Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 3
Forhim!Forhim!
Hesprangfromthebed,thereekingodourpouringdownhisthroat,cloggingandrevoltinghisentrails.Air!Theairofheaven!Hestumbledtowardsthewindow,groaningandalmostfaintingwithsickness.Atthewashstandaconvulsionseizedhimwithin;and,claspinghiscoldforeheadwildly,hevomitedprofuselyinagony.
Whenthefithadspentitselfhewalkedweaklytothewindowand,liftingthesash,satinacorneroftheembrasureandleanedhiselbowuponthesill.Therainhaddrawnoff;andamidthemovingvapoursfrompointtopointoflightthecitywasspinningaboutherselfasoftcocoonofyellowishhaze.Heavenwasstillandfaintlyluminousandtheairsweettobreathe,asinathicketdrenchedwithshowers;andamidpeaceandshimmeringlightsandquietfragrancehemadeacovenantwithhisheart.
Heprayed:
—HEONCEHADMEANTTOCOMEONEARTHINHEAVENLYGLORYBUTWESINNED;ANDTHENHECOULDNOTSAFELYVISITUSBUTWITHASHROUDEDMAJESTYANDABEDIMMEDRADIANCEFORHEWASGOD.SOHECAMEHIMSELFINWEAKNESSNOTINPOWERANDHESENTTHEE,ACREATUREINHISSTEAD,WITHACREATURESCOMELINESSANDLUSTRESUITEDTOOURSTATE.ANDNOWTHYVERYFACEANDFORM,DEARMOTHERSOAKTOUSOFTHEETERNALNOTLIKEEARTHLYBEAUTY,DANGEROUSTOLOOKUPON,BUTLIKETHEMORNINGSTARWHICHISTHYEMBLEM,BRIGHTANDMUSICAL,BREATHINGPURITY,TELLINGOFHEAVENANDINFUSINGPEACE.OHARBINGEROFDAY!OLIGHTOFTHEPILGRIM!LEADUSSTILLASTHOUHASTLED.
