undine-第4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！


their　lips；　nor　was　it　thought　of；　for　Undine；　forgetting　all　her
waywardness；　almost　overwhelmed　her　foster…parents　with　affection
and　fond　expressions。

When　at　last　they　had　recovered　from　the　excess　of　their　joy；　day
had　already　dawned；　and　had　shed　its　purple　hue　over　the　lake；
stillness　had　followed　the　storm；　and　the　little　birds　were　singing
merrily　on　the　wet　branches。　As　Undine　now　insisted　upon　hearing　the
knight's　promised　story；　the　aged　couple　smilingly　and　readily
acceded　to　her　desire。　Breakfast　was　brought　out　under　the　trees
which　screened　the　cottage　from　the　lake；　and　they　sat　down　to　it
with　contented　heartsUndine　on　the　grass　at　the　knight's　feet；　the
place　chosen　by　herself。

Huldbrand　then　proceeded　with　his　story。




CHAPTER　IV。

OF　THAT　WHICH　THE　KNIGHT　ENCOUNTERED　IN　THE　WOOD。


〃It　is　now　about　eight　days　ago　since　I　rode　into　the　free　imperial
city；　which　lies　on　the　other　side　of　the　forest。　Soon　after　my
arrival；　there　was　a　splendid　tournament　and　running　at　the　ring；
and　I　spared　neither　my　horse　nor　my　lance。　Once　when　I　was　pausing
at　the　lists；　to　rest　after　my　merry　toil；　and　was　handing　back　my
helmet　to　one　of　my　squires；　my　attention　was　attracted　by　a　female
figure　of　great　beauty；　who　was　standing　richly　attired　on　one　of
the　galleries　allotted　to　spectators。〃

〃I　asked　my　neighbor；　and　learned　from　him；　that　the　name　of　the
fair　lady　was　Bertalda；　and　that　she　was　the　foster…daughter　of　one
of　the　powerful　dukes　living　in　the　country。　I　remarked　that　she
also　was　looking　at　me；　and；　as　it　is　wont　to　be　with　us　young
knights；　I　had　already　ridden　bravely；　and　now　pursued　my　course
with　renovated　confidence　and　courage。　In　the　dance　that　evening　I
was　Bertalda's　partner；　and　I　remained　so　throughout　the　festival。〃

A　sharp　pain　in　his　left　hand；　which　hung　down　by　his　side；　here
interrupted　Huldbrand's　narrative；　and　drew　his　attention　to　the
aching　part。　Undine　had　fastened　her　pearly　teeth　upon　one　of　his
fingers；　appearing　at　the　same　time　very　gloomy　and　angry。　Suddenly；
however；　she　looked　up　in　his　eyes　with　an　expression　of　tender
melancholy；　and　whispered　in　a　soft　voice：　〃It　is　your　own　fault。〃
Then　she　hid　her　face；　and　the　knight；　strangely　confused　and
thoughtful；　continued　his　narrative。

〃This　Bertalda　was　a　haughty；　wayward　girl。　Even　on　the　second　day
she　pleased　me　no　longer　as　she　had　done　on　the　first；　and　on　the
third　day　still　less。　Still　I　continued　about　her；　because　she　was
more　pleasant　to　me　than　to　any　other　knight；　and　thus　it　was　that　I
begged　her　in　jest　to　give　me　one　of　her　gloves。　'I　will　give　it　you
when　you　have　quite　alone　explored　the　ill…famed　forest；'　said　she；
'and　can　bring　me　tidings　of　its　wonders。'　It　was　not　that　her　glove
was　of　such　importance　to　me；　but　the　word　had　been　said；　and　an
honorable　knight　would　not　allow　himself　to　be　urged　a　second　time
to　such　a　proof　of　valor。〃

〃I　think　she　loved　you；〃　said　Undine；　interrupting　him。

〃It　seemed　so；〃　replied　Huldbrand。

〃Well；〃　exclaimed　the　girl；　laughing；　〃she　must　be　stupid　indeed。　To
drive　away　any　one　dear　to　her。　And　moreover；　into　an　ill…omened
wood。　The　forest　and　its　mysteries　might　have　waited　long　enough　for
me！〃

