安徒生童话-第60部分

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　sat　Byron；　and　wrote　his　melodious　verses　about　the　prisonerconfined　in　the　gloomy　castle　of　Chillon。　Here；　where　Clarens；　withits　weeping…willows；　is　reflected　in　the　clear　water；　wanderedRousseau；　dreaming　of　Heloise。　The　river　Rhone　glides　gently　bybeneath　the　lofty　snow…capped　hills　of　Savoy；　and　not　far　from　itsmouth　lies　a　little　island　in　the　lake；　so　small　that；　seen　from　theshore；　it　looks　like　a　ship。　The　surface　of　the　island　is　rocky；　andabout　a　hundred　years　ago；　a　lady　caused　the　ground　to　be　covered　withearth；　in　which　three　acacia…trees　were　planted；　and　the　wholeenclosed　with　stone　walls。　The　acacia…trees　now　overshadow　everypart　of　the　island。　Babette　was　enchanted　with　the　spot；　it　seemedto　her　the　most　beautiful　object　in　the　whole　voyage；　and　shethought　how　much　she　should　like　to　land　there。　But　the　steam…shippassed　it　by；　and　did　not　stop　till　it　reached　Bernex。　The　littleparty　walked　slowly　from　this　place　to　Montreux；　passing　the　sun…litwalls　with　which　the　vineyards　of　the　little　mountain　town　of　Montreuxare　surrounded；　and　peasants'　houses；　overshadowed　by　fig…trees；with　gardens　in　which　grow　the　laurel　and　the　cypress。

Halfway　up　the　hill　stood　the　boarding…house　in　which　Babette'sgodmother　resided。　She　was　received　most　cordially；　her　godmotherwas　a　very　friendly　woman；　with　a　round；　smiling　countenance。　When　achild；　her　head　must　have　resembled　one　of　Raphael's　cherubs；　it　wasstill　an　angelic　face；　with　its　white　locks　of　silvery　hair。　Thedaughters　were　tall；　elegant；　slender　maidens。

The　young　cousin；　whom　they　had　brought　with　them；　was　dressedin　white　from　head　to　foot；　he　had　golden　hair　and　golden　whiskers；large　enough　to　be　divided　amongst　three　gentlemen；　and　he　beganimmediately　to　pay　the　greatest　attention　to　Babette。

Richly　bound　books；　note…paper；　and　drawings；　lay　on　the　largetable。　The　balcony　window　stood　open；　and　from　it　could　be　seen　thebeautiful　wide　extended　lake；　the　water　so　clear　and　still；　that　themountains　of　Savoy；　with　their　villages；　woods；　and　snow…crownedpeaks；　were　clearly　reflected　in　it。

Rudy；　who　was　usually　so　lively　and　brave；　did　not　in　the　leastfeel　himself　at　home；　he　acted　as　if　he　were　walking　on　peas；　over　aslippery　floor。　How　long　and　wearisome　the　time　appeared；　it　waslike　being　in　a　treadmill。　And　then　they　went　out　for　a　walk；　whichwas　very　slow　and　tedious。　Two　steps　forward　and　one　backwards　hadRudy　to　take　to　keep　pace　with　the　others。　They　walked　down　toChillon；　and　went　over　the　old　castle　on　the　rocky　island。　They　sawthe　implements　of　torture；　the　deadly　dungeons；　the　rusty　fetters　inthe　rocky　walls；　the　stone　benches　for　those　condemned　to　death；　thetrap…doors　through　which　the　unhappy　creatures　were　hurled　upon　ironspikes；　and　impaled　alive。　They　called　looking　at　all　these　apleasure。　It　certainly　was　the　right　place　to　visit。　Byron's　poetryhad　made　it　celebrated　in　the　world。　Rudy　could　only　feel　that　itwas　a　place　of　execution。　He　leaned　against　the　stone　framework　of　thewindow；　and　gazed　down　into　the　deep；　blue　water；　and　over　to　thelittle　island　with　the　three　acacias；　and　wished　himself　there；　awayand　free　from　the　whole　chattering　party。　But　Babette　was　mostunusually　lively　and　good…tempered。

