song and legend from the middle ages-第17部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


ld　shall　it　be　never；　be　sure；　she…fiend！　to　thee。〃

Said　she；　〃ill　hast　thou　quitted　a　debt　so　deadly　scor'd；　At　least　in　my　possession　I'll　keep　my　Siegfried's　sword。　My　lord　and　lover　bore　it；　when　last　I　saw　him　go。　For　him　woe　wring　my　bosom；　that　pass'd　all　other　woe。〃

Forth　from　the　sheath　she　drew　it；　that　could　not　be　prevent；　At　once　to　slay　the　champion　was　Kriemhild's　stern　intent。　High　with　both　hands　she　heav'd　it；　and　off　his　head　did　smite。　That　was　seen　of　king　Etzel；　he　shudder'd　at　the　sight。

〃Ah！〃　cried　the　prince　impassion'd；　〃harrow　and　welaway！　That　the　hand　of　a　woman　the　noblest　knight　should　slay；　That　e'er　struck　stroke　in　battle；　or　ever　buckler　bore！　Albeit　I　was　his　foeman；　needs　must　I　sorrow　sore。〃

Then　said　the　aged　Hildebrand；　〃let　not　her　boast　of　gain；　In　that　by　her　contrivance　this　noble　chief　was　slain。　Though　to　sore　strait　he　brought　me；　let　ruin　on　me　light；　But　I　will　take　full　vengeance　for　Trony's　murdered　knight。〃

Hildebrand　the　aged　fierce　on　Kriemhild　sprung：　To　the　death　he　smote　her　as　his　sword　he　swung。　Sudden　and　remorseless　he　his　wrath　did　wreak。　What　could　then　avail　her　her　fearful　thrilling　shriek？

There　now　the　dreary　corpses　stretch'd　all　around　were　seen；　There　lay；　hewn　in　pieces；　the　fair　and　noble　queen。　Sir　Dietrich　and　king　Etzel；　their　tears　began　to　start；　For　kinsmen　and　for　vassals　each　sorrow'd　in　his　heart。

The　mighty　and　the　noble　there　lay　together　dead；　For　this　had　all　the　people　dole　and　drearihead。　The　feast　of　royal　Etzel　was　thus　shut　up　in　woe。　Pain　in　the　steps　of　Pleasure　treads　ever　here　below。

'Tis　more　than　I　can　tell　you　what　afterwards　befell；　Save　that　there　was　weeping　for　friends　belov'd　so　well；　Knights　and　squires；　dames　and　damsels；　were　seen　lamenting　all；　So　here　I　end　my　story。　This　is　THE　NIBELUNGERS'　FALL。

Tr。　by　Littsom。


ROMANCES。

As　elsewhere　in　Europe；　the　twelfth　and　thirteenth　centuries　in　Germany　produced　numberless　romances。　These　may　be　classed　under　（1）　Romances　of　Arthur；　（2）　Romances　of　the　Holy　Graal；　（3）　Romances　of　Antiquity；　and　（4）　Romances　of　Love　and　Chivalry。　The　chief　poets　of　romances　were　Hartmann　von　Aue；　Gottfried　von　Strassburg；　and　Wolfram　von　Eschenbach。　　A　good　example　of　the　romance　of　love　is　〃Der　Arme　Heinrich　of　Hartmann　von　Aue〃。　〃Poor　Henry〃；　to　quote　Scherer；　〃is　a　kind　of　Job；　a　man　of　noble　birth；　rich；　handsome；　and　beloved；　who　is　suddenly　visited　by　God　with　the　terrible　affliction　of　leprosy；and　who　can　be　cured　only　by　the　lifeblood　of　a　young　maiden　who　is　willing　to　die　for　him。　The　daughter　of　a　peasant；　to　whose　house　he　has　retired　in　his　despair；　resolves　to　sacrifiice　her　life　for　him。　Heinrich　accepts　her　offer；　and　the　knife　to　kill　her　is　already　whetted；　when　a　better　feeling　arises　in　his　breast；　and　he　refuses　to　take　upon　himself　the　guilt　of　her　death；　resolving　to　resign　himself　to　the　will　of　God。　This　resignation　saves　him；　he　recovers　and　marries　the　maiden。〃　Our　extracts　are　from　the　first　and　last　of　the　poem。


