hermann and dorothea-第9节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ore　than　ever；　deserving？

Were　not　the　names　of　those　men　who　first　delivered　the　message；　Names　to　compare　with　the　highest　that　under　the　heavens　are　spoken？　Did　not；　in　every　man；　grow　courage　and　spirit　and　language？　And；　as　neighbors；　we；　first　of　all；　were　zealously　kindled。　Thereupon　followed　the　war；　and　armed　bodies　of　Frenchmen　Pressed　to　us　nearer；　yet　nothing　but　friendship　they　seemed　to　be　bringing；　Ay；　and　they　brought　it　too；　for　exalted　the　spirit　within　them：　They　with　rejoicing　the　festive　trees　of　liberty　planted；　Promising　every　man　what　was　his　own；　and　to　each　his　own　ruling。　High　beat　the　heart　of　the　youths；　and　even　the　aged　were　joyful；　Gaily　the　dance　began　about　the　newly　raised　standard。　Thus　had　they　speedily　won；　these　overmastering　Frenchmen；　First　the　spirits　of　men　by　the　fire　and　dash　of　their　bearing；　Then　the　hearts　of　the　women　with　irresistible　graces。　Even　the　pressure　of　hungry　war　seemed　to　weigh　on　us　lightly；　So　before　our　vision　did　hope　hang　over　the　future；　Luring　our　eyes　abroad　into　newly　opening　pathways。　Oh；　how　joyful　the　time　when　with　her　belov'ed　the　maiden　Whirls　in　the　dance；　the　longed…for　day　of　their　union　awaiting！　But　more　glorious　that　day　on　which　to　our　vision　the　highest　Heart　of　man　can　conceive　seemed　near　and　attainable　to　us。　Loosened　was　every　tongue；　and　menthe　aged；　the　stripling　Spoke　aloud　in　words　that　were　full　of　high　feeling　and　wisdom。　Soon；　however；　the　sky　was　o'ercast。　A　corrupt　generation　Fought　for　the　right　of　dominion；　unworthy　the　good　to　establish；　So　that　they　slew　one　another；　their　new…made　neighbors　and　brothers　Held　in　subjection；　and　then　sent　the　self…seeking　masses　against　us。　Chiefs　committed　excesses　and　wholesale　plunder　upon　us；　While　those　lower　plundered　and　rioted　down　to　the　lowest：　Every　one　seemed　but　to　care　that　something　be　left　for　the　morrow。　Great　past　endurance　the　need；　and　daily　grew　the　oppression：　They　were　the　lords　of　the　day；　there　was　none　to　hear　our　complaining。　Then　fell　trouble　and　rage　upon　even　the　quietest　spirit。　One　thought　only　had　all；　and　swore　for　their　wrongs　to　have　vengeance；　And　for　the　bitter　loss　of　their　hope　thus　doubly　deluded。　Presently　Fortune　turned　and　declared　on　the　side　of　the　German；　And　with　hurried　marches　the　French　retreated　before　us。　Ah！　then　as　never　before　did　we　feel　the　sad　fortunes　of　warfare：　He　that　is　victor　is　great　and　good；or　at　least　he　appears　SO；　And　he；　as　one　of　his　own；　will　spare　the　man　he　has　conquered；　Him　whose　service　he　daily　needs；　and　whose　property　uses。　But　no　law　the　fugitive　knows；　save　of　self…preservation；　And；　with　a　reckless　greed；　consumes　all　the　possessions　about　him；　Then　are　his　passions　also　inflamed：　the　despair　that　is　in　him　Out　of　his　heart　breaks　forth；　and　takes　shape　in　criminal　action。　Nothing　is　further　held　sacred；　but　all　is　for　plunder。　His　craving　Turns　in　fury　on　woman；　and　pleasure　is　changed　into　horror。　Death　he　sees　everywhere　round　him；　and　madly　enjoys　his　last　moments；

