英语听力 学英语,练听力,上听力课堂! 注册 登录
> 在线听力 > 有声读物 > 世界名著 > 译林版·涡堤孩 >  第6篇

双语·《涡堤孩》 第六章 结婚

所属教程:译林版·涡堤孩

浏览:

2022年06月15日

手机版
扫描二维码方便学习和分享

CHAPTER VI OF A NUPTIAL CEREMONY

A low knocking at the door was heard in the midst of this stillness, startling all the inmates of the cottage;for there are times when a little circumstance, happening quite unexpectedly, can unduly alarm us. But there was here the additional cause of alarm that the enchanted forest lay so near, and that the little promontory seemed just now inaccessible to human beings.They looked at each other doubtingly, as the knocking was repeated accompanied by a deep groan, and the knight sprang to reach his sword.But the old man whispered softly:“If it be what I fear, no weapon will help us.”

Undine meanwhile approached the door and called out angrily and boldly:“Spirits of the earth, if you wish to carry on your mischief, Kuhleborn shall teach you something better.”

The terror of the rest was increased by these mysterious words;they looked fearfully at the girl, and Huldbrand was just regaining courage enough to ask what she meant, when a voice said without:“I am no spirit of the earth, but a spirit indeed still within its earthly body. You within the cottage, if you fear God and will help me, open to me.”At these words, Undine had already opened the door, and had held a lamp out in the stormy night, by which they perceived an aged priest standing there, who stepped back in terror at theunexpected sight of the beautiful maiden.He might well think that witchcraft and magic were at work when such a lovely form appeared at such an humble cottage door:he therefore began to pray:“All good spirits praise the Lord!”

“I am no spectre,”said Undine, smiling;“do I then look so ugly?Besides you may see the holy words do not frighten me. I too know of God and understand how to praise Him;every one to be sure in his own way, for so He has created us.Come in, venerable father;you come among good people.”

The holy man entered, bowing and looking round him, with a profound, yet tender demeanor. But the water was dropping from every fold of his dark garment, and from his long white beard and from his gray locks.The fisherman and the knight took him to another apartment and furnished him with other clothes, while they gave the women his own wet attire to dry.The aged stranger thanked them humbly and courteously, but he would on no account accept the knight's splendid mantle, which was offered to him;but he chose instead an old gray overcoat belonging to the fsherman.They then returned to the apartment, and the good old dame immediately vacated her easy-chair for the reverend father, and would not rest till he had taken possession of it.“For,”said she,“you are old and exhausted, and you are moreover a man of God.”Undine pushed under the stranger's feet her little stool, on which she had been wont to sit by the side of Huldbrand, and she showed herself in every way most gentle and kind in her care of the good old man.Huldbrand whispered some raillery at it in her ear, but she replied very seriously:“He is a servant of Him who created us all;holy things arenot to be jested with.”

The knight and the fisherman then refreshed their reverend guest with food and wine, and when he had somewhat recovered himself, he began to relate how he had the day before set out from his cloister, which lay far beyond the great lake, intending to travel to the bishop, in order to acquaint him with the distress into which the monastery and its tributary villages had fallen on account of the extraordinary foods. After a long, circuitous route, which these very floods had obliged him to take, he had been this day compelled, toward evening, to procure the aid of a couple of good boatmen to cross an arm of the lake, which had overfowed its banks.

“Scarcely however,”continued he,“had our small craft touched the waves, than that furious tempest burst forth which is now raging over our heads. It seemed as if the waters had only waited for us, to commence their wildest whirling dance with our little boat.The oars were soon torn out of the hands of my men, and were dashed by the force of the waves further and further beyond our reach.We ourselves, yielding to the resistless powers of nature, helplessly drifted over the surging billows of the lake toward your distant shore, which we already saw looming through the mist and foam.Presently our boat turned round and round as in a giddy whirlpool;I know not whether it was upset, or whether I fell overboard.In a vague terror of inevitable death I drifted on, till a wave cast me here, under the trees on your island.”

“Yes, island!”cried the fsherman;“a short time ago it was only a point of land;but now, since the forest-stream and the lake have become well-nigh bewitched, things are quite different with us.”

“I remarked something of the sort,”said the priest,“as I crept along the shore in the dark, and hearing nothing but the uproar around me. I at last perceived that a beaten foot-path disappeared just in the direction from which the sound proceeded.I now saw the light in your cottage, and ventured hither, and I cannot suffciently thank my heavenly Father that after preserving me from the waters, He has led me to such good and pious people as you are;and I feel this all the more, as I do not know whether I shall ever behold any other beings is this world, except those I now address.”

“What do you mean?”asked the fsherman.

“Do you know then how long this commotion of the elements is to last?”replied the holy man.“And I am old in years. Easily enough may the stream of my life run itself out before the overfowing of the forest-stream may subside.And indeed it were not impossible that more and more of the foaming waters may force their way between you and yonder forest, until you are so far sundered from the rest of the world that your little fshing-boat will no longer be suffcient to carry you across, and the inhabitants of the continent in the midst of their diversions will have entirely forgotten you in your old age.”

The fisherman's wife started at this, crossed herself and exclaimed.“God forbid.”But her husband looked at her with a smile, and said“What creatures we are after all!even were it so, things would not be very different—at least not for you, dear wife—than they now are. For have you for many years been further than the edge of the forest?and have you seen any other human beings than Undine and myself?The knight and this holy man have only come to as lately.They will remain with us if we do become aforgotten island;so you would even be a gainer by it after all.”

“I don't know,”said the old woman;“it is somehow a gloomy thought, when one imagines that one is irrecoverably separated from other people, although, were it otherwise, one might neither know nor see them.”

“Then you will remain with us!then you will remain with us!”whispered Undine, in a low, half-singing tone, as she nestled closer to Huldbrand's side. But he was absorbed in the deep and strange visions of his own mind.

The region on the other side of the forest-river seemed to dissolve into distance during the priest's last words:and the blooming island upon which he lived grew more green, and smiled more freshly in his mind's vision. His beloved one glowed as the fairest rose of this little spot of earth, and even of the whole world, and the priest was actually there.Added to this, at that moment an angry glance from the old dame was directed at the beautiful girl, because even in the presence of the reverend father she leaned so closely on the knight, and it seemed as if a torrent of reproving words were on the point of following.Presently, turning to the priest, Huldbrand broke forth:“Venerable father, you see before you here a pair pledged to each other:and if this maiden and these good old people have no objection, you shall unite us this very evening.”The aged couple were extremely surprised.They had, it is true, hitherto often thought of something of the sort, but they had never yet expressed it, and when the knight now spoke thus, it came upon them as something wholly new and unprecedented.

Undine had become suddenly grave, and looked downthoughtfully while the priest inquired respecting the circumstances of the case, and asked if the old people gave their consent. After much discussion together, the matter was settled;the old dame went to arrange the bridal chamber for the young people, and to look out two consecrated tapers which she had had in her possession for some time, and which she thought essential to the nuptial ceremony.The knight in the mean while examined his gold chain, from which he wished to disengage two rings, that he might make an exchange of them with his bride.

She, however, observing what he was doing, started up from her reverie, and exclaimed:“Not so!my parents have not sent me into the world quite destitute;on the contrary, they must have anticipated with certainty that such an evening as this would come.”Thus saving, she quickly left the room and reappeared in a moment with two costly rings, one of which she gave to her bridegroom, and kept the other for herself. The old fsherman was extremely astonished at this, and still more so his wife, who just then entered, for neither had ever seen these jewels in the child's possession.

“My parents,”said Undine,“sewed these little things into the beautiful frock which I had on, when I came to you. They forbid me, moreover, to mention them to anyone before my wedding evening, so I secretly took them, and kept them concealed until now.”

The priest interrupted all further questionings by lighting the consecrated tapers, which he placed upon a table, and summoned the bridal pair to stand opposite to him. He then gave them to each other with a few short solemn words;the elder couple gave their blessing to the younger, and the bride, trembling and thoughtful, leaned uponthe knight.Then the priest suddenly said:“You are strange people after all.Why did you tell me you were the only people here on the island?and during the whole ceremony, a tall stately man, in a white mantle, has been looking at me through the window opposite.He must still be standing before the door, to see if you will invite him to come into the house.”

“God forbid,”said the old dame with a start;the fisherman shook his head in silence, and Huldbrand sprang to the window. It seemed even to him as if he could still see a white streak, but it soon completely disappeared in the darkness.He convinced the priest that he must have been absolutely mistaken, and they all sat down together round the hearth.

第六章 结婚

正在大家觉得尴尬,忽然一阵轻轻的叩门声从静空气里传了过来,屋子里的人一齐骇然。这是我们都有经验的,一桩很无足轻重的事实,因为他突然而来,往往引起绝大的恐慌,但是这一回我们应该记得那奥妙的森林就在他们附近,而且他们这块地是人迹不到的地方,所以他们相顾惶惶。又听见叩了几下,跟着一声深深的叹息。骑士就起来去拿刀,但是老人悄悄说道:“假使来的是我所虑的,有兵器也不中用。”

同时涡堤孩已经走近门边,厉声叫道:“你若来不怀好意,你地鬼,枯尔庞自会教训你好样子。”

其余屋里的人,听见她古怪的话,更吓了;他们都看着她,黑尔勃郎正要开口问她,门外有人说道:“我不是地鬼,我是好好的人。要是你们愿意救我,要是你们怕上帝,你村舍里面的人,赶快让我进来!”

但是他话还没有说完,涡堤孩早已呀的一声把门打开,手里拿着灯往外面黑夜里一照。他们看见一个年老的牧师,他无意见这样神仙似的一个少女,倒吓得缩了回去。他心里想这样荒野地方,一间小茅屋发现了如此美丽的幻象,一定是什么精怪在那里作弄他,所以他就祷告:“一切善灵,颂扬上帝!”

涡堤孩笑起来了,说道:“我不是鬼,难道我长来丑得像鬼?无论如何,你明明看见你的圣咒没有吓我。我也知道上帝,知道赞美他。神父,进来吧,屋子里都是好人。”

牧师战兢兢鞠了一躬,走了进来,他神气很和善可敬。但是他的长袍上,他的白胡子上,他的白发上,处处都在那里滴水。渔人同骑士立即引他到内房,拿衣服给他换,一面将他的湿衣交给老太太去烘干。这老牧师至至诚诚地谢他们,但是不敢穿那骑士取给他的锦绣的披肩。他另外选了渔人一件旧灰色外套穿上。等他回到外房,主妇赶快将她自己的太师椅让他坐,再也不许他客气。“因为,”她说,“你年高又‘累’了,而且是上帝的人。”涡堤孩老规矩将她平常坐在黑尔勃郎身旁的小凳子推到牧师的脚边,并且很殷勤地招呼这老人。黑尔勃郎轻轻向她说了一句笑话,但是她正色答道——

“他是服侍创造我们一切的他。这并不是闹着玩的事。”

于是骑士和渔人拿酒食给他,牧师吃过喝过,开头讲他昨天从大湖的对面的修道院动身,打算到僧正管区去告诉大水为灾,修道院和邻近村落都受损失。但是他走到傍晚辰光,有一处被水冲断了,他只得雇了两个船家渡他过去。

“但是,”他接着说,“我们的小船刚划得不远,大风雨忽然发作,水势既狂,旋涡更凶。一不小心,船家的桨都叫浪头打劫了去,转瞬不知去向。我们只得听天由命,几阵浪头将我们漂到湖的这边。后来我神魂飘荡,只觉得去死不远,但是我知觉回复的时候,我身子已被浪头送到你们岛上的树下。”

“你说我们岛上!”渔人说道,“本来连着对面的。但是这几天森林里的急流同湖水发了疯,我们连自己都不知道在哪里了。”

牧师说:“我在水边黑暗里爬着,满耳荒野的声音,看见一条走熟的路,领到那边咆哮的水里。后来我见到你们屋子里的光,我就摸了过来,我不知道怎样感谢天父,他从水里救了我出来,又送我到你们这样虔敬的人家;况且我不知道我这辈子除了你们四位以外,会不会再见人类呢?”

