'"
Madame Pierson made no reply; all that evening she was even more cheerful
than usual. When we played cards with her aunt and I lost, she was
merciless in her scorn, saying that I knew nothing of the game, and
betting against me with so much success that she won all I had in my
purse. When the old lady retired, she stepped out on the balcony and I
followed her in silence.
The night was beautiful; the moon was setting and the stars shone
brightly in a field of deep azure. Not a breath of wind stirred the
trees; the air was warm and laden with the perfume of spring.
She was leaning on her elbow, her eyes in the heavens; I leaned over her
and watched her as she dreamed. Then I raised my own eyes; a voluptuous
melancholy seized us both. We breathed together, the warm perfume wafted
to us from the garden; we followed, in its lingering course, the pale
light of the moon which glinted through the chestnut-trees. I thought of
a certain day when I had looked up at the broad expanse of heaven with
despair; I trembled at the recollection of that hour; life was so rich
now! I felt a hymn of praise rising up in my heart. I surrounded the form
of my dear beloved with my arm; she gently turned her head; her eyes were
bathed in tears. Her body yielded, as does the rose, her open lips fell
on mine, and the universe was forgotten.
CHAPTER X
ETERNAL angel of happy nights, who will utter thy silence? A kiss!
mysterious vintage that flows from the lips as from a stainless chalice!
Intoxication of the senses! O voluptuous pleasure! Yes, like God, thou
art immortal! Sublime exaltation of the creature, universal communion of
beings, thrice sacred pleasure, what have they sung who have celebrated
thy praise? They have called thee transitory, O thou who dost create! And
they have said that thy passing beams have illumined their fugitive life.
Pages:
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170