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！
Whom I speak was the true God made man。〃
〃Now； laddie； remember I'm an old man； set in my head and my ways；
and I've been used to one belief so long it would be hard changing。 So
don't press me now； don't press me； I ask you。〃
〃Ah； sir；〃 pleaded Marco Polo； 〃it's terrible to think of； as great a
prince as you to be in the black spaces outside of heaven because you
wouldn't accept the truth。〃
〃Well； maybe they won't be so hard on one； my dear lad。 When my
time comes and I rap on the gate of your heaven； maybe they'll say： 'It's
only old Kubla； the soldier； is in it。 He knows devil and all about religion；
but his fights were fair fights； and he never hit a man when he was down。
He had a soft heart for wee children and he was easy on horses。 Sure；
what's the difference？ Let him in！' And if they say no； I'll tuck the old
nicked claymore under my arm； and be off to where the other old fighters
are。〃
〃I see； sir； that there was little success to my message。〃
〃I wouldn't say that；〃 said Kubla Khan。 〃Wait a little until you
perform miracles before the people to prove your truth。 You'll know
better then。〃
〃Ah； sir；〃 said Marco Polo； 〃I can perform no miracles。 'Tis only a
saint can perform miracles； and I couldn't lace a saint's shoes。 I have no
51
… Page 52…
Messer Marco Polo
miracles。〃
〃Oh； well； now； my dear boy；〃 said Kubla Khan； 〃I hate to tell you； but
there's no use going further。 Sure you'd be up against the sorcerers of the
world。 They'd ask you for a sign； and you'd have no sign； and they'd
have signs in abundance。 I wouldn't think of letting you go against them。
Fair play's a jewel； and you wouldn't have a chance。 There's the Red
Pope from Tibet and there's the Black Magician from Korea and a hundred
minor ones； and the Warlock of the North； from the Islands of Ice； who
governs the hail and the snow。 Child； I wouldn't let you get into the same
ring with them。 They'd ruin you。〃
〃But； sir； wasn't it a great miracle of the Lord's； my rescue in the Gobi
Desert？〃
〃A miracle of the Lord's！ A miracle of Golden Bells here。 It was
her magician saw you； and she had the message put on the drums； and the
desert patrols went to seek you。 It was herself here； wee Golden Bells。〃
And Golden Bells' mouth gave a smile of shame that his thought should be
broken in his mind。
〃A long way I'm after coming；〃 said Marco Polo； 〃and when I set out
my heart was high。〃
〃Now； don't be taking it too hard；〃 says the khan； kindly。 〃Sure；
there's a power of good you can be doing here。 Maybe you can do
something with Li Po；〃 says he。 〃I'd like fine for you to try。 The man is
worrying the life out of me with his drinking。 I never know when he
goes out whether he'll come back all right or feet foremost on a door。 For
he's got the bitter tongue when the drink's in him； and China could ill
afford to lose him。 And there are some of my captains； and the tune
they're always piping is 'War！ War！ War！ And let's show up this
Alexander who said he conquered the world。' And I'm past the age when
you make war for devilment。 So let you be helping me out with them；
Marco Polo。〃
But Marco Polo knew this was only meant in kindness； and his heart
was broken。
〃Ah； wee lady；〃 he turned to Golden Bells； 〃wee lady； wee lady；
why didn't you let me die in the desert？ Why didn't I die？〃
52
… Page 53…
Messer Marco Polo
〃And why should you die； Marco Polo？〃 Her low； sweet voice rang
in the heart of him。 〃Didn't you come here to give your message？ And to
make converts？ And didn't I hear your message？ And am n't I your
convert； Marco Polo？〃
53
… Page 54…
Messer Marco Polo
CHAPTER XVI
And now the place of Li Po was usurped； and gone Sanang with his
magic glass； and in the jasmine garden by the Lake of Cranes Marco Polo
sat and instructed Golden Bells。 。 。
54
… Page 55…
Messer Marco Polo
CHAPTER XVII
And he told of the flight into Egypt when savage Herod reigned； and
of the Jewish maid and her child sleeping beneath the shadow of the great
Sphinx； while the shades of the old Afric gods looked on in reverence；
Amenalk and Thoth and the moon…horned Io； Isis； and Osiris。 And the
painted kings knelt in their pyramids； and out of the sluggish Nile came
the strange aquatic population； the torpid crocodiles and monstrous water
lizards； and the great hippopotami lumbered to bow before the little Lord
of all things。 。 。
And he told her how Satan had tempted Him on the lonely； black
craigs。 。 。
〃But you are not listening； little Golden Bells 〃
〃Indeed I am listening； Marco Polo。 Yes； indeed I am。 I love to
hear your voice； Marco Polo。 You are so earnest； Marco Polo； there is
such a light in your eyes。 Listen； Marco Polo； Li Po once wrote a poem；
'White Gleam the Gulls；' and it is the poem by which he is best known；
and every time I hear it there is an echo in my heart。 But； Marco Polo； I
never listened to Li Po's song so eagerly as I am listening to your voice。〃
〃But you are not taking it in； little Golden Bells。〃
〃It is very hard to take in； Marco Polo。 It happened so long ago。 It is
hard to think of a tragedy in a strange country； and we in this garden on
the second moon of spring。 And it was so very long ago。 Do you hear
the bees； Marco Polo the bees among the almond…blossoms？ And see
the blue heron by the lotus flowers？ And do you see the little tortoise；
Marco Polo； and he sunning himself on a leaf？ If I throw a pebble；
Marco Polo； he will dive； and he is such a clumsy diver； Marco Polo！〃
〃But you must listen； Golden Bells； and believe me。〃
〃I do believe； Marco Polo； I honestly do。 Don't you know I believe
you？ Anything you say； Marco Polo； I believe。 You wouldn't be
coming all the way over the world to be telling me a lie。 Of course I
believe。〃
〃And doesn't it make you happy； Golden Bells？〃
〃Once I was unhappy； Marco Polo。 I used sit here； and on my lute I
55
… Page 56…
Messer Marco Polo
used play the 'Song of the Willow Branches；' which is the saddest song in
the world。 Under the moon I used be lonely； and the droning of the bees
meant nothing to me； and now it is a sweet brave song。 I cannot play
'Willow Branches' any more； so alien is sadness to me。 And the moon
smiles。 I am very happy； Marco Polo。〃
〃It is the True Religion； little Golden Bells； that makes you happy。〃
〃Is it； Marco Polo？ Is it？ It must be； I suppose。 I don't know what
it is； but I am very happy。〃
56
… Page 57…
Messer Marco Polo
CHAPTER XVIII
And he told her of Paul； who had seen a vision and gone preaching
through； the world； who was persecuted； who was shipwrecked； who was
bitten by a viper； and who survived everything that he might preach the
Lord Jesus。 He was a fierce； ragged man with burning eyes。 。 。 And he
told her of Paul's instructions to women。 。 。
〃You do not look at me when you speak； Marco Polo。 Only your
voice comes to me； not your eyes。 Is it because of Paul？〃
And Marco Polo felt great trouble on him； because he could not
explain。 But Golden Bells went on：
〃There is li