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第34章

the blue flower-第34章

小说: the blue flower 字数: 每页4000字

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a boisterous river ran clashing through spears of ice。

Rude houses of hewn logs appeared in the openings; each one
casting a patch of inky shadow upon the snow。 Then the travellers
passed a larger group of dwellings; all silent and unlighted; and
beyond; they saw a great house; with many outbuildings and
inclosed courtyards; from which the hounds bayed furiously; and a
noise of stamping horses came from the stalls。  But there was no
other sound of life。  The fields around lay naked to the moon。
They saw no man; except that once; on a path that skirted the
farther edge of a meadow; three dark figures passed them; running
very swiftly。

Then the road plunged again into a dense thicket;
traversed it; and climbing to the left; emerged suddenly upon
a glade; round and level except at the northern side; where a
hillock was crowned with a huge oak…tree。  It towered above
the heath; a giant with contorted arms; beckoning to the host
of lesser trees。  〃Here;〃 cried Winfried; as his eyes flashed
and his hand lifted his heavy staff; 〃here is the Thunder…oak;
and here the cross of Christ shall break the hammer of the
false god Thor。〃

Withered leaves still clung to the branches of the oak: torn
and faded banners of the departed summer。  The bright crimson
of autumn had long since disappeared; bleached away by the
storms and the cold。  But to…night these tattered remnants of
glory were red again: ancient bloodstains against the
dark…blue sky。  For an immense fire had been kindled in front
of the tree。  Tongues of ruddy flame; fountains of ruby
sparks; ascended through the spreading limbs and flung a
fierce illumination upward and around。  The pale; pure
moonlight that bathed the surrounding forests was quenched and
eclipsed here。  Not a beam of it sifted through the branches
of the oak。  It stood like a pillar of cloud between the still
light of heaven and the crackling; flashing fire of earth。

But the fire itself was invisible to Winfried and his
companions。  A great throng of people were gathered around it
in a half…circle; their backs to the open glade; their faces
toward the oak。  Seen against that glowing background; it was but
the silhouette of a crowd; vague; black; formless; mysterious。

The travellers paused for a moment at the edge of the
thicket; and took counsel together。

〃It is the assembly of the tribe;〃 said one of the
foresters; 〃the great night of the council。  I heard of it
three days ago; as we passed through one of the villages。  All
who swear by the old gods have been summoned。  They will
sacrifice a steed to the god of war; and drink blood; and eat
horse…flesh to make them strong。  It will be at the peril of
our lives if we approach them。  At least we must hide the
cross; if we would escape death。〃

〃Hide me no cross;〃 cried Winfried; lifting his staff;
〃for I have come to show it; and to make these blind folk see
its power。  There is more to be done here to…night than the
slaying of a steed; and a greater evil to be stayed than the
shameful eating of meat sacrificed to idols。  I have seen it
in a dream。  Here the cross must stand and be our rede。〃

At his command the sledge was left in the border
of the wood; with two of the men to guard it; and the rest of
the company moved forward across the open ground。  They
approached unnoticed; for all the multitude were looking
intently toward the fire at the foot of the oak。

Then Winfried's voice rang out; 〃Hail; ye sons of the
forest!  A stranger claims the warmth of your fire in the
winter night。〃

Swiftly; and as with a single motion; a thousand eyes were
bent upon the speaker。  The semicircle opened silently in the
middle; Winfried entered with his followers; it closed again
behind them。

Then; as they looked round the curving ranks; they saw
that the hue of the assemblage was not black; but
white;dazzling; radiant; solemn。  White; the robes of the
women clustered together at the points of the wide crescent;
white; the glittering byrnies of the warriors standing in
close ranks; white; the fur mantles of the aged men who held
the central palace in the circle; white; with the shimmer of
silver ornaments and the purity of lamb's…wool; the raiment of
a little group of children who stood close by the fire; white;
with awe and fear; the faces of all who looked at them; and over
all the flickering; dancing radiance of the flames played and
glimmered like a faint; vanishing tinge of blood on snow。

The only figure untouched by the glow was the old priest;
Hunrad; with his long; spectral robe; flowing hair and beard;
and dead…pale face; who stood with his back to the fire and
advanced slowly to meet the strangers。

〃Who are you?  Whence come you; and what seek you here?〃

〃Your kinsman am I; of the German brotherhood;〃 answered
Winfried; 〃and from England; beyond the sea; have I come to
bring you a greeting from that land; and a message from the
All…Father; whose servant I am。〃

〃Welcome; then;〃 said Hunrad; 〃welcome; kinsman; and be
silent; for what passes here is too high to wait; and must be
done before the moon crosses the middle heaven; unless;
indeed; thou hast some sign or token from the gods。  Canst
thou work miracles?〃

The question came sharply; as if a sudden gleam of hope
had flashed through the tangle of the old priest's mind。  But
Winfried's voice sank lower and a cloud of disappointment
passed over his face as he replied:  〃Nay; miracles have I
never wrought; though I have heard of many; but the All…Father
has given no power to my hands save such as belongs to common
man。〃

〃Stand still; then; thou common man;〃 said Hunrad;
scornfully; 〃and behold what the gods have called us hither to
do。  This night is the death…night of the sun…god; Baldur the
Beautiful; beloved of gods and men。  This night is the hour of
darkness and the power of winter; of sacrifice and mighty
fear。  This night the great Thor; the god of thunder and war;
to whom this oak is sacred; is grieved for the death of
Baldur; and angry with this people because they have forsaken
his worship。  Long is it since an offering has been laid upon
his altar; long since the roots of his holy tree have been fed
with blood。  Therefore its leaves have withered before the
time; and its boughs are heavy with death。  Therefore the
Slavs‘and the Wends have beaten us in battle。  Therefore the
harvests have failed; and the wolf…hordes have ravaged the
folds; and the strength has departed from the bow; and the
wood of the spear has broken; and the wild boar has slain the
huntsman。  Therefore the plague has fallen on our dwellings;
and the dead are more than the living in all our villages。
Answer me; ye people; are not these things true? 〃

 A hoarse sound of approval ran through the circle。  A
chant; in which the voices of the men and women blended; like
the shrill wind in the pinetrees above the rumbling thunder of
a waterfall; rose and fell in rude cadences。

      O Thor; the Thunderer
      Mighty and merciless;
      Spare us from smiting!
      Heave not thy hammer;
      Angry; aginst us;
      Plague not thy people。
      Take from our treasure
      Richest Of ransom。
      Silver we send thee;
      Jewels and javelins;
      Goodliest garments;
      All our possessions;
      Priceless; we proffer。
      Sheep will we slaughter;
      Steeds will we sacrifice;
      Bright blood shall bathe
      O tree of Thunder;
      Life…floods shall lave thee;
      Strong wood of wonder。
      Mighty; have mercy;
      Smile as no more;
      Spare us and save us;
      Spare us; Thor!  Thor!



With two great shouts the song ended; and stillness
followed so intense that the crackling of the fire was heard
distinctly。  The old priest stood silent for a moment。  His
shaggy brows swept down ever his eyes like ashes quenching
flame。  Then he lifted his face and spoke。

〃None of these things will please the god。  More costly is
the offering that shall cleanse your sin; more precious the
crimson dew that shall send new life into this holy tree of
blood。  Thor claims your dearest and your noblest gift。〃

Hunrad moved nearer to the group of children who st

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