“That was indeed a sorrowful song for one to sing who sees his hopes so nearly realized. Why are you so sad? Is it because you fear the curse which you have taken upon yourself? or is it because you know not what you will do with so vast a treasure, and its possession begins already to trouble you?”
“Oh, many are the things I will do with that treasure!” answered Regin; and his eyes flashed wildly, and his face grew red and pale. “I will turn winter into summer; I will make the desert-places glad; I will bring back the golden age; I will make myself a god: for mine shall be the wisdom and the gathered wealth of the world. And yet I fear”—
“What do you fear?”
“The ring, the ring—it is accursed! The Norns, too, have spoken, and my doom7 is known. I cannot escape it.”
“The Norns have woven the woof of every man’s life,” answered Siegfried. “To-morrow we fare to the Glittering Heath, and the end shall be as the Norns have spoken.”
And so, early the next morning, Siegfried mounted Greyfell, and rode out towards the desert-land that lay beyond the forest and the barren mountain-range; and Regin, his eyes flashing with desire, and his feet never tiring, trudged8 by his side. For seven days they wended their way through the thick greenwood, sleeping at night on the bare ground beneath the trees, while the wolves and other wild beasts of the forest filled the air with their hideous9 howlings. But no evil creature dared come near them, for fear of the shining beams of light which fell from Greyfell’s gleaming mane. On the eighth day they came to the open country and to the hills, where the land was covered with black bowlders and broken by yawning chasms10. And no living thing was seen there, not even an insect, nor a blade of grass; and the silence of the grave was over all. And the earth was dry and parched11, and the sun hung above them like a painted shield in a blue-black sky, and there was neither shade nor water anywhere. But Siegfried rode onwards in the way which Regin pointed12 out, and faltered13 not, although he grew faint with thirst and with the overpowering heat. Towards the evening of the next day they came to a dark mountain-wall which stretched far out on either hand, and rose high above them, so steep that it seemed to close up the way, and to forbid them going farther.
“This is the wall!” cried Regin. “Beyond this mountain is the Glittering Heath, and the goal of all my hopes.”
And the little old man ran forwards, and scaled the rough side of the mountain, and reached its summit, while Siegfried and Greyfell were yet toiling14 among the rocks at its foot. Slowly and painfully they climbed the steep ascent15, sometimes following a narrow path which wound along the edge of a precipice16, sometimes leaping, from rock to rock, or over some deep gorge17, and sometimes picking their way among the crags and cliffs. The sun at last went down, and one by one the stars came out; and the moon was rising, round and red, when Siegfried stood by Regin’s side, and gazed from the mountain-top down upon the Glittering Heath which lay beyond. And a strange, weird18 scene it was that met his sight. At the foot of the mountain was a river, white and cold and still; and beyond it was a smooth and barren plain, lying silent and lonely in the pale moonlight. But in the distance was seen a circle of flickering19 flames, ever changing,—now growing brighter, now fading away, and now shining with a dull, cold light, like the glimmer20 of the glow-worm or the fox-fire. And as Siegfried gazed upon the scene, he saw the dim outline of some hideous monster moving hither and thither21, and seeming all the more terrible in the uncertain light.
“It is he!” whispered Regin, and his lips were ashy pale, and his knees trembled beneath him. “It is Fafnir, and he wears the Helmet of Terror! Shall we not go back to the smithy by the great forest, and to the life of ease and safety that may be ours there? Or will you rather dare to go forwards, and meet the Terror in its abode22?”
“None but cowards give up an undertaking23 once begun,” answered Siegfried. “Go back to Rhineland yourself, if you are afraid; but you must go alone. You have brought me thus far to meet the dragon of the heath, to win the hoard24 of the swarthy elves, and to rid the world of a terrible evil. Before the setting of another sun, the deed which you have urged me to do will be done.”
