hermann and dorothea-第14节

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hreshold　with　purpose　to　serve　thee；　Else；　with　such　bitter　derision；　thou　wouldst　not　have　made　me　remember　How　far　removed　my　fortune　from　that　of　thyself　and　thy　son　is。　True；　I　come　poor　to　thy　house；　and　bring　with　me　naught　but　my　bundle　Here　where　is　every　abundance　to　gladden　the　prosperous　inmates。　Yet　I　know　well　myself；　I　feel　the　relations　between　us；　Say；　is　it　noble；　with　so　much　of　mockery　straightway　to　greet　me；　That　I　am　sent　from　the　house　while　my　foot　is　scarce　yet　on　the　threshold？〃

Anxiously　Hermann　turned　and　signed　to　his　ally　the　pastor　That　he　should　rush　to　the　rescue　and　straightway　dispel　the　delusion。　Then　stepped　the　wise　man　hastily　forward　and　looked　on　the　maiden's　Tearful　eyes；　her　silent　pain　and　repressed　indignation；　And　in　his　heart　was　impelled　not　at　once　to　clear　up　the　confusion；　Rather　to　put　to　the　test　the　girl's　disquieted　spirit。　Therefore　he　unto　her　said　in　language　intended　to　try　her：　〃Surely；　thou　foreign…born　maiden；　thou　didst　not　maturely　consider；　When　thou　too　rashly　decidedst　to　enter　the　service　of　strangers；　All　that　is　meant　by　the　placing　thyself　'neath　the　rule　of　a　master；　For　by　our　hand　to　a　bargain　the　fate　of　the　year　is　determined；　And　but　a　single　'yea'　compels　to　much　patient　endurance。　Not　the　worst　part　of　the　service　the　wearisome　steps　to　be　taken；　Neither　the　bitter　sweat　of　a　labor　that　presses　unceasing；　Since　the　industrious　freeman　must　toil　as　well　as　the　servant。　But　'tis　to　bear　with　the　master's　caprice　when　he　censures　unjustly；　Or　when；　at　variance　with　self；　he　orders　now　this；　now　the　other；　Bear　with　the　petulance；　too；　of　the　mistress；　easily　angered；　And　with　the　rude；　overbearing　ways　of　unmannerly　children。　All　this　is　hard　to　endure；　and　yet　to　go　on　with　thy　duties　Quickly；　without　delay；　nor　thyself　grow　sullen　and　stubborn。　Yet　thou　appearest　ill　fitted　for　this；　since　already　so　deeply　Stung　by　the　father's　jests：　whereas　there　is　nothing　more　common　Than　for　a　girl　to　be　teased　on　account　of　a　youth　she　may　fancy。〃

Thus　he　spoke。　The　maiden　had　felt　the　full　force　of　his　language；　And　she　restrained　her　no　more；　but　with　passionate　outburst　her　feelings　Made　themselves　way；　a　sob　broke　forth　from　her　now　heaving　bosom；　And；　while　the　scalding　tears　poured　down；　she　straightway　made　answer：　〃Ah；　that　rational　man　who　thinks　to　advise　us　in　sorrow；　Knows　not　how　little　of　power　his　cold　words　have　in　relieving　Ever　a　heart　from　that　woe　which　a　sovereign　fate　has　inflicted。　Ye　are　prosperous　and　glad；　how　then　should　a　pleasantry　wound　you？　Yet　but　the　lightest　touch　is　a　source　of　pain　to　the　sick　man。　Nay；　concealment　itself；　if　successful；　had　profited　nothing。　Better　show　now　what　had　later　increased　to　a　bitterer　anguish；　And　to　an　inward　consuming　despair　might　perhaps　have　reduced　me。　Let　me　go　back！　for　here　in　this　house　I　can　tarry　no　longer。　I　will　away；　and　wander　in　search　of　my　hapless　companions；　Whom　I　forsook　in　their　need；　for　myself　alone　choosing　the　better。　This　is　my　firm　resolve；　and　I　therefore　may　make　a　confession　Which　might　for　years　perhaps　have　else　lain　hid　in　my　bosom。　Deeply　indeed　was　I　hurt　by　the　father's　words　of　derision；　Not　that　I'm　sensitive；　proud　beyond　what　is　fitting　a　servant；　But　that　my　heart　in　truth　had　felt　itself　stirred　with　affection　Towards　the　youth　who　to…day　had　appeared　to　my　eyes　as　a　savior。　When　he　first　left　me　there　on　the　road；　he　still　remained　present；　Haunting　my　every　thought；　I　fancied　the　fortunate　maiden　Whom　as　a　bride；　perhaps；　his　heart　had　already　elected。　When　at　the　fountain　I　met　him　again；　the　sight　of　him　wakened　Pleasure　as　great　as　if　there　had　met　me　an　angel　from　heaven；　And　with　what　gladness　I　followed；　when　asked　to　come　as　his　servant。　True；　that　I　flattered　myself　in　my　heart；I　will　not　deny　it；　While　we　were　hitherward　coming；　I　might　peradventure　deserve　him；　Should　I　become　at　last　the　important　stay　of　the　household。　Now　I；　alas！　for　the　first　time　see　what　risk　I　was　running；　When　I　would　make　my　home　so　near　to　the　secretly　loved　one；　Now　for　the　first　time　feel　how　far　removed　a　poor　maiden　Is　from　an　opulent　youth；　no　matter　how　great　her　deserving。　All　this　I　now　confess；　that　my　heart　ye　may　not　misinterpret；　In　that　'twas　hurt　by　a　chance　to　which　I　owe　my　awaking。　Hiding　my　secret　desires；　this　dread　had　been　ever　before　me；　That　at　some　early　day　he　would　bring　him　a　bride　to　his　dwelling；　And　ah；　how　could　I　then　my　inward　anguish　have　suffered！　Happily　I　have　been　warned；　and　happily　now　has　my　bosom　Been　of　its　secret　relieved；　while　yet　there　is　cure　for　the　evil。　But　no　more；　I　have　spoken；　and　now　shall　nothing　detain　me　Longer　here　in　a　house　where　I　stay　but　in　shame　and　confusion；　Freely　confessing　my　love　and　that　foolish　hope　that　I　cherished。　Not　the　night　which　abroad　is　covered　with　lowering　storm　clouds；　Not　the　roll　of　the　thunderI　hear　its　pealshall　deter　me；　Not　the　pelt　of　the　rain　which　without　is　beating　in　fury；　Neither　the　blustering　tempest；　for　all　these　things　have　I　suffered　During　our　sorrowful　flight；　and　while　the　near　foe　was　pursuing。　Now　I　again　go　forth；　as　I　have　so　long　been　accustomed；　Carried　away　by　the　whirl　of　the　times；　and　from　every　thing　parted。　Fare　ye　well！　I　tarry　no　longer；　all　now　is　over。〃

Thus　she　spoke　and　back　to　the　door　she　hastily　turned　her；　Still　bearing　under　her　arm；　as　she　with　her　had　brought　it；　her　bundle。　But　with　both　of　her　arms　the　mother　seized　hold　of　the　maiden；　Clasping　her　round　the　waist；　and　exclaiming；　amazed　and　bewildered：　〃Tell　me；　what　means　all　this？　and　these　idle　tears；　say；　what　mean　they？　I　will　not　let　thee　depart：　thou　art　the　betrothed　of　my　Hermann。〃

But　still　the　father　stood；　observing　the　scene　with　displeasure；　Looked　on　the　weeping　girl；　and　said　in　a　tone　of　vexation：　〃This　then　must　be　the　return　that　I　get　for　all　my　indulgence；　That　at　the　close　of　the　day　this　most　irksome　of　all　things　should　happen！　For　there　is　naught　I　can　tolerate　less　than　womanish　weeping；　Violent　outcries；　which　only　involve　in　disorder　and　passion；　What　with　a　little　of　sense　had　been　more　smoothly　adjusted。　Settle　the　thing　for　yourselves：　I'm　going　to　bed；　I've　no　patience　Longer　to　be　a　spectator　of　these　your　marvellous　doings。〃　Quickly　he　turned　as　he　spoke；　and　hastened　to　go　to　the　chamber　Where　he　was　wonted　to　rest；　and　his　marriage　bed　was　kept　standing；　But　he　was　held　by　his　son；　who　said　in　a　tone　of　entreaty：　〃Father；　hasten　not　from　us；　and　be　thou　not　wroth　with　the　maiden。　I；　only　I；　am　to　blame　as　the　cause　of　all　this　confusion；　Which　by　his　dissimulation　our　friend　unexpectedly　heightened。　Speak；　O　worthy　sir；　for　to　thee　my　cause　I　intrusted。　Heap　not　up　sorrow　and　anger；　but　rather　let　all　this　be　ended；　For　I　could　hold　thee　never　again　in　such　high　estimation；　If　thou　shouldst　show　but　delight　in　pain；　not　superior　wisdom。〃

Thereupon　answered　and　said　the　excellent　clergyman；　smiling：　〃Tell　me；　what　other　device　could　have　drawn　this　charming　confession　Out　of　the　good　maiden's　lips；　and　thus　have　revealed　her　affection？　Has　not　thy　trouble　been　straightway　transformed　into　gladness　and　rapture？　Therefore　speak　up　for　thyself；　what　need　of　the　tongue　of　another？〃

Thereupon　Hermann　came　forward；　and　spoke　in　these　words　of　affection：　〃Do　not　repent　of　thy　tears；　nor　repent　of　these　passing　distresses；　For　they　complete　my　joy；　andmay　I　not　hope　it…thine　also？　Not　to　engage　tho　stranger；　the　excellent　maid；　as　a　servant；　Unto　the　fountain　I　came；　but　to　sue　for　thy　love　I　came　thither。　Only；　alas！　my　timorous　look　could　thy　heart's　inclination　Nowise　perceive；　I　read　in　thine　eyes　of　nothing　but　kindness；　As　from　the　fountain's　tranquil　mirror　thou　gavest　me　greeting。　Might　I　but　bring　thee　home；　the　half　of　my　joy　was　accomplished。　But　thou　completest　it　unto　me　now；　oh；　blest　be　thou　for　it！〃　Then　with　a　deep　emotion　the　maiden　gazed　on　the　stripling；　Neither　forbade　she　embrace　and　kiss；　the　summit　of　rapture；　When　to　a　loving　pair　they　come　as　the　longed…for　assurance；　Pledge　of　a　lifetime　of　bliss；　that　appears　to　them　now　never…ending。

Unto　the　others；　meanwhile；　the　pastor　had　made　explanation。　But　with　feeling　and　grace　the　maid　now　advanced　to　the　father；　Bent　her　before　him；　and　kissing　the　hand　he　would　fain　have　withholden；　Said：　〃Thou　wilt　surely　be　just　and　forgive　one　so　startled　as　I　was；　First　for　my　tears　of　distress；　and　now　for　the　tears　of　my　gladness。　That　emotion　forgive　me；　and　oh！　forgive　me　this　also。　For　I　can　scarce　comprehend　the　happiness　newly　vouchsafed　me。　Yes；　let　that　first　vexation　of　which　I；　bewildered；　was　guilty　Be　too　the　last。　Whatever　the　maid　of　affectionate　service　Faithfully　promised；　shall　be　to　thee　now　performed　by　the　daughter。〃　Straightway　then；　concealing　his　tears；　the　father　embraced　her；　Cordially；　too；　the　mother　came　forward　and　kissed　her　with　fervor；　Pressing　her　hands　in　her　own：　the　weeping　women　were　silent。

Thereupon　quickly　he　seized；　the　good　and　intelligent　pastor；　First　the　father's　hand；　and　the　wedding…ring　drew　from　his　finger；　Not　so　easily　either：　the　finger　was　plump　and　detained　it；　Next　took　the　mother's　ring　also；　and　with　them　betrothed　he　the　ch