登陆注册
5272900000010

第10章 CHAPTER V. HOW THE KNIGHT LIVED ON THE LITTLE PROM

After having been much driven to and fro in the world, you have perhaps, my dear reader, reached at length some spot where all was well with thee; where the love for home and its calm peace, innate to all, has again sprung up within thee; where thou hast thought that this home was rich with all the flowers of childhood and of the purest, deepest love that rests upon the graves of those that are gone, and thou hast felt it must be good to dwell here and to build habitations. Even if thou hast erred in this, and hast had afterward bitterly to atone for the error, that is nothing to the purpose now, and thou wouldst not, indeed, voluntarily sadden thyself with the unpleasant recollection. But recall that inexpressibly sweet foreboding, that angelic sense of peace, and thou wilt know somewhat of the knight Huldbrand's feelings during his abode on the little promontory.

He often perceived with hearty satisfaction that the forest stream rolled along every day more wildly, making its bed ever broader and broader, and prolonging his sojourn on the island to an indefinite period. Part of the day he rambled about with an old cross-bow, which he had found in a corner of the cottage and had repaired; and, watching for the water-fowl, he killed all that he could for the cottage kitchen. When he brought his booty home, Undine rarely neglected to upbraid him with having so cruelly deprived the happy birds of life; indeed she often wept bitterly at the sight he placed before her. But if he came home another time without having shot anything she scolded him no less seriously, since now, from his carelessness and want of skill, they had to be satisfied with living on fish. He always delighted heartily in her graceful little scoldings, all the more as she generally strove to compensate for her ill-humor by the sweetest caresses.

The old people took pleasure in the intimacy of the young pair; they regarded them as betrothed, or even as already united in marriage, and living on this isolated spot, as a succor and support to them in their old age. It was this same sense of seclusion that suggested the idea also to Huldbrand's mind that he was already Undine's accepted one. He felt as if there were no world beyond these surrounding waters, or as if he could never recross them to mingle with other men; and when at times his grazing horse would neigh as if inquiringly to remind him of knightly deeds, or when the coat of arms on his embroidered saddle and horse-gear shone sternly upon him, or when his beautiful sword would suddenly fall from the nail on which it was hanging in the cottage, gliding from the scabbard as it fell, he would quiet the doubts of his mind by saving: "Undine is no fisherman's daughter; she belongs in all probability to some illustrious family abroad." There was only one thing to which he had a strong aversion, and this was, when the old dame reproved Undine in his presence. The wayward girl, it is true, laughed at it for the most part, without attempting to conceal her mirth; but it seemed to him as if his honor were concerned, and yet he could not blame the old fisherman's wife, for Undine always deserved at least ten times as many reproofs as she received; so, in his heart he felt the balance in favor of the old woman, and his whole life flowed onward in calm enjoyment.

There came, however, an interruption at last. The fisherman and the knight had been accustomed at their mid-day meal, and also in the evening when the wind roared without, as it was always wont to do toward night, to enjoy together a flask of wine. But now the store which the fisherman had from time to time brought with him from the town, was exhausted, and the two men were quite out of humor in consequence.

同类推荐
  • A Modest Proposal

    A Modest Proposal

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 弥沙塞部和醯五分律

    弥沙塞部和醯五分律

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 送长史李少府入蜀

    送长史李少府入蜀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 云叟住禅师语录

    云叟住禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 皇经集注

    皇经集注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我自己给我开挂

    我自己给我开挂

    李怀安有点愁,别人家的主角都有挂,自己只有爸和妈,三代之内都没什么仇人,也没有未婚妻来退婚。看着隔壁的主角开了挂后都风生水起,李怀安很羡慕。没有车祸也没有天打雷劈,只是突然有一天从梦中醒来,李怀安发现自己的挂就在身上,原来早就开了。这是一个全民修仙背景下,高中生李怀安的故事。
  • 梅溪词

