They stopped to change horses at Hof, a handfulof houses on the brow of a breezy hill, the church and tavern5 standing6 opposite to each other, and nothing between them but the dusty road, and the churchyard, with its iron crosses, and the fluttering tinsel of the funeral garlands. In the churchyard and at the tavern-door, were groups of peasants, waiting for divine service to begin. They were clothed in their holiday dresses. The men wore breeches and long boots, and frock-coats with large metal buttons; the women, straw hats, and gay calico gowns, with short waists and scant7 folds. They were adorned8 with a profusion9 of great, trumpery10 ornaments11, and reminded Flemming of the Indians in the frontier villages of America. Near the churchyard-gate was a booth, filled with flaunting12 calicos; and opposite sat an old woman behind a table, which was loaded with ginger-bread. She had a roulette at her elbow, where the peasants risked a kreutzer for a cake. On other tables, cases of knives, scythes13, reaping-hooks, and other implements14 of husbandry were offered for sale.
The travellers continued their journey, without stopping to hear mass. In the course of the forenoon they came suddenly in sight of the beautiful Lake of Saint Wolfgang, lying deep beneath them in the valley. On its shore, under them, sat the white village of Saint Gilgen, like a swan upon its reedy nest. They seemed to have taken it unawares, and as it were clapped their hands upon it in its sleep, and almost expected to see it spread its broad, snow-white wings, and fly away. The whole scene was one of surpassing beauty.
They drove leisurely15 down the steep hill, and stopped at the village inn. Before the door was a magnificent, broad-armed tree, with benches and tables beneath its shadow. On the front of the house was written in large letters, "Post-Tavern by Franz Schoendorfer"; and over this was a large sun-dial, and a half-effaced painting of a bear-hunt, covering the whole side of the house, and mostly red. Just as they drove up, a procession of priests with banners, and peasants with their hats in their hands, passed by towards the church. They were singing a solemn psalm16. At the same moment, a smart servant girl, with a black straw hat, set coquettishly on her flaxen hair, and a large silver spoon stuck in her girdle, came out of the tavern, and asked Flemming what he would please to order for breakfast.
Breakfast was soon ready, and was served up at the head of the stairs, on an old-fashioned oaken table in the great hall, into which the chambers18 opened. Berkley ordered at the same time a tub of cold water, in which he seated himself, with his coat on, and a bed-quilt thrown round his knees. Thus he sat for an hour; ate his breakfast, and smoked a pipe, and laughed a good deal. He then went to bed and slept till dinner time. Meanwhile Flemming sat in his chamber17 and read. It was a large room in the front of the house, looking upon the village and the lake. The windows were latticed, with small panes19, and the window-sills filled with fragrant20 flowers.
At length the heat of the noon was over. Day, like a weary pilgrim, had reached the westerngate of Heaven, and Evening stooped down to unloose the latchets of his sandal-shoon. Flemming and Berkley sallied forth21 to ramble22 by the borders of the lake. Down the cool, green glades23 and alleys24, beneath the illuminated25 leaves of the forest, over the rising grounds, in the glimmering26 fretwork of sunshine and leaf-shadow,--an exhilarating walk! The cool evening air by the lake was like a bath. They drank the freshness of the hour in thirsty draughts27, and their breasts heaved rejoicing and revived, after the feverish28, long confinement29 of the sultry summer day. And there, too, lay the lake, so beautiful and still! Did it not recall, think ye, the lake of Thun?
On their return homeward they passed near the village churchyard.
"Let us go in and see how the dead rest," said Flemming, as they passed beneath the belfry of the church; and they went in, and lingered among the tombs and the evening shadows.
How peaceful is the dwelling-place of those who inhabit the green hamlets, and populous30 cities of the dead! They need no antidote31 for care,--nor armour32 against fate. No morning sun shines in at the closed windows, and awakens33 them, nor shall until the last great day. At most a straggling sunbeam creeps in through the crumbling34 wall of an old neglected tomb,--a strange visiter, that stays not long. And there they all sleep, the holy ones, with their arms crossed upon their breasts, or lying motionless by their sides,--not carved in marble by the hand of man, but formed in dust, by the hand of God. God's peace be with them. No one comes to them now, to hold them by the hand, and with delicate fingers smooth their hair. They heed35 no more the blandishments of earthly friendship. They need us not, however much we may need them. And yet they silently await our coming.
