evangeline-第10章

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But　when　their　meal　was　done；　and　Basil　and　all　his　companions；
Worn　with　the　long　day's　march　and　the　chase　of　the　deer　and　the　bison；
Stretched　themselves　on　the　ground；　and　slept　where　the　quivering　fire…light
Flashed　on　their　swarthy　cheeks；　and　their　forms　wrapped　up　in　their　blankets；
Then　at　the　door　of　Evangeline's　tent　she　sat　and　repeated
Slowly；　with　soft；　low　voice；　and　the　charm　of　her　Indian　accent；
All　the　tale　of　her　love；　with　its　pleasures；　and　pains；　and　reverses。
Much　Evangeline　wept　at　the　tale；　and　to　know　that　another
Hapless　heart　like　her　own　had　loved　and　had　been　disappointed。
Moved　to　the　depths　of　her　soul　by　pity　and　woman's　compassion；
Yet　in　her　sorrow　pleased　that　one　who　had　suffered　was　near　her；
She　in　turn　related　her　love　and　all　its　disasters。
Mute　with　wonder　the　Shawnee　sat；　and　when　she　had　ended
Still　was　mute；　but　at　length；　as　if　a　mysterious　horror
Passed　through　her　brain；　she　spake；　and　repeated　the　tale　of　the　Mowis；
Mowis；　the　bridegroom　of　snow；　who　won　and　wedded　a　maiden；
But；　when　the　morning　came；　arose　and　passed　from　the　wigwam；
Fading　and　melting　away　and　dissolving　into　the　sunshine；
Till　she　beheld　him　no　more；　though　she　followed　far　into　the　forest。
Then；　in　those　sweet；　low　tones；　that　seemed　like　a　weird　incantation；
Told　she　the　tale　of　the　fair　Lilinau；　who　was　wooed　by　a　phantom；
That；　through　the　pines　o'er　her　father's　lodge；　in　the　hush　of　the　twilight；
Breathed　like　the　evening　wind；　and　whispered　love　to　the　maiden；
Till　she　followed　his　green　and　waving　plume　through　the　forest；
And　never　more　returned；　nor　was　seen　again　by　her　people。
Silent　with　wonder　and　strange　surprise；　Evangeline　listened
To　the　soft　flow　of　her　magical　words；　till　the　region　around　her
Seemed　like　enchanted　ground；　and　her　swarthy　guest　the　enchantress。
Slowly　over　the　tops　of　the　Ozark　Mountains　the　moon　rose；
Lighting　the　little　tent；　and　with　a　mysterious　splendor
Touching　the　sombre　leaves；　and　embracing　and　filling　the　woodland。
With　a　delicious　sound　the　brook　rushed　by；　and　the　branches
Swayed　and　sighed　overhead　in　scarcely　audible　whispers。
Filled　with　the　thoughts　of　love　was　Evangeline's　heart；　but　a　secret；
Subtile　sense　crept　in　of　pain　and　indefinite　terror；
As　the　cold；　poisonous　snake　creeps　into　the　nest　of　the　swallow。
It　was　no　earthly　fear。　　A　breath　from　the　region　of　spirits
Seemed　to　float　in　the　air　of　night；　and　she　felt　for　a　moment
That；　like　the　Indian　maid；　she；　too；　was　pursuing　a　phantom。
With　this　thought　she　slept；　and　the　fear　and　the　phantom　had　vanished。

　　Early　upon　the　morrow　the　march　was　resumed；　and　the　Shawnee
Said；　as　they　journeyed　along；　〃On　the　western　slope　of　these　mountains
Dwells　in　his　little　village　the　Black　Robe　chief　of　the　Mission。
Much　he　teaches　the　people；　and　tells　them　of　Mary　and　Jesus；
Loud　laugh　their　hearts　with　joy；　and　weep　with　pain；　as　they　hear　him。〃
Then；　with　a　sudden　and　secret　emotion；　Evangeline　answered；
〃Let　us　go　to　the　Mission；　for　there　good　tidings　await　us！〃
Thither　they　turned　their　steeds；　and　behind　a　spur　of　the　mountains；
Just　as　the　sun　went　down；　they　heard　a　murmur　of　voices；
And　in　a　meadow　green　and　broad；　by　the　bank　of　a　river；
Saw　the　tents　of　the　Christians；　the　tents　of　the　Jesuit　Mission。
Under　a　towering　oak；　that　stood　in　the　midst　of　the　village；
Knelt　the　Black　Robe　chief　with　his　children。　　A　crucifix　fastened
High　on　the　trunk　of　the　tree；　and　overshadowed　by　grape…vines；
Looked　with　its　agonized　face　on　the　multitude　kneeling　beneath　it。
This　was　their　rural　chapel。　　Aloft；　through　the　intricate　arches
Of　its　aerial　roof；　arose　the　chant　of　their　vespers；
Mingling　its　notes　with　the　soft　susurrus　and　sighs　of　the　branches。
Silent；　with　heads　uncovered；　the　travellers；　nearer　approaching；
Knelt　on　the　swarded　floor；　and　joined　in　the　evening　devotions。
But　when　the　service　was　done；　and　the　benediction　had　fallen
Forth　from　the　hands　of　the　priest；　like　seed　from　the　hands　of　the　sower；
Slowly　the　reverend　man　advanced　to　the　strangers　and　bade　them
Welcome；　and　when　they　replied；　he　smiled　with　benignant　expression；
Hearing　the　homelike　sounds　of　his　mother…tongue　in　the　forest；
And；　with　words　of　kindness；　conducted　them　into　his　wigwam。
There　upon　mats　and　skins　they　reposed；　and　on　cakes　of　the　maize…ear
Feasted；　and　slaked　their　thirst　from　the　water…gourd　of　the　teacher。
Soon　was　their　story　told；　and　the　priest　with　solemnity　answered：
〃Not　six　suns　have　risen　and　set　since　Gabriel；　seated
On　this　mat　by　my　side；　where　now　the　maiden　reposes；
Told　me　this　same　sad　tale；　then　arose　and　continued　his　journey！〃
Soft　was　the　voice　of　the　priest；　and　he　spake　with　an　accent　of　kindness；
But　on　Evangeline's　heart　fell　his　words　as　in　winter　the　snow…flakes
Fall　into　some　lone　nest　from　which　the　birds　have　departed。
〃Far　to　the　north　he　has　gone；〃　continued　the　priest；　〃but　in　autumn；
When　the　chase　is　done；　will　return　again　to　the　Mission。〃
Then　Evangeline　said；　and　her　voice　was　meek　and　submissive；
〃Let　me　remain　with　thee；　for　my　soul　is　sad　and　afflicted。〃
So　seemed　it　wise　and　well　unto　all；　and　betimes　on　the　morrow；
Mounting　his　Mexican　steed；　with　his　Indian　guides　and　companions；
Homeward　Basil　returned；　and　Evangeline　stayed　at　the　Mission。

　　Slowly；　slowly；　slowly　the　days　succeeded　each　other；
Days　and　weeks　and　months；　and　the　fields　of　maize　that　were　springing
Green　from　the　ground　when　a　stranger　she　came；　now　waving　above　her；
Lifted　their　slender　shafts；　with　leaves　interlacing；　and　forming
Cloisters　for　mendicant　crows　and　granaries　pillaged　by　squirrels。
Then　in　the　golden　weather　the　maize　was　husked；　and　the　maidens
Blushed　at　each　blood…red　ear；　for　that　betokened　a　lover；
But　at　the　crooked　laughed；　and　called　it　a　thief　in　the　cornfield。
Even　the　blood…red　ear　to　Evangeline　brought　not　her　lover。
〃Patience！〃　the　priest　would　say；　〃have　faith；　and　thy　prayer　will　be　answered！
Look　at　this　delicate　plant　that　lifts　its　head　from　the　meadow；
See　how　its　leaves　all　point　to　the　north；　as　true　as　the　magnet；
This　is　the　compass…flower；　that　the　finger　of　God　has　suspended
Here　on　its　fragile　stock；　to　direct　the　traveller's　journey
Over　the　sea…like；　pathless；　limitless　waste　of　the　desert。
Such　in　the　soul　of　man　is　faith。　　The　blossoms　of　passion；
Gay　and　luxuriant　flowers；　are　brighter　and　fuller　of　fragrance；
But　they　beguile　us；　and　lead　us　astray；　and　their　odor　is　deadly。
Only　this　humble　plant　can　guide　us　here；　and　hereafter
Crown　us　with　asphodel　flowers；　that　are　wet　with　the　dews　of　nepenthe。〃

　　So　came　the　autumn；　and　passed；　and　the　winter；yet　Gabriel　came　not；
Blossomed　the　opening　spring；　and　the　notes　of　the　robin　and　bluebird
Sounded　sweet　upon　wold　and　in　wood；　yet　Gabriel　came　not。
But　on　the　breath　of　the　summer　winds　a　rumor　was　wafted
Sweeter　than　song　of　bird；　or　hue　or　odor　of　blossom。
Far　to　the　north　and　east；　it　said；　in　the　Michigan　forests；
Gabriel　had　his　lodge　by　the　banks　of　the　Saginaw　river。
And；　with　returning　guides；　that　sought　the　lakes　of　St。　Lawrence；
Saying　a　sad　farewell；　Evangeline　went　from　the　Mission。
When　over　weary　ways；　by　long　and　perilous　marches；
She　had　attained　at　length　the　depths　of　the　Michigan　forests；
Found　she　the　hunter's　lodge　deserted　and　fallen　to　ruin！

　　Thus　did　the　long　sad　years　glide　on；　and　in　seasons　and　places
Divers　and　distant　far　was　seen　the　wandering　maiden；
Now　in　the　Tents　of　Grace　of　the　meek　Moravian　Missions；
Now　in　the　noisy　camps　and　the　battle…fields　of　the　army；
Now　in　secluded　hamlets；　in　towns　and　populous　cities。
Like　a　phantom　she　came；　and　passed　away　unremembered。
Fair　was　she　and　young；　when　in　hope　began　the　long　journey；
Faded　was　she　and　old；　when　in　disappointment　it　ended。
Each　succeeding　year　stole　something　away　from　her　beauty。
Leaving　behind　it；　broader　and　deeper；　the　gloom　and　the　shadow。
Then　there　appeared　and　spread　faint　streaks　of　gray　o'er　her　forehead；
Dawn　of　another　life；　that　broke　o'er　her　earthly　horizon；
As　in　the　eastern　sky　the　first　faint　streaks　of　the　morning。



V。


　　IN　that　delightful　land；　which　is