《古屋青苔》霍桑英文版选段阅读

《古屋青苔》霍桑英文版选段阅读

MOSSESFROMANOLDMANSE

ByNathanielHawthorne

ASELECTPARTY

Themanoffancymadeanentertainmentatoneofhiscastlesintheair,andinvited

aselectnumberofdistinguishedpersonagestofavorhimwiththeirpresence.The

mansion,thoughlesssplendidthanmanythathavebeensituatedinthesameregio

n,wasneverthelessofamagnificencesuchasisseldomwitnessedbythoseacquai

ntedonlywithterrestrialarchitecture.Itsstrongfoundationsandmassivewallswere

quarriedoutofaledgeofheavyandsombrecloudswhichhadhungbroodingovert

heearth,apparentlyasdenseandponderousasitsowngranite,throughoutawhole

autumnalday.Perceivingthatthegeneraleffectwasgloomy,-sothattheairycastle

lookedlikeafeudalfortress,oramonasteryoftheMiddleAges,orastateprison

ofourowntimes,ratherthanthehomeofpleasureandreposewhichheintendedit

tobe,-theowner,regardlessofexpense,resolvedtogildtheexteriorfromtoptob

ottom.Fortunately,therewasjustthenafloodofeveningsunshineintheair.Thisb

einggatheredupandpouredabundantlyupontheroofandwalls,imbuedthemwith

akindofsolemncheerfulness;whilethecupolasandpinnaclesweremadetoglitter

withthepurestgold,andallthehundredwindowsgleamedwithagladlight,asift

heedificeitselfwererejoicinginitsheart.

Andnow,ifthepeopleofthelowerworldchancedtobelookingupwardoutofthet

urmoiloftheirpettyperplexities,theyprobablymistookthecastleintheairforahea

pofsunsetclouds,towhichthemagicoflightandshadehadimpartedtheaspecto

fafantasticallyconstructedmansion.Tosuchbeholdersitwasunreal,becausethey

lackedtheimaginativefaith.Hadtheybeenworthytopasswithinitsportal（大门，

正门）,theywouldhaverecognizedthetruth,thatthedominionswhichthespiritcon

quersforitselfamongunrealitiesbecomeathousandtimesmorerealthantheearth

whereontheystamptheirfeet,saying,*'Thisissolidandsubstantial;thismaybeca

liedafact.*'

Attheappointedhour,thehoststoodinhisgreatsaloontoreceivethecompany.It

wasavastandnobleroom,thevaultedceilingofwhichwassupportedbydoublero

wsofgiganticpillarsthathadbeenhewnentireoutofmassesofvariegated（杂色的，

各种颜色的）clouds.Sobrilliantlyweretheypolished,andsoexquisitelywroughtby

thesculptor'sskill,astoresemblethefinestspecimensofemerald,porphyry,opal,a

ndchrysolite,thusproducingadelicaterichnessofeffectwhichtheirimmensesizer

enderednotincompatiblewithgrandeur.Toeachofthesepillarsameteorwassusp

ended.Thousandsoftheseethereallustresarecontinuallywanderingaboutthefirm

ament,burningouttowaste,yetcapableofimpartingausefulradiancetoanyperso

nwhohastheartofconvertingthemtodomesticpurposes.Asmanagedinthesalo

on,theyarefarmoreeconomicalthanordinarylamplight.Such,however,wasthein

tensityoftheirblazethatithadbeenfoundexpedienttocovereachmeteorwithag

lobeofeveningmist,therebymufflingthetoopotentglowandsoothingitintoamild

andcomfortablesplendor.Itwaslikethebrilliancyofapowerfulyetchastenedima

gination,-alightwhichseemedtohidewhateverwasunworthytobenoticedandgiv

eeffecttoeverybeautifulandnobleattribute.Theguests,therefore,astheyadvanc

edupthecentreofthesaloon,appearedtobetteradvantagethaneverbeforeinth

eirlives.

