romantic ballads-第4章

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〃Not　Helga；　but　Hela；　｛1｝　shall　now　be　thy　bride；　Dark　blue　are　her　cheeks；　and　she　looks　stony…eyed。〃

〃Sir　Erik；　thy　words　are　both　witty　and　wise；　And　hell；　when　it　has　thee；　will　have　a　rich　prize！

〃Convey　unto　Helga　her　gold　ring　so　red；　Be　sure　to　inform　her　when　Fridleif　is　dead；

〃But　flame　shall　give　water；　and　marble　shall　bleed；　Before　thou　shalt　win　by　this　treacherous　deed：

〃And　I　will　not　die　like　a　hound；　in　the　straw；　But　go；　like　a　hero；　to　Odin　and　Thor。〃

He　cut　himself　thrice；　with　his　keen…cutting　glaive；　And　went　to　Valhalla；　｛2｝　the　way　of　the　brave。

The　knight　bade　his　daughter　come　into　the　room：　〃Look　here；　my　sweet　child；　on　thy　merry　bridegroom。〃

She　look'd　on　the　body；　and　gave　a　wild　start；　〃O　father；　why　hadst　thou　so　cruel　a　heart？〃

She　moan'd　and　lamented；　she　rav'd　and　she　curst；　She　look'd　on　her　love；　till　her　very　eyes　burst。

At　midnight；　Sir　Erik　was　standing　there　mute；　With　two　pallid　corses　beside　his　cold　foot：

He　stood　stiff　and　still；　and　when　morning…light　came；　He　stood；　like　a　post；　without　life　in　his　frame。

The　youth　and　the　maid　were　together　interr'd；　Sir　Erik　could　not　from　his　posture　be　stirr'd：

He　stood　there；　as　stiffly；　for　thirty　long　days；　And　look'd　on　the　earth　with　a　petrified　gaze。

'T　is　said；　on　the　night　of　the　thirtieth　long　day；　To　dust　and　to　ashes　he　moulder'd　away。



