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第5节

romantic ballads-第5节

小说: romantic ballads 字数: 每页4000字

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At feast and at revel; wherever she went; Her thoughts on his perils and dangers were bent; No joy has the heart that loves fondly and dear … No pleasure save when the lov'd object is near!

May Asda walk'd out in the bonny noon…tide; And roam'd where the beeches grew up in their pride; She sat herself down on the green sloping hill; Where liv'd the Erl…people; {4} and where they live still:

Then trembled the turf; as she sat in repose; And straight from the mountain three maidens arose; And with them a loom; and upon it a woof; As white as the snow when it falls on the roof。

Of red shining gold was the fairy…loom made; They sang and they danc'd; and their swift shuttles play'd; Their song was of death; and their song was of life; It sounded like billows in tumult and strife。

They gave her the woof; with a sorrowful look; And vanish'd like bubbles that burst on the brook; But deep in the mountain was heard a sweet strain; As the lady went home to her bower again。

The web was unfinish'd; she wove and she spun; Nor rested a moment; until it was done; And there was enough; when the work was complete; To form for a dead man a shirt or a sheet。

The heroes return'd from the well…foughten field; And bore home Sir Frovin's corse; laid on a shield; Sad sight for the maid! but she still was alert; And sew'd round the body the funeral shirt:

And when she had come to the very last stitch; Her feelings; so long suppress'd; rose to a pitch; The cold clammy sweat from her features outbroke; Death struck her; and meekly she bow'd to the stroke。

She rests with her lover now deep in the grave; And o'er them the beeches their mossy boughs wave; There sing the Erl…maidens their ditties aloud; And dance while the merry moon peeps from the cloud。



AAGER AND ELIZA。 FROM THE OLD DANISH。



Have ye heard of bold Sir Aager; How he rode to yonder isle; There he saw the sweet Eliza; Who upon him deign'd to smile。

There he married sweet Eliza; With her lands and ruddy gold … Wo is me! the Monday after; Dead he lay beneath the mould!

In her bower sat Eliza; Rent the air with shriek and groan; All which heard the good Sir Aager; Underneath the granite stone。

Up his mighty limbs he gather'd; Took the coffin on his back; And to fair Eliza's bower Hasten'd; by the well…known track。

On her chamber's lowly portal; With his fingers long and thin; Thrice he tapp'd; and bade Eliza Straightway let her bridegroom in!

Straightway answer'd fair Eliza; 〃I will not undo my door Till I hear thee name sweet Jesus; As thou oft hast done before。〃

〃Rise; O rise; my own Eliza; And undo thy chamber door; I can name the name of Jesus; As I once could do before。〃

Up then rose the sweet Eliza; … Up she rose; and twirl'd the pin。 Straight the chamber door flew open; And the dead man glided in。

With her comb she comb'd his ringlets; For she felt but little fear: On each lock that she adjusted Fell a hot and briny tear。

〃Listen; now; my good Sir Aager; Dearest bridegroom; all I crave Is to know how it goes with thee; In that lonely place; the grave?〃

〃Every time that thou rejoicest; And thy breast with pleasure heaves; Then that moment is my coffin Lin'd with rose and laurel leaves。

〃Every time that thou art shedding From thine eyes the briny flood; Then that moment is my coffin Fill'd with black and loathsome blood。

〃Heard I not the red cock crowing; Distant far upon the wind? Down to dust the dead are going; And I may not stop behind。

〃Heaven's ruddy portals open; … Daylight bursts upon my view; Though the word be hard to utter; I must bid thee; love; adieu!〃

Up his mighty limbs he gather'd; Took the coffin on his back; To the church…yard straight he hasten'd By the well…known; beaten; track。

Up then rose the sweet Eliza; Tear…drops on her features stood; While her lover she attended Through the dark and dreary wood。

When they reach'd the lone enclosure; (Last; sad; refuge of the dead) … From the cheeks of good Sir Aager All the lovely colour fled:

〃Listen; now; my sweet Eliza; If my peace be dear to thee: Never; then; from this time forward; Shed a single tear for me。

〃Turn thy lovely eyes to heaven; Where the stars are beaming pale; Thou canst tell me; then; for certain; If the night begins to fail。〃

When she turn'd her eyes to heaven; All with stars besprinkled o'er; In the earth the dead man glided; And she never saw him more。

Homeward went the sweet Eliza; Oh; her heart was chill and cold:… Wo is me! the Monday after; Dead she lay beneath the mould!



