Beauty of form and beauty of mind
作者：古文学 时间：2017/12/18 8:50:14 阅读：次 类别：英语童话
BEAUTYOFFORMANDBEAUTYOFMIND故事
THEREwasonceasculptor,namedAlfred,whohavingwonthelargegoldmedalandobtainedatravellingscholarship,wenttoItaly,andthencamebacktohisnativeland.Hewasyoungatthattime-indeed,heisyoungstill,althoughheistenyearsolderthanhewasthen.Onhisreturn,hewenttovisitoneofthelittletownsintheislandofZealand.Thewholetownknewwhothestrangerwas;andoneoftherichestmenintheplacegaveapartyinhishonor,andallwhowereofanyconsequence,orwhopossessedsomeproperty,wereinvited.Itwasquiteanevent,andallthetownknewofit,sothatitwasnotnecessarytoannounceitbybeatofdrum.
Apprentice-boys,childrenofthepoor,andeventhepoorpeoplethemselves,stoodbeforethehouse,watchingthelightedwindows;andthewatchmanmighteasilyfancyhewasgivingapartyalso,thereweresomanypeopleinthestreets.
Therewasquiteanairoffestivityaboutit,andthehousewasfullofit;forMr.Alfred,thesculptor,wasthere.Hetalkedandtoldanecdotes,andeveryonelistenedtohimwithpleasure,notunmingledwithawe;butnonefeltsomuchrespectforhimasdidtheelderlywidowofanavalofficer.
Sheseemed,sofarasMr.Alfredwasconcerned,tobelikeapieceoffreshblotting-paperthatabsorbedallhesaidandaskedformore.Shewasveryappreciative,andincrediblyignorant-akindoffemaleGasparHauser."IshouldliketoseeRome,"shesaid;"itmustbealovelycity,orsomanyforeignerswouldnotbeconstantlyarrivingthere.Now,dogivemeadescriptionofRome.Howdoesthecitylookwhenyouenterinatthegate?"
"Icannotverywelldescribeit,"saidthesculptor;"butyouenteronalargeopenspace,inthecentreofwhichstandsanobelisk,whichisathousandyearsold."
"Anorganist!"exclaimedthelady,whohadneverheardtheword’obelisk.’Severaloftheguestscouldscarcelyforbearlaughing,andthesculptorwouldhavehadsomedifficultyinkeepinghiscountenance,butthesmileonhislipsfadedaway;forhecaughtsightofapairofdark-blueeyesclosebythesideoftheinquisitivelady.Theybelongedtoherdaughter;andsurelynoonewhohadsuchadaughtercouldbesilly.Themotherwaslikeafountainofquestions;andthedaughter,wholistenedbutneverspoke,mighthavepassedforthebeautifulmaidofthefountain.Howcharmingshewas!Shewasastudyforthesculptortocontemplate,butnottoconversewith;forshedidnotspeak,or,atleast,veryseldom.
"Hasthepopeagreatfamily?"inquiredthelady.Theyoungmanansweredconsiderately,asifthequestionhadbeenadifferentone,"No;hedoesnotcomefromagreatfamily."
"ThatisnotwhatIasked,"persistedthewidow;"Imean,hasheawifeandchildren?"
"Thepopeisnotallowedtomarry,"repliedthegentleman.
"Idon’tlikethat,"wasthelady’sremark.Shecertainlymighthaveaskedmoresensiblequestions;butifshehadnotbeenallowedtosayjustwhatsheliked,wouldherdaughterhavebeenthere,leaningsogracefullyonhershoulder,andlookingstraightbeforeher,withasmilethatwasalmostmournfulonherface?
Mr.AlfredagainspokeofItaly,andofthegloriouscolorsinItalianscenery;thepurplehills,thedeepblueoftheMediterranean,theazureofsouthernskies,whosebrightnessandglorycouldonlybesurpassedinthenorthbythedeep-blueeyesofamaiden;andhesaidthiswithapeculiarintonation;butshewhoshouldhaveunderstoodhismeaninglookedquiteunconsciousofit,whichalsowascharming."BeautifulItaly!"sighedsomeoftheguests.
