Small Catechism 第6章

Oneofthemwasagreattallman，frightfullypallidandthin;theotherwasadwarf-likeman，withamosthideouscountenanceandfeatures.Indeed，whenIcollectedmythoughtsandlookedcarefullyathim，itappearedtome--"Lowmoaningsandconvulsivemovementsoftheboyhereinterruptedthenarrative.Rolfandhischaplainhastenedtohisbedside，andperceivedthathiscountenanceworeanexpressionoffearfulagony，andthathewasstrugglinginvaintoopenhiseyes.ThepriestmadetheSignoftheCrossoverhim，andimmediatelypeaceseemedtoberestored，andhissleepagainbecamequiet:theybothreturnedsoftlytotheirseats.

"Yousee，"saidRolf，"thatitwillnotdotodescribemorecloselythosetwoawfulbeings.Sufficeittosay，thattheywentdownintothecourt-yard，andthatIproceededtomyladysapartments.IfoundthegentleVerenaalmostfaintingwithterrorandoverwhelminganxiety，andIhastenedtorestoreherwithsomeofthoseremedieswhichIwasabletoapplybymyskill，throughGodsgiftandthehealingvirtuesofherbsandminerals.Butscarcelyhadsherecoveredhersenses，when，withthatcalmholypowerwhich，asyouknow，ishers，shedesiredmetoconductherdowntothecourt-yard，sayingthatshemusteitherputastoptothefearfuldoingsofthisnight，orherselffallasacrifice.OurwaytookusbythelittlebedofthesleepingSintraAlas!hottearsfellfrommyeyestoseehowevenlyhisgentlebreaththencameandwent，andhowsweetlyhesmiledinhispeacefulslumbers."Theoldmanputhishandstohiseyes，andweptbitterly;butsoonheresumedhissadstory."Asweapproachedthelowestwindowofthestaircase，wecouldheardistinctlythevoiceoftheeldermerchant;andonlookingout，thelightofthetorchesshowedmehisnoblefeatures，aswellasthebrightyouthfulcountenanceofhisson.

ItakeAlmightyGodtowitness，criedhe，thatIhadnoevilthoughtagainstthishouse!ButsurelyImusthavefallenunawaresamongstheathens;itcannotbethatIaminaChristianknightscastle;andifyouareindeedheathens，thenkillusatonce.Andthou，mybelovedson，bepatientandofgoodcourage;inheavenweshalllearnwhereforeitcouldnotbeotherwise.IthoughtIcouldseethosetwofearfulonesamidstthethrongofretainers.Thepaleonehadahugecurvedswordinhishand，thelittleoneheldaspearnotchedinastrangefashion.Verenatoreopenthewindow，andcriedinsilverytonesthroughthewildnight，Mydearestlordandhusband，forthesakeofyouronlychild，havepityonthoseharmlessmen!Savethemfromdeath，andresistthetemptationoftheevilspirit.Theknightansweredinhisfiercewrath--butIcannotrepeathiswords.Hestakedhischildonthedesperatecast;hecalledDeathandtheDeviltoseethathekepthisword:--buthush!

theboyisagainmoaning.Letmebringthedarktalequicklytoaclose.Biorncommandedhisfollowerstostrike，castingonthemthosefiercelookswhichhavegainedhimthetitleofBiornoftheFieryEyes;whileatthesametimethetwofrightfulstrangersbestirredthemselvesverybusily.ThenVerenacalledout，withpiercinganguish，Help，0God，mySaviour!Thosetwodreadfulfiguresdisappeared;andtheknightandhisretainers，asifseizedwithblindness，rushedwildlyoneagainsttheother，butwithoutdoinginjurytothemselves，oryetbeingabletostrikethemerchants，whoransoclosearisk.TheybowedreverentlytowardsVerena，andwithcalmthanksgivingsdepartedthroughthecastle-gates，whichatthatmomenthadbeenburstopenbyaviolentgustofwind，andnowgaveafreepassagetoanywhowouldgoforth.TheladyandIwereyetstandingbewilderedonthestairs，whenIfanciedIsawthetwofearfulformsglideclosebyme，butmist-likeandunreal.Verenacalledtome:Rolf，didyouseeatallpaleman，andalittlehideousonewithhim，passjustnowupthestaircase?Iflewafterthem;andfound，alas，thepoorboyinthesamestateinwhichyousawhimafewhoursago.Eversince，theattackhascomeonhimregularlyatthistime，andheisinallrespectsfearfullychanged.TheladyofthecastledidnotfailtodiscerntheavenginghandofHeaveninthiscalamity;andastheknight，herhusband，insteadofrepenting，everbecamemoretrulyBiornoftheFieryEyes，sheresolved，inthewallsofacloister，byunremittingprayer，toobtainmercyintimeandeternityforherselfandherunhappychild."Rolfwassilent;andthechaplain，aftersomethought，said:"Inowunderstandwhy，sixyearsago，Biornconfessedhisguilttomeingeneralwords，andconsentedthathiswifeshouldtaketheveil.

Somefaintcompunctionmustthenhavestirredwithinhim，andperhapsmaystirhimyet.AtanyrateitwasimpossiblethatsotenderaflowerasVerenacouldremainlongerinsoroughkeeping.ButwhoistherenowtowatchoverandprotectourpoorSintram?""Theprayerofhismother，"answeredRolf."Reverendsir，whenthefirstdawnofdayappears，asitdoesnow，andwhenthemorningbreezewhispersthroughtheglancingwindow，theyeverbringtomymindthesoftbeamingeyesofmylady，andIagainseemtohearthesweettonesofhervoice.TheholyVerenais，nexttoGod，ourchiefaid.""AndletusaddourdevoutsupplicationstotheLord，"saidthechaplain;andheandRolfkneltinsilentandearnestprayerbythebedofthepalesufferer，whobegantosmileinhisdreams.