the complete poetical works-第34节

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Opelousas；

And；　through　the　amber　air；　above　the　crest　of　the　woodland；

Saw　the　column　of　smoke　that　arose　from　a　neighboring　dwelling；

Sounds　of　a　horn　they　heard；　and　the　distant　lowing　of　cattle。





III



Near　to　the　bank　of　the　river；　o'ershadowed　by　oaks；　from　whose

branches

Garlands　of　Spanish　moss　and　of　mystic　mistletoe　flaunted；

Such　as　the　Druids　cut　down　with　golden　hatchets　at　Yule…tide；

Stood；　secluded　and　still；　the　house　of　the　herdsman。　　A　garden

Girded　it　round　about　with　a　belt　of　luxuriant　blossoms；

Filling　the　air　with　fragrance。　　The　house　itself　was　of　timbers

Hewn　from　the　cypress…tree；　and　carefully　fitted　together。

Large　and　low　was　the　roof；　and　on　slender　columns　supported；

Rose…wreathed；　vine…encircled；　a　broad　and　spacious　veranda；

Haunt　of　the　humming…bird　and　the　bee；　extended　around　it。

At　each　end　of　the　house；　amid　the　flowers　of　the　garden；

Stationed　the　dove…cots　were；　as　love's　perpetual　symbol；

Scenes　of　endless　wooing；　and　endless　contentions　of　rivals。

Silence　reigned　o'er　the　place。　　The　line　of　shadow　and　sunshine

Ran　near　the　tops　of　the　trees；　but　the　house　itself　was　in

shadow；

And　from　its　chimney…top；　ascending　and　slowly　expanding

Into　the　evening　air；　a　thin　blue　column　of　smoke　rose。

In　the　rear　of　the　house；　from　the　garden　gate；　ran　a　pathway

Through　the　great　groves　of　oak　to　the　skirts　of　the　limitless

prairie；

Into　whose　sea　of　flowers　the　sun　was　slowly　descending。

Full　in　his　track　of　light；　like　ships　with　shadowy　canvas

Hanging　loose　from　their　spars　in　a　motionless　calm　in　the

tropics；

Stood　a　cluster　of　trees；　with　tangled　cordage　of　grapevines。



　　Just　where　the　woodlands　met　the　flowery　surf　of　the　prairie；

Mounted　upon　his　horse；　with　Spanish　saddle　and　stirrups；

Sat　a　herdsman；　arrayed　in　gaiters　and　doublet　of　deerskin。

Broad　and　brown　was　the　face　that　from　under　the　Spanish　sombrero

Gazed　on　the　peaceful　scene；　with　the　lordly　look　of　its　master。

Round　about　him　were　numberless　herds　of　kine；　that　were　grazing

Quietly　in　the　meadows；　and　breathing　the　vapory　freshness

That　uprose　from　the　river；　and　spread　itself　over　the　landscape。

Slowly　lifting　the　horn　that　hung　at　his　side；　and　expanding

Fully　his　broad；　deep　chest；　he　blew　a　blast；　that　resounded

Wildly　and　sweet　and　far；　through　the　still　damp　air　of　the

evening。

Suddenly　out　of　the　grass　the　long　white　horns　of　the　cattle

Rose　like　flakes　of　foam　on　the　adverse　currents　of　ocean。

Silent　a　moment　they　gazed；　then　bellowing　rushed　o'er　the

prairie；

And　the　whole　mass　became　a　cloud；　a　shade　in　the　distance。

Then；　as　the　herdsman　turned　to　the　house；　through　the　gate　of

the　garden

Saw　he　the　forms　of　the　priest　and　the　maiden　advancing　to　meet

him。

Suddenly　down　from　his　horse　he　sprang　in　amazement；　and　forward

Rushed　with　extended　arms　and　exclamations　of　wonder；

When　they　beheld　his　face；　they　recognized　Basil　the　blacksmith。

Hearty　his　welcome　was；　as　he　led　his　guests　to　the　garden。

There　in　an　arbor　of　roses　with　endless　question　and　answer

Gave　they　vent　to　their　hearts；　and　renewed　their　friendly

embraces；

Laughing　and　weeping　by　turns；　or　sitting　silent　and　thoughtful。

Thoughtful；　for　Gabriel　came　not；　and　now　dark　doubts　and

misgivings

Stole　o'er　the　maiden's　heart；　and　Basil；　somewhat　embarrassed；

Broke　the　silence　and　said；　〃If　you　came　by　the　Atchafalaya；

How　have　you　nowhere　encountered　my　Gabriel's　boat　on　the

bayous？〃

Over　Evangeline's　face　at　the　words　of　Basil　a　shade　passed。

Tears　came　into　her　eyes；　and　she　said；　with　a　tremulous　accent；

〃Gone？　is　Gabriel　gone？〃　and；　concealing　her　face　on　his

shoulder；

All　her　o'erburdened　heart　gave　way；　and　she　wept　and　lamented。

Then　the　good　Basil　said；and　his　voice　grew　blithe　as　he　said

it；

〃Be　of　good　cheer；　my　child；　it　is　only　to…day　he　departed。

Foolish　boy！　he　has　left　me　alone　with　my　herds　and　my　horses。

Moody　and　restless　grown；　and　tried　and　troubled；　his　spirit

Could　no　longer　endure　the　calm　of　this　quiet　existence。

Thinking　ever　of　thee；　uncertain　and　sorrowful　ever；

Ever　silent；　or　speaking　only　of　thee　and　his　troubles；

He　at　length　had　become　so　tedious　to　men　and　to　maidens；

Tedious　even　to　me；　that　at　length　I　bethought　me；　and　sent　him

Unto　the　town　of　Adayes　to　trade　for　mules　with　the　Spaniards。

Thence　he　will　follow　the　Indian　trails　to　the　Ozark　Mountains；

