第12部分(第6/7 頁)

back　in　my　chair　to　watch　the　pageant。　It　was　rather　pleasant

sitting　there；　〃idle　as　a　painted　ship　upon　a　painted　ocean；〃　watching

my　own　thoughts　at　play。　It　was　like　thinking　fine　things　to　say　without

taking　the　trouble　to　write　them。　I　felt　like　Alice　in　Wonderland　when

she　ran　at　full　speed　with　the　red　queen　and　never　passed　anything　or

got　anywhere。

The　merry　frolic　went　on　madly。　The　dancers　were　all　manner　of　thoughts。

There　were　sad　thoughts　and　happy　thoughts；　thoughts　suited　to　every

clime　and　weather；　thoughts　bearing　the　mark　of　every　age　and　nation；

silly　thoughts　and　wise　thoughts；　thoughts　of　people；　of　things；　and　of

nothing；　good　thoughts；　impish　thoughts；　and　large；　gracious　thoughts。

There　they　went　swinging　hand…in…hand　in　corkscrew　fashion。　An　antic

jester　in　green　and　gold　led　the　dance。　The　guests　followed　no　order　or

precedent。　No　two　thoughts　were　related　to　each　other　even　by　the

fortieth　cousinship。　There　was　not　so　much　as　an　international　alliance

between　them。　Each　thought　behaved　like　a　newly　created　poet。

〃His　mouth　he　could　not　ope；

But　there　flew　out　a　trope。〃

Magical　lyrics……oh；　if　I　only　had　written　them　down！　Pell…mell　they　came

doy　mind；　this　merry　throng。　With

bacchanal　song　and　shout　they　came；　and　eye　hath　not　since　beheld

confusion　worse　confounded。

Shut　your　eyes；　and　see　them　e……the　knights　and　ladies　of　my　revel。

Plumed　and　turbaned　they　e；　clad　in　mail　and　silken　broideries；

gentle　maids　in　Quaker　gray；　gay　princes　in　scarlet　cloaks；　coquettes

with　roses　in　their　hair；　monks　in　cowls　that　might　have　covered　the

tall　Minster　Tower；　demure　litt