Small Catechism 第23章

Wherethesea-beachwaswildest，andthecliffsmoststeepandrugged，andclosebytheremainsofthreeshatteredoaks，haplymarkingwhere，inheathentimes，humanvictimshadbeensacrificed，nowstoodSintram，leaning，asifexhausted，onhisdrawnsword，andgazingintentlyonthedancingwaves.Themoonhadagainshoneforth;andasherpalebeamsfellonhismotionlessfigurethroughthequiveringbranchesofthetrees，hemighthavebeentakenforsomefearfulidol-image.Suddenlysomeoneonthelefthalfraisedhimselfoutofthehighwitheredgrass，uttere**intgroan，andagainlaydown.Thenbetweenthetwocompanionsbeganthisstrangetalk:

"Thouthatmovestthyselfsostrangelyinthegrass，dostthoubelongtothelivingortothedead?""Asonemaytakeit.Iamdeadtoheavenandjoy--Iliveforhellandanguish.""MethinksthatIhaveheardtheebefore.""Oh，yes."

"Artthouatroubledspirit?andwasthylife-bloodpouredouthereofoldinsacrificetoidols?""Iamatroubledspirit;butnomaneverhas，orevercan，shedmyblood.Ihavebeencastdown--oh，intoafrightfulabyss!""Anddidstthoubreaktherethyneck?"

"Ilive，--andshalllivelongerthanthou.""Almostthouseemesttomethecrazypilgrimwiththedeadmensbones.""Iamnothe，thoughoftenwearecompanions，--ay，walktogetherrightnearandfriendly.Buttoyoubeitsaid，hethinksmemad.

IfsometimesIurgehim，andsaytohim，Take!thenhehesitatesandpointsupwardstowardsthestars.Andagain，ifIsay，Takenot!then，toacertainty，heseizesonitinsomeawkwardmanner，andsohespoilsmybestjoysandpleasures.But，inspiteofthis，weremaininsomemeasurebrothersinarms，and，indeed，allbutkinsmen.""Givemeholdofthyhand，andletmehelptheetogetup.""Ho，ho!myactiveyoungsir，thatmightbringyounogood.Yet，infact，youhavealreadyhelpedtoraiseme.Giveheedawhile."Wilderandeverwilderwerethestrugglingsontheground;thickcloudshurriedoverthemoonandthestars，onalongunknownwildjourney;andSintramsthoughtsgrewnolesswildandstormy，whilefarandnearanawfulhowlingcouldbeheardamidstthetreesandthegrass.Atlengththemysteriousbeingarosefromtheground.Asifwithafearfulcuriosity，themoon，througharentintheclouds，castabeamuponSintramscompanion，andmadecleartotheshudderingyouththatthelittleMasterstood，byhi