第27章 与美丽邂逅 9（第1页）

第27章与美丽邂逅（9）

Iuedinthiswaytomovefromtombtotomb，andfromchapeltochapel。Thedaywasgraduallywearingaway；thedistanttreadofloiterersabouttheabbeygrewlessandlessfrequeonguedbellwassummoningtoeveningprayers；andIsawatadistaers，iesurplices，gtheaisleahechoir。IstoodbeforetheeoHeh’schapel。Aflightofstepsleadupthadeepandgloomy，butmagarch。Greatgatesofbrass，riddelicatelywrought，turnheavilyupes，asifproudlyreluitthefeetofortalsintothismeousofsepulchres。

&eriohepompofarchitedtheelaboratebeautyofsculptureddetail。Theverywallsarewroughtintouniversalor，iradstoniches，crowdedwiththestatutesofsaintsandmartyrs。Stoheglaborofthechisel，tohavebeesweightay，suspe，asifbymagidthefrettedroofachievedwiththewonderfulminutenessayofacobweb。

AlongthesidesofthechapelaretheloftystallsoftheKnightsoftheBath，richlycarvedofoak，thoughwiththegrotesquedesofGothicarchitethepihestallsareaffixedthehelmetsaheknights，withtheirsdswords；ahemaresuspeheirbanners，emblazoharms，andgthesplendoldandpurpleandwiththecoldgrayfretworkoftheroof。Iofthisgraandsthesepulchreofitsfounder，—hiseffigy，withthatofhisqueeendedonasumptuoustomb，andthewholesurroundedbyasuperblywroughtbrazenrailing。

Thereisasaddrearihismagraureoftombsaheseemblemsoflivingandaspiringambition，closebesidemementoswhichshowthedustandoblivioninwhichallmustsooertermihiheminderfeelihahesileedserthronga。Onlookingroustallsoftheknightsandtheiresquires，andontherowsofdustybutgeousbawereohem，myimaginatiohesthishallwasbrightwiththevalorahelahthesplendorofjeweledrankandmilitaryarray；alivewiththetreadofmahehumofanadmiringmultitude。Allhadpassedaway；thesilehhadsettledagainuponthewhichhadfoundtheirwayintothedbuilttheirsamongitsfriezesas—suresignofsolitarinessaion。

Whehenamesihebahoseofmenscatteredfaraheworld；sometossingupondistantseas；someunderarmsindistantlands；samemingliriguesofdets；allseekingtodeserveoioninthismansionofshadowyhonors：themelancholyrewardofamo。

Twosmallaislesoneachsideofthischapelpresentatoustayofthegraves；whigsdowntheoppressortoalevelwiththeoppressed，ahedustofthebitteresteher。IhesepulchreofthehaughtyElizabeth；iofhervictim，thelovelyandunfortunateMary。Notanhourisomeejaofpityisutteredoverthefateofthelatter，mihindignationatheroppressor。ThewallsofElizabeth’ssepultihthesighsofsympathyheavedatthegraveofherrival。

ApeculiarmelanchheaislewhereMaryliesburied。Thelightstrugglesdimlythroughwindowsdarke。Thegreaterpartofthepladeepshadow，andthewallsarestaiiimeaher。AmarblefigureofMaryisstretb，roundwhiir，muchcorrherhethistle。Iithwandering，andsatdowmyselfbytheminmymindtheddisastrousstoryofpoorMary。

Thesoundofcasualfootstepshadtheabbey。Ilyhear，nowahedistahepriestrepeatingtheevenihefaintrespohechoir，thesepausedforatime，andallwashushed。Thestillionandobscuritythatrevailingaround，gaveadeeperandmoresolemheplace。

Forigraveion，

Nojoyfultreadoffriends，novoiceoflovers，

her’ssel—nothing’sheard，

Fis，butalloblivion，

Dustandanendlessdarkness。

正值深秋时节，这时的天气让人感觉冷清而忧郁，早晨的阴影几乎和傍晚的相接，这更给岁末衰落的气氛笼罩了一层灰蒙蒙的色彩。就是在这样的一天，我一个人在威斯敏斯特教堂走了几个小时。在这古老的建筑群中，有一种凄凉的感觉与这个季节的色调刚好吻合。我跨进门槛，似乎一脚迈进了古老的年代，将自己融入久远之前的夜色中。