After the supreme1 renunciation of the night before, he had experienced a strange, a wonderful peace: the world had vanished from out his sight; he felt that he had already entered upon the life beyond. And while he yet marvelled2 and rejoiced because of this, he slept. How many hours had elapsed before he awoke he did not know; it was dark in the house-place, and the darkness lay heavily upon him like a pall3. With the darkness there had also fallen the icy shadow of his approaching doom4; before the shrouded5 face of this awful impalpable presence peace and joy fled away in affright. He strove to pray, but his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. Near by he could hear the regular, peaceful breathing of John and Andrew; somehow the sound added an intolerable poignancy6 to his anguish7. For the first time he realized to the full the utter loneliness of the soul. "They love me," he said within himself bitterly,--"but they sleep."
After a time he arose, and wrapping his cloak about him, stole out into the courtyard. The fresh wind as it smote8 him brought with it a sense of relief. The stars glittered keenly overhead against the dark blue of the heavens; the fragrance9 of a tall white lily abloom beside the little cistern11 hung heavy upon the air. An irresistible12 impulse to go swiftly--somewhere--anywhere--came upon him. Undoing13 the fastening of the outer door, he slipped out, feeling a quick thrill of satisfaction in the fact that he had accomplished14 this noiselessly. The cocks were crowing as he started swiftly down the street, first one, then another, then half a dozen at once, dying away into silence only to break forth15 again as some faint challenge from a distance rang out triumphantly16.
As yet there was little token of day, but the keeper was drowsily17 undoing the fastenings of the city gate, in due anticipation18 of the market-men, who would soon be coming from every quarter. Stephen hesitated for an instant, then slipped through the opening without being observed. Before him lay the Roman road, hard and white, stretching dimly away into the darkness. All the young life in him leapt up at the sight.
"I have but to follow this road," he thought, "it will bring me to safety. And why, after all, should I remain? Wicked men have laid a snare19 for me, and it hath been made known to me in the mercy of God. It must needs be that I escape; I am young, I can and will do good service to them that believe for many years. What shall it profit any man if I perish now?"
He was walking the more swiftly as he communed thus with himself, and hearing, or fancying that he heard, a sound as of pursuit behind him, he thrust his fingers into his ears and ran, the road still dimly unrolling itself out of the darkness before him like a dusky ribbon from the loom10 of night. After he had gone thus for a long distance--his breath being well-nigh spent and his laboring20 heart knocking loudly for relief--he paused, and withdrawing his fingers from his ears, listened. There was no sound save the soughing of the wind in the gnarled branches of the trees and the shrilling21 of insects in the lush grass. He sank down for a moment to rest.
"If I go away now--as indeed those older and wiser than myself have advised--I can remain till the present danger be passed, afterward22 I can return, and--there is Anat. The world is wide, there is no need that we remain at Jerusalem. We two will go away into far countries and among strange peoples, that we may spread the Gospel among all nations, even as the Master commanded. It is right that this should be, else why do these thoughts come to me. As for means for my journey, I have here in my pouch23 the money with which I was to buy provisions to-day, this would the apostles gladly give me for my present needs--ay, and more. Yes, I will go--I must go." And he arose and girding himself resolutely24, started once more upon his journey.
"I will go," he repeated to himself more than once. "I must go." But after a time he ceased to walk swiftly; at length he stopped altogether and turned his face toward the East. Faint rosy25 flushes--momently brightening--merged finally into long tremulous beams of pure unearthly light, which shot up as if in an ecstasy26 of triumph over the conquered gloom. Stephen's heart expanded at the sight. He sank upon his knees.
"'Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe,'" he murmured aloud. "'Who createst light and formest darkness, who makest peace and createst all things! He in mercy causes the light to shine upon the earth and the inhabitants thereof, and in goodness renews every day the work of creation. Blessed art thou, the Creator of Light!'"
Something in the familiar and well-loved words spoken in that dewy solitude28 seemed to sweep away the paralyzing and unworthy fear from out his soul. He looked at the Roman road, showing hard, white and dusty in the morning light, it no longer appeared alluring29. He thought again of his resolve to use the money from the almoner's fund to make good his escape, and the honest crimson30 rose to his cheek.
"I am no better than a thief," he cried aloud. "I will go back; and if it needs be that I suffer, God help me, for the flesh is weak."
