hermann and dorothea-第3节

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。　Shouldst　thou　have　linen　to　spare　of　any　description；　provided　Thou　of　this　neighborhood　art；　to　the　poor　in　charity　give　it。'

〃Thus　she　spoke；　and　the　pale…faced　mother　raised　herself　feebly　Up　from　the　straw；　and　towards　me　looked。　Then　said　I　in　answer：　'Surely　unto　the　good；　a　spirit　from　heaven　oft　speaketh；　Making　them　feel　the　distress　that　threatens　a　suffering　brother。　For　thou　must　know　that　my　mother；　already　presaging　thy　sorrows；　Gave　me　a　bundle　to　use　it　straightway　for　the　need　of　the　naked；'　Then　I　untied　the　knots　of　the　string；　and　the　wrapper　of　father's　Unto　her　gave；　and　gave　her　as　well　the　shirts　and　the　linen。　And　she　thanked　me　with　joy；　and　cried：　'The　happy　believe　not　Miracles　yet　can　be　wrought：　for　only　in　need　we　acknowledge　God's　own　hand　and　finger；　that　leads　the　good　to　show　goodness；　What　unto　us　he　has　done　through　thee；　may　he　do　to　thee　also！　And　I　beheld　with　what　pleasure　the　sick　woman　handled　the　linens；　But　with　especial　delight　the　dressing…gown's　delicate　flannel。　'Let　us　make　haste；'　the　maid　to　her　said；　'and　come　to　the　village；　Where　our　people　will　halt　for　the　night　and　already　are　resting。　There　these　clothes　for　the　children　I；　one　and　all；　straightway　will　portion。'　Then　she　saluted　again；　her　thanks　most　warmly　expressing；　Started　the　oxen；　the　wagon　went　on；　but　there　I　still　lingered；　Still　held　the　horses　in　check；　for　now　my　heart　was　divided　Whether　to　drive　with　speed　to　the　village；　and　there　the　provisions　Share　'mong　the　rest　of　the　people；　or　whether　I　here　to　the　maiden　All　should　deliver　at　once；　for　her　discreetly　to　portion。　And　in　an　instant　my　heart　had　decided；　and　quietly　driving　After　the　maiden；　I　soon　overtook　her；　and　said　to　her　quickly：　'Hearken；　good　maiden；my　mother　packed　up　not　linen…stuffs　only　Into　the　carriage；　that　I　should　have　clothes　to　furnish　the　naked；　Wine　and　beer　she　added　besides；　and　supply　of　provisions：　Plenty　of　all　these　things　I　have　in　the　box　of　the　carriage。　But　now　I　feel　myself　moved　to　deliver　these　offerings　also　Into　thy　hand；　for　so　shall　I　best　fulfil　my　commission。　Thou　wilt　divide　them　with　judgment；　while　I　must　by　chance　be　directed。'　Thereupon　answered　the　maiden：　'I　will　with　faithfulness　portion　These　thy　gifts；　that　all　shall　bring　comfort　to　those　who　are　needy。'　Thus　she　spoke；　and　quickly　the　box　of　the　carriage　I　opened；　Brought　forth　thence　the　substantial　hams；　and　brought　out　the　breadstuffs；　Bottles　of　wine　and　beer；　and　one　and　all　gave　to　the　maiden。　Willingly　would　I　have　given　her　more；　but　the　carriage　was　empty。　All　she　packed　at　the　sick　woman's　feet；　and　went　on　her　journey。　I；　with　my　horses　and　carriage；　drove　rapidly　back　to　the　city。〃

