Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
Areyounotwearyofardentways,
Lureofthefallenseraphim?
Tellnomoreofenchanteddays.
Theversespassedfromhismindtohislipsand,murmuringthemover,hefelttherhythmicmovementofavillanellepassthroughthem.Therose-likeglowsentforthitsraysofrhyme;ways,days,blaze,praise,raise.Itsraysburneduptheworld,consumedtheheartsofmenandangels:theraysfromtherosethatwasherwilfulheart.
Youreyeshavesetman’sheartablaze
Andyouhavehadyourwillofhim.
Areyounotwearyofardentways?
Andthen?Therhythmdiedaway,ceased,beganagaintomoveandbeat.Andthen?Smoke,incenseascendingfromthealtaroftheworld.
Abovetheflamethesmokeofpraise
Goesupfromoceanrimtorim
Tellnomoreofenchanteddays.
Smokewentupfromthewholeearth,fromthevapouryoceans,smokeofherpraise.Theearthwaslikeaswingingswayingcenser,aballofincense,anellipsoidalfall.Therhythmdiedoutatonce;thecryofhisheartwasbroken.Hislipsbegantomurmurthefirstversesoverandover;thenwentonstumblingthroughhalfverses,stammeringandbaffled;thenstopped.Theheart’scrywasbroken.
Theveiledwindlesshourhadpassedandbehindthepanesofthenakedwindowthemorninglightwasgathering.Abellbeatfaintlyveryfaraway.Abirdtwittered;twobirds,three.