Веснушки
Chapter X
Idon’tknowjustexactlywhattheyare,butIrelandhasallthereare,anyway.They’vealotofgreatactors,andafewsingers,andthereneverwasasweeterpoetthanoneoftheirs.Youshouldhearmyfatherrecite’DearHarpofMyCountry.’Hedoesitthisway.”
TheAngelarose,madeanelaborateold-timebow,andholdingupthebanjo,recitedinclippingfeetandmeter,withrhythmicswingandatouchofbroguethatwassimplyirresistible:
“Dearharpofmycountry”[TheAngelardentlyclaspedthebanjo],
“IndarknessIfoundthee”[Sheheldittothelight],
“Thecoldchainofsilencehadhungo’ertheelong”[Shemutedthestringswithherrosypalm];
“Thenproudly,myownIrishharp,Iunboundthee”[Shethrewupherheadandsweptaringingharmony];
“Andgaveallthychordstolight,freedom,andsong”[ShecrashedintothenotesoftheaccompanimentshehadbeenplayingforFreckles].
“That’swhatyouwanttobethinkingof!”shecried.“Notdarkness,andlonesomeness,andsadness,but’light,freedom,andsong.’Ican’tbegintothinkoffhandofallthebig,splendidthingsanIrishmanhastobeproudof;butwhatevertheyare,theyareallyours,andyouareapartofthem.Ijustdespisethat’saddest-when-I-sing’business.Youcansing!Nowyougooverthereanddoit!Irelandhashadherstatesmen,warriors,actors,andpoets;nowyoubehervoice!Youstandrightouttherebeforethecathedraldoor,andI’mgoingtocomedowntheaisleplayingthataccompaniment,andwhenIstopinfrontofyou—yousing!”
TheAngel’sfaceworeanunusualflush.