〃I　have　been　so　amused；〃　she　said。

The　cousin　had　found　her　quite　perfect。

〃He　is　a　perfect　fop；〃　said　Rudy；　and　this　was　the　first　time　Rudyhad　said　anything　that　did　not　please　Babette。

The　Englishman　had　made　her　a　present　of　a　little　book；　inremembrance　of　their　visit　to　Chillon。　It　was　Byron's　poem；　〃ThePrisoner　of　Chillon；〃　translated　into　French；　so　that　Babette　couldread　it。

〃The　book　may　be　very　good；〃　said　Rudy；　〃but　that　finely　bedfellow　who　gave　it　to　you　is　not　worth　much。〃

〃He　looks　something　like　a　flour…sack　without　any　flour；〃　said　themiller；　laughing　at　his　own　wit。　Rudy　laughed；　too；　for　so　had　heappeared　to　him。

　　XI。　THE　COUSIN

When　Rudy　went　a　few　days　after　to　pay　a　visit　to　the　mill；　hefound　the　young　Englishman　there。　Babette　was　just　thinking　ofpreparing　some　trout　to　set　before　him。　She　understood　well　how　togarnish　the　dish　with　parsley；　and　make　it　look　quite　tempting。　Rudythought　all　this　quite　unnecessary。　What　did　the　Englishman　wantthere？　What　was　he　about？　Why　should　he　be　entertained；　and　waitedupon　by　Babette？　Rudy　was　jealous；　and　that　made　Babette　happy。　Itamused　her　to　discover　all　the　feelings　of　his　heart；　the　strongpoints　and　weak　ones。　Love　was　to　her　as　yet　only　a　pastime；　and　sheplayed　with　Rudy's　whole　heart。　At　the　same　time　it　must　beacknowledged　that　her　fortune；　her　whole　life；　her　inmost　thoughts；her　best　and　most　noble　feelings　in　this　world　were　all　for　him。　Stillthe　more　gloomy　he　looked；　the　more　her　eyes　laughed。　She　could　almosthave　kissed　the　fair　Englishman；　with　the　golden　whiskers；　if　by　sodoing　she　could　have　put　Rudy　in　a　rage；　and　made　him　run　out　of　thehouse。　That　would　have　proved　how　much　he　loved　her。　All　this　wasnot　right　in　Babette；　but　she　was　only　nieen　years　of　age；　andshe　did　not　reflect　on　what　she　did；　neither　did　she　think　that　herconduct　would　appear　to　the　young　Englishman　as　light；　and　not　evenbeing　the　modest　and　much…loved　daughter　of　the　miller。

The　mill　at　Bex　stood　in　the　highway；　which　passed　under　thesnow…clad　mountains；　and　not　far　from　a　rapid　mountain…stream；　whosewaters　seemed　to　have　been　lashed　into　a　foam　like　soap…suds。　Thisstream；　however；　did　not　pass　near　enough　to　the　mill；　and　thereforethe　mill…wheel　was　turned　by　a　smaller　stream　which　tumbled　down　therocks　on　the　opposite　side；　where　it　was　opposed　by　a　stonemill…dam；　and　obtained　greater　strength　and　speed；　till　it　fell　into　alarge　basin；　and　from　thence　through　a　channel　to　the　mill…wheel。　Thischannel　sometimes　overflowed；　and　made　the　path　so　slippery　that　anyone　passing　that　way　might　easily　fall　in；　and　be　carried　towardsthe　mill　wheel　with　frightful　rapidity。　Such　a　catastrophe　nearlyhappened　to　the　young　Englishman。　He　had　dressed　himself　in　whiteclothes；　like　a　miller's　man；　and　was　climbing　the　path　to　themiller's　house；　but　he　had　never　been　taught　to　climb；　and　thereforeslipped；　and　nearly　went　in　head…foremost。　He　managed；　however；　toscramble　out　with　wet　sleeves　and　bespattered　trousers。　Still；　wet　andsplashed　with　mud；　he　contrived　to　reach　Babette's　window；　to　which　hehad　been　guided　by　the　light　that　shone　from　it。　Here　he　climbed　theold　linden…tree　that　stood　near　it；　and　began　to　imitate　the　voiceof　an　owl；　the　only　bird　he　could　venture　to　mimic。　Babette　heardthe　noise；　and　glanced　through　the　thin　window　curtain；　but　when　shesaw　the　man　in　white；　and　guessed　who　he　was；　her　little　heart　beatwith　terror　as　well　as　anger。　She　quickly　put　out　the　light；　felt　ifthe　fastening　of　the　window　was　secure；　and　then　left　him　to　howl　aslong　as　he　liked。　How　dreadful　it　would　be；　thought　Babette；　if　Rudywere　here　in　the　house。　But　Rudy　was　not　in　the　house。　No；　it　was　muchworse；　he　was　outside；　standing　just　under　the　linden…tree。　He　wasspeaking　loud；　angry　words。　He　could　fight；　and　there　might　be　murder！Babette　opened　the　window　in　alarm；　and　called　Rudy's　name；　she　toldhim　to　go　away；　she　did　not　wish　him　to　remain　there。

