第 8 节
作者:雨来不躲      更新:2021-02-25 00:55      字数:9322
  I said; 〃Dear Lord; the streets on earth are full of mire。  If I should walk straight on in them my outer robe might be bespotted; you see how white it is!  Therefore I pick my way。〃
  God said; 〃On what?〃
  I was silent; and I let my robe fall。  I wrapped my mantle about my head。  I went out softly。  I was afraid that the angels would see me。
  II。
  Once more I stood at the gate of Heaven; I and another。  We held fast by one another; we were very tired。  We looked up at the great gates; the angels opened them; and we went in。  The mud was on our garments。  We walked across the marble floor; and up to the great throne。  Then the angels divided us。  Her; they set upon the top step; but me; upon the bottom; for; they said; 〃Last time this woman came here she left red foot… marks on the floor; we had to wash them out with our tears。  Let her not go up。〃
  Then she; with whom I came; looked back; and stretched out her hand to me; and I went and stood beside her。  And the angels; they; the shining ones who never sinned and never suffered; walked by us to and fro and up and down; I think we should have felt a little lonely there if it had not been for one another; the angels were so bright。
  God asked me what I had come for; and I drew my sister forward a little that he might see her。
  God said; 〃How is it you are here together today?〃
  I said; 〃She was upon the ground in the street; and they passed over her; I lay down by her; and she put her arms around my neck; and so I lifted her; and we two rose together。〃
  God said; 〃Whom are you now come to accuse before me?〃
  I said; 〃We are come to accuse no man。〃
  And God bent; and said; 〃My childrenwhat is it that ye seek?〃
  And she beside me drew my hand that I should speak for both。
  I said; 〃We have come to ask that thou shouldst speak to Man; our brother; and give us a message for him that he might understand; and that he might〃
  God said; 〃Go; take the message down to him!〃
  I said; 〃But what is the message?〃
  God said; 〃Upon your hearts it is written; take it down to him。〃
  And we turned to go; the angels went with us to the door。  They looked at us。
  And one said〃Ai! but their dresses are beautiful!〃
  And the other said; 〃I thought it was mire when they came in; but see; it is all golden!〃
  But another said; 〃Hush; it is the light from their faces!〃
  And we went down to him。
  Alassio; Italy。
  XI。  THE SUNLIGHT LAY ACROSS MY BED。
  In the dark one night I lay upon my bed。  I heard the policeman's feet beat on the pavement; I heard the wheels of carriages roll home from houses of entertainment; I heard a woman's laugh below my windowand then I fell asleep。  And in the dark I dreamt a dream。  I dreamt God took my soul to Hell。
  Hell was a fair place; the water of the lake was blue。
  I said to God; 〃I like this place。〃
  God said; 〃Ay; dost thou!〃
  Birds sang; turf came to the water…edge; and trees grew from it。  Away off among the trees I saw beautiful women walking。  Their clothes were of many delicate colours and clung to them; and they were tall and graceful and had yellow hair。  Their robes trailed over the grass。  They glided in and out among the trees; and over their heads hung yellow fruit like large pears of melted gold。
  I said; 〃It is very fair; I would go up and taste the〃
  God said; 〃Wait。〃
  And after a while I noticed a very fair woman pass:  she looked this way and that; and drew down a branch; and it seemed she kissed the fruit upon it softly; and went on her way; and her dress made no rustle as she passed over the grass。  And when I saw her no more; from among the stems came another woman fair as she had been; in a delicate tinted robe; she looked this way and that。  When she saw no one there she drew down the fruit; and when she had looked over it to find a place; she put her mouth to it softly; and went away。  And I saw other and other women come; making no noise; and they glided away also over the grass。
  And I said to God; 〃What are they doing?〃
  God said; 〃They are poisoning。〃
  And I said; 〃How?〃
  God said; 〃They touch it with their lips; when they have made a tiny wound in it with their fore…teeth they set in it that which is under their tongues:  they close it with their lipthat no man may see the place; and pass on。〃
  I said to God; 〃Why do they do it?〃
  God said; 〃That another may not eat。〃
  I said to God; 〃But if they poison all then none dare eat; what do they gain?〃
  God said; 〃Nothing。〃
  I said; 〃Are they not afraid they themselves may bite where another has bitten?〃
  God said; 〃They are afraid。  In Hell all men fear。〃
