Anne lisbeth

ANNELISBETH故事

ANNELISBETHwasabeautifulyoungwoman,witharedandwhitecomplexion,glitteringwhiteteeth,andclearsofteyes;andherfootstepwaslightinthedance,buthermindwaslighterstill.Shehadalittlechild,notatallpretty;sohewasputouttobenursedbyalaborer’swife,andhismotherwenttothecount’scastle.Shesatinsplendidrooms,richlydecoratedwithsilkandvelvet;notabreathofairwasallowedtoblowuponher,andnoonewasallowedtospeaktoherharshly,forshewasnursetothecount’schild.Hewasfairanddelicateasaprince,andbeautifulasanangel;andhowshelovedthischild!Herownboywasprovidedforbybeingatthelaborer’swherethemouthwateredmorefrequentlythanthepotboiled,andwhereingeneralnoonewasathometotakecareofthechild.Thenhewouldcry,butwhatnobodyknowsnobodycaresfor;sohewouldcrytillhewastired,andthenfallasleep;andwhileweareasleepwecanfeelneitherhungernorthirst.Ah,yes;sleepisacapitalinvention.
Asyearswenton,AnneLisbeth’schildgrewapacelikeweeds,althoughtheysaidhisgrowthhadbeenstunted.Hehadbecomequiteamemberofthefamilyinwhichhedwelt;theyreceivedmoneytokeephim,sothathismothergotridofhimaltogether.Shehadbecomequitealady;shehadacomfortablehomeofherowninthetown;andoutofdoors,whenshewentforawalk,sheworeabonnet;butsheneverwalkedouttoseethelaborer:thatwastoofarfromthetown,and,indeed,shehadnothingtogofor,theboynowbelongedtotheselaboringpeople.Hehadfood,andhecouldalsodosomethingtowardsearninghisliving;hetookcareofMary’sredcow,forheknewhowtotendcattleandmakehimselfuseful.
Thegreatdogbytheyardgateofanobleman’smansionsitsproudlyonthetopofhiskennelwhenthesunshines,andbarksateveryonethatpasses;butifitrains,hecreepsintohishouse,andthereheiswarmanddry.AnneLisbeth’sboyalsosatinthesunshineonthetopofthefence,cuttingoutalittletoy.Ifitwasspring-time,heknewofthreestrawberry-plantsinblossom,whichwouldcertainlybearfruit.Thiswashismosthopefulthought,thoughitoftencametonothing.Andhehadtositoutintherainintheworstweather,andgetwettotheskin,andletthecoldwinddrytheclothesonhisbackafterwards.Ifhewentnearthefarmyardbelongingtothecount,hewaspushedandknockedabout,forthemenandthemaidssaidhewassohorribleugly;buthewasusedtoallthis,fornobodylovedhim.ThiswashowtheworldtreatedAnneLisbeth’sboy,andhowcoulditbeotherwise.Itwashisfatetobebelovedbynoone.Hithertohehadbeenalandcrab;thelandatlastcasthimadrift.Hewenttoseainawretchedvessel,andsatatthehelm,whiletheskippersatoverthegrog-can.Hewasdirtyandugly,half-frozenandhalf-starved;healwayslookedasifheneverhadenoughtoeat,whichwasreallythecase.
Lateintheautumn,whentheweatherwasrough,windy,andwet,andthecoldpenetratedthroughthethickestclothing,especiallyatsea,awretchedboatwentouttoseawithonlytwomenonboard,or,morecorrectly,amanandahalf,foritwastheskipperandhisboy.Therehadonlybeenakindoftwilightallday,anditsoongrewquitedark,andsobitterlycold,thattheskippertookadramtowarmhim.Thebottlewasold,andtheglasstoo.Itwasperfectintheupperpart,butthefootwasbrokenoff,andithadthereforebeenfixeduponalittlecarvedblockofwood,paintedblue.Adramisagreatcomfort,andtwoarebetterstill,thoughttheskipper,whiletheboysatatthehelm,whichheheldfastinhishardseamedhands.Hewasugly,andhishairwasmatted,andhelookedcrippledandstunted;theycalledhimthefield-laborer’sboy,thoughinthechurchregisterhewasenteredasAnneLisbeth’sson.Thewindcutthroughtherigging,andtheboatcutthroughthesea.Thesails,filledbythewind,swelledoutandcarriedthemalonginwildcareer.Itwaswetandroughaboveandbelow,andmightstillbeworse.Hold!whatisthat?