Then he dashed down the eastern slope of the mountain, leaving Greyfell and the trembling Regin behind him. Soon he stood on the banks of the white river, which lay between the mountain and the heath; but the stream was deep and sluggish26, and the channel was very wide. He paused a moment, wondering how he should cross; and the air seemed heavy with deadly vapors27, and the water was thick and cold. While he thus stood in thought, a boat came silently out of the mists, and drew near; and the boatman stood up and called to him, and said,—
“What man are you who dares come into this land of loneliness and fear?”
“Sit in my boat,” said the boatman, “and I will carry you across the river.”
And Siegfried sat by the boatman’s side; and without the use of an oar25, and without a breath of air to drive it forwards, the little vessel29 turned, and moved silently towards the farther shore.
“In what way will you fight the dragon?” asked the boatman.
“With my trusty sword Balmung I shall slay him,” answered Siegfried.
“But he wears the Helmet of Terror, and he breathes deathly poisons, and his eyes dart30 forth lightning, and no man can withstand his strength,” said the boatman.
“I will find some way by which to overcome him.”
“Then be wise, and listen to me,” said the boatman. “As you go up from the river you will find a road, worn deep and smooth, starting from the water’s edge, and winding31 over the moor32. It is the trail of Fafnir, adown which he comes at dawn of every day to slake33 his thirst at the river. Do you dig a pit in this roadway,—a pit narrow and deep,—and hide yourself within it. In the morning, when Fafnir passes over it, let him feel the edge of Balmung.”
As the man ceased speaking, the boat touched the shore, and Siegfried leaped out. He looked back to thank his unknown friend, but neither boat nor boatman was to be seen. Only a thin white mist rose slowly from the cold surface of the stream, and floated upwards34 and away towards the mountain-tops. Then the lad remembered that the strange boatman had worn a blue hood35 bespangled with golden stars, and that a gray kirtle was thrown over his shoulders, and that his one eye glistened36 and sparkled with a light that was more than human. And he knew that he had again talked with Odin. Then, with a braver heart than before, he went forwards, along the river-bank, until he came to Fafnir’s trail,—a deep, wide furrow37 in the earth, beginning at the river’s bank, and winding far away over the heath, until it was lost to sight in the darkness. The bottom of the trail was soft and slimy, and its sides had been worn smooth by Fafnir’s frequent travel through it.
In this road, at a point not far from the river, Siegfried, with his trusty sword Balmung, scooped38 out a deep and narrow pit, as Odin had directed. And when the gray dawn began to appear in the east he hid himself within this trench39, and waited for the coming of the monster. He had not long to wait; for no sooner had the sky begun to redden in the light of the coming sun than the dragon was heard bestirring himself. Siegfried peeped warily40 from his hiding-place, and saw him coming far down the road, hurrying with all speed, that he might quench41 his thirst at the sluggish river, and hasten back to his gold; and the sound which he made was like the trampling42 of many feet and the jingling43 of many chains. With bloodshot eyes, and gaping44 mouth, and flaming nostrils45, the hideous creature came rushing onwards. His sharp, curved claws dug deep into the soft earth; and his bat-like wings, half trailing on the ground, half flapping in the air, made a sound like that which is heard when Thor rides in his goat-drawn chariot over the dark thunder-clouds. It was a terrible moment for Siegfried, but still he was not afraid. He crouched46 low down in his hiding-place, and the bare blade of the trusty Balmung glittered in the morning light. On came the hastening feet and the flapping wings: the red gleam from the monster’s flaming nostrils lighted up the trench where Siegfried lay. He heard a roaring and a rushing like the sound of a whirlwind in the forest; then a black, inky mass rolled above him, and all was dark. Now was Siegfried’s opportunity. The bright edge of Balmung gleamed in the darkness one moment, and then it smote the heart of Fafnir as he passed. Some men say that Odin sat in the pit with Siegfried, and strengthened his arm and directed his sword, or else he could not thus have slain47 the Terror. But, be this as it may, the victory was soon won. The monster stopped short, while but half of his long body had glided48 over the pit; for sudden death had overtaken him. His horrid49 head fell lifeless upon the ground; his cold wings flapped once, and then lay, quivering and helpless, spread out on either side; and streams of thick black blood flowed from his heart, through the wound beneath, and filled the trench in which Siegfried was hidden, and ran like a mountain-torrent50 down the road towards the river. Siegfried was covered from head to foot with the slimy liquid, and, had he not quickly leaped from his hiding-place, he would have been drowned in the swift-rushing, stream.
