Small Catechism 第27章

Sintramhadnotreturnedhome，whenthoseofthecastlebetookthemselvestorestindeepbewilderment.Noonethoughtofhim，foreveryheartwasfilledwithstrangeforebodings，andwithuncertaincares.EventheheroicbreastoftheKnightofMontfauconheavedindoubt.

OldRolfstillremainedwithout，weepingintheforest，heedlessofthestormwhichbeatonhisunprotectedhead，whilehewaitedforhisyoungmaster.Buthehadgoneaverydifferentway;andwhenthemorningdawned，heenteredthecastlefromtheoppositeside.

Gabriellesslumbershadbeensweetduringthewholenight.Ithadseemedtoherthatangelswithgoldenwingshadblownawaythewildhistoriesoftheeveningbefore，andhadwaftedtoherthebrightflowers，thesparklingsea，andthegreenhillsofherownhome.Shesmiled，anddrewherbreathcalmlyandsoftly，whilstthemagicaltempestragedandhowledthroughtheforests，andcontinuedtobattlewiththetroubledsea.Butintruthwhensheawokeinthemorning，andheardstilltherattlingofthewindows，andsawtheclouds，asifdissolvedinmistandsteam，stillhidingthefaceoftheheavens，shecouldhaveweptforanxietyandsadness，especiallywhensheheardfromhermaidensthatFolkohadalreadylefttheirapartmentcladinfullarmourasifpreparedforacombat.Atthesametimesheheardthesoundoftheheavytreadofarmedmenintheechoinghalls，and，oninquiring，foundthattheKnightofMontfauconhadassembledallhisretainerstobeinreadinesstoprotecttheirlady.

Wrappedinacloakofermine，shestoodtremblinglikeatenderflowerjustsprungupoutofthesnow，totteringbeneathawintersstorThenSirFolkoenteredtheroom，inallhisshiningarmour，andpeacefullycarryinghisgoldenhelmetwiththelongshadowyplumesinhishand.HesalutedGabriellewithcheerfulserenity，andatasignfromhim，herattendantsretired，whilethemen-at-armswithoutwereheardquietlydispersing.

"Lady，"saidhe，ashetookhisseatbesideher，onacouchtowhichheledher，alreadyre-assuredbyhispresence:"lady，willyouforgiveyourknightforhavingleftyoutoenduresomemomentsofanxiety;buthonourandsternjusticecalledhiNowallissetinorder，quietlyandpeacefully;dismissyourfearsandeverythoughtthathastroubledyou，asthingswhicharenomore.""ButyouandBiorn?"askedGabrielle."Onthewordofaknight，"repliedhe，"alliswellthere."Andthereuponhebegantotalkoverindifferentsubjectswithhisusualeaseandwit;butGabrielle，bendingtowardshim，saidwithdeepemotion:

"0Folko，myknight，theflowerofmylife，myprotectorandmydearesthopeonearth，tellmeall，ifthoumayst.Butifapromisebindsthee，itisdifferent.ThouknowestthatIamoftheraceofPortamour，andIwouldasknothingfrommyknightwhichcouldcastevenabreathofsuspiciononhisspotlessshield."Folkothoughtgravelyforoneinstant;thenlookingatherwithabrightsmile，hesaid:"Itisnotthat，Gabrielle;butcanstthoubearwhatIhavetodisclose?Wiltthounotsinkdownunderit，asaslenderfirgiveswayunderamassofsnow?"Sheraisedherselfsomewhatproudly，andsaid:"Ihavealreadyremindedtheeofthenameofmyfathershouse.Letmenowadd，thatIamtheweddedwifeoftheBaronofMontfaucon.""Thensoletitbe，"repliedFolkosolemnly;"andifthatmustcomeforthopenlywhichshouldeverhaveremainedhiddeninthedarknesswhichbelongstosuchdeedsofwickedness，atleastletitcomeforthlessfearfullywithasuddenflash.Knowthen，Gabrielle，thatthewickedknightwhowouldhaveslainmyfriendsGotthardandRudliebisnoneotherthanourkinsmanandhost，BiornoftheFieryEyes."Gabrielleshudderedandcoveredhereyeswithherfairhands;butattheendofamomentshelookedupwithabewilderedair，andsaid:

"Ihaveheardwrongsurely，althoughitistruethatyesterdayeveningsuchathoughtstruckme.FordidnotyousayawhileagothatallwassettledandatpeacebetweenyouandBiorn?Betweenthebravebaronandsuchamanaftersuchacrime?""Youheardaright，"answeredFolko，lookingwithfonddelightonthedelicateyethigh-mindedlady."ThismorningwiththeearliestdawnIwenttohimandchallengedhimtoamortalcombatintheneighbouringvalley，ifhewerethemanwhosecastlehadwell-nighbecomeanaltarofsacrificetoGotthardandRudlieb.Hewasalreadycompletelyarmed，andmerelysaying，Iamhe，hefollowedmetotheforest.Butwhenhestoodaloneattheplaceofcombat，heflungawayhisshielddownagiddyprecipice，thenhisswordwashurledafterit，andnextwithgiganticstrengthhetoreoffhiscoatofmail，andsaid，Nowfallon，thouministerofvengeance;forIamaheavysinner，andIdarenotfightwiththee.HowcouldIthenattackhim?Astrangetrucewasagreedonbetweenus.Heishalfasmyvassal，andyetIsolemnlyforgavehiminmyownnameandinthatofmyfriends.Hewascontrite，andyetnotearwasinhiseye，nogentlewordonhislips.HeisonlykeptunderbythepowerwithwhichIamenduedbyhavingrightonmyside，anditisonthattenurethatBiornismyvassal.Iknownot，lady，whetheryoucanbeartoseeustogetherontheseterms;ifnot，Iwillaskforhospitalityinsomeothercastle;therearenoneinNorwaywhichwouldnotreceiveusjoyfullyandhonourably，andthiswildautumnalstormmayputoffourvoyageformanyaday.OnlythisIthink，thatifwedepartdirectlyandinsuchamanner，theheartofthissavagemanwillbreak.""Wheremynoblelordremains，thereIalsoremainjoyfullyunderhisprotection，"repliedGabrielle;andagainherheartglowedwithraptureatthegreatnessofherknight.