He gazed on her alone, amidst the books she loved, the studies her genius craved10; he read the deep, pure, shadowless joy it was to feel that gift had done its work, and sent its pure and lucid11 flame amidst the unthinking crowd, and carried blessings12 with it; that its rich music had left its impression on many a thoughtless heart; had shed sweet balm over hours of sad, lonely sickness; had spoken its soft sympathy to the diseased and sorrowing mind, and sent new, brighter, purer joyance to the young, eager, and imaginative soul. It had done these things, and was it marvel13 she rejoiced?
Zephon gazed; but the shadow passed not from his wings, and hastily and silently he turned once more to seek the kindred essence. The whelming woe14 had given place to a strangely complicated mass of cross and twisted strings15, which tightly fettered16 down each glorious gift, each cherished hope, each fond aspiring17, yet gave them space to throb18, and live, and whisper still. The bright undying flame of genius never seemed to burn with mere19 o’er-sweeping power; yet the flashes that it sent but scorched20 the heart that held them. Hope still was there, sending forth21 her lovely blossoms; but to be nipped and blighted22 ’neath the close and icy strings that stretched above them. There were chains upon that spirit, binding23 it to earth, when most it longed to spring on high; and the shell, the lovely shell which held it was dwindling24 ’neath its withering25 spell. The seraph marked the tension of each vein26 and nerve, and pulse, till it seemed as if the very next breath of emotion, however faint, would snap them in twain; the painful effort to restrain the irritation27 of bodily and mental suffering, the agony of remorse28 which the slightest ebullition of impatience29 caused.
He beheld30 her hour by hour, the centre of a noisy group of children, possessing not one attribute to call forth that torrent31 of love and tenderness with which her soul was filled. He marked the starting of each nerve, the hounding of each pulse, at every shout of rude and noisy revelry, the inward fever attending every effort to restrain and instruct. He saw her, when midnight enwrapped the earth, alone for a brief space, in a poor and comfortless room; the bright visions of genius thronging32 tumultuously on mind and brain; incongruous and wild, from there having been so long pent up in darkness and woe. He beheld the effort to give the burning fancies vent33; the utter failing of the mortal frame; the prostration34 of all power, save that which yet would lift up heart and hands in the low cry: “Father, it is thy will; I know not wherefore; yet, oh! yet, if Thou willest it, it is, it must be well!” and he heard unnumbered harps35 bear up that voice of Faith, in melody overpowering in its deep rich tones. He marked the spirits of light and loveliness still hovering36 around, moulding those burning tears into precious gems37, changing each quivering sigh to songs of glory; yet still his sight seemed strangely dim, the shadow passed not from his wings.
“And man, her brother man, hath he no love, no tenderness, no thoughts for sorrow such as hers?” the seraph asked; “knows he not of the precious gifts, the gentle virtues38 that frail40 shell enfolds? Wherefore is she thus lone9?—hath man no answering chord?”
“Man sees not the interior of that heart, as thou dost,” rejoined the Hierarch. “When through disobedience sin entered yon beautiful world, man’s eyes became darkened towards his fellows, and but too often his rebellious41 and perverted42 mind wilfully43 refuses knowledge of his brother, lest sympathy should bid him share the griefs of others. In some envy, foul44 envy, the base passions which first darkened earth with death, wilfully blinds, lest the genius and the virtue39 of the poor should be exalted45 above the rich; in others it is ignorance, contempt, neglect, spring from that rank poison selfishness, or the loathsome47 weed indifference48, which flings a thick veil over others’ woe, and so confines the gaze—it sees no farther than itself. To mortal vision yon gentle being is composed and calm. Man marks but the outward frame; love alone might trace the decline of strength, the failing of bodily power; but there is none near to love. Poverty hath flung those chains upon the heart, confining the ethereal spirit, dragging it down to earth, yet deadening not its power. Poverty, privation, have thrown her amongst those whose grosser, more material natures are incapable49 of appreciating the heavenly rays of genius; of comprehending its effect upon the temperament50 and the frame. They deem her lot a happy one, for they cannot know how much more she needs—what cause she has for sorrow. They would laugh in bitter scorn at those griefs which have their birth in feeling, whose intensity51, whose depth of suffering are to them utterly52 unknown. No! man may not alleviate53 woes54 like hers. In the dark circle her fate is fixed55; earth, mortal fading earth, is all; they have no time for dreams and thoughts of heaven. A spirit like to hers, bearing on its brow a stamp of glory not its own. Alas56! my brother, man will not mark such things. Sin, foul sin, hath dimmed its gaze.”
