Запретный лес
VI. The Black Wood by Night
Springhadnowfairlycome;theyewsinthekirkyardwererussetwithyoungshoots,theblossomwasbreakingonthehawthorn,andhazelandoakandashwereinleaf.HisspiritwastooladentobesensibleofthesweetinfluencesofskyandmoorlandasonthewalkwhichhadfirsttakenhimtoParadise.Buttherewasinhimwhathadbeenlackingbefore--excitement,forhehadtastedofmagicandwasintheconstantexpectationoffindingitagain.Thelandwasnotasithadoncebeen,foritheldsomewhereenchantments--agirl’sfaceandagirl’svoice.FromthesummitoftheHillofDeerhelookedtowardsCalidonhiddeninthefoldoftheRoodhills.Wasshethereinthestonetower,oramongthemeadowswhosegreenshowedintheturnoftheglen?OrwassheinheroldplaygroundoftheWood?
Hehadresolvednottogoneartheplace,sohesethimselftowalkintheoppositedirectionalongtheridgeofhillwhichmadethenorthernwalloftheRoodvalley.Ashestrodeovertheshortturfandscrambledthroughthepatchesofpeat-boghisspiritsrose.Itwashardnottobelight-heartedinthatworldofessentialairsandfreshodoursandnestingbirds.PresentlyhewasinviewofCalidontower,andthenhewaspastit,andtheRoodbelowhimwascreepingnearertohislevelasitsglenliftedtowardsitssource.Hestrodealongtillhefeltthesedentaryhumoursleavehisbodyandhislimbsacquirethelightnesswhichistherewardofthehillwalker.Heseemed,too,togainalightnessofsoulandaclearnessofeye.
