undine-第15节

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two　gray　horses　appeared　through　the　bushes；　and　beside　them　the
driver　in　the　white　smock　of　a　carter；　a　great　white　linen　cloth　was
next　visible；　covering　the　goods　apparently　contained　in　the　wagon。
At　a　loud　shout　from　their　master；　the　obedient　horses　halted。　The
driver　then　came　toward　the　knight；　and　helped　him　in　restraining
his　foaming　animal。

〃I　see　well；〃　said　he；　〃what　ails　the　beast。　When　I　first　travelled
this　way；　my　horses　were　no　better。　The　fact　is；　there　is　an　evil
water…spirit　haunting　the　place；　and　he　takes　delight　in　this　sort
of　mischief。　But　I　have　learned　a　charm；　if　you　will　let　me　whisper
it　in　your　horse's　ear；　he　will　stand　at　once　just　as　quiet　as　my
gray　beasts　are　doing　there。〃

〃Try　your　luck　then；　only　help　us　quickly！〃　exclaimed　the　impatient
knight。　The　wagoner　then　drew　down　the　head　of　the　rearing　charger
close　to　his　own；　and　whispered　something　in　his　ear。　In　a　moment
the　animal　stood　still　and　quiet；　and　his　quick　panting　and　reeking
condition　was　all　that　remained　of　his　previous　unmanageableness。
Huldbrand　had　no　time　to　inquire　how　all　this　had　been　effected。　He
agreed　with　the　carter　that　he　should　take　Bertalda　on　his　wagon；
where；　as　the　man　assured　him；　there　were　a　quantity　of　soft　cotton…
bales；　upon　which　she　could　be　conveyed　to　castle　Ringstetten；　and
the　knight　was　to　accompany　them　on　horseback。　But　the　horse
appeared　too　much　exhausted　by　its　past　fury　to　be　able　to　carry　its
master　so　far；　so　the　carter　persuaded　Huldbrand　to　get　into　the
wagon　with　Bertalda。　The　horse　could　be　fastened　on　behind。　〃We　are
going　down　hill；〃　said　he；　〃and　that　will　make　it　light　for　my　gray
beasts。〃

The　knight　accepted　the　offer　and　entered　the　wagon　with　Bertalda；
the　horse　followed　patiently　behind；　and　the　wagoner；　steady　and
attentive；　walked　by　the　side。

In　the　stillness　of　the　night；　as　its　darkness　deepened　and　the
subsiding　tempest　sounded　more　and　more　remote；　encouraged　by　the
sense　of　security　and　their　fortunate　escape；　a　confidential
conversation　arose　between　Huldbrand　and　Bertalda。　With　flattering
words　he　reproached　her　for　her　daring　flight；　she　excused　herself
with　humility　and　emotion；　and　from　every　word　she　said　a　gleam
shone　forth　which　disclosed　distinctly　to　the　lover　that　the　beloved
was　his。　The　knight　felt　the　sense　of　her　words　far　more　than　he
regarded　their　meaning；　and　it　was　the　sense　alone　to　which　he
replied。　Presently　the　wagoner　suddenly　shouted　with　loud　voice；

〃Up；　my　grays；　up　with　your　feet；　keep　together！　remember　who　you
are！〃

The　knight　leaned　out　of　the　wagon　and　saw　that　the　horses　were
stepping　into　the　midst　of　a　foaming　stream　or　were　already　almost
swimming；　while　the　wheels　of　the　wagon　were　rushing　round　and
gleaming　like　mill…wheels；　and　the　wagoner　had　jot　up　in　front；　in
consequence　of　the　increasing　waters。

〃What　sort　of　a　road　is　this？　It　goes　into　the　middle　of　the
stream。〃　cried　Huldbrand　to　his　guide。

〃Not　at　all；　sir。〃　returned　the　other；　laughing；　〃it　is　just　the
reverse；　the　stream　goes　into　the　very　middle　of　our　road。　Look
round　and　see　how　everything　is　covered　by　the　water〃

The　whole　valley　indeed　was　suddenly　filled　with　the　surging　flood；
that　visibly　increased。　〃It　is　Kuhleborn；　the　evil　water…spirit；　who
wishes　to　drown　us！〃　exclaimed　the　knight。　〃Have　you　no　charm；
against　him；　my　friend？〃

〃I　know　indeed　of　one；〃　returned　the　wagoner；　〃but　I　cannot　and　may
not　use　it　until　you　know　who　I　am。〃

〃Is　this　a　time　for　riddles？〃　cried　the　knight。　〃The　flood　is　ever
rising　higher；　and　what　does　it　matter　to　me　to　know　who　you　are？〃

〃It　does　matter　to　you；　though；〃　said　the　wagoner；　〃for　I　am
Kuhleborn。〃

So　saying；　he　thrust　his　distorted　face　into　the　wagon　with　a　grin；
but　the　wagon　was　a　wagon　no　longer；　the　horses　were　not　horsesall
was　transformed　to　foam　and　vanished　in　the　hissing　waves；　and　even
the　wagoner　himself；　rising　as　a　gigantic　billow；　drew　down　the
vainly　struggling　horse　beneath　the　waters；　and　then　swelling　higher
and　higher；　swept　over　the　heads　of　the　floating　pair；　like　some
liquid　tower；　threatening　to　bury　them　irrecoverably。

