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！
came a whole universe of suggestion a gay and motley train of
rhapsodical and immethodical thought。
〃Busied in this； I walked on for several hours； during which the mist
deepened around me to so great an extent that at length I was reduced
to an absolute groping of the way。 And now an indescribable
uneasiness possessed me a species of nervous hesitation and
tremor。 I feared to tread； lest I should be precipitated into some
abyss。 I remembered； too； strange stories told about these Ragged
Hills； and of the uncouth and fierce races of men who tenanted their
groves and caverns。 A thousand vague fancies oppressed and
disconcerted me… fancies the more distressing because vague。 Very
suddenly my attention was arrested by the loud beating of a drum。
〃My amazement was； of course； extreme。 A drum in these hills was a
thing unknown。 I could not have been more surprised at the sound of
the trump of the Archangel。 But a new and still more astounding
source of interest and perplexity arose。 There came a wild rattling
or jingling sound； as if of a bunch of large keys； and upon the
instant a dusky…visaged and half…naked man rushed past me with a
shriek。 He came so close to my person that I felt his hot breath upon
my face。 He bore in one hand an instrument composed of an assemblage
of steel rings； and shook them vigorously as he ran。 Scarcely had he
disappeared in the mist before； panting after him； with open mouth
and glaring eyes； there darted a huge beast。 I could not be mistaken
in its character。 It was a hyena。
〃The sight of this monster rather relieved than heightened my terrors
for I now made sure that I dreamed； and endeavored to arouse
myself to waking consciousness。 I stepped boldly and briskly forward。
I rubbed my eyes。 I called aloud。 I pinched my limbs。 A small spring
of water presented itself to my view； and here； stooping； I bathed my
hands and my head and neck。 This seemed to dissipate the equivocal
sensations which had hitherto annoyed me。 I arose； as I thought； a
new man； and proceeded steadily and complacently on my unknown way。
〃At length； quite overcome by exertion； and by a certain oppressive
closeness of the atmosphere； I seated myself beneath a tree。
Presently there came a feeble gleam of sunshine； and the shadow of
the leaves of the tree fell faintly but definitely upon the grass。 At
this shadow I gazed wonderingly for many minutes。 Its character
stupefied me with astonishment。 I looked upward。 The tree was a palm。
〃I now arose hurriedly； and in a state of fearful agitation for
the fancy that I dreamed would serve me no longer。 I saw I felt
that I had perfect command of my senses and these senses now
brought to my soul a world of novel and singular sensation。 The heat
became all at once intolerable。 A strange odor loaded the breeze。 A
low； continuous murmur； like that arising from a full； but gently
flowing river； came to my ears； intermingled with the peculiar hum of
multitudinous human voices。
〃While I listened in an extremity of astonishment which I need not
attempt to describe； a strong and brief gust of wind bore off the
incumbent fog as if by the wand of an enchanter。
〃I found myself at the foot of a high mountain； and looking down into
a vast plain； through which wound a majestic river。 On the margin of
this river stood an Eastern…looking city； such as we read of in the
Arabian Tales； but of a character even more singular than any there
described。 From my position； which was far above the level of the
town； I could perceive its every nook and corner； as if delineated on
a map。 The streets seemed innumerable； and crossed each other
irregularly in all directions； but were rather long winding alleys
than streets； and absolutely swarmed with inhabitants。 The houses
were wildly picturesque。 On every hand was a wilderness of balconies；
of verandas； of minarets； of shrines； and fantastically carved
oriels。 Bazaars abounded； and in these were displayed rich wares in
infinite variety and profusion silks； muslins； the most dazzling
cutlery； the most magnificent jewels and gems。 Besides these things；
were seen； on all sides； banners and palanquins； litters with stately
dames close veiled； elephants gorgeously caparisoned； idols
grotesquely hewn； drums； banners； and gongs； spears； silver and
gilded maces。 And amid the crowd； and the clamor； and the general
intricacy and confusion… amid the million of black and yellow men；
turbaned and robed； and of flowing beard； there roamed a countless
multitude of holy filleted bulls； while vast legions of the filthy
but sacred ape clambered； chattering and shrieking； about the
cornices of the mosques； or clung to the minarets and oriels。 From
the swarming streets to the banks of the river； there descended
innumerable flights of steps leading to bathing places； while the
river itself seemed to force a passage with difficulty through the
vast fleets of deeply burthened ships that far and wide
encountered its surface。 Beyond the limits of the city arose； in
frequent majestic groups； the palm and the cocoa； with other gigantic
and weird trees of vast age； and here and there might be seen a field
of rice； the thatched hut of a peasant； a tank； a stray temple； a
gypsy camp； or a solitary graceful maiden taking her way； with a
pitcher upon her head； to the banks of the magnificent river。
〃You will say now； of course； that I dreamed； but not so。 What I saw
what I heard what I felt what I thought had about it
nothing of the unmistakable idiosyncrasy of the dream。 All was
rigorously self…consistent。 At first； doubting that I was really
awake； I entered into a series of tests； which soon convinced me that
I really was。 Now； when one dreams； and； in the dream； suspects that
he dreams； the suspicion never fails to confirm itself； and the
sleeper is almost immediately aroused。 Thus Novalis errs not in
saying that 'we are near waking when we dream that we dream。' Had the
vision occurred to me as I describe it； without my suspecting it as a
dream； then a dream it might absolutely have been； but； occurring as
it did； and suspected and tested as it was； I am forced to class it
among other phenomena。〃
〃In this I am not sure that you are wrong；〃 observed Dr。 Templeton；
〃but proceed。 You arose and descended into the city。〃
〃I arose；〃 continued Bedloe； regarding the Doctor with an air of
profound astonishment 〃I arose； as you say； and descended into the
city。 On my way I fell in with an immense populace； crowding through
every avenue； all in the same direction； and exhibiting in every
action the wildest excitement。 Very suddenly； and by some
inconceivable impulse； I became intensely imbued with personal
interest in what was going on。 I seemed to feel that I had an
important part to play； without exactly understanding what it was。
Against the crowd which environed me； however； I experienced a deep
sentiment of animosity。 I shrank from amid them； and； swiftly； by a
circuitous path； reached and entered the city。 Here all was the
wildest tumult and contention。 A small party of men； clad in garments
half…Indian； half…European； and officered by gentlemen in a uniform
partly Br