Small Catechism 第10章

Anillnessfollowedthissuddenattack;andduringthecourseofitthestoutoldknight，inthemidstofhisdeliriousravings，didnotceasetoaffirmconfidentlythathemustandshouldrecover.Helaughedproudlywhenhisfever-fitscameon，andrebukedthemfordaringtoattackhimsoneedlessly.Thenhemurmuredtohimself，"Thatwasnottherightoneyet;theremuststillbeanotheroneoutinthecoldmountains."AlwaysatsuchwordsSintraminvoluntarilyshuddered;theyseemedtostrengthenhisnotionthathewhohadriddenwithhim，andhewhohadsatattableinthecastle，weretwoquitedistinctpersons;andheknewnotwhy，butthisthoughtwasinexpressiblyawfultohiBiornrecovered，andappearedtohaveentirelyforgottenhisadventurewiththepalmer.Hehuntedinthemountains;hecarriedonhisusualwildwarfarewithhisneighbours;andSintram，ashegrewup，becamehisalmostconstantcompanion;wherebyeachyearafearfulstrengthofbodyandspiritwasunfoldedintheyouth.Everyonetrembledatthesightofhissharppallidfeatures，hisdarkrollingeyes，histall，muscular，andsomewhatleanform;andyetnoonehatedhim--noteventhosewhomhedistressedorinjuredinhiswildesthumours.ThismightariseinpartoutofregardtooldRolf，whoseldomlefthimforlong，andwhoalwaysheldasofteninginfluenceoverhim;butalsomanyofthosewhohadknowntheLadyVerenawhileshestilllivedintheworldaffirmedthatafaintreflectionofherheavenlyexpressionfloatedovertheveryunlikefeaturesofherson，andthatbythistheirheartswerewon.

Once，justatthebeginningofspring，Biornandhissonwerehuntingintheneighbourhoodofthesea-coast，overatractofcountrywhichdidnotbelongtothem;drawnthitherlessbytheloveofsportthanbythewishofbiddingdefiancetoachieftainwhomtheydetested，andthusexcitingafeud.Atthatseasonoftheyear，whenhiswinterdreamshadjustpassedoff，Sintramwasalwaysunusuallyfierceanddisposedforwarlikeadventures.Andthisdayhewasenragedatthechieftainfornotcominginarmsfromhiscastletohindertheirhunting;andhecursed，inthewildestwords，histamepatienceandloveofpeace.Justthenoneofhiswildyoungcompanionsrushedtowardshim，shoutingjoyfully:"Becontentmydearyounglord!Iwillwagerthatalliscomingaboutasweandyouwish;forasIwaspursuingawoundeddeerdowntothesea-shore，Isawasailandavesselfilledwitharmedmenmakingfortheshore.

Doubtlessyourenemypurposestofalluponyoufromthecoast."JoyfullyandsecretlySintramcalledallhisfollowerstogether，beingresolvedthistimetotakethecombatonhimselfalone，andthentorejoinhisfather，andastonishhimwiththesightofcapturedfoesandothertokensofvictory.

Thehunters，thoroughlyacquaintedwitheverycliffandrockonthecoast，hidthemselvesroundthelanding-place;andsoonthestrangevesselhovenearerwithswellingsails，tillatlengthitcametoanchor，anditscrewbegantodisembarkinunsuspicioussecurity.