But at last the crowning test of his courage came; for, on a voyage round the coast of Africa, there arose the most furious tempest that had ever been known in those seas. All prudent2 seamen3 at once sought refuge in harbours and sheltering bays, casting their anchors until the storm should abate4; but the Dutch captain only laughed at the fears of his crew when they implored5 him to do likewise, and, casting prudence7 to the winds, he swore that in spite of the raging hurricane he would double the Cape8 of Good Hope without delay, even if he kept on sailing for ever.
Now it happened that this foolish vow9 was over heard by the Evil One, who was in the very heart of the tempest, and, as a punishment for his vain boast, he condemned10 the rash captain to sail the seas until the Day of Judgment11. The only hope of release held out to him was to find a pure and lovely maiden12 who would be willing to love him faithfully until death; and for this purpose he was allowed to go on shore once in every seven years to seek for such a saviour13.
Full of remorse14 and despair, the unhappy captain began his ceaseless voyage, and the mad recklessness of his speed soon won for him the name of the "Flying Dutchman."
The fame of his terrible plight15, and of the evil influence surrounding him, became world-wide, and all good sailors tried to avoid the doomed16 ship, crossing themselves devoutly18 whenever its blood-red sails and black masts appeared in sight.
Once in every seven years the Flying Dutchman went on shore; but he always returned disappointed and despairing, for no maiden could be found willing to share his fate and to be loving and faithful to him until death. And so, for years and centuries, the ill-fated man sailed the seas unceasingly, and though he daily courted death, yet death came not to him, and every danger passed him by.
At length, after many hopeless centuries had gone by, the Flying Dutchman steered19 his ship towards the rugged20 coast of Norway; and as another seven years' term was just now at an end, he determined21 to go on shore and begin his hopeless quest once more.
By this time his vessel22 was laden23 with gold and jewels gathered from the sea and coasts of many lands; and by bestowing24 his treasures lavishly25, he knew he would soon gain acquaintance with someone.
As he drew near to the shores of a lonely bay, he found a Norwegian vessel already there before him, having sought shelter from a passing storm, and presently he entered into conversation with the captain, and tried to make friends with him.
The Norwegian captain, whose name was Daland, welcomed the stranger very kindly26; and he told him that he only waited in this dreary27 spot until the storm abated28, when he should eagerly make for his home, a few miles further along the coast, where his fair daughter was watching for his return.
When the Flying Dutchman heard that the Norwegian had a daughter, he was very glad; and presently he eagerly offered to Daland the whole of his vast treasures, if he would give him in return a few days' hospitality, and his daughter as a bride.
Now Daland, who was somewhat greedy of gold, had long desired to find such a wealthy husband for his beautiful daughter, and, though he knew nothing of the stranger before him, and felt somewhat afraid of his weird29 looks and mysterious crew, he could not resist the desire to possess the wonderful treasures described to him. So he gladly gave the Dutchman permission to woo the maiden; and a short time afterwards, the storm having passed away, the two ships set sail for Daland's home.
In the meanwhile, the household of the Norwegian captain had been eagerly awaiting his return for some time, and on the day of his expected arrival, his fair daughter, Senta, was spinning with her maidens30 in the principal room of the house.
Dame31 Mary, the old nurse, was in charge of the work, and under her directions the pretty maidens were kept busily employed, singing merry songs to the hum of their spinning-wheels.
Only one of the maidens was idle; and this was the beautiful young mistress—Senta herself—who sat with her hands folded, pensively32 gazing at a picture upon the wall. The picture was a portrait of the Flying Dutchman, who had been once seen by an artist years ago, and whose story told in ballad33 and legend was well known in Norway; and as Senta looked upon that pale, sad face, a great pity for the poor wanderer's terrible fate arose within her.
This face had such a wonderful fascination34 for the tender maiden, that a great love and devotion grew up in her heart for the tortured soul she longed to comfort; and on this day of her father's return, she gazed upon the picture with more intentness than usual, for she had dreamed many times of late that its subject stood before her as a real living lover.
But Dame Mary did not care to see her sweet young mistress gaze so frequently upon the face of one whom Satan had claimed for his own; and presently she called out sharply to her: "Thou careless girl! Wilt35 thou not spin?"
Then the other maidens begged her also to join them in their spinning, and not to waste her sighs and thoughts on one who could never be her lover; but Senta said she was tired of the hum of spinning-wheels, and asked Dame Mary to tell them again the legend of the Flying Dutchman.
But Dame Mary would not do so; and then Senta herself sang the whole ballad through from beginning to end, in her sweet, soft voice.
