快眼电子书

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第17部分（第1页）

ickness。

Upon　these　journeys　of　discovery，　as　he　would　call　them—and，　indeed，　they　were　to　him　real　voyages　through　a　marvellous　land，　he　would　sometimes　be　acpanied　by　the　slim，　fair…haired　Court　pages，　with　their　floating　mantles，　and　gay　fluttering　ribands；　but　more　often　he　would　be　alone，　feeling　through　a　certain　quick　instinct，　which　was　almost　a　divination，　that　the　secrets　of　art　are　best　learned　in　secret，　and　that　Beauty，　like　Wisdom，　loves　the　lonely　worshipper。

Many　curious　stories　were　related　about　him　at　this　period。　It　was　said　that　a　stout　Burgo…master，　who　had　e　to　deliver　a　florid　oratorical　address　on　behalf　of　the　citizens　of　the　town，　had　caught　sight　of　him　kneeling　in　real　adoration　before　a　great　picture　that　had　just　been　brought　from　Venice，　and　that　seemed　to　herald　the　worship　of　some　new　gods。　On　another　occasion　he　had　been　missed　for　several　hours，　and　after　a　lengthened　search　had　been　discovered　in　a　little　chamber　in　one　of　the　northern　turrets　of　the　palace　gazing，　as　one　in　a　trance，　at　a　Greek　gem　carved　with　the　figure　of　Adonis。　He　had　been　seen，　so　the　tale　ran，　pressing　his　warm　lips　to　the　marble　brow　of　an　antique　statue　that　had　been　discovered　in　the　bed　of　the　river　on　the　occasion　of　the　building　of　the　stone　bridge，　and　was　inscribed　with　the　name　of　the　Bithynian　slave　of　Hadrian。　He　had　passed　a　whole　night　in　noting　the　effect　of　the　moonlight　on　a　silver　image　of　Endymion。

All　rare　and　costly　materials　had　certainly　a　great　fascination　for　him，　and　in　his　eagerness　to　procure　them　he　had　sent　away　many　merchants，　some　to　traffic　for　amber　with　the　rough　fisher…folk　of　the　north　seas，　some　to　Egypt　to　look　for　that　curious　green　turquoise　which　is　found　only　in　the　tombs　of　kings，　and　is　said　to　possess　magical　properties，　some　to　Persia　for　silken　carpets　and　painted　pottery，　and　others　to　India　to　buy　gauze　and　stained　ivory，　moonstones　and　bracelets　of　jade，　sandal…wood　and　blue　enamel　and　shawls　of　fine　wool。

But　what　had　occupied　him　most　was　the　robe　he　was　to　wear　at　his　coronation，　the　robe　of　tissued　gold，　and　the　ruby…studded　crown，　and　the　sceptre　with　its　rows　and　rings　of　pearls。　Indeed，　it　was　of　this　that　he　was　thinking　tonight，　as　he　lay　back　on　his　luxurious　couch，　watching　the　great　pinewood　log　that　was　burning　itself　out　on　the　open　hearth。　The　designs，　which　were　from　the　hands　of　the　most　famous　artists　of　the　time，　had　been　submitted　to　him　many　months　before，　and　he　had　given　orders　that　the　artificers　were　to　toil　night　and　day　to　carry　them　out，　and　that　the　whole　world　was　to　be　searched　for　jewels　that　would　be　worthy　of　their　work。　He　saw　himself　in　fancy　standing　at　the　high　altar　of　the　cathedral　in　the　fair　raiment　of　a　King，　and　a　smile　played　and　lingered　about　his　boyish　lips，　and　lit　up　with　a　bright　lustre　his　dark　woodland　eyes。

After　some　time　he　rose　from　his　seat，　and　leaning　against　the　carved　penthouse　of　the　chimney，　looked　round　at　the　dimly…lit　room。　The　walls　were　hung　with　rich　tapestries　representing　the　Triumph　of　Beauty。　A　large　press，　inlaid　with　agate　and　lapis…lazuli，　filled　one　corner，　and　facing　the　window　stood　a　curiously　wrought　cabi　with　lacquer　panels　of　powdered　and　mosaiced　gold，　on　which　were　placed　some　delicate　goblets　of　Veian　glass，　and　a　cup　of　dark…veined　onyx。　Pale　poppies　were　broidered　on　the　silk　coverlet　of　the　bed，　as　though　they　had　fallen　from　the　tired　hands　of　sleep，　and　tall　reeds　of　fluted　ivory　bare　up　the　velvet　canopy，　from　which　great　tufts　of　ostrich　plumes　sprang，　like　white　foam，　to　the　pallid　silver　of　the　fretted　ceiling。　A　laughing　Narcissus　in　green　bronze　held　a　polished　mirror　above　its　head。　On　the　table　stood　a　flat　bowl　of　amethyst。