As he arose to his feet he saw with a shock of surprise that he had paused near to the little rocky knoll31, called, from its strange resemblance to a human skull32, Golgotha. Upon the bald summit of this place of death stood a cross, and upon the cross hung the figure of a man--naked save for his scanty33 rags which fluttered fitfully in the light breeze, the clear light of the dawn revealing with ghastly insistency34 his drawn35 features, and the purple wounds in his hands and feet. At the foot of the cross lay two Roman soldiers, evidently detailed36 to watch the dying man; they were snoring loudly, a half-emptied wine-skin upon the grass between them revealing the manner in which they had beguiled37 the night watches.
As Stephen gazed at this horrible sight, the figure on the cross writhed38 feebly, the blue lips parted. "God! daylight again, and I live--live--" were the words which gushed39 out from them in a quavering shriek40.
Sick with a fear that he could not control, Stephen approached the cross, treading carefully lest he should awaken41 the brutal42 sleepers43 at its foot.
"Water!" cried the sufferer. "Yes, I see it--a brown stream running over its pebbles--a lake deep and cool. I will hide in it, my hands are burning--no, no, they are dead."
"Here is water," said Stephen in a trembling voice, holding his flask44 to the lips of the dying wretch--for he hung low, his feet almost touching45 the ground.
But the man could not drink; he opened his glazing46 eyes, apparently47 not seeing the face of angelic pity at his side, for he fell to babbling48 disconnectedly of many things, mingling49 frightful50 curses on his tormentors with prayers to the pagan gods.
Stephen sent up a swift prayer for help; he could pray now. "Listen!" he cried, not heeding51 the fact that a group of wayfarers52 had stopped and were regarding him with open-mouthed amazement53. "Listen--thou mayest yet be saved. Jesus of Nazareth can save thee! Master, hear--I beseech54 thee--and save!"
The dim eyes were turned upon him now; there was a gleam of understanding in them. "Art thou--Jesus--of Nazareth?"
"Nay55, I am but his servant. Call upon him quickly to forgive--to save."
"Jesus--forgive--save!" gasped56 the failing voice, then all was still.
Stephen looked once into the quiet face of the man on the cross, then down at the soldiers, who were beginning to stir a little. One of them sat up and threw his arms above his head and yawned.
"By Bacchus!" he exclaimed. "I must have slept,--a murrain on these night watches, the fellow could not have gotten away." Then his eye fell upon Stephen. "Who art thou?" he cried, springing to his feet; "and what art thou doing here? If now thou hast meddled57 with the malefactor--ha! the fellow is gone. Didst thou give him aught to help him to his death?"
"No, friend," answered Stephen quietly. "I but spoke27 to him of Jesus, the Redeemer; and if God will, that word hath helped him to eternal life."
The man to whom he had spoken made a motion as if to seize him, but the other, who had also awakened58, held him back.
"Let be," he said in a low voice; "he hath done no harm; 'tis Stephen, the Nazarene."
The soldier dropped his arm. "Go," he commanded briefly59; "we had orders to allow no one near the cross of this man."
Stephen bowed his head and passed on. He walked swiftly--as he had done before the dawn--but this time his face was steadfastly60 set towards Jerusalem, and upon it shone the light of a peace which the world had not given, and which from henceforth it was powerless to take away. Verily, when the day breaks, the shadows flee away.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
marvelled
|
|
| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
pall
|
|
| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
doom
|
|
| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
shrouded
|
|
| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
poignancy
|
|
| n.辛酸事，尖锐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
smote
|
|
| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
fragrance
|
|
| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
loom
|
|
| n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
cistern
|
|
| n.贮水池 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
undoing
|
|
| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
drowsily
|
|
| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
anticipation
|
|
| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
snare
|
|
| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
laboring
|
|
| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
shrilling
|
|
| （声音）尖锐的，刺耳的，高频率的( shrill的现在分词 )； 凄厉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
pouch
|
|
| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
resolutely
|
|
| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
rosy
|
|
| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
ecstasy
|
|
| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
alluring
|
|
| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
crimson
|
|
| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
knoll
|
|
| n.小山，小丘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
skull
|
|
| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
scanty
|
|
| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
insistency
|
|
| 强迫，坚决要求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
detailed
|
|
| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
beguiled
|
|
| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
writhed
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
gushed
|
|
| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
awaken
|
|
| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
brutal
|
|
| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
sleepers
|
|
| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
flask
|
|
| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
glazing
|
|
| n.玻璃装配业；玻璃窗；上釉；上光v.装玻璃( glaze的现在分词 )；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
babbling
|
|
| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
mingling
|
|
| adj.混合的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
heeding
|
|
| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
wayfarers
|
|
| n.旅人，（尤指）徒步旅行者( wayfarer的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
beseech
|
|
| v.祈求，恳求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
meddled
|
|
| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
briefly
|
|
| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
steadfastly
|
|
| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |