They had been a week on the road and now were nearing the borders of Flanders. The company of the other had become precious to each; though Theirry was grave and undemonstrative, Dirk, changeable, and quick of temper; today, however, the silence of mutual1 discontent was upon them.
Open disagreement had happened once before, at the beginning of their enterprise, when the young sculptor2 resolutely3 refused, foolishly it seemed to Theirry, to sell his house and furniture, or even to deliver at the church of St. Bavon the figures of St. Michael and the Devil, though the piece was finished.
Instead, he had turned the key on his possessions, leaving them the prey4 of dust, spiders and rats, and often Theirry would think uneasily of the shut-up house in the deserted5 square, and how the merciless sunlight must be streaming over the empty workroom and the daisies growing upon the grave of Balthasar’s wife.
Nevertheless, he was in thrall6 to the attraction of Dirk Renswoude; never in his life had he been so at ease with any one, never before felt his aims and ambitions understood and shared by another.
He knew nothing of his companion’s history nor did he care to question it; he fancied that Dirk was of noble birth; it seemed in his blood to live gently and softly; at the hostel7 where they rested, it was he who always insisted upon the best of accommodation, a chamber8 to himself, fine food and humble9 service.
This nicety of his it was that caused the coolness between them now.
At the little town they had just left a fair was in holding, and the few inns were full; lodging10 had been offered them in a barn with some merchants’ clerks, and this Theirry would have accepted gladly, but Dirk had refused peremptorily11, to the accompaniment of much jeering12 from those who found this daintiness amusing in a poor traveller on foot.
After an altercation13 between the landlord and Theirry, a haughty14 silence of flashing eyes and red cheeks from Dirk, they had turned away through the gay fair, wound across the town and out on to the high road.
This led up a steep, mountainous incline; they were carrying their possessions in bundles on their backs, and when they reached the top of the hill they turned off from the road on to the meadows that bordered it, and sank on the grass exhausted15.
Theirry, though coldly angry with the whim16 that had brought them here to sleep under the trees, could not but admit it was an exquisite17 place.
The evening sun overspread it all with a soft yet sparkling veil of light; the fields of long grass that spread to right and left were more golden than green; close by was a grove18 of pine-trees, whose tall red trunks shone delicately; above them, piled up rocks starred with white flowers mounted against the pale blue sky, beneath them the hillside sloped to the valley where lay the little town.
The streets of it were built up and down the slopes of the hill, and Theirry could see the white line of them and the irregular shapes and colours of the roofs; the church spire19 sprang from the midst like a spear head, strong and delicate, and here and there pennons fluttered; they could see the Emperor’s flag stirring slowly above the round tourelles of the city gate.
Theirry found the prospect20 very pleasant; he delighted in the long flowering grass that, as he lay stretched out, with his face resting in his hand, brushed against his cheek; in the clear-cut grey rocks and the hardy21 yet frail-looking white flowers growing on the face of them; in the up-springing lines of the pine-trees and the deep green of their heavy foliage22, intensified23 by the fading blue beyond. Then, as his weariness was eased, he glanced over his shoulder at Dirk; not being passionate24 by nature, and controlled by habit, his tempers showed themselves in a mere25 coldness, not sullenness26, the resort of the fretful.
Dirk sat apart, resting his back against the foremost of the pine-trees; he was wrapped in a dark red cloak, his pale profile turned towards the town lying below; the evening air just stirred the heavy, smooth locks on his uncovered head; he was sitting very still.
The cause of the quarrel had ceased to be any matter to Theirry; indeed he could not but admit it preferable to lie here than to herd27 with noisy beer-drinking clerks in a close barn, but recollection of the haughty spirit Dirk had discovered held him estranged28 still.
Yet his companion occupied his thoughts; his wonderful skill in those matters he himself was most desirous of fathoming29, the strange way in which they had met, and the pleasure of having a companion — so different from Balthasar — of a kindred mind, however whimsical his manner.
At this point in his reflections Dirk turned his head.
“You are angry with me,” he said.
Theirry answered calmly.
“You were foolish.”
Dirk frowned and flushed.
“Certes! — a fine comrade!” his voice was vehement31.
“Did you not swear fellowship with me? How do you fulfil that compact by being wrathful the first time our wills clash?”
Theirry turned on his elbow and gazed across the flowering grass.
“I am not wrathful,” he smiled. “And you have had many whims30...none of them have I opposed.”
Dirk answered angrily.
“You make me out a fantastical fellow — it is not true.”
Theirry sat up and gazed at the lazy sunset slowly enveloping34 the distant town and the hills beyond in crimson35 light.
“It is true you are as nice as a girl,” he answered. “Many a time I would have slept by the kitchen hearth36 — ay, and have done, but you must always lie soft as a prince.”
Dirk was scarlet37 from brow to chin.
“Well, if I choose,” he said defiantly38. “If I choose, as long as I have money in my pocket, to live gently...”
“Have I interfered39?” interrupted Theirry. “You are of a lordly birth, belike.”
“Yea, I am of a great family,” flashed Dirk. “Ill did they treat me. No more of them...are you still angry with me?”
He rose; the red cloak slipped from his shoulders to the ground; he stood with his hand on his hip32, looking down at Theirry.
“Come,” he said gravely. “We must not quarrel, my comrade, my one friend...when shall we find another with such aims as ours...we are bound to each other, are we not? Certes! you swore it.”
Theirry lifted his beautiful face.
“I do like you greatly,” he answered. “And in no wise blame you because you are weakly and used to luxury. Others have found me over gentle.”
Dirk looked at him out of the corners of his eyes.
“Then I am pardoned?”
Theirry smiled.
“Nay, I do regret my evil humour. The sun was fierce and the bundles heavy to drag up the hill.”
Dirk sank down upon the grass beside him. “Truly I am wearied to death!”
Theirry considered him; panting a little, Dirk stretched himself his full length on the blowing grass. The young scholar, used and indifferent to his own great beauty, was deadened to the effect of it in others, and to any eye Dirk could be no more than well-looking; but Theirry was conscious of the charm of his slender make, his feet and hands of feminine delicacy40, his fair, full throat, and pale, curved mouth, even the prominent jaw41 and square chin that marred42 the symmetry of the face were potent43 to attract in their suggestion of strength and the power to command.
His near presence, too, was fragrant44; he breathed a faint atmosphere of essences and was exquisite in his clothes.
As Theirry studied him, he spoke45.
“My heart! it is sweet here — oh, sweet!”
Faint airs wafted46 from the pine, and the wild flowers hidden in the woods below them stole through the grass; a glowing purple haze47 began to obscure the valley, and where it melted into the sky the first stars shone, pale as the moon. Overhead the dome48 of heaven was still blue, and in the tops of the pines was a continuous whispering of the perfumed boughs49 one to another. “Now wish yourself back in the town among their drinking and swearing,” said Dirk. “Nay,” smiled Theirry. “I am content.” The faint purple colour slowly spread over everything; the towers of the town became dark, and little sharp lights twinkled in them.
Dirk drew a great breath.
“What will you do with your life?” he asked.
Theirry started.
“In what manner?”
“Why, if we succeed — in any way — if we obtain great power...what would you do with it?” Theirry felt his brain spin at the question; he gazed across the world that was softly receding50 into darkness and his blood tingled51.
“I would be great,” he whispered. “Like Flaccus Alcuin, like Abelard — like St. Bernard.”
“And I would be greater than any of these — as great as the Master we serve can make his followers52.”
“These I speak of were great, serving God.”
Dirk looked up quickly.
“How know you that? Many of these holy men owe their position to strange means. I, at least, would not be content to live and die in woollens when I could command the means to clothe me in golden silks.”
The beautiful darkness now encompassed55 them; below them the lights of the town, above them the stars, and here, in the meadow land, the night breeze in the long grass and in the deep boughs of pine.
“I am but a neophyte,” said Theirry after a pause. “Very little have I practised of these things. I had a book of necromancy56 and learnt a little there...but...”
“Why do you pause?” demanded Dirk.
“One may not do these things,” answered Theirry slowly, “without — great blasphemy57 —” Dirk laughed.
“I care nothing for all the angels and all the saints...”
“Ah, peace!” cried Theirry, and he put his hand to his brow growing damp with terror.
The other was silent a while, but Theirry could hear his quick breathing rising from the grass. At length he spoke in a quiet voice.
“I desire vast wealth, huge power. I would see nations at my footstool...ah!...but I have a boundless58 ambition...” He sat up, suddenly and softly, and laid his hand on Theirr’s arm. “If they...the evil ones...offered you that, would you not take it?”
Theirry shuddered.
“You would! you would!” cried Dirk. “And pay your soul for it — gladly.”
The scholar made no answer, but reclined motionless, gazing over the human lights in the valley to the stars beyond them; Dirk continued —
“See what a liking59 I have for you that I tell you this — that I give you the secret of my power to come...”
“’Tis my secret also,” answered Theirry hastily. “I have done enough to bring the everlasting60 wrath33 of the Church upon me.”
“The Church,” repeated Dirk musingly61; he was of a daring that knew not the word fear, and at this moment his thoughts put into words would have made his companion shudder54 indeed.
Gradually, by ones and twos, the lights in the town were extinguished and the valley was in darkness.
Theirry folded up his cloak as a pillow for his head and lay down in the scented62 grass; as he fell into a half sleep the great sweetness of the place was present to his mind, torturing him.
He knew by the pictures he had seen that Paradise was like this, remote and infinitely63 peaceful. Meadows and valleys spreading beneath a tranquil64 sky...he knew it was desirable and that he longed for it, yet he must meddle65 with matters that repelled66 him, even as they drew him, with their horror.
He fell into heavy dreams, moaning in his sleep.
Dirk rose from beside him and walked up and down in the dark; the dew was falling, his head uncovered; he stooped, felt for his mantle67, found it and wrapped it about him, pacing to and fro with calm eyes defying the dark.
Then finally he lay down under the pines and slept, to awake suddenly and find himself in a sitting posture68.
The dawn was breaking, the landscape lay in mists of purple under a green sky, pellucid69 and pale as water; the pines shot up against it black, clear cut, and whispering still in their upper branches.
Dirk rose and tiptoed across the wet grass to Theirry, looking at him asleep for the second time.
The scholar lay motionless, with his head flung hack70 on his violet cloak; Dirk looked down at the beautiful sleeping face with a wild and terrible expression on his own.
Like wine poured into a cup, light began to fill the valley and the hollows in the hills; faint mystic clouds gathered and spread over the horizon. Dirk shudderingly71 drew his mantle closer; Theirry sighed and woke.
Dirk gave him a distracted glance and turned away so rapidly and softly that Theirry, with the ugly shapes of dreams still riding his brain, cried out —“Is that you, Dirk?” and sprang to his feet. Dirk stayed his steps half-way to the pines. “What is the matter?” he asked in an odd voice. Theirry pushed the hair away from his forehead. “I know not — nothing.”
The air seemed suddenly to become colder; the hills that on all sides bounded their vision rose up stark72 from grey mists; an indescribable tension made itself felt, like a pause in stillness.
Dirk stepped back to Theirry and caught his arm; they stood motionless, in an attitude of expectancy73.
A roll of thunder pealed74 from the brightening sky and faded slowly into silence; they were looking along the hills with straining eyes.
On the furthest peak appeared a gigantic black horseman outlined against the ghostly light; he carried a banner in his hand; it was the colour of blood and the colour of night; for a moment he sat his horse, motionless, facing towards the east; then the low thunder pealed again; he raised the banner, shook it above his head, and galloped75 down the hillside.
Before he reached the valley he had disappeared, and at that instant the sun rose above the horizon and sparkled across the country.
Theirry hid his face in his sleeve and trembled terribly; but Dirk gazed over his bent76 head with undaunted eyes.
收听单词发音 |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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sculptor
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| n.雕刻家，雕刻家 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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thrall
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| n.奴隶；奴隶制 | |
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hostel
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| n.（学生）宿舍，招待所 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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spire
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| n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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sullenness
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| n. 愠怒, 沉闷, 情绪消沉 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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estranged
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| adj.疏远的，分离的 | |
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fathoming
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| 测量 | |
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WHIMS
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| 虚妄，禅病 | |
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vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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enveloping
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的现在分词 ) | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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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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wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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54
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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encompassed
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| v.围绕( encompass的过去式和过去分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
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56
necromancy
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| n.巫术；通灵术 | |
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blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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58
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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59
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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pellucid
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| adj.透明的，简单的 | |
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hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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71
shudderingly
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stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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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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74
pealed
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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