Small Catechism 第36章

Thejoyofthishourpassedfromitsfirstoverpoweringbrightnesstothecalm，thoughtfulaspectofdailylife;andWeigand，nowrestoredtohealth，laidasidethemantlewithdeadmensbones，saying:"Ihadchosenformypenancetocarrythesefearfulremainsaboutwithme，withthethoughtthatsomeofthemmighthavebelongedtohimwhomIhavemurdered.ThereforeIsoughtforthemroundabout，inthedeepbedsofthemountain-torrents，andinthehighnestsoftheeaglesandvultures.AndwhileIwassearching，Isometimes--couldithavebeenonlyanillusion?--seemedtomeetabeingwhowasverylikemyself，butfar，farmorepowerful，andyetstillpalerandmorehaggard."AnimploringlookfromSintramstoppedtheflowofhiswords.Withagentlesmile，Weigandbowedtowardshim，andsaid:"Youknownowallthedeep，unutterablydeep，sorrowwhichpreyeduponme.Myfearofyou，andmyyearningloveforyou，arenolongeranenigmatoyourkindheart.For，dearyouth，thoughyoumaybelikeyourfearfulfather，youhavealsothekind，gentleheartofyourmother;anditsreflectionbrightensyourpallid，sternfeatures，liketheglowofamorningsky，whichlightsupice-coveredmountainsandsnowyvalleyswiththesoftradianceofjoy.But，alas!howlongyouhavelivedaloneamidstyourfellow-creatures!andhowlongsinceyouhaveseenyourmother，mydearly-lovedSintram!""Ifeel，too，asthoughaspringweregushingupinthebarrenwilderness，"repliedtheyouth;"andIshouldperchancebealtogetherrestored，couldIbutkeepyoulongwithme，andweepwithyou，dearlord.ButIhavethatwithinmewhichsaysthatyouwillverysoonbetakenfromme.""Ibelieve，indeed，"saidthepilgrim，"thatmylatesongwasverynearlymylast，andthatitcontainedapredictionfullsoontobeaccomplishedinme.But，asthesoulofmanisalwayslikethethirstyground，themoreblessingsGodhasbestowedonus，themoreearnestlydowelookoutfornewones;sowouldIcraveforonemorebefore，asIhope，myblessedend.Yet，indeed，itcannotbegrantedme，"addedhe，withafalteringvoice;"forIfeelmyselftooutterlyunworthyofsohighagift.""Butitwillbegranted!"saidthechaplain，joyfully."Hethathumblethhimselfshallbeexalted;andIfearnottotakeonepurifiedfrommurdertoreceiveafarewellfromtheholyandforgivingcountenanceofVerena."Thepilgrimstretchedbothhishandsuptowardsheavenandanunspokenthanksgivingpouredfromhisbeamingeyes，andbrightenedthesmilethatplayedonhislips.

Sintramlookedsorrowfullyontheground，andsighedgentlytohimself:"Alas!whowoulddareaccompany?""Mypoor，goodSintram，"saidthechaplain，inatoneofthesoftestkindness，"Iunderstandtheewell;butthetimeisnotyetcome.Thepowersofevilwillagainraiseuptheirwrathfulheadswithinthee，andVerenamustcheckbothherownandthylongingdesires，untilallispureinthyspiritasinhers.ComfortthyselfwiththethoughtthatGodlooksmercifullyuponthee，andthatthejoysoearnestlysoughtforwillcome--ifnothere，mostassuredlybeyondthegrave."Butthepilgrim，asthoughawakingoutofatrance，rosemightilyfromhisseat，andsaid:"Doyoupleasetocomeforthwithme，reverendchaplain?Beforethesunappearsintheheavens，wecouldreachtheconvent-gates，andIshouldnotbefarfromheaven."InvaindidthechaplainandRolfremindhimofhisweakness:hesmiled，andsaidthattherecouldbenowordsaboutit;andhegirdedhimself，andtunedthelutewhichhehadaskedleavetotakewithhiHisdecidedmannerovercameallopposition，almostwithoutwords;andthechaplainhadalreadypreparedhimselfforthejourney，whenthepilgrimlookedwithmuchemotionatSintram，who，oppressedwithastrangeweariness，hadsunk，half-asleep，onacouch，andsaid:"Waitamoment.Iknowthathewantsmetogivehimasoftlullaby."Thepleasedsmileoftheyouthseemedtosay，Yes;andthepilgrim，touchingthestringswithalighthand，sangthesewords:

"Sleeppeacefully，dearboy;

ThymothersendsthesongThatwhispersroundthycouch，Tolulltheeallnightlong.

Insilencean**rFortheesheeverprays，AndlongsoncemoreinfondnessUponthyfacetogaze.

Andwhenthywakingcometh，Theninthyeverydeed，Inallthatmaybetidethee，Untoherwordsgiveheed.

Oh，listenforhervoice，Ifitbeyeaornay;Andthoughtemptationmeetthee，Thoushaltnotmisstheway.

Ifthoucanstlistenrightly，Andnoblyonwardgo，ThenpureandgentlebreezesAroundthycheekshallblow.

ThenonthypeacefuljourneyHerblessingthoushaltfeel，Andthoughfromtheedivided，Herpresenceoertheesteal.

0safest，sweetestcomfort!

0blestandlivinglight!

That，stronginHeavenspower，Allterrorsputtoflight!

Restquietly，sweetchild，AndmaythegentlenumbersThymothersendstotheeWaftpeaceuntothyslumbers."Sintramfellintoadeepsleep，smiling，andbreathingsoftly.Rolfandthecastellanremainedbyhisbed，whilstthetwotravellerspursuedtheirwayinthequietstarlight.