Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 5
Hetriedtocountthembeforealltheirdartingquiveringbodiespassed:six,ten,eleven:andwonderedweretheyoddoreveninnumber.Twelve,thirteen:fortwocamewheelingdownfromtheuppersky.Theywereflyinghighandlowbuteverroundandroundinstraightandcurvinglinesandeverflyingfromlefttoright,circlingaboutatempleofair.
Helistenedtothecries:likethesqueakofmicebehindthewainscot:ashrilltwofoldnote.Butthenoteswerelongandshrillandwhirring,unlikethecryofvermin,fallingathirdorafourthandtrilledastheflyingbeaksclovetheair.Theircrywasshrillandclearandfineandfallinglikethreadsofsilkenlightunwoundfromwhirringspools.
Theinhumanclamoursoothedhisearsinwhichhismother’ssobsandreproachesmurmuredinsistentlyandthedarkfrailquiveringbodieswheelingandflutteringandswervingroundanairytempleofthetenuousskysoothedhiseyeswhichstillsawtheimageofhismother’sface.
Whywashegazingupwardsfromthestepsoftheporch,hearingtheirshrilltwofoldcry,watchingtheirflight?Foranauguryofgoodorevil?AphraseofCorneliusAgrippaflewthroughhismindandthenthereflewhitherandthithershapelessthoughtsfromSwedenborgonthecorrespondenceofbirdstothingsoftheintellectandofhowthecreaturesoftheairhavetheirknowledgeandknowtheirtimesandseasonsbecausethey,unlikeman,areintheorderoftheirlifeandhavenotpervertedthatorderbyreason.
