undine-第6节

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as　many　reproofs　as　she　received；　so；　in　his　heart　he　felt　the
balance　in　favor　of　the　old　woman；　and　his　whole　life　flowed　onward
in　calm　enjoyment。

There　came；　however；　an　interruption　at　last。　The　fisherman　and　the
knight　had　been　accustomed　at　their　mid…day　meal；　and　also　in　the
evening　when　the　wind　roared　without；　as　it　was　always　wont　to　do
toward　night；　to　enjoy　together　a　flask　of　wine。　But　now　the　store
which　the　fisherman　had　from　time　to　time　brought　with　him　from　the
town；　was　exhausted；　and　the　two　men　were　quite　out　of　humor　in
consequence。

Undine　laughed　at　them　excessively　all　day；　but　they　were　neither　of
them　merry　enough　to　join　in　her　jests　as　usual。　Toward　evening　she
went　out　of　the　cottage　to　avoid；　as　she　said；　two　such　long　and
tiresome　faces。　As　twilight　advanced；　there　were　again　tokens　of　a
storm；　and　the　water　rushed　and　roared。　Full　of　alarm；　the　knight
and　the　fisherman　sprang　to　the　door；　to　bring　home　the　girl；
remembering　the　anxiety　of　that　night　when　Huldbrand　had　first　come
to　the　cottage。　Undine；　however；　met　them；　clapping　her　little　hands
with　delight。　〃What　will　you　give　me；〃　she　said；　〃to　provide　you
with　wine？〃　or　rather；　〃you　need　not　give　me　anything；　〃she
continued；〃　for　I　am　satisfied　if　you　will　look　merrier　and　be　in
better　spirits　than　you　have　been　throughout　this　whole　wearisome
day。　Only　come　with　me；　the　forest　stream　has　driven　ashore　a　cask；
and　I　will　be　condemned　to　sleep　through　a　whole　week　if　it　is　not　a
wine…cask。〃　The　men　followed　her；　and　in　a　sheltered　creek　on　the
shore；　they　actually　found　a　cask；　which　inspired　them　with　the　hope
that　it　contained　the　generous　drink　for　which　they　were　thirsting。

They　at　once　rolled　it　as　quickly　as　possible　toward　the　cottage；
for　the　western　sky　was　overcast　with　heavy　storm…clouds；　and　they
could　observe　in　the　twilight　the　waves　of　the　lake　raising　their
white；　foaming　heads；　as　if　looking　out　for　the　rain　which　was
presently　to　pour　down　upon　them。　Undine　helped　the　men　as　much　as
she　was　able；　and　when　the　storm　of　rain　suddenly　burst　over　them；
she　said；　with　a　merry　threat　to　the　heavy　clouds：　〃Come；　come；　take
care　that　you　don't　wet　us；　we　are　still　some　way　from　shelter。　〃The
old　man　reproved　her　for　this；　as　simple　presumption；　but　she
laughed　softly　to　herself；　and　no　mischief　befell　any　one　in
consequence　of　her　levity。　Nay；　more：　contrary　to　all　expectation；
they　reached　the　comfortable　hearth　with　their　booty　perfectly　dry；
and　it　was　not　till　they　had　opened　the　cask；　and　had　proved　that　it
contained　some　wonderfully　excellent　wine；　that　the　rain　burst　forth
from　the　dark　cloud；　and　the　storm　raged　among　the　tops　of　the
trees；　and　over　the　agitated　billows　of　the　lake。

Several　bottles　were　soon　filled　from　the　great　cask；　which　promised
a　supply　for　many　days；　and　they　were　sitting　drinking　and　jesting
round　the　glowing　fire；　feeling　comfortably　secured　from　the　raging
storm　without。　Suddenly　the　old　fisherman　became　very　grave　and
said：　〃Ah；　great　God！　here　we　are　rejoicing　over　this　rich　treasure；
and　he　to　whom　it　once　belonged；　and　of　whom　the　floods　have　robbed
it；　has　probably　los　this　precious　life　in　their　waters。〃