Whathasstrucktheboat?Wasitawaterspout,oraheavysearollingsuddenlyuponthem?
"Heavenhelpus!"criedtheboyatthehelm,astheboatheeledoverandlayonitsbeamends.Ithadstruckonarock,whichrosefromthedepthsofthesea,andsankatonce,likeanoldshoeinapuddle."Itsankatoncewithmouseandman,"asthesayingis.Theremighthavebeenmiceonboard,butonlyonemanandahalf,theskipperandthelaborer’sboy.Noonesawitbuttheskimmingsea-gullsandthefishesbeneaththewater;andeventheydidnotseeitproperly,fortheydartedbackwithterrorastheboatfilledwithwaterandsank.Thereitlay,scarcelyafathombelowthesurface,andthosetwowereprovidedfor,buried,andforgotten.Theglasswiththefootofbluewoodwastheonlythingthatdidnotsink,forthewoodfloatedandtheglassdriftedawaytobecastupontheshoreandbroken;whereandwhen,isindeedofnoconsequence.Ithadserveditspurpose,andithadbeenloved,whichAnneLisbeth’sboyhadnotbeen.Butinheavennosoulwillbeabletosay,"Neverloved."
AnneLisbethhadnowlivedinthetownmanyyears;shewascalled"Madame,"andfeltdignifiedinconsequence;sherememberedtheold,nobledays,inwhichshehaddriveninthecarriage,andhadassociatedwithcountessandbaroness.Herbeautiful,noblechildhadbeenadearangel,andpossessedthekindestheart;hehadlovedhersomuch,andshehadlovedhiminreturn;theyhadkissedandlovedeachother,andtheboyhadbeenherjoy,hersecondlife.Nowhewasfourteenyearsofage,tall,handsome,andclever.Shehadnotseenhimsinceshecarriedhiminherarms;neitherhadshebeenforyearstothecount’spalace;itwasquiteajourneythitherfromthetown.
"Imustmakeoneefforttogo,"saidAnneLisbeth,"toseemydarling,thecount’ssweetchild,andpresshimtomyheart.Certainlyhemustlongtoseeme,too,theyoungcount;nodoubthethinksofmeandlovesme,asinthosedayswhenhewouldflinghisangel-armsroundmyneck,andlisp’AnneLiz.’Itwasmusictomyears.Yes,Imustmakeanefforttoseehimagain."Shedroveacrossthecountryinagrazier’scart,andthengotout,andcontinuedherjourneyonfoot,andthusreachedthecount’scastle.Itwasasgreatandmagnificentasithadalwaysbeen,andthegardenlookedthesameasever;alltheservantswerestrangerstoher,notoneofthemknewAnneLisbeth,norofwhatconsequenceshehadoncebeenthere;butshefeltsurethecountesswouldsoonletthemknowit,andherdarlingboy,too:howshelongedtoseehim!
NowthatAnneLisbethwasatherjourney’send,shewaskeptwaitingalongtime;andforthosewhowait,timepassesslowly.Butbeforethegreatpeoplewentintodinner,shewascalledinandspokentoverygraciously.Shewastogoinagainafterdinner,andthenshewouldseehersweetboyoncemore.Howtall,andslender,andthinhehadgrown;buttheeyesandthesweetangelmouthwerestillbeautiful.Helookedather,buthedidnotspeak,hecertainlydidnotknowwhoshewas.Heturnedroundandwasgoingaway,butsheseizedhishandandpressedittoherlips.
"Well,well,"hesaid;andwiththathewalkedoutoftheroom.Hewhofilledhereverythought!hewhomshelovedbest,andwhowasherwholeearthlypride!