Instantly　now；　when　Hermann　had　ceased；　the　talkative　neighbor　Took　up　the　word；　and　cried：　〃Oh　happy；　in　days　like　the　present；　Days　of　flight　and　confusion；　who　lives　by　himself　in　his　dwelling；　Having　no　wife　nor　child　to　be　clinging　about　him　in　terror！　Happy　I　feel　myself　now；　and　would　not　for　much　be　called　father；　Would　not　have　wife　and　children　to…day；　for　whom　to　be　anxious。　Oft　have　I　thought　of　this　flight　before；　and　have　packed　up　together　All　my　best　things　already；　the　chains　and　old　pieces　of　money　That　were　my　sainted　mother's；　of　which　not　one　has　been　sold　yet。　Much　would　be　left　behind；　it　is　true；　not　easily　gotten。　Even　the　roots　and　the　herbs；　that　were　with　such　industry　gathered；　I　should　be　sorry　to　lose；　though　the　worth　of　the　goods　is　but　trifling。　If　my　purveyor　remained；　I　could　go　from　my　dwelling　contented。　When　my　cash　I　have　brought　away　safe；　and　have　rescued　my　person；　All　is　safe：　none　find　it　so　easy　to　fly　as　the　single。〃

〃Neighbor；〃　unto　his　words　young　Hermann　with　emphasis　answered：　〃I　can　in　no　wise　agree　with　thee　here；　and　censure　thy　language。　Is　he　indeed　a　man　to　be　prized；　who；　in　good　and　in　evil；　Takes　no　thought　but　for　self；　and　gladness　and　sorrow　with　others　Knows　not　how　to　divide；　nor　feels　his　heart　so　impel　him？　Rather　than　ever　to…day　would　I　make　up　my　mind　to　be　married：　Many　a　worthy　maiden　is　needing　a　husband's　protection；　And　the　man　needs　an　inspiriting　wife　when　ill　is　impending。''

Thereupon　smiling　the　father　replied：　〃Thus　love　I　to　hear　thee！　That　is　a　sensible　word　such　as　rarely　I've　known　thee　to　utter。〃　Straightway；　however；　the　mother　broke　in　with　quickness；　exclaiming：　〃Son；　to　be　sure；　thou　art　right！　we　parents　have　set　the　example；　Seeing　that　not　in　our　season　of　joy　did　we　choose　one　another；　Rather　the　saddest　of　hours　it　was　that　bound　us　together。　Monday　morningI　mind　it　well；　for　the　day　that　preceded　Came　that　terrible　fire　by　which　our　city　was　ravaged…　Twenty　years　will　have　gone。　The　day　was　a　Sunday　as　this　is；　Hot　and　dry　was　the　season；　the　water　was　almost　exhausted。　All　the　people　were　strolling　abroad　in　their　holiday　dresses；　'Mong　the　villages　partly；　and　part　in　the　mills　and　the　taverns。　And　at　the　end　of　the　city　the　flames　began；　and　went　coursing　Quickly　along　the　streets；　creating　a　draught　in　their　passage。　Burned　were　the　barns　where　the　copious　harvest　already　was　garnered；　Burned　were　the　streets　as　far　as　the　market；　the　house　of　my　father；　Neighbor　to　this；　was　destroyed；　and　this　one　also　fell　with　it。　Little　we　managed　to　save。　I　sat；　that　sorrowful　night　through；　Outside　the　town　on　the　common；　to　guard　the　beds　and　the　boxes。　Sleep　overtook　me　at　last；　and　when　I　again　was　awakened；　Feeling　the　chill　of　the　morning　that　always　descends　before　sunrise；　There　were　the　smoke　and　the　glare；　and　the　walls　and　chimneys　in　ruins。　Then　fell　a　weight　on　my　heart；　but　more　majestic　than　ever　Came　up　the　sun　again；　inspiring　my　bosom　with　courage。　Then　I　rose　hastily　up；　with　a　yearning　the　place　to　revisit　Whereon　our　dwelling　had　stood；　and　to　see　if　the　hens　had　been　rescued；　Which　I　especially　loved；　for　I　still　was　a　child　in　my　feelings。　Thus　as　I　over　the　still…smoking　timbers　of　house　and　of　court…yard　Picked　my　way；　and　beheld　the　dwelling　so　ruined　and　wasted；　Thou　camest　up　to　examine　the　place；　from　the　other　direction。　Under　the　ruins　thy　horse　in　his　stall　had　been　buried；　the　rubbish　Lay　on　the　spot　and　the　glimmering　beams；　of　the　horse　we　saw　nothing。　Thoughtful　and　grieving　we　stood　there　thus；　each　facing　the　other；　Now　that　the　wall　was　fallen　that　once　had　divided　our　court…yards。　Thereupon　thou　by　the　hand　didst　take　me；　and　speak　to　me；　saying；　'Lisa；　how　earnest　thou　hither？　Go　back！　thy　soles　must　be　burning；　Hot　the　rubbish　is　here：　it　scorches　my　boots；　which　are　stronger。'　And　thou　didst　lift　me　up；　and　carry　me　out　through　thy　court…yard。　There　was　the　door　of　the　house　left　standing　yet　with　its　archway；　Just　as　'tis　standing　now；　the　one　thing　only　remaining。　Then　thou　didst　set　me　down　and　kiss　me；　to　that　I　objected；　But　thou　didst　answer　and　say　with　kindly　significant　language：　'See！　my　house　lies　in　ruins：　remain　here　and　help　me　rebuild　it；　So　shall　my　help　in　return　be　given　to　building　thy　father's。'　Yet　did　I　not　comprehend　thee　until　thou　sentest　thy　mother　Unto　my　father；　and　quick　were　the　happy　espousals　accomplished。　E'en　to　this　day　I　remember　with　joy　those　half…consumed　timbers；　And　I　can　see　once　more　the　sun　coming　up　in　such　splendor；　For　'twas　the　day　that　gave　me　my　husband；　and；　ere　the　first　season　Passed　of　that　wild　desolation；　a　son　to　my　youth　had　been　given。　Therefore　I　praise　thee；　Hermann；　that　thou；　with　an　honest　assurance；　Shouldst；　in　these　sorrowful　days；　be　thinking　thyself　of　a　maiden；　And　amid　ruins　and　war　shouldst　thus　have　the　courage　to　woo　her。〃

