Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 5
Evenifhesenthertheversesshewouldnotshowthemtoothers.No,no;shecouldnot.
Hebegantofeelthathehadwrongedher.Asenseofherinnocencemovedhimalmosttopityher,aninnocencehehadneverunderstoodtillhehadcometotheknowledgeofitthroughsin,aninnocencewhichshetoohadnotunderstoodwhileshewasinnocentorbeforethestrangehumiliationofhernaturehadfirstcomeuponher.Thenfirsthersoulhadbeguntoliveashissoulhadwhenhehadfirstsinned,andatendercompassionfilledhisheartasherememberedherfrailpallorandhereyes,humbledandsaddenedbythedarkshameofwomanhood.
Whilehissoulhadpassedfromecstasytolanguorwherehadshebeen?Mightitbe,inthemysteriouswaysofspirituallife,thathersoulatthosesamemomentshadbeenconsciousofhishomage?Itmightbe.
Aglowofdesirekindledagainhissoulandfiredandfulfilledallhisbody.Consciousofhisdesireshewaswakingfromodoroussleep,thetemptressofhisvillanelle.Hereyes,darkandwithalookoflanguor,wereopeningtohiseyes.Hernakednessyieldedtohim,radiant,warm,odorousandlavish-limbed,enfoldedhimlikeashiningcloud,enfoldedhimlikewaterwithaliquidlife;andlikeacloudofvapourorlikewaterscircumfluentinspacetheliquidlettersofspeech,symbolsoftheelementofmystery,flowedforthoverhisbrain.
