Small Catechism 第41章

Thelongnorthernwinterwasatlastended，thefreshgreenleavesrustledmerrilyinthewoods，patchesofsoftmosstwinkledamongsttherocks，thevalleysgrewgreen，thebrookssparkled，thesnowmeltedfromallbutthehighestmountain-tops，andthebarkwhichwasreadytocarryawayFolkoandGabrielledancedonthesunnywavesofthesea.Thebaron，nowquiterecovered，andstrongandfreshasthoughhishealthhadsustainednoinjury，stoodonemorningontheshorewithhisfairlady;and，fullofgleeattheprospectofreturningtotheirhome，thenoblepairlookedonwellpleasedattheirattendantswhowerebusiedinladingtheship.

Thensaidoneoftheminthemidstofaconfusedsoundoftalking:

"ButwhathasappearedtomethemostfearfulandthemoststrangethinginthisnorthernlandisthestonefortressontheRocksoftheMoon:Ihavenever，indeed，beeninsideit，butwhenIusedtoseeitinourhuntings，toweringabovethetallfir-trees，therecameatightnessovermybreast，asifsomethingunearthlyweredwellinginit.Andafewweeksago，whenthesnowwasyetlyinghardinthevalleys，Icameunawaresquitecloseuponthestrangebuilding.TheyoungknightSintramwaswalkingaloneontherampartsastwilightcameon，likethespiritofadepartedknight，andhedrewfromthelutewhichhecarriedsuchsoft，melancholytones，andhesighedsodeeplyandsorrowfully...."Thevoiceofthespeakerwasdrownedinthenoiseofthecrowd，andashealsojustthenreachedtheshipwithhispackagehastilyfastenedup，FolkoandGabriellecouldnotheartherestofhisspeech.Butthefairladylookedonherknightwitheyesdimwithtears，andsighed:"IsitnotbehindthosemountainsthattheRocksoftheMoonlie?TheunhappySintrammakesmesadatheart.""Iunderstandthee，sweetgraciouslady，andthepurecompassionofthyheart，"repliedFolko;instantlyorderinghisswift-footedsteedtobebrought.Heplacedhisnobleladyunderthechargeofhisretainers，andleapingintothesaddle，hehastened，followedbythegratefulsmilesofGabrielle，alongthevalleytowardsthestonefortress.

Sintramwasseatednearthedrawbridge，touchingthestringsofthelute，andsheddingsometearsonthegoldenchords，almostasMontfauconsesquirehaddescribedhiSuddenlyacloudyshadowpassedoverhim，andhelookedup，expectingtoseeaflightofcranesintheair;buttheskywasclearandblue.Whiletheyoungknightwasstillwondering，alongbrightspearfellathisfeetfromabattlementofthearmouryturret.

"Takeitup，--makegooduseofit!thyfoeisnearathand!Nearalsoisthedownfallofthydearesthappiness."Thushehearditdistinctlywhisperedinhisear;anditseemedtohimthathesawtheshadowofthelittleMasterglideclosebyhimtoaneighbouringcleftintherock.Butatthesametimealso，atall，gigantic，haggardfigurepassedalongthevalley，insomemeasurelikethedepartedpilgrim，onlymuch，verymuch，larger，andheraisedhislongbonyarmfearfullythreatening，thendisappearedinanancienttomb.

AttheverysameinstantSirFolkoofMontfauconcameswiftlyasthewinduptheRocksoftheMoon，andhemusthaveseensomethingofthosestrangeapparitions，forashestoppedclosebehindSintram，helookedratherpale，andaskedlowandearnestly:"Sirknight，whoarethosetwowithwhomyouwerejustnowholdingconversehere?""ThegoodGodknows，"answeredSintram;"Iknowthemnot.""IfthegoodGoddoesbutknow!"criedMontfaucon:"butIfearmethatHeknowsverylittlemoreofyouoryourdeeds.""Youspeakstrangelyharshwords，"saidSintra"Yeteversincethateveningofmisery，--alas!andevenlongbefore，--Imustbearwithallthatcomesfromyou.Dearsir，youmaybelieveme，Iknownotthosefearfulcompanions;Icallthemnot，andIknownotwhatterriblecursebindsthemtomyfootsteps.ThemercifulGod，asIwouldhope，ismindfulofmethewhile，--asafaithfulshepherddoesnotforgeteventheworstandmostwidely-strayingofhisflock，butcallsafteritwithananxiousvoiceinthegloomywilderness."Thentheangerofthebaronwasquitemelted.Twobrighttearsstoodinhiseyes，andhesaid:"No，assuredly，Godhasnotforgottenthee;onlydothounotforgetthygraciousGod.Ididnotcometorebukethee--IcametoblesstheeinGabriellesnameandinmyown.TheLordpreservethee，theLordguidethee，theLordlifttheeup!And，Sintram，onthefar-offshoresofNormandyIshallbeartheeinmind，andIshallhearhowthoustrugglestagainstthecursewhichweighsdownthyunhappylife;andifthouevershakeitoff，andstandasanobleconqueroroverSinandDeath，thenthoushaltreceivefrommeatokenofloveandreward，moreprecioustheneitherthouorIcanunderstandatthismoment."Thewordsflowedpropheticallyfromthebaronslips;hehimselfwasonlyhalf-consciousofwhathesaid.Withakindsalutationheturnedhisnoblesteed，andagainflewdownthevalleytowardsthesea-shore.

"Fool，fool!thriceafool!"whisperedtheangryvoiceofthelittleMasterinSintramsear.ButoldRolfwassinginghismorninghymnincleartoneswithinthecastle，andthelastlineswerethese:-"Whomworldlingsscorn，Wholivesforlorn，OnGodsownworddothrest;WithheavenlylightHispathisbright，Hislotamongtheblest."ThenaholyjoytookpossessionofSintramsheart，andhelookedaroundhimyetmoregladlythaninthehourwhenGabriellegavehimthescarfandsword，andFolkodubbedhimknight.