“FOR AWHILE, many thoughts crowded my mind, so that I was unable to do aught, save stare, blindly, before me. I seemed whelmed in a sea of doubt and wonder and sorrowful remembrance.
“It was later, that I came out of my bewilderment. I looked about, dazedly1. Thus, I saw so extraordinary a sight that, for awhile, I could scarcely believe I was not still wrapped in the visionary tumult2 of my own thoughts. Out of the reigning3 green, had grown a boundless4 river of softly shimmering5 globes — each one enfolded in a wondrous6 fleece of pure cloud. They reached, both above and below me, to an unknown distance; and, not only hid the shining of the Green Sun; but supplied, in place thereof, a tender glow of light, that suffused7 itself around me, like unto nothing I have ever seen, before or since.
“In a little, I noticed that there was about these spheres, a sort of transparency, almost as though they were formed of clouded crystal, within which burned a radiance — gentle and subdued8. They moved on, past me, continually, floating onward9 at no great speed; but rather as though they had eternity10 before them. A great while, I watched, and could perceive no end to them. At times, I seemed to distinguish faces, amid the cloudiness; but strangely indistinct, as though partly real, and partly formed of the mistiness11 through which they showed.
“For a long time, I waited, passively, with a sense of growing content. I had no longer that feeling of unutterable loneliness; but felt, rather, that I was less alone, than I had been for kalpas of years. This feeling of contentment, increased, so that I would have been satisfied to float in company with those celestial12 globules, for ever.
“Ages slipped by, and I saw the shadowy faces, with increased frequency, also with greater plainness. Whether this was due to my soul having become more attuned13 to its surroundings, I cannot tell — probably it was so. But, however this may be, I am assured now, only of the fact that I became steadily14 more conscious of a new mystery about me, telling me that I had, indeed, penetrated15 within the borderland of some unthought-of region — some subtle, intangible place, or form, of existence.
“The enormous stream of luminous16 spheres continued to pass me, at an unvarying rate — countless17 millions; and still they came, showing no signs of ending, nor even diminishing.
“Then, as I was borne, silently, upon the unbuoying ether, I felt a sudden, irresistible18, forward movement, towards one of the passing globes. An instant, and I was beside it. Then, I slid through, into the interior, without experiencing the least resistance, of any description. For a short while, I could see nothing; and waited, curiously19.
“All at once, I became aware that a sound broke the inconceivable stillness. It was like the murmur20 of a great sea at calm — a sea breathing in its sleep. Gradually, the mist that obscured my sight, began to thin away; and so, in time, my vision dwelt once again upon the silent surface of the Sea of Sleep.
“For a little, I gazed, and could scarcely believe I saw aright. I glanced round. There was the great globe of pale fire, swimming, as I had seen it before, a short distance above the dim horizon. To my left, far across the sea, I discovered, presently, a faint line, as of thin haze21, which I guessed to be the shore, where my Love and I had met, during those wonderful periods of soul-wandering, that had been granted to me in the old earth days.
“Another, a troubled, memory came to me — of the Formless Thing that had haunted the shores of the Sea of Sleep. The guardian22 of that silent, echoless place. These, and other, details, I remembered, and knew, without doubt that I was looking out upon that same sea. With the assurance, I was filled with an overwhelming feeling of surprise, and joy, and shaken expectancy23, conceiving it possible that I was about to see my Love, again. Intently, I gazed around; but could catch no sight of her. At that, for a little, I felt hopeless. Fervently24, I prayed, and ever peered, anxiously. . . . How still was the sea!
“Down, far beneath me, I could see the many trails of changeful fire, that had drawn25 my attention, formerly26. Vaguely27, I wondered what caused them; also, I remembered that I had intended to ask my dear One about them, as well as many other matters — and I had been forced to leave her, before the half that I had wished to say, was said.
“My thoughts came back with a leap. I was conscious that something had touched me. I turned quickly. God, Thou wert indeed gracious — it was She! She looked up into my eyes, with an eager longing28, and I looked down to her, with all my soul. I should like to have held her; but the glorious purity of her face, kept me afar. Then, out of the winding29 mist, she put her dear arms. Her whisper came to me, soft as the rustle30 of a passing cloud. ‘Dearest!’ she said. That was all; but I had heard, and, in a moment I held her to me — as I prayed — for ever.
“In a little, she spoke31 of many things, and I listened. Willingly, would I have done so through all the ages that are to come. At times, I whispered back, and my whispers brought to her spirit face, once more, an indescribably delicate tint32 — the bloom of love. Later, I spoke more freely, and to each word she listened, and made answer, delightfully33; so that, already, I was in Paradise.
“She and I; and nothing, save the silent, spacious34 void to see us; and only the quiet waters of the Sea of Sleep to hear us.
“Long before, the floating multitude of cloud-enfolded spheres had vanished into nothingness. Thus, we looked upon the face of the slumberous35 deeps, and were alone. Alone, God, I would be thus alone in the hereafter, and yet be never lonely! I had her, and, greater than this, she had me. Aye, aeon-aged me; and on this thought, and some others, I hope to exist through the few remaining years that may yet lie between us.
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dazedly
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| 头昏眼花地，眼花缭乱地，茫然地 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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mistiness
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| n.雾，模糊，不清楚 | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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attuned
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| v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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slumberous
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| a.昏昏欲睡的 | |
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