“你这话怎样讲?”渔人问道。

牧师说:“谁知道这水几时才能退?我是老衰了。也许水还没有静下去,我的老命倒用到头了。而况水势要是尽涨,你这里离陆地愈远,你的小小渔舟又不能过湖,也许我们从此再不能与世人接触也未可知。”

老主妇听了用手支着十字说道:“上帝不许!”但是渔人望她笑笑,答道——

“那也并没有什么稀奇,尤其于你不相干,老妻是不是?这几年来你除了森林到过哪里?除了涡堤孩和我,你又见过什么人呢?骑士先生来了没有几时,神父刚刚到得。假使我们果真同世间隔绝了,他们两位也和我们同住,那岂不是更好吗?”

老太太说:“难说得很,同世界上隔绝,想想都可怕。”

“但是你要和我们住了,你要和我们住了。”涡堤孩挨到黑尔勃郎身边轻轻地唱着。

但是他正在那里出神。自从牧师讲了最后一番话,那森林背后的世界,好像愈退愈远;这花草遍地的岛上愈觉得青青可爱,似乎对他笑得加倍的鲜甜。他的新娘在这大地一点上好比一朵最娇艳的蔷薇婷婷开着,并且如今牧师都在身边。他一头想,那老太太见涡堤孩在牧师面前和黑尔勃郎黏得如此紧,露出一脸怒气,似乎一顿骂就要发作。骑士再也忍不住,转过来对牧师说道——

“神父呀!你看在你的跟前一个新郎和新妇。如其这孩子和她父母不反对,请你今晚就替我们结婚。”

这对老夫妇吓了一大跳。他们固然早已想到这件事体,但是他们都放在肚里,就是老夫妻间彼此也没有明讲过,现在骑士忽然老老实实说了出来,他们倒觉得非常离奇。涡堤孩顿然正色不语,呆钝钝看着地上,一面牧师在那里打听仔细实际情形,又问老夫妻主意如何。讲了好一阵子,一切都很满意的决定。主妇就起身去替小夫妻铺排新房,又寻出一对神烛来。同时骑士拿下他的金链来,打算拗成两个戒指,预备结婚时交换。但是她一看见忽然好像从她思想的底里泅了上来,说道——

“不必!我的父母并没有打发我到世上来要饭。他们的确想到迟早这么一晚总要临到我的。”

说着,她奔出门去,一会儿回来手里拿着两个宝贵的戒指,一个递给新郎,一个自己戴上。老渔人很惊骇地注视她,老太太更觉稀奇,因为他们从来不知道小孩子有这对戒指。

涡堤孩说:“我的父母将这些小物事缝在我来时穿的衣服里。但是他们不许我告诉随便哪个,除非我结婚。所以我一声不响将它们藏在门外,直到今晚。”

牧师已经将神烛点起,放在桌上,打断他们的问答,吩咐那两口子站在他跟前。然后他替他们结婚,老夫妻祝福小夫妻,新娘倚在新郎身上微微颤动,在那里想心事。突然牧师喊道:“你们这群人好古怪!为什么你们告诉我这岛上除了你们四人,再也没有生灵?但是我行礼的时候我见对着我一个高大穿白袍的人在窗外望。他这时候一定到了门口,或者他要这屋子里什么东西。”

老太太跳将起来叫道:“上帝禁止!”渔人一声不发摇摇头,黑尔勃郎跳到窗口,他似乎看见一道白光,突然遁入黑夜里去了。但是他告诉牧师一定是他偶尔眼花,看错了,于是大家欢欢喜喜围着炉火坐了下来。

用户搜索

疯狂英语 英语语法 新概念英语 走遍美国 四级听力 英语音标 英语入门 发音 美语 四级 新东方 七年级 赖世雄 zero是什么意思南京市尧石二村英语学习交流群

  • 频道推荐
  • |
  • 全站推荐
  • 推荐下载
  • 网站推荐