Small Catechism 第24章

"Avaunt!"criedhe，"IwilllistennomoretothyevilstoriesabouttheknightParis:theywouldendbydrivingmequitemad.""MystoriesaboutParisarenotneededforthat!"grinnedthelittleMaster."ItisenoughthattheHelenofthyheartshouldbejourneyingtowardsMontfaucon.Believeme，madnesshastheealready，headandheart.Orwouldestthouthatsheshouldremain?Forthat，however，thoumustbemorecourteoustomethanthouartnow."Therewithheraisedhisvoicetowardsthesea，asiffiercelyrebukingit，sothatSintramcouldnotbutshudderandtremblebeforethedwarf.Buthecheckedhimself，andgraspinghissword-hiltwithbothhands，hesaid，contemptuously:"ThouandGabrielle!whatacquaintancehastthouwithGabrielle?""Notmuch，"wasthereply.AndthelittleMastermightbeseentoquakewithfearandrageashecontinued:"IcannotwellbearthenameofthyHelen;donotdinitinmyearstentimesinabreath.

Butifthetempestshouldincrease?Ifthewavesshouldswell，androllontilltheyformafoamingringroundthewholecoastofNorway?ThevoyagetoMontfauconmustinthatcasebealtogethergivenup，andthyHelenwouldremainhere，atleastthroughthelong，long，darkwinter.""If!if!"repliedSintram，withscorn."Istheseathybond-slave?

Arethestormsthyfellow-workmen?"

"Theyarerebels，accursedrebels，"mutteredthelittleMasterinhisredbeard."Thoumustlendmethyaid，sirknight，ifIamtosubduethem;butthouhastnottheheartforit.""Boaster，evilboaster!"answeredtheyouth;"whatdostthouaskofme?""Notmuch，sirknight;nothingatallforonewhohasstrengthandardourofsoul.Thouneedestonlylookattheseasteadilyandkeenlyforonehalf-hour，withouteverceasingtowishwithallthymightthatitshouldfoamandrageandswell，andneveragainresttillwinterhaslaiditsicyholduponyourmountains.ThenwinterisenoughtohinderDukeMenelausfromhisvoyagetoMontfaucon.Andnowgivemealockofyourblackhair，whichisblowingsowildlyaboutyourhead，likeravensorvultureswings."Theyouthdrewhissharpdagger，madlycutoffalockofhishair，threwittothestrangebeing，andnowgazed，ashedesired，powerfullywishing，onthewavesofthesea.Andsoftly，quitesoftly，didthewatersstirthemselves，asonewhispersintroubleddreamswhowouldgladlyrestandcannot.Sintramwasonthepointofgivingup，wheninthemoonbeamsashipappeared，withwhite-swellingsails，towardsthesouth.Anguishcameoverhim，thatGabriellewouldsoonthusquicklysailaway;hewishedagainwithallhispower，andfixedhiseyesintentlyonthewateryabyss."Sintram，"avoicemighthavesaidtohim--"ah，Sintram，artthouindeedthesamewhosolatelywertgazingonthemoistenedheavenoftheeyesofGabrielle?"Andnowthewatersheavedmoremightily，andthehowlingtempestsweptovertheocean;thebreakers，whitewithfoam，becamevisibleinthemoonlight.ThenthelittleMasterthrewthelockofSintramshairuptowardstheclouds，and，asitwasblowntoandfrobytheblastofwind，thestormburstinallitsfury，sothatseaandskywerecoveredwithonethickcloud，andfaroffmightbeheardthecriesofdistressfrommanyasinkingvessel.

Butthecrazypilgrimwiththedeadmensbonesroseupinthemidstofthewaves，closetotheshore，gigantic，tall，fearfullyrocking;theboatinwhichhestoodwashiddenfromsight，somightilyragedthewavesroundaboutit.

"Thoumustsavehim，littleMaster--thoumustcertainlysavehim，"criedSintramsvoice，angrilyentreating，throughtheroaringofthewindsandwaves.Butthedwarfreplied，withalaugh:"Bequiteatrestforhim;hewillbeabletosavehimself.ThewavescandohimnoharSeestthou?Theyareonlybeggingofhim，andthereforetheyjumpupsoboldlyroundhim;andhegivesthembountifulalms--verybountiful，thatIcanassurethee."

Infact，asitseemed，thepilgrimthrewsomebonesintothesea，andpassedscathelessonhisway.Sintramfelthisbloodruncoldwithhorror，andherushedwildlytowardsthecastle.Hiscompanionhadeitherfledorvanishedaway.