evangeline-第2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！


Lucky　was　he　who　found　that　stone　in　the　nest　of　the　swallow！
Thus　passed　a　few　swift　years；　and　they　no　longer　were　children。
He　was　a　valiant　youth；　and　his　face；　like　the　face　of　the　morning；
Gladdened　the　earth　with　its　light；　and　ripened　through　into　action。
She　was　a　woman　now；　with　the　heart　and　hopes　of　a　woman。
〃Sunshine　of　Saint　Eulalie〃　was　she　called；　for　that　was　the　sunshine
Which；　as　the　farmers　believed；　would　load　their　orchards　with　apples；
She；　too；　would　bring　to　her　husband's　house　delight　and　abundance；
Filling　it　full　of　love　and　the　ruddy　faces　of　children。



II。


　　NOW　had　the　season　returned；　when　the　nights　grow　colder　and　longer；
And　the　retreating　sun　the　sign　of　the　Scorpion　enters。
Birds　of　passage　sailed　through　the　leaden　air；　from　the　ice…bound；
Desolate　northern　bays　to　the　shores　of　tropical　islands。
Harvests　were　gathered　in；　and　wild　with　the　winds　of　September
Wrestled　the　trees　of　the　forest；　as　Jacob　of　old　with　the　angel。
All　the　signs　foretold　a　winter　long　and　inclement。
Bees；　with　prophetic　instinct　of　want；　had　hoarded　their　honey
Till　the　hives　overflowed；　and　the　Indian　hunters　asserted
Cold　would　the　winter　be；　for　thick　was　the　fur　of　the　foxes。
Such　was　the　advent　of　autumn。　　Then　followed　that　beautiful　season；
Called　by　the　pious　Acadian　peasants　the　Summer　of　All…Saints！
Filled　was　the　air　with　a　dreamy　and　magical　light；　and　the　landscape
Lay　as　if　new…created　in　all　the　freshness　of　childhood。
Peace　seemed　to　reign　upon　earth；　and　the　restless　heart　of　the　ocean
Was　for　a　moment　consoled。　　All　sounds　were　in　harmony　blended。
Voices　of　children　at　play；　the　crowing　of　cocks　in　the　farm…yards；
Whir　of　wings　in　the　drowsy　air；　and　the　cooing　of　pigeons；
All　were　subdued　and　low　as　the　murmurs　of　love；　and　the　great　sun
Looked　with　the　eye　of　love　through　the　golden　vapors　around　him；
While　arrayed　in　its　robes　of　russet　and　scarlet　and　yellow；
Bright　with　the　sheen　of　the　dew；　each　glittering　tree　of　the　forest
Flashed　like　the　plane…tree　the　Persian　adorned　with　mantles　and　jewels。

　　Now　recommenced　the　reign　of　rest　and　affection　and　stillness。
Day　with　its　burden　and　heat　had　departed；　and　twilight　descending
Brought　back　the　evening　star　to　the　sky；　and　the　herds　to　the　homestead。
Pawing　the　ground　they　came；　and　resting　their　necks　on　each　other；
And　with　their　nostrils　distended　inhaling　the　freshness　of　evening。
Foremost；　bearing　the　bell；　Evangeline's　beautiful　heifer；
Proud　of　her　snow…white　hide；　and　the　ribbon　that　waved　from　her　collar；
Quietly　paced　and　slow；　as　if　conscious　of　human　affection。
Then　came　the　shepherd　back　with　his　bleating　flocks　from　the　seaside；
Where　was　their　favorite　pasture。　　Behind　them　followed　the　watch…dog；
Patient；　full　of　importance；　and　grand　in　the　pride　of　his　instinct；
Walking　from　side　to　side　with　a　lordly　air；　and　superbly
Waving　his　bushy　tail；　and　urging　forward　the　stragglers；
Regent　of　flocks　was　he　when　the　shepherd　slept；　their　protector；
When　from　the　forest　at　night；　through　the　starry　silence；　the　wolves　howled。
Late；　with　the　rising　moon；　returned　the　wains　from　the　marshes；
Laden　with　briny　hay；　that　filled　the　air　with　its　odor。
Cheerily　neighed　the　steeds；　with　dew　on　their　manes　and　their　fetlocks；
While　aloft　on　their　shoulders　the　wooden　and　ponderous　saddles；
Painted　with　brilliant　dyes；　and　adorned　with　tassels　of　crimson；
Nodded　in　bright　array；　like　hollyhocks　heavy　with　blossoms。
Patiently　stood　the　cows　meanwhile；　and　yielded　their　udders
Unto　the　milkmaid's　hand；　whilst　loud　and　in　regular　cadence
Into　the　sounding　pails　the　foaming　streamlets　descended。
Lowing　of　cattle　and　peals　of　laughter　were　heard　in　the　farm…yard；
Echoed　back　by　the　barns。　　Anon　they　sank　into　stillness；
Heavily　closed；　with　a　jarring　sound；　the　valves　of　the　barn…doors；
Rattled　the　wooden　bars；　and　all　for　a　season　was　silent。

