Small Catechism 第14章

Someweeksafterthis，inthetwilightofevening，Sintram，verydisturbed，camedowntothecastle-garden.AlthoughthepresenceofGabrielleneverfailedtosootheandcalmhim，yetifshelefttheapartmentforevenafewinstants，thefearfulwildnessofhisspiritseemedtoreturnwithrenewedstrength.Soevennow，afterhavinglongandkindlyreadlegendsoftheoldentimestohisfatherBiorn，shehadretiredtoherchamber.Thetonesofherlutecouldbedistinctlyheardinthegardenbelow;butthesoundsonlydrovethebewilderedyouthmoreimpetuouslythroughtheshadesoftheancientelms.Stoopingsuddenlytoavoidsomeoverhangingbranches，heunexpectedlycameuponsomethingagainstwhichhehadalmoststruck，andwhich，atfirstsight，hetookforasmallbearstandingonitshindlegs，withalongandstrangelycrookedhornonitshead.Hedrewbackinsurpriseandfear.Itaddressedhiminagratingmansvoice:"Well，mybraveyoungknight，whencecomeyou?whithergoyou?

whereforesoterrified?"Andthenfirsthesawthathehadbeforehimalittleoldmansowrappedupinaroughgarmentoffur，thatscarcelyoneofhisfeatureswasvisible，andwearinginhiscapastrange-lookinglongfeather.

"ButwhencecomeYOUandwhithergoYOU?"returnedtheangrySintra

"Forofyousuchquestionsshouldbeasked.Whathaveyoutodoinourdomains，youhideouslittlebeing?""Well，well，"sneeredtheotherone，"IamthinkingthatIamquitebigenoughasIam--onecannotalwaysbeagiant.Andastotherest，whyshouldyoufindfaultthatIgoherehuntingforsnails?

Surelysnailsdonotbelongtothegamewhichyourhighmightinessesconsiderthatyoualonehavearighttofollow!Now，ontheotherhand，Iknowhowtopreparefromthemanexcellenthigh-flavoureddrink;andIhavetakenenoughforto-day:marvellousfatlittlebeasts，withwisefaceslikeamans，andlongtwistedhornsontheirheads.Wouldyouliketoseethem?Lookhere!"Andthenhebegantounfastenandfumbleabouthisfurgarment;butSintram，filledwithdisgustandhorror，said，"Psha!Idetestsuchanimals!Bequiet，andtellmeatoncewhoandwhatyouyourselfare.""Areyousobentuponknowingmyname?"repliedthelittleman.

"LetitcontentyouthatIammasterofallsecretknowledge，andwellversedinthemostintricatedepthsofancienthistory.Ah!myyoungsir，ifyouwouldonlyhearthem!Butyouareafraidofme.""Afraidofyou!"criedSintram，withawildlaugh.