"Oh,totravelthere!"exclaimedothers.
"Charming!Charming!"echoedfromeveryvoice.
"Imayperhapswinahundredthousanddollarsinthelottery,"saidthenavalofficer’swidow;"andifIdo,wewilltravel-Iandmydaughter;andyou,Mr.Alfred,mustbeourguide.Wecanallthreetraveltogether,withoneortwomoreofourgoodfriends."Andshenoddedinsuchafriendlywayatthecompany,thateachimaginedhimselftobethefavoredpersonwhowastoaccompanythemtoItaly."Yes,wemustgo,"shecontinued;"butnottothosepartswheretherearerobbers.WewillkeeptoRome.Inthepublicroadsoneisalwayssafe."
Thedaughtersighedverygently;andhowmuchtheremaybeinasigh,orattributedtoit!Theyoungmanattributedagreatdealofmeaningtothissigh.Thosedeep-blueeyes,whichhadbeenlitupthiseveninginhonorofhim,mustconcealtreasures,treasuresofheartandmind,richerthanallthegloriesofRome;andsowhenheleftthepartythatnight,hehadlostitcompletelytotheyounglady.Thehouseofthenavalofficer’swidowwastheonemostconstantlyvisitedbyMr.Alfred,thesculptor.Itwassoonunderstoodthathisvisitswerenotintendedforthatlady,thoughtheywerethepersonswhokeptuptheconversation.Hecameforthesakeofthedaughter.TheycalledherKaela.HernamewasreallyKarenMalena,andthesetwonameshadbeencontractedintotheonenameKaela.Shewasreallybeautiful;butsomesaidshewasratherdull,andsleptlateofamorning.
"Shehasbeenaccustomedtothat,"hermothersaid."Sheisabeauty,andtheyarealwayseasilytired.Shedoessleepratherlate;butthatmakeshereyessoclear."Whatpowerseemedtolieinthedepthsofthosedarkeyes!
Theyoungmanfeltthetruthoftheproverb,"Stillwatersrundeep:"andhishearthadsunkintotheirdepths.Heoftentalkedofhisadventures,andthemammawasassimpleandeagerinherquestionsasonthefirsteveningtheymet.ItwasapleasuretohearAlfreddescribeanything.HeshowedthemcoloredplatesofNaples,andspokeofexcursionstoMountVesuvius,andtheeruptionsoffirefromit.Thenavalofficer’swidowhadneverheardofthembefore."Goodheavens!"sheexclaimed."Sothatisaburningmountain;butisitnotverydangeroustothepeoplewholivenearit?"
"Wholecitieshavebeendestroyed,"hereplied;"forinstance,HerculaneumandPompeii."
"Oh,thepoorpeople!Andyousawallthatwithyourowneyes?"
"No;Ididnotseeanyoftheeruptionswhicharerepresentedinthosepictures;butIwillshowyouasketchofmyown,whichrepresentsaneruptionIoncesaw."
Heplacedapencilsketchonthetable;andmamma,whohadbeenover-poweredwiththeappearanceofthecoloredplates,threwaglanceatthepaledrawingandcriedinastonishment,"What,didyouseeitthrowupwhitefire?"
Foramoment,Alfred’srespectforKaela’smammaunderwentasuddenshock,andlessenedconsiderably;but,dazzledbythelightwhichsurroundedKaela,hesoonfounditquitenaturalthattheoldladyshouldhavenoeyeforcolor.Afterall,itwasofverylittleconsequence;forKaela’smammahadthebestofallpossessions;namely,Kaelaherself.
AlfredandKaelawerebetrothed,whichwasaverynaturalresult;an.Thebetrothalwasannouncedinthenewspaperofthelittletown.Mamapurchasedthirtycopiesofthepaper,thatshemightcutouttheparagraphandsendittofriendsandacquaintances.Thebetrothedpairwereveryhappy,andthemotherwashappytoo.ShesaiditseemedlikeconnectingherselfwithThorwalsden.
