the sorrows of young werther(少年维特的烦恼)-第27章
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as lightning in the field。 Thy voice was as a stream after rain；
like thunder on distant hills。 Many fell by thy arm： they were
consumed in the flames of thy wrath。 But when thou didst return
from war； how peaceful was thy brow。 Thy face was like the sun
after rain： like the moon in the silence of night： calm as the
breast of the lake when the loud wind is laid。
〃Narrow is thy dwelling now！ dark the place of thine abode！ With
three steps I compass thy grave； O thou who wast so great before！
Four stones； with their heads of moss； are the only memorial of
thee。 A tree with scarce a leaf； long grass which whistles in the
wind； mark to the hunter's eye the grave of the mighty Morar。
Morar！ thou art low indeed。 Thou hast no mother to mourn thee；
no maid with her tears of love。 Dead is she that brought thee
forth。 Fallen is the daughter of Morglan。
〃Who on his staff is this？ Who is this whose head is white with
age； whose eyes are red with tears； who quakes at every step？ It
is thy father； O Morar！ the father of no son but thee。 He heard
of thy fame in war； he heard of foes dispersed。 He heard of Morar's
renown； why did he not hear of his wound？ Weep； thou father of
Morar！ Weep； but thy son heareth thee not。 Deep is the sleep of
the dead； low their pillow of dust。 No more shall he hear thy
voice； no more awake at thy call。 When shall it be morn in the
grave； to bid the slumberer awake？ Farewell； thou bravest of men！
thou conqueror in the field！ but the field shall see thee no more；
nor the dark wood be lightened with the splendour of thy steel。
Thou has left no son。 The song shall preserve thy name。 Future
times shall hear of thee they shall hear of the fallen Morar！
〃The grief of all arose； but most the bursting sigh of Armin。 He
remembers the death of his son； who fell in the days of his youth。
Carmor was near the hero； the chief of the echoing Galmal。 Why
burst the sigh of Armin？ he said。 Is there a cause to mourn？ The
song comes with its music to melt and please the soul。 It is like
soft mist that； rising from a lake； pours on the silent vale；
the green flowers are filled with dew； but the sun returns in his
strength； and the mist is gone。 Why art thou sad； O Armin； chief
of sea…surrounded Gorma？
〃Sad I am！ nor small is my cause of woe！ Carmor； thou hast lost
no son； thou hast lost no daughter of beauty。 Colgar the valiant
lives； and Annira； fairest maid。 The boughs of thy house ascend；
O Carmor！ but Armin is the last of his race。 Dark is thy bed； O
Daura！ deep thy sleep in the tomb！ When shalt thou wake with thy
songs？ with all thy voice of music？
〃Arise； winds of autumn； arise： blow along the heath。 Streams of
the mountains； roar； roar； tempests in the groves of my oaks！ Walk
through broken clouds； O moon！ show thy pale face at intervals；
bring to my mind the night when all my children fell； when Arindal
the mighty fell when Daura the lovely failed。 Daura； my daughter；
thou wert fair； fair as the moon on Fura； white as the driven snow；
sweet as the breathing gale。 Arindal； thy bow was strong； thy spear
was swift on the field； thy look was like mist on the wave； thy
shield a red cloud in a storm！ Armar； renowned in war； came and
sought Daura's love。 He was not long refused： fair was the hope
of their friends。
〃Erath； son of Odgal； repined： his brother had been slain by Armar。
He came disguised like a son of the sea： fair was his cliff on the
wave； white his locks of age； calm his serious brow。 Fairest of
women； he said； lovely daughter of Armin！ a rock not distant in
the sea bears a tree on its side； red shines the fruit afar。 There
Armar waits for Daura。 I come to carry his love！ she went she
called on Armar。 Nought answered； but the son of the rock。 Armar；
my love； my love！ why tormentest thou me with fear？ Hear； son of
Arnart； hear！ it is Daura who calleth thee。 Erath； the traitor；
fled laughing to the land。 She lifted up her voice she called
for her brother and her father。 Arindal！ Armin！ none to relieve
