The Rainbow-虹(英文版)- 第28部分

〃How　many　more　Brangwens？〃　said　Tom　Brangwen；　ashamed　of　the
toofrequent　recurrence　of　his　family　name。

When　they　were　out　again　in　the　sunshine；　and　he　saw　the
frost　hoary　and　blue　among　the　long　grass　under　the　tombstones；
the　hollyberries　overhead　twinkling　scarlet　as　the　bells　rang；
the　yew　trees　hanging　their　black；　motionless；　ragged　boughs；
everything　seemed　like　a　vision。

The　marriage　party　went　across　the　graveyard　to　the　wall；
mounted　it　by　the　little　steps；　and　descended。　Oh；　a　vain　white
peacock　of　a　bride　perching　herself　on　the　top　of　the　wall　and
giving　her　hand　to　the　bridegroom　on　the　other　side；　to　be
helped　down！　The　vanity　of　her　white；　slim；　daintilystepping
feet；　and　her　arched　neck。　And　the　regal　impudence　with　which
she　seemed　to　dismiss　them　all；　the　others；　parents　and　wedding
guests；　as　she　went　with　her　young　husband。

In　the　cottage　big　fires　were　burning；　there　were　dozens　of
glasses　on　the　table；　and　holly　and　mistletoe　hanging　up。　The
wedding　party　crowded　in；　and　Tom　Brangwen；　being　roisterous；
poured　out　drinks。　Everybody　must　drink。　The　bells　were　ringing
away　against　the　windows。

〃Lift　your　glasses　up；〃　shouted　Tom　Brangwen　from　the
parlour；　〃lift　your　glasses　up；　an'　drink　to　the　hearth　an'
homehearth　an'　home；　an'　may　they　enjoy　it。〃

〃Night　an'　day；　an'　may　they　enjoy　it；〃　shouted　Frank
Brangwen；　in　addition。

〃Hammer　an'　tongs；　and　may　they　enjoy　it；〃　shouted　Alfred
Brangwen；　the　saturnine。

〃Fill　your　glasses　up；　an'　let's　have　it　all　over　again；〃
shouted　Tom　Brangwen。

〃Hearth　an'　home；　an'　may　ye　enjoy　it。〃

There　was　a　ragged　shout　of　the　pany　in　response。

〃Bed　an'　blessin'；　an'　may　ye　enjoy　it；〃　shouted　Frank
Brangwen。

There　was　a　swelling　chorus　in　answer。

〃in'　and　goin'；　an'　may　ye　enjoy　it；〃　shouted　the
saturnine　Alfred　Brangwen；　and　the　men　roared　by　now　boldly；　and
the　women　said；　〃Just　hark；　now！〃

There　was　a　touch　of　scandal　in　the　air。

Then　the　party　rolled　off　in　the　carriages；　full　speed　back
to　the　Marsh；　to　a　large　meal　of　the　hightea　order；　which
lasted　for　an　hour　and　a　half。　The　bride　and　bridegroom　sat　at
the　head　of　the　table；　very　prim　and　shining　both　of　them；
wordless；　whilst　the　pany　raged　down　the　table。

The　Brangwen　men　had　brandy　in　their　tea；　and　were　being
unmanageable。　The　saturnine　Alfred　had　glittering；　unseeing
eyes；　and　a　strange；　fierce　way　of　laughing　that　showed　his
teeth。　His　wife　glowered　at　him　and　jerked　her　head　at　him　like
a　snake。　He　was　oblivious。　Frank　Brangwen；　the　butcher；　flushed
and　florid　and　handsome；　roared　echoes　to　his　two　brothers。　Tom
Brangwen；　in　his　solid　fashion；　was　letting　himself　go　at
last。

These　three　brothers　dominated　the　whole　pany。　Tom
Brangwen　wanted　to　make　a　speech。　For　the　first　time　in　his
life；　he　must　spread　himself　wordily。

〃Marriage；〃　he　began；　his　eyes　twinkling　and　yet　quite
profound；　for　he　was　deeply　serious　and　hugely　amused　at　the
same　time；　〃Marriage；〃　he　said；　speaking　in　the　slow；
fullmouthed　way　of　the　Brangwens；　〃is　what　we're　made
for〃

〃Let　him　talk；〃　said　Alfred　Brangwen；　slowly　and　inscrutably；
〃let　him　talk。〃　Mrs。　Alfred　darted　indignant　eyes　at　her
husband。

〃A　man；〃　continued　Tom　Brangwen；　〃enjoys　being　a　man：　for
what　purpose　was　he　made　a　man；　if　not　to　enjoy　it？〃

〃That　a　true　word；〃　said　Frank；　floridly。

〃And　likewise；〃　continued　Tom　Brangwen；　〃a　woman　enjoys　being
a　woman：　at　least　we　surmise　she　does〃

