Of his wealth there could be no question when the very bridles6 of his horses were set with jewels over which the eyes of the Rittenberg servants grew large and round with astonishment7 and admiration8; while from the respect of his men it was evident that he was accustomed to being served as are only those who are born with the right to command. The sick retainer had under the care of the leech9 recovered somewhat from the severity of his first attack, and his disorder10 had been pronounced nothing contagious11,—a point upon which the Lady Adelaide had been much exercised,—with the opinion of the leech that it would be necessary for him to rest a couple of days before continuing his journey.
Lady Adelaide was forced to be content with this scant12 information until the assembling of the family at dinner gave her an opportunity of observing the stranger for herself. She came into the hall with her niece prepared to subject the guest to a searching examination, such as she knew herself to be abundantly able to conduct; but for almost the only time in her life the ancient dame13 found herself from the first moment so completely under the spell of the stranger that she gave herself up unquestioningly to the charm of his presence and his conversation, without even an attempt to force him to give an account of himself.
Nor was she alone in this infatuation. Both Father Christopher and the Countess Erna were as strongly impressed with the singular fascination14 of the baron. There was about him a contagious joyousness15, an exhilarating fulness of life, as if he had drunk from some fountain of youth, and shed about him the influence of his superabundant vitality16. Doubtless the unusual vigor17 and manly18 beauty of the knight contributed much to this result; but back of these seemed to lie some rare and powerful quality in the nature of the man himself which was more effective than either. It would have been impossible to analyze19 his charm, but it was also impossible to resist it.
The talk at the table was so animated20 and full of frank gayety that they lingered by common though unspoken consent far beyond the usual time. The baron had throughout addressed himself to the whole company, seldom speaking directly to Erna, although he now and then appealed to the Lady Adelaide or to Father Christopher; and yet the countess was subtly conscious that in all he said there was a secret intention of interesting herself. She blushed as this thought came to her after she had retired23 to her chamber24 and sat over her embroidery25, while the priest and the knight were left to entertain each other. So unsophisticated was she that this thought seemed almost unmaidenly, and she contradicted it as soon as it showed itself in her mind.
She was a maid with soul as white as the unspotted ermine. She had been bred under the eye of Father Christopher,—a priest who was also a man, and one of rare insight. She was as ignorant of evil as one must be who had lived ever in seclusion26, and her temperament27 naturally inclined toward piety28. Something of an education she had received from the priest. She could read; and there were in the castle several pious29 books, most of them, it is to be feared, looted by the late Count von Rittenberg on the day of some victory of the Great Emperor in the south at which he had assisted. Over these parchments, mostly religious works, although a wicked volume of the heathen poet Ovid had somehow chanced among them, Erna passed much time. The brilliant scroll30 of Ovid, with its profane31 pictures, at which she had never looked more than in a single glance that showed her what they were like, she had hidden away after a consultation32 with Father Christopher whether it should not be destroyed despite its value.
The colored threads of her embroidery that afternoon were scarcely more bright than the thoughts which floated through Erna's brain as she sat among her maidens33, directing their work; and yet in her mind was no thought which was consciously different from those of the day before or of all the days that had preceded; only that now suddenly all those days appeared, as she looked back, somehow colorless and dull. She did not say to herself that the coming of the stranger knight had suddenly put new meaning into life, but her secret heart knew it, albeit34 she had yet to understand what her heart felt.
When that night she came into the great hall for supper, a lily-white maid in soul as well as robe, the eyes of the baron glowed as he looked at her. There was in his glance an adoration35 such as a noble dog might give to his mistress, a tender appeal as of one who beseeches36 a higher being to take pity upon him; and Father Christopher, who observed closely whatever concerned the countess, sighed as he looked, and secretly shook his head.
The talk at supper touched upon hunting, and the eyes of the baron sparkled as he said:
"Ah! when the wild boar turns on thee, and there is only thy spear-head between thee and his tusks37, that is pleasure! That sends the blood through one's veins38, and makes the heart tingle39!"
Erna shuddered40.
"I cannot understand how it can be pleasure," she said, "to put one's life in danger, or to take the life of a beast that has never injured thee."
Baron Albrecht regarded her in some surprise.
"I have never thought of that," he returned frankly41. "Why should one consider the beasts? They are made for our sport, are they not?"
"I know you men think so," she responded with a smile; "but I cannot bear that they should suffer for my amusement."
The guest still looked puzzled, and apparently42 was on the point of questioning further, when Lady Adelaide, evidently fearing lest the words of her niece might offend the baron or give him the idea that Erna was full of strange fancies, said quickly:
"And yet thou canst sing very prettily43 of the hunting. Let us get nearer the fire, and thou shalt sing for us now. Beshrew me, but this storm is enough to freeze one's bones."
The night had indeed darkened into a storm such as it was unusual to experience at that time of year. Outside the castle turrets44 they could hear the wind and rain beating, and all the wild uproar45 of the tempest, as it howled and raged along over the wood. They drew close about the broad hearth46, where a cheerful fire had been lighted, despite the fact that the month was June; and in accordance with her aunt's wish, Erna took her lute47 and sang a gay little ditty in praise of hunting.
"I do not mean it," she protested as she ended, and smiled in pleasant fashion, as if it were his opinion which she was anxious should be set right.
"Perhaps," Father Christopher said, "thou also canst sing, Sir Baron? If so, it will delight us to hear thee."
The request was warmly seconded by Lady Adelaide. Erna said nothing.
"Is it thy wish that I should sing?" the stranger knight asked, turning toward her.
She flushed a little as she answered in the affirmative, and then said to herself that her confusion arose from the fact that there was so seldom any need to consult her wish in such a matter that the attention seemed unusual.