"YouareatruesuccessorofThorwalsden,"shesaidtoAlfred;anditseemedtohimasif,inthisinstance,mammahadsaidacleverthing.Kaelawassilent;buthereyesshone,herlipssmiled,everymovementwasgraceful,-infact,shewasbeautiful;thatcannotberepeatedtoooften.AlfreddecidedtotakeabustofKaelaaswellasofhermother.Theysattohimaccordingly,andsawhowhemouldedandformedthesoftclaywithhisfingers.
"Isupposeitisonlyonouraccountthatyouperformthiscommon-placeworkyourself,insteadofleavingittoyourservanttodoallthatstickingtogether."
"ItisreallynecessarythatIshouldmouldtheclaymyself,"hereplied.
"Ah,yes,youarealwayssopolite,"saidmamma,withasmile;andKaelasilentlypressedhishand,allsoiledasitwaswiththeclay.
ThenheunfoldedtothemboththebeautiesofNature,inallherworks;hepointedouttothemhow,inthescaleofcreation,inanimatematterwasinferiortoanimatenature;theplantabovethemineral,theanimalabovetheplant,andmanabovethemall.Hestrovetoshowthemhowthebeautyofthemindcouldbedisplayedintheoutwardform,andthatitwasthesculptor’stasktoseizeuponthatbeautyofexpression,andproduceitinhisworks.Kaelastoodsilent,butnoddedinapprobationofwhathesaid,whilemamma-in-lawmadethefollowingconfession:-"Itisdifficulttofollowyou;butIgohobblingalongafteryouwithmythoughts,thoughwhatyousaymakesmyheadwhirlroundandround.StillIcontrivetolayholdonsomeofit."
Kaela’sbeautyhadafirmholdonAlfred;itfilledhissoul,andheldamasteryoverhim.BeautybeamedfromKaela’severyfeature,glitteredinhereyes,lurkedinthecornersofhermouth,andpervadedeverymovementofheragilefingers.
Alfred,thesculptor,sawthis.Hespokeonlytoher,thoughtonlyofher,andthetwobecameone;andsoitmaybesaidshespokemuch,forhewasalwaystalkingtoher;andheandshewereone.Suchwa.Thebetrothal,andthencamethewedding,withbride’s-maidsandweddingpresents,alldulymentionedintheweddingspeech.Mamma-in-lawhadsetupThorwalsden’sbustattheendofthetable,attiredinadressing-gown;itwasherfancythatheshouldbeaguest.Songsweresung,andcheersgiven;foritwasagaywedding,andtheywereahandsomepair."PygmalionlovedhisGalatea,"saidoneofthesongs.
"Ah,thatissomeofyourmythologies,"saidmamma-in-law.NextdaytheyouthfulpairstartedforCopenhagen,wheretheyweretolive;mamma-in-lawaccompaniedthem,toattendtothe"coarsework,"asshealwayscalledthedomesticarrangements.Kaelalookedlikeadollinadoll’shouse,foreverythingwasbrightandnew,andsofine.Theretheysat,allthree;andasforAlfred,aproverbmaydescribehisposition-helookedlikeaswanamongstthegeese.Themagicofformhadenchantedhim;hehadlookedatthecasketwithoutcaringtoinquirewhatitcontained,andthatomissionoftenbringsthegreatestunhappinessintomarriedlife.Thecasketmaybeinjured,thegildingmayfalloff,andthenthepurchaserregretshisbargain.
Inalargepartyitisverydisagreeabletofindabuttongivingway,withnostudsathandtofallbackupon;butitisworsestillinalargecompanytobeconsciousthatyourwifeandmother-in-lawaretalkingnonsense,andthatyoucannotdependuponyourselftoproducealittlereadywittocarryoffthestupidityofthewholeaffair.
Theyoungmarriedpairoftensattogetherhandinhand;hewouldtalk,butshecouldonlynowandthenletfallawordinthesamemelodiousvoice,thesamebell-liketones.ItwasamentalreliefwhenSophy,oneofherfriends,cametopaythemavisit.Sophywasnot,pretty.Shewas,however,quitefreefromanyphysicaldeformity,althoughKaelausedtosayshewasalittlecrooked;butnoeye,saveanintimateacquaintance,wouldhavenoticedit.Shewasaverysensiblegirl,yetitneveroccurredtoherthatshemightbeadangerouspersoninsuchahouse.Herappearancecreatedanewatmosphereinthedoll’shouse,andairwasreallyrequired,theyallownedthat.Theyfeltthewantofachangeofair,andconsequentlytheyoungcoupleandtheirmothertravelledtoItaly.
