hermann and dorothea-第5部分

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ereon　'twas　his　wont　to　he　seated。　When　she　perceived　him　not　there；　she　went　farther　to　look　in　the　stable；　If　he　were　caring　perhaps　for　his　noble　horses；　the　stallions；　Which　he　as　colts　had　bought；　and　whose　care　he　intrusted　to　no　one。　And　by　the　servant　she　there　was　told：　He　is　gone　to　the　garden。　Then　with　a　nimble　step　she　traversed　the　long；　double　courtyards；　Leaving　the　stables　behind；　and　the　well…builded　barns；　too；　behind　her；　Entered　the　garden；　that　far　as　the　walls　of　the　city　extended；　Walked　through　its　length；　rejoiced　as　she　went　in　every　thing　growing；　Set　upright　the　supports　on　which　were　resting　the　branches　Heavily　laden　with　apples；　and　burdening　boughs　of　the　pear…tree。　Next　some　caterpillars　removed　from　a　stout；　swelling　cabbage；　For　an　industrious　woman　allows　no　step　to　be　wasted。　Thus　was　she　come　at　last　to　the　end　of　the　far…reaching　garden；　Where　stood　the　arbor　embowered　in　woodbine；　nor　there　did　she　find　him；　More　than　she　had　hitherto　in　all　her　search　through　the　garden。　But　the　wicket　was　standing　ajar；　which　out　of　the　arbor；　Once　by　particular　favor；　had　been　through　the　walls　of　the　city　Cut　by　a　grandsire　of　hers；　the　worshipful　burgomaster。　So　the　now　dried…up　moat　she　next　crossed　over　with　comfort；　Where；　by　the　side　of　the　road；　direct　the　well…fenc奷　vineyard；　Rose　with　a　steep　ascent；　its　slope　exposed　to　the　sunshine。　Up　this　also　she　went；　and　with　pleasure　as　she　was　ascending　Marked　the　wealth　of　the　clusters；　that　scarce　by　their　leafage　were　hidden。　Shady　and　covered　the　way　through　the　lofty　middlemost　alley；　Which　upon　steps　that　were　made　of　unhewn　blocks　you　ascended。　There　were　the　Muscatel；　and　there　were　the　Chasselas　hanging　Side　by　side；　of　unusual　size　and　colored　with　purple；　All　set　out　with　the　purpose　of　decking　the　visitor's　table；　While　with　single　vine…stocks　the　rest　of　the　hillside　was　covered；　Bearing　inferior　clusters；　from　which　the　delicate　wine　comes。　Thus　up　the　slope　she　went；　enjoying　already　the　vintage；　And　that　festive　clay　on　which　the　whole　country；　rejoicing；　Picks　and　tramples　the　grapes；　and　gathers　the　must　into　vessels：　Fireworks；　when　it　is　evening；　from　every　direction　and　corner　Crackle　and　blaze；　and　so　the　fairest　of　harvests　is　honored。　But　more　uneasy　she　went；　her　son　after　twice　or　thrice　calling；　And　no　answer　receiving；　except　from　the　talkative　echo；　That　with　many　repeats　rang　back　from　the　towers　of　the　city。

Strange　it　was　for　her　to　seek　him；　he　never　had　gone　to　a　distance　That　he　told　her　not　first；　to　spare　his　affectionate　mother　Every　anxious　thought；　and　fear　that　aught　ill　had　befallen。　Still　did　she　constantly　hope　that；　if　further　she　went；　she　should　find　him；　For　the　two　doors　of　the　vineyard；　the　lower　as　well　as　the　upper；　Both　were　alike　standing　open。　So　now　she　entered　the　cornfield；　That　with　its　broad　expanse　the　ridge　of　the　hill　covered　over。　Still　was　the　ground　that　she　walked　on　her　own；　and　the　crops　she　rejoiced　in；　All　of　them　still　were　hers；　and　hers　was　the　proud…waving　grain；　too；　Over　the　whole　broad　field　in　golden　strength　that　was　stirring。　Keeping　the　ridgeway；　the　footpath；　between　the　fields　she　went　onward；　Having　the　lofty　pear…tree　in　view；　which　stood　on　the　summit；　And　was　the　boundary…mark　of　the　fields　that　belonged　to　her　dwelling。　Who　might　have　planted　it；　none　could　know；　but　visible　was　it　Far　and　wide　through　the　country；　the　fruit　of　the　pear…tree　was　famous。　'Neath　it　the　reapers　were　wont　to　enjoy　their　meal　at　the　noon…day；　And　the　shepherds　were　used　to　tend　their　flocks　in　its　shadow。　Benches　of　unhewn　stones　and　of　turf　they　found　set　about　it。　And　she　had　not　been　mistaken；　for　there　sat　her　Hermann；　and　rested；　Sat　with　his　head　on　his　hand；　and　seemed　to　be　viewing　the　landscape　That　to　the　mountains　lay：　his　back　was　turned　to　his　mother。　Towards　him　softly　she　crept；　and　lightly　touched　on　the　shoulder；　Quick　he　turned　himself　round：　there　were　tears　in　his　eyes　as　he　met　her。

