undine-第16节

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to　himself：　〃This　comes　from　like　not　being　linked　with　like；　from　a
man　uniting　himself　with　a　mermaid！〃　Excusing　himself　as　we　all　love
to　do；　he　would　often　think　indeed　as　he　said　this：　〃I　did　not
really　know　that　she　was　a　sea…maiden；　mine　is　the　misfortune；　that
every　step　I　take　is　disturbed　and　haunted　by　the　wild　caprices　of
her　race；　but　mine　is　not　the　fault。〃　By　thoughts　such　as　these；　he
felt　himself　in　some　measure　strengthened；　but　on　the　other　hand；　he
felt　increasing　ill…humor；　and　almost　animosity　toward　Undine。　He
would　look　at　her　with　an　expression　of　anger；　the　meaning　of　which
the　poor　wife　understood　well。　Wearied　with　this　exhibition　of
displeasure；　and　exhausted　by　the　constant　effort　to　frustrate
Kuhleborn's　artifices；　she　sank　one　evening　into　a　deep　slumber；
rocked　soothingly　by　the　softly　gliding　bark。

Scarcely；　however；　had　she　closed　her　eyes　than　every　one　in　the
vessel　imagined　he　saw；　in　whatever　direction　he　turned；　a　most
horrible　human　head；　it　rose　out　of　the　waves；　not　like　that　of　a
person　swimming；　but　perfectly　perpendicular　as　if　invisibly
supported　upright　on　the　watery　surface；　and　floating　along　in　the
same　course　with　the　bark。　Each　wanted　to　point　out　to　the　other　the
cause　of　his　alarm；　but　each　found　the　same　expression　of　horror
depicted　on　the　face　of　his　neighbor；　only　that　his　hands　and　eyes
were　directed　to　a　different　point　where　the　monster；　half…laughing
and　half…threatening；　rose　before　him。　When；　however；　they　all
wished　to　make　each　other　understand　what　each　saw；　and　all　were
crying　out：　〃Look　there！　No；　there！〃　the　horrible　heads　all　at　one
and　the　same　time　appeared　to　their　view；　and　the　whole　river　around
the　vessel　swarmed　with　the　most　hideous　apparitions。　The　universal
cry　raised　at　the　sight　awoke　Undine。　As　she　opened　her　eyes；　the
wild　crowd　of　distorted　visages　disappeared。　But　Huldbrand　was
indignant　at　such　unsightly　jugglery。　He　would　have　burst　forth　in
uncontrolled　imprecations　had　not　Undine　said　to　him　with　a　humble
manner　and　a　softly　imploring　tone：　〃For　God's　sake；　my　husband；　we
are　on　the　water；　do　not　be　angry　with　me　now。〃

The　knight　was　silent；　and　sat　down　absorbed　in　revery。　Undine
whispered　in　his　ear：　〃Would　it　not　be　better；　my　love；　if　we　gave
up　this　foolish　journey；　and　returned　to　castle　Ringstetten　in
peace？〃

But　Huldbrand　murmured　moodily：　〃So　I　must　be　a　prisoner　in　my　own
castle；　and　only　be　able　to　breathe　so　long　as　the　fountain　is
closed！　I　would　your　mad　kindred〃Undine　lovingly　pressed　her　fair
hand　upon　his　lips。　He　paused；　pondering　in　silence　over　much　that
Undine　had　before　said　to　him。