Thefirstthatentered,withold-fashionedpunctuality,wasavenerablefigureinthec

ostumeofbygonedays,withhiswhitehairflowingdownoverhisshouldersandar

everendbearduponhisbreast.Heleaneduponastaff,thetremulousstrokeofwhic

h,ashesetitcarefullyuponthefloor,re-echoedthroughthesaloonateveryfootste

p.Recognizingatoncethiscelebratedpersonage,whomithadcosthimavastdeal

oftroubleandresearchtodiscover,thehostadvancednearlythreefourthsofthed

istancedownbetweenthepillarstomeetandwelcomehim.

"Venerablesir,'*saidtheManofFancy,bendingtothefloor,"thehonorofthisvisit

wouldneverbeforgottenweremytermofexistencetobeashappilyprolonged（延

长）asyourown.',

Theoldgentlemanreceivedthecomplimentwithgraciouscondescension.Hethenth

rustuphisspectaclesoverhisforeheadandappearedtotakeacriticalsurveyofth

esaloon.

"Neverwithinmyrecollection,nobservedhe,"haveIenteredamorespaciousandn

oblehall.Butareyousurethatitisbuiltofsolidmaterialsandthatthestructurewill

bepermanent?',

MO,neverfear,myvenerablefriend,”repliedthehost."Inreferencetoalifetimelike

yourown,itistruemycastlemaywellbecalledatemporaryedifice.Butitwillend

urelongenoughtoanswerallthepurposesforwhichitwaserected."

Butweforgetthatthereaderhasnotyetbeenmadeacquaintedwiththeguest.Itw

asnootherthanthatuniversallyaccreditedcharactersoconstantlyreferredtoinall

seasonsofintensecoldorheat;hethat,remembersthehotSundayandthecoldFr

iday;thewitnessofapastagewhosenegativereminiscencesfindtheirwayintoev

erynewspaper,yetwhoseantiquatedandduskyabodeissoovershadowedbyaccu

mulatedyearsandcrowdedbackbymodernedificesthatnonebuttheManofFane

ycouldhavediscoveredit;itwas,inshort,thattwinbrotherofTime,andgreat-gran

dsireofmankind,andhand-and-gloveassociateofallforgottenmenandthings,-the

OldestInhabitant.Thehostwouldwillinglyhavedrawnhimintoconversation,butsu

cceededonlyinelicitingafewremarksastotheoppressiveatmosphereofthispres

entsummereveningcomparedwithonewhichtheguesthadexperiencedaboutfour

scoreyearsago.Theoldgentleman,infact,wasagooddealovercomebyhisjourn

eyamongtheclouds,which,toaframesoearth-incrustedbylongcontinuanceina

lowerregion,wasunavoidablymorefatiguingthantoyoungerspirits.Hewasthereto

reconductedtoaneasy-chair,wellcushionedandstuffedwithvaporoussoftness,a

ndlefttotakealittlerepose.

TheManofFancynowdiscernedanotherguest,whostoodsoquietlyintheshadow

ofoneofthep川arsthathemighteasilyhavebeenoverlooked.

"Mydearsir,"exclaimedthehost,graspinghimwarmlybythehand,"allowmetogr

eetyouastheherooftheevening.Praydonottakeitasanemptycompliment;for,

iftherewerenotanotherguestinmycastle,itwouldbeentirelypervadedwithyou

rpresence.**

"Ithankyou,“answeredtheunpretendingstranger;"but,thoughyouhappenedtoov

erlookme,Ihavenotjustarrived.Icameveryearly;and,withyourpermission,shal

Iremainaftertherestofthecompanyhaveretired."