〃Mother；　how　hast　thou　surprised　me！〃　he　said　in　confusion；　and　quickly　Wiped　the　high…spirited　youth　his　tears　away。　But　the　mother；　〃What！　do　I　find　thee　weeping；　my　son？〃　exclaimed　in　amazement。　〃Nay；　that　is　not　like　thyself：　I　never　before　have　so　seen　thee！　Tell　me；　what　burdens　thy　heart？　what　drives　thee　here；　to　be　sitting　Under　the　pear…tree　alone？　These　tears　in　thine　eyes；　what　has　brought　them？〃

Then；　collecting　himself；　the　excellent　youth　made　her　answer：　〃Truly　no　heart　can　that　man　have　in　his　bosom　of　iron；　Who　is　insensible　now　to　the　needs　of　this　emigrant　people；　He　has　no　brains　in　his　head；　who　not　for　his　personal　safety；　Not　for　his　fatherland's　weal；　in　days　like　the　present　is　anxious。　Deeply　my　heart　had　been　touched　by　the　sights　and　sounds　of　the　morning；　Then　I　went　forth　and　beheld　the　broad　and　glorious　landscape　Spreading　its　fertile　slopes　in　every　direction　about　us；　Saw　the　golden　grain　inclining　itself　to　the　reapers；　And　the　promise　of　well…filled　barns　from　the　plentiful　harvest。　But；　alas；　how　near　is　the　foe！　The　Rhine　with　its　waters　Guards　us；　indeed；　but；　ah；　what　now　are　rivers　and　mountains　'Gainst　that　terrible　people　that　onward　bears　like　a　tempest！　For　they　summon　their　youths　from　every　quarter　together；　Call　up　their　old　men　too；　and　press　with　violence　forward。　Death　cannot　frighten　the　crowd：　one　multitude　follows　another。　And　shall　a　German　dare　to　linger　behind　in　his　homestead？　Hopes　he　perhaps　to　escape　the　everywhere　threatening　evil？　Nay；　dear　mother；　I　tell　thee；　to…day　has　made　me　regretful　That　I　was　lately　exempt；　when　out　of　our　townsmen　were　chosen　Those　who　should　serve　in　the　army。　An　only　son　I　am　truly；　Also　our　business　is　great；　and　the　charge　of　our　household　is　weighty。　Yet　were　it　better；　I　deem；　in　the　front　to　offer　resistance　There　on　the　border；　than　here　to　await　disaster　and　bondage。　So　has　my　spirit　declared；　and　deep　in　my　innermost　bosom　Courage　and　longing　have　now　been　aroused　to　live　for　my　country；　Yea；　and　to　die；　presenting　to　others　a　worthy　example。　If　but　the　strength　of　Germany's　youth　were　banded　together　There　on　the　frontier；　resolved　that　it　never　would　yield　to　the　stranger；　Ah；　he　should　not　on　our　glorious　soil　be　setting　his　foot…steps；　Neither　consuming　before　our　eyes　the　fruit　of　our　labor；　Ruling　our　men；　and　making　his　prey　of　our　wives　and　our　daughters。　Hark　to　me；　mother：　for　I　in　the　depths　of　my　heart　am　determined　Quickly　to　do；　and　at　once；　what　appears　to　me　right　and　in　reason；　For　he　chooses　not　always　the　best　who　longest　considers。　Hearken；　I　shall　not　again　return　to　the　house；　but　directly　Go　from　this　spot　to　the　city；　and　there　present　to　the　soldiers　This　right　arm　and　this　heart；　to　be　spent　in　the　fatherland's　service。　Then　let　my　father　say　if　there　be　no　feeling　of　honor　Dwelling　within　my　breast；　nor　a　wish　to　raise　myself　higher。〃　Then　with　significant　words　spoke　the　good　and　intelligent　mother；　While　from　her　eyes　the　quick…starting　tears　were　silently　falling：　〃Son；　what　change　has　come　o'er　thee　to…day；　and　over　thy　temper；　That　thou　speakest　no　more；　as　thou　yesterday　didst；　and　hast　always；　Open　and　free；　to　thy　mother；　and　tellest　exactly　thy　wishes？　Any　one　else；　had　he　heard　thee　thus　speak；　would　in　sooth　have　commended；　And　this　decision　of　thine　would　have　highly　approved　as　most　noble；　Being　misled　by　thy　tone　and　by　thy　significant　language。　Yet　have　I　nothing　but　censure　to　speak；　for　better　I　know　thee。　Thou　concealest　thy　heart；　and　thy　thoughts　are　not　such　as　thou　tellest。　Well　do　I　know　that　it　is　not　the　drum；　not　the　trumpet　that　calls　thee：　Neither　in　uniform　wouldst　thou　figure　in　sight　of　the　maidens；　Since；　for　all　thou　art　honest　and　brave；　it　is　thy　vocation　Here　in　quiet　to　care　for　the　farm　and　provide　for　the　household。　Tell　me　honestly；　therefore；　what　goads　thee　to　such　a　decision？〃

Earnestly　answered　the　son：　〃Nay；　thou　art　mistaken；　dear　mother：　One　day　is　not　like　another。　The　youth　matures　into　manhood：　Better　in　stillness　oft　ripening　to　deeds　than　when　in　the　tumult　Wildering　and　wild　of　existence；　that　many　a　youth　has　corrupted。　And；　for　as　still　as　I　am　and　was　always；　there　yet　in　my　bosom　Has　such　a　heart　been　shaped　as　abhors　all　wrong　and　injustice；　And　I　have　learned　aright　between　worldly　things　to　distinguish。　Arm　and　foot；　besides；　have　been　mightily　strengthened　by　labor。　All　this；　I　feel；　is　true：　I　dare　with　bo1dness　maintain　it。　Yet　dost　thou　blame　me　with　reason；　O　mother！　for　thou　hast　surprised　me　Using　a　language　half　truthful　and　half　that　of　dissimulation。　For；　let　me　honestly　own；it　is　not　the　near　danger　that　calls　me　Forth　from　my　father's　house；　nor　is　it　the　lofty　ambition　Helpful　to　be　to　my　country；　and　terrible　unto　the　foeman。　They　were　but　words　that　I　spoke：　they　only　were　meant　for　concealing　Those　emotions　from　thee　with　which　my　heart　is　distracted；　And　so　leave　me；　O　mother！　for；　since　the　wishes　are　fruitless　Which　in　my　bosom　I　cherish；　my　life　must　go　fruitlessly　overover。　For；　as　I　know；　he　injures　himself　who　is　singly　devoted；　When　for　the　common　cause　the　whole　are　not　working　together。〃

〃Hesitate　not；〃　replied　thereupon　the　intelligent　mother；　〃Every　thing　to　relate　me；　the　smallest　as　well　as　the　greatest。　Men　will　always　be　hasty；　their　thoughts　to　extremes　ever　running：　Easily　out　of　their　course　the　hasty　are　turned　by　a　hindrance。　Whereas　a　woman　is　clever　in　thinking　of　means；　and　will　venture　E'en　on　a　roundabout　way；　adroitly　to　compass　her　object。　Let　me　know　every　thin；　then；　say　wherefore　so　greatly　excited　'As　I　ne'er　saw　thee　before；　why　thy　blood　is　coursing　so　hotly；　Wherefore；　against　thy　will；　tears　are　filling　thine　eyes　to　o'erflowing。〃

Then　he　abandoned　himself；　the　poor　boy；　to　his　sorrow；　and　weeping；　Weeping　aloud　on　his　kind　mother's　breast；　he　brokenly　answered：　〃Truly　my　father's　words　to…day　have　wounded　me　sorely；　Words　which　I　have　not　deserved；　not　to…day；　nor　at　any　time　have　I：　For　it　was　early　my　greatest　delight　to　honor　my　parents。　No　one　knew　more；　so　I　deemed；　or　was　wiser　than　those　who　begot　me；　And　had　with　strictness　ruled　throughout　the　dark　season　of　childhood。　Many　the　things；　in　truth；　I　with　patience　endured　from　my　playmates；