Small Catechism 第39章

Thehardspiritofthefiercelordofthecastlewasnowquitebroken，andhewatchedwithincreasedhumilityeverylookofFolkoandGabrielle.Buttheywithdrewmoreandmoreintothehappysolitudeoftheirownapartments，wheretheyenjoyed，inthemidstofthesharpwinter，abrightspring-tideofhappiness.ThewoundedconditionofFolkodidnothindertheeveningdelightsofsongsandmusicandpoetry--butratheranewcharmwasaddedtothemwhenthetall，handsomeknightleantonthearmofhisdelicatelady，andtheythus，changingasitweretheirdeportmentandduties，walkedslowlythroughthetorch-lithalls，scatteringtheirkindlygreetingslikeflowersamongthecrowdsofmenandwomen.

AllthistimelittleornothingwasheardofpoorSintraThelastwildoutbreakofhisfatherhadincreasedtheterrorwithwhichGabriellerememberedtheself-accusationsoftheyouth;andthemoreresolutelyFolkokeptsilence，themoredidshebodesomedreadfulmystery.Indeed，asecretshuddercameovertheknightwhenhethoughtonthepale，dark-hairedyouth.Sintramsrepentancehadborderedonsettleddespair;nooneknewevenwhathewasdoinginthefortressofevilreportontheRocksoftheMoon.Strangerumourswerebroughtbytheretainerswhohadfledfromit，thattheevilspirithadobtainedcompletepoweroverSintram，thatnomancouldstaywithhim，andthatthefidelityofthedarkmysteriouscastellanhadcosthimhislife.

Folkocouldhardlydriveawaythefearfulsuspicionthatthelonelyyoungknightwasbecomeawickedmagician.

Andperhaps，indeed，evilspiritsdidflitaboutthebanishedSintram，butitwaswithouthiscallingthemup.InhisdreamsheoftensawthewickedenchantressVenus，inhergoldenchariotdrawnbywingedcats，passoverthebattlementsofthestonefortress，andheardhersay，mockinghim，FoolishSintram，foolishSintram!hadstthoubutobeyedthelittleMaster!ThouwouldstnowbeinHelensarms，andtheRocksoftheMoonwouldbecalledtheRocksofLove，andthestonefortresswouldbethegardenofroses.Thouwouldsthavelostthypalefaceanddarkhair，--forthouartonlyenchanted，dearyouth，--andthineeyeswouldhavebeamedmoresoftly，andthycheeksbloomedmorefreshly，andthyhairwouldhavebeenmoregoldenthanwasthatofPrincePariswhenmenwonderedathisbeauty.Oh，howHelenwouldhavelovedthee!"Thensheshowedhiminamirror，how，asamarvellouslybeautifulknight，hekneltbeforeGabrielle，whosankintohisarmsblushingasthemorning.Whenheawokefromsuchdreams，hewouldseizeeagerlytheswordandscarfgivenhimbyhislady，--asashipwreckedmanseizestheplankwhichistosavehim;andwhilethehottearsfellonthem，hewouldmurmurtohimself，"Therewas，indeed，onehourinmysadlifewhenIwasworthyandhappy."Oncehesprangupatmidnightafteroneofthesedreams，butthistimewithmorethrillinghorror;forithadseemedtohimthatthefeaturesoftheenchantressVenushadchangedtowardstheendofherspeech，asshelookeddownuponhimwithmarvellousscorn，andsheappearedtohimasthehideouslittleMaster.TheyouthhadnobettermeansofcalminghisdistractedmindthantothrowtheswordandscarfofGabrielleoverhisshoulders，andtohastenforthunderthesolemnstarrycanopyofthewintrysky.Hewalkedindeepthoughtbackwardsandforwardsundertheleaflessoaksandthesnow-ladenfirswhichgrewonthehighramparts.

Thenheheardasorrowfulcryofdistresssoundfromthemoat;itwasasifsomeonewereattemptingtosing，butwasstoppedbyinwardgrief.Sintramexclaimed，"Whosthere?"andallwasstill.Whenhewassilent，andagainbeganhiswalk，thefrightfulgroaningsandmoaningswereheardafresh，asiftheycamefromadyingperson.