〃You　do　not　wish　me　to　stay；〃　cried　he；　〃then　this　is　anappointment　you　expected…　this　good　friend　whom　you　prefer　to　me。Shame　on　you；　Babette！〃

〃You　are　detestable！〃　exclaimed　Babette；　bursting　into　tears。〃Go　away。　I　hate　you。〃

〃I　have　not　deserved　this；〃　said　Rudy；　as　he　turned　away；　hischeeks　burning；　and　his　heart　like　fire。

Babette　threw　herself　on　the　bed；　and　wept　bitterly。　〃So　much　as　Iloved　thee；　Rudy；　and　yet　thou　canst　think　ill　of　me。〃

Thus　her　anger　broke　forth；　it　relieved　her；　however：　otherwiseshe　would　have　been　more　deeply　grieved；　but　now　she　could　sleepsoundly；　as　youth　only　can　sleep。

　　　XII。　EVIL　POWERS

Rudy　left　Bex；　and　took　his　way　home　along　the　mountain　path。The　air　was　fresh；　but　cold；　for　here　amidst　the　deep　snow；　the　IceMaiden　reigned。　He　was　so　high　up　that　the　large　trees　beneath　him；with　their　thick　foliage；　appeared　like　garden　plants；　and　the　pinesand　bushes　even　less。　The　Alpine　roses　grew　near　the　snow；　which　layin　detached　stripes；　and　looked　like　linen　laid　out　to　bleach。　Ablue　gentian　grew　in　his　path；　and　he　crushed　it　with　the　butt　endof　his　gun。　A　little　higher　up；　he　espied　two　chamois。　Rudy's　eyesglistened；　and　his　thoughts　flew　at　once　in　a　different　direction；　buthe　was　not　near　enough　to　take　a　sure　aim。　He　ascended　still　higher；to　a　spot　where　a　few　rough　blades　of　grass　grew　between　the　blocks　ofstone　and　the　chamois　passed　quietly　on　over　the　snow…fields。　Rudywalked　hurriedly；　while　the　clouds　of　mist　gathered　round　him。Suddenly　he　found　himself　on　the　brink　of　a　precipitous　rock。　The　rainwas　falling　in　torrents。　He　felt　a　burning　thirst；　his　head　was　hot；and　his　limbs　trembled　with　cold。　He　seized　his　hunting…flask；　butit　was　empty；　he　had　not　thought　of　filling　it　before　ascending　themountain。　He　had　never　been　ill　in　his　life；　nor　ever　experienced　suchsensations　as　those　he　now　felt。　He　was　so　tired　that　he　couldscarcely　resist　lying　down　at　his　full　length　to　sleep；　although　theground　was　flooded　with　the　rain。　Yet　when　he　tried　to　rouse　himself　alittle；　every　object　around　him　danced　and　trembled　before　his　eyes。