　　In…doors；　warm　by　the　wide…mouthed　fireplace；　idly　the　farmer
Sat　in　his　elbow…chair；　and　watched　how　the　flames　and　the　smoke…wreaths
Struggled　together　like　foe　in　a　burning　city。　　Behind　him；
Nodding　and　mocking　along　the　wall；　with　gestures　fantastic；
Darted　his　own　huge　shadow；　and　vanished　away　into　darkness。
Faces；　clumsily　carved　in　oak；　on　the　back　of　his　arm…chair
Laughed　in　the　flickering　light；　and　the　pewter　plates　on　the　dresser
Caught　and　reflected　the　flame；　as　shields　of　armies　the　sunshine。
Fragments　of　song　the　old　man　sang；　and　carols　of　Christmas；
Such　as　at　home；　in　the　olden　time；　his　fathers　before　him
Sang　in　their　Norman　orchards　and　bright　Burgundian　vineyards。
Close　at　her　father's　side　was　the　gentle　Evangeline　seated；
Spinning　flax　for　the　loom；　that　stood　in　the　corner　behind　her。
Silent　awhile　were　its　treadles；　at　rest　was　its　diligent　shuttle；
While　the　monotonous　drone　of　the　wheel；　like　the　drone　of　a　bagpipe；
Followed　the　old　man's　song；　and　united　the　fragments　together。
As　in　a　church；　when　the　chant　of　the　choir　at　intervals　ceases；
Footfalls　are　heard　in　the　aisles；　or　words　of　the　priest　at　the　altar；
So；　in　each　pause　of　the　song；　with　measured　motion　the　clock　clicked。

