the bishop of borglum and his warriors-第2章
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mighty。 The incense rises in clouds; and the monks chant the funeral
hymn。 It sounds like a wail… it sounds like a sentence of wrath and
condemnation; that must be heard far over the land; carried by the
wind… sung by the wind… the wail that sometimes is silent; but never
dies; for ever again it rises in song; singing even into our own
time this legend of the Bishop of Borglum and his hard nephew。 It is
heard in the dark night by the frightened husbandman; driving by in
the heavy sandy road past the convent of Borglum。 It is heard by the
sleepless listener in the thickly…walled rooms at Borglum。 And not
only to the ear of superstition is the sighing and the tread of
hurrying feet audible in the long echoing passages leading to the
convent door that has long been locked。 The door still seems to
open; and the lights seem to flame in the brazen candlesticks; the
fragrance of incense arises; the church gleams in its ancient
splendor; and the monks sing and say the mass over the slain bishop;
who lies there in the black silver…embroidered mantle; with the
crozier in his powerless hand; and on his pale proud forehead gleams
the red wound like fire; and there burn the worldly mind and the
wicked thoughts。
Sink down into his grave… into oblivion… ye terrible shapes of the
times of old!
Hark to the raging of the angry wind; sounding above the rolling
sea! A storm approaches without; calling aloud for human lives。 The
sea has not put on a new mind with the new time。 This night it is a
horrible pit to devour up lives; and to…morrow; perhaps; it may be a
glassy mirror… even as in the old time that we have buried。 Sleep
sweetly; if thou canst sleep!
Now it is morning。
The new time flings sunshine into the room。 The wind still keeps
up mightily。 A wreck is announced… as in the old time。
During the night; down yonder by Lokken; the little fishing
village with the red…tiled roofs… we can see it up here from the
window… a ship has come ashore。 It has struck; and is fast embedded in
the sand; but the rocket apparatus has thrown a rope on board; and
formed a bridge from the wreck to the mainland; and all on board are
saved; and reach the land; and are wrapped in warm blankets; and
to…day they are invited to the farm at the convent of Borglum。 In
comfortable rooms they encounter hospitality and friendly faces。
They are addressed in the language of their country; and the piano
sounds for them with melodies of their native land; and before these
have died away; the chord has been struck; the wire of thought that
reaches to the land of the sufferers announces that they are
rescued。 Then their anxieties are dispelled; and at even they join
in the dance at the feast given in the great hall at Borglum。
Waltzes and Styrian dances are given; and Danish popular songs; and
melodies of foreign lands in these modern times。
Blessed be thou; new time! Speak thou of summer and of purer
gales! Send thy sunbeams gleaming into our hearts and thoughts! On thy
glowing canvas let them be painted… the dark legends of the rough hard
times that are past!
THE END
。