hermann and dorothea-第11节

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But　thou　didst　laugh　at　his　words；　intelligent　pastor；　and　answer：　〃Sit　thee　down；　and　contentedly　trust　me　both　body　and　spirit；　For；　in　holding　the　reins；　my　hand　grew　long　ago　skilful；　Long　has　my　eye　been　trained　in　making　the　nicest　of　turnings；　For　we　were　practised　well　in　driving　the　carriage　in　Strasburg；　When　I　the　youthful　baron　accompanied　thither；　then　daily　Rolled　the　carriage；　guided　by　me；　through　the　echoing　gateway；　Out　over　dusty　roads　till　we　reached　the　meadows　and　lindens；　Steering　through　groups　of　the　town's…folk　beguiling　the　day　there　with　walking。〃

Thereupon；　half…reassured；　the　neighbor　ascended　the　wagon；　Sat　like　one　who　for　a　prudent　leap　is　holding　him　ready；　And　the　stallions　sped　rapidly　homeward；　desiring　their　stable。　Clouds　of　dust　whirled　up　from　under　their　powerful　hoofbeats。　Long　the　youth　stood　there　yet；　and　saw　the　dust　in　its　rising；　Saw　the　dust　as　it　settled　again：　he　stood　there　unheeding。



ERATO

DOROTHEA

Like　as　the　traveller；　who；　when　the　sun　is　approaching　its　setting；　Fixes　his　eyes　on　it　once　again　ere　quickly　it　vanish；　Then　on　the　sides　of　the　rocks；　and　on　all　the　darkening　bushes；　Sees　its　hovering　image；　whatever　direction　he　look　in　That　hastes　before；　and　flickers　and　gleams　in　radiant　colors；　So　before　Hermann's　eyes　moved　the　beautiful　shape　of　the　maiden　Softly；　and　seeming　to　follow　the　path　that　led　into　the　cornfield。　But　he　aroused　from　his　wildering　dream　and　turned　himself　slowly　Towards　where　the　village　lay　and　was　wildered　again；　for　again　came　Moving　to　meet　him　the　lofty　form　of　the　glorious　maiden。　Fixedly　gazed　he　upon　her；　herself　it　was　and　no　phantom。　Bearing　in　either　hand　a　larger　jar　and　a　smaller；　Each　by　the　handle；　with　busy　step　she　came　on　to　the　fountain。　Joyfully　then　he　hastened　to　meet　her；　the　sight　of　her　gave　him　Courage　and　strength；　and　thus　the　astonished　girl　he　accosted：　〃Do　I　then　find　thee；　brave…hearted　maiden；　so　soon　again　busy；　Rendering　aid　unto　others；　and　happy　in　bringing　them　comfort？　Say　why　thou　comest　alone　to　this　well　which　lies　at　such　a　distance；　When　all　the　rest　are　content　with　the　water　they　find　in　the　village？　This　has　peculiar　virtues；　'tis　true；　and　the　taste　is　delicious。　Thou　to　that　mother　wouldst　bring　it；　I　trow；　whom　thy　faithfulness　rescued。〃

Straightway　with　cordial　greeting　the　kindly　maiden　made　answer：　〃Here　has　my　walk　to　the　spring　already　been　amply　rewarded；　Since　I　have　found　the　good　friend　who　bestowed　so　abundantly　on　us；　For　a　pleasure　not　less　than　the　gifts　is　the　sight　of　the　giver。　Come；　I　pray　thee；　and　see　for　thyself　who　has　tasted　thy　bounty；　Come；　and　the　quiet　thanks　receive　of　all　it　has　solaced。　But　that　thou　straightway　the　reason　mayst　know　for　which　I　am　hither　Come　to　draw；　where　pure　and　unfailing　the　water　is　flowing；　This　I　must　tell　thee；that　all　the　water　we　have　in　the　village　Has　by　improvident　people　been　troubled　with　horses　and　oxen　Wading　direct　through　the　source　which　brings　the　inhabitants　water。　And　furthermore　they　have　also　made　foul　with　their　washings　and　rinsings　All　the　troughs　of　the　village；　and　all　the　fountains　have　sullied；　For　but　one　thought　is　in　all；　and　that　how　to　satisfy　quickest　Self　and　the　need　of　the　moment；　regardless　of　what　may　come　after。〃

