Small Catechism 第22章

ThejoyfulcalmwhichcameoverSintramonthisdayappearedtobemorethanapassinggleaIftoo，attimes，athoughtoftheknightParisandHelenwouldinflamehisheartwithbolderandwilderwishes，itneededbutonelookathisscarfandsword，andthestreamofhisinnerlifeglidedagainclearasamirror，andserenewithin.

"Whatcananymanwishformorethanhasbeenalreadybestowedonme?"wouldhesaytohimselfatsuchtimesinstilldelight.Andthusitwentonforalongwhile.

Thebeautifulnorthernautumnhadalreadybeguntoreddentheleavesoftheoaksandelmsroundthecastle，whenonedayitchancedthatSintramwassittingincompanywithFolkoandGabrielleinalmosttheverysamespotinthegardenwherehehadbeforemetthatmysteriousbeingwhom，withoutknowingwhy，hehadnamedthelittleMaster.Butonthisdayhowdifferentdideverythingappear!Thesunwassinkingslowlyoverthesea，themistofanautumnaleveningwasrisingfromthefieldsandmeadowsaround，towardsthehillonwhichstoodthehugecastle.Gabrielle，placingherluteinSintramshands，saidtohim，"Dearfriend，somildandgentleasyounoware，Imaywelldaretoentrusttoyoumytenderlittledarling.Letmeagainhearyousingthatlayofthelandofflowers;forIamsurethatitwillnowsoundmuchsweeterthanwhenyouaccompanieditwiththevibrationsofyourfearfulharp."Theyoungknightbowedashepreparedtoobeytheladyscommands.

Withagraceandsoftnes**hertounwonted，thetonesresoundedfromhislips，andthewildsongappearedtotransformitself，andtobloomintoagardenoftheblessed.TearsstoodinGabrielleseyes;andSintram，ashegazedonthepearlybrightness，pouredforthtonesofyetrichersweetness.Whenthelastnotesweresounded，Gabriellesangelicvoicewasheardtoechothem;andassherepeated"Singheigh，singho，forthatlandofflowers，"Sintramputdownthelute，andsighedwithathankfulglancetowardsthestars，nowrisingintheheavens.ThenGabrielle，turningtowardsherlord，murmuredthesewords:"Oh，howlonghavewebeenfarawayfromourownshiningcastlesandbrightgardens!Oh，forthatlandofthesweetestflowers!"Sintramcouldscarcebelievethatheheardaright，sosuddenlydidhefeelhimselfasifshutoutfromparadise.ButhislasthopevanishedbeforethecourteousassurancesofFolkothathewouldendeavourtofulfilhisladyswishestheverynextweek，andthattheirshipwaslyingofftheshorereadytoputtosea.Shethankedhimwithakissimprintedsoftlyonhisforehead;andleaningonhisarm，shebenthersteps，singingandsmiling，towardsthecastle.

Sintram，troubledinmind，asthoughturnedintostone，remainedbehindforgotten.Atlength，whennightwasnowinthesky，hestartedupwildly，ranupanddownthegarden，asifallhisformermadnesshadagaintakenpossessionofhim;andthenrushedoutandwandereduponthewildmoonlithills.Therehedashedhisswordagainstthetreesandbushes，sothatonallsideswasheardasoundofcrashingandfalling.Thebirdsofnightflewabouthimscreechinginwildalarm;andthedeer，startledbythenoise，sprangawayandtookrefugeinthethickestcoverts.

OnasuddenoldRolfappeared，returninghomefromavisittothechaplainofDrontheim，towhomhehadbeenrelating，withtearsofjoy，howSintramwassoftenedbythepresenceoftheangelGabrielle，yea，almosthealed，andhowhedaredtohopethattheevildreamshadyielded.Andnowthesword，asitwhizzedroundthefuriousyouth，hadwell-nighwoundedthegoodoldman.Hestoppedshort，andclaspinghishand，hesaid，withadeepsigh，"Alas，Sintram!myfoster-child，darlingofmyheart，whathascomeoverthee，thusfearfullystirringtheetorage?"Theyouthstoodawhileasifspell-bound;helookedinhisoldfriendsfacewithafixedandmelancholygaze，andhiseyesbecamedim，likeexpiringwatch-firesseenthroughathickcloudofmist.

Atlengthhesighedforththesewords，almostinaudibly:"GoodRolf，goodRolf，departfromme!thygardenofheavenisnohomeforme;andifsometimesalightbreezeblowopenitsgoldengates，sothatIcanlookinandseetheflowerymeadow-landwherethedearangelsdwell，thenstraightwaybetweenthemandmecomethecoldnorthwindandtheicystorm，andthesoundingdoorsflytogether，andIremainwithout，lonely，inendlesswinter.""Belovedyoungknight，oh，listentome--listentothegoodangelwithinyou!Doyounotbearinyourhandthatveryswordwithwhichthepureladygirdedyou?doesnotherscarfwaveoveryourragingbreast?Doyounotrecollecthowyouusedtosay，thatnomancouldwishformorethanhadfallentoyou?""Yes，Rolf，Ihavesaidthat，"repliedSintram，sinkingonthemossyturf，bitterlyweeping.Tearsalsoranovertheoldmanswhitebeard.Beforelongtheyouthstoodagainerect，histearsceasedtoflow，hislookswerefearful，cold，andgrim;andhesaid，"Yousee，Rolf，Ihavepassedblessedpeacefuldays，andIthoughtthatthepowersofevilwouldneveragainhavedominionoverme.So，perchance，itmighthavebeen，asdaywouldeverbedidtheSuneverstandinthesky.ButaskthepoorbenightedEarth，whereforeshelookssodark!Bidheragainsmileasshewaswonttodo!Oldman，shecannotsmile;andnowthatthegentlecompassionateMoonhasdisappearedbehindthecloudswithheronlyfuneralveil，shecannotevenweep.Andinthishourofdarknessallthatiswildandmadwakesup.So，stopmenot，Itellthee，stopmenot!Hurra，behind，behindthepaleMoon!"Hisvoicechangedtoahoarsemurmurattheselastwords，storm-like.Hetoreawayfromthetremblingoldman，andrushedthroughtheforest.Rolfkneltdownandprayed，andweptsilently.