proved　a　Firework；　and　flamed　off　rocket…wise；　in　successive　beautiful　bursts　of　splendor；　each　growing　naturally　from　the　other；　through　the　several　stages　of　a　happy　Youthful　Love；　till　the　whole　were　safely　burnt　out；　and　the　young　soul　relieved　with　little　damage！　　Happy；　if　it　did　not　rather　prove　a　Conflagration　and　mad　Explosion；　painfully　lacerating　the　heart　itself；　nay　perhaps　bursting　the　heart　in　pieces　（which　were　Death）；　or　at　best；　bursting　the　thin　walls　of　your　〃reverberating　furnace；〃　so　that　it　rage　thenceforth　all　unchecked　among　the　contiguous　combustibles　（which　were　Madness）：　　till　of　the　so　fair　and　manifold　internal　world　of　our　Diogenes；　there　remained　Nothing；　or　only　the　〃crater　of　an　extinct　volcano〃！

From　multifarious　Documents　in　this　Bag　_Capricornus_；　and　in　the　adjacent　ones　on　both　sides　thereof；　it　becomes　manifest　that　our　philosopher；　as　stoical　and　cynical　as　he　now　looks；　was　heartily　and　even　frantically　in　Love：　　here　therefore　may　our　old　doubts　whether　his　heart　were　of　stone　or　of　flesh　give　way。　　He　loved　once；　not　wisely　but　too　well。　　And　once　only：　for　as　your　Congreve　needs　a　new　case　or　wrappage　for　every　new　rocket；　so　each　human　heart　can　properly　exhibit　but　one　Love；　if　even　one；　the　〃First　Love　which　is　infinite〃　can　be　followed　by　no　second　like　unto　it。　　In　more　recent　years；　accordingly；　the　Editor　of　these　Sheets　was　led　to　regard　Teufelsdrockh　as　a　man　not　only　who　would　never　wed；　but　who　would　never　even　flirt；　whom　the　grand…climacteric　itself；　and　_St。　Martin's　Summer_　of　incipient　Dotage；　would　crown　with　no　new　myrtle…garland。　　To　the　Professor；　women　are　henceforth　Pieces　of　Art；　of　Celestial　Art；　indeed；　which　celestial　pieces　he　glories　to　survey　in　galleries；　but　has　lost　thought　of　purchasing。

Psychological　readers　are　not　without　curiosity　to　see　how　Teufelsdrockh　in　this　for　him　unexampled　predicament；　demeans　himself；　with　what　specialties　of　successive　configuration；　splendor　and　color；　his　Firework　blazes　off。　Small；　as　usual；　is　the　satisfaction　that　such　can　meet　with　here。　　From　amid　these　confused　masses　of　Eulogy　and　Elegy；　with　their　mad　Petrarchan　and　Werterean　ware　lying　madly　scattered　among　all　sorts　of　quite　extraneous　matter；　not　so　much　as　the　fair　one's　name　can　be　deciphered。　For；　without　doubt；　the　title　_Blumine_；　whereby　she　is　here　designated；　and　which　means　simply　Goddess　of　Flowers；　must　be　fictitious。　　Was　her　real　name　Flora；　then？　　But　what　was　her　surname；　or　had　she　none？　　Of　what　station　in　Life　was　she；　of　what　parentage；　fortune；　aspect？　　Specially；　by　what　Pre…established　Harmony　of　occurrences　did　the　Lover　and　the　Loved　meet　one　another　in　so　wide　a　world；　how　did　they　behave　in　such　meeting？　To　all　which　questions；　not　unessential　in　a　Biographic　work；　mere　Conjecture　must　for　most　part　return　answer。　　〃It　was　appointed；〃　says　our　Philosopher；　〃that　the　high　celestial　orbit　of　Blumine　should　intersect　the　low　sublunary　one　of　our　Forlorn；　that　he；　looking　in　her　empyrean　eyes；　should　fancy　the　upper　Sphere　of　Light　was　come　down　into　this　nether　sphere　of　Shadows；　and　finding　himself　mistaken；　make　noise　enough。〃

We　seem　to　gather　that　she　was　young；　hazel…eyed；　beautiful；　and　some　one's　Cousin；　high…born；　and　of　high　spirit；　but　unhappily　dependent　and　insolvent；　living；　perhaps；　on　the　not　too　gracious　bounty　of　moneyed　relatives。　　But　how　came　〃the　Wanderer〃　into　her　circle？　　Was　it　by　the　humid　vehicle　of　_AEsthetic　Tea_；　or　by　the　arid　one　of　mere　Business？　　Was　it　on　the　hand　of　Herr　Towgood；　or　of　the　Gnadige　Frau；　who；　as　an　ornamental　Artist；　might　sometimes　like　to　promote　flirtation；　especially　for　young　cynical　Nondescripts？　　To　all　appearance；　it　was　chiefly　by　Accident；　and　the　grace　of　Nature。

