The Night Land

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Уильям Хоуп Ходжсон. The Night Land

THE DREAMS THAT ARE ONLY DREAMS

I. MIRDATH THE BEAUTIFUL

II. THE LAST REDOUBT

III. THE QUIET CALLING

IV. THE HUSHING OF THE VOICE

V. INTO THE NIGHT LAND

VI. THE WAY THAT I DID GO

VII. THE NIGHT LAND

VIII. DOWN THE MIGHTY SLOPE

IX. THE DARK PYRAMID

X. THE MAID OF THE OLDEN DAYS

XI. THE HOMEWARD WAY

XII. DOWNWARD OF THE GORGE

XIII. HOMEWARD BY THE SHORE

XIV. ON THE ISLAND

XV. PAST THE HOUSE OF SILENCE

XVI. IN THE COUNTRY OF SILENCE

XVII. THE LOVE DAYS

Отрывок из книги

It was the Joy of the Sunset that brought us to speech. I was gone a long way from my house, walking lonely-wise, and stopping often that I view the piling upward of the Battlements of Evening, and to feel the dear and strange gathering of the Dusk come over all the world about me.

The last time that I paused, I was truly lost in a solemn joy of the Glory of the Coming Night; and maybe I laughed a little in my throat, standing there alone in the midst of the Dusk upon the World. And, lo! my content was answered out of the trees that bounded the country road upon my right; and it was so as that some one had said: "And thou also!" in glad understanding, that I laughed again a little in my throat; as though I had only a half-believing that any true human did answer my laugh; but rather some sweet Delusion or Spirit that was tuned to my mood.

.....

And in a moment he was upon us, and made never a sound; but leaped at me in one instant of time; all before I had any thought of such intent. But surely, My Beautiful One had a dreadful love for me, for she cast herself at the dog, to save me, calling to the other hounds. And she was bitten in a moment by the brute, as she strove to hold him off from me. But I to have him instant by the neck and the body, and brake him, so that he died at once; and I cast him to the earth, and gave help to Mirdath, that I draw the poison from the wounds.

And this I did so well as I might, despite that she would have me stop. And afterwards, I took her into mine arms, and ran very fierce all the long and weary way to the Hall, and with hot skewers I burned the wounds; so that when the doctor came, he to say I have saved her by my care, if indeed she to be saved. But, truly, she had saved me in any wise, as you shall think; so that I could never be done of honour to her.

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