the wandering jew, volume 1-第4部分

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like　cheeks。　　A　carnation；　bathed　in　dew；　is　of　no　richer　softness　than
their　blooming　lips；　the　wood　violet's　tender　blue　would　appear　dark
beside　the　limpid　azure　of　their　large　eyes；　in　which　are　depicted　the
sweetness　of　their　characters；　and　the　innocence　of　their　age；　a　pure　and
white　forehead；　small　nose；　dimpled　chin；　complete　these　graceful
countenances；　which　present　a　delightful　blending　of　candor　and
gentleness。

You　should　have　seen　them　too；　when；　on　the　threatening　of　rain　or　storm；
the　old　soldier　carefully　wrapped　them　both　in　a　large　pelisse　of
reindeer　fur；　and　pulled　over　their　heads　the　ample　hood　of　this
impervious　garment；　then　nothing　could　be　more　lovely　than　those　fresh
and　smiling　little　faces；　sheltered　beneath　the　dark…colored　cowl。

But　now　the　evening　was　fine　and　calm；　the　heavy　cloak　hung　in　folds
about　the　knees　of　the　sisters；　and　the　hood　rested　on　the　back　of　their
saddle。

Rose；　still　encircling　with　her　right　arm　the　waist　of　her　sleeping
sister；　contemplated　her　with　an　expression　of　ineffable　tenderness；　akin
to　maternal；　for　Rose　was　the　eldest　for　the　day；　and　an　elder　sister　is
almost　a　mother。

Not　only；　did　the　orphans　idolize　each　other；　but；　by　a　psychological
phenomenon；　frequent　with　twins；　they　were　almost　always　simultaneously
affected；　the　emotion　of　one　was　reflected　instantly　in　the　countenance
of　the　other；　the　same　cause　would　make　both　of　them　start　or　blush；　so
closely　did　their　young　hearts　beat　in　unison；　all　ingenuous　joys；　all
bitter　griefs　were　mutually　felt；　and　shared　in　a　moment　between　them。

In　their　infancy；　simultaneously　attacked　by　a　severe　illness；　like　two
flowers　on　the　same　steam；　they　had　drooped；　grown　pale；　and　languished
together；　but　together　also　had　they　again　found　the　pure；　fresh　hues　of
health。

Need　it　be　said；　that　those　mysterious；　indissoluble　links　which　united
the　twins；　could　not　have　been　broken　without　striking　a　mortal　blow　at
the　existence　of　the　poor　children？

Thus　the　sweet　birds　called　love…birds；　only　living　in　pairs；　as　if
endowed　with　a　common　life；　pine；　despond；　and　die；　when　parted　by　a
barbarous　hand。

The　guide　of　the　orphans；　a　man　of　about　fifty…five；　distinguished　by
his　military　air　and　gait；　preserved　the　immortal　type　of　the　warriors　of
the　republic　and　the　empiresome　heroic　of　the　people；　who　became；　in
one　campaign；　the　first　soldiers　in　the　worldto　prove　what　the　people
can　do；　have　done；　and　will　renew；　when　the　rulers　of　their　choice　place
in　them　confidence；　strength；　and　their　hope。

This　soldier；　guide　of　the　sisters；　and　formerly　a　horse…grenadier　of　the
Imperial　Guard；　had　been　nicknamed　Dagobert。　　His　grave；　stern
countenance　was　strongly　marked；　his　long；　gray；　and　thick　moustache
completely　concealed　his　upper　lip；　and　united　with　a　large　imperial；
which　almost　covered　his　chin；　his　meagre　cheeks；　brick…colored；　and
tanned　as　parchment；　were　carefully　shaven；　thick　eyebrows；　still　black；
overhung　and　shaded　his　light　blue　eyes；　gold　ear…rings　reached　down　to
his　white…edged　military　stock；　his　topcoat；　of　coarse　gray　cloth；　was
confined　at　the　waist　by　a　leathern　belt；　and　a　blue　foraging　cap；　with　a
red　tuft　falling　on　his　left　shoulder；　covered　his　bald　head。

Once　endowed　with　the　strength　of　Hercules；　and　having　still　the　heart　of
a　lionkind　and　patient；　because　he　was　courageous　and　strongDagobert；
notwithstanding　his　rough　exterior；　evinced　for　his　orphan　charges　an
exquisite　solicitude；　a　watchful　kindness；　and　a　tenderness　almost
maternal。　　Yes；　motherly；　for　the　heroism　of　affection　dwells　alike　in
the　mother's　heart　and　the　soldiers。