"Thankheavenweareathomeagainwithinourownfourwalls,"saidmamma-in-lawanddaughterboth,ontheirreturnafterayear’sabsence.
"Thereisnorealpleasureintravelling,"saidmamma;"totellthetruth,it’sverywearisome;Ibegpardonforsayingso.Iwassoonverytiredofit,althoughIhadmychildrenwithme;and,besides,it’sveryexpensiveworktravelling,veryexpensive.Andallthosegalleriesoneisexpectedtosee,andthequantityofthingsyouareobligedtorunafter!
Itmustbedone,forveryshame;youaresuretobeaskedwhenyoucomebackifyouhaveseeneverything,andwillmostlikelybetoldthatyou’veomittedtoseewhatwasbestworthseeingofall.IgottiredatlastofthoseendlessMadonnas;IbegantothinkIwasturningintoaMadonnamyself."
"Andthentheliving,mamma,"saidKaela.
"Yes,indeed,"shereplied,"nosuchathingasarespectablemeatsoup-theircookeryismiserablestuff."ThejourneyhadalsotiredKaela;butshewasalwaysfatigued,thatwastheworstofit.SotheysentforSophy,andshewastakenintothehousetoresidewiththem,andherpresencetherewasagreatadvantage.Mamma-in-lawacknowledgedthatSophywasnotonlyacleverhousewife,butwell-informedandaccomplished,thoughthatcouldhardlybeexpectedinapersonofherlimitedmeans.Shewasalsoagenerous-hearted,faithfulgirl;sheshowedthatthoroughlywhileKaelalaysick,fadingaway.Whenthecasketiseverything,thecasketshouldbestrong,orelseallisover.
Andallwasoverwiththecasket,forKaeladied."Shewasbeautiful,"saidhermother;"shewasquitedifferentfromthebeautiestheycall’antiques,’fortheyaresodamaged.Abeautyoughttobeperfect,andKaelawasaperfectbeauty."
Alfredwept,andmammawept,andtheybothworemourning.Theblackdresssuitedmammaverywell,andsheworemourningthelongest.ShehadalsotoexperienceanothergriefinseeingAlfredmarryagain,marrySophy,whowasnothingatalltolookat."He’sgonetotheveryextreme,"saidmamma-in-law;"hehasgonefromthemostbeautifultotheugliest,andhehasforgottenhisfirstwife.Menhavenoconstancy.Myhusbandwasaverydifferentman,-butthenhediedbeforeme."
"’PygmalionlovedhisGalatea,’wasinthesongtheysungatmyfirstwedding,"saidAlfred;"Ioncefellinlovewithabeautifulstatue,whichawoketolifeinmyarms;butthekindredsoul,whichisagiftfromheaven,theangelwhocanfeelandsympathizewithandelevateus,Ihavenotfoundandwontillnow.Youcame,Sophy,notinthegloryofoutwardbeauty,thoughyouareevenfairerthanisnecessary.Thechiefthingstillremains.Youcametoteachthesculptorthathisworkisbutdustandclayonly,anoutwardformmadeofamaterialthatdecays,andthatwhatweshouldseektoobtainistheetherealessenceofmindandspirit.PoorKaela!ourlifewasbutasameetingbytheway-side;inyonderworld,whereweshallknoweachotherfromaunionofmind,weshallbebutmereacquaintances."
"Thatwasnotalovingspeech,"saidSophy,"norspokenlikeaChristian.Inafuturestate,wherethereisneithermarryingnorgivinginmarriage,butwhere,asyousay,soulsareattractedtoeachotherbysympathy;thereeverythingbeautifuldevelopsitself,andisraisedtoahigherstateofexistence:hersoulwillacquiresuchcompletenessthatitmayharmonizewithyours,evenmorethanmine,andyouwillthenoncemoreutteryourfirstrapturousexclamationofyourlove,’Beautiful,mostbeautiful!’"