  He called me further。  And the water of the lake seemed less blue。
  Then; to the right among the trees were men working。  And I said to God; 〃I should like to go and work with them。  Hell must be a very fruitful place; the grass is so green。〃
  God said; 〃Nothing grows in the garden they are making。〃
  We stood looking; and I saw them working among the bushes; digging holes; but in them they set nothing; and when they had covered them with sticks and earth each went a way off and sat behind the bushes watching; and I noticed that as each walked he set his foot down carefully looking where he trod。  I said to God; 〃What are they doing?〃
  God said; 〃Making pitfalls into which their fellows may sink。〃
  I said to God; 〃Why do they do it?〃
  God said; 〃Because each thinks that when his brother falls he will rise。〃
  I said to God; 〃How will he rise?〃
  God said; 〃He will not rise。〃
  And I saw their eyes gleam from behind the bushes。
  I said to God; 〃Are these men sane?〃
  God said; 〃They are not sane; there is no sane man in Hell。〃
  And he told me to come further。
  And I looked where I trod。
  And we came where Hell opened into a plain; and a great house stood there。 Marble pillars upheld the roof; and white marble steps let up to it。  The wind of heaven blew through it。  Only at the back hung a thick curtain。  Fair men and women there feasted at long tables。  They danced; and I saw the robes of women flutter in the air and heard the laugh of strong men。  What they feasted with was wine; they drew it from large jars which stood somewhat in the background; and I saw the wine sparkle as they drew it。
  And I said to God; 〃I should like to go up and drink。〃  And God said; 〃Wait。〃  And I saw men coming in to the Banquet House; they came in from the back and lifted the corner of the curtain at the sides and crept in quickly; and they let the curtain fall behind them; they bore great jars they could hardly carry。  And the men and women crowded round them; and the new…comers opened their jars and gave them of the wine to drink; and I saw that the women drank even more greedily than the men。  And when others had well drunken they set the jars among the old ones beside the wall; and took their places at the table。  And I saw that some of the jars were very old and mildewed and dusty; but others had still drops of new must on them and shone from the furnace。
  And I said to God; 〃What is that?〃  For amid the sound of the singing; and over the dancing of feet; and over the laughing across the wine…cups I heard a cry。
  And God said; 〃Stand a way off。〃
  And he took me where I saw both sides of the curtain。  Behind the house was the wine…press where the wine was made。  I saw the grapes crushed; and I heard them cry。  I said; 〃Do not they on the other side hear it?〃
  God said; 〃The curtain is thick; they are feasting。〃
  And I said; 〃But the men who came in last。  They saw?〃
  God said; 〃They let the curtain fall behind themand they forget!〃
  I said; 〃How came they by their jars of wine?〃
  God said; 〃In the treading of the press these are they who came to the top; they have climbed out over the edge; and filled their jars from below; and have gone into the house。〃
  And I said; 〃And if they had fallen as they climbed?〃
  God said; 〃They had been wine。〃
  I stood a way off watching in the sunshine; and I shivered。
  God lay in the sunshine watching too。
  Then there rose one among the feasters; who said; 〃My brethren; let us pray!〃
  And all the men and women rose:  and strong men bowed their heads; and mothers folded their little children's hands together; and turned their faces upwards; to the roof。  And he who first had risen stood at the table head; and stretched out both his hands; and his beard was long and white; and his sleeves and his beard had been dipped in wine; and because the sleeves were wide and full they held much wine; and it dropped down upon the floor。
  And he cried; 〃My brothers and my sisters; let us pray。〃
  And all the men and women answered; 〃Let us pray。〃
  He cried; 〃For this fair banquet…house we thank thee; Lord。〃
  And all the men and women said 〃We thank thee; Lord。〃
  〃Thine is this house; dear Lord。〃
  〃Thine is this house。〃
  〃For us hast thou made it。〃
  〃For us。〃
  〃Oh; fill our jars with wine; dear Lord。〃
  〃Our jars with wine。〃
  〃Give peace and plenty in our time; dear Lord。〃
  〃Peace and plenty in our time〃I said to God; 〃Whom is it they are talking to?〃  God said; 〃Do I know whom they speak of?〃  And I saw they were looking up at the roof; but out in the sunshine; God lay。
  〃dear Lord!〃
  〃Dear