Beautiful is that season of life, when we can say, in the language of Scripture36, "Thou hast the dew of thy youth." But of these flowers Death gathers many. He places them upon his bosom37, and his form becomes transformed into somethingless terrific than before. We learn to gaze and shudder38 not; for he carries in his arms the sweet blossoms of our earthly hopes. We shall see them all again, blooming in a happier land.
Yes, Death brings us again to our friends. They are waiting for us, and we shall not live long. They have gone before us, and are like the angels in heaven. They stand upon the borders of the grave to welcome us, with the countenance39 of affection, which they wore on earth; yet more lovely, more radiant, more spiritual! O, he spake well who said, that graves are the foot-prints of angels.
Death has taken thee, too, and thou hast the dew of thy youth. He has placed thee upon his bosom, and his stern countenance wears a smile. The far country, toward which we journey, seems nearer to us, and the way less dark; for thou hast gone before, passing so quietly to thy rest, that day itself dies not more calmly!
It was in an hour of blessed communion with the souls of the departed, that the sweet poet Henry Vaughan wrote those few lines, whichhave made death lovely, and his own name immortal40!
"They are all gone into a world of light,
And I alone sit lingering here!
Their very memory is fair and bright,
And my sad thoughts doth clear.
"It glows and glitters in my cloudy breast,
Or those faint beams in which the hill is dressed,
After the sun's remove.
"I see them walking in an air of glory,
High as the heavens above!
These are your walks, and ye have showed them me,
"Dear, beauteous Death! the jewel of the just!
Shining nowhere but in the dark!
What mysteries do lie beyond thy dust,
Could man outlook that mark!
"He that hath found some fledged bird's nest, may know,
At first sight, if the bird be flown;
But what fair field or grove he sings in now,
That is to him unknown.
"And yet as angels, in some brighter dreams,
Call to the soul, when man doth sleep,
And into glory peep!"
Such were Flemming's thoughts, as he stood among the tombs at evening in the churchyard of Saint Gilgen. A holy calm stole over him. The fever of his heart was allayed48. He had a moment's rest from pain; and went back to his chamber in peace. Whence came this holy calm, this long-desired tranquillity49? He knew not; yet the place seemed consecrated50. He resolved to linger there, beside the lake, which was a Pool of Bethesda for him; and let Berkley go on alone to the baths of Ischel. He would wait for him there in the solitude51 of Saint Gilgen. Long after they had parted for the night, he sat in his chamber, and thought of what he had suffered, and enjoyedthe silence within and without. Hour after hour, slipped by unheeded, as he sat lost in his reverie. At length, his candle sank in its socket52, gave one flickering53 gleam, and expired with a sob54. This aroused him.
He went to the window, and peered out into the dark night. It was very late. Twice already since midnight had the great pulpit-orator Time, like a preacher in the days of the Puritans, turned the hour-glass on his high pulpit, the church belfry, and still went on with his sermon, thundering downward to the congregation in the churchyard and in the village. But they heard him not. They were all asleep in their narrow pews, namely, in their beds and in their graves. Soon afterward55 the cock crew; and the cloudy heaven, like the apostle, who denied his Lord, wept bitterly.
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1
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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attune
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| v.使调和 | |
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laborers
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| n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工 | |
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benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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6
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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scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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8
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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trumpery
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| n.无价值的杂物；adj.（物品）中看不中用的 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12
flaunting
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| adj.招摇的，扬扬得意的，夸耀的v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的现在分词 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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13
scythes
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| n.（长柄）大镰刀( scythe的名词复数 )v.（长柄）大镰刀( scythe的第三人称单数 ) | |
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14
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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psalm
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| n.赞美诗，圣诗 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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glades
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| n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
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alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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29
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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30
populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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31
antidote
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| n.解毒药，解毒剂 | |
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32
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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33
awakens
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的第三人称单数 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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34
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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36
scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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37
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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38
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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39
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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40
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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41
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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42
trample
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| vt.踩，践踏；无视，伤害，侵犯 | |
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43
hoary
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| adj.古老的；鬓发斑白的 | |
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44
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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45
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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46
kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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47
transcend
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| vt.超出，超越(理性等)的范围 | |
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48
allayed
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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50
consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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51
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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52
socket
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| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
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53
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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54
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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55
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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