the Equinox - The Hermetic Library
the Equinox - The Hermetic Library the Equinox - The Hermetic Library
298 THE EQUINOX On the second day after his arrival in the village where Ljubov lived, he noticed the child and her marvellous beauty. For hours, having retired to the house belonging to a rich lady whose guest he was, he drivelled, with before him the enrapturing vision of Ljubov's priceless jewels. He proceeded carefully; made friends with all the children; and, the seventh day having come, he met her outside the village, by chance— so she thought—and made her a present of a few trifling ornaments. Then he placed over his own eyes two empty shells of walnut, and pretended to play some childish game of hide-and-seek. After a few minutes, it was her turn to don the blinding apparel. But there were different from his, the empty shells he fixed under her eyebrows! Ljubov felt no pain, rather an exquisite sensation of physical bien-être, of wondrous languor. Ay, but a few minutes later, the sun and moon and stars had lost their beauty for her. There were two large cavities under her eye-lids. The force within the nutshells had drawn the eyes out of them. The Man ran away, carrying a treasured little box, and no more was ever heard of him in those parts. IV “What boots it to tell of the long, awful days of darkness through which poor little Ljubov lived before she grew accustomed to her blindness? I am not a medical philosopher; I like home and comfort far too much. If I journey, I must needs travel in state,and my staff includes both a medical
THE EYES OF ST. LJUBOV man and a philosopher. Therefore, what need is there for me to think, to fathom the depths of childish or human sorrow, to send my brains into a tiring process of elucidation? far more pleasant it is to remain a contemplative individual. There fore, O Mexican Gaucho, pass me thy pellote pouch and let me take a helping of the leaves and root of thy wonderful mescal plant. And without thought and without fatigue, I can then SEE. Where was I. my little brethren, fathers of larvae, sons of the she-goat? Ah, I know. Well, poor little Ljubov was saved by her magnificent soul from despairing thoughts. She lived, very miserable at first, more resigned later on. And there was a boy, too. He was the blind-born son of an ex-soldier, and because of his father's queer and unsocial manner, few people in the village would condescend to take interest in him. But he was no mean child, nevertheless, and his heart was big. Ljubov had denied herself the pitiful satisfaction of explaining her accident. No one ever heard from her lips the tale of her lost eyes. And, as the months passed by, all remembrance of her, as she had been, died away. Men, women and children passed her by, and took no notice of her. Her parents were kind, but over-worked. Only Piotr, the blind-born child, realized Ljubov’s beauty. For if he had no eyes to see with, his other perceptions were sharpened for that very reason. He could not very well understand at first how, and why, it had come to pass that he, alone in the world— for he was but an ignorant peasant child—had not received the use of the five operations of the Lord. But the village deacon, who had been in trouble for some cause or another, 299
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THE EYES OF ST. LJUBOV<br />
man and a philosopher. <strong>The</strong>refore, what need is <strong>the</strong>re for me<br />
to think, to fathom <strong>the</strong> depths of childish or human sorrow, to<br />
send my brains into a tiring process of elucidation? far more<br />
pleasant it is to remain a contemplative individual. <strong>The</strong>re<br />
fore, O Mexican Gaucho, pass me thy pellote pouch and let<br />
me take a helping of <strong>the</strong> leaves and root of thy wonderful<br />
mescal plant. And without thought and without fatigue, I can<br />
<strong>the</strong>n SEE.<br />
Where was I. my little brethren, fa<strong>the</strong>rs of larvae, sons of<br />
<strong>the</strong> she-goat? Ah, I know. Well, poor little Ljubov was saved<br />
by her magnificent soul from despairing thoughts. She lived,<br />
very miserable at first, more resigned later on.<br />
And <strong>the</strong>re was a boy, too. He was <strong>the</strong> blind-born son of an<br />
ex-soldier, and because of his fa<strong>the</strong>r's queer and unsocial<br />
manner, few people in <strong>the</strong> village would condescend to take<br />
interest in him. But he was no mean child, never<strong>the</strong>less, and<br />
his heart was big.<br />
Ljubov had denied herself <strong>the</strong> pitiful satisfaction of<br />
explaining her accident. No one ever heard from her lips <strong>the</strong><br />
tale of her lost eyes. And, as <strong>the</strong> months passed by, all<br />
remembrance of her, as she had been, died away. Men,<br />
women and children passed her by, and took no notice of her.<br />
Her parents were kind, but over-worked. Only Piotr, <strong>the</strong><br />
blind-born child, realized Ljubov’s beauty. For if he had no<br />
eyes to see with, his o<strong>the</strong>r perceptions were sharpened for that<br />
very reason. He could not very well understand at first how,<br />
and why, it had come to pass that he, alone in <strong>the</strong> world—<br />
for he was but an ignorant peasant child—had not received<br />
<strong>the</strong> use of <strong>the</strong> five operations of <strong>the</strong> Lord. But <strong>the</strong> village<br />
deacon, who had been in trouble for some cause or ano<strong>the</strong>r,<br />
299