〃Yesterday　morning。〃　continued　the　knight；　smiling　kindly　at　Undine；
〃I　set　out　on　my　enterprise。　The　stems　of　the　trees　caught　the　red
tints　of　the　morning　light　which　lay　brightly　on　the　green　turf；　the
leaves　seemed　whispering　merrily　with　each　other；　and　in　my　heart　I
could　have　laughed　at　the　people　who　could　have　expected　anything　to
terrify　them　in　this　pleasant　spot。　'I　shall　soon　have　trotted
through　the　forest　there　and　back　again；'　I　said　to　myself；　with　a
feeling　of　easy　gayety；　and　before　I　had　even　thought　of　it　I　was
deep　within　the　green　shades；　and　could　no　longer　perceive　the　plain
which　lay　behind　me。　Then　for　the　first　time　it　struck　me　that　I
might　easily　lose　my　way　in　the　mighty　forest；　and　that　this　perhaps
was　the　only　danger　which　the　wanderer　had　to　fear。　I　therefore
paused　and　looked　round　in　the　direction　of　the　sun；　which　in　the
mean　while　had　risen　somewhat　higher　above　the　horizon。　While　I　was
thus　looking　up　I　saw　something　black　in　the　branches　of　a　lofty
oak。　I　thought　it　was　a　bear　and　I　grasped　my　sword；　but　with　a
human　voice；　that　sounded　harsh　and　ugly；　it　called　to　me　from
above：　'If　I　do　not　nibble　away　the　branches　up　here；　Sir　Malapert；
what　shall　we　have　to　roast　you　with　at　midnight？'　And　so　saying　it
grinned　and　made　the　branches　rustle；　so　that　my　horse　grew　furious
and　rushed　forward　with　me　before　I　had　time　to　see　what　sort　of　a
devil　it　really　was。〃

〃You　must　not　call　it　so；〃　said　the　old　fisherman　as　he　crossed
himself；　his　wife　did　the　same　silently。　Undine　looked　at　the　knight
with　sparkling　eyes　and　said：　〃The　best　of　the　story　is　that　they
certainly　have　not　roasted　him　yet；　go　on　now；　you　beautiful　youth！〃

The　knight　continued　his　narration：　〃My　horse　was　so　wild　that　he
almost　rushed　with　me　against　the　stems　and　branches　of　trees；　he
was　dripping　with　sweat；　and　yet　would　not　suffer　himself　to　be　held
in。　At　last　he　went　straight　in　the　direction　of　a　rocky　precipice；
then　it　suddenly　seemed　to　me　as　if　a　tall　white　man　threw　himself
across　the　path　of　my　wild　steed；　the　horse　trembled　with　fear　and
stopped：　I　recovered　my　hold　of　him；　and　for　the　first　time
perceived　that　my　deliverer　was　no　white　man；　but　a　brook　of　silvery
brightness；　rushing　down　from　a　hill　by　my　side　and　crossing　and
impeding　my　horse's　course。〃

〃Thanks；　dear　Brook；〃　exclaimed　Undine；　clapping　her　little　hands。
The　old　man；　however；　shook　his　head　and　looked　down　in　deep
thought。

〃I　had　scarcely　settled　myself　in　the　saddle；〃　continued　Huldbrand。
〃and　seized　the　reins　firmly；　when　a　wonderful　little　man　stood　at
my　side；　diminutive；　and　ugly　beyond　conception。　His　complexion　was
of　a　yellowish　brown；　and　his　nose　not　much　smaller　than　the　rest　of
his　entire　person。　At　the　same　time　he　kept　grinning　with　stupid
courtesy；　exhibiting　his　huge　mouth；　and　making　a　thousand　scrapes
and　bows　to　me。　As　this　farce　was　now　becoming　inconvenient　to　me；　I
thanked　him　briefly　and　turned　about　my　still　trembling　steed；
thinking　either　to　seek　another　adventure；　or　in　case　I　met　with
none；　to　find　my　way　back；　for　during　my　wild　chase　the　sun　had
already　passed　the　meridian；　but　the　little　fellow　sprang　round　with
the　speed　of　lightning　and　stood　again　before　my　horse。　'Room！'　I
cried；　angrily；　'the　animal　is　wild　and　may　easily　run　over　you。'
'Ay；　ay！'　snarled　the　imp；　with　a　grin　still　more　horribly　stupid。
'Give　me　first　some　drink…money；　for　I　have　stopped　your　horse；
without　me　you　and　your　horse　would　be　now　both　lying　in　the　stony
ravine；　ugh！''Don't　make　any　more　faces；'　said　I；　'and　take　your
money；　even　if　you　are　telling　lies；　for　see；　it　was　the　good　brook
there　that　saved　me；　and　not　you；　you　miserable　wight！　And　at　the
same　time　I　dropped　a　piece　of　gold　into　his　grotesque　cap；　which　he
had　taken　off　in　his　begging。　I　then　trotted　on；　but　he　screamed
after　me；　and　suddenly　with　inconceivable　quickness　was　at　my　side。
I　urged　my　horse　into　a　gallop；　the　imp　ran　too；　making　at　the　same
time　strange　contortions　with　his　body；　half…ridiculous；　half…
horrible；　and　holding　up　the　gold…piece；　he　cried；　at　every　leap；
'False　money！；　false　coin！；　false　coin！；　false　money！'and　this　he
uttered　with　such　a　hollow　sound　that　one　would　have　supposed　that
after　every　scream　he　would　have　fallen　dead　to　the　ground。〃

