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！
soul had beaten against the thing forbidden！
〃But it is impossible for one man to tell another just these
things。 It's emotion； it's a tint； a light that comes and goes。
Only while it's there； everything changes； everything。 The thing
is I came away and left them in their Crisis to do what they
could。〃
〃Left whom？〃 I asked； puzzled。
〃The people up in the north there。 You seein this dream；
anyhowI had been a big man； the sort of man men come to trust in；
to group themselves about。 Millions of men who had never seen me
were ready to do things and risk things because of their confidence
in me。 I had been playing that game for years； that big laborious
game； that vague； monstrous political game amidst intrigues and
betrayals； speech and agitation。 It was a vast weltering world；
and at last I had a sort of leadership against the Gangyou know
it was called the Ganga sort of compromise of scoundrelly
projects and base ambitions and vast public emotional stupidities
and catch…wordsthe Gang that kept the world noisy and blind year
by year； and all the while that it was drifting； drifting towards
infinite disaster。 But I can't expect you to understand the shades
and complications of the yearthe year something or other ahead。
I had it alldown to the smallest detailsin my dream。 I suppose
I had been dreaming of it before I awoke； and the fading outline of
some queer new development I had imagined still hung about me as I
rubbed my eyes。 It was some grubby affair that made me thank God
for the sunlight。 I sat up on the couch and remained looking at
the woman and rejoicingrejoicing that I had come away out of all
that tumult and folly and violence before it was too late。 After
all； I thought； this is lifelove and beauty； desire and delight；
are they not worth all those dismal struggles for vague； gigantic
ends？ And I blamed myself for having ever sought to be a leader
when I might have given my days to love。 But then； thought I； if
I had not spent my early days sternly and austerely； I might have
wasted myself upon vain and worthless women； and at the thought all
my being went out in love and tenderness to my dear mistress； my
dear lady； who had come at last and compelled mecompelled me by
her invincible charm for meto lay that life aside。
〃'You are worth it；' I said； speaking without intending her to
hear； 'you are worth it； my dearest one； worth pride and praise and
all things。 Love！ to have you is worth them all together。〃 And at
the murmur of my voice she turned about。
〃'Come and see；' she criedI can hear her now'come and see
the sunrise upon Monte Solaro。'
〃I remember how I sprang to my feet and joined her at the
balcony。 She put a white hand upon my shoulder and pointed towards
great masses of limestone； flushing； as it were； into life。 I
looked。 But first I noted the sunlight on her face caressing the
lines of her cheeks and neck。 How can I describe to you the scene
we had before us？ We were at Capri〃
〃I have been there；〃 I said。 〃I have clambered up Monte
Solaro and drunk vero Caprimuddy stuff like ciderat the
summit。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the man with the white face； 〃then perhaps you can
tell meyou will know if this is indeed Capri。 For in this life
I have never been there。 Let me describe it。 We were in a little
room； one of a vast multitude of little rooms； very cool and sunny；
hollowed out of the limestone of a sort of cape； very high above
the sea。 The whole island； you know； was one enormous hotel；
complex beyond explaining； and on the other side there were miles
of floating hotels； and huge floating stages to which the flying
machines came。 They called it a pleasure city。 Of course； there
was none of that in your timerather； I should say； is none of
that now。 Of course。 Now！yes。
〃Well； this room of ours was at the extremity of the cape； so
that one could see east and west。 Eastward was a great cliffa
thousand feet high perhapscoldly gray except for one bright edge
of gold； and beyond it the Isle of the Sirens； and a falling coast
that faded and passed into the hot sunrise。 And when one turned to
the west； distinct and near was a little bay； a little beach still
in shadow。 And out of that shadow rose Solaro straight and tall；
flushed and golden crested； like a beauty throned； and the white
moon was floating behind her in the sky。 And before us from east
to west stretched the many…tinted sea all dotted with little
sailing boats。
〃To the eastward； of course； these little boats were gray and
very minute and clear； but to the westward they were little boats
of goldshining goldalmost like little flames。 And just below
us was a rock with an arch worn through it。 The blue sea…water
broke to green and foam all round the rock； and a galley came
gliding out of the arch。〃
〃I know that rock。〃 I said。 〃I was nearly drowned there。 It
is called the Faraglioni。〃
〃I Faraglioni？ Yes； she called it that；〃 answered the man
with the white face。 〃There was some storybut that〃
He put his hand to his forehead again。 〃 No；〃 he said； 〃I
forget that story。〃
〃Well； that is the first thing I remember； the first dream I
had； that little shaded room and the beautiful air and sky and that
dear lady of mine； with her shining arms and her graceful robe； and
how we sat and talked in half whispers to one another。 We talked
in whispers not because there was any one to hear； but because
there was still such a freshness of mind between us that our
thoughts were a little frightened； I think； to find themselves at
last in words。 And so they went softly。
〃Presently we were hungry and we went from our apartment；
going by a strange passage with a moving floor； until we came to
the great breakfast roomthere was a fountain and music。 A
pleasant and joyful place it was； with its sunlight and splashing；
and the murmur of plucked strings。 And we sat and ate and smiled
at one another； and I would not heed a man who was watching me from
a table near by。
〃And afterwards we went on to the dancing…hall。 But I cannot
describe that hall。 The place was enormouslarger than any
building you have ever seenand in one place there was the old
gate of Capri； caught into the wall of a gallery high overhead。
Light girders； stems and threads of gold； burst from the pillars
like fountains； streamed like an Aurora across the roof and
interlaced； likelike conjuring tricks。 All about the great
circle for the dancers there were beautiful figures； strange
dragons； and intricate and wonderful grotesques bearing lights。
The place was inundated with artificial light that shamed the
newborn day。 And as we went through the throng the people turned
about and looked at us； for all through the world my name and face
were known； and how I had suddenly thrown up pride and struggle to
come to this place。 And they looked also at the lady beside me；
though half the story of how at last she had come to me was unknown
or mistold。 And few of the men who were there； I know； but judged
me a happy man； in spite of all the shame and dishonour that had
come upon my name。
〃The air was full of music； full of harmonious scents； full of
the rhythm of beautiful motions。 Thousands of beautiful people
swarmed about the hall； crowded the galleries； sat in a myriad
recesses； they were dressed in splendid colours and crowned with
flowers； thousands danced about the great circle beneath the white
images of the ancient gods； and glorious processions of youths and
maidens came and went。 We two danced； not the dreary monotonies of
your daysof this time； I meanbut dances that were beautiful；
intoxicating。 And even now I can see my lady dancingdancing
joyously。 She danced； you know； with a serious face； she danced
with a serious dignity； and yet she was smiling at me and caressing
mesmiling and caressing with her eyes。
〃The music was different；〃 he murmured。 〃It wentI cannot
describe it； but it was infinitely richer and more varied than any
music that has ever come to me awake。
〃And thenit was when we had done dancinga man came to
speak to me。 He was a lean； resolute man； very soberly clad for
that place； and already I had marked his face watching me in the
breakfasting hall； and afterwards as we went along the passage I
had avoided his eye。 But now； as we sat in a little alcove；
smiling at the pleasure of all the people who went to and fro
across the shining floor； he came and touched me； and spoke to me
so that I was forced to listen。 And he asked that he might speak
to me for a little time apart。
〃'No；' I said。 'I have no secrets from this lady。 What do
you want to tell me？'
〃He said it was a trivial matter； or at least a dry matter；
for a lady to hear。
〃'Perhaps for me to hear；' said I。
〃He glanced at her； as though almost he would appeal to her。
Then he a