"Dröckteufel! Dröckteufel! have you forgotten everything?"
The voice was so piercing that Maître Bernard, waking with a sudden start, felt his hair creeping with horror. He raised himself upon his elbow and listened again with eyes starting with astonishment1. The hut was as dark as a cellar; he listened, but not a breath, not a sound, came; only far away, far beyond the ruins, a dull, distant roar was heard among the mountains.
"Who is there? What do you want?"
But no answer came.
"It was a dream," he said, falling back upon his heather couch. "I must have been lying upon my back. There is nothing at all in dreams and nightmares—nothing! nothing!"
But in the midst of the restored silence the same doleful cry was again repeated—
"Dröckteufel! Dröckteufel!"
And as Maître Bernard, fairly beside himself, was preparing for instant flight, but with his face to the wall, and unable to move from his couch, the voice, in a dissonant3 chant, with pauses and strange accents, went on—
"The Queen Faileube, espoused4 to our king, Chilperic—Queen Faileube, learning that Septimanie, the governess of the young princes, had conspired5 against the king's life—Queen Faileube said to the lord, 'My lord, the viper6 waits until you are asleep to give you a mortal wound. She has conspired with Sinnégisile and Gallomagus against your life! She has poisoned her husband, your faithful Jovius, to live with Dröckteufel. Let your anger come down upon her like lightning, and your vengeance7 with a bloody8 sword!' And Chilperic, assembling all his council in the castle of Nideck, said, 'We have cherished a viper; she has plotted our death. Let her be cut into three pieces. Let Dröckteufel, Sinnégisile, and Gallomagus perish with her! Let the ravens9 rejoice!' And the vassals10 cried, 'So let it be! The wrath11 of Chilperic is an abyss into which his enemies fall and perish!' Then Septimanie was brought to be put to the torture and examined; a ring of iron was bound around her temples; it was tightened12; her eyes started; her blood-dropping mouth murmured, 'Lord king, I have offended. Dröckteufel, Gallomagus, and Sinnégisile have also conspired!' And the following night a festoon of corpses13 dangled14 and swung from the towers of Nideck! The foul15 birds of prey16 rejoiced over the rich spoil. Dröckteufel, what would I not have done for thee? I would have had thee King of Austrasia, and thou hast forgotten me!"
The guttural voice sank down, and my uncle Bernard, more dead than alive, breathing a sigh of terror, murmured—
"Oh, I have never done anybody any wrong! I am only a poor old chronicler! Let me not die without absolution, far from the succour of the Church!"
The great wooden box full of heather seemed at every effort to escape to sink deeper and deeper. The poor man thought he was going down into a gulf17, when, happily, Christian18 reappeared, crying—
"Well, Maître Bernard, what did I say? here is the storm."
And now the hut was for an instant full of dazzling light, and my worthy19 uncle, who was lying facing the door, could see the whole valley lighted up, with its innumerable fir-trees crowded along the slopes down the valley as close as the grass of the fields, its rocks piled up on the banks of the river, which was rolling its sulphurous blue waves over the rounded boulders20 of the ravine, and the towers of Nideck rising proudly in the air fifteen hundred feet above.
Then the darkness covered all up again. That was the first flash.
But in that instant of time he caught sight of a strange figure crouching21 at the end of the hut without being able to make out what it really was.
Great drops were beginning to patter on the roof. Christian lighted a rush, and seeing Maître Bernard with his hands convulsively clutching the edge of his box of heather, and his face covered with beads22 of cold sweat, he cried—
"Why! Master Bernard! what is the matter with you?"
But, without answering, he merely pointed23 to the figure huddled24 up in the corner; it was an old woman, so very advanced in extreme old age, so yellow and wrinkled, with such a hooked nose, fingers so skinny, and lips so lean, that she looked like an old owl25 with all its feathers gone. There were only a few hairs left on the back of her head; the rest of her skull26 was as bare of covering as an egg. A threadbare ragged27 linen28 gown covered her poor skeleton figure. She was sightless, and the expression of her face was one of constant reverie.
Christian, noticing my uncle's inquiring look, turned his head and said quietly—
"It's old Irmengarde, the old teller29 of legends. She is waiting to die till the old tower falls into the torrent30."
Uncle Bernard, stupefied, looked at the woodman; he did not seem inclined to joke; on the contrary, he looked serious.
"Come, Christian," said the good man, "you mean to have your joke."
"Joke! no indeed, old and feeble as you see her, that old woman knows everything; the spirit of the ruins is in her. She was living when the old lords of the castle lived."
"But what do you mean?" he cried; "the castle of Nideck has been down these thousand years!"