Andwhodoesthereaderimaginewasthisunobtrusiveguest?Itwasthefamouspe

rformerofacknowledgedimpossibilities,--acharacterofsuperhumancapacityandvirt

ue,and,ifhisenemiesaretobecredited,ofnolessremarkableweaknessesandd

efects.Withagenerositywithwhichhealonesetsusanexample,wewillglancem

erelyathisnoblerattributes.Heitis,then,whopreferstheinterestsofotherstohis

ownandahumblestationtoanexaltedone.Carelessoffashion,custom,theopini

onsofmen,andtheinfluenceofthepress,heassimilateshislifetothestandardof

idealrectitude,andthusproveshimselftheoneindependentcitizenofourfreecou

ntry.Inpointofability,manypeopledeclarehimtobetheonlymathematiciancapab

Ieofsquaringthecircle;theonlymechanicacquaintedwiththeprincipleofperpetual

motion;theonlyscientificphilosopherwhocancompelwatertorunuphill;theonly

writeroftheagewhosegeniusisequaltotheproductionofanepicpoem;and,fin

ally,sovariousarehisaccomplishments,theonlyprofessorofgymnasticswhohas

succeededinjumpingdownhisownthroat.Withallthesetalents,however,heisso

farfrombeingconsideredamemberofgoodsociety,thatitistheseverestcensure

ofanyfashionableassemblagetoaffirmthatthisremarkableindividualwaspresent.

Publicorators,lecturers,andtheatricalperformersparticularlyeschewhiscompany.

Forespecialreasons,wearenotatlibertytodisclosehisname,andshallmention

onlyoneothertrait,-amostsingularphenomenoninnaturalphilosophy,--that,when

hehappenstocasthiseyesuponalooking-glass,hebeholdsNobodyreflectedthe

re!

Severalotherguestsnowmadetheirappearance;andamongthem,chatteringwithi

mmensevolubility,abrisklittlegentlemanofuniversalvogueinprivatesociety,and

notunknowninthepublicjournalsunderthetitleofMonsieurOn-Dit.Thenamewou

IdseemtoindicateaFrenchman;but,whateverbehiscountry,heisthoroughlyver

sedinallthelanguagesoftheday,andcanexpresshimselfquiteasmuchtothep

urposeinEnglishasinanyothertongue.Nosoonerweretheceremoniesofsalutati

onoverthanthistalkativelittlepersonputhismouthtothehost'searandwhispere

dthreesecretsofstate,animportantpieceofcommercialintelligence,andarichite

moffashionablescandal.HethenassuredtheManofFancythathewouldnotfail

tocirculateinthesocietyofthelowerworldaminutedescriptionofthismagnificent

castleintheairandofthefestivitiesatwhichhehadthehonortobeaguest.Sos

aying,MonsieurOn-Ditmadehisbowandhurriedfromonetoanotherofthecompa

ny,withallofwhomheseemedtobeacquaintedandtopossesssometopicofinte

restoramusementforeveryindividual.ComingatlasttotheOldestInhabitant,who

wasslumberingcomfortablyintheeasy-chair,heappliedhismouthtothatvenerable

ear.*'Whatdoyousay?'*criedtheoldgentleman,startingfromhisnapandputting

uphishandtoservethepurposeofanear-trumpet.MonsieurOn-Ditbentforwarda

gainandrepeatedhiscommunication.

"Neverwithinmymemory/'exclaimedtheOldestInhabitant,liftinghishandsinaston

ishment,Hhassoremarkableanincidentbeenheardof."

NowcameintheClerkoftheWeather,whohadbeeninvitedoutofdeferencetohi

sofficialstation,althoughthehostwaswellawarethathisconversationwaslikelyto

contributebutlittletothegeneralenjoyment.Hesoon,indeed,gotintoacornerwit

hhisacquaintanceoflongago,theOldestInhabitant,andbegantocomparenotes

withhiminreferencetothegreatstorms,galesofwind,andotheratmosphericalfac

tsthathadoccurredduringacenturypast.ItrejoicedtheManofFancythathisven

erableandmuch-respectedguesthadmetwithsocongenialanassociate.Entreating

thembothtomakethemselvesperfectlyathome,henowturnedtoreceivetheWa

nderingJew.Thispersonage,however,hadlatterlygrownsocommon,byminglingi

nallsortsofsocietyandappearingatthebeckofeveryentertainer,thathecouldh

ardlybedeemedaproperguestinaveryexclusivecircle.Besides,beingcoveredw

ithdustfromhiscontinualwanderingsalongthehighwaysoftheworld,hereallyloo

kedoutofplaceinadressparty;sothatthehostfeltrelievedofanincommodityw

hentherestlessindividualinquestion,afterabriefstay,tookhisdepartureonara

mbletowardsOregon.

