Eloise was much beloved by all the youth in the village, and there was not one who would not gladly have taken her to wife; but none loved her so much as did Herman and Ludwig. Nor did Eloise care for any but Herman and Ludwig, and she loved Herman. The burgomaster said: "Choose whom you [Pg 186]will—I care not! So long as he be honest I will have him for a son and thank Heaven for him."
So Eloise chose Herman, and all said she chose wisely; for Herman was young and handsome, and by his valor1 had won distinction in the army, and had thrice been complimented by the general. So when the brave young captain led Eloise to the altar there was great rejoicing in the village. The beaux, forgetting their disappointments, and the maidens3, seeing the cause of all their jealousy4 removed, made merry together; and it was said that never had there been in the history of the province an event so joyous5 as was the wedding of Herman and Eloise.
But in all the Village there was one aching heart. Ludwig, the young musician, saw with quiet despair the maiden2 he loved go to the altar with another. He had known Eloise from childhood, and he could not say when his love of her began, it was so very long ago; but now he knew his heart was consumed by a hopeless passion. Once, at a village festival, he had begun to speak to her of his love; but Eloise had placed her hand [Pg 187]kindly7 upon his lips and told him to say no further, for they had always been and always would be brother and sister. So Ludwig never spoke8 his love after that, and Eloise and he were as brother and sister; but the love of her grew always within him, and he had no thought but of her.
And now, when Eloise and Herman were wed6, Ludwig feigned9 that he had received a message from a rich relative in a distant part of the kingdom bidding him come thither10, and Ludwig went from the village and was seen there no more.
When the burgomaster died all his possessions went to Herman and Eloise; and they were accounted the richest folk in the province, and so good and charitable were they that they were beloved by all. Meanwhile Herman had risen to greatness in the army, for by his valorous exploits he had become a general, and he was much endeared to the king. And Eloise and Herman lived in a great castle in the midst of a beautiful park, and the people came and paid them reverence11 there.
And no one in all these years spoke of Ludwig. No one thought of him. [Pg 188]Ludwig was forgotten. And so the years went by.
It came to pass, however, that from a far-distant province there spread the fame of a musician so great that the king sent for him to visit the court. No one knew the musician's name nor whence he came, for he lived alone and would never speak of himself; but his music was so tender and beautiful that it was called heart-music, and he himself was called the Master. He was old and bowed with infirmities, but his music was always of youth and love; it touched every heart with its simplicity12 and pathos13, and all wondered how this old and broken man could create so much of tenderness and sweetness on these themes.
But when the king sent for the Master to come to court the Master returned him answer: "No, I am old and feeble. To leave my home would weary me unto death. Let me die here as I have lived these long years, weaving my music for hearts that need my solace14."
Then the people wondered. But the king was not angry; in pity he sent the Master a purse of gold, and bade him come or not come, as he willed. Such honor had never before been shown any subject in the kingdom, and [Pg 189]all the people were dumb with amazement15. But the Master gave the purse of gold to the poor of the village wherein he lived.
In those days Herman died, full of honors and years, and there was a great lamentation16 in the land, for Herman was beloved by all. And Eloise wept unceasingly and would not be comforted.
On the seventh day after Herman had been buried there came to the castle in the park an aged17 and bowed man who carried in his white and trembling hands a violin. His kindly face was deeply wrinkled, and a venerable beard swept down upon his breast. He was weary and footsore, but he heeded18 not the words of pity bestowed19 on him by all who beheld20 him tottering21 on his way. He knocked boldly at the castle gate, and demanded to be brought into the presence of Eloise.
And Eloise said: "Bid him enter; perchance his music will comfort my breaking heart."
Then, when the old man had come into her presence, behold22! he was the Master,—ay, the Master whose fame was in every land, whose heart-music was on every tongue.
"If thou art indeed the Master," said Eloise,[Pg 190] "let thy music be balm to my chastened spirit."
The Master said: "Ay, Eloise, I will comfort thee in thy sorrow, and thy heart shall be stayed, and a great joy will come to thee."
Then the Master drew his bow across the strings23, and lo! forthwith there arose such harmonies as Eloise had never heard before. Gently, persuasively24, they stole upon her senses and filled her soul with an ecstasy25 of peace.
"Is it Herman that speaks to me?" cried Eloise. "It is his voice I hear, and it speaks to me of love. With thy heart-music, O Master, all the sweetness of his life comes back to comfort me!"
The Master did not pause; as he played, it seemed as if each tender word and caress26 of Herman's life was stealing back on music's pinions27 to soothe28 the wounds that death had made.
"It is the song of our love-life," murmured Eloise. "How full of memories it is—what tenderness and harmony—and, oh! what peace it brings! But tell me, Master, what means this minor29 chord,—this undertone of sadness[Pg 191] and of pathos that flows like a deep, unfathomable current throughout it all, and wailing30, weaves itself about thy theme of love and happiness with its weird31 and subtile influences?"
Then the Master said: "It is that shade of sorrow and sacrifice, O Eloise, that ever makes the picture of love more glorious. An undertone of pathos has been my part in all these years to symmetrize the love of Herman and Eloise. The song of thy love is beautiful, and who shall say it is not beautified by the sad undertone of Ludwig's broken heart?"
"Thou art Ludwig!" cried Eloise. "Thou art Ludwig, who didst love me, and hast come to comfort me who loved thee not!"
The Master indeed was Ludwig; but when they hastened to do him homage32 he heard them not, for with that last and sweetest heart-song his head sank upon his breast, and he was dead.
1885.
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1
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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2
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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3
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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4
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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5
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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6
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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7
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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8
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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9
feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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10
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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11
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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12
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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13
pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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14
solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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15
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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16
lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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17
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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18
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
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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21
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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22
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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23
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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24
persuasively
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| adv.口才好地；令人信服地 | |
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25
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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26
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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27
pinions
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的第三人称单数 ) | |
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28
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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29
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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30
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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31
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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32
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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