Bertalda　had　meanwhile　given　herself　up　to　a　variety　of　strange
thoughts。　She　knew　a　good　deal　of　Undine's　origin；　and　yet　not　the
whole；　and　the　fearful　Kuhleborn　especially　had　remained　to　her　a
terrible　but　wholly　unrevealed　mystery。　She　had　indeed　never　even
heard　his　name。　Musing　on　these　strange　things；　she　unclasped；
scarcely　conscious　of　the　act；　a　gold　necklace；　which　Huldbrand　had
lately　purchased　for　her　of　a　travelling　trader；　half　dreamingly　she
drew　it　along　the　surface　of　the　water；　enjoying　the　light　glimmer
it　cast　upon　the　evening…tinted　stream。　Suddenly　a　huge　hand　was
stretched　out　of　the　Danube；　it　seized　the　necklace　and　vanished
with　it　beneath　the　waters。　Bertalda　screamed　aloud；　and　a　scornful
laugh　resounded　from　the　depths　of　the　stream。　The　knight　could　now
restrain　his　anger　no　longer。　Starting　up；　he　inveighed　against　the
river；　he　cursed　all　who　ventured　to　interfere　with　his　family　and
his　life；　and　challenged　them；　be　they　spirits　or　sirens；　to　show
themselves　before　his　avenging　sword。

Bertalda　wept　meanwhile　for　her　lost　ornament；　which　was　so　precious
to　her；　and　her　tears　added　fuel　to　the　flame　of　the　knight's　anger；
while　Undine　held　her　hand　over　the　side　of　the　vessel；　dipping　it
into　the　water；　softly　murmuring　to　herself；　and　only　now　and　then
interrupting　her　strange　mysterious　whisper；　as　she　entreated　her
husband：　〃My　dearly　loved　one；　do　not　scold　me　here；　reprove　others
if　you　will；　but　not　me　here。　You　know　why！〃　And　indeed；　he
restrained　the　words　of　anger　that　were　trembling　on　his　tongue。
Presently　in　her　wet　hand　which　she　had　been　holding　under　the
waves；　she　brought　up　a　beautiful　coral　necklace　of　so　much
brilliancy　that　the　eyes　of　all　were　dazzled　by　it。

〃Take　this；〃　said　she；　holding　it　out　kindly　to　Bertalda；　〃I　have
ordered　this　to　be　brought　for　you　as　a　compensation；　and　don't　be
grieved　any　more；　my　poor　child。〃

But　the　knight　sprang　between　them。　He　tore　the　beautiful　ornament
from　Undine's　hand；　hurled　it　again　into　the　river；　exclaiming　in
passionate　rage：　〃Have　you　then　still　a　connection　with　them？　In　the
name　of　all　the　witches；　remain　among　them　with　your　presents。　and
leave　us　mortals　in　peace；　you　sorceress！〃

Poor　Undine　gazed　at　him　with　fixed　but　tearful　eyes；　her　hand　still
stretched　out；　as　when　she　had　offered　her　beautiful　present　so
lovingly　to　Bertalda。　She　then　began　to　weep　more　and　more
violently；　like　a　dear　innocent　child　bitterly　afflicted。　At　last；
wearied　out　she　said：

〃Alas；　sweet　friend；　alas！　farewell！　They　shall　do　you　no　harm；　only
remain　true；　so　that　I　may　be　able　to　keep　them　from　you。　I　must；
alas！　go　away；　I　must　go　hence　at　this　early　stage　of　life。　Oh　woe；
woe！　what　have　you　done！　Oh　woe；　woe！〃

She　vanished　over　the　side　of　the　vessel。　Whether　she　plunged　into
the　stream；　or　flowed　away　with　it；　they　knew　not；　her　disappearance
was　like　both　and　neither。　Soon；　however；　she　was　completely　lost
sight　of　in　the　Danube；　only　a　few　little　waves　kept　whispering；　as
if　sobbing；　round　the　boat；　and　they　almost　seemed　to　be　saying：　〃Oh
woe；　woe！　oh　remain　true！　oh　woe！〃

Huldbrand　lay　on　the　deck　of　the　vessel；　bathed　in　hot　tears；　and　a
deep　swoon　soon　cast　its　veil　of　forgetfulness　over　the　unhappy　man。




CHAPTER　XVI。

HOW　IT　FARED　FURTHER　WITH　HULDBRAND。


Shall　we　say　it　is　well　or　ill；　that　our　sorrow　is　of　such　short
duration？　I　mean　that　deep　sorrow　which　affects　the　very　well…spring
of　our　life；　which　becomes　so　one　with　the　lost　objects　of　our　love
that　they　are　no　longer　lost；　and　which　enshrines　their　image　as　a
sacred　treasure；　until　that　final　goal　is　reached　which　they　have
reached　before　us！　It　is　true　that　many　men　really　maintain　these
sacred　memories；　but　their　feeling　is　no　longer　that　of　the　first
deep　grief。　Other　and　new　images　have　thronged　between；　we　learn　at
length　the　transitoriness　of　all　earthly　things；　even　to　our　grief；
and；　therefore。　I　must　say　〃Alas；　that　our　sorrow　should　be　of　such
short　duration？〃

The　lord　of　Ringstetten　experienced　this　whether　for　his　good；　we
shall　hear　in　the　sequel　to　this　history。　At　first　he　could　do
nothing　but　weep；　and　that　as　bitterly　as　the　poor　gentle　Undine　had
wept　when　he　had　torn　from　her　hand　that　brilliant　ornament　with
which　she　had　wished　to　set　everything　to　rights。　And　then　he　would
stretch　out　his　hand；　as　she　had　done；　and　would　weep　again；　like
her。　He　cherished　the　secret　hope　that　he　might　at　length　dissolve
in　tears；　and　has　not　a　similar　hope　passed　before　the　mind　of　many
a　one　of　us；　with　painful　pleasure；　in　moments　of　great　affliction？
Bertalda　wept　also；　and　they　lived　a　long　whip　quietly　together　at
Castle　Ringstetten；　cherishing　Undine's　memory；　and　almost　wholly
forgetful　of　their　former　attachment　to　each　other。　And；　therefore；
the　good　Undine　often　visited　Huldbrand　in　his　dreams；　caressing　him
tenderly　and　kindly；　and　then　going　away；　weeping　silently；　so　that
when　he　awoke　he　often　scarcely　knew　why　his　cheeks　were　so　wet；
whether　they　had　been　bathed　with　her　tears；　or　merely　with　his　own？

These　dream…visions　became；　however；　less　frequent　as　time　passed
on；　and　the　grief　of　the　knight　was　less　acute；　still　he　would
probably　have　cherished　no　other　wish　than　thus　to　think　calmly　of
Undine　and　to　talk　of　her；　had　not　the　old　fisherman　appeared　one
day　unexpectedly　at　the　castle；　and　sternly　insisted　on　Bertalda's
returning　with　him　as　his　child。　The　news　of　Undine's　disappearance
had　reached　him；　and　he　had　determined　on　no　longer　allowing
Bertalda　to　reside　at　the　castle　with　the　widowed　knight。

〃For；〃　said　he；　〃whether　my　daughter　love　me　or　no；　I　do　not　care　to
know；　but　her　honor　is　at　stake；　and　where　that　is　concerned；
nothing　else　is　to　be　thought　of。〃

This　idea　of　the　old　fisherman's；　and　the　solitude　which　threatened
to　overwhelm　the　knight　in　all　the　halls　and　galleries　of　the
desolate　castle；　after　Bertalda's　departure；　brought　out　the
feelings　that　had　slumbered　till　now　and　which　had　been　wholly
forgotten　in　his　sorrow　for　Undine；　namely；　Huldbrand's　affection
for　the　beautiful　Bertalda。　The　fisherman　had　many　objections　to
raise　against　the　proposed　marriage。　Undine　had　been　very　dear　to
the　old　fisherman；　and　he　felt　that　no　one　really　knew　for　certain
whether　the　dear　lost　one　were　actually　dead。　And　if　her　body　were
truly　lying　cold　and　stiff　at　the　bottom　of　the　Danube；　or　had
floated　away　with　the　current　into　the　ocean；　even　then　Bertalda　was
in　some　measure　to　bla