TheportalwasnowthrongedbyacrowdofshadowypeoplewithwhomtheManof

Fancyhadbeenacquaintedinhisvisionaryyouth.Hehadinvitedthemhitherforthe

sakeofobservinghowtheywouldcompare,whetheradvantageouslyorotherwise,

withtherealcharacterstowhomhismaturerlifehadintroducedhim.Theywerebei

ngsofcrudeimagination,suchasglidebeforeayoungman'seyeandpretendtob

eactualinhabitantsoftheearth;thewiseandwittywithwhomhewouldhereafterh

oldintercourse;thegenerousandheroicfriendswhosedevotionwouldberequitedw

ithhisown;thebeautifuldream-womanwhowouldbecomethehelpmateofhishum

antoilsandsorrowsandatoncethesourceandpartakerofhishappiness.Alas!iti

snotgoodforthefull-grownmantolooktoocloselyattheseoldacquaintances,but

rathertoreverencethematadistancethroughthemediumofyearsthathavegath

eredduskilybetween.Therewassomethinglaughablyuntrueintheirpompousstride

andexaggeratedsentiment;theywereneitherhumannortolerablelikenessesofhu

manity,butfantasticmaskers,renderingheroismandnaturealikeridiculousbytheg

raveabsurdityoftheirpretensionstosuchattributes;andasforthepeerlessdream-1

ady,behold!thereadvancedupthesaloon,withamovementlikeajointeddoll,as

ortofwax-figureofanangel,acreatureascoldasmoonshine,anartificeinpettico

ats,withanintellectofprettyphrasesandonlythesemblanceofaheart,yetinallt

heseparticularsthetruetypeofayoungman'simaginarymistress.Hardlycouldthe

host'spunctiliouscourtesyrestrainasmileashepaidhisrespectstothisunreality

andmetthesentimentalglancewithwhichtheDreamsoughttoremindhimoftheir

formerlovepassages.

"No,no,fairlady,"murmuredhebetwixtsighingandsmiling;*'mytasteischanged;I

havelearnedtolovewhatNaturemakesbetterthanmyowncreationsintheguise

ofwomanhood.*'

"Ah,falseone,"shriekedthedream-lady,pretendingtofaint,butdissolvingintothin

air,outofwhichcamethedeplorablemurmurofhervoice,nyourinconstancyhasan

nihilatedme.”

"Sobeit,'*saidthecruelManofFancytohimself;"andagoodriddance（摆脱）too.',

Togetherwiththeseshadows,andfromthesameregion,therecameanuninvitedm

altitudeofshapeswhichatanytimeduringhislifehadtormentedtheManofFancy

inhismoodsofmorbidmelancholyorhadhauntedhiminthedelirium（神志不清）

offever.Thewallsofhiscastleintheairwerenotdenseenoughtokeepthemout,

norwouldthestrongestofearthlyarchitecturehaveavailedtotheirexclusion.Here

werethoseformsofdimterrorwhichhadbesethimattheentranceoflife,waging

warfarewithhishopes;herewerestrangeuglinessofearlierdate,suchashauntchi

Idreninthenight-time.Hewasparticularlystartledbythevisionofadeformedold

blackwomanwhomheimaginedaslurkinginthegarret（藏在阁楼里）ofhisnative

home,andwho,whenhewasaninfant,hadoncecometohisbedsideandgrinned

athiminthecrisisofascarletfever.Thissameblackshadow,withothersalmost

ashideous,nowglidedamongthepillarsofthemagnificentsaloon,grinningrecognit

ion,untilthemanshudderedanewattheforgottenterrorsofhischildhood.Itamuse

dhim,however,toobservetheblackwoman,withthemischievouscapricepeculiart

osuchbeings,stealuptothechairoftheOldestInhabitantandpeepintohishalf-d

reamymind.

"Neverwithinmymemory,"mutteredthatvenerablepersonage,aghast,"didIseesu

chaface."

Almostimmediatelyaftertheunrealitiesjustdescribed,arrivedanumberofguestsw

homincredulousreadersmaybeinclinedtorankequallyamongcreaturesofimagin

ation.ThemostnoteworthywereanincorruptiblePatriot;aScholarwithoutpedantry;

aPriestwithoutworldlyambition;andaBeautifulWomanwithoutprideorcoquetry;

aMarriedPairwhoselifehadneverbeendisturbedbyincongruityoffeeling;aRef

ormerun-trammeledbyhistheory;andaPoetwhofeltnojealousytowardsothervo

tariesofthelyre.Intruth,however,thehostwasnotoneofthecynicswhoconsider

thesepatternsofexcellence,withoutthefatalflaw,suchraritiesintheworld;andh

ehadinvitedthemtohisselectpartychieflyoutofhumbledeferencetothejudgme

ntofsociety,whichpronouncesthemalmostimpossibletobemetwith.

*'lnmyyoungerdays,"observedtheOldestInhabitant,"suchcharactersmightbesee

natthecornerofeverystreet."Bethatasitmight,thesespecimensofperfectionp

rovedtobenothalfsoentertainingcompanionsaspeoplewiththeordinaryallowan

ceoffaults.

Butnowappearedastranger,whomthehosthadnosoonerrecognizedthan,witha

nabundanceofcourtesyun-lavishedonanyother,hehasteneddownthewholelen

gthofthesalooninordertopayhimemphatichonor.Yethewasayoungmaninp

oorattire,withnoinsigniaofrankoracknowledgedeminence,noranythingtodistin

guishhimamongthecrowdexceptahigh,whiteforehead,beneathwhichapairof

deep-seteyeswereglowingwithwarmlight.Itwassuchalightasneverilluminates

theearthsavewhenagreatheartburnsasthehouseholdfireofagrandintellect.

Andwhowashe?-whobuttheMasterGeniusforwhomourcountryislookinganxi

ouslyintothemistofTime,asdestinedtofulfillthegreatmissionofcreatinganAm

ericanliterature,hewingit,asitwere,outoftheunwroughtgraniteofourintellectual

quarries?Fromhim,whethermoldedintheformofanepicpoemorassumingag

uisealtogethernewasthespirititselfmaydetermine,wearetoreceiveourfirstgre

atoriginalwork,whichshalldoallthatremainstobeachievedforourgloryamongt

henations.HowthischildofamightydestinyhadbeendiscoveredbytheManofF

ancyitisoflittleconsequencetomention.Sufficeitthathedwellsasyetun-honore

damongmen,unrecognizedbythosewhohaveknownhimfromhiscradle;thenob

Iecountenancewhichshouldbedistinguishedbyahalo（光环，光晕）diffusedarou

nditpassesdailyamidthethrongofpeopletoilingandtroublingthemselvesaboutt

hetriflesofamoment,andnonepayreverencetotheworkerofimmortality.Nordo

esitmattermuchtohim,inhistriumphoveralltheages,thoughagenerationortw

oofhisowntimesshalldothemselvesthewrongtodisregardhim.

BythistimeMonsieurOn-Dithadcaughtupthestranger'snameanddestinyandw

asbusilywhisperingtheintelligenceamongtheotherguests.

"Pshaw!'*saidone."TherecanneverbeanAmericangenius."

"Pish!'*criedanother."Wehavealreadyasgoodpoetsasanyintheworld.Formy

part,Idesiretoseenobetter."

AndtheOldestInhabitant,whenitwasproposedtointroducehimtotheMasterGen

ius,beggedtobeexcused,observingthatamanwhohadbeenhonoredwiththea

cquaintanceofDwight,andFreneau,andJoelBarlow,mightbeallowedalittleauste

rityoftaste.

