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！
〃At that moment there was a rustling in the branches of the willowtree； and the children folded their hands and looked at one another：it was certainly the angel ing with the baby。 They took eachother's hand； and at that moment the door of one of the houses opened；and the neighbour appeared。
〃'e in； you two；' she said。 'See what the stork has brought。 Itis a little brother。'
〃And the children nodded gravely at one another； for they had feltquite sure already that the baby was e。〃
FOURTEENTH EVENING
〃I was gliding over the Luneburg Heath；〃 the Moon said。 〃Alonely hut stood by the wayside； a few scanty bushes grew near it； anda nightingale who had lost his way sang sweetly。 He died in thecoldness of the night： it was his farewell song that I heard。
〃The morning dawn came glimmering red。 I saw a caravan of emigrantpeasant families who were bound to Hamburgh； there to take ship forAmerica； where fancied prosperity would bloom for them。 The motherscarried their little children at their backs； the elder onestottered by their sides； and a poor starved horse tugged at a cartthat bore their scanty effects。 The cold wind whistled； andtherefore the little girl nestled closer to the mother； who； lookingup at my decreasing disc； thought of the bitter want at home； andspoke of the heavy taxes they had not been able to raise。 The wholecaravan thought of the same thing； therefore； the rising dawn seemedto them a message from the sun； of fortune that was to gleambrightly upon them。 They heard the dying nightingale sing； it was nofalse prophet； but a harbinger of fortune。 The wind whistled；therefore they did not understand that the nightingale sung； 'Fareaway over the sea！ Thou hast paid the long passage with all that wasthine； and poor and helpless shalt thou enter Canaan。 Thou must sellthyself； thy wife； and thy children。 But your griefs shall not lastlong。 Behind the broad fragrant leaves lurks the goddess of Death； andher wele kiss shall breathe fever into thy blood。 Fare away； fareaway； over the heaving billows。' And the caravan listened well pleasedto the song of the nightingale； which seemed to promise goodfortune。 Day broke through the light clouds； country people wentacross the heath to church； the black…gowned women with their whitehead…dresses looked like ghosts that had stepped forth from the churchpictures。 All around lay a wide dead plain； covered with faded brownheath； and black charred spaces between the white sand hills。 Thewomen carried hymn books； and walked into the church。 Oh； pray； prayfor those who are wandering to find graves beyond the foamingbillows。〃
FIFTEENTH EVENING
〃I know a Pulcinella；〃 the Moon told me。 〃The public applaudvociferously directly they see him。 Every one of his movements isic； and is sure to throw the house into convulsions of laughter；and yet there is no art in it all… it is plete nature。 When hewas yet a little boy； playing about with other boys； he was alreadyPunch。 Nature had intended him for it； and had provided him with ahump on his back； and another on his breast； but his inward man； hismind； on the contrary； was richly furnished。 No one could surpasshim in depth of feeling or in readiness of intellect。 The theatrewas his ideal world。 If he had possessed a slender well…shaped figure；he might have been the first tragedian on any stage； the heroic； thegreat； filled his soul； and yet he had to bee a Pulcinella。 Hisvery sorrow and melancholy did but increase the ic dryness of hissharply…cut features； and increased the laughter of the audience；who showered plaudits on their favourite。 The lovely Columbine wasindeed kind and cordial to him； but she preferred to marry theHarlequin。 It would have been too ridiculous if beauty and uglinesshad in reality paired together。
〃When Pulcinella was in very bad spirits； she was the only one whocould force a hearty burst of laughter； or even a smile from him：first she would be melancholy with him； then quieter； and at lastquite cheerful and happy。 'I know very well what is the matter withyou；' she said； 'yes； you're in love！' And he could not help laughing。'I and Love；〃 he cried； 〃that would have an absurd look。 How thepublic would shout！' 'Certainly； you are in love；' she continued；and added with a ic pathos； 'and I am the person you are in lovewith。' You see； such a thing may be said when it is quite out of thequestion… and； indeed； Pulcinella burst out laughing； and gave aleap into the air； and his melancholy was forgotten。
〃And yet she had only spoken the truth。 He did love her； loveher adoringly； as he loved what was great and lofty in art。 At herwedding he was the merriest among the guests； but in the stillnessof night he wept： if the public had seen his distorted face then； theywould have applauded rapturously。
〃And a few days ago； Columbine died。 On the day of the funeral；Harlequin was not required to show himself on the boards； for he was adisconsolate widower。 The director had to give a very merry piece；that the public might not too painfully miss the pretty Columbineand the agile Harlequin。 Therefore Pulcinella had to be moreboisterous and extravagant than ever； and he danced and capered；with despair in his heart； and the audience yelled； and shouted'bravo； bravissimo！' Pulcinella was actually called before thecurtain。 He was pronounced inimitable。
〃But last night the hideous little fellow went out of the town；quite alone； to the deserted churchyard。 The wreath of flowers onColumbine's grave was already faded； and he sat down there。 It was astudy for a painter。 As he sat with his chin on his hands； his eyesturned up towards me； he looked like a grotesque monument… a Punchon a grave… peculiar and whimsical！ If the people could have seentheir favourite； they would have cried as usual； 'Bravo； Pulcinella；bravo； bravissimo！'〃
SIXTEENTH EVENING
Hear what the Moon told me。 〃I have seen the cadet who had justbeen made an officer put on his handsome uniform for the first time； Ihave seen the young bride in her wedding dress； and the princessgirl…wife happy in her gorgeous robes； but never have I seen afelicity equal to that of a little girl of four years old； whom Iwatched this evening。 She had received a new blue dress； and a newpink hat； the splendid attire had just been put on； and all werecalling for a candle； for my rays； shining in through the windows ofthe room； were not bright enough for the occasion； and furtherillumination was required。 There stood the little maid； stiff andupright as a doll； her arms stretched painfully straight out away fromthe dress； and her fingers apart； and oh； what happiness beamed fromher eyes； and from her whole countenance！ 'To…morrow you shall goout in your new clothes；' said her mother； and the little one lookedup at her hat； and down at her frock； and smiled brightly。 'Mother；'she cried； 'what will the little dogs think； when they see me in thesesplendid new things？'〃
SEVENTEENTH EVENING
〃I have spoken to you of Pompeii；〃 said the Moon； 〃that corpseof a city； exposed in the view of living towns： I know another sightstill more strange； and this is not the corpse； but the spectre of acity。 Whenever the jetty fountains splash into the marble basins； theyseem to me to be telling the story of the floating city。 Yes； thespouting water may tell of her； the waves of the sea may sing of herfame！ On the surface of the ocean a mist often rests； and that isher widow's veil。 The bridegroom of the sea is dead； his palace andhis city are his mausoleum！ Dost thou know this city？ She has neverheard the rolling of wheels or the hoof…tread of horses in herstreets； through which the fish swim； while the black gondola glidesspectrally over the green water。 I will show you the place；〃 continuedthe Moon； 〃the largest square in it； and you will fancy yourselftransported into the city of a fairy tale。 The grass grows rankamong the broad flagstones； and in the morning twilight thousands oftame pigeons flutter around the solitary lofty tower。 On three sidesyou find yourself surrounded by cloistered walks。 In these thesilent Turk sits smoking his long pipe； the handsome Greek leansagainst the pillar and gazes at the upraised trophies and lofty masts；memorials of power that is gone。 The flags hang down lik