"What if it was two thousand years?" said the woodman, making the sign of the cross as a new flash lighted up the valley; "what does that prove? The spirit of the ruins lives in her. A hundred and eight years Irmengarde has lived with this spirit in her. Before her it was in old Edith of Haslach; before Edith in some other—"
"Do you believe that?"
"Do I believe it! It is as sure, Master Bernard, as that the sun will be back in three hours' time. Death is night, life is day. After night comes day, then night again, and so on without end. The sun is the soul of the sky, the great spirit that is in us all, and the souls of the saints are like the stars which shine in the night, and which will never cease to return."
Bernard Hertzog replied not another word, but having risen, he began suspiciously to consider the aspect of that aged33 woman, who sat still in a niche34 carved out of the rock. He noticed above the niche some rough carving35 on the stone representing three trees with their branches touching36, and forming a sort of crown; lower down were three toads37 cut in the granite38. Three trees are the arms of the Tribocci (dreien büchen), three toads are the arms of the Merovingian kings.
What was the surprise of the old chronicler! Covetousness39 now took the place of alarm.
"Here," thought he, "is the oldest monument of the Frankish race in Gaul. That old woman reminds me of some fallen queen, left here a relic40 of ages long gone by. But how am I to carry the niche away?"
He began to consider.
Then was heard far away in the woods the trampling41 of the hoofs42 of many cattle and deep bellowing43. The rain fell faster; the flashes of lightning, like flights of frightened birds in the dark, touched each other by the tips of their wings; one never waited for another to be gone, and the rolling of the thunder became incessant44 and terrible.
Soon the storm reached the very gorge45 of Nideck and hung over it closely, and swooped46 down with implacable fury; the explosions succeeded each other without intermission. It seemed as if the very mountains were falling.
At every fresh crash Uncle Bernard shrank, feeling as if the lightning were coming down his back.
"The first Triboceus who built a hut to cover his head was no fool," thought he. "He was a sensible man, with some experience of atmospheric47 changes. What would have become of us in this emergency had we not a roof over our heads? We should be greatly to be pitied. The invention of that Triboccus was quite as useful as that of the steam-engine; what a pity his name is not known!"
The worthy man had scarcely concluded his reflections when a young maiden48 of sixteen, wearing a very wide-brimmed straw hat, her white skirts dripping with rain and her little bare feet covered with sand, advanced to the doorstep, and said—
"The Lord bless you!"
"Amen," answered Christian solemnly.
This young girl was of the purest Scandinavian type, with cheeks of rose pink upon a face of pure whiteness, and long waving tresses, so fair and so silky that the finest wheat straw would hardly bear comparison with it. Her figure was tall and slender, and her blue eyes beamed with inexpressible sweetness.
Maître Bernard stood a few moments in rapt admiration49, and the woodman, kindly50 addressing the young girl, said—
"I am glad to see you, Fuldrade. Irmengarde is still asleep. What a storm it is! Is it coming to an end yet?"
"Yes, the wind is driving it down to the plain. It will be over before daylight."
Then, without looking at Maître Bernard, she went to sit before the old woman, who now seemed to revive.
"Yes."
The aged woman bowed her head, and her lips moved.
After the last thunderclaps the rain fell in torrents52. All down the valley was heard an incessant loud beating of falling sheets of rain, and the rushing of the swollen53 stream, then, at intervals54, after a brief cessation of rain, again the heavier dashing of repeated and more violent showers.
Between the heavy showers the tinkling55 which Uncle Bernard had distinguished56 in the distance when he awoke gradually became more distinct, and at last arrived under the window of the hut, and almost immediately five long-horned head of beautiful cows, spotted57 equally with white and black, appeared at the door.
"Why! here's Waldine!" cried Christian, laughing; "she is looking for you, Fuldrade."
The gentle creature calmly and quietly came straight in, and seemed to examine old Irmengarde.
"Go away!" cried Fuldrade; "go along with the others!"
And the obedient heifer turned back to the cabin door.
But the falling floods seemed to give her matter for reflection, for she stood quietly there, contemplating58 the deluge59, and slowly swinging her beautiful head, lowing in a deep, subdued60 tone.
The fresh air was now penetrating61 the hut and bringing with it the sweet perfumes of honeysuckle and wild roses, excited by the freshening rain. All the birds in the woods—redbreasts, thrushes, and blackbirds—formed a concert under the trees; the air was filled with the little love-tales of the happy birds and the fluttering of their eager wings.