Thesaloonwasnowfastfillingupbythearrivalofotherremarkablecharacters,am

ongwhomwerenoticedDavyJones,thedistinguishednauticalpersonage,andaru

de,carelesslydressed,harum-scarumsortofelderlyfellow,knownbythenickname

ofOldHarry.Thelatter,however,afterbeingshowntoadressing-room,reappeared

withhisgrayhairnicelycombed,hisclothesbrushed,acleandickyonhisneck,a

ndaltogethersochangedinaspectastomeritthemorerespectfulappellationofVe

nerableHenry.JoelDoeandRichardRoecamearminarm,accompaniedbyaMan

ofStraw,afictitiousindorser,andseveralpersonswhohadnoexistenceexceptas

votersincloselycontestedelections.ThecelebratedSeatsfield,whonowentered,

wasatfirstsupposedtobelongtothesamebrotherhood,untilhemadeitapparentt

hathewasarealmanoffleshandbloodandhadhisearthlydomicileinGermany.

Amongthelatestcomers,asmightreasonablybeexpected,arrivedaguestfromthe

farfuture."Doyouknowhim?doyouknowhim?'*whisperedMonsieurOn-Dit,who

seemedtobeacquaintedwitheverybody.nHeistherepresentativeofPosterity,-the

manofanagetocome.”

"Andhowcamehehere?"askedafigurewhowasevidentlytheprototypeofthefas

hion-plateinamagazine,andmightbetakentorepresentthevanitiesofthepassin

gmoment.*'Thefellowinfringesuponourrightsbycomingbeforehistime."

"Butyouforgetwhereweare,'*answeredtheManofFancy,whooverheardtherem

ark."Thelowerearth,itistrue,willbeforbiddengroundtohimformanylongyears

hence;butacastleintheairisasortofno-man's-land,wherePosteritymaymake

acquaintancewithusonequalterms."

NosoonerwashisidentityknownthanathrongofguestsgatheredaboutPosterity,

allexpressingthemostgenerousinterestinhiswelfare,andmanyboastingofthes

acrificeswhichtheyhadmade,orwerewillingtomake,inhisbehalf.Some,withas

muchsecrecyaspossible,desiredhisjudgmentuponcertaincopiesofversesorgr

eatmanuscriptrollsofprose;othersaccostedhimwiththefamiliarityofoldfriends,t

akingitforgrantedthathewasperfectlycognizantoftheirnamesandcharacters.A

tlength,findinghimselfthusbeset,Posteritywasputquitebesidehispatience.

"Gentlemen,mygoodfriends,"criedhe,breakingloosefromamistypoetwhostrov

etoholdhimbythebutton,"Iprayyoutoattendtoyourownbusiness,andleave

metotakecareofmine!Iexpecttooweyounothing,unlessitbecertainnationald

ebts,andotherencumbrancesandimpediments,physicalandmoral,whichIshallfi

ndittroublesomeenoughtoremovefrommypath.Astoyourverses,prayreadthe

mtoyourcontemporaries.Yournamesareasstrangetomeasyourfaces;andeve

nwereitotherwise,-letmewhisperyouasecret,-thecold,icymemorywhichoneg

enerationmayretainofanotherisbutapoorrecompensetobarterlifefor.Yet,ifyo

urheartissetonbeingknowntome,thesurest,theonlymethodis,tolivetrulyan

dwiselyforyourownage,whereby,ifthenativeforcebeinyou,youmaylikewiseI

iveforposterity."

"Itisnonsense,*'murmuredtheOldestInhabitant,who,asamanofthepast,feltjea

lousthatallnoticeshouldbewithdrawnfromhimselftobelavishedonthefuture,ns

heernonsense,towastesomuchthoughtonwhatonlyistobe."