Suddenly　he　observed　in　the　doorway　of　a　hut　newly　built　under　therock；　a　young　maiden。　He　did　not　remember　having　seen　this　hut　before；yet　there　it　stood；　and　he　thought；　at　first；　that　the　young　maidenwas　Ante；　the　schoolmaster's　daughter；　whom　he　had　once　kissed　inthe　dance。　The　maiden　was　not　Ante；　yet　it　seemed　as　if　he　had　seenher　somewhere　before；　perhaps　near　Grindelwald；　on　the　evening　ofhis　return　home　from　Interlachen；　after　the　shooting…match。

〃How　did　you　e　here？〃　he　asked。

〃I　am　at　home；〃　she　replied；　〃I　am　watching　my　flocks。〃

〃Your　flocks！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃where　do　they　find　pasture？　There　isnothing　here　but　snow　and　rocks。〃

〃Much　you　know　of　what　grows　here；〃　she　replied；　laughing。　〃notfar　beneath　us　there　is　beautiful　pasture…land。　My　goats　go　there。　Itend　them　carefully；　I　never　miss　one。　What　is　once　mine　remainsmine。〃

〃You　are　bold；〃　said　Rudy。

〃And　so　are　you；〃　she　answered。

〃Have　you　any　milk　in　the　house？〃　he　asked；　〃if　so；　give　me　someto　drink；　my　thirst　is　intolerable。〃

〃I　have　something　better　than　milk；〃　she　replied；　〃which　I　willgive　you。　Some　travellers　who　were　here　yesterday　with　their　guideleft　behind　them　a　half　a　flask　of　wine；　such　as　you　have　nevertasted。　They　will　not　e　back　to　fetch　it；　I　know；　and　I　shall　notdrink　it；　so　you　shall　have　it。〃

Then　the　maiden　went　to　fetch　the　wine；　poured　some　into　awooden　cup；　and　offered　it　to　Rudy。

〃How　good　it　is！〃　said　he；　〃I　have　never　before　tasted　suchwarm；　invigorating　wine。〃　And　his　eyes　sparkled　with　new　life；　aglow　diffused　itself　over　his　frame；　it　seemed　as　if　every　sorrow；every　oppression　were　banished　from　his　mind；　and　a　fresh；　free　naturewere　stirring　within　him。　〃You　are　surely　Ante；　theschoolmaster's　daughter；〃　cried　he；　〃will　you　give　me　a　kiss？〃

〃Yes；　if　you　will　give　me　that　beautiful　ring　which　you　wear　onyour　finger。〃

〃My　betrothal　ring？〃　he　replied。

〃Yes；　just　so；〃　said　the　maiden；　as　she　poured　out　some　more　wine；and　held　it　to　his　lips。　Again　he　drank；　and　a　living　joy　streamedthrough　every　vein。

〃The　whole　world　is　mine；　why　therefore　should　I　grieve？〃thought　he。　〃Everything　is　created　for　our　enjoyment　and　happiness。The　stream　of　life　is　a　stream　of　happiness；　let　us　flow　on　with　it　tojoy　and　felicity。〃