〃Thou　fair　Waldschloss；〃　writes　our　Autobiographer；　〃what　stranger　ever　saw　thee；　were　it　even　an　absolved　Auscultator；　officially　bearing　in　his　pocket　the　last　_Relatio　ex　Actis_　he　would　ever　write；　but　must　have　paused　to　wonder！　　Noble　Mansion！　　There　stoodest　thou；　in　deep　Mountain　Amphitheatre；　on　umbrageous　lawns；　in　thy　serene　solitude；　stately；　massive；　all　of　granite；　glittering　in　the　western　sunbeams；　like　a　palace　of　El　Dorado；　overlaid　with　precious　metal。　　Beautiful　rose　up；　in　wavy　curvature；　the　slope　of　thy　guardian　Hills；　of　the　greenest　was　their　sward；　embossed　with　its　dark…brown　frets　of　crag；　or　spotted　by　some　spreading　solitary　Tree　and　its　shadow。　　To　the　unconscious　Wayfarer　thou　wert　also　as　an　Ammon's　Temple；　in　the　Libyan　Waste；　where；　for　joy　and　woe；　the　tablet　of　his　Destiny　lay　written。　　Well　might　he　pause　and　gaze；　in　that　glance　of　his　were　prophecy　and　nameless　forebodings。〃

But　now　let　us　conjecture　that　the　so　presentient　Auscultator　has　handed　in　his　_Relatio　ex　Actis_；　been　invited　to　a　glass　of　Rhine…wine；　and　so；　instead　of　returning　dispirited　and　athirst　to　his　dusty　Town…home；　is　ushered　into　the　Garden…house；　where　sit　the　choicest　party　of　dames　and　cavaliers：　　if　not　engaged　in　AEsthetic　Tea；　yet　in　trustful　evening　conversation；　and　perhaps　Musical　Coffee；　for　we　hear　of　〃harps　and　pure　voices　making　the　stillness　live。〃　　Scarcely；　it　would　seem；　is　the　Garden…house　inferior　in　respectability　to　the　noble　Mansion　itself。　〃Embowered　amid　rich　foliage；　rose…clusters；　and　the　hues　and　odors　of　thousand　flowers；　here　sat　that　brave　company；　in　front；　from　the　wide…opened　doors；　fair　outlook　over　blossom　and　bush；　over　grove　and　velvet　green；　stretching；　undulating　onwards　to　the　remote　Mountain　peaks：　so　bright；　so　mild；　and　everywhere　the　melody　of　birds　and　happy　creatures：　it　was　all　as　if　man　had　stolen　a　shelter　from　the　SUIT　in　the　bosom…vesture　of　Summer　herself。　　How　came　it　that　the　Wanderer　advanced　thither　with　such　forecasting　heart　（_ahndungsvoll_）；　by　the　side　of　his　gay　host？　　Did　he　feel　that　to　these　soft　influences　his　hard　bosom　ought　to　be　shut；　that　here；　once　more；　Fate　had　it　in　view　to　try　him；　to　mock　him；　and　see　whether　there　were　Humor　in　him？

〃Next　moment　he　finds　himself　presented　to　the　party；　and　especially　by　name　toBlumine！　　Peculiar　among　all　dames　and　damosels　glanced　Blumine；　there　in　her　modesty；　like　a　star　among　earthly　lights。　　Noblest　maiden！　whom　he　bent　to；　in　body　and　in　soul；　yet　scarcely　dared　look　at；　for　the　presence　filled　him　with　painful　yet　sweetest　embarrassment。

〃Blumine's　was　a　name　well　known　to　him；　far　and　wide　was　the　fair　one　heard　of；　for　her　gifts；　her　graces；　her　caprices：　　from　all　which　vague　colorings　of　Rumor；　from　the　censures　no　less　than　from　the　praises；　had　our　friend　painted　for　himself　a　certain　imperious　Queen　of　Hearts；　and　blooming　warm　Earth…angel；　much　more　enchanting　than　your　mere　white　Heaven…angels　of　women；　in　whose　placid　veins　circulates　too　little　naphtha…fire。　　Herself　also　he　had　seen　in　public　places；　that　light　yet　so　stately　form；　those　dark　tresses；　shading　a　face　where　smiles　and　sunlight　played　over　earnest　deeps：　　but　all　this　he　had　seen　only　as　a　magic　vision；　for　him　inaccessible；　almost　without　reality。　　Her　sphere　was　too　far　from　his；　how　should　she　ever　think　of　him；　O　Heaven！　how　should　they　so　much　as　once　meet　together？　　And　now　that　Rose…goddess　sits　in　the　same　circle　with　him；　the　light　of　_her_　eyes　has　smiled　on　him；　if　he　speak；　she　will　hear　it！　　Nay；　who　knows；　since　the　heavenly　Sun　looks　into　lowest　valleys；　but　Blumine　herself　might　have　aforetime　noted　the　so　unnotable；　perhaps；　from　his　very　gainsayers；　as　he　had　from　hers；　gathered　wonder；　gathered　favor　for　him？　　Was　the　attraction；　the　agitation　mutual；　then；　pole　and　pole　trembling　towards　contact；　when　once　brought　into　neighborhood？　　Say　rather；　heart　swelling　in　presence　of　the　Queen　of　Hearts；　like　the　Sea　swelling　when　once　near　its　Moon！　　With　the　Wanderer　it　was　even　so：　　as　in　heavenward　gravitation；　suddenly　as　at　the　touch　of　a　Seraph's　wand；　his　whole　soul　is　roused　from　its　deepest　recesses；　and　all　that　was　painful　and　that　was　blissful　there；　dim　images；　vague　feelings　of　a　whole　Past　and　a　whole　Future；　are　heaving　in　unquiet　eddies　within　him。

〃Often；　in　far　less　agitating　scenes；　had　our　still　Friend　shrunk　forcibly　together；　and　shrouded　up　his　tremors　and　flutterings；　of　what　sort　soever；　in　a　safe　cover　of　Silence；　and　perhaps　of　seeming　Stolidity。　　How　was　it；　then；　that　here；　when　trembling　to　the　core　of　his　heart；　he　did　not　sink　into　sw