〃That　he　has　not；〃　declared　Undine；　as　she　smilingly　filled　the
knight's　cup　to　the　brim。

But　Huldbrand　replied：　〃By　my　honor；　old　father；　if　I　knew　where　to
find　and　to　rescue　him；　no　knightly　errand　and　no　danger　would　I
shirk。　So　much；　however；　I　can　promise　you；　that　if　ever　again　I
reach　more　inhabited　lands；　I　will　find　out　the　owner　of　this　wine
or　his　heirs；　and　requite　it　twofold；　nay；　threefold。〃

This　delighted　the　old　man；　he　nodded　approvingly　to　the　knight；　and
drained　his　cup　with　a　better　conscience　and　greater　pleasure。

Undine；　however；　said　to　Huldbrand：　〃Do　as　you　will　with　your　gold
and　your　reimbursement；　but　you　spoke　foolishly　about　the　venturing
out　in　search；　I　should　cry　my　eyes　out；　if　you　were　lost　in　the
attempt；　and　isn't　it　true；　that　you　would　yourself　rather　stay　with
me　and　the　good　wine。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　answered　Huldbrand；　smiling。

〃Then；〃　said　Undine；　〃you　spoke　unwisely。　For　charity　begins　at
home；　and　what　do　other　people　concern　us？〃

The　old　woman　turned　away　sighing　and　shaking　her　head；　the
fisherman　forgot　his　wonted　affection　for　the　pretty　girl　and
scolded　her。

〃It　sounds　exactly；〃　said　he；　as　he　finished　his　reproof；　〃as　if
Turks　and　heathens　had　brought　you　up；　may　God　forgive　both　me　and
you；　you　spoiled　child。〃

〃Well；〃　replied　Undine；　〃for　all　that；　it　is　what　I　feel；　let　who
will　hate　brought　me　up；　and　all　your　words　can't　help　that。〃

〃Silence！〃　exclaimed　the　fisherman；　and　Undine；　who；　in　spite　of　her
pertness；　was　exceedingly　fearful；　shrank　from　him；　and　moving
tremblingly　toward　Huldbrand；　asked　him　in　a　soft　tone：　〃Are　you
also　angry；　dear　friend？〃

The　knight　pressed　her　tender　hand　and　stroked　her　hair。　He　could
say　nothing；　for　vexation　at　the　old　man's　severity　toward　Undine
closed　his　lips：　and　thus　the　two　couples　sat　opposite　to　each
other；　with　angry　feelings　and　embarrassed　silence。




CHAPTER　VI。

OF　A　NUPTIAL　CEREMONY。


A　low　knocking　at　the　door　was　heard　in　the　midst　of　this　stillness；
startling　all　the　inmates　of　the　cottage；　for　there　are　times　when　a
little　circumstance；　happening　quite　unexpectedly；　can　unduly　alarm
us。　But　there　was　here　the　additional　cause　of　alarm　that　the
enchanted　forest　lay　so　near；　and　that　the　little　promontory　seemed
just　now　inaccessible　to　human　beings。　They　looked　at　each　other
doubtingly；　as　the　knocking　was　repeated　accompanied　by　a　deep
groan；　and　the　knight　sprang　to　reach　his　sword。　But　the　old　man
whispered　softly：　〃If　it　be　what　I　fear；　no　weapon　will　help　us。〃

Undine　meanwhile　approached　the　door　and　called　out　angrily　and
boldly：　〃Spirits　of　the　earth；　if　you　wish　to　carry　on　your
mischief；　Kuhleborn　shall　teach　you　something　better。〃

The　terror　of　the　rest　was　increased　by　these　mysterious　words；　they
looked　fearfully　at　the　girl；　and　Huldbrand　was　just　regaining
courage　enough　to　ask　what　she　meant；　when　a　voice　said　without：　〃I
am　no　spirit　of　the　earth；　but　a　spirit　indeed　still　within　its
earthly　body。　You　within　the　cottage；　if　you　fear　God　and　will　help
me；　open　to　me。〃　At　these　words；　Undine　had　already　opened　the　door；
and　had　held　a　lamp　out　in　the　stormy　night；　by　which　they　perceived
an　aged　priest　standing　there；　who　stepped　back　in　terror　at　the
unexpected　sight　of　the　beautiful　maiden。　He　might　well　think　that
witchcraft　and　magic　were　at　work　when　such　a　lovely　form　appeared
at　such　an　humble　cottage　door：　he　therefore　began　to　pray：　〃All
good　spirits　praise　the　Lord！〃

〃I　am　no　spectre；〃　said　Undine；　smiling；　〃do　I　then　look　so　ugly？
Besides　you　may　see　the　holy　words　do　not　frighten　me。　I　too　know　of
God　and　understand　how　to　praise　Him；　every　one　to　be　sure　in　his
own　way；　for　so　He　has　created　us。　Come　in；　venerable　father；　you
come　among；　good　people。〃

The　holy　man　entered；　bowing　and　looking　round　him；　with　a　profound；
yet　tender　demeanor。　But　the　water　was　dropping　from　every　fold　of
his　dark　garment；　and　from　his　long　white　beard　and　from　his　gray
locks。　The　fisherman　and　the　knight　took　him　to　another　apartment
and　furnished　him　with　other　clothes；　while　they　gate　the　women　his
own　wet　attire　to　dry。　The　aged　stranger　thanked　them　humbly　and
courteously；　but　he　would　on　no　account　accept　the　knight's　splendid
mantle；　which　was　offered　to　him；　but　he　chose　instead　an　old　gray
overcoat　belonging　to　the　fisherman。　They　then　returned　to　the
apartment；　and　the　good　old　dame　immediately　vacated　her　easy…chair
for　the　reverend　father；　and　would　not　rest　till　he　had　taken
possession　of　it。　〃For；〃　said　she；　〃you　are　old　and　exhausted；　and
you　are　moreover　a　man　of　God。〃　Undine　pushed　under　the　stranger's
feet　her　little　stool；　on　which　she　had　been　wont　to　sit　by　the　side
of　Huldbrand；　and　she　showed　herself　in　every　way　most　gentle　and
kind　in　her　care　of　the　good　old　man。　Huldbrand　whispered　some
raillery　at　it　in　her　ear；　but　she　replied　very　seriously：　〃He　is　a
servant　of　Him　who　created　us　all；　holy　things　are　not　to　be　jested
with。〃　The　knight　and　the　fisherman　then　refreshed　their　reverend
guest　with　food　and　wine；　and　when　he　had　somewhat　recovered
himself；　he　began　to　relate　how　he　had　the　day　before　set　out　from
his　cloister；　which　lay　far　beyond　the　great　lake；　intending　to
travel　to　the　bishop；　in　order　to　acquaint　him　with　the　distress
into　which　the　monastery　and　its　tributary　villages　had　fallen　on
account　of　the　extraordinary　floods。

After　a　long；　circuitous　route；　which　these　very　floods　had　obliged
him　to　take；　he　had　been　this　day　compelled；　toward　evening；　to
procure　the　aid　of　a　couple　of　good　boatmen　to　cross　an　arm　of　the
lake；　which　had　overflowed　its　banks。

〃Scarcely　however；〃　continued　he；　〃had　our　small　craft　touched　the
waves；　than　that　furious　tempest　burst　forth　which　is　now　raging
over　our　heads。　It　seemed　as　if　the　waters　had　only　waited　for　us；
to　commence　their　wildest　whirling　dance　with　our　little　boat。　The
oars　were　soon　torn　out　of　the　hands　of　my　m