hermann and dorothea-第11部分

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nd　highly　commended　the　glorious　water；　Acid　it　was　to　the　taste；　and　reviving；　and　wholesome　to　drink　of。

Then　with　a　serious　face　the　maiden　replied　to　them；　saying：　〃Friends；　for　the　last　time　now　to　your　mouth　have　I　lifted　my　pitcher；　And　for　the　last　time　by　me　have　your　lips　been　moistened　with　water。　But　henceforth　in　the　heat　of　the　clay　when　the　draught　shall　refresh　you；　When　in　the　shade　ye　enjoy　your　rest　beside　a　clear　fountain；　Think　of　me　then　sometimes　and　of　all　my　affectionate　service；　Prompted　more　by　my　love　than　the　duty　I　owed　you　as　kindred。　I　shall　acknowledge　as　long　as　I　live　the　kindness　ye've　shown　me。　'Tis　with　regret　that　I　leave　you；　but　every　one　now　is　a　burden；　More　than　a　help　to　his　neighbor；　and　all　must　be　finally　scattered　Far　through　a　foreign　land；　if　return　to　our　homes　be　denied　us。　See；　here　stands　the　youth　to　whom　we　owe　thanks　for　the　presents。　He　gave　the　cloak　for　the　baby；　and　all　these　welcome　provisions。　Now　he　is　come；　and　has　asked　me　if　I　will　make　one　in　his　dwelling；　That　I　may　serve　therein　his　wealthy　and　excellent　parents。　And　I　refuse　not　the　offer；　for　maidens　must　always　be　serving；　Burdensome　were　it　for　them　to　rest　and　be　served　in　the　household。　Therefore　I　follow　him　gladly。　A　youth　of　intelligence　seems　he；　And　so　will　also　the　parents　be；　as　becometh　the　wealthy。　So　then　farewell；　dear　friend；　and　mayst　thou　rejoice　in　thy　nursling；　Living；　and　into　thy　face　already　so　healthfully　looking！　When　thou　shalt　press　him　against　thy　breast　in　these　gay…colored　wrappings；　Oh；　then　remember　the　kindly　youth　who　bestowed　them　upon　us；　And　who　me　also　henceforth；　thy　sister；　will　shelter　and　nourish。　Thou；　too；　excellent　man！〃　she　said　as　she　turned　to　the　justice；　〃Take　my　thanks　that　in　many　a　need　I　have　found　thee　a　father。〃　Then　she　knelt　down　on　the　floor　by　the　side　of　the　newly　made　mother；　Kissing　the　weeping　woman；　and　taking　her　low…whispered　blessing。　Thou；　meanwhile；　worshipful　justice；　wast　speaking　to　Hermann　and　saying：　〃Justly　mayst　thou；　my　friend；　be　counted　among　the　good　masters；　Careful　to　manage　their　household　affairs　with　capable　servants。　For　I　have　often　observed　how　in　sheep；　as　in　horses　and　oxen；　Men　conclude　never　a　bargain　without　making　closest　inspection；　While　with　a　servant　who　all　things　preserves；　if　honest　and　able；　And　who　will　every　thing　lose　and　destroy；　if　he　set　to　work　falsely；　Him　will　a　chance　or　an　accident　make　us　admit　to　our　dwelling；　And　we　are　left；　when　too　late；　to　repent　an　o'er　hasty　decision。　Thou　understandest　the　matter　it　seems；　because　thou　hast　chosen；　Thee　and　thy　parents　to　serve　in　the　house；　a　maid　who　is　honest。　Hold　her　with　care；　for　as　long　as　thy　household　is　under　her　keeping；　Thou　shalt　not　want　for　a　sister；　nor　yet　for　a　daughter　thy　parents。〃

