evangeline-第4章

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Came　from　the　graves　of　the　dead；　nor　the　gloomier　grave　of　the　living。
Slowly　at　length　she　returned　to　the　tenantless　house　of　her　father。
Smouldered　the　fire　on　the　hearth；　on　the　board　stood　the　supper　untasted；
Empty　and　drear　was　each　room；　and　haunted　with　phantoms　of　terror。
Sadly　echoed　her　step　on　the　stair　and　the　floor　of　her　chamber。
In　the　dead　of　the　night　she　heard　the　whispering　rain　fall
Loud　on　the　withered　leaves　of　the　sycamore…tree　by　the　window。
Keenly　the　lightning　flashed；　and　the　voice　of　the　echoing　thunder
Told　her　that　God　was　in　heaven；　and　governed　the　world　he　created！
Then　she　remembered　the　tale　she　had　heard　of　the　justice　of　Heaven；
Soothed　was　her　troubled　soul；　and　she　peacefully　slumbered　till　morning。



V。


　　FOUR　times　the　sun　had　risen　and　set；　and　now　on　the　fifth　day
Cheerily　called　the　cock　to　the　sleeping　maids　of　the　farm…house。
Soon　o'er　the　yellow　fields；　in　silent　and　mournful　procession；
Came　from　the　neighboring　hamlets　and　farms　the　Acadian　women；
Driving　in　ponderous　wains　their　household　goods　to　the　sea…shore；
Pausing　and　looking　back　to　gaze　once　more　on　their　dwellings；
Ere　they　were　shut　from　sight　by　the　winding　road　and　the　woodland。
Close　at　their　sides　their　children　ran；　and　urged　on　the　oxen；
While　in　their　little　hands　they　clasped　some　fragments　of　playthings。

　　Thus　to　the　Gaspereau's　mouth　they　hurried；　and　there　on　the　sea…beach
Piled　in　confusion　lay　the　household　goods　of　the　peasants。
All　day　long　between　theshore　and　the　ships　did　the　boats　ply；
All　day　long　the　wains　came　laboring　down　from　the　village。
Late　in　the　afternoon；　when　the　sun　was　near　to　his　setting；
Echoed　far　o'er　the　fields　came　the　roll　of　drums　from　the　churchyard。
Thither　the　women　and　children　thronged。　　On　a　sudden　the　church…doors
Opened；　and　forth　came　the　guard；　and　marching　in　gloomy　procession
Followed　the　long…imprisoned；　but　patient；　Acadian　farmers。
Even　as　pilgrims；　who　journey　afar　from　their　homes　and　their　country；
Sing　as　they　go；　and　in　singing　forget　they　are　weary　and　wayworn；
So　with　songs　on　their　lips　the　Acadian　peasants　descended
Down　from　the　church　to　the　shore；　amid　their　wives　and　their　daughters。
Foremost　the　young　men　came；　and；　raising　together　their　voices；
Sang　they　with　tremulous　lips　a　chant　of　the　Catholic　Missions：
〃Sacred　heart　of　the　Saviour！　　O　inexhaustible　fountain！
Fill　our　hearts　this　day　with　strength　and　submission　and　patience！〃
Then　the　old　men；　as　they　marched；　and　the　women　that　stood　by　the　wayside
Joined　in　the　sacred　psalm；　and　the　birds　in　the　sunshine　above　them
Mingled　their　notes　therewith；　like　voices　of　spirits　departed。

　　Half…way　down　to　the　shore　Evangeline　waited　in　silence；
Not　overcome　with　grief；　but　strong　in　the　hour　of　affliction；
Calmly　and　sadly　she　waited；　until　the　procession　approached　her；
And　she　beheld　the　face　of　Gabriel　pale　with　emotion。
Tears　then　filled　her　eyes；　and；　eagerly　running　to　meet　him；
Clasped　she　his　hands；　and　laid　her　head　on　his　shoulder　and　whispered；
〃Gabriel！　be　of　good　cheer！　for　if　we　love　one　another；
Nothing；　in　truth；　can　harm　us；　whatever　mischances　may　happen！〃
Smiling　she　spake　these　words；　then　suddenly　paused；　for　her　father
Saw　she　slowly　advancing。　　Alas！　how　changed　was　his　aspect！
Gone　was　the　glow　from　his　cheek；　and　the　fire　from　his　eye；　and　his　footstep
Heavier　seemed　with　the　weight　of　the　heavy　heart　in　his　bosom。
But　with　a　smile　and　a　sigh；　she　clasped　his　neck　and　embraced　him；
Speaking　words　of　endearment　where　words　of　comfort　availed　not。
Thus　to　the　Gaspereau's　mouth　moved　on　that　mournful　procession。