THEEND
THEREwasonceasculptor,namedAlfred,whohavingwonthelargegoldmedalandobtainedatravellingscholarship,wenttoItaly,andthencamebacktohisnativeland.Hewasyoungatthattime-indeed,heisyoungstill,althoughheistenyearsolderthanhewasthen.Onhisreturn,hewenttovisitoneofthelittletownsintheislandofZealand.Thewholetownknewwhothestrangerwas;andoneoftherichestmenintheplacegaveapartyinhishonor,andallwhowereofanyconsequence,orwhopossessedsomeproperty,wereinvited.Itwasquiteanevent,andallthetownknewofit,sothatitwasnotnecessarytoannounceitbybeatofdrum.
Apprentice-boys,childrenofthepoor,andeventhepoorpeoplethemselves,stoodbeforethehouse,watchingthelightedwindows;andthewatchmanmighteasilyfancyhewasgivingapartyalso,thereweresomanypeopleinthestreets.
Therewasquiteanairoffestivityaboutit,andthehousewasfullofit;forMr.Alfred,thesculptor,wasthere.Hetalkedandtoldanecdotes,andeveryonelistenedtohimwithpleasure,notunmingledwithawe;butnonefeltsomuchrespectforhimasdidtheelderlywidowofanavalofficer.
Sheseemed,sofarasMr.Alfredwasconcerned,tobelikeapieceoffreshblotting-paperthatabsorbedallhesaidandaskedformore.Shewasveryappreciative,andincrediblyignorant-akindoffemaleGasparHauser."IshouldliketoseeRome,"shesaid;"itmustbealovelycity,orsomanyforeignerswouldnotbeconstantlyarrivingthere.Now,dogivemeadescriptionofRome.Howdoesthecitylookwhenyouenterinatthegate?"
"Icannotverywelldescribeit,"saidthesculptor;"butyouenteronalargeopenspace,inthecentreofwhichstandsanobelisk,whichisathousandyearsold."
"Anorganist!"exclaimedthelady,whohadneverheardtheword’obelisk.’Severaloftheguestscouldscarcelyforbearlaughing,andthesculptorwouldhavehadsomedifficultyinkeepinghiscountenance,butthesmileonhislipsfadedaway;forhecaughtsightofapairofdark-blueeyesclosebythesideoftheinquisitivelady.Theybelongedtoherdaughter;andsurelynoonewhohadsuchadaughtercouldbesilly.Themotherwaslikeafountainofquestions;andthedaughter,wholistenedbutneverspoke,mighthavepassedforthebeautifulmaidofthefountain.Howcharmingshewas!Shewasastudyforthesculptortocontemplate,butnottoconversewith;forshedidnotspeak,or,atleast,veryseldom.
"Hasthepopeagreatfamily?"inquiredthelady.Theyoungmanansweredconsiderately,asifthequestionhadbeenadifferentone,"No;hedoesnotcomefromagreatfamily."
"ThatisnotwhatIasked,"persistedthewidow;"Imean,hasheawifeandchildren?"
"Thepopeisnotallowedtomarry,"repliedthegentleman.
"Idon’tlikethat,"wasthelady’sremark.Shecertainlymighthaveaskedmoresensiblequestions;butifshehadnotbeenallowedtosayjustwhatsheliked,wouldherdaughterhavebeenthere,leaningsogracefullyonhershoulder,andlookingstraightbeforeher,withasmilethatwasalmostmournfulonherface?
Mr.AlfredagainspokeofItaly,andofthegloriouscolorsinItalianscenery;thepurplehills,thedeepblueoftheMediterranean,theazureofsouthernskies,whosebrightnessandglorycouldonlybesurpassedinthenorthbythedeep-blueeyesofamaiden;andhesaidthiswithapeculiarintonation;butshewhoshouldhaveunderstoodhismeaninglookedquiteunconsciousofit,whichalsowascharming."BeautifulItaly!"sighedsomeoftheguests.
"Oh,totravelthere!"exclaimedothers.
"Charming!Charming!"echoedfromeveryvoice.
