Запретный лес
V. The Black Wood by Day
HereIamgayinanyweather,foritisakindlyplace.Confess,sir,thatIhavechosenwell."
"Youhavechosenwell.Itiswhatthepoetwroteof--Deusnobishæcotiafecit."
"La,la!ThatisLatin,andIamnotlearned.ButIcanquotemyownpoets."Andinavoicelikeabird’sshetrilledastanzaofwhichDavidcomprehendednomorethanthatitwasasongofSpring,andthatitwasFlorathegoddessherselfwhosangit.
"OfontaineBellerie,
Bellefontainechérie
DenosNymphes,quandtoneau
Lescacheaucreuxdetasource,
FuyantesleSatyreau
Quilespourchasseàlacourse
Jusqu’auborddetonruisseau,
TueslaNympheéternelle
Dematerrepaternelle--"
SomestrangeandcataclysmictransformationwasgoingoninDavid’smind.Herealizedthatafilmhadclearedfromhissight,andthathewaslookingwithneweyes.Thisdancingcreaturehadunlockedadoorforhim--whetherforgoodorillheknewnot,anddidnotcare.Hewantedtheworldtostandstillandthescenetoremainfixedforever--thespringgladeandthedark-hairedgirlsingingamongtheprimroses.Hehadthecouragenowtocallherbyhername.
"Youhaveavoicelikealinnet,MistressKatrine.Canyousingnoneofourcountrysongs?"
"Iamlearningthemfromtheserving-maids.Iknow’TheEwebuchts’and’TheYellow-hair’dLaddie’and--ah,thisistheoneforParadise,"andshesang:
"TheKing’syoungdochterwassittinginherwindow,
Sewingathersilkenseam;
Shelooktouto’abow-window,
Andshesawtheleavesgrowinggreen,
Myluve;
Andshesawtheleavesgrowinggreen.
