undine-第7节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


oars　were　soon　torn　out　of　the　hands　of　my　men；　and　were　dashed　by
the　force　of　the　waves　further　and　further　beyond　our　reach。　We
ourselves；　yielding　to　the　resistless　powers　of　nature；　helplessly
drifted　over　the　surging　billows　of　the　lake　toward　your　distant
shore；　which　we　already　saw　looming　through　the　mist　and　foam。
Presently　our　boat　turned　round　and　round　as　in　a　giddy　whirlpool；　I
know　not　whether　it　was　upset；　or　whether　I　fell　overboard。　In　a
vague　terror　of　inevitable　death　I　drifted　on；　till　a　wave　cast　me
here；　under　the　trees　on　your　island。〃

〃Yes；　island！〃　cried　the　fisherman；　〃a　short　time　ago　it　was　only　a
point　of　land；　but　now；　since　the　forest…stream　and　the　lake　have
become　well…nigh　bewitched；　things　are　quite　different　with　us。〃

〃I　remarked　something　of　the　sort；〃　said　the　priest；　〃as　I　crept
along　the　shore　in　the　dark；　and　hearing　nothing　but　the　uproar
around　me。　I　at　last　perceived　that　a　beaten　foot…path　disappeared
just　in　the　direction　from　which　the　sound　proceeded。　I　now　saw　the
light　in　your　cottage；　and　ventured　hither；　and　I　cannot
sufficiently　thank　my　heavenly　Father　that　after　preserving　me　from
the　waters；　He　has　led　me　to　such　good　and　pious　people　as　you　are；
and　I　feel　this　all　the　more；　as　I　do　not　know　whether　I　shall　ever
behold　any　other　beings　is　this　world；　except　those　I　now　address。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　the　fisherman。

〃Do　you　know　then　how　long　this　commotion　of　the　elements　is　to
last？〃　replied　the　holy　man。　〃And　I　am　old　in　years。　Easily　enough
may　the　stream　of　my　life　run　itself　out　before　the　overflowing　of
the　forest…stream　may　subside。　And　indeed　it　were　not　impossible
that　more　and　more　of　the　foaming　waters　may　force　their　way　between
you　and　yonder　forest；　until　you　are　so　far　sundered　from　the　rest
of　the　world　that　your　little　fishing…boat　will　no　longer　be
sufficient　to　carry　you　across；　and　the　inhabitants　of　the　continent
in　the　midst　of　their　diversions　will　have　entirely　forgotten　you　in
your　old　age。〃

The　fisherman's　wife　started　at　this；　crossed　herself　and　exclaimed。
〃God　forbid。〃　But　her　husband　looked　at　her　with　a　smile；　and　said
〃What　creatures　we　are　after　all！　even　were　it　so；　things　would　not
be　very　differentat　least　not　for　you；　dear　wifethan　they　now
are。　For　have　you　for　many　years　been　further　than　the　edge　of　the
forest？　and　have　you　seen　any　other　human　beings　than　Undine　and
myself？　The　knight　and　this　holy　man　have　only　come　to　as　lately。
They　will　remain　with　us　if　we　do　become　a　forgotten　island；　so　you
would　even　be　a　gainer　by　it　after　ail。〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃it　is　somehow　a　gloomy　thought；
when　one　imagines　that　one　is　irrecoverably　separated　from　other
people；　although；　were　it　otherwise；　one　might　neither　know　nor　see
them。〃

〃Then　you　will　remain　with　us！　then　you　will　remain　with　us！〃
whispered　Undine；　in　a　low；　half…singing　tone；　as　she　nestled　closer
to　Huldbrand's　side。　But　he　was　absorbed　in　the　deep　and　strange
visions　of　his　own　mind。

The　region　on　the　other　side　of　the　forest…river　seemed　to　dissolve
into　distance　during　the　priest's　last　words：　and　the　blooming
island　upon　which　he　lived　grew　more　green；　and　smiled　more　freshly
in　his　mind's　vision。　His　beloved　one　glowed　as　the　fairest　rose　of
this　little　spot　of　earth；　and　even　of　the　whole　world；　and　the
priest　was　actually　there。　Added　to　this；　at　that　moment　an　angry
glance　from　the　old　flame　was　directed　at　the　beautiful　girl；
because　even　in　the　presence　of　the　reverend　father　she　leaned　so
closely　on　the　knight；　and　it　seemed　as　if　a　torrent　of　reproving
words　were　on　the　point　of　following。　Presently；　turning　to　the
priest；　Huldbrand　broke　forth：　〃Venerable　father；　you　see　before　you
here　a　pair　pledged　to　each　other：　and　if　this　maiden　and　these　good
old　people　have　no　objection；　you　shall　unite　us　this　very　evening。〃
The　aged　couple　were　extremely　surprised。　They　had；　it　is　true；
hitherto　often　thought　of　something　of　the　sort；　but　they　had　never
yet　expressed　it；　and　when　the　knight　now　spoke　thus；　it　came　upon
them　as　something　wholly　new　and　unprecedented。

Undine　had　become　suddenly　grave；　and　looked　down　thoughtfully　whip
the　priest　inquired　respecting　the　circumstances　of　the　case；　and
asked　if　the　old　people　gave　their　consent。　After　much　discussion
together；　the　matter　was　settled；　the　old　dame　went　to　arrange　the
bridal　chamber　for　the　young　people；　and　to　look　out　two　consecrated
tapers　which　she　had　had　in　her　possession　for　some　time；　and　which
she　thought　essential　to　the　nuptial　ceremony。　The　knight　in　the
mean　while　examined　his　gold　chain；　from　which　he　wished　to
disengage　two　rings；　that　he　might　make　an　exchange　of　them　with　his
bride。