AnneLisbethwentforthfromthecastleintothepublicroad,feelingmournfulandsad;hewhomshehadnurseddayandnight,andevennowcarriedaboutinherdreams,hadbeencoldandstrange,andhadnotawordorthoughtrespectingher.Agreatblackravendarteddowninfrontofheronthehighroad,andcroakeddismally.
"Ah,"saidshe,"whatbirdofillomenartthou?"Presentlyshepassedthelaborer’shut;hiswifestoodatthedoor,andthetwowomenspoketoeachother."Youlookwell,"saidthewoman;"you’refatandplump;youarewelloff."
"Ohyes,"answeredAnneLisbeth.
"Theboatwentdownwiththem,"continuedthewoman;"Hanstheskipperandtheboywerebothdrowned;sothere’sanendofthem.Ialwaysthoughttheboywouldbeabletohelpmewithafewdollars.He’llnevercostyouanythingmore,AnneLisbeth."
"Sotheyweredrowned,"repeatedAnneLisbeth;butshesaidnomore,andthesubjectwasdropped.Shefeltverylow-spirited,becausehercount-childhadshownnoinclinationtospeaktoherwholovedhimsowell,andwhohadtravelledsofartoseehim.Thejourneyhadcostmoneytoo,andshehadderivednogreatpleasurefromit.Stillshesaidnotawordofallthis;shecouldnotrelieveherheartbytellingthelaborer’swife,lestthelattershouldthinkshedidnotenjoyherformerpositionatthecastle.Thentheravenflewoverher,screamingagainasheflew.
"Theblackwretch!"saidAnneLisbeth,"hewillendbyfrighteningmetoday."Shehadbroughtcoffeeandchicorywithher,forshethoughtitwouldbeacharitytothepoorwomantogivethemtohertoboilacupofcoffee,andthenshewouldtakeacupherself.
Thewomanpreparedthecoffee,andinthemeantimeAnneLisbethseatedherinachairandfellasleep.Thenshedreamedofsomethingwhichshehadneverdreamedbefore;singularlyenoughshedreamedofherownchild,whohadweptandhungeredinthelaborer’shut,andhadbeenknockedaboutinheatandincold,andwhowasnowlyinginthedepthsofthesea,inaspotonlyknownbyGod.Shefanciedshewasstillsittinginthehut,wherethewomanwasbusypreparingthecoffee,forshecouldsmellthecoffee-berriesroasting.
Butsuddenlyitseemedtoherthattherestoodonthethresholdabeautifulyoungform,asbeautifulasthecount’schild,andthisapparitionsaidtoher,"Theworldispassingaway;holdfasttome,foryouaremymotherafterall;youhaveanangelinheaven,holdmefast;"andthechild-angelstretchedouthishandandseizedher.Thentherewasaterriblecrash,asofaworldcrumblingtopieces,andtheangel-childwasrisingfromtheearth,andholdingherbythesleevesotightlythatshefeltherselfliftedfromtheground;but,ontheotherhand,somethingheavyhungtoherfeetanddraggedherdown,anditseemedasifhundredsofwomenwereclingingtoher,andcrying,"Ifthouarttobesaved,wemustbesavedtoo.Holdfast,holdfast."Andthentheyallhungonher,butthereweretoomany;andastheyclungthesleevewastorn,andAnneLisbethfelldowninhorror,andawoke.Indeedshewasonthepointoffallingoverinrealitywiththechaironwhichshesat;butshewassostartledandalarmedthatshecouldnotrememberwhatshehaddreamed,onlythatitwassomethingverydreadful.
Theydranktheircoffeeandhadachattogether,andthenAnneLisbethwentawaytowardsthelittletownwhereshewastomeetthecarrier,whowastodriveherbacktoherownhome.Butwhenshecametohimshefoundthathewouldnotbereadytostarttilltheeveningofthenextday.Thenshebegantothinkoftheexpense,andwhatthedistancewouldbetowalk.Sherememberedthattheroutebythesea-shorewastwomilesshorterthanbythehighroad;andastheweatherwasclear,andtherewouldbemoonlight,shedeterminedtomakeherwayonfoot,andtostartatonce,thatshemightreachhomethenextday.
