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The Merry Men-Part10_ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON(1850-1894)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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heartily back again. The air is not so light nor so pure; nor is



the sun any brighter. As for the beautiful men and women, you

would see many of them in rags and many of them deformed with



horrible disorders; and a city is so hard a place for people who

are poor and sensitive that many choose to die by their own hand.'



'You must think me very simple,' answered Will. 'Although I have

never been out of this valley, believe me, I have used my eyes. I



know how one thing lives on another; for instance, how the fish

hangs in the eddy to catch his fellows; and the shepherd, who makes



so pretty a picture carrying home the lamb, is only carrying it

home for dinner. I do not expect to find all things right in your



cities. That is not what troubles me; it might have been that once

upon a time; but although I live here always, I have asked many



questions and learned a great deal in these last years, and

certainly enough to cure me of my old fancies. But you would not



have me die like a dog and not see all that is to be seen, and do

all that a man can do, let it be good or evil? you would not have



me spend all my days between this road here and the river, and not

so much as make a motion to be up and live my life? - I would



rather die out of hand,' he cried, 'than linger on as I am doing.'

'Thousands of people,' said the young man, 'live and die like you,



and are none the less happy.'

'Ah!' said Will, 'if there are thousands who would like, why should



not one of them have my place?'

It was quite dark; there was a hanging lamp in the arbour which lit



up the table and the faces of the speakers; and along the arch, the

leaves upon the trellis stood out illuminated against the night



sky, a pattern of transparent green upon a dusky purple. The fat

young man rose, and, taking Will by the arm, led him out under the



open heavens.

'Did you ever look at the stars?' he asked, pointing upwards.



'Often and often,' answered Will.

'And do you know what they are?'



'I have fancied many things.'

'They are worlds like ours,' said the young man. 'Some of them



less; many of them a million times greater; and some of the least

sparkles that you see are not only worlds, but whole clusters of



worlds turning about each other in the midst of space. We do not

know what there may be in any of them; perhaps the answer to all



our difficulties or the cure of all our sufferings: and yet we can

never reach them; not all the skill of the craftiest of men can fit



out a ship for the nearest of these our neighbours, nor would the

life of the most aged suffice for such a journey. When a great



battle has been lost or a dear friend is dead, when we are hipped

or in high spirits, there they are unweariedly shining overhead.



We may stand down here, a whole army of us together, and shout

until we break our hearts, and not a whisper reaches them. We may



climb the highest mountain, and we are no nearer them. All we can

do is to stand down here in the garden and take off our hats; the



starshine lights upon our heads, and where mine is a little bald, I

dare say you can see it glisten in the darkness. The mountain and



the mouse. That is like to be all we shall ever have to do with

Arcturus or Aldebaran. Can you apply a parable?' he added, laying



his hand upon Will's shoulder. 'It is not the same thing as a

reason, but usually vastly more convincing.'



Will hung his head a little, and then raised it once more to

heaven. The stars seemed to expand and emit a sharper brilliancy;



and as he kept turning his eyes higher and higher, they seemed to

increase in multitude under his gaze.



'I see,' he said, turning to the young man. 'We are in a rat-

trap.'



'Something of that size. Did you ever see a squirrel turning in a

cage? and another squirrel sitting philosophically over his nuts?



I needn't ask you which of them looked more of a fool.'

CHAPTER II. THE PARSON'S MARJORY.



After some years the old people died, both in one winter, very

carefully tended by their adopted son, and very quietly mourned



when they were gone. People who had heard of his roving fancies

supposed he would hasten to sell the property, and go down the



river to push his fortunes. But there was never any sign of such

in intention on the part of Will. On the contrary, he had the inn



set on a better footing, and hired a couple of servants to assist




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