The bright sun rose in the east, and gilded51 the mountain-tops, and fell upon the still waters of the river, and lighted up the treeless plains around. The south wind played gently against Siegfried’s cheeks and in his long hair, as he stood gazing on his fallen foe52. And the sound of singing birds, and rippling53 waters, and gay insects,—such as had not broken the silence of the Glittering Heath for ages,—came to his ears. The Terror was dead, and Nature had awakened54 from her sleep of dread56. And as the lad leaned upon his sword, and thought of the deed he had done, behold57! the shining Greyfell, with the beaming, hopeful mane, having crossed the now bright river, stood by his side. And Regin, his face grown wondrous58 cold, came trudging59 over the meadows; and his heart was full of guile60. Then the mountain vultures came wheeling downwards61 to look upon the dead dragon; and with them were two ravens62, black as midnight. And when Siegfried saw these ravens he knew them to be Odin’s birds,—Hugin, thought, and Munin, memory. And they alighted on the ground near by; and the lad listened to hear what they would say. Then Hugin flapped his wings, and said,—
“The deed is done. Why tarries the hero?”
And Munin said,—
“The world is wide. Fame waits for the hero.”
And Hugin answered,—
“What if he win the Hoard of the Elves? That is not honor. Let him seek fame by nobler deeds.”
Then Munin flew past his ear, and whispered,—
“Beware of Regin, the master! His heart is poisoned. He would be thy bane.”
And the two birds flew away to carry the news to Odin in the happy halls of Gladsheim.
When Regin drew near to look upon the dragon, Siegfried kindly63 accosted64 him: but he seemed not to hear; and a snaky glitter lurked65 in his eyes, and his mouth was set and dry, and he seemed as one walking in a dream.
“It is mine now,” he murmured: “it is all mine, now,—the Hoard of the swarthy elf-folk, the garnered67 wisdom of ages. The strength of the world is mine. I will keep, I will save, I will heap up; and none shall have part or parcel of the treasure which is mine alone.”
“Why are you here in my way? I am the lord of the Glittering Heath: I am the master of the Hoard. I am the master, and you are my thrall69.”
Siegfried wondered at the change which had taken place in his old master; but he only smiled at his strange words, and made no answer.
“You have slain my brother!” Regin cried; and his face grew fearfully black, and his mouth foamed70 with rage.
“It was my deed and yours,” calmly answered Siegfried. “I have rid the world of a Terror: I have righted a grievous wrong.”
“Take the Hoard for your ransom, and let us each wend his way,” said the lad.
“The Hoard is mine by rights,” answered Regin still more wrathfully. “I am the master, and you are my thrall. Why stand you in my way?”
Then, blinded with madness, he rushed at Siegfried as if to strike him down; but his foot slipped in a puddle72 of gore73, and he pitched headlong against the sharp edge of Balmung. So sudden was this movement, and so unlooked for, that the sword was twitched74 out of Siegfried’s hand, and fell with a dull splash into the blood-filled pit before him; while Regin, slain by his own rashness, sank dead upon the ground. Full of horror, Siegfried turned away, and mounted Greyfell.
“This is a place of blood,” said he, “and the way to glory leads not through it. Let the Hoard still lie on the Glittering Heath: I will go my way from hence; and the world shall know me for better deeds than this.”
And he turned his back on the fearful scene, and rode away; and so swiftly did Greyfell carry him over the desert land and the mountain waste, that, when night came, they stood on the shore of the great North Sea, and the white waves broke at their feet. And the lad sat for a long time silent upon the warm white sand of the beach, and Greyfell waited at his side. And he watched the stars as they came out one by one, and the moon, as it rose round and pale, and moved like a queen across the sky. And the night wore away, and the stars grew pale, and the moon sank to rest in the wilderness75 of waters. And at day-dawn Siegfried looked towards the west, and midway between sky and sea he thought he saw dark mountain-tops hanging above a land of mists that seemed to float upon the edge of the sea.
