Лавка древностей

Chapter 53

           

           Ifthepeaceofthesimplevillagehadmovedthechildmorestrongly,becauseofthedarkandtroubledwaysthatlaybeyond,andthroughwhichshehadjourneyedwithsuchfailingfeet,whatwasthedeepimpressionoffindingherselfaloneinthatsolemnbuilding,wheretheverylight,comingthroughsunkenwindows,seemedoldandgrey,andtheair,redolentofearthandmould,seemedladenwithdecay,purifiedbytimeofallitsgrosserparticles,andsighingthrougharchandaisle,andclusteredpillars,likethebreathofagesgone!Herewasthebrokenpavement,worn,solongago,bypiousfeet,thatTime,stealingonthepilgrims’steps,hadtroddenouttheirtrack,andleftbutcrumblingstones.Hereweretherottenbeam,thesinkingarch,thesappedandmoulderingwall,thelowlytrenchofearth,thestatelytombonwhichnoepitaphremained—all—marble,stone,iron,wood,anddust—onecommonmonumentofruin.Thebestworkandtheworst,theplainestandtherichest,thestateliestandtheleastimposing—bothofHeaven’sworkandMan’s—allfoundonecommonlevelhere,andtoldonecommontale.

           Somepartoftheedificehadbeenabaronialchapel,andherewereeffigiesofwarriorsstretchedupontheirbedsofstonewithfoldedhands—cross-legged,thosewhohadfoughtintheHolyWars—girdedwiththeirswords,andcasedinarmourastheyhadlived.Someoftheseknightshadtheirownweapons,helmets,coatsofmail,hanginguponthewallshardby,anddanglingfromrustyhooks.Brokenanddilapidatedastheywere,theyyetretainedtheirancientform,andsomethingoftheirancientaspect.

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