Many　were　come；　meanwhile；　near　relatives　all　of　the　mother；　Bringing　her　various　gifts；　and　more　suitable　quarters　announcing。　All　of　them；　hearing　the　maiden's　decision；　gave　Hermann　their　blessing；　Coupled　with　glances　of　meaning；　while　each　made　his　special　reflections。　Hastily　one　and　another　would　say　in　the　ear　of　his　neighbor：　〃If　in　the　master　a　lover　she　find；　right　well　were　she　cared　for。〃　Hermann　took　her　at　last　by　the　hand；　and　said　as　he　did　so：　〃Let　us　be　going；　the　day　is　declining；　and　distant　the　city。〃　Eager　and　voluble　then　the　women　embraced　Dorothea；　Hermann　drew　her　away；　but　other　adieus　must　be　spoken：　Lastly　the　children　with　cries　fell　upon　her　and　terrible　weeping；　Clung　to　her　garments；　and　would　not　their　dear　second　mother　should　leave　them。　But　in　a　tone　of　command　the　women　said；　one　and　another：　〃Hush　now；　children；　she's　going　to　the　town；　and　will　presently　bring　you　Plenty　of　nice　sweet　cake　that　was　by　your　brother　bespoken　When　by　the　stork　just　now　he　was　brought　past　the　shop　of　the　baker。　Soon　you　will　see　her　come　back　with　sugar…plums　splendidly　gilded。〃　Then　did　the　little　ones　loose　their　hold；　and　Hermann；　though　hardly；　Tore　her　from　further　embraces　away；　and　far…waving　kerchiefs。



MELPOMENE

HERMANN　AND　DOROTHEA

Towards　the　setting　sun　the　two　thus　went　on　their　journey：　Close　he　had　wrapped　himself　round　with　clouds　portending　a　tempest。　Out　from　the　veil；　now　here　and　now　there；　with　fiery　flashes；　Gleaming　over　the　field　shot　forth　the　ominous　lightning。　〃May　not　these　threatening　heavens；〃　said　Hermann；　〃be　presently　sending　Hailstones　upon　us　and　violent　rains；　for　fair　is　the　harvest。〃　And　in　the　waving　luxuriant　grain　they　delighted　together：　Almost　as　high　it　reached　as　the　lofty　shapes　that　moved　through　it。

Thereupon　spoke　the　maiden；　and　said　to　her　guide　and　companion：　〃Friend；　unto　whom　I　soon　am　to　owe　so　kindly　a　fortune；　Shelter　and　home；　while　many　an　exile's　exposed　to　the　tempest；　Tell　me　concerning　thy　parents；　I　pray　thee；　and　teach　me　to　know　them；　Them　whom　with　all　my　heart　I　desire　to　serve　in　the　future。　Who　understands　his　master；　more　easily　gives　satisfaction；　Having　regard　to　the　things　which　to　him　seem　chief　in　importance；　And　on　the　doing　of　which　his　firm…set　mind　is　determined。　Tell　me　therefore；　I　pray；　how　to　win　thy　father　and　mother。〃

And　to　her　question　made　answer　the　good　and　intelligent　Hermann：　〃Ah；　what　wisdom　thou　showest；　thou　good；　thou　excellent　maiden；　Asking　thus　first　of　all　concerning　the　tastes　of　my　parents！　Know　that　in　vain　hitherto　I　have　labored　in　serving　my　father；　Taking　upon　me　as　were　it　my　own；　the　charge　of　the　household；　Early　and　late　at　work　in　the　fields；　and　o'erseeing　the　vineyard。　But　my　mother　I　fully　content；　who　can　value　my　service；　And　thou　wilt　also　appear　in　her　eyes　the　worthiest　of　maidens；　If　for　the　house　thou　carest；　as　were　it　thine　own　thou　wast　keeping。　Otherwise　is　it　with　father；　who　cares　for　the　outward　appearance。　Do　not　regard　me；　good　maiden；　as　one　who　is　cold　and　unfeeling；　That　unto　thee　a　stranger　I　straightway　discover　my　father。　Nay；　I　assure　thee　that　never　before　have　words　such　as　these　are　Freely　dropped　from　my　tongue；　which　is　not　accustomed　to　prattle；　But　from　out　of　my　bosom　thou　lurest　its　every　secret。　Some　of　the　graces　of　life　my　good　father　covets　about　him；　Outward　signs　of　affection　he　wishes；　as　well　as　of　honor；　And　an　inferior　servant　might　possibly　give　satisfaction；　Who　could　turn　these　to　account；　while　he　might　be　displeased　with　a　better。〃

