hermann and dorothea-第10节

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Thereupon　answered　and　said　the　doctor　in　language　of　caution：　〃Often　appearances　cheat；　I　like　not　to　trust　to　externals。　For　I　have　oft　seen　put　to　the　test　the　truth　of　the　proverb：　Till　thou　a　bushel　of　salt　with　a　new　acquaintance　hast　eaten；　Be　not　too　ready　to　trust　him；　for　time　alone　renders　thee　certain　How　ye　shall　fare　with　each　other；　and　how　well　your　friendship　shall　prosper。　Let　us　then　rather　at　first　make　inquiries　among　the　good　people　By　whom　the　maiden　is　known；　and　who　can　inform　us　about　her。〃

〃Much　I　approve　of　thy　caution；〃　the　preacher　replied　as　he　followed。　〃Not　for　ourselves　is　the　suit；　and　'tis　delicate　wooing　for　others。〃

Towards　the　good　magistrate；　then；　the　men　directed　their　footsteps；　Who　was　again　ascending　the　street　in　discharge　of　his　duties。

Him　the　judicious　pastor　at　once　addressed　and　with　caution。　〃Look！　we　a　maiden　have　here　descried　in　the　neighboring　garden；　Under　an　apple…tree　sitting；　and　making　up　garments　for　children

Out　of　second…hand　stuff　that　somebody　doubtless　has　given；　And　we　were　pleased　with　her　aspect：　she　seems　like　a　girl　to　be　trusted。　Tell　us　whatever　thou　knowest：　we　ask　it　with　honest　intentions。〃

Soon　as　the　magistrate　nearer　had　come；　and　looked　into　the　garden；　〃Her　thou　knowest　already；〃　he　said；　〃for　when　I　was　telling　Of　the　heroic　deed　performed　by　the　hand　of　that　maiden；　When　she　snatched　the　man's　sword；　and　delivered　herself　and　her　charges；　This　was　the　one！　she　is　vigorous　born；　as　thou　seest　by　her　stature；　Yet　she　is　good　as　strong；　for　her　aged　kinsman　she　tended　Until　the　day　of　his　death；　which　was　finally　hastened　by　sorrow　Over　his　city's　distress；　and　his　own　endangered　possessions。　Also；　with　quiet　submission；　she　bore　the　death　of　her　lover；　Who　a　high…spirited　youth；　in　the　earliest　flush　of　excitement；　Kindled　by　lofty　resolve　to　fight　for　a　glorious　freedom；　Hurried　to　Paris；　where　early　a　terrible　death　he　encountered。　For　as　at　home；　so　there；　his　foes　were　deceit　and　oppression。〃

Thus　the　magistrate　spoke。　The　others　saluted　and　thanked　him；　And　from　his　purse　a　gold…piece　the　pastor　drew　forth：for　the　silver　He　had　some　hours　before　already　in　charity　given；　When　he　in　mournful　groups　had　seen　the　poor　fugitives　passing；　And　to　the　magistrate　handed　it；　saying：　〃Apportion　the　money　'Mongst　thy　destitute　people；　and　God　vouchsafe　it　an　increase。〃　But　the　stranger　declined　it；　and；　answering；　said：　〃We　have　rescued　Many　a　dollar　among　us；　with　clothing　and　other　possessions；　And　shall　return；　as　I　hope；　ere　yet　our　stock　is　exhausted。〃

Then　the　pastor　replied；　and　pressed　the　money　upon　him：　〃None　should　be　backward　in　giving　in　days　like　the　present；　and　no　one　Ought　to　refuse　to　accept　those　gifts　which　in　kindness　are　offered。　None　can　tell　how　long　he　may　hold　what　in　peace　he　possesses；　None　how　much　longer　yet　he　shall　roam　through　the　land　of　the　stranger；　And　of　his　farm　be　deprived；　and　deprived　of　the　garden　that　feeds　him。〃

〃Ay；　to　be　sure！〃　in　his　bustling　way　interrupted　the　doctor：　〃If　I　had　only　some　money　about　me；　ye　surely　should　have　it；　Little　and　big；　for　certainly　many　among　you　must　need　it。　Yet　I'll　not　go　without　giving　thee　something　to　show　what　my　will　is；　Even　though　sadly　behind　my　good…will　must　lag　the　performance。〃　Thus；　as　he　spoke；　by　its　straps　his　embroidered　pocket　of　leather；　Where　his　tobacco　was　kept；　he　drew　forth；enough　was　now　in　it　Several　pipes　to　fill；and　daintily　opened；　and　portioned。　〃Small　is　the　gift；〃　he　added。　The　justice；　however；　made　answer：　〃Good　tobacco　can　ne'er　to　the　traveller　fail　to　be　welcome。〃　Then　did　the　village　doctor　begin　to　praise　his　canaster。

But　the　clergyman　drew　him　away；　and　they　quitted　the　justice。　〃Let　us　make　haste；〃　said　the　thoughtful　man：　〃the　youth's　waiting　in　torture；　Come　I　let　him　hear；　as　soon　as　he　may；　the　jubilant　tidings。〃

So　they　hastened　their　steps；　and　came　to　where　under　the　lindens　Hermann　against　the　carriage　was　leaning。　The　horses　were　stamping　Wildly　the　turf；　he　held　them　in　check；　and；　buried　in　musing；　Stood；　into　vacancy　gazing　before　him；　nor　saw　the　two　envoys；　Till；　as　they　came；　they　called　out　and　made　to　him　signals　of　triumph。　E'en　as　far　off　as　they　then　were；　the　doctor　began　to　address　him；　But　they　were　presently　nearer　come　and　then　the　good　pastor　Grasped　his　hand　and　exclaimed；　interrupting　the　word　of　his　comrade：　〃Hail　to　thee；　O　young　man！　thy　true　eye　and　heart　have　well　chosen；　Joy　be　to　thee　and　the　wife　of　thy　youth；　for　of　thee　she　is　worthy。　Come　then　and　turn　us　the　wagon；　and　drive　straightway　to　the　village；　There　the　good　maid　to　woo；　and　soon　bring　her　home　to　thy　dwelling。〃

Still；　however；　the　young　man　stood；　without　sign　of　rejoicing　Hearing　his　messenger's　words；　though　heavenly　they　were　and　consoling。　Deeply　he　sighed　as　he　said：　〃With　hurrying　wheels　we　came　hither；　And　shall　be　forced；　perchance；　to　go　mortified　homeward　and　slowly。　For　disquiet　has　fallen　upon　me　since　here　I've　been　waiting；　Doubt　and　suspicion　and　all　that　can　torture　the　heart　of　a　lover。　Think　ye　we　have　but　to　come；　and　that　then　the　maiden　will　follow　Merely　because　we　are　rich；　while　she　is　poor　and　an　exile？

Poverty；　too；　makes　proud；　when　it　comes　unmerited！　Active　Seems　she　to　be；　and　contented；　and　so　of　the　world　is　she　mistress。　Think　ye　a　maiden　like　her；　with　the　manners　and　beauty　that　she　has；　Can　into　woman　have　grown；　and　no　worthy　man's　love　have　attracted？　Think　ye　that　love　until　now　can　have　been　shut　out　from　her　bosom？　Drive　not　thither　too　rashly：　we　might　to　our　mortification　Have　to　turn　softly　homewards　our　horses'　heads。　For　my　fear　is　That　to　some　youth　already　this　heart　has　been　given；　already　This　brave　hand　has　been　clasped；　has　pledged　faith　to　some　fortunate　lover。　Then　with　my　offer；　alas！　I　should　stand　in　confusion　before　her。〃

