Herman Melville

Pierre Herman Melville

THERE are some strange summer mornings in the country, when he who is but a sojourner fromthe city shall early walk forth into the fields, and be wonder-smitten with the trance-like aspect ofthe green and golden world. Not a flower stirs; the trees forget to wave; the grass itself seems tohave ceased to grow; and all Nature, as if suddenly become conscious of her own profound mystery, and feeling no refuge from it but silence, sinks into this wonderful and indescribable repose. Such was the morning in June, when, issuing from the embowered and high-gabled old home ofhis fathers, Pierre, dewily refreshed and spiritualized by sleep, gayly entered the long, wide, elmarched street of the village, and half unconsciously bent his steps toward a cottage, which peepedinto view near the end of the vista. The verdant trance lay far and wide; and through it nothing came but the brindled kine, dreamilywandering to their pastures, followed, not driven, by ruddy-cheeked, white-footed boys. As touched and bewitched by the loveliness of this silence, Pierre neared the cottage, and lifted hiseyes, he swiftly paused, fixing his glance upon one upper, open casement there. Why now thisimpassioned, youthful pause? Why this enkindled cheek and eye? Upon the sill of the casement, asnow-white glossy pillow reposes, and a trailing shrub has softly rested a rich, crimson flower againstit. Well mayst thou seek that pillow, thou odoriferous flower, thought Pierre; not an hour ago, herown cheek must have rested there. "Lucy!""Pierre!"As heart rings to heart those voices rang, and for a moment, in the bright hush of the morning, the two stood silently but ardently eying each other, beholding mutual reflections of a boundlessadmiration and love."Nothing but Pierre," laughed the youth, at last; "thou hast forgotten to bid me good-morning.""That would be little. Good-mornings, good-evenings, good days, weeks, months, and years tothee, Pierre;-bright Pierre!-Pierre!"Truly, thought the youth, with a still gaze of inexpressible fondness; truly the skies do ope, andthis invoking angel looks down.-"I would return thee thy manifold good-mornings, Lucy, did notthat presume thou had'st lived through a night; and by Heaven, thou belong'st to the regions of aninfinite day!""Fie, now, Pierre; why should ye youths always swear when ye love!""Because in us love is profane, since it mortally reaches toward the heaven in ye!""There thou fly'st again, Pierre; thou art always circumventing me s