Stoically　calm；　and　repressing　all　emotion；　the　unchangeable　coolness　of
Dagobert　never　failed　him；　and；　though　few　were　less　given　to　drollery；
he　was　now　and　then　highly　comic；　by　reason　of　the　imperturbable　gravity
with　which　he　did　everything。

From　time　to　time；　as　they　journeyed　on；　Dagobert　would　turn　to　bestow　a
caress　or　friendly　word　on　the　good　white　home　upon　which　the　orphans
were　mounted。　　Its　furrowed　sides　and　long　teeth　betrayed　a　venerable
age。　　Two　deep　scars；　one　on　the　flank　and　the　other　on　the　chest；　proved
that　his　horse　had　been　present　in　hot　battles；　nor　was　it　without　an　act
of　pride　that　he　sometimes　shook　his　old　military　bridle；　the　brass　stud
of　which　was　still　adorned　with　an　embossed　eagle。　　His　pace　was　regular；
careful；　and　steady；　his　coat　sleek；　and　his　bulk　moderate；　the　abundant
foam；　which　covered　his　bit；　bore　witness　to　that　health　which　horses
acquire　by　the　constant；　but　not　excessive；　labor　of　a　long　journey；
performed　by　short　stages。　　Although　he　had　been　more　than　six　months　on
the　road；　this　excellent　animal　carried　the　orphans；　with　a　tolerably
heavy　portmanteau　fastened　to　the　saddle；　as　freely　as　on　the　day　they
started。

If　we　have　spoken　of　the　excessive　length　of　the　horse's　teeththe
unquestionable　evidence　of　great　ageit　is　chiefly　because　he　often
displayed　them；　for　the　sole　purpose　of　acting　up　to　his　name　（he　was
called　Jovial）；　by　playing　a　mischievous　trick；　of　which　the　dog　was　the
victim。

This　latter；　who；　doubtless　for　the　sake　of　contrast；　was　called
Spoil…sport　（Rabat…joie）；　being　always　at　his　master's　heels；　found
himself　within　the　reach　of　Jovial；　who　from　time　to　time　nipped　him
delicately　by　the　nape　of　the　neck；　lifted　him　from　the　ground；　and
carried　him　thus　for　a　moment。　　The　dog；　protected　by　his　thick　coat；　and
no　doubt　long　accustomed　to　the　practical　jokes　of　his　companion；
submitted　to　all　this　with　stoical　complacency；　save　that；　when　he
thought　the　jest　had　lasted　long　enough；　he　would　turn　his　head　and
growl。　Jovial　understood　him　at　the　first　hint；　and　hastened　to　set　him
down　again。　　At　other　times；　just　to　avoid　monotony；　Jovial　would　gently
bite　the　knapsack　of　the　soldier；　who　seemed；　as　well　as　the　dog；　to　be
perfectly　accustomed　to　his　pleasantries。

These　details　will　give　a　notion　of　the　excellent　understanding　that
existed　between　the　twin　sisters；　the　old　soldier；　the　horse；　and　the
dog。

The　little　caravan　proceeded　on　its　ways　anxious　to　reach；　before　night；
the　village　of　Mockern；　which　was　now　visible　on　the　summit　of　a　hill。
Ever　and　anon；　Dagobert　looked　around　him；　and　seemed　to　be　gathering　up
old　recollections；　by　degrees；　his　countenance　became　clouded；　and　when
he　was　at　a　little　distance　from　the　mill；　the　noise　of　which　had
arrested　his　attention；　he　stopped；　and　drew　his　long　moustache　several
times　between　his　finger　and　thumb；　the　only　sign　which　revealed　in　him
any　strong　and　concentrated　feeling。

Jovial；　having　stopped　short　behind　his　master；　Blanche；　awakened
suddenly　by　the　shock；　raised　her　head；　her　first　look　sought　her　sister；
on　whom　she　smiled　sweetly；　then　both　exchanged　glances　of　surprise；　on
seeing　Dagobert　motionless；　with　his　hands　clasped　and　resting　on　his
long　staff；　apparently　affected　by　some　painful　and　deep　emotion。

