WILHELM MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 THE RECREATIONS OF THE GERMAN 
 EMIGRANTS
 
 i nu vtd man viewed it with attention " 
 
 "hotogravure from the painting by F. Ciruetzner
 
 t!rrat)cl0 
 
 AND 
 
 €l)c mccrcatioujs^ of tl)c d^crman 
 Cmigrantjs 
 
 BY 
 
 J. W. von Goethe 
 
 Translated by 
 
 Thomas Carlyle 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^^fS;\f^^- 
 
 
 Edited by Nathan Haskell Dole 
 
 Boston J- Francis A, Niccolls 
 & Com pan J- Publishers
 
 lEtiitton ©e (^ranti Huxe 
 
 This Edition is Limited to Two Hundred and Fifty 
 Copies, of which this is copy 
 
 No- 5.5 
 
 Copyright, igo2 
 By Francis A. Niccolls & Co. 
 
 (Colonial ^rees 
 
 Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co. 
 
 Boston, Mass., U. S. A.
 
 SKLF 
 URL 
 
 
 List of Illustrations 
 
 PAGE 
 
 " The old man viewed it with attention " (See 
 
 page 72) Frontispiece 
 
 "'Here are accordingly some letters'" . . 49 
 
 MiGNON and the Harper 127 
 
 " She invited him to sit by her " . . . . 236 
 " She granted him access to her house " . . 278 
 
 Meister's Travels.
 
 Wilhelm Meister's Travels; 
 or. The Renunciants 
 
 A Novel 
 
 To travel now the Apprentice does essay, 
 
 And every step is girt with doubt and danger : 
 
 In truth, he uses not to sing or pray ; 
 
 But, in his path perplexed, this toilsome ranger 
 
 Does turn an earnest eye, when mist's above him, 
 
 To his own heart, and to the hearts that love him.
 
 Scarce could tell yon rightly 
 
 Whether I'm the same or not, 
 If you task me very tightly : 
 
 Yes, this is my sense you've got, — 
 Sense that vexes, then assuages. 
 
 Now too light and now too dark, 
 But in some few hundred pages 
 
 May again come to the mark.
 
 Does Fortune try thee ? She had cause to do't : 
 She wished thee temperate ; obey, be mute ! 
 
 What, shap'st thou here at the world ! 'tis shapeu long ago ; 
 
 The Maker shaped it, he thought it best even so : 
 
 Thy lot is appointed, go follow its best ; 
 
 Thy way is begun, thou must walk, and not rest : 
 
 For sorrow and care cannot alter thy case ; 
 
 And running, not raging, will win thee the race. 
 
 Enweri tells us, a most royal man, 
 The deepest heart and highest head to scan : 
 *' In every place, at every time, thy surest chance 
 Lies in decision, justice, tolerance." 
 
 My inheritance, how wide and fair I 
 Time is my estate : to time I'm heir. 
 
 Now it is day : be doing, every one ; 
 
 For the night cometh, wherein work can none.
 
 And so T, in Tale adjoining, 
 
 Lift old treasures into day ; 
 
 If not gold or perfect coining, 
 
 They are metals any way : 
 
 Thou canst sort them, thou canst sunder, 
 
 Thou canst melt and make them one ; 
 
 Then take that with smiling wonder, 
 
 Stamp it like thyself, my son.
 
 Wilhelm Meister's Travels; 
 
 or. The Renunciants 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. 
 
 WiLiiELM was sitting under the shadow of a huge 
 crag, on a shaggy, impressive spot, where the steep 
 mountain path turned abruptly round a corner, down 
 into the chasm. The sun was still high, and brighten- 
 ing the tops of the pine-trees in the clefts at his feet. 
 He was looking at something in his note-book, when 
 Felix, who had been clambering about, came to him 
 with a stone in his hand. " What is the name of this 
 stone, father ? " said the boy. 
 
 " I know not," answered Wilhelm. 
 
 " Can this be gold tliat glitters in it so ? " said 
 FeUx. 
 
 " No, no," replied Wilhelm ; " and now I remember, 
 people call it mica, or cat-gold." 
 
 " Cat-gold ! " said the boy, smiling. « And why ? " 
 
 " I suppose because it is false, and cats are reckoned 
 false too." 
 
 "Well, I will note that," said the son, and put in 
 the stone beside the rest with which he had already 
 filled his pockets. 
 
 Scarcely was this over when, adown the steep path, 
 a strange enough appearance came in sight. Two boys,
 
 2 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 beautiful as day, in coloured jackets which you might 
 have taken for outer shirts, came bounding down, one 
 after the other ; and Wilhelm had opportunity of view- 
 ing them more closely, as they faltered on observing 
 him, and stopped for a moment. Bound the elder 
 boy's head waved rich, fair locks, which you looked at 
 first, on observing him; and then his clear blue eyes 
 attracted your attention, which spread itself with de- 
 light over his beautiful shape. The younger, more hke 
 a friend than a brother, was decked with brown, sleek 
 hair, which hung down over his shoulders, and the 
 reflection of which appeared to be imaged in his eyes. 
 
 These strange, and, in this wilderness, quite unex- 
 pected, beings, Wilhelm had not time to view more 
 narrowly ; for he heard a man's voice calHng down 
 round the corner of the crag, in a serious, but friendly, 
 tone, " Why do you stand still ? Don't stop the way." 
 
 Wilhelm looked upwards ; and, if the children had 
 surprised him, what he now saw filled him with aston- 
 ishment. A stout, firm-set, not too tall, young man, 
 tucked up for walking, of brown complexion and black 
 hair, w^as stepping firmly and carefully down the rock- 
 way, and leading an ass behind him, which first pre- 
 sented its glossy, well-trimmed head, and then the fair 
 burden it bore. A soft, lovely woman was seated on 
 a large and well-panelled saddle : in her arms, within 
 a blue mantle which hung over her, lay an infant, 
 which she was pressing to her breast, and looking at 
 with indescribable tenderness. The man did as the 
 children had done, — faltered for a moment at sight of 
 Wilhelm. The beast slackened its step, but the de- 
 scent was too precipitous : the travellers could not 
 halt ; and Wilhelm with astonishment saw them vanish 
 behind the contiguous wall of rocks. 
 
 Nothing was more natural than that this singular 
 procession should cut short liis meditations. He rose 
 in no small curiosity, and looked from his position
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 3 
 
 toward the chasm, to see whether they would not 
 again make then- appearance somewhere below. He 
 was just about descending to salute these strange 
 travellers, when Felix came cHmbing up, and said, 
 " Father, may I not go home with these boys to their 
 house? They want to take me with them. Thou 
 must go too, the man said to me. Come! they are 
 waiting down there." 
 
 " I will speak with them," answered Wilhelm. 
 
 He found them at a place where the path was more 
 level, and he could not but gaze in wonder at the 
 singular figures which had so strongly attracted his 
 attention. Not till now had it been in his power to 
 note the peculiarities of the group. The young, stout 
 man, he found, had a joiner's axe on his shoulder, and 
 a long, thin iron square. The children bore in their 
 hands large sedge-tufts, like palms; and if, in this 
 point, they resembled angels, they likewise carried 
 little baskets with shop- wares in them, thereby resem- 
 bling the little daily posts, as they pass to and fro 
 over the mountains. The mother, also, he observed, 
 on looking more leisurely, wore under her blue mantle 
 a reddish, mild-coloured, lower garment : so that " The 
 Flight into Egypt," which our friend had so often seen 
 painted, he now, with amazement, saw bodied forth 
 before his eyes. 
 
 The strangers exchanged salutations ; and as Wil- 
 helm, from surprise and attention, could not speak, the 
 young man said, " Our children have formed a friend- 
 ship in these few moments. Will you go with us to 
 see whether some kind relation vdll not spring up 
 between the elder parties also ? " 
 
 Wilhelm bethought himself an instant, and then 
 answered, " The aspect of your little family procession 
 awakens trust and good-will, and, to confess it frankly, 
 curiosity no less, and a Hvely desire to be better ac- 
 quainted with you. For, at the first glance, one might
 
 4 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 ask himself the question, Whether you are real travel- 
 lers, or only spirits that take pleasure in enhvening 
 these uninhabitable mountains by pleasant visions ? " 
 
 " Then, come home with us to our dwelling," said 
 the other. " Come with us ! " cried the children, already 
 drawing Fehx along with them. " Come with us ! " 
 said the woman, turning her soft kindliness from the 
 suckling to the stranger. 
 
 Without reflecting, Wilhelm answered, " I am sorry, 
 that, for the present moment, I cannot follow you. 
 This night, at least, I must spend up at the Border- 
 house. My portmanteau, my papers, — all is lying up 
 there, unpacked, entrusted to no one. But, that I may 
 prove my wish and purpose to satisfy your friendly 
 invitation, take my Fehx with you as a pledge. To- 
 morrow I shall see you. How far is it ? " 
 
 « We shall be home before sunset," said the carpen- 
 ter; "and from the Border-house you are but a league 
 and a half. Your boy increases our household for 
 this night, and tomorrow we expect you." 
 
 The man and the animal set forth. Wilhelm smiled 
 thoughtfully to see his Felix so soon received among 
 the angels. The boy had already seized a sedge tuft, 
 and taken the basket from the younger of his com- 
 panions. The procession was again on the point of 
 vanishing behind a ledge of rock, when Wilhelm rec- 
 ollected himself, and cried, " But how shall I inquire 
 you out ? " 
 
 " Ask for St. Joseph ! " sounded from the hollow ; 
 and the whole vision had sunk behind the blue, shady 
 wall of cliffs. A pious hymn, uplifted on a chorus of 
 several voices, rose echoing from the distance; and 
 Wilhelm thought he could distinguish the voice of 
 his Felix among the rest. 
 
 He ascended the path, and thus protracted the 
 period of sunset, the heavenly star, which he had 
 more than once lost sight of, illuminated him afresh
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 5 
 
 as he mounted higher ; and it was still day when he 
 reached his inn. Once more he delighted himself with 
 the vast mountain prospect, then withdrew to his 
 chamber, where immediately he seized his pen, and 
 passed a part of the niglit in writing. 
 
 Wilhelm to Natalia. 
 
 Now at last I have reached the summit, — the 
 summit of the mountains, which will place a stronger 
 separation betwixt us than all the tract I had passed 
 over before. To my feeling, one is still in the neighbour- 
 hood of those he loves, so long as the streams run 
 down from him toward them. To-day I can still fancy 
 to myself that the twig which I cast into the forest- 
 brook may, perhaps, float down to her, may in a few 
 days land at her garden ; and thus our spirit sends 
 its images more easily, our heart its sympathies, by 
 the same downward course. But over on the other 
 side I fear there rises a wall of division against the 
 imagination and the feelings. Yet this, perhaps, is 
 but a vain anxiety ; for over on the other side, after 
 all, it will not be otherwise than it is here. What 
 could part me from thee ! From thee, whose own 
 I am for ever ; though a strange destiny sunders me 
 from thee, and unexpectedly shut« the heaven to which 
 I stood so near. I had time to compose myself ; and 
 yet no time could have sufficed to give me that com- 
 posure, had I not gained it from thy mouth, from thy 
 lips, in that decisive moment. How could I have 
 torn myself away, if the enduring thread had not been 
 spun which is to unite us for time and eternity ? Yet 
 I must not speak of all this. Thy tender commands 
 I will not break : on this mountain-top be it the last 
 time that I name the word Separation before thee! 
 My Hfe is to become a restless wandering. Strange 
 duties of the wanderer have I to fulfil, and pecuHar
 
 6 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 trials to undergo. How I often smile within myself 
 when I read the terms which thou prescribedst to me, 
 which I prescribed to myself. Many of them have 
 been kept, many broken; but, even while breaking 
 them, this sheet is of use to me, this testimonial of my 
 last confession, — of my last absolution : it speaks to 
 me as an authoritative conscience, and I again turn 
 to the right path. I watch myself; and my faults 
 no longer rush hke mountain torrents, one over the 
 other. 
 
 Yet I will confess to thee I many times wonder at 
 those teachers and guides of men who impose on 
 their scholars nothing but external, mechanical duties. 
 They make the task hght for themselves as well as 
 for the world. For this very part of my obligations, 
 which at first seemed the heaviest, the strangest, I now 
 observe wdth greatest ease, with greatest satisfaction. 
 
 I am not to stay beyond three days under one roof. 
 I am to quit no inn without removing at least one 
 league from it. These regulations are, in truth, calcu- 
 lated to make my Hfe a life of travel, and to prevent 
 the smallest thought of settlement from taking hold 
 of me. Hitherto I have fulfilled this condition to the 
 letter, not even using all the liberty it grants me. 
 This is the first time that I have paused: here, for 
 the first time, I sleep three nights in the same bed. 
 From this spot I send thee much that I have heard, 
 observed, laid up for thee ; and early in the morning 
 I descend on the other side, — in the first place, to 
 a strange family, I might almost say, a Holy Family, 
 of which, in my journal, thou wilt find further notice. 
 For the present, farewell ; and lay down this sheet 
 with the feeling that it has but one thing to say, but 
 one thing which it would say and repeat for ever ; yet 
 will not say it, will not repeat it now, till I have once 
 more the happiness of lying at thy feet, and weeping 
 over thy hands for all that I renounce.
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 7 
 
 MOKNING. 
 My packing is done. The porter is girding the 
 portmanteau on his dorsel. As yet, the sun is not 
 up : vap(jurs are streaming out of all the hollows, but 
 the upper sky is clear. We step down into the gloomy 
 deeps, which also will soon brighten over our heads. 
 Let me send my last sigh home to thee ! Let my last 
 look toward thee be yet blinded with involuntary 
 tears ! 1 am decided and determined. Thou shalt 
 hear no more complaints from me : thou shalt hear 
 only what happens to the wanderer. And yet now, 
 when I am on the point of ending, a thousand thoughts, 
 wishes, hopes, and purposes come crowding through 
 my soul. Happily the people force me away. The 
 porter calls me; and mine host has already in my 
 presence begun sorting the apartment, as if I were 
 gone: thus feelingless, imprudent heirs do not hide 
 from the departing testator their preparations for 
 assuming management.
 
 CHAPTEE 11. 
 
 ST. JOSEPH THE SECOND. 
 
 Already had the wanderer, following his porter 
 on foot, left the steep rocks behind and above him : 
 already were they traversing a softer mid-range of 
 hills, and hastening through many a well-pruned wood, 
 over many a friendly meadow, forward and forward ; 
 till at last they found themselves on a declivity, and 
 looked down into a beautifully cultivated valley, begirt 
 on all sides with hills. A large monastic edifice, half 
 in ruins, half in repair, immediately attracted their 
 attention. " This is St. Joseph," said the porter. " Pity 
 for the fine church ! Do but look how fresh and firm 
 it still holds up its pillars through bush and tree, 
 though it has lain many hundred years in decay." 
 
 " The cloister, on the contrary," said Wilhelm, " I 
 observe, is kept in good state." 
 
 " Yes," said the other : " there is a Scliaffner lives here ; 
 he manages the husbandry, collects the dues and tithes, 
 which the people far and wide have to pay him." 
 
 So speaking they had entered through the open gate 
 into a spacious court, surrounded with earnest-looking, 
 well-kept buildings, and announcing itself as the resi- 
 dence of some peaceful community. Among the children 
 playing in the area, Wilhelm noticed Felix : the other 
 two were the angels of last night. The friendly trefoil 
 came running toward him with salutations, and assur- 
 ances that papa would soon be back. He, in the 
 meanwhile, they said, must go into the hall, and rest 
 himself. 
 
 8
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 9 
 
 How surprised was Wilheliii when the children led 
 him into this apartment which they named the hall. 
 Passing directly from the court, through a large door, 
 our wanderer found himself in a very cleanly, unde- 
 cayed chapel, which however, as he saw well enough, 
 had been fitted up for the domestic uses of daily life. 
 On the one side stood a table, a settle, some chairs 
 and benches ; on the other side a neatly carved dresser, 
 with variegated pottery, jugs, and glasses. Some 
 chests and trunks were stanc'ing in suitable niches : 
 and, simple as the whole appeared, there was not 
 wanting an air of comfort; and daily household life 
 looked forth from it with an aspect of invitation. 
 The light fell in from high windows on the side. But 
 what most roused the attention of the wanderer was 
 a series of coloured figures painted on the wall, stretch- 
 ing under the windows, at a considerable height, round 
 three-quarters of the chapel, and hanging down to the 
 wainscot, which covered the remainder of the wall 
 to the ground. The pictures represented the history 
 of St. Joseph. Here you might see him first employed 
 with his carpentry work : here he meets Mary ; and 
 a lily is sprouting from the ground between them, 
 while angels hover round observing them. Here his 
 betrothing takes place : next comes the salutation of 
 the angel. Here he is sitting disconsolate among his 
 neglected work : he has laid by the axe, and is think- 
 ing to put away his wife. But now appears the angel 
 to him in a dream, and his situation changes. With 
 reverence he looks on the new-born child in the 
 stable at Bethlehem, and prays to it. Soon after this 
 comes a wonderfully beautiful picture. You observe a 
 quantity of timber lying dressed : it is just to be put 
 together, and by chance two of the pieces form a cross. 
 The child has fallen asleep on the cross; his mother 
 sits by, and looks at him with heartfelt love ; and the 
 foster-father pauses with his labour, that he may not
 
 lo MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 awakeu him. Next follows the flight into Egypt : it 
 called forth a smile from the gazing traveller, for he 
 saw here on the walls a repetition of the living figures 
 he had met last night. 
 
 He had not long pursued his contemplations, when 
 the landlord entered, whom he directly recognised as 
 the leader of the Holy Caravan. They saluted each 
 other cordially : much conversation followed, yet Wil- 
 helm's chief attention continued fixed on the pictures. 
 The host observed the feehng of his guest, and began 
 with a smile, " No doubt you are wondering at the 
 strange accordance of this building with its inhabitants, 
 whom you last night got acquainted with. Yet it is, per- 
 haps, still more singular than you suppose : the building 
 has, in truth, formed the inhabitants. For, when the 
 inanimate has life, it can also produce what has life." 
 
 " Yes, indeed ! " answered Wilhelm : " I should be 
 surprised if the spirit, which worked so powerfully in 
 this mountain solitude long centuries ago, and drew 
 round it such a mighty body of edifices, possessions, 
 and rights, diffusing in return the blessings of manifold 
 culture over the region, could not still, out of these 
 ruins, manifest the force of its life on some living 
 being. But let us not linger on general reflections: 
 make me acquainted with your history ; let me know 
 how it can possibly have happened, that, without affec- 
 tation and presumption, the past again represents itself 
 in you, and what was, again is." 
 
 Just as Wilhelm was expecting responsive informa- 
 tion from the lips of his host, a friendly voice in the 
 court cried, " Joseph ! " The man obeyed it, and went 
 out. 
 
 " So he, too, is Joseph ! " said Wilhelm to himseK. 
 " This is strange enough, and yet not so strange as that 
 in his life he should personate his saint." At the 
 same time, looking through the door, he saw the Vir- 
 gin Mother of last night speaking with her husband.
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS H 
 
 They parted at last: the woman walked toward the 
 opposite building. " Mary," cried he after her, " a word 
 
 more." 
 
 "So she, too, is Mary!" said Wilhelm inwardly. 
 " Little would make ma feel as if I were transported 
 eighteen hundred years into the past!" He thought 
 of the solemn and secluded valley in which he was, of 
 the wrecks and silence all around ; and a strange, anti- 
 quarian mood came over him. It was time for the 
 landlord and children to come in. The latter called 
 for Wilhelm to go and walk, as the landlord had still 
 some business to do. And now came in view the 
 ruins of the church, with its many shafts and columns, 
 with its high peaks and walls; which looked as if 
 gathering strength in the influence of wind and 
 weather; for strong trees from of old had taken root 
 in the broad backs of the walls, and now, in company 
 with grass, flowers, and moss in great quantities, exhib- 
 ited bold hanging gardens vegetating in the air. Soft 
 sward-paths led you up the banks of a lively brook; 
 and from a little elevation our wanderer could now 
 overlook the edifice and its site with more interest, as 
 its occupants had become still more singular in his 
 eyes, and by their harmony with their abode had 
 awakened his Hveliest curiosity. 
 
 The promenaders returned, and found in the religious 
 hall a table standing covered. At the upper end was 
 an armchair, in which the mistress of the house took 
 her seat. Beside her she had placed a high wicker- 
 cradle, in which lay the little infant: the father sat 
 next this on her left hand, Wilhelm on her right. The 
 three children occupied the under space of the table. 
 An eld serving-maid brought in a well-readied meal. 
 Eating and drinking implements alike pointed to the 
 past The children afiorded matter for talk, while 
 Wilhelm could not satisfy himself with looking at the 
 form and the bearing of his saintly hostess.
 
 12 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 Their repast over, the company separated. The 
 landlord took his guest to a shady spot in the ruin, 
 where, from an elevated station, the pleasant prospect 
 down the valley lay entire before them; and, farther 
 off, the heights of the lower country, with their fruit- 
 ful declivities and woody backs, were seen protruding 
 one behind the other, "It is fair," said the landlord, 
 " that I satisfy your curiosity ; and the rather, as I 
 feel that you can view the strange with seriousness 
 when you find it resting on a serious ground. This 
 religious foundation, the remains of which are lying 
 round us, was dedicated to the Holy Family, and in 
 old times noted as a place of pilgrimage for many 
 wonders done in it. The church was consecrated to 
 the Mother and the Son. It has lain for several cen- 
 turies in ruins. The chapel, dedicated to the holy 
 foster-father, still remains, as does likewise the service- 
 able part of the cloister. The revenues have for many 
 years belonged to a temporal prince, who keeps a 
 steward or Schaffner here : this Schaffner am I, son of 
 the last Schaffner, who also succeeded his father in the 
 office. 
 
 " St. Joseph, though any regular worship of him has 
 long ceased here, had been so helpful to our family, 
 that it is not to be wondered at if they felt particularly 
 well inclined toward him : hence came it that they 
 had me baptised by the name of Joseph, and thereby, 
 I may say, in some sense determined my whole future 
 way of life. I grew up; and, if I used to help my 
 father in managing the dues, I attached myself as 
 gladly, nay, still more gladly, to my mother, who 
 cheerfully distributed her bounty according to her for- 
 tune, and for her kindness and good deeds was known 
 and loved over all the mountains. Erelong she would 
 send me out, now this way, now that ; now to fetch, 
 now to carry, now direct ; and I very speedily began 
 to be at home in this sort of pious occupation.
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 13 
 
 " In general, our mountain life has something more 
 humane in it than the life of Lowlauders. The inhab- 
 itants here are nearer, and, if you will, more remote 
 also. Our wants are smaller, l)ut more pressing. Each 
 man is placed more on his own footing ; he nmst learn 
 to depend on his own hands, on his own limbs. The 
 labourer, the post, the porter, all unite in one person : 
 each of us is more connected with the other, meets 
 him oftener, and lives with him in joint activity. 
 
 " As I was still young, and my shoulders could not 
 bear heavy burdens, I fell upon a thought of furnish- 
 ing a little ass with panniers, which I might drive 
 before me up and down the steep foot-paths. In the 
 mountains the ass is no such despicable animal as in 
 the plain country, where the labourer that ploughs 
 with horses reckons himself better than he that turns 
 his furrow with oxen. And I walked behind my beast 
 with tlie less hesitation, as I had before observed in 
 the chapel, that an animal of this same sort had been 
 promoted to such honour as to carry God and his 
 Mother. This chapel was not then, however, in the 
 state you now see it in. It had been treated as a cart- 
 house, nay, almost as a stable. Firewood, stakes, im- 
 plements, barrels, and ladders, everything that came 
 to hand, lay huddled together in it. Lucky that the 
 pictures were so high, and the wainscot could stand 
 some hardships. But even in my childhood I used 
 many a time to clamber over the wood, and delight 
 myself with looking at the pictures, which no one 
 could properly explain to me. However, I knew at 
 least that the saint whose life stood depicted on these 
 walls was my patron ; and I rejoiced in him as much 
 as if he had been my uncle. I waxed in stature ; and 
 it being an express condition, that whoever meant to 
 aspire after this post of Schaffner must practise some 
 handicraft, our family, desiring that I might inherit 
 so good a benefice, determined on putting me to learu
 
 14 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 some trade, and such a one, at the same time, as 
 might be useful here in our upland way of life. 
 
 " My father was a cooper, and had been accustomed 
 to supply of himself whatever was required in that 
 sort ; from which there arose no httle profit, both to 
 himself and the country. But I could not prevail on 
 myself to follow him in this business. My inclination 
 drew me irresistibly to the joiner trade, the tools and 
 materials of which I had seen, from infancy upwards, 
 so accurately and circumstantially painted beside my 
 patron saint. I signified my wish : nothing could be 
 objected to it, — the less, as in our frequent buildings 
 the carpenter is often wanted here ; nay, if he have 
 any sleight in his trade, and fondness for it, especially 
 in forest districts, the arts of the cabinet-maker, and 
 even of the carver, lie close beside his province. And 
 what still further confirmed me in my higher purposes 
 was a picture, which now, alas ! is almost effaced. If 
 once you know what it is meant to represent, you may 
 still be able to decipher the figures, when I take you 
 to look at it. St. Joseph had got no lower a commis- 
 sion than to make a throne for King Herod. The 
 royal seat was to be erected between two given pillars. 
 Joseph carefully measures the breadth and height, and 
 fashions a costly throne. But how astonished is he, 
 how alarmed, on carrying his finished work to the 
 place: the throne is too high, and not broad enough. 
 King Herod, as we know, was a man that did not 
 understand jesting : the pious wright is in the greatest 
 perplexity. The divine child, accustomed to follow 
 him everywhere, and in childhke, humble sport to 
 carry his tools after him, observes his strait, and is 
 immediately at hand with advice and assistance. He 
 requires of his foster-father to take hold of the throne 
 by the one side, he himself grasps it by the other, and 
 both begin to pull. Easily and pliantly, as if it had 
 been made of leather, the carved throne extends in
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 15 
 
 breadth, contracts proportionately in length, and fits 
 itself to the place with the nicest accuracy, to the 
 great comfort of the reassured master, and the perfect 
 satisfaction of the king. 
 
 " This throne was, in my youth, quite distinctly 
 visible ; and by the remains of the one side you will 
 still be able to discern that there was no want of 
 carving on it, — which, indeed, must have been easier 
 for the painter than it would have been for the car- 
 penter, had such a thing been required of him. 
 
 " That circumstance, however, raised no scruples in 
 me ; but I looked on the handicraft to which I had 
 devoted myself in so honourable a light, that I was all 
 impatience to be apprenticed to it, — a longing which 
 was the easier to fulfil, as a master of the trade hved 
 in our neighbourhood, who worked for the whole dis- 
 trict, and kept several apprentices and journeymen 
 about him. Thus I continued in the neighbourhood 
 of my parents, and to a certain extent pursued my 
 former way of life also ; seeing I employed my leisure 
 hours and holidays in doing those charitable messages 
 which my mother still entrusted to me."
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 THE VISIT. 
 
 "So passed several years," continued the narrator. 
 " I very soon comprehended the principles of my 
 trade ; and my frame, expanded by labour, was equal 
 to the undertaking of everything connected with the 
 business. At the same time I kept managing my 
 ancient service, which my good mother, or rather the 
 sick and destitute, required at my hands. I moved 
 with my beast through the mountains, punctually dis- 
 tributed my lading, and brought back from shop- 
 keepers and merchants what we needed here at home. 
 
 " My master was contented with me, my parents 
 also. Already I enjoyed the satisfaction, in my wan- 
 derings, of seeing many a house which I had helped 
 to raise, or had myself decorated. For, in particular, 
 that last notching of the beam-ends, that carving of 
 certain simple forms, that branding in of pretty figures, 
 that red painting of certain recesses, by which a 
 wooden house in the mountains acquires so pleasant 
 an aspect, — these arts were specially entrusted to me ; 
 as I always made the best hand of such tasks, having 
 Herod's throne and its ornaments constantly in my 
 head. 
 
 " Among the help-needing persons whom my mother 
 took peculiar charge of, were particularly young wives 
 near the time of their confinement, as by degrees I 
 could well enough remark ; though, in such cases, the 
 commissions given me were veiled in a certain mystery. 
 My messages, on these occasions, never reached directly 
 
 i6
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 17 
 
 to the party concerned ; but everything passed through 
 the hands of a good old woman, who Uved down tlie 
 dale, and was called Frau Elizabeth. My mother, 
 herself skilful in the art which saves life to so many 
 at their very entrance into life, constantly maintained 
 a good understanding witli Frau Elizabeth ; and 1 often 
 heard, in all quarters, that many a one of our sLout 
 mountaineers stood indebted for his existence U> 
 these two women. The secrecy with which Elizabeth 
 received me at all times, her pointed replies to my 
 enigmatical questions, which I myself did not under- 
 stand, awoke in me a singular reverence for her ; and 
 her house, which was extremely clean, appeared to me 
 to represent a sort of sanctuary. 
 
 " Meanwhile, by my acquirements and adroitness in 
 my craft, I had gained considerable influence in the 
 family. As my father, in the character of cooper, had 
 taken charge of the cellar and its contents, I now took 
 charge of roof and room, and repaired many a damaged 
 part in the old building. In particular, I contrived to 
 make some fallen barns and out-houses once more 
 serviceable for domestic use; and scarcely was this 
 done when I set about cleaning and clearing out my 
 beloved chapel. In a few days it was put in order, 
 almost as you see it at present ; and such pieces of the 
 wainscot as were damaged or altogether wanting, I had 
 endeavoured, as I went along, to restore in the same 
 fashion as the rest. These door-leaves of the entrance, 
 too, you might think, were old enough ; yet they are 
 of my workmanship. I passed several years in carving 
 them at leisure hours, having first mortised the body 
 of them firmly together out of strong oaken planks. 
 Wliatever of the pictures had not been efi'aced or 
 injured at that time, has since continued unimpaired ; 
 and I assisted our glazier in a new house he was 
 erecting, under the condition of his putting in coloured 
 windows here.
 
 i8 meister's travels 
 
 " If these figures and thoughts on the saint's life had 
 hitherto occupied my imagination, the whole impressed 
 itself on me with much more hveliness, now that I 
 could again regard the place as a sanctuary, could 
 linger in it, and muse at leisure on what I saw or 
 conjectured. There lay in me an irresistible desire to 
 follow in the footsteps of this saint : and, as a similar 
 history was not to be looked for in these times, I 
 determined on commencing my resemblance from the 
 lowest point upward ; as, indeed, by the use of my 
 beast of burden, I had already commenced it long ago. 
 The small creature which I had hitherto employed 
 would no longer content me : I chose for myself a far 
 more stately carrier, and got a large, stout saddle, 
 which was equally adapted for riding and packing. A 
 pair of new baskets were also procured ; and a net of 
 many-coloured knots, flakes, and tufts, intermixed with 
 jingling tags of metal, decorated the neck of my long- 
 eared beast, which might now show itself beside its 
 model on the wall. Xo one thought of mocking me 
 when I passed over the mountains in this equipment : 
 people do not quarrel with Benevolence for putting on 
 a strange outside. 
 
 "Meanwhile, war, or rather its consequences, had 
 approached our district ; for dangerous bands of vaga- 
 bond deserters had more than once collected, and here 
 and there practised much violence and wanton mis- 
 chief. By the good order of our provincial militia, by 
 patrolling and prompt watchfulness, the evil was very 
 soon remedied : but we too quickly relapsed into our 
 former carelessness ; and, before we thought of it, new 
 disorders broke forth. 
 
 " For a long time all had been quiet in our neigh- 
 bourhood, and I had travelled peacefully with my ass 
 along the accustomed paths ; till one day, passing over 
 a newly sown glade of the forest, I observed a female 
 form sitting, or rather lying, at the edge of the fence-
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 19 
 
 ditch. She seemed to be asleep, or in a swoou. I 
 endeavoured to recall her ; and, as she opened her eyes 
 and sat upright, she cried with eagerness, 'Where is 
 he ? Did you see him ? ' I asked, ' Whom ? ' She 
 replied, ' My husband.' Considering her extremely 
 youthful appearance, I had not been expecting this 
 reply ; yet I continued, so much the more kindly, to 
 assist her, and assure her of my sympathy. I learned 
 that the two travellers had left their carriage, the road 
 being so heavy, and struck into a footpath to make a 
 shorter cut. Hard by they had been overtaken by 
 armed marauders ; her husband had gone oH' fighting 
 with them ; she, not able to follow him far, had sunk 
 on this spot, and lain there she knew not how long. 
 She pressingly begged of me to leave her, and hasten 
 after her husband. She rose to her feet; and the 
 fairest, loveliest form stood before me : yet I could 
 easily observe that she was in a situation in which she 
 might soon require the help of my mother and Frau 
 Elizabeth. We disputed awhile : for I wished, before 
 all, to bring her to some place of safety ; she wished, 
 in the first place, to have tidings of her husband. She 
 would not leave the trace of him ; and all my argu- 
 ments would perhaps have been unavailing, had not a 
 party of our militia, which the tidings of fresh mis- 
 deeds had again called out into service, chanced to 
 pass that way through the forest. These I informed 
 of the matter : with them the necessary arrangements 
 were made, the place of meeting appointed, and so the 
 business settled for the time. With great expedition 
 I hid my panniers in a neighbouring cave, which had 
 often served me before as a repository : I adjusted my 
 saddle for easy riding, and, not without a strange 
 emotion, lifted the fair burden on my willing beast, 
 which, knowing of itself what path to choose, left me 
 at liberty to walk by her side. 
 
 " You can figure to yourself, without my describing
 
 20 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 it at large, in what a strange mood I was. What I 
 had long been seeking I had now found. I felt as if I 
 were dreaming, and then again as if I were awakening 
 from a dream. That heavenly form which I saw, as it 
 were, hovering in the air, and bending aside from the 
 gi-een branches, now seemed to me like a dream which 
 had risen in my soul through those figures in the 
 chapel. Soon those figures themselves seemed to me 
 to have been only dreams, which were here issuing in 
 a fair reality. I asked her many things : she answered 
 me softly and kindly, as beseemed a dignified distress. 
 She often desired me, when we reached any open 
 height, to stop, to look round, to listen. She desired 
 me with such gi-ace, with such a deep, wistful look 
 from under her long black eyelashes, that I could not 
 but do whatever lay in my power ; nay, at last I 
 climbed to the top of a high, solitary, branchless pine. 
 Never had this feat of my handicraft been more wel- 
 come to me : never had I, with greater joy, brought 
 down ribbons and silks from such elevations at festi- 
 vals and fairs. But for this time, alas ! I came back 
 without booty : above, as below, I could hear or see 
 nothing. In the end, she herself called me down, and 
 beckoned to me earnestly with her hand : nay, at last, 
 as in gliding down I quitted my hold a considerable 
 way up, and dropped on the ground, she gave a scream ; 
 and a sweet kindliness spread over her face as she saw 
 me before her unhurt. 
 
 "Why should I tell you in detail of the hundred 
 attentions with which I strove the whole way to be 
 pleasing, to divert her thoughts from her giief ? In- 
 deed, how could I ? For it is the very quality of true 
 attention, that, at the moment, it makes a nothing all. 
 To my feeling, the flowers which I broke for her, the 
 distant scenes which I showed her, the hills, the 
 woods, which I named to her, were so many precious 
 treasures which I was giving her to obtain for myseK a
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 21 
 
 place .among her interests, as one tries to do by 
 presents. 
 
 "Already she had gained me for my whole life, 
 when we reached our destination, at that good old 
 woman's door ; and I saw a painful separation close at 
 hand. Once more I ran over all her form ; and, as my 
 eyes came on her feet, I stooped as if to adjust some- 
 thing in my girdle, and kissed the daintiest shoe that I 
 had ever seen, yet without her noticing me. I helped 
 her down, sprang up the steps, and called in at the 
 door, 'Frau Ehzabeth, here is a visitor!' The good 
 old woman came down : and I looked over her shoul- 
 ders toward the house, as the fair being mounted the 
 steps with graceful sorrow, and inward, painful self- 
 consciousness ; till she gratefully embraced my worthy 
 old woman, and accompanied her into the better 
 chamber. They shut the door ; and I was left stand- 
 ing outside by my ass, like a man that has delivered a 
 loading of precious wares, and is again as poor a carrier 
 as before."
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 THE LILY -STALK. 
 
 " I WAS still lingering in my departure, for I knew 
 not what to do if I were gone, when Frau Elizabeth 
 came to the door, and desired me to send my mother 
 down to her, and then to go about, and, if possible, get 
 tidings of the husband. ' Mary begs you very much to 
 do this,' said she. ' Can I not speak with her again 
 myself ? ' replied I. ' That will not do,' said Ehzabeth ; 
 and we parted. In a short time I reached our dwell- 
 ing : my mother was ready that same night to go over, 
 and be helpful to the young stranger. I hastened down 
 the country, thinking I should get the surest intelli- 
 gence at the Amhnann's. But the Atntmann himself 
 was still in uncertainty ; and, as I was known to him, 
 he invited me to pass the night there. It seemed in- 
 terminably long; and still I had the fair form before 
 my eyes, as she sat gently swaying in the saddle, and 
 looking down to me so sorrowful and friendly. Every 
 moment I hoped for news. To the worthy husband I 
 honestly wished life and safety, and yet I hked so well 
 to fancy her a widow ! The ranging troops by little 
 and little collected ; and, after many variable rumours, 
 the certainty at last came to hght, that the carriage 
 was saved, but the hapless traveller dead of his wounds 
 in a neighbouring village. I learned also, that, accord- 
 ing to our first arrangement, some of the party had 
 gone to communicate the melancholy tidings to Erau 
 Elizabeth : consequently I had nothing more to do 
 there. Yet a boundless impatience, an immeasurable 
 
 22
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 23 
 
 longing, drove me over wood and mountain once more 
 to lier threshold. It was dark ; the door was shut ; I 
 saw light in the room, I saw shadows moving on the 
 curtains ; and thus I sat watching on a bench opposite 
 the house; still on the point of knocking, and still 
 withheld by many considerations. 
 
 " But why should I go on describing to you what is 
 in itself of no interest ? In short, next morning, too, 
 the house was shut against me. They knew the heavy 
 tidings, they needed me no further; they sent me to 
 my father, to my work ; they would not answer my 
 inquiries; they wanted to be rid of me. 
 
 " For eight days this sort of treatment had con- 
 tinued, when at last Frau Elizabeth called me in. 
 ' Step softly, my friend,' said she, ' but enter without 
 scruple.' She led me into a trim apartment, where, in 
 the corner, through the half-opened curtains, I saw my 
 fair one dressed, and sitting upright in the bed. Frau 
 Elizabeth went toward her as if to announce me, 
 lifted something from the bed, and brought it me, — 
 wrapped in the whitest swathings, the prettiest boy ! 
 Frau Elizabeth held it straight betwixt the mother and 
 me ; and just then the lily-stalk occurred to me, which, 
 in the picture, springs from the ground between Joseph 
 and Mary, as witness of the purity of their affection. 
 From that moment I was certain of my cause, certain 
 of my happiness. I could approach her with freedom, 
 speak with her, bear her heavenly eye, take the boy on 
 my arm, and imprint a warm kiss on his brow. 
 
 " * How I thank you for the love you bear to that 
 orphan child!' said the mother. Unthinkingly and 
 briskly I cried, ' It is no orphan any longer, if you 
 like ! ' 
 
 "Frau Elizabeth, more prudent than I, took the 
 child from my hands, and got me put away. 
 
 " To this hour, when I chance to be wandering over 
 our mountains and forests, the remembrance of that
 
 24 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 time forms my happiest entertainment. I can still 
 recall the slightest particulars ; which, however, as is 
 fit, I spare you at present. Weeks passed on : Mary 
 was recovered ; I could see her oftener ; my intercourse 
 with her was a train of services and attentions. Her 
 family circumstances allowed her to choose a residence 
 according to her pleasure. She first stayed with Frau 
 Elizabeth : then she paid us a visit, to thank my 
 mother and me for so many and such friendly helps. 
 She liked to live with us, and I flattered myself that it 
 was partly on my account. What I wished to tell her, 
 however, and durst not utter, came to words in a sin- 
 gular and pretty wise, when I took her into the chapel, 
 which I had then fitted up as a habitual apartment. I 
 showed her the pictures, and explained them to her one 
 after the other, and, so doing, unfolded the duties of a 
 foster-father in so vivid and cordial a manner that the 
 tears came into her eyes, and I could not get to the 
 end of my picture exhibition. I thought myself certain 
 of her affection, though I was not proud enough to wish 
 so soon to efface the memory of her husband. The 
 law imposes on widows a year of mourning ; and, in 
 truth, such an epoch, which includes in it the change 
 of all earthly things, is necessary for a feehug heart, to 
 alleviate the painful impressions of a great loss. We 
 see the flowers fade and the leaves fall ; but we 
 likewise see fruits ripen, and new buds shoot forth. 
 Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be 
 prepared for vicissitudes. 
 
 " I now spoke with my mother on the concern which 
 lay so near my heart. She thereupon disclosed to me 
 how grievous to Mary the death of her husband had 
 been, and how she had borne up and gathered courage 
 again, solely from the thought that she must hve for 
 her child. My inclination was not unknown to the 
 women, and already Mary had accustomed herself to 
 the idea of living with us. She stayed awhile longer in
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 25 
 
 the neighbourhood : then she came up to us, and we 
 lived for a time in the gentlest and happiest state of 
 betroth ment. At last we wedded. That feeling which 
 had first drawn us together did not fade away. Tlie 
 duties and joys of the father and the foster-fatlier were 
 united : and so our little family, as it increased, did 
 certainly surpass its prototype in number of persons; 
 but the virtues of that pattern, in respect to faithful- 
 ness, and purity of sentiments, were sacredly main- 
 tained and practised by us. And so also in friendly 
 habitude we keep up the external appearance which we, 
 by accident, arrived at, and which fits our internal state 
 so well ; for though all of us are good walkers, and 
 stout bearers of weight, the beast of burden still 
 remains in our company, when any business or visit 
 takes us through these mountains and valleys. As you 
 met us last night, so does the whole country know us ; 
 and we feel proud that our walk and conversation are 
 of such a sort as not to throw disgrace on the saintly 
 name and figure whose imitators we profess to be." 
 
 Wilhelm to Natalia. 
 
 I now conclude a pleasant, half-marvellous history, 
 which I have just written down for thee, from the 
 mouth of a very worthy man. If I have not always 
 given his very words ; if here and there, in describing 
 his sentiments, I have expressed my own, — this, con- 
 sidering the relationship of mind I feel with him, was 
 natural enough. His reverence for his wife, does it 
 not resemble that which I entertain for thee ? And 
 is there not, even in the first meeting of these lovers, 
 something similar to ours ? But that he is fortunate 
 enough to walk beside his animal, as it bears the 
 doubly beautiful burden ; that he can enter at evenings, 
 "with his family possession, through the old cloister- 
 gate ; that he is inseparable from his own loved ones.
 
 26 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 — iu all this, I may well secretly envy him. Yet I 
 must not complain of my destiny ; seeing I have prom- 
 ised thee that I will suffer and be silent, as thou also 
 hast undertaken. 
 
 Many a fair feature in the domestic union of these 
 devout and cheerful persons I have been obliged to 
 omit, for how could it be depicted in writing ? Two 
 days have passed over me agreeably, but the third 
 warns me to be mindful of my farther wayfaring. 
 
 With Felix I had a little quarrel to-day. He was 
 almost for compelling me to break through one whole- 
 some regulation, for which I stand engaged to thee. It 
 has been an error, a misfortune, in short, an arrangement 
 of Fate with me hitherto, that, before I am aware, my 
 company increases ; that I take a new burden on my 
 shoulders, which thenceforth I have to bear, and drag 
 along with me. So, in my present wanderings, no 
 third party is to be become a permanent associate 
 with us. We are, we will and must continue. Two ; 
 and just now a new, and not very pleasing, connection, 
 seemed about to be established. 
 
 To the children of the house, with whom Felix has 
 gaily passed these days in sporting, there had joined 
 himself a little merry beggar-boy, who, submitting to 
 be used or misused as the play required, had very 
 soon got into favour with Felix. By various hints 
 and expressions, I now gathered that the latter had 
 found himself a playmate for the next stage of our 
 journey. The boy is known in this quarter, and every- 
 where tolerated for his lively humour, and now and 
 then obtains an alms. Me, however, he did not please ; 
 and I desired our host to get him sent away. This 
 likewise took place; but Felix was angry at it, and 
 we had a little flaw of discord. 
 
 In the course of this affair, I discovered something 
 which was pleasant to me. In the corner of the 
 chapel, or hall, stood a box of stones, which Felix,
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 2^ 
 
 who, since our wanderings through the mountains, has 
 acquired an excessive fondness for minerals, eagerly 
 drew forth and examined. Many pretty eye-catching 
 things were among them. Our landlord said the child 
 might choose out what he liked : these were the re- 
 mains of a large collection which a friend had despatched 
 thence a short while ago. He called this person 
 Montan ; and thou wilt easily suppose how glad I was 
 to hear this name, under which one of our best friends 
 id travelHng, one to whom we owe so much. Having 
 inquired into date and circumstances, I can now hope 
 to meet him erelong on my pilgrimage.
 
 CHAPTEE V. 
 
 The news that Montan was in the neighbourhood 
 had made Wilhelm reflect. He considered that it 
 ought not to be left to chance alone whether he should 
 meet with so estimable a friend, therefore he inquired 
 of his landlord if they did not know toward what 
 quarter this traveller had turned his course. No one 
 had any information on this point ; and Wilhelm had 
 determined to pursue his pilgrimage on the former 
 plan, when Felix cried, " If father were not so strange, 
 we might soon find Montan." 
 
 " What way ? " said Wilhelm. 
 
 Felix answered, " Little Fitz told us last night that 
 he could trace out the stranger gentleman, who had 
 many fine stones with him, and understood them well." 
 
 After some talking, Wilhelm at last resolved on 
 making the experiment ; purposing, in the course of 
 it, to keep so much the sharper watch on the suspicious 
 boy. Fitz was soon found ; and, hearing what was to 
 be done, he soon produced mallet and chisel, and a 
 stout hammer, with a little bag, and set forth, running 
 merrily before the party, in his mining accoutrements. 
 
 The way went to a side, and up the mountains. 
 The children skipped on together, from crag to crag, 
 over stock and stone, over brook and bourn ; and, with- 
 out having any path before him, Fitz pressed rapidly 
 upwards, now looking to the right hand, now to the 
 left. As Wilhelm, and especially the laden porter, 
 could not follow so fast, the boys often ran back and 
 forward, singing and whistling. The aspect of some 
 new trees arrested the attention of Felix, who now, 
 
 28
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 29 
 
 for the first time, formed acquaiutance with larches 
 and fir-cones, and curiously surveyed the strange gentian 
 shrubs. And thus, in their toilsome wandering, there 
 lacked not from time to time a little entertainment. 
 But all at once they were fronted by a barricado of 
 trees, which a storm had hurled together in a con- 
 fused mass. "This was not in my reckoning," said 
 Fitz. " Wait here till I find my way again, only have 
 a care of the cave up there : no one goes into it or near 
 it, without getting harm, or having tricks played on 
 him." 
 
 The boy went oft" in an ascending direction : the 
 porter, on the other hand, giumbling at the excessive 
 difiiculty of the way, set down his luggage, and 
 searched sidewards and downwards for some beaten 
 path. 
 
 No sooner did Felix see himself alone with his 
 father, than his curiosity awoke, and he ghded softly 
 toward the cave. Wilhelm, who gave him leave, 
 observed after some time that the child was no longer 
 in sight. He himself mounted to the cave, at the 
 mouth of which he had last seen the boy ; and, on 
 entering, he found the place empty. It was spacious, 
 but could be taken in at a glance. He searched for 
 some other outlet, and found none. The matter began 
 to be serious. He took the whistle which he wore at 
 his buttonhole : an answer to his call came sounding 
 out of the depth, so that he was uncertain whether he 
 should take it for an echo, when, shortly afterward, 
 Fehx peeped out of the ground ; for the chink through 
 which he looked was scarcely wide enough to let 
 through his head. 
 
 " What art thou about there i " cried his father. 
 " Hush ! " said Felix : " art thou alone ? " 
 " Quite alone," answered Wilhelm. 
 " Then, go quick," cried the boy, " and fetch me a 
 couple of strong clubs."
 
 30 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 Wilhelm went to the fallen timber, and, with his 
 hanger, cut off a pair of thick staves : Felix took them, 
 and vanished, having first called to his father, " Let no 
 one into the cave ! " 
 
 After some time Felix cried, " Another pair of staves, 
 and larger ones ! " With these also his father provided 
 him, and waited anxiously for the solution of his riddle. 
 At length the boy issued rapidly from the cleft, and 
 brought a Httle box with him, not larger than an octavo 
 volume, of rich, antique appearance : it seemed to be of 
 gold, decorated with enamel. " Put it up, father," said 
 the boy, " and let none see it." Wilhelm had not time 
 to ask many questions, for they akeady heard the call 
 of the returning porter ; and scarcely had they joined 
 him, when the little squire also began to shout and 
 wave from above. 
 
 On their approach he cried out, " Montan is not far 
 off: I bet we shall soon meet him." 
 
 " How canst thou know this," said Wilhelm, " in so 
 wild a forest, where no human being leaves any trace 
 behind him ? " 
 
 " That is my knack," said Fitz ; and, like a Will-o'- 
 wisp, he hopped off hither and thither, in a side direc- 
 tion, to lead his masters the strangest road. 
 
 Felix, in the meanwhile, highly satisfied in the 
 treasure he had found, highly delighted at possessing 
 a secret, kept close by his father, without, as formerly, 
 skipping up and down beside his comrade. He nodded 
 to Wilhelm with sparkling eyes ; glancing toward his 
 companion, and making significant faces, to indicate how 
 much he was above Fitz now, in possessing a secret 
 entirely wanting to the other. He carried it so far at 
 length, that Fitz, who often stopped and looked about, 
 must very soon have noticed it. Wilhelm therefore 
 said to Felix, "My son, whoever wishes to keep a 
 secret must hide from us that he possesses one. Self- 
 complaisance over the concealed destroys its conceal-
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 31 
 
 ment." Felix restrained himself ; l)ul his former gay, 
 free manner to his comrade he could not now attain. 
 
 All at once little Fitz stood still. He beckoned the 
 rest to him. " Do you hear a beating ? " said he. " It 
 is the sound of a hammer striking on the rock." 
 
 " We hear it," answered they. 
 
 " That is Montan," said he, " or some one who will 
 tell us of him." 
 
 Following the sound, which was repeated from time 
 to time, they reached an opening in the wood, and per- 
 ceived a steep, high, naked rock, towering over all the 
 rest, leaving even the lofty forest deep beneath it. On 
 the top of it they descried a man : he was too far off 
 to be recognised. Immediately the boys set about 
 ascending the precipitous path. Wilhelm followed with 
 some dilhculty, nay, danger : for the person that chmbs 
 a rock foremost always proceeds with more safety, 
 because he can look out for his conveniences ; he who 
 comes after sees only whither the other has arrived, 
 but not how. The boys soon reached the top, and 
 Wilhelm heard a shout of joy. " It is Jarno," cried 
 Fehx to his father ; and Jarno immediately came for- 
 ward to a rugged spot, stretched out his hand to his 
 friend, and drew him up. They embraced, and wel- 
 comed each other into the free, skyey air, with the 
 rapture of old friends. 
 
 But scarcely had they stepped asunder, when a giddi- 
 ness came over Wilhelm, not so much on his own 
 account, as at seeing the boys hanging over the fright- 
 ful abyss. Jarno observed it, and immediately bade 
 all sit down. "Nothing is more natural," said he, 
 "than that we should grow giddy at a great sight, 
 which comes unexpectedly before us, to make us feel 
 at once our littleness and our gi-eatness. But there is 
 not in the world any truer enjoyment than at the 
 moment when we are so made giddy for the first time." 
 
 " Are these, then, down there, the great mountains
 
 32 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 we climbed over ? " inquired Felix. " How little they 
 look ! And here," continued he, loosening a crumb of 
 stone from the rock, " is the old cat-gold again : this is 
 found everywhere, I suppose ? " 
 
 " It is found far and wide," answered Jarno ; " and, 
 as thou art asking after such things, I may bid thee 
 notice that thou art now sitting on the oldest mountain, 
 on the earliest rock, of this world." 
 
 " Was the world not made at once, then ? " said 
 Felix. 
 
 " Hardly," answered Jarno : " good bread needs 
 baking." 
 
 " Down there," said Felix, " is another sort of rock ; 
 and there again another, and still again another," cried 
 he, pointing from the nearest mountains to the more 
 remote, and so downward to the plain. 
 
 It was a beautiful day, and Jarno let them survey 
 the lordly prospect in detail. Here and there stood 
 several other peaks, similar to the one our travellers 
 were on. A secondary moderate range of mountains 
 seemed as if struggling up, but did not by far attain 
 that height. Farther off, the surface flattened still 
 more ; yet again some strangely protruding forms rose 
 to view. At last, in the remote distance, lakes were 
 visible, and rivers ; and a fruitful country spread itself 
 out Hke a sea. And, when the eye came back, it 
 pierced into frightful depths, sounding with cata- 
 racts, and connected with each other in labyrinthic 
 combination. 
 
 Fehx could not satisfy himself with questions, and 
 Jarno was kind enough to answer all of them ; in 
 which, however, Wilhelm thought he noticed that the 
 teacher did not always speak quite truly and sincerely. 
 So, after the unstaid boys had again clambered off, 
 Wilhelm said to his friend, " Thou hast not spoken 
 with the child about these matters as thou speakest to 
 thyself."
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 33 
 
 " That, indeed, were a heavy requisition," answered 
 Jarno. " We do not always speak, even to ourselves, 
 as we think ; and it is not fit to tell others anything 
 but what they can take up. A man understands noth- 
 ing but what is commensurate with him. To fix a 
 child's attention on what is present; to give him 
 a description, a name, — is the best thing we can do 
 for him. He will soon enough begin to inquire after 
 causes." 
 
 " One cannot blame this latter tendency," observed 
 Wilhelm. " The multiplicity of objects perplexes 
 every one ; and it is easier, instead of investigating 
 them, to ask directly, whence and whither ? " 
 
 " And yet," said Jarno, " as children look at what is 
 present only superficially, we cannot speak with them 
 of origin and object otherwise than superficially also." 
 
 " Most men," answered Wilhelm, " continue all their 
 days in this predicament, and never reach that glori- 
 ous epoch in which the comprehensible appears to us 
 common and insipid." 
 
 " It may well be called glorious," answered Jarno ; 
 " for it is a middle stage between despair and 
 deification." 
 
 " Let us abide by the boy," said Wilhelm, " who is, 
 at present, my first care. He has, somehow, got a fond- 
 ness for minerals since we began this journey. Canst 
 thou not impart so much to me as would put it in my 
 power to satisfy him, at least for a time ? " 
 
 "That will not do," said Jarno. "In every new 
 department one must, in the first place, begin again as 
 a child ; throw a passionate interest over the subject ; 
 take pleasure in the shell till one has the happiness to 
 arrive at the kernel." 
 
 "Tell me, then," said Wilhelm, "how hast thou 
 attained this knowledge ? For it is not so very long, 
 after all, since we parted." 
 
 " My friend," said Jarno, " we were forced to resign
 
 34 meister's travels 
 
 ourselves, if not for ever, at least for a long season. The 
 first tiling that occurs to a stout-hearted man, under 
 such circumstances, is to begin a new life. New 
 objects will not suffice him ; these serve only for 
 diversion of thought : he requires a new whole, and 
 plants himself in the middle of it." 
 
 " But why, then," interrupted Wilhelm, " choose this 
 strangest and lonehest of all pursuits ? " 
 
 " Even because of its loneliness," cried Jarno. " Men 
 I wished to avoid. To them we can give no help, and 
 they hinder us from helping ourselves. Are they 
 happy, we must let them persevere in their stolidities ; 
 are they unhappy, we must save them without disturb- 
 ing these stohdities; and no one ever asks whether 
 Thou art happy or unhappy." 
 
 " It is not quite so bad with them, surely," answered 
 Wilhelm, smiling. 
 
 " I will not talk thee out of thy happiness," said 
 Jarno. " Go on thy way, thou second Diogenes ! Let 
 not thy lamp in daylight go out ! Down on that side 
 lies a new world before thee ; but, I dare wager, things 
 stand there as in the old one. If thou canst not pimp, 
 and pay debts, thou availest nothing." 
 
 " Yet they seem to me more entertaining than thy 
 dead rocks," said Wilhelm. 
 
 " Not they ! " answered Jarno, " for my rocks are at 
 least incomprehensible."
 
 CHAPTEK VL 
 
 The two friends had descended, not without care and 
 labour, to reach the children, who were now lying in a 
 shady spot down below. With almost greater eager- 
 ness than their picnic repast, the collected rock speci- 
 mens were unpacked by Montan and Felix. The latter 
 had much to ask, the former much to nominate. Felix 
 was delighted that his new teacher could give him 
 names for all, and he speedily committed them to 
 memory. At length he produced another specimen, 
 and asked, " What do you call this, then ? " 
 
 Montan viewed it with surprise, and said, " Where 
 did you get it ? " 
 
 Fitz answered promptly, " I found it myself : it is of 
 this country." 
 
 " Not of this quarter," said Montan. Felix rejoiced 
 to see his master somewhat puzzled. " Thou shalt have 
 a ducat," said Montan, " if thou bring me to the spot 
 where it lies." 
 
 " That is easy to earn," answered Fitz, " but not 
 immediately." 
 
 " Then, describe the place to me accurately, that 
 I may not fail to find it : but the thing is impossible ; 
 for this is a cross-stone, which comes from Santiago in 
 Compostella, and which some stranger has lost, — if, 
 indeed, thou hast not stolen it from him, for its curious 
 look." 
 
 " Give your ducat into my master's hands," said 
 Fitz, " and I will honestly confess where I got the 
 stone. In the ruined church at St. Joseph there is 
 likewise a ruined altar. Under the top-stones, which 
 
 35
 
 36 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 are all broken and heaped together, I discovered a 
 layer of this rock, which has been the foundation 
 of the other, and broke off from it as much as I could 
 come at. If the upper stones were cleared away, one 
 micrht find much more of it there." 
 
 " Take thy ducat," said Moutan : " thou deservest it 
 for this discovery. It is pretty enough. Men naturally 
 rejoice when inanimate nature produces any likeness of 
 what they love and reverence. Nature then appears to 
 us in the form of a sibyl, who has beforehand laid 
 down a testimony of what had been determined from 
 eternity, and was not to be realised till late in time. 
 On this rock, as on a sacred, mysterious, primeval basis, 
 the priests had built their altar." 
 
 Wilhelm, who had listened for awhile, and observed 
 that many names, many designations, were repeatedly 
 mentioned, again signified his former wish, that Mon- 
 tan would impart to him so much as was required for 
 the primary instruction of the boy. " Give that up," 
 repUed Montan. " There is nothing more frightful 
 than a teacher who knows only what his scholars are 
 intended to know. He who means to teach others 
 may, indeed, often suppress the best of what he knows ; 
 but he must not be half instructed." 
 
 " But where are such perfect teachers to be had ? " 
 
 " These thou wilt find very easily," replied Moutan. 
 
 " Where, then ? " said Wilhelm, with some unbelief. 
 
 " Where the thing thou art wishing to learn is in 
 practice," said Montan. " Our best instruction we 
 obtain from complete conversance. Dost thou not 
 learn foreign languages best in the countries where 
 they are at home ? — where only these and no other 
 strike thy ear ? " 
 
 " And so it was among the mountains," inquired 
 Wilhelm, " that thy knowledge of mountains was 
 acquired ? " 
 
 " Of course."
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 37 
 
 " Without help from men ? " 
 
 " At least only from men who were miners. There, 
 where the pygmies, allured by the metallic veins, bore 
 through the rock, making the interior of the earth 
 accessible, and in a thousand ways endeavouring to 
 solve the hardest problems, — there is the place 
 where an inquiring thinker ought to take his stand. 
 He looks on action and effort, watches the progress of 
 enterprises, and rejoices in the successful and the 
 unsuccessful. What is useful forms but a part of 
 the important. Fully to possess, to command, and 
 rule an object, we must first study it for its own 
 sake." 
 
 " Is there such a place in the neighl)Ourhood ? " 
 said Wilhelm. " I should like to take Felix thither." 
 
 " The question I can answer in the affirmative," 
 replied Montan, " the project not exactly assent to. 
 At least, I must first tell thee, that thou hast the 
 power of choosing among many other branches of 
 activity, of knowledge, of art, for thy Felix, some 
 of which might, perhaps, suit him better than this 
 sudden fancy which he has taken up at the moment, 
 most probably from mere imitation." 
 
 " Explain thyself more clearly," interrupted Wilhelm. 
 
 "Thou must know, then," said Montan, "that we 
 are here on the borders of a province, which I might 
 justly call a Pedagogic Utopia. In the conviction that 
 only one thing can be carried on, taught, and com- 
 municated with full advantages, several such points of 
 active instruction have been, as it were, sown over 
 a large tract of country. At each of these places thou 
 wilt find a little world, but so complete within its 
 limitation, that it may represent and model any other 
 of these worlds, nay, the great busy world itself." 
 
 " I do not altogether comprehend what thou canst 
 mean by this," interrupted Wilhelm. 
 
 " Thou shalt soon comprehend it," said the other.
 
 38 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 "As down, not far from this, among the mountains, 
 thou wilt, in the first place, find collected round a mass 
 of metalliferous rocks, whatever is of use for enabling 
 man to appropriate these treasures of Nature, and, at 
 the same time, to acquire general conceptions of mould- 
 ing the ruggedness of inanimate things more dexter- 
 ously to his own purposes ; so down in the lowest 
 level, far out on the plain, where the soil spreads into 
 large meadow^s and pastures, thou wilt find establish- 
 ments for managing another important treasure which 
 Nature has given to men." 
 
 " And this ? " inquired Wilhelm. 
 
 " Is the horse," replied the other. " In that last 
 quarter thou art in the midst of everything which can 
 instruct one on the training, diet, growth, and likewise 
 employment, of this noble animal. As in these hills 
 all are busy digging, boring, climbing ; so there nothing 
 is more anxiously attended to than the young brood, 
 springing, as it were, out of the ground ; and every one 
 is occupied foddering, grazing, driving, leading, curbing 
 them, mounting their backs, and in all sorts of move- 
 ments, natural and artificial, coursing with them over 
 the plain." 
 
 Felix, who had approached in the deepest attention, 
 exclaimed, interrupting him, " Oh, thither will we ! 
 That is the prettiest, the best, of all," 
 
 " It is far thither," answered Jarno ; " and thou wilt 
 find something more agreeable and suitable, perhaps, 
 by the way. Any species of activity," continued he, 
 " attracts the fondness of a child ; for everything looks 
 easy that is practised to perfection. All beginnings 
 are hard, says the proverb. This, in a certain sense, 
 may be true : but we might say, with a more universal 
 application, All beginnings are easy ; and it is the last 
 steps that are climbed most rarely and with gi-eatest 
 difficulty." 
 
 Wilhelm, who had been reflecting in the mean-
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 39 
 
 while, now said to Moiitan, " Is it actually so, as thou 
 sayest, tliat these people have separated the various 
 sorts of activity, both in the practice and teaching of 
 them ? " 
 
 " They have done it," said Montan, " and with rea- 
 son. Whatever any man has to efl'ect, nmst emanate 
 from him like a second self ; and how could this 
 be possible, were not his first self entirely pervaded 
 by it ? " 
 
 " Yet has not a general culture been reckoned very 
 advantageous ? " 
 
 " It may really be so," replied the other : " everything 
 in its time. Now is the time of specialties. Happy 
 he who understands this, and works for himself and 
 others in that spirit." 
 
 " In my spirit it cannot be," replied Willielm ; " but 
 tell me, if I thought of sending Felix, for awhile, into 
 one of these circles, which wouldst thou recommend 
 to me?" 
 
 " It is all one," said Jarno. " You cannot readily 
 tell which way a child's capacity particularly points. 
 For me, I should still advise the merriest trade. Take 
 him to those horse-subduers. Beginning as a groom is, 
 in truth, little easier than beginning as an ore-beater : 
 but the prospect is always gayer ; you can hope at 
 least to get through the world riding." 
 
 It is easy to conceive that Wilhelm had many other 
 doubts to state, and many further explanations to 
 require: these Jarno settled in his usual laconic way, 
 but at last he broke out as follows : " In all things, to 
 serve from the lowest station upwards is necessary. 
 To restrict yourself to a trade is best. For the narrow 
 mind, whatever he attempts is still a trade ; for the 
 higher, an art ; and the highest, in doing one thing, 
 does all ; or, to speak less paradoxically, in the one 
 thing which he does rightly, he sees the likeness of all 
 that is done rightly. Take thy Felix," continued he.
 
