登陆注册
5289100000015

第15章 CHAPTER XII

With the evening twilight the lovely lady returned and spent the night in converse with the pious youth, leaving him in the morning with her mind more humble, pure, and devout; and thus matters went on for many days. "Thy palm-wine and thy dates must be coming to an end," said Zelinda one evening as she presented the youth with a flask of rich wine and some costly fruits. He, however, gently put aside the gift and said, "Noble lady, I would accept your gift gladly, but I fear some of your magic arts may perhaps cleave to it.

Or could you assure me to the contrary by Him whom you are now beginning to know?" Zelinda cast down her eyes in silent confusion and took her presents back. On the following evening, however, she brought similar gifts, and, smiling confidently, gave the desired assurance. Heimbert then partook of them without hesitation, and from henceforth the disciple carefully provided for the sustenance of her teacher in the wilderness.

And so, as the blessed knowledge of the truth sank more and more deeply into Zelinda's soul, so that she was often sitting till dawn before the youth, with cheeks glowing and hair dishevelled, her eyes gleaming with delight and her hands folded, unable to withdraw herself from his words, he, on his part, endeavored to make her sensible at all times that it was only Fadrique's love for her which had urged him, his friend, into this fatal desert, and that it was this same love that had thus become the means for the attainment of her highest spiritual good. She still well remembered the handsome and terrible captain who had stormed the height that he might clasp her in his arms; and she related to her friend how the same hero had afterward saved her in the burning library. Heimbert too had many pleasant things to tell of Fadrique--of his high knightly courage, of his grave and noble manners, and of his love to Zelinda, which in the night after the battle of Tunis was no longer concealed within his passionate breast, but was betrayed to the young German in a thousand unconscious expressions between sleeping and waking. Divine truth and the image of her loving hero both at once sank deep within Zelinda's heart, and struck root there with tender but indestructible power. Heimbert's presence and the almost adoring admiration with which his pupil regarded him did not disturb these feelings, for from the first moment his appearance had something in it so pure and heavenly that no thoughts of earthly love intruded. When Heimbert was alone he would often smile happily within himself, saying in his own beloved German tongue, "It is indeed delightful that I am now able consciously to do the same service for Fadrique as he did for me, unconsciously, with his angelic sister." And then he would sing some German song of Clara's grace and beauty, the sound of which rang with strange sweetness through the desert, while it happily beguiled his solitary hours.

Once when Zelinda came in the evening twilight, gracefully bearing on her beautiful head a basket of provisions for Heimbert, he smiled at her and shook his head, saying, "It is inconceivable to me, sweet maiden, why you ever give yourself the trouble of coming to me out here in the desert. You can indeed no longer find pleasure in magic arts, since the spirit of truth and love dwells within you. If you would only transform the oasis into the natural form in which the good God created it, I would go there with you, and we should have far more time for holy converse." "Sir," replied Zelinda, "you speak truly. I too have thought for some days of doing so and the matter would have been already set on foot, but a strange visitor fetters my power. The Dervish whom you saw in Tunis is with me, and as in former times we have practised many magic tricks with each other, he would like again to play the old game. He perceives the change in me, and on that account urges me all the more vehemently and dangerously."

"He must either be driven away or converted," said Heimbert, girding on his shoulder-belt more firmly, and taking up his shield from the ground. "Have the goodness, dear maiden," he continued, "to lead me to your enchanted isle."

"You avoided it so before," said the astonished Zeiinda," and it is still unchanged in its fantastic form."

"Formerly it would have been only inconsiderate curiosity to have ventured there," replied Heimbert. "You came too out here to me, and that was better for us both. But now the old enemy might lay snares for the ruin of all that the Lord has been working in you, and so it is a knightly duty to go. In God's name, then, to the work!"

And they hastened forward together, through the ever-increasing darkness of the plain, on their way to the blooming island.

同类推荐
  • The Copy-Cat

    The Copy-Cat

    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。
  • 教童子法

    教童子法

    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。
  • 博异志

    博异志

    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。
  • 太上玄都妙本清静身心经

    太上玄都妙本清静身心经

    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。
  • 定命录

    定命录

    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。
热门推荐
  • 南下薪火

    南下薪火

    《南下薪火》描述了主人公周晓元——一个南下干部的儿子,从儿童时代便从山西来到福建生活、学习、工作的故事。由于南北方文化的差异,在他身上演绎着丰富多彩的故事:学讲本地话、恋爱结婚、适应当地的生活习惯等。他的生活经历和成长足迹,印上了深深的时代烙印,也是南下干部革命精神的延续。
  • 镜像与她者:加拿大媒介与女性

    镜像与她者:加拿大媒介与女性

    随着社会经济文化的发展,人类生活水准的提高,大众对媒介越来越接近,越来越依赖,媒介作为社会建构中的重要组成部分,是文化传播的重要平台。对女性群体的调研显示,绝大部分的女性认为传媒在自己的生活中有重要位置。据调研,中国女性中每天花在电视传媒上的时间超过一个小时的占80%以上,大众传媒已成为女性生活中不可或缺的重要部分,所以媒介传播与女性之间存在着种种不可割舍的联系,媒介的传播对女性的生活与发展产生着深刻的影响。在全世界范围内,女性仍处于较低地位,在与媒介的关系中,女性也仍然处于相对弱势地位。加拿大也不例外,部分媒体受经济利益的驱动,或政治利益的需要,往往存在着忽视弱势群体的现象,包括女性。
  • 清风徐来楠楠语