Just　then　the　soft　voice　of　Undine　sounded　through　the　uproar；　the
moon　emerged　from　the　clouds；　and　by　its　light　Undine　was　seen　on
the　heights　above　the　valley。　She　rebuked；　she　threatened　the　floods
below；　the　menacing；　tower…like　wave　vanished；　muttering　and
murmuring；　the　waters　flowed　gently　away　in　the　moonlight；　and　like
a　white　dove；　Undine　flew　down　from　the　height；　seized　the　knight
and　Bertalda；　and　bore　them　with　her　to　a　fresh；　green；　turfy　spot
on　the　hill；　where　with　choice　refreshing　restoratives；　she
dispelled　their　terrors　and　weariness；　then　she　assisted　Bertalda　to
mount　the　white　palfrey；　on　which　she　had　herself　ridden　here；　and
thus　all　three　returned　back　to　castle　Ringstetten。




CHAPTER　XV。

THE　JOURNEY　TO　VIENNA。


After　this　last　adventure；　they　lived　quietly　and　happily　at　the
castle。　The　knight　more　and　more　perceived　the　heavenly　goodness　of
his　wife；　which　had　been　so　nobly　exhibited　by　her　pursuit；　and　by
her　rescue　of　them　in　the　Black　Valley；　where　Kuhleborn's　power
again　commenced；　Undine　herself　felt　that　peace　and　security；　which
is　never　lacking　to　a　mind　so　long　as　it　is　distinctly　conscious　of
being　on　the　right　path；　and　besides；　in　the　newly…awakened　love　and
esteem　of　her　husband；　many　a　gleam　of　hope　and　joy　shone　upon　her。
Bertalda；　on　the　other　hand；　showed　herself　grateful；　humble　and
timid；　without　regarding　her　conduct　as　anything　meritorious。
Whenever　Huldbrand　or　Undine　were　about　to　give　her　any　explanation
regarding　the　covering　of　the　fountain　or　the　adventure　in　the　Black
Valley；　she　would　earnestly　entreat　them　to　spare　her　the　recital；
as　she　felt　too　much　shame　at　the　recollection　of　the　fountain；　and
too　much　fear　at　the　remembrance　of　the　Black　Valley。　She　learned
therefore　nothing　further　of　either；　and　for　what　end　was　such
knowledge　necessary？　Peace　and　joy　had　visibly　taken　up　their　abode
at　castle　Ringstetten。　They　felt　secure　on　this　point；　and　imagined
that　life　could　now　produce　nothing　but　pleasant　flowers　and　fruits。

In　this　happy　condition　of　things；　winter　had　come　and　passed　away；
and　spring；　with　its　fresh　green　shoots　and　its　blue　sky；　was
gladdening　the　joyous　inmates　of　the　castle。　Spring　was　in　harmony
with　them；　and　they　with　spring。　What　wonder　then；　that　its　storks
and　swallows　inspired　them　also　with　a　desire　to　travel？　One　day
when　they　were　taking　a　pleasant　walk　to　one　of　the　sources　of　the
Danube；　Huldbrand　spoke　of　the　magnificence　of　the　noble　river；　and
how　it　widened　as　it　flowed　through　countries　fertilized　by　its
waters；　how　the　charming　city　of　Vienna　shone　forth　on　its　banks；
and　how　with　every　step　of　its　course　it　increased　in　power　and
loveliness。

〃It　must　be　glorious　to　go　down　the　river　as　far　as　Vienna！〃
exclaimed　Bertalda；　but　immediately　relapsing　into　her　present
modesty　and　humility；　she　paused　and　blushed　deeply。

This　touched　Undine　deeply；　and　with　the　liveliest　desire　to　give
pleasure　to　her　friend；　she　said：　〃What　hinders　us　from　starting　on
the　little　voyage？〃

Bertalda　exhibited　the　greatest　delight；　and　both　she　and　Undine
began　at　once　to　picture　the　tour　of　the　Danube　in　the　brightest
colors。　Huldbrand　also　gladly　agreed　to　the　prospect；　only　he　once
whispered　anxiously　in　Undine's　ear；

〃But　Kuhleborn　becomes　possessed　of　his　power　again　out　there！〃

〃Let　him　come；〃　she　replied　with　a　smile；　〃I　shall　be　there；　and　he
ventures　upon　none　of　his　mischief　before　me。〃　The　last　impediment
was　thus　removed；　they　prepared　for　the　journey；　and　soon　after　set
out　upon　it　with　fresh　spirits　and　the　brightest　hopes。

But　wonder　not；　oh　man；　if　events　always　turn　out　different　to　what
we　have　intended。　That　malicious　power；　lurking　for　our　destruction；
gladly　lulls　its　chosen　victim　to　sleep　with　sweet　songs　and　golden
delusions；　while　on　the　other　hand　the　rescuing　messenger　from
Heaven　often　knocks　sharply　and　alarmingly　at　our　door。

During　the　first　few　days　of　their　voyage　down　the　Danube　they　were
extremely　happy。　Everything　grew　more　and　more　beautiful　as　they
sailed　further　and　further　down　the　proudly　flowing　stream。　But　in　a
region　otherwise　so　pleasant；　and　in　the　enjoyment　of　which　they　had
promised　themselves　the　purest　delight；　the　ungovernable　Kuhleborn
began；　undisguisedly；　to　exhibit　his　power　of　interference。　This　was
indeed　manifested　in　mere　teasing　tricks；　for　Undine　often　rebuked
the　agitated　waves；　or　the　contrary　winds；　and　then　the　violence　of
the　enemy　would　be　immediately　humbled；　but　again　the　attacks　would
be　renewed；　and　again　Undine's　reproofs　would　become　necessary；　so
that　the　pleasure　of　the　little　party　was　completely　destroyed。　The
boatmen　too　were　continually　whispering　to　each　other　in　dismay；　and
looking　with　distrust　at　the　three　strangers；　whose　servants　even
began　more　and　more　to　forebode　something　uncomfortable；　and　to
watch　their　superiors　with　suspicious　glances。　Huldbrand　often　said
to　himself：　〃This　comes　from　like　not　being　linked　with　like；　from　a
man　u