夜(The night)

夜(thenight)

nighthasfallenoverthecountry.throughthetreesrisestheredmoon，andthestarsarescarcelyseen.inthevastshadowofnightthecoolnessandthedewsdescend.isitattheopenwindowtoenjoythem；andhearonlythevoiceofthesummerwind.likeblackhulks，theshadowsofthegreattreesrideatanchoronthebillowyseaofgrass.icannotseetheredandblueflowers，butiknowthattheyarethere.farawayinthemeadowgleamsthesilvercharles.thetrampofhorseshoofssoundsfromthewoodenbridge.thenallisstillsavethecontinuouswindofthesummernight.sometimesiknownotifitbethewindorthesoundoftheneighboringsea.thevillageclockstrikes；andifeelthatiamnotalone.

howdifferentitisinthecity！itislate，andthecrowdisgone.youstepoutuponthebalcony，andlieintheverybosomofthecool，dewynightasifyoufoldedhergarmentsaboutyou.beneathliesthepublicwalkwithtrees，likeafathomless，blackawaywithsomebelovedspiritplunges，andfloatsarestillburningupanddownthelongstreet.peoplegobywithgrotesqueshadows，foreshortened，andnowlengtheningawayintothedarknessandvanishing，whileannowewonespringsupbehindthewalker，andseemstopasshimrevolvinglikethesailofawindmill.theirongatesofthepartshutwithajanglingclang.therearefootstepsandloudvoices；——atumult；——adrunkenbrawl；——analarmoffire；——thensilenceagain.andnowatlengththecityisasleep，andwecanseethenight.thebelatedmoonlooksovertheroofs，andfindsnoonetowelcomeher.themoonlightisbroken.itlieshereandthereinthesquares，andtheopeningofthestreets-angularlikeblocksofwhitemarble.