While he looked, a white ship, with sails all set, came speeding over the waters towards him. It came nearer and nearer, and the sailors rested upon their oars76 as it glided into the quiet harbor. A minstrel, with long white beard floating in the wind, sat at the prow77; and the sweet music from his harp was wafted78 like incense79 to the shore. The vessel touched the sands: its white sails were reefed as if by magic, and the crew leaped out upon the beach.
“Hail, Siegfried the Golden!” cried the harper. “Whither do you fare this summer day?”
“I have come from a land of horror and dread,” answered the lad; “and I would fain fare to a brighter.”
“Then go with me to awaken55 the earth from its slumber80, and to robe the fields in their garbs81 of beauty,” said the harper. And he touched the strings of his harp, and strains of the softest music arose in the still morning air. And Siegfried stood entranced, for never before had he heard such music.
“Tell me who you are!” he cried, when the sounds died away. “Tell me who you are, and I will go to the ends of the earth with you.”
“I am Bragi,” answered the harper, smiling. And Siegfried noticed then that the ship was laden82 with flowers of every hue83, and that thousands of singing birds circled around and above it, filling the air with the sound of their glad twitterings.
Now, Bragi was the sweetest musician in all the world. It was said by some that his home was with the song-birds, and that he had learned his skill from them. But this was only part of the truth: for wherever there was loveliness or beauty, or things noble and pure, there was Bragi; and his wondrous power in music and song was but the outward sign of a blameless soul. When he touched the strings of his golden harp, all Nature was charmed with the sweet harmony: the savage84 beasts of the wood crept near to listen; the birds paused in their flight; the waves of the sea were becalmed, and the winds were hushed; the leaping waterfall was still, and the rushing torrent tarried in its bed; the elves forgot their hidden treasures, and joined in silent dance around him; and the strom-karls and the musicians of the wood vainly tried to imitate him. And he was as fair of speech as he was skilful85 in song. His words were so persuasive86 that he had been known to call the fishes from the sea, to move great lifeless rocks, and, what is harder, the hearts of kings. He understood the voice of the birds, and the whispering of the breeze, the murmur66 of the waves, and the roar of the waterfalls. He knew the length and breadth of the earth, and the secrets of the sea, and the language of the stars. And every day he talked with Odin the All-Father, and with the wise and good in the sunlit halls of Gladsheim. And once every year he went to the North-lands, and woke the earth from its long winter’s sleep, and scattered87 music and smiles and beauty everywhere.
Right gladly did Siegfried agree to sail with Bragi over the sea; for he wot that the bright Asa-god would be a very different guide from the cunning, evil-eyed Regin. So he went on board with Bragi, and the gleaming Greyfell followed them, and the sailors sat at their oars. And Bragi stood in the prow, and touched the strings of his harp. And, as the music arose, the white sails leaped up the masts, and a warm south breeze began to blow; and the little vessel, wafted by sweet sounds and the incense of spring, sped gladly away over the sea.
