undine-第5部分

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out；　the　horse　and　his　rider　yielded　to　the　impelling　power　of　the
white　man；　who　kept　nodding　his　head；　as　if　he　would　say；　'Quite
right；　quite　right！'　And　thus　at　last　we　came　out　here　to　the　end　of
the　forest；　where　I　saw　the　turf；　and　the　lake；　and　your　little
cottage；　and　where　the　tall　white　man　disappeared。〃

〃It's　well　that　he's　gone；〃　said　the　old　fisherman；　and　now　he　began
to　talk　of　the　best　way　by　which　his　guest　could　return　to　his
friends　in　the　city。　Upon　this　Undine　began　to　laugh　slyly　to
herself；　Huldbrand　observed　it；　and　said：　〃I　thought　you　were　glad
to　see　me　here；　why　then　do　you　now　rejoice　when　my　departure　is
talked　of？〃

〃Because　you　cannot　go　away；〃　replied　Undine。　〃Just　try　it　once；　to
cross　that　overflowed　forest　stream　with　a　boat；　with　your　horse；　or
alone；　as　you　may　fancy。　Or　rather　don't　try　it；　for　you　would　be
dashed　to　pieces　by　the　stones　and　trunks　of　trees　which　are　carried
down　by　it　with　the　speed　of　lightning。　And　as　to　the　lake；　I　know
it　well；　father　dare　not　venture　out　far　enough　with　his　boat。〃

Huldbrand　rose；　smiling；　in　order　to　see　whether　things　were　as
Undine　had　said；　the　old　man　accompanied　him；　and　the　girl　danced
merrily　along　by　their　side。　They　found　every　thing；　indeed；　as
Undine　had　described；　and　the　knight　was　obliged　to　submit　to　remain
on　the　little　tongue　of　land；　that　had　become　an　island；　till　the
flood　should　subside。　As　the　three　were　returning　to　the　cottage
after　their　ramble；　the　knight　whispered　in　the　ear　of　the　little
maiden　〃Well；　how　is　it；　my　pretty　Undineare　you　angry　at　my
remaining？〃

〃Ah！〃　she　replied；　peevishly；　〃let　me　alone。　If　I　had　not　bitten
you；　who　knows　how　much　of　Bertalda　would　have　appeared　in　your
story？〃




CHAPTER　V。

HOW　THE　KNIGHT　LIVED　ON　THE　LITTLE　PROMONTORY。


After　having　been　much　driven　to　and　fro　in　the　world；　you　have
perhaps；　my　dear　reader；　reached　at　length　some　spot　where　all　was
well　with　thee；　where　the　love　for　home　and　its　calm　peace；　innate
to　all；　has　again　sprung　up　within　thee；　where　thou　hast　thought
that　this　home　was　rich　with　all　the　flowers　of　childhood　and　of　the
purest；　deepest　love　that　rests　upon　the　graves　of　those　that　are
gone；　and　thou　hast　felt　it　must　be　good　to　dwell　here　and　to　build
habitations。　Even　if　thou　hast　erred　in　this；　and　hast　had　afterward
bitterly　to　atone　for　the　error；　that　is　nothing　to　the　purpose　now；
and　thou　wouldst　not；　indeed；　voluntarily　sadden　thyself　with　the
unpleasant　recollection。　But　recall　that　inexpressibly　sweet
foreboding；　that　angelic　sense　of　peace；　and　thou　wilt　know　somewhat
of　the　knight　Huldbrand's　feelings　during　his　abode　on　the　little
promontory。

He　often　perceived　with　hearty　satisfaction　that　the　forest　stream
rolled　along　every　day　more　wildly；　making　its　bed　ever　broader　and
broader；　and　prolonging　his　sojourn　on　the　island　to　an　indefinite
period。　Part　of　the　day　he　rambled　about　with　an　old　cross…bow；
which　he　had　found　in　a　corner　of　the　cottage　and　had　repaired；　and；
watching　for　the　water…fowl；　he　killed　all　that　he　could　for　the
cottage　kitchen。　When　he　brought　his　booty　home；　Undine　rarely
neglected　to　upbraid　him　with　having　so　cruelly　deprived　the　happy
birds　of　life；　indeed　she　often　wept　bitterly　at　the　sight　he　placed
before　her。　But　if　he　came　home　another　time　without　having　shot
anything　she　scolded　him　no　less　seriously；　since　now；　from　his
carelessness　and　want　of　skill；　they　had　to　be　satisfied　with　living
on　fish。　He　always　delighted　heartily　in　her　graceful　little
scoldings；　all　the　more　as　she　generally　strove　to　compensate　for
her　ill…humor　by　the　sweetest　caresses。