　　There　disorder　prevailed；　and　the　tumult　and　stir　of　embarking。
Busily　plied　the　freighted　boats；　and　in　the　confusion
Wives　were　torn　from　their　husbands；　and　mothers；　too　late；　saw　their　children
Left　on　the　land；　extending　their　arms；　with　wildest　entreaties。
So　unto　separate　ships　were　Basil　and　Gabriel　carried；
While　in　despair　on　the　shore　Evangeline　stood　with　her　father。
Half　the　task　was　not　done　when　the　sun　went　down；　and　the　twilight
Deepened　and　darkened　around；　and　in　haste　the　refluent　ocean
Fled　away　from　the　shore；　and　left　the　line　of　the　sand…beach
Covered　with　waifs　of　the　tide；　with　kelp　and　the　slippery　sea…weed。
Farther　back　in　the　midst　of　the　household　goods　and　the　wagons；
Like　to　a　gypsy　camp；　or　a　leaguer　after　a　battle；
All　escape　cut　off　by　the　sea；　and　the　sentinels　near　them；
Lay　encamped　for　the　night　the　houseless　Acadian　farmers。
Back　to　its　nethermost　caves　retreated　the　bellowing　ocean；
Dragging　adown　the　beach　the　rattling　pebbles；　and　leaving
Inland　and　far　up　the　shore　the　stranded　boats　of　the　sailors。
Then；　as　the　night　descended；　the　herds　returned　from　their　pastures；
Sweet　was　the　moist　still　air　with　the　odor　of　milk　from　their　udders；
Lowing　they　waited；　and　long；　at　the　well…known　bars　of　the　farm…yard；
Waited　and　looked　in　vain　for　the　voice　and　the　hand　of　the　milkmaid。
Silence　reigned　in　the　streets；　from　the　church　no　Angelus　sounded；
Rose　no　smoke　from　the　roofs；　and　gleamed　no　lights　from　the　windows。

　　But　on　the　shores　meanwhile　the　evening　fires　had　been　kindled；
Built　of　the　drift…wood　thrown　on　the　sands　from　wrecks　in　the　tempest。
Round　them　shapes　of　gloom　and　sorrowful　faces　were　gathered；
Voices　of　women　were　heard；　and　of　men；　and　the　crying　of　children。
Onward　from　fire　to　fire；　as　from　hearth　to　hearth　in　his　parish；
Wandered　the　faithful　priest；　consoling　and　blessing　and　cheering；
Like　unto　shipwrecked　Paul　on　Melita's　desolate　sea…shore。
Thus　he　approached　the　place　where　Evangeline　sat　with　her　father；
And　in　the　flickering　light　beheld　the　face　of　the　old　man；
Haggard　and　hollow　and　wan；　and　without　either　thought　or　emotion；
E'en　as　the　face　of　a　clock　from　which　the　hands　have　been　taken。
Vainly　Evangeline　strove　with　words　and　caresses　to　cheer　him；
Vainly　offered　him　food；　yet　he　moved　not；　he　looked　not；　he　spake　not；
But；　with　a　vacant　stare；　ever　gazed　at　the　flickering　fire…light。
〃Benedicite！〃　murmured　the　priest；　in　tones　of　compassion。
More　he　fain　would　have　said；　but　his　heart　was　full；　and　his　accents
Faltered　and　paused　on　his　lips；　as　the　feet　of　a　child　on　a　threshold；
Hushed　by　the　scene　he　beholds；　and　the　awful　presence　of　sorrow。
Silently；　therefore；　he　laid　his　hand　on　the　head　of　the　maiden；
Raising　his　eyes　full　of　tears　to　the　silent　stars　that　above　them
Moved　on　their　way；　unperturbed　by　the　wrongs　and　sorrows　of　mortals。
Then　sat　he　down　at　her　side；　and　they　wept　together　in　silence。

　　Suddenly　rose　from　the　south　a　light；　as　in　autumn　the　blood…red
Moon　climbs　the　crystal　walls　of　heaven；　and　o'er　the　horizon
Titan…like　stretches　its　hundred　hands　upon　mountain　and　meadow；
Seizing　the　rocks　and　the　rivers；　and　piling　huge　shadows　together。
Broader　and　ever　broader　it　gleamed　on　the　roofs　of　the　village；
Gleamed　on　the　sky　and　the　sea；　and　the　ships　that　lay　in　the　roadstead。
Columns　of　shining　smoke　uprose；　and　flashes　of　flame　were
Thrust　through　their　folds　and　withdrawn；　like　the　quivering　hands　of　a　martyr。
Then　as　the　wind　seized　the　gleeds　and　the　burning　thatch；　and；　uplifting；
Whirled　them　aloft　through　the　air；　at　once　from　a　hundred　house…tops
Started　the　sheeted　smoke　with　flashes　of　flame　intermingled。