〃Oh；　don't　you　bother〃　called　a　farmer's
wife。

〃You　may　back　your　life　they'd　be　summisin'。〃　said　Frank's
wife。

〃Now；〃　continued　Tom　Brangwen；　〃for　a　man　to　be　a　man；　it
takes　a　woman〃

〃It　does　that；〃　said　a　woman　grimly。

〃And　for　a　woman　to　be　a　woman；　it　takes　a　man〃
continued　Tom　Brangwen。

〃All　speak　up；　men；〃　chimed　in　a　feminine　voice。

〃Therefore　we　have　marriage；〃　continued　Tom　Brangwen。

〃Hold；　hold；〃　said　Alfred　Brangwen。　〃Don't　run　us　off　our
legs。〃

And　in　dead　silence　the　glasses　were　filled。　The　bride　and
bridegroom；　two　children；　sat　with　intent；　shining　faces　at　the
head　of　the　table；　abstracted。

〃There's　no　marriage　in　heaven；〃　went　on　Tom　Brangwen；　〃but
on　earth　there　is　marriage。〃

〃That's　the　difference　between　'em；〃　said　Alfred　Brangwen；
mocking。

〃Alfred；〃　said　Tom　Brangwen；　〃keep　your　remarks　till
afterwards；　and　then　we'll　thank　you　for　them。There's
very　little　else；　on　earth；　but　marriage。　You　can　talk　about
making　money；　or　saving　souls。　You　can　save　your　own　soul　seven
times　over；　and　you　may　have　a　mint　of　money；　but　your　soul　goes
gnawin'；　gnawin'；　gnawin'；　and　it　says　there's　something　it　must
have。　In　heaven　there　is　no　marriage。　But　on　earth　there　is
marriage；　else　heaven　drops　out；　and　there's　no　bottom　to
it。〃

〃Just　hark　you　now；〃　said　Frank's　wife。

〃Go　on；　Thomas；〃　said　Alfred　sardonically。

〃If　we've　got　to　be　Angels；〃　went　on　Tom　Brangwen；
haranguing　the　pany　at　large；　〃and　if　there　is　no　such　thing
as　a　man　nor　a　woman　amongst　them；　then　it　seems　to　me　as　a
married　couple　makes　one　Angel。〃

〃It's　the　brandy；〃　said　Alfred　Brangwen　wearily。

〃For；〃　said　Tom　Brangwen；　and　the　pany　was　listening　to
the　conundrum；　〃an　Angel　can't　be　less　than　a　human　being。　And
if　it　was　only　the　soul　of　a　man　minus　the　man；　then　it　would　be
less　than　a　human　being。〃

〃Decidedly；〃　said　Alfred。

And　a　laugh　went　round　the　table。　But　Tom　Brangwen　was
inspired。

〃An　Angel's　got　to　be　more　than　a　human　being；〃　he　continued。
〃So　I　say；　an　Angel　is　the　soul　of　man　and　woman　in　one：　they
rise　united　at　the　Judgment　Day；　as　one　Angel〃

〃Praising　the　Lord；〃　said　Frank。

〃Praising　the　Lord；〃　repeated　Tom。

〃And　what　about　the　women　left　over？〃　asked　Alfred；　jeering。
The　pany　was　getting　uneasy。

〃That　I　can't　tell。　How　do　I　know　as　there　is　anybody　left
over　at　the　Judgment　Day？　Let　that　be。　What　I　say　is；　that　when
a　man's　soul　and　a　woman's　soul　unites　togetherthat　makes
an　Angel〃

〃I　dunno　about　souls。　I　know　as　one　plus　one　makes　three；
sometimes；〃　said　Frank。　But　he　had　the　laugh　to　himself。

〃Bodies　and　souls；　it's　the　same；〃　said　Tom。

〃And　what　about　your　missis；　who　was　married　afore　you　knew
her？〃　asked　Alfred；　set　on　edge　by　this　discourse。

〃That　I　can't　tell　you。　If　I　am　to　bee　an　Angel；　it'll　be
my　married　soul；　and　not　my　single　soul。　It'll　not　be　the　soul
of　me　when　I　was　a　lad：　for　I　hadn't　a　soul　as　would　make
an　Angel　then。〃

〃I　can　always　remember；〃　said　Frank's　wife；　〃when　our　Harold
was　bad；　he　did　nothink　but　see　an　angel　at　th'　back　o'　th'
lookin'glass。　'Look；　mother；'　'e　said；　'at　that　angel！'　'Theer
isn't　no　angel；　my　duck；'　I　said；　but　he　wouldn't　have　it。　I
took　th'　lookin'glass　off'n　th'　dressin'table；　but　it　made　no
difference。　He　kep'　on　sayin'　it　was　there。　My　word；　it　did　give
me　a　turn。　I　thought　for　sure　as　I'd　lost　him。〃