Outside　he　could　see　the　huge　dome　of　the　cathedral，　looming　like　a　bubble　over　the　shadowy　houses，　and　the　weary　sentinels　pacing　up　and　down　on　the　misty　terrace　by　the　river。　Far　away，　in　an　orchard，　a　nightingale　was　singing。　A　faint　perfume　of　jasmine　came　through　the　open　window。　He　brushed　his　brown　curls　back　from　his　forehead，　and　taking　up　a　lute，　let　his　fingers　stray　across　the　cords。　His　heavy　eyelids　drooped，　and　a　strange　languor　came　over　him。　Never　before　had　he　felt　so　keenly，　or　with　such　exquisite　joy，　the　magic　and　the　mystery　of　beautiful　things。

When　midnight　sounded　from　the　clock…tower　he　touched　a　bell，　and　his　pages　entered　and　disrobed　him　with　much　ceremony，　pouring　rose…water　over　his　hands，　and　strewing　flowers　on　his　pillow。　A　few　moments　after　that　they　had　left　the　room，　he　fell　asleep。

And　as　he　slept　he　dreamed　a　dream，　and　this　was　his　dream。

He　thought　that　he　was　standing　in　a　long，　low　attic，　amidst　the　whir　and　clatter　of　many　looms。　The　meagre　daylight　peered　in　through　the　grated　windows，　and　showed　him　the　gaunt　figures　of　the　weavers　bending　over　their　cases。　Pale，　sickly…looking　children　were　crouched　on　the　huge　crossbeams。　As　the　shuttles　dashed　through　the　warp　they　lifted　up　the　heavy　battens，　and　when　the　shuttles　stopped　they　let　the　battens　fall　and　pressed　the　threads　together。　Their　faces　were　pinched　with　famine，　and　their　thin　hands　shook　and　trembled。　Some　haggard　women　were　seated　at　a　table　sewing。　A　horrible　odour　filled　the　place。　The　air　was　foul　and　heavy，　and　the　walls　dripped　and　streamed　with　damp。

The　young　King　went　over　to　one　of　the　weavers，　and　stood　by　him　and　watched　him。

And　the　weaver　looked　at　him　angrily，　and　said，　“Why　art　thou　watching　me？　Art　thou　a　spy　set　on　us　by　our　master？”

“　Who　is　thy　master？”　asked　the　young　King。

“Our　master！”cried　the　weaver，　bitterly。　“　He　is　a　man　like　myself。　Indeed，　there　is　but　this　difference　between　us—that　he　wears　fine　clothes　while　I　go　in　rags，　and　that　while　I　am　weak　from　hunger　he　suffers　not　a　little　from　overfeeding。　”

“　The　land　is　free，”　said　the　young　King，　“　and　thou　art　no　man’s　slave。　”

“In　war，”answered　the　weaver，　“the　strong　make　slaves　of　the　weak，　and　in　peace　the　rich　make　slaves　of　the　poor。　We　must　work　to　live，　and　they　give　us　such　mean　wages　that　we　die。　We　toil　for　them　all　day　long，　and　they　heap　up　gold　in　their　coffers，　and　our　children　fade　away　before　their　time，　and　the　faces　of　those　we　love　bee　hard　and　evil。　We　tread　out　the　grapes，　and　another　drinks　the　wine。　We　sow　the　corn，　and　our　own　board　is　empty。　We　have　chains，　though　no　eye　beholds　them；and　are　slaves，　though　men　call　us　free。”

“Is　it　so　with　all？”　he　asked。

“It　is　so　with　all，”　answered　the　weaver，　“with　the　young　as　well　as　with　the　old，　with　the　women　as　well　as　with　the　men，　with　the　little　children　as　well　as　with　those　who　are　stricken　in　years。　The　merchants　grind　us　down，　and　we　must　needs　do　their　bidding。　The　priest　rides　by　and　tells　his　beads，　and　no　man　has　care　of　us。　Through　our　sunless　lanes　creeps　Poverty　with　her　hungry　eyes，　and　Sin　with　his　sodden　face　follows　close　behind　her。　Misery　wakes　us　in　the　morning，　and　Shame　sits　with　us　at　night。　But　what　are　these　things　to　thee？　Thou　art　not　one　of　us。　Thy　face　is　too　happy。”　And　he　turned　away　scowling，　and　threw　the　shuttle　across　the　loom，　and　the　young　King　saw　that　it　was　threaded　with　a　thread　of　gold。

And　a　great　terror　seized　upon　him，　and　he　said　to　the　weaver，　“What　robe　is　this　that　thou　art　weaving？”

“　It　is　the　robe　for　the　coronation　of　the　young　King，”　he　answered；　“what　is　that　to　thee？”

