hermann and dorothea-第16章

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fore　may　make　a　confession　Which　might　for　years　perhaps　have　else　lain　hid　in　my　bosom。　Deeply　indeed　was　I　hurt　by　the　father's　words　of　derision；　Not　that　I'm　sensitive；　proud　beyond　what　is　fitting　a　servant；　But　that　my　heart　in　truth　had　felt　itself　stirred　with　affection　Towards　the　youth　who　to…day　had　appeared　to　my　eyes　as　a　savior。　When　he　first　left　me　there　on　the　road；　he　still　remained　present；　Haunting　my　every　thought；　I　fancied　the　fortunate　maiden　Whom　as　a　bride；　perhaps；　his　heart　had　already　elected。　When　at　the　fountain　I　met　him　again；　the　sight　of　him　wakened　Pleasure　as　great　as　if　there　had　met　me　an　angel　from　heaven；　And　with　what　gladness　I　followed；　when　asked　to　come　as　his　servant。　True；　that　I　flattered　myself　in　my　heart；I　will　not　deny　it；　While　we　were　hitherward　coming；　I　might　peradventure　deserve　him；　Should　I　become　at　last　the　important　stay　of　the　household。　Now　I；　alas！　for　the　first　time　see　what　risk　I　was　running；　When　I　would　make　my　home　so　near　to　the　secretly　loved　one；　Now　for　the　first　time　feel　how　far　removed　a　poor　maiden　Is　from　an　opulent　youth；　no　matter　how　great　her　deserving。　All　this　I　now　confess；　that　my　heart　ye　may　not　misinterpret；　In　that　'twas　hurt　by　a　chance　to　which　I　owe　my　awaking。　Hiding　my　secret　desires；　this　dread　had　been　ever　before　me；　That　at　some　early　day　he　would　bring　him　a　bride　to　his　dwelling；　And　ah；　how　could　I　then　my　inward　anguish　have　suffered！　Happily　I　have　been　warned；　and　happily　now　has　my　bosom　Been　of　its　secret　relieved；　while　yet　there　is　cure　for　the　evil。　But　no　more；　I　have　spoken；　and　now　shall　nothing　detain　me　Longer　here　in　a　house　where　I　stay　but　in　shame　and　confusion；　Freely　confessing　my　love　and　that　foolish　hope　that　I　cherished。　Not　the　night　which　abroad　is　covered　with　lowering　storm　clouds；　Not　the　roll　of　the　thunderI　hear　its　pealshall　deter　me；　Not　the　pelt　of　the　rain　which　without　is　beating　in　fury；　Neither　the　blustering　tempest；　for　all　these　things　have　I　suffered　During　our　sorrowful　flight；　and　while　the　near　foe　was　pursuing。　Now　I　again　go　forth；　as　I　have　so　long　been　accustomed；　Carried　away　by　the　whirl　of　the　times；　and　from　every　thing　parted。　Fare　ye　well！　I　tarry　no　longer；　all　now　is　over。〃

Thus　she　spoke　and　back　to　the　door　she　hastily　turned　her；　Still　bearing　under　her　arm；　as　she　with　her　had　brought　it；　her　bundle。　But　with　both　of　her　arms　the　mother　seized　hold　of　the　maiden；　Clasping　her　round　the　waist；　and　exclaiming；　amazed　and　bewildered：　〃Tell　me；　what　means　all　this？　and　these　idle　tears；　say；　what　mean　they？　I　will　not　let　thee　depart：　thou　art　the　betrothed　of　my　Hermann。〃

But　still　the　father　stood；　observing　the　scene　with　displeasure；　Looked　on　the　weeping　girl；　and　said　in　a　tone　of　vexation：　〃This　then　must　be　the　return　that　I　get　for　all　my　indulgence；　That　at　the　close　of　the　day　this　most　irksome　of　all　things　should　happen！　For　there　is　naught　I　can　tolerate　less　than　womanish　weeping；　Violent　outcries；　which　only　involve　in　disorder　and　passion；　What　with　a　little　of　sense　had　been　more　smoothly　adjusted。　Settle　the　thing　for　yourselves：　I'm　going　to　bed；　I've　no　patience　Longer　to　be　a　spectator　of　these　your　marvellous　doings。〃　Quickly　he　turned　as　he　spoke；　and　hastened　to　go　to　the　chamber　Where　he　was　wonted　to　rest；　and　his　marriage　bed　was　kept　standing；　But　he　was　held　by　his　son；　who　said　in　a　tone　of　entreaty：　〃Father；　hasten　not　from　us；　and　be　thou　not　wroth　with　the　maiden。　I；　only　I；　am　to　blame　as　the　cause　of　all　this　confusion；　Which　by　his　dissimulation　our　friend　unexpectedly　heightened。　Speak；　O　worthy　sir；　for　to　thee　my　cause　I　intrusted。　Heap　not　up　sorrow　and　anger；　but　rather　let　all　this　be　ended；　For　I　could　hold　thee　never　again　in　such　high　estimation；　If　thou　shouldst　show　but　delight　in　pain；　not　superior　wisdom。〃

Thereupon　answered　and　said　the　excellent　clergyman；　smiling：　〃Tell　me；　what　other　device　could　have　drawn　this　charming　confession　Out　of　the　good　maiden's　lips；　and　thus　have　revealed　her　affection？　Has　not　thy　trouble　been　straightway　transformed　into　gladness　and　rapture？　Therefore　speak　up　for　thyself；　what　need　of　the　tongue　of　another？〃

Thereupon　Hermann　came　forward；　and　spoke　in　these　words　of　affection：　〃Do　not　repent　of　thy　tears；　nor　repent　of　these　passing　distresses；　For　they　complete　my　joy；　andmay　I　not　hope　it…thine　also？　Not　to　engage　tho　stranger；　the　excellent　maid；　as　a　servant；　Unto　the　fountain　I　came；　but　to　sue　for　thy　love　I　came　thither。　Only；　alas！　my　timorous　look　could　thy　heart's　inclination　Nowise　perceive；　I　read　in　thine　eyes　of　nothing　but　kindness；　As　from　the　fountain's　tranquil　mirror　thou　gavest　me　greeting。　Might　I　but　bring　thee　home；　the　half　of　my　joy　was　accomplished。　But　thou　completest　it　unto　me　now；　oh；　blest　be　thou　for　it！〃　Then　with　a　deep　emotion　the　maiden　gazed　on　the　stripling；　Neither　forbade　she　embrace　and　kiss；　the　summit　of　rapture；　When　to　a　loving　pair　they　come　as　the　longed…for　assurance；　Pledge　of　a　lifetime　of　bliss；　that　appears　to　them　now　never…ending。

Unto　the　others；　meanwhile；　the　pastor　had　made　explanation。　But　with　feeling　and　grace　the　maid　now　advanced　to　the　father；　Bent　her　before　him；　and　kissing　the　hand　he　would　fain　have　withholden；　Said：　〃Thou　wilt　surely　be　just　and　forgive　one　so　startled　as　I　was；　First　for　my　tears　of　distress；　and　now　for　the　tears　of　my　gladness。　That　emotion　forgive　me；　and　oh！　forgive　me　this　also。　For　I　can　scarce　comprehend　the　happiness　newly　vouchsafed　me。　Yes；　let　that　first　vexation　of　which　I；　bewildered；　was　guilty　Be　too　the　last。　Whatever　the　maid　of　affectionate　service　Faithfully　promised；　shall　be　to　thee　now　performed　by　the　daughter。〃　Straightway　then；　concealing　his　tears；　the　father　embraced　her；　Cordially；　too；　the　mother　came　forward　and　kissed　her　with　fervor；　Pressing　her　hands　in　her　own：　the　weeping　women　were　silent。

Thereupon　quickly　he　seized；　the　good　and　intelligent　pastor；　First　the　father's　hand；　and　the　wedding…ring　drew　from　his　finger；　Not　so　easily　either：　the　finger　was　plump　and　detained　it；　Next　took　the　mother's　ring　also；　and　with　them　betrothed　he　the　children；　Saying：　〃These　golden　circlets　once　more　their　office　performing　Firmly　a　tie　shall　unite；　which　in　all　things　shall　equal　the　old　one；　Deeply　is　this　young　man　imbued　with　love　of　the　maiden；　And；　as　the　maiden　confesses；　her　heart　is　gone　out　to　him　also。　Here　do　I　therefore　betroth　you　and　bless　for　the　years　that　are　coming；　With　the　consent　of　the　parents；　and　having　this　friend　as　a　witness。〃

Then　the　neighbor　saluted　at　once；　and　expressed　his　good　wishes；　But　when　the　clergyman　now　the　golden　circlet　was　drawing　Over　the　maiden's　hand；　he　observed　with　amazement　the　other；　Which　had　already　by　Hermann　been　anxiously　marked　at　the　fountain。　And　with　a　kindly　raillery　thus　thereupon　he　addressed　her：　〃So；　then　thy　second　betrothal　is　this？　let　us　hope　the　first　bridegroom　May　not　appear　at　the　altar；　and　so　prohibit　the　marriage。〃

But　she；　answering；　said：　〃Oh；　let　me　to　this　recollection　Yet　one　moment　devote；　for　so　much　is　due　the　good　giver；　Him　who　bestowed　it　at　parting；　and　never　came　back　to　his　kindred。　All　that　should　come　he　foresaw；　when　in　haste　the　passion　for　freedom；　When　a　desire　in　the　newly　changed　order　of　things　to　be　working；　Urged　him　onward　to　Paris；　where　chains　and　death　he　encountered。　'Fare　thee　well；'　were　his　words；　'I　go；　for　all　is　in　motion　Now　for　a　time　on　the　earth；　and　every　thing　seems　to　be　parting。　E'en　in　the　firmest　states　fundamental　laws　are　dissolving；　Property　falls　away　from　the　hand　of　the　ancient　possessor；　Friend　is　parted　from　friend；　and　so　parts　lover　from　lover。　Here　I　leave　thee；　and　where　I　shall　find　thee　again；　or　if　ever；　Who　can　tell？　Perhaps　these　words　are　our　last　ones　together。　Man's　but　a　stranger　here　on　the　earth；　we　are　told　and　with　reason；　And　we　are　each　of　us　now　become　more　of　strangers　than　ever。　Ours　no　more　is　the　soil；　and　our　treasures　are　all　of　them　changing：　Silver　and　gold　are　melting　away　from　their　time…honored　patterns。　All　is　in　motion　as　though　the　already…shaped　world　into　chaos　Meant　to　resolve　itself　back