“You wronged at the same time the stupid creatures themselves. For them slavery would have been progress. To them a few such lessons as you could have given them with a stick from one of their own trees, would have been invaluable2.”
“I did not know they were cowards!”
“What difference does that make? The man who grounds his action on another’s cowardice3, is essentially4 a coward himself.—I fear worse will come of it! By this time the Little Ones might have been able to protect themselves from the princess, not to say the giants—they were always fit enough for that; as it was they laughed at them! but now, through your relations with her,——”
“I hate her!” I cried.
“Did you let her know you hated her?”
Again I was silent.
“No living creature did I see!—except a disreputable-looking cat that bolted into the shrubbery.”
“It was a magnificent Persian—so wet and draggled, though, as to look what she was—worse than disreputable!”
“What do you mean, Mr. Raven?” I cried, a fresh horror taking me by the throat. “—There was a beautiful blue Persian about the house, but she fled at the very sound of water!—Could she have been after the goldfish?”
“We shall see!” returned the librarian. “I know a little about cats of several sorts, and there is that in the room which will unmask this one, or I am mistaken in her.”
He rose, went to the door of the closet, brought from it the mutilated volume, and sat down again beside me. I stared at the book in his hand: it was a whole book, entire and sound!
“Sticking through into my library,” he answered.
I held my peace. A single question more would have been a plunge8 into a bottomless sea, and there might be no time!
“Listen,” he said: “I am going to read a stanza9 or two. There is one present who, I imagine, will hardly enjoy the reading!”
He opened the vellum cover, and turned a leaf or two. The parchment was discoloured with age, and one leaf showed a dark stain over two-thirds of it. He slowly turned this also, and seemed looking for a certain passage in what appeared a continuous poem. Somewhere about the middle of the book he began to read.
But what follows represents—not what he read, only the impression it made upon me. The poem seemed in a language I had never before heard, which yet I understood perfectly10, although I could not write the words, or give their meaning save in poor approximation. These fragments, then, are the shapes which those he read have finally taken in passing again through my brain:—
“But if I found a man that could believe
In what he saw not, felt not, and yet knew,
From him I should take substance, and receive
Firmness and form relate to touch and view;
He turned a leaf and read again:—
“In me was every woman. I had power
Over the soul of every living man,
Such as no woman ever had in dower—
Could what no woman ever could, or can;
All women, I, the woman, still outran,
“For I, though me he neither saw nor heard,
Nor with his hand could touch finger of mine,
Although not once my breath had ever stirred
With rooted bonds which Death could not untwine—
Again he paused, again turned a leaf, and again began:—
“For by his side I lay, a bodiless thing;
I breathed not, saw not, felt not, only thought,
And made him love me—with a hungering
After he knew not what—if it was aught
By him out of himself; for I did sing
“A song that had no sound into his soul;
I lay a heartless thing against his heart,
Giving him nothing where he gave his whole
Being to clothe me human, every part:
Thus first into his living mind I stole.
“Ah, who was ever conquering Love but I!
Who else did ever throne in heart of man!
To visible being, with a gladsome cry
A strange, repulsive20 feline21 wail22 arose somewhere in the room. I started up on my elbow and stared about me, but could see nothing.
Mr. Raven turned several leaves, and went on:—
“Sudden I woke, nor knew the ghastly fear
That held me—not like serpent coiled about,
Filling heart, soul, and breast and brain throughout;
My being lay motionless in sickening doubt,
Nor dared to ask how came the horror here.
“My past entire I knew, but not my now;
I understood nor what I was, nor where;
I knew what I had been: still on my brow
I felt the touch of what no more was there!
I was a fainting, dead, yet live Despair;
“That I was a queen I knew right well,
And sometimes wore a splendour on my head
Whose flashing even dead darkness could not quell—
The like on neck and arms and girdle-stead;
And men declared a light my closed eyes shed
That killed the diamond in its silver cell.”
Again I heard the ugly cry of feline pain. Again I looked, but saw neither shape nor motion. Mr. Raven seemed to listen a moment, but again turned several pages, and resumed:—
No eyes had seen, and such no waist had worn!
“Nay, I had given my opals for a smock,
A peasant-maiden’s garment, coarse and clean:
Lustily crow upon the hillock green
Came back an answer like a ghostly mock.”
