the monk(僧侣)-第57节
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story of a King of England whose prison was discovered by a
Minstrel； and He hoped that the same scheme would enable him to
discover Agnes； should She be in the Convent。 He chose a Ballad
which She had taught him herself in the Castle of Lindenberg： She
might possibly catch the sound； and He hoped to hear her replying
to some of the Stanzas。 His Guitar was now in tune； and He
prepared to strike it。
'But before I begin；' said He 'it is necessary to inform you；
Ladies； that this same Denmark is terribly infested by Sorcerers；
Witches； and Evil Spirits。 Every element possesses its
appropriate Daemons。 The Woods are haunted by a malignant power；
called ''the Erl… or Oak…King：'' He it is who blights the Trees；
spoils the Harvest； and commands the Imps and Goblins： He
appears in the form of an old Man of majestic figure； with a
golden Crown and long white beard： His principal amusement is to
entice young Children from their Parents； and as soon as He gets
them into his Cave； He tears them into a thousand piecesThe
Rivers are governed by another Fiend； called ''the Water…King：''
His province is to agitate the deep； occasion ship…wrecks； and
drag the drowning Sailors beneath the waves： He wears the
appearance of a Warrior； and employs himself in luring young
Virgins into his snare： What He does with them； when He catches
them in the water； Reverend Ladies； I leave for you to
imagine''The Fire…King'' seems to be a Man all formed of
flames： He raises the Meteors and wandering lights which
beguile Travellers into ponds and marshes； and He directs the
lightning where it may do most mischiefThe last of these
elementary Daemons is called ''the Cloud…King；'' His figure is
that of a beautiful Youth； and He is distinguished by two large
sable Wings： Though his outside is so enchanting； He is not a
bit better disposed than the Others： He is continually employed
in raising Storms； tearing up Forests by the roots； and blowing
Castles and Convents about the ears of their Inhabitants。 The
First has a Daughter； who is Queen of the Elves and Fairies； The
Second has a Mother； who is a powerful Enchantress： Neither of
these Ladies are worth more than the Gentlemen： I do not
remember to have heard any family assigned to the two other
Daemons； but at present I have no business with any of them
except the Fiend of the Waters。 He is the Hero of my Ballad； but
I thought it necessary before I began； to give you some account
of his proceedings'
Theodore then played a short symphony； After which； stretching
his voice to its utmost extent to facilitate its reaching the ear
of Agnes； He sang the following Stanzas。
THE WATER…KING
A DANISH BALLAD
With gentle murmur flowed the Tide；
While by the fragrant flowery side
The lovely Maid with carols gay
To Mary's Church pursued her way。
The Water…Fiend's malignant eye
Along the Banks beheld her hie；
Straight to his Mother…witch He sped；
And thus in suppliant accents said：
'Oh！ Mother！ Mother！ now advise；
How I may yonder Maid surprize：
Oh！ Mother！ Mother！ Now explain；
How I may yonder Maid obtain。'
The Witch She gave him armour white；
She formed him like a gallant Knight；
Of water clear next made her hand
A Steed； whose housings were of sand。
The Water…King then swift He went；
To Mary's Church his steps He bent：
He bound his Courser to the Door；
And paced the Church…yard three times four。
His Courser to the door bound He；
And paced the Church…yard four time three：
Then hastened up the Aisle； where all
The People flocked； both great and small。
The Priest said； as the Knight drew near；
'And wherefore comes the white Chief here？'
The lovely Maid She smiled aside；
'Oh！ would I were the white Chief's Bride！'
He stept o'er Benches one and two；
'Oh！ lovely Maid； I die for You！'
He stept o'er Benches two and three；
'Oh！ lovely Maiden； go with me！'
Then sweet She smiled； the lovely Maid；
And while She gave her hand； She said；
'Betide me joy； betide me woe；
O'er Hill； o'er dale； with thee I go。'
The Priest their hands together joins：
They dance； while clear the moon…beam shines；
And little thinks the Maiden bright；
Her Partner is the Water…spright。
Oh！ had some spirit deigned to sing；
'Your Partner is the Water…King！'
The Maid had fear and hate confest；
And cursed the hand which then She prest。
But nothing giving cause to think；
How near She strayed to danger's brink；
Still on She went； and hand in hand
The Lovers reached the yellow sand。
'Ascend this Steed with me； my Dear；
We needs must cross the streamlet here；
Ride boldly in； It is not deep；
The winds are hushed； the billows sleep。'
Thus spoke the Water…King。 The Maid
Her Traitor…Bride…groom's wish obeyed：
And soon She saw the Courser lave
Delighted in his parent wave。
'Stop！ Stop！ my Love！ The waters blue
E'en now my shrinking foot bedew！'
'Oh！ lay aside your fears； sweet Heart！
We now have reached the deepest part。'
'Stop！ Stop！ my Love！ For now I see
The waters rise above my knee。'
'Oh！ lay aside your fears； sweet Heart！
We now have reached the deepest part。'
'Stop！ Stop！ for God's sake； stop！ For Oh！
The waters o'er my bosom flow！'
Scarce was the word pronounced； when Knight
And Courser vanished from her sight。
She shrieks； but shrieks in vain； for high
The wild winds rising dull the cry；
The Fiend exults； The Billows dash；
And o'er their hapless Victim wash。
Three times while struggling with the stream；
The lovely Maid was heard to scream；
But when the Tempest's rage was o'er；
The lovely Maid was seen no more。
Warned by this Tale； ye Damsels fair；
To whom you give your love beware！
Believe not every handsome Knight；
And dance not with the Water…Spright！
The Youth ceased to sing。 The Nuns were delighted with the
sweetness of his voice and masterly manner of touching the
Instrument： But however acceptable this applause would have been
at any other time； at present it was insipid to Theodore。 His
artifice had not succeeded。 He paused in vain between the
Stanzas： No voice replied to his； and He abandoned the hope of
equalling Blondel。
The Convent Bell now warned the Nuns that it was time to
assemble in the Refectory。 They were obliged to quit the Grate；
They thanked the Youth for the entertainment which his Music had
afforded them； and charged him to return the next day。 This He
promised： The Nuns； to give him the greater inclination to keep
his word； told him that He might always depend upon the Convent
for his meals； and each of them made him some little present。
One gave him a box of sweetmeats； Another； an Agnus Dei； Some
brought reliques of Saints； waxen Images； and consecrated
Crosses； and Others presented him with pieces of those works in
which the Religious excel； such as embroidery； artificial
flowers； lace； and needlework。 All these He was advised to
sell； in order to put himself into better case； and He was
assured that it would be easy to dispose of them； since the
Spaniards hold the performances of the Nuns in high estimation。
Having received these gifts with seeming respect and gratitude；
He remarked that； having no Basket； He knew not how to convey
them away。 Several of the Nuns were hastening in search of one；
when they were stopped by the return of an elderly Woman； whom
Theodore had not till then observed： Her mild countenance； and
respectable air prejudiced him immediately in her favour。
'Hah！' said the Porteress； 'Here comes the Mother St。 Ursula with
a Basket。'
The Nun approached the Grate； and presented the Basket to
Theodore： It was of willow； lined with blue satin； and upon the
four sides were painted scenes from the legend of St。 Genevieve。
'Here is my gift；' said She； as She gave it into his hand； 'Good
Youth； despise it not； Though its value seems insignificant； it
has many hidden virtues。'
She accompanied these words with an expressive look。 It was not
lost upon Theodore； In receiving the present； He drew as near the
Grate as possible。
'Agnes！' She whispered in a voice scarcely intelligible。
Theodore； however； caught the sound： He concluded that some
mystery was concealed in the Basket； and his heart beat with
impatience and joy。 At this moment the Domina returned。 Her air
was gloomy and frowning； and She looked if possible more stern
than ever。
'Mother St。 Ursula； I would speak with you in private。'
The Nun changed colour； and was evidently disconcerted。
'With me？' She replied in a faltering voice。
The Domina motioned that She must follow her； and retired。 The
Mother St。 Ursula obeyed her； Soon after； the Refectory Bell
ringing a second time； the Nuns quitted the Grate； and Theodore
was left at liberty to carry off his prize。 Delighted that at
length He had obtained some intelligence for the Marquis； He flew
rather than ran； till He reached the Hotel de las Cisternas。 In
a few minutes He stood by his Master's Bed with the Basket in his
hand。 Lorenzo was in the chamber； endeavouring to reconcile his
Friend to a misfortune which He felt himself but too s
