Small Catechism 第8章

"Restless，quietless，Iwanderupanddown.""Thoumustnotperishhereinthesnowbeforemyeyes.""ThatIwillnot."

"Thoumustcomeupandsitonmyhorse."

"ThatIwill."Andallatoncehestartedupoutofthesnowwithsurprisingstrengthandagility，andsatonthehorsebehindSintram，claspinghimtightinhislongarms.Thehorse，startledbytherattlingofthebones，andasifseizedwithmadness，rushedawaythroughthemosttracklesspasses.Theboysoonfoundhimselfalonewithhisstrangecompanion;forRolf，breathlesswithfear，spurredonhishorseinvain，andremainedfarbehindtheFromasnowyprecipicethehorseslid，withoutfalling，intoanarrowgorge，somewhatindeedexhausted，yetcontinuingtosnortandfoamasbefore，andstillunmasteredbytheboy.Yethisheadlongcoursebeingnowchangedintoaroughirregulartrot，Sintramwasabletobreathemorefreely，andtobeginthefollowingdiscoursewithhisunknowncompanion.

"Drawthygarmentcloseraroundthee，thoupaleman，sotheboneswillnotrattle，andIshallbeabletocurbmyhorse.""Itwouldbeofnoavail，boy;itwouldbeofnoavail.Thebonesmustrattle.""Donotclaspmesotightwiththylongarms，theyaresocold.""Itcannotbehelped，boy;itcannotbehelped.Becontent.Formylongcoldarmsarenotpressingyetonthyheart.""Donotbreatheonmesowiththyicybreath.Allmystrengthisdeparting.""Imustbreathe，boy;Imustbreathe.Butdonotcomplain.Iamnotblowingtheeaway."Thestrangedialogueherecametoanend;fortoSintramssurprisehefoundhimselfonanopenplain，overwhichthesunwasshiningbrightly，andatnogreatdistancebeforehimhesawhisfatherscastle.Whilehewasthinkingwhetherhemightinvitetheunearthlypilgrimtorestthere，thisoneputanendtohisdoubtsbythrowinghimselfsuddenlyoffthehorse，whosewildcoursewascheckedbytheshock.Raisinghisforefinger，hesaidtotheboy，"IknowoldBiornoftheFieryEyeswell;perhapsbuttoowell.CommendmetohiItwillnotneedtotellhimmyname;hewillrecognizemeatthedescription."Sosaying，theghastlystrangerturnedasideintoathickfir-wood，anddisappearedrattlingamongstthetangledbranches.

SlowlyandthoughtfullySintramrodeontowardshisfatherscastle，hishorsenowagainquietandaltogetherexhausted.Hescarcelyknewhowmuchheoughttorelateofhiswonderfuljourney，andhealsofeltoppressedwithanxietyforthegoodRolf，whohadremainedsofarbehind.Hefoundhimselfatthecastle-gatesoonerthanhehadexpected;thedrawbridgewaslowered，thedoorswerethrownopen;anattendantledtheyouthintothegreathall，whereBiornwassittingallaloneatahugetable，withmanyflagonsandglassesbeforehim，andsuitsofarmourrangedoneithersideofhiItwashisdailycustom，bywayofcompany，tohavethearmourofhisancestors，withclosedvisors，placedallroundthetableatwhichhesat.Thefatherandsonbeganconversingasfollows:

"WhereisRolf?"

"Idonotknow，father;heleftmeinthemountains.""IwillhaveRolfshotifhecannottakebettercarethanthatofmyonlychild.""Then，father，youwillhaveyouronlychildshotatthesametime，forwithoutRolfIcannotlive;andifevenonesingledartisaimedathim，Iwillbetheretoreceiveit，andtoshieldhistrueandfaithfulheart.""So!--ThenRolfshallnotbeshot，butheshallbedrivenfromthecastle.""Inthatcase，father，youwillseemegoawayalso;andIwillgivemyselfuptoservehiminforests，inmountains，incaves.""So--Well，then，Rolfmustremainhere.""ThatisjustwhatIthink，father."

"Wereyouridingquitealone?"

"No，father;butwithastrangepilgriHesaidthatheknewyouverywell--perhapstoowell."AndthereuponSintrambegantorelateandtodescribeallthathadpassedwiththepaleman.

"Iknowhimalsoverywell，"saidBiorn."Heishalfcrazedandhalfwise，aswesometimesareastonishedatseeingthatpeoplecanbe.

Butdothou，myboy，gotorestafterthywildjourney.IgiveyoumywordthatRolfshallbekindlyreceivedifhearrivehere;andthatifhedonotcomesoon，heshallbesoughtforinthemountains.""Itrusttoyourword，father，"saidSintram，halfhumble，halfproud;andhedidafterthecommandofthegrimlordofthecastle.