The seraph folded his beautiful wings around him. There was a strange dim sense of pain upon him, undefined yet sad, as the first clouding of mortal visions unto man, ere sight departs for ever. When he looked forth again, the scene was changed, and it was bright and beautiful, though death was there.
The blessed, the loved, the cherished!—she lay there, calm, yet rejoicing,—though the loved around her wept. Recalled to its native home, ere age or sorrow dimmed the spirit’s glory, joyfully57, willingly, she heard the call, for death had no pang58 for her. She knew she parted from her beloved to meet again, “where never sounds farewell.” She knew she was departing to that blissful bourne, whose glorious light had beamed so softly and beautifully on her earthly course, gilding59 MORTAL happiness with IMMORTAL60 glory; to that goal, where each bright gift would be made perfect, her finite wisdom find completion in infinity61. Still, still the comfort of her voice consoled the hearts that wept around; her lip yet sent forth gentle words to soothe6 and bless when she was gone; the mind, the beautiful mind, yet shone in all its living light—death had no power to dim its lustre62. Brighter and brighter gleamed the departing soul; and thoughts, sweet thoughts, came thronging on that heart, of duties done, of life that sought but good, of universal love, benevolence63, and peace; and blessings of the poor, the needy64, and the sorrowing hovered65 round her as angels robed in light. Joy! joy! oh, still was that gentle spirit wreathed in joy,—the grave had lost its sting, and death was swallowed up in victory!
Irresistibly66 and rapidly the seraph sought the twin-born spirit,—which, at the same hour, was to wing her flight from earth. There were none to weep around her couch of loneliness and pain; but one, a kind and lowly hireling, was near to mark that spirit’s parting pang,—to smooth the pillow, and whisper of repose67. No sign of luxury was there, no gentle hand, with luscious68 fruit or cooling draught69, to tempt46 the fevered lip, the parched70 and tasteless tongue. Dark, close, confined, the chamber71 of the dying—but a few pale flowers, children of field and brook72, alone stood beside her, to whisper ’twas a poet’s dying home. Save that, perchance, the treasured volumes still around, disclosed that the mind was bright, and strong, and lovely still. Her thin hand still clasped a book, her eyes lit up as they gazed upon the page, and for a brief space her cheek shone with a bloom that scarce could seem of death. Zephon looked within the heart and started. Hope gleamed up amidst its crushed and broken chords; hope, aye, and one bright flash of joy, darting73 forth as a sunbeam midst the shrouding74 mass of clouds, and momentary75, coeval76 with that joy, the wish, fond wish to live.
“Start not, my brother!” the thrilling accents of the angel once more spake. “She gazes on her own fond dreams, her own pure visions; she clasps their record in the volume that she holds. Acknowledged, sought, appreciated; her genius hast burst through the veil of obscurity and woe, and fame, undying fame, hath wreathed his laurels77 to adorn78 the dead. Man will weep upon her grave, will wreath her name with glory, will reverence79 too late the genius that hath gone, and therefore would she live. It is the last struggle, the last pang,—the spirit is too pure, too free, to fold too long the chain which earth holds forth, even though its links are joy. Behold80!”
The seraph looked once more. There had been a struggle—a brief and anguished81 pang; joy and hope lay crushed for ever, beneath the sickening consciousness; ’twas all too late, and she must die! There came one murmuring doubt, one painful question—wherefore she was thus called away, when earth gave promise of such sweet reviving flowers? And darkness spread forth her pall82, and shrouded83 up that heart, but speedily it passed; a soft and mellowed84 light gleamed up; the blackened shade rolled up and fled; the ruin and its chains were gone, and PEACE, and FAITH, and JOY twined hand in hand together.
