Small Catechism 第31章

Thinkestthou，Sintram，thatitholdsenoughtoslidedowntothefootoftheprecipice?""Letmegoinstead，"saidSintra"Iwillbringyoutheheadandtheclawsofthebear.""Atrueknight，"repliedFolko，withsomedispleasure，"neverdoesaknightlydeedbyhalves.WhatIaskis，whethermyskatewillstillhold?"AsSintrambentdowntolook，andwasonthepointofsaying"No!"hesuddenlyheardavoiceclosetohim，saying，"Why，yes，tobesure;thereisnodoubtaboutit."

FolkothoughtthatSintramhadspoken，andsliddownwiththeswiftnessofanarrow，whilsthiscompanionlookedupingreatsurprise.ThehatedformofthelittleMastermethiseyes.Ashewasgoingtoaddresshimwithangrywords，heheardthesoundofthebaronsfearfulfall，andhestoodstillinsilenthorror.Therewasabreathlesssilencealsointheabyssbelow.

"Now，whydostthoudelay?"saidthelittleMaster，afterapause.

"Heisdashedtopieces.Gobacktothecastle，andtakethefairHelentothyself."Sintramshuddered.ThenhishatefulcompanionbegantopraiseGabriellescharmsinsoglowing，deceivingwords，thattheheartoftheyouthswelledwithemotionshehadneverbeforeknown.Heonlythoughtofhimwhowasnowlyingatthefootoftherockasofanobstacleremovedbetweenhimandheaven:heturnedtowardsthecastle.

Butacrywasheardbelow:"Help!help!mycomrade!Iamyetalive，butIamsorelywounded."Sintramswillwaschanged，andhecalledtothebaron，"Iamcoming."ButthelittleMastersaid，"NothingcanbedonetohelpDukeMenelaus;andthefairHelenknowsitalready.SheisonlywaitingforknightParistocomforther."Andwithdetestablecrafthewoveinthattalewithwhatwasactuallyhappening，bringinginthemosthighlywroughtpraisesofthelovelyGabrielle;andalas!thedazzledyouthyieldedtohim，andfled!Againheheardfaroffthebaronsvoicecallingtohim，"KnightSintram，knightSintram，thouonwhomIbestowedtheholyorder，hastetomeandhelpme!Theshe-bearandherwhelpswillbeuponme，andIcannotusemyrightarm!KnightSintram，knightSintram，hastetohelpme!"Hiscrieswereoverpoweredbythefuriousspeedwithwhichthetwowerecarriedalongontheirskates，andbytheevilwordsofthelittleMaster，whowasmockingatthelateproudbearingofDukeMenelaustowardsthepoorSintraAtlastheshouted，"Goodlucktoyou，she-bear!goodlucktoyourwhelps!Thereisagloriousmealforyou!NowyouwillfeeduponthefearofHeathendom，himatwhosenametheMoorishbridesweep，themightyBaronofMontfaucon.Neveragain，0daintyknight，willyoushoutattheheadofyourtroops，MountjoySt.Denys!"ButscarcehadthisholynamepassedthelipsofthelittleMaster，thanhesetupahowlofanguish，writhinghimselfwithhorriblecontortions，andwringinghishands，andendedbydisappearinginastormofsnowwhichthenarose.

Sintramplantedhisstafffirmlyintheground，andstopped.Howstrangelydidthewideexpanseofsnow，thedistantmountainsrisingaboveit，andthedarkgreenfir-woods--howstrangelydidtheyalllookathimincoldreproachfulsilence!Hefeltasifhemustsinkundertheweightofhissorrowandhisguilt.Thebellofadistanthermitagecamefloatingsadlyovertheplain.Withaburstoftearsheexclaimed，asthedarknessgrewthickerroundhim，"Mymother!mymother!Ihadonceabelovedtendermother，andshesaidIwasagoodchild!"Arayofcomfortcametohimasifbroughtonanangelswing;perhapsMontfauconwasnotyetdead!andheflewlikelightningalongthepath，backtothesteeprock.Whenhegottothefearfulplace，hestoopedandlookedanxiouslydowntheprecipice.

Themoon，justriseninfullmajesty，helpedhiTheKnightofMontfaucon，paleandbleeding，washalfkneelingagainsttherock;hisrightarm，crushedinhisfall，hungpowerlessathisside;itwasplainthathecouldnotdrawhisgoodswordoutofthescabbard.

Butneverthelesshewaskeepingthebearandheryoungonesatbaybyhisboldthreateninglooks，sothattheyonlycreptroundhim，growlingangrily;everymomentreadyforafierceattack，butasoftendrivenbackaffrightedatthemajesticairbywhichheconqueredevenwhendefenceless.

"Oh!whataherowouldtherehaveperished!"groanedSintram，"andthroughwhoseguilt?"Inaninstanthisspearflewwithsotrueanaimthatthebearfellwelteringinherblood;theyoungonesranawayhowling.

Thebaronlookedupwithsurprise.Hiscountenancebeamedasthelightofthemoonfelluponit，graveandstern，yetmild，likesomeangelicvision."Comedown!"hebeckoned;andSintramsliddownthesideoftheprecipice，fullofanxioushaste.Hewasgoingtoattendtothewoundedman，butFolkosaid，"FirstcutofftheheadandclawsofthebearwhichIslew.IpromisedtobringthespoilsofthechasetomylovelyGabrielle.Thencometome，andbindupmywounds.Myrightarmisbroken."Sintramobeyedthebaronscommands.Whenthetokensofvictoryhadbeensecured，andthebrokenarmboundup，Folkodesiredtheyouthtohelphimbacktothecastle.

"0Heavens!"saidSintraminalowvoice，"ifIdaredtolookinyourface!oronlyknewhowtocomenearyou!""Thouwertindeedgoingoninanevilcourse，"saidMontfaucon，gravely;"buthowcouldwe，anyofus，standbeforeGod，didnotrepentancehelpus?Atanyrate，thouhastnowsavedmylife，andletthatthoughtcheerthyheart."Theyouthwithtendernessandstrengthsupportedthebaronsleftarm，andtheybothwenttheirwaysilentlyinthemoonlight.