Hunting　for　furs　in　the　forests；　on　rivers　trapping　the　beaver。

Therefore　be　of　good　cheer；　we　will　follow　the　fugitive　lover；

He　is　not　far　on　his　way；　and　the　Fates　and　the　streams　are

against　him。

Up　and　away　to…morrow；　and　through　the　red　dew　of　the　morning

We　will　follow　him　fast；　and　bring　him　back　to　his　prison。〃



　　Then　glad　voices　were　heard；　and　up　from　the　banks　of　the

river；

Borne　aloft　on　his　comrades'　arms；　came　Michael　the　fiddler。

Long　under　Basil's　roof　had　he　lived　like　a　god　on　Olympus；

Having　no　other　care　than　dispensing　music　to　mortals。

Far　renowned　was　he　for　his　silver　locks　and　his　fiddle。

〃Long　live　Michael；〃　they　cried；　〃our　brave　Acadian　minstrel！〃

As　they　bore　him　aloft　in　triumphal　procession；　and　straightway

Father　Felician　advanced　with　Evangeline；　greeting　the　old　man

Kindly　and　oft；　and　recalling　the　past；　while　Basil；　enraptured；

Hailed　with　hilarious　joy　his　old　companions　and　gossips；

Laughing　loud　and　long；　and　embracing　mothers　and　daughters。

Much　they　marvelled　to　see　the　wealth　of　the　cidevant　blacksmith；

All　his　domains　and　his　herds；　and　his　patriarchal　demeanor；

Much　they　marvelled　to　hear　his　tales　of　the　soil　and　the

climate；

And　of　the　prairie；　whose　numberless　herds　were　his　who　would

take　them；

Each　one　thought　in　his　heart；　that　he；　too；　would　go　and　do

likewise。

Thus　they　ascended　the　steps；　and；　crossing　the　breezy　veranda；

Entered　the　hall　of　the　house；　where　already　the　supper　of　Basil

Waited　his　late　return；　and　they　rested　and　feasted　together。



　　Over　the　joyous　feast　the　sudden　darkness　descended。

All　was　silent　without；　and；　illuming　the　landscape　with　silver；

Fair　rose　the　dewy　moon　and　the　myriad　stars；　but　within　doors；

Brighter　than　these；　shone　the　faces　of　friends　in　the　glimmering

lamplight。

Then　from　his　station　aloft；　at　the　head　of　the　table；　the

herdsman

Poured　forth　his　heart　and　his　wine　together　in　endless

profusion。

Lighting　his　pipe；　that　was　filled　with　sweet　Natchitoches

tobacco；

Thus　he　spake　to　his　guests；　who　listened；　and　smiled　as　they

listened：

〃Welcome　once　more；　my　friends；　who　long　have　been　friendless　and

homeless；

Welcome　once　more　to　a　home；　that　is　better　perchance　than　the

old　one！

Here　no　hungry　winter　congeals　our　blood　like　the　rivers；

Here　no　stony　ground　provokes　the　wrath　of　the　farmer。

Smoothly　the　ploughshare　runs　through　the　soil；　as　a　keel　through

the　water。

All　the　year　round　the　orange…groves　are　in　blossom；　and　grass

grows

More　in　a　single　night　than　a　whole　Canadian　summer。

Here；　too；　numberless　herds　run　wild　and　unclaimed　in　the

prairies；

Here；　too；　lands　may　be　had　for　the　asking；　and　forests　of　timber

With　a　few　blows　of　the　axe　are　hewn　and　framed　into　houses。

After　your　houses　are　built；　and　your　fields　are　yellow　with

harvests；

No　King　George　of　England　shall　drive　you　away　from　your

homesteads；

Burning　your　dwellings　and　barns；　and　stealing　your　farms　and

your　cattle。〃

Speaking　these　words；　he　blew　a　wrathful　cloud　from　his　nostrils；

While　his　huge；　brown　hand　came　thundering　down　on　the　table；

So　that　the　guests　all　started；　and　Father　Felician；　astounded；

Suddenly　paused；　with　a　pinch　of　snuff　half…way　to　his　nostrils。

But　the　brave　Basil　resumed；　and　his　words　were　milder　and

gayer：

〃Only　beware　of　the　fever；　my　friends；　beware　of　the　fever！

For　it　is　not　like　that　of　our　cold　Acadian　climate；

Cured　by　wearing　a　spider　hung　round　one's　neck　in　a　nutshell！〃

Then　there　were　voices　heard　at　the　door；　and　footsteps

approaching

Sounded　upon　the　stairs　and　the　floor　of　the　breezy　veranda。

It　was　the　neighboring　Creoles　and　small　Acadian　planters；

Who　had　been　summoned　all　to　the　house　of　Basil　the　Herdsman。

Merry　the　meeting　was　of　ancient　comrades　and　neighbors：

Friend　clasped　friend　in　his　arms；　and　they　who　before　were　as

strangers；

Meeting　in　exile；　became　straightway　as　friends　to　each　other；

Drawn　by　the　gentle　bond　of　a　common　country　together。

But　in　the　neighboring　hall　a　strain　of　music；　proceeding

From　the　accordant　strings　of　Michael's　melodious　fiddle；

Broke　up　all　further　speech。　　Away；　like　children　delighted；

All　things　forgotten　beside；　they　gave　themselves　to　the

maddening

Whirl　of　the　dizzy　dance；　as　it　swept　and　swayed　to　the　music；

Dreamlike；　with　beaming　eyes　and　the　rush　of　fluttering　garments。



　　Meanwhile；　apart；　at　the　head　of　the　hall；　the　priest　and　the

herdsman

Sat；　conversing　together　of　past　and　present　and　f