Straightway；　then；　and　with　warmth；　the　father　replied　to　her；　saying：　〃Worthy　of　praise　is　the　feeling；　and　truthful　also　the　story；　Mother；　that　thou　hast　related；　for　so　indeed　everything　happened。　Better；　however；　is　better。　It　is　not　the　business　of　all　men　Thus　their　life　and　estate　to　begin　from　the　very　foundation：　Every　one　needs　not　to　worry　himself　as　we　and　the　rest　did。　Oh；　how　happy　is　he　whose　father　and　mother　shall　give　him；　Furnished　and　ready；　a　house　which　he　can　adorn　with　his　increase。　Every　beginning　is　hard；　but　most　the　beginning　a　household。　Many　are　human　wants；　and　every　thing　daily　grows　dearer；　So　that　a　man　must　consider　the　means　of　increasing　his　earnings。　This　I　hope　therefore　of　thee；　my　Hermann；　that　into　our　dwelling　Thou　wilt　be　bringing　ere　long　a　bride　who　is　handsomely　dowered；　For　it　is　meet　that　a　gallant　young　man　have　an　opulent　maiden。　Great　is　the　comfort　of　home　whene'er；　with　the　woman　elected；　Enter　the　useful　presents；　besides；　in　box　and　in　basket。　Not　for　this　many　a　year　in　vain　has　the　mother　been　busy　Making　her　daughter's　linens　of　strong　and　delicate　texture；　God…parents　have　not　in　vain　been　giving　their　vessels　of　silver；　And　the　father　laid　by　in　his　desk　the　rare　pieces　of　money；　For　there　a　day　will　come　when　she；　with　her　gifts　and　possessions；　Shall　that　youth　rejoice　who　has　chosen　her　out　of　all　others。　Well　do　I　know　how　good　in　a　house　is　a　woman's　position；　Who　her　own　furniture　round　her　knows；　in　kitchen　and　chamber；　Who　herself　the　bed　and　herself　the　table　has　covered。　Only　a　well…dowered　bride　should　I　like　to　receive　to　my　dwelling。　She　who　is　poor　is　sure；