Мхи старой усадьбы
The Artist of the Beautiful
Itwascarvedrichlyoutofebonybyhisownhand,andinlaidwithafancifultraceryofpearl,representingaboyinpursuitofabutterfly,which,elsewhere,hadbecomeawingedspirit,andwasflyingheavenward;whiletheboy,oryouth,hadfoundsuchefficacyinhisstrongdesirethatheascendedfromearthtocloud,andfromcloudtocelestialatmosphere,towinthebeautiful.Thiscaseofebonytheartistopened,andbadeAnnieplaceherfingersonitsedge.Shedidso,butalmostscreamedasabutterflyflutteredforth,and,alightingonherfinger’stip,satwavingtheamplemagnificenceofitspurpleandgold-speckledwings,asifinpreludetoaflight.Itisimpossibletoexpressbywordstheglory,thesplendor,thedelicategorgeousnesswhichweresoftenedintothebeautyofthisobject.Nature’sidealbutterflywashererealizedinallitsperfection;notinthepatternofsuchfadedinsectsasflitamongearthlyflowers,butofthosewhichhoveracrossthemeadsofparadiseforchild-angelsandthespiritsofdepartedinfantstodisportthemselveswith.Therichdownwasvisibleuponitswings;thelustreofitseyesseemedinstinctwithspirit.Thefirelightglimmeredaroundthiswonder—thecandlesgleameduponit;butitglistenedapparentlybyitsownradiance,andilluminatedthefingerandoutstretchedhandonwhichitrestedwithawhitegleamlikethatofpreciousstones.Initsperfectbeauty,theconsiderationofsizewasentirelylost.Haditswingsoverreachedthefirmament,themindcouldnothavebeenmorefilledorsatisfied.
"Beautiful!beautiful!"exclaimedAnnie.
