Запретный лес
II. The Road to Calidon
Andthen,atonesteptheWoodceasedandhewasamongmeadows.
Heknewtheplace,forafterthedarknessofthetreestheland,thoughthemoonhadnotrisen,seemedalmostlight.ThereinfrontwasthevaledownwhichAllerflowed,andontherightwashisownfamiliarglenofRood.Nowhecouldlaughathisoppression--nowthathewasamongthepleasantfieldswherehehadplayedasaboy....WhyhadheforgottenabouttheBlackWood,forithadnopartinhismemories?True,hehadcomealwaystoRoodfootbytheotherroadbehindtheHillofDeer,buttherewerethedarkpinesnotamileoff--hemusthaveadventuredmanytimeswithintheirfringes.Hethoughtthatitwasbecauseachildisshieldedbyinnocencefromugliness....Andyet,eventhen,hehadhadmanynightmaresandfledfrommanybogles.ButnotfromtheWood....Nodoubtitwasthegrowingcorruptionofaman’sheart.
ThemillatRoodfootstoodgauntandtenantless,passingswiftlyintodecay.Hecouldseethatthemill-wheelhadgone,anditssupportsstooduplikebrokenteeth;theladewaschokedwithrushes;thelineofahillshowedthroughthebrokenrigging.Hehadknownofthis,butnonethelessthesightgavehimapang,forDavidwasajealousconserverofhispast....ButasthepathturneduptheglenbesidethebrawlingRood,hehadasuddenupliftingofspirit.Thiscouldnotchange,thissecretvalley,whoseeverycornerhehadquartered,whoseeverynookwasthehomeofadelightfulmemory.Hefeltagaintheoldardour,when,releasedfromEdinburgh,hehadfirstrevisitedhishaunts,tearfulwithexcitedjoy.