 40 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 " through the province : let the directors see him ; they 
 will soon judge him, and dispose of him to the best 
 advantage. The boy should be placed among his 
 equals, otherwise he seeks them for himself, and then, 
 in his associates, finds only flatterers or tyrants."
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The third day being over, the friends, in conformity 
 to the engagement of our renunciants, had to part ; and 
 Jarno declared he would now fly so far into the waste 
 mountains, that no one should he able to discover him. 
 " There is nothing more frightful," said he, " in a state 
 like ours, than to meet an old, true friend, to whom 
 we can communicate our thoughts without reserve. 
 So long as one is by himself, one fancies there is no 
 end to the novelties and wonders he is studying : but 
 let the two talk awhile together, right from the 
 heart ; one sees how soon all this is exhausted. Noth- 
 ing is endless but inanity. Clever people soon explain 
 themselves to one another, and then they have done. 
 But now I will dive into the chasms of the rocks, and 
 with them begin a mute, unfathomable conversation." 
 
 "Have a care," said Wilhelm, smiling, "lest Fitz 
 come upon thy track. This time, at least, he succeeded 
 in finding thee." 
 
 "How didst thou manage that?" said Montan. 
 " After all, it was only chance." 
 
 " Not in the least," answered Fitz : " I will tell you 
 my secret for a fair consideration. You mineralogists, 
 wherever you go, keep striking to the right and left; 
 from every stone, from every rock, breaking off a piece, 
 as if gold and silver were hid in them. One has but 
 to follow this trace ; and, where any corner shows a 
 fresh breakage, there some of you have been. One 
 notes and notes forward and forward, and at last 
 comes upon the man." 
 
 Fitz was praised and rewarded. The friends parted, 
 
 41
 
 42 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 — Moutan alone, tlie little caravan in company. Wil- 
 helm had settled the place they should make for. The 
 porter proposed a road to it ; hut the children had 
 taken a fancy for looking, by the way, at the Giant's 
 Castle, of which Fitz had talked so much. Felix was 
 curious about the large, black pillars, the great door, 
 the cellar, the caves, and vaults, and hoped he might 
 perhaps find something there, — something of even 
 greater value than the box. 
 
 How he came by this he had, in the interim, in- 
 formed his father. Creeping through the cleft, it 
 appeared he had got down into an open space pretty 
 well lighted, and noticed in the corner of it a large 
 iron chest, the lid of which, though it was not locked, 
 he could not lift, but only raise a very little. To get 
 into this, he had called to his father for the staves, 
 which he had employed partly as props under the lid, 
 partly as levers to heave it up, and so at length forcing 
 his way into the chest, had found it wholly empty, 
 except for the little box which was lying in one of 
 the nooks. This toy they had shown Montan, who 
 agreed with them in opinion, that it should be kept 
 unopened, and no violence done to it ; for it could not 
 be unlocked except by a very complicated key. 
 
 The porter declined going with the rest to the 
 Giant's Castle, and proceeded down the smooth foot- 
 path by himself. The others toiled after Fitz through 
 moss and tangle, and at length reached the natural 
 colonnade, which, towering over a huge mass of frag- 
 ments, rose black and wondrous into the air. Yet, 
 without much regarding what he saw before his eyes, 
 Felix instantly began inquiring for the other promised 
 marvels ; and, as none of them was to be seen, Fitz 
 could excuse himself no otherwise than by declaring 
 that these things were never visible except on Sun- 
 days and particular festivals, and then only for a few 
 hours. The boys remained convinced that the pillared
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 43 
 
 palace was a work of men's hands : Wilhelm saw well 
 that it was a work of Nature, but lie could have wished 
 for Montan to speak with on the subject. 
 
 They now proceeded rapidly down hill, through a 
 wood of high, taper larches, which, becoming more 
 and more transparent, erelong exposed to view the 
 fairest spot you can imagine, lying in the clearest 
 sunshine. 
 
 A large garden, seemingly appropriated to use, not 
 ornament, lay richly furnished with fruit-trees, yet 
 open before their eyes ; for the ground, sloping, on the 
 whole, had been regularly cut into a number of di- 
 visions, now raised, now hollowed in manifold variety, 
 and thus exhibited a complex waving surface. Several 
 dwelling-houses stood scattered up and down, so that 
 it seemed as if the space belonged to several proprie- 
 tors ; yet Fitz assured them that one individual owned 
 and directed the whole. Beyond the garden stretched a 
 boundless landscape, beautifully cultivated and planted, 
 in which lakes and rivers might be distinguished in 
 the distance. 
 
 Still descending, they had approached nearer and 
 nearer, and were now expecting in a few moments to 
 be in the garden, when Wilhelm all at once stopped 
 short, and Fitz could not hide his roguish satisfaction ; 
 for a yawning chasm at the foot of the mountain 
 opened before them, and showed on the other side a 
 wall which had hitherto been concealed, steep enough 
 without, though within it was quite filled up with soil. 
 A deep trench, therefore, separated them from the 
 garden, into w^hich they were directly looking. "We 
 have still a good circuit to make," said Fitz, " before 
 we get the road that leads in. However, I know an 
 entrance on this side, which is much shorter. The 
 vaults where the hill-water in time of rain is let 
 through, in regular quantities, into the garden, open 
 here : they are high, and broad enough for one to walk
 
 44 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 along without difficulty." The instant Felix heard of 
 vaults, he insisted on taking this passage and no other. 
 Wilhelm followed the children; and the party de- 
 scended the large steps of this covered aqueduct, which 
 was now lying quite dry. Down below they found 
 themselves sometimes in light, sometimes in darkness, 
 according as the side-openings admitted day, or the 
 walls and pillars excluded it. At last they reached a 
 pretty even space, and were slowly proceeding, when 
 all at once a shot went off beside them ; and at the 
 same time two secret iron-grated doors started out, 
 and enclosed them on both sides. Not, indeed, the 
 whole of them : Wilhelm and Felix only were caught. 
 For Fitz, the instant he heard the shot, sprang back ; 
 and the closing grate caught nothing but his wide 
 sleeve : he himself, nimbly throwing off his jacket, had 
 darted away without loss of a moment. 
 
 The two prisoners had scarcely time to recover from 
 their astonishment, till they heard voices, which ap- 
 peared to be slowly approaching. In a little while 
 some armed men with torches came forward to the 
 grate, looking with eager eyes what sort of capture 
 they had made. At the same time they asked if 
 the prisoners would surrender peaceably. " Surrender 
 is not the word here," said Wilhelm : " we are already 
 in your power. It is rather our part to ask, whether 
 you will spare us ? The only weapon we have, I give 
 up to you." And with these words he handed his 
 hanger through the grate : this opened directly, and 
 the two strangers were led forward by the party 
 with great composure. After a short while they found 
 themselves in a singular place : it was a spacious, 
 cleanly apartment, with many little windows at the 
 very top of the walls ; and these, notwithstanding 
 the thick iron gratings, admitted light enough. Seats, 
 sleeping-places, and whatever else is expected in 
 a middling inn, had been provided ; and it seemed
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 45 
 
 as if any one placed here could want nothing Ijut 
 freedom. 
 
 Wilhelni, directly after entering, had sat down to 
 consider his situation : Felix, on the other hand, on 
 recovering from his astonishment, broke out into an 
 incredible fury. These large walls, these high win- 
 dows, these strong doors, this seclusion, this restric- 
 tion, were entirely new to him. He looked round 
 and round, he ran hither and thither, stamped with 
 his feet, wept, rattled the doors, struck against tliem 
 with his fists, nay, was even on the point of running 
 at them with his head, had not Wilhelm seized him, 
 and held him fast between his knees. " Do but look 
 at i,>.3 thing calmly, my son," began he ; " for im- 
 patience and violence cannot help us. The mystery 
 will clear up ; and I must be widely mistaken, or we 
 are fallen into no wicked hands. Read these inscrip- 
 tions : ' To the innocent, dehverance and reparation ; 
 to the misled, compassion ; and, to the guilty, avenging 
 justice.' All this bespeaks to us that these establish- 
 ments are works, not of cruelty, but of necessity. Men 
 have but too much cause to secure themselves from 
 men. Of ill-wishers there are many, of ill-doers not 
 few ; and, to live fitly, well-doing will not always 
 suffice." Felix still sobbed ; but he had pacified him- 
 self in some degree, more by the caresses than the 
 words of his father. " Let this experience," con- 
 tinued Wilhelm, " which thou gainest so early and so 
 innocently, remain a lively testimony to thy mind, in 
 how complete and accomplished a century thou livest. 
 What a journey had human nature to travel before it 
 reached the point of being mild, even to the guilty, 
 merciful to the injurious, humane to the inhuman ! 
 Doubtless they were men of godlike souls who first 
 taught this, who spent their lives in rendering the 
 practice of it possible, and recommending it to others. 
 Of the beautiful, men are seldom capable, oftener of
 
 46 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 the good ; and how highly should we value those who 
 endeavour, with great sacrifices, to forward that good 
 among their fellows ! " 
 
 Felix, in the course of this consolatory speech, had 
 fallen quietly asleep on his father's bosom ; and scarcely 
 had the latter laid him down on one of the ready-made 
 beds, when the door opened, and a man of prepossessing 
 appearance stepped in. After looking kindly at Wil- 
 helm for some time, he began to inquire about the 
 cii'cumstances which had led him by the private pas- 
 sage, and into this predicament. Wilhelm related the 
 affair as it stood, produced some papers which served 
 to explain who he was, and referred to the porter, who, 
 he said, must soon arrive on the other side, by the 
 usual road. This being so far explained, the official 
 person invited his guest to follow him. Felix could 
 not be awakened, and his father carried him asleep 
 from the place which had incited him to such violent 
 passion. 
 
 Wilhelm followed his conductor into a fair garden- 
 apartment, where refreshments were set down, which 
 he was invited to partake of ; while the other went to 
 report the state of matters to his superior. When 
 Felix, on awakening, perceived a httle covered table, 
 fruit, wine, biscuit, and, at the same time, the cheerful 
 aspect of a wide-open door, he knew not what to make 
 of it. He ran out, he ran back ; he thought he had 
 been dreaming ; and in a little while, with such dainty 
 fare and such pleasant sights, the preceding terror and 
 all his obstruction had vanished like an oppressive 
 vision in the brightness of morning. 
 
 The porter had arrived ; the officer, with another 
 man of a still friendlier aspect, brought him in ; and 
 the business now came to light, as follows : The owner 
 of this property, charitable in this higher sense, that 
 he studied to awaken all round him to activity and 
 effort, had, for several years, been accustomed, from his
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 47 
 
 boundless young plantations, to give out the small 
 wood to diligent and careful cultivators, gratis ; to the 
 negligent, for a certain price ; and to such as wished to 
 trade in it, likewise at a moderate valuation. But 
 these two latter classes, also, had required their supplies 
 gratis, as the meritorious were treated ; and, this being 
 refused them, they had attempted stealing trees. Their 
 attempt succeeded in many ways. This vexed the 
 owner the more, as not only were the plantations 
 plundered, but, by too early thinning, often ruined. 
 It had been discovered that the thieves entered by 
 this aqueduct : so the trap-gate had been erected in the 
 place, with a spring-gun, which, however, was only 
 meant for a signal. This little buy had, under various 
 pretexts, often made his appearance in the garden ; 
 and nothing was more natural than that, out of mis- 
 chief and audacity, he should lead the stranger by a 
 road which he had formerly discovered for other pur- 
 poses. The people could have wished to get hold of 
 him : meanwhile, his httle jacket was brought in, and 
 put by among other judicial seizures. 
 
 Wilhelm was now made acquainted with the owner 
 and his people, and by them received with the friend- 
 liest welcome. Of this family we shall say nothing 
 more here, as some further hght on them and their 
 concerns is offered us by the subsequent history.
 
 CHAPTEE VIII. 
 
 Wilhelm to Natalia. 
 
 Man is of a companionable, conversing nature : his 
 delight is great when he exercises faculties that have 
 been given him, even though nothing further came of 
 it. How often in society do we hear the complaint 
 that one will not let the other speak ; and in the same 
 manner, also, we might say, that one would not let the 
 other write, were not writing an employment commonly 
 transacted in private and alone. 
 
 How much people write, one could scarcely ever 
 conjecture. I speak not of what is printed, though 
 that, in itself , is abundant enough, but of all that, 
 in the shape of letters and memorials and narratives, 
 anecdotes, descriptions of present circumstances in the 
 life of individuals, sketches, and larger essays, circu- 
 lates in secret : of this you can form no idea, till you 
 have lived for some time in a community of cultivated 
 families, as I am now doing. In the sphere where I 
 am moving at present, there is almost as much time 
 employed in informing friends and relatives of what is 
 transacted as was employed in transacting it. This 
 observation, which for several weeks has been con- 
 stantly forced on me, I now make with the more 
 pleasure, as the writing tendency of my new friends 
 enables me, at once and perfectly, to get acquainted 
 with their characters and circumstances. I am trusted : 
 a sheaf of letters is given to me, some quires of a trav- 
 elhng-journal, the confessions of some mind not yet in 
 unity with itself; and thus everywhere, in a little 
 
 48
 
 Ll«U>.Xi4pL
 
 " Here, accordingly, are some letters " 
 
 Photogravure from the painting by E. Meissonier
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 49 
 
 while, I am at home. 1 know the neighbouring circle, 
 I know the persons whose acquaintance I am to obtain : 
 I understand them better, almost, than they do them- 
 selves ; seeing they are still implicated in their situa- 
 tion, while I hover lightly past them, ever with thy 
 hand in mine, ever speaking with thee about all I see. 
 Indeed, it is the first condition I make before accepting 
 any confidence offered me, that I may impart it to 
 thee. Here, accordingly, are some letters which will 
 introduce thee into the circle in which, without break- 
 ing or evading my vow, I, for the present, revolve. 
 
 THE NUT-BKOWN MAID. 
 
 Lenardo to his Aunt. 
 
 At last, dear aunt, after three years you receive my 
 first letter, conformably to our engagement, which, in 
 truth, was singular enough. I wished to see the world 
 and mingle in it, and wished, during that period, to 
 forget the home whence I had departed, whither I 
 hoped to return. The whole impression of this home 
 I purposed to retain, and the partial and individual 
 was not to confuse me at a distance. Meanwhile the 
 necessary tokens of life and welfare have, from time to 
 time, passed to and fro between us. I have regularly 
 received money, and little presents for my kindred 
 have been delivered you for distribution. By the 
 wares I sent, you would see how and where I was. 
 By the wines, I doubt not my uncle has tasted out my 
 several places of abode ; then the laces, knick-knacks, 
 steel wares, would indicate to my fair cousins my 
 progress through Brabant, by Paris, to London ; and so, 
 on their writing-desks, work-boxes, tea-tables, I shall 
 find many a symbol wherewith to connect the history 
 of my journeyings. You have accompanied me with- 
 out hearing of me, and, perhaps, may care little about
 
 50 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 knowing more. For me, on the other hand, it is highly 
 desirable to learn, through your kindness, how it stands 
 with the circle into which I am once more entering. 
 I would, in truth, return from strange countries as a 
 stranger, who, that he may not be unpleasant, first 
 informs himself about the way and manner of his 
 household ; not fancying, that, for his fine eyes or hair, 
 he shall be received there quite in his own fashion. 
 Write to me, therefore, of my worthy uncle, of your 
 fair nieces, of yourself, of our relations near and distant, 
 of servants also, old and new. In short, let your prac- 
 tised pen, which for so long a time you have not dipped 
 into ink for your nephew, now again tint paper in the 
 favour. Your letter of news shall forthwith be my 
 credential, with which I introduce myself so soon as I 
 obtain it. On you, therefore, it depends, whether you 
 will see me or not. We alter far less than we imagine ; 
 and circumstances, too, continue much as they were. 
 Not only what has altered, but what has continued, 
 what has by degrees waxed and waned, do I now wish 
 instantly to recognise at my return, and so once more 
 to see myself in a well-known mirror. Present my 
 heartiest salutations to all our people, and believe, that, 
 in the singular manner of my absence and my return, 
 there may lie more true aifection than is often found 
 in constant participation and lively intercourse. A 
 thousand comphments to one and all ! 
 
 Postscript. — Neglect not, also, my dear aunt, to say 
 a word or two about our dependants, — how it stands 
 with our stewards and farmers. What has become of 
 Valerina, the daughter of that farmer whom my uncle, 
 with justice certainly, but also, as I thought, with some 
 severity, ejected from his lands when I went away ? 
 You see, I still remember many a particular : I still 
 know all. On the past you shall examine me when 
 you have told me of the present.
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 51 
 
 The Aunt to Jidictta. 
 
 At last, dear childreu, a letter from our three- 
 years' speechless traveller. What strauge beiugs these 
 strange men are ! He will have it that his wares and 
 tokens were as good as so many kind words, which 
 friend may speak or write to friend. He actually 
 fancies himself our creditor, requires from ils, in the 
 first place, the performance of that service which he 
 so unkindly refused. What is to be done ? For me, I 
 should have met his wishes forth\vith in a long 
 letter, did not this headache signify too clearly that 
 the present sheet can scarcely be filled. We all long 
 to see him. Do you, my dears, undertake the business. 
 Should I be recovered before you have done, I will 
 contribute my share. Choose the persons and circum- 
 stances, as you hke best to describe them. Divide the 
 task. You will do it all far better than I. The mes- 
 senger will bring me back a note from you. 
 
 Jidietta to her Aitnt. 
 
 We have read and considered, and now send you 
 by the messenger our view of the matter, each in 
 particular; having first jointly signified that we are 
 not so charitable as our dear aunt to her ever perverse 
 nephew. Now, when he has kept his cards hid from 
 us for three years, and still keeps them hid, we, for- 
 sooth, are to spread ours on the table, and play an 
 open against a secret game. This is not fair, and yet 
 let it pass ; for the craftiest is often caught, simply by 
 his own overanxious precautions. But, as to the way 
 and manner of transacting this commission, we are 
 not agreed. To write of our familiars as we think of 
 them is for us, at least, a very strange problem. Com- 
 monly we do not think of them at all, except in this 
 or that particular case, when they give us some satis-
 
 52 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 faction or vexation. At other times each lets his 
 neighbour go his way. You alone could manage it, 
 dear aunt ; for you have both the penetration and the 
 tolerance. Hersiha, who, you know, is not difficult 
 to kindle, has just, on the spur of the moment, given 
 me a bird's-eye view of the whole family in all the 
 gi-aces of caricature. I wish it stood on paper, to 
 entice a smile from yourself in your illness, but not 
 that I would have it sent. My own project is, to lay 
 before him our correspondence for these three years : 
 then let him read, if he have the heart; or let him 
 come and see wdth his eyes, if he have not. Your 
 letters to me, dear aunt, are in the best order, and all at 
 your service. Hersilia dissents from this opinion, 
 excuses herself with the disorder of her papers, and 
 so forth, as she will tell you herseK. 
 
 Hersilia to her Aunt. 
 
 I will and must be very brief, dear aunt ; for the 
 messenger is clownishly impatient. I reckon it an 
 excess of generosity, and not at all in season, to sub- 
 mit our correspondence to Lenardo. What has he to 
 do with knowing all the good we have said of him, 
 with knowing all the ill we have said of him, and 
 finding out from the latter, still more than from the 
 former, that we like him ? Hold him tight, I entreat 
 you ! There is something so precise and presumptuous 
 in this demand, in this conduct, of his, — just the 
 fashion of your young gentlemen when they return 
 from foreign parts. They can never look on those 
 who have stayed at home as full-grown persons, hke 
 themselves. Make your headache an excuse. He will 
 come, doubtless ; and, if he do not come, we can wait 
 a little. Perhaps his next idea may be, to introduce 
 himself in some strange, secret way, to become ac- 
 quainted with us in disguise ; and who knows what
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS S3 
 
 more may be included in the plan of so deep a gentle- 
 man ? How pretty and curious this would be! It 
 could not fail to bring about all manner of embroil- 
 ments and developments, far grander than any that 
 could be produced by such a diplomatic entrance into 
 his family as he now purposes. 
 
 The messenger! The messenger! Bring up your 
 old people better, or send young ones. This man is 
 neither to be pacified with flattery nor wine. A thou- 
 sand farewells ! 
 
 Postscript for Postscri2yt. — What does our cousin 
 want, will you tell me, with his postscript of Valerina ? 
 This question of his has struck me doubly. She is 
 the only person whom he mentions by name. The 
 rest of us are nieces, aunts, stewards, — not persons, 
 but titles. Valerina, our lawyer's daughter ! In truth, 
 a pretty, fair-haired girl, that may have glanced in our 
 gallant cousin's eyes before he went away. She is 
 married well and happily: this to you is no news; 
 but to him it is, of course, as unknown as everything 
 that has occurred here. Forget not to inform him, 
 in a postscript, that Valerina grew daily more and 
 more beautiful, and so at last made a very good match. 
 That she is the wife of a rich proprietor. That the 
 lovely, fair-haired maid is married. Make it perfectly 
 distinct to him. But neither is this all, dear aunt. 
 How the man can so accurately remember his flaxen- 
 headed beauty, and yet confound her with the daughter 
 of that worthless farmer, with a wild humble-bee of a 
 brunette, whose name was Nachodina, and who went 
 away. Heaven knows whither, — this, I declare to you, 
 remains entirely incomprehensible, and puzzles me quite 
 excessively. For it seems as if our pretty cousin, who 
 prides himself on his good memory, could change 
 names and persons to a very strange degree. Perhaps 
 he feels this obscurely himself, and would have the
 
 54 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 faded image refreshed by your delineation. Hold 
 him tight, I beg of you ! but try to learn, for our own 
 behoof, how it does stand with these Valerinas and 
 Nachodinas, and how many more Inas and Triuas have 
 retained their place in his imagination, while the poor 
 Ettas and Ilias have vanished. The messenger ! The 
 cursed messenger ! 
 
 The Aunt to her Nieces. 
 (Dictated.) 
 
 Why should we dissemble toward those we have to 
 spend our life with ? Lenardo, with all his peculi- 
 arities, deserves confidence. I send him both your 
 letters ; from these he will get a view of you : and the 
 rest of us, I hope, will erelong unconsciously find 
 occasion to depict ourselves before him likewise. Fare- 
 well ! My head is very painful. 
 
 Hersilia to her Aunt. 
 
 Why should we dissemble toward those we have to 
 spend our life with ? Lenardo is a spoiled nephew. It 
 is horrible in you to send him our letters. From these 
 he will get no real view of us; and I wish, with all 
 my heart, for opportunity to let him view me in some 
 other light. You give pain to others, while you are 
 in pain yourself, and blind to boot. Quick recovery 
 to your head ! Your heart is irrecoverable. 
 
 TJie Aunt to Hersilia. 
 
 Thy last note I should likewise have packed in for 
 Lenardo, had I happened to continue by the purpose 
 which my irrecoverable heart, my sick head, and my 
 love of ease, suggested to me. Your letters are not 
 gone. I am just parting with the young man who
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 55 
 
 has been for some time living in our circle, who, by 
 the straDgest chance, has come to know us pretty well, 
 and is, withal, of an intelligent and kindly nature. 
 Him I am despatching. He undertakes the task witli 
 gi-eat readiness. He will prepare our nephew, and 
 send or bring him. Thus can your aunt recollect 
 herself in the course of a rash enterprise, and bend 
 into another path. Hersilia also will take thought, 
 and a friendly revocation will not long be wanting 
 from her hand. 
 
 Wilhelm having accurately and circumstantially 
 fulfilled this task, Lenardo answered with a smile, 
 " Much as I am obliged to you for what you tell 
 me, I must still put another question. Did not my 
 aunt, in conclusion, request you also to inform me of 
 another, and, seemingly, an unimportant, matter ? " 
 
 Wilhelm thought a moment. " Yes," said he then : 
 " I remember. She mentioned a lady, named Valerina. 
 Of her I was to tell you that she is happily wedded, 
 and every way well." 
 
 "You roll a stone from my heart," replied Lenardo. 
 " I now gladly return home, since I need not fear that 
 my recollection of this girl can reproach me there." 
 
 " It beseems not me to inquire what relation you 
 have had to her," said Wilhelm : " only you may be 
 at ease if in any way you feel concerned for her 
 fortunes." 
 
 " It is the strangest relation in the world," returned 
 Lenardo, — " nowise a love-matter, as you might, per- 
 haps, conjecture. I may confide in you, and tell it ; 
 as, indeed, there is next to nothing to be told. But 
 what must you think, when I assure you that this 
 faltering in my return, this fear of revisiting our family, 
 these strange preparatives, and inquiries how things 
 looked at home, had no other object but to learn, by 
 the way, how it stood with this young woman ?
 
 56 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 " For you will believe," continued he, " I am very- 
 well aware that we may leave people whom we know 
 without finding them, even after a considerable time, 
 much altered ; and so I likewise expect very soon to be 
 quite at home with my relatives. This single being 
 only gave me pause: her fortune, I knew, must have 
 changed; and, thank Heaven, it has changed for the 
 better." 
 
 " You excite my curiosity," said Wilhelm. " There 
 must be something singular in this." 
 
 " I, at least, think it so," rephed Lenardo, and began 
 his narrative as follows : — 
 
 " To accomphsh, in my youth, the grand adventure 
 of a tour through cultivated Europe was a fixed pur- 
 pose, which I had entertained from boyhood ; but the 
 execution of which was, as usually happens in these 
 things, from time to time postponed. What was at 
 hand attracted me, retained me ; and the distant lost 
 more and more of its charms the more I read of it or 
 heard it talked of. However, at last, incited by my 
 uncle, allured by friends who had gone forth into the 
 world before me, I did form the resolution, and that 
 more rapidly than any one had been expecting. 
 
 " My uncle, who had to afford the main requisite for 
 my enterprise, directly made this his chief concern. 
 You know him, and the way he has, — how he still 
 rushes with his whole force on one single object, and 
 everything else in the meanwhile must rest and be silent : 
 by which means, indeed, he has effected much that 
 seemed to He beyond the influence of any private man. 
 This journey came upon him, in some degree, unawares ; 
 yet he very soon took his measures. Some buildings 
 which he had planned, nay, even begun, were aban- 
 doned ; and, as he never on any account meddles with 
 his accumulated stock, he looked about him, as a 
 prudent financier, for other ways and means. The 
 most obvious plan was, to call in outstanding debts.
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 57 
 
 especially remainders of rent ; for this, also, was one of 
 bis habits, that be was indulgent to debtors, so long as 
 be himself bad, to a certain degree, no need of money. 
 He gave bis steward the list, with orders to manage 
 the business. Of individual cases we learned nothing : 
 only 1 heard transiently, that the farmer of one of our 
 estates, with whom my uncle had long exercised pa- 
 tience, was at last actually to be ejected ; bis caution- 
 ary pledge, a scanty supplement to the produce of this 
 prosecution, to be retained, and the land to be let to 
 some other person. This man was of a religious turn, 
 but not, like others of his sect among us, shrewd and 
 active withal; for his piety and his goodness be was loved 
 by his neighbours, but, at the same time, censured for 
 bis weakness, as the master of a house. After the 
 death of his wife, a daughter, whom we usually named 
 the Nut-brown Maid, though already giving promise of 
 activity and resolution, was still too young for taking 
 a decisive management : in short, the man went back 
 in Ms affairs; and my uncle's indulgence bad not 
 stayed the sinking of liis fortune. 
 
 " I bad my journey in my head, and could not quar- 
 rel with the means for accomplishing it. All was 
 ready : packing and sorting went forward ; every 
 moment was becoming full of business. One evening 
 I was strolling through the park for the last time, to 
 take leave of my familiar trees and bushes, when all at 
 once Valerina stepped into my way, — for such was 
 the girl's name : the other was but a by-name, occa- 
 sioned by her brown complexion. She stepped into 
 my way." 
 
 Leuardo paused for a moment, as if considering. 
 " How is this, then ? " said he. " Was her name really 
 Valerina ? Yes, surely," he continued ; " but the by- 
 name was more common. In short, the brown maid 
 came into my path, and pressingly entreated me to 
 speak a good word for her father, for herself, to my
 
 58 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 uncle. Knowing how the matter stood, and seeing 
 clearly that it would be difficult, nay, impossible, to do 
 her any service at this moment, I candidly told her so, 
 and set before her the blameworthiness of her father 
 in an unfavourable light. 
 
 " She answered this with so much clearness, and, at 
 the same time, with so much filial mitigation and love, 
 that quite gained me ; and, had it been my own 
 money, I should instantly have made her happy by 
 granting her request. But it was my uncle's income ; 
 these were his arrangements, his orders : with such a 
 temper as his, to attempt altering aught that had been 
 done was hopeless. From of old I had looked on a 
 promise as in the highest degree sacred. Whoever 
 asked anything of me embarrassed me. I had so ac- 
 customed myself to refuse, that I did not even promise 
 what I purposed to perform. This habit came in good 
 stead in the present instance. Her arguments turned 
 on individuahty and affection, mine on duty and 
 reason ; and I will not deny that at last they seemed 
 too harsh, even to myself. Already we had more than 
 once repeated our topics without convincing one 
 another, when necessity made her more eloquent : the 
 inevitable ruin which she saw before her pressed tears 
 from her eyes. Her collected manner she entirely lost : 
 she spoke with vivacity, with emotion ; and, as I still 
 kept up a show of coldness and composure, her whole 
 soul turned itself outward. I wished to end the scene ; 
 but all at once she was loing at my feet, had seized my 
 hand, kissed it, and was looking up to me, so good, so 
 gentle, with such supplicating loveliness, that, in the 
 haste of the moment, I forgot myself. Hurriedly I 
 said, while raising her from her kneeling posture, ' I 
 will do what is possible : compose thyself, my child ! ' 
 and so turned into a side-path. ' Do what is impos- 
 sible ! ' cried she after me. I now knew not what I 
 was saying, but answered, ' I will,' and hesitated. ' Do
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 59 
 
 it ! ' cried she, at ouce enlivened, and with a heavenly 
 expression of hope. I waved a salutation to her, and 
 hastened away. 
 
 " To my uncle I did not mean to apply directly ; for 
 I knew too well that with him it was vain to speak 
 about the partial, when his purpose was the whole. I 
 inquired for the steward ; he had ridden off to a dis- 
 tance : visitors came in the evening, friends wishing to 
 take leave of me. They supped and played till far in 
 the night. They continued next day, and their pres- 
 ence effaced the image of my importunate petitioner. 
 The steward returned : he was busier and more over- 
 loaded than ever. All were asking for him : he had no 
 time to hear me. However, I did make an effort to 
 detain him ; but scarcely had I named that pious 
 farmer, when he eagerly repelled the proposal. ' For 
 Heaven's sake, not a word of this to your uncle, if you 
 would not have a quarrel with him ! ' The day of my 
 departure was fixed : I had letters to write, guests to 
 receive, visits in the neighbourhood to pay. My ser- 
 vants had been hitherto sufficient for my wants, but 
 were nowise adequate to forward the arrangements of 
 a distant journey. All lay on my own hands; and 
 yet, when the steward appointed me an hour in the 
 night before my departure to settle our money con- 
 cerns, I neglected not again to solicit him for Valerina's 
 father. 
 
 " ' Dear baron,' said the unstable man, ' how can such 
 a thing ever come into your head ? To-day already I 
 have had a hard piece of work with your uncle, for the 
 sum you need is turning out to be far higher than we 
 reckoned on. This is natural enough, but not the less 
 perplexing. To the old gentleman it is especially un- 
 welcome, when a business seems concluded, and yet 
 many odds and ends are found straggling after it. 
 This is often the case, and I and the rest have to take 
 the brunt of it. As to the rigour with which the out-
 
 6o MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 standing debts were to be gathered in, he himself laid 
 down the law to me : he is at one with himself on this 
 point, and it would be no easy task to move him to in- 
 dulgence. Do not try it, I beg of you ! It is quite in 
 .vain.' 
 
 " I let him deter me from my attempt, but not en- 
 tirely. I pressed him, since the execution of the busi- 
 ness depended on himself, to act with mildness and 
 mercy. He promised everything, according to the 
 fashion of such persons, for the sake of momentary 
 peace. He got quit of me: the bustle, the hurry of 
 business, increased. I was in my carriage, and had 
 turned my back on all home concerns. 
 
 " A keen impression is like any other wound : we do 
 not feel it in receiving it. Not till afterward does it 
 begin to smart and gangrene. So was it with me in 
 regard to this occurrence in the park. Whenever I 
 was sohtary, whenever I was unemployed, that image 
 of the entreating maiden, with the whole accom- 
 paniment, with every tree and bush, the place where 
 she knelt, the side-path I took to get rid of her, the 
 whole scene, rose like a fresh picture before my soul. 
 It was an indestructible impression, which, by other 
 images and interests, might indeed be shaded or over- 
 hung, but never obliterated. Still, in every quiet hour, 
 she came before me ; and, the longer it lasted, the more 
 painful did I feel the blame which I had incurred 
 against my principles, against my custom, though not 
 expressly, only while hesitating, and for the first time 
 caught in such a perplexity. 
 
 " I failed not, in my earliest letters, to inquire of our 
 steward how the business had turned. He answered 
 evasively. Then he engaged to explain this point ; 
 then he wrote ambiguously ; at last he became silent 
 altogether. Distance increased ; more objects came 
 between me and my home ; I was called to many new 
 observations, many new sympathies ; the image faded
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 6i 
 
 away, the maiden herself, almost to the name. The 
 remembrance of her came more rarely before me ; and 
 my whim of keeping up my intercourse with home, not 
 by letters, but by tokens, tended gradually to make my 
 previous situation, with all its circumstances, nearly 
 vanish from my mind. Now, however, when I am 
 again returning home, when I am purposing to repay 
 my family with interest what I have so long owed it, 
 now at last this strange repentance, strange I myself 
 must call it, falls on me with its whole weight. The 
 form of the maiden brightens up with the forms of my 
 relatives : and I dread nothing more deeply than to 
 learn, that, in the misery into which I drove her, she 
 has sunk to ruin ; for my negligence appears in my 
 own mind an abetting of her destruction, a further- 
 ance of her mournful destiny. A thousand times I 
 have told myself that this feeling was at bottom but a 
 weakness; that my early adoption of the principle, 
 never to promise, had originated in my fear of repent- 
 ance, not in any noble sentiment. And now it seems 
 as if Repentance, which I had fled from, meant to 
 avenge herself by seizing this incident, instead of hun- 
 dreds, to pain me. Yet is the picture, the imagination 
 which torments me, so agreeable withal, so lovely, that 
 I like to linger over it. And, when I think of the 
 scene, that kiss which she imprinted on my hand still 
 seems to burn there." 
 
 Lenardo was silent ; and Wilhelm answered quickly 
 and gaily, " It appears, then, I could have done you no 
 greater service than by that appendix to my narrative ; 
 as we often find in the postscript the most interesting 
 part of the letter. In truth, I know Httle of Valerina, 
 for I heard of her only in passing : but, for certain, she 
 is the wife of a prosperous land-owner, and lives hap- 
 pily ; as your aunt assured me on taking leave." 
 
 " Good and well," said Lenardo : " now there is 
 nothing to detain me. You have given me absolution :
 
 62 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 let us now to my friends, who have already waited for 
 me too long." To this Wilhelm answered, " Unhappily 
 I cannot attend you ; for a strange obligation lies on 
 me to continue nowhere longer than three days, and 
 not to revisit any place in less than a year. Pardon 
 me, if I am not at liberty to mention the cause of this 
 singularity." 
 
 " I am very sorry," said Lenardo, " that we are to 
 lose you so soon ; that I cannot, in my turn, do any- 
 thing for you. But, since you are already in the way 
 of showing me kindness, you might make me very 
 happy if you pleased to visit Valerina, to inform your- 
 self accurately of her situation, and then to let me 
 have in writing or in speech (a place of meeting might 
 easily be found) express intelligence for my complete 
 composure." 
 
 This proposal was further discussed : Valerina's 
 place of residence had been named to Wilhelm. He 
 engaged to visit her : a place of meeting was appointed, 
 to which the baron should come, bringing Felix with 
 him, who in the meanwhile had remained with the 
 ladies. 
 
 Lenardo and Wilhelm had proceeded on their way 
 for some time, riding together through pleasant fields, 
 with abundance of conversation, when at last they 
 approached the highway, and found the baron's coach 
 in waiting, now ready to revisit, with its owner, the 
 spot it had left three years before. Here the friends 
 were to part ; and Wilhelm, with a few kindly words, 
 took his leave, again promising the baron speedy news 
 of Valerina. 
 
 " Now, when I bethink me," said Lenardo, " that it 
 were but a small circuit if I accompanied you, why 
 should I not visit Valerina myself ? Why not witness 
 with my own eyes her happy situation ? You were so 
 friendly as to engage to be my messenger, why should 
 you not be my companion ? For some companion I
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 63 
 
 must have, some moral counsel ; as we take legal 
 counsel to assist us, when we think ourselves inade- 
 quate to tlie perplexities of a process." 
 
 Wilhelm's objections, that the friends at liunie would 
 be anxiously expecting the long-absent traveller, that 
 it would produce a strange impression if the carriage 
 came alone, and other reasons of the like sort, had no 
 weight with Lenardo ; and Willi elm was obliged at 
 last to resolve on acting the companion to the baron, a 
 task on which, considering the consequences that might 
 be apprehended, he entered with no great alacrity. 
 
 Accordingly the servants were instructed what to 
 say on their arrival, and the two friends now took 
 the road for Valerina's house. The neighbourhood 
 appeared rich and fertile, the true seat of agriculture. 
 Especially the grounds of Valerina's husband seemed 
 to be managed with great skill and care. Wilhelm 
 had leisure to survey the landscape accurately, while 
 Lenardo rode in silence beside him. At last the latter 
 said, " Another in my place would perhaps try to meet 
 Valerina undiscovered, for it is always a painful feeling 
 to appear before those whom we have injured ; but I 
 had rather front this, and bear the reproach which 
 I have to dread from her first look, than secure myself 
 from it by disguise and untruth. Untruth may bring 
 us into embarrassment quite as well as truth ; and, 
 when we reckon up how often the former or the latter 
 profits us, it really seems most prudent, once for all, to 
 devote ourselves to what is true. Let us go forward, 
 therefore, with cheerful minds: I will give my name, 
 and introduce you as my friend and fellow traveller." 
 
 They had now reached the house, and dismounted 
 in the court. A portly man, plainly dressed, whom 
 you might have taken for a farmer, came out to them, 
 and announced himself as master of the family. 
 Lenardo named himself; and the landlord seemed 
 highly delighted to see him, and obtain his acquaint-
 
 64 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 ance. " What will my wife say," cried he, " when she 
 again meets the nephew of her benefactor ? She never 
 tires of recounting and reckoning up what her father 
 owes your uncle." 
 
 What strange thoughts rushed in rapid disorder 
 through Lenardo's mind ! " Does this man, who looks 
 so honest-minded, hide his bitterness under a friendly 
 countenance and smooth words ? Can he give his 
 reproaches so courteous an outside ? For did not my 
 uncle reduce that family to misery ? And can the 
 man be ignorant of this ? Or," so thought he to him- 
 self, with quick hope, " has the business not been so 
 bad as thou supposest ? For no decisive intelligence 
 has ever yet reached thee." Such conjectures alter- 
 nated this way and that, while the landlord was order- 
 ing out his carriage to bring home his wife, who, it 
 appeared, was paying a visit in the neighbourhood. 
 
 " If, in the meanwhile, till my wife return," said the 
 latter, " I might entertain you in my own way, and at 
 the same time carry on my duties, say you walk a few 
 steps with me into the fields, and look about you how 
 I manage my husbandry ; for, no doubt, to you, as a 
 great proprietor of land, there is nothing of more near 
 concernment than the noble science, the noble art, of 
 agriculture." 
 
 Lenardo made no objection : Wilhelm liked to 
 gather information. The landlord had his ground, 
 which he possessed and ruled without restriction, 
 under the most perfect treatment ; what he undertook 
 was adapted to his purpose ; what he sowed and 
 planted was always in the right place; and he could 
 so clearly explain his mode of procedure, and the 
 reasons of it, that every one comprehended him, and 
 thought it possible for himself to do the same, — a 
 mistake one is apt to fall into on looking at a master, 
 in whose hand all moves as it should do. 
 
 The strangers expressed their satisfaction, and had
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 65 
 
 nothing but praise and approval to pronounce on 
 everything they saw. He received it gratefully and 
 kindly, and at last added, " Now, however, I must 
 show you my weak side, a quality discernible in every 
 one that yields himself exclusively to one pursuit." 
 He led them to his courtyard, showed them his imple- 
 ments, his store of these, and, besides this, a store of 
 all imaginable sorts of farm-gear, with its appurte- 
 nances, kept by way of specimen. " I am often 
 blamed," said he, " for going too far in this matter ; 
 but I cannot quite blame myself. Happy is he to 
 whom his business itself becomes a puppet, who, at 
 length, can play with it, and amuse himself with what 
 his situation makes his duty." 
 
 The two friends were not behindhand with their 
 questions and examinations. Wilhelm, in particular, 
 delighted in the general observations which this man 
 appeared to have a turn for making, and failed not to 
 answer them ; while the baron, more immersed in his 
 own thoughts, took silent pleasure in the happiness of 
 Valerina, which, in this situation, he reckoned sure, 
 yet felt underhand a certain faint shadow of dissatis- 
 faction, of which he could give himself no account. 
 
 The party had returned within doors, when the 
 lady's carriage drove up. They hastened out to meet 
 her; but what was Lenardo's amazement, his fright, 
 when she stepped forth ! This was not the person : 
 this was no nut-brown maid, but directly the reverse, 
 — a fair, slim form, in truth, but light-haired, and 
 possessing all the charms which belonged to that 
 complexion. 
 
 This beauty, this gi-ace, afirighted Lenardo. His 
 eyes had sought the brown maiden : now quite a 
 different figure glanced before them. These features, 
 too, he recollected ; her words, her manners, soon 
 banished all uncertainty ; it was the daughter of the 
 lawyer, a man who stood in high favour with the
 
 66 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 uncle ; for which reason also the dowry had been so 
 handsome, and the new pair so generously dealt with. 
 All this, and much more, was gaily recounted by the 
 young wife as an introductory salutation, and with 
 such a joy as the surprise of an unexpected meeting 
 naturally gives rise to. The question, whether they 
 could recognise each other, was mutually put and 
 answered : the changes in look were talked of, which 
 in persons of that age are found notable enough. 
 Valerina was at all times agreeable, but lovely in a 
 high degree when any joyful feeling raised her above 
 her usual level of indifierence. The company grew 
 talkative : the conversation became so lively that 
 Lenardo was enabled to compose himself and hide his 
 confusion. Wilhelm, to whom he had very soon given 
 a sign of this strange incident, did his best to help 
 him ; and Valerina's little touch of vanity in thinking 
 that the baron, even before visiting his own friends, 
 had remembered her, and come to see her, excluded 
 any shadow of suspicion that another purpose, or a 
 misconception, could be concerned in the affair. 
 
 The party kept together till a late hour, though the 
 two friends were longing for a confidential dialogue; 
 which, accordingly, commenced the moment they were 
 left alone in their allotted chambers. 
 
 " It appears," said Lenardo, " I am not to get rid of 
 this secret pain. A luckless confusion of names, I 
 now observe, redoubles it. This fair-haired beauty 
 I have often seen playing with the brunette, who could 
 not be called a beauty ; nay, I myself have often run 
 about with them over the fields and gardens, though 
 so much older than they. Neither of them made the 
 slightest impression on me : I have but retained the 
 name of the one and applied it to the other. And 
 now her who does not concern me I find happy above 
 measure in her own way ; while the other is cast forth, 
 who knows whither ? into the wide world."
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 67 
 
 Next morning the friends were up almost sooner 
 than their active entertainers. The happiness of see- 
 ing her guests had also awakened Valerina early. She 
 little fancied with what feelings they came to break- 
 fast. Wilhelm, seeing clearly, that, without some tid- 
 ings of the nut-brown maid, Lenardo must continue in 
 a painful state, led the conversation to old times, to 
 playmates, to scenes which he himself knew, and other 
 such recollections; so that Valerina soon quite natu- 
 rally came to speak of the nut-brown maid, and to 
 mention her name. 
 
 No sooner did Lenardo hear the name Nachodina, 
 than he perfectly remembered it ; but, with the name, 
 the figure also, of that supplicant, returned to him with 
 such violence that Valerina's further narrative became 
 quite agonising to him, as with warm sympathy she 
 proceeded to describe the distrainment of the pious 
 farmer, his submissive resignation and departure, and 
 how he went away, leaning on his daughter, who 
 carried a little bundle in her hand. Lenardo was like 
 to sink under the earth. LTnhappily and happily, she 
 went into a certain circumstantiality in her details; 
 which, while it tortured Lenardo's heart, enabled him, 
 with help of his associate, to put on some appearance 
 of composure. 
 
 The travellers departed amid warm, sincere invita- 
 tions, on the part of the married pair, to return soon, 
 and a faint, hollow assent on their own part. And as 
 a person who stands in any favour wdth himself takes 
 everything in a favourable light ; so Valerina explained 
 Lenardo's silence, his visible confusion in taking leave, 
 his hasty departure, entirely to her own advantage, and 
 could not, although the faithful and loving wife of a 
 worthy gentleman, help feeling some small satisfaction 
 at this re-awakening or incipient inclination, as she 
 reckoned it, of her former landlord. 
 
 After this strange incident, while the friends were
 
 68 meister's travels 
 
 proceeding on their way, Lenardo thus addressed 
 Wilhelm : " For our shipwreck with such fair hopes, at 
 the very entrance of the haven, I can still console my- 
 self in some degi-ee for the moment, and go calmly to 
 meet my people, when I think that Heaven has brought 
 me you, you to whom, under your pecuhar mission, it 
 is indifferent whither or how you direct your path. 
 Engage to find out Nachodina, and to give me tidings 
 of her. If she be happy, then am I content ; if un- 
 happy, then help her at my charges. Act without 
 reserve ; spare, calculate nothing. I shall return home, 
 shall endeavour to get intelligence, and send your Felix 
 to you by some trusty person. Place the boy, as your 
 intention w^as, where many of his equals are placed : it 
 is almost indifferent under what superintendence ; but 
 I am much mistaken if, in the neighbourhood, in the 
 place where I wish you to wait for your son and his 
 attendant, you do not find a man that can give you the 
 best counsel on this point. It is he to whom I owe 
 the training of my youth, whom I should have liked so 
 much to take along with me in my travels, whom, at 
 least, I should many a time have wished to meet in 
 the course of them, had he not already devoted himseK 
 to a quiet, domestic life." 
 
 The friends had now reached the spot where they 
 were actually to part. While the horses were feeding, 
 the baron wrote a letter, which Wilhelm took charge 
 of, yet, for the rest, could not help communicating his 
 scruples to Lenardo. 
 
 " In my present situation," said he, " I reckon it a 
 desirable commission to deliver a generous man from 
 distress of mind, and, at the same time, to free a 
 human creature from misery, if she happen to be mis- 
 erable. Such an object one may look upon as a star, 
 toward which one sails, not knowing what awaits him, 
 what he is to meet, by the way. Yet, with all this, I 
 must not be blind to the danger which, in every case,
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 69 
 
 still hovers over you. Were you not a man who regu- 
 larly avoids engagements, I should require a promise 
 from you not again to see this female, who has come to 
 be so precious in your eyes, but to content yourself 
 when I announce to you that all is well with her, be it 
 that I actually find lier happy, or am enabled to make 
 her so. But, having neither power nor wish to extort 
 a promise from you, I conjure you by all you reckon 
 dear and sacred, for your own sake, for that of your 
 kindred, and of me, your new-acquired friend, to allow 
 yourself no approximation to that lost maiden under 
 what pretext soever ; not to require of me that I men- 
 tion or describe the place where I find her, or the 
 neighbourhood where I leave her ; but to believe my 
 word that she is well, and be enfranchised and at 
 peace." 
 
 Lenardo gave a smile, and answered, " Perform this 
 service for me, and I shall be grateful. What you are 
 willing and able to do, I commit to your own hands ; 
 and, for myself, leave me to time, to common sense, 
 and, if possible, to reason." 
 
 "Pardon me," answered Wilhelm ; "but whoever 
 knows under what strange forms love glides into our 
 hearts, cannot but be apprehensive on foreseeing that a 
 friend may come to entertain wishes, which, in his cir- 
 cumstances, his station, would, of necessity, produce 
 uuhappiness and perplexity." 
 
 " I hope," said Lenardo, " when I know the maiden 
 happy, I have done with her." 
 
 The friends parted, each in his own direction.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 By a short and pleasant road, Wilhelm had reached 
 the town to which his letter was directed. He found 
 it gay and well built ; but its new aspect showed too 
 clearly, that, not long before, it must have suffered by 
 a conflagration. The address of his letter let him into 
 the last small, uninjured portion of the place, to a 
 house of ancient, earnest architecture, yet well kept, 
 and of a tidy look. Dim windows, strangely fashioned, 
 indicated an exhilarating pomp of colours from within. 
 Nor, in fact, did the interior fail to correspond with the 
 exterior. In clean apartments, everywhere stood fur- 
 niture, which must have served several generations, 
 intermixed with very little that was new. The master 
 of the house received our traveller kindly in a little 
 chamber similarly fitted up. These clocks had already 
 struck the hour of many a birth and many a death : 
 everything which met the eye reminded one that the 
 past might, as it were, be protracted into the present. 
 
 The stranger dehvered his letter; but the landlord, 
 without opening it, laid it aside, and endeavoured, in a 
 cheerful conversation, immediately to get acquainted 
 with his guest. They soon grew confidential ; and as 
 Wilhelm, contrary to his usual habit, let his eye 
 wander inquisitively over the room, the good old man 
 said to him, " My domestic equipment excites your 
 attention. You here see how long a thing may last ; 
 and one should make such observations now and then, 
 by way of counterbalance to so much in the world that 
 rapidly changes, and passes away. This same teakettle 
 served my parents, and was a witness of our evening 
 
 70
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 71 
 
 family assemblages ; this copper fire-screen still guards 
 me from the fire which these stout old tongs still help 
 me to mend ; and so it is with all througliout. I had 
 it in my })ower to bestow my care and industry on 
 many other things, as 1 did not occupy myself with 
 changing these external necessaries, a task which con- 
 sumes so many people's time and resources. An affec- 
 tionate attention to what we possess makes us rich, for 
 thereby we accumulate a treasure of remembrances 
 connected with iudiiierent things. I knew a young 
 man who got a common pin from his love while taking 
 leave of her, daily fastened his breast-frill with it, and 
 brought back this guarded and not unemployed treas- 
 ure from a long journeying of several years. In us 
 little men, such little things are to be reckoned virtue." 
 
 " Many a one, too," answered Wilhelm, " brings 
 back, from such long and far travellings, a sharp 
 pricker in his heart, which he would fain be quit of." 
 
 The old man seemed to know nothing of Lenardo's 
 situation, though in the meanwhile he had opened the 
 letter and read it ; for he returned to his former topics. 
 
 "Tenacity of our possessions," continued he, "in 
 many cases, gives us the greatest energy. To this 
 obstinacy in myself I owe the saving of my house. 
 When the town w\as on fire, some people wished to 
 begin snatching and saving here too. I forbade this, 
 bolted my doors and windows, and turned out, with 
 several neighbours, to oppose the flames. Our efforts 
 succeeded in preserving this summit of the town. Next 
 morning all was standing here as you now see it, and 
 as it has stood for almost a hundred years." 
 
 " Yet you will confess," said Wilhelm, " that no man 
 withstands the change which time produces." 
 
 " That in truth ! " said the other ; " but he who holds 
 out longest has still done something. 
 
 " Yes : even beyond the Hmits of our being, we are 
 able to maintain and secure ; we transmit discoveries.
 
 72 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 we hand down sentiments as well as property ; and, as 
 the latter was my chief province, I have for a long 
 time exercised the strictest foresight, invented the 
 most peculiar precautions ; yet not till lately have I 
 succeeded in seeing my wish fulfilled. 
 
 " Commonly the son disperses what the father has 
 collected, collects something different, or in a different 
 way. Yet if we can wait for the grandson, for the new 
 generation, we find the same tendencies, the same tastes, 
 again making their appearance. And so at last, by the 
 care of our pedagogic friends, I have found an active 
 youth, who, if possible, pays more regard to old pos- 
 session than even I, and has, withal, a vehement 
 attachment to every sort of curiosities. My decided 
 confidence he gained by the violent exertions with 
 which he struggled to keep off the fire from our dwell- 
 ing. Doubly and trebly has he merited the treasure 
 which I mean to leave him, — nay, it is already given 
 into his hands ; and ever since that time our store is 
 increasing in a wonderful way. 
 
 " Not all, however, that you see here is ours. On 
 the contrary, as in the hands of pawnbrokers you 
 find many a foreign jewel, so with us, I can show 
 you precious articles, which people, under the most 
 various circumstances, have deposited with us for the 
 sake of better keeping." 
 
 Wilhelm recollected the beautiful box, which, at any 
 rate, he did not like to carry with him in his wander- 
 ings, and showed it to his landlord. The old man 
 viewed it with attention, gave the date when it was 
 probably made, and showed some similar things. Wil- 
 helm asked him if he thought it should be opened. 
 The old man thought not. " I believe, indeed," said 
 he, " it could be done without special harm to the 
 casket ; but, as you found it in so singular a way, you 
 must try your luck on it. For if you are born lucky, 
 and this little box is of any consequence, the key will
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 73 
 
 doubtless by and by be found, and in the very place 
 where you are least expecting it." 
 
 " There have been such occurrences," said Wilhelm. 
 
 " I have myself experienced such," replied the old 
 man ; " and here you behold the strangest of them. Of 
 this ivory crucifix I have had, for thirty years, the body 
 with the head and feet in one place. For its own 
 nature, as well as for the glorious art displayed in it, I 
 kept the figure laid up in my most private drawer: 
 nearly ten years ago I got the cross belonging to it, 
 with the inscription, and was then induced to have the 
 arms suppUed by the best carver of our day. Far, 
 indeed, was this expert artist from equalling his pred- 
 ecessor; yet I let his work pass, more for devout 
 purposes than for any admii-ation of its excellence. 
 
 " Now, conceive my delight ! A little while ago the 
 original, genuine arms were sent me, as you see them 
 here united in the loveliest harmony ; and I, charmed 
 at so happy a coincidence, cannot help recognising in 
 this crucifix the fortunes of the Christian religion, 
 which, often enough dismembered and scattered abroad, 
 will ever in the end again gather itself together at the 
 foot of the cross." 
 
 Wilhelm admired the figure and its strange combina- 
 tion. " I will follow your counsel," added he : " let the 
 casket continue locked till the key of it be found, 
 though it should lie till the end of my life." 
 
 " One who lives long," said the old man, " sees much 
 collected and much cast asunder." 
 
 The young partner in the house now chanced to 
 enter, and Wilhelm signified his purpose of entrusting 
 the box to their keeping. A large book was thereupon 
 produced, the deposit inscribed in it, with many cere- 
 monies and stipulations ; a receipt granted, which 
 applied in words to any bearer, but was only to be 
 honoured on the giving of a certain token agreed upon 
 with the owner.
 
 74 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 So passed their hours iu instructive and entertaining 
 conversation, till at last Felix, mounted on a gay pony, 
 arrived in safety. A groom had accompanied him, and 
 was now, for some time, to attend and serve Wilhelm. 
 A letter from Lenardo, delivered at the same time, 
 complained that he could find no vestige of the nut- 
 hrown maid ; and Wilhelm was anew conjured to do 
 his utmost in searching her out. Wilhelm imparted 
 the matter to his landlord. The latter smiled, and 
 said, " We must certainly make every exertion for our 
 friend's sake : perhaps I may succeed in learning some- 
 thing of her. As I keep these old, primitive household 
 goods; so, likewise, have I kept some old, primitive 
 friends. You tell me that this maiden's father was 
 distinguished by his piety. The pious have a more 
 intimate connection with each other than the wicked, 
 though externally it may not always prosper so well. 
 By this means I hope to obtain some traces of what 
 you are sent to seek. But, as a preparative, do you 
 now pursue the resolution of placing your Felix among 
 his equals, and turning him to some fixed department 
 of activity. Hasten with him to the great Institution. 
 I will point out the way you must follow, in order to 
 find the chief, who resides now in one, now in another, 
 division of his province. You shall have a letter, with 
 my best advice and du-ection."
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The pilgrims, pursuing the way pointed out to them, 
 had, without diiliculty, reached the limits of the prov- 
 ince, where they were to see so many singularities. At 
 the very entrance they found themselves in a district 
 of extreme fertility, — in its soft knolls, favouraljle to 
 crops ; in its higher hills, to sheep-husbandry ; in its 
 wide bottoms, to gi-azing. Harvest was near at hand, 
 and all was in the richest luxuriance ; yet what most 
 surprised our travellers was, that they observed neither 
 men nor women, but, in all quarters, boys and youths 
 engaged in preparing for a happy harvest, — nay, al- 
 ready making arrangements for a merry harvest-home. 
 Our travellers saluted several of them, and inquired for 
 the chief, of whose abode, however, they could gain no 
 intelligence. The address of their letter was, " To the 
 Chief, or the Three." Of this, also, the boys could 
 make nothing : however, they referred the strangers to 
 an overseer, who was just about mounting his horse 
 to ride off. Our friends disclosed their object to this 
 man: the frank liveliness of Felix seemed to please 
 him, and so they all rode along together. 
 
 Wilhelm had already noticed, that, in the cut and 
 colour of the young people's clothes, a variety pre- 
 vailed, which gave the whole tiny population a peculiar 
 aspect : he was just about to question his attendant on 
 this point, when a still stranger observation forced 
 itself upon him ; all the children, how employed so- 
 ever, laid down their work, and turned, with singular, 
 yet diverse, gestures, toward the party riding past them, 
 or rather, as it was easy to infer, toward the overseer, 
 
 75
 
 76 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 who was iu it. Tlie youngest laid their arms cross- 
 wise over their breast, and looked cheerfully up 
 to the sky ; those of middle size held their hands on 
 their backs, and looked smiHng on the ground ; the 
 eldest stood with a frank and spirited air ; their arms 
 stretched down, they turned their heads to the right, 
 and formed themselves into a line ; whereas the others 
 kept separate, each where he chanced to be. 
 
 The riders having stopped and dismounted here, as 
 several children, in their various modes, were standing 
 forth to be inspected by the overseer, Wilhelm asked 
 the meaning of these gestures ; but Felix struck in, 
 and cried, gaily, " What posture am I to take, then ? " 
 
 " Without doubt," said the overseer, " the first pos- 
 ture, — the arms over the breast, the face earnest and 
 cheerful toward the sky." 
 
 Felix obeyed, but soon cried, " This is not much to 
 my taste ; I see nothing up there : does it last long ? 
 But yes ! " exclaimed he joyfully : " yonder are a pair 
 of falcons flying from the west to the east ; that is a 
 good sign too." 
 
 " As thou takest it, as thou behavest," said the other, 
 " now mingle among them as they mingle." He gave 
 a signal ; and the children left their postures, and again 
 betook them to work or sport as before. 
 
 " Are you at liberty," said Wilhelm then, " to explain 
 this sight, which surprises me ? I easily perceive that 
 these positions, these gestures, are salutations directed 
 to you." 
 
 " Just so," replied the overseer : " salutations which, 
 at once, indicate in what degi'ee of culture each of 
 these boys is standing." 
 
 " But can you explain to me the meaning of this 
 gradation ? " inquired Wilhelm ; " for that there is one 
 is clear enough." 
 
 " This belongs to a higher quarter," said the other : 
 " so much, however, I may tell you, that these cere-
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 77 
 
 monies are not mere giimaces ; that, on the contrary, 
 the import of them, not the lii^i^^iest, but still a direct- 
 ing, intelligible import, is communicated to the chil- 
 dren ; while, at the same time, each is enjoined to 
 retain and consider for himself whatever explanation 
 it has been thought meet to give him : they are not 
 allowed to talk of these things, either to strangers or 
 among themselves ; and thus their instruction is modi- 
 fied in many ways. Besides, secrecy itself has many 
 advantages ; for when you tell a man at once, and 
 straightforward, the purpose of any object, he fancies 
 there is nothing in it. Certain secrets, even if known 
 to every one, men find that they must still reverence 
 by concealment and silence ; for this works on modesty 
 and good morals." 
 
 " I understand you," answered Wilhelm : " why 
 should not the principle which is so necessary in 
 material things be applied to spiritual also ? But per- 
 haps in another point you can satisfy my curiosity. 
 The great variety of shape and colour in these chil- 
 dren's clothes attracts my notice ; and yet I do not 
 see all sorts of colours, but a few in all their shades, 
 from the lightest to the deepest. At the same time I 
 observe that by this no designation of degrees in age or 
 merit can be intended ; for the oldest and the youngest 
 boys may be alike, both in cut and colour, while those 
 of similar gestures are not similar in dress." 
 
 " On this matter, also," said the other, " silence is 
 prescribed to me ; but I am much mistaken, or you 
 will not leave us without receiving all the information 
 you desire." 
 
 Our party continued following the trace of the chief, 
 which they believed themselves to be upon. But now 
 the strangers could not fail *^.o notice, with new sur- 
 prise, that, the farther they aavanced into the district, 
 a vocal melody more and more frequently sounded 
 toward them from the fields. Whatever the boys
 
 78 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 might be engaged with, whatever labour they were 
 carrying on, they accompanied it with singing ; and it 
 seemed as if the songs were specially adapted to their 
 various sorts of occupation, and in similar cases every- 
 where the same. If there chanced to be several chil- 
 dren in company, they sang together in alternating 
 parts. Toward evening appeared dancers likewise, 
 whose steps were enlivened and directed by choruses. 
 Felix struck in with them, not altogether unsuccess- 
 fully, from horseback, as he passed ; and Wilhelm felt 
 gratified in this amusement, which gave new life to 
 the scene. 
 
 " Apparently," he said to his companion, " you de- 
 vote considerable care to this branch of instruction : 
 the accomplishment, otherwise, could not be so widely 
 diffused and so completely practised." 
 
 " We do," rephed the other : " on our plan, song is 
 the first step in education ; all the rest are connected 
 with it, and attained by means of it. The simplest 
 enjoyment, as well as the simplest instruction, we en- 
 liven and impress by song; nay, even what religious 
 and moral principles we lay before our children are 
 communicated in the way of song. Other advantages 
 for the excitement of activity spontaneously arise from 
 this practice : for, in accustoming the children to write 
 the tones they are to utter in musical characters, and, 
 as occasion serves, again to seek these characters in 
 the utterance of their own voice ; and, besides this, to 
 subjoin the text below the notes, — they are forced 
 to practise hand, ear, and eye at once, whereby they 
 acquire the art of penmanship sooner than you would 
 expect; and as all this, in the long run, is to be 
 effected by copying precise measurements and accu- 
 rately settled numbers, they come to conceive the 
 high value of mensuration and arithmetic much sooner 
 than in any other way. Among all imaginable things, 
 accordingly, we have selected music as the element of
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 79 
 
 our teaching ; for level roads run out from music 
 toward every side." 
 
 Wilhelni endeavoured to obtain still further informa- 
 tion, and expressed his surprise at hearing no instru- 
 mental music. " This is, by no means, neglected 
 here," said the other, " but practised in a peculiar 
 district, one of tlie most pleasant valleys among the 
 mountains ; and there again we have arranged it so 
 that the different instruments shall be taught in 
 separate places. The discords of beginners, in particu- 
 lar, are banished into certain sohtudes, where they can 
 drive no one to despair ; for you will confess, that in 
 well-regulated civil society there is scarcely a more 
 melancholy suffering to be undergone than what is 
 forced on us by the neighbourhood of an incipient 
 player on the flute or violin. 
 
 " Our learners, out of a laudable desire to be trouble- 
 some to no one, go forth of their own accord, for a 
 longer or a shorter time, into the wastes, and strive in 
 their seclusion to attain the merit which shall again 
 admit them into the inhabited world. Each of them, 
 from time to time, is allowed to venture an attempt 
 for admission : and the trial seldom fails of success ; 
 for bashfulness and modesty in this, as in all other 
 parts of our system, we strongly endeavour to main- 
 tain and cherish. That your son has a good voice I 
 am glad to observe : all the rest is managed with so 
 much the greater ease." 
 