Straightway　the　pastor　had　opened　his　lips　to　speak　consolation；　When　his　companion　broke　in；　and　said　in　his　voluble　fashion：　〃Years　ago；　forsooth；　unknown　had　been　such　a　dilemma。　All　such　affairs　were　then　conducted　in　regular　fashion。　Soon　as　a　bride　for　their　son　had　been　by　the　parents　selected；　First　some　family　friend　they　into　their　councils　would　summon；　Whom　they　afterwards　sent　as　a　suitor　to　visit　the　parents　Of　the　elected　bride。　Arrayed　in　his　finest　apparel；　Soon　after　dinner　on　Sunday　he　sought　the　respectable　burgher；　When　some　friendly　words　were　exchanged　upon　general　subjects；　He　knowing　how　to　direct　the　discourse　as　suited　his　purpose。　After　much　circumlocution　he　finally　mentioned　the　daughter；　Praising　her　highly；　and　praising　the　man　and　the　house　that　had　sent　him。　Persons　of　tact　perceived　his　intent；　and　the　politic　envoy　Readily　saw　how　their　minds　were　disposed；　and　explained　himself　further。　Then　were　the　offer　declined；　e'en　the　'no'　brought　not　mortification；　But　did　it　meet　with　success；　the　suitor　was　ever　thereafter　Made　the　chief　guest　in　the　house　on　every　festive　occasion。　For；　through　the　rest　of　their　lives；　the　couple　ne'er　failed　to　remember　That　'twas　by　his　experienced　hand　the　first　knot　had　been　gathered。　All　that；　however；　is　changed；　and；　with　many　another　good　custom；　Quite　fallen　out　of　the　fashion；　for　every　man　woos　for　himself　now。　Therefore　let　every　man　hear　to　his　face　pronounced　the　refusal；　If　a　refusal　there　be；　and　stand　shamed　in　the　sight　of　the　maiden！〃

〃Let　that　be　as　it　may！〃　made　answer　the　youth；　who　had　scarcely　Unto　the　words　paid　heed；　but　in　silence　had　made　his　decision。　〃I　will　go　thither　myself；　will　myself　hear　my　destiny　spoken　Out　of　the　lips　of　a　maiden　in　whom　I　a　confidence　cherish　Greater　than　heart　of　man　has　e'er　before　cherished　in　woman。　Say　what　she　will；　'twill　be　good　and　wise；　of　that　I　am　certain。　Should　I　behold　her　never　again；　yet　this　once　will　I　see　her；　Yet　this　once　the　clear　gaze　of　those　dark　eyes　will　encounter；　If　I　must　press　her　ne'er　to　my　heart；　yet　that　neck　and　that　bosom　Will　I　behold　once　more；　that　my　arm　so　longs　to　encircle；　Once　more　that　mouth　will　see；　whose　kiss　and　whose　'yes'　would　for　ever　Render　me　happy；　from　which　a　'no'　will　for　ever　destroy　me。　But　ye　must　leave　me　alone。　Do　not　wait　for　me　here；　but　return　ye　Back　to　my　father　and　mother　again；　and　give　them　the　knowledge　That　their　son　has　not　been　deceived；　that　the　maiden　is　worthy。　So　then　leave　me　alone！　I　shall　follow　the　footpath　that　crosses　Over　the　hill　by　the　pear…tree；　and　thence　descends　through　our　vineyard；　Taking　a　shorter　way　home。　And　oh；　may　I　bring　to　our　dwelling；　Joyful　and　quick　my　beloved！　but　perhaps　I　alone　may　come　creeping　Over　that　path　to　the　house；　and　ne'er　again　tread　it　with　gladness。〃

Thus　he　spoke；　and　gave　up　the　reins　to　the　hand　of　the　pastor；　Who　understandingly　grasped　them；　the　foaming　horses　controlling；　Speedily　mounted　the　carriage；　and　sat　in　the　seat　of　the　driver。

But　thou　didst　hesitate；　provident　neighbor；　and　say　in　remonstrance：　〃Heart　and　soul　and　spirit；　my　friend；　I　willingly　trust　thee；　But　as　for　life　and　limb；　they　are　not　in　the　safest　of　keeping；　When　the　temporal　reins　are　usurped　by　the　hand　of　the　clergy。〃

But　thou　didst　laugh　at　his　words；　intelligent　pastor；　and　answer：　〃Sit　thee