The　orphans　just　chanced　to　be　at　the　foot　of　a　little　mound；　the　summit
of　which　was　buried　in　the　thick　foliage　of　a　huge　oak；　planted　half　way
down　the　slope。　　Perceiving　that　Dagobert　continued　motionless　and
absorbed　in　thought；　Rose　leaned　over　her　saddle；　and；　placing　her　little
white　hand　on　the　shoulder　of　their　guide；　whose　back　was　turned　towards
her；　said　to　him；　in　a　soft　voice；　〃Whatever　is　the　matter　with　you；
Dagobert？〃

The　veteran　turned；　to　the　great　astonishment　of　the　sisters；　they
perceived　a　large　tear；　which　traced　its　humid　furrow　down　his　tanned
cheek；　and　lost　itself　in　his　thick　moustache。

〃You　weepingyou！〃　cried　Rose　and　Blanche　together；　deeply　moved。
〃Tell　us；　we　beseech；　what　is　the　matter？〃

After　a　moments　hesitation；　the　soldier　brushed　his　horny　hand　across　his
eyes；　and　said　to　the　orphans　in　a　faltering　voice；　whilst　he　pointed　to
the　old　oak　beside　them：　〃I　shall　make　you　sad；　my　poor　children：　and　yet
what　I'm　going　to　tell　you　has　something　sacred　in　it。　　Well；　eighteen
years　ago；　on　the　eve　of　the　great　battle　of　Leipsic；　I　carried　your
father　to　this　very　tree。　　He　had　two　sabre…cuts　on　the　head；　a　musket…
ball　in　his　shoulder；　and　it　was　here　that　he　and　Iwho　had　got　two
thrust　of　a　lance　for　my　sharewere　taken　prisoners；　and　by　whom；　worse
luck？why；　a　renegado！　　By　a　Frenchmanan　emigrant　marquis；　then
colonel　in　the　service　of　Russiaand　who　afterwardsbut　one　day　you
shall　know　all。〃

The　veteran　paused；　then；　pointing　with　his　staff　to　the　village　of
Mockern；　he　added：　〃Yes；　yes；　I　can　recognize　the　spot。　　Yonder　are　the
heights　where　your　brave　fatherwho　commanded　us；　and　the　Poles　of　the
Guardoverthrew　the　Russian　Cuirassiers；　after　having　carried　the
battery。　　Ah；　my　children！〃　continued　the　soldier；　with　the　utmost
simplicity；　〃I　wish　you　had；　seen　your　brave　father；　at　the　head　of　our
brigade　of　horse；　rushing　on　in　a　desperate　charge　in　the　thick　of　a
shower　of　shells！There　was　nothing　like　itnot　a　soul　so　grand　as　he！〃

Whilst　Dagobert　thus　expressed；　in　his　own　way；　his　regrets　and
recollections；　the　two　orphansby　a　spontaneous　movement；　glided　gently
from　the　horse；　and　holding　each　other　by　the　hand；　went　together　to
kneel　at　the　foot　of　the　old　oak。　　And　there；　closely　pressed　in　each
other's　arms；　they　began　to　weep；　whilst　the　soldier；　standing　behind
them；　with　his　hands　crossed　on　his　long　staff；　rested　his　bald
front　upon　it。

〃Come；　come　you　must　not　fret；〃　said　he　softly；　when；　after　a　pause　of　a
few　minutes；　he　saw　tears　run　down　the　blooming　cheeks　of　Rose　and
Blanche；　still　on　their　knees。　　〃Perhaps　we　may　find　General　Simon　in
Paris；〃　added　he；　〃I　will　explain　all　that　to　you　this　evening　at　the
inn。　　I　purposely　waited　for　this　day；　to　tell　you　many　things　about　your
father；　it　was　an　idea　of　mine；　because　this　day　is　a　sort　of
anniversary。〃

〃We　weep　because　we　think　also　of　our　mother；〃　said　Rose。

〃Of　our　mother；　whom　we　shall　only　see　again　in　heaven；〃　added　Blanche。

The　soldier　raised　the　orphans；　took　each　by　the　hand；　and　gazing　from
one　to　the　other　with　ineffable　affection；　rendered　still　the　more
touching　by　the　contrast　of　his　rude　features；　〃You　must　not　give　way
t