evangeline-第3节

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He　was　beloved　by　all；　and　most　of　all　by　the　children；
For　he　told　them　tales　of　the　Loup…garou　in　the　forest；
And　of　the　goblin　that　came　in　the　night　to　water　the　horses；
And　of　the　white　L閠iche；　the　ghost　of　a　child　who　unchristened
Died；　and　was　doomed　to　haunt　unseen　the　chambers　of　children；
And　how　on　Christmas　eve　the　oxen　talked　in　the　stable；
And　how　the　fever　was　cured　by　a　spider　shut　up　in　a　nutshell；
And　of　the　marvellous　powers　of　four…leaved　clover　and　horsehoes；
With　whatsoever　else　was　writ　in　the　lore　of　the　village。
Then　up　rose　from　his　seat　by　the　fireside　Basil　the　blacksmith；
Knocked　from　his　pipe　the　ashes；　and　slowly　extending　his　right　hand；
〃Father　Leblanc；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃thou　hast　heard　the　talk　in　the　village；
And；　perchance；　canst　tell　us　some　news　of　these　ships　and　their　errand。〃
Then　with　modest　demeanor　made　answer　the　notary　public：
〃Gossip　enough　have　I　heard；　in　sooth；　yet　am　never　the　wiser；
And　what　their　errand　may　be　I　know　not　better　than　others。
Yet　am　I　not　of　those　who　imagine　some　evil　intention
Brings　them　here；　for　we　are　at　peace；　and　why　then　molest　us？〃
〃God's　name！〃　shouted　the　hasty　and　somewhat　irascible　blacksmith；
〃Must　we　in　all　things　look　for　the　how；　and　the　why；　and　the　wherefore？
Daily　injustice　is　done；　and　might　is　the　right　of　the　strongest！〃
But；　without　heeding　his　warmth；　continued　the　notary　public：
〃Man　is　unjust；　but　God　is　just；　and　finally　justice
Triumphs；　and　well　I　remember　a　story；　that　often　consoled　me；
When　as　a　captive　I　lay　in　the　old　French　fort　at　Port　Royal。〃
This　was　the　old　man's　favorite　tale；　and　he　loved　to　repeat　it
When　his　neighbors　complained　that　any　injustice　was　done　them。
〃Once　in　an　ancient　city；　whose　name　I　no　longer　remember；
Raised　aloft　on　a　column；　a　brazen　statue　of　Justice
Stood　in　the　public　square；　upholding　the　scales　in　its　left　hand；
And　in　its　right　a　sword；　as　an　emblem　that　justice　presided
Over　the　laws　of　the　land；　and　the　hearts　and　homes　of　the　people。
Even　the　birds　had　built　their　nests　in　the　scales　of　the　balance；
Having　no　fear　of　the　sword　that　flashed　in　the　sunshine　above　them。
But　in　the　course　of　time　the　laws　of　the　land　were　corrupted；
Might　took　the　place　of　right；　and　the　weak　were　oppressed；　and　the　mighty
Ruled　with　an　iron　rod。　　Then　it　chanced　in　a　nobleman's　palace
That　a　necklace　of　pearls　was　lost；　and　erelong　a　suspicion
Fell　on　an　orphan　girl　who　lived　as　maid　in　the　household。
She；　after　form　of　trial　condemned　to　die　on　the　scaffold；
Patiently　met　her　doom　at　the　foot　of　the　statue　of　Justice。
As　to　her　Father　in　heaven　her　innocent　spirit　ascended；
Lo！　o'er　the　city　a　tempest　rose；　and　the　bolts　of　the　thunder
Smote　the　statue　of　bronze；　and　hurled　in　wrath　from　its　left　hand
Down　on　the　pavement　below　the　clattering　scales　of　the　balance；
And　in　the　hollow　thereof　was　found　the　nest　of　a　magpie；
Into　whose　clay…built　walls　the　necklace　of　pearls　was　inwoven。〃
Silenced；　but　not　convinced；　when　the　story　was　ended；　the　blacksmith
Stood　like　a　man　who　fain　would　speak；　but　findeth　no　language；
All　his　thoughts　were　congealed　into　lines　on　his　face；　as　the　vapors
Freeze　in　fantastic　shapes　on　the　window…panes　in　the　winter。