Thesunhadset,andtheeveningbellssoundedthroughtheairfromthetowerofthevillagechurch,buttoheritwasnotthebells,butthecryofthefrogsinthemarshes.Thentheyceased,andallaroundbecamestill;notabirdcouldbeheard,theywereallatrest,eventheowlhadnotleftherhidingplace;deepsilencereignedonthemarginofthewoodbythesea-shore.AsAnneLisbethwalkedonshecouldhearherownfootstepsinthesands;eventhewavesoftheseawereatrest,andallinthedeepwatershadsunkintosilence.Therewasquietamongthedeadandthelivinginthedeepsea.AnneLisbethwalkedon,thinkingofnothingatall,aspeoplesay,orratherherthoughtswandered,butnotawayfromher,forthoughtisneverabsentfromus,itonlyslumbers.Manythoughtsthathavelaindormantarerousedatthepropertime,andbegintostirinthemindandtheheart,andseemeventocomeuponusfromabove.Itiswritten,thatagooddeedbearsablessingforitsfruit;anditisalsowritten,thatthewagesofsinisdeath.Muchhasbeensaidandmuchwrittenwhichwepassoverorknownothingof.Alightariseswithinus,andthenforgottenthingsmakethemselvesremembered;andthusitwaswithAnneLisbeth.Thegermofeveryviceandeveryvirtueliesinourheart,inyoursandinmine;theylielikelittlegrainsofseed,tillarayofsunshine,orthetouchofanevilhand,oryouturnthecornertotherightortotheleft,andthedecisionismade.Thelittleseedisstirred,itswellsandshootsup,andpoursitssapintoyourblood,directingyourcourseeitherforgoodorevil.
Troublesomethoughtsoftenexistinthemind,fermentingthere,whicharenotrealizedbyuswhilethesensesareasitwereslumbering;butstilltheyarethere.AnneLisbethwalkedonthuswithhersenseshalfasleep,butthethoughtswerefermentingwithinher.
FromoneShroveTuesdaytoanother,muchmayoccurtoweighdowntheheart;itisthereckoningofawholeyear;muchmaybeforgotten,sinsagainstheaveninwordandthought,sinsagainstourneighbor,andagainstourownconscience.Wearescarcelyawareoftheirexistence;andAnneLisbethdidnotthinkofanyofhererrors.Shehadcommittednocrimeagainstthelawoftheland;shewasanhonorableperson,inagoodposition-thatsheknew.
Shecontinuedherwalkalongbythemarginofthesea.Whatwasitshesawlyingthere?Anoldhat;aman’shat.Nowwhenmightthathavebeenwashedoverboard?Shedrewnearer,shestoppedtolookatthehat;"Ha!whatwaslyingyonder?"
Sheshuddered;yetitwasnothingsaveaheapofgrassandtangledseaweedflungacrossalongstone,butitlookedlikeacorpse.Onlytangledgrass,andyetshewasfrightenedatit.Assheturnedtowalkaway,muchcameintohermindthatshehadheardinherchildhood:oldsuperstitionsofspectresbythesea-shore;oftheghostsofdrownedbutunburiedpeople,whosecorpseshadbeenwasheduponthedesolatebeach.Thebody,sheknew,coulddonoharmtoanyone,butthespiritcouldpursuethelonelywanderer,attachitselftohim,anddemandtobecarriedtothechurchyard,thatitmightrestinconsecratedground."Holdfast!holdfast!"thespectrewouldcry;andasAnneLisbethmurmuredthesewordstoherself,thewholeofherdreamwassuddenlyrecalledtohermemory,whenthemotherhadclungtoher,andutteredthesewords,when,amidthecrashingofworlds,hersleevehadbeentorn,andshehadslippedfromthegraspofherchild,whowantedtoholdherupinthatterriblehour.Herchild,herownchild,whichshehadneverloved,laynowburiedinthesea,andmightriseup,likeaspectre,fromthewaters,andcry,"Holdfast;carrymetoconsecratedground!"
