Запретный лес
VI. The Black Wood by Night
ItwascleartohimthathewouldnotfindParadiseexceptbyhappychance,sincehewasutterlyoutofhisbearings.Buthewascontenttobelost,forthewholeplacewasParadise.Neverbeforehadhefeltsostronganaturalmagic.Thiswoodland,whichhehadonceshunned,hadbecomeaholyplace,litwithheavenlylightsandhallowedbysomeprimordialpeace.Hehadforgottenaboutthegirl,forgottenhisscruples.Inthathourhehadacquiredamoodatoncesereneandgay:hehadthelight-heartednessofaboyandtheeaseofawisephilosopher;hisbodyseemedaslightasair,and,thoughhehadalreadywalkedsometwentymiles,hefeltasifhehadjustrisenfromhisbed.Buttherewasnoexuberanceinhim,andhehadnottheimpulsetosingwhichusuallyattendedhisseasonsofhighspirits....Thesilencestruckuponhimassomethingatoncemiraculousandjust.TherewasnotasoundintheWood--notthelightestwhisperofwind,thoughtherehadbeenabreezeonthehilltopsatsundown--notthecryofasinglebird--notarustleintheundergrowth.Theplacewasdumb--notdead,butsleeping.
Suddenlyhecameintoabroadgladeoverwhichthemoonshineflowedlikeatide.Itwasallofsoftmossygreen,withoutpebbleorbushtobreakitscarpet,andinthecentrestoodathinglikeanaltar.
Atfirsthethoughtitwasonlyaboulderdroppedfromthehill.Butashenearedithesawthatitwashumanhandiwork.Masonscenturiesagohadwroughtonit,foritwasroughlysquared,andfirmlyfoundedonapediment.
