按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
white on the horizon； like some classic virgin assisting at an Olympian solemnity。
On the stage； partly cleared of the debris of fifteen hundred years； trees had been left where they had grown； among fallen columns； fragments of capital and statue； near the front a superb rose…laurel recalled the Attic shores。 To the right； wild grasses and herbs alternated with thick shrubbery； among which Orestes hid later； during the lamentations of his sister。 To the left a gigantic fig…tree； growing again the dark wall； threw its branches far out over the stage。
It was from behind its foliage that 〃Gaul；〃 〃Provence；〃 and 〃France；〃 personated by three actresses of the 〃Francais；〃 advanced to salute Apollo； seated on his rustic throne； in the prologue which began the performance。
Since midday the weather had been threatening。 At seven o'clock there was almost a shower … a moment of terrible anxiety。 What a misfortune if it should rain； just as the actors were to appear； here； where it had not rained for nearly four months！ My right…hand neighbor； a citizen of Beaucaire； assures me； 〃It will be nothing； only a strong ‘mistral' for to…morrow。〃 An electrician is putting the finishing touches to his arrangements。 He tries vainly to concentrate some light on the box where the committee is to sit； which is screened by a bit of crumbling wall； but finally gives it up。
Suddenly the bugles sound； the orchestra rings out the Marseillaise； it is eight o'clock。 The sky is wild and threatening。 An unseen hand strikes the three traditional blows。 The Faun Lybrian slips down from a branch of a great elm； and throws himself on the steps that later are to represent the entrance to the palace of Agamemnon； and commences the prologue （an invocation to Apollo）； in the midst of such confusion that we hear hardly a word。 Little by little； however； the crowd quiets down； and I catch Louis Gallet's fine lines； marvellously phrased by Mesdames Bartet； Dudlay； Moreno； and the handsome Fenoux as Apollo。
The real interest of the public is only aroused； however； when THE ERYNNIES begins。 This powerful adaptation from the tragedy of AEschylus is THE CHEF D'OEUVRE of Leconte de Lisle。 The silence is now complete。 One feels in the air that the moment so long and so anxiously awaited has come； that a great event is about to take place。 Every eye is fixed on the stage； waiting to see what will appear from behind the dark arches of the proscenium。 A faint； plaintive strain of music floats out on the silence。 Demons crawl among the leafy shadows。 Not a light is visible； yet the centre of the stage is in strong relief； shading off into a thousand fantastic shadows。 The audience sits in complete darkness。 Then we see the people of Argos； winding toward us from among the trees； lamenting； as they have done each day for ten years； the long absence of their sons and their king。 The old men no longer dare to consult the oracles； fearing to learn that all is lost。 The beauty of this lament roused the first murmur of applause； each word； each syllable； chiming out across that vast semicircle with a clearness and an effect impossible to describe。
Now it is the sentinel； who from his watch…tower has caught the first glimpse of the returning army。 We hear him dashing like a torrent down the turret stair； at the doorway； his garments blown by the wind； his body bending forward in a splendid pose of joy and exultation； he announces in a voice of thunder the arrival of the king。
So completely are the twenty thousand spectators under the spell of the drama that at this news one can feel a thrill pass over the throng； whom the splendid verses hold palpitating under their charm； awaiting only the end of the tirade to break into applause。
From that moment the performance is one long triumph。 Clytemnestra （Madame Lerou） comes with her suite to receive the king （Mounet…Sully）； the conqueror！ I never realized before all the perfection that training can give the speaking voice。 Each syllable seemed to ring out with a bell…like clearness。 As she gradually rose in the last act to the scene with Orestes； I understood the use of the great wall behind the actors。 It increased the power of the voices and lent them a sonority difficult to believe。 The effect was overwhelming when； unable to escape death； Clytemnestra cries out her horrible imprecations。
Mounet…Sully surpassed himself。 Paul Mounet gave us the complete illusion of a monster thirsting for blood； even his mother's！ When striking her as she struck his father； he answers her despairing query； 〃Thou wouldst not slay thy mother？〃 〃Woman； thou hast ceased to be a mother！〃 Dudlay （as Cassandra） reaches a splendid climax when she prophesies the misfortune hanging over her family； which she is powerless to avert。
It is impossible in feeble prose to give any idea of the impression those lines produce in the stupendous theatre； packed to its utmost limits … the wild night； with a storm in the air； a stage which seems like a clearing in some forest inhabited by Titans； the terrible tragedy of AEschylus following the graceful fete of Apollo。
After the unavoidable confusion at the beginning； the vast audience listen in profound silence to an expression of pure art。 They are no longer actors we hear； but demi…gods。 With voices of the storm； possessed by some divine afflatus； thundering out verses of fire … carried out of themselves in a whirlwind of passion； like antique prophets and Sibyls foretelling the misfortunes of the world！
That night will remain immutably fixed in my memory； if I live to be as old as the theatre itself。 We were so moved； my companion and I； and had seen the crowd so moved； that fearing to efface the impression if we returned the second night to see ANTIGONE； we came quietly away； pondering over it all； and realizing once again that a thing of beauty is a source of eternal delight。
Chapter 26 … Pre…palatial Newport
THE historic Ocean House of Newport is a ruin。 Flames have laid low the unsightly structure that was at one time the best…known hotel in America。 Its fifty…odd years of existence； as well as its day； are over。 Having served a purpose； it has departed； together with the generation and habits of life that produced it； into the limbo where old houses； old customs； and superannuated ideas survive； … the memory of the few who like to recall other days and wander from time to time in a reconstructed past。
There was a certain appropriateness in the manner of its taking off。 The proud old structure had doubtless heard projects of rebuilding discussed by its owners （who for some years had been threatening to tear it down）； wounded doubtless by unflattering truths； the hotel decided that if its days were numbered； an exit worthy of a leading role was at least possible。 〃Pull me down； indeed！ That is all very well for ordinary hostleries； but from an establishment of my pretensions； that has received the aristocracy of the country； and countless foreign swells； something more is expected！〃
So it turned the matter over and debated within its shaky old brain （Mrs。 Skewton fashion） what would be the most becoming and effective way of retiring from the social whirl。 Balls have been overdone； people are no longer tempted by receptions； a banquet was out of the question。 Suddenly the wily building hit on an idea。 〃I'll give them a FEU D'ARTIFICE。 There hasn't been a first…class fire here since I burned myself down fifty…three years ago！ That kind of entertainment hasn't been run into the ground like everything else in these degenerate days！ I'll do it in the best and most complete way； and give Newport something to talk about； whenever my name shall be mentioned in the future！〃
Daudet； in his L'IMMORTEL； shows us how some people are born lucky。 His 〃Loisel of the Institute；〃 although an insignificant and commonplace man； succeeded all through life in keeping himself before the public； and getting talked about as a celebrity。 He even arranged （to the disgust and envy of his rivals） to die during a week when no event of importance was occupying public attention。 In consequence； reporters； being short of 〃copy；〃 owing to a dearth of murders and 〃first nights；〃 seized on this demise and made his funeral an event。
The truth is； the Ocean House had lived so long in an atmosphere of ostentatious worldliness that； like many residents of the summer city； it had come to take itself and its 〃position〃 seriously； and imagine that the eyes of the country were fixed upon and expected something of it。
The air of Newport has always proved fatal to big hotels。 One after another they have appeared and failed； the Ocean House alone dragging out a forlorn existence。 As the flames worked their will and the careless crowd enjoyed the spectacle； one could not help feeling a vague regret for the old place； more for what it represented than for any intrinsic value of its own。 Without greatly stretching a point it might be taken to represent a social condition； a phase； as it were； in our development。 In a certain o