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第7章 威斯敏斯特教堂WestminsterAbbey2（第1页）

第7章威斯敏斯特教堂WestminsterAbbey（2）

AsIpacedthecloisters，sometimesplatingthismiureofgloryanddeeseodeciphertheinssoones，whiedthepavemehmyfeet，myeyewasattractedtures，rudelyrelief，butnearlywornawaybythefootstepsofmaheyweretheeffigiesofthreeoftheearlyabbots;theepitaphswereehenamesaloneremained，havingnodoubtbeeertimes。（Vitalis。Abbas。1082，ausus。Abbas。1114，aius。Abbas。1176。）Iremailewhile，musihesecasualrelitiquity，thusleftlikewrethisdistaime，tellisugshadbeen，aeaoralbutthefutilityofthatpridewhichhopesstilltoexaageioliveinanins。Alittlelohesefaintrecordswillbeobliterated，awillorial。WhilstIwasyetlookingdownupoones，Iwasrousedbythesoundoftheabbeyclfrombuttresstobuttress，andeoers。Itisalmtohearthiswarimesoundingamoombs，ahelapseofthehour，which，likeabillow，hasrolledusonwardtrave。Ipursuedmywalktoanarcheddtotheiheabbey。here，themaghebuildingbreaksfullyuponthemind，trastedwiththevaultsofthecloisters。Theeyesgazewithwoclusterednsofgigantisions，ringingfromthemtosuamazi;andmanwanderingabouttheirbases，shrunkintoinsignifiparisonwithhisownhandiwork。Thespaessandgloomofthisvastedificeproduysteriousawe。Westepcautiouslyandsoftlyabout，asiffearfulthehallowedsileomb;whileeveryfootfallwhispersalongthewalls，andchattersamongthesepulchers，makingusmoresehequietwehaveied。

Itseemsasiftheawfulheplacepressesdownuponthesoul，ahebeholderintonoiselessreverewearesurrouhegregatedbomenofpasttimes，whohavefilledhistorywiththeirdeeds，ahtheirrenown。

Aalmostprovokesasmileatthevanityofhumanambitioheyarecrowdedtogetherahedust;arsimonyisobservedindolingoutasyer，alittleportiohose，whom，whenalive，kingdomsotsatisfy;andhoes，andforms，andartificesaredevisedtocatchtheoticeofthepassenger，andsavefretfulness，forafewshortyears，anamewhiceaspiredtooccupyagesoftheworld’sthoughtandadmiration。

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Iuedinthiswaytomovefromtombtotomb，andfromchapeltochapel。Thedaywasgraduallywearingaway;thedistanttreadofloiterersabouttheabbeygrewlessandlessfrequeonguedbellwassummoningtoeveningprayers;andIsawatadistaers，iesurplices，gtheaisleahechoir。IstoodbeforetheeoHeh’schapel。Aflightofstepsleadupthadeepandgloomy，butmagarch。Greatgatesofbrass，riddelicatelywrought，turnheavilyupes，asifproudlyreluitthefeetofortalsintothismeousofsepulchres。