按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
I bore thee back to those caves of Ko^r so many years
ago？ It all returns to my mind now。 I can see it； and
horrible is it to my sight！〃 and she shuddered。
Here Leo jumped up and hastily changed his seat。
However the reminiscence might affect Ayesha； it
clearly had few charms for him。
〃I brought you；〃 went on Ayesha； presently； 〃that ye
might look upon the most wonderful sight that ever the
eye of man beheldthe full moon shining over ruined
Ko^r。 When ye have done your eatingI would that I
could teach thee to eat naught but fruit； Kallikrates；
but that will come after thou hast laved in the fire。
Once I； too； ate flesh like a brute beast。 When ye
have done we will go out； and I will show you this
great temple and the god whom men once worshipped
therein。〃
Of course we got up at once； and started。 And here
again my pen fails me。 To give a string of
measurements and details of the various courts of the
temple would only be wearisome； supposing that I had
them； and yet I know not how I am to describe what we
saw； magnificent as it was even in its ruin； almost
beyond the power of realization。 Court upon dim court；
row upon row of mighty pillarssome of them
（especially at the gateways） sculptured from pedestal
to capitalspace upon space of empty chambers that
spoke more eloquently to the imagination than any
crowded streets。 And over all； the dead silence of the
dead； the sense of utter loneliness； and the brooding
spirit of the Past！ How beautiful it was； and yet how
drear！ We did not dare to speak aloud。 Ayesha herself
was awed in the presence of an antiquity compared to
which even her length of days was but a little thing；
we only whispered； and our whispers seemed to run from
column to column； till they were lost in the quiet
air。 Bright fell the moonlight on pillar and court and
shattered wall； hiding all their rents and
imperfections in its silver garment； and clothing
their hoar majesty with the peculiar glory of the
night。 It was a wonderful sight to see the full moon
looking down on the ruined fane of Ko^r。 It was a
wonderful thing to think for how many thousands of
years the dead orb above and the dead city below had
gazed thus upon each other； and in the utter solitude
of space poured forth each to each the tale of their
lost life and long…departed glory。 The white light
fell； and minute by minute the quiet shadows crept
across the grassgrown courts like the spirits of old
priests haunting the habitations of their worshipthe
white light fell； and the long shadows grew till the
beauty and grandeur of the scene and the untamed
majesty of its present death seemed to sink into our
very souls； and speak more loudly than the shouts of
armies concerning the pomp and splendor that the grave
had swallowed； and even memory had forgotten。
〃Come；〃 said Ayesha； after we had gazed and gazed； I
know not for how long； 〃and I will show you the stony
flower of Loveliness and Wonder's very crown； if yet
it stands to mock time with its beauty and fill the
heart of man with longing for that which is behind the
veil；〃 and； without waiting for an answer； she led us
through two more pillared courts into the inner shrine
of the old fane。
And there； in the centre of the inmost court； that
might have been some fifty yards square； or a little
more； we stood face to face with what is perhaps the
grandest allegorical work of art that the genius of
her children has ever given to the world。 For in the
exact centre of the court； placed upon a thick； square
slab of rock； was a huge round ball of dark stone；
some forty feet in diameter； and standing on the ball
was a colossal winged figure of a beauty so entrancing
and divine that when I first gazed upon it；
illuminated and shadowed as it was by the soft light
of the moon； my breath stood still； and for an instant
my heart ceased its beating。
The statue was hewn from marble so pure and white that
even now； after all those ages； it shone as the
moonbeams danced upon it； and its height was； I should
say； a trifle under twenty feet。 It was the winged
figure of a woman of such marvellous loveliness and
delicacy of。 form that the size seemed rather to add
to than to detract from its so human and yet more
spiritual beauty。 She was bending forward and poising
herself upon her half…spread wings as though to
preserve her balance as she leaned。 Her arms were
outstretched like those of some woman about to embrace
one she dearly loved； while her whole attitude gave an
impression of the tenderest beseeching。 Her perfect
and most gracious form was naked； saveand here came
the extraordinary thingthe face； which was thinly
veiled； so that we could only trace the marking of her
features。 A gauzy veil was thrown round and about the
head； and of its two ends one fell down across her
left breast； which was outlined beneath it； and one；
now broken； streamed away upon the air behind her。
〃Who is she？〃 I asked； as soon as I could take my eyes
off the statue。
〃Canst thou not guess； O Holly？〃 answered Ayesha。
〃Where then is thy imagination？ It is Truth standing
on the World； and calling to its children to veil her
face。 See what is writ upon the pedestal。 Without
doubt it is taken from the book of the Scriptures of
these men of Ko^r；〃 and she led the way to the foot of
the statue； where an inscription of the usual Chinese…
looking hieroglyphics was so deeply graven as to be
still quite legible； at least to Ayesha。 According to
her translation it ran thus：
〃'Is there no man that will draw my veil and look upon
my face； lo！ it is very fair？ Unto him who draws my
veil shall I be； and peace will I give him； and sweet
children of knowledge and good works。'
〃And a voice cried； 'Though all those who seek alter
thee desire thee； behold！ Virgin art thou； and Virgin
shalt thou go till Time be done。 No man is there born
of woman who may draw thy veil and live； nor shall be。
By Death only can thy veil be drawn； oh Truth！'
〃And Truth stretched out her arms and wept； because
those who sought her might not find her； nor look upon
her face to face。〃
〃Thou seest；〃 said Ayesha； when she had finished
translating； 〃Truth was the Goddess of the people of
old Ko^r； and to her they built their shrines； and her
they sought； knowing that they should never find；
still sought they。〃
〃And so；〃 I added； sadly； 〃do men seek to this very
hour； but they find not； and； as this scripture saith；
nor shall they； for in Death only is Truth found。〃
Then； with one more look at this veiled and
spiritualized lovelinesswhich was so perfect and so
pure that one might almost fancy that the light of a
living spirit shone through the marble prison to lead
man on to high and ethereal thoughtsthis poet's
dream of beauty frozen into stone； which I never shall
forget while I live； though I find myself so helpless
when I attempt to describe it； we turned and went back
through the vast moonlit courts to the spot whence we
had started。 I never saw the statue again； which I the
more regret； because on t