Todivertthemindsofhisguests,whowereconsiderablyabashedbythislittleincid

ent,theManofFancyledthemthroughseveralapartmentsofthecastle,receivingt

heircomplimentsuponthetasteandvariedmagnificencethatweredisplayedineac

h.Oneoftheseroomswasfilledwithmoonlight,whichdidnotenterthroughthewin

dow,butwastheaggregateofallthemoonshinethatisscatteredaroundtheearth

onasummernightwhilenoeyesareawaketoenjoyitsbeauty.Airyspiritshadgat

hereditup,wherevertheyfounditgleamingonthebroadbosomofalake,orsilver

ingthemeandersofastream,orglimmeringamongthewind-stirredboughsofawo

od,andhadgarnereditinthisonespacioushall.Alongthewalls,illuminatedbythe

mildintensityofthemoonshine,stoodamultitudeofidealstatues,theoriginalcone

eptionsofthegreatworksofancientormodernart,whichthesculptorsdidbutimp

erfectlysucceedinputtingintomarble;foritisnottobesupposedthatthepureide

aofanimmortalcreationceasestoexist;itisonlynecessarytoknowwheretheya

redepositedinordertoobtainpossessionofthem.-Inthealcovesofanothervasta

partmentwasarrangedasplendidlibrary,thevolumesofwhichwereinestimable,be

causetheyconsisted,notofactualperformances,butoftheworkswhichtheauthor

sonlyplanned,withouteverfindingthehappyseasontoachievethem.Totakefami

liarinstances,hereweretheuntoldtalesofChaucer'sCanterburyPilgrims;theunwri

ttencantosoftheFairyQueen;theconclusionofColeridge'sChristabel;andthewh

oleofDryden'sprojectedepiconthesubjectofKingArthur.Theshelveswerecrow

ded;foritwouldnotbetoomuchtoaffirmthateveryauthorhasimaginedandshap

edoutinhisthoughtmoreandfarbetterworksthanthosewhichactuallyproceeded

fromhispen.Andhere,likewise,wheretheunrealizedconceptionsofyouthfulpoet

swhodiedoftheverystrengthoftheirowngeniusbeforetheworldhadcaughtone

inspiredmurmurfromtheirlips.

Whenthepeculiaritiesofthelibraryandstatue-gallerywereexplainedtotheOldestI

nhabitant,heappearedinfinitelyperplexed,andexclaimed,withmoreenergythanus

ual,thathehadneverheardofsuchathingwithinhismemory,and,moreover,did

notatallunderstandhowitcouldbe.

"Butmybrain,Ithink；*saidthegoodoldgentleman"isgettingnotsoclearasituse

dtobe.Youyoungfolks,Isuppose,canseeyourwaythroughthesestrangematter

s.Formypart,Igiveitup."

"AndsodoI,"mutteredtheOldHarry.nltisenoughtopuzzlethe-Ahem!"

Makingaslittlereplyaspossibletotheseobservations,theManofFancypreceded

thecompanytoanothernoblesaloon,thepillarsofwhichweresolidgoldensunbea

mstakenoutoftheskyinthefirsthourinthemorning.Thus,astheyretainedallt

heirlivinglustre,theroomwasfilledwiththemostcheerfulradianceimaginable,yet

nottoodazzlingtobebornewithcomfortanddelight.Thewindowswerebeautifully

adornedwithcurtainsmadeofthemany-coloredcloudsofsunrise,allimbuedwithvi

rginlight,andhanginginmagnificentfestoonsfromtheceilingtothefloor.Moreover,

therewerefragmentsofrainbowsscatteredthroughtheroom;sothattheguests,a

stonishedatoneanother,reciprocallysawtheirheadsmadegloriousbythesevenp

rimaryhues;or,iftheychose,-aswhowouldnot?--theycouldgrasparainbowinth

eairandconvertittotheirownapparelandadornment.Butthemorninglightands

catteredrainbowswereonlyatypeandsymboloftherealwondersoftheapartment.

Byaninfluenceakintomagic,yetperfectlynatural,whatevermeansandopportuniti

esofjoyareneglectedinthelowerworldhadbeencarefullygatheredupanddepo

sitedinthesaloonofmorningsunshine.Asmaywellbeconceived,therefore,there

wasmaterialenoughtosupply,notmerelyajoyousevening,butalsoahappylifeti

me,tomorethanasmanypeopleasthatspaciousapartmentcouldcontain.Theco

mpanyseemedtorenewtheiryouth;whilethatpatternandproverbialstandardof