And　the　young　King　gave　a　loud　cry　and　woke，　and　lo！　he　was　in　his　own　chamber，　and　through　the　window　he　saw　the　great　honey…coloured　moon　hanging　in　the　dusky　air。

And　he　fell　asleep　again　and　dreamed，　and　this　was　his　dream。

He　thought　that　he　was　lying　on　the　deck　of　a　huge　galley　that　was　being　rowed　by　a　hundred　slaves。　On　a　carpet　by　his　side　the　master　of　the　galley　was　seated。　He　was　black　as　ebony，　and　his　turban　was　of　crimson　silk。　Great　earrings　of　silver　dragged　down　the　thick　lobes　of　his　ears，　and　in　his　hands　he　had　a　pair　of　ivory　scales。

The　slaves　were　naked，　but　for　a　ragged　loin…cloth，　and　each　man　was　chained　to　his　neighbour。　The　hot　sun　beat　brightly　upon　them，　and　the　negroes　ran　up　and　down　the　gangway　and　lashed　them　with　whips　of　hide。　They　stretched　out　their　lean　arms　and　pulled　the　heavy　oars　through　the　water。　The　salt　spray　flew　from　the　blades。

At　last　they　reached　a　little　bay，　and　began　to　take　soundings。　A　light　wind　blew　from　the　shore，　and　covered　the　deck　and　the　great　lateen　sail　with　a　fine　red　dust。　Three　Arabs　mounted　on　wild　asses　rode　out　and　threw　spears　at　them。　The　master　of　the　galley　took　a　painted　bow　in　his　hand　and　shot　one　of　them　in　the　throat。　He　fell　heavily　into　the　surf，　and　his　panions　galloped　away。　A　woman　wrapped　in　a　yellow　veil　followed　slowly　on　a　camel，　looking　back　now　and　then　at　the　dead　body。

As　soon　as　they　had　cast　anchor　and　hauled　down　the　sail，　the　negroes　went　into　the　hold　and　brought　up　a　long　rope…ladder，　heavily　weighted　with　lead。　The　master　of　the　galley　threw　it　over　the　side，　making　the　ends　fast　to　two　iron　stanchions。　Then　the　negroes　seized　the　youngest　of　the　slaves　and　knocked　his　gyves　off，　and　filled　his　nostrils　and　his　ears　with　wax，　and　tied　a　big　stone　round　his　waist。　He　crept　wearily　down　the　ladder，　and　disappeared　into　the　sea。　A　few　bubbles　rose　where　he　sank。　Some　of　the　other　slaves　peered　curiously　over　the　side。　At　the　prow　of　the　galley　sat　a　shark…charmer，　beating　monotonously　upon　a　drum。

After　some　time　the　diver　rose　up　out　of　the　water，　and　clung　panting　to　the　ladder　with　a　pearl　in　his　right　hand。　The　negroes　seized　it　from　him，　and　thrust　him　back。　The　slaves　fell　asleep　over　their　oars。

Again　and　again　he　came　up，　and　each　time　that　he　did　so　he　brought　with　him　a　beautiful　pearl。　The　master　of　the　galley　weighed　them，　and　put　them　into　a　little　bag　of　green　leather。

The　young　King　tried　to　speak，　but　his　tongue　seemed　to　cleave　to　the　roof　of　his　mouth，　and　his　lips　refused　to　move。　The　negroes　chattered　to　each　other，　and　began　to　quarrel　over　a　string　of　bright　beads。　Two　cranes　flew　round　and　round　the　vessel。

Then　the　diver　came　up　for　the　last　time，　and　the　pearl　that　he　brought　with　him　was　fairer　than　all　the　pearls　of　Ormuz，　for　it　was　shaped　like　the　full　moon，　and　whiter　than　the　morning　star。　But　his　face　was　strangely　pale，　and　as　he　fell　upon　the　deck　the　blood　gushed　from　his　ears　and　nostrils。　He　quivered　for　a　little，　and　then　he　was　still。　The　negroes　shrugged　their　shoulders，　and　threw　the　body　overboard。

And　the　master　of　the　galley　laughed，　and，　reaching　out，　he　took　the　pearl，　and　when　he　saw　it　he　pressed　it　to　his　forehead　and　bowed。　“It　shall　be，”he　said，　“for　the　sceptre　of　the　young　King，”　and　he　made　a　sign　to　the　negroes　to　draw　up　the　anchor。

And　when　the　young　King　heard　this　he　gave　a　great　cry，　and　woke，　and　through　the　window　he　saw　the　long　grey　fingers　of　the　dawn　clutching　at　the　fading　stars。

And　he　fell　asleep　again，　and　dreamed，　and　this　was　his　dream。

He　thought　that　he　was　wandering　through　a　dim　wood，　hung　with　strange　fruits　and　with　beautiful　poisonous　flowers。　The　adders　hissed　at　him　as　he　went　by，　and　the　bright　pa

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