    梅溪词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 新思路,新出路

    新思路,新出路

    超级畅销书《思路决定出路》作者宿春礼先生,倾心打造成功智慧升级版,让智慧的暖流润泽人生“寒冬”。最麻辣鲜活的励志读本,让你捧腹大笑之余,重燃激情斗志。危机亦是良机,全新思路营造寒夜避风港。冬日也有温暖,重新武装开辟思维新领地。
  • 天降萌宝

    天降萌宝

    恋爱体质少女梨千珞的字典中,只有美少年、美少年、美少年……可是,生活偏偏不如人意,她在老妈的淫威下,只能和超级丑男龙崎野同一屋檐下。而这还不是最糟的,当那只会说话的笨猫苏菲,叼着外星婴儿出现在窗口的时候,她的人生便从此暗无天日了!每天冒着被笨猫电焦的危险,充当“老妈子”兼保姆,还要和丑男龙崎野假扮“夫妻”?这对美少女梨千珞来讲简直是耻辱!当生活被搅得一团糟,梨千珞发现自己的审美观似乎也在扭曲,怎么丑男龙崎野越来越帅了?隐藏在眼镜背后的美少年,有着怎样的执著和守护,外星萌娃的突然闯入,会给两人带来什么样的天降奇缘呢?
  • 农女的如意庄园

    农女的如意庄园

    上有眼睛不好使的奶奶,中有软弱无能母亲,下有一个两岁的奶娃弟弟。穿到这样的一个家庭,她,欲哭无泪。一到雨天,外边下雨,家里下雨,冷不防摔一跤,鞋破脓流。一无所有的家庭,餐餐野菜。没房咱想法盖,没田咱想法买,没吃的咱挣钱!可是,为嘛好不容易一切都变好了,她也成了小富婆了,那个渣爹竟然带着女人回来了?!且看她凭着这21世纪的文化精髓以及新新人类的无穷智慧,如何斗智斗勇的拼搏自己所要的生活吧!
  • 洪荒之赛亚人祖

    洪荒之赛亚人祖

    (无敌于次元都市)多年后,陈雨辰在平行时空地球中醒来,神话中的人物也开始一一的出世...........。陈雨辰来到了一个混合版的玄幻武侠科技神话的世界,这里有次元版都市:有着写轮眼的忍者,吃了恶魔果实的恶魔人,吸血鬼,赛亚人,天使.....。...........。. 已完结(地球版神话)、更新中(带着武林秘籍到武侠世界)..... 在洪荒世界中有一个身高无比强壮和魁梧,块块肌肉犹如金刚铸,头发披肩长度颈部披到身前,身上覆盖有金色体毛,至于眼珠是金色兼有紫色眼眶。 两只双眼中里面有着两道白金色的火焰闪烁,屁股后一根猿猴尾巴摆动! 这男子相貌虽不算英俊,但却给人一种很容易亲近的感觉,嘴角处始终带着一丝淡淡的微笑,这是一个普通的青年被流星压死,然后穿越到混沌,最后夺舍重生成下位混沌魔神黄金巨猿的故事。
  • 不过如此的人生

    不过如此的人生

    人生苦短,珍惜当下。理解更多人生道理,一起掌握更好的人生。。。
  • 隐婚总裁宠上瘾

    隐婚总裁宠上瘾

    君木兮造亲妹妹设计,误与YT集团的大boss滚了床单。五年后,君木兮带着一只萌萌的小包子回国了。*小剧场:傅烨看着酷似自己翻版的萌萌的小包子,两人大眼瞪小眼的看着对方,傅烨:“你妈妈呢?”某萌宝道:“在上班。”傅烨又问:“你妈妈在哪里上班?”某萌宝眼珠一转:“公司!”傅烨:“……”【婚后】“听说今天有人向你表白了?”君木兮。傅烨:“我的心里可只有老婆大人。”说完抱起君木兮就走进卧室……剧场二“总裁,夫人把叶家千金打了。”下属。“快把膏药送去,夫人应该手疼了。”傅烨。下属:“……”总裁,你这样撒狗粮真的好吗?
  • 拳学要义

    拳学要义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 芦浦笔记

    芦浦笔记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。