Ветер в ивах
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Suddenandmagnificent,thesun’sbroadgoldendiscshoweditselfoverthehorizonfacingthem;andthefirstrays,shootingacrossthelevelwater-meadows,tooktheanimalsfullintheeyesanddazzledthem.Whentheywereabletolookoncemore,theVisionhadvanished,andtheairwasfullofthecarolofbirdsthathailedthedawn.
Astheystaredblankly,indumbmiserydeepeningastheyslowlyrealisedalltheyhadseenandalltheyhadlost,acapriciouslittlebreeze,dancingupfromthesurfaceofthewater,tossedtheaspens,shookthedewyroses,andblewlightlyandcaressinglyintheirfaces;andwithitssofttouchcameinstantoblivion.Forthisisthelastbestgiftthatthekindlydemi-godiscarefultobestowonthosetowhomhehasrevealedhimselfintheirhelping:thegiftofforgetfulness.Lesttheawfulremembranceshouldremainandgrow,andovershadowmirthandpleasure,andthegreathauntingmemoryshouldspoilalltheafter-livesoflittleanimalshelpedoutofdifficulties,inorderthattheyshouldbehappyandlight-heartedasbefore.
MolerubbedhiseyesandstaredatRat,whowaslookingabouthiminapuzzledsortofway."Ibegyourpardon;whatdidyousay,Rat?"heasked.
"IthinkIwasonlyremarking,"saidRatslowly,"thatthiswastherightsortofplace,andthathere,ifanywhere,weshouldfindhim.Andlook!Why,thereheis,thelittlefellow!"AndwithacryofdelightherantowardstheslumberingPortly.