"Imayperhapswinahundredthousanddollarsinthelottery,"saidthenavalofficer’swidow;"andifIdo,wewilltravel-Iandmydaughter;andyou,Mr.Alfred,mustbeourguide.Wecanallthreetraveltogether,withoneortwomoreofourgoodfriends."Andshenoddedinsuchafriendlywayatthecompany,thateachimaginedhimselftobethefavoredpersonwhowastoaccompanythemtoItaly."Yes,wemustgo,"shecontinued;"butnottothosepartswheretherearerobbers.WewillkeeptoRome.Inthepublicroadsoneisalwayssafe."
Thedaughtersighedverygently;andhowmuchtheremaybeinasigh,orattributedtoit!Theyoungmanattributedagreatdealofmeaningtothissigh.Thosedeep-blueeyes,whichhadbeenlitupthiseveninginhonorofhim,mustconcealtreasures,treasuresofheartandmind,richerthanallthegloriesofRome;andsowhenheleftthepartythatnight,hehadlostitcompletelytotheyounglady.Thehouseofthenavalofficer’swidowwastheonemostconstantlyvisitedbyMr.Alfred,thesculptor.Itwassoonunderstoodthathisvisitswerenotintendedforthatlady,thoughtheywerethepersonswhokeptuptheconversation.Hecameforthesakeofthedaughter.TheycalledherKaela.HernamewasreallyKarenMalena,andthesetwonameshadbeencontractedintotheonenameKaela.Shewasreallybeautiful;butsomesaidshewasratherdull,andsleptlateofamorning.
"Shehasbeenaccustomedtothat,"hermothersaid."Sheisabeauty,andtheyarealwayseasilytired.Shedoessleepratherlate;butthatmakeshereyessoclear."Whatpowerseemedtolieinthedepthsofthosedarkeyes!
Theyoungmanfeltthetruthoftheproverb,"Stillwatersrundeep:"andhishearthadsunkintotheirdepths.Heoftentalkedofhisadventures,andthemammawasassimpleandeagerinherquestionsasonthefirsteveningtheymet.ItwasapleasuretohearAlfreddescribeanything.HeshowedthemcoloredplatesofNaples,andspokeofexcursionstoMountVesuvius,andtheeruptionsoffirefromit.Thenavalofficer’swidowhadneverheardofthembefore."Goodheavens!"sheexclaimed."Sothatisaburningmountain;butisitnotverydangeroustothepeoplewholivenearit?"
"Wholecitieshavebeendestroyed,"hereplied;"forinstance,HerculaneumandPompeii."
"Oh,thepoorpeople!Andyousawallthatwithyourowneyes?"
"No;Ididnotseeanyoftheeruptionswhicharerepresentedinthosepictures;butIwillshowyouasketchofmyown,whichrepresentsaneruptionIoncesaw."
Heplacedapencilsketchonthetable;andmamma,whohadbeenover-poweredwiththeappearanceofthecoloredplates,threwaglanceatthepaledrawingandcriedinastonishment,"What,didyouseeitthrowupwhitefire?"
Foramoment,Alfred’srespectforKaela’smammaunderwentasuddenshock,andlessenedconsiderably;but,dazzledbythelightwhichsurroundedKaela,hesoonfounditquitenaturalthattheoldladyshouldhavenoeyeforcolor.Afterall,itwasofverylittleconsequence;forKaela’smammahadthebestofallpossessions;namely,Kaelaherself.
AlfredandKaelawerebetrothed,whichwasaverynaturalresult;an.Thebetrothalwasannouncedinthenewspaperofthelittletown.Mamapurchasedthirtycopiesofthepaper,thatshemightcutouttheparagraphandsendittofriendsandacquaintances.Thebetrothedpairwereveryhappy,andthemotherwashappytoo.ShesaiditseemedlikeconnectingherselfwithThorwalsden.
"YouareatruesuccessorofThorwalsden,"shesaidtoAlfred;anditseemedtohimasif,inthisinstance,mammahadsaidacleverthing.Kaelawassilent;buthereyesshone,herlipssmiled,everymovementwasgraceful,-infact,shewasbeautiful;thatcannotberepeatedtoooften.AlfreddecidedtotakeabustofKaelaaswellasofhermother.Theysattohimaccordingly,andsawhowhemouldedandformedthesoftclaywithhisfingers.
"Isupposeitisonlyonouraccountthatyouperformthiscommon-placeworkyourself,insteadofleavingittoyourservanttodoallthatstickingtogether."
"ItisreallynecessarythatIshouldmouldtheclaymyself,"hereplied.
"Ah,yes,youarealwayssopolite,"saidmamma,withasmile;andKaelasilentlypressedhishand,allsoiledasitwaswiththeclay.
ThenheunfoldedtothemboththebeautiesofNature,inallherworks;hepointedouttothemhow,inthescaleofcreation,inanimatematterwasinferiortoanimatenature;theplantabovethemineral,theanimalabovetheplant,andmanabovethemall.Hestrovetoshowthemhowthebeautyofthemindcouldbedisplayedintheoutwardform,andthatitwasthesculptor’stasktoseizeuponthatbeautyofexpression,andproduceitinhisworks.Kaelastoodsilent,butnoddedinapprobationofwhathesaid,whilemamma-in-lawmadethefollowingconfession:-"Itisdifficulttofollowyou;butIgohobblingalongafteryouwithmythoughts,thoughwhatyousaymakesmyheadwhirlroundandround.StillIcontrivetolayholdonsomeofit."
Kaela’sbeautyhadafirmholdonAlfred;itfilledhissoul,andheldamasteryoverhim.BeautybeamedfromKaela’severyfeature,glitteredinhereyes,lurkedinthecornersofhermouth,andpervadedeverymovementofheragilefingers.
Alfred,thesculptor,sawthis.Hespokeonlytoher,thoughtonlyofher,andthetwobecameone;andsoitmaybesaidshespokemuch,forhewasalwaystalkingtoher;andheandshewereone.Suchwa.Thebetrothal,andthencamethewedding,withbride’s-maidsandweddingpresents,alldulymentionedintheweddingspeech.Mamma-in-lawhadsetupThorwalsden’sbustattheendofthetable,attiredinadressing-gown;itwasherfancythatheshouldbeaguest.Songsweresung,andcheersgiven;foritwasagaywedding,andtheywereahandsomepair."PygmalionlovedhisGalatea,"saidoneofthesongs.
"Ah,thatissomeofyourmythologies,"saidmamma-in-law.NextdaytheyouthfulpairstartedforCopenhagen,wheretheyweretolive;mamma-in-lawaccompaniedthem,toattendtothe"coarsework,"asshealwayscalledthedomesticarrangements.Kaelalookedlikeadollinadoll’shouse,foreverythingwasbrightandnew,andsofine.Theretheysat,allthree;andasforAlfred,aproverbmaydescribehisposition-helookedlikeaswanamongstthegeese.Themagicofformhadenchantedhim;hehadlookedatthecasketwithoutcaringtoinquirewhatitcontained,andthatomissionoftenbringsthegreatestunhappinessintomarriedlife.Thecasketmaybeinjured,thegildingmayfalloff,andthenthepurchaserregretshisbargain.
Inalargepartyitisverydisagreeabletofindabuttongivingway,withnostudsathandtofallbackupon;butitisworsestillinalargecompanytobeconsciousthatyourwifeandmother-in-lawaretalkingnonsense,andthatyoucannotdependuponyourselftoproducealittlereadywittocarryoffthestupidityofthewholeaffair.
Theyoungmarriedpairoftensattogetherhandinhand;hewouldtalk,butshecouldonlynowandthenletfallawordinthesamemelodiousvoice,thesamebell-liketones.ItwasamentalreliefwhenSophy,oneofherfriends,cametopaythemavisit.Sophywasnot,pretty.Shewas,however,quitefreefromanyphysicaldeformity,althoughKaelausedtosayshewasalittlecrooked;butnoeye,saveanintimateacquaintance,wouldhavenoticedit.Shewasaverysensiblegirl,yetitneveroccurredtoherthatshemightbeadangerouspersoninsuchahouse.Herappearancecreatedanewatmosphereinthedoll’shouse,andairwasreallyrequired,theyallownedthat.Theyfeltthewantofachangeofair,andconsequentlytheyoungcoupleandtheirmothertravelledtoItaly.