HENRY　THE　LEPER。　Ll。　1…131。

Once　on　a　time；　rhymeth　the　rhyme；　In　Swabia　land　once　on　a　time；　There　was　a　nobleman　so　journeying；　Unto　whose　nobleness　everything　Of　virtue　and　high…hearted　excellence　Worthy　his　line　and　his　high　pretense　With　plentiful　measure　was　meted　out：　The　land　rejoiced　in　him　round　about。　He　was　like　a　prince　in　his　governing　In　his；　wealth　he　was　like　a　king；　But　most　of　all　by　the　fame　far…flown　Of　his　great　knightliness　was　he　known；　North　and　south；　upon　land　and　sea。　By　his　name　he　was　Henry　of　the　Lea。　All　things　whereby　the　truth　grew　dim　Were　held　as　hateful　foes　with　him：　By　solemn　oath　was　he　bounden　fast　To　shun　them　while　his　life　should　last。　In　honour　all　his　days　went　by：　Therefore　his　soul　might　look　up　high　To　honorable　authority。

A　paragon　of　all　graciousness；　A　blossoming　branch　of　youthfulness；　A　looking…glass　to　the　world　around；　A　stainless　and　priceless　diamond；　Of　gallant　'haviour　a　beautiful　wreath；　A　home　when　the　tyrant　menaceth；　A　buckler　to　the　breast　of　his　friend；　And　courteous　without　measure　or　end；　Whose　deeds　of　arms　'twere　long　to　tell；　Of　precious　wisdom　a　limpid　well；　A　singer　of　ladies　every　one；　And　very　lordly　to　look　upon　In　feature　and　hearing　and　countenance：　Say；　failed　he　in　anything；　perchance；　The　summit　of　all　glory　to　gain。　And　the　lasting　honour　of　all　men。

Alack！　the　soul　that　was　up　so　high　Dropped　down　into　pitiful　misery；　The　lofty　courage　was　stricken　low；　The　steady　triumph　stumbled　in　woe；　And　the　world…joy　was　hidden　in　the　dust；　Even　as　all　such　shall　be　and　must。　He　whose　life　in　the　senses　centreth　Is　already　in　the　shades　of　death。　The　joys；　called　great；　of　this　under…state　Burn　up　the　bosom　early　and　late；　And　their　shining　is　altogether　vain；　For　it　bringeth　anguish　and　trouble　and　pain；　The　torch　that　flames　for　men　to　see　And　wasteth　to　ashes　inwardly　Is　verily　but　an　imaging　Of　man's　own　life；　the　piteous　thing。　The　whole　is　brittleness　and　mishap：　We　sit　and　dally　in　Fortune's　lap　Till　tears　break　in　our　smiles　betwixt；　And　the　shallow　honey…draught　be　mix'd　With　sorrow's　wormwood　fathom…deep。　Oh！　rest　not　therefore；　man；　nor　sleep：　In　the　blossoming　of　thy　flower…crown　A　sword　is　raised　to　smite　thee　down。

It　was　thus　with　Earl　Henry；　upon　whom　for　his　pride　God　sent　a　leprosy；　as　He　did　upon　Job。　But　he　did　not　bear　his　affliction　as　did　Job。

Its　duteousness　his　heart　forgot；　His　pride　waxed　hard；　and　kept　its　place；　But　the　glory　departed　from　his　face；　And　that　which　was　his　strength；　grew　weak。　The　hand　that　smote　him　on　the　cheek　Was　all　too　heavy。　It　was　night；　Now；　and　his　sun　withdrew　its　light。　To　the　pride　of　his　uplifted　thought　Much　woe　the　weary　knowledge　brought　That　the　pleasant　way　his　feet　did　wend　Was　all　passed　o'er　and　had　an　end。　The　day　wherein　his　years　had　begun　Went　in　his　mouth　with　a　malison。　As　the　ill　grew　stronger　and　more　strong；　There　was　but　hope　bore　him　along；　Even　yet　to　hope　he　was　full　fain　That　gold　might　help　him　back　again　Thither　whence　God　had　cast　him　out。　Ah！　weak　to　strive　and　little　stout　'Gainst　Heaven　the　strength　that　he　possessed。　North　and　south　and　east　and　west；　Far　and　wide　from　every　side；　Mediciners　well　proved　and　tried　Came　to　him　at　the　voice　of　his　woe；　But；　mused　and　pondered　they　ever　so；　They　could　but　say；　for　all　their　care；　That　he　must　be　content　to　bear　The　burthen　of　the　anger　of　God；　For　him　there　was　no　other　road。　Already　was　his　heart　nigh　down　When　yet　to　him　one　chance　was　shown；　For　in　Salerno　dwelt；　folk　said；　A　leach　who　still　might　lend　him　aid；　Albeit　unto　his　body's　cure；　All　such　had　been　as　nought　before。

Earl　Henry　visits　the　leach　in　Salerno　whom　he　implores　to　tell　him　the　means　by　which　he　may　be　healed。

