Small Catechism 第5章

AftersometimethegoodRolfreturnedwithslowandsoftsteps，andstartedwithsurpriseatfindingthehalldeserted.Thechamberwherehehadbeenoccupiedinquietingandsoothingtheunhappychildwasinsodistantapartofthecastlethathehadheardnothingoftheknightshastydeparture.Thechaplainrelatedtohimallthathadpassed，andthensaid，"But，mygoodRolf，ImuchwishtoaskyouconcerningthosestrangewordswithwhichyouseemedtolullpoorSintramtorest.Theysoundedlikesacredwords，andnodoubttheyare;butIcouldnotunderstandtheIbelieve，andyetIcannotbelieve.""Reverendsir，"answeredRolf，"IrememberthatfrommyearliestyearsnohistoryintheGospelshastakensuchholdofmeasthatofthechildpossessedwithadevil，whichthediscipleswerenotabletocastout;butwhenourSaviourcamedownfromthemountainwhereHehadbeentransfigured，Hebrokethebondswherewiththeevilspirithadheldthemiserablechildbound.IalwaysfeltasifImusthaveknownandlovedthatboy，andbeenhisplay-fellowinhishappydays;andwhenIgrewolder，thenthedistressofthefatheronaccountofhislunaticsonlayheavyatmyheart.ItmustsurelyhaveallbeenaforebodingofourpooryoungLordSintram，whomIloveasifheweremyownchild;andnowthewordsoftheweepingfatherintheGospeloftencomeintomymind，--Lord，Ibelieve;helpThoumyunbelief;andsomethingsimilarImayverylikelyhaverepeatedto-dayasachantoraprayer.Reverendfather，whenIconsiderhowonedreadfulimprecationofthefatherhaskeptitswitheringholdontheson，allseemsdarkbeforeme;but，Godbepraised!myfaithandmyhoperemainabove.""GoodRolf，"saidthepriest，"IcannotclearlyunderstandwhatyousayabouttheunhappySintram;forIdonotknowwhenandhowthisafflictioncameuponhiIfnooathorsolemnpromisebindyoutosecrecy，willyoumakeknowntomeallthatisconnectedwithit?""Mostwillingly，"repliedRolf."Ihavelongdesiredtohaveanopportunityofsodoing;butyouhavebeenalmostalwaysseparatedfromus.Idarenotnowleavethesleepingboyanylongeralone;andto-morrow，attheearliestdawn，Imusttakehimtohisfather.Willyoucomewithme，dearsir，toourpoorSintram?"ThechaplainatoncetookupthesmalllampwhichRolfhadbroughtwithhim，andtheysetofftogetherthroughthelongvaultedpassages.Inthesmalldistantchambertheyfoundthepoorboyfastasleep.Thelightofthelampfellstrangelyonhisverypaleface.

Thechaplainstoodgazingathimforsometime，andatlengthsaid:

"Certainlyfromhisbirthhisfeatureswerealwayssharpandstronglymarked，butnowtheyarealmostfearfullysoforsuchachild;andyetnoonecanhelphavingakindlyfeelingtowardshim，whetherhewillornot.""Mosttrue，dearsir，"answeredRolf.Anditwasevidenthowhiswholeheartrejoicedatanywordwhichbetokenedaffectionforhisbelovedyounglord.Thereuponheplacedthelampwhereitslightcouldnotdisturbtheboy，andseatinghimselfclosebythepriest，hebegantospeakinthefollowingterms:--"DuringthatChristmasfeastofwhichmylordwastalkingtoyou，heandhisfollowersdiscoursedmuchconcerningtheGermanmerchants，andthebestmeansofkeepingdowntheincreasingprideandpowerofthetrading-towns.

AtlengthBiornlaidhisimpioushandonthegoldenboarshead，andsworetoputtodeathwithoutmercyeveryGermantraderwhomfate，inwhatwaysoever，mightbringaliveintohispower.ThegentleVerenaturnedpale，andwouldhaveinterposed--butitwastoolate，thebloodywordwasuttered.Andimmediatelyafterwards，asthoughthegreatenemyofsoulsweredeterminedatoncetosecurewithfreshbondsthevassalthusdevotedtohim，awardercameintothehalltoannouncethattwocitizensofatrading-towninGermany，anoldmanandhisson，hadbeenshipwreckedonthiscoast，andwerenowwithinthegates，askinghospitalityofthelordofthecastle.Theknightcouldnotrefrainfromshuddering;buthethoughthimselfboundbyhisrashvowandbythataccursedheathenishgoldenboar.We，hisretainers，werecommandedtoassembleinthecastle-yard，armedwithsharpspears，whichweretobehurledatthedefencelessstrangersatthefirstsignalmadetous.Forthefirst，andItrustthelasttimeinmylife，IsaidNotothecommandsofmylord;andthatIsaidinaloudvoice，andwiththeheartiestdetermination.TheAlmighty，whoaloneknowswhomHewillacceptandwhomHewillreject，armedmewithresolutionandstrength.AndBiornmightperceivewhencetherefusalofhisfaithfuloldservantarose，andthatitwasworthyofrespect.Hesaidtome，halfinangerandhalfinscorn:Gouptomywifesapartments;herattendantsarerunningtoandfro，perhapssheisill.Goup，RolftheGood，Isaytothee，andsowomenshallbewithwomen.Ithoughttomyself，Jeeron，then;andIwentsilentlythewaythathehadpointedouttome.

Onthestairstheremetmetwostrangeandrightfearfulbeings，whomIhadneverseenbefore;andIknownothowtheygotintothecastle.