Small Catechism 第17章

Amongstothers，Iremembertohaveheardmyfriendsrelateoneatwhichmyhairstoodonend.PossiblyImaygainsomemorecompleteinformationonthesubjectfromyou.Itappearsthatseveralyearsago，justaboutthetimeoftheChristmasfestival，GotthardandRudliebwereshipwreckedonthecoastofNorway，duringaviolentwintertempest.Theycouldneverexactlyascertainthesituationoftherocksonwhichtheirvesselstranded;butsomuchiscertain，thatverynearthesea-shorestoodahugecastle，towhichthefatherandsonbetookthemselves，seekingforthatassistanceandshelterwhichChristianpeopleareeverwillingtoaffordeachotherincaseofneed.Theywentalone，leavingtheirfollowerstowatchtheinjuredship.Thecastle-gateswerethrownopen，andtheythoughtallwaswell.Butonasuddenthecourt-yardwasfilledwitharmedmen，whowithoneaccordaimedtheirsharpiron-pointedspearsatthedefencelessstrangers，whosedignifiedremonstrancesandmildentreatieswereonlyheardinsullensilenceorwithscornfuljeerings.Afterawhileaknightcamedownthestairs，withfire-flashingeyes.Theyhardlyknewwhethertothinktheysawaspectre，orawildheathen;hegaveasignal，andthefatalspearsclosedaroundtheAtthatinstantthesofttonesofawomansvoicefellontheirear，callingontheSavioursholynameforaid;atthesound，thespectresinthecourt-yardrushedmadlyoneagainsttheother，thegatesburstopen，andGotthardandRudliebfledaway，catchingaglimpseastheywentofanangelicwomanwhoappearedatoneofthewindowsofthecastle.Theymadeeveryexertiontogettheirshipagainafloat，choosingtotrustthemselvestothesearatherthantothatbarbarouscoast;andatlast，aftermanifolddangers，theylandedatDenmark.Theysaythatsomeheathenmusthaveownedthecruelcastle;butIholdittobesomeruinedfortress，desertedbymen，inwhichhellishspectreswerewonttoholdtheirnightlymeetings.Whatheathencouldbefoundsodemon-likeastoofferdeathtoshipwreckedstrangers，insteadofrefreshmentandshelter?"Biorngazedfixedlyontheground，asthoughhewereturnedintostonebutSintramcametowardsthetable，andsaid，"Father，letusseekoutthisgodlessabode，andlayitlevelwiththedust.Icannottellhow，butsomehowIfeelquitesurethattheaccurseddeedofwhichwehavejustheardisalonethecauseofmyfrightfuldreams."Enragedathisson，Biornroseup，andwouldperhapsagainhaveutteredsomedreadfulwords;butHeavendecreedotherwise，forjustatthatmomentthepealingnotesatrumpetwereheard，whichdrownedtheangrytoneshisvoice，thegreatdoorsopenedslowly，andaheraldenteredthehall.Hebowedreverently，andthensaid，"IamsentbyJarlErictheAged.HereturnedtwodaysagofromhisexpeditiontotheGrecianseas.HiswishhadbeentotakevengeanceontheislandwhichiscalledChios，wherefiftyyearsagohisfatherwasslainbythesoldiersoftheEmperor.Butyourkinsman，thesea-kingArinbiorn，whowaslyingthereatanchor，triedtopacifyhi

TothisJarlEricwouldnotlisten;sothesea-kingsaidnextthathewouldneversufferChiostobelaidwaste，becauseitwasanislandwherethelaysofanoldGreekbard，calledHomer，wereexcellentlysung，andwheremore-overaverychoicewinewasmade.Wordsprovingofnoavail，acombatensued;inwhichArinbiornhadsomuchtheadvantagethatJarlEriclosttwoofhisships，andonlywithdifficultyescapedinonewhichhadalreadysustainedgreatdamage.

ErictheAgedhasnowresolvedtotakerevengeonsomeofthesea-kingsrace，sinceArinbiornhimselfisseldomonthespot.Willyou，BiornoftheFieryEyes，atoncepayaslargeapenaltyincattle，andmoney，andgoods，asitmaypleasetheJarltodemand?

OrwillyoupreparetomeethimwithanarmedforceatNiflungsHeathsevendayshence?"Biornbowedhisheadquietly，andrepliedinamildtone，"SevendayshenceatNiflungsHeath."Hethenofferedtotheheraldagoldengobletfullofrichwine，andadded，"Drinkthat，andthencarryoffwiththeethecupwhichthouhastemptied.""TheBaronofMontfauconlikewisesendsgreetingtothychieftain，JarlEric，"interposedFolko;"andengagestobealsoatNiflungsHeath，asthehereditaryfriendofthesea-king，andalsoasthekinsmanandguestofBiornoftheFieryEyes."TheheraldwasseentotrembleatthenameofMontfaucon;hebowedverylow，castananxious，reverentiallookatthebaron，andleftthehall.

Gabriellelookedonherknight，smilinglovinglyandsecurely，forshewellknewhisvictoriousprowess;andsheonlyasked，"WhereshallIremain，whilstyougoforthtobattle，Folko?""Ihadhoped，"answeredBiorn，"thatyouwouldbewellcontentedtostayinthiscastle，lovelylady;Ileavemysontoguardyouandattendonyou."Gabriellehesitatedaninstant;andSintram，whohadresumedhispositionnearthefire，mutteredtohimselfashefixedhiseyesonthebrightflameswhichwereflashingup，"Yes，yes，soitwillprobablyhappen.IcanfancythatDukeMenelaushadjustleftSpartaonsomewarlikeexpedition，whentheyoungknightParismetthelovelyHelenthateveninginthegarden."ButGabrielle，shudderingalthoughsheknewnotwhy，saidquickly，"Withoutyou，Folko?AndmustIforegothejoyofseeingyoufight?

orthehonouroftendingyou，shouldyouchancetoreceiveawound?"Folkobowed，gracefullythankinghislady，andreplied，"Comewithyourknight，sincesuchisyourpleasure，andbetohimabrightguidingstar.Itisagoodoldnortherncustomthatladiesshouldbepresentatknightlycombats，andnotruewarriorofthenorthwillfailtorespecttheplacewhencebeamsthelightoftheireyes.

Unless，indeed，"continuedhewithaninquiringlookatBiorn，"unlessJarlEricisnotworthyofhisforefather?""Amanofhonour"saidBiornconfidently.

"Thenarrayyourself，myfairestlove，"saidthedelightedFolko;"arrayyourselfandcomeforthwithustothebattle-fieldtobeholdandjudgeourdeeds.""Comeforthwithustothebattle，"echoedSintraminasuddentransportofjoy.

Andtheyalldispersedincalmcheerfulness;Sintrambetakinghimselfagaintothewood，whiletheothersretiredtorest.