Small Catechism 第3章

InthehighcastleofDrontheimmanyknightssatassembledtoholdcouncilforthewealoftherealm;andjoyouslytheycarousedtogethertillmidnightaroundthehugestonetableinthevaultedhall.Arisingstormdrovethesnowwildlyagainsttherattlingwindows;alltheoakdoorsgroaned，themassivelocksshook，thecastle-clockslowlyandheavilystruckthehourofone.Thenaboy，paleasdeath，withdisorderedhairandclosedeyes，rushedintothehall，utteringawildscreamofterror.HestoppedbesidetherichlycarvedseatofthemightyBiorn，clungtotheglitteringknightwithbothhishands，andshriekedinapiercingvoice，"Knightandfather!

fatherandknight!Deathandanotherarecloselypursuingme!"Anawfulstillnesslaylikeiceonthewholeassembly，savethattheboyscreamedeverthefearfulwords.ButoneofBiornsnumerousretainers，anoldesquire，knownbythenameofRolftheGood，advancedtowardstheterrifiedchild，tookhiminhisarms，andhalfchantedthisprayer:"0Father，helpThyservant!Ibelieve，andyetIcannotbelieve."Theboy，asifinadream，atonceloosenedhisholdoftheknight;andthegoodRolfborehimfromthehallunresisting，yetstillsheddinghottearsandmurmuringconfusedsounds.

Thelordsandknightslookedatoneanothermuchamazed，untilthemightyBiornsaid，wildlyandfiercelylaughing，"Marvelnotatthatstrangeboy.Heismyonlyson;andhasbeenthussincehewasfiveyearsold:heisnowtwelve.Iamthereforeaccustomedtoseehimso;though，atthefirst，Itoowasdisquietedbyit.Theattackcomesuponhimonlyonceintheyear，andalwaysatthissametime.

ButforgivemeforhavingspentsomanywordsonmypoorSintram，andletuspassontosomeworthiersubjectforourdiscourse."Againtherewassilenceforawhile;thenwhisperinglyanddoubtfullysinglevoicesstrovetorenewtheirbroken-offdiscourse，butwithoutsuccess.Twooftheyoungestandmostjoyousbeganaroundelay;butthestormhowledandragedsowildlywithout，thatthistoowassooninterrupted.Andnowtheyallsatsilentandmotionlessintheloftyhall;thelampflickeredsadlyunderthevaultedroof;thewholepartyofknightslookedlikepale，lifelessimagesdressedupingiganticarmour.

ThenarosethechaplainofthecastleofDrontheim，theonlypriestamongtheknightlythrong，andsaid，"DearLordBiorn，oureyesandthoughtshaveallbeendirectedtoyouandyoursoninawonderfulmanner;butsoithasbeenorderedbytheprovidenceofGod.Youperceivethatwecannotwithdrawthem;andyouwoulddowelltotellusexactlywhatyouknowconcerningthefearfulstateoftheboy.

Perchance，thesolemntale，whichIexpectfromyou，mightdogoodtothisdisturbedassembly."Biorncastalookofdispleasureonthepriest，andanswered，"Sirchaplain，youhavemoreshareinthehistorythaneitheryouorIcoulddesire.Excuseme，ifIamunwillingtotroubletheselight-heartedwarriorswithsoruefulatale."