The knight took the lute, which in his large and strong hands looked absurdly out of place, yet which he handled with a great deal of dexterity48, and after a brief prelude49 began in a voice of wonderful richness to sing
THE KOBOLD'S SONG.
The kobold's life is full of glee.
For him the forest is made;
For him the leaf swells50 on the tree,
The fount wells in the glade51.
Well he knows every nook,
Every pool where the brook52
Breeds him trout53 in the sun or the shade;
Where the wild berries grow,
Where the cool waters flow;
Where dappled deer hide them
With sleek54 fawns55 beside them;
And where the wood-dove's eggs are laid.
He knows the hidden mountain mine
Where wondrous56 jewels lie;
The caves in which their glorious shine
Dazzles his feasting eye;
He heaps up the red gold
Till his treasures untold57
Would the souls of a multitude buy!
All the wealth of the earth
Is his dower from birth.
Who can strength with him measure?
Who baffle his pleasure?
What kings with his riches can vie?
When winds rush whistling through the wood,
The kobold's merry heart bounds;
For well he knows the bugle58 good
That calls up horse and hounds.
The Wild Huntsman rides past
On the wings of the blast,
And the forest with tumult59 resounds60;
The blithe61 wood-elves are there,
With the sprites of the air;
And as faster and faster
They follow their master,
He joins in their turbulent rounds!
The baron would have sung further in his wild praises of the life of the race of forest sprites with whom his verse dealt, but he was interrupted by the Lady Adelaide, who crossed herself fervently62, exclaiming:
"Now beshrew me, Sir Baron, but it is ill to speak of the Wild Huntsman on a night like this when he may be abroad. Heaven send he be not near enough to the castle to have heard your song!"
The singer stared at her an instant in silent amazement63, and then broke into a peal22 of golden-throated laughter, which was hardly as respectful as was the due of a person of the age and quality of the old dame.
"By my sword," he cried, "it is, then, really true that thou art afraid of the Wild Huntsman! I give thee my word that he is far too much engaged in his pleasure to bother his head about what may be said of him."
It was the turn of the company to stare at the speaker, who seemed to realize that his words might seem strange to them, for instantly he hastened to apologize, and laying aside the lute endeavored to give a new turn to the conversation by a reference to the talk which had taken place at table. But the priest, with a gentle smile, brought him back to the song.
"It is a heathenish ditty, Sir Baron," he said, "with which thou hast favored us, if thou wilt64 allow me to say so. The treasures of the little men of the hills are doubtless mighty65, if half that is said of them be true; but when they boast that their gold can buy the souls of men, they claim too much."
The guest regarded the speaker with a new look of interest and respect; but as he made no reply, Father Christopher continued:
"It is said that often the little men, and the Devil who is in league with them, have tried to entice66 men to barter67 their souls for gold; but even if they succeed, it is the Evil One to whom the soul goes, and the kobolds are no richer."
"That is indeed true," the knight responded gravely. "The soul is a curious thing, and the kobolds can have little idea of what it is like. Indeed," he continued, after a moment's pause in which the others regarded him in wonder, "dost thou not suppose, Father, that a kobold might think he were better off for escaping a responsibility so heavy as that of a soul?"
The priest looked at him in gentle reproof68, while the Lady Adelaide again crossed herself with the air of being not a little scandalized.
"Perhaps a kobold, who has no soul, might have such a thought," Father Christopher said; "but it is strange that it should come into Christian69 heads like ours, my son. It grieves me that thou shouldst harbor such fancies."
"Nay," interposed Erna, softly, "I am sure our guest meant no harm. To beings so unhappy as not to know the glory of having a soul, very likely it has been kindly70 permitted not to realize how melancholy71 their case is. They are like the animals."
The eyes of the knight were fixed72 on her face with an intense gaze of wistful longing73, and had her earnestness been less she must have blushed under their fire. As it was, she remembered, after she had lain down upon her bed, the look which the baron bent74 upon her as she thus spoke21 in his behalf. She rose with the words, and after bidding the guest goodnight, withdrew with Lady Adelaide, leaving the priest to sit over the dying fire with the baron as long as suited their mutual75 pleasure.
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1
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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elicit
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| v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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bridles
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| 约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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leech
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| n.水蛭，吸血鬼，榨取他人利益的人；vt.以水蛭吸血；vi.依附于别人 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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contagious
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| adj.传染性的，有感染力的 | |
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scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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13
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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joyousness
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| 快乐，使人喜悦 | |
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16
vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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17
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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18
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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19
analyze
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| vt.分析，解析 (=analyse) | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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22
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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24
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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embroidery
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| n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品 | |
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26
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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27
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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28
piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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29
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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30
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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31
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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32
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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33
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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34
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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35
adoration
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| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
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36
beseeches
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的第三人称单数 ) | |
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37
tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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38
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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39
tingle
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| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
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40
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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41
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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42
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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43
prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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44
turrets
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| （六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车 | |
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45
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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46
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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47
lute
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| n.琵琶，鲁特琴 | |
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48
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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49
prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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50
swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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51
glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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52
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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53
trout
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| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
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54
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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55
fawns
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| n.（未满一岁的）幼鹿( fawn的名词复数 )；浅黄褐色；乞怜者；奉承者v.（尤指狗等）跳过来往人身上蹭以示亲热( fawn的第三人称单数 )；巴结；讨好 | |
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56
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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untold
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| adj.数不清的，无数的 | |
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58
bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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resounds
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的第三人称单数 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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64
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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entice
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| v.诱骗，引诱，怂恿 | |
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barter
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| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
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reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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70
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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