the professor at the breakfast table-第23部分
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miserable victims of a falsely…interpreted religion starved and
withered in their delusion。
I have looked on the face of a saintly woman this very day； whose
creed many dread and hate； but whose life is lovely and noble beyond
all praise。 When I remember the bitter words I have heard spoken
against her faith； by men who have an Inquisition which
excommunicates those who ask to leave their communion in peace； and
an Index Expurgatorius on which this article may possibly have the
honor of figuring；and； far worse than these； the reluctant；
pharisaical confession； that it might perhaps be possible that one
who so believed should be accepted of the Creator；and then recall
the sweet peace and love that show through all her looks； the price
of untold sacrifices and labors； and again recollect how thousands of
women； filled with the same spirit； die； without a murmur； to earthly
life； die to their own names even； that they may know nothing but
their holy duties；while men are torturing and denouncing their
fellows； and while we can hear day and night the clinking of the
hammers that are trying； like the brute forces in the 〃Prometheus；〃
to rivet their adamantine wedges right through the breast of human
nature；I have been ready to believe that we have even now a new
revelation； and the name of its Messiah is WOMAN！
I should be sorry；I remarked； a day or two afterwards； to the
divinity…student；if anything I said tended in any way to foster any
jealousy between the professions； or to throw disrespect upon that
one on whose counsel and sympathies almost all of us lean in our
moments of trial。 But we are false to our new conditions of life； if
we do not resolutely maintain our religious as well as our political
freedom； in the face of any and all supposed monopolies。 Certain men
will； of course； say two things； if we do not take their views：
first； that we don't know anything about these matters； and；
secondly； that we are not so good as they are。 They have a polarized
phraseology for saying these things； but it comes to precisely that。
To which it may be answered； in the first place； that we have good
authority for saying that even babes and sucklings know something；
and； in the second； that； if there is a mote or so to be removed from
our premises； the courts and councils of the last few years have
found beams enough in some other quarters to build a church that
would hold all the good people in Boston and have sticks enough left
to make a bonfire for all the heretics。
As to that terrible depolarizing process of mine； of which we were
talking the other day； I will give you a specimen of one way of
managing it； if you like。 I don't believe it will hurt you or
anybody。 Besides； I had a great deal rather finish our talk with
pleasant images and gentle words than with sharp sayings； which will
only afford a text； if anybody repeats them； for endless relays of
attacks from Messrs。 Ananias； Shimei； and Rabshakeh。
＇I must leave such gentry； if any of them show themselves； in the
hands of my clerical friends； many of whom are ready to stand up for
the rights of the laity；and to those blessed souls； the good women；
to whom this version of the story of a mother's hidden hopes and
tender anxieties is dedicated by their peaceful and loving servant。＇
A MOTHER'S SECRET。
How sweet the sacred legendif unblamed
In my slight verse such holy things are named
Of Mary's secret hours of hidden joy；
Silent； but pondering on her wondrous boy！
Ave； Maria！ Pardon； if I wrong
Those heavenly words that shame my earthly song！
The choral host had closed the angel's strain
Sung to the midnight watch on Bethlehem's plain；
And now the shepherds； hastening on their way；
Sought the still hamlet where the Infant lay。
They passed the fields that gleaning Ruth toiled O'er；
They saw afar the ruined threshing…floor
Where Moab's daughter； homeless and forlorn；
Found Boaz slumbering by his heaps of corn；
And some remembered how the holy scribe；
Skilled in the lore of every jealous tribe；
Traced the warm blood of Jesse's royal son
To that fair alien； bravely wooed and won。
So fared they on to seek the promised sign
That marked the anointed heir of David's line。
At last； by forms of earthly semblance led；
They found the crowded inn； the oxen's shed。
No pomp was there； no glory shone around
On the coarse straw that strewed the reeking ground；
One dim retreat a flickering torch betrayed；
In that poor cell the Lord of Life was laid！
The wondering shepherds told their breathless tale
Of the bright choir that woke the sleeping vale；
Told how the skies with sudden glory flamed；
Told how the shining multitude proclaimed
〃Joy； joy to earth！ Behold the hallowed morn！
In David's city Christ the Lord is born！
'Glory to God！' let angels shout on high；
