迪文小说

第12部分（第2页）

the　soul　of　beauty　was　dissolved　in　its　crystal　bosom。　This　beauteous

vision　strengthens　my　conviction　that　the　world　which　the　mind　builds　up

out　of　countless　subtle　experiences　and　suggestions　is　fairer　than　the

world　of　the　senses。　The　splendour　of　the　sunset　my　friends　gaze　at

across　the　purpling　hills　is　wonderful。　But　the　sunset　of　the　inner

vision　brings　purer　delight　because　it　is　the　worshipful　blending　of　all

the　beauty　that　we　have　known　and　desired。

I　believe　that　I　am　more　fortunate　in　my　dreams　than　most　people；　for

as　I　think　back　over　my　dreams；　the　pleasant　ones　seem　to　predominate；

although　we　naturally　recall　most　vividly　and　tell　most　eagerly　the

grotesque　and　fantastic　adventures　in　Slumberland。　I　have　friends；

however；　whose　dreams　are　always　troubled　and　disturbed。　They　wake

fatigued　and　bruised；　and　they　tell　me　that　they　would　give　a　kingdom

for　one　dreamless　night。　There　is　one　friend　who　declares　that　she　has

never　had　a　felicitous　dream　in　her　life。　The　grind　and　worry　of　the　day

invade　the　sweet　domain　of　sleep　and　weary　her　with　incessant；

profitless　effort。　I　feel　very　sorry　for　this　friend；　and　perhaps　it　is

hardly　fair　to　insist　upon　the　pleasure　of　dreaming　in　the　presence　of

one　whose　dream…experience　is　so　unhappy。　Still；　it　is　true　that　my

dreams　have　uses　as　many　and　sweet　as　those　of　adversity。　All　my

yearning　for　the　strange；　the　weird；　the　ghostlike　is　gratified　in

dreams。　They　carry　me　out　of　the　accustomed　and　monplace。　In　a　flash；

in　the　winking　of　an　eye　they　snatch　the　burden　from　my　shoulder；　the

trivial　task　from　my　hand　and　the　pain　and　disappointment　from　my　heart；

and　I　behold　the　lovely　face　of　my　dream。　It　dances　round　me　with　merry

measure　and　darts　hither　and　thither　in　happy　abandon。　Sudden；　sweet

fancies　spring　forth　from　every　nook　and　corner；　and　delightful

surprises　meet　me　at　every　turn。　A　happy　dream　is　more　precious　than

gold　and　rubies。

I　like　to　think　that　in　dreams　we　catch　glimpses　of　a　life　larger　than

our　own。　We　see　it　as　a　little　child；　or　as　a　savage　who　visits　a

civilized　nation。　Thoughts　are　imparted　to　us　far　above　our　ordinary

thinking。　Feelings　nobler　and　wiser　than　any　we　have　known　thrill　us

between　heart…beats。　For　one　fleeting　night　a　princelier　nature　captures