　　Then　Evangeline　lighted　the　brazen　lamp　on　the　table；
Filled；　till　it　overflowed；　the　pewter　tankard　with　home…brewed
Nut…brown　ale；　that　was　famed　for　its　strength　in　the　village　of　Grand…Pr？
While　from　his　pocket　the　notary　drew　his　papers　and　inkhorn；
Wrote　with　a　steady　hand　the　date　and　the　age　of　the　parties；
Naming　the　dower　of　the　bride　in　flocks　of　sheep　and　in　cattle。
Orderly　all　things　proceeded；　and　duly　and　well　were　completed；
And　the　great　seal　of　the　law　was　set　like　a　sun　on　the　margin。
Then　from　his　leathern　pouch　the　farmer　threw　on　the　table
Three　times　the　old　man's　fee　in　solid　pieces　of　silver；
And　the　notary　rising；　and　blessing　the　bride　and　the　bridegroom；
Lifted　aloft　the　tankard　of　ale　and　drank　to　their　welfare。
Wiping　the　foam　from　his　lip；　he　solemnly　bowed　and　departed；
While　in　silence　the　others　sat　and　mused　by　the　fireside；
Till　Evangeline　brought　the　draught…board　out　of　its　corner。
Soon　was　the　game　begun。　　In　friendly　contention　the　old　men
Laughed　at　each　lucky　hit；　or　unsuccessful　manoeuver；
Laughed　when　a　man　was　crowned；　or　a　breach　was　made　in　the　king…row。
Meanwhile　apart；　in　the　twilight　gloom　of　a　window's　embrasure；
Sat　the　lovers；　and　whispered　together；　beholding　the　moon　rise
Over　the　pallid　sea　and　the　silvery　mist　of　the　meadows。
Silently　one　by　one；　in　the　infinite　meadows　of　heaven；
Blossomed　the　lovely　stars；　the　forget…me…nots　of　the　angels。

　　Thus　passed　the　evening　away。　　Anon　the　bell　from　the　belfry
Rang　out　the　hour　of　nine；　the　village　curfew；　and　straightway
Rose　the　guests　and　departed；　and　silence　reigned　in　the　household。
Many　a　farewell　word　and　sweet　good　night　on　the　door…step
Lingered　long　in　Evangeline's　heart；　and　filled　it　with　gladness。
Carefully　then　were　covered　the　embers　that　glowed　on　the　hearth…stone；
And　on　the　oaken　stairs　resounded　the　tread　of　the　farmer。
Soon　with　a　soundless　step　the　foot　of　Evangeline　followed。
Up　the　staircase　moved　a　luminous　space　in　the　darkness；
Lighted　less　by　the　lamp　than　the　shining　face　of　the　maiden。
Silent　she　passed　the　hall；　and　entered　the　door　of　her　chamber。
Simple　that　chamber　was；　with　its　curtains　of　white；　and　its　clothes…press
Ample　and　high；　on　whose　spacious　shelves　were　carefully　folded
Linen　and　woollen　stuffs；　by　the　hand　of　Evangeline　woven。
This　was　the　precious　dower　she　would　bring　to　her　husband　in　marriage；
Better　than　flocks　and　herds；　being　proofs　of　her　skill　as　a　housewife。
Soon　she　extinguished　her　lamp；　for　the　mellow　and　radiant　moonlight
Streamed　through　the　windows；　and　lighted　the　room；　till　the　heart　of　the　maiden
Swelled　and　obeyed　its　power；　like　the　tremulous　tides　of　the　ocean。
Ah！　she　was　fair；　exceeding　fair　to　behold；　as　she　stood　with
Naked　snow…white　feet　on　the　gleaming　floor　of　her　chamber！
Little　she　dreamed　that　below；　among　the　trees　of　the　orchard；
Waited　her　lover　and　watched　for　the　gleam　of　her　lamp　and　her　shadow。
Yet　were　her　thoughts　of　him；　and　at　times　a　feeling　of　sadness
Passed　o'er　her　soul；　as　the　sailing　shade　of　clouds　in　the　moonlight
Flitted　across　the　floor　and　darkened　the　room　for　a　moment。
And；　as　she　gazed　from　the　window；　she　saw　serenely　the　moon　pass
Forth　from　the　folds　of　a　cloud；　and　one　star　follow　her　footsteps；
As　out　of　Abraham's　tent　young　Ishmael　wandered　with　Hagar！



