hermann and dorothea-第2节

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lley；　Great　was　the　crowd　and　confusion　of　persons　on　foot　and　of　wagons。　There；　alas！　saw　we　enough　of　these　poor　unfortunates　passing；　And　could　from　some　of　them　learn　how　bitter　the　sorrowful　flight　was；　Yet　how　joyful　the　feeling　of　life　thus　hastily　rescued。　Mournful　it　was　to　behold　the　most　miscellaneous　chattels；　All　those　things　which　are　housed　in　every　well…　furnished　dwelling；　All　by　the　house…keeper's　care　set　up　in　their　suitable　places；　Always　ready　for　use；　for　useful　is　each　and　important。…　Now　these　things　to　behold；　piled　up　on　all　manner　of　wagons；　One　on　the　top　of　another；　as　hurriedly　they　had　been　rescued。　Over　the　chest　of　drawers　were　the　sieve　and　wool　coverlet　lying；　Thrown　in　the　kneading…trough　lay　the　bed；　and　the　sheets　on　the　mirror。　Danger；　alas！　as　we　learned　ourselves　in　our　great　conflagration　Twenty　years　since；　will　take　from　a　man　all　power　of　reflection；　So　that　he　grasps　things　worthless　and　leaves　what　is　precious　behind　him。　Here；　too；　with　unconsidering　care　they　were　carrying　with　them　Pitiful　trash；　that　only　encumbered　the　horses　and　oxen；　Such　as　old　barrels　and　boards；　the　pen　for　the　goose；　and　the　bird…cage。　Women　and　children；　too；　went　toiling　along　with　their　bundles；

Panting　'neath　baskets　and　tubs；　full　of　things　of　no　manner　of　value：　So　unwilling　is　man　to　relinquish　his　meanest　possession。　Thus　on　the　dusty　road　the　crowded　procession　moved　forward；　All　confused　and　disordered。　The　one　whose　beasts　were　the　weaker；　Wanted　more　slowly　to　drive；　while　faster　would　hurry　another。　Presently　went　up　a　scream　from　the　closely　squeezed　women　and　children；　And　with　the　yelping　of　dogs　was　mingled　the　lowing　of　cattle；　Cries　of　distress　from　the　aged　and　sick；　who　aloft　on　the　wagon；　Heavy　and　thus　overpacked；　upon　beds　were　sitting　and　swaying。　Pressed　at　last　from　the　rut　and　out　to　the　edge　of　the　highway；　Slipped　the　creaking　wheel；　the　cart　lost　its　balance；　and　over　Fell　in　the　ditch。　In　the　swing　the　people　were　flung　to　a　distance；　Far　off　into　the　field；　with　horrible　screams；　by　good　fortune　Later　the　boxes　were　thrown　and　fell　more　near　to　the　wagon。　Verily　all　who　had　witnessed　the　fall；　expected　to　see　them　Crushed　into　pieces　beneath　the　weight　of　trunks　and　of　presses。　So　lay　the　cart　all　broken　to　fragments；　and　helpless　the　people。　Keeping　their　onward　way；　the　others　drove　hastily　by　them；　Each　thinking　only　of　self；　and　carried　away　by　the　current。　Then　we　ran　to　the　spot；　and　found　the　sick　and　the　aged；　Those　who　at　home　and　in　bed　could　before　their　lingering　ailments　Scarcely　endure；lying　bruised　on　the　ground；　complaining　and　groaning；　Choked　by　the　billowing　dust；　and　scorched　by　the　heat　of　the　noonday。〃