She described the rash vow of the daring captain, and the awful doom17 it had brought upon him, and the song excited her to such passionate36 depths of pity that, at the end of it, she stretched out her arms and cried aloud, as though the spectral37 seaman38 himself stood before her:
"I am the one who through her love will save thee!
Oh, may the Angels hither guide thee!
Through me, may new-found joy betide thee!"
As she uttered these wild words, which caused Dame Mary and her maidens to cry out in horror, a handsome young huntsman, named Erik, entered the room, and heard all; and having loved the fair Senta from childhood, and believed himself beloved in return, he rushed to her side in alarm, imploring39 her not to forsake40 him.
He then announced that Daland's ship had just arrived, accompanied by another and unknown vessel; and when Dame Mary and the maidens had hastily departed to set food ready for their master's welcome, he turned again to Senta, and begged her to assure him once more of her love, and to help him to gain her father's consent to their marriage, knowing full well that Daland desired a wealthier suitor for his daughter than a poor huntsman.
The beautiful Senta only laughed at his doubts; and when he reproached her with gazing so constantly at the picture on the wall, she declared it was but pity that filled her heart for the subject of it.
But Erik was not satisfied, and he went on to describe a vision he had lately had, in which he had seen Senta give her hand to this very phantom41 captain, who embraced her rapturously, and led her to his vessel; and when Senta heard this, the glamour42 of her strange fascination came over her again, and she cried out wildly:
"He seeks for me, and I for him!
For him will I risk life and limb!"
Erik rushed away, wringing43 his hands with grief, feeling now that Senta must be under some strange and evil spell; and at this moment Daland entered the room with his mysterious guest, whom as yet he did not know to be the Flying Dutchman. He held out his arms lovingly, expecting his daughter to rush forward and embrace him as she had always done before on his return from sea; but Senta, with wide-open, intense eyes, was gazing fixedly44 beyond him at the stranger in the doorway45.
There, in the living flesh, she beheld46 the face that had fascinated all her maiden days; and, spellbound with astonishment47, she turned to embrace her father, as in a trance, saying: "My father, say, who is this stranger?"
Then Daland explained how he had met with the strange captain and taken pity on his loneliness; and he eagerly added:
"Wilt thou, my child, accord our guest a friendly welcome?
And wilt thou also let him share thy kindly heart?
Give him thy hand, for bridegroom it is thine to call him!
If thou but give consent, to-morrow his thou art.
Look on these gems48; look on the bracelets49!
To what he owns, trifles are these!
Dost thou, my child, not long to have them?
And all art thine, when thou art his!"
As he spoke50, Daland, with the gleam of avarice51 in his eyes, spread out on a table the jewels and gold the Flying Dutchman had already given him from big treasure-laden ship; but seeing that Senta did not even glance at them, he thought it wiser to retire, and leave the stranger to plead his own cause.
When he had gone, the Flying Dutchman, with trembling hope, seized the hands of Senta and implored her to share his lonely fate, declaring that he had seen her in visions long ago, and believed her to be the one who should save him from his woes52, and bring him peace and rest at last; and Senta, with rapture53, consented to be his bride, telling him that she had also seen him in her dreams, and had longed to release him from his sorrows.
When the Flying Dutchman thus knew that Senta was acquainted with his sad story and willing to break the evil spell that had been cast upon him, he was transported with joy; and yet he nobly begged her to think of the sacrifice she was about to make by sharing his lot. To which the fair maiden replied heroically:
"Him whom I choose, him I love only,
And loving, e'en till death!
Here is my hand! I will not rue54!
But e'en to death will I be true!"
At this moment Daland returned, and, full of joy at seeing that Senta was willing to accept the stranger he had chosen for her husband, he gladly joined their hands.
He then invited them to return with him to the shore; for it was always his custom, at the end of a voyage, to give a feast to the crew on board his ship.
When they arrived upon the shore, a gay scene was already taking place. Dame Mary and her merry maidens had brought food and wine on deck, and the jolly sailors were soon greeting their pretty sweethearts, and feasting, laughing, and singing with thankful hearts.
In strange contrast to this merriment, complete silence reigned55 on board the Flying Dutchman's ship, for though food and wine had also been brought out for the stranger's crew, they kept down below, and gave no sound of life at all. It was in vain that the maidens tried to attract their attention; and at length, alarmed at the strange looks of the silent vessel, they desisted altogether.
And then, when the Norwegian sailors, in their own enjoyment56, had almost forgotten the presence of the strangers, the mysterious crew of the Flying Dutchman suddenly roused up and began to sing, in harsh, unearthly tones, a wild song, in which they told the story of their ill-fated master; and at the same time a dark, bluish flame gleamed around them, and loud rumblings of a storm were heard.
