第 12 节
作者:痛罚      更新:2022-07-12 16:20      字数:9321
  themselves      with   the  sport   of  spring。   Brown      bees   among     the  clover;
  strawberries in profusion; trees would delight your eyes; and brown cows
  and black cows; and dappled moilies under the great leaves of them; and
  lambs would be snowy of fleece。            All the flowers of the world were there;
  the paradise of wild things it was; the park of Kubla Khan。
  〃In    Xanadu     did  Kubla    Khan;〃     quoted    young    Randall;        〃A
  stately    pleasure   dome     decree;       Where      Alph;    the  sacred   river;  ran
  Through caverns measureless to man;                  Down to a sunless sea。            So
  twice five miles of fertile ground             With walls and towers were girdled
  round:        And there were gardens; bright with sinuous rills;                  Where
  blossomed       many    an   incense…bearing     tree;       And     here   were   forests
  ancient as the hills;        Enfolding sunny spots of greenery。〃
  〃Whose poem is that poem; Brian 0ge?〃
  〃It is a poem of Coleridge's; Malachi。〃
  〃I though it was maybe a poem of Colquitto Dall McCracken of Skye;
  that one of you lads had put English on。           It is a poem of the head; you ken;
  and Colquitto; being a dark man; could only see with the eye's ghost。                 But
  it hasn't the warmth; the life of the work of Blind Colquitto; Brian Oge; do
  you mind the poem Angus More Campbell of Rathlin wrote to Colquitto
  Dall?〃
  〃'Is aoibhinn   duid;  Colquitto   Dall;'〃     I  remembered:   〃It   is   happy  for
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  thee; blind Colquitto; who dost not see much of women。               If thou wert to
  see what we see; thou wouldst be tormented even as I am。 My sorrow; O
  God; that I was not stricken blind before I saw her amber; twisted hair!〃
  〃That's it; that's it; Brian Oge。     But this is not the place to be talking
  of poetry。    There is no poetry in this story。
  〃I will now tell you of Marco Polo and him entering the presence of
  the great khan。 。 。〃
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  Messer Marco Polo
  CHAPTER XIV
  And    Marco     Polo   was   brought    into  the   presence。    And     among     all
  assembled there you could hear a pin drop。
  At the north end of the great hall sat the Khan himself; and Marco Polo
  nearly dropped with surprise; for where he expected a great; magnificent
  figure    of  a  man;   with   majesty   shining     from   his  eyes;   he  saw    only   a
  pleasant; bearded man; not quarter so well dressed as the meanest servant
  on   the   room;   and   a   fine;   welcoming   smile   in   his   face。 His   throne   was
  elevated so that his feet were on the level of the heads of the kinsmen of
  the   Blood    Royal    beneath    him;   and   they   in  silk  and   ermine    and   fine
  brocades and jewels。         And beneath these were the barons and dukes and
  knights。     And beneath these were the captains of the fighting men; three
  thousand      and   three。   And    beneath    these   were    the  musicians     and   the
  sorcerers。     And behind Kubla Khan; very big; very erect; stood his three
  great   servants;   the   Keeper   of   the   Hunting   Leopards;   the   Keeper   of   the
  Speaking Drums; and the Keeper of the Khan's Swords。
  And beside Kubla Khan; on a little throne; sat Golden Bells。 。 。 And it
  was the sight of her more than the sight of the great assembly that dumbed
  the   words   in   his   mouth。   And   Kubla   was   smiling   at   him;   and   she   was
  smiling; too。
  And Kubla saw there was something wrong with him; that there was
  embarrassment on him and he rose from his: throne。
  〃There is welcome for you here; Marco Polo; and no enmity。                     There
  is interest; in and eagerness for your message。              There is none here will
  criticize you or make it hard for you。            Let there be no shame on you in
  speaking before so many  people。            Say  what you have   to say as if   there
  were   nobody   here;   if   that   will   help   you;   barring   myself   and   the   little
  daughter beside me。 。 。〃
  〃O   Emperor;〃   the   words   came   back   to   Marco   Polo;   〃and   ye;   great
  princes; dukes; and marquises; counts; knights; and burgesses; and people
  of all degrees who desire the light of the world; grace be to you and peace;
  from God our Father; and from the Lord Jesus Christ!