SIR　MIDDEL。　FROM　THE　OLD　DANISH。



So　tightly　was　Swanelil　lacing　her　vest；　That　forth　spouted　milk；　from　each　lily…white　breast；　That　saw　the　Queen…mother；　and　thus　she　begun：　〃What　maketh　the　milk　from　thy　bosom　to　run？〃　〃O　this　is　not　milk；　my　dear　mother；　I　vow；　It　is　but　the　mead　I　was　drinking　just　now。〃　〃Ha！　out　on　thee　minion！　these　eyes　have　their　sight；　Would'st　tell　me　that　mead；　in　its　colour；　is　white？〃　〃Well；　well；　since　the　proofs　are　so　glaring　and　strong；　I　own　that　Sir　Middel　has　done　me　a　wrong。〃　〃And　was　he　the　miscreant？　dear　shall　he　pay；　For　the　cloud　he　has　cast　on　our　honour's　bright　ray；　I'll　hang　him　up；　yes；　I　will　hang　him　with　scorn；　And　burn　thee　to　ashes；　at　breaking　of　morn。〃　The　maiden　departed　in　anguish　and　wo；　And　straight　to　Sir　Middel　it　lists　her　to　go；　Arriv'd　at　the　portal；　she　sounded　the　bell；　〃Now　wake　thee；　love；　if　thou　art　living　and　well。〃　Sir　Middel　he　heard　her；　and　sprang　from　his　bed；　Not　knowing　her　voice；　in　confusion　he　said；　〃Away：　　for　I　have　neither　candle　nor　light；　And　I　swear　that　no　mortal　shall　enter　this　night！〃　〃Now　busk　ye；　Sir　Middel；　in　Christ's　holy　name；　I　fly　from　my　mother；　who　knows　of　my　shame；　She'll　hang　thee　up；　yes；　she　will　hang　thee　with　scorn；　And　burn　me　to　ashes；　at　breaking　of　morn。〃　〃Ha！　laugh　at　her　threat'nings；　so　empty　and　wild；　She　neither　shall　hang　me；　nor　burn　thee；　my　child：　Collect　what　is　precious；　in　jewels　and　garb；　And　I'll　to　the　stable　and　saddle　my　barb。〃　He　gave　her　the　cloak；　that　he　us'd　at　his　need；　And　he　lifted　her　up；　on　the　broad…bosom'd　steed。　The　forest　is　gain'd；　and　the　city　is　past；　When　her　eyes　to　the　heaven　she　wistfully　cast。　〃What　ails　thee；　dear　maid？　we　had　better　now　stay；　For　thou　art　fatigu'd　by　the　length　of　the　way。〃　〃I　am　not　fatigu'd　by　the　length　of　the　way；　But　my　seat　is　uneasy；　in　truth；　I　must　say。〃　He　spread；　on　the　cold　earth；　his　mantle　so　wide；　〃Now　rest　thee；　my　love；　and　I'll　watch　by　thy　side。〃　〃O　Jesus；　that　one　of　my　maidens　were　near！　The　pains　of　a　mother　are　on　me；　I　fear。〃　〃Thy　maidens　are　now　at　a　distance　from　thee；　And　thou　art　alone　in　the　forest　with　me。〃　〃'Twere　better　to　perish；　again　and　again；　Than　thou　should'st　stand　by　me；　and　gaze　on　my　pain。〃　〃Then　take　off　thy　kerchief；　and　cover　my　head；　And　perhaps　I　may　stand　in　the　wise…woman's　stead。〃　〃O　Christ；　that　I　had　but　a　draught　of　the　wave！　To　quench　my　death…thirst；　and　my　temples　to　lave。〃　Sir　Middel　was　to　her　so　tender　and　true；　And　he　fetch'd　her　the　drink　in　her　gold…spangled　shoe。　The　fountain　was　distant；　and　when　he　drew　near；　Two　nightingales　sat　there　and　sang　in　his　ear：　〃Thy　love；　she　is　dead；　and　for　ever　at　rest；　With　two　little　babes　that　lie　cold　on　her　breast。〃　Such　was　their　song；　but　he　heeded　them　not；　And　trac'd　his　way　back　to　the　desolate　spot；　But　oh；　what　a　spectacle　burst　on　his　view！　For　all　they　had　told　him　was　fatally　true。　He　dug　a　deep　grave　by　the　side　of　a　tree；　And　buried　therein　the　unfortunate　three。　As　he　clamp'd　the　mould　down　with　his　iron…heel'd　boot　He　thought　that　the　babies　scream'd　under　his　foot：　Then　placing　his　weapon　against　a　grey　stone；　He　cast　himself　on　it；　and　died　with　a　groan。　Ye　maidens　of　Norway；　henceforward　beware！　For　love；　when　unbridled；　will　end　in　despair。



ELVIR…SHADES。　FROM　THE　DANISH　OF　OEHLENSLAEGER。



A　sultry　eve　pursu'd　a　sultry　day；　Dark　streaks　of　purple　in　the　sky　were　seen；　And　shadows　half　conceal'd　the　lonely　way；

I　spurr'd　my　courser；　and　more　swiftly　rode；　In　moody　silence；　through　the　forests　green；　Where　doves　and　linnets　had　their　lone　abode：

It　was　my　fate　to　reach　a　brook；　at　last；　Which；　by　sweet…scented　bushes　fenc'd　around；　Defiance　bade　to　heat　and　nipping　blast。

Inclin'd　to　rest；　and　hear　the　wild　birds'　song；　I　stretch'd　myself　upon　that　brook's　soft　bound；　And　there　I　fell　asleep　and　slumber'd　long；

And　only　woke；　O　wonder；　to　perceive　A　gold…hair'd　maiden；　as　a　snowdrop　pale；　Her　slender　form　from　out　the　ground　upheave：