“I thought some foul28 thing was in the room!” said the librarian, casting a glance around him; but instantly he turned a leaf or two, and again read:—
“For I had bathed in milk and honey-dew,
In rain from roses shook, that ne’er touched earth,
Never one hair superfluous40 on me grew.
“Fleeing cold whiteness, I would sit alone—
Not in the sun—I feared his bronzing light,
But in his radiance back around me thrown
By fulgent mirrors tempering his might;
Thus bathing in a moon-bath not too bright,
“But now, all round was dark, dark all within!
My eyes not even gave out a phantom-flash;
Of slimy horrors——”
With a fearsome yell, her clammy fur staring in clumps45, her tail thick as a cable, her eyes flashing green as a chrysoprase, her distended46 claws entangling47 themselves so that she floundered across the carpet, a huge white cat rushed from somewhere, and made for the chimney. Quick as thought the librarian threw the manuscript between her and the hearth48. She crouched49 instantly, her eyes fixed50 on the book. But his voice went on as if still he read, and his eyes seemed also fixed on the book:—
“Ah, the two worlds! so strangely are they one,
And yet so measurelessly wide apart!
Oh, had I lived the bodiless alone
Then had I scaped the canker and the smart,
Scaped life-in-death, scaped misery’s endless moan!”
At these words such a howling, such a prolonged yell of agony burst from the cat, that we both stopped our ears. When it ceased, Mr. Raven walked to the fire-place, took up the book, and, standing52 between the creature and the chimney, pointed53 his finger at her for a moment. She lay perfectly still. He took a half-burnt stick from the hearth, drew with it some sign on the floor, put the manuscript back in its place, with a look that seemed to say, “Now we have her, I think!” and, returning to the cat, stood over her and said, in a still, solemn voice:—
“Lilith, when you came here on the way to your evil will, you little thought into whose hands you were delivering yourself!—Mr. Vane, when God created me,—not out of Nothing, as say the unwise, but out of His own endless glory—He brought me an angelic splendour to be my wife: there she lies! For her first thought was POWER; she counted it slavery to be one with me, and bear children for Him who gave her being. One child, indeed, she bore; then, puffed54 with the fancy that she had created her, would have me fall down and worship her! Finding, however, that I would but love and honour, never obey and worship her, she poured out her blood to escape me, fled to the army of the aliens, and soon had so ensnared the heart of the great Shadow, that he became her slave, wrought her will, and made her queen of Hell. How it is with her now, she best knows, but I know also. The one child of her body she fears and hates, and would kill, asserting a right, which is a lie, over what God sent through her into His new world. Of creating, she knows no more than the crystal that takes its allotted55 shape, or the worm that makes two worms when it is cloven asunder56. Vilest57 of God’s creatures, she lives by the blood and lives and souls of men. She consumes and slays58, but is powerless to destroy as to create.”
The animal lay motionless, its beryl eyes fixed flaming on the man: his eyes on hers held them fixed that they could not move from his.
“Then God gave me another wife—not an angel but a woman—who is to this as light is to darkness.”
The cat gave a horrible screech59, and began to grow bigger. She went on growing and growing. At last the spotted leopardess uttered a roar that made the house tremble. I sprang to my feet. I do not think Mr. Raven started even with his eyelids61.
“It is but her jealousy62 that speaks,” he said, “jealousy self-kindled, foiled and fruitless; for here I am, her master now whom she, would not have for her husband! while my beautiful Eve yet lives, hoping immortally64! Her hated daughter lives also, but beyond her evil ken6, one day to be what she counts her destruction—for even Lilith shall be saved by her childbearing. Meanwhile she exults65 that my human wife plunged66 herself and me in despair, and has borne me a countless67 race of miserables; but my Eve repented69, and is now beautiful as never was woman or angel, while her groaning70, travailing world is the nursery of our Father’s children. I too have repented, and am blessed.—Thou, Lilith, hast not yet repented; but thou must.—Tell me, is the great Shadow beautiful? Knowest thou how long thou wilt71 thyself remain beautiful?—Answer me, if thou knowest.”
Then at last I understood that Mr. Raven was indeed Adam, the old and the new man; and that his wife, ministering in the house of the dead, was Eve, the mother of us all, the lady of the New Jerusalem.
The leopardess reared; the flickering72 and fleeing of her spots began; the princess at length stood radiant in her perfect shape.