〃I　can　remember；〃　said　another　man；　Tom's　sister's　husband；
〃my　mother　gave　me　a　good　hidin'　once；　for　sayin'　I'd　got　an
angel　up　my　nose。　She　seed　me　pokin'；　an'　she　said：　'What　are
you　pokin'　at　your　nose　forgive　over。'　'There's　an　angel　up
it；'　I　said；　an'　she　fetched　me　such　a　wipe。　But　there　was。　We
used　to　call　them　thistle　things　'angels'　as　wafts　about。　An'
I'd　pushed　one　o'　these　up　my　nose；　for　some　reason　or
other。〃

〃It's　wonderful　what　children　will　get　up　their　noses；〃　said
Frank's　wife。　〃I　c'n　remember　our　Hemmie；　she　shoved　one　o'　them
bluebell　things　out　o'　th'　middle　of　a　bluebell；　what　they　call
'candles'；　up　her　nose；　and　oh；　we　had　some　work！　I'd　seen　her
stickin'　'em　on　the　end　of　her　nose；　like；　but　I　never　thought
she'd　be　so　soft　as　to　shove　it　right　up。　She　was　a　gel　of　eight
or　more。　Oh；　my　word；　we　got　a　crochethook　an'　I　don't　know
what　。。。〃

Tom　Brangwen's　mood　of　inspiration　began　to　pass　away。　He
fot　all　about　it；　and　was　soon　roaring　and　shouting　with　the
rest。　Outside　the　wake　came；　singing　the　carols。　They　were
invited　into　the　bursting　house。　They　had　two　fiddles　and　a
piccolo。　There　in　the　parlour　they　played　carols；　and　the　whole
pany　sang　them　at　the　top　of　its　voice。　Only　the　bride　and
bridegroom　sat　with　shining　eyes　and　strange；　bright　faces；　and
scarcely　sang；　or　only　with　just　moving　lips。

The　wake　departed；　and　the　guysers　came。　There　was　loud
applause；　and　shouting　and　excitement　as　the　old　mystery　play　of
St。　Gee；　in　which　every　man　present　had　acted　as　a　boy；
proceeded；　with　banging　and　thumping　of　club　and　dripping
pan。

〃By　Jove；　I　got　a　crack　once；　when　I　was　playin'　Beelzebub；〃
said　Tom　Brangwen；　his　eyes　full　of　water　with　laughing。　〃It
knocked　all　th'　sense　out　of　me　as　you'd　crack　an　egg。　But　I
tell　you；　when　I　e　to；　I　played　Old　Johnny　Roger　with　St。
Gee；　I　did　that。〃

He　was　shaking　with　laughter。　Another　knock　came　at　the　door。
There　was　a　hush。

〃It's　th'　cab；〃　said　somebody　from　the　door。

〃Walk　in；〃　shouted　Tom　Brangwen；　and　a　redfaced　grinning　man
entered。

〃Now；　you　two；　get　yourselves　ready　an'　off　to　blanket　fair；〃
shouted　Tom　Brangwen。　〃Strike　a　daisy；　but　if　you're　not　off
like　a　blink　o'　lightnin'；　you　shanna　go；　you　s'll　sleep
separate。〃

Anna　rose　silently　and　went　to　change　her　dress。　Will
Brangwen　would　have　gone　out；　but　Tilly　came　with　his　hat　and
coat。　The　youth　was　helped　on。

〃Well；　here's　luck；　my　boy；〃　shouted　his　father。

〃When　th'　fat's　in　th'　fire；　let　it　frizzle；〃　admonished　his
uncle　Frank。

〃Fair　and　softly　does　it；　fair　an'　softly　does
it；〃　cried　his　aunt；　Frank's　wife；　contrary。

〃You　don't　want　to　fall　over　yourself；〃　said　his　uncle　by
marriage。　〃You're　not　a　bull　at　a　gate。〃

〃Let　a　man　have　his　own　road；〃　said　Tom　Brangwen　testily。
〃Don't　be　so　free　of　your　adviceit's　his　wedding　this
time；　not　yours。〃

〃'E　don't　want　many　signposts；〃　said　his　father。　〃There's
some　roads　a　man　has　to　be　led；　an'　there's　some　roads　a
bosseyed　man　can　only　follow　wi'　one　eye　shut。　But　this　road
can't　be　lost　by　a　blind　man　nor　a　bosseyed　man　nor　a
crippleand　he's　neither；　thank　God。〃

〃Don't　you　be　so　sure　o'　your　walkin'　powers；〃　cried　Frank's
wife。　〃There's　many　a　man　gets　no　further　than　halfway；　nor
can't　to　save　his　life；　let　him　live　for　ever。〃

〃Why；　how　do　you　know？〃　said　Alfred。