Rudy　gazed　on　the　young　maiden；　it　was　Ante；　and　yet　it　was　notAnte；　still　less　did　he　suppose　it　was　the　spectral　phantom；　whomhe　had　met　near　Grindelwald。　The　maiden　up　here　on　the　mountain　wasfresh　as　the　new　fallen　snow；　blooming　as　an　Alpine　rose；　and　asnimble…footed　as　a　young　kid。　Still；　she　was　one　of　Adam's　race；like　Rudy。　He　flung　his　arms　round　the　beautiful　being；　and　gazed　intoher　wonderfully　clear　eyes；…　only　for　a　moment；　but　in　that　momentwords　cannot　express　the　effect　of　his　gaze。　Was　it　the　spirit　of　lifeor　of　death　that　overpowered　him？　Was　he　rising　higher；　or　sinkinglower　and　lower　into　the　deep；　deadly　abyss？　He　knew　not；　but　thewalls　of　ice　shone　like　blue…green　glass；　innumerable　clefts　yawnedaround　him；　and　the　water…drops　tinkled　like　the　chiming　of　churchbells；　and　shone　clearly　as　pearls　in　the　light　of　a　pale…blueflame。　The　Ice　Maiden；　for　she　it　was；　kissed　him；　and　her　kiss　sent　achill　as　of　ice　through　his　whole　frame。　A　cry　of　agony　escaped　fromhim；　he　struggled　to　get　free；　and　tottered　from　her。　For　a　moment　allwas　dark　before　his　eyes；　but　when　he　opened　them　again　it　waslight；　and　the　Alpine　maiden　had　vanished。　The　powers　of　evil　hadplayed　their　game；　the　sheltering　hut　was　no　more　to　be　seen。　Thewater　trickled　down　the　naked　sides　of　the　rocks；　and　snow　lay　thicklyall　around。　Rudy　shivered　with　cold；　he　was　wet　through　to　the　skin；and　his　ring　was　gone；…　the　betrothal　ring　that　Babette　had　given　him。His　gun　lay　near　him　in　the　snow；　he　took　it　up　and　tried　to　dischargeit；　but　it　missed　fire。　Heavy　clouds　lay　on　the　mountain　clefts；like　firm　masses　of　snow。　Upon　one　of　these　Vertigo　sat；　lurking　afterhis　powerless　prey；　and　from　beneath　came　a　sound　as　if　a　piece　ofrock　had　fallen　from　the　cleft；　and　was　crushing　everything　that　stoodin　its　way　or　opposed　its　course。

But；　at　the　miller's；　Babette　sat　alone　and　wept。　Rudy　had　notbeen　to　see　her　for　six　days。　He　who　was　in　the　wrong；　and　who　oughtto　ask　her　forgiveness；　for　did　she　not　love　him　with　her　whole　heart？

　　XIII。　AT　THE　MILL

〃What　strange　creatures　human　beings　are；〃　said　the　parlor…catto　the　kitchen…cat；　〃Babette　and　Rudy　have　fallen　out　with　each　other。She　sits　and　cries；　and　he　thinks　no　more　about　her。〃

〃That　does　not　please　me　to　hear；〃　said　the　kitchen…cat。

〃Nor　me　either；〃　replied　the　parlor…cat；　〃but　I　do　not　take　itto　heart。　Babette　may　fall　in　love　with　the　red　whiskers；　if　shelikes；　but　he　has　not　been　here　since　he　tried　to　get　on　the　roof。〃

The　powers　of　evil　carry　on　their　game　both　around　us　and　withinus。　Rudy　knew　this；　and　thought　a　great　deal　about　it。　What　was　itthat　had　happened　to　him　on　the　mountain？　Was　it　really　a　ghostlyapparition；　or　a　fever　dream？　Rudy　knew　nothing　of　fever；　or　any　otherailment。　But；　while　he　judged　Babette；　he　began　to　examine　his　ownconduct。　He　had　allowed　wild　thoughts　to　chase　each　other　in　hisheart；　and　a　fierce　tornado　to　break　loose。　Could　he　confess　toBabette；　indeed；　every　thought　which　in　the　hour　of　temptation　mighthave　led　him　to　wrong　doing？　He　had　lost　her　ring；　and　that　veryloss　had　won　him　back　to　her。　Could　she　expect　him　to　confess？　He　feltas　if　his　heart　would　break　while　he　thought　of　it；　and　while　somany　memories　lingered　on　his　mind。　He　saw　her　again；　as　she　oncestood　before　him；　a　laughing；　spirited　child；　many　loving　words；　whichshe　had　spoken　to　him　out　of　the　fulness　of　her　love；　came　like　aray　of　sunshine　into　his　heart；　and　soon　it　was　all　sunshine　as　hethought　of　Babette。　But　she　must　also　confess　she　was　wrong；　thatshe　should　do。

He　went　to　the　mill…　he　went　to　confession。　It　began　with　akiss；　and　ended　with　Rudy　being　considered　the　offender。　It　was　such　agreat　fault　to　doubt　Babette's　truth…　it　was　most　abominable　of　him。Such　mistrust；　such　viole