hermann and dorothea-第7部分

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ifts　come　down　from　above　in　the　shapes　appointed　by　Heaven。　Therefore　misjudge　not　the　maiden　who　now　of　thy　dearly　beloved；　Good　and　intelligent　son　has　been　first　to　touch　the　affections：　Happy　to　whom　at　once　his　first　love's　hand　shall　be　given；　And　in　whose　heart　no　tenderest　wish　must　secretly　languish。　Yes：　his　whole　bearing　assures　me　that　now　his　fate　is　decided。　Genuine　love　matures　in　a　moment　the　youth　into　manhood；　He　is　not　easily　moved；　and　I　fear　that　if　this　be　refused　him；　Sadly　his　years　will　go　by；　those　years　that　should　be　the　fairest；〃

Straightway　then　in　a　thoughtful　tone　the　doctor　made　answer；　On　whose　tongue　for　a　long　time　past　the　words　had　been　trembling：　〃Pray　let　us　here　as　before　pursue　the　safe　middle　course　only。　Make　haste　slowly：　that　was　Augustus　the　emperor's　motto。　Willingly　I　myself　place　at　my　well…beloved　neighbor's　disposal；　Ready　to　do　him　what　service　I　can　with　my　poor　understanding。　Youth　most　especially　stands　in　need　of　some　one　to　guide　it。　Let　me　therefore　go　forth　that　I　may　examine　the　maiden；　And　may　question　the　people　among　whom　she　lives　and　who　know　her。　Me　'tis　not　easy　to　cheat：　I　know　how　words　should　be　valued。〃

Straightway　the　son　broke　in；　and　with　wing'ed　words　made　he　answer：　〃Do　so；　neighbor；　and　go　and　make　thine　inquiries；　but　with　thee　I　should　be　glad　if　our　minister　here　were　joined　in　the　errand：　Two　such　excellent　men　would　be　irreproachable　judges。　O　my　father！　believe　me；　she's　none　of　those　wandering　maidens；　Not　one　of　those　who　stroll　through　the　land　in　search　of　adventure；　And　who　seek　to　ensnare　inexperienced　youth　in　their　meshes。　No：　the　hard　fortunes　of　war；　that　universal　destroyer；　Which　is　convulsing　the　earth　and　has　hurled　from　its　deep　foundations　Many　a　structure　already；　have　sent　the　poor　girl　into　exile。　Are　not　now　men　of　high　birth；　the　most　noble；　in　misery　roaming？　Princes　fly　in　disguise　and　kings　are　in　banishment　living。　So　alas！　also　is　she；　the　best　among　all　of　her　sisters；　Driven　an　exile　from　home；　yet；　her　personal　sorrows　forgetting；　She　is　devoted　to　others；　herself　without　help；　she　is　helpful。　Great　is　the　want　and　the　suffering　over　the　earth　that　are　spreading：　Shall　not　some　happiness；　too；　be　begotten　of　all　this　affliction；　And　shall　not　I　in　the　arms　of　my　wife；　my　trusted　companion；　Look　back　with　joy　to　the　war；　as　do　ye　to　the　great　conflagration？〃

Outspoke　the　father　then　in　a　tone　of　decision；　and　answered：　〃Strangely　thy　tongue　has　been　loosened；　my　son；　which　many　a　year　past　Seemed　to　have　stuck　in　thy　mouth；　and　only　to　move　on　compulsion！　I　must　experience　to…day；　it　would　seem；　what　threatens　all　fathers；　That　the　son's　headstrong　will　the　mother　with　readiness　favors；　Showing　too　easy　indulgence；　and　every　neighbor　sides　with　them　When　there　is　aught　to　be　carried　against　the　father　and　husband。　But　I　will　not　oppose　you；　thus　banded　together：　how　could　I？　For　I　already　perceive　here　tears　and　defiance　beforehand。　Go　ye　therefore；　inquire；　in　God's　name；　bring　me　the　daughter。　But　if　not　so；　then　the　boy　is　to　think　no　more　of　the　maiden。〃

Thus　the　father。　The　son　cried　out　with　joyful　demeanor；　〃Ere　it　is　evening　the　noblest　of　daughters　shall　hither　be　brought　you；　Such　as　no　man　with　sound　sense　in　his　breast　can　fail　to　be　pleased　with。　Happy；　I　venture　to　hope；　will　be　also　the　excellent　maiden。　Yes；　she　will　ever　be　grateful　for　having　had　father　and　mother　Given　once　more　in　you；　and　such　as　a　child　most　delights　in。　Now　I　will　tarry　no　longer；　but　straightway　harness　the　horses；　Drive　forth　our　friends　at　once　on　the　footsteps　of　my　beloved；　Leaving　them　then　to　act　for　themselves；　as　their　wisdom　shall　dictate；　Guide　myself　wholly；　I　promise；　according　to　what　they　determine；　And；　until　I　may　call　her　my　own；　ne'er　look　on　the　maiden。〃　Thus　he　went　forth：　the　others　meanwhile　remained　in　discussion；　Rapid　and　earnest；　considering　deeply　their　great　undertaking。

Hermann　hasted　straightway　to　the　stable；　where　quietly　standing　Found　he　the　spirited　stallions；　the　clean　oats　quickly　devouring；　And　the　well…dried　hay　that　was　cut　from　the　richest　of　meadows。　On　them　without　delay　the　shining　bits　he　adjusted；　Hastily　drew　the　straps　through　the　buckles　of　beautiful　plating；　Firmly　fastened　then　the　long　broad　reins；　and　the　horses　Led　without　to　the　court…yard；　whither　the　willing　assistant　Had　with　ease；　by　the　pole；　already　drawn　forward　the　carriage。　Next　to　the　whipple…tree　they　with　care　by　the　neatly　kept　traces　Joined　the　impetuous　strength　of　the　freely　travelling　horses。　Whip　in　hand　took　Hermann　his　seat　and　drove　under　the　doorway。　Soon　as　the　friends　straightway　their　commodious　places　had　taken；　Quickly　the　carriage　rolled　off；　and　left　the　pavement　behind　it；　Left　behind　it　the　walls　of　the　town　and　the　fresh…whitened　towers。　Thus　drove　Hermann　on　till　he　came　to　the　well…known　causeway。　Rapidly；　loitering　nowhere；　but　hastening　up　hill　and　down　hill。　But　as　he　now　before　him　perceived　the　spire　of　the　village；　And　no　longer　remote　the　garden…girt　houses　were　lying；　Then　in　himself　he　thought　that　here　he　would　rein　up　the　horses。

Under　the　solemn　shade　of　lofty　linden…trees　lying；　Which　for　centuries　past　upon　this　spot　had　been　rooted；　Spread　in　front　of　the　village　a　broad　and　grass…covered　common；　Favorite　place　of　resort　for　the　peasants　and　neighboring　townsfolk。　Here；　at　the　foot　of　the　trees；　sunk　deep　in　the　ground　was　a　well…spring；　When　you　descended　the　steps；　stone　benches　you　found　at　the　bottom；　Stationed　about　the　spring；　whose　pure；　living　waters　were　bubbling　Ceaselessly　forth；　hemmed　in　by　low　walls　for　convenience　of　drawing。　Hermann　resolved　that　here　he　would　halt；　with　his　horses　and　carriage；　Under　the　shade　of　the　trees。　He　did　so；　and　said　to　the　others；　〃Here　alight；　my　friends；　and　go　your　ways　to　discover　Whether　the　maiden　in　truth　be　worthy　the　hand　that　I　offer。　That；　she　is　so；　I　believe；　naught　new　or　strange　will　ye　tell　me。　Had　I　to　act　for　myself；　I　should　go　with　speed　to　the　village；　Where　a　few　words　from　the　maiden's　own　lips　should　determine　my　fortune。　Ye　will　with　readiness　single　her　out　from　all　of　the　others；　For　there　can　scarcely　be　one　that　to　her　may　be　likened　in　bearing。　But　I　will　give　you；　besides；　her　modest　attire　for　a　token：　Mark；　then；　the　stomacher's　scarlet；　that　sets　off　the　arch　of　her　bosom；　Prettily　laced；　and　the　bodice　of　black　fitting　close　to　her　figure；　Neatly　the　edge　of　her　kerchief　is　plaited　into　a　ruffle；　Which　with　a　simple　grace　her　chin's　rounded　outline　encircles；　Freely　and　lightly　rises　above　it　the　head's　dainty　oval；　And　her　luxuriant　hair　over　silver　bodkins　is　braided；　Down　from　under　her　bodice；　the　full；　blue　petticoat　falling；　Wraps　itself；　when　she　is　walking；　about　her　neatly　shaped　ankles。　Yet　one　thing　will　I　say；　and　would　make　it　my　earnest　petition；　Speak　not　yourselves　with　the　maiden；　nor　let　your　intent　be　discovered；　Rather　inquire　of　others；　and　hearken　to　what　they　may　tell　you。　When　ye　have　tidings　enough　to　satisfy　father　and　mother；　Then　return　to　me　here；　and　we　will　consider　what　further。　So　did　I　plan　it　all　out　in　my　mind　while　driving　you　hither。〃

Thus　he　spoke。　The　friends　thereupon　went　their　way　to　the　village；　Where；　in　the　houses　and　gardens　and　barns；　the　people　were　swarming；　Wagons　on　wagons　stood　crowded　together　along　the　broad　highway。　Men　for　the　harnessed　horses　and　lowing　cattle　were　caring；　While　the　women　were　busy　in　drying　their　clothes　on　the　hedges；　And　in　the　running　brook　the　children　were　merrily　splashing。　Making　their　way　through　the　pressure　of　wagons；　of　people　and　cattle；　Went　the　commissioned　spies；　and　to　right　and　to　left　looked　about　them；　If　they　a　figure　might　see　that　answered　the　maiden's　description；　But　not　one　of　them　all　appeared　the　beautiful　damsel。　Denser　soon　grew　the　press。　A　contest　arose　round　the　wagons　'Mongst　the　threatening　men；　wherein　blended　the　cries　of　the　women。　Rapidly　then　to　the　spot；　and　with　dignified　step；　came　an　elder；　Joined　the　clamoring　group；　and　straightway　the　uproar　was　silenced；　As　he　commanded　peace；　and　rebuked　with　a　fatherly　sternness。　〃Has；　then；　misfortune；〃　he　cried；　〃not　yet　so　bound　us　together；　That　we　have　finally　learned　to　bear　and　forbear　one　another；　Though　each　one；　it　may　be；　do　not　measure　his　share　of　the　labor？　He　that　is　happy；　forsooth；　is　contentious！　Will　sufferings　never　Teach　you　to　cease　from　your　brawls　of　old　between　brother　and　brother？　Grudge　not　one　to　another　a　place　on　the　soil　of　the　stranger；　Rather　divide　what　ye　have；　as　yourselves；　ye　would　hope　to　find　mercy。〃

Thus　spoke　the　man　and　all　became　silent：　restored　to　good　humor；　Peaceably　then　the　people　arranged　their　cattle　and　wagons。　But　when　the　clergyman　now　had　heard　what　was　said　by　the　stranger；　And　had　the　steadfast　mind　of　the　foreign　justice　discovered；　He　to　the　man　drew　near　and　with　words　of　meaning　addressed　him：　〃True　it　is；　father；　that　when　in　prosperity　people　are　living；　Feeding　themselves　from　the　earth；　which　far　and　wide　opens　her　bosom；　And　in　the　years　and　months　renews　the　coveted　blessings；　All　goes　on　of　itself；　and　each　himself　deems　the　wisest；　Deems　the　best；　and　so　they　continue　abiding　together；　He　of　greatest　intelligence　ranking　no　higher　than　others；　All　that　occurs；　as　if　of　itself；　going　quietly　forward。　But　let　disaster　unsettle　the　usual　course　of　existence；　Tear　down　the　buildings　about　us；　lay　waste　the　crops　and　the　garden；　Banish　the　husband　and　wife　from　their　old；　familiar…grown　dwelling；　Drive　them　to　wander　abroad　through　nights　and　days　of　privation；　Then；　ah　then！　we　look　round　us　to　see　what　man　is　the　wisest；　And　no　longer　in　vain　his　glorious　words　will　be　spoken。　Tell　me；　art　thou　not　judge　among　this　fugitive　people；　Father；　who　thus　in　an　instant　canst　bid　their　passions　be　quiet？　Thou　dost　appear　to…day　as　one　of　those　earliest　leaders；　Who　through　deserts　and　wanderings　guided　the　emigrant　nations。　Yea；　I　could　even　believe　I　were　speaking　with　Joshua　or　Moses。〃

Then　with　serious　look　the　magistrate　answered　him；　saying：　〃Truly　our　times　might　well　be　compared　with　all　others　in　strangeness；　Which　are　in　history　mentioned；　profane　or　sacred　trad