hermann and dorothea-第15节

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inger　was　plump　and　detained　it；　Next　took　the　mother's　ring　also；　and　with　them　betrothed　he　the　children；　Saying：　〃These　golden　circlets　once　more　their　office　performing　Firmly　a　tie　shall　unite；　which　in　all　things　shall　equal　the　old　one；　Deeply　is　this　young　man　imbued　with　love　of　the　maiden；　And；　as　the　maiden　confesses；　her　heart　is　gone　out　to　him　also。　Here　do　I　therefore　betroth　you　and　bless　for　the　years　that　are　coming；　With　the　consent　of　the　parents；　and　having　this　friend　as　a　witness。〃

Then　the　neighbor　saluted　at　once；　and　expressed　his　good　wishes；　But　when　the　clergyman　now　the　golden　circlet　was　drawing　Over　the　maiden's　hand；　he　observed　with　amazement　the　other；　Which　had　already　by　Hermann　been　anxiously　marked　at　the　fountain。　And　with　a　kindly　raillery　thus　thereupon　he　addressed　her：　〃So；　then　thy　second　betrothal　is　this？　let　us　hope　the　first　bridegroom　May　not　appear　at　the　altar；　and　so　prohibit　the　marriage。〃

But　she；　answering；　said：　〃Oh；　let　me　to　this　recollection　Yet　one　moment　devote；　for　so　much　is　due　the　good　giver；　Him　who　bestowed　it　at　parting；　and　never　came　back　to　his　kindred。　All　that　should　come　he　foresaw；　when　in　haste　the　passion　for　freedom；　When　a　desire　in　the　newly　changed　order　of　things　to　be　working；　Urged　him　onward　to　Paris；　where　chains　and　death　he　encountered。　'Fare　thee　well；'　were　his　words；　'I　go；　for　all　is　in　motion　Now　for　a　time　on　the　earth；　and　every　thing　seems　to　be　parting。　E'en　in　the　firmest　states　fundamental　laws　are　dissolving；　Property　falls　away　from　the　hand　of　the　ancient　possessor；　Friend　is　parted　from　friend；　and　so　parts　lover　from　lover。　Here　I　leave　thee；　and　where　I　shall　find　thee　again；　or　if　ever；　Who　can　tell？　Perhaps　these　words　are　our　last　ones　together。　Man's　but　a　stranger　here　on　the　earth；　we　are　told　and　with　reason；　And　we　are　each　of　us　now　become　more　of　strangers　than　ever。　Ours　no　more　is　the　soil；　and　our　treasures　are　all　of　them　changing：　Silver　and　gold　are　melting　away　from　their　time…honored　patterns。　All　is　in　motion　as　though　the　already…shaped　world　into　chaos　Meant　to　resolve　itself　backward　into　night；　and　to　shape　itself　over。　Mine　thou　wilt　keep　thine　heart；　and　should　we　be　ever　united　Over　the　ruins　of　earth；　it　will　be　as　newly　made　creatures；　Beings　transformed　and　free；　no　longer　dependent　on　fortune；　For　can　aught　fetter　the　man　who　has　lived　through　days　such　as　these　are！　But　if　it　is　not　to　be；　that；　these　dangers　happily　over；　Ever　again　we　be　granted　the　bliss　of　mutual　embraces；　Oh；　then　before　thy　thoughts　so　keep　my　hovering　image　That　with　unshaken　mind　thou　be　ready　for　good　or　for　evil！　Should　new　ties　allure　thee　again；　and　a　new　habitation；　Enter　with　gratitude　into　the　joys　that　fate　shall　prepare　thee；　Love　those　purely　who　love　thee；　be　grateful　to　them　who　show　kindness。　But　thine　uncertain　foot　should　yet　be　planted　but　lightly；　For　there　is　lurking　the　twofold　pain　of　a　new　separation。　Blessings　attend　thy　life；　but　value　existence　no　higher　Than　thine　other　possessions；　and　all　possessions　are　cheating！'　Thus　spoke　the　noble　youth；　and　never　again　I　beheld　him。　Meanwhile　I　lost　my　all；　and　a　thousand　times　thought　of　his　warning。　Here；　too；　I　think　of　his　words；　when　love　is　sweetly　preparing　Happiness　for　me　anew；　and　glorious　hopes　are　reviving；　Oh　forgive　me；　excellent　friend；　that　e'en　while　I　hold　thee　Close　to　my　side　I　tremble！　So　unto　the　late…landed　sailor　Seem　the　most　solid　foundations　of　firmest　earth　to　be　rocking。'

Thus　she　spoke；　and　placed　the　two　rings　on　her　finger　together。　But　her　lover　replied　with　a　noble　and　manly　emotion：　〃So　much　the　firmer　then；　amid　these　universal　convulsions；　Be；　Dorothea；　our　union！　We　two　will　hold　fast　and　continue；　Firmly　maintaining　ourselves；　and　the　right　to　our　ample　possessions。　For　that　man；　who；　when　times　are　uncertain；　is　faltering　in　spirit；　Only　increases　the　evil；　and　further　and　further　transmits　it；　While　he　refashions　the　world；　who　keeps　himself　steadfastly　minded。　Poorly　becomes　it　the　German　to　give　to　these　fearful　excitements　Aught　of　continuance；　or　to　be　this　way　and　that　way　inclining。　This　is　our　own！　let　that　be　our　word；　and　let　us　maintain　it！　For　to　those　resolute　peoples　respect　will　be　ever　accorded；　Who　for　God　and　the　laws；　for　parents；　women　and　children；　Fought　and　died；　as　together　they　stood　with　their　front　to　the　foeman。　Thou　art　mine　own；　and　now　what　is　mine；　is　mine　more　than　ever。　Not　with　anxiety　will　I　preserve　it；　and　trembling　enjoyment；　Rather　with　courage　and　strength。　To…day　should　the　enemy　threaten；　Or　in　the　future；　equip　me　thyself　and　hand　me　my　weapons。　Let　me　but　know　that　under　thy　care　are　my　house　and　dear　parents；　Oh！　I　can　then　with　assurance　expose　my　breast　to　the　foeman。　And　were　but　every　man　minded　like　me；　there　would　be　an　upspring　Might　against　might；　and　peace　should　revisit　us　all　with　its　gladness。〃





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