Милий друг
A Step Upward
Still,whatdifferencedoesalittlemoreoralittlelessgeniusmake,sinceallmustcometoanend?"Hepaused,andDuroysaidwithasmile:
"Youaregloomyto-night,sir!"
Thepoetreplied:"Ialwaysam,mychild;youwillbetooinafewyears.Whileoneisclimbingtheladder,oneseesthetopandfeelshopeful;butwhenonehasreachedthatsummit,oneseesthedescentandtheendwhichisdeath.Itisslowworkascending,butonedescendsrapidly.Atyourageoneisjoyous;onehopesformanythingswhichnevercometopass.Atmine,oneexpectsnothingbutdeath."
Duroylaughed:"Egad,youmakemeshudder."
NorbertdeVarennecontinued:"Youdonotunderstandmenow,butlateronyouwillrememberwhatIhavetoldyou.Webreathe,sleep,drink,eat,work,andthendie!Theendoflifeisdeath.Whatdoyoulongfor?Love?Afewkissesandyouwillbepowerless.Money?Whatfor?Togratifyyourdesires.Glory?Whatcomesafteritall?Death!Deathaloneiscertain."
Hestopped,tookDuroybyhiscoatcollarandsaidslowly:"Ponderuponallthat,youngman;thinkitoverfordays,months,andyears,andyouwillseelifefromadifferentstandpoint.Iamalonely,oldman.Ihaveneitherfather,mother,brother,sister,wife,children,norGod.Ihaveonlypoetry.Marry,myfriend;youdonotknowwhatitistolivealoneatmyage.Itissolonesome.Iseemtohavenooneuponearth.Whenoneisolditisacomforttohavechildren.