 They had now reached a place where Felix was to 
 stop and make trial of its arrangements, till a formal re- 
 ception should be granted him. From a distance they 
 had been saluted by a jocund sound of music : it was 
 a game in which the boys were, for the present, amus- 
 ing themselves in their hour of play. A general 
 chorus mounted up ; each individual of a wide circle 
 striking in at his time with a joyful, clear, firm tone, 
 as the sign was given him by the overseer. The latter
 
 8o MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 more than once took the singers by surprise, when, at 
 a signal, he suspended the choral song, and called on 
 any single boy, touching him with his rod, to catch by 
 himself the expiring tone, and adapt to it a suitable 
 song, fitted also to the spirit of what had preceded. 
 Most part showed great dexterity: a few who failed 
 in this feat willingly gave in their pledges without 
 altogether being laughed at for their ill success. 
 Felix was child enough to mix among them instantly, 
 and in his new task he acquitted himself tolerably 
 well. The first salutation was then enjoined on him : 
 he directly laid his hands on his breast, looked up- 
 wards, and truly with so roguish a countenance that 
 it was easy to observe no secret meaning had yet, in 
 his mind, attached itself to this posture. 
 
 The delightful spot, his kind reception, the merry 
 playmates, all pleased the boy so well that he felt no 
 very deep sorrow as his father moved away : the de- 
 parture of the pony was, perhaps, a heavier matter ; 
 but he yielded here also, on learning that in this 
 circle it could not possibly be kept : and the overseer 
 promised him, in compensation, that he should find 
 another horse as smart and well broken at a time when 
 he was not expecting it. 
 
 As the chief, it appeared, was not to be come at, the 
 overseer turned to Wilhelm, and said, " I must now 
 leave you, to pursue my occupations ; but first I will 
 bring you to the Three, who preside over our sacred 
 things. Your letter is addressed to them likewise, and 
 they together represent the chief." Wilhelm could 
 have wished to gain some previous knowledge of these 
 sacred things ; but his companion answered, " The 
 Three will, doubtless, in return for the confidence 
 you show in leaving us your son, disclose to you, in 
 their wisdom and fairness, what is most needful for 
 you to learn. The visible objects of reverence, which 
 I named sacred things, are collected in this separate
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 8l 
 
 circle ; are mixed with notliiiig, interfered with by 
 nothing; at certain seasons of the year only are our 
 pupils admitted here, to be taught in their various 
 degrees of culture by historical and sensible means ; 
 and in these short intervals they carry off a deep 
 enough impression to suffice them for a time, during 
 the performance of their other duties." 
 
 Wilhelm had now reached the gate of a wooded 
 vale, surrounded with high walls : on a certain sign 
 the little door opened, and a man of earnest and 
 imposing look received our traveller. The latter 
 found himself in a large, beautifully umbrageous 
 space, decked with the richest foliage, shaded with 
 trees and bushes of all sorts ; while stately walls and 
 magnificent buildings were discerned only in glimpses 
 through this thick, natural boscage. A friendly recep- 
 tion from the Three, who by and by appeared, at last 
 turned into a general conversation, the substance of 
 which we now present in an abbreviated shape. 
 
 " Since you entrust your son to us," said they, " it is 
 fair that we admit you to a closer view of our pro- 
 cedure. Of what is external you have seen much that 
 does not bear its meaning on its front. What part of 
 this do you chiefly wish to have explained ? " 
 
 " Dignified yet singular gestures of salutation I have 
 noticed, tlie import of which I would gladly learn : 
 with you, doubtless, the exterior has a reference to 
 the interior, and inversely ; let me know what this 
 reference is." 
 
 "Well-formed, healthy children," repUed the Three, 
 " bring much into the world along with them : Nature 
 has given to each whatever he requires for time and 
 duration ; to unfold this is our duty ; often it unfolds 
 itself better of its own accord. One thing there is, 
 however, which no cliild brings into the world with 
 him ; and yet it is on this one thing that all depends 
 for making man in every point a man. If you can
 
 82 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 discover it yourself, speak it out." Wilhelm thought 
 a little while, then shook his head. 
 
 The Three, after a suitable pause, exclaimed, " Rever- 
 ence ! " Wilhelm seemed to hesitate. " Reverence ! " 
 cried they a second time. " All want it, perhaps you 
 yourself. 
 
 " Three kinds of gestures you have seen : and we 
 inculcate a threefold reverence, which, when com- 
 mingled and formed into one whole, attains its highest 
 force and effect. The first is, reverence for what is 
 above us. That posture, the arms crossed over the 
 breast, the look turned joyfully toward heaven, that 
 is what we have enjoined on young children ; requu- 
 ing from them thereby a testimony that there is a God 
 above, who images and reveals himself in parents, 
 teachers, superiors. Then comes the second, reverence 
 for what is under us. Those hands folded over the 
 back, and, as it were, tied together ; that down-turned, 
 smihng look, — announce that we are to regard the 
 earth with attention and cheerfulness : from the 
 bounty of the earth we are nourished ; the earth 
 affords unutterable joys, but disproportionate sorrows 
 she also brings us. Should one of our children do 
 himself external hurt, blamably or blamelessly ; should 
 others hurt him accidentally or purposely ; should 
 dead, involuntary matter do him hurt, — then let him 
 well consider it ; for such dangers will attend him all 
 his days. But from this posture we delay not to free 
 our pupil the instant we become convinced that the 
 instruction connected with it has produced sufficient 
 influence on him. Then, on the contrary, we bid him 
 gather courage, and, turning to his comrades, range 
 himself along with them. Now, at last, he stands 
 forth, frank and bold, not selfishly isolated : only in 
 combination with his equals does he front the world. 
 Further we have nothing to add." 
 
 " I quite understand it," said Wilhelm. " Are not
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 83 
 
 the mass of men so nmned and stinted because they 
 take pleasure only iu tlie element of evil-wishing and 
 evil-speaking ? Whoever gives himself to this, soon 
 comes to be iudill'erent tovv'ard God, contemptuous 
 toward the world, spiteful toward his equals ; and the 
 true, genuine, indispensable sentiment of self-estima- 
 tion corrupts into self-conceit and presumption. Allow 
 me, however," continued he, "to state one difficulty. 
 You say that reverence is not natural to man : now, 
 has not the reverence or fear of barbarous nations for 
 violent convulsions of Nature, or other inexplicable, 
 mysteriously foreboding occurrences, been heretofore 
 regarded as the germ out of which a higher feeling, 
 a purer sentiment, was by degrees to be developed ? " 
 
 " Fear does accord with Nature," replied they, " but 
 reverence does not. Men fear a known or unknown 
 powerful being : the strong seeks to conquer it, the 
 weak to avoid it ; both endeavour to get quit of it, and 
 feel happy when, for a short season, they have put it 
 aside, and their nature has, in some degree, regained 
 freedom and independence. The natural man repeats 
 this operation millions of times in the course of his 
 life ; from fear he struggles to freedom ; from freedom 
 he is driven back to fear, and so makes no advance- 
 ment. To fear is easy, but grievous ; to reverence is 
 difficult, but satisfactory. Man does not willingly 
 submit himself to reverence ; or, rather, he never so 
 submits himself : it is a higher sense, which must be 
 communicated to his nature ; w'hich only, iu some 
 peculiarly favoured individuals, unfolds itself spon- 
 taneously, who on this account, too, have of old been 
 looked upon as saints and gods. Here lies the worth, 
 here lies the business, of all true religions ; whereof 
 there are, likewise, only three, according to the objects 
 toward which they direct our devotion." 
 
 The men paused ; Wilhelm reflected for a time 
 in silence ; but, feeling in himself no pretension to
 
 84 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 unfold the meaning of these strange words, he re- 
 quested the sages to proceed with then- exposition. 
 They immediately complied. " No religion that grounds 
 itself on fear," s*id they, " is regarded among us. 
 With the reverence to which a man should give do- 
 minion in his mind, he can, in paying honour, keep 
 his own honour : he is not disunited with himself, as 
 in the former case. The religion which depends on 
 reverence for what is above us we denominate the 
 ethnic ; it is the religion of the nations, and the first 
 happy deliverance from a degi-ading fear : all heathen 
 religions, as we call them, are of this sort, whatsoever 
 names they may bear. The second religion, which 
 founds itself on reverence for what is around us, we 
 denominate the philosophical ; for the philosopher 
 stations himself in the middle, and must draw down 
 to him all that is higher, and up to him all that is 
 lower : and only in this medium condition does he 
 merit the title of Wise. Here, as he surveys with 
 clear sight his relation to his equals, and therefore to 
 the whole human race, his relations likewise to all 
 other earthly circumstances and arrangements, neces- 
 sary or accidental, he alone, in a cosmic sense, hves 
 in truth. But now we have to speak of the third 
 religion, grounded on reverence for wliat is beneath 
 us ; this we name the Christian, as in the Christian 
 rehgion such a temper is with most distinctness mani- 
 fested : it is a last step to which mankind were fitted 
 and destined to attain. But what a task was it, not 
 only to be patient with the earth, and let it lie beneath 
 us, we appealing to a higher birthplace, but also to 
 recognise humihty and poverty, mockery and despite, 
 disgrace and wretchedness, suffering and death, — to 
 recognise these things as divine, — nay, even on sin 
 and crime to look, not as hinderances, but to honour 
 and love them as furtherances of what is holy. Of 
 this, indeed, we find some traces in all ages : but the
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 85 
 
 trace is not the goal; aud, tliis being now attained, 
 the human species cannot retrograde: and we may- 
 say, that the Christian religion, having once apjjeared, 
 cannot again vanish ; having once assumed its divine 
 shape, can be subject to no dissolution." 
 
 "To which of these religions do you specially 
 adhere?" inquired Wilhelm. 
 
 " To all the three," replied they ; " for in their union 
 they produce wliat may properly be called the true 
 religion. Out of those three reverences springs the 
 higiiest reverence, — reverence for one's self ; and 
 those again unfold themselves from this: so that 
 man attains the highest elevation of which he is 
 capable, that of being justified in reckoning himself 
 the best that God and Nature have produced, — nay, 
 of being able to continue on this lofty eminence, with- 
 out being again, by self-conceit and presumption, 
 drawn down fi'om it into the vulgar level." 
 
 " Such a confession of faith, developed in this 
 manner, does not repulse me," answered Wilhelm : 
 " it agi-ees with much that one hears now and then 
 in the course of life; only you unite what others 
 separate." 
 
 To this they replied, " Our confession has already 
 been adopted, though unconsciously, by a great part 
 of the world." 
 
 " How, then, and where ? " said Wilhelm. 
 
 " In the creed ! " exclaimed they ; " for the first 
 article is ethnic, and belongs to all nations; the 
 second. Christian, for those struggling with aftiiction 
 and glorified in affliction ; the third, in fine, teaches 
 an inspired communion of saints, that is, of men in 
 the highest degree good and wise. And should not, 
 therefore, the Three Divine Persons, under the simili- 
 tudes and names of which these threefold doctrines and 
 commands are promulgated, justly be considered as in 
 the highest sense One ? "
 
 86 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 " I thank you," said Wilhelm, " for ha\dng pleased to 
 lay all this before me in such clearness and combina- 
 tion, as before a grown-up person, to whom your three 
 modes of feeling are not altogether foreign. And now, 
 when I reflect that you communicate this high doc- 
 trine to your children, in the first place as a sensible 
 sign, then with some symbolical accompaniment at- 
 tached to it, and at last unfold to them its deepest 
 meaning, I cannot but warmly approve of your method." 
 
 " Eight," answered they ; " but now we must show 
 you more, and so convince you the better that your 
 son is in no bad hands. This, however, may remain 
 for the morrow : rest and refresh yourself, that you 
 may attend us in the morning, as a man satisfied and 
 unimpeded, into the interior of our sanctuary."
 
 CHAPTEE XL 
 
 At the hand of the eldest, our friend now pro- 
 ceeded through a stately portal into a round, or rather 
 octagonal, hall, so richly decked with pictures, that 
 it struck him with astonishment as he entered. All 
 this, he easily conceived, must have a significant im- 
 port; though at the moment he saw not so clearly 
 what it was. While about to question his guide on 
 this subject, the latter invited him to step forward 
 into a gallery, open on the one side, and stretching 
 round a spacious, gay, flowery garden. The wall, how- 
 ever, not the flowers, attracted the eyes of the stranger : 
 it was covered with paintings, and Wilhelm could not 
 walk far without observing that the Sacred Books of the 
 Israelites had furnished the materials for these figures. 
 
 "It is here," said the eldest, "that we teach our 
 first religion, — the religion which, for the sake of 
 brevity, I named the ethnic. The spirit of it is to be 
 sought for in the history of the world; its outward 
 form, in the events of that history. Only in the re- 
 turn of similar destinies on whole nations can it 
 properly be apprehended." 
 
 "I observe," said Wilhelm, "you have done the 
 Israelites the honour to select their history as the 
 groundwork of this delineation; or, rather, you have 
 made it the leading object there." 
 
 " As you see," replied the eldest : " for you will re- 
 mark, that on the socles and friezes we have intro- 
 duced another series of transactions and occurrences, 
 not so much of a synchronistic as of a symphronistic 
 kind; since, among all nations, we discover records 
 
 87
 
 8S MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 of a similar import, and grounded on the same facts. 
 Thus you perceive here, while in the main field of 
 the picture, Abraham receives a visit from his gods 
 in the form of fair youths, Apollo, among the herds- 
 men of Admetus, is painted above on the frieze. From 
 which we may learn, that the gods, when they appear 
 to men, are commonly unrecognised of them." 
 
 The friends walked on. Wilhelm, for the most 
 part, met with well-known objects ; but they were 
 here exhibited in a hvelier and more expressive man- 
 ner than he had been used to see them. On some 
 few matters he requested explanation, and at last 
 could not help returning to his former question. Why 
 the Israelitish history had been chosen in preference 
 to all others ? 
 
 The eldest answered, " Among all heathen religions, 
 — for such also is the Israelitish, — this has the most 
 distinguished advantages, of which I shall mention 
 only a few. At the ethnic judgment-seat, at the 
 judgment-seat of the God of nations, it is not asked, 
 Whether this is the best, the most excellent nation, 
 but whether it lasts, whether it has continued. The 
 Israelitish people never was good for much, as its 
 own leaders, judges, rulers, prophets have a thousand 
 times reproachfully declared : it possesses few vktues, 
 and most of the faults of other nations ; but in co- 
 hesion, steadfastness, valour, and, when all this would 
 not serve, in obstinate toughness, it has no match. It 
 is the most perseverant nation in the world: it is, it^ 
 was, and will be, to glorify the name of Jehovah 
 through all ages. We have set it up, therefore, as 
 the pattern-figure, — as the main figure, to which the 
 others only serve as a frame." 
 
 " It becomes not me to dispute with you," said Wil- 
 helm, " since you have instruction to impart. Open 
 to me, therefore, the other advantages of this people, 
 or, rather, of its history, of its religion."
 
 meister's travels 89 
 
 " One chief advantage," said Llie other, " is its ex- 
 cellent collection of Sacred Books. These stand so 
 happily combined together, that, even out of the most 
 diverse elements, the feeling of a whole still rises 
 before us. They are complete enough to satisfy, frag- 
 mentary enough to excite, barbarous enough to rouse, 
 tender enough to appease ; and for how many other 
 contradicting merits might not these books, might not 
 this one book, be praised ! " 
 
 The series of main figures, as well as their relations 
 to the smaller which above and below accompanied 
 them, gave the guest so much to think of, that he 
 scarcely heard the pertinent remarks of his guide, who, 
 by what he said, seemed desirous rather to divert our 
 friend's attention than to fix it on the paintings. Once, 
 however, the old man said, on some occasion, " Another 
 advantage of the Israelitish religion I must here men- 
 tion : it has not embodied its God in any form, and so 
 has left us at liberty to represent him in a worthy 
 human shape, and likewise, by way of contrast, to 
 designate idolatry by forms of beasts and monsters." 
 
 Our friend had now, in his short wandering through 
 this hall, again brought the spii'it of universal history 
 before his mind : in regard to the events, he had not 
 failed to meet with something new. So likewise, by 
 the simultaneous presentment of the pictures, by the 
 reflections of his guide, many new views had risen on 
 him ; and he could not but rejoice in thinking that his 
 Felix was, by so dignified a visible representation, to 
 seize and appropriate for his whole life those great, 
 significant, and exemplary events, as if they had actually 
 been present, and transacted beside him. He came 
 at length to regard the exhil)ition altogether with the 
 eyes of the child, and in this point of view it perfectly 
 contented him. Thus wandering on, they had now 
 reached the gloomy and perplexed periods of the 
 history, the destruction of the city and the temple,
 
 go MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 the murder, exile, slavery of whole masses of this stiff- 
 necked people. Its subsequent fortunes were delineated 
 in a cunning allegorical way : a real historical delinea- 
 tion of them would have lain without the limits of 
 true art. 
 
 At this point the gallery abruptly terminated in a 
 closed door, and Wilhelm was surprised to see himself 
 already at the end. " In your historical series," said 
 he, " I find a chasm. You have destroyed the Temple 
 of Jerusalem, and dispersed the people ; yet you have 
 not introduced the divine Man who taught there shortly 
 before, to whom, shortly before, they would give no 
 ear." 
 
 " To have done this, as you require it, would have 
 been an error. The life of that divine Man, whom 
 you allude to, stands in no connection with the general 
 history of the world in his time. It was a private 
 life, his teaching was a teaching for individuals. What 
 has publicly befallen vast masses of people, and the 
 minor parts which compose them, belongs to the 
 general history of the world, to the general religion 
 of the world, — the religion we have named the first. 
 What inwardly befalls individuals belongs to the 
 second religion, the philosophical : such a religion was 
 it that Christ taught and practised, so long as he went 
 about on earth. For this reason the external here 
 closes, and I now open to you the internal." 
 
 A door went back ; and they entered a similar 
 gallery, where Wilhelm soon recognised a correspond- 
 ing series of pictures from the New Testament. They 
 seemed as if by another hand than the first : all was 
 softer, — forms, movements, accompaniments, light, and 
 colouring. 
 
 " Here," said the guide, after they had looked over a 
 few pictures, " you behold neither actions nor events, 
 but miracles and similitudes. There is here a new 
 world, a new exterior, different from the former ; and
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 91 
 
 au interior, which was altogether wanting there. By 
 miracles and similitudes, a new world is opened up. 
 Those make the common extraordinary, these the 
 extraordinary common." 
 
 " You will have the goodness," said Wilhelm, " to 
 explain these few words more minutely ; for, by my 
 own light, I cannot." 
 
 "They have a natural meaning," said the other, 
 " thougli a deep one. Examples will bring it out most 
 easily and soonest. There is nothing more common 
 and customary than eating and drinking; but it is 
 extraordinary to transform a drink into another of 
 more noble sort, to multiply a portion of food that it 
 suffice a multitude. Nothing is more common than 
 sickness and corporeal diseases ; but to remove, to 
 mitigate these by spiritual or spiritual-like means, is 
 extraordinary ; and even in this lies the wonder of 
 the miracle, that the common and the extraordinary, 
 the possible and the impossible, become one. With the 
 similitude again, with the parable, the converse is the 
 case ; here it is the sense, the view, the idea, that forms 
 the high, the unattainable, the extraordinary. When 
 this embodies itself into common, customary, compre- 
 hensible figure, so that it meets us as if alive, present, 
 actual, so that we can seize it, appropriate, retain it, 
 live with it as with our equal, this is a second sort of 
 miracle, and is justly placed beside the first sort, — 
 nay, perhaps preferred to it. Here a living doctrine is 
 pronounced, a doctrine which can cause no argument : 
 it is not an opinion about what is right and wrong ; it 
 is right and wTong themselves, and indisputably." 
 
 This part of the gallery was shorter ; indeed, it 
 formed but the fourth part of the circuit enclosing the 
 interior court. Yet, if in the former part you merely 
 walked along, you here liked to linger, you here w^alked 
 to and fi-o. The objects were not so striking, not so 
 varied ; yet they invited you the more to penetrate
 
 92 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 their deep still meaning. Our two friends, accordingly, 
 turned round at the end of the space; Wilhelm at the 
 same time expressing some surprise that these delinea^ 
 tions went no farther than the Supper, than the scene 
 where the Master and his disciples part. He inquired 
 for the remaining portion of the history. 
 
 " In all sorts of instruction," said the eldest, " in all 
 sorts of communication, we are fond of separating wiiat- 
 ever it is possible to separate ; for by this means alone 
 can the notion of importance and peculiar significance 
 arise in the young mind. Actual experience of itself 
 mingles and mixes all things together : here, accord- 
 ingly, we have entirely disjoined that sublime Man's 
 life from its termination. In life, he appears as a true 
 philosopher, — let not the expression stagger you, — 
 as a wise man in the highest sense. He stands firm 
 to his point ; he goes on his way inflexibly ; and while 
 he exalts the lower to himself, while he makes the 
 ignorant, the poor, the sick, partakers of his wisdom, 
 of his riches, of his strength, he, on the other hand, in 
 no wise conceals his divine origin ; he dares to equal 
 himself with God, — nay, to declare that he himself is 
 God. In this manner is he wont, from youth upwards, 
 to astound his familiar friends ; of these he gains a 
 part to his own cause, irritates the rest against him, 
 and shows to all men, who are aiming at a certain ele- 
 vation in doctrine and life, what they have to look for 
 from the world. And thus, for the noble portion of 
 mankind, his walk and conversation are even more 
 instructive and profitable than his death ; for to those 
 trials every one is called, to this trial but a few. Now, 
 omitting all that results from this consideration, do but 
 look at the touching scene of the Last Supper. Here 
 the wise Man, as it ever is, leaves those that are his 
 own utterly orphaned behind him ; and, while he is 
 careful for the good, he feeds along with them a traitor 
 by whom he and the better are to be destroyed."
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 93 
 
 Witli these words the eldest opened a door, and Wil- 
 hehn faltered in surprise as he found himself again in 
 the first hall at the entrance. They had in the mean- 
 while, as he now saw, passed round the wliole circuit 
 of the court. " I hoped," said Wilhelni, " you were 
 leading me to the conclusion ; and you take me back 
 to the beginning." 
 
 " For the present," said the eldest, " I can show you 
 notliing further : more we do not lay before our pupils, 
 more we do not explain to them, than what you have 
 now gone through. All that is external, worldly, uid- 
 versal, we communicate to each from youth upwards ; 
 what is more particularly spiritual, and conversant with 
 the heart, to those only who grow up with some 
 thouglitfulness of temper ; and the rest, which is 
 opened only once a year, cannot be imparted save to 
 those whom we are sending forth as finished. That 
 last rehgion which arises from the reverence of what 
 is beneath us; that veneration of the contradictory, 
 the hated, the avoided, — we give each of our pupils in 
 small portions, by way of outfit, along with him into 
 the world, merely that he may know where more is to 
 be had should such a want spring up within him. I 
 invite you to return hither at the end of a year, to 
 visit our general festival, and see how far your son is 
 advanced : then shall you be admitted into the sanc- 
 tuary of sorrow." 
 
 " Permit me one question," said Wilhelm : " as you 
 have set up the life of this divine Man for a pattern 
 and example, have you likewise selected his sufferings, 
 his death, as a model of exalted patience ? " 
 
 " Undoubtedly we have," replied the eldest. " Of 
 this we make no secret ; but we draw a veil over 
 those sufferings, even because we reverence them so 
 highly. We hold it a damnable audacity to bring 
 forth that torturing cross and the Holy One who 
 suffers on it, or to expose them to the light of the sun,
 
 94 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 which hid its face when a reckless world forced such a 
 sight on it, to take these mysterious secrets, in which 
 the divine depth of sorrow lies hid, and play with them, 
 fondle them, trick them out, and rest not till the most 
 reverend of all solemnities appears vulgar and paltry. 
 Let so much, for the present, suffice to put your mind 
 at peace respecting your son, and to convince you, that, 
 on meeting him again, you will find him trained, more 
 or less, in one department or another, but at least in a 
 proper way, and, at all events, not wavering, perplexed, 
 and unstable." 
 
 Willielm still lingered, looking at the pictures in 
 this entrance-hall, and wishing to get explanation of 
 their meaning. " This, too," said the eldest, " we must 
 still owe you for a twelvemonth. The instruction 
 which, in the interim, we give the children, no stranger 
 is allowed to witness : then, however, come to us ; and 
 you will hear what our best speakers think it service- 
 able to make public on these matters." 
 
 Shortly after this conversation a knocking was 
 heard at the little gate. The overseer of last night 
 announced himself; he had brought out Wilhelm's 
 horse : and so our friend took leave of the Three, who, 
 as he set out, consigned him to the overseer with these 
 words : " This man is now numbered among the trusted, 
 and thou understandest what thou hast to tell him in 
 answer to his questions ; for, doubtless, he still wishes 
 to be informed on much that he has seen and heard 
 while here : purpose and circumstance are known to 
 thee." 
 
 Wilhelm had, in fact, some more questions on his 
 mind ; and these he erelong put into words. As they 
 rode along they were saluted by the children as on the 
 preceding evening ; but to-day, though rarely, he now 
 and then observed a boy who did not pause in his 
 work to salute the overseer, but let him pass unheeded. 
 Wilhelm asked the cause of this, and what such an
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 95 
 
 exception meant. His companion answered, "It is 
 full of meaning, for it is the liighest punishment we 
 inflict on our pupils : tliey are declared unworthy to 
 show reverence, and obliged to exhibit themselves as 
 rude and uncultivated natures ; but they do their 
 utmost to get free of this situation, and in general 
 adapt themselves with great rapidity to any duty. 
 Should a young creature, on the other hand, obdurately 
 make no attempt at return and amendment, he is then 
 sent back to his parents with a brief but pointed state- 
 ment of his case. Whoever cannot suit himself to the 
 regulations must leave the district where they are in 
 force." 
 
 Another circumstance excited Wilhelm's curiosity 
 to-day as it had done yesterday, — the variety of 
 colour and shape apparent in the dress of the pupils. 
 Hereby no gradation could be indicated ; for children 
 who saluted differently were sometimes clothed alike, 
 and others agi-eeing in salutation differed in apparel. 
 Wilhelm inquired the reason of this seeming contra- 
 diction. " It will be explained," said the other, " when 
 I tell you, that, by this means, we endeavour to find 
 out the children's several characters. With all our 
 general strictness and regularity, we allow in this point 
 a certain latitude of choice. Within the limits of our 
 own stores of cloths and garnitures the pupils are 
 permitted to select what colour they please ; and so, 
 likewise, within moderate hmits, in regard to shape 
 and cut. Their procedure in these matters we accu- 
 rately note ; for, by the colour, we discover their turn of 
 thinking ; by the cut, their turn of acting. However, 
 a decisive judgment in this is rendered difficult by one 
 peculiar property of human nature, — by the tendency 
 to imitate, the inchnation to unite with something. It 
 is very seldom that a pupil fancies any dress that has 
 not been already there : for most part, they select 
 something known, something which they see before
 
 96 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 their eyes. Yet this also we find worth observing: 
 by such external circumstances they declare themselves 
 of one party or another ; they unite with this or that ; 
 and thus some general features of their characters are 
 indicated ; we perceive whither each tends, what ex- 
 ample he follows. 
 
 " We have had cases where the dispositions of our 
 children verged to generality, where one fashion threat- 
 ened to extend over all, and any deviation from it to 
 dwindle into the state of exception. Such a turn of 
 matters we endeavour softly to stop : we let our stores 
 run out ; this and that sort of stuff, this and that sort 
 of decoration, is no longer to be had : we introduce 
 something new and attractive ; by bright colours, and 
 short, smart shape, we allure the lively; by grave 
 shadings, by commodious, many-folded make, the 
 thoughtful, — and thus, by degrees, restore the equi- 
 librium. 
 
 " For to uniform we are altogether disinclined : it 
 conceals the character, and, more than any other species 
 of distortion, withdraws the pecuharities of children 
 from the eye of their superiors." 
 
 Amid this and other conversation, Wilhelm reached 
 the border of the province, and this at the point where, 
 by the direction of his antiquarian friend, he was to 
 leave it, to pursue his next special object. 
 
 At parting, it was now settled with the overseer, 
 that, after the space of a twelvemonth, Wilhelm should 
 return, when the grand triennial festival was to be 
 celebrated, on which occasion all the parents were 
 invited, and finished pupils were sent forth into the 
 tasks of chanceful life. Then, too, so he was informed, 
 he might visit at his pleasure all the other districts, 
 where, on pecuhar principles, each branch of education 
 was communicated, and reduced to practice, in complete 
 isolation and with every furtherance.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Hersilia to Wilhclm. 
 
 My valued, and, to speak it plainly, dear friend, you 
 are wrong, and yet, as acting on your own conviction, 
 not wrong either. So the nut-brown maid is found, 
 then, — found, seen, spoken to, known, and acknowl- 
 edged ! And you tell us further, that it is impossible 
 to wish this strange person, in her own way, any hap- 
 pier condition, or, in her present one, to be of any real 
 advantage to her. 
 
 And now you make it a point of conscience not to 
 tell us where that wondrous being lives. This you 
 may settle with your own conscience, but to us it is 
 unconscionable. You think to calm Lenardo by assur- 
 ing him that she is well. He had said, almost prom- 
 ised, that he would content himself with this; but 
 what will not the passionate promise for others and 
 themselves ! Know, then, that the matter is not in 
 the least concluded as it yet stands. She is happy, 
 you tell us, — happy by her own activity and merit : 
 but the youth would like to learn the How, the When, 
 and the Where ; and, what is worse than this, his 
 sisters, too, would like to learn. Half a year is gone 
 since your departure : till the end of another half-year 
 we cannot hope to see you. Could not you, like a 
 shrewd and knowing man, contrive to play your eter- 
 nal Rouge-et-Noir in our neighbourhood ? I have seen 
 people that could make the knight skip over all the 
 chess-board without ever lighting twice on one spot. 
 
 97
 
 98 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 You should learn this feat : your friends would not have 
 to want you so long. 
 
 But, to set my good will to you in the clearest hght, 
 I now tell you in confidence, that there are two most 
 enchanting creatures on the road : whence I say not, 
 nor whither ; described they cannot be, and no eulogy 
 will do them justice. A younger and an elder lady, 
 between whom it always grieves one to make choice, 
 — the former so lovely, that all must wish to be 
 loved by her ; the latter so attractive, that you must 
 wish to live beside her, though she did not love you. 
 I could like, with all my heart, to see you hemmed 
 in for three days between these two splendours : on the 
 morning of the fourth, your rigorous vow would stand 
 you in excellent stead. 
 
 By way of foretaste I send you a story, which, in 
 some degree, refers to them: what of it is true or 
 fictitious you can try to learn from themselves. 
 
 THE MAN OF FIFTY. 
 
 The major came riding into the court of the man- 
 sion ; and Hilaria, his niece, was already standing 
 without, to receive him at the bottom of the stairs 
 which led up to the apartments. Scarcely could he 
 recognise her ; for she had grown, both in stature and 
 beauty. She flew to meet him : he pressed her to his 
 breast with the feeling of a father. 
 
 To the baroness, his sister, he was likewise welcome ; 
 and, as Hilaria hastily retired to prepare breakfast, 
 the major said with a joyful air, " For this time I can 
 come to the point at once, and say that our business 
 is finished. Our brother, the chief marshal, has at last 
 convinced himself that he can neither manage farmers 
 nor stewards. In his lifetime he makes over the 
 estates to us and our children : the annuity he bargains 
 for is high, indeed, but we can still pay it ; we gain
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 99 
 
 something for the present, and for the future all. This 
 new arrangement is to be completed forthwith. And, 
 as T very soon expect my discharge, I can again look 
 forward to an active life, which may secure decided 
 advantages to us and ours. We shall calmly see our 
 children growing up beside us ; and it will depend on 
 us, on them, to hasten their union." 
 
 " All this were well," said the baroness, " had not I 
 a secret to inform thee of, which I myself discovered 
 first. Hilaria's heart is no longer free : on her side 
 thy son has little or nothing to hope for." 
 
 " What sayest thou ? " cried the major. " Is it possi- 
 ble ? While we have been taking all pains to settle 
 economical concerns, does inclination play us such 
 a trick ? Tell me, love, quick, tell me, who is it that 
 has fettered Hilaria's heart ? Or is it then, so bad as 
 this ? Is it not, perhaps, some transient impression we 
 may hope to efface again ? " 
 
 " Thou must think and guess a little first," replied 
 the baroness, and thereby heightened his impatience. 
 It had mounted to the utmost pitch, when the entrance 
 of Hilaria, with the servants bringing in breakfast, put 
 a negative on any quick solution of the riddle. 
 
 The major himself thought he saw the fair girl with 
 other eyes than a little while before. He almost felt 
 as if jealous of the happy man whose image had been 
 able to imprint itself on a soul so lovely. The break- 
 fast he could not relish ; and he noticed not that all 
 was ordered as he liked to have it, and as he had 
 used to wish and require it. 
 
 In this silence and stagnation Hilaria herself almost 
 lost her liveliness. The mother felt embarrassed and 
 led her daughter to the harpsichord ; but Hilaria's 
 sprightly and expressive playing scarcely extorted 
 any approbation from the major. He wished the 
 breakfast and the lovely gii-1 fairly out of the way; 
 and the baroness was at last obliged to resolve on
 
 lOO MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 breaking up, and proposed to her brother a walk in 
 the garden. 
 
 No sooner were they by themselves, than the major 
 pressingly repeated his question, to which, after a 
 pause, his sister answered, smihng, " If thou wouldst 
 find the happy man whom she loves, thou hast not far 
 to go : he is quite at hand ; she loves thee ! " 
 
 The major stopped in astonishment, then cried, " It 
 were a most unseasonable jest to trick me into such a 
 thought, which, if true, would make me so embarrassed 
 and unhappy. For, though I need time to recover 
 from my amazement, I see at one glance how grievously 
 our circumstances would be disturbed by so unlooked- 
 for an accident. The only thing that comforts me, is 
 my persuasion that attachments of this sort are appar- 
 ent merely, that a self-deception lurks behind them, 
 and that a good, true soul will undoubtedly return 
 from such mistakes, either by its own strength, or 
 at least by a little help from judicious friends." 
 
 " I am not of that opinion," said the baroness : " by 
 all the symptoms, Hilaria's present feeling is a very 
 serious one." 
 
 " A thing so unnatural I should not have expected 
 from so natural a character," rephed the major. 
 
 " So unnatural it is not, after all," said his sister. 
 " I myself recollect having, in my own youth, an 
 attachment to a man still older than thou. Thou art 
 fifty, — not so very gi-eat an age for a German, if, 
 perhaps, other livelier nations do fail sooner." 
 
 " But how dost thou support thy conjecture ? " said 
 the major. 
 
 " It is no conjecture, it is certainty. The details 
 thou shalt learn by and by." 
 
 Hilaria joined them ; and the major felt himself, 
 against his will, a second time altered. Her presence 
 seemed to him still dearer and more precious than be- 
 fore, her manner more affectionate and tender : already
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS loi 
 
 he began to put some faith in liis sister's statement. 
 The feeling was highly deliglitful, though he neither 
 would permit nor confess this to his mind. Hilaria 
 was, in truth, peculiarly interesting : her manner 
 blended in closest union a soft shyness as toward 
 a lover, and a trustful frankness as toward an uncle ; 
 for she really, and with her whole soul, loved him. 
 The garden lay in all the pomp of spring; and the 
 major, who saw so many old trees again putting on 
 their vesture, might also believe in the returning of his 
 own spring. And who would not have been tempted 
 to it at the side of this most lovely maiden ? 
 
 So passed the day with them ; the various household 
 epochs were gone through in high cheerfulness : in the 
 evening, after supper, Hilaria returned to her harp- 
 sichord ; the major listened with other ears than in the 
 morning: one melody winded into another, one song 
 produced a second; and scarcely could midnight sep- 
 arate the little party. 
 
 On retiring to his room, the major found everything 
 arranged to suit his old habitual conveniences : some 
 copper-plates, even, which he liked to look at, had been 
 shifted from other apartments ; and, his eyes being at 
 last opened, he saw himself attended to and flattered in 
 the most minute particulars. 
 
 A few hours' sleep sufficed on this occasion : his 
 buoyant spirits aroused him early. But now he soon 
 found occasion to observe that a new order of things 
 carries many inconveniences along with it. His old 
 groom, who also discharged the functions of lackey and 
 valet, he had not once reproved during many years, for 
 all went its usual course in the most rigid order ; the 
 horses were dressed and the clothes brushed at the 
 proper moment: but to-day the master had risen 
 earher, and nothing suited as it used to do. 
 
 Erelong a new circumstance combined with this to 
 ruffle him still further. At other times all had been
 
 I02 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 right, as his servant had prepared it for him : now, 
 however, on advancing to the glass, he found himself 
 not at all as he wished to be. Some gray hairs he 
 could not deny, and of wrinkles also there appears to 
 have been a trace or two. He wiped and powdered 
 more than usual, and was fain at last to let matters 
 stand as they could. Then it seemed there were still 
 creases in his coat, and still dust on his boots. The 
 old groom knew not what to make of this, and was 
 amazed to see so altered a master before him. 
 
 In spite of all these hinderances, the major got down 
 to the garden in good time. Hilaria, whom he hoped 
 to find there, he actually found. She brought him 
 a nosegay ; and he had not the heart to kiss her as 
 usual, and press her to his breast. He felt himself in 
 the most delightful embarrassment, and yielded to his 
 feelings without reflecting whither they might carry 
 him. 
 
 The baroness soon joined them, and, directing her 
 brother to a note which had just been brought her by 
 a special messenger, she cried, " Thou wilt not guess 
 whom this announces to us ! " 
 
 " Tell us at once, then," said the major ; and it now 
 appeared that an old theatrical friend was travelling 
 by a road not far off, and purposing to call for a 
 moment. " I am anxious to see him again," said the 
 major : " he is no chicken now, and I hear he still 
 plays young parts." 
 
 " He must be ten years older than thou," replied the 
 baroness. 
 
 " He must," said the major, " from all that I 
 remember." 
 
 They had not waited long, when a lively, handsome, 
 courteous man stepped forward to them. Yet the 
 friends soon recognised each other, and recollections of 
 all sorts enlivened the conversation. They proceeded 
 to questions, to answers, to narratives : they mutually
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 103 
 
 made known their present situations, and in a short 
 time felt as if tliey had never been separated. 
 
 Secret history informs us that this person liad, in 
 former days, being then a very elegant and graceful 
 youth, the good or bad fortune to attract the favour of 
 a lady of rank ; that, by this means, he had come into 
 perplexity and danger, out of which the major, at the 
 very moment wlien the saddest fate seemed impending, 
 had happily delivered iiim. From that hour he con- 
 tinued grateful to the brother as well as to the sister ; 
 for it was she that, by timeful warning, had originated 
 their precautions. 
 
 For awhile before dinner the men were left alone. 
 Not without surprise, nay, in some measure with 
 amazement, had the major viewed, as a whole and in 
 detail, the exterior condition of his old friend. He 
 seemed not in the smallest altered, and it was not to 
 be wondered at that he could still appear on the stage 
 as an actor of youthful parts. " Thou inspectest me 
 more strictly than is fair," said he at last to the major : 
 " I fear thou findest the difference between this and 
 bygone times but too great." 
 
 " Not at all," replied the major : " on the contrary, it 
 fills me with astonishment to find thy look fresher 
 and younger than mine ; though I know thou wert 
 a firm-set man at the time when I, mth the bold- 
 ness of a callow desperado, stood by thee in certain 
 straits." 
 
 " It is thy own fault," replied the other : " it is the 
 fault of all like thee ; and, though you are not to 
 be loudly censured for it, you are still to be blamed. 
 You think only of the needful : you wish to be, not to 
 seem. This is very well so long as one is anything. 
 But when, at last, being comes to recommend itself by 
 seeming, and this seeming is found to be even more 
 transient than the being, then every one of you dis- 
 covers that he should not have done amiss, if, in
 
 I04 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 his care for what was inward, he had not entirely 
 neglected what was outward." 
 
 " Thou art right," replied the major, and could 
 scarcely suppress a sigh. 
 
 " Perhaps not altogether right," said the aged youth ; 
 " for though in my trade it were unpardonable if one 
 did not try to parget up the outward man as long as 
 possible, you people need to think of other things, 
 which are more important and profitable." 
 
 " Yet there are occasions," said the major, " when a 
 man feels fresh internally, and could wish, with all his 
 heart, that he were fresh externally too." 
 
 As the stranger could not have the shghtest suspi- 
 cion of the major's real state of mind, he took these 
 words in a soldierly sense, and copiously explained 
 how much depended on externals in the art military, 
 and how the officer who had so much attention to 
 bestow on dress might apply a little also to skin and 
 hair. 
 
 " For example," continued he, " it is inexcusable that 
 your temples are already gi'ay, that wrinkles are here 
 and there gathering together, and that your crown 
 threatens to grow bald. Now look at me, old fellow 
 as I am ! See how I have held out ! And all this 
 without witchcraft, and with far less pains and care 
 than others take, day after day, in spoiHng, or at least 
 wearying, themselves." 
 
 The major found this accidental conversation too 
 precious an affair to think of ending it soon, but he 
 went to work softly and with precaution toward even 
 an old acquaintance. " This opportunity, alas ! I have 
 lost," cried he ; " and it is past recalling now : I must 
 even content myself as I am, and you will not think 
 worse of me on that account." 
 
 " Lost it is not," said the other, " were not you grave 
 gentlemen so stiff and stubborn, did you not directly 
 call one vain if he thinks about his person, and cast
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 105 
 
 away from you the happiness of being in pleasant 
 company, and pleasing there yourselves." 
 
 " If it is not magic," smiled the major, " that you peo- 
 ple use for keeping yourselves young, it is, at all events, 
 a secret: or at least, you have arcana, such as one 
 often sees bepraised in newspapers ; and from these 
 you pick out the best." 
 
 " Joke or earnest," said the other, " thou hast spoken 
 truth. Among the many things that have been tried 
 for giving some repair to the exterior, which often 
 fails far sooner than the interior, there are, in fact, cer- 
 tain invaluable recipes, simple as well as compound; 
 which, as imparted to me by brethren of the craft, 
 purchased for ready money, or hit upon by chance, I 
 have proved, and found effectual. By these I now hold 
 fast and persevere, yet without abandoning my further 
 researches. So much I may tell thee, and without 
 exaggeration: a dressing-box I carry with me beyond 
 all price ! A box whose influences I could like to try 
 on thee, if we chanced any time to be a fortnight 
 together." 
 
 The thought that such a tbing was possible, and 
 that this possibility was held out to him so acciden- 
 tally at the very moment of need, enlivened the spirit 
 of the major to such a degree that he actually appeared 
 much fresher and brisker already : at table, excited by 
 the liope of bringing head and face into harmony vidth 
 his heart, and by eagerness to get acquainted with the 
 methods of doing so, he was quite another man ; he 
 met Hilaria's graceful attentions with alacrity of soul, 
 and even looked at her with a certain confidence, which, 
 in the morning, he was far from feeling. 
 
 If the dramatic stranger had contrived, by many 
 recollections, stories, and happy hits, to keep up the 
 cheerful humour once excited, he so much the more 
 alarmed the major, on signifying, when the cloth was 
 removed, that he must now think of setting forth, and
 
 io6 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 continuing his journey. By every scheme in his power 
 the major strove to facilitate his friend's stay, at least 
 for the night ; he pressingly engaged to have horses 
 and relays in readiness next morning : in a word, the 
 healing toilet was absolutely not to get out of the 
 premises, till once he had obtained more light on its 
 contents and use. 
 
 The major saw very well that here no time must be 
 lost : he accordingly endeavoured, soon after dinner, to 
 take his old favourite aside and speak with him in 
 private. Not having the heart to proceed directly to 
 the point, he steered toward it from afar off, and, tak- 
 ing up the former conversation, signified that he, for 
 his part, would willingly bestow more care on his 
 exterior, were it not that people, the moment they 
 observed a man making such an attempt, marked him 
 down for vain, and so deducted from him, in regard to 
 moral esteem, what they felt obliged to yield him in 
 regard to sensible. 
 
 "Do not vex me with such phrases ! " said his friend : 
 "these are words to which society has got accustomed 
 without attaching any meaning to them, or, if we take 
 it up more strictly, by which it indicates its unfriendly 
 and spiteful nature. If thou consider it rightly, what, 
 after all, is this same vanity they make so much ado 
 about ? Every man should feel some pleasure in 
 himself, and happy he who feels it. But if he does 
 feel it, how can he help letting others notice it ? How 
 shall he hide, in the midst of life, that it gives him joy 
 to be alive ? If good society, and I mean this exclu- 
 sively here, only blamed such indications when they 
 became too violent ; when the joy of one man over his 
 existence hindered others to have joy and to show it 
 over theirs, — it were good and well ; and from this 
 excess the censure has, in fact, originally sprung. But 
 what are we to make of that strange, prim, abnegating 
 rigour against a thing which cannot be avoided ? Why
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 107 
 
 should not a display of feeling on the part of others be 
 considered innocent and tolerable, which, more or less, 
 we from time to time allow ourselves ? For it is the 
 pleasure one has in himself, the desire to communicate 
 this consciousness of his to others, that makes a man 
 agreeable, — the feehug of his own gi-ace that makes 
 him graceful. Would to Heaven all men were vain! 
 that is, were vain with clear perception, with modera- 
 tion, and in a proper sense: we should then, in the 
 cultivated world, have happy times of it. Women, it 
 is told us, are vain from the very cradle; yet does 
 it not become them, do they not please us the more ? 
 How can a youth form himself if he is not vain ? An 
 empty, hollow nature will, by this means, at least con- 
 trive to give itself an outward show ; and a proper 
 man will soon train himself from the outside inwards. 
 As to my own share, I have reason to consider myself, 
 in this point, a most happy man : for my trade justifies 
 me in being vain ; and, the vainer I am, the more satis- 
 faction I give. I am praised when others are blamed, 
 and have still, in this very way, the happiness and the 
 right to gratify and charm the public at an age when 
 others are constrained to retire from the scene, or linger 
 on it only with disgi'ace." 
 
 The major heard with no great joy the issue of these 
 reflections. The httle word vanity, as he pronounced 
 it, had been meant to serve as a transition for enabling 
 him to introduce, with some propriety, the statement 
 of his own wish. But now he was afraid, if their 
 dialogue proceeded thus, he should be led still farther 
 from his aim : so he hastened to the point dii-ectly. 
 
 " For my own part," said he, " I should by no means 
 disincline to enhst under thy flag, since thou still 
 boldest it to be in time, and thinkest I might yet in 
 some degi-ee make up for what is lost. Impart to me 
 somewhat of thy tinctures, pomades, and balsams ; and 
 I will make a trial of them,"
 
 io8 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 " Imparting," said the other, " is a harder task than 
 you suppose. Here, for example, it were still to small 
 purpose that I poured thee out some hquors from my 
 vials, and left the half of the best ingredients in my 
 toilet : the appliance is the hardest. You cannot, on 
 the instant, appropriate what is given you. How this 
 and that suit together ; under what circumstances, in 
 what sequence, things are to be used, — all this re- 
 quires practice and study, — nay, study and practice 
 themselves will scarcely profit, if one bring not to the 
 business a natural genius for it." 
 
 " Thou art now, it seems, for drawing back," said the 
 major. " Thou raisest difficulties when I would have 
 thy truly somewhat fabulous assertions rendered cer- 
 tain. Thou hast no mind to let me try thy words by 
 the test of action." 
 
 " By such banterings, my friend," rephed the other, 
 " thou wouldst not prevail on me to gratify thy wish, 
 if it were not that I entertain such affection for thee, 
 and, indeed, first made the proposal myself. Besides, 
 if we consider it, man has quite a pecuhar pleasure 
 in making proselytes ; in bringing what he values in 
 himself into view also, without himself, on others ; 
 causing others to enjoy what he enjoys ; finding in 
 others his own likeness, represented and reflected back 
 to him. In sooth, if this is selfishness, it is of the 
 most laudable and lovable sort, — that selfishness which 
 has made us men and keeps us so. From this uni- 
 versal feehng, then, apart from my friendship to thee, 
 I shall be happy in having such a scholar in the great 
 youth-renewing art. But, as from a master it may 
 be expected that he shall produce no botcher by his 
 training, I confess myself a little at a loss how to set 
 about it. I told thee already that neither recipes nor 
 instructions would avail : the practice cannot be taught 
 by universal rules. For my sake, and from the wish 
 to propagate my doctrine, I am ready to make any
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 109 
 
 sacrifice. The greatest in my power for the present 
 moment I will now propose to thee. I shall leave 
 my servant here, — a sort of waiting-man and conjurer, 
 — who, if he does not understand preparing every- 
 thing, if he has not yet been initiated into all the 
 mysteries, can apply my preparations perfectly, and, 
 in the first stage of the attempt, will be of great use 
 to thee, till once tliou have worked thy way so far 
 into the art, that I may reveal to thee the higher secrets 
 also." 
 
 " How ! " cried the major, " thou hast stages and 
 degrees in thy art of making young ? Thou hast 
 secrets, even for the initiated ? " 
 
 " No doubt of it," replied the other. " That were 
 but a sorry art which could be comprehended all at 
 once, the last point of which could be seen by one just 
 entering its precincts." 
 
 Without loss of time the waiting-man was formally 
 consigned to the major, who engaged to treat him 
 handsomely. The baroness was called on for drawers, 
 boxes, glasses, to what purpose she knew not ; the 
 partition of the toilet-store went forward ; the friends 
 kept together in a gay and sprightly mood till after 
 nightfall. At moonrise, some time later, the guest 
 took his leave, promising erelong to return. 
 
 The major reached his chamber pretty much fatigued. 
 He had risen early, had not spared himself throughout 
 the day, and now hoped very soon to get to bed. But 
 here, instead of one servant, he found two. The old 
 groom, in his old way, rapidly undressed him ; but 
 now the waiting-man stepped forth, and signified, that, 
 for appliances of a renovating and cosmetic nature, 
 the peculiar season was night, that so their effects, 
 assisted by a peaceful sleep, might be stronger and 
 safer. The major was obliged to content himself, and 
 let his head be anointed, his face painted, his eyebrows 
 pencilled, and his lips tipped with salve. Besides all
 
 no MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 this, there were various ceremonies still required ; nay, 
 the very night-cap was not to be put on immediately, 
 not till a net, or even a fine leather cap, had been 
 drawn on next the head. 
 
 The major laid himself in bed with a sort of un- 
 pleasant feeling, which, however, he had no time to 
 investigate the nature of ; as he very soon fell asleep. 
 But, if we might speak with his spirit, we should say 
 he felt a Httle mummy-like, somewhat between a sick 
 man and a man embalmed. Yet the sweet image of 
 Hilaria, encircled with the gayest hopes, soon led him 
 into a refreshing sleep. 
 
 In the morning, at the proper hour, the groom was 
 ready in his place. All that pertained to his master's 
 equipment lay in wonted order on the chairs ; and the 
 major was just on the point of rising, when the new 
 attendant entered, and strongly protested against any 
 such precipitation. He must rest, he must wait, if 
 their enterprise were to prosper, if they were to be 
 rewarded for their pains and labour. The major now 
 learned that he had to rise by and by, to take a slight 
 breakfast, and then go into a bath, which was already 
 prepared for him. The regulations were inflexible, 
 they required a strict observance ; and some hours 
 passed away under these occupations. 
 
 The major abridged the resting-time after his bath, 
 and thought to get his clothes about him : for he was 
 by nature expeditious, and at present he longed to see 
 Hilaria ; but in this point also his new servant thwarted 
 him, and signified, that in all cases he must drop the 
 thought of being in a hurry. Whatever he did, it 
 appeared, must be done leisurely and pleasurably ; but 
 the time of dressing was especially to be considered as 
 a cheerful hour for conversation with one's self. 
 
 The valet's manner of proceeding completely agreed 
 with his words. But, in return, the major, when, on 
 stepping forward to the glass, he saw himself trimmed
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS m 
 
 out in the neatest fashion, really thought that he was 
 better dressed than formerly. Without many words 
 the conjurer had changed the very uniform into a 
 newer cut, having spent the night in working at it. 
 An apparently so quick rejuvenescence put the major 
 in his liveliest mood ; so that he felt himself as if 
 renovated, both without and within, and hastened with 
 impatient longing to his friends. 
 
 He found his sister engaged in looking at the pedi- 
 gree which she had caused to be hung up ; the con- 
 versation last night having turned on some collateral 
 relations, unmarried persons, or resident in foreign 
 countries, or entirely gone out of sight, from all of 
 whom the baroness and her brother had more or less 
 hope of heritages for themselves or their families. 
 They conversed awhile on these matters, without 
 mentioning the circumstance that all their economical 
 cares and exertions had hitherto been solely directed 
 to their children. By Hilaria's attachment the whole 
 of this prospect liad altered, yet neither the major nor 
 his sister could summon courage to mention it further 
 at this moment. 
 
 The baroness left the room : the major was standing 
 alone before this laconic history of his family ; Hilaria 
 stepped in to liim ; she leaned herself on him in a 
 kind, childlike way, looked at the parchment, and 
 asked him whom of all these he had known, and who of 
 them were still left and living. 
 
 The major began his delineation with the oldest of 
 whom any dim recollection remained with him from 
 childhood. Then he proceeded farther; painted the 
 characters of several fathers, the likeness or unlikeness 
 of their children to them ; remarked that the grand- 
 father often reappeared in the grandson ; spoke, by 
 the way, of the influence of certain women, wedded out 
 of stranger families, and sometimes changing the char- 
 acter of whole branches. He eulogised the virtue of
 
 112 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 many an ancestor and relative, nor did he hide their 
 failings. Such as had brought shame on their hneage 
 he passed in silence. At length he reached the lowest 
 Unes. Here stood his brother, the chief marshal him- 
 self, and his sister, and beneath him his son with 
 Hilaria at his side. 
 
 " These two look each other straight enough in the 
 face," said the major ; not adding what he thought of 
 the matter in his heart. 
 
 After a pause Hilaria answered, in a meek, small 
 tone, and almost with a sigh, " Yet those, surely, are 
 not to blame who look upward." At the same time 
 she looked up to him with a pair of eyes out of which 
 her whole love was speaking. 
 
 " Do I understand thee rightly ? " said the major, 
 turning round to her. 
 
 "I can say nothing," answered she, with a smile, 
 " which you do not know already." 
 
 " Thou makest me the happiest man under the 
 sun," cried he, and fell at her feet. "Wilt thou be 
 mine ? " 
 
 " For Heaven's sake, rise ! I am thine for ever." 
 
 The baroness entered. Though not surprised, she 
 rather hesitated. " If it be wrong, sister," said the 
 major, "the blame is thine: if it be right, we will 
 thank thee for ever." 
 
 The baroness from youth upwards had so loved her 
 brother that she preferred him to all men ; and 
 perhaps Hilaria's attachment itself had, if not arisen 
 from this sisterly partiality, at least been cherished by 
 it. All three now united in one love, in one delight ; 
 and thus the happiest hours flew over them. Yet, at 
 last, their eyes reopened to the world around them 
 likewise ; and this rarely stands in unison with such 
 emotions. 
 
 They now again bethought them of the son. For 
 him Hilaria had been destined : this he himself well
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 113 
 
 knew. Directly after finisliing tlie business with the 
 chief marshal, the major had appointed his son to ex- 
 pect him in the garrison, that they might settle every 
 thing together, and conduct these purposes to a happy 
 issue. But now, by an unexpected occurrence, the 
 whole state of matters had been thrown out of joint ; 
 the circumstances which before plied into one another 
 so kindly, now seemed to be assuming a hostile aspect ; 
 and it was not easy to foresee what turn the affair 
 would take, what temper would seize the individuals 
 concerned in it. 
 
 Meanwhile the major was obliged to resolve on 
 visiting his son, to whom he had already announced 
 himself. Not without reluctance, not without singu- 
 lar forecastings, not %vithout pain at even for a short 
 time leaving Hilaria, he at last, after much lingering, 
 took the road, and, leaving gi-oom and horses behind 
 him, proceeded with his cosmetic valet, who had now 
 become an iadispensable appendage, toward the town 
 where his son resided. 
 
 Both saluted and embraced each other cordially 
 after so long a separation. They had much to com- 
 municate, yet they did not just commence with what 
 lay nearest their hearts. The sou went into copious 
 talk about his hopes of speedy advancement : in return 
 for which the father gave him precise accounts of 
 what had been discussed and determined between the 
 elder members of the family, both in regard to fortune 
 in general, to the individual estates, and everything 
 pertaining to them. 
 
 The conversation was, in some degree, beginning to 
 flag, when the son took heart, and said to his father, 
 with a smile, "You treat me very tenderly, dear 
 father ; and I thank you for it. You tell me of prop- 
 erties and fortime, and mention not the terms under 
 which, at least in part, they are to be mine : you keep 
 back the name of Hilaria ; you expect that I should
 
 114 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 bring it forth, that I should express my desu'e to be 
 speedily united with that amiable maiden." 
 
 At these words the major felt in great perplexity ; 
 but as, partly by nature, partly by old habit, it was 
 his way to collect the purpose of the man he had to 
 treat with before stating his own, he now said nothing, 
 and looked at the son with an ambiguous smile. 
 " You will not guess, father, what I have to say," 
 continued the heutenant : " I will speak it out briefly, 
 and once for all. I can depend on your affection, 
 which, amid such manifold care for me, has had due 
 regard for my true happiness as well as my fortune. 
 Some time or other it must be said : be it said, then, 
 even now, Hilaria cannot make me happy ! I think 
 of Hilaria as of a lovely relative, toward whom I would 
 hve all my days with the friendhest feelings ; but 
 another has awakened my affection, another has found 
 my heart. The attachment is irresistible : you will not 
 make me miserable." 
 
 Not without effort did the major conceal the 
 cheerfulness which was rising over his face, and, in 
 a tone of mild seriousness, inquire of the son. Who the 
 person was that had so entirely subdued him ? " You 
 must see her yourself, father," said the other ; " for she 
 can as httle be described as comprehended. I have 
 but one fear, — that you yourself will be led away by 
 her, like every one that approaches her. By Heaven, 
 it will be so ; and I shall see you the rival of your 
 son!" 
 
 " But who is she ? " inquired the major. " If it is 
 not in thy power to dehneate her personal characteris- 
 tics, tell me, at least, of her outward circumstances: 
 these, at least, may be described." 
 
 " Well, then, father," rephed the son ; " and yet 
 these outward circumstances, too, would be different 
 in a different person, would act otherwise on another. 
 She is a young widow, heiress of an old, rich man
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 115 
 
 lately deceased ; independent, and well meriting to be 
 so; acquainted with many, loved by just as many, 
 courted by just as many ; yet, if I mistake not very 
 greatly, in her heart wholly mine." 
 
 With joyful vivacity, as the father kept silence, and 
 gave no sign of disapproval, the son proceeded to de- 
 scribe the conduct of the fair widow toward him ; told 
 of her all-conquering gi-ace ; recounted one by one her 
 tender expressions of favour ; in which the father 
 truly could see nothing but the light friendHness of a 
 universally courted woman, who, among so many, may 
 indeed prefer some one, yet without on that account 
 entirely deciding for him. Under any other circum- 
 stances he would doubtless have endeavoured to warn 
 a son, nay, even a friend, of the self-deception which 
 might probably enough be at work here ; but, in the 
 present case, he himself was so anxious for his son's 
 being right, for the fair widow's really loving him, and 
 as soon as possible deciding in his favour, that he 
 either felt no scruple of this sort, or banished any such 
 from his mind, perhaps even only concealed it. 
 
 " Thou placest me in great perplexity," began the 
 father, after some pause. " The whole arrangement 
 between the surviving members of our family depends 
 on the understanding that thou wed Hilaria. If she 
 wed a stranger, the whole fair, careful combination of 
 a fine fortune falls to the ground again ; and thou thy- 
 self art not too well provided for. There is certainly 
 another way still, but one which sounds rather strange, 
 and by which thou wouldst gain very little : I, in my 
 old days, might wed Hilaria, — a plan which could 
 hardly give thee any very high satisfaction." 
 
 " The highest in the world ! " exclaimed the lieu- 
 tenant ; " for who can feel a true attachment, who can 
 enjoy or anticipate the happiness of love, without wish- 
 ing every friend, every one whom he values, the hke 
 supreme felicity ? You are not old, father ; and how
 
 ii6 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 lovely is Hilaria ! Eveu the transient thought of offer- 
 ing her your hand bespeaks a youthful heart, an unim- 
 paired spirit. Let us take up this thought, tliis project, 
 on the spot, and consider and investigate it thoroughly. 
 My own happiness would be complete if I knew you 
 happy : I could then rejoice in good earnest, that the 
 care you had bestowed on my destiny was repaid on 
 your own by so fair and high a recompense. I can 
 now with confidence and frankness, and true openness 
 of heart, conduct you to my fair one. You will ap- 
 prove of my feelings, since you yourself feel : you will 
 not impede the happiness of your son, since you are 
 advancing to your own happiness." 
 
 With these and other importunate words the lieuten- 
 ant repressed many a scruple which his father was for 
 introducing, left him no time to calculate, but hurried 
 off with him to the fair widow, whom they found in a 
 commodious and splendid house, with a select rather 
 than numerous party, all engaged in cheerful conversa- 
 tion. She was one of those female souls whom no 
 man can escape. With incredible address she con- 
 trived to make our major the hero of this evening. 
 The rest of the party seemed to be her family: the 
 major alone was her guest. His circumstances she 
 already knew very well ; yet she had the skill to ask 
 about them, as if she were wishing, now at last, to get 
 right information on the subject from himself : and so, 
 likewise, every individual of the company was made to 
 show some interest in the stranger. One must have 
 known his brother, a second his estates, a third some- 
 thing else concerned with him ; so that the major, in the 
 midst of a lively conversation, still felt himself to be 
 the centre. Moreover, he was sitting next the fair one ; 
 her eyes were on him, her smile was directed to him : 
 in a word, he felt himself so comfortable, that he 
 almost forgot the cause which had brought him. She 
 herself scarcely ever mentioned his son, though the
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 117 
 
 yoiiug man took a keeu share in the conversation : 
 it seemed as if, in her eyes, he, hke all the rest, 
 was present only on his father's account. 
 
 The guests strolled up and down the rooms, and 
 gi"OUp(;d themselves into accidental knots. The lieu- 
 tenant stepped up to his fair one, and asked, " What 
 say you to my father ? " 
 
 With a smile she rephed, " Methinks you might well 
 take him as a pattern. Do but look how neatly he 
 is dressed ! If his manner and bearing are not better 
 than his gentle son's!" And thus she continued 
 to cry up and praise the father at the son's expense ; 
 awakening, by this means, a very mixed feeling of 
 contentment and jealousy in the young man's 
 heart. 
 
 Erelong the heutenant came in contact with his 
 father, and recounted aU this to him. It made the 
 major's manner to his fair hostess so much the more 
 friendly ; and she, on her side, began to treat him on 
 a more lively and trustful footing. In short, we may 
 say, that, when the company broke up, the major, 
 as well as the rest, already belonged to her and to her 
 circle. 
 
 A heavy rain prevented the guests from returning 
 home as they had come. Some coaches drove up, 
 into wliich the walkers arranged themselves : only the 
 heutenant, under the pretext that the carriage was 
 already too crowded, let his father drive away, and 
 stayed behind. 
 
 The major, on entering his apartment, felt actually 
 confused and giddy in mind, uncertain of himself ; as 
 is the case with us on passing rapidly from one state to 
 the opposite. The land still seems in motion to a man 
 who steps from shipboard, and the hght still quivers in 
 the eve of him who comes at once into darkness. So 
 cUd the major still feel himself encircled with the pres- 
 ence of that fair being. He wished still to see, to hear
 
 ii8 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 her, again to see, again to hear her ; and, after some 
 consideration, he forgave his son ; nay, he thought him 
 happy that he might pretend to the appropriation of 
 such loveHness. 
 