Quoth　the　leach；　〃Then　know　them　what　they　are；　Yet　still　all　hope　must　stand　afar。　Truly　if　the　cure　for　your　care　Might　be　gotten　anyway　anywhere；　Did　it　hide　in　the　furthest　parts　of　earth；　This…wise　I　had　not　sent　you　forth。　But　all　my　knowledge　hath　none　avail；　There　is　but　one　thing　would　not　fail：　An　innocent　virgin　for　to　find；　Chaste；　and　modest；　and　pure　in　mind；　Who　to　save　you　from　death　might　choose　Her　own　young　body's　life　to　lose；　The　heart's　blood　of　the　excellent　maid　That　and　nought　else　can　be　your　aid。　But　there　is　none　will　be　won　thereby　For　the　love　of　another's　life　to　die。

〃'T　was　then　poor　Henry　knew　indeed　That　from　his　ill　he　might　not　be　freed；　Sith　that　no　woman　he　might　win　Of　her　own　will　to　act　herein。　Thus　got　he　but　an　ill　return　For　the　journey　he　made　unto　Salerne；　And　the　hope　he　had　upon　that　day　Was　snatched　from　him　and　rent　away。　Homeward　he　hied　him　back：　fall　fain　With　limbs　in　the　dust　he　would　have　lain。　Of　his　substancelands　and　riches　both　He　rid　himself；　even　as　one　doth　Who　the　breath　of　the　last　life　of　his　hope　Once　and　forever　hath　rendered　up。　To　his　friends　he　gave　and　to　the　poor；　Unto　God　praying　evermore　The　spirit　that　was　in　him　to　save；　And　make　his　bed　soft　in　the　grave。　What　still　remained　aside　he　set　For　Holy　Church's　benefit。　Of　all　that　heretofore　was　his　Nought　held　he　for　himself；　I　wis；　Save　one　small　house　with　byre　and　field：　There　from　the　world　he　lived　concealed；　There　lived　he；　and　awaited　Death；　Who　being　awaited；　lingereth。　Pity　and　ruth　his　troubles　found　Alway　through　all　the　country　round。　Who　heard　him　named；　had　sorrow　deep　And　for　his　piteous　sake　would　weep。

The　poor　man　who　tilled　Earl　Henry's　field　had　a　daughter；　a　sweet　and　tender　maiden　who；　out　of　love　for　Henry　and　a　heart　of　Christ…like　pity；　at　last　offers　herself　to　die　for　him。　After　a　struggle　Henry　accepts　the　sacrifice。　But　when　he　knows　it　is　about　to　be　made　his　heart　rises　against　it　and　he　refuses　to　permit　it。　At　this　the　maiden　is　much　grieved。　She　takes　it　as　a　token　that　she　is　not　pure　enough　to　be　offered　for　him。　She　prays　for　a　sign　that　she　may　hope　to　become　wholly　cleansed。　In　answer　to　this　prayer　Earl　Henry　is　in　one　night　cleansed　of　the　leprosy。　He　then　joyfully　takes　the　maiden　for　his　bride　and　leads　her　before　his　kinsman　and　nobles　for　their　consent。

〃Then；〃　quoth　the　Earl；　〃hearken　me　this。　The　damozel　who　standeth　here；　And　whom　I　embrace；　being　most　dear；　She　it　is　unto　whom　I　owe　The　grace　it　hath　pleased　God　to　bestow。　He　saw　the　simple　spirited　Earnestness　of　the　holy　maid；　And　even　in　guerdon　of　her　truth　Gave　me　back　the　joys　of　my　youth；　Which　seemed　to　be　lost　beyond　all　doubt；　And　therefore　I　have　chosen　her　out　To　wed　with　mae　knowing　her　free。　I　think　that　God　will　let　this　be。　Lo！　I　enjoin　ye；　with　God's　will　That　this　my　longing　ye　fulfill。　I　pray　ye　all　have　but　one　voice　And　let　your　choice　go　with　my　choice。〃

Then　the　cries　ceased；　and　the　counter…cries；　And　all　the　battle　of　advice；　And　every　lord；　being　content　With　Henry's　choice；　granted　assent。

Then　the　priests　came　to　bind　as　one　Two　lives　in　bridal　unison；　Into　his　hand　they　folded　hers；　Not　to　be　loosed　in　coming　years；　And　uttered　between　man　and　wife　God's　blessing　on　the　road　of　this　life。　Many　a　bright　and　pleasant　day　The　twain　pursued　their　steadfast　way；　Till　hand　in　hand；　at　length　they　trod　Upward　to　the　kingdom　of　God。　Even　as　it　was　with　them；　even　thus；　And　quickly；