“As a bush that burns, and is consumed,” answered he who had been her husband. “—What is that under thy right hand?”
“It is but a leopard60-spot that lingers! it will quickly follow those I have dismissed,” she answered.
“Thou art beautiful because God created thee, but thou art the slave of sin: take thy hand from thy side.”
Her hand sank away, and as it dropt she looked him in the eyes with a quailing75 fierceness that had in it no surrender.
He gazed a moment at the spot.
“It is not on the leopard; it is in the woman!” he said. “Nor will it leave thee until it hath eaten to thy heart, and thy beauty hath flowed from thee through the open wound!”
She gave a glance downward, and shivered.
“Lilith,” said Adam, and his tone had changed to a tender beseeching76, “hear me, and repent68, and He who made thee will cleanse78 thee!”
Her hand returned quivering to her side. Her face grew dark. She gave the cry of one from whom hope is vanishing. The cry passed into a howl. She lay writhing79 on the floor, a leopardess covered with spots.
“The evil thou meditatest,” Adam resumed, “thou shalt never compass, Lilith, for Good and not Evil is the Universe. The battle between them may last for countless ages, but it must end: how will it fare with thee when Time hath vanished in the dawn of the eternal morn? Repent, I beseech77 thee; repent, and be again an angel of God!”
She rose, she stood upright, a woman once more, and said,
“I will not repent. I will drink the blood of thy child.” My eyes were fastened on the princess; but when Adam spoke80, I turned to him: he stood towering above her; the form of his visage was altered, and his voice was terrible.
“Down!” he cried; “or by the power given me I will melt thy very bones.”
She flung herself on the floor, dwindled81 and dwindled, and was again a gray cat. Adam caught her up by the skin of her neck, bore her to the closet, and threw her in. He described a strange figure on the threshold, and closing the door, locked it.
Then he returned to my side the old librarian, looking sad and worn, and furtively82 wiping tears from his eyes.
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收听单词发音
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1
raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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2
invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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3
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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5
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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6
ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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7
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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8
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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9
stanza
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| n.（诗）节，段 | |
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10
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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11
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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12
cleave
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| v．(clave；cleaved)粘着，粘住；坚持；依恋 | |
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13
bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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14
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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15
deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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16
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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17
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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18
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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19
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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20
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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21
feline
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| adj.猫科的 | |
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22
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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23
corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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24
flouted
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| v.藐视，轻视( flout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
mow
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| v.割（草、麦等），扫射，皱眉；n.草堆，谷物堆 | |
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26
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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27
fouled
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| v.使污秽( foul的过去式和过去分词 )；弄脏；击球出界；（通常用废物）弄脏 | |
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28
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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29
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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30
draught
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| 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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31
sapphires
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| n.蓝宝石，钢玉宝石( sapphire的名词复数 )；蔚蓝色 | |
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32
shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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33
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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34
bestial
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| adj.残忍的；野蛮的 | |
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35
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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36
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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37
mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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38
fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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39
dearth
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| n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨 | |
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40
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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41
tinted
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| adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词 | |
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42
pulp
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| n.果肉，纸浆；v.化成纸浆，除去...果肉，制成纸浆 | |
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43
pulpy
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| 果肉状的，多汁的，柔软的； 烂糊； 稀烂 | |
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44
mash
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| n.麦芽浆，糊状物，土豆泥；v.把…捣成糊状，挑逗，调情 | |
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45
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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46
distended
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| v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
entangling
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| v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的现在分词 ) | |
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48
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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49
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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51
defiling
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| v.玷污( defile的现在分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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52
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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53
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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54
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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55
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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57
vilest
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| adj.卑鄙的( vile的最高级 )；可耻的；极坏的；非常讨厌的 | |
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58
slays
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的第三人称单数 ) | |
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59
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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60
leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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61
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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62
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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63
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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64
immortally
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| 不朽地，永世地，无限地 | |
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65
exults
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| 狂喜，欢跃( exult的第三人称单数 ) | |
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66
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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67
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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68
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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69
repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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71
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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72
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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73
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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74
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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75
quailing
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| 害怕，发抖，畏缩( quail的现在分词 ) | |
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76
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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77
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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78
cleanse
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| vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗 | |
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79
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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80
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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81
dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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