The　old　people　took　pleasure　in　the　intimacy　of　the　young　pair；　they
regarded　them　as　betrothed；　or　even　as　already　united　in　marriage；
and　living　on　this　isolated　spot；　as　a　succor　and　support　to　them　in
their　old　age。　It　was　this　same　sense　of　seclusion　that　suggested
the　idea　also　to　Huldbrand's　mind　that　he　was　already　Undine's
accepted　one。　He　felt　as　if　there　were　no　world　beyond　these
surrounding　waters；　or　as　if　he　could　never　recross　them　to　mingle
with　other　men；　and　when　at　times　his　grazing　horse　would　neigh　as
if　inquiringly　to　remind　him　of　knightly　deeds；　or　when　the　coat　of
arms　on　his　embroidered　saddle　and　horse…gear　shone　sternly　upon
him；　or　when　his　beautiful　sword　would　suddenly　fall　from　the　nail
on　which　it　was　hanging　in　the　cottage；　gliding　from　the　scabbard　as
it　fell；　he　would　quiet　the　doubts　of　his　mind　by　saving：　〃Undine　is
no　fisherman's　daughter；　she　belongs　in　all　probability　to　some
illustrious　family　abroad。〃　There　was　only　one　thing　to　which　he　had
a　strong　aversion；　and　this　was；　when　the　old　dame　reproved　Undine
in　his　presence。　The　wayward　girl；　it　is　true；　laughed　at　it　for　the
most　part；　without　attempting　to　conceal　her　mirth；　but　it　seemed　to
him　as　if　his　honor　were　concerned；　and　yet　he　could　not　blame　the
old　fisherman's　wife；　for　Undine　always　deserved　at　least　ten　times
as　many　reproofs　as　she　received；　so；　in　his　heart　he　felt　the
balance　in　favor　of　the　old　woman；　and　his　whole　life　flowed　onward
in　calm　enjoyment。

There　came；　however；　an　interruption　at　last。　The　fisherman　and　the
knight　had　been　accustomed　at　their　mid…day　meal；　and　also　in　the
evening　when　the　wind　roared　without；　as　it　was　always　wont　to　do
toward　night；　to　enjoy　together　a　flask　of　wine。　But　now　the　store
which　the　fisherman　had　from　time　to　time　brought　with　him　from　the
town；　was　exhausted；　and　the　two　men　were　quite　out　of　humor　in
consequence。

Undine　laughed　at　them　excessively　all　day；　but　they　were　neither　of
them　merry　enough　to　join　in　her　jests　as　usual。　Toward　evening　she
went　out　of　the　cottage　to　avoid；　as　she　said；　two　such　long　and
tiresome　faces。　As　twilight　advanced；　there　were　again　tokens　of　a
storm；　and　the　water　rushed　and　roared。　Full　of　alarm；　the　knight
and　the　fisherman　sprang　to　the　door；　to　bring　home　the　girl；
remembering　the　anxiety　of　that　night　when　Huldbrand　had　first　come
to　the　cottage。　Undine；　however；　met　them；　clapping　her　little　hands
with　delight。　〃What　will　you　give　me；〃　she　said；　〃to　provide　you
with　wine？〃　or　rather；　〃you　need　not　give　me　anything；　〃she
continued；〃　for　I　am　satisfied　if　you　will　look　merrier　and　be　in
better　spirits　than　you　have　been　throughout　this　whole　wearisome
day。　Only　come　with　me；　the　forest　stream　has　driven　ashore　a　cask；
and　I　will　be　condemned　to　sleep　through　a　whole　week　if　it　is　not　a
wine…cask。〃　The　men　followed　her；　and　in　a　sheltered　creek　on　the
shore；　they　actually　found　a　cask；　which　inspired　them　with　the　hope
that　it　contained　the　generous　drink　for　which　they　were　thirsting。

