Гипноз

           Maythemercifulgods,ifindeedtherebesuch,guardthosehourswhennopowerofthewill,ordrugthatthecunningofmandevises,cankeepmefromthechasmofsleep. Deathismerciful,forthereisnoreturntherefrom,butwithhimwhohascomebackoutofthenethermostchambersofnight,haggardandknowing,peacerestsnevermore. FoolthatIwastoplungewithsuchunsanctionedfrensyintomysteriesnomanwasmeanttopenetrate;foolorgodthathewas—myonlyfriend,wholedmeandwentbeforeme,andwhointheendpassedintoterrorswhichmayyetbemine! 

           Wemet,Irecall,inarailwaystation,wherehewasthecenterofacrowdofthevulgarlycurious.Hewasunconscious,havingfalleninakindofconvulsionwhichimpartedtohisslightblack-cladbodyastrangerigidity. Ithinkhewasthenapproachingfortyyearsofage,forthereweredeeplinesintheface,wanandhollow-cheeked,butovalandactuallybeautiful; andtouchesofgrayinthethick,wavinghairandsmallfullbeardwhichhadoncebeenofthedeepestravenblack. HisbrowwaswhiteasthemarbleofPentelicus,andofaheightandbreadthalmostgod-like. 

           Isaidtomyself,withalltheardorofasculptor,thatthismanwasafaun’sstatueoutofantiqueHellas,dugfromatemple’sruinsandbroughtsomehowtolifeinourstiflingageonlytofeelthechillandpressureofdevastatingyears. Andwhenheopenedhisimmense,sunken,andwildlyluminousblackeyesIknewhewouldbethenceforthmyonlyfriend—theonlyfriendofonewhohadneverpossessedafriendbefore—forIsawthatsucheyesmusthavelookedfullyuponthegrandeurandtheterrorofrealmsbeyondnormalconsciousnessandreality; realmswhichIhadcherishedinfancy,butvainlysought. SoasIdrovethecrowdawayItoldhimhemustcomehomewithmeandbemyteacherandleaderinunfathomedmysteries,andheassentedwithoutspeakingaword.