Asthesethoughtspassedthroughhermind,feargavespeedtoherfeet,sothatshewalkedfasterandfaster.Fearcameuponherasifacold,clammyhandhadbeenlaiduponherheart,sothatshealmostfainted.Asshelookedacrossthesea,alltheregrewdarker;aheavymistcamerollingonwards,andclungtobushandtree,distortingthemintofantasticshapes.Sheturnedandglancedatthemoon,whichhadrisenbehindher.Itlookedlikeapale,raylesssurface,andadeadlyweightseemedtohanguponherlimbs."Hold,"thoughtshe;andthensheturnedroundasecondtimetolookatthemoon.Awhitefaceappearedquiteclosetoher,withamist,hanginglikeagarmentfromitsshoulders."Stop!carrymetoconsecratedearth,"soundedinherears,instrange,hollowtones.Thesounddidnotcomefromfrogsorravens;shesawnosignofsuchcreatures."Agrave!digmeagrave!"wasrepeatedquiteloud.Yes,itwasindeedthespectreofherchild.Thechildthatlaybeneaththeocean,andwhosespiritcouldhavenorestuntilitwascarriedtothechurchyard,anduntilagravehadbeendugforitinconsecratedground.Shewouldgothereatonce,andthereshewoulddig.Sheturnedinthedirectionofthechurch,andtheweightonherheartseemedtogrowlighter,andeventovanishaltogether;butwhensheturnedtogohomebytheshortestway,itreturned.
"Stop!stop!"andthewordscamequiteclear,thoughtheywerelikethecroakofafrog,orthewailofabird."Agrave!digmeagrave!"
Themistwascoldanddamp,herhandsandfaceweremoistandclammywithhorror,aheavyweightagainseizedherandclungtoher,hermindbecameclearforthoughtsthathadneverbeforebeenthere.
Inthesenorthernregions,abeech-woodoftenbudsinasinglenightandappearsinthemorningsunlightinitsfullgloryofyouthfulgreen.So,inasingleinstant,cantheconsciousnessofthesinthathasbeencommittedinthoughts,words,andactionsofourpastlife,beunfoldedtous.Whenoncetheconscienceisawakened,itspringsupintheheartspontaneously,andGodawakenstheconsciencewhenweleastexpectit.Thenwecanfindnoexcuseforourselves;thedeedisthereandbearswitnessagainstus.Thethoughtsseemtobecomewords,andtosoundfaroutintotheworld.Wearehorrifiedatthethoughtofwhatwehavecarriedwithinus,andattheconsciousnessthatwehavenotovercometheevilwhichhasitsorigininthoughtlessnessandpride.Theheartconcealswithinitselfthevicesaswellasthevirtues,andtheygrowintheshallowestground.AnneLisbethnowexperiencedinthoughtwhatwehaveclothedinwords.Shewasoverpoweredbythem,andsankdownandcreptalongforsomedistanceontheground."Agrave!digmeagrave!"soundedagaininherears,andshewouldhavegladlyburiedherself,ifinthegraveshecouldhavefoundforgetfulnessofheractions.
Itwasthefirsthourofherawakening,fullofanguishandhorror.Superstitionmadeheralternatelyshudderwithcoldorburnwiththeheatoffever.Manythings,ofwhichshehadfearedeventospeak,cameintohermind.Silently,asthecloud-shadowsinthemoonshine,aspectralapparitionflittedbyher;shehadheardofitbefore.Closebyhergallopedfoursnortingsteeds,withfireflashingfromtheireyesandnostrils.Theydraggedaburningcoach,andwithinitsatthewickedlordofthemanor,whohadruledthereahundredyearsbefore.Thelegendsaysthateverynight,attwelveo’clock,hedroveintohiscastleyardandoutagain.Hewasnotaspaleasdeadmenare,butblackasacoal.Henodded,andpointedtoAnneLisbeth,cryingout,"Holdfast!holdfast!andthenyoumayrideagaininanobleman’scarriage,andforgetyourchild."