Then Maître Bernard, recovering from his reverie, took a few paces outside, raised his eyes, and contemplated62 the white and fleecy clouds hastily crossing the still troubled sky. On the hill opposite he could see the whole herd63 of cattle, all lying sheltered beneath the overhanging rocks, some lazily extended, their knees bent64 beneath them, with sleepy eyes; others, with neck outstretched, lowing solemnly. A few young animals were gazing at the hanging festoons of honeysuckle, and seemed to enjoy the balmy air that wafted65 from them.
All these diverse forms and attitudes stood clearly out upon the reddish background of the rock; and the immense expanded vault66 of the cavern67, with its setting of oak and pine whose twisted roots appeared where they had pierced through the rock, gave a majestic68 air of grandeur69 to the spectacle.
"Well, Maître Bernard," cried Christian, "it is broad daylight; had we not better start?"
Then, speaking to Fuldrade, who seemed buried in thought—
"Fuldrade, this old gentleman cannot drink our kirschwasser, yet I cannot offer him water. Have you anything better?"
Fuldrade took up a milk-pail, and, with an intelligent glance at Christian, went out.
"Wait a moment," she said; "I shall be here directly."
She rapidly tripped over the wet meadow; the drops of rain, collecting in the large leaves, poured about her feet in little crystal streams. At her approach to the cave the finest cows arose up as if to greet their young mistress. She patted them all, and, having seated herself, began to milk one, a fine white cow, which, standing motionless, with eyes half-closed, seemed grateful for the preference.
When her pail was full Fuldrade made haste back, and, presenting it to Bernard, said, smiling—
"Drink as much as you like; that is the way we drink milk warm from the cow in the country."
Which was done at once, the good man thanking her many times, and praising the excellence70 of this frothy milk, flavoured, as it were, with the wild aromatic71 plants of the Schnéeberg, Fuldrade seemed pleased with his eulogiums, and Christian, who had slipped on his blouse, standing behind them, staff in hand, waited for the end of these compliments before he cried—
"Now, master, en route! We have plenty of water now to turn the mill for six weeks without stopping, and I must be back by nine o'clock."
And they started, following the gravelly road under the hill.
"Adieu!" said Maître Bernard to the young girl, who gently bowed her head without speaking; "farewell! and may God make you always happy!"
The next day, about six in the evening, Bernard Hertzog, having returned to Saverne, was seated before his writing-desk, and describing in his chapter upon the antiquities72 of the Dagsberg, his discovery of the Merovingian arms in the woodman's hut in the Nideck. Then he went on to prove that the name of Tribocci, or Triboques, was derived73 from the German drei büchen—that is, three beeches74. As a convincing proof, he referred to the three trees and the three toads of Nideck, which latter our kings have converted into three fleurs-de-lis.
All the antiquaries of Alsace envied him this admirable and interesting discovery. On both banks of the Rhine he was known as doctor, doctissimus, eruditus Bernardus, under which triumphal titles he dilated75 with honest pride, while he tried to bear his honours with becoming gravity.
And now, my dear friends, if you are curious to know what became of old Irmengarde, refer to the second volume of Bernard Hertzog's Archeological Annals, where under date July 16,1836, you will find the following statement:—
"The old teller of legends, Irmengarde, surnamed 'The Soul of the Ruins,' died last night in the hut of the woodman Christian. Wonderful to relate, in the very same hour, almost the same minute, the principal tower of Nideck fell, and was washed away by the waterfall below.
"Such is the end of the most ancient monument known of Merovingian architecture, of which Schlosser, the historian, says," etc., etc.
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1
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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stammer
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| n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说 | |
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dissonant
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| adj.不和谐的；不悦耳的 | |
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4
espoused
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| v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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viper
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| n.毒蛇；危险的人 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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8
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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ravens
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| n.低质煤；渡鸦( raven的名词复数 ) | |
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vassals
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| n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 )；（封建时代）诸侯；从属者；下属 | |
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11
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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12
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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13
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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15
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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16
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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17
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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21
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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teller
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| n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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32
astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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niche
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| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
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carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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toads
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆( toad的名词复数 ) | |
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granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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covetousness
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relic
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| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
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trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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43
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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46
swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
atmospheric
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| adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的 | |
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48
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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49
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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50
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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51
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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52
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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53
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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54
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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55
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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56
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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57
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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58
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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59
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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60
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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61
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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62
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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63
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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64
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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65
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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67
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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68
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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69
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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70
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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71
aromatic
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| adj.芳香的，有香味的 | |
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72
antiquities
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| n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯 | |
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73
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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74
beeches
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| n.山毛榉( beech的名词复数 )；山毛榉木材 | |
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75
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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