〃His　horrid　red　tongue　moreover　hung　far　out　of　his　mouth。　I
stopped；　perplexed；　and　asked：　'What　do　you　mean　by　this　screaming？
take　another　piece　of　gold；　take　two；　but　leave　me。'　He　then　began
again　his　hideous　burlesque　of　politeness；　and　snarled　out：　'Not
gold；　not　gold；　my　young　gentleman。　I　have　too　much　of　that　trash
myself；　as　I　will　show　you　at　once？'〃

〃Suddenly　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　I　could　see　through　the　solid　soil
as　though　it　were　green　glass　and　the　smooth　earth　were　as　round　as
a　ball；　and　within；　a　multitude　of　goblins　were　ranking　sport　with
silver　and　gold；　head　over　heels　they　were　rolling　about；　pelting
each　other　in　jest　with　the　precious　metals；　and　provokingly　blowing
the　gold…dust　in　each　other's　eyes。　My　hideous　companion　stood
partly　within　and　partly　without；　he　ordered　the　others　to　reach　him
up　heaps　of　gold；　and　showing　it　to　me　with　a　laugh；　he　then　flung
it　back　again　with　a　ringing　noise　into　the　immeasurable　abyss。〃

〃He　then　showed　the　piece　of　gold　I　had　given　him　to　the　goblins
below；　and　they　laughed　themselves　half…dead　over　it　and　hissed　at
me。　At　last　they　all　pointed　at　me　with　their　metal…stained　fingers；
and　more　and　more　wildly。　and　more　and　more　densely；　and　more　and
more　madly；　the　swarm　of　spirits　came　clambering　up　to　me。　I　was
seized　with　terror　as　my　horse　had　been　before：　I　put　spurs　to　him；
and　I　know　not　how　far　I　galloped　for　the　second　time　wildly　into
the　forest。〃

〃At　length；　when　I　again　halted；　the　coolness　of　evening　was　around
me。　Through　the　branches　of　the　trees　I　saw　a　white　foot…path
gleaming；　which　I　fancied　must　lead　from　the　forest　toward　the　city。
I　was　anxious　to　work　my　way　in　that　direction；　but　a　face　perfectly
white　and　indistinct；　with　features　ever　changing；　kept　peering　at
me　between　the　leaves；　I　tried　to　avoid　it；　but　wherever　I　went　it
appeared　also。　Enraged　at　this；　I　determined　at　last　to　ride　at　it；
when　it　gushed　forth　volumes　of　foam　upon　me　and　my　horse；　obliging
us　half…blinded　to　make　a　rapid　retreat。　Thus　it　drove　us　step　by
step　ever　away　from　the　foot…path；　leaving　the　way　open　to　us　only
in　one　direction。　When　we　advanced　in　this　direction；　it　kept　indeed
close　behind　us；　but　did　not　do　us　the　slightest　harm。〃

〃Looking　around　at　it　occasionally；　I　perceived　that　the　white　face
that　had　besprinkled　us　with　foam　belonged　to　a　form　equally　white
and　of　gigantic　stature。　Many　a　time　I　thought　that　it　was　a　moving
stream；　but　I　could　never　convince　myself　on　the　subject。　Wearied
out；　the　horse　and　his　rider　yielded　to　the　impelling　power　of　the
white　man；　who　kept　nodding　his　head；