  〃The   message   I   have   to   give   you;   I   shall   give   in   the   words   of   Him;
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  Whose perfect message it is:
  〃'Beati pauperes spiritu;  Blessed are the poor in spirit。
  〃'Quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum;  for theirs is the kingdom
  of heaven。
  〃'Beati mites;  Blessed are the meek。 。 。'〃
  And   Marco   Polo   went   on   and   quoted   for   them   the   words   that   were
  spoken   on   the   Mount   in   Galilee。    And   they   listened   to   him   with   great
  civility and attention。       And little Golden Bells leaned forward; with her
  chin on her hands; and Kubla leaned back in his throne; with his eyes half
  closed。
  〃'But I   say  unto you; that   ye resist not   evil; but   whoever shall   smite
  thee on the right cheek; turn to him the other also。'〃            And at this the great
  Khan looked up puzzled; and a movement went through the fighting men
  in   the   hall。 But   wee   Golden   Bells   never   budged   a   minute;   and   Marco
  Polo went on:
  〃'Et factum est; cum consummasset Jesus verba haec;  And it came to
  pass when Jesus had ended these sayings; the people were astonished   at
  his doctrine。'
  〃I shall now tell you of the life and death of the Lord Jesus。 。 。〃
  He told them of the birth in Bethlehem; and of the teaching on the hills;
  and the poets nodded their heads; and he told them of the cleansing of the
  lepers and of the casting out of devils and the raising of Lazarus from the
  dead;   and   the   magicians   wondered;   and   he   told   them   of   the   betrayal   by
  Judas with a kiss; and the captains…at…arms shuffled in their seats; and he
  told them of the scourging; and of the crowning with thorns; and the great
  Khan snicked his dagger   in and out   of the sheath。              And   a mist of   tears
  came into the eyes of Golden Bells。
  And he told them of the crucifixion between two thieves; and a great
  oath ripped from the beard of Kubla Khan; and the silver tears ran from
  the eyes of Golden Bells。
  〃'And on the third day He arose from the dead。 。 。'〃
  And a great shout came from the throat of Kubla Khan; and he stood
  up。    〃He     arose   from   among     the   dead   men;    I'll  warrant;   He   showed
  himself to the Roman Pilate in all His power and majesty  〃
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  〃No;〃 said Marco Palo。
  〃Then He showed himself to the thousands who had seen him die upon
  the gallows tree!〃
  〃No;〃 said Marco Polo。
  〃Who saw Him; then?〃
  〃His twelve Apostles and they in a little room!〃
  And Kubla Khan sat down suddenly and said no more。                  There was a
  moment's murmur of wonder among the assembly; and then silence。 And
  Marco's     heart  fell。  And     he  was   aware    of  two   things;  of  the  great
  politeness of the Chinese people and of Golden Bell's pitying eyes。 。 。
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  Messer Marco Polo
  CHAPTER XV
  When   Kubla   Khan dismissed   the   assembly;  and   he   took Marco   Polo
  into a sitting…room; and Golden Bells came with them。
  〃And what did you think; sir; of what I said?            And can you not see; sir;
  the truth that's in me?〃
  〃Well; now; laddie;〃 said the great Khan; 〃when we come to examine
  this   sermon   you     quoted   to   us;   what   is   there   in   it   but   the   rule   of   the
  righteous   man?       We've   had   a   great   thinker   and   pious   man   of   our   own;
  Confucius。       I'm not a reading man;〃 says he; 〃but I've got an idea;〃 says
  he; 〃that there isn't a thing you said but is embraced in the Analects。                And
  if it isn't it'll be in the teachings of the Lord Buddha。〃
  〃Ah;   but;   sir;〃   Marco   Polo   said;   〃You'll   have   to   admit   that   He   of
  Whom I speak was the true God made man。〃
  〃Now; laddie; remember