SAINT OLUF。 FROM THE OLD DANISH。



St。 Oluf was a mighty king; Who rul'd the Northern land; The holy Christian faith he preach'd; And taught it; sword in hand。

St。 Oluf built a lofty ship; With sails of silk so fair; 〃To Hornelummer I must go; And see what's passing there。〃

〃O do not go;〃 the seamen said; 〃To yonder fatal ground; Where savage Jutts; {5} and wicked elves; And demon sprites; abound。〃

St。 Oluf climb'd the vessel's side; His courage nought could tame! 〃Heave up; heave up the anchor straight; Let's go in Jesu's name。

〃The cross shall be my faulchion now … The book of God my shield; And; arm'd with them; I hope and trust To make the demons yield。〃

And swift; as eagle cleaves the sky; The gallant vessel flew; Direct for Hornelummer's rock; Through ocean's wavy blue。

'T was early in the morning tide When she cast anchor there; And; lo! the Jutt stood on the cliff; To breathe the morning air:

His eyes were like the burning beal … His mouth was all awry; The truth I tell; and say he stood Full twenty cubits high:

His beard was like a horse's mane; And down his bosom roll'd; The claws that fenc'd his finger ends Were frightful to behold。

〃I never yet have seen;〃 he cried; 〃A ship come near my strand; That here to shore I could not drag; By putting out my hand。〃

The good St。 Oluf smil'd thereat; And thus address'd his crew: 〃Now hold your tongues; and well observe What I'm about to do。〃

The giant stretch'd his mighty arm; The ship was nigh his own; But when St。 Oluf rais'd the cross; He sank knee…deep in stone。

〃Here am I; sunk knee…deep in stone! My legs I cannot move; But; since my back and fists are free; My might thou yet shalt prove。〃

〃Be still; be still; thou noisy guest … Be still for evermore; Become a rock and beetle there; Above the billows hoar。〃

Up started then; from out the hill; The demon's hoary wife; She curs'd the king a thousand times; And brandish'd high her knife。

Sore wonder'd then the little elves; Who sat within the hill; To see their mother; all at once; Stand likewise stiff and still:

〃'T is done;〃 they cried; 〃by yonder wight; Who rides upon the waves; Let's wade out to him; through the surf; And beat him with our staves。〃

At Hornelummer happen'd then; What happen'd ne'er before; The elfins wish'd to leave the hill; And could not find a door:

They ran their heads against the wall; And tried to break it through; They could not break the solid rock; But broke their necks in lieu。

Now; thanks to God; and Jesus Christ; And good St。 Oluf's arm; To Hornelummer we can sail Without mishap or harm。



THE HEROES OF DOVREFELD。 FROM THE OLD DANISH。



On Dovrefeld; {6} in Norway; Were once together seen The twelve heroic brothers Of Ingeborg; the queen:

And they were all magicians; Possest of mighty art; Who freely read the Runic; And knew the rhyme by heart。 {7}

The first could turn the lightning; And quench its ruddy gleam: The second; with a whisper; Could still the running stream:

The third beneath the water Could dive like any fish: The fourth could get provision By striking on his dish:

The fifth upon the gold harp So pleasantly could play; That all the men who heard him Began to dance away:

The sixth; he had a bugle; And when he blew a blast; The stoutest of his foemen Would fly before him fast:

The seventh; unimpeded; Through solid hills could roam: The eighth could walk the ocean; When billows were in foam:

The ninth could draw; by magic; The fishes from the deep: The tenth was never weary; Nor overcome by sleep:

The eleventh bound the dragon Which crept among the grass; And all he wish'd to happen Was sure to come to pass:

The twelfth; who was reputed The wisest of the band; Knew what was going forward In every foreign land。

And now; forsooth; I tell ye; Who listen to my strain; That such a set of brothers Will ne'er be seen again。



SVEND VONVED。 FROM THE OLD DANISH。



Grimm; in the preface to his German translation of the Kiaempe Viser;  characterizes this Ballad in the following magnificent words:…


〃Seltsam ist das Lied von dem Held Vonved。  Unter dem Empfang des  Zauberseegens und mit rathselhaften Worten; dass er nie wiederkehre  oder dann den Tod seines Vaters rachen musse; reitet er aus。  Lange  sieht er keine Stadt und keinen Menschen; dann; wer sich ihm entgegen  stelit; den wirft er nieder; den Hirten legt er seine Rathsel vor  uber das edelste und abscheuungswurdigste; ubar den Gang der Sonne  und die Ruhe des Todten:  wer sie nicht Iost; den erschlagt er;  trotzig sitzt er unter den Helden; ihre Anerbietungen gefallen ihm  nicht; er reitet heim; erschlagt zwolf Zauberweiber; die ihm entgeg

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