Taking　delight　in　blood；　in　the　shrieking　of　anguish　exulting。　Thereupon　fiercely　arose　in　our　men　the　stern　resolution　What　had　been　lost　to　avenge；　and　defend　whate'er　was　remaining；　Every　man　sprang　to　his　arms；　by　the　flight　of　the　foeman　encouraged；　And　by　his　blanching　cheeks；　and　his　timorous；　wavering　glances。　Ceaselessly　now　rang　out　the　clanging　peal　of　the　tocsin。　Thought　of　no　danger　to　come　restrained　their　furious　anger。　Quick　into　weapons　of　war　the　husbandman's　peaceful　utensils　All　were　converted；　dripped　with　blood　the　scythe　and　the　ploughshare。　Quarter　was　shown　to　none：　the　enemy　fell　without　mercy。　Fury　everywhere　raged　and　the　cowardly　cunning　of　weakness。　Ne'er　may　I　men　so　carried　away　by　injurious　passion　See　again！　the　sight　of　the　raging　wild　beast　would　be　better。　Let　not　man　prattle　of　freedom；　as　if　himself　he　could　govern！　Soon　as　the　barriers　are　torn　away；　then　all　of　the　evil　Seems　let　loose；　that　by　law　had　been　driven　deep　back　into　corners。〃

〃Excellent　man！〃　thereupon　with　emphasis　answered　the　pastor：　〃Though　thou　misjudgest　mankind；　yet　can　I　not　censure　thee　for　it。　Evil　enough；　I　confess；　thou　hast　had　to　endure　from　man's　passions；　Yet　wouldst　thou　look　behind　over　this　calamitous　season；　Thou　wouldst　acknowledge　thyself　how　much　good　thou　also　hast　witnessed。　How　many　excellent　things　that　would　in　the　heart　have　hidden；　Had　not　danger　aroused　them；　and　did　not　necessity's　pressure　Bring　forth　the　angel　in　man；　and　make　him　a　god　of　deliv'rance。〃

Thereupon　answered　and　said　the　reverend　magistrate；　smiling：　〃There　thou　remindest　me　aptly　of　how　we　console　the　poor　fellow；　After　his　house　has　been　burned；　by　recounting　the　gold　and　the　silver　Melted　and　scattered　abroad　in　the　rubbish；　that　still　is　remaining。　Little　enough；　it　is　true；　but　even　that　little　is　precious。　Then　will　the　poor　wretch　after　it　dig　and　rejoice　if　he　find　it。　Thus　I　likewise　with　happier　thoughts　will　gratefully　turn　me　Towards　the　few　beautiful　deeds　of　which　I　preserve　the　remembrance。　Yes；　I　will　not　deny；　I　have　seen　old　quarrels　forgotten；　Ill　to　avert　from　the　state；　I　also　have　witnessed　how　friendship；　Love　of　parent　and　child；　can　impossibilities　venture；　Seen　how　the　stripling　at　once　matured　into　man；　how　the　aged　Grew　again　young；　and　even　the　child　into　youth　was　developed；　Yea；　and　the　weaker　sex　too；　as　we　are　accustomed　to　call　it；　Showed　itself　brave　and　strong　and　ready　for　every　emergence。　Foremost　among　them　all；　one　beautiful　deed　let　me　mention；　Bravely　performed　by　the　hand　of　a　girl；　an　excellent　maiden；　Who；　with　those　younger　than　she；　had　been　left　in　charge　of　a　farmhouse；　Since　there；　also；　the　men　had　marched　against　the　invader。　Suddenly　fell　on　the　house　a　fugitive　band　of　marauders；　Eager　for　booty；　who　crowded　straightway　to　the　room　of　the　women。

There　they　beheld　the　beautiful　form　of　the　fully　grown　maiden；　Looked　on　the　charming　young　girls；　who　rather　might　still　be　called　children。　Savage　desire　possessed　them；　at　once　with　merciless　passion　They　that　trembling　band　assailed　and　the　high…hearted　maiden。　But　she　had　snatched　in　an　instant　the　sword　of　one　from　its　scabbard；　Felled　him　with　might　to　the　ground；　and　stretched　him　bleeding　before　her。　Then　with　vigorous　strokes　she　bravely　delivered　the　maidens；　Smiting　yet　four　of　the　robbers；　who　saved　themselves　only　by　flying。　Then　she　bolted　the　gates；　and；　armed；　awaited　assistance。〃