Thereupon　answered　and　said　the　kind…hearted　landlord；　with　feeling：　〃Would　that　our　Hermann　might　meet　them　and　give　them　refreshment　and　clothing！　Loath　should　I　be　to　behold　them：　the　looking　on　suffering　pains　me。　Touched　by　the　earliest　tidings　of　their　so　cruel　afflictions；　Hastily　sent　we　a　mite　from　out　of　our　super…abundance；　Only　that　some　might　be　strengthened；　and　we　might　ourselves　be　made　easy。　But　let　us　now　no　longer　renew　these　sorrowful　pictures　Knowing　how　readily　fear　steals　into　the　heart　of　us　mortals；　And　anxiety；　worse　to　me　than　the　actual　evil。　Come　with　me　into　the　room　behind；　our　cool　little　parlor；　Where　no　sunbeam　e'er　shines；　and　no　sultry　breath　ever　enters　Through　its　thickness　of　wall。　There　mother　will　bring　us　a　flagon　Of　our　old　eighty…three；　with　which　we　may　banish　our　fancies。　Here　'tis　not　cosey　to　drink：　the　flies　so　buzz　round　the　glasses。〃　Thither　adjourned　they　then；　and　all　rejoiced　in　the　coolness。

Carefully　brought　forth　the　mother　the　clear　and　glorious　vintage；　Cased　in　a　well…polished　flask；　on　a　waiter　of　glittering　pewter；　Set　round　with　large　green　glasses；　the　drinking　cups　meet　for　the　Rhine　Wine。　So　sat　the　three　together　about　the　highly　waxed　table；　Gleaming　and　round　and　brown；　that　on　mighty　feet　was　supported；　Joyously　rang　at　once　the　glasses　of　landlord　and　pastor；　But　his　motionless　held　the　third；　and　sat　lost　in　reflection；　Until　with　words　of　good…humor　the　landlord　challenged　him；　saying；　〃Come；　sir　neighbor；　empty　your　glass；　for　God　in　his　mercy　Thus　far　has　kept　us　from　evil；　and　so　in　the　future　will　keep　us。　For　who　acknowledges　not；　that　since　our　dread　conflagration；　When　he　so　hardly　chastised　us；　he　now　is　continually　blessing；　Constantly　shielding；　as　man　the　apple　of　his　eye　watches　over；　Holding　it　precious　and　dear　above　all　the　rest　of　his　members？　Shall　he　in　time　to　come　not　defend　us　and　furnish　us　succor？　Only　when　danger　is　nigh　do　we　see　how　great　is　his　power。　Shall　he　this　blooming　town　which　he　once　by　industrious　burghers　Built　up　afresh　from　its　ashes；　and　afterwards　blessed　with　abundance；　Now　demolish　again；　and　bring　all　the　labor　to　nothing？　〃

Cheerfully　said　in　reply　the　excellent　pastor；　and　kindly：　〃Keep　thyself　firm　in　the　faith；　and　firm　abide　in　this　temper；　For　it　makes　steadfast　and　wise　when　fortune　is　fair；　and　when　evil；　Furnishes　sweet　consolation　and　animates　hopes　the　sublimest。〃

Then　made　answer　the　landlord；　with　thoughts　judicious　and　manly：　〃Often　the　Rhine's　broad　stream　have　I　with　astonishment　greeted；　As　I　have　neared　it　again；　after　travelling　abroad　upon　business。　Always　majestic　it　seemed；　and　my　mind　and　spirit　exalted。　But　I　could　never　imagine　its　beautiful　banks　would　so　shortly　Be　to　a　rampart　transformed；　to　keep　from　our　borders　the　Frenchman；　And　its　wide…spreading　bed　be　a　moat　all　passage　to　hinder。　See！　thus　nature　protects；　the　stout…hearted　Germans　protect　us；　And　thus　protects　us　the　Lord；　who　then　will　he　weakly　despondent？　Weary　already　the　combatants；　all　indications　are　peaceful。　Would　it　might　be　that　when　that　festival；　ardently　longed　for；　Shall　in　our　church　be　observed；　when　the　sacred　Te　Deum　is　rising；　Swelled　by　the　pealing　of　organ　and　bells；　and　the　blaring　of　trumpets；　Would　it　might　be　that　that　day　should　behold　my　Hermann；　sir　pastor；　Standing；　his　choice　now　made；　with　his　bride　before　thee　at　the　altar；　Making　that　festal　day；　that　through　every　land　shall　be　honored；　My　anniversary；　too；　henceforth　of　domestic　rejoicing！　But　I　observe　with　regret；　that　the　youth　so　efficient　and　active　Ever　in　household　affairs；　when　abroad　is　timid　and　backward。　Little　enjoyment　he　finds　in　going　about　among　others；　Nay；　he　will　even　avoid　young　ladies'　society　wholly；　Shuns　the　enlivening　dance　which　all　young　persons　delight　in。〃