 From these feehngs he was roused by the lieutenant, 
 who, with Hvely expressions of rapture, rushed into the 
 room, embraced his father, and exclaimed, " I am 
 the happiest man in the world ! " After several more 
 of such preliminary phrases, the two at last came to 
 an explanation. The father remarked, that the fair 
 lady in conversing with him had not mentioned the 
 son, or hinted at him by a single syllable. " That is 
 just her soft, silent, half-concealing, half-discovering 
 way, by which you become certain of your wishes, and 
 yet can never altogether get rid of doubt. So was she 
 wont to treat me hitherto ; but your presence, father, 
 has done wonders. I confess it, I stayed behind, that I 
 might see her one moment longer. I found her walk- 
 ing to and fro in her still shining rooms ; for I know 
 it is her custom, when the company is gone, no light 
 must be extinguished. She walks alone up and down 
 in her magic halls, when the spirits are dismissed 
 which she had summoned thither. She accepted the 
 pretext under cover of which I came back. She spoke 
 with kind grace, though of indifferent matters. We 
 walked to and fro through the open doors, along the 
 whole suite of chambers. We had wandered several 
 times to the end, into the httle cabinet, which is lighted 
 only by a dim lamp. If she was beautiful wliile mov- 
 ing under the blaze of the lustres, she was infinitely 
 more so when illuminated by the soft gleam of the 
 lamp. We had again reached the cabinet ; and, in 
 turning, we paused for an instant. I know not what 
 it was that forced this audacity on me: I know not 
 how I could venture, in the midst of the most ordinary 
 conversation, all at once to seize her hand, to kiss that 
 soft hand, and to press it to my heart. It was not
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 1 19 
 
 drafra away. ' Heavenly creature ! ' cried I, ' conceal 
 thyself no longer from me. If in this fair heart dwells 
 favour for the happy man who stands before thee, dis- 
 close it, confess it ! The present is the best, the highest 
 time. Banish me, or take nie to tliy arms ! ' 
 
 " I know not what all I said, what I looked and 
 expressed. She withdrew not, she resisted not, she 
 answered not. I ventured to clasp her in my arms, 
 to ask her if she would be mme. I kissed her with 
 rapture ; she pushed me away : ' Well, yes, then : yes ! ' 
 or some such words, said she, in a faint tone, as if 
 embarrassed. I retired, and cried, 'I will send my 
 father : he shall speak for me.' ' Not a word to him 
 of this ! ' replied she, following me some steps. ' Go 
 away : forget what has happened.' " 
 
 Wliat the major thought we shall not attempt to 
 unfold. He said, however, to his son, " What is to be 
 done now, thkikest thou ? To my mind the affair is, 
 by accident, so w^ell introduced, that we may now go 
 to work a little more formally ; that perhaps it were 
 well if I called there to-mc^rrow, and proposed in thy 
 name." 
 
 " For Heaven's sake, no, father ! " cried the son : " it 
 would spoil the whole business. That look, that tone, 
 must be disturbed and deranged by no formality. It is 
 enough, father, that your presence accelerates this union 
 without your uttering a word on the subject. Yes, it 
 is to you that I owe my happiness ! The respect which 
 my loved one entertains for you has conquered every 
 scruple, and never would your son have found so good 
 a moment had not his fatlier prepared it for him." 
 
 These and such disclosures occupied them till far in 
 the night. They mutually settled their plans: the 
 major, simply for form's sake, was to make a parting 
 caU, and then set out to arrange Ms marriage with 
 HUana ; the son was to forward and accelerate his, as 
 he should find it possible.
 
 12 o MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 Hersilia's Postscript. 
 
 Here I break off, partly because I can write no more 
 at present, but partly also to fix a thorn in your heart. 
 Now, answer the question for yourself : How strangely, 
 from all that you have read, must matters stand with 
 these ladies at present ! Till now they had no mutual 
 relation to each other: they were strangers, though 
 each seemed to have the prospect of a marriage which 
 was to approximate them. And now we find them in 
 company, but by themselves, Mdthout male attendance, 
 and wandering over the world. What can have passed, 
 what can be to follow ? You, my worthy sir, will 
 doubtless get quit of the difficulty by mournfully 
 claiming to yourself, " These, also, are renunciants ! " 
 And here you are perfectly right : but expectants too ? 
 This I durst not discover, even if I knew it. 
 
 To show you the way how this amiable pair may be 
 met with on your wandering, I adopt a singular expe- 
 dient. You herewith receive a httle clipping of a map : 
 when you lay this in its place on the full map of the 
 country, the magnetic needle painted here will point 
 with its barb to the spot whither the desirable are 
 moving. This riddle is not so very hard to read : but 
 I could wish, that, from time to time, you would do the 
 like for us, and send a little snip of chart over hither ; 
 we should then, in some measure, understand to what 
 quarter our thoughts were to be directed : and how 
 glad should we be if the needle were at last attracted 
 by ourselves. May all good be given you, and aU 
 errors forgiven ! 
 
 It is said of women, that they cannot send away a 
 letter without tacking postscripts to the end of it. 
 Whatever inferences^ you may draw from the fact, I 
 cannot deny that this is my second postscript, and the
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS I2l 
 
 place, after all, where I am to tell you the flower of 
 the whole matter. This arrow-shaft, on the little patch 
 of map, Ililaria herself was at the pains to draw and to 
 decorate with such dainty pluma^^e : the sharp point, 
 however, was the fair widow's work. Have a care that 
 it do not scratch, or perhaps pierce you. Our bargain 
 is, that wlienever you meet, be this wliere it may, you 
 are forthwith to present the small shred of paper, and 
 so be the sooner and more heartily admitted into trust. 
 
 A WORD FROM THE EDITOR. 
 
 That a certain deficiency, perhaps discernible in the 
 parts, certainly discernible here and there in the whole, 
 cannot, henceforth, be avoided, we ourselves take cour- 
 age to forewarn the reader, without fearing thereby to 
 thwart liis enjoyment. In the present task, undertaken 
 truly with forethought and good heart, we still meet 
 with all the inconveniences which have delayed the 
 publication of these httle volumes for twenty years. 
 This period has altered nothing for the better. We 
 still find ourselves in more than one way impeded, at 
 this or that place threatened with one obstruction or 
 another. For we have to solve the uncertain problem 
 of selecting from those most multifarious papers what 
 is worthiest and most important, so that it be gi-ateful 
 to thinking and cultivated minds, and refresh and for- 
 ward them in many a province of life. Now, here are 
 the journals, more or less complete, lying before us ; 
 sometimes communicable without scruple; sometimes, 
 again by reason of their unimportant, and Hkewise of 
 their too important contents, seemingly imfit for 
 insertion. 
 
 There are not even wantinf; sections devoted to the 
 actual world, on statistic, technical, and other practical 
 external subjects. To cut these off as incongruous,
 
 122 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 we do not determine without reluctance ; as life and 
 inclination, knowledge and passion, strangely combin- 
 ing together, go on here in the strangest union. 
 
 Then we come on sketches written with clear views 
 and for glorious objects, but not so consequent and 
 deep-searching that we can fully approve of them, or 
 suppose, that, in this new and so far advanced time, 
 they could be readable and influential. 
 
 So likewise we fall in with little anecdotes, destitute 
 of connection, difficult to arrange under heads, some of 
 them, when closely examined, not altogether unobjec- 
 tionable. Here and there we discover more complete 
 narratives, several of which, though already known 
 to the world, nevertheless demand a place here, and at 
 the same time require exposition and conclusion. Of 
 poems, also, there is no want ; and yet it is not always 
 easy, not always possible, to decide where they should 
 be introduced with best regard to the preserving and 
 assisting of their true tone, which is but too easily dis- 
 turbed and overturned. If we are not, therefore, as we 
 have too often done in bygone years, again to stop in 
 the middle of this business, nothing will remain for us 
 but to impart what we possess, to give out what has 
 been preserved. Some chapters, accordingly, the com- 
 pletion of which might have been desirable, we now 
 offer in their first hurried form, that so the reader may 
 not only feel the existence of a want here, but also be 
 informed what this want is, and complete in his own 
 mind whatever, partly from the nature of the object, 
 partly from the intervening circumstances, cannot be 
 presented to him perfectly completed in itself, or 
 furnished with all its requisite accompaniments.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The proposed riddle raised some scruples in Wil- 
 helm's mind ; yet erelong he began to feel a still 
 attraction in the matter, an impulse of longing to 
 reach that appointed line, and follow its direction : as, 
 indeed, we are wont to seize with eagerness any spe- 
 cific object that excites our imagination, our active 
 faculties, and to wish that we might accomplish it and 
 partake of it. 
 
 A child that, in asking alms of us, puts into our 
 hand a card with five lottery numbers written on it, 
 we do not lightly turn away unserved ; and it depends 
 on the moment, especially if it be shortly before the 
 drawing, whether we shall not, with accidentally stimu- 
 lated hope, quite against our usual custom, stake heavy 
 shares upon these very numbers. 
 
 The wanderer now tried on a large map the little 
 fragment which had been sent him, and stood surprised, 
 amazed, affrighted, as he saw the needle pointed straight 
 to Mignon's native place, to the houses where she had 
 Uved. What his peculiar feeUngs were, we do not find 
 declared ; but whoever can bring back to memory the 
 end of the " Apprenticesliip," will in his own heart and 
 mind, without difficulty, call forth the like. 
 
 The chief cause, however, why we meet with scantier 
 records of this excursion than wc could have wished, 
 may probably be this : that Wilhelm chanced to fall in 
 with a young, lively companion of his journey, by 
 means of whom it became easy to retain for himself 
 
 123
 
 124 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 and his friends a vivid and strong remembrance of 
 this pious pilgrimage without any aid of writing. Un- 
 expectedly he finds himself beside a painter, — one of 
 that class of persons whom we often see wandering 
 about the world, and still oftener figuring in romances 
 and dramas, but, in this case, an individual who showed 
 himseK at once to be really a distinguished artist. 
 The two very soon got acquainted, mutually communi- 
 cated their desires, projects, purposes. And now it 
 appears that this skilful artist, who delights in paint- 
 ing aquatical landscapes, and can decorate his pieces 
 with rich, well-imagined, well-executed additions and 
 accompaniments, has been passionately attracted by 
 Mignon's form, destiny, and being. He has often 
 painted her already, and is now going forth to copy 
 from nature the scenes where she passed her early 
 years ; amid these to represent the dear child in happy 
 and unhappy circumstances and moments, and thus to 
 make her image, which lives in all tender hearts, 
 present also to the sense of the eye. 
 
 The friends soon reach the Lago Maggiore: Wil- 
 helm endeavours by degrees to find out the places 
 indicated. Eural palaces, spacious monasteries, ferries 
 and bays, capes and landings, are visited ; nor are the 
 dwellings of courageous and kind-hearted fishermen 
 forgotten, or the cheerfully built villages along the 
 shore, or the gay mansions on the neighbouring heights. 
 All this the artist can seize, to aU of it communicate, 
 by light and colouring, the feeling suitable for each 
 scene ; so that Wilhelm passes his days and his hours 
 in heart-searching emotion. 
 
 In several of the leaves stood Mignon represented 
 on the foreground, as she had looked and lived : Wil- 
 helm striving by correct description to assist the happy 
 imagination of his friend, and reduce these general con- 
 ceptions within the stricter limits of individuality.
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 125 
 
 And thus you might see the boy-girl set forth in 
 various attitudes and manifold expression. Beneath 
 the lofty portal of the splendid country-house she is 
 standing, thoughtfully contemplating the marble 
 statues in the haD. Here she rocks herself, plashing 
 to and fro among the waters, in the fastened Ijoat: 
 there she climbs the mast, and shows herself as a 
 fearless sailor. 
 
 But distinguished beyond all the other pictures was 
 one which the artist, on his journey hither, and prior to 
 his meeting with Wilhelm, had combined and painted 
 with all its characteristic features. In the heart of the 
 rude mountains shines the graceful seeming-boy, en- 
 circled with toppling cliffs, besprayed with cataracts, in 
 the middle of a motley horde. Never, perhaps, was a 
 grim, precipitous, primeval mountain-pass more beauti- 
 fully or expressively relieved with living figures. The 
 party-coloured, gypsy-looking group, at once rude and 
 fantastic, strange and common, too loose to cause fear, 
 too singular to awaken confidence. Stout beasts of 
 burden are bearing along, now over paths made of 
 trees, now down l)y steps hewn in the rock, a tawdry 
 chaotic heap of luggage, round w^hich all the instru- 
 ments of a deafening music hang dangling to and fro, 
 to affright the ear from time to time with rude tones. 
 Amid all this the lovely child, self-collected without 
 defiance, indignant without resistance, led, but not 
 dragged. Who would not have looked with pleasure 
 at this singular and impressive picture ? Given in 
 strong characters, frowned the stern obstruction of 
 these rock-masses, riven asunder by gloomy chasms, 
 towered up together, threatening to hinder all outgate, 
 had not a bold bridge betokened the possibility of again 
 coming into union with the rest of the world. Nor 
 had the artist, with his quick feeling of fictitious truth, 
 forgot to indicate the entrance of a cave, which you 
 might equally regard as the natural laboratory of huge
 
 126 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 crystals, or as the abode of a fabulously frightful brood 
 of dragons. 
 
 Not without a holy fear did our friends visit the 
 marchese's palace. The old man was still absent on 
 his travels ; but, in this circle also, the two wanderers, 
 knowing well how to apply and conduct themselves, 
 both toward spiritual and temporal authorities, were 
 kindly received and entertained. 
 
 The absence of the owner also was to Wilhelm very 
 pleasant ; for although he could have wished to see the 
 worthy gentleman, and would have heartily saluted 
 him, he felt afraid of the marchese's thankful gen- 
 erosity, and of any forced recompense of that true, 
 loving conduct for which he had already obtained the 
 fairest reward. 
 
 And thus our friends went floating in gay boats 
 from shore to shore, cruising the lake in every direc- 
 tion. It was the fairest season of the year : and they 
 missed neither sunrise nor sunset, nor any of the thou- 
 sand shadings which the heavenly light first bounte- 
 ously dispenses over its own firmament, and from 
 thence over lake and land ; not appearing itself in its 
 perfect glory till imaged back from the waters. 
 
 A luxuriant vegetable world, planted by Nature, 
 watched over and forwarded by Art, on every side sur- 
 rounded them. The first chestnut forests they had 
 already greeted with welcome ; and now they could 
 not restrain a mournful smile, as, lying under the shade 
 of cypresses, they saw the laurel mounting up, the 
 pomegranates reddening, orange and citron trees un- 
 folding themselves in blossoms, and fruit at the same 
 time glowing forth from the dark foliage. 
 
 Through means of liis vivid associate, Wilhelm had 
 another enjoyment prepared for him. Our old friend 
 had not been favoured by Nature with the eye of a 
 painter. Susceptible of visual beauty only in the 
 human form, he now felt, that by the presence of a
 
 n^'. ' A2iJl " luL'»MI-WJ
 
 our 1 visit t^ 
 
 rt of that tnit, 
 obtaiaed the 
 
 V. i-%.-** < 
 
 and trees un- 
 
 the saio'i 
 
 '.. \v-^h<^ 
 
 l^ig^w,^ an-^ the H^^er „ .. 
 
 .ic from ili<- I 'V C. V. • lusen
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 127 
 
 companion, alike disposed, but trained to quite different 
 enjoyments and activities, the surrounding world also 
 was opened to his sight. 
 
 By viewing, under conversational direction, the 
 changing glories of the region, and stdl more by con- 
 centrated imitation, his eyes were opened, and his mind 
 freed from all its once obstinate doubts. Hitherto all 
 copies of Italian scenery had seemed to him suspicious : 
 the sky, he thought, was too blue ; the violet tone of 
 those charming distances was lovely, but imtrue ; and 
 the abundant, fresh gieen too bright and gay ; but now 
 he united in his inmost perceptions with his new friend, 
 and learned, susceptible as he was, to look at the earth 
 with that friend's eyes : and, while Nature unfolded the 
 open secret of her beauty, he could not but feel an 
 irresistible attraction toward Art as toward her most 
 fit expositor. 
 
 But his pictorial friend quite unexpectedly antici- 
 pated his wishes in another point. The artist had 
 already many times started some gay song, and thus, in 
 hours of rest, dehghtfully enlivened and accompanied 
 their movement when out in long voyages over the 
 water. But now it happened, that, in one of the 
 palaces they were visiting, he found a curious, peculiar 
 stringed instrument, — a lute of small size, strong, well 
 toned, convenient, and portable : he soon contrived to 
 tune it, and then handled the strings so pleasantly, 
 and so well entertained those about him, that, like a 
 new Orpheus, he subdued by soft harmonies the usually 
 rigorous and dry castellan, and kindly constrained liim 
 to lend the instrument for a time, under the condition, 
 that, before departing, the singer should faithfully re- 
 turn it, and, in the interim, should come back some 
 Sunday or liohday, and again gratify them by his 
 music. 
 
 Quite another spirit now enlivened lake and shore : 
 boat and skiff strove which should be nearest our
 
 128 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 friends; even freight and market barges lingered in' 
 their neighbourhood ; rows of people on the beach fol- 
 lowed their course ; when landing they were encircled 
 by a gay-minded throng ; when departing each blessed 
 them with a heart contented, yet full of longing. 
 
 And now, at last, to any thii'd party who had 
 watched our friends, it must have been apparent enough 
 that theii" mission was, in fact, accomphshed : all 
 scenes and localities referring to Mignon had been, not 
 only sketched, but partly brought into light, shade, and 
 colour, partly in warm, midday hours, finished with 
 the utmost fidelity. In effecting this they had shifted 
 from place to place in a peculiar way, as Wilhelm's 
 vow frequently impeded them : tliis, however, they had 
 now and then contrived to evade by explaining it as 
 vahd only on land, and on water not apphcable. 
 
 Indeed, Wilhelm himself now felt that their special 
 purpose was attained ; yet he could not deny that the 
 wish to see Hilaria and the fair widow must also be 
 satisfied if he wished to leave this country with a free 
 mind. His friend, to whom he had imparted their 
 story, was no less curious, and already prided himself 
 in the thought, that, in one of his paintings, there was 
 a vacant space, which, as an artist, he might decorate 
 with the forms of these gentle persons. 
 
 Accordingly, they now cruised to and fro, watching 
 the points where strangers are wont first to enter this 
 paradise. Their hope of meeting friends here had 
 already been made known to the boatmen ; and the 
 search had not lasted long when there came in sight 
 a splendid barge, which they instantly made chase of, 
 and forbore not passionately to grapple with on reach- 
 ing it. The dames, in some degree alarmed at this 
 movement, soon recovered their composure as Wilhelm 
 produced his little piece of chart ; and the two, with- 
 out hesitation, recognised the arrow which themselves 
 had drawn on it. The friends were then kindly in-
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 129 
 
 vited to come on board the ladies' harge, which they 
 did without an instant's delay. 
 
 And now let us figure to ourselves these four, as 
 they sit together in the daintiest apartment, the most 
 blissful world lying round them, looking in each other's 
 faces, fanned by soft airs, rocked on ghttering waves. 
 Imagine the female pair, as we lately saw them de- 
 scribed ; the male, as they have together for weeks 
 been leading a wayfaring life ; and after a little reflec- 
 tion we behold them all in the most dehghtful, but 
 also the most dangerous situation. 
 
 For the three who have before, willingly or unwill- 
 ingly, ranked themselves in the number of reimnciants, 
 we have not the worst to fear: the fourth, however, 
 may, probably enough, too soon see himseK admitted 
 into that order, like the others. 
 
 After crossing the lake several times, and pointing 
 out the most interesting spots, both on the shore and 
 the islands, our two wanderers conducted their fair 
 friends to the place they were to pass the night in ; 
 where a dexterous guide, selected for this voyage, had 
 taken care to provide all possible conveniences. WO- 
 helm's vow was now a harsh but suitable master of 
 the ceremonies ; for he and his companion had already 
 passed three days in this very station, and exhausted 
 all that was remarkable in the environs. The artist, 
 not restrained by any vow, begged permission to attend 
 the dames on shore : this, however, they declined, and 
 so the party separated at some distance from the 
 harbour. 
 
 Scarcely had the singer stepped into his skiff, which 
 hastily drew back from the beach, when he seized his 
 lute, and gracefully began raising that strangely plain- 
 tive song which the Venetian gondoliers send forth in 
 clear melody from land to sea, and from sea to land. 
 Expert enough in this feat, which in the present in- 
 stance proceeded with peculiar tenderness and expres-
 
 130 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 sion, he strengthened his voice in proportion to the 
 increasing distance ; so that on the shore you would 
 have thought you heard him still singing in the same 
 place. He at last laid his lute aside, trusting to his 
 voice alone, and had the satisfaction to observe that 
 the dames, instead of retu'ing into their house, were 
 pleased to linger on the shore. He felt so inspired 
 that he could not cease, not even when night and 
 remoteness had withdrawn everything from view ; till 
 at last his calmer friend reminded him, that, if dark- 
 ness did favour his tones, the skiff had already long 
 passed the limits within which these could take effect. 
 
 According to promise, the two parties again met 
 next day on the open lake. Flying along, they formed 
 acquaintance with the lovely series of prospects, now 
 standing forth in separate distinction, then gathering 
 into rows, and seen behind each other, and at last 
 fading away, as the higher eclipsed the lower ; all 
 which, repeating itself in the waters, affords in such 
 excursions the most varied entertainment. Nor, in the 
 course of these sights, did the copies of them, from our 
 artist's portfolio, fail to awaken thoughts and anticipa- 
 tions of w^hat, in the present hour, was not imparted. 
 For all such matters the still Hilaria seemed to have a 
 free and fair feeling. 
 
 But, toward noon, singularity again came into play : 
 the ladies landed alone; the men cruised before the 
 harbour. And now the singer endeavoured to accom- 
 modate his music to a shorter distance, where not only 
 the general, soft, and quickly warbhng tone of desire, 
 but likewise a certain gay, gi-aceful importunity might 
 be expected to tell. And here now and then some 
 one or other of the songs, for which we stand indebted 
 to our friends in the "Apprenticeship," would come 
 hovering over his strings, over his Hps ; but out of 
 well-meant regard to the feelings of his hearers, as 
 well as to his own, he restrained himself in this par-
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 131 
 
 ticular, and roved at large in foreign images and emo- 
 tions, whereby his performance gained in efi'ect, and 
 reached the ear with so much tlie more insinuating 
 blandishment. The two friends, blockading the har- 
 bour in this way, would not have recollected the trivial 
 concern of eating and drinking, had not the more prov- 
 ident fair ones sent them over a supply of dainty bits, 
 to which an accompanying draught of wine had the 
 best possible relish. 
 
 Every separation, every stipulation, that comes in 
 the way of our gathering passions, sharpens instead 
 of stifling them ; and in tliis case, as in others, it may 
 be presumed that the short absence had awakened 
 equal longing in both parties. At all events, the 
 dames in their gay, dazzling gondola were very soon 
 to be seen coming back. 
 
 This word gondola, however, let us not take up in 
 the melancholy Venetian meaning : here it signifies a 
 cheerful, commodious, social bark ; which, had our 
 little company been twice as large, would still have 
 been spacious enough for them. 
 
 Some days were spent in this peculiar way, between 
 meeting and parting, betw^een separation and social 
 union ; but, amid the enjoyment of the most delight- 
 ful intercourse, departure and bereavement still hov- 
 ered before the agitated soul. In presence of the new 
 friends the old came back into the mind : were these 
 new ones absent, each could not but admit that already 
 they had taken deep root in his remembrance. None 
 but a composed and tried spirit, like our fair widow, 
 could in such moments have maintained herself in 
 complete equilibrium. 
 
 Hilaria's heart had been too deeply wounded to 
 admit of any new entire impression : but as the grace 
 of a fair scene encircles us of itself with soothing influ- 
 ences ; so, when the mildness of tender-hearted friends 
 conspires with it, there comes over sense and soul a
 
 132 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 peculiar mood of softness, that recalls to us, as in 
 dreaming visions, the past and the absent, and with- 
 draws the present, as if it were but a show, into spir- 
 itual remoteness. Thus, alternately rocked this way 
 and that, attracted and repelled, approximated and 
 removed, they wavered and wended for several days. 
 
 Without more narrowly investigating tliese circum- 
 stances, the shrewd, experienced guide imagined he 
 observed some alteration in the calm demeanour of his 
 heroines ; and when at last the whimsical part of their 
 predicament became known to him, he contrived here 
 also to devise the most grateful expedient. For, as 
 our two shipmeu were again conducting the ladies to 
 their usual place of dinner, they were met by another 
 gay bark, which, falling alongside of theirs, exhibited a 
 well-covered table, with all the cheerful in-sdtations of 
 a festive repast: the friends could now wait in com- 
 pany the lapse of several hours, and only night decided 
 the customary separation. 
 
 Happily the artist and Wilhelm had, in their former 
 voyagings, neglected, out of a certain natural caprice, 
 to visit the most highly ornamented of all the islands, 
 and had even yet never thought of showing to their 
 fair friends the many artiiicial and somewhat dilapi- 
 dated curiosities of the place, before these glorious 
 scenes of creation were entirely gone through. At 
 last, however, new hght rose on their minds. They 
 took counsel with the guide : he contrived forthwith 
 to expedite their voyage, and all looked on it as the 
 most blissful they had yet undertaken. They could 
 now hope and expect, after so many interrupted joys, 
 to spend three whole heavenly days assembled together 
 in a sequestered abode. 
 
 And here we cannot but bestow on this guide our 
 high commendation : he belonged to that nimble, 
 active, dexterous class, who, in attendance on succes- 
 sive parties, often travel the same roads; perfectly
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 133 
 
 acquainted witli the couveniences and inconveniences 
 on all of theni, they understand how to use the one 
 and evade the other, and, without leaving their own 
 profit out of sight, still to conduct their patrons more 
 cheaply and pleasantly through the country than with- 
 out such aid would have been possible. 
 
 At this time, also, a sufficient female train, belong- 
 ing to our dames, for the first time stepped forth in 
 decided activity ; and the fair widow could now make 
 it one of her conditions, that the friends were to 
 remain with her as guests, and content themselves 
 ■with what she called her moderate entertainment. In 
 this point, too, all prospered ; for the cunning function- 
 ary had, on this occasion as on others, contrived to 
 make so good a use of the letters and introductions 
 which Ms heroines had brought with them, that, the 
 owner of the place they were now about to visit being 
 absent, both castle and garden, kitchen included, were 
 thrown open for the service of the strangers, — nay, 
 some prospect was held out, even of the cellar. All 
 things cooperated so harmoniously, that our wanderers 
 from the very first moment felt themselves as if at 
 home, as if born lords of this paradise. 
 
 The whole luggage of the party was now carried to 
 the island, an arrangement producing much conven- 
 ience to all ; though the cliief advantage aimed at was, 
 that the portfolios of our artist, now for the first time 
 all collected together, might afford him means to ex- 
 hibit in continuous sequence to his fair hostesses the 
 route he had followed. This task was undertaken by 
 all parties with delight. Not that they proceeded in 
 the common style of amateur and artist, mutually 
 eulogising : here was a gifted man, rewarded by the 
 most sincere and judicious praise. But that we fall 
 not into the suspicion of attempting, with general 
 phrases, to palm on credulous readers what we could 
 not openly show them, let us here insert the judgment
 
 134 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 of a critic, who some years afterward viewed with 
 studious admiration both the pieces here in question, 
 and the others of a like or similar sort by the same 
 hand. 
 
 " He succeeds in representing the cheerful repose 
 of lake-prospects, where houses in friendly approxima- 
 tion, imaging themselves in the clear wave, seem as if 
 bathing in its depths ; shores encircled with green 
 hills, behind which rise forest mountains, and icy 
 peaks of glaciers. The tone of colouring in such 
 scenes is gay, mirthfully clear ; the distances, as if 
 overflowed with softening vapour, which, from watered 
 hollows and river valleys, mounts up grayer and 
 mistier, and indicates their windings. No less is the 
 master's art to be praised in views from valleys lying 
 nearer the high Alpine ranges, where dech\dties slope 
 down, luxuriantly overgrown, and fresh streams roll 
 hastily along by the foot of rocks. 
 
 " With exquisite skill, in the deep, shady trees of the 
 foreground, he gives the distinctive character of the 
 several species ; satisfying us in the form of the whole, 
 as in the structure of the branches and the detads of 
 the leaves, — no less so in the fresh green, with its 
 manifold shadings, where soft airs appear as if fanning 
 us with benignant breath, and the hghts as if thereby 
 put in motion. 
 
 " In the middle ground his hvely green tone grows 
 fainter by degrees, and at last, on the more distant 
 mountain tops, passing into weak violet, weds itself 
 with the blue of the sky. But our artist is, above all, 
 happy in his paintings of high Alpine regions ; in 
 seizing the simple greatness and stdlness of their char- 
 acter; the wide pastures on the slopes, clothed with 
 the freshest green, where dark, solitary firs stand forth 
 from the grassy carpet ; and from high cliffs foaming 
 brooks rush down. Whether he reheve liis pasturages 
 with grazing cattle, or the narrow, winding, rocky path
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS i35 
 
 with mules and laden packhorses, he paints all with 
 equal truth and richness : still introduced in the proper 
 place, and not in too great copiousness, they decorate 
 and enliven these scenes without interruptiiijf, without 
 lessening, their peaceful solitude. The execution testi- 
 fies a master's hand, — easy with a few sure strokes, 
 and yet complete. In his later pieces he employed 
 guttering English, permanent colours on paper : these 
 pictures, accordingly, are of preeminently blooming 
 tone, cheerful, yet, at the same time, strong and sated. 
 
 " His views of deep mountain chasms, where round 
 and round nothing fronts us ])ut dead rock ; where, in 
 the abyss, overspanned by its bold arch, the wild 
 stream rages, — are, indeed, of less attraction than the 
 former; yet their truth excites us; we admire the 
 great effect of the whole, produced at so little cost, by 
 a few expressive strokes, and masses of local colours. 
 
 " With no less accuracy of character can he repre- 
 sent the regions of the topmost Alpine ranges, where 
 neither tree nor shrub any more appears; but only, 
 amid the rocky teeth and snow summits, a few sunny 
 spots clothe themselves with a soft sward. Beautiful 
 and balmy and inviting as he colours these spots, he 
 has here wisely forborne to introduce grazing herds; 
 for these regions give food only to the chamois, and a 
 perilous employment to the wild-hay-men. 
 
 " We shall not deviate from our purpose of bringing 
 the condition of these waste scenes as close as possible 
 to the conception of our readers, if to this word, wild- 
 hay-man, or Wildhetier, we sul)join a short explanation. 
 It is a name given to the poorer inhabitants of the up- 
 land Alpine ranges, who occupy themselves in making 
 hay from such gi-assy spots as are inaccessible to cattle. 
 For this purpose they climb, with cramps on their feet, 
 the steepest and most dangerous cliffs; or from high 
 crags let themselves down by ropes when this is neces- 
 sary, and so reach these grassy patches. The grass
 
 136 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 once cut and dried to hay, they throw it down from 
 the heights into the deeper valleys ; where, being col- 
 lected together, it is sold to cattle-owners, with whom, 
 on account of its superior quality, it finds a ready 
 market." 
 
 These paintings, which must have gratified and 
 attracted any eye, were viewed by Hilaria, in particu- 
 lar, with great attention ; and from her observations it 
 became clear, that, in this department, she herself was 
 no stranger. To the artist, least of all, did this con- 
 tinue secret : nor could approval from any one have 
 been more precious to him than from this most grace- 
 ful of all persons. Her companion, therefore, kept 
 silence no longer, but blamed Hilaria for not coming 
 forward with her own accompHshments, but lingering 
 in this case as she always did, — now where the ques- 
 tion was not of being praised or blamed, but of being 
 instructed, A fairer opportunity, she said, might not 
 easily occur. 
 
 And now it came to hght, when she was thus forced 
 to exhibit her portfolios, what a talent was lying hid 
 behind this still and most lovely nature : the capacity 
 had been derived from birth, and diligently cultivated 
 by practice. She possessed a true eye ; a delicate 
 hand, such as women, accustomed to use it in their 
 dressing and decorating operations, find available in 
 higher art. You might, doubtless, observe unsureness 
 in the strokes, and, in consequence, a too undecided 
 character in the objects : but you could not help ad- 
 miring the most faithful execution ; though the whole 
 was not seized ia its happiest effect, not grouped and 
 adjusted with the skill of an artist. She is afraid, you 
 would say, of profaning her object, if she keep not 
 completely true to it ; hence she becomes precise and 
 stiff, and loses herself in details. 
 
 But now, by the great, free talent, by the bold hand
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 137 
 
 of the artist, she feels rising, awakening within her, 
 whatever genuine feeling and taste had till now slum- 
 bered in her mind : she perceives that she has but to 
 take heart, and earnestly and punctually to follow some 
 fundamental maxims which the artist, with penetrating 
 judgment and friendly importunity, is repeating, and 
 impressing on her. That sureness of stroke comes of 
 its own accord ; she by degrees dwells less on the parts 
 than on the whole : and thus the fairest capability rises 
 on a sudden to fulfilment ; as a rosebud, which in the 
 evening we passed by unobservant, breaks forth in the 
 morning at sunrise before our face ; and the living, 
 quivering movement of this lordly blossom, struggling 
 out to the hght, seems almost visible before our eyes. 
 
 Nor did this intellectual culture remain without 
 moral effects ; for, on a pure spirit, it produces a magic 
 impression to be conscious of that heartfelt thankful- 
 ness natural toward any one to whom it stands in- 
 debted for decisive instruction. In this case it was 
 the first glad emotion which had risen in Hilaria's soul 
 for many a week. To see this lordly world lying 
 round her day after day, and now at once to feel the 
 instantly acquired, more perfect gift of representing it ! 
 What delight in figures and tints, to be approaching 
 nearer the Unspeakable ! She felt herself surprised as 
 with a new youth, and could not refuse a peculiar 
 kindliness to the man who had procured for her such 
 happiness. 
 
 Thus did the two sit together : you could scarcely 
 have determined whether he were readier in communi- 
 cating secret advantages in art, or she in seizing them 
 and turning them to practice. The happiest rivalry, 
 such as too seldom rises between scholar and master, 
 here took place. Many a time you might observe the 
 friend preparing with some decisive stroke to influence 
 her drawing ; which she, on the other hand, would 
 gently decline, hastening to do the wished, the neces-
 
 138 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 sary, of her own accord, and always to her master's 
 astonishment. 
 
 The fair widow, in the meanwhile, walked along the 
 terraces with Wilhelm, under cypresses and pines, now 
 under vine, now under orange groves, and at last could 
 not but fulfil the faintly indicated wish of her new 
 friend, and disclose to him the strange entanglement 
 by which the two fair pilgiims, cut off from their 
 former ties, and straitly united to one another, had 
 been sent forth to wander over the world. 
 
 Wilhelm, who wanted not the gift of accurately 
 noting what he saw, took down her narrative some 
 time afterward in writing : this, as he compiled it and 
 transmitted it by Hersilia to Natalia, we purpose by 
 and by communicating to our readers. 
 
 The last evening was now come ; and a rising, most 
 clear, full moon concealed the transition from day to 
 night. The party had assembled and seated themselves 
 on one of the highest terraces, to see distinct and un- 
 impeded, and ghttering in the sheen of east and west, 
 the peaceful lake, hidden partly in its length, but 
 visilile over all its breadth. 
 
 Wliatever in such circumstances might be talked of, 
 it was natural once more to repeat the hundred times 
 repeated ; to mention the beauties of this sky, of this 
 water, of this land, under the influences of a strong sun 
 and milder moon, — nay, exclusively and lyrically to 
 recognise and describe them. 
 
 But what none of them uttered, what each durst 
 scarcely avow to himself, was the deep, mournful feel- 
 ing which, stronger or weaker, but with equal truth 
 and tenderness, was beating in every bosom. The 
 presentiment of parting diffused itself over present 
 union : a gradual stagnation was becoming almost 
 painful. 
 
 Then at last the singer roused himself, summoned 
 up his resolution ; with strong tones, preluding on his
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 139 
 
 instrument ; heedless of the former well-meant reserve. 
 Mignon's figure, with the first soft song of the gentle 
 child, were hovering before him. Passionately hurried 
 over the limits, with longing touch awakening the 
 sweetly sounding strings, he began to raise, — 
 
 " Dost know the land where citrons, lemons, grow, 
 Gold oranges 'neath dusky foliage . . ." 
 
 Hilaria rose in deepest agitation, and hurried away, 
 veiling her face : our fair widow, with a motion of 
 refusal, waved her hand toward the singer ; while she 
 caught Wilhelm's arm with the other. The perplexed 
 and half-unconscious youth followed Hilaria : WiJhelm, 
 by his more considerate guide, was led after them. 
 And flow, when they stood all four under the high 
 moonshine, the general emotion was no longer to be 
 concealed. The women threw themselves into each 
 other's arms ; the men embraced each other ; and Luna 
 w^as witness of the noblest, chastest tears. Some rec- 
 ollection slowly returned : they forced themselves 
 asunder, silent, under strange feelings and wishes, 
 from wliich hope was already cut off. And now our 
 artist, whom his friend dragged with him, felt himself 
 here under the void heaven, in the solemn, lovely hour 
 of night, initiated in the first stage of remmciation, 
 wliich those friends had already passed through, though 
 they now saw themselves again in danger of being 
 sharply tried. 
 
 Not till late had the young men gone to rest ; awak- 
 ening in the early morning, they took heart ; thought 
 themselves now strong enough for a farewell to this 
 paradise ; devised many plans for still, without vio- 
 lation of duty, at least lingering in the pleasant 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 "Wliile purposing to introduce their projects to this 
 effect, tliey were cut short by intelligence, that, with
 
 I40 meister's travels 
 
 the earliest break of day, the ladies had departed. A 
 letter from the hand of our Queen of Hearts gave them 
 more precise information. You might have doubted 
 whether sense rather than goodness, love rather than 
 friendship, acknowledgment of merit rather than soft, 
 bashful favour, was expressed in it. But, alas ! in the 
 conclusion stood the hard request, that our two wan- 
 derers were neither to follow their heroines, nor any- 
 where to seek them ; nay, if they chanced to see each 
 other, they were faithfully to avoid meeting. 
 
 And now the paradise, as if by the touch of an 
 enchanter's rod, was changed for our friends into 
 an utter desert ; and certainly they would have smiled 
 at themselves had they perceived at this moment how 
 unjust and unthankful they were on a sudden become 
 to so fair and remarkable a scene. No self-seeking 
 hypochondriac could so sharply and spitefully have 
 rated and censured the decay of the buildings, the 
 neglected condition of the walls, the weathered aspect 
 of the towers, the grassy obstruction of the walks, 
 the perishing of the trees, the mossiness and mould- 
 ering of the artificial grottos, and whatever else of 
 that sort was to be observed, as our two travellers 
 now did. By degrees, however, they settled them- 
 selves as circumstances would admit : the artist care- 
 fully packed up his work ; they both set sail ; Wilhelm 
 accompanying him to the upper quarter of the lake, 
 where, by yjrevious agreement, the former set forth on 
 his way to Natalia, to introduce her by his fair land- 
 scape-papers into scenes wliich, perhaps, she might not 
 soon have an opportunity of viewing with her eyes. 
 He was at the same time commissioned to inform her 
 confessionally of the late incident, which had reduced 
 him to a state such that he might be received with 
 hearty kindness by the confederates in the vow of 
 renunciation, and with soft, friendly treatment in the 
 midst of them, be comforted if he could not be healed.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 In this division of our work, the exculpatory " Word 
 from the Editor " might have been more requisite than 
 even in the foregoing chapter ; for there, though we 
 had not the paintings of the master and his fair scholar, 
 on which all depended, to exhibit before our readers, 
 and could neither make the perfection of the finished 
 artist, nor the commencing stintedness nor rapid devel- 
 opment of the art-loving beauty, visible to their eyes, 
 yet still the description might not be altogether ineffi- 
 cient, and many genial and thought-exalting matters 
 remained to be imparted. But here, where the busi- 
 ness in hand is a great object, which one could 
 have wished to see treated in the most precise manner, 
 there is, unhappily, too Httle noted down; and we 
 cannot hope that a complete view will be attained 
 from our communications. 
 
 Again, it is to be observed, that in the novel, as 
 in universal history, we have to struggle with uncer- 
 tain computations of time, and cannot always decisively 
 fix what has happened sooner, and what later. We 
 shall hold, therefore, by the surest points. 
 
 That a year must have passed since Wilhelm left 
 the pedagogic province is rendered certain by the cir- 
 cumstance that we now meet him at the festival to 
 which he had been invited : but as our wandering 
 renunciants sometimes unexpectedly dive down and 
 vanish from our sight, and then again emerge into 
 
 141
 
 142 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 view at a place where they were not looked for, it can- 
 not be determined with certainty what track they have 
 followed in the interim. 
 
 Now, however, the traveller advances from the side 
 of the plain country into the pedagogic province : he 
 comes over fields and pasturages ; skii'ts, on the dry 
 lea, many a httle freshet ; sees bushy rather than 
 woody hills ; a free prospect on all sides, over a surface 
 but httle undulated. On such tracks, he did not long 
 doubt that he was in the horse-producing region ; and 
 accordingly he failed not here and there to observe 
 greater or smaller herds of mares and foals. But all 
 at once the horizon darkens with a fierce cloud of dust, 
 which, rapidly swellhig nearer and nearer, covers all 
 the breadth of the space, yet at last, rent asunder by 
 a sharp side wind, is forced to disclose its interior 
 tumult. 
 
 At full gallop rushes forward a vast multitude of 
 these noble animals, guided and held together by 
 mounted keepers. The monstrous hurly-burly whirls 
 past the wanderer : a fair boy among the keepers 
 looks at him with surprise, pulls in, leaps down, 
 and embraces his father. 
 
 Now commences a questioning and answering: the 
 boy relates that an agricultural life had not agreed with 
 him; the harvest-home he had, indeed, found dehght- 
 ful, but the subsequent arrangements, the ploughing and 
 digging, by no means so. This the superiors remark, 
 and observe at the same time that he likes to employ 
 himself with animals: they direct him to the useful 
 and necessary domestic breeds, try him as a seques- 
 tered herdsman and keeper, and at last promote him to 
 the more lively equestrian occupation, where accord- 
 ingly he now, himself a young foal, has to watch over 
 foals, and to forward their good nourishment and train- 
 ing under the oversight of skilful comrades. 
 
 Father and son, following the herd by various lone-
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS i43 
 
 lying spacious farmyards, readied the town, or handet, 
 near which the gieat annual market was held. Here 
 rages an incredible confusion, in which it is hard 
 to deterniuie whether merchants or wares raise more 
 dust. From all countries, jmrchasers assemble here 
 to procure animals of noble blood and careful training : 
 all the languages of the earth, you would fancy, meet 
 your ear. Amid all this liubbub, too, rises the lively 
 sound of powerful wind instruments: everythmg be- 
 speaks motion, vigour, antl life. 
 
 The wanderer meets his overseer of last year, who 
 presents him to the others: he is even introduced 
 to one of the Three, and by him, though only in 
 passing, paternally and expressively saluted. 
 
 Wilhelm, here again observing an example of exclu- 
 sive culture and hfe-leading, expresses a desire to know 
 in what else the pupils are practised, by way of 
 counterpoise, that so in this wild, and, to a certain 
 degree, savage occupation of feeding animals, the youth 
 may not himself roughen into an animal. And, in 
 answer, he is gratified to learn, that precisely with this 
 violent and rugged-looking occupation the softest in 
 the world is united, — the learning and practising of 
 languages. 
 
 " To this," it was said, " we have been induced by 
 the circumstance, that there are youths from all quar- 
 ters of the world assembled here ; now, to prevent 
 them from uniting, as usually happens when abroad, 
 into national knots, and forming exclusive parties, we 
 endeavour by a free communication of speech to 
 approximate them. 
 
 " Indeed, a general acquaintance with languages is 
 here in some degree rendered necessary ; since, in our 
 yearly market festivals, every foreigner wishes to con- 
 verse in his own tones and icUom, and, in the course of 
 cheapening and purchasing, to proceed with all possible 
 convenience. That no Babylonish confusion of tongues,
 
 144 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 however, no corruption of speech, may arise from this 
 practice, we employ a different language month by 
 month, throughout the year ; according to the maxim, 
 that, in learning anything, its first principles alone 
 should be taught by constraint. 
 
 " We look upon our scholars," said the overseer, " as 
 so many swimmers, who, in the element which threat- 
 ened to swallow them, feel mth astonishment that 
 they are lighter, that it bears and carries them forward ; 
 and so it is with everything that man undertakes. 
 
 " However, if any one of our young men show a 
 special inclination for this or the other language, we 
 neglect not, in the midst of this tumultuous-looking 
 Hfe, which nevertheless offers very many quiet, idly 
 sohtary, nay, tedious hours, to provide for his true and 
 substantial instruction. Our riding grammarians, among 
 whom there are even some pedagogues, you would be 
 surprised to discover among these bearded and beard- 
 less centaurs. Your Felix has turned himself to Italian ; 
 and, in the monotonous solitude of his herdsman hfe, 
 you shall hear him send forth many a dainty song 
 with proper feehng and taste. Practical activity and 
 expertness are far more compatible with sufficient in- 
 tellectual culture than is generally supposed." 
 
 Each of these districts was celebrating its pecuhar 
 festival, so the guest was now conducted to the instru- 
 mental music department. This tract, skirted by the 
 level country, began from its very border to exhibit 
 kind and beautifully changing valleys ; little trim 
 woods ; soft brooks, by the side of which, among the 
 sward, here and there a mossy crag modestly stood 
 forth. Scattered, bush-encircled dwellings you might 
 see on the hillsides ; in soft hollows, the houses clus- 
 tered nearer together. Those gracefully separated 
 cottages lay so far apart, that neither tones nor mis- 
 tones could be heard from one to the other. 
 
 They now approached a wide space, begirt with
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 145 
 
 buildings and shady trees, where crowded, man on 
 man, all seemed on the stretch of expectation and 
 attention. Just as the stranger entered, there was 
 sent forth from all the uistruments a grand symplicmy, 
 the full, rich power and tenderness of which he could 
 not but admire. Opposite the spacious main orchestra 
 was a smaller one, wliich failed not to attract his 
 notice : here stood various younger and elder scholars : 
 each held his instrument in readiness without playing ; 
 these were they who as yet could not, or durst not, 
 join in with the whole. It was interesting to observe 
 how they stood, as it were, on the start ; and our friend 
 was informed that such a festival seldom passed over 
 without some one or other of them suddenly developing 
 his talent. 
 
 As, among the instrumental, music singing was now 
 introduced, no doubt could remain that this also was 
 favoured. To the question, Wliat other sort of culture 
 was here blended in kind union with the chief employ- 
 ment, our wanderer learned, in reply, that it was 
 poetry, and of the lyrical kind. In this matter it 
 appeared their main concern was, that both arts should 
 be developed, each for itself and from itself, but then 
 also in contrast and combination with each other. The 
 scholars were first instructed in each according to its 
 own limitations, then taught how the two reciprocally 
 limit, and again reciprocally free each other. 
 
 To poetical rhythm the musical artist opposes meas- 
 ure of tone, and movement of tone. But here the 
 mastery of Music over Poesy soon shows itself ; for if 
 the latter, as is fit and necessary, keep her quantities 
 never so steadily in view, still for the musician few 
 syllables are decidedly short or long : at his pleasure he 
 can overset the most conscientious procedure of the 
 rhythmer, — nay, change prose itself into song; from 
 which, in truth, the richest possibOities present them- 
 selves: and the poet would soon feel himself an-
 
 146 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 uiliilated if he could not, on his own side, by lyrical 
 tenderness and boldness, inspire the musician with 
 reverence, and, now in the softest sequence, now by 
 the most abrupt transitions, awaken new feelings in 
 the mind. 
 
 The singers to be met with here are mostly poets 
 themselves. Dancing also is taught in its fundamental 
 principles, that so all these accomplishments may regu- 
 larly spread themselves into every district. 
 
 The guest, on being led across the next boundary, at 
 once perceived an altogether different mode of building. 
 The houses were no longer scattered into separation, 
 no longer in the shape of cottages : they stood regularly 
 united, beautiful in their exterior, spacious, conveuient, 
 and elegant withm ; you here saw an unconfined, well- 
 built, stately town, corresponding to the scene it stood 
 in. Here the plastic arts, and the trades akin to them 
 have their home ; and a peculiar silence reigns over 
 these spaces. 
 
 The plastic artist, it is true, must still figure himseK 
 as standing in relation to all that lives and moves 
 among men ; but his occupation is sohtary : and yet, 
 by the strangest contradiction, there is, perhaps, no 
 other that so decidedly requires a hviog accompani- 
 ment and society. Now, here, in that circle, is each 
 in silence forming shapes that are for ever to engage 
 the eyes of men : a hohday stillness reigns over the 
 whole scene ; and did you not here and there catch the 
 picking of stone-hewers, and the measured stroke of 
 carpenters, who are now busily employed in finishing 
 a lordly edifice, the air were unmoved by any sound. 
 
 Our wanderer was struck, moreover, by the earnest- 
 ness, the singular rigour, with which beginners, as well 
 as more advanced pupils, were treated : it seemed as if 
 no one, by his own power and judgment, accomplished 
 anything, but as if a secret spirit, striving toward one 
 single great aim, pervaded and vivified them all. No-
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 147 
 
 where did you observe a scheme or sketch : every stroke 
 was drawn with forethought. As the wanderer inquired 
 of his guide the reason of this jteculiar procedure, he 
 was told, " Tliat imagination was, in itself, a vague, 
 unstable power, which the whole merit of the plastic 
 artist consisted in more and more determining, fixing, 
 nay, at last exalting to visible presence." 
 
 The necessity for sure principles in other arts was 
 mentioned. " Would the musician," it was said, " per- 
 mit his scholar to dash wildly over the strings, — nay, 
 to invent bars and intervals for himself at his own 
 good pleasure ? Here it is palpable tliat nothing can 
 be left to the caprice of the learner : the element he is 
 to work in is irrevocably given ; the implement he is 
 to wield is put into his hands ; nay, the very way and 
 manner of Ms using it, I mean the changing of the 
 fingers, he finds prescribed to him ; so ordered that the 
 one part of his hand shall give place to the other, and 
 each prepare the proper path for its follower : by such 
 determinate cooperation only can the impossible at 
 last become possible. 
 
 " But what chiefly vindicates the practice of strict 
 requisitions, of decided laws, is that genius, that native 
 talent, is precisely the readiest to seize them, and yield 
 them willing obedience. It is only the half-gifted that 
 would wish to put his own contracted singularity in 
 the place of the unconditional whole, and justify 
 his false attempts under cover of an unconstrainable 
 originality and independence. To this we grant no 
 currency : we guard our scholars from all such mis- 
 conceptions, whereby a large portion of hfe, nay, often 
 the whole of hfe, is apt to be perplexed and dis- 
 jointed. 
 
 " With genius we love most to be concerned, for this 
 is animated just by that good spirit of quickly recog- 
 nising what is profitable for it. Genius understands 
 that Art is called Art, because it is 7wt Nature. Genius
 
 148 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 bends itself to respect even toward what may be named 
 conventional ; for what is this but agreeing, as the 
 most distinguished men have agreed, to regard the 
 unalterable, the indispensable, as the best ? And does 
 not such submission always turn to good account ? 
 
 "Here, too, as in all our departments, to the great 
 assistance of the teachers, our three reverences and 
 their signs, with some changes suitable to the nature 
 of the main employment, have been introduced and 
 inculcated." 
 
 The wanderer, in his further survey, was surprised to 
 observe that the town seemed still extending; street 
 unfolding itself from street, and so offering the most 
 varied prospects. The exterior of the edifices corres- 
 ponded to their destination : they were dignified and 
 stately, not so much magnificent as beautiful. To the 
 nobler and more earnest buildings in the centre of 
 the town the more cheerful were harmoniously ap- 
 pended ; till, farther out, gay, decorated suburbs, in 
 graceful style, stretched forth into the country, and at 
 last separated into garden-houses. 
 
 The stranger could not fail to remark that the dwell- 
 ings of the musicians in the preceding district were by 
 no means to be compared, in beauty or size, with the 
 present, wliich painters, statuaries, and architects in- 
 habited. He was told that this arose from the nature 
 of the thing. The musician, ever shrouded in himself, 
 must cultivate his inmost being, that so he may turn 
 it outward. The sense of the eye he may not flatter. 
 The eye easUy corrupts the judgment of the ear, and 
 allures the spirit from the inward to the outward. 
 Inversely, again, the plastic artist has to hve in the 
 external world, and to manifest his inward being, as it 
 were, unconsciously, in and upon what is outward. 
 Plastic artists should dwell like kings and gods : how 
 else are they to build and decorate for kings and gods ? 
 They must at last so raise themselves above the com-
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 149 
 
 mon that the whole mass of a people may feel itself 
 ennobled in and by their works. 
 
 Our friend then begged an explanation of another 
 paradox. Why, at this time, so festive, so enhvening, 
 so tuniultuously excited, in the other regions, the 
 greatest stillness prevailed here, and all labours were 
 continued ? 
 
 " A plastic artist," it was answered, " needs no fes- 
 tival. Wlien he has accomplished something excellent 
 it stands, as it has long done before his own eye, now 
 at last before the eye of the world. In his task he 
 needed no repetition, no new effort, no fresh succ&ss ; 
 whereas the musician constantly atllicts himself with 
 all this : and to him, therefore, the most splendid fes- 
 tival, in the most numerous assemblage, should not be 
 refused." 
 
 " Yet, at such a season," replied Wilhelm, " some- 
 thing like an exhibition might be desirable, in which 
 it would be pleasant to inspect and judge the triennial 
 progress of your best pupils." 
 
 " In other places," it was answered, " an exhibition 
 may be necessary : with us it is not. Our whole being 
 and nature is exhibition. Look round you at these 
 buildings of every sort, all erected by our pupils, and 
 this not without plans, a hundred times talked of 
 and meditated ; for the builder must not gi'ope and 
 experiment : what is to continue standing must stand 
 rightly, and satisfy, if not for ever, yet at least for a 
 long space of time. If we cannot help committing 
 errors, we must hiild none. 
 
 " With statuaries we proceed more laxly, most so of 
 all with painters : to both we give liberty to try this 
 and that, each in his own way. It stands in their 
 power to select, in the interior or exterior compart- 
 ments of edifices in public places, some space which 
 they may incline to decorate. They give forth their 
 ideas ; and, if these are in some degree to be approved
 
 150 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 of, the completion of them is permitted, and this in two 
 ways : either with hberty, sooner or later, to remove 
 the work, should it come to displease the artist; or 
 with the condition that what is once set up shall 
 remain unalterable in its place. Most part choose the 
 first of these offers, retaining in their own hands this 
 power of removal ; and in the performance they con- 
 stantly avail themselves of the best advice. The second 
 case occurs seldomer ; and we then observe that the 
 artist trusts less to himself, holds long conferences with 
 companions and critics, and by this means produces 
 works really estimable, and deserving to endure." 
 
 After all this our traveller neglected not to ask. 
 What other species of instruction was combined with 
 the main one here ? and received for answer, that it was 
 poetry, and of the epic sort. 
 
 This to our friend must have seemed a little singular, 
 when he heard further that the pupils were not allowed 
 to read or hear any finished poems by ancient or mod- 
 ern poets. " We merely impart to them," it was said, 
 " a series of mythuses, traditions, and legends, in the 
 most laconic form. And now, from the pictorial or 
 poetic execution of these subjects, we at once discover 
 the peculiar productive gift of the genius devoted to the 
 one or the other art. Both poet and painter thus labour 
 at the same fountain ; and each endeavours to draw off 
 the water to his own side to his own advantage, and 
 attain his own required objects with it ; in which he 
 succeeds much better than if he attempted again to 
 fashion something that has been fashioned already." 
 
 The traveller himself had an opportunity of seeing 
 how this was accomplished : several painters were busy 
 in a room ; a gay young friend was relating with great 
 minuteness a very simple story ; so that he employed 
 almost as many words as the others did pencil-strokes, 
 to complete the same exhibition, and round it fully off. 
 
 He was told, that, in working together, the friends
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 151 
 
 were wont to carry on much pleasant conversation ; 
 and that in this way several improvisatori had unfolded 
 their gifts, and succeeded in exciting great enthusiasm 
 for this twofold mode of representation. 
 
 Our friend now reverted his inquiries to the subject 
 of plastic art. " You have no exhibition," said he, " and 
 therefore, I suppose, give no prize either ? " 
 
 " No," said the other, " we do not ; but here, close 
 by, we can show you something which we reckon more 
 useful." 
 
 They entered a large hall, appropriately lighted from 
 above : a wide circle of busy artists first attracted the 
 eye ; and from the midst of these rose a colossal group 
 of figures, elevated with pleasing effect in the centre of 
 the place. Male and female forms, of gigantic power, 
 in violent postures, reminded one of that lordly fight 
 between heroic youths and Amazons, wherein hate and 
 enmity at last issue in mutually regi-etful alliance. This 
 strikingly intertwisted piece of art presented an equally 
 favourable aspect from every point of its circuit. In 
 a wide ring round it were many artists sitting and 
 standing, each occupied in his own way, — the painter 
 at his easel, the drawer at liis sketch-board : some were 
 modelling it in full, others in bas-relief : there were even 
 architects engaged in planning the pedestal, on which 
 a similar group, when wi-ought in marble, was to be 
 erected. Each individual was proceeding by his own 
 method in this task : painters and drawers were bring- 
 ing out the group to a plain surface, careful, however, 
 not to destroy its figures, but to retain as much of it as 
 possible. In the same manner were works in bas-relief 
 going forward. One man only had repeated the whole 
 gi-oup in a miniature scale, and in certain movements 
 and arrangements of limbs he really seemed to have 
 surpassed his model. 
 
 And now it came out that this man was the maker 
 of the model ; who, before working it in marble, had
 
 152 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 here submitted his performance, not to a critical, but to 
 a practical trial, and by accurately observing whatever 
 any of his fellow artists in his special department and 
 way of thought might notice, retain, or alter in the 
 group, was purposing, in subsequent consideration, to 
 turn all_ this to his own profit : so that, w^hen at length 
 the grand work stood finished in marble, though under- 
 taken, planned, and executed by one, it might seem to 
 belong to all. 
 
 The gi-eatest silence reigned throughout tliis apart- 
 ment also ; but the superior raised his voice, and cried, 
 " Is there any of you, then, who, in presence of this 
 stationary work, can, with gifted words, so awaken our 
 imagination, that all we here see concreted shall again 
 become fluid, without losing its character, and so con- 
 vince us that what our artist has here laid hold of was 
 indeed the worthiest ? " 
 
 Called forth on all sides by name, a fair youth laid 
 down Ills work, and, as he stepped forward, began a 
 quiet speech, seemingly intended merely to describe the 
 present group of figures ; but erelong he cast himself 
 into the region of poetry, plunged into the middle of the 
 action, and ruled this element hke a master : by degrees 
 his representation so swelled and mounted by lordly 
 words and gestures, that the rigid gi-oup seemed actually 
 to move about its axis, and the number of its figures to 
 be doubled and trebled. Wilhelm stood enraptured, and 
 at last exclaimed, " Can we now forbear passing over 
 into song itself, into rhythmic melody ? " 
 
 " This I should wish to deprecate," said the overseer ; 
 " for, if our excellent statuary will be candid, he will 
 confess to us that our poet scarcely pleases him ; and 
 this because their arts he in the most opposite regions : 
 on the other hand, I durst bet, that here and there a 
 painter has not failed to appropriate some living touches 
 from the speech. 
 
 "A soft, kindly song, however, I could wish our
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 153 
 
 friend to hear : there is one, for instance, which you 
 sing to an air so lovely and earnest ; it turns on art 
 in general, and I myself never hsteu to it without 
 pleasure." 
 
 After a pause, in which they beckoned to each other, 
 and settled their arraugeuieuts by signs, the following 
 heart and spirit stirring song resounded in stately 
 melody from all sides : 
 
 " While inventing and effecting, 
 
 Artist by thyself continue long: 
 The result art thou expecting, 
 
 Haste and see it in the throng. 
 Here in others look, discover 
 
 What thy own life's course has been ; 
 And thy deeds of years past over, 
 
 In thy fellow man be seen. 
 
 " The devising, the uniting, 
 
 What and how the forms shall be, 
 One thing will the other lighten. 
 
 And at last comes joy to thee ! 
 Wise and true what thou impartest, 
 
 Fairly shaped, and softly done : 
 Thus of old the cunning artist 
 
 Artist-like his glory won. 
 
 " As all Nature's thousand changes 
 
 But one changeless God proclaim ; 
 So in Art's wide kingdoms ranges 
 
 One sole meaning still the same: 
 This is Truth, eternal Reason, 
 
 Which from Beauty takes its dress, 
 And, serene through time and season, 
 
 Stands for aye in loveliness. 
 
 " While the orator, the singer, 
 
 Pour their hearts in rhyme and prose, 
 'Neath the painter's busy finger 
 
 Shall bloom forth Life's cheerful rose. 
 Girt with sisters, in the middle, 
 
 And with Autumn's fruitage blent ;
 
 154 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 That of life's mysterious riddle 
 Some short glimpses may be hent. 
 
 " Thousand-fold and graceful, show thou 
 
 Form from forms evolving fair ; 
 And of man's bright image know thou 
 
 That a God once tarried there: 
 And, whate'er your tasks or prizes, 
 
 Stand as brethren one and all ; 
 While, like song, sweet incense rises 
 
 From the altar at your call." 
 
 All this Wilhelm could not but let pass, though it 
 must have seemed paradoxical enough, and, had he not 
 seen it with his eyes, might even have appeared impos- 
 sible. But now, when it was explained and pointed out 
 to liim, openly and freely, and in fair sequence, he 
 scarcely needed to put any further question on the 
 subject. However, he at last addressed his conductor 
 as follows : " I see here a most prudent provision made 
 for much that is desirable in life ; but tell me further, 
 which of your regions exhibits a similar attention to 
 dramatic poetry, and where could I instruct myself in 
 that matter ? I have looked round over all your edi- 
 fices, and observed none that seemed destined for such 
 an object." 
 
 " In reply to this question, we must not hide from 
 you, that, in our whole province, there is no such 
 edifice to be seen. The drama presupposes the exist- 
 ence of an idle multitude, perhaps even of a populace ; 
 and no such class finds harbour with us : for birds of 
 that feather, when they do not in spleen forsake us 
 of their own accord, we soon take care to conduct over 
 the marches. Doubt not, however, that in our Institu- 
 tion, so universal in its character, this point was care- 
 fully meditated ; but no region could be found for the 
 purpose, everywhere some important scruple came in 
 the way. Indeed, who among our pupils could readily 
 determine, with pretended mirth or hypocritical sor-
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 155 
 
 row, to excite in the rest a feeliug untrue in itself, and 
 alien to the moment, for the sake of calling forth 
 an always duluous satisfaction ? Such juggleries we 
 reckoned in all cases dangerous, and could not recon- 
 cile with our earnest objects." 
 
 " It is said, however," answered Wilhelm, " that this 
 far-stretching art promotes all the rest of whatever 
 sort." 
 
 " Nowise," answered the other : " it employs the rest, 
 but spoils tliem. I do not blame a player for uniting 
 himself with a painter ; but the painter, in such society, 
 is lost. Without any conscience, the player will lay 
 hold of whatever art or hfe presents him, and use it for 
 his fugitive objects, indeed, with no small profit : the 
 painter, again, who could wish in return to extract ad- 
 vantage from the theatre, will constantly find himself a 
 loser by it ; and so also in the like case will the nmsi- 
 cian. The combined arts appear to me like a family of 
 sisters, of whom the gi-eater part were incHned to good 
 economy, but one was light-headed, and desirous to 
 appropriate and squander the whole goods and chattels 
 of the household. The theatre is this wasteful sister : it 
 has an ambiguous origin, which in no case, whether as 
 art or trade or amusement, it can wholly conceal." 
 
 Wilhelm cast Ms eyes on the ground with a deep 
 sigh : for all that he had enjoyed or suffered on the 
 stage rose at once before his mind ; and he blessed 
 the good men who were wise enough to spare their 
 pupils such pain, and, out of principle and conviction, 
 to l)anish such errors from their sphere. 
 
 His attendant, however, did not leave him long in 
 these meditations, but continued, " As it is our highest 
 and holiest principle, that no talent, no capacity, be 
 misdirected, we cannot hide from ourselves, that, 
 among so large a number, here and there a mimical 
 gift will sometimes decidedly come to light ; exhibiting 
 itseK in an irresistible desir-e to ape the characters.
 
 156 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 forms, movements, speech, of others. This we certainly 
 do not encourage : but we observe our pupil strictly ; 
 and, if he continue faithful to his nature, then we have 
 already estabhshed an intercourse with the great 
 theatres of all nations ; and so thither we send any 
 youth of tried capability, that, as the duck on the 
 pond, so he on the boards, may be forthwith conducted, 
 full speed, to the future quack-quacking, and gibble- 
 gabbling, of his hfe." 
 
 WiUielm heard this with patience, but only with half 
 conviction, perhaps with some spleen : for so strangely 
 is man tempered, that he may be persuaded of the 
 worthlessness of any darling object, may turn away 
 from it, nay, even execrate it, but yet will not see 
 it treated in this way by others ; and perhaps the 
 sphit of Contradiction, wliich dwells in all men, never 
 rouses itself more vehemently and stoutly than in such 
 cases. 
 