　　These　things　beheld　in　dismay　the　crowd　on　the　shore　and　on　shipboard。
Speechless　at　first　they　stood；　then　cried　aloud　in　their　anguish；
〃We　shall　behold　no　more　our　homes　in　the　village　of　Grand…Pr？〃
Loud　on　a　sudden　the　cocks　began　to　crow　in　the　farm…yards；
Thinking　the　day　had　dawned；　and　anon　the　lowing　of　cattle
Came　on　the　evening　breeze；　by　the　barking　of　dogs　interrupted。
Then　rose　a　sound　of　dread；　such　as　startles　the　sleeping　encampments
Far　in　the　western　prairies　or　forests　that　skirt　the　Nebraska；
When　the　wild　horses　affrighted　sweep　by　with　the　speed　of　the　whirlwind；
Or　the　loud　bellowing　herds　of　buffaloes　rush　to　the　river。
Such　was　the　sound　that　arose　on　the　night；　as　the　herds　and　the　horses
Broke　through　their　folds　and　fences；　and　madly　rushed　o'er　the　meadows。

　　Overwhelmed　with　the　sight；　yet　speechless；　the　priest　and　the　maiden
Gazed　on　the　scene　of　terror　that　reddened　and　widened　before　them；
And　as　they　turned　at　length　to　speak　to　their　silent　companion；
Lo！　from　his　seat　he　had　fallen；　and　stretched　abroad　on　the　sea…shore
Motionless　lay　his　form；　from　which　the　soul　had　departed。
Slowly　the　priest　uplifted　the　lifeless　head；　and　the　maiden
Knelt　at　her　father's　side；　and　wailed　aloud　in　her　terror。
Then　in　a　swoon　she　sank；　and　lay　with　her　head　on　his　bosom。
Through　the　long　night　she　lay　in　deep；　oblivious　slumber；
And　when　she　woke　from　the　trance；　she　beheld　a　multitude　near　her。
Faces　of　friends　she　beheld；　that　were　mournfully　gazing　upon　her；
Pallid；　with　tearful　eyes；　and　looks　of　saddest　compassion。
Still　the　blaze　of　the　burning　village　illumined　the　landscape；
Reddened　the　sky　overhead；　and　gleamed　on　the　faces　around　her；
And　like　the　day　of　doom　it　seemed　to　her　wavering　senses。
Then　a　familiar　voice　she　heard；　as　it　said　to　the　people；
〃Let　us　bury　him　here　by　the　sea。　　When　a　happier　season
Brings　us　again　to　our　homes　from　the　unknown　land　of　our　exile；
Then　shall　his　sacred　dust　be　piously　laid　in　the　churchyard。〃
Such　were　the　words　of　the　priest。　　And　there　in　haste　by　the　seaside；
Having　the　glare　of　the　burning　village　for　funeral　torches；
But　without　bell　or　book；　they　buried　the　farmer　of　Grand…Pr？
And　as　the　voice　of　the　priest　repeated　the　service　of　sorrow；
Lo！　with　a　mournful　sound；　like　the　voice　of　a　vast　congregation；
Solemnly　answered　the　sea；　and　mingled　its　roar　with　the　dirges。
'Twas　the　returning　tide；　that　afar　from　the　waste　of　the　ocean；
With　the　first　dawn　of　the　day；　came　heaving　and　hurrying　landward。
Then　recommenced　once　more　the　stir　and　noise　of　embarking；
And　with　the　ebb　of　the　tide　the　ships　sailed　out　of　the　harbor；
Leaving　behind　them　the　dead　on　the　shore；　and　the　village　in　ruins。





PART　THE　SECOND。




I。


　　MANY　a　weary　year　had　passed　since　the　burning　of　Grand…Pr？
When　on　the　falling　tide　the　freighted　vessels　departed；
Bearing　a　nation；　with　all　its　household　gods；　into　exile；
Exile　without　an　end；　and　without　an　example　in　story。
Far　asunder；　on　separate　coasts；　the　Acadians　landed；
Scattered　were　they；　like　flakes　of　snow；　when　the　wind　from　the　northeast
Strikes　aslant　through　the　fogs　that　darken　the　Banks　of　Newfoundland。
Friendless；　homeless；　hopeless；　they　wandered　from　city　to　city；
From　the　cold　lakes　of　the　North　to　sultry　Southern　savannas；
From　the　bleak　shores　of　the　sea　to　the　lands　where　the　Father　of　Waters
Seizes　the　hills　in　his　hands；　and　drags　them　down　to　the　ocean；
Deep　in　their　sands　to　bury　the　scattered　bones　of　the　mammoth。
Friends　they　sought　and　homes；　and　many；　despairing；　heart…broken；
Asked　of　the　earth　but　a　grave；　and　no　longer　a　friend　nor　a　fireside。
Written　their　history　stands　on　tablets　of　stone　in　the　churchyards。
Long　among　them　was　seen　a　maiden　who　waited　and　wandered；
Lowly　and　meek　in　spirit；　and　patiently　suffering　all　things。
Fai