Thereupon　said　she　with　joy；　the　while　her　hastening　footsteps　Over　the　darkening　pathway　with　easy　motion　she　quickened：　〃Truly　I　hope　to　them　both　I　shall　equally　give　satisfaction：　For　in　thy　mother's　nature　I　find　such　an　one　as　mine　own　is；　And　to　the　outward　graces　I've　been　from　my　childhood　accustomed。　Greatly　was　courtesy　valued　among　our　neighbors　the　Frenchmen；　During　their　earlier　days；　it　was　common　to　noble　and　burgher；　As　to　the　peasant；　and　every　one　made　it　the　rule　of　his　household。　So；　on　the　side　of　us　Germans；　the　children　were　likewise　accustomed　Daily　to　bring　to　their　parents；　with　kissing　of　hands　and　with　curtseys；　Morning　good…wishes；　and　all　through　the　day　to　be　prettily　mannered。　Every　thing　thus　that　I　learned；　and　to　which　I've　been　used　from　my　childhood；　All　that　my　heart　shall　suggest；　shall　be　brought　into　play　for　thy　father。　But　who　shall　tell　me　of　thee；　and　how　thyself　shouldst　be　treated；　Thou　the　only　son　of　the　house；　and　henceforth　my　master？〃

Thus　she　said；　and　e'en　as　she　spoke　they　stood　under　the　pear…tree。　Down　from　the　heavens　the　moon　at　her　full　was　shedding　her　splendor。　Night　had　come　on；　and　wholly　obscured　was　the　last　gleam　of　sunlight；　So　that　contrasting　masses　lay　side　by　side　with　each　other；　Clear　and　bright　as　the　day；　and　black　with　the　shadows　of　midnight；　Gratefully　fell　upon　Hermann's　ear　the　kindly　asked　question　Under　the　shade　of　the　glorious　tree；　the　spot　he　so　treasured；　Which　but　this　morning　had　witnessed　the　tears　he　had　shed　for　the　exile。　And　while　they　sat　themselves　down　to　rest　them　here　for　a　little；　Thus　spoke　the　amorous　youth；　as　he　grasped　the　hand　of　the　maiden：　〃Suffer　thy　heart　to　make　answer；　and　follow　it　freely　in　all　things。〃　Yet　naught　further　he　ventured　to　say　although　so　propitious　Seemed　the　hour：　he　feared　he　should　only　haste　on　a　refusal。　Ah；　and　he　felt　besides　the　ring　on　her　finger；　sad　token！　Therefore　they　sat　there；　silent　and　still；　beside　one　another。

First　was　the　maiden　to　speak：　〃How　sweet　is　this　glorious　moonlight！〃　Said　she　at　length：　〃It　is　as　the　light　of　the　day　in　its　brightness。　There　in　the　city　I　plainly　can　see　the　houses　and　courtyards；　And　in　the　gablemethinks　I　can　number　its　panes…is　a　window。〃

〃What　thou　seest；〃　the　modest　youth　thereupon　made　her　answer；　〃What　thou　seest　is　our　dwelling；　to　which　I　am　leading　thee　downward；　And　that　window　yonder　belongs　to　my　room　in　the　attic；　Which　will　be　thine　perhaps；　for　various　changes　are　making。　All　these　fields；　too；　are　ours；　they　are　ripe　for　the　harvest　to…morrow。　Here　in　the　shade　we　will　rest；　and　partake　of　our　noontide　refreshment。　But　it　is　time　we　began　our　descent　through　the　vineyard　and　garden；　For　dost　thou　mark　how　yon　threatening　storm…cloud　comes　nearer　and　nearer；　Charged　with　lightning；　and　ready　our　fair　full　moon　to　extinguish？〃

So　they　arose　from　their　seats；　and　over　the　cornfields　descended；　Through　the　luxuriant　grain；　enjoying　the　brightness　of　evening；　Until　they　came　to　the　vineyard；　and　so　entered　into　its　shadow。　Then　he　guided　her　down　o'er　the　numerous　blocks　that　were　lying；　Rough　and　unhewn　on　the　pathway；　and　served　as　the　steps　of　the　alley。　Slowly　the　maiden　descended；　and　leaning　her　hands　on　his　shoulder；　While　with　uncertain　beams；　the　moon　through　the　leaves　overlooked　them；　Ere　she　was　veiled　by　the　cloud；　and　so　left　the　couple　in　darkness。　Carefully　Hermann's　strength　supported　the　maid　that　hung　o'er　him；　But；　not　knowing　the　path　and　the　rough…hewn　steps　that　led　down　it；　Missed　she　her　footing；　her　ankle　turned；　and　she　surely　had　fallen；　Had　not　the　dexterous　youth　his　arm　outstretched　in　an　instant；　And　his　beloved　upheld。　She　gently　sank　on　his　shoulder；　Breast　was　pressed　against　breast；　and　cheek　against　cheek。　Thus　he　stood　there　Fixed　as　a　marble　statue；　the　force　of　will　keeping　him　steadfast；　Drew