IV。


　　PLEASANTLY　rose　next　morn　the　sun　on　the　village　of　Grand…Pr？
Pleasantly　gleamed　in　the　soft；　sweet　air　the　Basin　of　Minas；
Where　the　ships；　with　their　wavering　shadows；　were　riding　at　anchor。
Life　had　long　been　astir　in　the　village；　and　clamorous　labor
Knocked　with　its　hundred　hands　at　the　golden　gates　of　the　morning。
Now　from　the　country　around；　from　the　farms　and　neighboring　hamlets；
Came　in　their　holiday　dresses　the　blithe　Acadian　peasants。
Many　a　glad　good　morrow　and　jocund　laugh　from　the　young　folk
Made　the　bright　air　brighter；　as　up　from　the　numerous　meadows；
Where　no　path　could　be　seen　but　the　track　of　wheels　in　the　greensward；
Group　after　group　appeared；　and　joined；　or　passed　on　the　highway。
Long　ere　noon；　in　the　village　all　sounds　of　labor　were　silenced。
Thronged　were　the　streets　with　people；　and　noisy　groups　at　the　house…doors
Sat　in　the　cheerful　sun；　and　rejoiced　and　gossiped　together；
Every　house　was　an　inn；　where　all　were　welcomed　and　feasted；
For　with　this　simple　people；　who　lived　like　brothers　together；
All　things　were　held　in　common；　and　what　one　had　was　another's。
Yet　under　Benedict's　roof　hospitality　seemed　more　abundant：
For　Evangeline　stood　among　the　guests　of　her　father；
Bright　was　her　face　with　smiles；　and　words　of　welcome　and　gladness
Fell　from　her　beautiful　lips；　and　blessed　the　cup　as　she　gave　it。

　　Under　the　open　sky；　in　the　odorous　air　of　the　orchard；
Bending　with　golden　fruit；　was　spread　the　feast　of　betrothal。
There　in　the　shade　of　the　porch　were　the　priest　and　the　notary　seated；
There　good　Benedict　sat；　and　sturdy　Basil　the　blacksmith。
Not　far　withdrawn　from　these；　by　the　cider…press　and　the　beehives；
Michael　the　fiddler　was　placed；　with　the　gayest　of　hearts　and　of　waistcoats。
Shadow　and　light　from　the　leaves　alternately　played　on　his　snow…white
Hair；　as　it　waved　in　the　wind；　and　the　jolly　face　of　the　fiddler
Glowed　like　a　living　coal　when　the　ashes　are　blown　from　the　embers。
Gayly　the　old　man　sang　to　the　vibrant　sound　of　his　fiddle；
Tous　les　Bourgeois　de　Chartres；　and　Le　Carillon　de　Dunkerque；
And　anon　with　his　wooden　shoes　beat　time　to　the　music。
Merrily；　merrily　whirled　the　wheels　of　the　dizzying　dances
Under　the　orchard…trees　and　down　the　path　to　the　meadows；
Old　folk　and　young　together；　and　children　mingled　among　them。
Fairest　of　all　the　maids　was　Evangeline；　Benedict's　daughter！
Noblest　of　all　the　youths　was　Gabriel；　son　of　the　blacksmith！

　　So　passed　the　morning　away。　　And　lo！　with　a　summons　sonorous
Sounded　the　bell　from　its　tower；　and　over　the　meadows　a　drum　beat。
Thronged　erelong　was　the　church　with　men。　　Without