SCENE VI “SUNSET AND EVENING STAR”

 The moon had mounted into the heavens, and now cast a path of silver light across the sea.

They stood together looking down upon it.

“I came that way,” he said. “The waters called me from the cliff top at sunset. I walked along the shore for half a mile or so, then found some handy rocks, stripped in their shelter, and swam out, far and fast, until the sun rose again, for me, behind the pine woods. As I swam back to shore I saw this house, for the first time. Later I found the zigzag¹ path, climbed it, and stood upon the lawn. Twilight² had fallen suddenly; a chill was in the air. I saw the fitful glow of firelight through the windows. The darkness came so quickly, I did not fear detection. I crossed the 74lawn and stood on the veranda³. I watched the three at play by the log fire. The room grew darker. I turned to go. Then you came in, and flashed all into light. I stayed—you bid me stay. And here I am. But I came to you, in the sunset, from the sea.”

“I thought as much,” she said. “‘Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me.’ Do you know Tennyson’s great crowning poem? Will you repeat it as we stand here? It was so strongly in my mind as I watched the sunset. I think that was why I was so sure you would come to-night.”

“Yes, I know the lines,” he answered. “They have always held for me an extraordinary appeal. But how came you to be expecting me—to-night, or any night?”

“Repeat them. We have all the night for questions; but this moment will not come again.”

She slipped her hand within his arm. He laid his own upon it and did as she asked. And, as he repeated Tennyson’s noble lines, the tumult⁴ within his spirit ceased.

75The stillness, all about them, was complete; broken only by the music of his voice.

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me.

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea.

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

Too full for sound and foam⁵,

When that which drew from out the boundless⁶ deep

Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark;

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark⁷;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face,

When I have crost the bar.

A long silence. Then: “I have no pilot,” he said. “I drift rudderless. I am bound to make shipwreck⁸ on the bar.”

She did not seem to hear his words. Her mind was far away. Her eyes were on the sea, gazing upon that path of shimmering⁹ light.

“Nigel,” she said, “there was no farewell—no 76farewell, belovèd; but oh, the dark—the dark—the dark!”

He wondered to whom she spoke¹⁰. He tightened¹¹ his hold upon her hand and stood silent.

“‘The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away.’ Each evening I stood here and said those words. If I could have added: ‘Blessed be the Name of the Lord,’ the darkness might have lightened. But I could not; and it still was dark.”

He asked himself what awful memory of sorrow brought that horror of anguish¹² to her face. But the moment kept him silent. He could not speak.

“Oh, cruel sea!” she moaned. “You took my All—my All.”

She shivered, and he folded her wrap more closely around her.

Then she turned to him, and the look of anguish passed. There was gladness in her eyes.

“Come in,” she said. “Let us come in; and shut the door.”

 

1 zigzag   

n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行

参考例句：

• The lightning made a zigzag in the sky.闪电在天空划出一道Z字形。
• The path runs zigzag up the hill.小径向山顶蜿蜒盘旋。

2 twilight   

n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期

参考例句：

• Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
• Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。

3 veranda   

n.走廊；阳台

参考例句：

• She sat in the shade on the veranda.她坐在阳台上的遮荫处。
• They were strolling up and down the veranda.他们在走廊上来回徜徉。

4 tumult   

n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹

参考例句：

• The tumult in the streets awakened everyone in the house.街上的喧哗吵醒了屋子里的每一个人。
• His voice disappeared under growing tumult.他的声音消失在越来越响的喧哗声中。

5 foam   

v./n.泡沫，起泡沫

参考例句：

• The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
• The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。

6 boundless   

adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的

参考例句：

• The boundless woods were sleeping in the deep repose of nature.无边无际的森林在大自然静寂的怀抱中酣睡着。
• His gratitude and devotion to the Party was boundless.他对党无限感激、无限忠诚。

7 embark   

vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机

参考例句：

• He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。
• Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。

8 shipwreck   

n.船舶失事，海难

参考例句：

• He walked away from the shipwreck.他船难中平安地脱险了。
• The shipwreck was a harrowing experience.那次船难是一个惨痛的经历。

9 shimmering   

v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The sea was shimmering in the sunlight. 阳光下海水波光闪烁。
• The colours are delicate and shimmering. 这些颜色柔和且闪烁微光。 来自辞典例句

10 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：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

11 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

12 anguish   

n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼

参考例句：

• She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时，她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
• The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。