点击收听单词发音
1 seraph | |
n.六翼天使 | |
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2 bliss | |
n.狂喜,福佑,天赐的福 | |
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3 subsided | |
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的过去式和过去分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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4 maturity | |
n.成熟;完成;(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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5 soothed | |
v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 );抚慰;使舒服;减轻痛苦 | |
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6 soothe | |
v.安慰;使平静;使减轻;缓和;奉承 | |
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7 shrines | |
圣地,圣坛,神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 ) | |
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8 zest | |
n.乐趣;滋味,风味;兴趣 | |
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9 lone | |
adj.孤寂的,单独的;唯一的 | |
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10 craved | |
渴望,热望( crave的过去式 ); 恳求,请求 | |
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11 lucid | |
adj.明白易懂的,清晰的,头脑清楚的 | |
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12 blessings | |
n.(上帝的)祝福( blessing的名词复数 );好事;福分;因祸得福 | |
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13 marvel | |
vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异;n.令人惊异的事 | |
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14 woe | |
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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15 strings | |
n.弦 | |
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16 fettered | |
v.给…上脚镣,束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17 aspiring | |
adj.有志气的;有抱负的;高耸的v.渴望;追求 | |
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18 throb | |
v.震颤,颤动;(急速强烈地)跳动,搏动 | |
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19 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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20 scorched | |
烧焦,烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 ); 使(植物)枯萎,把…晒枯; 高速行驶; 枯焦 | |
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21 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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22 blighted | |
adj.枯萎的,摧毁的 | |
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23 binding | |
有约束力的,有效的,应遵守的 | |
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24 dwindling | |
adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 ) | |
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25 withering | |
使人畏缩的,使人害羞的,使人难堪的 | |
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26 vein | |
n.血管,静脉;叶脉,纹理;情绪;vt.使成脉络 | |
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27 irritation | |
n.激怒,恼怒,生气 | |
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28 remorse | |
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责 | |
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29 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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30 beheld | |
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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31 torrent | |
n.激流,洪流;爆发,(话语等的)连发 | |
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32 thronging | |
v.成群,挤满( throng的现在分词 ) | |
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33 vent | |
n.通风口,排放口;开衩;vt.表达,发泄 | |
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34 prostration | |
n. 平伏, 跪倒, 疲劳 | |
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35 harps | |
abbr.harpsichord 拨弦古钢琴n.竖琴( harp的名词复数 ) | |
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36 hovering | |
鸟( hover的现在分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫 | |
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37 gems | |
growth; economy; management; and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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38 virtues | |
美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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39 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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40 frail | |
adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 | |
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41 rebellious | |
adj.造反的,反抗的,难控制的 | |
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42 perverted | |
adj.不正当的v.滥用( pervert的过去式和过去分词 );腐蚀;败坏;使堕落 | |
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43 wilfully | |
adv.任性固执地;蓄意地 | |
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44 foul | |
adj.污秽的;邪恶的;v.弄脏;妨害;犯规;n.犯规 | |
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45 exalted | |
adj.(地位等)高的,崇高的;尊贵的,高尚的 | |
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46 tempt | |
vt.引诱,勾引,吸引,引起…的兴趣 | |
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47 loathsome | |
adj.讨厌的,令人厌恶的 | |
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48 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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49 incapable | |
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的 | |
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50 temperament | |
n.气质,性格,性情 | |
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51 intensity | |
n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度 | |
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52 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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53 alleviate | |
v.减轻,缓和,缓解(痛苦等) | |
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54 woes | |
困境( woe的名词复数 ); 悲伤; 我好苦哇; 某人就要倒霉 | |
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55 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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56 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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57 joyfully | |
adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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58 pang | |
n.剧痛,悲痛,苦闷 | |
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59 gilding | |
n.贴金箔,镀金 | |
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60 immortal | |
adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的 | |
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61 infinity | |
n.无限,无穷,大量 | |
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62 lustre | |
n.光亮,光泽;荣誉 | |
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63 benevolence | |
n.慈悲,捐助 | |
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64 needy | |
adj.贫穷的,贫困的,生活艰苦的 | |
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65 hovered | |
鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫 | |
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66 irresistibly | |
adv.无法抵抗地,不能自持地;极为诱惑人地 | |
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67 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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68 luscious | |
adj.美味的;芬芳的;肉感的,引与性欲的 | |
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69 draught | |
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 | |
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70 parched | |
adj.焦干的;极渴的;v.(使)焦干 | |
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71 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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72 brook | |
n.小河,溪;v.忍受,容让 | |
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73 darting | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的现在分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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74 shrouding | |
n.覆盖v.隐瞒( shroud的现在分词 );保密 | |
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75 momentary | |
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的 | |
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76 coeval | |
adj.同时代的;n.同时代的人或事物 | |
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77 laurels | |
n.桂冠,荣誉 | |
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78 adorn | |
vt.使美化,装饰 | |
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79 reverence | |
n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬 | |
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80 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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81 anguished | |
adj.极其痛苦的v.使极度痛苦(anguish的过去式) | |
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82 pall | |
v.覆盖,使平淡无味;n.柩衣,棺罩;棺材;帷幕 | |
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83 shrouded | |
v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 );保密 | |
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84 mellowed | |
(使)成熟( mellow的过去式和过去分词 ); 使色彩更加柔和,使酒更加醇香 | |
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