Запретный лес
X. What the Moon Saw
Thethoughtgavehimanunreasoningpleasure.Hewasnotcutofffromtheworldoflight,for,whateverbefellontheearthbeneathhim,hehadbuttoliftuphiseyesandtheyrestedonahappiercountry.
Asthemoonrose,themultitudinouslittlenoisesofawoodatnightwerehushed.Therewasasleepymutteringofcushatstothesouthofhim,andthen,withaclatterwhichmadehimjump,thebirdsroseinaflockandflewacrossthevalley.Afterthattherewasnosounduntilthemusicbegan.
Therewasnofixedmomentforitsbeginning,foritseemedtostealinsensiblyintotheair.Anditwasscarcelymusic,butratheradelicatebabbleoftongueswhichmadeacrooninglikethelownotesofapipe.Thesoundwasallbeneathhimneartheground,andgatheringfromdifferentquarterstoonecentre.Suddenly,inthemidstofitcameasharpliquidnote,severaltimesrepeated,anotewithauthorityinitlikeatrumpet,andyetineffablyfaintanddistantasifitweretheechoofanecho.ItdidnotflutterDavid’sheart,fortherewasnothreatinit,butithadastrangeeffectuponhismind.Foritseemedfamiliar,andtherewasthatinhimwhichansweredit.Hefeltaboyagain,forinthecalltherewasthehappyriotandthefarhorizonsofchildhood,andthenoiseofhillwindsandburns,andthescentofheatherandthyme,andalltheunforgottenthingsofmemory.
Thesilvertrumpetdidnotspeakagain,butthesoftbabblewascreepingnearer,andsuddenlyjustbeneathhimitbroadenedanddeepenedintothesoundofpipes.Helookeddownandsawthatthedancehadbegun.