　　Thus　as　they　sat；　there　were　footsteps　heard；　and；　suddenly　lifted；
Sounded　the　wooden　latch；　and　the　door　swung　back　on　its　hinges。
Benedict　knew　by　the　hob…nailed　shoes　it　was　Basil　the　blacksmith；
And　by　her　beating　heart　Evangeline　knew　who　was　with　him。
〃Welcome！〃　the　farmer　exclaimed；　as　their　footsteps　paused　on　the　threshold；
〃Welcome；　Basil；　my　friend！　　Come；　take　thy　place　on　the　settle
Close　by　the　chimney…side；　which　is　always　empty　without　thee；
Take　from　the　shelf　overhead　thy　pipe　and　the　box　of　tobacco；
Never　so　much　thyself　art　thou　as　when　through　the　curling
Smoke　of　the　pipe　or　the　forge　thy　friendly　and　jovial　face　gleams
Round　and　red　as　the　harvest　moon　through　the　mist　of　the　marshes。〃
Then；　with　a　smile　of　content；　thus　answered　Basil　the　blacksmith；
Taking　with　easy　air　the　accustomed　seat　by　the　fireside：
〃Benedict　Bellefontaine；　thou　hast　ever　thy　jest　and　thy　ballad！
Ever　in　cheerfullest　mood　art　thou；　when　others　are　filled　with
Gloomy　forebodings　of　ill；　and　see　only　ruin　before　them。
Happy　art　thou；　as　if　every　day　thou　hadst　picked　up　a　horseshoe。〃
Pausing　a　moment；　to　take　the　pipe　that　Evangeline　brought　him；
And　with　a　coal　from　the　embers　had　lighted；　he　slowly　continued：
〃Four　days　now　are　passed　since　the　English　ships　at　their　anchors
Ride　in　the　Gaspereau's　mouth；　with　their　cannon　pointed　against　us；
What　their　design　may　be　is　unknown；　but　all　are　commanded
On　the　morrow　to　meet　in　the　church；　where　his　Majesty's　mandate
Will　be　proclaimed　as　law　in　the　land。　　Alas！　in　the　mean　time
Many　surmises　of　evil　alarm　the　hearts　of　the　people。〃
Then　made　answer　the　farmer：〃Perhaps　some　friendlier　purpose
Brings　these　ships　to　our　shores。　　Perhaps　the　harvests　in　England
By　untimely　rains　or　untimelier　heat　have　been　blighted；
And　from　our　bursting　barns　they　would　feed　their　cattle　and　children。〃
〃Not　so　thinketh　the　folk　in　the　village；〃　said；　warmly；　the　blacksmith；
Shaking　his　head；　as　in　doubt；　then；　heaving　a　sigh；　he　continued：
〃Louisburg　is　not　forgotten；　nor　Beau　S閖our；　nor　Port　Royal。
Many　already　have　fled　to　the　forest；　and　lurk　on　its　outskirts；
Waiting　with　anxious　hearts　the　dubious　fate　of　to…morrow。
Arms　have　been　taken　from　us；　and　warlike　weapons　of　all　kinds；
Nothing　is　left　but　the　blacksmith's　sledge　and　the　scythe　of　the　mower。〃
Then　with　a　pleasant　smile　made　answer　the　jovial　farmer：
〃Safer　are　we　unarmed；　in　the　midst　of　our　flocks　and　our　cornfields；
Safer　within　these　peaceful　dikes；　besieged　by　the　ocean；
Than　our　fathers　in　forts；　besieged　by　the　enemy's　cannon。
Fear　no　evil；　my　friend；　and　to…night　may　no　shadow　of　sorrow
Fall　on　this　house　and　hearth；　for　this　is　the　night　of　the　contract。
Built　are　the　house　and　the　barn。　　The　merry　lads　of　the　village
Strongly　have　built　them　and　well；　and；　breaking　the　glebe　round　about　them；
Filled　the　barn　with　hay；　and　the　house　with　food　for　a　twelvemonth。
Ren？Leblanc　will　be　here　anon；　with　his　papers　and　inkhorn。
Shall　we　not　then　be　glad；　and　rejoice　in　the　joy　of　our　children？〃
As　apart　by　the　window　she　stood；　with　her　hand　in　her　lover's；
Blushing　Evangeline　heard　the　words　that　her　father　had　spoken；
And；　as　they　died　on　his　lips；　the　worthy　notary　entered。



III。


　　BENT　like　a　laboring　oar；　that　toils　in　the　surf　of　the　ocean；
Bent；　but　not　broken；　by　age　was　the　form　of　the　notary　public；
Shocks　of　yellow　hair；　like　the　silken　floss　of　the　maize；　hung
Over　his　shoulders；　his　forehead　was　high；　and　glasses　with　horn　bows
Sat　astride　on　his　nose；　with　a　look　of　wisdom　supernal。
Father　of　twenty　children　was　he；　and　more　than　a　hundred
Children's　children　rode　on　his　knee；　and　heard　his　great　watch　tick。
Four　long　years　in　the　times　of　the　war　had　he　languished　a　captive；
Suffering　much　in　an　old　French　fort　as　the　friend　of　the　English。
Now；　though　warier　grown；　without　all　guile　or　suspicion；
Ripe　in　wisdom　was　he；　but　patient；　and　simple；　and　childlike。
He　was　beloved　by　all；　and　most　of　all　by　the　children；
For　he　told　them　tales