Then　fear　o'ercame　me；　and　this　daring　heart　Beat　three　times　audibly　against　my　mail；　I　wish'd　to　speak；　but　could　no　sound　impart。

And　see！　another　maid　rose　up　and　took　Some　drops　of　water　from　the　foaming　rill；　And　gaz'd　upon　me　with　a　wistful　look。

Said　she；　〃What　brings　thee　to　this　lonely　place？　But　do　not　fear；　for　thou　shalt　meet　no　ill；　Thou　steel…clad　warrior；　full　of　youth　and　grace。〃

〃No；〃　sang　the　other；　in　delightful　tone；　〃But　thou　shalt　gaze　on　prodigies　which　ne'er　To　man's　unhallow'd　eye　have　yet　been　shown。〃

The　brook　which　lately　brawl'd　among　the　trees　Stood　still；　the　murmur　of　that　song　to　hear；　No　green　leaf　stirr'd；　and　fetter'd　seem'd　the　breeze。

The　thrush；　upstarting　in　the　distant　dell；　Shook　its　brown　wing；　with　golden　streaks　array'd；　And　ap'd　the　witch…notes；　as　they　rose　and　fell。

Bright　gleam'd　the　lake's　broad　sheet　of　liquid　blue；　Where；　with　the　rabid　pike；　the　troutling　play'd；　The　rose　unlock'd　its　folded　leaves　anew；

And　blush'd；　besprinkled　with　the　night's　cold　tear。　Once　more　the　lily　rais'd　its　head　and　smil'd；　All　ghastly　white；　as　when　it　decks　the　bier。

Though　sweet　she　sang；　my　fears　were　not　the　less；　For　in　her　accents　there　was　something　wild；　Which　I　can　feel；　't　is　true；　but　not　express。

〃Come　with　us；〃　sang　she；　〃deep　below　the　earth；　Where　sun　ne'er　burns；　and　storm…winds　never　rave；　Come　with　us　to　our　halls　of　princely　mirth；

〃There　thou　shalt　learn　from　us　the　Runic　lay；　But　dip　thee；　first；　in　yonder　crystal　wave；　Which　binds　thee　to　the　Elfin　race　for　aye：

〃Though　painted　flowers　on　earth's　breast　abound；　Yet　we　have　far　more　lovely　ones　below；　Like　grass　the　chrysolites　there　strew　the　ground。〃

〃O　come；〃　the　other　syren　did　exclaim；　〃For　rubies　there　more　red　than　roses　grow　…　The　sapphir's　blue　the　violet　puts　to　shame。〃

I　rais'd　my　eyes　to　heaven's　starry　dome；　And　gripp'd　my　faulchion　with　convulsive　might；　Resolv'd　no　witchcraft　should　my　mind　o'ercome。

My　lengthen'd　silence　vex'd　the　maidens　sore：　〃Wilt　thou　detain　us　here　the　live…long　night；　Or　must　we；　stripling；　proffer　something　more？

〃Taught　by　us；　thou　shalt　bind　the　rugged　bear；　…　Seize　on　the　mighty　dragon's　heap　of　gold；　…　And　slay　the　cockatrice　while　in　her　lair！

〃But　from　thy　breast　the　blood　we　will　suck　out；　Unless　thou　follow　us　beneath　the　mould！　Decide；　decide；　nor　longer　pause　in　doubt！〃

Cold　sweat　I　shed；　and　as；　with　trembling　hand；　I　strove　to　whirl　my　beaming　faulchion　round；　It　sank；　enthrall'd　by　magic's　potent　band。

Each　witch　drew　nigh；　with　dagger　high　uprear'd；　Just　then　a　cock；　beyond　the　wild　wood's　bound；　Crew　loudand　in　the　earth　they　disappear'd。

I　flung　myself　upon　my　frighten'd　barb；　Just　as　the　shades　began　to　grow　less　murk；　And　sun…beams　clad　the　sky　in　gayer　garb。

Let　each　young　warrior　from　such　plac