Thus　she　spoke；　and　the　broad　stone　steps　meanwhile　had　descended　With　her　companion　beside　her；　and　on　the　low　wall　of　the　fountain　Both　sat　them　down。　She　bent　herself　over　to　draw；　and　he　also　Took　in　his　hand　the　jar　that　remained；　and　bent　himself　over；　And　in　the　blue　of　the　heavens；　they；　seeing　their　image　reflected；　Friendly　greetings　and　nods　exchanged　in　the　quivering　mirror。

〃Give　me　to　drink；〃　the　youth　thereupon　in　his　gladness　petitioned；　And　she　handed　the　pitcher。　Familiarly　sat　they　and　rested；　Both　leaning　over　their　jars；　till　she　presently　asked　her　companion：　〃Tell　me；　why　I　find　thee　here；　and　without　thy　horses　and　wagon；　Far　from　the　place　where　I　met　thee　at　first？　how　camest　thou　hither？〃

Thoughtful　he　bent　his　eyes　on　the　ground；　then　quietly　raised　them　Up　to　her　face；　and；　meeting　with　frankness　the　gaze　of　the　maiden；　Felt　himself　solaced　and　stilled。　But　then　impossible　was　it；　That　he　of　love　should　speak；　her　eye　told　not　of　affection；　Only　of　clear　understanding；　requiring　intelligent　answer。　And　he　composed　himself　quickly；　and　cordially　said　to　the　maiden：　Hearken　to　me；　my　child；　and　let　me　reply　to　thy　question。　'Twas　for　thy　sake　that　hither　I　came；　why　seek　to　conceal　it？　Know　I　live　happy　at　home　with　both　my　affectionate　parents；　Faithfully　giving　my　aid　their　house　and　estates　in　directing；　Being　an　only　son；　and　because　our　affairs　are　extensive。　Mine　is　the　charge　of　the　farm；　my　father　bears　rule　in　the　household；　While　the　presiding　spirit　of　all　is　the　diligent　mother。　But　thine　experience　doubtless　has　taught　thee　how　grievously　servants；　Now　through　deceit；　and　now　through　their　carelessness；　harass　the　mistress；　Forcing　her　ever　to　change　and　replace　one　fault　with　another。　Long　for　that　reason　my　mother　has　wished　for　a　maid　in　the　household；　Who　not　with　hand　alone；　but　with　heart；　too；　will　lend　her　assistance；　Taking　the　daughter's　place；　whom；　alas！　she　was　early　deprived　of。　How　when　to…day　by　the　wagon　I　saw　thee；　so　ready　and　cheerful；　Witnessed　the　strength　of　thine　arms；　and　thy　limbs　of　such　healthful　proportion；　When　thy　intelligent　speech　I　heard；　I　was　smitten　with　wonder。　Hastening　homeward；　I　there　to　my　parents　and　neighbors　the　stranger　Praised　as　she　well　deserved。　But　I　now　am　come　hither　to　tell　thee　What　is　their　wish　as　mine。Forgive　me　my　stammering　language。〃

〃Hesitate　not；〃　she；　answering；　said；　〃to　tell　me　what　follows。　Thou　dost　not　give　me　offence；　I　have　listened　with　gratitude　to　thee：　Speak　it　out　honestly　therefore；　the　sound　of　it　will　not　alarm　me。　Thou　wouldst　engage　me　as　servant　to　wait　on　thy　father　and　mother；　And　to　look　after　the　welt…ordered　house　of　which　ye　are　the　owners；　And　thou　thinkest　in　me　to　find　them　a　capable　servant；　One　who　is　skilled　in　her　work；　and　not　of　a　rude　disposition。　Short　thy　proposal　has　been；　and　short　shall　be　also　my　answer。　Yes；　I　will　go　with　thee　home；　and　the　call　of　fate　I　will　follow。　Here　my　duty　is　done：　I　have　brought　the　newly　made　mother　Back　to　her　kindred　again；　who　are　all　in　her　safety　rejoicing。　Most　of　our　people　already　are　gathered；　the　others　will　follow。　All　think　a　few　days　more　will　certainly　see　them　returning　Unto　their　homes；　for　such　is　the　exile's　constant　delusion。　But　by　no　easy　hope　do　I　suffer　myself　to　be　cheated　During　these　sorrowful　days　which　promise　yet　more　days　of　sorrow。　All　the　bands　of　the　world　have　been　loosed；　and　what　shall　unite　them；　Saving　alone　the　need；　the　need　supreme；　that　is　on　us？　If　in　a　good　man's　house　I　can　earn　my　living　by　service；　Under　the　eye　of　an　excellent　mistress；　I　gladly　will　do　it；　Since　of　doubtful　repute；　must　be　always　a　wandering　maiden。　Yes；　I　will　go　with　thee；　soon　as　I　first　shall　have　carried　the　pitchers　Back　to　my　friends；　and　prayed　the　good　people　to　give　me　their　blessing。　Come　thou　must　see　them　thyself；　and　from　their　hands　must　receive　me。〃

Joyfully　hearkened　the　youth　to　the　willing　maiden's　decision；　Doubtful　whether　he　ought　not　at　once　to　make　honest　confession。　Yet　it　appeared　to　him　best　to　leave　her　awhile　in　her　error；　Nor　for　her　love　to　sue；　before　leading　her　home　to　his　dwelling。　Ah！　and　the　golden　ring　he　perceived　on　the　hand　of　the　maiden；　Wherefore　he　let　her　speak　on；　and　gave　diligent　ear　to　her　language。

〃Come；〃　she　presently　said；　〃Let　us　back　to　the　village；　for　maidens　Always　are　sure　to　be　blamed　if　they　tarry　too　long　at　the　fountain。　Yet　how　delightful　it　is　to　chat　by　the　murmuring　water！〃

Then　from　their　seats　they　rose；　and　both　of　them　turned　to　the　fountain　One　more　look　behind；　and　a　tender　longing　possessed　them。　Both　of　the　water…jars　then　in　silence　she　took　by　the　handle；　Carried　them　up　the　steps；　while　behind　her　followed　her　lover。　One　of　the　pitchers　he　begged　her　to　give　him　to　lighten　the　burden。　〃Nay；　let　it　be！〃　she　said：　〃I　carry　them　better　so　balanced。　Nor　shall　the　master；　who　is　to　command；　be　doing　me　service。　Look　not　so　gravely　upon　me；　as　thinking　my　fortune　a　hard　one。　Early　a　woman　should　learn　to　serve；　for　that　is　her　calling；　Since　through　service　alone　she　finally　comes　to　the　headship；　Comes　to　the　due　command　that　is　hers　of　right　in　the　household。　Early　the　sister　must　wait　on　her　brother；　and　wait　on　her　parents；　Life　must　be　always　with　her　a　perpetual　coming　and　going；　Or　be　a　fetching　and　carrying；　making　and　doing　for　others。　Happy　for　her　be　she　wonted　to　think　no　way　is　too　grievous；　And　if　the　hours　of　the　night　be　to　her　as　the　hours　of　the　daytime；　If　she　find　never　a　needle　too　fine；　nor　a　labor　too　trifling；　Wholly　forgetful　of　self；　and　caring　to　live　but　in　others！　For　she　will　surely；　as　mother；　have　need　of　every　virtue；　When；　in　the　time　of　her　illness；　the　cries　of　her　infant　arouse　her　Calling　for　food　from　her　weakness；　and　cares　are　to　suffering　added。　Twenty　men　bound　into　one　were　not　able　to　bear　such　a　burden；　Nor　is　it　meant　that　they　should；　yet　should　they　with　grati