    清风徐来楠楠语

    多年前,江思楠听闻一场青梅竹马,那个讲故事的人从此成为她的心头念想。后来,她才知,原来那个念想早已来到她身边。三个月前,她无意间救了一个男人,三个月后,这个男人告诉醉酒的她:“我是你老公。”她笑,暗喜自己捡到宝。酒醒之后,面对穷追不舍的男人,她避之不及。恋情被毁,气急败坏的女孩怒吼:“慕先生,井浅河深,齐大非偶。”他笑:“你只能属于我。”后来,慕先生发现强攻不行,改为智取,步步为营,徐徐诱之。她最终溃不成军。浓情蜜意之时,曾经旧爱归来,她主动退场,他说:“故事的结局由我定。”世人说她定是使了阴暗手段才能继续留在他身边,他嗤笑:“我若不让,谁能设计到我,我若想要,谁能拿走,我若不给,谁又能夺走。”【小片段】江思楠目光清冷的望着面色不善的苏溪雪,“苏小姐,他是我的丈夫,作为小三,你很光荣?”苏溪雪冷笑:“你也配?”江思楠淡淡道:“配不配我不知道,至少在法律上我们很相配。”苏溪雪“……”望着她气急败坏离开的身影,江思楠唇角溢出一丝苦笑……【可入坑】
  • 反穿:彪悍小妻有点萌

    反穿:彪悍小妻有点萌

    她叶竹琴、书、画、舞、武样样精通,一朝穿越成病娇女,误入娱乐圈,却浪的飞起。他陆寒,受人之托,遇见她,丢了心更掉了一地的节操。陆寒表示:节操是什么?我媳妇不吃。
  • 战神凰妃

    战神凰妃

    轻松热血1V1,喜剧甜宠无误会,结局圆满,全文he,标签错误,不要被误导。低垂着眉眼,夜轻羽飞起一脚,将某个接骨还不忘耍流氓的混蛋给踹了出去。前世,她是一国战神,拼尽一切,只想要守护自己的亲人,最后,却被至亲背叛,落得惨死,国破家亡,亲人同胞为奴为仆。重生为邻国傻白丑,某女本想着有仇报仇,有怨报怨,顺道搅动一下这天下风云。不曾想,天上掉下个绝色邪帝。霸道腹黑各种撩,撒娇卖萌爱粘人。“你最近怎么这么冷淡,是不是在外面有别的小白脸了?”勾起女人的下巴,某妖孽眸光微眯。“天地良心,我这个辈子养过的小白脸只有你一个!”某女一秒挺直腰板,信誓旦旦,非常正直!
  • 利率衍生产品发展:条件分析与机制设计

    利率衍生产品发展:条件分析与机制设计

    与其他衍生产品一样,利率衍生产品的基本功能也包括套期保值、套利、投机、价格发现和资源配置。但作者以为,这五种功能在性质上是有区别的。前三种功能基于特定需求而产生,具有内在性,并直接体现了利率衍生产品的作用机理,而后两种功能则基于前三种功能而存在,具有外延性,更多体现的是利率衍生产品发展的意义和影响。切合本书研究主题的正是前三种功能,因此本章仅对这三种功能及其作用机理加以分析。
  • 爆笑紫禁城生活:野蛮皇贵妃

    爆笑紫禁城生活:野蛮皇贵妃

    “你平日喜欢干什么?”“回皇上,臣妾喜欢看恋书!”“喜欢看恋书的话,那你进宫当贵妃吧!”“皇上,你这混蛋!臣妾要为您生孩子,让您疼让您爱。还要您爱臣妾一生一世!”《学霸萌萌哒:BOSS坏坏哒》也希望读者喜欢!
  • 繁花有褶皱

    繁花有褶皱

    走过少年,走过青年,我走进了铁血的中年。半生历经的是如晦的风雨,收获的是岁月的磨砺、生活的沧桑。时光流走,韶华已逝,留存心底的是淡淡的忧伤,间杂点点的感悟。
  • 史上最难攻略的女BOSS

    史上最难攻略的女BOSS

    她是BUG一样的存在,史上最难攻略的女BOSS,没有之一。一句话来说:这是一个土著女BOSS对抗“穿越者”“重生者”“任务者”的故事……欢迎加入安妮普通书友群,群聊号码:697934386
  • 非礼皇上

    非礼皇上

    她脚踩黑白两道,执掌庞大势力!一朝穿越,却被处处欺压?且看她咸鱼翻身,一鸣惊人!***“皇后胆敢非礼朕,其罪当诛、当即赐死!”某男为铲除眼中钉,可谓费尽心思。她妖娆一笑,迅即掷出锋利小飞刀,“咻咻”几下将男人身上衣衫割成碎片,还不忘上下其手将他狼吻一番:“看清楚,这才叫非礼?”***他终于明白:他能抵挡她惊世的美貌,却难挡她浑身的胆识和超人的谋略;他的心,已被俘虏。“欣儿,欢迎继续非礼我。”他洗得香香,摆好姿势,大抛媚眼儿。她厉眸淡扫,飞腿而去:“滚!”***硝烟乱世,浴火明珠,锋芒毕露;宫廷斗志、江湖称雄、沙场泣血,她是巾帼英雄、女中儿郎。烈火中的爱,马背上的情,刻骨铭心、荡气回肠……﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍﹍《迷人小王妃》:《皇宠》:《小小火辣妃》: