the wandering jew, volume 1-第4节

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evening　profoundly　calm。　　Thick　willows；　bending　over　the　river；　covered
it　with　their　green　transparent　shadow；　whilst；　further　on；　the　stream
reflected　so　splendidly　the　blue　heavens　and　the　glowing　tints　of　the
west；　that；　but　for　the　hills　which　rose　between　it　and　the　sky；　the　gold
and　azure　of　the　water　would　have　mingled　in　one　dazzling　sheet　with　the
gold　and　azure　of　the　firmament。　　The　tall　reeds　on　the　bank　bent　their
black　velvet　heads　beneath　the　light　breath　of　the　breeze　that　rises　at
the　close　of　dayfor　the　sun　was　gradually　sinking　behind　a　broad　streak
of　purple　clouds；　fringed　with　fire。　　The　tinkling　bells　of　a　flock　of
sheep　sounded　from　afar　in　the　clear　and　sonorous　air。

Along　a　path　trodden　in　the　grass　of　the　meadow；　two　girls；　almost
childrenfor　they　had　but　just　completed　their　fifteenth　yearwere
riding　on　a　white　horse　of　medium　size；　seated　upon　a　large　saddle　with　a
back　to　it；　which　easily　took　them　both　in；　for　their　figures　were　slight
and　delicate。

A　man　of　tall　stature；　with　a　sun…burnt　face；　and　long　gray　moustache；
was　leading　the　horse　by　the　bridle；　and　ever　and　anon　turned　towards　the
girls；　with　an　air　of　solicitude　at　once　respectful　and　paternal。　　He
leaned　upon　a　long　staff；　his　still　robust　shoulders　carried　a　soldier's
knapsack；　his　dusty　shoes；　and　step　that　began　to　drag　a　little；　showed
that　he　had　walked　a　long　way。

One　of　those　dogs　which　the　tribes　of　Northern　Siberia　harness　to　their
sledgesa　sturdy　animal；　nearly　of　the　size；　form；　and　hairy　coat　of　the
wolffollowed　closely　in　the　steps　of　the　leader　of　this　little　caravan；
never　quitting；　as　it　is　commonly　said；　the　heels　of　his　master。

Nothing　could　be　more　charming　than　the　group　formed　by　the　girls。　　One
held　with　her　left　hand　the　flowing　reins；　and　with　her　right　encircled
the　waist　of　her　sleeping　sister；　whose　head　reposed　on　her　shoulder。
Each　step　of　the　horse　gave　a　graceful　swaying　to　these　pliant　forms；　and
swung　their　little　feet；　which　rested　on　a　wooden　ledge　in　lieu　of　a
stirrup。

These　twin　sisters；　by　a　sweet　maternal　caprice；　had　been　called　Rose　and
Blanche；　they　were　now　orphans；　as　might　be　seen　by　their　sad　mourning
vestments；　already　much　worn。　　Extremely；　like　in　feature；　and　of　the
same　size；　it　was　necessary　to　be　in　the　constant　habit　of　seeing　them；
to　distinguish　one　from　the　other。　　The　portrait　of　her　who　slept　not；
might　serve　them　for　both　of　them；　the　only　difference　at　the　moment
being；　that　Rose　was　awake　and　discharging　for　that　day　the　duties　of
elder　sisterduties　thus　divided　between　then；　according　to　the　fancy　of
their　guide；　who；　being　an　old　soldier　of　the　empire；　and　a　martinet；　had
judged　fit　thus　to　alternate　obedience　and　command　between　the　orphans。

Greuze　would　have　been　inspired　by　the　sight　of　those　sweet　faces；　coifed
in　close　caps　of　black　velvet；　from　beneath　which　strayed　a　profusion　of
thick　ringlets　of　a　light　chestnut　color；　floating　down　their　necks　and
shoulders；　and　setting；　as　in　a　frame；　their　round；　firm；　rosy；　satin…
like　cheeks。　　A　carnation；　bathed　in　dew；　is　of　no　richer　softness　than
their　blooming　lips；　the　wood　violet's　tender　blue　would　appear　dark
beside　the　limpid　azure　of　their　large　eyes；　in　which　are　depicted　the
sweetness　of　their　characters；　and　the　innocence　of　their　age；　a　pure　and
white　forehead；　small　nose；　dimpled　chin；　complete　these　graceful
countenances；　which　present　a　delightful　blending　of　candor　and
gentleness。

You　should　have　seen　them　too；　when；　on　the　threatening　of　rain　or　storm；
the　old　soldier　carefully　wrapped　them　both　in　a　large　pelisse　of
reindeer　fur；　and　pulled　over　their　heads　the　ample　hood　of　this
impervious　garment；　then　nothing　could　be　more　lovely　than　those　fresh
and　smiling　little　faces；　sheltered　beneath　the　dark…colored　cowl。

But　now　the　evening　was　fine　and　calm；　the　heavy　cloak　hung　in　folds
about　the　knees　of　the　sisters；　and　the　hood　rested　on　the　back　of　their
saddle。

Rose；　still　encircling　with　her　right　arm　the　waist　of　her　sleeping
sister；　contemplated　her　with　an　expression　of　ineffable　tenderness；　akin
to　maternal；　for　Rose　was　the　eldest　for　the　day；　and　an　elder　sister　is
almost　a　mother。

Not　only；　did　the　orphans　idolize　each　other；　but；　by　a　psychological
phenomenon；　frequent　with　twins；　they　were　almost　always　simultaneously
affected；　the　emotion　of　one　was　reflected　instantly　in　the　countenance
of　the　other；　the　same　cause　would　make　both　of　them　start　or　blush；　so
closely　did　their　young　hearts　beat　in　unison；　all　ingenuous　joys；　all
bitter　griefs　were　mutually　felt；　and　shared　in　a　moment　between　them。

In　their　infancy；　simultaneously　attacked　by　a　severe　illness；　like　two
flowers　on　the　same　steam；　they　had　drooped；　grown　pale；　and　languished
together；　but　together　also　had　they　again　found　the　pure；　fresh　hues　of
health。

Need　it　be　said；　that　those　mysterious；　indissoluble　links　which　united
the　twins；　could　not　have　been　broken　without　striking　a　mortal　blow　at
the　existence　of　the　poor　children？

Thus　the　sweet　birds　called　love…birds；　only　living　in　pairs；　as　if
endowed　with　a　common　life；　pine；　despond；　and　die；　when　parted　by　a
barbarous　hand。

The　guide　of　the　orphans；　a　man　of　about　fifty…five；　distinguished　by
his　military　air　and　gait；　preserved　the　immortal　type　of　the　warriors　of
the　republic　and　the　empiresome　heroic　of　the　people；　who　became；　in
one　campaign；　the　first　soldiers　in　the　worldto　prove　what　the　people
can　do；　have　done；　and　will　renew；　when　the　rulers　of　their　choice　place
in　them　confidence；　strength；　and　their　hope。

This　soldier；　guide　of　the　sisters；　and　formerly　a　horse…grenadier　of　the
Imperial　Guard；　had　been　nicknamed　Dagobert。　　His　grave；　stern
countenance　was　strongly　marked；　his　long；　gray；　and　thick　moustache
completely　concealed　his　upper　lip；　and　united　with　a　large　imperial；
which　almost　covered　his　chin；　his　meagre　cheeks；　brick…colored；　and
tanned　as　parchment；　were　carefully　shaven；　thick　eyebrows；　still　black；
overhung　and　shaded　his　light　blue　eyes；　gold　ear…rings　reached　down　to
his　white…edged　military　stock；　his　topcoat；　of　coarse　gray　cloth；　was
confined　at　the　waist　by　a　leathern　belt；　and　a　blue　foraging　cap；　with　a
red　tuft　falling　on　his　left　shoulder；　covered　his　bald　head。

Once　endowed　with　the　strength　of　Hercules；　and　having　still　the　heart　of
a　lionkind　and　patient；　because　he　was　courageous　and　strongDagobert；
notwithstanding　his　rough　exterior；　evinced　for　his　orphan　charges　an
exquisite　solicitude；　a　watchful　kindness；　and　a　tenderness　almost
maternal。　　Yes；　motherly；　for　the　heroism　of　affection　dwells　alike　in
the　mother's　heart　and　the　soldiers。

Stoically　calm；　and　repressing　all　emotion；　the　unchangeable　coolness　of
Dagobert　never　failed　him；　and；　though　few　were　less　given　to　drollery；
he　was　now　and　then　highly　comic；　by　reason　of　the　imperturbable　gravity
with　which　he　did　everything。

From　time　to　time；　as　they　journeyed　on；　Dagobert　would　turn　to　bestow　a
caress　or　friendly　word　on　the　good　white　home　upon　which　the　orphans
were　mounted。　　Its　furrowed　sides　and　long　teeth　betrayed　a　venerable
age。　　Two　deep　scars；　one　on　the　flank　and　the　other　on　the　chest；　proved
that　his　horse　had　been　present　in　hot　battles；　nor　was　it　without　an　act
of　pride　that　he　sometimes　shook　his　old　military　bridle；　the　brass　stud
of　which　was　still　adorned　with　an　embossed　eagle。　　His　pace　was　regular；
careful；　and　steady；　his　coat　sleek；　and　his　bulk　moderate；　the　abundant
foam；　which　covered　his　bit；　bore　witness　to　that　health　which　horses
acquire　by　the　constant；　but　not　excessive；　labor　of　a　long　journey；
performed　by　short　stages。　　Although　he　had　been　more　than　six　months　on
the　road；　this　excellent　animal　carried　the　orphans；　with　a　tolerably
heavy　portmanteau　fastened　to　the　saddle；　as　freely　as　on　the　day　they
started。

If　we　have　spoken　of　the　excessive　length　of　the　horse's　teeththe
unquestionable　evidence　of　great　ageit　is　chiefly　because　he　often
displayed　them；　for　the　sole　purpose　of　acting　up　to　his　name　（he　was
called　Jovial）；　by　playing　a　mischievous　trick；　of　which　the　dog　was　the
victim。

This　latter；　who；　doubtless　for　the　sake　of　contrast；　was　called
Spoil…sport　（Rabat…joie）；　being　always　at　his　master's　heels；　found
himself　within　the　reach　of　Jovial；　who　from　time　to　time　nipped　him
delicately　by　the　nape　of　the　neck；　lifted　him　from　the　ground；　and
carried　him　thus　for　a　moment。　　The　dog；　protected　by　his　thick　coat；　and
no　doubt　long　accustomed　to　the　practical　jokes　of　his　companion；
submitted　to　all　this　with　stoical　complacency；　save　that；　when　he
thought　the　jest　had　lasted　long　enough；　he　would　turn　his　head　and
growl。　Jovial　understood　him　at　the　first　hint；　and　hastened　to　set　him
down　again。　　At　other　times；　just　to　avoid　monotony；　Jovial　would　gently
bite　the　knapsack　of　the　soldier；　who　seemed；　as　well　as　the　dog；　to　be
perfectly　accustomed　to　his　pleasantries。

These　details　will　give　a　notion　of　the　excellent　understanding　that
existed　between　the　twin　sisters；　the　old　soldier；　the　horse；　and　the
dog。

The　little　caravan　proceeded　on　its　ways　a