They　at　once　rolled　it　as　quickly　as　possible　toward　the　cottage；
for　the　western　sky　was　overcast　with　heavy　storm…clouds；　and　they
could　observe　in　the　twilight　the　waves　of　the　lake　raising　their
white；　foaming　heads；　as　if　looking　out　for　the　rain　which　was
presently　to　pour　down　upon　them。　Undine　helped　the　men　as　much　as
she　was　able；　and　when　the　storm　of　rain　suddenly　burst　over　them；
she　said；　with　a　merry　threat　to　the　heavy　clouds：　〃Come；　come；　take
care　that　you　don't　wet　us；　we　are　still　some　way　from　shelter。　〃The
old　man　reproved　her　for　this；　as　simple　presumption；　but　she
laughed　softly　to　herself；　and　no　mischief　befell　any　one　in
consequence　of　her　levity。　Nay；　more：　contrary　to　all　expectation；
they　reached　the　comfortable　hearth　with　their　booty　perfectly　dry；
and　it　was　not　till　they　had　opened　the　cask；　and　had　proved　that　it
contained　some　wonderfully　excellent　wine；　that　the　rain　burst　forth
from　the　dark　cloud；　and　the　storm　raged　among　the　tops　of　the
trees；　and　over　the　agitated　billows　of　the　lake。

Several　bottles　were　soon　filled　from　the　great　cask；　which　promised
a　supply　for　many　days；　and　they　were　sitting　drinking　and　jesting
round　the　glowing　fire；　feeling　comfortably　secured　from　the　raging
storm　without。　Suddenly　the　old　fisherman　became　very　grave　and
said：　〃Ah；　great　God！　here　we　are　rejoicing　over　this　rich　treasure；
and　he　to　whom　it　once　belonged；　and　of　whom　the　floods　have　robbed
it；　has　probably　los　this　precious　life　in　their　waters。〃

〃That　he　has　not；〃　declared　Undine；　as　she　smilingly　filled　the
knight's　cup　to　the　brim。

But　Huldbrand　replied：　〃By　my　honor；　old　father；　if　I　knew　where　to
find　and　to　rescue　him；　no　knightly　errand　and　no　danger　would　I
shirk。　So　much；　however；　I　can　promise　you；　that　if　ever　again　I
reach　more　inhabited　lands；　I　will　find　out　the　owner　of　this　wine
or　his　heirs；　and　requite　it　twofold；　nay；　threefold。〃

This　delighted　the　old　man；　he　nodded　approvingly　to　the　knight；　and
drained　his　cup　with　a　better　conscience　and　greater　pleasure。

Undine；　however；　said　to　Huldbrand：　〃Do　as　you　will　with　your　gold
and　your　reimbursement；　but　you　spoke　foolishly　about　the　venturing
out　in　search；　I　should　cry　my　eyes　out；　if　you　were　lost　in　the
attempt；　and　isn't　it　true；　that　you　would　yourself　rather　stay　with
me　and　the　good　wine。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　answered　Huldbrand；　smiling。

〃Then；〃　said　Undine；　〃you　spoke　unwisely。　For　charity　begins　at
home；　and　what　do　other　people　concern　us？〃

The　old　woman　turned　away　sighing　and　shaking　her　head；　the
fisherman　forgot　his　wonted　affection　for　the　pretty　girl　and
scolded　her。

〃It　sounds　exactly；〃　said　he；　as　he　finished　his　reproof；　〃as　if
Turks　and　heathens　had　brought　you　up；　may　God　forgive　both　me　and
you；　you　spoiled　child。〃

〃Well；〃　replied　Undine；　〃for　all　that；　it　is　what　I　feel；　let　who
will　hate　brought　me　up；　and　all　your　words　can't　help　that。〃

〃Silence！〃　exclaimed　the　fisherman；　and　Undine；　who；　in　spite　of　her
pertness；　was　exceedingly　fearful；　shrank　from　him；　and　moving
tremblingly　toward　Huldbrand；　asked　him　in　a　soft　tone：　〃Are　you
also　angry；　dear　friend？〃

The　knight　pressed　her　tender　hand　and　stroked　her　hair。　He　could
say　nothing；　for　vexation　at　the　old　man's　severity　toward　Undine
closed　his　lips：　and　thus　the　two　couples　sat　opposite　to　each
other；　with　angry　feelings　and　embarrassed　silence。




CHAPTER　VI。

OF　A　NUPTIAL　CEREMONY。


A　low　knocking　at　the　door