'Good…will to men！' the listening Earth reply！〃
They spoke with hurried words and accents wild；
Calm in his cradle slept the heavenly child。
No trembling word the mother's joy revealed；
One sigh of rapture； and her lips were sealed；
Unmoved she saw the rustic train depart；
But kept their words to ponder in her heart。
Twelve years had passed； the boy was fair and tall；
Growing in wisdom； finding grace with all。
The maids of Nazareth； as they trooped to fill
Their balanced urns beside the mountain…rill；
The gathered matrons； as they sat and spun；
Spoke in soft words of Joseph's quiet son。
No voice had reached the Galilean vale
Of star…led kings or awe…struck shepherds' tale；
In the meek； studious child they only saw
The future Rabbi； learned in Israel's law。
So grew the boy； and now the feast was near；
When at the holy place the tribes appear。
Scarce had the home…bred child of Nazareth seen
Beyond the hills that girt the village…green；
Save when at midnight； o'er the star…lit sands；
Snatched from the steel of Herod's murdering bands；
A babe； close…folded to his mother's breast；
Through Edom's wilds he sought the sheltering West。
Then Joseph spake ： 〃Thy boy hath largely grown；
Weave him fine raiment； fitting to be shown；
Fair robes beseem the pilgrim； as the priest
Goes he not with us to the holy feast？〃
And Mary culled the flaxen fibres white；
Till eve she spun； she spun till morning light。
The thread was twined； its parting meshes through
》From hand to hand her restless shuttle flew；
Till the full web was wound upon the beam；
Love's curious toil；a vest without a seam！
They reach the holy place； fulfil the days
To solemn feasting given； and grateful praise。
At last they turn； and far Moriah's height
Melts in the southern sky and fades from sight。
All day the dusky caravan has flowed
In devious trails along the winding road；
（For many a step their homeward path attends；
And all the sons of Abraham are as friends。）
Evening has come；the hour of rest and joy；
Hush！ hush！that whisper；…〃Where is Mary's boy？〃
O weary hour！ O aching days that passed
Filled with strange fears； each wilder than the last：
The soldier's lance；the fierce centurion's sword；
The crushing wheels that whirl some Roman lord；
The midnight crypt that suck's the captive's breath；
The blistering sun on Hinnom's vale of death！
Thrice on his cheek had rained the morning light；
Thrice on his lips the mildewed kiss of night；
Crouched by some porphyry column's shining plinth；
Or stretched beneath the odorous terebinth。
At last； in desperate mood； they sought once more
The Temple's porches； searched in vain before；
They found him seated with the ancient men；
The grim old rufflers of the tongue and pen；
Their bald heads glistening as they clustered near；
Their gray beards slanting as they turned to hear；
Lost in half…envious wonder and surprise
That lips so fresh should utter words so wise。
And Mary said；as one who； tried too long；
Tells all her grief and half her sense of wrong；
What is this thoughtless thing which thou hast done？
Lo； we have sought thee sorrowing； O my son！
〃Few words he spake； and scarce of filial tone；
Strange words； their sense a mystery yet unknown；
Then turned with them and left the holy hill；
To all their mild commands obedient still。
The tale was told to Nazareth's sober men；
And Nazareth's matrons told it oft again；
The maids retold it at the fountain's side；
The youthful shepherds doubted or denied；
It passed around among the listening friends；
With all that fancy adds and fiction fends；
Till newer marvels dimmed the young renown
Of Joseph's son； who talked the Rabbis down。
But Mary； faithful to its lightest word；
Kept in her heart the sayings she had heard；
Till the dread morning rent the Temple's veil；
And shuddering Earth confirmed the wondrous tale。
Youth fades； love droops； the leaves of friendship fall；
A mother's secret hope outlives them all。
VI
You don't look so dreadful poor in the face as you did a while back。
Bloated some； I expect。
This was the cheerful and encouraging and elegant remark with which
the Poor Relation greeted the divinity…student one morning。
Of course every good man considers it a great sacrifice on his part
to continue living in this transitory； unsatisfactory； and
particularly unpleasant world。 This is so much a matter of course；
that I was surprised to see the divinity…student change color。 He
took a look at a small and uncertain…minded glass which hung slanting
forward over the chapped sideboard。 The image it returned to him had
the color of a very young pea somewhat overboiled。 The scenery of a
long tragic drama flashed through his mind as the lightning…express…
train whishes by a station： the gradual dismantling process of
disease； friends looking on； sympathetic； but secretly chuckling over
their own stomachs of iron and lungs of caoutchouc； nurses atten
