Ветер в ивах
Wayfarers All
Onthissideofthehillswasnowtherealblank,ontheotherlaythecrowdedandcolouredpanoramathathisinnereyewasseeingsoclearly.Whatseaslaybeyond,green,leaping,andcrested!Whatsun-bathedcoasts,alongwhichthewhitevillasglitteredagainsttheolivewoods!Whatquietharbours,throngedwithgallantshippingboundforpurpleislandsofwineandspice,islandssetlowinlanguorouswaters!
Heroseanddescendedriver-wardsoncemore;thenchangedhismindandsoughtthesideofthedustylane.There,lyinghalf-buriedinthethick,coolunder-hedgetanglethatborderedit,hecouldmuseonthemetalledroadandallthewondrousworldthatitledto;onallthewayfarers,too,thatmighthavetroddenit,andthefortunesandadventurestheyhadgonetoseekorfoundunseeking—outthere,beyond—beyond!
Footstepsfellonhisear,andthefigureofonethatwalkedsomewhatwearilycameintoview;andhesawthatitwasaRat,andaverydustyone.Thewayfarer,ashereachedhim,salutedwithagestureofcourtesythathadsomethingforeignaboutit—hesitatedamoment—thenwithapleasantsmileturnedfromthetrackandsatdownbyhissideinthecoolherbage.Heseemedtired,andtheRatlethimrestunquestioned,understandingsomethingofwhatwasinhisthoughts;knowing,too,thevalueallanimalsattachattimestomeresilentcompanionship,whenthewearymusclesslackenandthemindmarkstime.