Thus　he　spoke　and　listened；　for　now　was　heard　in　the　distance　Clattering　of　horses'　hoofs　drawing　near；　and　the　roll　of　the　wagon；　Which；　with　furious　haste；　came　thundering　under　the　gateway。



TERPSICHORE

HERMANN

Ow　when　of　comely　mien　the　son　came　into　the　chamber；　Turned　with　a　searching　look　the　eyes　of　the　preacher　upon　him；　And；　with　the　gaze　of　the　student；　who　easily　fathoms　expression；　Scrutinized　well　his　face　and　form　and　his　general　bearing。　Then　with　a　smile　he　spoke；　and　said　in　words　of　affection：　〃Truly　a　different　being　thou　comest！　I　never　have　seen　thee　Cheerful　as　now；　nor　ever　beheld　I　thy　glances　so　beaming。　Joyous　thou　comest；　and　happy：　'tis　plain　that　among　the　poor　people　Thou　hast　been　sharing　thy　gifts；　and　receiving　their　blessings　upon　thee。〃

Quietly　then；　and　with　serious　words；　the　son　made　him　answer：　〃If　I　have　acted　as　ye　will　commend；　I　know　not；　but　I　followed　That　which　my　heart　bade　me　do；　as　I　shall　exactly　relate　you。　Thou　wert；　mother；　so　long　in　rummaging　'mong　thy　old　pieces；　Picking　and　choosing；　that　not　until　late　was　thy　bundle　together；　Then　too　the　wine　and　the　beer　took　care　and　time　in　the　packing。　When　I　came　forth　through　the　gateway　at　last；　and　out　on　the　high…road；　Backward　the　crowd　of　citizens　streamed　with　women　and　children；　Coming　to　meet　me；　for　far　was　already　the　band　of　the　exiles。　Quicker　I　kept　on　my　way；　and　drove　with　speed　to　the　village；　Where　they　were　meaning　to　rest；　as　I　heard；　and　tarry　till　morning。　Thitherward　up　the　new　street　as　I　hasted；　a　stout…timbered　wagon；　Drawn　by　two　oxen；　I　saw；　of　that　region　the　largest　and　strongest；　While；　with　vigorous　steps；　a　maiden　was　walking　beside　them；　And；　a　long　staff　in　her　hand；　the　two　powerful　creatures　was　guiding；　Urging　them　now；　now　holding　them　back；　with　skill　did　she　drive　them。　Soon　as　the　maiden　perceived　me；　she　calmly　drew　near　to　the　horses；　And　in　these　words　she　addressed　me：　'　Not　thus　deplorable　always　Has　our　condition　been；　as　to…day　on　this　journey　thou　seest。　I　am　not　yet　grown　used　to　asking　gifts　of　a　stranger；　Which　he　will　often　unwillingly　give；　to　be　rid　of　the　beggar。　But　necessity　drives　me　to　speak；　for　here；　on　the　straw；　lies　Newly　delivered　of　child；　a　rich　land…owner's　wife；　whom　I　scarcely　Have　in　her　pregnancy；　safe　brought　off　with　the　oxen　and　wagon。　Naked；　now　in　her　arms　the　new…born　infant　is　lying；　And　but　little　the　help　our　friends　will　be　able　to　furnish；　If　in　the　neighboring　village；　indeed；　where　to…day　we　would　rest　us；　Still　we　shall　find　them；　though　much　do　I　fear　they　already　have　passed　it。　Shouldst　thou　have　linen　to　spare　of　any　description；　provided　Thou　of　this　neighborhood　art；　to　t