, pastthreshingfloorsandgreenfieldsofwinterrye, downhillwheresnowstilllodgednearthebridge, uphillwheretheclayhadbeenliquefiedbytherain, paststripsofstubblelandandbushestouchedwithgreenhereandthere, , , andlilac-coloredflowersandthefirstbladesofgreengrasswerepushingupandliftinglastyear'.
Peterthefootmanmadesomeremarktothecoachman; 'ssympathywasnotenoughforPeter, andheturnedontheboxtowardhismaster.
"Howpleasantitis, yourexcellency!" hesaidwitharespectfulsmile.
"What?"
"It'spleasant, yourexcellency!"
"Whatishetalkingabout?" thoughtPrinceAndrew."Oh, thespring, Isuppose," hethoughtasheturnedround."Yes, reallyeverythingisgreenalready....Howearly! Thebirchesandcherryandalderstooarecomingout...., hereisoneoak!"
, , itsgirthtwiceasgreatasamancouldembrace, , anditsgnarledhandsandfingers, itstoodanaged, stern, -lookingevergreenfirsdottedaboutintheforest, andthisoak, refusedtoyieldtothecharmofspringornoticeeitherthespringorthesunshine.
"Spring, love, happiness!" thisoakseemedtosay."Areyounotwearyofthatstupid, meaningless, constantlyrepeatedfraud? Alwaysthesameandalwaysafraud? Thereisnospring, nosun, nohappiness! Lookatthosecrampeddeadfirs, everthesame, andatmetoo, stickingoutmybrokenandbarkedfingersjustwheretheyhavegrown, whetherfrommybackormysides: astheyhavegrownsoIstand, andIdonotbelieveinyourhopesandyourlies."
AshepassedthroughtheforestPrinceAndrewturnedseveraltimestolookatthatoak, , too, wereflowersandgrass, butitstoodamongthemscowling, rigid, misshapen, andgrimasever.
"Yes, theoakisright, athousandtimesright,"thoughtPrinceAndrew."Letothers—theyoung—yieldafreshtothatfraud, butweknowlife, ourlifeisfinished!"
Awholesequenceofnewthoughts, hopelessbutmournfullypleasant, , asitwere, consideredhislifeafreshandarrivedathisoldconclusion, restfulinitshopelessness: thatitwasnotforhimtobeginanythinganew—butthathemustliveouthislife, contenttodonoharm, andnotdisturbinghimselfordesiringanything.
