第38部分(第1/7 頁)

readiness。

They　passed　up　the　steep　hill；　he　eager　as　a　pilgrim　arriving

at　the　shrine。　As　they　came　near　the　precincts；　with　castle　on

one　side　and　cathedral　on　the　other；　his　veins　seemed　to　break

into　fiery　blossom；　he　was　transported。

They　had　passed　through　the　gate；　and　the　great　west　front

was　before　them；　with　all　its　breadth　and　ornament。

〃It　is　a　false　front；〃　he　said；　looking　at　the　golden　stone

and　the　twin　towers；　and　loving　them　just　the　same。　In　a　little

ecstasy　he　found　himself　in　the　porch；　on　the　brink　of　the

unrevealed。　He　looked　up　to　the　lovely　unfolding　of　the　stone。

He　was　to　pass　within　to　the　perfect　womb。

Then　he　pushed　open　the　door；　and　the　great；　pillared　gloom

was　before　him；　in　which　his　soul　shuddered　and　rose　from　her

nest。　His　soul　leapt；　soared　up　into　the　great　church。　His　body

stood　still；　absorbed　by　the　height。　His　soul　leapt　up　into　the

gloom；　into　possession；　it　reeled；　it　swooned　with　a　great

escape；　it　quivered　in　the　womb；　in　the　hush　and　the　gloom　of

fecundity；　like　seed　of　procreation　in　ecstasy。

She　too　was　overe　with　wonder　and　awe。　She　followed　him　in

his　progress。　Here；　the　twilight　was　the　very　essence　of　life；

the　coloured　darkness　was　the　embryo　of　all　light；　and　the　day。

Here；　the　very　first　dawn　was　breaking；　the　very　last　sunset

sinking；　and　the　immemorial　darkness；　whereof　life's　day　would

blossom　and　fall　away　again；　re…echoed　peace　and　profound

immemorial　silence。

Away　from　time；　always　outside　of　time！　Between　east　and

west；　between　dawn　and　sunset；　the　church　lay　like　a　seed　in

silence；　dark　before　germination；　si