you； Daura。
〃Her voice came over the sea。 Arindal； my son； descended from the
hill； rough in the spoils of the chase。 His arrows rattled by his
side； his bow was in his hand； five dark…gray dogs attended his
steps。 He saw fierce Erath on the shore； he seized and bound him
to an oak。 Thick wind the thongs of the hide around his limbs；
he loads the winds with his groans。 Arindal ascends the deep in
his boat to bring Daura to land。 Armar came in his wrath； and
let fly the gray…feathered shaft。 It sung； it sunk in thy heart；
O Arindal； my son！ for Erath the traitor thou diest。 The oar is
stopped at once： he panted on the rock； and expired。 What is thy
grief； O Daura； when round thy feet is poured thy brother's blood。
The boat is broken in twain。 Armar plunges into the sea to rescue
his Daura； or die。 Sudden a blast from a hill came over the waves；
he sank； and he rose no more。
〃Alone； on the sea…beat rock； my daughter was heard to complain；
frequent and loud were her cries。 What could her father do？ All
night I stood on the shore： I saw her by the faint beam of the moon。
All night I heard her cries。 Loud was the wind； the rain beat hard
on the hill。 Before morning appeared； her voice was weak； it died
away like the evening breeze among the grass of the rocks。 Spent
with grief； she expired； and left thee； Armin； alone。 Gone is my
strength in war； fallen my pride among women。 When the storms
aloft arise； when the north lifts the wave on high； I sit by the
sounding shore； and look on the fatal rock。
〃Often by the setting moon I see the ghosts of my children； half
viewless they walk in mournful conference together。〃
A torrent of tears which streamed from Charlotte's eyes and gave
relief to her bursting heart； stopped Werther's recitation。 He
threw down the book； seized her hand； and wept bitterly。 Charlotte
leaned upon her hand； and buried her face in her handkerchief：
the agitation of both was excessive。 They felt that their own
fate was pictured in the misfortunes of Ossian's heroes； they
felt this together； and their tears redoubled。 Werther supported
his forehead on Charlotte's arm： she trembled； she wished to be
gone； but sorrow and sympathy lay like a leaden weight upon her
soul。 She recovered herself shortly； and begged Werther； with
broken sobs； to leave her； implored him with the utmost earnestness
to comply with her request。 He trembled； his heart was ready to
burst： then； taking up the book again； he recommenced reading； in
a voice broken by sobs。
〃Why dost thou waken me； O spring？ Thy voice woos me； exclaiming；
I refresh thee with heavenly dews； but the time of my decay is
approaching； the storm is nigh that shall whither my leaves。
Tomorrow the traveller shall come； he shall come； who beheld me
in beauty： his eye shall seek me in the field around； but he shall
not find me。〃
The whole force of these words fell upon the unfortunate Werther。
Full of despair； he threw himself at Charlotte's feet； seized her
hands； and pressed them to his eyes and to his forehead。 An
apprehension of his fatal project now struck her for the first
time。 Her senses were bewildered： she held his hands； pressed
them to her bosom； and； leaning toward him with emotions of the
tenderest pity； her warm cheek touched his。 They lost sight of
everything。 The world disappeared from their eyes。 He clasped
her in his arms； strained her to his bosom； and covered her trembling
lips with passionate kisses。 〃Werther！〃 she cried with a faint
voice； turning herself away； 〃Werther！〃 and； with a feeble hand；
she pushed him from her。 At length； with the firm voice of virtue；
she exclaimed； 〃Werther！〃 He resisted not； but； tearing himself
from her arms； fell on his knees before her。 Charlotte rose； and；
with disordered grief； in mingled tones of love and resentment；
she exclaimed； 〃It is the last time； Werther！ You shall never see
me any more！〃 Then； casting one last； tender look upon her
unfortunate lover； she rushed into the adjoining room； and locked
the door。 Werther held out his arms； but did not dare to detain
her。 He continued