点击收听单词发音
1 harp | |
n.竖琴;天琴座 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 smote | |
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 strings | |
n.弦 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 wail | |
vt./vi.大声哀号,恸哭;呼啸,尖啸 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 yearning | |
a.渴望的;向往的;怀念的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 doom | |
n.厄运,劫数;v.注定,命定 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 trudged | |
vt.& vi.跋涉,吃力地走(trudge的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 hideous | |
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 chasms | |
裂缝( chasm的名词复数 ); 裂口; 分歧; 差别 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 parched | |
adj.焦干的;极渴的;v.(使)焦干 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 faltered | |
(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 toiling | |
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 ); 艰难缓慢地移动,跋涉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 ascent | |
n.(声望或地位)提高;上升,升高;登高 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 precipice | |
n.悬崖,危急的处境 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 gorge | |
n.咽喉,胃,暴食,山峡;v.塞饱,狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 weird | |
adj.古怪的,离奇的;怪诞的,神秘而可怕的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 flickering | |
adj.闪烁的,摇曳的,一闪一闪的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 glimmer | |
v.发出闪烁的微光;n.微光,微弱的闪光 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 abode | |
n.住处,住所 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 undertaking | |
n.保证,许诺,事业 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 hoard | |
n./v.窖藏,贮存,囤积 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 oar | |
n.桨,橹,划手;v.划行 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 sluggish | |
adj.懒惰的,迟钝的,无精打采的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 vapors | |
n.水汽,水蒸气,无实质之物( vapor的名词复数 );自夸者;幻想 [药]吸入剂 [古]忧郁(症)v.自夸,(使)蒸发( vapor的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 slay | |
v.杀死,宰杀,杀戮 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 dart | |
v.猛冲,投掷;n.飞镖,猛冲 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 winding | |
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 moor | |
n.荒野,沼泽;vt.(使)停泊;vi.停泊 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 slake | |
v.解渴,使平息 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 upwards | |
adv.向上,在更高处...以上 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 hood | |
n.头巾,兜帽,覆盖;v.罩上,以头巾覆盖 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 glistened | |
v.湿物闪耀,闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 furrow | |
n.沟;垄沟;轨迹;车辙;皱纹 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 scooped | |
v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 );(敏捷地)抱起;抢先获得;用铲[勺]等挖(洞等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 trench | |
n./v.(挖)沟,(挖)战壕 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 warily | |
adv.留心地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 quench | |
vt.熄灭,扑灭;压制 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 trampling | |
踩( trample的现在分词 ); 践踏; 无视; 侵犯 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 jingling | |
叮当声 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 gaping | |
adj.口的;张口的;敞口的;多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 );张开,张大 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 nostrils | |
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 crouched | |
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 glided | |
v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 );掠过;(鸟或飞机 ) 滑翔 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 torrent | |
n.激流,洪流;爆发,(话语等的)连发 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 rippling | |
起涟漪的,潺潺流水般声音的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 awakened | |
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 awaken | |
vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 dread | |
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 wondrous | |
adj.令人惊奇的,奇妙的;adv.惊人地;异乎寻常地;令人惊叹地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 trudging | |
vt.& vi.跋涉,吃力地走(trudge的现在分词形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 guile | |
n.诈术 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 downwards | |
adj./adv.向下的(地),下行的(地) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 ravens | |
n.低质煤;渡鸦( raven的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 accosted | |
v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 );跟…搭讪;(乞丐等)上前向…乞讨;(妓女等)勾搭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 lurked | |
vi.潜伏,埋伏(lurk的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 murmur | |
n.低语,低声的怨言;v.低语,低声而言 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 garnered | |
v.收集并(通常)贮藏(某物),取得,获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 wrath | |
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 thrall | |
n.奴隶;奴隶制 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70 foamed | |
泡沫的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 ransom | |
n.赎金,赎身;v.赎回,解救 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72 puddle | |
n.(雨)水坑,泥潭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73 gore | |
n.凝血,血污;v.(动物)用角撞伤,用牙刺破;缝以补裆;顶 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
74 twitched | |
vt.& vi.(使)抽动,(使)颤动(twitch的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
75 wilderness | |
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
76 oars | |
n.桨,橹( oar的名词复数 );划手v.划(行)( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
77 prow | |
n.(飞机)机头,船头 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
78 wafted | |
v.吹送,飘送,(使)浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
79 incense | |
v.激怒;n.香,焚香时的烟,香气 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
80 slumber | |
n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
81 garbs | |
vt.装扮(garb的第三人称单数形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
82 laden | |
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
83 hue | |
n.色度;色调;样子 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
84 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
85 skilful | |
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
86 persuasive | |
adj.有说服力的,能说得使人相信的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
87 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |