Small Catechism 第13章

Asshebentoveritwithearnestattention，andhertaperfingersranupanddownthestrings，asmile，likethedawnofspring，passedoverthedarkcountenancesofBiornandhisson;andbothsaid，withaninvoluntarysigh，"Ah!ifyouwouldbutplayonthatlute，andsingtoit!Itwouldbebuttoobeautiful!"Theladylookedupatthem，wellpleased，andsmilingherassent，shebeganthissong:--"Songsandflowersarereturning，AndradiantskiesofMay，Earthherchoicestgiftsisyielding，Butoneispastaway.

ThespringthatclotheswithtendrestgreenEachgroveandsunnyplain，Shinesnotformyforsakenheart，Bringsnotmyjoysagain.

Warblenotso，thounightingale，Uponthybloomingspray，Thysweetnessnowwillburstmyheart，Icannotbearthylay.

Forflowersandbirdsarecomeagain，AndbreezesmildofMay，ButtreasuredhopesandgoldenhoursArelosttomeforaye!"ThetwoNorwegianssatplungedinmelancholythought;butespeciallySintramseyesbegantobrightenwithamilderexpression，hischeeksglowed，everyfeaturesoftened，tillthosewholookedathimcouldhavefanciedtheysawaglorifiedspirit.ThegoodRolf，whohadstoodlisteningtothesong，rejoicedthereatfromhisheart，anddevoutlyraisedhishandsinpiousgratitudetoheaven.ButGabriellesastonishmentsufferedhernottotakehereyesfromSintraAtlastshesaidtohim，"Ishouldmuchliketoknowwhathassostruckyouinthatlittlesong.Itismerelyasimplelayofthespring，fulloftheimageswhichthatsweetseasonneverfailstocallupinthemindsofmycountrymen.""Butisyourhomereallysolovely，sowondrouslyrichinsong?"criedtheenrapturedSintra"ThenIamnolongersurprisedatyourheavenlybeauty，atthepowerwhichyouexerciseovermyhard，waywardheart!Foraparadiseofsongmustsurelysendsuchangelicmessengersthroughtheruderpartsoftheworld."Andsosaying，hefellonhiskneesbeforetheladyinanattitudeofdeephumility.

Folkolookedonallthewhilewithanapprovingsmile，whilstGabrielle，inmuchembarrassment，seemedhardlytoknowhowtotreatthehalf-wild，half-tamedyoungstranger.Aftersomehesitation，however，sheheldoutherfairhandtohim，andsaidasshegentlyraisedhim:"Surelyonewholistenswithsuchdelighttomusicmusthimselfknowhowtoawakenitsstrains.Takemylute，andletushearagracefulinspiredsong."ButSintramdrewback，andwouldnottaketheinstrument;andhesaid，"Heavenforbidthatmyroughuntutoredhandshouldtouchthosedelicatestrings!ForevenwereItobeginwithsomesoftstrains，yetbeforelongthewildspiritwhichdwellsinmewouldbreakout，andtherewouldbeanendoftheformandsoundofthebeautifulinstrument.No，no;suffermerathertofetchmyownhugeharp，strungwithbearssinewssetinbrass，forintruthIdofeelmyselfinspiredtoplayandsing."Gabriellemurmuredahalf-frightenedassent;andSintramhavingquicklybroughthisharp，begantostrikeitloudly，andtosingthesewordswithavoicenolesspowerful:

"Sirknight，sirknight，oh!whitherawayWiththysnow-whitesailonthefoamingspray?"Singheigh，singho，forthatlandofflowers!

"ToolonghaveItroduponiceandsnow;

Iseekthebowerswhererosesblow."

Singheigh，singho，forthatlandofflowers!

HesteerdonhiscoursebynightanddayTillhecasthisanchorinNaplesBay.

Singheigh，singho，forthatlandofflowers!

Therewanderdaladyuponthestrand，Herfairhairboundwithagoldenband.

Singheigh，singho，forthatlandofflowers!

"Hailtothee!hailtothee!ladybright，Mineownshaltthoubeeremorninglight."Singheigh，singho，forthatlandofflowers

"Notso，sirknight，"theladyreplied，"Foryouspeaktothemargraveschosenbride."Singheigh，singho，forthatlandofflowers!

"Yourlovermaycomewithhisshieldandspear，Andthevictorshallwinthee，ladydear!"Singheigh，singho，forthatlandofflowers!

"Nay，seekforanotherbride，Ipray;

MostfairarethemaidensofNaplesBay."Singheigh，singho，forthatlandofflowers!

"No，lady;fortheemyheartdothburn，Andtheworldcannotnowmypurposeturn."Singheigh，singho，forthatlandofflowers!

Thencametheyoungmargrave，boldandbrave;Butlowwashelaidinagrassygrave.

Singheigh，singho，forthatlandofflowers!

AndthenthefierceNorthmanjoyouslycried，"NowshallIpossesslands，castle，andbride!"Singheigh，singho，forthatlandofflowers!

Sintramssongwasended，buthiseyesglaredwildly，andthevibrationsoftheharp-stringsstillresoundedinamarvellousmanner.Biornsattitudewasagainerect;hestrokedhislongbeardandrattledhissword，asifingreatdelightatwhathehadjustheard.MuchshudderedGabriellebeforethewildsongandthesestrangeforms，butonlytillshecastaglanceontheLordofMontfaucon，sattheresmilinginallhisherostrength，unmoved，theroughuproarpassedbyhimlikeanautumnalstor