Now　when　this　praise　the　minister　heard　bestowed　on　the　maiden；　Rose　straightway　for　his　friend　a　feeling　of　hope　in　his　bosom；　And　he　had　opened　his　lips　to　inquire　what　further　befell　her；　If　on　this　mournful　flight　she　now　with　her　people　were　present；　When　with　a　hasty　step　the　village　doctor　approached　them；　Twitched　the　clergyman's　coat；　and　said　in　his　ear　in　a　whisper：　〃I　have　discovered　the　maiden　at　last　among　several　hundreds；　By　the　description　I　knew　her；　so　come；　let　thine　own　eyes　behold　her！　Bring　too　the　magistrate　with　thee；　that　so　we　may　hear　him　yet　further。〃　But　as　they　turned　to　go；　the　justice　was　summoned　to　leave　them；　Sent　for　by　some　of　his　people　by　whom　his　counsel　was　needed。

Straightway　the　preacher；　however；　the　lead　of　the　doctor　had　followed　Up　to　a　gap　in　the　fence　where　his　finger　he　meaningly　pointed。　〃Seest　thou　the　maiden？〃　he　said：　〃she　has　made　some　clothes　for　the　baby　Out　of　the　well…known　chintz；I　distinguish　it　plainly；　and　further　There　are　the　covers　of　blue　that　Hermann　gave　in　his　bundle。　Well　and　quickly；　forsooth；　she　has　turned　to　advantage　the　presents。　Evident　tokens　are　these；　and　all　else　answers　well　the　description。　Mark　how　the　stomacher's　scarlet　sets　off　the　arch　of　her　bosom；　Prettily　laced；　and　the　bodice　of　black　fits　close　to　her　figure；　Neatly　the　edge　of　her　kerchief　is　plaited　into　a　ruffle；　Which；　with　a　simple　grace；　her　chin's　rounded　outline　encircles；　Freely　and　lightly　rises　above　it　the　bead's　dainty　oval；　And　her　luxuriant　hair　over　silver　bodkins　is　braided。　Now　she　is　sitting；　yet　still　we　behold　her　majestical　stature；　And　the　blue　petticoat's　ample　plaits；　that　down　from　her　bosom　Hangs　in　abundant　folds　about　her　neatly　shaped　ankles；　She　without　question　it　is；　come；　therefore；　and　let　us　discover　Whether　she　honest　and　virtuous　be；　a　housewifely　maiden。〃

Then；　as　the　seated　figure　he　studied；　the　pastor　made　answer：　〃Truly；　I　find　it　no　wonder　that　she　so　enchanted　the　stripling；　Since；　to　a　man's　experienced　eye；　she　seems　lacking　in　nothing。　Happy　to　whom　mother　Nature　a　shape　harmonious　has　given！

Such　will　always　commend　him；　and　he　can　be　nowhere　a　stranger。　All　approach　with　delight；　and　all　are　delighted　to　linger；　If　to　the　outward　shape　correspond　but　a　courteous　spirit。　I　can　assure　thee；　in　her　the　youth　has　found　him　a　maiden；　Who；　in　the　days　to　come；　his　life　shall　gloriously　brighten；　Standing　with　womanly　strength　in　every　necessity　by　him。　Surely　the　soul　must　be　pure　that　inhabits　a　body　so　perfect；　And　of　a　happy　old　age　such　vigorous　youth　is　the　promise。〃

Thereupon　answered　and　said　the　doctor　in　language　of　caution：　〃Often　appearances　cheat；　I　like　not　to　trust　to　externals。　For　I　have　oft　seen　put　to　the　test　the　truth　of　the　proverb：