Shegatheredherselfup,andhastenedtothechurchyard;butblackcrossesandblackravensdancedbeforehereyes,andshecouldnotdistinguishonefromtheother.Theravenscroakedastheravenhaddonewhichshesawinthedaytime,butnowsheunderstoodwhattheysaid."Iamtheraven-mother;
Iamtheraven-mother,"eachravencroaked,andAnneLisbethfeltthatthenamealsoappliedtoher;andshefanciedsheshouldbetransformedintoablackbird,andhavetocryastheycried,ifshedidnotdigthegrave.Andshethrewherselfupontheearth,andwithherhandsdugagraveinthehardground,sothatthebloodranfromherfingers."Agrave!digmeagrave!"stillsoundedinherears;shewasfearfulthatthecockmightcrow,andthefirstredstreakappearintheeast,beforeshehadfinishedherwork;andthenshewouldbelost.Andthecockcrowed,andthedaydawnedintheeast,andthegravewasonlyhalfdug.Anicyhandpassedoverherheadandface,anddowntowardsherheart."Onlyhalfagrave,"avoicewailed,andfledaway.Yes,itfledawayoverthesea;itwastheoceanspectre;and,exhaustedandoverpowered,AnneLisbethsunktotheground,andhersenseslefther.
Itwasabrightdaywhenshecametoherself,andtwomenwereraisingherup;butshewasnotlyinginthechurchyard,butonthesea-shore,whereshehaddugadeepholeinthesand,andcutherhandwithapieceofbrokenglass,whosesharpsternwasstuckinalittleblockofpaintedwood.Anne
Lisbethwasinafever.Consciencehadrousedthememoriesofsuperstitions,andhadsoacteduponhermind,thatshefanciedshehadonlyhalfasoul,andthatherchildhadtakentheotherhalfdownintothesea.NeverwouldshebeabletoclingtothemercyofHeaventillshehadrecoveredthisotherhalfwhichwasnowheldfastinthedeepwater.AnneLisbethreturnedtoherhome,butshewasnolongerthewomanshehadbeen.Herthoughtswerelikeaconfused,tangledskein;onlyonethread,onlyonethoughtwascleartoher,namelythatshemustcarrythespectreofthesea-shoretothechurchyard,anddigagraveforhimthere;thatbysodoingshemightwinbackhersoul.Manyanightshewasmissedfromherhome,andwasalwaysfoundonthesea-shorewaitingforthespectre.
Inthiswayawholeyearpassed;andthenonenightshevanishedagain,andwasnottobefound.Thewholeofthenextdaywasspentinauselesssearchafterher.Towardsevening,whentheclerkenteredthechurchtotollthevesperbell,hesawbythealtarAnneLisbeth,whohadspentthewholedaythere.Herpowersofbodywerealmostexhausted,buthereyesflashedbrightly,andonhercheekswasarosyflush.Thelastraysofthesettingsunshoneuponher,andgleamedoverthealtarupontheshiningclaspsoftheBible,whichlayopenatthewordsoftheprophetJoel,"Rendyourheartsandnotyourgarments,andturnuntotheLord."
"Thatwasjustachance,"peoplesaid;butdothingshappenbychance?InthefaceofAnneLisbeth,lightedupbytheeveningsun,couldbeseenpeaceandrest.Shesaidshewashappynow,forshehadconquered.Thespectreoftheshore,herownchild,hadcometoherthenightbefore,andhadsaidtoher,"Thouhastdugmeonlyhalfagrave:butthouhastnow,forayearandaday,buriedmealtogetherinthyheart,anditisthereamothercanbesthideherchild!"Andthenhegaveherbackherlostsoul,andbroughtherintothechurch."NowIaminthehouseofGod,"shesaid,"andinthathousewearehappy."
Whenthesunset,AnneLisbeth’ssoulhadrisentothatregionwherethereisnomorepain;andAnneLisbeth’stroubleswereatanend.

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