She；　however；　observing　what　he　was　doing；　started　up　from　her
reverie；　and　exclaimed：　〃Not　so！　my　parents　have　not　sent　me　into
the　world　quite　destitute；　on　the　contrary；　they　must　have
anticipated　with　certainty　that　such　an　evening　as　this　would　come。〃
Thus　saving；　she　quickly　left　the　room　and　reappeared　in　a　moment
with　two　costly　rings；　one　of　which　she　gave　to　her　bridegroom；　and
kept　the　other　for　herself。　The　old　fisherman　was　extremely
astonished　at　this；　and　still　more　so　his　wife；　who　just　then
entered；　for　neither　had　ever　seen　these　jewels　in　the　child's
possession。

〃My　parents；〃　said　Undine；　〃sewed　these　little　things　into　the
beautiful　frock　which　I　had　on；　when　I　came　to　you。　They　forbid　me；
moreover；　to　mention　them　to　anyone　before　my　wedding　evening；　so　I
secretly　took　them；　and　kept　them　concealed　until　now。〃

The　priest　interrupted　all　further　questionings　by　lighting　the
consecrated　tapers；　which　he　placed　upon　a　table；　and　summoned　the
bridal　pair　to　stand　opposite　to　him。　He　then　gave　them　to　each
other　with　a　few　short　solemn　words；　the　elder　couple　gave　their
blessing　to　the　younger；　and　the　bride；　trembling　and　thoughtful；
leaned　upon　the　knight。　Then　the　priest　suddenly　said：　〃You　are
strange　people　after　all。　Why　did　you　tell　me　you　were　the　only
people　here　on　the　island？　and　during　the　whole　ceremony；　a　tall
stately　man；　in　a　white　mantle；　has　been　looking　at　me　through　the
window　opposite。　He　must　still　be　standing　before　the　door；　to　see
if　you　will　invite　him　to　come　into　the　house。〃

〃God　forbid；〃　said　the　old　dame　with　a　start；　the　fisherman　shook
his　head　in　silence；　and　Huldbrand　sprang　to　the　window。　It　seemed
even　to　him　as　if　he　could　still　see　a　white　streak；　but　it　soon
completely　disappeared　in　the　darkness。　He　convinced　the　priest　that
he　must　have　been　absolutely　mistaken；　and　they　all　sat　down
together　round　the　hearth。




CHAPTER　VII。

WHAT　FURTHER　HAPPENED　ON　THE　EVENING　OF　THE　WEDDING。


Both　before　and　during　the　ceremony；　Undine　had　shown　herself　gentle
and　quiet；　but　it　now　seemed　as　if　all　the　wayward　humors　which
rioted　within　her；　burst　forth　all　the　more　boldly　and
unrestrainedly。　She　teased　her　bridegroom　and　her　foster…parents；
and　even　the　holy　man　whom　she　had　so　lately　reverenced；　with　all
sorts　of　childish　tricks；　and　when　the　old　woman　was　about　to
reprove　her；　she　was　quickly　silenced　by　a　few　grave　words　from　the
knight；　speaking　of　Undine　now　as　his　wife。　Nevertheless；　the　knight
himself　was　equally　little　pleased　with　Undine's　childish　behavior：
but　no　signs；　and　no　reproachful　words　were　of　any　avail。　It　is
true；　whenever　the　bride　noticed　her　husband's　dissatisfactionand
this　occurred　occasionallyshe　became　more　quiet；　sat　down　by　his
side；　caressed　him；　whispered　something　smilingly　into　his　ear；　and
smoothed　the　wrinkles　that　were　gathering　on　his　brow。　But
immediately　afterward；　some　wild　freak　would　again　lead　her　to
return　to　her　ridiculous　proceedings；　and　matters　would　be　worse
than　before。　At　length　the　priest　said　in　a　serious　and　kind　tone：
〃My　fair　young　maiden；　no　one　indeed　can　look　at　you　without
delight；　but　remember　so　to　attune　your　soul　betimes；　that　it　may
ever　harmonize　with　that　of　your　wedded　husband。〃

〃Soul！〃　said　Undine；　laughing；　〃that　sounds　pretty　enough；　and　may
be　a　very　edifying　and　useful　caution　for　most　people。　But　when　one
hasn't　a　soul　at　all；　I　beg　you；　what　is　there　to　attune　then？　and
that　is　my　case。〃　The　priest　was　silent　and　deeply　wounded；　and　with
holy　displeasure　he　turned　his　face　from　the　girl。　She；　however；
went　up　to　him　caressingly；　and　said：　〃No！　listen　to　me　first；
before　you　look　angry；　for　your　look　of　anger　gives　me　pain；　and　you
must　not　give　pain　to　any　creature　who　has　done　you　no　wrongonly
have　patience　with　me；　and　I　will　tell　you　properly　what　I　mean。〃

It　was　evident　that　she　was　preparing　herself　to　explain　something
in　detail；　but　suddenly　she　hesitated；　as　if　seized　with　an　inward
shuddering；　and　burst　out　into　a　flood　of　tears。　They　none　of　them
knew　what　to　make　of　this　ebullition；　and　filled　with　various
apprehensions　they　gazed　at　her　in　silence。　At　length；　wiping　away
her　tears；　and　looking　earnestly　at　the　reverend　man；　she　said：
〃There　must　be　something　beautiful；　but　at　the　same　time　extremely
awful；　about　a　soul。　Tell　me；　holy　sir；　were　it　not　better　that　we
never　shared　such　a　gift