"Thankheavenweareathomeagainwithinourownfourwalls,"saidmamma-in-lawanddaughterboth,ontheirreturnafterayear’sabsence.
"Thereisnorealpleasureintravelling,"saidmamma;"totellthetruth,it’sverywearisome;Ibegpardonforsayingso.Iwassoonverytiredofit,althoughIhadmychildrenwithme;and,besides,it’sveryexpensiveworktravelling,veryexpensive.Andallthosegalleriesoneisexpectedtosee,andthequantityofthingsyouareobligedtorunafter!
Itmustbedone,forveryshame;youaresuretobeaskedwhenyoucomebackifyouhaveseeneverything,andwillmostlikelybetoldthatyou’veomittedtoseewhatwasbestworthseeingofall.IgottiredatlastofthoseendlessMadonnas;IbegantothinkIwasturningintoaMadonnamyself."
"Andthentheliving,mamma,"saidKaela.
"Yes,indeed,"shereplied,"nosuchathingasarespectablemeatsoup-theircookeryismiserablestuff."ThejourneyhadalsotiredKaela;butshewasalwaysfatigued,thatwastheworstofit.SotheysentforSophy,andshewastakenintothehousetoresidewiththem,andherpresencetherewasagreatadvantage.Mamma-in-lawacknowledgedthatSophywasnotonlyacleverhousewife,butwell-informedandaccomplished,thoughthatcouldhardlybeexpectedinapersonofherlimitedmeans.Shewasalsoagenerous-hearted,faithfulgirl;sheshowedthatthoroughlywhileKaelalaysick,fadingaway.Whenthecasketiseverything,thecasketshouldbestrong,orelseallisover.
Andallwasoverwiththecasket,forKaeladied."Shewasbeautiful,"saidhermother;"shewasquitedifferentfromthebeautiestheycall’antiques,’fortheyaresodamaged.Abeautyoughttobeperfect,andKaelawasaperfectbeauty."
Alfredwept,andmammawept,andtheybothworemourning.Theblackdresssuitedmammaverywell,andsheworemourningthelongest.ShehadalsotoexperienceanothergriefinseeingAlfredmarryagain,marrySophy,whowasnothingatalltolookat."He’sgonetotheveryextreme,"saidmamma-in-law;"hehasgonefromthemostbeautifultotheugliest,andhehasforgottenhisfirstwife.Menhavenoconstancy.Myhusbandwasaverydifferentman,-butthenhediedbeforeme."
"’PygmalionlovedhisGalatea,’wasinthesongtheysungatmyfirstwedding,"saidAlfred;"Ioncefellinlovewithabeautifulstatue,whichawoketolifeinmyarms;butthekindredsoul,whichisagiftfromheaven,theangelwhocanfeelandsympathizewithandelevateus,Ihavenotfoundandwontillnow.Youcame,Sophy,notinthegloryofoutwardbeauty,thoughyouareevenfairerthanisnecessary.Thechiefthingstillremains.Youcametoteachthesculptorthathisworkisbutdustandclayonly,anoutwardformmadeofamaterialthatdecays,andthatwhatweshouldseektoobtainistheetherealessenceofmindandspirit.PoorKaela!ourlifewasbutasameetingbytheway-side;inyonderworld,whereweshallknoweachotherfromaunionofmind,weshallbebutmereacquaintances."
"Thatwasnotalovingspeech,"saidSophy,"norspokenlikeaChristian.Inafuturestate,wherethereisneithermarryingnorgivinginmarriage,butwhere,asyousay,soulsareattractedtoeachotherbysympathy;thereeverythingbeautifuldevelopsitself,andisraisedtoahigherstateofexistence:hersoulwillacquiresuchcompletenessthatitmayharmonizewithyours,evenmorethanmine,andyouwillthenoncemoreutteryourfirstrapturousexclamationofyourlove,’Beautiful,mostbeautiful!’"
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