Small Catechism 第4章

Butthechaplainapproachednearertotheknight，andsaid，inafirmyetverymildtone，"Dearlord，hithertoitrestedwithyoualonetorelate，ornottorelateit;butnowthatyouhavesostrangelyhintedatthesharewhichIhavehadinyoursonscalamity，Imustpositivelydemandthatyouwillrepeatwordforwordhoweverythingcametopass.Myhonourwillhaveitso，andthatwillweighwithyouasmuchaswithme."InsterncomplianceBiornbowedhishaughtyhead，andbeganthefollowingnarration."ThistimesevenyearsIwaskeepingtheChristmasfeastwithmyassembledfollowers.Wehavemanyvenerableoldcustomswhichhavedescendedtousbyinheritancefromourgreatforefathers;as，forinstance，thatofplacingagildedboarsheadonthetable，andmakingthereonknightlyvowsofdaringandwondrousdeeds.Ourchaplainhere，whousedthenfrequentlytovisitme，wasneverafriendtokeepingupsuchtraditionsoftheancientheathenworld.Suchmenashewerenotmuchinfavourinthoseoldentimes.""Myexcellentpredecessors，"interruptedthechaplain，"belongedmoretoGodthantotheworld，andwithHimtheywereinfavour.Thustheyconvertedyourancestors;andifIcaninlikemannerbeofservicetoyou，evenyourjeeringwillnotvexme."Withlooksyetdarker，andasomewhatangryshudder，theknightresumed:"Yes，yes;IknowallyourpromisesandthreatsofaninvisiblePower，andhowtheyaremeantpersuadeustopartmorereadilywithwhateverofthisworldsgoodswemaypossess.Once，ah，truly，onceItoohadsuch!Strange!--Sometimesitseemstomeasthoughageshadpassedoversincethen，andasifIwerealonethesurvivor，sofearfullyhaseverythingchanged.ButnowIbethinkme，thatthegreaterpartofthisnoblecompanyknewmeinmyhappiness，andhaveseenmywife，mylovelyVerena."Hepressedhishandsonhiseyes，anditseemedasthoughhewept.

Thestormhadceased;thesoftlightofthemoonshonethroughthewindows，andherbeamsplayedonhiswildfeatures.Suddenlyhestartedup，sothathisheavyarmourrattledwithafearfulsound，andhecriedoutinathunderingvoice，"ShallIturnmonk，asshehasbecomeanun?No，craftypriest;yourwebsaretoothintocatchfliesofmysort.""Ihavenothingtodowithwebs，"saidthechaplain."InallopennessandsincerityhaveIputheavenandhellbeforeyouduringthespaceofsixyears;andyougavefullconsenttothestepwhichtheholyVerenatook.ButwhatallthathastodowithyoursonssufferingsIknownot，andIwaitforyournarration.""Youmaywaitlongenough，"saidBiorn，withasneer."Soonershall--""Swearnot!"saidthechaplaininaloudcommandingtone，andhiseyesflashedalmostfearfully.

"Hurra!"criedBiorn，inwildaffright;"hurra!Deathandhiscompanionareloose!"andhedashedmadlyoutofthechamberanddownthesteps.Theroughandfearfulnotesofhishornwereheardsummoninghisretainers;andpresentlyafterwardstheclatterofhorsesfeetonthefrozencourt-yardgavetokenoftheirdeparture.

Theknightsretired，silentandshuddering;whilethechaplainremainedaloneatthehugestonetable，praying.