At first the startled Norwegians looked on in wonder, and tried to drown these weird sounds with their own gay singing; but after a while they grew alarmed, and, overcome by the dreadful scene, and full of horror, they hurriedly crossed themselves and retired57 to the cabin. On seeing this, the crew of the phantom ship burst into a peal58 of shrill59, demoniacal laughter; and then the ghastly flame died slowly away, the stormy rumblings ceased, and silence reigned once more.
The Norwegians now knew that the dreaded60 and shunned61 Flying Dutchman and his evil crew from the abodes62 of darkness were in their midst; and Erik the Huntsman, shocked and horrified63, rushed towards Senta, and implored her to renounce64 the stranger whose evil fate she had agreed to share. He passionately65 pleaded his own faithful love, begging her to accept it once again; and he reminded her of the old sweet days when she had been contented66 to love him, saying:
"Hast thou forgot that day when thou didst call me,
Call me to thee, yon pleasant vale within?
When, counting not what labour might befall me,
Fearless I climbed, gay flow'rs for thee to win?
Bethink thee, how, upon the headland standing67,
We watched thy father from the shore depart,
He, ere we mark'd his gleaming sail expanding,
He bade thee trust my fond and faithful heart,
Why thrill'd my soul to feel my hand clasp'd in thine?
Say, was it not that it told me thou wert true?"
These tender, pleading words were heard by the Flying Dutchman, who was hovering68 near; and the wretched man, full of disappointment and despair, believing that Senta was about to renounce him, rushed on board his own ship and drew the anchor, crying out wildly: "Abandoned! All is for ever lost! Senta, farewell!"
But Senta, though torn by Erik's pleading, still found her love and devotion to the Flying Dutchman the strongest feeling in her heart; and, rushing forward to follow him, she cried:
"Canst thou doubt if I am faithful?
Unhappy! What has blinded thee?
Oh stay! The vow we made forsake not!
What I have promised, kept shall be!"
Erik, Daland, and others seized the distraught maiden as she fled, full of horror at the sacrifice she was about to make for one whose evil doom affrighted them; and whilst they held her back, the Flying Dutchman, though utterly69 bereft70 of hope, nobly vowed71 that he would release her from her promise to him, and sail away at once.
But Senta was determined to share the sad doom of the hero of her dreams, and by her faithful love to break the cruel spell that had bound him so long; and struggling until she freed herself from those who so vainly tried to hold her back, she ran forward to the edge of an overhanging cliff close by, stretching out her arms, and crying wildly to the hopeless figure on the departing vessel:
"Well do I know thee—Well do I know thy doom!
I knew thy face when I beheld thee first!
The end of thine affliction comes:
My lore6 till death shall take thy curse away!
Here stand I, faithful, yea, till death!"
With these heroic words, the gentle, devoted72 maiden, in a transport of joy, cast herself into the sea; and, immediately afterwards, the phantom ship sank beneath the waves, which arose and receded73 again in a mighty74 whirlpool.
As the Norwegians gazed with awe75 and astonishment upon this wondrous76 sight, they saw, in the golden glow of the setting sun, two ethereal forms rising together from the sea over the wreck77, and floating upward towards the heavens.
They were Senta and the Flying Dutchman, their arms entwined in a loving embrace, and a look of perfect peace and everlasting78 joy upon their radiant, upturned faces.
The ransom79 had been paid; and the Flying Dutchman was at rest for evermore, with the fair, sweet maiden who had loved him faithfully until death!
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收听单词发音
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1
daunt
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| vt.使胆怯，使气馁 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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abate
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| vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lore
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| n.传说；学问，经验，知识 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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8
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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10
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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11
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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13
saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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15
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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16
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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18
devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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19
steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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20
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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lavishly
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| adv.慷慨地，大方地 | |
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26
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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27
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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28
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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29
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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30
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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31
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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pensively
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| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
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33
ballad
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| n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲 | |
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34
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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35
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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36
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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spectral
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| adj.幽灵的，鬼魂的 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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39
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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40
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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41
phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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42
glamour
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| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
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43
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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45
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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46
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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49
bracelets
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| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
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50
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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51
avarice
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| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
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52
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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53
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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54
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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55
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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56
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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57
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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58
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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59
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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60
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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61
shunned
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
abodes
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| 住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留 | |
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63
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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64
renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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65
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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66
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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67
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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68
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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69
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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70
bereft
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| adj.被剥夺的 | |
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71
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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72
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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73
receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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74
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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75
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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76
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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77
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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78
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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79
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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