 And the editor of these sheets may himself confess 
 that he lets not this strange passage through Ms hands 
 without some touch of anger. Has not he, too, in many 
 senses, expended more Hfe and faculty than was right 
 on the theatre ? And would these men convince him 
 that this has been an unpardonable error, a fruitless 
 tod? 
 
 But we have no time for appending, in splenetic 
 mood, such remembrances and after-feelings to the 
 narrative ; for our friend now finds himself agreeably 
 surprised, as one of the Three, and this a particularly 
 prepossessing one, again comes before his eyes. Kind, 
 open meekness, announcing the purest peace of soul, 
 came in its refreshing effluences along with him. 
 Trustfully the wanderer could approach, and feel his 
 trust returned. 
 
 Here he now learned that the chief was at present 
 in the sanctuary, instructing, teaching, blessing ; while 
 the Three had separated to visit all the regions, and
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 157 
 
 everywhere, after most thorough information o})taine(l, 
 and conferences with the subordinate overseers, to for- 
 ward what was in progi-ess, to found what was newly- 
 planned, and thereby faithfully discharge theii- high 
 duty. 
 
 This same excellent person now gave him a more 
 comprehensive view of their internal situation and 
 external connections ; explained to him the mutual 
 influences of one region on another ; and also ]jy what 
 steps, after a longer or a shorter date, a pupil could be 
 transferred from the one to the other. All this har- 
 monised completely with what he already knew. At 
 the same time he was much gratitied by the description 
 given of liis son, and their further plan of education 
 met with his entire approval. 
 
 He was now, by the assistants and overseer, in- 
 vited to a miners' festival, which was forthwith to be 
 celebrated. The ascent of the mountains was difficult ; 
 and Wilhelm fancied he observed that his guide walked 
 even slower toward evening, as if the darkness had not 
 been hkely to obstruct their path still more. But, 
 when deep night came round them, this enigma was 
 solved : our wanderer observed little flames come 
 glimmering and wavering forth from many dells and 
 chasms, gradually stretch themselves into lines, and 
 roll over the summits of the mountains. Much kind- 
 lier than when a volcano opens, and its belching roar 
 threatens whole countries with destruction, did tliis fair 
 light appear ; and yet, by degrees, it glowed with new 
 brightness ; grew stronger, broader, more continuous ; 
 glittered like a stream of stars, soft and lovely indeed, 
 yet spreading boldly over all the scene. 
 
 After the attendant had a little while enjoyed the 
 surprise of his guest, — for they could clearly enough 
 observe each other, their faces and forms, as well as 
 their path, being illuminated by the hght from the 
 distance, — he began, " You see here, in truth, a curious
 
 158 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 spectacle : these lights which, day and night, the whole 
 year over, gleam and work under ground, forwarding 
 the acqviisition of concealed and scarcely attainable 
 treasures, these now mount and well forth from their 
 abysses, and gladden the upper night. Scarcely could 
 one anywhere enjoy so brave a review as here, where 
 this most useful occupation, which, in its subterranean 
 concealment, is dispersed and hidden from the eye, 
 rises before us in its full completeness, and bespeaks 
 a great secret combination." 
 
 Amid such speeches and thoughts they had reached 
 the spot where these fire-brooks poured themselves into 
 a sea of flame surrounding a well-lighted insular space. 
 The wanderer placed himself in the dazzhng circle, 
 within which glittering lights by thousands formed an 
 imposing contrast with the miners, ranked round it 
 like a dark wall. Forthwith arose the gayest music 
 as accompaniment to becoming songs. Hollow masses 
 of rock came forward on macliinery, and opened a 
 resplendent interior to the eye of the delighted specta- 
 tor. Mimetic exhibitions, and whatever else at such 
 a moment can gratify the multitude, combined with 
 all this at once to excite and to satisfy a cheerful 
 attention. 
 
 But with what astonishment was Wilhelm filled 
 when, on being introduced to the superiors, he observed 
 friend Jarno in solemn, stately robes among the 
 number. " Not in vain," cried Jarno, " have I changed 
 my former name with the more expressive title of 
 Montan : thou findest me here initiated in mountain 
 and cave ; and now, if questioned, I could disclose and 
 explain to thee much that a year ago was still a riddle 
 to myself." 
 
 At this point our manuscripts forsake us : of the 
 conversation of these friends there is nothing specified ; 
 as httle can we discover the connection of what follows
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 159 
 
 next, — an incident of which in the same bundle, in 
 the same paper, we find brief notice : That a meeting 
 had taken place between our wanderer and Lotliario 
 and the abbd. Unhappily, in this, as in so many 
 other leaves, the date has been neglected. 
 
 Some passages, introduced rather in the way of 
 exclamation than of narrative, point to the high mean- 
 ing of renunciation, by wliich alone the first real en- 
 trance into life is conceivable. Then we come upon a 
 map, marked with several arrows pointing toward one 
 another ; and along with this we find, in a certain 
 sequence, several days of the mouth written down : so 
 that we might fancy ourselves again walking in the 
 real world, and moderately certain as to the next part 
 of our friend's route, were it not that here also various 
 marks and ciphers, appended in dili'erent ways, awoke 
 some fear that a secret meaning at the bottom of it 
 would for ever lie hid from us. 
 
 But what drives us out of all historical composure is 
 the strange circumstance, tliat, immediately on all this, 
 there comes in the most improbable narration, of a sort 
 like those tales whereby you long keep the hearer's 
 curiosity on the stretch with a series of wonders, and 
 at last explain, That you were talking of a dream. 
 However, we shall communicate without change what 
 lies before us : 
 
 " If hitherto we had continued in the metalliferous 
 part of the mountains, which, externally, is soft, and 
 by no means of a wild aspect, I was now conducted 
 through precipitous and scarcely passable rocks and 
 chasms : at last I gained the topmost summit, — a clitf, 
 the peak of which afforded room only for a single 
 person, who, if he looked down from it into the horrid 
 depth, might see furious mountain torrents foaming 
 througli black abysses. In the present case I looked 
 down without giddiness or terror, for I was hght of
 
 i6o MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 heart ; but now my attention fixed itself on some huge 
 crags rising opposite me, precipitous like my own, yet 
 offering on their summits a larger space of level. 
 Though parted by a monstrous chasm, the jutting 
 masses came so near together that I could distinctly 
 enough, with the naked eye, observe several persons 
 assembled on the summit. They were, for most 
 part, ladies, one of whom, coming forward to the very 
 verge, awakened in me double and treble anxiety ; as 
 I became completely convinced that it was Nataha 
 herself. The danger of such an unexpected interview 
 increased every moment ; but it grew boundless when 
 a perspective came before my eyes, and brought me 
 over to her, and her over to me. There is something 
 magical at all times in perspectives. Were we not 
 accustomed from youth to look through them, we 
 should shudder and tremble every time we put them 
 to our eyes. It is we who are looking, and it is not 
 we : a being it is whose organs are raised to a higher 
 pitch, whose hmitations are done away, who has 
 become entitled to stretch forth into infinitude. 
 
 " A^Tien, for example, we observe far-distant persons, 
 by means of such an instrument, and see them in un- 
 suspicious thoughtlessness foUowmg their business as if 
 they were solitary and unwatched, we could almost feel 
 afraid lest they might discover us, and indignantly 
 upbraid us for our treacherous curiosity. 
 
 "And so likewise did I, hemmed in by a strange 
 feeling, waver between proximity and distance, and 
 from instant to instant alternate between the two. 
 
 " Those others in their turn had observed us, as a 
 signal with a white handkerchief put beyond a doubt. 
 For a moment I delayed in my answer to it, finding 
 myself thus close beside the being whom I adored. 
 This is her pure, benign form : these are her taper 
 arms, which once so helpfully appeared before me, 
 after unblessed sorrows and perplexities, and at last,
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS i6i 
 
 too, though but for moments, sympathisiugly embraced 
 me. 
 
 " I saw distinctly enough that she, ton, had a per- 
 spective, and was looking over to me ; and I tailed not, 
 by such tokens as st(jt)d at my command, to express 
 the profession of a true and heartfelt attachment. 
 
 " And as experience teaches that remote objects, 
 wliich we have once clearly recognised through a per- 
 spective, afterward appear, even to the naked eye, as if 
 standing shaped in distinct nearness, be it that more 
 accurate knowledge sharpens the sense, or that imagina- 
 tion supplies what is wanting ; so now did I see this 
 beloved being as accurately and distinctly as if I could 
 have touched her, though her company continued still 
 irrecognisable. And as I was trampling round my 
 narrow station, struggHng toward her the more, the 
 abyss was like to swallow me, had not a helpful hand 
 laid hold of mine, and snatched me at once from my 
 danger and my fairest happiness."
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Heke at last we again step on firmer ground, the 
 localities of which we can settle with some probabihty ; 
 though still here and there on our way there occur a 
 few uncertainties, which it is not in our power alto- 
 gether to clear up. 
 
 As Wilhelm, in order to reach any point of the line 
 marked out by the first arrow, had to proceed obhquely 
 through the country, he found himself necessitated to 
 perform the journey on foot, leaving his luggage to be 
 carried after him. For this walk of his, however, he 
 was richly rewarded ; meeting at every step, quite un- 
 expectedly, with loveliest tracts of scenery. They were 
 of that sort which the last slope of a mountain region 
 forms in its meeting with the plain country ; bushy 
 hills, their soft declivities employed in domestic use ; 
 all level spaces green ; nowhere aught steep, unfruitful, 
 or unploughed to be noticed. Erelong he reached the 
 main valley, into which the side-waters flowed ; and 
 this, too, was carefully cultivated, graceful when you 
 looked over it, with taper trees marking the bends of 
 the river, and of the brooks which poured into it. On 
 looking at his map, his indicator, he observed with 
 surprise that the line drawn for Mm cut directly 
 through this valley ; so that, in the first place, he was 
 at least on the right road. 
 
 An old castle, in good repair, and seemingly built at 
 different periods, stood forth on a bushy hill, at the 
 foot of which a gay hamlet stretched along, with its 
 
 162
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 163 
 
 large inn rising prominent among the other houses. 
 Hither he proceeded, and was received by the landlord 
 kindly enough, yet with an excuse that he could not be 
 admitted, unless by the permission of a party who had 
 hired the whole establisiimuut for a time ; on which 
 account he, the landlord, was under the necessity of 
 sending all his guests to the older inn, wliich lay 
 farther up the hamlet. After a short conference, the 
 man seemed to bethink himself, and said, " Indeed, 
 there is no one of them at home even now : but this is 
 Saturday, and the bailiff will not fail to be here soon ; 
 he comes every week to settle the accounts of the last, 
 and make arrangements for the next. Truly, there is a 
 fair order reigns among these men, and a pleasure in 
 having to do with them, though they are strict enough ; 
 for, if they yield one no great profit, it is sure and con- 
 stant." He then desired his new guest to amuse him- 
 self in the large upper hall, and await what further 
 might occur. 
 
 Here Wilhelm, on entering, found a large, clean 
 apartment, except for benches and tables altogether 
 empty. So much the more was he surprised to see a 
 large tablet inserted above one of the doors, with these 
 words marked on it in golden letters, Uhi homines sunt 
 modi sunt ; wliich in modern tongue may signify, that, 
 where men combine in society, the way and manner in 
 which they like to be and to continue together is 
 directly established. This motto made our wanderer 
 think: he took it as a good omen; finding here, ex- 
 pressed and confirmed, a principle which he had often, 
 in the course of life, perceived for himself to be further- 
 some and reasonable. He had not waited long when 
 the bailiff made his appearance ; who, being forewarned 
 by the landlord, after a short conversation, and no very 
 special scrutiny, admitted "VVilhelm on the follo\\'ing 
 terms: To continue three days; to participate quietly 
 in whatever should occur ; and, happen what might, to
 
 164 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 ask no questions about the reason ; and, at taking leave, 
 to ask none about the score. All this our traveller 
 was .obliged to comply with, the deputy not being 
 allowed to yield in a single point. 
 
 The bailiff was about retiring, when a sound of vocal 
 music rolled up the stairs: two pretty young men 
 entered singing ; and these the baihff, by a simple sign, 
 gave to understand that their guest was accepted. 
 Without interrupting their song, they kindly saluted 
 the stranger, and continued their duet with the finest 
 grace ; showing clearly enough that they were well 
 trained, and complete masters of their art. As Wil- 
 helm testified the most attentive interest, they paused, 
 and inquired, If in his own pedestrian wanderings no 
 song ever occurred to him, which he went along singing 
 by himself ? "A good voice," answered Wilhelm, 
 " Nature has in truth denied me : yet I often feel as if 
 a secret Genius were whispering some rhythmic words 
 in my ear ; so that, in walking, I move to musical 
 measure ; fancjdng, at the same time, that I hear low 
 tones accompanying some song, which, in one way or 
 another, has pleasantly risen before me." 
 
 " If you recollect such a song, write it down for us," 
 said they : " we shaU see if we have skill to accompany 
 your singing-demon." He took a leaf from his note- 
 book, and handed them the following lines : 
 
 " From the mountains to the champaign, 
 
 By the glens and hills along, 
 Comes a rustling and a tramping, 
 
 Comes a motion as of song ; 
 And this undetermined roving 
 
 Brings delight, and brings good heed: 
 And thy striving, be 't with loving. 
 
 And thy living, be 't in deed ! " 
 
 After brief study, there arose at once a gay, march- 
 ing melody, which, in its repetition and restriction still
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 165 
 
 steppin<^ forward, luirried on the hearer with it : he was 
 in doubt wliether this was his own tune, his former 
 theme, or one now for the first time so fitted to the 
 words, that no other movement was conceivable. The 
 singers had for some time pleasantly proceeded in this 
 manner, when two stout young fellows came in, whom, 
 by their accoutrements, you directly recognised as ma- 
 sons ; two others, who followed them, being as evi- 
 dently carpenters. These four, softly laying down 
 their tools, listened to the music, and soon struck in 
 with sure and decided voices ; so that to the mind it 
 seemed as if a real wayfaring company were stepping 
 along over hill and valley : and Wilhelm thought he 
 had never heard anything so graceful, so enlivening to 
 heart and mind. This enjoyment, however, was to be 
 increased yet further, and raised to the highest pitch, 
 by the entrance of a gigantic figure, mounting the stairs 
 with a hard, firm tread, which, with all his efforts, he 
 could scarcely moderate. A heav}^-laden dorsel he 
 directly placed in the corner : himself he seated on a 
 bench, which beginning to creak under his weight, the 
 others laughed, yet without going wrong in their music, 
 Wnhelm, however, was exceedingly surprised, when, 
 with a huge bass voice, this son of Anak joined in also. 
 The hall quivered ; and it was to be observed, that in 
 his part he altered the burden, and sang it thus : 
 
 " Life *s no resting, but a moving : 
 Let thy life be deed on deed ! " 
 
 Further, you could very soon perceive that he was 
 drawing down the time to a slower step, and forcing 
 the rest to follow him. Of tliis, when at last they 
 were satisfied and had concluded, they accused him ; 
 declaring he had tried to set them wrong. 
 
 " Not at all ! " cried he : " it is you who tried to set 
 me wrong, to put me out of my own step, which must
 
 1 66 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 be measured and sure, if I am to walk with my load- 
 ing up hill and down dale, and yet, in the end, arrive 
 at my appointed hour, to satisfy your wants." 
 
 One after the other these persons now passed into 
 an adjoining room to the bailiff', and Wilhelm easily 
 observed that they were occupied in settling accounts, 
 — a point, however, as to which he was not allowed 
 at present to inquire further. Two fair, hvely boys 
 in the meanwhile entered, and began covering a table 
 in all speed, moderately furnishing it with meat and 
 wine ; and the baihfi', coming out, invited them all to 
 sit down along with him. The boys waited, yet forgot 
 not their own concern, but enjoyed their share in a 
 standing posture. Wilhelm recollected witnessing sim- 
 ilar scenes during his abode among the players ; yet 
 the present company seemed to be of a much more 
 serious cast, constituted, not out of sport, for show, but 
 with a view to important concerns of life. 
 
 The conversation of the craftsmen with the bailiff 
 added strength to this conviction. These four active 
 young people, it appeared, were busy in the neighbour- 
 hood, where a violent conflagration had destroyed the 
 fairest village in the country ; nor did Wilhelm fail to 
 learn that tlie worthy bailiff was employed in getting 
 timber and other building materials : all which looked 
 the more enigmatical, as none of these persons seemed 
 to be resident here, but in all other points announced 
 themselves as transitory strangers. By way of conclu- 
 sion to the meal, St. Christopher — such was the name 
 they gave the giant — brought out, for good-night, a 
 dainty glass of wine, which had before been set aside : 
 a gay choral song kept the party still some time to- 
 gether, after they were out of sight ; and then Wil- 
 helm was at last conducted to a chamber of the 
 loveliest aspect and situation. The full moon, enhght- 
 ening a rich plain, was already up ; and in the bosom 
 of our wanderer it awoke remembrances of similar
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 167 
 
 scenes. The spirits of all dear friends hovered past 
 him: especially the image of Leuardo rose in him so 
 vividly, that he might have fancied the man himself 
 was standing before his eyes. All this had prepared 
 him with its kind influences for niglitly rest, when, on 
 a sudden, there arose a tone of so strange a nature, that 
 it almost frightened him. It sounded as from a dis- 
 tance, and yet seemed to be in the house itself; for 
 the building quivered many times, and the floors 
 reverberated when the sound rose to its highest pitch. 
 Wilhelm, though his ear was usually delicate in dis- 
 criminating tones, could make nothing of this : he 
 compared it to the droning roar of a huge organ-pipe, 
 which, for sheer compass, produces no determinate 
 note. Wliether this nocturnal terror passed away 
 toward morning, or Wilhelm by degrees became ac- 
 customed to the sound, and no longer heeded it, is 
 difficult to discover ; at any rate, he fell asleep, and 
 was in due time pleasantly awakened by the rising 
 sun. 
 
 Scarcely had one of the boys, who were in waiting, 
 brought him breakfast, when a figure entered, whom 
 he had already noticed last night at supper, without 
 clearly ascertaining his quahty. A well-formed, broad- 
 shouldered, yet nimble man, who now, by the imple- 
 ments which he spread out, announced himself as 
 barber, and forthwith prepared for performiQg his 
 much-desired office on Wilhelm. For the rest, he 
 was quite silent ; and with a light hand he went 
 through his task, without once having opened liis hps. 
 Wilhelm, therefore, began, and said, " Of your art you 
 are completely master, and I know not that I have 
 ever had a softer razor on my cheeks : at the same 
 time, however, you appear to be a strict observer of 
 the laws of the society." 
 
 Roguishly smiling, laying his finger on his lips, the 
 taciturn shaver glided through the door. " By my
 
 i68 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 sooth ! " cried Wilhelm after him, " I think you must 
 be old Redcloak ; if not himself, at least a descendant 
 of his : it is lucky for you that you ask no counter 
 service of me ; your turn would have been but sorrily 
 done." 
 
 No sooner had this curious personage retired than 
 the well-known bailiff came in, inviting our friend to 
 dinner for this day, in words which sounded pretty 
 strange : the Bond, so said the speaker, expressly, gave 
 the stranger welcome, requested his company at dinner, 
 and took pleasure in the hope of being more closely 
 connected with him. Inquiries were then made as to 
 the guest's health, and how he was contented with his 
 entertainment ; to all which he could only answer in 
 terms of satisfaction. He would, in truth, have liked 
 much to ask of this man, as previously of the silent 
 barber, some information touching the horrid sound 
 which throughout the night had, if not tormented, at 
 least discomposed Mm : but, mindful of his engage- 
 ment, he f orebore all questions ; hoping, that without 
 importunity, from the good will of the society, or in 
 some other accidental way, he might be informed 
 according to Ms wishes. 
 
 Our friend now, when left alone, began to reflect on 
 the strange person who had sent Mm this invitation, 
 and knew not well what to make of the matter. To 
 designate one or more superiors by a neuter noun 
 seemed to Mm a somewhat precarious mode of speech. 
 For the rest, there was such a stillness all round that 
 he could not recollect of ever having passed a stiller 
 Sunday. He went out of doors, and, hearing a sound 
 of bells, walked toward the village. Mass was just 
 over ; and, among the villagers and country people 
 crowding out of church, he observed three acquaint- 
 ances of last night, — a mason, a carpenter, and a boy. 
 Farther on he met among the Protestant worshippers 
 the other corresponding three. How the rest managed
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 169 
 
 their devotion was unknown to him ; but so mucli he 
 thought himself entitled to conclude, that in this 
 society a full rehgious toleration was practised. 
 
 About mid-day, at the castle gate, lie was met by 
 the baihll', who then conducted him through various 
 halls into a large ante-chamber, and there desired him 
 to take a seat. Many persons passed through into an 
 adjoining hall. Those already known were to be seen 
 among them ; St. Christopher himself went by : all 
 saluted the bailiff and tlie stranger. But what struck 
 our friend most in this affair was, that the whole party 
 seemed to consist of artisans, all dressed in the usual 
 fasliion, though extremely neat and clean : a few 
 among the number you might at most, perhaps, have 
 reckoned of the clerk species. 
 
 No more guests now making their appearance, the 
 bailiff led our friend through the stately door into a 
 spacious hall. Here a table of immense length had 
 been covered, past the lower end of which he was 
 conducted toward the head, where he saw three per- 
 sons standing in a cross direction. But what was his 
 astonishment when he approached, and Lenardo, 
 scarcely yet recognised, fell upon his neck. From 
 this surprise he had not recovered when another 
 person, with no less warmth and vivacity, likewise 
 embraced him; announcing himself as our strange 
 Friedrich, Natalia's brother. The rapture of these 
 friends diffused itself over all present : an exclama- 
 tion of joy and blessing sounded along the whole 
 table. But in a moment, the company being seated, 
 all again became silent ; and the repast, served up with 
 a certain solemnity, was enjoyed in like manner. 
 
 Toward the conclusion of the ceremony Lenardo 
 gave a sign : two singers rose, and Wilhelm was ex- 
 ceedingly surprised to hear in this place his yester- 
 night's song; which we, for the sake of what follows, 
 shall beg permission to insert once more :
 
 170 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 *< From the mountains to the champaign, 
 By the glens and hills along, 
 
 Comes a rustlitig and a tramping, 
 
 ■ Comes a motion as of song ; 
 
 And this undetermined roving 
 
 Brings delight, and brings good heed : 
 
 And thy striving, be 't with loving, 
 And thy living, be 't in deed ! " 
 
 Scarcely had this duet, accompanied by a chorus of 
 agreeable number, approached its conclusion, when two 
 other singers on the opposite .side started up impetu- 
 ously, and, with earnest vehemence, inverted rather 
 than continued the song ; to Wilhelm's astonishment, 
 proceeding thus : 
 
 "For the tie is snapped asunder. 
 
 Trust and loving hope are fled I 
 Can I tell, in fear and wonder, 
 
 With what dangers now bested? 
 I, cut off from friend and brother, 
 
 Like the widow in her woe. 
 With the one and not the other, 
 
 On and on, my way must go ! " 
 
 The chorus, taking up this strophe, grew more and 
 more numerous, more and more vociferous ; and yet 
 the voice of St. Christopher, from the bottom of the 
 table, could still be distinctly recognised among them. 
 The lamentation in the end rose almost to be frightful : 
 a spirit of dispiritment, combining with the skilful 
 execution of the singers, introduced something un- 
 natural into the whole ; so that it pained our friend, 
 and almost made him shudder. In truth, they all 
 seemed perfectly of one mind, and as if lamenting 
 their own fate on the eve of a separation. The 
 strange repetitions, the frequent resuscitation of a 
 fatiguing song, at length became dangerous in the 
 eyes of the Bond itself : Lenardo rose ; and all in-
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 171 
 
 staiitly sat down, abruptly breaking off their liymn. 
 The other, with friendly words, thus began : 
 
 " Indeed, I cannot blame you for continually recall- 
 ing to your minds the destiny which stands before us 
 all, that so, at any hour, you may be ready for it. 
 If aged and life-weary men have called to their neigh- 
 bours, Think of dying ! we younger and hfe-loving men 
 may well keep encouraging and reminding one another 
 with the cheerful words, Think of wandering ! Yet, 
 withal, of a thing which we either voluntarily under- 
 take, or believe ourselves constrained to, it were well 
 to speak with cheerfulness and moderation. You 
 yourselves know best what, in our situation, is fixed, 
 and what is movable : let us enjoy the former, too, in 
 sprightly and gay tones ; and to its success be this part- 
 ing cup now drunk ! " He emptied liis glass ancl sat 
 down : the four singers instantly rose, and in flowing, 
 connected tones, thus began : 
 
 " Keep not standing, fixed and rooted, 
 
 Briskly venture, briskly roam : 
 Head and hand, where'er tliou foot it, 
 
 And stout heart, are still at home. 
 In each land the sun does visit: 
 
 We are gay whate'er betide. 
 To give room for wand'ring is it 
 
 That the world was made so wide." 
 
 As the chorus struck in with its repetition of these 
 lines, Lenardo rose, with him all the rest. His nod 
 set the whole company into singing movement : those 
 at the lower end marched out, St. Christopher at their 
 head, in pairs through the hall ; and the uplifted 
 wanderers' song gi-ew clearer and freer the fartlier they 
 proceeded ; producing at last a particularly good effect 
 when from the terraces of the castle garden you looked 
 down over the broad valley, in whose fulness and 
 beauty you might well have Hked to lose yourself.
 
 172 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 While the multitude were dispersing this way and 
 that, according to their pleasure, Wilhelm was made 
 acquainted with the third superior. This was the 
 Amtmann, by whose kind influence many favours had 
 been done the society ; in particular, the castle of his 
 patron, the count, situated among several families of 
 rank, had been given up to their use so long as they 
 might think fit to tarry here. 
 
 Toward evening, while the friends were in a farsee- 
 ing grove, there came a portly figure over the thresh- 
 old, whom Wilhelm at once recognised as the barber 
 of this morning. To a low, mute bow of the man, 
 Lenardo answered, " You now come, as always, at 
 the right season, and will not delay to entertain us 
 with your talent. I may be allowed," continued he, 
 turning toward Wilhelm, " to give you some knowledge 
 of our society, the Bond of which I may flatter myself 
 that I am. No one enters our circle unless he have 
 some talents to show, which may contribute to the use 
 or enjoyment of society in general. This man is an 
 excellent surgeon ; of his skill as a beard-artist you 
 yourself can testify : for these reasons, he is no less 
 welcome than necessary to us. Now, as his employ- 
 ment usually brings with it a great and often burden- 
 some garruHty, he has engaged, for the sake of his own 
 culture, to comply with a certain condition ; as, indeed, 
 every one that means to live with us must agree to 
 constrain himself in some particular point, if the 
 greater freedom be left him in all other points. Ac- 
 cordingly, our barber has renounced the use of his 
 tongue, in so far as aught common or casual is to be 
 expressed by it : but, by this means, another gift of 
 speech has been unfolded in him, which acts by fore- 
 thought, cunningly and pleasurably ; I mean the gift 
 of narration. 
 
 " His life is rich in wonderful experiences, which he 
 used to spht in pieces, babbling of them at wrong
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS i73 
 
 times; but which he now, coustiained by silence, 
 repeats and arranges in his quiet thought. This also 
 his power of imagination now forwards, lending life 
 and movement to past occurrences. With no common 
 art and skill, he can relate to us genuine antique talcs, 
 or modern stories of the same fal)ul()us cast; thereby, 
 at the right hour, affording us a most pleasant enter- 
 tainment, when I loose his tongue for him, — which I 
 now do ; giving him, at the same time, this praise, that, 
 in the considerable period during which I have known 
 him, he has never once been guilty of a repetition. I 
 cannot but hope, that in the present case, for love and 
 respect to our dear guest, he will especially distinguish 
 himself." 
 
 A sprightly cheerfulness spread over Eedcloak's 
 face; and, without delay, he began speaking as 
 follows.
 
 CHAPTER XVL 
 
 THE NEW MELUSINA. 
 
 " Respected gentlemen ! Being aware that pre- 
 liminary speeches and introductions are not much to 
 your taste, I shall without further talk assure you, 
 that, in the present instance, I hope to fulfil your com- 
 mission moderately well. From me has many a true 
 history gone forth already, to the high and universal 
 satisfaction of hearers ; but to-day I may assert, that I 
 have one to tell which far surpasses the former, and 
 which, though it happened to me several years ago, 
 still disquiets me in recollecting it, nay, still gives hope 
 of some further development. 
 
 " By way of introduction, let me confess, that I have 
 not always so arranged my scheme of life as to be 
 certain of the next period in it, or even of the next 
 day. In my youth, I was no first-rate economist, and 
 often found myself in manifold perplexity. At one 
 time I undertook a journey, thinking to derive good 
 profit in the course of it ; but the scale I went upon 
 was too hberal : and after having commenced my 
 travel with extra-post, and then prosecuted it for a 
 time in the diligence, I at last found myself obliged to 
 front the end of it on foot. 
 
 " Like a gay young blade, it had been from of old 
 my custom, on entering any inn, to look round for the 
 landlady, or even the cook, and wheedle myself into 
 favour with her ; whereby, for most part, my shot was 
 somewhat reduced. 
 
 174
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS I75 
 
 " One night at dusk, as I was entering the post-house 
 of a little town, and purposing to set abuut my eustom- 
 ary operations, there came a fair double-seated coach 
 with four horses rattling up to the door behind me. I 
 turned round, and observed in it a young lady, with- 
 out maid, without servants. I hastened to open the 
 carriage for her, and to ask if I could help her in any- 
 thing. On stepping out, a fair form displayed itself; 
 and her lovely countenance, if you looked at it nar- 
 rowly, was adorned with a slight shade of sorrow. I 
 again asked if there was aught I could do for her. 
 'Oh, yes!' said she, 'if you will lift that little box 
 carefully, which you will find standing on the seat, and 
 bring it in ; but I beg very much of you to carry it 
 with all steadiness, and not to move or shake it in the 
 least.' I took out the box with gi-eat care : she shut 
 the coach door ; we walked up-stairs together, and she 
 told the servants that she was to stay here for the 
 night. 
 
 " We were now alone in the chamber : she desired 
 me to put the box on the table, which was standing at 
 the wall; and as, by several of her movements, I 
 observed that she wished to be alone, I took my leave, 
 reverently but warmly kissing her hand. 
 
 " ' Order supper for us two,' said she then : and you 
 may well conceive with what pleasure I executed the 
 commission ; scarcely deigning, in my pride of heart, 
 to cast even a side-look on landlady and menials. 
 With impatience I expected the moment that was 
 to lead me back to her. Supper was served : we took 
 our seats opposite each other; I refreshed my heart, 
 for the first time during a considerable while, with 
 a good meal, and no less with so desirable a sight 
 beside me: nay, it seemed as if she were growing 
 fairer and fairer every moment. 
 
 "Her conversation was pleasant, yet she carefully 
 waived whatever had reference to affection and love.
 
 176 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 The cloth was removed: I still lingered, I tried all 
 sorts of manoeuvres to get near her, but in vain ; she 
 kept me at my distance, by a certain dignity which I 
 could not withstand : nay, against my will, I had to 
 part from her at a rather early hour. 
 
 " After a night passed in waking or unrestfully dream- 
 ing, I rose early, inquired whether she had ordered 
 horses ; and, learning that she had not, I walked into 
 the garden, saw her standing dressed at the window, 
 and hastened up to her. Here, as she looked so fair, 
 and fairer than ever, love, roguery, and audacity all at 
 once started into motion within me : I rushed toward 
 her, and clasped her in my arms. ' Angelic, irresistible 
 being,' cried I, ' pardon ! but it is impossible ! ' — 
 With incredible dexterity she whisked herself out of 
 my arms, and I had not even time to imprint a kiss on 
 her cheek. 'Forbear such outbreakings of a sudden 
 fooHsh passion,' said she, ' if you would not scare away 
 a happiness which lies close beside you, but which 
 cannot be laid hold of till after some trials.' 
 
 " ' Ask of me what thou pleasest, angehc spirit ! ' 
 cried I, ' but do not drive me to despair.' She 
 answered, with a smile, ' If you mean to devote your- 
 self to my service, hear the terms. I am come hither 
 to visit a lady of my friends, and with her I purpose 
 to continue for a time : in the meanwhile, I could wish 
 that my carriage and this box were taken forward. 
 Will you engage with it ? You have nothing to do 
 but carefully to lift the box into the carriage and out, 
 to sit down beside it, and punctually take charge that 
 it receive no harm. When you enter an inn, it is put 
 upon a table, in a chamber by itself, in which you 
 must neither sit nor sleep. You lock the chamber- 
 door with this key, which will open and shut any lock, 
 and has the peculiar property, that no lock shut by it 
 can be opened in the interim.' 
 
 " I looked at her ; I felt strangely enough at heart ;
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 177 
 
 I promised to do all, if I nii^'ht hope to see her soon, 
 and if she would seal this hope to me with a kiss. 
 She did so, and from that moment I had become 
 entirely her bondman. I was now to order horses, she 
 said. We settled the way I was to take, the places 
 where I was to wait, and expect her. She at last 
 pressed a purse of gold into my hand, and I pressed 
 my lips on the fair hand that gave it me. She seemed 
 moved at parting ; and, for me, I no longer knew what 
 I was doing or was to do. 
 
 " On my return from giving my orders, I found the 
 room-door locked. I directly tried my master-key, 
 and it performed its duty perfectly. The door flew up : 
 I found the chamber empty, only the box standing on 
 the table where T had laid it. 
 
 " The carriage drove up : I carried the box carefully 
 down with me, and placed it by my side. The hostess 
 asked, ' But where is the lady ? ' A cliild answered, 
 ' She is gone into the town.' I nodded to the people, 
 and rolled off in triumph from the door which I had 
 last night entered with dusty gaiters. That in my 
 hours of leisure I diligently meditated on this adven- 
 ture, counted my money, laid many schemes, and still 
 now and then kept glancing at the box, you will 
 readily imagine. I posted right forward, passed sev- 
 eral stages without aUghting, and rested not till I had 
 reached a considerable town, where my fair one had 
 appointed me to wait. Her commands had been 
 pointedly obeyed, — the box always carried to a sepa- 
 rate room, and two wax candles lighted beside it ; for 
 such, also, had been her order. I would then lock the 
 chamber, establish myself in my own, and take such 
 comfort as the place afforded. 
 
 " For a while I was able to employ myself with 
 thinking of her, but by degrees the time began to 
 hang heavy on my hands. I was not used to hve 
 without companions : these I soon found, at tables-
 
 178 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 d'hote, in coffee-houses, and public places, altogether 
 to my wish. In such a mode of living, my money 
 began to melt away ; and one night it vanished 
 entirely from my purse in a fit of passionate gaming, 
 which I had not had the prudence to abandon. Void 
 of money, with the appearance of a rich man, expecting 
 a heavy bill of charges, uncertain whether and when 
 my fair one would again make her appearance, I felt 
 myself in the deepest embarrassment. Doubly did I 
 now long for her, and believe, that, without her and her 
 gold, it was quite impossible for me to live. 
 
 "After supper, which I had relished very httle, 
 being forced for this time to consume it in solitude, I 
 took to walking violently up and down my room : I 
 spoke aloud to myself, cursed my folly with horrid 
 execrations, threw myself on the floor, tore my hair, 
 and indeed behaved in the most outrageous fashion. 
 Suddenly, in the adjoining chamber where the box 
 was, I heard a slight movement, and then a soft 
 knocking at the well-bolted door, wliich entered from 
 my apartment. I gather myself, gi'ope for my mas- 
 ter-key ; but the door-leaves fly up of themselves, and 
 in the hght of those burning wax candles enters my 
 beauty. I cast myself at her feet, kiss her robe, her 
 hands ; she raises me ; I venture not to clasp her, 
 scarcely to look at her, but candidly and repentantly 
 confess to her my fault. ' It is pardonable,' said she : 
 ' only it postpones your happiness and mine. You 
 must now make another tour into the world before we 
 can meet again. Here is more money,' continued she, 
 ' sufficient if you husband it with any kind of reason. 
 But, as wine and play have brought you into this per- 
 plexity, be on your guard in future against wine and 
 women, and let me hope for a glad meeting when 
 the time comes.' 
 
 " She retired over the threshold ; the door-leaves 
 flew together : I knocked, I entreated ; but nothing
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS I79 
 
 furLlu'.r stirred. Next raorning, while presenting his 
 bill, the waiter smiled, and said, ' So we have found 
 out at last, then, why you lock your d(jor in so artful 
 and incomprehensible a way, that no master-key can 
 open it. We supposed you must have much money 
 and precious ware laid up Ijy you : but now we have 
 seen your treasure walking down-stairs ; and, in good 
 truth, it seemed worthy of being well kept.' 
 
 " To this I answered nothing, but paid my reckoning, 
 and mounted with my box into the carriage. I again 
 rolled forth into the world, with the firmest resolution 
 to be heedful in future of the warning given me by njy 
 fair and mysterious friend. Scarcely, however, had I 
 once more reached a large town, when forthwith I got 
 acquainted with certain interesting ladies, from whom 
 I absolutely could not tear myself away. They seemed 
 inclined to make me pay dear for their favour : for, 
 while they still kept me at a certain distance, they led 
 me into one expense after the other ; and I, being 
 anxious only to promote their satisfaction, once more 
 ceased to think of my purse, but paid and spent 
 straightforward, as occasion needed. But how great 
 was my astonishment and joy, when, after some weeks, 
 I observed that the fulness of my store was not in the 
 least diminished, that my purse was still as round and 
 crammed as ever ! Wishing to obtain more strict 
 knowledge of this pretty quahty, I set myself down to 
 count : I accurately marked the sum, and again pro- 
 ceeded in my joyous hfe as before. We had no want 
 of excursions by land, and excursions by water : of 
 dancing, singing, and other recreations. But now 
 it required small attention to observe that the purse 
 was actually diminisliing, as if by my cursed counting 
 I had robbed it of the property of being uncountable. 
 However, this gay mode of existence had been once 
 entered on : I could not draw back, and yet my ready 
 money soon verged to a close. I execrated my situa-
 
 i8o MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 tion ; upbraided my fair friend for having so led 
 me into temptation ; took it as an offence that she 
 did not again show herself to me ; renounced in 
 my spleen all duties toward her ; and resolved to 
 break open the box, and see if peradventure any 
 help might be found there. I was just about pro- 
 ceeding with my purpose : but I put it off till night, 
 that I might go through the business with full com- 
 posure ; and, in the meantime, I hastened off" to 
 a banquet, for which this was the appointed hour. 
 Here again we got into a high key : the wine and 
 trumpet^sounding had flushed me not a httle, when by 
 the most villanous luck it chanced, that, during 
 the dessert, a former friend of my dearest fair one, 
 returning from a journey, entered unexpectedly, placed 
 himself beside her, and, without much ceremony, set 
 about asserting his old privileges. Hence, very soon 
 arose ill-humour, quarrelling, and battle : we plucked 
 out our spits, and I was carried home half dead 
 of several wounds. 
 
 " The surgeon had bandaged me and gone away ; it 
 was far in the night ; my sick-nurse had fallen asleep ; 
 the door of the side-room went up ; my fair, mysterious 
 friend came in, and sat down by me on the bed. She 
 asked how I was. I answered not, for I was faint and 
 sullen. She continued speaking with much sympathy : 
 she rubbed my temples with a certain balsam, whereby 
 I felt myself rapidly and decidedly strengthened, — so 
 strengthened that I could now get angry and upbraid 
 her. In a violent speech I threw all the blame of my 
 misfortune on her ; on the passion she had inspired me 
 with ; on her appearing and vanishing ; and the tedium, 
 the longing, which, in such a case, I could not but feel. 
 I waxed more and more vehement, as if a fever had 
 been coming on ; and I swore to her at last, that if she 
 would not be mine, would not now abide with me and 
 wed me, I had no wish to Hve any longer : to all which
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS i8i 
 
 I required a peremj)tory answer. As she lingered and 
 held back with her explanation, I got altogether beside 
 myself, and lore off my double and triple bandages in 
 the firmest resolution to bleed to death, liut what 
 was my amazement when I found all my wounds 
 healed, my skin smooth and entire, and this fair friend 
 in my arms ! 
 
 " Henceforth we were the happiest pair in the world. 
 We both begged pardon of each other without either of 
 us rightly knowing why. She now promised to travel 
 on along with me ; and soon we were sitting side by 
 side in the carriage, the little box lying opposite us on 
 the other seat. Of this I had never spoken to her, nor 
 did I now think of speaking, though it lay there before 
 our eyes: and both of us, by tacit agreement, took 
 charge of it, as circumstances might require ; I, how- 
 ever, still carrying it to and from the carriage, and 
 busying myself, as formerly, with the locking of the 
 doors. 
 
 " So long as aught remained in my purse I had con- 
 tinued to pay ; but, when my cash went down, I signi- 
 fied the fact to her. ' That is easily helped,' said she, 
 pointing to a couple of httle pouches fixed at the top, to 
 the sides of the carriage. These I had often observed 
 before, but never turned to use. She put her hand into 
 the one, and pulled out some gold pieces, as from the 
 other some coins of silver ; thereby showing me the pos- 
 sibihty of meeting any scale of expenditure which we 
 might choose to adopt. And thus we journeyed on 
 from town to town, from land to land, contented with 
 each other and with the world ; and I fancied not that 
 she would again leave me, the less so that for some 
 time she had evidently been as loving wives wish to 
 be, a circumstance by which our happiness and mutual 
 affection was increased still further. But one morning, 
 alas ! she could not be found ; and as my actual resi- 
 dence, without her company, became displeasing, I again
 
 i82 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 took the road with my box, tried the virtue of the two 
 pouches, aud fouud it still unimpaired. 
 
 " My journey proceeded without accident. But if I 
 had hitherto paid little heed to the mysteries of my 
 adventure, expecting a natural solution of the whole, 
 there now occurred something which threw me into 
 astonishment, into anxiety, nay, into fear. Being wont, 
 in my impatience for change of place, to hurry forward 
 day and night, it was often my hap to be travelhng 
 in the dark, and, when the lamps by any chance went 
 out, to be left in utter obscurity. Once, in the dead of 
 such a night, I had fallen asleep ; and on awakening I 
 observed the glimmer of a light on the covering of my 
 carriage. I examined this more strictly, and found that 
 it was issuing from the box, in which there seemed to 
 be a chink, as if it had been chapped by the warm and 
 dry weather of summer, which was now come on. My 
 thoughts of jewels again came into my head : I sup- 
 posed there must be some carbuncle lying in the box, 
 and this point I forthwith set about investigating. I 
 postured myself as well as might be, so that my eye 
 was in immediate contact with the chink. But how 
 great was my surprise when a fair apartment, well 
 lighted, and furnished with much taste and even cost- 
 liness, met my inspection ; just as if I had been look- 
 ing down through the opening of a dome into a royal 
 saloon ! A fire was burning in the grate, and before it 
 stood an armchair. I held my breath, and continued 
 to observe. And now there entered from the other side 
 of the apartment a lady with a book in her hand, whom 
 I at once recognised for my wife ; though her figure 
 was contracted into the extreme of diminution. She 
 sat down in the chair by the fire to read ; she trimmed 
 the coals with the most dainty pair of tongs ; and, 
 in the course of her movements, I could clearly per- 
 ceive that this fairest little creature was also in the 
 family way. But now I was obliged to shift my con-
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 183 
 
 strained posture a little ; and the next moment, when 
 I bent down to look in again, and convince myself that 
 it was no dream, the light had vanished, and my eye 
 rested on empty darkness. 
 
 " How amazed, nay, terrified, I was, you may easily 
 conceive. I started a thousand thoughts on this dis- 
 covery, and yet in truth could think nothing. In the 
 midst of this I fell asleep, and on awakening I fancied 
 that it must have been a mere dream : yet I felt myself 
 in some degree estranged from my fair one ; and, th(nigh 
 I watched over the box ]>ut so nmch the more carefully, 
 I knew not whether the event of her re-appearance in 
 human size was a thing which I should wish or dread. 
 
 " After some time she did actually re-appear. One 
 evening in a white robe she came gliding in ; and, as it 
 was just then growing tlusky in my room, she seemed 
 to me taller than when I had seen her last: and I 
 remembered having heard that all beings of the mer- 
 maid and gnome species increased in stature very per- 
 ceptibly at the fall of night. She flew as usual to my 
 arms, but I could not with right gladness press her to 
 my obstructed breast. 
 
 " ' My dearest,' said she, ' I now feel, by thy recep- 
 tion of me, what, alas ! I already knew too well. Thou 
 hast seen me in the interim ; thou art acquainted with 
 the state in which, at certain times, I find myself : thy 
 happiness and mine is interrupted, — nay, it stands on 
 the brink of being annihilated altogether. I must leave 
 thee, and I know not whether I shall ever see thee 
 again.' Her presence, the grace with which she spoke, 
 directly banished from my memory almost every trace 
 of that vision, which, indeed, had already hovered before 
 me as little more than a dream. I addressed her with 
 kind vivacity, convinced her of my passion, assured her 
 that I was innocent, that my discovery was accidental, 
 — Il short, I so managed it that she appeared com- 
 posed, and endeavoured to compose me.
 
 l84 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 " ' Try thyself strictly,' said she, ' whether this dis- 
 covery has not hurt thy love ; whether thou canst 
 forget that I live in two forms beside thee ; whether 
 the diminution of my being will not also contract thy 
 affection.' 
 
 " I looked at her ; she was fairer than ever : and I 
 thought within myself, Is it so great a misfortune, after 
 all, to have a wife who from time to time becomes a 
 dwarf, so that one can carry her about with him in 
 a casket ? Were it not much worse if she became a 
 giantess, and put her husband in the box ? My gayety 
 of heart had returned. I would not for the whole 
 world have let her go. ' Best heart,' said I, ' let us be 
 and continue ever as we have been. Could either of 
 us wish to be better ? Enjoy thy conveniency, and I 
 promise thee to guard the box with so much the more 
 faithfuhiess. Why should the prettiest sight I have 
 ever seen in my life make a bad impression on me ? 
 How happy would lovers be, could they but procure 
 such mmiature pictures ! And, after all, it was but a 
 picture, a little sleight-of-hand deception. Thou art 
 trying and teasing me, but thou shalt see how I will 
 stand it.' 
 
 " ' The matter is more serious than thou thinkest,' 
 said the fair one : ' however, I am truly glad to see 
 thee take it so lightly ; for much good may still be 
 awaiting us both. I will trust in thee, and for my 
 own part do my utmost : only promise me that thou 
 wilt never mention this discovery by way of reproach. 
 Another prayer likewise I most earnestly make to 
 thee : Be more than ever on thy guard against wine 
 and anger.' 
 
 " I promised what she required ; I could have gone 
 on promising to all lengths : but she herseK turned 
 aside the conversation, and thenceforth all proceeded 
 in its former routine. We had no inducement to alter 
 our place of residence : the town was large, the society
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 185 
 
 various ; aud the fine season gave rise to many an 
 excursion and garden festival. 
 
 " In all such amusements the presence of my wife 
 was welcome, nay, eagerly desired, by women as well 
 as men. A kind, insinuating manner, joined with a 
 certain dignity of bearing, secured to her on all hands 
 praise and estimation. Besides, she could play beauti- 
 fully on the lute, accompanying it with her voice ; aud 
 no social night could be perfect unless crowned by the 
 graces of this talent. 
 
 " I will be free to confess that I never cared much 
 for music : on the contrary, it has always rather had a 
 disagreeable effect on me. My fair one soon noticed 
 this ; and accorchngly, when by ourselves, she never 
 tried to entertain me by such means : in return, how- 
 ever, she appeared to indemnify herself while in soci- 
 ety, where, indeed, she always found a crowd of 
 admirers. 
 
 " And now, why should 1 deny it ? our late dialogue, 
 in spite of my best intentions, had by no means sufficed 
 to settle the matter within me : on the contrary, my 
 temper of mind had by degrees got into the strangest 
 tune, almost without my being conscious of it. One 
 night, in a large company, this hidden grudge broke 
 loose, and, by its consequences, produced to myself the 
 greatest damage. 
 
 " Wlieu I look back on it now, I, in fact, loved my 
 beauty far less after that unlucky discovery: I was 
 also growing jealous of her, — a whim that had never 
 struck me before. This night at table, I found myself 
 placed very much to my mind beside my two neigh- 
 bours, a couple of ladies, who, for some time, had 
 appeared to me very charming. Amid jesting and soft 
 small talk, I was not sparing of my wine ; while, on 
 the other side, a pair of musical dilettanti had got hold 
 of my wife, and at last contrived to lead the company 
 into singing separately and by way of chorus. Tliis
 
 i86 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 put me into ill-humour. The two amateurs appeared 
 to me impertinent ; the singing vexed me ; and when, 
 as my turn came, they even requested a solo-strophe 
 from me, I grew truly indignant : I emptied my glass, 
 and set it down again with no soft movement. 
 
 " The grace of my two fair neighbours soon pacified 
 me, but there is an evil nature in wrath when once it 
 is set a-going. It went on fermenting within me, 
 though all things were of a kind to induce joy and 
 complaisance. On the contrary, I waxed more splenetic 
 than ever when a lute was produced, and my fair one 
 began fingering it and singing, to the admiration of all 
 the rest. Unhappily a general silence was requested. 
 So, then, I was not even to talk any more : and these 
 tones were going through me like a toothache. Was 
 it any wonder that, at last, the smallest spark should 
 blow up the mine ? 
 
 " The songstress had just ended a song amid the 
 loudest applauses, when she looked over to me ; and 
 this truly with the most loving face in the world. 
 Unluckily, its lovingness could not penetrate so far. 
 She perceived that I had just gulped down a cup 
 of wine, and was pouring out a fresh one. With 
 her right forefinger she beckoned to me in kind 
 threatening. ' Consider that it is wine ! ' said she, not 
 louder than for myself to hear it. ' Water is for mer- 
 maids ! ' cried I. ' My ladies,' said she to my neigh- 
 bours, ' crown the cup with all your gracefulness, that 
 it be not too often emptied.' — ' You will not let your- 
 self be tutored ? ' whispered one of them in my ear. 
 ' What ails the dwarf ? ' cried I, with a more violent 
 gesture, in which I overset the glass. ' Ah, what you 
 have spilt ! ' cried the paragon of women ; at the same 
 time twanging her strings, as if to lead back the 
 attention of the company from tliis disturbance to 
 herself. Her attempt succeeded ; the more completely 
 as she rose to her feet, seemingly that she might play
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 187 
 
 with greater convenience, and in tliis attitude continued 
 prehuliiig. 
 
 " At sight of tlie red wine running over the table- 
 cloth, I returned to myself. I perceived the great fault 
 I had been guilty of, and it cut me through the 
 very heart. Never till now had music had an efi"ect on 
 me : the first verse she sang was a friendly good-night 
 to the company, here as they were, as they might still 
 feel themselves together. With the next verse they 
 became as if scattered asunder : each felt himself soK- 
 tary, separated, no one could fancy that he was present 
 any longer. But what shall I say of the last verse ? It 
 was directed to me alone, the voice of injured love 
 bidding farewell to moroseness and caprice. 
 
 " In silence I conducted her home, foreboding no 
 good. Scarcely, however, had we reached our chamber, 
 when she began to show herself exceedingly kind and 
 graceful, — nay, even roguish : she made me the happi- 
 est of all men. 
 
 " Next morning, in high spirits and full of love, 
 I said to her, ' Thou hast so often sung, when asked in 
 company ; as, for example, thy touching farewell song 
 last night. Come now, for my sake, and sing me 
 a dainty, gay welcome to this morning hour, that 
 we may feel as if we were meeting for the first 
 time.' 
 
 " ' That I cannot do, my friend,' said she seriously. 
 ' The song of last night referred to our parting, which 
 must now forthwith take place ; for I can only tell 
 thee, the violation of thy promise and oath will have 
 the worst consequences for us both : thou hast scoffed 
 away a great felicity ; and I, too, must renounce my 
 dearest wishes.' 
 
 " As I now pressed and entreated her to explain 
 herself more clearly, she answered, ' That, alas ! I 
 can well do ; for, at all events, my continuance with 
 thee is over. Hear, then, what I would rather have
 
 1 88 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 concealed to the latest times. The form under which 
 thou sawest me in the box is my natural and proper 
 form ; for I am of the race of King Eckwald, the dread 
 sovereign of the dwarfs, concerning whom authentic 
 liistory has recorded so much. Our people are still, as 
 of old, laborious and busy, and therefore easy to 
 govern. Thou must not fancy that the dwarfs are 
 behindhand in their manufacturing skill. Swords 
 which followed the foe, when you cast them after 
 liim ; invisible and mysteriously binding chains ; im- 
 penetrable shields, and such hke ware, in old times, — 
 formed their staple produce. But now they chiefly 
 employ themselves with articles of convenience and 
 ornament, in which truly they surpass all people of the 
 earth. I may well say, it would astonish thee to w^alk 
 through our workshops and warehouses. All this 
 would be right and good, were it not that with the 
 whole nation in general, but more particularly with 
 the royal family, there is one pecuhar circumstance 
 connected.' 
 
 " She paused for a moment, and I again begged fur- 
 ther light on these wonderful secrets ; which, accord- 
 ingly, she forthwith proceeded to grant. 
 
 " ' It is well known,' said she, ' that God, so soon 
 as he had created the world, and the ground was 
 dry, and the mountains were standing bright and 
 glorious, that God, I say, thereupon, in the very first 
 place, created the dwarfs, to the end that there might 
 he reasonable beings also, who, in their passages and 
 chasms, might contemplate and adore his wonders 
 in the inward parts of the earth. It is further well 
 known, that this little race by degrees became uphfted 
 in heart, and attempted to acquire the dominion of the 
 earth ; for which reason God then created the dragons, 
 in order to drive back the dwarfs into their mountains. 
 Now, as the dragons themselves were wont to nestle in 
 the large caverns and clefts, and dwell there; and
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 189 
 
 many of them, too, were in tlie habit of spitting 
 fire, and working much other mischief, — the po(jr 
 little dwarfs were by this means thrown into exceeding 
 straits and distress : so that, not knowing what in the 
 world to do, tliey humbly and fervently turned to 
 God, and called to him in prayer, that he would 
 vouchsafe to abolish tliis unclean dragon generation. 
 But though it consisted not with his wisdom to 
 destroy liis own creatures, yet the heavy suH'erings 
 of the poor dwarfs so moved his compassion, that anon 
 he created the giants, ordaining them to fight these 
 dragons, and, if not root them out, at least lessen their 
 numbers. 
 
 " ' Now, no sooner had the giants got moderately 
 well through with the dragons, than their hearts 
 also began to wax wanton : and, in their presumption, 
 they practised much tyranny, especially on the good 
 little dwarfs, who then once more in their need turned 
 to the Lord ; and he, by the power of his hand, created 
 the knights, who were to make war on the giants 
 and dragons, and to Uve in concord with the dwarfs. 
 Hereby was the work of creation completed on this 
 side ; and it is plain, that henceforth giants and 
 dragons, as well as knights and dwarfs, have always 
 maintained themselves in being. From this, my friend, 
 it will be clear to thee that we are of the oldest 
 race on the earth, — a circumstance which does us 
 honour, but at the same time brings great disadvantage 
 along with it. 
 
 " ' For as there is nothing in the world that can 
 endure for ever, but all that has once been great must 
 become httle and fade, it is our lot, also, that, ever 
 since the creation of the world, we have been waning, 
 and gi'owing smaller, — especially the royal family, on 
 whom, by reason of their pure blood, this destiny 
 presses with the heaviest force. To remedy this evil, 
 our wise teachers have many years ago devised the
 
 190 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 expedient of sending forth a princess of the royal 
 house from time to time into the world, to wed some 
 honourable knight, that so the dwarf progeny may 
 be refected, and saved from entire decay.' 
 
 " Though my fair one related these things with an air 
 of the utmost sincerity, I looked at her hesitatingly ; 
 for it seemed as if she meant to palm some fable on 
 me. As to her own dainty lineage I had not the 
 smallest doubt ; but that she should have laid hold 
 of me in place of a knight occasioned some mistrust, 
 seeing I knew myself too well to suppose that my 
 ancestors had come into the world by an immediate 
 act of creation. 
 
 " I concealed my wonder and scepticism, and asked 
 her kindly, ' But tell me, my dear child, how hast thou 
 attained this large and stately shape ? For I know 
 few women that in richness of form can compare with 
 thee.' — ' Thou shalt hear,' repHed she. ' It is a settled 
 maxim in the council of the dwarf kings, that this 
 extraordinary step be forborne as long as it possibly 
 can ; which, indeed, I cannot but say is quite natural 
 and proper. Perhaps they might have hesitated still 
 longer had not my brother, born after me, come into 
 the world so exceedingly small that the nurses actually 
 lost him out of his swaddhng-clothes ; and no creature 
 yet knows whither he is gone. On this occurrence, 
 unexampled in the annals of dwarfdom, the sages were 
 assembled ; and, without more ado, the resolution was 
 taken, and I sent out in quest of a husband.' 
 
 " ' .The resolution ! ' exclaimed I, ' that is all ex- 
 tremely well. One can resolve, one can take his 
 resolution ; but, to gave a dwarf this heavenly shape, 
 how did your sages manage that ? ' 
 
 " ' It had been provided for already,' said she, ' by 
 our ancestors. In the royal treasury lay a monstrous 
 gold ring. I speak of it as it then appeared to me, 
 when I saw it in my childhood ; for it was this same
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 191 
 
 ring which I have liere on my finger. We now went 
 to work as follows. 
 
 " • I was informed of all that awaited me, and 
 instructed what I had to do and to forbear. A 
 splendid palace, after the pattern of my father's 
 favourite summer residence, was then got ready, — 
 a main edifice, wings, and whatever else you could 
 think of. It stood at the entrance of a large rock- 
 cleft, which it decorated in the handsomest style. 
 On the appointed day our court moved thither, my 
 parents, also, and myself. The army paraded ; and 
 four and twenty priests, not without difficulty, carried 
 on a costly litter the mysterious ring. It was placed 
 on the threshold of the building, just wdthin the spot 
 where you entered. Many ceremonies were observed ; 
 and, after a pathetic farewell, I proceeded to my task. 
 I stepped forward to the ring, laid my finger on it, and 
 that instant began perceptibly to wax in stature. In 
 a few moments I had reached my present size, and 
 then I put the ring on my finger. But now, in the 
 twinkling of an eye, the doors, windows, gates, flapped 
 to ; the wings drew up into the body of the edifice ; 
 instead of a palace stood a little box beside me, which 
 I forthwith lifted, and carried off with me, not without 
 a pleasant feeling in being so tall and strong. Still, 
 indeed, a dwarf to trees and mountains, to streams, 
 and tracts of land, yet a giant to gi-ass and herbs, and, 
 above all, to ants, from whom we dwarfs, not being 
 always on the best terms with them, often suffer 
 considerable annoyance. 
 
 " ' How it fared with me on my pilgrimage, I might 
 tell thee at great length. Suffice it to say I tried 
 many, but no one save thou seemed worthy of being 
 honoured to renovate and perpetuate the line of the 
 glorious Eckwald.' 
 
 " In the course of these narrations my head had 
 now and then kept wagging, without myself having
 
 192 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 absolutely shaken it. I put several questions, to 
 which I received no very satisfactory answers : on the 
 contrary, I learned, to my great affliction, that after 
 what had happened she must needs return to her 
 parents. She had hopes still, she said, of getting back 
 to me : but, for the present, it was indispensably neces- 
 sary to present herself at court ; as otherwise, both for 
 her and me, there was nothing but utter ruin. The 
 purses would soon cease to pay, and who knew what 
 all would be the consequences ? 
 
 " On hearing that our money would run short, I 
 inquired no further into consequences ; I shrugged my 
 shoulders ; I was silent, and she seemed to under- 
 stand me. 
 
 " We now packed up, and got into our carriage, the 
 box standing opposite us ; in which, however, I could 
 stni see no symptoms of a palace. In this way we 
 proceeded several stages. Post-money and drink- 
 money were readily and richly paid from the pouches 
 to the right and left, till at last we reached a moun- 
 tainous district ; and no sooner had we ahghted here 
 than my fair one walked forward, directing me to 
 follow her with the box. She led me by rather steep 
 paths to a narrow plot of green ground, through which 
 a clear brook now gushed in little falls, now ran in 
 quiet windings. She pointed to a httle knoll, bade 
 me set the box down there, then said, ' Farewell ! 
 Thou wilt easily find the way back ; remember me ; 
 I hope to see thee again.' 
 
 " At this moment I felt as if I could not leave her. 
 She was just now in one of her fine days, or, if you 
 will, her fine hours. Alone with so fair a being, on 
 the greensward, among grass and flowers, girt in 
 by rocks, waters murmuring round you, what heart 
 could have remained insensible ! I came forward to 
 seize her hand, to clasp her in my arms ; but she 
 motioned me back, threatening me, though still kindly
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 193 
 
 enough, with great danger if I did not instantly 
 withdraw. 
 
 " ' Is there not any possibility,' exclaimed I, ' of my 
 staying with thee, of tliy keejnng me beside thee ? ' 
 These words 1 uttered with such rueful tones and 
 gestures, that she seemed touched by them, and after 
 some thought confessed to me that a continuance of 
 our union was not entirely impossible. Who happier 
 than I ! My importunity, which increased every 
 moment, compelled her at last to come out with her 
 scheme, and inform me, that if I, too, could resolve 
 on becoming as little as I had once seen her, I might 
 still remain with her, be admitted to her house, her 
 kingdom, her family. The proposal was not altogether 
 to my mind, yet at this moment I positively could 
 not tear myself away : so, having already for a good 
 while been accustomed to the marvellous, and being 
 at all times prone to bold enterprises, I closed with 
 her offer, and said she might do with me as she 
 pleased. 
 
 " I was thereupon directed to hold out the little 
 finger of my right hand : she placed her own against 
 it ; then, with her left hand, she quite softly pulled 
 the ring from her finger, and let it run along mine. 
 That instant I felt a violent twinge on my finger : the 
 ring shrunk together, and tortured me horridly. I 
 gave a loud cry, and caught round me for my fair 
 one ; but she had disappeared. What state of mind 
 I was in during this moment, I find no words to 
 express : so I have nothing more to say but that I 
 very soon, in my miniature size, found myself beside 
 my fair one in a wood of grass-stalks. The joy of 
 meeting after this short yet most strange separation, 
 or, if you will, of this reunion without separation, 
 exceeds all conception. I fell on her neck : she 
 replied to my caresses, and the little pair was as 
 happy as the the large one.
 
 194 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 " With some difficulty we now mounted a hill : 
 I say difficulty, because the sward had become for 
 us an almost impenetrable forest. Yet at length we 
 reached a bare space ; and how surprised was I at 
 perceiving there a large, bolted mass, which, erelong, 
 I could not but recognise for the box in the same 
 state as when I had set it down. 
 
 " ' Go up to it, my friend,' said she, ' and do but 
 knock with the ring : thou shalt see wonders.' I 
 went up accordingly ; and no sooner had I rapped, 
 than I did, in fact, witness the greatest wonder. Two 
 wings came jutting out ; and at the same time there 
 fell, hke scales and chips, various pieces this way and 
 that : while doors, windows, colonnades, and all that 
 belongs to a complete palace, at once came into view. 
 
 " If ever you have seen one of Rontgen's desks, — 
 how, at one pull, a multitude of springs and latches 
 get in motion, and writing-board and writing mate- 
 rials, letter and money compartments, all at once, or 
 in quick succession, start forward, — you will partly 
 conceive how this palace unfolded itself, into which 
 my sweet attendant now introduced me. In the large 
 saloon I directly recognised the fireplace which I had 
 formerly seen from above, and the chair in which she 
 had then been sitting. And, on looking up, I actually 
 fancied I could still see something of the chink in the 
 dome, through which I had peeped in. I spare you 
 the description of the rest : in a word, all was spa- 
 cious, splendid, and tasteful. Scarcely had I recovered 
 from my astonishment, when I heard afar off a sound 
 of military music. My better half sprang up, and 
 with rapture announced to me the approach of his 
 Majesty her father. We stepped out to the thresh- 
 old, and here beheld a magnificent procession moving 
 toward us from a considerable cleft in the rock. 
 Soldiers, servants, officers of state, and glittering 
 courtiers, followed in order. At last you observed a
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 195 
 
 golden thronj,', and in the midst of it the king him- 
 self. So .soon us the whole procession had drawn up 
 before the palace, the king, with his nearest retinue, 
 stepped forward. His loving daughter hastened out 
 to him, pulling me along with her. We threw our- 
 selves at liis feet : he raised me very graciously ; and, 
 on coming to stand before him, I perceived, tliat in 
 this little world I was still the most considerable 
 figure. We proceeded together to the palace, where 
 his Majesty, in presence of his whole court, was pleased 
 to welcome me with a well-studied oration, in w^hich 
 he expressed his surprise at finding us here, acknowl- 
 edged me as his son-in-law, and appointed the nuptial 
 ceremony to take place on the morrow. 
 
 " A cold sweat went over me as I heard him speak 
 of marriage ; for I dreaded this even more than music, 
 which had, of old, appeared to me the most hateful 
 thing on earth. Your music-makers, I used to say, 
 enjoy at least the conceit of being in unison with each 
 other, and working in concord ; for when they have 
 tweaked and tuned long enough, grating our ears with 
 all manner of screeches, they beheve in their hearts 
 that the matter is now adjusted, and one instrument 
 accurately suited to the other. The band-master liim- 
 self is in this happy delusion ; and so they set forth 
 joyfully, though still tearing our nerves to pieces. In 
 the marriage state, even this is not the case ; for 
 although it is but a duet, and you might think two 
 voices, or even two instruments, might in some degree 
 be attuned to each other, yet this happens very seldom : 
 for wliile the man gives out one tone, the wife, directly 
 takes a higher one, and the man again a higher ; and 
 so it rises from the chamber to the choral pitch, and 
 farther and farther, till at last not even wind-instru- 
 ments can reach it. And now, as I loathe harmon- 
 ical music, it cannot be surprising that disharmonical 
 should be a tiling which I cannot endure.
 
 196 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 " Of all the festivities in wliich the day was spent, I 
 shall and can not give an account ; for I paid small 
 heed to them. The sumptuous victuals, the generous 
 wine, the royal amusements, I could not relish. I kept 
 thinking and considering what I was to do. Here, 
 however, there was but little to be considered. I de- 
 termined, once for all, to take myself away, and hide 
 somewhere. Accordingly, I succeeded in reaching the 
 chink of a stone, where I intrenched and concealed my- 
 self as well as might be. My first care after this was 
 to get the unhappy ring off my finger, — an enterprise, 
 however, which would by no means prosper ; for, on 
 the contrary, I felt that every pull I gave, the metal 
 grew straiter, and cramped me with violent pains, 
 which again abated so soon as I desisted from my 
 purpose. 
 
 " Early in the morning I awoke (for my httle person 
 had slept, and very soundly), and was just stepping out 
 to look farther about me, when I felt a kind of rain 
 coming on. Through the grass, flowers, and leaves, 
 there fell, as it were, something like sand and grit in 
 large quantities ; but what was my horror when the 
 whole of it became ahve, and an innumerable host of 
 ants rushed down on me ! No sooner did they observe 
 me than they made an attack on all sides ; and, though 
 I defended myself stoutly and gallantly enough, they 
 at last so hemmed me in, so nipped and pinched me, 
 that I was glad to hear them calhng to surrender. I 
 surrendered instantly and wholly, whereupon an ant of 
 respectable stature approached me with courtesy, nay, 
 with reverence, and even recommended itself to my 
 good graces. I learned that the ants had now become 
 alHes of my father-in-law, and by him been called out 
 in the present emergency, and commissioned to fetch 
 me back. Here, then, was httle I in the hands of 
 creatures still less. I had nothing for it but looking 
 forward to the marriage ; nay, I must now thank
 
 meister's travels 197 
 
 Heaven if my father-in-law were not wroth, if my fair 
 one had not taken the sulleus. 
 
 " Let me skip over the whole train of ceremonies : 
 in a word, we were wedded. Gayly and joyously as 
 matters went, there were, nevertheless, sohtary hours in 
 which you were led astray into reflection ; and now 
 there happened to me something which had never 
 happened before, — what, and how, you shall learn. 
 
 " Everything about me was completely adapted to 
 my present form and wants : the bottles and glasses 
 were in a fit ratio to a little toper, — nay, if you will, 
 better measure in proportion than with us. In my tiny 
 palate the dainty tidbits tasted excellently ; a kiss from 
 the little mouth of my spouse was still the most charm- 
 ing thing in nature ; and I will not deny that novelty 
 made all these circumstances highly agreeable. Un- 
 happily, how^ever, I had not forgotten my former situa- 
 tion. I felt within me a scale of by-gone greatness, 
 and it rendered me restless and cheerless. Now, for 
 the first time, did I understand what the philosophers 
 might mean by theii- ideal, which they say so plagues / 
 the mind of man. I had an ideal of myself, and often 
 in dreams I appeared as a giant. In short, my wife, 
 my ring, my dwarf figure, and so many other bonds 
 and restrictions, made me utterly unhappy; so that I 
 began to think seriously about obtaining my deliverance. 
 
 " Being persuaded that the whole magic lay in the 
 ring, I resolved ou filing this asunder. From the court- 
 jeweller, accordingly, I borrowed some files. By good 
 luck I was left-handed ; as, indeed, throughout my 
 whole life I had never done aught in the right-handed 
 way. I stood tightly to the work : it was not small ; 
 for the golden hoop, so thin as it appeared, had grown 
 proportionately thicker in contracting from its former 
 length. All vacant hours I privately applied to this 
 task ; and at last, the metal being nearly through, I 
 was provident enough to step out of doors. This was
 
 198 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 a wise measure ; for all at once the golden hoop started 
 sharply from my finger, and my frame shot aloft with 
 such violence that I actually fancied I should dash 
 against the sky : and, at all events, I must have bolted 
 through the dome of our palace, — nay, perhaps, in my 
 new awkwardness, have destroyed this summer resi- 
 dence altogether. 
 
 " Here, then, was I standing again, — in truth, so 
 much the larger, but also, as it seemed to me, so much 
 the more stupid and helpless. On recovering from my 
 stupefaction, I observed the royal strong-box lying 
 near me, which I found to be moderately heavy, as I 
 lifted it, and carried it down the footpath to the next 
 stage, where I directly ordered horses and set forth. 
 By the road I soon made trial of the two side-pouches. 
 Instead of money, which appeared to be run out, I 
 found a little key : it belonged to the strong-box, in 
 which I got some moderate compensation. So long as 
 this held out, I made use of the carriage : by and by I 
 sold it, and proceeded by the diligence. The strong- 
 box, too, I at length cast from me ; having no hope of 
 its ever filhng again. And thus in the end, though 
 after a considerable circuit, I again returned to the 
 kitchen-hearth, to the landlady and the cook, where 
 you were first introduced to me."
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Lenardo was overwhelmed with business, his writ- 
 ing-office ill the greatest activity ; clerks and secretaries 
 finding no moment's rest: while Wilhelm and Fried- 
 rich, strolhng over tield and meadow, were entertaining 
 each other with the most pleasant conversation. 
 
 And here, first of all, as necessarily happens between 
 friends meeting after some separation, the question was 
 started. How far they had altered in the interim ? 
 Friedrich would have it that Wilhelm was exactly the 
 same as before : to Wilhelm, again, it seemed that his 
 young friend, though no whit abated in mirth and dis- 
 cursiveness, was somewhat more staid in his manner. 
 " It were pity," interru])ted Friedrich, " if the father of 
 three children, the liusbaud of an exemplary matron, 
 had not likewise gained a little in dignity of bearing." 
 
 Now, also, it came to light, that all the persons 
 whom we got acquainted with in the " Apprenticeship " 
 were still living and well, — nay, better than before, 
 being now in full and decisive activity ; each, in his 
 own way, associated with many fellow-labourers, and 
 striving toward the noblest aim. Of this, however, it 
 is not for the present permitted us to impart any more 
 precise information ; as, in a little book like ours, 
 reserve and secrecy may be no unseemly quahties. 
 
 But whatever, in the course of this confidential con- 
 versation, transpired respecting the society in which we 
 now are, as their more intimate relations, maxims, and 
 objects, by httle and httle, came to view, it is our duty 
 and opportunity to disclose in this place. 
 
 199
 
 200 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 " The whim of emigration," — such was the substance 
 of Fnedrich's talk on this matter, — " the whim of 
 emigi-ation may, in straitened and painful circum- 
 stances, very naturally lay hold of men : if particular 
 cases chance to be favoured by a happy issue, this 
 whim will, in the general mind, rise to the rank of 
 passion ; as we have seen, as we still see, and, withal, 
 cannot deny that we, in our time, have been befooled 
 by such a delusion ourselves. 
 
 " Emigration takes place in the treacherous hope of 
 an improvement in our circumstances, and it is too 
 often counterbalanced by a subsequent emigration ; 
 since, go where you may, you still find yourself in a 
 conditional world, and, if not constrained to a new 
 emigration, are yet incHned in secret to cherish such a 
 desire. 
 
 " We have, therefore, bound ourselves to renounce all 
 emigration, and to devote ourselves to migration. Here 
 one does not turn his back on liis native country for 
 ever, but hopes, even after the greatest circuit, to arrive 
 there again, richer, wiser, cleverer, better, and whatever 
 else such a way of life can make him. Now, in so- 
 ciety, all things are easier, more certain in their accom- 
 plishment, than to an individual ; in wliich sense, my 
 fiiend, consider what thou shalt observe here : for what- 
 ever thou mayest see, all and every part of it is meant 
 to forward a great, movable connection among active 
 and sufficient men of all classes. 
 
 " But as where men are, manners are too, I may 
 explain thus much of our constitution by way of pre- 
 liminary : When two of our number anywhere by 
 accident meet, they conduct themselves toward each 
 other according to their rank and fasliion, according to 
 custom of handicraft or art, or by some other such 
 mode adapted to their mutual relations. Three meet- 
 ing together are considered as a unity, which governs 
 itself ; but, if a fourth join them, they instantly elect
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 201 
 
 the Bond, one chief and three subjects. This Bond, 
 however many more combine with them, can still only 
 be a single newly elected person ; for, in the gi-eat as 
 in the small scale, co-regents are found to be mutually 
 obstructive. 
 
 " Thou mayest observe that Lenardo unites, in this 
 way, more than a hundred active and able men, — 
 unites, employs, calls home, sends forth ; as to-morrow, 
 an important day with us, thou wilt perceive and under- 
 stand. Thou wilt then see the Bond dissolved, the 
 multitude divided into smaller societies, and the Bond 
 multiphed : all the rest will at the same time become 
 clear to thee. 
 
 " But for the present I invite thee to a short bout of 
 reading. Here, under the shadow of these whispering 
 trees, by the side of this still-flowing water, let us 
 peruse a story, this little paper which Lenardo, from 
 the rich treasures of his collection, has entrusted to me ; 
 that so both of us may see thoroughly what a differ- 
 ence there is between a mad pilgiimage, such as many 
 lead in the world, and a well-meditated, happily com- 
 menced undertaking like ours, of which I shall at this 
 time say no more in praise." 
 
 The quaint, fitful, and most dainty story of "The 
 Foolish Pilgrimess," with which our two friends now 
 occupied their morning, we feel ourselves constrained, not 
 imreluctantly, by certain gi-ave calculations, to reserve 
 for some future and better season.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Lenardo, having freed liimself from business for an 
 hour, took dinner with his friends ; and at table he 
 began to explain to them his family circumstances. 
 His eldest sister was married. A rich brother-in-law, 
 to the great satisfaction of the uncle, had undertaken 
 the management of all the estates ; with him Valerina's 
 husband was stoutly cooperating : they were labouring 
 on the great scale, strengthening their enterprises by 
 connection with distant countries and places. 
 
 Here, likewise, our oldest friends once more make 
 their appearance : Lothario, Werner, the abbd, are on 
 their side proceeding in the highest diligence ; while 
 Jarno occupies himself with mining. A general insur- 
 ance has been instituted : we discern a vast property 
 in land ; and on this depends the existence of a large 
 wandering society, the individual members of which, 
 under the condition of the greatest possible usefulness, 
 are recommended to all the world, are forwarded in 
 every undertaking, and secured against all mischances : 
 while they again, as scattered colonists, may be sup- 
 posed to re-act on their mother country with favourable 
 influences. 
 
 Throughout all this we observe Lenardo recognised 
 as the wandering Bond : in smaller and greater com- 
 binations, he, for most part, is elected ; on him is placed 
 the most unrestricted confidence. 
 
 So far had the disclosure, partly from Lenardo, partly 
 from Friedrich, proceeded without let, when both of them 
 
 202
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 203 
 
 on a sudden became silent ; each seeming to have scru- 
 ples about commuuiuating more. After a short pause, 
 Wilhelm addressed them, and cried, " What new secret 
 again suddenly overshadows the friendliest explanation ? 
 Will you again leave me in the lurch ? " 
 
 " Not at all ! " exclaimed Friedrich. " Do but hear 
 me ! He has found the nut-brown maid, and for her 
 sake — " 
 
 " Not for her sake," interrupted Lenardo. 
 
 " And just for her sake ! " persisted Friedrich. " Do 
 not deceive yourself: for her sake you are changing 
 yourself into a lawful vagabond ; as some others of us, 
 not, in truth, for the most praiseworthy purposes, have, 
 in times past, changed ourselves into lawless vagrants." 
 
 " Let us go along calmly," said Lenardo : " our friend 
 here must be made acquainted with the state of our 
 affairs ; liut, in the first place, let him have a little 
 touch of discipline for himself. You had found the 
 nut-brown maid, but to me you refused the knowledge 
 of her abode. For this I will not blame you, but what 
 good did it do ? To discover this secret I was pas- 
 sionately incited ; and, notwithstanding your sagacious 
 caution, I at length came upon the right trace. You 
 have seen the good maiden yourself : her circumstances 
 you have accurately investigated, and yet you did not 
 judge them rightly. It is only the loving who feels 
 and discovers what the beloved wishes and wants : he 
 can read it in her from her deepest heart. Let this at 
 present suffice : for explanation we have no time left 
 to-day. To-morrow I have the hottest press of business 
 to front : next day we part. But for your information, 
 composure, and participating interest, accept this copy 
 of a week from my journal : it is the best legacy which 
 I can leave you. By reading it you will not, indeed, 
 become wiser than you are and than I am ; but let this 
 for the present suffice. The nearest future, or a more 
 remote one, will arrange and direct : that is to say, in
 
 204 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 this case, as in so many others, we know not what is 
 to become of us." 
 
 By way of dessert Lenardo received a packet, at the 
 opening of which he, with some tokens of surprise, 
 handed a letter to Wilhelm. " What secrets, what 
 speedy concerns, can sister Hersilia have with our 
 friend ? ' To be deUvered instantly and opened pri- 
 vately, without the presence of any one, friend or 
 stranger ! ' Let us give him all possible convenience, 
 Friedrich : let us withdraw ! " Wilhelm hastily broke 
 open the sheet, and read, — 
 
 Hersilia to Wilhelm. 
 
 Wherever this letter may reach you, my noble friend, 
 to a certainty it will find you in some nook where you 
 are striving in vain to hide from yourself. By making 
 you acquainted with my two fair dames, I have done you 
 a sorry service. 
 
 But wherever you may be lurking, and doubtless it 
 will search you out, my promise is, that if, after read- 
 ing this letter, you do not forthwith leap from your 
 seat, and, like a pious pilgrim, appear in my presence 
 without delay, I must declare you to be the manliest 
 of all men ; that is to say, the one most completely 
 void of the finest property belonging to our sex : I 
 mean curiosity, which at this moment is afflicting me 
 in its sharpest concentration. 
 
 In one word, then, your casket has now got its key : 
 this, however, none but you and I are to know. How 
 it came into my hands let me now tell you. 
 
 Some days ago our man of law gets despatches from 
 a distant tribunal ; wherein he was asked if, at such 
 and such a time, there had not been a boy prowling 
 about our neighbourhood who had played all manner 
 of tricks, and at length, in a rash enterprise, lost his 
 jacket.
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 205 
 
 By the way this brat was described, no doubt re- 
 mained with us but he was Fitz, — the gay connade 
 whom Fehx talked so much of, and so often wished 
 back to play with him. 
 
 Now, for the present, those authorities request that 
 said article of dress may be sent to them if it is still 
 in existence ; as the boy, at last involved in judicial 
 examinations, refers to it. Of this demand our lawyer 
 chances to make mention : he shows us the httle frock 
 before sending it off. 
 
 Some good or evil spirit whispers me to gi-ope the 
 breastpocket : a little, angular, prickly something comes 
 into my hand ; I, so timorous, tickhsh, and startlish as 
 I usually am, clinch my hand, clinch it, hold my peace ; 
 and the jerkin is sent away. Directly, of all feelings, 
 the strangest seizes me. At the first stolen glance I 
 saw, I guessed, that it was the key of your little box. 
 And now came wondrous scruples of conscience, and 
 all sorts of moral doubts. To discover, to give back 
 my windfall, was impossible ; what have those long- 
 wigged judges to do with it when it may be so useful 
 to my friend ? And then, again, all manner of f[ues- 
 tions about right and duty begin lifting up their voices ; 
 but I would not let them outvote me. 
 
 From this you perceive into what a situation my 
 friendship for you has reduced me : a choice faculty 
 develops itself all on a sudden for your sake ; what 
 an occurrence ! May it not be something more than 
 friendship that so holds the balance of my conscience ? 
 Between guilt and curiosity I am wonderfully discom- 
 posed ; I have a hundred whims and stories about 
 what may follow : law and judgment will not be 
 trifled with. Hersilia, the careless, and, as occasion 
 served, capricious Hersilia, entangled in a criminal proc- 
 ess ; for this is the scope and tendency of it ! And 
 what can I do but think of the friend for whose sake 
 I suffer all this ? I thought of you before, yet with
 
 2o6 
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 pauses ; but now I think of you incessantly : now when 
 my heart throbs, and I think of the eighth command- 
 ment, I must turn to you as to the saint who has caused 
 this sin, and will also procure me an absolution ; thus 
 the opening of the casket is the only thing that can 
 compose me. My curiosity is gi'owing stronger and 
 doubly strong : come, and bring the casket with you. 
 To what judgment-seat it properly belongs we will 
 make out between us : till then let it remain between 
 us ; no one must know of it, be who he will. 
 
 But now, in conclusion, look here, my friend. And 
 tell me, what say you to this picture of the riddle ? 
 Does it not remind you of arrows with barbs ? God 
 help us ! But the box must first stand unopened 
 between you and me, and then, when opened, tell us 
 further what we have to do. I wish there were noth- 
 ing whatever in it ; and who knows what all I wish, 
 and what all I could tell ? but do you look at this, and 
 hasten so much the faster to get upon the road. 
 
 Friedrich returned more gay and lively than he had 
 gone. " Good news ! " cried he : " good luck ! Lenardo 
 has received some pretty letters to facilitate the part- 
 ing : credit more than sufficient ; and thou, too, shalt 
 have thy share in it. Fortune herself surely knows
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 207 
 
 not what she is abuut ; for uiicc in her time she has 
 done wise, worthy fellows a favour." 
 
 Hereupon he handed to his friend some clipped 
 fragments of maps, with directions where they were 
 to be produced, and changed for hard cash or bills, as 
 he might choose. Wilhelm was obliged to accept 
 them ; though he kept assuring his companion, that for 
 the present he had no need of such things. " Then, 
 others will need them ! " cried Friedrich : " constrain 
 not thy good feelings, and, wherever thou art, appear 
 as a benefactor. But now come along, let us have a 
 look at this manuscript : it is long till night ; one tires 
 of talking and listening, so I have begged some writ- 
 ing for our entertainment. Every leaf in Leuardo's 
 archives is penned in the spirit of the whole : in giving 
 me this, he said, ' Well, take it and read it : our friend 
 will acquire more confidence in our society and Bond, 
 the more good members he becomes acquainted with.' " 
 
 The two then retired to a cheerful spot ; and Fried- 
 rich read, enlivening with much natural energy and 
 mirth, what he found set down for him. 
 
 WHO CAN THE TKAITOR BE? 
 
 " No, no ! " exclaimed he, violently and hastily rush- 
 ing into the chamber allotted him, and setting down 
 his candle, — " no ! it is impossible ! But whither 
 shall I turn ? For the first time I think otherwise 
 than he : for the first time I feel, I wish, otherwise. 
 father ! couldst thou but be present invisibly, couldst 
 thou but look through and through me, thou wouldst 
 see that I am still the same, stdl thy true, obedient, 
 affectionate son. Yet to say no ! To contradict my 
 father's dearest, long-cherished wish ! How shall I 
 disclose it ? How shall I express it ? No : I cannot 
 marry Julia! Wlide I speak of it, I shudder. And 
 how shall I appear before him, tell him this, him, the
 
 2o8 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 good, kind father ? He looks at me with astonish- 
 ment, without speaking : the prudent, clear-sighted, 
 gifted man can find no words. Woe is me ! Ah ! I 
 know well to whom I would confide this pain, this 
 perplexity, who it is I would choose for my advocate. 
 Before all others, thou, Lucinda ! And I would first 
 tell thee how I love thee, how I give myself to thee, 
 and pressingly entreat thee to speak for me, and if 
 thou canst love me again, if thou wilt be mine, to 
 speak for us both." 
 
 To explain this short, pithy monologue will require 
 some details. 
 
 Professor N. of N". had an only boy of singular 
 beauty, whom, till the child's eighth year, he had left 
 entirely in charge of his wife. This excellent woman 
 had directed the hours and days of her son in living, 
 learning, and all good behaviour. She died ; and the 
 father instantly felt, that to prosecute this parental 
 tutelage was impossible. In their hfetime, all had 
 been harmony between the parents : they had laboured 
 for a common aim, had determined in concert what 
 was next to be done ; and the mother had not wanted 
 skill to execute wisely, by herself, what the two had 
 planned together. Double and treble was now the 
 widower's anxiety ; seeing, as he could not but daily 
 see, that for the sons of professors, even in universities, 
 it was only by a sort of miracle that a happy educa- 
 tion could be expected. 
 
 In this strait he applied to his friend, the Oher- 
 amtmann of R, with whom he had already been treat- 
 ing of plans for a closer alliance between their families. 
 The Oheramtmann gave him counsel and assistance: 
 so the son was estabhshed in one of those institutions 
 which still flourish in Germany, and where charge is 
 taken of the whole man, and body, soul, and spirit are 
 trained with all attention. 
 
 The son was thus provided for : the father, however,
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 209 
 
 felt himself very lonely, robbed of his wife, shut out 
 from the cheerful presence of the boy, whom he had 
 seen, without effort of his, growing up in such desir- 
 able culture. ViXit here, again, the friendship of the 
 Oheramtmann served him in good stead : the distance 
 of their abodes vanished before his affection, his desire 
 for movement, for diversion of thought. In this hos- 
 pitable home the widowed man of letters found, in a 
 family circle, motherless like his own, two beautiful 
 little daughters growing up in diverse loveliness: a 
 state of things which more and more confirmed the 
 fathers in their purpose, in their hope, of one day 
 seeing their families united in the most joyful bonds. 
 
 They lived under the sway of a mild, good prince : 
 the meritorious Ohcravitinann was certain of his post 
 during life ; and, in the appointment of a successor, 
 his recommendation was likely to go far. And now, 
 according to the wise family arrangement, sanctioned 
 also by the minister, Lucidor was to train himself for 
 the important office of his future father-in-law. This 
 in consequence he did, from step to step. Nothing 
 was neglected in communicating to him all sorts of 
 knowledge, in developing in him all sorts of activity, 
 which the state in any case requires, — practice in 
 rigorous judicial law, and also in the laxer sort, where 
 prudence and address find their proper field ; foresight 
 for daily ways and means ; not excluding higher and 
 more comprehensive views, yet all tending toward 
 practical life, and so as with effect and certainty to 
 be employed in its concerns. 
 
 With such purposes had Lucidor spent his school 
 years: by his father and liis patron he was now 
 warned to make ready for the university. In all 
 departments he already showed the fairest talents ; 
 and to nature he was further indebted for the singular 
 happiness of inclining, out of love for liis father, out of 
 respect for his friend, to turn his capabilities, first
 
 2IO MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 from obedience, then from conviction, on that very 
 object to whicli he was directed. He was placed in a 
 foreign university ; and here, both by his own account 
 in his letters, and by the testimony of his teachers and 
 overseers, he continued walking in the path that led 
 toward his appointed goal. It was only objected to 
 him, that in certain cases he had been too impetuously 
 brave. The father shook his head at this : the Oher- 
 amtmann nodded. Who would not have been proud 
 of such a son ? 
 
 Meanwhile the two daughters, Juha and Lucinda, 
 were waxing in stature and graces. Juha, the younger, 
 waggish, lovely, imstable, highly entertaining ; the other 
 difficult to portray, for in her sincerity and purity she 
 represented all that we prize most in woman. Visits 
 were paid and repaid ; and, in the professor's house, 
 Julia found the most inexhaustible amusement. 
 
 Geography, which he failed not to enliven by topog- 
 raphy, belonged to his province ; and no sooner did 
 Juha cast her eyes on any of the volumes, of which a 
 whole series from Homann's warehouse were standing 
 there, than the cities, all and sundry, had to be mus- 
 tered, judged, preferred, or rejected : all havens espe- 
 cially obtained her favour; other towns, to acquire 
 even a slight approval from her, must stand forth 
 well supphed with steeples, domes, and minarets. 
 
 Julia's father often left her for weeks to the care of 
 his tried friend. She was actually advancing in knowl- 
 edge of her science ; and already the inhabited world, 
 in its main features, in its chief points and places, 
 stood before her with some accuracy and distinctness. 
 The garbs of foreign nations attracted her pecuhar 
 attention ; and often when her foster-father asked her 
 in jest, If among the many young, handsome men who 
 were passing to and fro before her window, there was 
 not some one or other whom she Hked ? she would 
 answer, " Yes, indeed ! if he do but look odd enough."
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 21 1 
 
 And, as our young students are seldom behindhand in 
 this ])articular, she had often occasion to take notice of 
 individuals among them ; they hiuught to her mind 
 the costume of foreign nations : however, she declared 
 in the end, that, if she was to bestow her undivided 
 attention on any one, he must be at least a Greek, 
 equipped in the complete fashion of his country ; on 
 which account, also, she longed to be at some Leipzig 
 fair, where, as she understood, such persons were to be 
 seen walking the streets. 
 
 After his dry and often irksome labours, our teacher 
 had now no happier moments than those he spent 
 in mirthfully instructing her ; triumphing withal, in 
 secret, that a being so attractive, ever entertaining, 
 ever entertained, was in the end to be his own daugh- 
 ter. For the rest, the two fathers had mutually 
 agreed, that no hint of their purpose should be com- 
 municated to the girls : from Lucidor, also, it was kept 
 secret. 
 
 Thus had years passed away, as, indeed, they very 
 lightly pass : Lucidor presented himself completed, 
 having stood all trials to the joy, even of the superior 
 overseers, who wished nothing more heartily than 
 being able, with a good conscience, to fulfil the hopes 
 of old, worthy, favoured, and deserving servants. 
 
 And so the business had at length by quiet, regular 
 steps come so far, that Lucidor, after having demeaned 
 himself in subordinate stations to universal satisfaction, 
 was now to be placed in a very advantageous post, 
 suitable to his wishes and merits, and lying just mid- 
 way between the university and the Ohcramtmann- 
 ship. 
 
 The father now spoke with his son about Juha, of 
 whom he had hitherto only hinted, as about his l)ride 
 and wife, without any doubt or condition ; congratulat- 
 ing him on the happiness of having appropriated such 
 a jewel to himself. The professor saw in fancy his
 
 212 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 daughter-in-law again from time to time in his house, 
 occupied with charts, plans, and views of cities : the 
 son recalled to mind the gay and most lovely creature, 
 who, in times of childhood, had, by her rogueries as 
 by her kindliness, always delighted him. Lucidor was 
 now to ride over to the Oheramtmann's, to take a 
 closer view of the full-grown fair one, and, for a few 
 weeks, to surrender himself to the habitudes and fa- 
 miHarity of her household. If the young people, as 
 was to be hoped, should speedily agree, the professor 
 was forthwith to appear, that so a solemn betrothment 
 might for ever secure the anticipated happiness. 
 
 Lucidor arrives, is received with the friendliest 
 welcome: a chamber is allotted him; he arranges 
 himself there, and appears. And now he finds, besides 
 the members of the family already known to us, a 
 grown-up son, — misbred certainly, yet shrewd and 
 good-natured ; so that, if you like to take him as the 
 jesting counsellor of the party, he fitted not ill with 
 the rest. There belonged, moreover, to the house a 
 very old, but healthy and gay-hearted, man, quiet, wise, 
 discreet ; completing his life, as it were, and here and 
 there requiring a little help. Directly after Lucidor, 
 too, there had arrived another stranger, no longer 
 young, of an impressive aspect, dignified, thoroughly 
 well-bred, and, by his acquaintance with the most 
 distant quarters of the world, extremely entertaining. 
 He was called Antoni. 
 
 Julia received her announced bridegroom in fit order, 
 yet with an excess rather than a defect of frankness : 
 Lucinda, on the other hand, did the honours of the 
 house : as her sister did those of herself. So passed 
 the day, peculiarly agreeable to all, only to Lucidor 
 not : he, at all times silent, had been forced, that he 
 might avoid sinking dumb entirely, to employ himself 
 in asking questions ; and in this attitude no one appears 
 to advantage.
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 213 
 
 Throughout he liad been absent-minded ; for at the 
 first glance he had felt, not aversion or repugnance, 
 yet estrangement, toward Julia : Lucinda, on the con- 
 trary, attracted him; so that he trembled every time 
 she looked at him with her full, pure, peaceful eyes. 
 
 Thus hard bested, he reached his charnl)er the first 
 night, and gave vent to his heart in that soliloquy 
 with which we began. But to explain this sufficiently, 
 to show how the violence of such an emphatic speech 
 agrees with what we know of him already, another 
 little statement will be necessary. 
 
 Lucidor was of a deep character, and for most part 
 had something else in his mind than what the present 
 scene required : hence talk and social conversation 
 would never prosper rightly with him ; he felt this, 
 and was wont to continue silent, except when the 
 topic happened to be particular, on some department 
 which he had completely studied and of which, what- 
 ever he needed was at all times read. Besides this, in 
 his early years at school, and later at the university, 
 he had been deceived in friends, and had wasted the 
 effusions of his heart unhappily : hence every communi- 
 cation of his feelings seemed to him a doubtful step, 
 and doubting destroys all such communication. With 
 his father he used to speak only in unison : therefore 
 his full heart poured itself out in monologues, as soon 
 as he was by himself. 
 
 Next morning he had summoned up his resolution ; 
 and yet he almost lost heart and composure again, 
 when Julia met him with still more friendhness, gayety, 
 and frankness than ever. She had much to ask, — 
 about his journey by land and journeys by water; 
 how, when a student, with his knapsack on his back, 
 he had roamed and chmbed through Switzerland, — 
 nay, crossed the Alps themselves. And now of those 
 fair islands on the great Southern Lake she had much 
 to say : and then backwards, the Ehine must be accom-
 
 214 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 panied from his primary origin ; at first, through most 
 undeUcious regions, and so downwards tlirough many 
 an alternation, till at length, between Mainz and 
 Coblenz, you find it still worth while respectfully to 
 dismiss the old Eiver from his last confinement, into 
 the wide world, into the sea. 
 
 Lucidor, in the course of this recital, felt much 
 lightened in heart ; he narrated willingly and well : 
 so that Julia at last exclaimed in rapture, " It is thus 
 that our other self should be!" At which phrase 
 Lucidor again felt startled and frightened, thinking he 
 saw in it an allusion to their future pilgrimage in com- 
 mon through life. 
 
 From his narrative duty, however, he was soon re- 
 lieved ; for the stranger, Antoni, very speedily over- 
 shadowed all mountain streams, and rocky banks, and 
 rivers, whether hemmed in or left at liberty. Under 
 his guidance you now went forward to Genoa ; Livorno 
 lay at no great distance ; whatever was most interest- 
 ing in the country you took with you as fair spoil; 
 Naples, too, was a place you should see before you 
 died ; and then, in truth, remained Constantinople, 
 which also was by no means to be neglected. Antoni's 
 descriptions of the wide world carried the imagination 
 of every hearer along with him, though Antoni him- 
 self introduced little fire into the subject. Julia, quite 
 enraptured, was still nowise satisfied : she longed for 
 Alexandria, Cairo, and, above all, for the pyramids ; 
 of wliich, by the lessons of her intended father-in-law, 
 she had gained some moderate knowledge. 
 
 Lucidor, next night (he had scarcely shut his door, 
 the caudle he had not put down), exclaimed, " Now, 
 bethink thee, then : it is growing serious ! Thou hast 
 studied and meditated many serious things : what 
 avails thy law-learning if thou canst not act like a 
 man of law ? View thyself as a delegate, forget thy 
 own feelings, and do what it would behoove thee to
 
 Mt.CTP.R'S TRAVELS 215 
 
 do for another. It thickuus and closes round me 
 horril)ly ! 'J'he stranger is plainly come for the sake 
 of Lucinda ; she shows him the fairest, noblest social 
 and hospitable attentions : that little fool would run 
 througli the world with any one for anything or noth- 
 ing. Besides, she is a wag : her interest in cities and 
 countries is a farce, by which she keeps us in silence. 
 But why do I Icjok at the affair so perplexedly, so 
 narrowly ? Is not the Oheramtmann himself the most 
 judicious, the clearest, the kindest mediator ? Thou 
 wilt tell him how thou feelest and thinkest ; and he 
 will think with thee, if not likewise feel. With thy 
 father he has all influence. And is not the one as 
 well as the other his daughter ? "WHiat would this 
 Antoni the traveller with Lucinda, who is born for 
 home, to be happy and to make happy ? Let the 
 wavering quicksilver fasten itself to the Wandering 
 Jew : that will be a riglit match." 
 
 Next morning Lucidor came down with the firm 
 purpose of speaking with the father, and waiting on 
 him expressly to that end, at the hour when he knew^ 
 him to be disengaged. How great was his vexation, 
 his perplexity, on learning that the Oheramtmann had 
 been called away on business, and was not expected 
 till the day after the morrow ! Julia, on this occasion, 
 seemed to be expressly in her travelling-fit ; she kept 
 by the world wanderer, and, with some sportive hits 
 at domestic economy, gave up Lucidor to Lucinda. 
 If our friend, viewing this noble maiden from a certain 
 distance, and under one general impression, had already, 
 with his whole heart, loved her, he failed not now in 
 this nearest nearness to discover with double and treble 
 vividness in detail all that had before as a whole at- 
 tracted him. 
 
 The good old friend of the family now brought 
 himself forward in place of the absent father : he, too, 
 had lived, had loved, and was now, after many hard
 
 2i6 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 buffetings and bruises of life, resting at last, refreshed 
 and cheerful, beside the friend of his youth. He en- 
 livened the conversation, and especially expatiated on 
 perplexities in choice of wives ; relating several remark- 
 able examples of explanations, both in time and too late. 
 Lucinda appeared in all her splendour. She admitted, 
 that accident in all departments of life, and so like- 
 wise in the business of marriage, often produced the 
 best result ; yet that it was finer and prouder when 
 one could say he owed his happiness to himself, to the 
 silent, calm conviction of his heart, to a noble purpose 
 and a quick determination. Tears stood in Lucidor's 
 eyes as he applauded this sentiment : directly afterward 
 the two ladies went out. The old president liked well 
 to deal in illustrative histories ; and so the conversation 
 expanded itseK into details of pleasant instances, which, 
 however, touched our hero so closely that none but a 
 youth of as delicate manners as his could have refrained 
 from breaking out with his secret. He did break out 
 so soon as he was by himself. 
 
 " I have constrained myself ! " exclaimed he : " with 
 such perplexities I will not vex my good father; I 
 have forborne to speak, for I see in this worthy old 
 man the substitute of both fathers. To him will I 
 speak, to him disclose the whole : he will surely bring 
 it about ; he has already almost spoken what I wish. 
 Will he censure in the individual case what he praises 
 in general ? To-morrow I visit him : I must give vent 
 to this oppression." 
 
 At breakfast the old man was not present : last 
 night he had spoken, it appeared, too much, had sat 
 too long, and likewise drunk a drop or two of wine 
 beyond his custom. Much was said in his praise : 
 many anecdotes were related, and precisely of such 
 sayings and doings as brought Lucidor to despair for 
 not having forthwith applied to him. This unpleasant 
 feehng was but aggravated when he learned, that, in
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 217 
 
 such attacks of disorder, the good old man would often 
 not make his re-ap})earance for a week. 
 
 For social converse a country residence has many 
 advantages, especially when the owners of it have, for 
 a course of years, been induced, as thinking and feehng 
 persons, to improve the natural capabilities of their 
 environs. Such had been the good fortune of this 
 spot. The Oheramtmanny at first unweddcd, then in 
 a long, happy marriage, himself a man of fortune, 
 and occupying a lucrative post, had, according to his 
 own judgment and perception, according to the taste 
 of his wife, — nay, at last according to the wishes and 
 whims of his children, — laid out and forwarded many 
 larger and smaller decorations ; which, by degrees, be- 
 ing skilfully connected with plantations and paths, 
 afforded to the promenader a very beautiful, continually 
 varying, characteristic series of scenes. A pilgrimage 
 through these our young hosts now proposed to their 
 guest ; as in general we take pleasure in showing 
 our improvements to a stranger, that so what has 
 become habitual in our eyes may appear with the 
 charm of novelty in his, and leave with him, in per- 
 manent remembrance, its first favourable impression. 
 
 The nearest, as well as the most distant, part of the 
 grounds was pecuharly appropriate for modest decora- 
 tions, and altogether rural individuahties. Fertile hills 
 alternated with well-watered meadows, so that the 
 whole was visible from time to time without being flat ; 
 and, if the land seemed chiefly devoted to purposes of 
 utility, the graceful, the attractive, was by no means 
 excluded. 
 
 To the dwelling and office houses were united vari- 
 ous gardens, orchards, and green spaces ; out of which 
 you imperceptibly passed into a little wood with a 
 broad, clear carriage-road, winding up and down 
 through the midst of it. Here, in a central spot, on 
 the most considerable elevation, there had been a hall
 
 2i8 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 erected, with side-chambers entering from it. On 
 coming through the main door you saw, in a large 
 mirror, the most favourable prospect which the coun- 
 try afforded, and were sure to turn round that instant, 
 to recover yourself on the reahty from the effect of this 
 its unexpected image ; for the approach was artfully 
 enough contrived, and all that could excite surprise 
 was carefully liid till the last moment. No one 
 entered but felt pleasurably tempted to turn from the 
 miiTor to nature, and from nature to the mirror. 
 
 Once in motion in this fairest, brightest, longest day, 
 our party made a spiritual campaign of it, over and 
 through the whole. Here the daughters pointed out 
 the evening-seat of their good mother, w^here a stately 
 box-tree had kept clear space all round it. A little 
 farther on Lucinda's place of morning prayer was half- 
 roguishly exhibited by Julia, close to a little brook, 
 between poplars and alders, wdth meadows sloping 
 down from it, and fields stretching upwards. It was 
 indescribably pretty. You thought you had seen such 
 a spot everywhere, but nowhere so impressive and so 
 perfect in its simplicity. In return for this the young 
 master, also half against Julia's will, pointed out the 
 tiny groves, and cliild's gardens which, close by a snug- 
 lying mill, were now scarcely discernible : they dated 
 from a time when Juha, perhaps in her tenth year, 
 had taken it into her head to become a milleress ; in- 
 tending, after the decease of the two old occupants, to 
 assume the management herself, and choose some brave 
 millman for her husband. 
 
 " That was at a time," cried Julia, " when I knew 
 nothing of towns lying on rivers, or even on the sea, — 
 nothing of Genoa, of Naples, and the like. Your 
 worthy father, Lucidor, has converted me : of late I 
 come seldom hither." She sat down with a roguish 
 air, and on a little bench, that was now scarcely large 
 enough for her, under an elder-bough, which had bent
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 219 
 
 deeply toward the ground. " Fie on this cowering ! " 
 cried she, then started up, and ran off with lier gay- 
 brother. 
 
 The remaining pair kept up a rational conversation, 
 and in these cases reason approaches close to the 
 borders of feeling. Wandering over changeful, simple, 
 natural objects, to contemplate at leisure how cunning, 
 scheming man contrives to gain some profit from 
 thern ; how his perception of what is laid before him, 
 combining with the feehng of his wants, does wonders, 
 first in rendering the world inhabitable, then in peopling 
 it, and at last in over-peopling it, — all this could here 
 be talked of in detail. Lucinda gave account of every- 
 thing ; and, modest as she was, she could not hide that 
 these pleasant and convenient combinations of distant 
 parts by roads had been her work, under the proposal, 
 direction, or favour of her revered mother. 
 
 But, as the longest day at last bends down to even- 
 ing, our party were at last forced to tliink of returning : 
 and, while devising some pleasant circuit, the merry 
 brother proposed that they should take the short road ; 
 though it commanded no fine prospects, and was even 
 in some places more ditticult to get over. " For," cried 
 he, " you have preached all day about your decorations 
 and reparations, and how you have improved and beau- 
 tified the scene for pictorial eyes and feeling hearts: 
 let me, also, have my turn." 
 
 Accordingly, they now set forth over ploughed 
 grounds, by coarse paths, nay, sometimes picking their 
 way by stepping-stones in boggy places; till at last 
 they perceived, at some distance, a pile of machinery 
 towering up in manifold combination. More closely 
 examined, it turned out to be a large apparatus for 
 sport and games, arranged, not without judgment, and 
 in a certain popular spirit. Here, fixed at suitable 
 distances, stood a large swing-wheel, on which the 
 asceucUng and the descending riders might still sit
 
 2 20 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 horizontally and at their ease ; other seesaws, swing- 
 ropes, leaping-poles, bowling and ninepins courses, and 
 whatever can be fancied for variedly and equally 
 employing and diverting a crowd of people gathered on 
 a large common. " This," cried he, " is my invention, 
 my decoration ! And though my father found the 
 money, and a shrewd fellow the brain necessary for it, 
 yet without me, whom you often call a person of no 
 judgment, money and brain would not have come 
 together." 
 
 In tliis cheerful mood the whole four reached home 
 by sunset. Antoni also joined them ; but the little 
 JuHa, not yet satisfied with this unresting travel, 
 ordered her coach, and set forth on a visit to a lady of 
 her friends, in utter despair at not having seen her for 
 two days. The party left behind began to feel embar- 
 rassed before they were aware : it was even mentioned 
 in words that the father's absence distressed them. 
 The conversation w^as about to stagnate, when all at 
 once the madcap sprang from his seat, and in a few 
 moments returned with a book, proposing to read to 
 the company. Lucinda forbore not to inquire how 
 this notion had occurred to him, now for the first time 
 in a twelvemonth. "Everything occurs to me," said 
 he, " at the proper season : this is more than you can 
 say for yourself." He read them a series of genuine 
 antique tales, such as lead man away from himself, 
 flattermg his wishes, and makuig him forget all those 
 restrictions between which, even in the happiest mo- 
 ments, we are still hemmed in. 
 
 " Wliat shall I do now ? " cried Lucidor, when at 
 last he saw himself alone. " The hour presses on : in 
 Antoni I have no trust ; he is an utter stranger ; I 
 know not who he is, how he comes to be here, nor 
 what he wants : Lucinda seems to be his object ; and, 
 if so, what can I expect of him ? Nothing remains for 
 me but applying to Lucinda herself : she must know of
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 221 
 
 it, she before all others. This was my first feeling : 
 why do we stray into side-paths and suljterfuges ? My 
 first thought shall be my last, and 1 hope to reach 
 my aim." 
 
 On Saturday morning Lucidor, dressed at an early 
 hour, was walking to and fro in his chamber, thinking 
 and conning over his projected address to Lucinda, 
 when he heard a sort of jestful contention before his 
 door; and the door itself directly afterward went up. 
 The mad younker was shoving in a boy Ijefore him 
 with coffee and baked ware for the guest : he himself 
 carried cold meats and wine. " Go thou foremost," 
 cried the younker, " for the guest must be first served : 
 I am used to serve myself. My friend, to-day T am 
 entering somewhat early and tunmltuously : l)ut let us 
 take our breakfast in peace ; then we shall see wliat is 
 to be done, for of our company there is nothing to be 
 hoped. The little one is not yet back from her friend : 
 they two have to pour out their hearts together every 
 fortnight, otherwise the poor, dear hearts would burst. 
 On Saturdays Lucinda is good for nothing : she balances 
 her household accounts for my father ; she would have 
 had me taking share in the concern, but Heaven for- 
 bid ! When I know the price of anything, no morsel 
 of it can I relish. Guests are expected to-morrow ; 
 the old man has not yet got refitted : Antoni is gone to 
 hunt ; we will do the same." 
 
 Guns, pouches, and dogs were ready as our pair 
 stepped down into the court ; and now they set forth 
 over field and hill, shooting at best a leveret or so, and 
 perhaps here and there a poor, indifferent, undeserving 
 bird. Meanwhile they kept talking of domestic affairs, 
 of the household, and company at present assembled 
 in it. Antoni was mentioned, and Lucidor failed not 
 to inquire more narrowly about him. The gay younker, 
 with some self-complaisance, asserted, that strange as 
 the man was, and much mystery as he made about
 
 222 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 himself, he, the gay younker, had ah-eady seen through 
 him and through him. " Without doubt," continued 
 he, "Autoni is the son of a rich mercantile family, 
 whose large partnership concern fell to ruin at the 
 very time when he, in the full vigour of youth, was 
 preparing to take a cheerful and active hand in their 
 great undertakings, and, withal, to share in their abun- 
 dant profits. Dashed down from the summit of his 
 hopes, he gathered himself together, and undertook to 
 perform for strangers what he was no longer in a case 
 to perform for his relatives. And so he travelled 
 through the world, became thoroughly acquaiated with 
 it and its mutual traffickings ; in the meanwhile not 
 forgetting his own advantage. Unwearied diligence and 
 tried fidehty obtained and secured for him unbounded 
 confidence from many. Thus in all places he acquired 
 connections and friends : nay, it is easy to see that his 
 fortune is as wddely scattered abroad as his acquaint- 
 ance; and, accordingly, his presence is from time to 
 time requhed in all quarters of the world." 
 
 These things the merry younker told in a more 
 circumstantial and simple style, introducing many 
 farcical observations, as if he meant to spin out his 
 story to full length. 
 
 " How long, for instance," cried he, " has tliis Antoni 
 been connected with my father ? They think I see 
 notliing because I trouble myself about nothing; but 
 for this very reason I see it better, as I take no interest 
 in it. To my father he has entrusted large sums, who, 
 again, has deposited them securely and to advantage. 
 It was but last night that he gave our old dietetic 
 friend a casket of jewels ; a finer, simpler, costher piece 
 of ware I never cast my eyes on : though I saw 
 this only with a single glance, for they make a secret 
 of it. Most probably it is to be consigned to the 
 bride for her pleasure, satisfaction, and future security. 
 Antoni has set his heart on Lucinda ! Yet, when I
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 223 
 
 see them togeLlicr, 1 cuimoL Lhuik it a well-assorted 
 match. The hop-skip would have suited him bi'tter : 
 I believe, too, she would take Mm sooner thau the 
 elder would. Many a time I .see her looking over to 
 the old curnuulgeon, so gay and .sympathetic, as if .she 
 could find in her heart to spring int(j the C(jach with 
 him, and fly off at full gallop." Lucidor collected 
 himself ; he knew not what to answer ; all that he 
 heard obtained his internal approbation. The younker 
 proceeded, " All along the girl has had a perverted 
 hking for old people : I beheve, of a truth, she w(juld 
 have skipped away and wedded your father as briskly 
 as she would his son." 
 
 Lucidor followed his companion over stock and 
 stone, as it pleased the gay youth to lead him : both 
 forgot the chase, which, at any rate, could not be 
 productive. They called at a farmhouse, whei'C, being 
 hospitably received, the one friend entertained himself 
 with eating, drinking, and tattling ; the other again 
 plunged into meditations and projects for turning this 
 new discovery to his own profit. 
 
 From all these narrations and disclosures Lucidor 
 had acquired so much confidence in Antoni, that, 
 immediately on their return, he asked for him, and 
 hastened into the garden where he was said to be. In 
 vain ! No soul was to be seen anywhere. At last he 
 entered the door of the great hall : and strange enough 
 the setting sun, reflected from the mirror, so dazzled 
 him that he could not recognise the two persons who 
 were sitting on the sofa ; though he saw distinctly that 
 it was a lady and a man, which latter was that instant 
 warmly kissing the hand of his companion. How 
 gi'eat, accordingly, was Lucidor's astonishment when, 
 on recovering his clearness of vision, he beheld Antoni 
 sitting by Lucinda. He was Hke to sink through the 
 ground ; he stood, however, as if rooted to the spot, till 
 Lucinda, in the kindest, most unembarrassed manner,
 
 2 24 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 shifted a little to a side, and invited him to take a seat 
 on her right hand. Unconsciously he obeyed her ; 
 and while she addressed him, inquiring after his pres- 
 ent day's history, asking pardon for her absence on 
 domestic engagements, he could scarcely hear her voice. 
 Antoni rose, and took his leave : Lucinda, resting her- 
 self from her toil as the others were doing, invited 
 Lucidor to a short stroll. Walking by her side he was 
 silent and embarrassed : she, too, seemed ill at ease ; 
 and, had he been in the sHghtest degi-ee seK-collected, 
 her deep-drawn breathing must have disclosed to him 
 that she had heartfelt sighs to suppress. She at last 
 took her leave as they approached the house : he, 
 on the other hand, turned round at first slowly, then at 
 a violent pace, to the open country. The park was 
 too narrow for him : he hastened through the fields, 
 listening only to the voice of his heart, and without 
 eyes for the beauties of tliis loveliest evening. When 
 he found himself alone, and his feehngs were reheving 
 their violence in a shower of tears, he exclaimed : 
 
 " Already in my life, but never with such fierceness, 
 have I felt the agony which now makes me altogether 
 wretched, — to see the long-wished-for happiness at 
 length reach me, hand in hand and arm in arm 
 unite with me, and at the same moment announce 
 its eternal departure ! I was sitting by her, I was 
 walking by her, her fluttering garment touched me; 
 and I have lost her ! Eeckon it not over, torture not 
 thy heart with it, be silent and determine ! " 
 
 He laid a prohibition on his hps : he held his peace, 
 and planned and meditated ; stepping over field and 
 meadow and bush, not always by the smoothest paths. 
 Late at night, on returning to his chamber, he gave 
 voice to his thoughts for a moment, and cried, " To- 
 morrow morning I am gone : another such day I will 
 not front." 
 
 And so, without undressing, he threw himself on
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 225 
 
 the bed. Happy, healthy season of youth ! He was 
 already asleep : the fatigiiiug motion of the day had 
 earned for him the sweetest rest. Out of bright morn- 
 ing dreams, however, the earliest sun awoke him : this 
 was the longest day in the year, and for him it threat- 
 ened to be too long. If the grace of the peaceful 
 evening star had passed over him unnoticed, he felt 
 the awakening beauty of the morning only to despair. 
 The world was lying here as glorious as ever ; to his 
 eyes it was still so, but his soul contradicted it : 
 all this belonged to him no longer ; he had lost 
 Lucinda. 
 
 His travelliug-lmg was soon packed ; this he was to 
 leave behind him ; he left no letter with it : a verbal 
 message in excuse of absence from dinner, perhaps also 
 from supper, might be left with the groom, whom, at 
 any rate, he must awaken. The groom, however, was 
 awake already : Lucidor found him in the yard, walk- 
 ing with large strides before the stable door. " You do 
 not mean to ride ? " cried the usually good-natured 
 man, with a tone of some spleen. " To you I may say 
 it, but young master is growing worse and worse. 
 There was he driving about far and near yesterday : 
 you might have thought he would thank God for 
 a Sunday to rest in. And see if he does not come this 
 morning before daybreak, rummages about in the 
 stable, and, while I am getting up, saddles and bridles 
 your horse, flings himself on it, and cries, ' Do but con- 
 sider the good work I am doing ! This beast keeps 
 jogging on at a staid, juridical trot : I must see and 
 rouse him into a smart life-gallop.' He said something 
 just so, and other strange speeches besides." 
 
 Lucidor was doubly and trebly vexed : he liked the 
 horse, as corresponding to his own character, liis own 
 mode of life ; it grieved him to figure his good, sensible 
 beast in the hands of a madcap. His plan, too, was 
 overturned, — his purpose of flying to a college friend
 
 226 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 with whom he had hved in cheerful, cordial union, and 
 in this crisis seeking refuge beside liini. His old confi- 
 dence had been awakened, the intervening miles were 
 not counted : he had fancied himself already at the 
 side of his true-hearted and judicious friend, finding 
 counsel and assuagement from his words and looks. 
 This prospect was now cut off, yet not entirely, if 
 he could venture with the fresh, pedestrian Hmbs 
 which still stood at his command to set forth toward 
 the goal. 
 
 Fii'st of all, accordingly, he struck through the 
 park ; making for the open country, and the road 
 which was to lead him to his friend. Of his direction 
 he was not quite certain, when, looking to the left, his 
 eye fell upon the hermitage, wliich had hitherto been 
 kept secret from Mm, — a strange edifice, rising with 
 gi'otesque joinery through bush and tree ; and here, to 
 his extreme astonishment, he observed the good old 
 man, who for some days had been considered sick, 
 standing in the gallery under the Cliinese roof, and 
 looking blithely through the soft morning. The friend- 
 liest salutation, the most pressing entreaties to come 
 up, Lucidor resisted with excuses and gestures of haste. 
 Nothing but sympathy with the good old man, who, 
 hastening down with infirm step, seemed every moment 
 in danger of falling to the bottom, could induce him to 
 turn thither, and then suffer himself to be conducted 
 up. With surprise he entered the pretty little hall ; 
 it had only three windows, turned toward the park, — a 
 most graceful prospect : the other sides were decorated, 
 or, rather, covered with hundreds of portraits, copper- 
 plate or painted, which were fixed in a certain order 
 to the wall, and separated by coloured borders and 
 interstices. 
 
 " I favour you, my friend, more than I do every one : 
 this is the sanctuary in which I peacefully spend my 
 last days. Here I recover myself from all the mistakes
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 227 
 
 which society tempts me to coiiiinit : here my dietetic 
 errors ai-e corrected, and my old being is again restored 
 to e(|iulil»rium." 
 
 Lucidor looked over the place ; and, being well read 
 in history, he easily observed that an historical taste 
 had presided in its arrangement. 
 
 " Above, there, in the frieze," said the old virtuoso, 
 " you will find the names of distinguished men in the 
 primitive ages ; then those of later antiquity ; yet still 
 only their names, for how they looked would now be 
 difficult to discover. But here, in the main field, 
 comes my own life into play : here are the men whose 
 names 1 used to hear mentioned in my boyliood. For 
 some fifty years or so the name of a distinguished man 
 continues in the remembrance of the people : then it 
 vanishes, or becomes fabulous. Though of German 
 parentage, I was born in Holland ; and, for me, 
 William of Orange, Stadtholder, and King of England, 
 is the patriarch of all common great men and heroes. 
 
 " Now, close by William, you observe Louis Four- 
 teenth as the person who — " How gladly would 
 Lucidor have cut short the good old man, had it but 
 been permitted him, as it is to us the narrators : for 
 the whole late and latest history of the world seemed 
 impending ; as from the portraits of Frederick the 
 Great and his generals, toward which he was glancing, 
 was but too clearly to be gathered. 
 
 And though the kindly young man could not but 
 respect his old friend's lively sympathy in these things, 
 nor deny that some individual features and views in 
 this exhibitory discourse might be interesting ; yet at 
 college he had heard the late and latest history of 
 Europe already : and, what a man has once heard, he 
 fancies himself to know for ever. Lucidor's thoughts 
 were wandering far away : he heard not, he scarcely 
 saw, and was just on the point, in spite of all polite- 
 ness, of flinging himself out, and tumbling down the
 
 2 28 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 long, fatal stair, when a loud clapping of hands was 
 heard from below. 
 
 While Lucidor restrained his movement, the old man 
 looked over through the window ; and a well-known 
 voice resounded from beneath, " Come down, for 
 Heaven's sake, out of your historic picture-gallery, old 
 gentleman ! Conclude your fasts and humiliations, 
 and help me to appease our young friend, when he 
 learns it. Lucidor's horse I have ridden somewhat 
 hard : it has lost a shoe, and I was obliged to leave 
 the beast behind me. What wiU he say ? He is too 
 absurd, when one behaves absurdly." 
 
 " Come up," said the old man, and turning in to 
 Lucidor. " Now what say you ? " Lucidor was silent, 
 and the wild blade entered. The discussion of the 
 business lasted long : at length it was determined to 
 despatch the gi-oom forthwith, that he might seek the 
 horse, and take charge of it. 
 
 Leaving the old man, the two younkers hastened to 
 the house ; Lucidor, not quite unwillingly, submitting 
 to this arrangement. Come of it what might, within 
 these walls the sole wish of his heart was included. 
 In such desperate cases, we are, at any rate, cut off 
 from the assistance of our free will ; and we feel our- 
 selves relieved for a moment, when, from any quarter, 
 direction and constraint take hold of us. Yet, on enter- 
 ing his chamber, he found himself in the strangest 
 mood, — like a man who, having just left an apart- 
 ment of an inn, is forced to return to it by the breaking 
 of an axle. 
 
 The gay younker fell upon the traveUing-bag, unpack- 
 ing it all in due order ; especially selecting every article 
 of holiday apparel, which, though only on the travelhng 
 scale, was to be found there. He forced Lucidor to put 
 on fresh shoes and stockings : he dressed for him his 
 clustering brown locks, and decked him at all points 
 with his best skill. Then stepping back, and surveying
 
 i~r->' 
 
 MEISTER S TRAVELS 229 
 
 our friend and his own handiwork from head to foot, 
 he exclaimed, " Now, then, my good fellow, you do look 
 like a mau that has some pretensions to pretty damsels, 
 and serious enough, moreover, to spy about you for a 
 bride ! Wait one moment ! You shall see how I, too, 
 can produce myself, when the hour strikes. This knack 
 I learned from your military officers ; the girls are al- 
 ways glancing at them : so I likewise have enrolled 
 myself among a certain soldiery ; and now they look 
 at me, too, and look again ; and no soul of them knows 
 what to make of it. And so, from this looking and 
 re-looking, from this surprise and attention, a pretty 
 enough result now and then arises ; which, though it 
 were not lasting, is worth enjoying for the moment. 
 
 " But come along, my friend, and do the like service 
 for me. When you have seen me case myself by piece- 
 meal in my equipment, you will not say that wit and 
 invention have been denied me." He now led his friend 
 through several long, spacious passages of the old castle. 
 " I have quite nestled myself here," cried he. " Though 
 I care not for hiding, I like to be alone : you can do no 
 good with other people." 
 
 They were passing by the office-rooms just as a ser- 
 vant came out with a patriarchal writing apparatus, 
 black, massive, and complete: paper, too, was not 
 forgotten. 
 
 " I know what it is to be blotted here again," cried 
 the younker : " go thy ways, and leave me the key. 
 Take a look of the place, Lucidor : it will amuse you 
 till I am dressed. To a friend of justice, such a spot 
 is not odious, as to a tamer of horses." And, with this, 
 he pushed Lucidor into the hall of judgment. 
 
 Lucidor felt himself directly in a well-known and 
 friendly element : he thought of the days when he, 
 fixed dowTi to business, had sat at such a table, and, 
 listening and writing, had trained himself to his art. 
 Nor did he fail to observe, that in this case an old,
 
 230 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 stately, domestic chapel had, under the change of relig- 
 ious ideas, been converted to the service of Themis. In 
 the repositories he found some titles and acts already 
 familiar to him : in these very matters he had cooper- 
 ated while labouring in the capital. Opening a bundle 
 of papers, there came into his hands a rescript which 
 he himself had dictated ; another of wliich he had been 
 the originator. Handwriting and paper, signet and pres- 
 ident's signature, everything recalled to Mm that season 
 of juridical effort, of youthful hope. And here, when 
 he looked round, and saw the Oheramtmann' s chair, 
 appointed and intended for himself ; so fair a place, so 
 dignified a circle of activity, which he was now like to 
 cast away and utterly lose, — all this oppressed him 
 doubly and trebly, as the form of Lucinda seemed to 
 retire from him at the same time. 
 
 He turned to go out into the open air, but found 
 himself a prisoner. His gay friend, heedlessly or rogu- 
 ishly, had left the door locked. Lucidor, however, did 
 not long continue in this durance ; for the other re- 
 turned, apologised for his oversight, and really called 
 forth good humour by his singular appearance. A cer- 
 tain audacity of colour and cut in his clothes was 
 softened by natural taste, as even to tattooed Indians 
 we refuse not a certain approbation. " To-day," cried 
 he, " the tedium of by-gone days shall be made good to 
 us. Worthy friends, merry friends, are come ; pretty 
 girls, roguish and fond ; and my father, to boot ; and, 
 wonder on wonder ! your father too. This will be a 
 festival truly : they are all assembled for breakfast in 
 the parlour." 
 
 With Lucidor, at this piece of information, it was as 
 if he were looking into deep fog : all the figures, known 
 and unknown, which the words announced to him, as- 
 sumed a spectral aspect ; yet his resolution, and the 
 consciousness of a pure heart, sustained him : and in a 
 few seconds he felt himself prepared for everything.
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 231 
 
 He followed his hasteniii},' frieud with a steady step, 
 firmly determined to await the issue, be what it 
 might, and explain his own purposes, come what come 
 might. 
 
 And yet, at the very threshold of the hall, he was 
 struck with some alarm. In a large half-circle, ranged 
 round by the windows, he immeiliately descried liis 
 father with tiie Oberamtmann, both splendidly attired. 
 The two sisters, Antoui, and others known and un- 
 known, he hurried over with a glance which was 
 threatening to giow dim. Half wavering, he ap- 
 proached liis father, who bade him welcome with the 
 utmost kindness, yet in a certain style of formality 
 which scarcely invited any trustful application. Stand- 
 ing before so many persons, he looked round to find a 
 place among them for a moment ; he might have ar- 
 ranged himself Ijeside Lucinda : but Julia, contrary to 
 the rigour of etiquette, made room for him ; so that he 
 was forced to step to her side. Antoni continued by 
 Lucinda. 
 
 At this important moment Lucidor again felt as if 
 he were a delegate ; and, steeled by his whole juridical 
 science, he called vip in his own favour the fine maxim. 
 That we should transact affairs delegated to us by a 
 stranger as if they were our own ; why not our own, 
 therefore, in the same spirit ? Well practised in official 
 orations, he speedily ran over what he had to say. But 
 the company, ranged in a formal semicircle, seemed to 
 outflank him. The purport of his speech he knew well : 
 the beginning of it he could not find. At this crisis he 
 observed on a table, in the corner, the large iukglass, 
 and several clerks sitting round it : the Oheramtmann 
 made a movement as if to solicit attention for a speech ; 
 Lucidor wished to anticipate him : and, at that very 
 moment, Julia pressed his hand. This threw him out 
 of all self-possession, convinced liim that all was 
 decided, all lost for him.
 
 232 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 With the whole of these negotiations, these family 
 alhances, ^vith social conventions, and rules of good 
 manners, he had now nothing more to do : he snatched 
 his hand from Julia's, and vanished so rapidly from the 
 room, that the company lost him unawares ; and he 
 out of doors could not find himself again. 
 
 Shrinking from the light of day, which shone down 
 upon him in its highest splendour; avoiding the eyes 
 of men ; dreading search and pursuit, — he hurried for- 
 wards, and reached the large garden-hall. Here his 
 laiees were like to fail him : he rushed in, and threw 
 liimself, utterly comfortless, upon the sofa beneath the 
 mirror. Amid the polished arrangements of society, to 
 be caught in such unspeakable perplexity ! It dashed 
 to and fro like waves about him and within him. His 
 past existence was strugghng with his present : it was 
 a frightful moment. 
 
 And so he lay for a time, with liis face hid in the 
 cushion on which last night Lucinda's arm had rested. 
 Altogether sunk in his sorrow, he had heard no foot- 
 steps approach : feeling some one touch liim, he started 
 up, and perceived Lucinda standing by Ms side. 
 
 Fancying they had sent her to bring him back, had 
 commissioned her to lead him with fit, sisterly words 
 into the assemblage to front his hated doom, he ex- 
 claimed, " You they should not have sent, Lucinda ; 
 for it was you that drove me away. I will not return. 
 Give me, if you are capable of any pity, procure me, 
 convenience and means of flight. For, that you yourself 
 may testify how impossible it was to bring me back, 
 hsten to the explanation of my conduct, which to you 
 and all of them must seem insane. Hear now the oath 
 which I have sworn in my soul, and which I inces- 
 santly repeat in words : with you only did I wish to 
 live, with you to enjoy, to employ my days, from youth 
 to old age, in true, honourable union. And let this be 
 as firm and sure as aught ever sworn before the altar,
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 233 
 
 — this, which T now swear, now when I leave you, 
 the most pitiable of all men." 
 
 He made a movement to glide past her, as she stood 
 close before liim ; but she caught him softly in her 
 arms. " What is this ? " exclaimed he. 
 
 " Lucidor ! " cried she, " not pitiable as you think : 
 you are mine, I am yours ; I hold you in my arms ; 
 delay not to throw your arms about me. Your father 
 has agreed to all : Antoni marries my sister." 
 
 In astonishment he recoiled from her. " Can it 
 be ? " Lucinda smiled and nodded : he drew back from 
 her arms. " Let me view once more, at a distance, 
 what is to be mine so nearly, so insejiarably ! " He 
 grasped her hands : " Lucinda, are you mine ? " 
 
 She answered, " "Well, then, yes," the sweetest tears 
 in the truest eyes : he clasped her to his breast, and 
 threw his head behind hers ; he hung like a ship- 
 wrecked mariner on the cliffs of the coast ; the ground 
 still shook under him. And now his enraptured eye, 
 again opening, lighted on the mirror. He saw her there 
 in his arms, liimself clasped in hers : he looked down 
 and again to the image. Such emotions accompany 
 man throughout his life. In the mirror, also, he beheld 
 the landscape, which last night had appeared to him 
 so baleful and ominous, now lying fairer and brighter 
 than ever; and himself in such a posture, on such a 
 background ! Abundant recompense for all sorrows ! 
 
 " We are not alone," said Lucinda ; and scarcely had 
 he recovered from his rapture, when, all decked and 
 garlanded, a company of girls and boys came forward, 
 carrying wreaths of flowers, and crowding the entrance 
 of the hall. " This is not the way," cried Lucinda : 
 " how prettily it was arranged, and now it is all run- 
 ning into tumult ! " A gay march sounded from a dis- 
 tance, and the company were seen coming on by the 
 large road in stately procession. Lucidor hesitated to 
 advance toward them: only on her arm did he seem
 
 234 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 certain of his steps. She stayed beside him ; expect- 
 ing from moment to moment the solemn scene of 
 meeting, of thanks for pardon already given. 
 
 But by the capricious gods it was otherwise deter- 
 mined. The gay, clanging sound of a postiHon's horn 
 from the opposite side seemed to throw the whole 
 ceremony into rout. " Who can be coming ? " cried 
 Lucinda. The thought of a strange presence was 
 frightful to Lucidor, and the carriage seemed entirely 
 unknown to him. A double-seated, new, spick-and- 
 span new, travelling-chaise ! It rolled up to the hall. 
 A well-dressed, handsome boy sprang down, opened 
 the door ; but no one dismounted ; the chaise was 
 empty. The boy stepped into it : with a dexterous 
 touch or two he threw back the tilts ; and there, in a 
 twinkling, stood the daintiest vehicle in readiness for 
 the gayest drive, before the eyes of the whole party, 
 who were now advancing to the spot. Antoni, out- 
 hastenmg the rest, led Julia to the carriage. " Try if 
 this machine," said he, " will please you ; if you can sit 
 in it, and, over the smoothest roads, roll through the 
 world beside me : I will lead you by no other but the 
 smoothest ; and, when a strait comes, we shall know 
 how to help ourselves. Over the mountains sumpters 
 shall carry us, and our coach also." 
 
 " You are a dear creature ! " cried Julia. The boy 
 came forward, and, with the quickness of a conjurer, ex- 
 hibited all the conveniences, httle advantages, comforts, 
 and celerities of the whole light edifice. 
 
 " On earth I have no thanks," cried Julia ; " but 
 from this little moving heaven, from this cloud, into 
 which you raise me, I will heartily thank you." She 
 had already bounded in, throwing him kind looks, and 
 a kiss of the hand. " For the present you come not 
 hither ; but there is another whom I mean to take 
 along with me in this proof-excursion, — he himself 
 has still a proof to undergo." She called to Lucidor,
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 235 
 
 who, just then occu})ied in mute conversation with liis 
 fath(n- and father-in-law, wilHngly took refuge in the 
 hglit vehicle, feeling an irresistible necessity to dissipate 
 his thoughts in some way or other, though it were but 
 for a moment. He placed himself beside her : she 
 directed the postilion where he was to drive. Instantly 
 they darted off, enveloped ui a cloud of dust, and 
 vanished from the eyes of the amazed spectators. 
 
 Julia fixed herself in the corner as firmly and com- 
 modiously as she could wish. " Now do you shift into 
 that one, too, good brother ; so that we may look each 
 other rightly in the face." 
 
 Lucidor. You feel my confusion, my embarrass- 
 ment. I am still as if in a dream. Help me out of it. 
 
 Julia. Look at these gay peasants. How kindly 
 they salute us ! You have never seen the Upper Ham- 
 let yet, since you came hither. All good, substantial 
 people there, and all thoroughly devoted to me. No 
 one of them so rich that you cannot, by a time, do a 
 httle kind service to Mm. Tliis road, which we whirl 
 along so smoothly, is my father's domg, — another of 
 his benefits to the community. 
 
 Lucidor. I believe it, and willingly admit it ; but 
 what have these external things to do with the per- 
 plexity of my mternal feelings ? 
 
 Jidia. Patience a httle ! I will show you the 
 riches of this world, and the glory thereof. Here now 
 we are at the top. Do but look how clear the level 
 country lies all round us, leaning against the moun- 
 tains. All these villages are much, much indebted to 
 my father ; to mother and daughters too. The grounds 
 of yon little hamlet are the border. 
 
 Lucidor. Surely you are in a very strange mood : 
 you do not seem to be saying what you mean to say. 
 
 Julia. But now look down to the left. How beau- 
 tifully all this unfolds itself ! The church, with its 
 high hndeus ; the Amthaus, with its poplars, behind
 
 236 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 the village knoll. Here, too, are the garden and the 
 park. 
 
 The postilion drove faster. 
 
 Julia. The Hall up yonder you know. It looks 
 almost as well here as this scene does from it. Here, 
 at the tree, we shall stop a moment. Now, in this 
 very spot our image is reflected in the large mirror : 
 there they see us full well, but we cannot see our- 
 selves. — Go along, postilion ! There, some little 
 while ago, two people, I beheve, were reflected at a 
 shorter distance, and, if 1 am not exceedingly mistaken, 
 to their great mutual satisfaction. 
 
 Lucidor, in ill-humour, answered nothing. They 
 went on for some time in silence, driving very hard. 
 " Here," said Julia, " the bad road begins, — a service 
 left for you to do some day. Before we go lower, look 
 down once more. My mother's box-tree rises with its 
 royal summit over all the rest. Thou wilt drive," con- 
 tinued she, to the postilion, "down this rough road: 
 we shall take the footpath through the dale, and so be 
 sooner at the other side than thou." In dismounting, 
 she cried, " Well, now, you will confess the Wandering 
 Jew, this restless Antoni the Traveller, can arrange 
 his pilgrimages prettily enough for himself and his 
 companion.s. It is a very beautiful and commodious 
 carriage." 
 
 And with this she tripped away down hiU. Lucidor 
 followed her in deep thought: she was sitting on a 
 pleasant seat ; it was Lucinda's Httle spot. She in\ited 
 him to sit by her. 
 
 Julia. So now we are sitting here, and one is noth- 
 ing to the other. Thus it was destined to be. The 
 little Quicksilver would not suit you. Love it you 
 could not : it was hateful to you. 
 
 Lucidor's astonishment increased. 
 
 Julia. But Lucinda, indeed ! She is the paragon 
 of all perfections, and the pretty sister was once for all
 
 liolpj yd aniJ/iicq aril moil 37uv£igoJori*I
 
 c knoi "'den aj.. 
 
 drove 1. 
 The Hall up vonder you know. It 
 
 ' " "t. iiei... 
 ', in this 
 
 there th-'v - 
 
 wh 
 
 L- _. _. , _ A- Th-v 
 
 went on for somf time in srilence, driving very 
 
 " Here," p. road begins, — a service 
 
 ,tiful and odious 
 
 And w ^ siie t' y down liiiL Lucidor 
 
 ) sit by ber. 
 Julia. So now we are sitting here, e is noth- 
 
 the othei ' was destined to be. T"* 
 
 little ^' ' 'silver ■. -- x,__. -^ ^^^^^ 
 
 cor"'''' "•"^'■ 
 
 eel 
 -a, inri 
 
 i once 
 
 "She invited him to sit by her" 
 
 Photogravure from the painting by Leloir
 
 -^^v^ 
 
 *- -<i^"
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 237 
 
 cast out. I see it : the question hovers on your lips, 
 Wlio lias told \is all so accuialely ? 
 
 Lucidor. There is treachery in it ! 
 
 Julia. Yes, truly ! There has been a traitor at 
 work in the matter. 
 
 Lucidor. Name liim. 
 
 Julia. He is soon unmasked : You ! You have the 
 praiseworthy or blameworthy custom of talking to 
 yourself ; and now, in the name of all, I must confess 
 that in turn we have overheard you. 
 
 lAicidor (starting up). A sorry piece of hospitahty, 
 to lay snares for a stranger in this way ! 
 
 Julia. By no means. We thought not of watching 
 you more than any other. But you know your bed 
 stands in the recess of the wall : on the opposite side is 
 another alcove, commonly employed for laying up 
 household articles. Hither, some days before, we 
 had shifted our old man's bed, being anxious about 
 him in his remote hermitage ; and here, the first 
 night, you started some such passionate sohloquy, 
 which he next morning took his opportunity of re- 
 hearsing. 
 
 Lucidor had not the heart to interrupt her. He 
 withdrew. 
 
 Julia (rising and following him). "What a service 
 this discovery did us all ! For I will confess, if you 
 were not positively disagTeeable, the situation which 
 awaited me was not by any means to my mind. To 
 be Frau Oberamtmanuin, — what a dreadful state ! 
 To have a brave, gallant husband, who is to pass judg- 
 ment on the people, and, for sheer judgment, cannot 
 get to justice; who can please neither high nor low, 
 and, what is worst, not even himself. I know what 
 my poor mother suffered from the incorruptibility, the 
 inflexibility, of my father. At last, indeed, but not 
 till her death, a certain meekness took possession of 
 him : he seemed to suit himself to the world, to make
 
 238 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 a truce with those evils which till then he had vainly 
 striven to conquer. 
 
 Lucidor (stopping short, extremely discontented 
 with the incident, vexed at this hght mode of treat- 
 ing it). For the sport of an evening tliis might pass, 
 but to practise such a disgi-acing mystification day 
 and night against an unsuspicious stranger is not 
 pardonable. 
 
 Julia. "We are all equally deep in the crime, we 
 all hearkened you ; yet I alone pay the penalty 
 of eavesdropping. 
 
 Lucidor. All ! So much the more unpardonable. 
 And how could you look at me, throughout the day, 
 without blushing, whom at night you were so con- 
 temptuously overreaching ? But I see clearly with a 
 glance that your arrangements by day were planned 
 to make mockery of me. A fine family ! And where 
 was your father's love of justice all this while ? — 
 And Lucinda — 
 
 Julia. And Lucinda ! Wliat a tone was that ! 
 You meant to say, did not you, how deeply it grieved 
 your heart to think ill of Lucinda, to rank her in a 
 class with the rest of us ? 
 
 Lucidor. I cannot understand Lucinda. 
 
 Julia. In other words, this pure, noble soul ; this 
 peacefully composed nature, benevolence, goodness 
 itself ; this woman as she should be, — unites with 
 a light-minded company, with a freakish sister, a 
 spoiled brother, and certain mysterious persons. That 
 is incomprehensible ! 
 
 Lucidor. Yes, indeed, it is incomprehensible ! 
 
 Julia. Comprehend it, then ! Lucinda, like the 
 rest of us, had her hands bound. Could you have 
 seen her perplexity, how fain she would have told you 
 all, how often she was on the very eve of doing it, 
 you would now love her doubly and trebly, if, indeed, 
 true love were not always tenfold and hundredfold
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 239 
 
 of itself. I can assure you, moreover, that all of us 
 at length tliought the joke too long. 
 
 Lucidur. Why did you not end it, then ? 
 
 Julia. That, too, I must explain. No sooner had 
 my father got intelligence of your first monologue, and 
 seen, as was easy to do, that none of his children 
 would object to such an exchange, than he determined 
 on visiting your father. The importance of the busi- 
 ness gave him much anxiety. A father alone can feel 
 the respect which is due to a father. " He must be 
 informed of it in the first place," said mine, " that 
 he may not in the end, when we are all agreed, be 
 reduced to give a forced and displeased consent. I 
 know him well : I know how any thought, any wish, 
 any purpose, cleaves to him ; and I have my own 
 fears about the issue. Julia, his maps and pictures, 
 he has long viewed as one thing; he has it in liis eye 
 to transport all this hither, when the young pair are 
 once settled here, and his old pupil cannot change her 
 abode so readily : on us he is to bestow his holidays ; 
 and who knows what other kind, friendly things he 
 has projected ? He nmst forthwith be informed what 
 a trick Nature has played us, while yet nothing is 
 declared, nothing is determined." And, with this, 
 he exacted from us all the most solemn promise that 
 we should observe you, and, come what might, retain 
 you here till Ms return. How this return has been 
 protracted ; what art, toil, and perseverance it has cost 
 to gain your father's consent, — he himself wall inform 
 you. In short, the business is adjusted : Lucinda is 
 yours. 
 
 And thus had the two promenaders, sharply removing 
 from their first resting-})lace, then pausing by the way, 
 then speaking, and walking slowly through the green 
 fields, at last reached the height, where another well- 
 levelled road received them. The carriage came 
 whirhng up : JuHa in the meanwhile turned her
 
 240 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 friend's attention to a strange sight. The whole 
 machinery, of wliich her gay brother had bragged so 
 much, was now alive and in motion : the wheels were 
 already heaving up and down a multitude of people ; 
 the seesaws were flying ; maypoles had their climbers ; 
 and many a bold, artful swing and spring over the 
 heads of an innumerable multitude you might see 
 ventured. The younker had set all a-going, that so 
 the guests, after dinner, might have a gay spectacle 
 awaiting them. " Thou wilt drive through the Nether 
 Hamlet," cried Julia : " the people wish me well, and 
 they shall see how well I am off." 
 
 The hamlet was empty : the young people had all 
 run to the swings and seesaws ; old men and women, 
 roused by the driver's horn, appeared at doors and 
 windows ; every one gave salutations and blessings, 
 exclaiming, " Oh, what a lovely pair ! " 
 
 Julia. There, do you hear ? We should have 
 suited well enough together after all : you may rue 
 it yet. 
 
 Lucidor. But now, dear sister — 
 
 Julia. Ha ! Now dear, when you are rid of 
 me ! 
 
 Lucidor. One single word. On you rests a heavy 
 accusation : what did you mean by that squeeze of the 
 hand, when you knew and felt my dreadful situation ? 
 A thing so radically wicked I have never met with 
 in my life before. 
 
 Julia. Thank Heaven we are now quits ; now all 
 is pardoned : I had no mind for you, that is certain ; 
 but that you had utterly and absolutely no mind for 
 me, this was a thing which no young woman could for- 
 give: and the squeeze of the hand, observe you, was 
 for the rogue. I do confess it was almost too roguish : 
 and I forgive myself, because I forgive you ; and so let 
 all be forgotten and forgiven ! Here is my hand. 
 
 He took it : she cried, " Here we are again ! In our
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 241 
 
 park again ; and so, in a trice, we whirl through the 
 wide world, and back too : we shall meet again." 
 
 They had reached the garden-hall ; it seemed empty ; 
 the company, tired of waiting, had gone out to walk. 
 Antoni, however, and Lucinda, came forth. Julia, 
 stepping from the carriage, flew to her friend : she 
 thanked him in a cordial embrace, and restrained not 
 the most joyful tears. The brave man's cheeks red- 
 dened, his features looked forth unfolded ; his eye 
 glanced moist ; and a fair, imposing youth shone 
 through the veil. 
 
 And so both pairs moved off to join the company, 
 with feelings which the finest dream could not have 
 given them.
 
 CHAPTEE LAST. 
 
 " Thus, my friends," said Lenardo, after a short pre- 
 amble, " if we survey the most populous provinces and 
 kingdoms of the firm earth, we observe on all sides, 
 that wherever an available soil appears, it is cultivated, 
 planted, shaped, beautified, and, in the same propor- 
 tion, coveted, taken into possession, fortified, and 
 defended. Hereby we bring home to our conceptions 
 the high worth of property in land, and are obliged 
 to consider it as the first and best acquirement that 
 can be allotted to man. And if, on closer inspection, 
 we find parental and filial love, the union of country- 
 men and townsmen, and therefore the universal feehng 
 of patriotism, founded immediately on this same inter- 
 est in the soil, we caimot but regard that seizing and 
 retaining of space, in the great or the small scale, as 
 a thing still more important and venerable. Yes, 
 Nature herself has so ordered it ! A man born on 
 the glebe comes by habit to belong to it ; the two 
 grow together, and the fairest ties are spun from their 
 union. Who is there, then, that would spitefully dis- 
 turb this foundation-stone of all existence ; that would 
 blindly deny the worth and dignity of such precious 
 and peculiar gifts of Heaven ? 
 
 " And yet we may assert, that if what man pos- 
 sesses is of great worth, what he does and accom- 
 plishes must be of still greater. In a wide view of 
 things, therefore, we must look on property in land 
 as one small part of the possessions that have been 
 
 242
 
 MEISTER-S TRAVELS 243 
 
 given us. Of these the greatest and the most precious 
 part consists especially in what is movable, and in 
 what is gained by a moving life. 
 
 " Toward this quarter we younger men are peculiarly 
 constrained to turn ; for, though we had inherited from 
 our fathers the desire of abiding and continuing, we 
 find ourselves called by a thousand causes nowise 
 to shut our eyes against a wider out-look and survey. 
 Let us hasten, then, to the shore of the ocean, and 
 convince ourselves what boundless spaces are still 
 lying open to activity, and confess, that, by the bare 
 thought of this, we are roused to new vigour. 
 
 " Yet, not to lose ourselves in these vast expanses, 
 let us direct our attention to the long and large sur- 
 face of so many countries and kingdoms combined 
 together on the face of the earth. Here we behold 
 great tracts of land tenanted by Nomades, whose 
 towns are movable, whose life-supporting household 
 goods can be transferred from place to place. We 
 see them in the middle of the deserts, on wide green 
 pasturages, lying, as it were, at anchor in their desired 
 haven. Such movement, such wandering, becomes 
 a habit with them, a necessity : in the end they grow 
 to regard the surface of the world as if it were not 
 bulwarked by mountains, were not cut asunder by 
 streams. Have we not seen the North-east flow 
 toward the South-west ; one people driving another be- 
 fore it, and lordship and property altogether changed ? 
 
 "From over-populous countries, a similar calamity 
 may again, in the great circle of vicissitudes, occur 
 more than once. What we have to dread from for- 
 eigners, it may be difficult to say; but it is curious 
 enough, that, by our own over-population, we ourselves 
 are througmg one another in our own domains, and, 
 without waiting to be driven, are driving one another 
 forth, passing sentence of banishment each against his 
 fellow.
 
 244 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 " Here now is the place and season for giving scope 
 in our bosoms, \vithout spleen or anger, to a love of 
 movement ; for unfettering that impatient wish which 
 excites us to change our abode. Yet whatever we may- 
 purpose and intend, let it be accomplished, not from 
 passion, or from any other influence of force, but from 
 a conviction corresponding to the wisest judgment and 
 deliberation. 
 
 " It has been said, and over again said, Where I am 
 well is my country ! But this consolatory saw were 
 better worded, Where I am useful is my country ! At 
 home you may be useless, and the fact not instantly 
 observed : abroad in the world, the useless man is 
 speedily convicted. And now, if I say, Let each 
 endeavour everywhere to be of use to himself and 
 others, this is not a precept or a counsel, but the 
 utterance of life itself. 
 
 " Cast a glance over the terrestrial ball, and for the 
 present leave the ocean out of sight : let not its hurry- 
 ing fleets distract your thoughts, but fix your eye on 
 the firm earth, and be amazed to see how it is over- 
 flowed with a swarming ant-tribe, jostling and cross- 
 ing, and running to and fro for ever ! So was it 
 ordained of the Lord liimself, when, obstructing the 
 Tower of Babel, he scattered the human race abroad 
 into all the world. Let us praise his name on this ac- 
 count, for the blessing has extended to all generations. 
 
 " Observe now, and cheerfully, how the young, on 
 every side, instantly get into movement. As instruc- 
 tion is not offered them within doors, and knocks not 
 at their gates, they hasten forthwith to those countries 
 and cities wliither the call of science and wisdom 
 allures them. Here, no sooner have they gained a 
 rapid and scanty training, than they feel themselves 
 impelled to look round in the world, whether here and 
 there some profitable experience, applicable to their 
 objects, may not be met with and appropriated. Let
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 245 
 
 these try their fortune ! We turn from them to those 
 completed and distinguished men, those noble inquirers 
 into nature, who wittingly encounter every difficulty, 
 every peril, that to the world tliey may lay the world 
 open, and, through the most impassable, pave easy 
 roads. 
 
 " But observe also, on beaten highways, how dust on 
 dust, in long, cloudy trains, mounts up, betokening the 
 track of commodious, top-laden carriages, in wliich the 
 rich, the noble, and so many others, are whirled along ; 
 whose varying purposes and dispositions Yorick has 
 most daintily explained to us, 
 
 " These the stout craftsman, on foot, may cheerily 
 gaze after ; for whom his country has made it a duty 
 to appropriate foreign skill, and not, till this has been 
 accomplished, to revisit his paternal hearth. In still 
 greater numbers do traffickers and dealers meet us on 
 our road : the little trader must not neglect, from time 
 to time, to forsake his shop, that he may visit fairs 
 and markets, may approach the great merchant, and 
 increase his own small profit, by example and partici- 
 pation of the boundless. But yet more restlessly do 
 we descry cruising on horseback, singly, on all high 
 and by ways, that multitude of persons whose business 
 it is, in lawful wise, to make forcible pretension to 
 our purses. Samples of all sorts, prize catalogues, invi- 
 tations to purchase, pursue us into town-houses and 
 country-houses, and wherever we may seek refuge : 
 diligently they assault us and surprise us ; themselves 
 offering the opportunity, which it would have entered 
 no man's mind to seek. And what shall I say of that 
 people which, before all others, arrogates to itself the 
 blessing of perpetual wandering, and, by its movable 
 activity, contrives to overreach the resting and to over- 
 step the walking ? Of them we must say neither ill 
 nor good, — no good, because our League stands on its 
 guard against them ; no ill, because the wanderer.
 
 246 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 miudful of reciprocal advantage, is bound to treat 
 with friendUness whomsoever he may meet. 
 
 " But now, above all, we must mention with peculiar 
 affection the whole race of artists ; for they, too, are 
 thoroughly involved in this universal movement. Does 
 not the painter wander, with palette and easel, from 
 face to face ? and are not his kindred labourers sum- 
 moned now this way, now that, because in all places 
 there is something to be built and to be fashioned ? 
 More briskly, however, paces the musician on his way ; 
 for he peculiarly it is that for a new ear has provided 
 new surprise, for a fresh mind fresh astonishment. 
 Players, too, though they now despise the cart of 
 Thespis, still rove about in little choirs ; and their 
 moving world, wherever they appear, is speedily enough 
 built up. So likewise, individually, renouncing serious, 
 profitable engagements, these men delight to change 
 place with place, according as rising talents, combined 
 with rising wants, furnish pretext and occasion. For 
 this success they commonly prepare themselves by 
 leaving no important stage in their native land un- 
 trodden. 
 
 " Nor let us forget to cast a glance over the profes- 
 sorial class : these, too, you find in continual motion, 
 occupying and forsaking one chair after the other, to 
 scatter richly abroad on every side the seeds of a hasty 
 culture. More assiduous, however, and of wider aim, 
 are those pious souls who disperse themselves through 
 all quarters of the world to bring salvation to their 
 brethren. Others, on the contrary, are pilgriming to 
 seek salvation for themselves : they march in hosts 
 to consecrated, wonder-working places, there to ask 
 and receive what was denied their souls at home. 
 
 " And if all these sorts of men surprise us less by 
 their wandering, as, for most part, without wandering, 
 the business of their hfe were impossible, of those, 
 again, who dedicate their diligence to the soil, we
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 247 
 
 should certainly expect that they, at least, were fixed. 
 By no means ! Even witliout possession, occupation is 
 conceivable ; and we behold the eager farmer forsaking 
 the ground which for years had yielded him profit and 
 enjoyment : impatiently he searches after similar or 
 greater profit, be it far or near. Nay, the owner him- 
 self will abandon his new-grubbed clearage so soon as, 
 by his cultivation, he has rendered it commodious for 
 a less enterprising husbandman : once more he presses 
 into the wilderness, again makes space for himself in 
 the forests, — in recompense of that first toiling a 
 double and treble space ; on which also, it may be, he 
 thinks not to continue. 
 
 " There we shall leave him, bickering with bears and 
 other monsters, and turn back into the polished world, 
 where we find the state of things no whit more station- 
 ary. Do but view any great and regulated kingdom : 
 the ablest man is also the man who moves the often- 
 est ; at the beck of his prince, at the order of his 
 minister, the Serviceable is transferred from place to 
 place. To him also our precept will apply, Every- 
 where endeavour to be useful, everywhere you are at 
 home. Yet if we observe important statesmen leaving, 
 though reluctantly, their high stations, we have reason 
 to deplore their fate; for we can neither recognise 
 them as emigi-ators, not as migrators, — not as emi- 
 grators, because they forego a covetable situation 
 without any prospect of a better even seeming to 
 open ; not as migrators, because to be useful in other 
 places is a fortune seldom granted them. 
 
 " For the soldier, again, a life of peculiar wandering 
 is appointed : even in peace, now this, now that, post is 
 entrusted to him ; to fight, at hand or afar off, for his 
 native country, he must keep liimself perpetually in 
 motion, or readiness to move ; and not for immediate 
 defence alone, but also to fulfil the remote purposes of 
 nations and rulers, he turns his steps toward all quar-
 
 248 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 
 
 ters of the world ; and to few of his craft is it given to 
 find any resting-place. And as in the soldier courage 
 is his first and highest quahty, so this must always be 
 considered as united with fidehty ; and, accordingly, 
 we find certain nations famous for trustworthiness, 
 called forth from their home, and serving spiritual or 
 temporal regents as body-guards. 
 
 " Another class of persons indispensable to govern- 
 ments, and also of extreme mobility, we see in those 
 negotiators who, despatched from court to court, 
 beleaguer pruices and ministers, and overnet the 
 whole inhabited world with their invisible threads. 
 Of these men, also, no one is certain of his place for 
 a moment. In peace, the ablest of them are sent from 
 country to country ; in war, they march behind the 
 army when victorious, prepare the way for it when 
 fugitive : and thus are they appointed still to be 
 changing place for place ; on which account, indeed, they 
 at all times carry with them a stock of farewell cards. 
 
 " If hitherto at every step we have contrived to do 
 ourselves some honour, declaring, as we have done, the 
 most distinguished portion of active men to be our 
 mates and fellows in destiny, there now remains for 
 you, my beloved friends, by way of termination, a 
 glory higher than all the rest, seeing you find your- 
 selves united in brotherhood with princes, kings, and 
 emperors. Think first, with blessings and reverence, 
 of the imperial wanderer Hadrian, who on foot, at the 
 head of his army, paced out the circle of the world 
 which was subject to him, and thus in very deed took 
 possession of it. Think then with horror of the Con- 
 queror, that armed wanderer, against whom no resist- 
 ance availed, no wall or bulwark could shelter armed 
 nations. In fine, accompany with honest sympathy 
 those hapless exiled princes who, descending from the 
 summit of the height, cannot even be received into the 
 modest guild of active wanderers.
 
 MEISTER'S TRAVELS 249 
 
 " And now, while we call forth and illustrate all 
 this to one another, no narrow despondency, no pas- 
 sionate perversion, can rule over us. The time is past 
 when people rushed forth at randotii into the wide 
 world : hy the labours of scientific travellers, de- 
 scribing wisely and copying like artists, we have 
 become sufficiently acquainted with the earth to 
 know moderately well what is to be looked for every- 
 where. 
 
 " Yet, for obtaining perfect information, an individual 
 will not suffice. Our society is founded on the prin- 
 ciple that each in his degree, for his purposes, be 
 thoroughly informed. Has any one of us some coun- 
 try in his eye, toward which his wishes are tending, 
 we endeavour to make clear to him, in special detail, 
 what was hovering before his imagination as a whole : 
 to afford each other a survey of the inhabited and 
 inhabitable world is a most pleasant and most profita- 
 ble kind of conversation. 
 
 " Under this aspect we can look upon ourselves as 
 members of a Union belonging to the world. Simple 
 and grand is the thought, easy is its execution by 
 understanding and strength. Unity is all-powerful ; 
 no division, therefore, no contention, among us ! Let 
 a man learn, we say, to figure himself as without 
 permanent external relation : let him seek consistency 
 and sequence, not in circumstances, but in himself; 
 there will he find it ; there let him cherish and nourish 
 it. He who devotes himself to the most needful will, 
 in all cases, advance to his purpose with greatest 
 certainty: others, again, aiming at the higher, the 
 more delicate, require greater prudence even, in the 
 choice of their path. But let a man be attempting or 
 treating what he will, he is not, as an individual, 
 sufficient for himself ; and, to an honest mind, society 
 remains the highest want. All serviceable persons 
 ought to be related with each other; as the building
 
 2SO meister's travels 
 
 proprietor looks out for au arcliitect, and the architect 
 for masons and carpenters. 
 
 " How and on what principle this Union of ours has 
 been fixed and founded is known to all. There is no 
 man among us who at any moment could not to proper 
 purpose employ his faculty of action, who is not 
 assured that in all places whither chance, inchnation, 
 or even passion may conduct him, he will be received, 
 employed, assisted, — nay, in adverse accidents, as far 
 as possible, refitted and indemnified. 
 
 " Two duties we have most rigorously undertaken, 
 — first, to honour every species of religious worship ; 
 for all of them are comprehended more or less directly 
 in the Creed : secondly, in like manner to respect all 
 forms of government, and, since every one of them 
 induces and promotes a calculated activity, to labour 
 according to the wish and will of constituted authori- 
 ties, in whatever place it may be our lot to sojourn, 
 and for whatever time. Finally, we reckon it our duty, 
 without pedantry or rigour, to practise and forward 
 decorum of manners and morals, as required by that 
 reverence for ourselves which arises from the three 
 reverences, whereto we universally profess our ad- 
 herence ; having all had the joy and good fortrme, 
 some of us from youth upwards, to be initiated likewise 
 in the higher general wisdom taught in certain cases 
 by those venerable men. All this, in the solemn hour 
 of parting, we have thought good once more to recount, 
 to unfold, to hear and acknowledge, as also to seal with 
 a trustful farewell. 
 
 " Keep not standing, fixed and rooted, 
 
 Briskly venture, briskly roam: 
 Head and hand, where'er thou foot it, 
 
 And stout heart, are still at home. 
 In each land the sun does visit : 
 
 We are gay whate'er betide. 
 To give space for wand'ring is it 
 
 That the world was made so wide."
 
 The Recreations of the German 
 Emigrants
 
 The Recreations of the 
 German Emigrants 
 
 At that unhappy period, so fruitful in disasters 
 to Germany, to Europe, and, indeed, to the whole 
 world, when the French army overran the Contineut, 
 a family of distinction was compelled to forsake their 
 property on the first invasion, and to flee across the 
 Rhine. They sought to escape those calamities to 
 which persons of noble birth were inevitably exposed, 
 in whom it was considered criminal to be descended 
 from an honourable line of ancestors, and to inherit 
 those privileges and possessions which the virtues or 
 the valour of their forefathers had bequeathed to them. 
 
 The Baroness of C , a widow lady of middle age, 
 
 distinguished for every domestic virtue which could 
 promote the comfort or independence of her family, 
 evinced, upon the occasion of this unforeseen calamity, 
 the most noble spirit of activity and resolute deter- 
 mination. Brought up amidst a wide circle of ac- 
 quaintances, and, to some extent, already experienced 
 in the reverses of hfe, she was considered perfect in 
 her private and domestic character, and was remarkable 
 for the real delight she ever felt in the active employ- 
 ment of her faculties. Indeed, the great purpose of 
 her life seemed to consist in rendering services to 
 otliers ; and it is easy to suppose that her numerous 
 
 253
 
 254 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 friends never failed to provide her with employment. 
 She was summoned, at the time we speak of, to take 
 the lead of a httle baud of emigrants. Even for this 
 duty she was prepared ; and the same solicitous though 
 cheerful temper, which had invariably distinguished 
 her at home, did not forsake her in this hour of 
 general terror and distress. But cheerfulness was not 
 an entire stranger to our band of fugitives : many 
 an unexpected incident and strange event afforded 
 occasion for the indulgence of mirth and laughter, 
 of which their easily excited minds readily took 
 advantage. The very flight itself was a circumstance 
 well calculated to call out each individual's pecuhar 
 character in a remarkable manner. The mind of one, 
 for instance, was distracted by vain fear and terror; 
 another fell a prey to idle apprehensions; and the 
 extravagances and deficiencies, the weakness, irreso- 
 lution, or impetuosity, which were displayed on all 
 sides, produced so many instances of vexation and bad 
 temper, that the real trouble of the whole party 
 afforded more mirth than an actual pleasure trip could 
 possibly have occasioned. 
 
 As we may sometimes preserve our composure, even 
 during the performance of a farce, without smiling at 
 the most positive drolleries ; though we find it impos- 
 sible to restrain our laughter when anything absurd 
 occurs in the representation of a tragedy, — so in this 
 real world, the generahty of accidents of a serious 
 nature are accompanied by circumstances either ridic- 
 ulous at the moment, or infalhbly productive of subse- 
 quent mirth. 
 
 We must observe that the baroness's eldest daughter, 
 Louisa, a cheerful, hvely, and, at the time of their pros- 
 perity, an imperious young lady, had to endure an 
 unusual degree of suffering. She is said to have been 
 quite overwhelmed with terror at the first alarm, and, 
 in her distraction and absence of mind, to have packed
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 255 
 
 together the most useless thiugs with the greatest seri- 
 ousness, and actuiilly to have made an offer of marriage 
 to one of the old servants of the establishment. 
 
 She defended herself for this step with much obsti- 
 nacy, and would not allow her intended to be made a 
 subject of ridicule. In her opinion she sullered enough 
 from her daily fear of the alhed army, and from the 
 apprehension that her wislied-for marriage might be 
 delayed, or even frustrated, by a general engagement. 
 
 Her elder brother, Frederick, who was a youth of 
 decisive character, executed his mother's orders with 
 precision and exactitude, accompanied the procession 
 on horseback, and discharged at times the various 
 duties of courier, conductor, and guide. The tutor of 
 the baroness's younger son, who was a well-educated 
 young man, accompanied her in her carriage ; whilst 
 uncle Charles, and an elderly clergyman, who had 
 long been an indispensable friend of the family, fol- 
 lowed in another vehicle, which was also occupied by 
 two female relations, one young, the other somewhat 
 advanced in years. The servants followed in an open 
 carriage ; and the procession was closed by a heavily 
 packed wagon, which occasionally loitered behind. 
 
 The whole party, as may easily be supposed, had 
 abandoned then- dwellings with great reluctance ; but 
 uncle Charles had forsaken his residence on this side 
 of the Rliine even more unwillingly than the others, 
 not that he had left his mistress behind, as one might, 
 perhaps, have conjectured from his youth, his figure, 
 and the warmth of his nature : he had rather been 
 seduced by the brilliant phantom, which, under the 
 denomination of freedom, had secured so many adher- 
 ents, first in secret, then in public, and which, notwith- 
 standing that she was to some a harsh mistress, was all 
 the more devotedly honoured by the lovers. 
 
 Just as lovers are generally blinded by their passion, 
 it did happen in the case of uncle Charles. They pant
 
 2S6 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 for the possession of a single happiness, and fancy 
 that for this they can endure the privation of every 
 other blessing. Position, fortune, and all advantages, 
 vanish into nothing, compared with the one benefit 
 which is to supply their place. Parents, relatives, and 
 friends are now looked upon as strangers. One desire 
 fills and absorbs their whole being, to which every- 
 thing else is to give way. 
 
 Uncle Charles abandoned himself to the intensity of 
 his passion, and did not conceal it in his conversation. 
 He thought he might express liis conviction the more 
 freely, because he was of noble birth, and, although the 
 second son, yet the presumptive heir to a noble for- 
 tune. Even this fortune, which was to be his future 
 inheritance, was at present in the enemy's hands, by 
 whom it had been shamefully wasted. But, in spite of 
 all this, Charles could not hate a nation which prom- 
 ised such advantages to the world at large, and whose 
 principles he approved, according to his own admission, 
 and the evidence of some of his associates. He con- 
 stantly disturbed the peace of the little community 
 (seldom as they enjoyed such a blessing) by an indis- 
 criminate praise of everything, good or bad, which hap- 
 pened amongst the French, and by his noisy delight at 
 their success. By this means he irritated his compan- 
 ions, who felt their own grievances doubly aggravated by 
 the mahcious triumphs of their friend and relation. 
 
 Frederick had already been engaged in frequent dis- 
 putes with him, and latterly they had ceased to hold 
 communication with each other. But the baroness, by 
 her prudent management, had secured his moderation, 
 at least for a time. Louisa gave him the greatest trou- 
 ble, for she often used the most unfair methods to cast 
 a slur upon his character and judgment. The tutor 
 silently pronounced him right, the clergyman silently 
 pronounced him wrong: and the female attendants, 
 who were charmed with his figure and with his hber-
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 257 
 
 ality, heard him with dehght ; because, wliilst they 
 listened to his lectures, they could honourably fix on 
 him those loving eyes, which, until that time, had ever 
 been modestly bent upon the gi-ound. 
 
 Their daily necessities, the obstacles of the journey, 
 and their disagreeable quarters, generally led the whole 
 company to a consideration of their immediate inter- 
 ests ; and the great number of French and German 
 fugitives whom they constantly met, and whose conduct 
 and fortunes were various, often made them consider 
 how much occasion existed at such times for the prac- 
 tice of every virtue, but particularly of liberality and 
 forbearance. 
 
 The baroness, on one occasion, observed aloud, that 
 nothing could show more clearly the deficiencies of 
 men in these virtues than the opportunity afforded for 
 their exercise, by occasions of general confusion and 
 distress. Our whole constitution, she maintained, re- 
 sembled a ship chartered in a season of tempest, to 
 convey a countless crowd of men, old and young, healthy 
 and infirm, across a stormy sea ; but only in the hour 
 of shipwreck could the capabihties of the crew be dis- 
 played, — an emergency when even the good swimmer 
 often perished. 
 
 Fugitives, for the most part, carry their faults and 
 ridiculous peculiarities along with them ; and we wonder 
 at this circumstance. But as the English traveller never 
 leaves his teakettle behind in any quarter of the globe ; 
 so are the generality of mankind invariably accompanied 
 by their stock of proud pretensions, vanity, intolerance, 
 impatience, obstinacy, prejudices, and envy. Thus, the 
 thoughtless enjoyed this flight as they would have en- 
 joyed a party of pleasure ; and the discontented required, 
 even now in their moments of abject poverty, that their 
 every want should be supplied. How rare is the display 
 of that pure virtue which incites us to live and sacrifice 
 ourselves for others !
 
 258 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 In the meantime, whilst numerous acquaintances were 
 formed, which gave occasion to reflections of this nature, 
 the season of winter was brought to a close. Fortune 
 once more smiled on the German arms, the French were 
 again driven across the Khine, Frankfort was reheved, 
 and Mainz was invested. 
 
 Trusting to the farther advance of our victorious 
 troops, and anxious to take possession of a part of their 
 recovered property, the family we speak of set out for 
 an estate situated in one of the most beautiful parts of 
 the country, on the right bank of the Pthine. We can 
 ill describe the rapture with which they once more 
 beheld the silver stream flowing beneath their win- 
 dows, the joy with which they took possession of every 
 part of theii- house, and hailed the sight of their well- 
 known furniture, their old family pictures, and of every 
 trifle they had long given up as totally lost ; and they 
 indulged the fondest anticipations of finding everything 
 flourishing as heretofore on their side of the Ehine. 
 
 The arrival of the baroness had scarcely been an- 
 nounced in the village, when all her former acquaint- 
 ances, friends, and dependants hastened to welcome 
 her, to recount the various vicissitudes of the last few 
 months, and, in more than one instance, to implore her 
 advice and assistance. 
 
 In the midst of these interviews, she was most agree- 
 ably surprised by a visit from the Privy Councillor S. 
 and his family, a man who, from his earliest youth, had 
 followed business as a pursuit of pleasure, and who 
 had both merited and acquired the confidence of his 
 sovereign. His principles were firm, and he indulged 
 his own peculiar notions upon many subjects. He was 
 precise, both in his conversation and conduct, and re- 
 quired others to be so too. A dignified deportment 
 was, in his opinion, the highest virtue a man could 
 possess. 
 
 His sovereign, his country, and himself had suffered
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 259 
 
 much from the invasion of the French. He liad expe- 
 rienced the despotic character of that nation who were 
 perpetually boasting justice, and had felt the tyranny 
 of men who always had the cry of freedom on their 
 lips. He had observed, however, the general consist- 
 ency of character which prevailed, and had marked 
 how many persons witnessed, with feelings of angry 
 disappointment, the substitution of mere words for prac- 
 tice, and of empty appearance for reality. The conse- 
 quences to be expected from an unfortunate campaign 
 did not escape his acute penetration any more than the 
 results of the general maxims and opinions we have 
 quoted, though it must be admitted his views upon all 
 subjects were neither cheerful nor dispassionate. 
 
 His wife, who had been an early friend of the baron- 
 ess, after the experience of so much adversity found a 
 perfect paradise in the arms of her former companion. 
 They had grown up together, had been educated to- 
 gether, and had always shared each other's confidence. 
 The early inclinations of their youth, their more impor- 
 tant matrimonial interests, their joys and cares and 
 domestic anxieties, had always been communicated, 
 either personally or by correspondence, as they had 
 for years maintained an uninterrupted intimacy with 
 each other ; but this was at length broken by the gen- 
 eral troubles of the eventful times. Their present inter- 
 course was, for this reason, the more affectionate, and 
 their interviews the more frequent ; and the baroness 
 observed with pleasure, that the intimacy of Louisa 
 with the daughters of her friend was daily increasing. 
 
 Unfortunately the complete enjoyment of that de- 
 lightful part of the country was often disturbed by the 
 roar of cannon, which was heard in the distance, some- 
 times loudly and sometimes indistinctly, according to the 
 point of the wind. Moreover, it was impossible to avoid 
 conversations upon political subjects, which were intro- 
 duced by the perpetual runK»urs of the day, and which
 
 26o THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 generally disturbed the temporary tranquillity of soci- 
 ety; as the various ideas and opinions of all parties 
 were usually propounded without reserve. 
 
 And as intemperate men seldom refrain from wine 
 or injurious food on account of their experience of the 
 evil consequences wliich such enjoyments occasion ; so, 
 in this instance, the several members of the society 
 we speak of, in place of imposing restraint upon their 
 conversation, abandoned themselves to the irresistible 
 impulse of vexing each other, and thus eventually 
 opened a channel of most disagreeable reflections. 
 
 We can readily suppose that the privy councillor 
 adopted the opinions of those who advocated the old 
 regime, and that Charles took the opposite side, in 
 expectation that the approaching changes would heal 
 and reanimate the old, shattered constitution of the 
 country. 
 
 The conversation was carried on at first with some 
 degree of moderation, particularly as the baroness 
 sought, by her well-timed and graceful interruptions, 
 to maintain the balance equal between both parties ; 
 but when the important crisis of the conversation 
 arrived, and the investment of Mainz was about to 
 change to an actual siege, and the fears of all increased 
 for that beautiful city and its abandoned inhabitants, 
 both sides asserted their opinions with unrestrained 
 violence. 
 
 The members of the clubs who had remained in the 
 town were particularly discussed ; and each expressed 
 his hope of their liberation or punishment, according 
 as he approved or condemned their conduct. 
 
 Amongst the latter class was the privy councillor, 
 whose observations were especially displeasing to 
 Charles ; as he assailed the sound judgment of those 
 people, and charged them with a thorough ignorance of 
 the world and of themselves. 
 
 " What blind dolts they must be ! " he exclaimed one
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 261 
 
 afternoon when the discussion became warm, " to think 
 that a great nation, employed in an effort to suppress 
 its own internal commotions, and which, in sober 
 moments, has no other object than its own prosperity, 
 can look down u})()n them with any sort of sympathy. 
 Used as temporary tools, they will at last be thrown 
 away or utterly neglected. How grossly they err in 
 thinking that they will ever be admitted into the ranks 
 of the French nation ! 
 
 " Nothing seems more ridiculous to the strong and 
 powerful than weakness and inefficiency setting up its 
 pretensions to equality, wrapped in the obscurity of its 
 own fancies, and in the ignorance of itself, its powers, 
 and its qualities. And can you suppose that the great 
 nation, with that good fortune with wliich it has been 
 hitherto fa\'uurud, will be less haughty and overbearing 
 than any other royal contpieror ? 
 
 " Many a person, who now struts about in his 
 municipal robes and gaudy attire, will heartily curse 
 the mas(|uerade when, after having helped to oppress 
 his countrymen, by a new and disadvantageous change 
 of things he finds himself at last, in his new character, 
 despised by those in whom he wholly confided. In- 
 deed, it is my firm opinion, that upon the surrender of 
 the town, which must soon take place, those people 
 will be abandoned or given up to us. I hope they will 
 then receive their reward in that punishment they so 
 richly deserve, according to my opinion, which is as 
 unprejudiced as possible." 
 
 " Unprejudiced ! " exclaimed Charles with vehe- 
 mence : " I beg I may never hear that word again. 
 How can we so unequivocally condemn these men ? 
 Have they not actually devoted their whole lives to 
 the old pursuit of serving the more favoured classes of 
 mankind ? Have they not occupied the few halitable 
 rooms of the old mansion, and toiled diligently therein ? 
 or, rather, have they not felt the inconvenience of the A
 
 262 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 deserted part of your state palace, by the obligation of 
 living there in a state of misery and oppression ? Un- 
 corrupted by frivolous pursuits, they do not consider 
 their own occupation to be alone noble ; but in silence 
 they deplore the prejudice, the irregularity, the indo- 
 lence and ignorance upon which your statesmen build 
 their foolish claims to reverence, and in silence they 
 pray for a more equal di\dsion of labour and enjoyment. 
 And who can deny that their ranks contain at least 
 some such men of intelHgence and virtue, who, if they 
 cannot now reaUse universal good, can fortunately aid 
 in modifj'ing evil and in preparing for a happy future ? 
 and, if there be such noble beings amongst them, should 
 we not deplore the approach of that evil hour which 
 must destroy, perhaps for ever, their fondest anticipa- 
 tions ? " 
 
 The privy councillor, upon tliis, sneered with some 
 degree of bitterness at certain youths who were in the 
 habit of ideahsing upon practical subjects ; wMlst 
 Charles was equally severe upon men whose thoughts 
 were merely formed upon antiquated precedents, and 
 who never adopted any but compulsory reforms. 
 
 By reciprocal contradictions of this nature, the dis- 
 pute became gradually more violent ; and every topic 
 was introduced which has for so many years tended to 
 dismember society. In vain did the baroness en- 
 deavour to establish a truce, if not to make peace, 
 between the contending parties ; and the wife of the 
 privy councillor, who from her estimable qualities had 
 acquired some influence over Charles's disposition, in- 
 terposed also to no effect, more particularly as her 
 husband continued to launch his poisoned shafts against 
 youth and inexperience, and enlarged upon the especial 
 aptitude of children to play with fire, a dangerous ele- 
 ment which they were wholly unable to control. 
 
 Charles, forgetting prudence in liis anger, now de- 
 clared openly that he wished every success to the
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 263 
 
 French arms, and called upon all ids countrymen to 
 aid in putting an end to their general slavery ; ex- 
 pressing his conviction that their so-called enemies 
 would protect every noble German who should join 
 them, would regard them and treat them as their own 
 countrymen, and crown them with honours, fortune, 
 and rewards, in place of sacrificing or leaving them in 
 misery. 
 
 But the councillor maintained it was ridiculous to 
 suppose that the French would bestow a th<jught upon 
 them, whether they capitulated or not ; that they 
 would probably fall into the hands of the allies, by 
 whom he hoped they would all be hanged. 
 
 Charles was provoked by this speech, and expressed 
 his ^vish that the guillotine might find a rich harvest in 
 Germany, and that no guilty head might escape. He 
 added some cutting observations which were aimed at 
 the councillor personally, and were in every sense 
 offensive. 
 
 " I shall take leave of a society," interrupted the 
 latter, " in which everything is now slighted wliich 
 once seemed worthy of respect. I lament that I should 
 be for the second time expelled, and now by a fellow 
 countryman ; but I am well aware that less pity may 
 be expected from this new foe than from the French 
 themselves : and I find here a confirmation of the old 
 proverb, that it is better to fall into the hands of the 
 Turks than of renegades." 
 
 So saying, he rose, and left the apartment. He was 
 followed by his wife, and a general silence ensued. 
 The baroness expressed her displeasure m a few words 
 of strong import. Charles walked up and down the 
 room. The councillor's wife returned in tears, and 
 stated that her husband had given directions for leav- 
 ing, and had actually ordered the carriage. The baron- 
 ess went to pacify him ; whilst the young ladies wept, 
 and kissed each other, distressed beyond measure that
 
 264 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 they were compelled so suddenly and so unexpectedly 
 to separate. The baroness returned without succeeding 
 in her wishes. Gradually all those troubles approached 
 which it is ever the lot of strangers to encounter. The 
 sad moments of separation and departure were bitter 
 beyond expression. Hope vanished with the appear- 
 ance of the post-horses, and the general sorrow was 
 redoubled. 
 
 The carriage drove off. The baroness followed it 
 with her eyes full of tears. She left the window, and 
 sat down to her embroidery-frame. The silence, and 
 even despau", was universal. Charles showed his sor- 
 row^ by sitting in a corner, and intently turning over 
 the leaves of a book, directing at intervals a melancholy 
 look toward his aunt. At length he rose, and took Ms 
 hat, as if about to depart, but turned round on reaching 
 the door, and approaching his aunt he exclaimed, with 
 a countenance truly noble, " I have offended you, 
 my dear aunt, I have distressed you; but pardon 
 my thoughtlessness : I acknowledge my fault, and am 
 deeply sensible of its sad consequences." 
 
 " I forgive you," rephed the baroness : " I entertain 
 no ill-feeling toward you, — you are a good and noble 
 being, but you can never repair the injury you have 
 done. Your error has deprived me of a friend to 
 whom, after a long separation, I had been restored by 
 the accident of our joint misfortunes, and in whose 
 society I have forgotten much of the misery which has 
 pursued and threatens us. She herself, driven from 
 her home under most painful circumstances, and long 
 a fugitive, after a short repose in the society of old and 
 beloved friends, in this delightful spot and comfortable 
 dwelling, is again compelled to wander forth ; and we 
 lose the company of her husband, who, in spite of some 
 peculiarities, is a man of noble integrity, possessing an 
 inexhaustible knowledge of society and of the world, of 
 facts and experiences which he is ever ready to com-
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 265 
 
 municate with the most cheerful and dehglitful wilhng- 
 ness. Of all these enjoyments we have been deprived 
 by your fault, and how can you restore what we have 
 lost ? " 
 
 Charles. Spare me, my dear aunt. T feel deeply 
 the weight of my fault : cease to explain to me its 
 evident consequences. 
 
 Baroness. Rather contemplate them as closely as 
 possible. Talk not of sparing you : only inquire how 
 your mind may be coiTCCted. It is not the first time 
 you have thus erred, nor will it be the last. Ye inex- 
 phcable men ! Cannot even misery, which brings you 
 together under one roof, and confines you in one nar- 
 row dwelling, induce you to practise forbearance toward 
 each other ? Do you need any additional calamities 
 besides those which are perpetually bursting upon you ? 
 Consider your condition, and act sensibly and justly 
 toward those who, in truth, would deprive you of noth- 
 ing. Restrain your tempers from working and fer- 
 menting blindly, hke some storm or other natural 
 phenomenon which disturbs the world. 
 
 Charles made no reply. The tutor advanced from 
 the window, where he had been standing, toward the 
 baroness, and said his pupil would improve; that this 
 event would act as a warning, that he should test his 
 progress daily, that he would remember the distress the 
 baroness had endured, and would afford con\dncing 
 evidence of the self-restraint he could practise. 
 
 Baroness. How easily men deceive themselves, espe- 
 cially in this particular. Authority is so delightful a 
 word, and it sounds so noble to promise to control our- 
 selves. Men speak of it with pleasure, and would per- 
 suade us that they can seriously practise the virtue. 
 I wish I had ever known a man capable of subduing 
 himself in the smallest particular. In indifferent mat- 
 ters they affect resolution, as if the loss occasioned 
 actual suffering ; whilst their real desires are con-
 
 266 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 sidered as supremely essential, unavoidable, and indis- 
 pensable. I have never know a man capable of 
 enduring the smallest privation. 
 
 Tutor. You are seldom unjust, and I have never 
 seen you so overpowered by anger and disappointment 
 as at present. 
 
 Baroness. Well, I need not be ashamed of my 
 anger. When I think of my friend, who is now pur- 
 suing her journey in discomfort, weeping, probably, at 
 the recollection of our inhospitality, my heart burns 
 with indignation. 
 
 Tutor. In your greatest trouble, I have never seen 
 you so agitated and exasperated as now. 
 
 Baroness. A small evil, which follows closely upon 
 a greater, can fill the cup ; though, in truth, it is no 
 small evil to lose a friend. 
 
 Tutor. Be comforted, and rely upon our improve- 
 ment, and that we will do all in our power to content 
 you. 
 
 Baroness. No : I shall rely upon none of you. 
 But, for the future, I will demand obedience from 
 all. I will command in my own house. 
 
 " Command, certainly ! " exclaimed Charles ; " and 
 you shall not have to complain of our disobedience." 
 
 " My severity will scarcely be very harsh," rejoined 
 the baroness, with a smile, as she recovered herself : 
 " I am not fond of commanding, particularly demo- 
 crats ; but I will give you some advice, and make one 
 request." 
 
 Tutor. Both shall we consider as laws to be 
 strictly observed. 
 
 Baroness. It would be ridiculous, if I thought to 
 impair the interest you all take in the great events of 
 the world, — events, the victims of which we ourselves 
 have become. I cannot change the opinions which 
 exist and are established in the mind of each of you, 
 according to his peculiar disposition ; and it would be
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 267 
 
 no less harsh than foolish to require of you to suppress 
 them. P>ut I can demand this, at least, from the circle 
 in which I live, that those of similar sentiments shall 
 associate peaceably together, and converse in harmony. 
 In your private apartments, during your walks, and 
 wherever else you meet, you may communicate to- 
 gether at will, support your respective opinions, and 
 enjoy the gi-atification of an ardent conviction. But, 
 my dear friends, let us not forget how much we were 
 accustomed to sacrifice of our own individual opinions, 
 for the sake of general harmony, long before these 
 new topics became the fashion ; and, as long as the 
 world lasts, we must all, for the general benefit, prac- 
 tise some outward self-control. It is not, therefore, 
 for the sake of virtue, but in the name of common 
 politeness, that I implore you now to concede to me 
 a favour which I think I may safely say you have 
 always granted to the veriest stranger. 
 
 " It seems to me strange," continued the baroness, 
 " that we should have so far forgotten ourselves. What 
 has become of our politeness ? It used to be the custom 
 in society to avoid topics disagreeable to others. Prot- 
 estants, in the company of CathoHcs, never asserted 
 that church ceremonies were ridiculous ; and the most 
 bigoted Catholic never maintained, before a Protestant, 
 that the old religion afforded the only chance of sal- 
 vation. In the presence of a mother who had lost her 
 son, no one displayed the deep dehght he took in his 
 children ; and an inappropriate word occasioned gen- 
 eral embarrassment. It seemed the duty of each to 
 repair the accidental evil, but now the very reverse 
 of all this seems to be the rule. We appear to seek 
 the opportunity of introducing subjects calculated to 
 give pain. Oh, my dear friends, let us try and restore 
 the old system ! We have much to endure already ; 
 and who knows how soon the smoke of the day, or the 
 flames of the night, may annoimce the destruction of
 
 268 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 our dwellings and of our most valued possessions ? 
 Let us, at least, forbear to announce this intelligence 
 with triumph : let us cease, by our own bitter observa- 
 tions, to impress our souls with calamities which it is 
 painful enough to endure in silence. 
 
 " When your father died, was it your habit to renew 
 my giief upon every opportunity by a reference to the 
 sad subject? Did you not rather avoid all improper 
 allusion to his memory, and seek by your love, your 
 silent sympathy, and your incessant attentions, to 
 soften my sorrow and relieve my pain ? Should not 
 we now practise the same kind forbearance, which 
 often brings more consolation than the offices of active 
 friendship, more particularly at this time, when ours 
 is not the grief of an individual in the midst of a 
 happy multitude, where sorrow disappears amid the 
 general content, but the grief of thousands, where but 
 few indeed are capable of experiencing an accidental 
 or artificial consolation ? 
 
 Charles. My dear aunt, you have sufficiently 
 humihated us : may we take your hand in token of 
 reconcihation ? 
 
 Baroness. Here it is, on condition that you will 
 obey its guidance. We proclaim a general amnesty, 
 which it is now barely possible to resolve upon with 
 sufficient speed. 
 
 The young ladies, who had all been dissolved in 
 tears since the event we have related, now made their 
 appearance, but could not be persuaded to be recon- 
 ciled to Charles. 
 
 " You are welcome, children," said the baroness, 
 addressing them. " We have just had a serious con- 
 versation, which, I trust, will establish peace and 
 harmony amongst us : perhaps it was never more 
 important that we should be friends, and enjoy even 
 one brief portion of the day. Let us make this resolu- 
 tion, to banish from our conversation all reference to
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 269 
 
 the mere events of the time. How long have we been 
 deprived of all instruction and entertaining inter- 
 course ! How long it seems, dear Charles, since you 
 have amused us with accounts of distant lauds, with 
 whose productions, inhabitants, manners, and customs, 
 you are so well acquainted ! And you," continued the 
 baroness, addressing the tutor, " you have not lately 
 instructed us in history, ancient or modern, in the 
 comparison of centuries or of remarkable men. And 
 you, young ladies ! where are the pretty poems you 
 used to bring forth from their hiding-places for the 
 dehght of your friends ? what has become of all your 
 free philosophic observations ? Have you no more 
 ambition to surprise us with some wonderful mineral 
 specimen, some unknown plant, or remarkable msect, 
 brought home from your walks, and afibrding occasion 
 for pleasing speculations on the mysterious connection 
 of all the productions of nature ? Let us restore all 
 those charming anmsements by an agreement, a reso- 
 lution, a rule, to be useful, instructive, and, above all 
 things, companionable, toward each other ; for all these 
 advantages we can enjoy, even in the most extreme 
 adversity. Your promise, children." 
 
 They promised eagerly. " And now I dismiss you," 
 added the baroness : " the evening is fine, amuse your- 
 selves as you please ; and at supper-time let us en- 
 joy a friendly communion together, after so long an 
 interruption." 
 
 The company separated. Lousia alone remained 
 with her mother. She could not so easily forget 
 the misfortune of losing her companion, and allowed 
 Charles, whom she had invited to accompany her upon 
 a walk, to set out alone. For some time the baroness 
 and her daughter remained together, when the clerg}'- 
 man entered, after a long absence, entirely ignorant 
 of what had, in the meantime, happened. Laying by 
 his hat and stick, he took a seat, and was about
 
 270 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 to naiTate something, when Louisa, pretending to con- 
 tinue a conversation with her motlier, cut short his 
 intention with the following observations : 
 
 " Some of our company will, I think, find the 
 arrangement we have come to rather disagreeable. 
 "WTieu we hved in the country, it is true, we were 
 sometimes at a loss for conversation ; for it did not 
 happen so often, as in town, that a girl could be slan- 
 dered, or a young man traduced : but still we had an 
 alternative in describing the follies of two great 
 nations, in finding the Germans as absurd as the 
 French, and in representing first one, and then the 
 other, as Jacobins and Eadicals. But, if these topics 
 are forbidden, some of our society will be rendered 
 stupid." 
 
 " Is this attack aimed at me, young lady ? " asked 
 the old clergyman with a smile. " You know how 
 ready I am to be sacrificed for the benefit of the com- 
 pany. For though upon all occasions you do credit 
 to your instructors, and every one finds ycir society 
 both amiable and dehghtful, yet there is a cei "".ain little 
 malicious spirit within you, which, notwithstanding all 
 your efforts, you cannot entirely subdue, and which 
 prompts you to take your revenge at my expense. 
 Tell me, gracious lady," he continued, turning toward 
 the baroness, " what has occurred during my absence, 
 and what topics have been excluded from our society ? " 
 
 The baroness informed him of all that had taken 
 place. He listened attentively, and then observed 
 that " this regulation would probably enable many 
 persons to entertain the company better than others." 
 
 " We shall be able to endure it," said Louisa. 
 
 " Such an arrangement," he added, " will not be 
 grievous to those who have been accustomed to rely 
 upon their own resources : on the contrary, they will 
 find it pleasant ; since they can amuse the company 
 with such pursuits as they have followed in private.
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 271 
 
 And do not be offended, young lady, if I attribute to 
 society the very existence of all newsmongers, spies, 
 and slanderers. For ray part, 1 never see persons so 
 lively and so animated, either at a learned meeting 
 or at a public lecture convened for general instruction, 
 as in a society where some piece of scandal is intro- 
 duced which reflects on the character of a neighbour. 
 Ask yourself, or ask others, what invests a piece of 
 news with its greatest charm ? Not its importance, 
 nor its influence, but its mere novelty. Nothing old 
 is cared for : novelty by itself excites our surprise, 
 awakens the imagination, gently agitates the feelings, 
 and requires no exertion of the reasoning powers. 
 Every man can take the most lively interest in a 
 piece of news with the least trouble to liimself : 
 indeed, since a succession of new events carries us 
 rapidly from one circumstance to another, nothing 
 is more welcome to the generality of mankind than 
 this inducement to constant diversion, and this oppor- 
 tunity of venting their spleen and malice in an agree- 
 able and varied manner." 
 
 " Well ! " exclaimed Louisa, " you show some skill 
 at explanation : just now you censured individuals, at 
 present you condemn mankind in general." 
 
 " I do not require," he answered, " that you should 
 render me justice : but this I must say, we who depend 
 upon society must act according to its rules ; and it 
 would be safer to provoke its resentment than its ennui, 
 by requiring it to think or reflect. We must avoid 
 everything that would tend to this result, and pursue 
 by ourselves in private whatever would prove un- 
 palatable to the public." 
 
 " By yourselves in private," said Louisa, " many a 
 bottle of wine will, I suppose, be drunk, and many 
 a nap taken in the daytime." 
 
 " I have never," continued the old clergyman, " set 
 much value upon my own actions ; for I know how
 
 272 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 little I have done for others : I am, however, in pos- 
 session of something which may, perhaps, afford agree- 
 able relaxation to this society, circumstanced as it is 
 at present." 
 
 " To what do you allude ? " inquired the baroness. 
 
 " Rely upon it," interrupted Louisa, " he has made 
 some marvellous collection of scandals." 
 
 " You are mistaken," repHed the clergyman. 
 
 " We shall see," answered Louisa. 
 
 "Let him continue, my dear," said the baroness: 
 " and do not accustom yourself to act in a hard and 
 unfriendly manner toward others, even in jest ; as they 
 may take it ill. We have no need to increase our evil 
 habits by practising them for entertainment. Tell me, 
 my dear friend, of what does your collection consist ? 
 Will it conduce to our amusement ? Have you been 
 long employed about it ? Why have you never men- 
 tioned it before ? " 
 
 " I will give you an account of the whole matter," 
 rejoined the old clergyman. " I have hved long in 
 the world, and have paid much attention to public 
 occurrences. I have neither talent nor inclination for 
 chronicling great actions, and worldly affairs in general 
 are troublesome to me ; but amongst the many private 
 histories, true and false, which sometimes happen in 
 public or are related in private, there are some which 
 possess a greater attraction than the charm of mere 
 novelty, some which are calculated to improve us by 
 their moral application, some which display at a glance 
 the secret springs of human nature, and others, again, 
 whose very absurdities are amusing. Amongst the 
 multitude of occurrences which attract our attention 
 and our malice in ordinary Hfe, and which are as 
 common as the individuals to whom they relate, I 
 have noted down a few on account of their peculiar 
 character, because they engaged and excited my atten- 
 tion and feelings ; and the very recollection of them
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 273 
 
 has never failed to produce a niouicutary sensation of 
 pure and tranquil pleasure." 
 
 " I am curious to hear," said the baroness, " the 
 nature of your anecdotes, and to learn their peculiar 
 character." 
 
 " You may easily suppose," replied the cler^'yman, 
 "that they are not al)Out disputes or family matters. 
 Such things have little interest except for those who 
 are engaged in them." 
 
 Louisa. And what are yours about ? 
 
 Clergyman. Why, for the most part, they treat of 
 those emotions by which friends become attached or 
 disunited, happy or miserable, and by which they are 
 more frequently entangled than improved. 
 
 Louisa. Indeed ! I suppose you will produce a 
 collection of merry adventures for our instruction and 
 improvement. Excuse me for making this observation, 
 dear mamma ; it seems so evident : and it is, of course, 
 allowable to speak the truth. 
 
 Clergyman. I suspect that you will not find anything 
 in the whole collection which may be styled merry. 
 
 Louisa. And what would you consider of that de- 
 scription ? 
 
 Clergyman. Scandalous dialogues or situations are 
 my abhorrence. I object equally that common ad- 
 ventures, which are unworthy of engaging our atten- 
 tion, should be told with exaggerated importance : they 
 excite our expectations unduly, in place of giving real 
 pleasure to the mind. They make a mystery of that 
 which should be wholly unveiled, or from which we 
 should altogether turn our eyes. 
 
 Louisa. I do not understand you. You will, how- 
 ever, relate your stories with some degree of elegance. 
 I hope our ears will not be offended by any coarse 
 adventures. Y"ou nmst consider us in the light of a 
 ladies' seminary, and look for our thanks as your 
 recompense.
 
 274 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 Clergyman. Nothing of the sort. But, in truth, 
 you will hear nothing new, particularly as I have, for 
 some time back, observed that you never miss the 
 perusal of certain criticisms in some of the learned 
 reviews. 
 
 Louisa. You are really too bad. 
 
 Clergyman. You are engaged to be married, and I 
 therefore pardon you. But I am obhged to show that 
 I also possess arrows wliich I know how to use. 
 
 Baroness. I see your object plainly, but you must 
 let her see it hkewise. 
 
 Clergyman. Then, I must repeat what I said at the 
 beginning of this conversation. But it seems you had 
 not the politeness to pay attention. 
 
 Louisa. Wliat is the use of attention or of much 
 argument ? Look at the matter in any hght, they will 
 be scandalous stories, in some shape or other, and 
 nothing else. 
 
 Clergyman. Must I repeat, young lady, that a well- 
 regulated mind only perceives scandal when it reads 
 of wickedness, arrogance, a desire to mjure, and an 
 unwillingness to oblige ? and from such spectacles he 
 should avert his eyes. He finds pleasure in the narra- 
 tion of trifling faults and failings, and contemplates 
 with satisfaction those points of the story where good 
 men contend with themselves, with their desires and 
 their intentions, where silly and conceited mortals are 
 rebuked, corrected, or deceived, and where hopes, wishes, 
 and designs are disturbed, interrupted, and frustrated, 
 or unexpectedly fulfilled, accomplished, and confirmed. 
 But, on those scenes where accident combines with 
 human weakness and inefficiency, he dwells with the 
 greatest delight ; and none of the heroes whose history 
 he authenticates has either blame to apprehend or 
 praise to expect from liim. 
 
 Baroness. Your introduction excites our wish to 
 hear a specimen. We have spent the greater part of
 
 THE GERAUN EMIGRANTS 275 
 
 our lifetime in one circle, and liave never experi- 
 enced anytliing worthy to find a place in such a 
 collection. 
 
 Clergyman. Much undoubtedly depends upon the 
 observer, and upon tlie peculiar view he takes of oc- 
 currences. But I will not deny that I have made 
 large extracts from old lj(joks and traditions. Perhaps 
 you will have no objection to see some of your old 
 friends with new faces. And this gives me a privilege 
 of which I must not be deprived, — that none of my 
 tales shall be doubted. 
 
 Louisa. But we are not to be prevented from recog- 
 nising our friends and acquaintances, or, if we please, 
 from expounding the enigma. 
 
 Clergyman. Certainly not. But you vnll allow me, 
 under such circumstances, to produce an old folio, to 
 prove that the identical occun-ence happened, and was 
 made matter of record, some centuries ago. And I 
 must be permitted to smile, when some narration is 
 pronounced to be an old fable, though it may have 
 taken place amongst ourselves, without our being able 
 to recognise the characters. 
 
 Louisa. We shall never begin. Had we not better 
 declare a truce for this evening ; and do you commence 
 a story at once, by way of specimen ? 
 
 Clergyman. Permit me, in this instance, to be guilty 
 of disobedience. The entertainment is intended for the 
 whole assembled company. We must not deprive them 
 of it ; and I must premise beforehand, that whatever I 
 have to say possesses no value in itself. But when 
 my audience, after some serious occupation, wishes for 
 a brief repose, and, already sated with good things, 
 desires the addition of a hght dessert, tlien I shall be 
 ready, and only hope that wdiat I shall provide may 
 not prove unpalatable. 
 
 Baroness. In that case, we had better postpone the 
 amusement till to-morrow.
 
 276 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 Lonisa. I am beyond measure curious to know 
 what it will be. 
 
 Clergyman. You must not be so, young lady ; for 
 great expectations are seldom satisfied. 
 
 That same evening, after dinner, the baroness retired 
 early to her apartment ; wliilst the rest of the company 
 remained together, and discussed the many reports 
 which were current, and the various incidents which 
 had happened. As is generally the case in such cir- 
 cumstances, few of them knew what to doubt or what 
 to beheve. 
 
 The old clergyman had his remedy for such an 
 emergency. " I propose," said he, " as the most con- 
 venient plan, that we all believe implicitly whatever 
 we find pleasant, and that we reject, without ceremony, 
 whatever we find unpleasant, and that we admit to be 
 true what can be so." 
 
 It was then remarked by some one, that men gener- 
 ally acted in this way ; and, after some desultory con- 
 versation, they commented upon that strange propensity 
 of our nature to believe in the marvellous. They talked 
 of romances and vivsions : and, when the old clergyman 
 had promised at a future time to relate some interesting 
 anecdotes upon these subjects, Louisa exclaimed, " It 
 will be extremely good of you, and you will merit our 
 gratitude, by telling us a story of that description now ; 
 for we are all in the proper humour for it : we shall 
 pay attention and be thankful." Without needing 
 further entreaties, the old clergyman commenced at 
 once, as follows : 
 
 " During my residence in Naples, an event happened 
 which attracted universal attention, and with regard 
 to which public opinion varied exceedingly. Some 
 persons maintained that the circumstance had actually 
 occurred ; whilst others asserted, that, though true in 
 general, it was founded upon a gross deceit. The latter 
 class of persons were at further variance amongst
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 277 
 
 themselves: they could not agree who was the de- 
 ceiver. Others held it to be far from clear that 
 spiritual natures were incapable of influencing the 
 elements and human bodies, and maintained that we 
 were not justified in pronouncing cvcvy marvellous 
 occurrence to be a fraud or a delusion, ijut now 
 to the facts themselves. 
 
 « At the time I speak of, a singer named Antonelli 
 was the favourite of the Neapolitan public. In the 
 bloom of youth, beauty, and talents, she was deficient 
 in none of those enchantments by which women can 
 allure and captivate, and render a certain class of their 
 favourites happy. She was not insensible to the 
 charms of love and flattery ; but, naturally temperate 
 and sensible, she knew how to enjoy the delights 
 of both, \vithout losing that self-respect which was so 
 essential to her happiness. The young, the distin- 
 guished, and the rich, flocked to her in crowds; but 
 she admitted few to her friendship: and, if she pur- 
 sued her own inclination in the choice of her admirers, 
 she evinced, upon all occasions, so firm and resolute a 
 character, that she attached every person to her. I 
 had an opportunity of observing her upon one occasion, 
 in consequence of my close intimacy with one of 
 her especial favourites. 
 
 " Some years had elapsed : her friends were numer- 
 ous ; and amongst the number were many foolish, 
 simple, and fickle personages. It was her opinion that a 
 lover who, in a certain sense, is everything to woman, 
 generally proves deficient in those very emergencies 
 when she most needs his assistance ; as, for example, 
 in the difificulties of life, in domestic necessities, and 
 upon the occurrence of sudden disasters. In such 
 times she maintained that his own self-love often 
 proved absolutely prejudicial to his mistress, and his 
 advice became positively dangerous. 
 
 " Her former attachments were insufficient to satisfy
 
 278 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 her soul. The void required to be filled. She wished 
 for a friend ; aud scarcely had she felt this want, when 
 she found, amongst those who sought her favours, 
 a youth upon whom she bestowed her confidence, 
 of which in every respect he seemed worthy. 
 
 " He was a native of Genoa, and had taken up 
 his residence in Naples, to transact the mercantile 
 business of a firm to which he belonged. His natural 
 talents had been improved by a most excellent educa- 
 tion. His knowledge was extensive, his mind and 
 body were sound and active, and his general conduct 
 might serve as a model ; and in his attention to others 
 he ever seemed forgetful of himself. He was imbued 
 with the commercial spirit for wliich his native town 
 was distinguished. All his speculations were upon 
 a large scale. His condition, however, was none of 
 the happiest. The firm had entered into some unfor- 
 tunate transactions, and became entangled in ruinous 
 lawsuits. Time only increased the difficulties ; and 
 the anxiety he endured gave him an air of melan- 
 choly, which was not unbecoming, and made Antonelli 
 still more desirous of his acquaintance, from the idea 
 that he stood in need of a friend. 
 
 " Until now he had only seen Antonelli in pubhc : 
 but, at his first request, .she granted him access to her 
 house ; even urging him to visit her, a favour which he 
 did not fail to accept. 
 
 " She lost no time in communicating to him her 
 confidence and her wishes. He was no less surprised 
 than delighted at her proposals. She implored him 
 earnestly to be her friend, but to make no pretensions 
 to the privileges of a lover. She made him acquainted 
 with some embarrassments in which she had become 
 involved, and his great experience enabled him to offer 
 advice and assistance for her speedy release. In return 
 for this confidence, he unfolded to her his own situa- 
 tion : and, whilst she endeavoured to cheer and console
 
 > '" v ' t 
 
 i 
 
 m
 
 D for wmch his 
 
 Uu pi 
 
 She granted him to her house " 
 
 • '.'ravure from ihe puii.ui.g by Lucius Kossi
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 279 
 
 him, many iiew plans occurred to him, which he had 
 not thought of before ; and she thus ap}jeared to be his 
 adviser : and a reciprocal friendshij), founded on the 
 highest regard and respect, was established between 
 them. 
 
 " Unfortunately, we do not always consider the 
 practicabihty of the ol)ligations we incur. He had 
 promised to be her friend, and to make no pretensions 
 to the privileges of a lover. But he could not deny 
 that those who came to see her as such were not only 
 unwelcome to, but were detested by, him ; and it was 
 extremely painful to him when she meant to amuse 
 him with the description of their various characters. 
 
 " It soon happened, fortunately, or perhaps unfor- 
 tunately, that her heart was again free. This was a 
 source of extreme dehght to our young friend, who lost 
 no time in entreating that the vacant place might 
 be allotted to him. With some reluctance she listened 
 to his proposals. ' I fear,' she said, ' that, in making 
 this concession, I shall lose my friend.' Her anticipa- 
 tion was correct ; for scarcely had he for a short time 
 filled this double character, when he found her temper 
 changed. As her friend he had been content with her 
 respect ; as a lover he demanded her affection ; and, as 
 an intelligent and accomplished man, constant enter- 
 tainment. But this was more than Antonelli expected. 
 She was un\Wlling to make an entire sacrifice of 
 herself, and had no wish to surrender her absolute 
 liberty to any one. She soon adopted ingenious expe- 
 dients for curtailing the length of his visits, for avoiding 
 his presence, and for making him sensible that she 
 would not consent to forego her independence for any 
 consideration. 
 
 " This discovery was to him a source of the gi'catest 
 misery ; and, unfortunately, the calamity did not come 
 alone. His domestic affairs became more and more 
 involved ; and he found reason for reproaching himself
 
 28o THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 with having always considered his income as inex- 
 haustible, and with having neglected his business in 
 order to engage in foreign travel, and to make a greater 
 figure in the world than he was entitled to do, from the 
 advantages of his birth and income. The lawsuits, 
 from which he expected so much, were tardy and ex- 
 pensive. They took him frequently to Palermo ; and, 
 upon the occasion of his last journey thither, Antonelh 
 adopted means to change the nature of her estabUsh- 
 ment, for the purpose of becoming gradually disengaged 
 from him. On liis return he found her in another 
 residence, at some distance from his ; and he saw that 
 the Marquis of S., who at that time exercised great 
 influence in the world of fashion, had unreserved admis- 
 sion to her house. He was greatly affected by this 
 discovery, which brought on a serious illness. Upon 
 hearing this sad intelhgence, Antonelli hastened to 
 him, attended him ; and, as she was fully aware that 
 his purse was but scantily supplied, she left a large 
 sum of money, which supplied his necessities for a 
 considerable time. 
 
 " In consequence of his efforts to restrain her free- 
 dom, he had fallen considerably in her estimation. As 
 her attachment diminished, her suspicions iucreased ; 
 and she at length began to think that a person 
 who had managed his own affairs so badly was not 
 entitled to a high character for good sense. But 
 he was unaware of the great change which had taken 
 place in her feelings toward him ; and he attributed 
 her anxiety for his recovery, and the constancy of 
 her attentions which induced her to spend whole days 
 at his bedside, rather to her love for him than to com- 
 passion for his sufferings ; and he hoped, upon his 
 recovery, to find himself once more reinstated in her 
 favour. 
 
 " But he was grievously mistaken. With Ms restora- 
 tion to health and strength, all semblance of affection
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 281 
 
 disappeared ; and he now seemed as odious in her eyes 
 as he had formerly proved agreeable. In addition 
 to this, his temper had unconsciously })ecoine soured 
 and unbearable. He attributed to otliers all the blame 
 of his own misfortunes, and justified himself fully 
 from their evil consequences. He considered himself 
 an injured and persecuted invalid, and looked for a 
 complete recompense for all his troubles in the devoted 
 afl'ection of his mistress. 
 
 " With these exalted expectations he visited Antonelli 
 immediately upon his recovery. He would be satisfied 
 with nothing short of her entire affection, the dismissal 
 of all her other friends and acquaintances, her complete 
 retirement from the stage, and her devoting herself 
 to him alone. She demonstrated the impossibility of 
 complying with these requests, at first in a playful, 
 and afterward in a more serious, tone. At length she 
 communicated to him the sad intelHgence that their 
 connection nmst end. He left her, and never returned. 
 
 " For several years afterward he lived in a retired 
 manner, in the house of a pious old lady, who had 
 a small independence. At this period he gained his 
 first lawsuit, and was soon afterward successful in 
 another ; but this change of fortune came too late : his 
 health was undermined, and the joy of his existence 
 had vanished. A slight accident brought on a relapse, 
 and the physician announced to him his approaching 
 death. He heard his fate without a murmur, and 
 merely expressed a wish to see his beautiful friend 
 once more. He sent his servant to her, — the same 
 messenger who, in happier days, had brought him 
 many a delightful answer. He entreated an inter- 
 view: she refused. He sent a second time, and 
 implored her to consent : she was still inexorable. At 
 length, at midnight, he sent a third time. She was 
 embarrassed, and communicated her situation to me; 
 as I had been invited, along with the marquis and
 
 282 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 some other friends, to spend the evening at her house. 
 I advised her, indeed begged of her, to show some last 
 attentions to her friend. She appeared undecided at 
 first, but, after a short reflection, made up her mind, 
 and dismissed the servant with a refusal. He did not 
 return. 
 
 " After supper we were all engaged in social conver- 
 sation, and general animation and hilarity prevailed. 
 Suddenly, a little after midnight, a piercing shriek of 
 bitter, painful lamentation was heard. We rose 
 from the table, looked at each other, and wondered 
 what this strange event could mean. The sound 
 seemed to come from the middle of the room in which 
 we were assembled, and die away near the walls. The 
 marquis rushed to the window ; whilst we endeavoured 
 to support AntonelH, who had fainted. By degrees 
 she regained consciousness. She had scarcely opened 
 her eyes when the jealous and passionate marquis 
 loaded her with the bitterest reproaches. ' If you 
 choose to have these mysterious understandings with 
 your friends,' said he, ' at least let them be of a less 
 fearful nature.' She replied, with her wonted presence 
 of mind, ' that, as she had always enjoyed the right of 
 seeing her friends whenever she pleased, she would 
 scarcely select such appalling sounds as they had just 
 heard, to indicate approaching happiness.' 
 
 " And, in truth, the cry had in it something unspeak- 
 ably appalhng. The long-continued scream of anguish 
 dwelt upon our ears, and made our very limbs tremble. 
 Antonelh was pale, motionless, and in a continual faint. 
 We sat with her for half the night, but we heard 
 nothing further. On the following night, the same 
 company, who had met together not quite so cheerful 
 as usual, though with a reasonable supply of courage, 
 about the same hour of midnight heard the same 
 identical loud and appalling shriek. 
 
 " We had, in the meantime, wearied our imagina-
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 283 
 
 tions in framing conjectures as to the cause of the cry, 
 and whence it could proceed. But why should I 
 weary you ? Whenever Antonelli .supped at home, at 
 the selfsame hour the same shriek was heard, some- 
 times louder and sometimes fainter. It was .spoken 
 of all over Naples. Tiie mystery excited universal at- 
 tention. The poHce were called out. Spies were placed 
 in every direction, to detect the cau.se of the mystery. 
 To persons in the street, the shriek appeared to come 
 from the open air ; whilst in the house it seemed to 
 proceed from the very room in which Antonelli was 
 sitting. When she supped abroad nothing whatsoever 
 occurred; but, as often as she supped at home, the 
 horrid shriek was invariably heard. 
 
 " But her absence from home did not upon all occa- 
 sions protect her from this fearful visitation. Her 
 many personal recommendations secured her a welcome 
 reception in the most distinguished families. Being a 
 pleasant companion, she was everywhere well received ; 
 and it had lately become her custom, in order to escape 
 the fearful visitation we have described, to spend her 
 evenings from home. 
 
 "One evening a gentleman of great respectability, 
 owing to his age and position, accompanied her to 
 her house in his carriage. Wlien she was taking 
 leave of liim at the door, a loud shriek was heard, 
 wliich seemed to come from between them; and the 
 gentleman, who, like many others, had often heard of 
 this mysterious occurrence, was lifted into his carriage 
 more hke a corpse than a living person. 
 
 " Upon another occasion a young singer, to whom 
 she was partial, drove through the town with her in 
 the evening, to visit a friend. He likewise had fre- 
 quently heard of the wonderful phenomenon we have 
 related, and, with the spirits of a hght-hearted youth, 
 had expressed his doubts of its reality. They spoke 
 of the circumstance. *I wish extremely,' said he,
 
 284 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 ' that I could hear the voice of your invisible com- 
 panion ; call him, — perhaps he will come : we are two, 
 and need not fear him.' From thoughtlessness, or 
 indifference to danger, I know not which, she called 
 the spirit : and instantly the piercing shriek issued, 
 as it were, from the middle of the carriage ; three times 
 it was heard, and then died aw^ay gi'adually. Arrived 
 at the house of their friend, both were found insensible 
 in the carriage : with difficulty they recovered their 
 senses sufficiently to relate what had happened. 
 
 " It was some time before Antonelli completely 
 recovered. Her health became impaired by the con- 
 stantly recurring fright she sustained : but when, at 
 length, her fearful visitor appeared to intend that she 
 should enjoy some repose, she began to hope for a 
 complete cessation of this annoyance ; but this expec- 
 tation was premature. 
 
 " At the end of the carnival, accompanied by a 
 young female acquaintance and a servant, she set out 
 upon an excursion of pleasure. It was her intention 
 to \dsit a friend in the country. Night came on before 
 she reached her destination : an accident happened to 
 the carriage; and she was necessitated to take refuge 
 in a small country inn, and to put up with the indif- 
 ferent accommodation it afforded. 
 
 " Her companion had already gone to bed ; and the 
 servant, having arranged the night-hght, was about to 
 retire, when her mistress observed jestingly, ' I think 
 we are at the end of the world : it is a dreadful night ; 
 I wonder whether he can find us out ? ' That very 
 instant the shriek was heard more piercing and louder 
 than ever. Her companion was terrified beyond expres- 
 sion, sprang from her bed, rushed down-stairs, and 
 alarmed the whole house. No one that night closed 
 an eye. It was, however, the last time the shriek was 
 heard. But the unwelcome visitor soon found another 
 more frightful mode of indicating his presence.
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 285 
 
 " He was quiet for a short time, when one evening, 
 at the accustomed hour, as Autonelh sat with her 
 companions at table, a shot from a gun, or from a 
 heavily loaded pistol, was fired in at the window. 
 Every one heard the report, every one saw the flash ; 
 but, upon the closest ius])ection, the window was found 
 not to have sustained the slightest injury. But the 
 circumstance seemed to every one of the most alarming 
 importance, and all thought that an attempt had been 
 made upon Antonelli's life. The police were called, 
 and the neighbouring house was searched ; but, as 
 nothing suspicious was found, guards were placed in 
 it next day from top to bottom. Her own dwelling 
 was carefully examined, and spies were even dispersed 
 about the streets. 
 
 " But all this precaution was useless. For three 
 months in succession, at the very same hour, the shot 
 was fired through the same window, without the slight- 
 est injury to the glass ; and, what was especially re- 
 markable, this always took place exactly one hour 
 before midnight : although in Naples time is counted 
 after the Italian fashion, and the term midnight is 
 never used. 
 
 " But custom at length reconciled all parties to this 
 occurrence, as it had done to the previous one; and 
 the ghost began to lose credit by reason of his very 
 harmless tricks. The shot ceased to alarm the com- 
 pany, or even to interrupt their conversation. 
 
 " One sultry evening, the day ha\dng been very hot, 
 Antonelli opened the window, without thinking of the 
 hour, and went with the marquis out upon the bal- 
 cony. They had scarcely been in the air a couple of 
 minutes when the shot exploded between them, and 
 drove them back into the house, where for some time 
 they lay apparently hfeless on the floor. When they 
 recovered, each felt the pain of a violent blow upon 
 the cheek, one on the right side, the other on the left ;
 
 286 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 but, as no further injury was apparent, the singularity 
 of the circumstance was merely the occasion of a few 
 jocular observations. 
 
 " From this time the shot was not repeated in the 
 house; and Antonelli thought she was at last com- 
 pletely dehvered from her invisible tormentor, when 
 one evening, upon making a little excursion with a 
 friend, she was terrified beyond measure by a most 
 unexpected incident. Her way lay through the Chiaja, 
 where her Genoese friend had formerly lived. It was 
 bright moonlight. A lady who sat near her asked, 
 
 ' Is not that the house in which Signer died ? ' 
 
 ' As well as I can recollect, it is one of those two,' 
 answered Antonelli. The words were scarcely uttered 
 when the shot was fired from one of the two houses, 
 and penetrated the carriage. The driver thought he 
 was wounded, and drove forward with all possible 
 speed. Arrived at their destination, the two ladies 
 were lifted from the carriage, as though they were dead. 
 
 " But this was the last alarm of that kind. The 
 unseen foe now changed his plan ; and one evening, 
 shortly afterward, a loud clapping of hands was heard 
 before the window. As a popular singer and favourite 
 actress, she was more familiar with sounds of this de- 
 scription. They did not inspire terror, and might have 
 proceeded, perhaps, from one of her numerous admirers. 
 She paid no attention to them. Her friends, however, 
 were more watchful, and distributed their guards as 
 before. They continued to hear the noise, but saw 
 nobody, and began to indulge a hope that the unac- 
 countable mystery would soon completely end. 
 
 " After a short time it became changed in character, 
 and assumed the form of agreeable sounds. They 
 were not, strictly speaking, melodious, but exceedingly 
 sweet and pleasing. To an accurate observer they 
 seemed to proceed from the corner of the street, to 
 float about in the empty space before Antonelli's win-
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 287 
 
 dow, and tlicic to die away in the most soft and de- 
 lightful nuinner. It seemed as if some heavenly spirit 
 wished, by means of a beautiful prelude, to draw atten- 
 tion to a lovely melody which he designed to play. 
 But these sounds also ceased at length, and were heard 
 no more after this wonderful occurrence liad lasted for 
 about a year and a half." 
 
 The clergyman pausing for a few moments, the en- 
 tire company began to express their opinions, and 
 their doubts about the truth of the tale. 
 
 The narrator answered that the story had to be true, 
 if it were to be interesting, as a manufactured tale 
 could possess but little merit. Some one here observed 
 that he thought it singular no one had inquired about 
 Antonelli's deceased friend, or the circumstances of his 
 death ; as perhaps some light might by this means 
 have been thrown upon the whole affair. 
 
 " But this was done," replied the clergyman : " I was 
 myself curious enough, immediately after the first mys- 
 terious occurrence, to go to the house under the pretext 
 of visiting the lady w^ho had attended him in his last 
 moments with a mother's care. She informed me 
 that the deceased had been passionately attached 
 to Antonelli ; that, during the last hours of his exist- 
 ence, he had spoken of nothing but her ; that at one 
 time he addressed her as an adorable angel, and at 
 another as little better than a demon. 
 
 " When his sickness became desperate, his whole 
 thoughts were fixed on seeing her once more before his 
 death, perhaps in the hope of obtaining from her an 
 expression of affection, of pity, of attachment, or of 
 love. Her unwillingness to see him afflicted him ex- 
 ceedingly, and her last decisive refusal hastened his 
 death. In despair he cried out, ' No ! it shall not avail 
 her. She avoids me; but, after my death, she shall 
 have no rest from me.' In a paroxysm of this kind he 
 expired ; and only too late do we learn, that the dead
 
 288 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 can keep their word on the other side of the 
 gi-ave." 
 
 The company began once more to express their 
 opinions about the story. At length Fritz observed, " I 
 have a suspicion ; but I shall not tell it till I have 
 thought over all the circumstances agaio, and put my 
 combinations to the proof." 
 
 Being somewhat strongly pressed, he endeavoured 
 to avoid giving an answer, by requesting that he might 
 be allowed to relate an anecdote, which, though it 
 might not equal the preceding one in interest, was of 
 the same character, inasmuch as it could not be ex- 
 plained with any certainty. 
 
 " A gallant nobleman," he commenced, " who inhab- 
 ited an ancient castle, and was the father of a large 
 family, had taken into his protection an orphan girl, 
 who, when she attained the age of fourteen years, was 
 employed in attending the mistress of the house in 
 duties immediately about her person. She gave com- 
 plete satisfaction, and her whole ambition seemed to 
 consist in a wish to evince her gratitude to her bene- 
 factor by attention and fidelity. She possessed various 
 charms, both of mind and person, and was not with- 
 out suitors. But none of these proposals seemed 
 likely to conduce to her happiness, and the girl herself 
 did not show the least inclination to change her con- 
 dition. 
 
 " On a sudden it happened, that as she went through 
 the house, intent upon her various duties, she heard 
 sounds of knocking, which came from about and 
 beneath her. At first this seemed accidental ; but as 
 the knocking never ceased, and beat almost in unison 
 with her footsteps, she became alarmed, and scarcely 
 left the room of her mistress, where alone she found 
 she could enjoy security. 
 
 " These sounds were heard by every one who accom- 
 panied her or who stood near her. At first the sub-
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 289 
 
 ject was treated as a jest, but at length it was regarded 
 in a more serious liglit. The master of the house, who 
 was of a cheerful disposition, now took the matter in 
 hand. The knocking was never heard when the 
 maiden remained motionless, and, when she walked, 
 was perceived, not so evidently when she put her foot 
 to the ground as when she raised it to advance another 
 step. But the sounds were often in-egular, and they 
 were observed to be more than usually loud when the 
 maiden went transversely across a certain large apart- 
 ment in the castle. 
 
 " The old nobleman, one day having workmen in tlie 
 house, caused the flooring to be suddenly raised behind 
 the maiden, when the knocking sounds were at the 
 loudest. Nothing, however, was found but a couple of 
 rats, who, disturbed by the search, gave occasion to a 
 chase, and to considerable uproar in the house. 
 
 " Provoked by this circumstance and by the disap- 
 pointment, the nobleman determined upon adopting 
 strong measures. He took down his large whip from 
 the wall, and swore that he would flog the maiden to 
 death if he heard the knocking any more. From this 
 time forth she could go through the house without the 
 slightest molestation, and the knocking was never 
 heard again." 
 
 " Wliereb} ," observed Louisa sagaciously, " we may 
 conclude t'^at the young maiden was her own ghost, 
 and practised this joke, and played the fool with the 
 family, to indulge some whim of her own." 
 
 " Not at all," answered Fritz ; " for those who as- 
 cribed the mysterious occurrence to a ghost, beheved 
 that the maiden's guardian angel wished her to leave 
 the house, but was anxious also to protect her from 
 injury. Others took another view, and maintained 
 that one of the girl's lovers had the cleverness to occa- 
 sion these sounds in order to drive her out of the house 
 into his arms. But, be this as it may, the poor child
 
 290 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 became quite ill in consequence, and was reduced 
 to a melancholy spectre ; though she had formerly- 
 been the most cheerful and lively and merry person in 
 the whole establishment. But such a change in per- 
 sonal appearance can be explained in more ways than 
 one. 
 
 " It is a pity," observed Fritz, " that these occur- 
 rences are not always more particularly examined, and 
 that, in judging of events which so much interest us, 
 we are obliged to hesitate between different appear- 
 ances, because the circumstances under which they 
 happen have not all been observed." 
 
 " True," replied the old clergyman ; " but it is so ex- 
 tremely difficult to make this examination at the very 
 moment when anything of the kind happens, and to 
 take every precaution that nothing shall escape in 
 which deceit or fraud may be concealed. Can we, for 
 example, detect a conjurer so easily, though we are 
 perfectly conscious that he is deluding us ? " 
 
 He had scarcely finished this observation, when a 
 loud report was suddenly heard in one corner of the 
 apartment. Every one leaped up ; whilst Charles said 
 jokingly, " Surely the noise does not proceed from some 
 dying lover." 
 
 He would willingly have recalled the expression ; 
 for Louisa became suddenly pale, and stammered forth 
 that she felt apprehension about the safety of her 
 intended. 
 
 Fritz, to divert her attention, took up the light, and 
 went toward a reading-desk which stood in a corner of 
 the apartment. The semicircular top of the desk was 
 split through ; this, then, was the cause of the report 
 they had heard : but it immediately occurred to them, 
 that the reading-desk was of the best workmanship, 
 and had occupied the very same spot for years ; and 
 therefore they were all astonished that it should be so 
 suddenly .split asunder. It had even been praised
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 291 
 
 more than once as a very model piece of furniture; 
 and how, therefore, could this accident have occurred, 
 without even the slightest change having taken place 
 in the temperature ? 
 
 " Quick ! " said Charles, " let us settle this point at 
 once by examining the barometer." The quicksilver 
 maintained the same point it had held for some days. 
 And even the thermometer had not fallen more than 
 could be reconciled with the difference of the tempera- 
 ture between day and night ! " It is a pity that we 
 have not an hygrometer at hand," he exclaimed, " the 
 very instrument that would be most serviceable ! " 
 
 " It seems," said the old clergyman, " that the most 
 valuable instrument always fails when we are engaged 
 in supernatural inquiries." They were interrupted in 
 their reflections by the entry of a servant, who 
 announced that a gi-eat fire was visible in the heavens ; 
 though no one could say whether it were raging in the 
 town or in the neighbourhood. 
 
 The circumstances we have just related made the 
 whole party more susceptible of terror, and they were 
 therefore much agitated by the news. Fritz hastened 
 up to the belvedere of the house, where a map of the 
 adjacent country was suspended, by means of which he 
 was enabled, even at night, to point out w^th tolerable 
 accuracy the various positions of the surrounding 
 places. The rest of the party remained together, not 
 wdthout some fear and anxiety. 
 
 Fritz announced, upon his return, that he had no 
 good news to tell. " The fire does not seem to be in 
 the town, but upon the property of our aunt. I am 
 weU acquainted," said he, "with the locality, and 
 believe I am not mistaken." Each one lamented the 
 destruction of the fine building, and calculated the loss. 
 "A strange thought has just occurred to me," said 
 Fritz, " which may quiet our minds as to the mystery 
 of the reading-desk. Consider how long it is since we
 
 292 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 heard the report." They counted the minutes, and 
 thought it had occurred about half-past twelve. 
 
 " Now, you will probably laugh," continued Fritz, 
 " when I tell you my conjecture. You know that our 
 mother, a good many years ago, made our aunt a pres- 
 ent of a reading-desk, in every respect similar to tliis 
 one. They were both finished with the greatest care, 
 by the same workman, at the same time, and cut out 
 of one piece of wood. Both have lasted well until 
 now ; and I will lay a wager, that, at this very instant, 
 the second reading-desk is actually burning at the 
 house of my aunt ; and its twin brother here is afflicted 
 at the disaster. To-morrow I will set out and in- 
 vestigate this singular fact as thoroughly as I am 
 able." 
 
 Whether Frederick really entertained the above 
 opinion, or whether his wish to tranquillise his sister 
 suggested the idea, we are unable to decide : they, 
 however, seized the opportunity to speak of many 
 undeniable sympathies, and ended by discovering that 
 a sympathy actually existed between pieces of timber 
 formed from one tree, and pronounced it probable that 
 the same sympathy subsisted between pieces of work 
 completed by the same hand. They agi-eed that these 
 things resembled natural phenomena fully as much as 
 other things which were often adduced, and which, 
 although quite evident, are incapable of explanation. 
 " And, in my opinion," added Charles, " every phenom- 
 enon, as well as every fact, is pecuharly interesting for 
 its own sake. Whoever explains it, or connects it 
 with other circumstances, only makes a jest of it, or 
 deludes us : this is done, for example, by the natural 
 philosopher and the historian. But an unconnected 
 fact or event is interesting, not because it is expUcable 
 or probable, but because it is true. When at midnight 
 the flames consumed your aunt's reading-desk, the 
 extraordinary splitting of ours, at the very same time.
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 293 
 
 was a palpable fact, however explicable or connected 
 with other tlungs it may be." 
 
 Though night was by this time far advanced, none 
 of the company felt any inclination to retire; and 
 Charles, in his turn, asked permission to tell a story, 
 which, though equally interesting, might seem per- 
 haps more natural and exjilicable than the previous 
 ones. " Marshal Bassompierre," he said, " relates it in 
 his memoirs ; and I may be permitted to tell it in his 
 name. 
 
 " I had remarked for five or six montlis, that, when- 
 ever I crossed the little bridge (for at that time the 
 Pont Neuf had not been built), a very handsome 
 shopkeeper, over the door of whose establishment was 
 painted the sign of ' The Two Angels,' always saluted 
 me with a low and respectful bow, and followed me 
 with her eyes as far as she could see me. This con- 
 duct surprised me extremely ; but I always directed 
 my looks to her, and saluted her in return. I rode on 
 one occasion from Foutainebleau to Paris ; and, when 
 I had arrived at the little bridge, she appeared at the 
 door of her shop and said, ' Your servant, sir ! ' I 
 returned the salute : and, as I looked back from time 
 to time, I observed that she was, as usual, leaning 
 forward, to keep me in view as long as possible. 
 
 "My servant was following with a postilion, as I 
 wished to send some letters back to some ladies in 
 Foutainebleau the same day. I ordered the servant 
 to alight, to go to the pretty shopkeeper, and to tell 
 her from me, that I had noticed her wish to speak to 
 me, and that, if she desired my acquaintance, I would 
 visit her whenever she wished. She answered that I 
 could have sent her no more deliglitful news, that she 
 would meet me whenever I should appoint, on condi- 
 tion that she might be allowed to pass a night under 
 the same roof with me. I accepted the proposal, and 
 asked the servant to find a place where I might ap-
 
 294 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 point an assignation. He said he would lead me to 
 a friend's house, but advised me, as fever was then 
 very prevalent, to provide myself with my own house- 
 linen. Wlien evening came, I went to the appointed 
 house, where I found a very beautiful young woman 
 awaiting my arrival. She was attired in a charming 
 head-dress, and wore the finest linens. Her tiny feet 
 were adorned with shppers, worked in gold and silk ; 
 and her person was covered with a loose mantle of the 
 softest satin texture. Suffice it to say, that I never 
 saw a more charming person. In the morning I asked 
 when I could see her again ; as it was then Thursday 
 night, and it was not my intention to leave the town 
 before the following Sunday. 
 
 " She replied that she was more anxious for a fresh 
 appointment than I could be, but that it would be 
 impracticable unless I could postpone my departure ; 
 as I could only see her on Sunday night. To this I 
 made some difficulty, which caused her to complain 
 that I was tired of her, and therefore wished to set out 
 on Sunday ; ' but,' .she added, ' you will soon think of 
 me again, and will be glad to forfeit a day in order 
 to pass a night with me.' 
 
 " I was easily persuaded. I promised to stay during 
 Sunday, and to meet her in the evening at the same 
 place. She answered me as follows : ' I am quite 
 aware, that on your account I have come to a house 
 of ill-repute ; but I have done this in obedience to an 
 irresistible desire to enjoy your society. But so great 
 an indiscretion cannot be repeated. I shall excite the 
 jealousy of my husband, though one might risk even 
 that for the satisfaction of an irresistible passion. For 
 your sake I have come to this house, which has been 
 made respectable by your presence. But, if you desire 
 to see me again, you must meet me at the residence of 
 my aunt.' 
 
 " She described the house with great particularity.
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 295 
 
 and then added, ' I sliall exp(3ct you at ten o'clock. 
 From that time till midnight the door shall be open. 
 You will find a small entrance, tlirough which you 
 must advance; as my aunt's door is at the farther end. 
 You will tlien see a flight of stairs opposite to you. 
 They lead to the first fioor, and there I shall be expect- 
 ing you with open arms.' 
 
 " I made all my arrangements. I sent away my 
 things, dismissed my servants, and waited impatiently 
 the arrival of Sunday night, when I was to see my 
 charming companion once more. At ten o'clock I was 
 at the appointed place. I found the door she had 
 described, close shut, and observed hghts in the house, 
 which seemed every now and then to blaze up into a 
 flame. I knocked impatiently in order to announce 
 my arrival, and was immediately saluted by the hoarse 
 voice of a man inquiring what I wanted. I retired 
 disappointed, and paced restlessly up and down the 
 street. At length I returned to the house, and found 
 the door then wide open. I hurried through the pas- 
 sage, and ascended the stairs. Judge of my astonish- 
 ment at finding the room occupied by two men, who 
 were employed in burning a mattress and some bed- 
 clothes ; wliile I saw before me two naked corpses 
 stretched upon the floor. I hastened away instantly, 
 and, in rushing down stairs, knocked against two men 
 carrying a coffin, who asked me angrily what I wanted. 
 I drew my sword to protect myself, and finally reached 
 my home in a state of the greatest excitement. I 
 swallowed half a dozen glasses of wine, as a preserva- 
 tive against the fever, and on the following day con- 
 tinued my journey. 
 
 " All the inquiries I afterward instituted to discover 
 who this woman was were in vain. I even visited the 
 shop where 'The Two Angels' were painted, but the 
 newcomers could not inform who their predecessors 
 had been. The chief character in this adventure was
 
 296 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 doubtless a person from the lower orders ; but I can 
 assure you, that, but for the disagi-eeable finale, it 
 would have proved one of the most dehghtful inci- 
 dents that has ever happened to me, and that I never 
 think of my charming heroine without feelings of the 
 warmest affection." 
 
 Charles observed, upon the conclusion of the anec- 
 dote, that the mystery which enveloped the story was 
 not easily explained. The woman might either have 
 died of the fever, or have kept away from the house 
 on account of the infection. 
 
 " But, if she were alive," answered Charles, " she 
 would have met her lover in the street ; as no fear 
 could, under the circumstances, have kept her from 
 him. I fear," he added, " that her corpse was stretched 
 on the floor." 
 
 " Oh ! no more of this," said Louisa : " this story is 
 too frightful. What a night we shall pass, if we retire 
 with our imaginations full of these pictures ! " 
 
 " I recollect an anecdote," interrupted Charles, 
 " which is of a more cheerful description, and which 
 the same Bassompierre relates of some of his ancestors. 
 
 "A very beautiful woman, who loved one of her 
 relations passionately, visited him every Monday at his 
 country-house, where they spent much time together ; 
 his wife believing in the meanwhile that her husband 
 was engaged on a hunting-party. Two years uninter- 
 ruptedly had passed in tliis way, when, the wife's sus- 
 picions being roused, she stole one morning to the 
 country-house, and found her husband asleep with his 
 companion. Being unwilling or afraid to disturb them, 
 she untied her veU, threw it over the feet of the sleep- 
 ing couple, and retired. When the lady awoke, and 
 observed the veil, she uttered a piercing cry, and with 
 loud lamentations complained that she would now 
 never be able to see her lover again. She then took 
 leave of him, having first given him three presents, —
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 297 
 
 a small fruit-basket, a ring, and a goblet, being a 
 present for each of his three daughters, and desired 
 him to take great care of them. They were accepted 
 with thanks, and the children of these three daughters 
 believe that they aie indebted to their respective gifts 
 for whatever good fortune has attended them." 
 
 " This somewhat resembles the story of the beau- 
 tiful Melusina, and such-hke fairy-tales," observed 
 Louisa. 
 
 " l>ut there is just such a tradition in our family," 
 said Frederick, " and we have possession of a similar 
 tahsman." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " asked Charles. 
 
 " That is a secret," replied the former. " It can be 
 told to no one but the eldest son, and that during the 
 lifetime of his father; and he is then to hold the 
 charm." 
 
 " Are you the present possessor ? " inquired Louisa. 
 
 " I have told too much already," answered Frederick, 
 as he lighted his candle, previous to retiring. 
 
 The family had assembled for breakfast according to 
 their usual custom, and the baroness afterward took 
 her seat at her embroidery-frame. After a short 
 silence the clergyman observed, with a shght smile, 
 " It is seldom indeed that singers, poets, or story-tellers, 
 who enter into an agi-eement to amuse a company, do 
 it at the right time : they often require pressing, when 
 they should begin voluntarily ; whilst, on the other 
 hand, they are frequently eager and urgent to com- 
 mence at a time when the entertainment could be 
 dispensed with. I hope, however, to prove an excep- 
 tion to tliis custom ; and I shall be glad to know 
 whether it will prove agi-eeable to you that I should 
 relate a story." 
 
 " Particularly so," answered the baroness ; " and I 
 feel sure that I express the general opinion. But, if it 
 is your intention to relate an anecdote as a specimen, I
 
 298 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 will tell you for what sort of story I have no incli- 
 natiou. 
 
 " I take no pleasure in stories which, like the 
 Arabian Nights, connect one tale with another, and 
 so confound the interest of both ; where the narrator 
 finds liimself compelled to excite our attention by 
 interruptions, and, instead of satisfying us by detailing 
 a course of consecutive adventures, seeks to attract us 
 by rare and often unworthy artifices. I cannot but 
 censure the attempt of converting stories, which should 
 possess the unity of a poem, into unmeaning puzzles, 
 which only have the effect of vitiating our taste. 
 I leave you to choose your own subjects ; but I hope 
 you will pay a little attention to the style, since 
 it must be remembered that we are members of good 
 society. Commence with some narrative in which but 
 few persons are concerned or few events described, in 
 which the plot is good and natural, though possessing 
 as much action and contrivance as is necessary, which 
 shall not prove dull, nor.be confined to one spot, but in 
 which the action shall not progress too rapidly. Let 
 your characters be pleasing, and, if not perfect, at least 
 good, — not extravagant, but interesting and amiable. 
 Let your story be amusing in the narration, in order 
 that, when concluded, we may remember it with 
 pleasure." 
 
 " If I were not well acquainted with you, gracious 
 lady," said the clergyman, " I should be of opinion that 
 it is your wish, by thus explaining how much you 
 require of me, to bring my wares into disrepute before 
 I have exposed them for sale. I see how difficult 
 it will be to reach your standard of excellence. Even 
 now," he continued, after a short pause, " you compel 
 me to postpone the tale I had intended to relate 
 till another time ; and I fear I shall commit a mistake 
 in extemporising an anecdote for wliich I have always 
 felt some partiahty :
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 299 
 
 "In a seacoast town in Italy once lived a merchant, 
 who from his youth had been distinj^uished for activity 
 and industry. He was, in additi(jn, a first-rate sailor, 
 and had amassed considerable wealth by trading to 
 Alexandria, where he was accustomed to purchase or 
 exchange merchandise, which he afterward either 
 brought home or forwarded to the northern parts of 
 Europe. His fortune increased from year to year. 
 Business was his greatest pleasure, and he found no 
 time for the indulgence of extravagant dissipation. 
 
 "His life was employed in active pursuits of this 
 nature till he was fifty years old ; and he had been, 
 during all this time, a total stranger to those social 
 pleasures with which luxurious citizens are accustomed 
 to diversify their lives. Even the charms of the fair 
 sex had never excited his attention, notwithstanding 
 the attractions of liis countrywomen. His knowledge 
 of them was confined to their love for ornaments 
 and jewelry, a taste of which he never failed to take 
 proper advantage. 
 
 " He was surprised, therefore, at the change which 
 took place in his disposition, when, after a long voyage, 
 his richly laden ship entered the port of his native 
 town, upon the occurrence of a great festival in which 
 the children of the place took a prominent part. The 
 youths and maidens had attended the church in their 
 gayest attire, and had joined in the sacred processions. 
 They afterwartl mingled through the town in separate 
 companies, or dispersed through the country in search 
 of amusements ; or they assembled in the large square, 
 engaging in various active pursuits, and exhibiting feats 
 of skill and dexterity, for which small prizes were 
 bestowed. 
 
 "The merchant was much pleased with all he saw. 
 But after he had for some time observed the happiness 
 of the children, and the delight of their parents, and 
 witnessed so many persons in the full enjoyment of
 
 300 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 present bliss and the indulgence of the fondest hopes, 
 he could not help reflecting upon the wretchedness of 
 his own condition. His own solitary home began for 
 the first time to be to him a cause of distress, and he 
 thus gave vent to his melancholy thoughts : 
 
 " ' Unhappy being that I am ! Why are my eyes 
 opened so late ? Why, in my old age, do I first 
 become acquainted \vith those blessings which alone 
 can ensure the happiness of mankind ? What toil 
 have I endured ! Wliat labours I have borne ! And 
 what have they done for me ? 'Tis true my cellars 
 are filled with merchandise, my chests with valuable 
 metals, and my caskets with jewelry and precious 
 stones ; but these treasures can neither console nor 
 satisfy my heart. The more I have the more I want : 
 one coin requires another, and one diamond wishes for 
 its fellow. I am not the master of my riches : they 
 command me in imperious tone. " Go and get more ! " 
 they exclaim. Gold delights in gold, and jewels in 
 their fellows. They have ruled me all my life ; and 
 now I find, too late, that they possess no real value. 
 Now, when age approaches, I begin for the first time 
 to reflect, and to complain that I enjoy none of the 
 treasures I possess, and that no one will enjoy them 
 after me. Have I ever used them to adorn the person 
 of a beloved wife, to provide a marriage-portion for a 
 daughter ? Have I ever by their means enabled a son 
 to win and to dower the maiden of Ms heart ? Never ! 
 None of these treasures have ever enriched me or 
 mine ; and what I have collected with so much toil 
 some stranger, after my death, will thoughtlessly 
 dissipate. 
 
 " ' Oh ! with what different feelings will those happy 
 parents whom I see around me assemble their children 
 this evening, praise their address, and encourage them 
 to virtue ! What joy have I beheld beaming from 
 their eyes, and what hopes from the happiness of their
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 301 
 
 beloved offspring ! iVud must I ever be a stranger to 
 hope ? Am I grown gray ? Is it not enough to see 
 my error before the final evening of my days airives ? 
 No : in my ripe years it is not foolish to dream of love. 
 I will enrich a fair maiden with my wealth, and make 
 her happy. And, should my house ever become Ijlessed 
 with children, those late fruits will render me happy, 
 instead of proving a plague and a torment; as they 
 often do to those who too early receive such gifts from 
 Heaven.' 
 
 " Tims communing with himself he .silently formed 
 his determination. He then called two of his intimate 
 companions, and opened his mind to them. They were 
 ever ready to aid him in all emergencies, and were not 
 wanting upon the present occasion. They hastened, 
 therefore, into the town, to make inquiries after the 
 fairest and most beautiful maidens ; for they knew 
 their master was a man who, whatever goods he might 
 wish to acquire, would never be satisfied with any but 
 the best. He was himself active, went about, inquired, 
 saw, and listened, and soon found what he sought in 
 the person of a young maiden about sixteen years of 
 age, accomplished and well educated. Her person and 
 disposition pleased him, and gave him every hope of 
 happiness. In fact, at this time no maiden in the 
 whole town was more admired for her beauty. 
 
 " After a short delay, during which the most perfect 
 independence of his intended bride, not only during liis 
 own life, but after liis decease, was secured, the nuptial 
 ceremony was performed with gi-eat pomp and tri- 
 umph ; and from that day the merchant felt himself, 
 for the first time in his life, in actual possession and 
 enjoyment of his riches. His rarest and most costly 
 silks were devoted to the adornment of his bride, and 
 his diamonds gleamed more brilliantly upon the neck 
 and amid the tresses of his love than they had ever 
 shone in his caskets ; and his rings acquired an inex-
 
 302 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 pressible value from the beauty of the hand by which 
 they were adorned. And thus he felt that he was not 
 only as wealthy as before, but even wealthier ; and all 
 he possessed acquired a new value from being shared 
 with her he loved. The happy couple spent a year 
 together in the most perfect contentment, and he 
 seemed to experience a real joy in having exchanged 
 his active and wandering course of life, for the calm 
 content of domestic bliss. But he could not so easily 
 divest himself of his nature, and found that a habit 
 acquired in early youth, though it may for a time 
 be interrupted, can never be completely laid aside. 
 
 " After some time the sight of some of his old com- 
 panions, when they had safely brought their ships into 
 harbour after a long and perilous voyage, excited anew 
 the love of his former pursuits ; and he began now, 
 even in the company of liis bride, to experience sen- 
 sations of restlessness and discontent. These feelings 
 increased daily, and were gradually converted into so 
 intense a longing for his old course of life, that at 
 last he became positively miserable ; and a serious 
 illness was the result. 
 
 " ' What will now become of me ? ' he asked himself. 
 ' I learn too late the folly of entering in old age upon 
 a new system of life. How can we separate ourselves 
 from our thoughts and our habits ? Wliat have I done ? 
 Once I possessed the perfect freedom which a bird 
 enjoys in open air, and now I am imprisoned in a 
 dwelling with all my wealth and jewels and my 
 beauteous wife. I thought thus to win contentment 
 and enjoy my riches, but I feel that I lose everything 
 so long as I cannot increase my stores. Unjustly are 
 men considered fools who add to their wealth by 
 ceaseless activity, for activity itself is happiness ; and 
 riches themselves are valueless in comparison with the 
 delight of the toil by which they are acquired. I am 
 wretched from idleness, sick from inactivity ; and, if I
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 303 
 
 do not determine upon some other course, I may soon 
 bid farewell to life. 
 
 "'T know, however, how much T risk in separating 
 from a young and lovely wife. I know how unjust it 
 is to win the affections of a charming maiden, and, after 
 a brief possession, to abandon her to the wearisome 
 society of her own desires and emotions. I know, even 
 now, how many vain and frivolous youths display their 
 conceited persons before my windows. I know that in 
 church, and in the public promenades, they seek to 
 attract the notice and engage the attention of my wife. 
 What may not take place, then, if I absent myself ? 
 Can I hope for the intervention of some miracle to 
 save her from her almost inevitable fate ? It were 
 vain to expect that at her age and with her warm 
 affections she can withstand the seductions of love. 
 If I depart, I know that upon my return I shall have 
 lost the attachment of my wife, and that she will 
 have forfeited her fidelity, and tarnished the honour of 
 my house.' 
 
 " These reflections and doubts, to which he for some 
 time had become a prey, embittered his condition ten- 
 fold. His wife, no less than his relations and friends, 
 sympathised deeply with him, without being able to 
 comprehend the cause of liis illness. At length he 
 sought relief from liis own thoughts, and thus com- 
 muned with himself : ' Fool ! to distress myself so 
 much about the protection of a wife whom, if my ill- 
 ness continues, I must leave beliind me for the enjoy- 
 ment of another. Is it not better to preserve my life, 
 even though in the effort I risk the loss of the greatest 
 treasure a woman can possess ? How many find their 
 very presence ineffectual to preserve this treasure, and 
 patiently endure a privation they cannot prevent ! Why 
 cannot you summon up courage to be independent of 
 so precarious a blessing, since upon this resolution your 
 very existence depends ? '
 
 304 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 "He felt invigorated by these thoughts, and forth- 
 with summoned together Ms former crew. He in- 
 structed them to charter a vessel without delay, to 
 load it, and hold themselves ready to set sail with the 
 first favourable wind. He then unburdened himself to 
 his ^\^.f e in the following terms : 
 
 " ' Be not astonished at any commotion you may 
 shortly observe in our house, but conclude thence that 
 I am making preparations for a journey. Be not over- 
 come with grief when I inform you that I am once more 
 bent upon a sea-voyage. The love I bear you is still 
 unchanged, and will doubtless remain so during my 
 hie. I am sensible of the bhss I have enjoyed in your 
 society, and should feel it still more powerfully, but for 
 the silent censures of idleness and inactivity with which 
 my conscience reproves me. My old disposition returns, 
 and my former habits are still ahve. Let me once 
 more visit the markets of Alexandria, to which I shall 
 repair with the greater joy, because I can there procure 
 for you the richest merchandise and most valuable 
 treasures. I leave you in possession of all my for- 
 tune and of all my goods : make use of them without 
 restraint, and enjoy yourself in the company of your 
 relatives and friends. The period of our separation will 
 pass by, and we shall meet again with joy.' 
 
 " Dissolved in tears, his loving wife assured Mm, with 
 the most tender endearments, that during his absence 
 she would never be able to enjoy one happy moment, 
 and entreated Mm, since she wished neither to control 
 nor to detain him, that she might, at least, share Ms 
 affectionate thoughts during the sad time of their 
 separation. 
 
 " He then gave some general directions on business 
 and household matters, and added, after a short pause, 
 ' I have something to say, which lies hke a burden 
 upon my heart ; and you must permit me to utter it : 
 I only implore you earnestly not to misinterpret my
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 305 
 
 meaning, but in my anxiety fur you to discern my 
 love.' 
 
 " ' I can guess your thoughts,' interrupted his wife : 
 ' you are suspicious of me, I know ; and, after the fash- 
 ion of men, you always rail at the universal weakn(;ss 
 of our sex. 1 am, it is true, young, and of a cheerful 
 disposition ; and you fear lest, in your absence, I be 
 found inconstant and unfaithful. I do not find fault 
 with your suspicions ; it is the habit of your sex : but 
 if I know my own heart, I may assure you that I am 
 not so susceptible of impressions as to be induced 
 lightly to stray from the paths of love and duty, 
 through wliich I have hitherto journeyed. Fear not : 
 you shall find your wife as true and faithful on your 
 return as you have ever found her liitherto, when you 
 have come to her arms at evening after a short absence.' 
 
 " ' I believe the truth of the sentiments you utter,' 
 added the husband, ' and I beseech you to be constant 
 to them. But let us conceive the possibility of the 
 worst. Why should we shrink from it ? You know 
 yourself how the beauty of your person attracts the 
 admiration of all our young fellow-citizens. During 
 my absence they will be more attentive to you than 
 ever. They \vill redouble their efforts to attract and 
 please you. The image of your husband will not prove 
 as effective as his presence in banishing them from my 
 doors and from your heart. I know you are a noble 
 being ; but the blandishments of love are powerful, and 
 oftentimes overcome the firmest resolutions. Interrupt 
 me not. Your very thoughts of me during my absence 
 may inflame your passions. I may, for some time, con- 
 tinue to be the object of your dearest \vishes ; but who 
 can foretell what opportunities may occur, and allow a 
 stranger to enjoy those privileges which were destined 
 for me ? Be not impatient, I beseech you, but hear 
 me out. 
 
 *' ' Should that time arrive, the possibility of which
 
 3o6 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 you deny, and which I am by no means anxious to 
 hasten, in wliich you feel that you need society, and 
 can no longer defer the requirements of love, then 
 make me one promise. Permit no thoughtless youth 
 to supplant me, whatever may be the attractions of 
 his person ; for such lovers are more dangerous to the 
 honour than to the virtue of a woman. Incited rather 
 by vanity than by love, they seek the general favours 
 of the sex, and are ever ready to transfer their transi- 
 tory affections. If you wish for the society of a friend, 
 look out for one who is worthy of the name, whose 
 modesty and discretion understands the art of exalting 
 the joys of love by the vii'tue of secrecy.' 
 
 " His beautiful wife could suppress her agony no 
 longer, and the tears which she had till now restrained 
 flowed in copious torrents from her eyes. ' Whatever 
 may be your opinion of me,' she cried, after a passion- 
 ate embrace, ' nothing can be at this hour farther from 
 my thoughts than the crime you seem to consider, as 
 it were, inevitable. If such an idea ever suggests itself 
 to my imagination, may the earth in that instant open, 
 and swallow me up, and for ever vanish all hope of that 
 joy which promises a blessed immortality ! Banish tliis 
 mistrust from your bosom, and let me enjoy the full 
 and delightful hope of seeing you again return to these 
 arms.' 
 
 " Having left untried no effort to comfort and 
 console his wife, he set sail the next day. His 
 voyage was prosperous, and he soon arrived in Alex- 
 andria. 
 
 " In the meantime our heroine hved in the tranquil 
 enjoyment of a large fortune, in possession of every 
 luxury ; though, with the exception of her relatives 
 and immediate friends, no person was admitted to her 
 society. The business of her absent husband was dis- 
 charged by trustworthy servants ; and she inhabited a 
 large mansion, in whose splendid rooms she was able
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 307 
 
 to enjoy tlic daily pleasure of recalling the remembrance 
 of his love. 
 
 " But, notwithstanding her quiet and retired mode of 
 life, the young gallants of the town did not h^ng remain 
 inactive. They frequented the street, passed incessantly 
 before her windows, and in the evening sought to attract 
 her attention by means of music and serenades. The 
 pretty prisoner, although she at first found these atten- 
 tions troublesome and annoying, gi-adually became recon- 
 ciled to the vexation ; and, when the long evenings 
 arrived, she began to consider the serenades in the 
 hglit of an agreeable entertainment, and could scarcely 
 suppress an occasional sigh, wliich, strictly speaking, 
 belonged to her absent husband. 
 
 " But her unknown admirers, instead of gradually 
 wearying in their attentions, as she had once expected, 
 became more assiduous in their devotion. She began, 
 at last, to recognise the oft-repeated instruments and 
 voices, to grow familiar with the melodies and to feel 
 curious to know the names of her most constant sere- 
 naders. She might innocently indulge so harmless a 
 curiosity. She now peeped occasionally through her 
 curtains and half-closed shutters, to notice the pedes- 
 trians, and to observe more particularly the youths 
 whose eyes were constantly directed toward her win- 
 dows. They were invariably handsome, and fasliion- 
 ably dressed ; but their manner and whole deportment 
 were unmistakably marked by frivolity and vanity. 
 They seemed more desirous of making themselves re- 
 markable by directing their attention to the house of 
 so beautiful a woman, than of displaying toward her a 
 feeling of pecuhar respect. 
 
 " ' Keally,' the lady would sometimes say to herself 
 in a tone of raillery, ' really my husband showed a deal 
 of penetration. The condition under which he allowed 
 me to enjoy the privilege of a lover excludes all those 
 who care in the least for me, or to whom I am likely
 
 3o8 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 to take a fancy. He seems to have well understood 
 that prudence, modesty, and silence are qualities which 
 belong to demure old age, when men can value the 
 understanding, but are incapable of awakening the 
 fancy or exciting the desires. I am pretty sure, at 
 least, that, amongst the youths who lay perpetual siege 
 to my mansion, there is not one entitled to my con- 
 fidence ; and those who might lay some claim to that 
 virtue fall lamentably short in other attractions.' 
 
 " Supported by these reflections, she allowed herself 
 to take daily more and more pleasure in the music and 
 in the attentions of her young admirers ; till at length, 
 unperceived by herself, there gradually sprung up in 
 her bosom a restless desire, which she struggled to re- 
 sist when it was already too late. Solitude and idle- 
 ness, combined with comfort and luxury, gave birth 
 to an unruly passion long before its thoughtless victim 
 had any suspicion of her danger. 
 
 " Amongst the numerous endowments of her hus- 
 band, she now saw ample reason to admire his profound 
 knowledge of the world and of mankind, and his 
 thorough acquaintance with woman's heart. She now 
 perceived that that had occurred, the possibihty of 
 which she had formerly so strenuously denied, and 
 acknowledged his wisdom in preaching the necessity 
 of prudence and caution. But what could these virtues 
 avail, where pitiless chance seemed to be in conspiracy 
 with her own unaccountable passions ? How could 
 she select one from a crowd of strangers ? and was she 
 permitted, in case of disappointment, to make a second 
 choice ? 
 
 " Innumerable thoughts of this nature increased the 
 perplexity of our sohtary heroine. In vain she sought 
 recreation, and tried to forget herself. Her mind was 
 perpetually excited by agreeable objects, and her im- 
 agination thus became impressed with the most delight- 
 ful pictures of fancied happiness.
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 309 
 
 " In this state of mind, she was informed one day 
 by a relation, amongst other pieces of news, that a 
 young lawyer who had just finished his studies at 
 Bologna had lately arrived in his native town. His 
 talents were the topic of general admiration and en- 
 comium. His universal knowledge was accompanied 
 by a modesty and reserve very uncommon in youth, 
 and his personal attractions were of a high order. In 
 his office of procurator he had already won, not only 
 the confidence of the public, Ijut the respect of the 
 judges. He had daily business to transact at the court- 
 house, so great was the increase of his professional 
 practice. 
 
 " Our heroine could not hear the talents of this youth 
 so generally extolled, without feeling a wish to become 
 acquainted with him, accompanied by a secret hope 
 that he might prove a person upon whom, in conformity 
 with the permission of her husband, she might bestow 
 her heart. She soon learned that he passed her dwell- 
 ing daOy, on his way to the court-house ; and she 
 carefully watched for the hour when the lawj'ers were 
 accustomed to assemble for the discharge of business. 
 With beating heart she at length saw him pass ; and 
 if liis handsome figure and youthful attractions, on the 
 one hand, excited her admiration, his apparent reserve 
 and modesty, on the other, gave her much reason for 
 doubt and anxiety. For several days she watched him 
 silently, tiU at length she was no longer able to resist 
 her desire to attract his attention. She dressed with 
 care, went out upon the balcony, and marked his ap- 
 proach with feelings of suspense. But she gi'cw trou- 
 bled, and, indeed, felt ashamed, when she saw him 
 pass, in contemplative mood, with thoughtful steps and 
 downcast eyes, pursuing his quiet way, without deign- 
 ing* to bestow the slightest notice upon her. Vainly 
 did sh^ endeavour thus to win his attention for several 
 successive days. In the same undeviating course he
 
 3IO THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 continued to pass by, without raising his eyes, or look- 
 ing to the right or to the left. But, the more she 
 observed him, the more did he appear to be the very 
 one she needed. Her wish to know him now grew 
 stronger, and at length became irresistible. What ! she 
 thought within herself : when my noble, sensible hus- 
 band actually foresaw the extremity to which his 
 absence would reduce me, when his keen perception 
 knew that I could not Kve without a friend, must I 
 droop and pine away at the very time when fortune 
 provides me with one whom not only my own heart, 
 but even my husband, would choose, and in whose 
 society I should be able to enjoy the delights of love 
 in inviolable secrecy ? Fool should I be, to miss such 
 an opportunity ; fool, to resist the powerful impulses 
 of love ! 
 
 " With such reflections did she endeavour to decide 
 upon some fixed course, and she did not long remain 
 a prey to uncertainty. It happened with her, as it 
 usually does with every one who is conquered by a 
 passion, that she looked without apprehension upon all 
 such trifhng oljjections as shame, fear, timidity, and 
 duty, and came at length to the bold resolution of 
 sending her servant-maid to the young lawyer at any 
 risk, and inviting him to visit her. 
 
 " The servant found him in the company of several 
 friends, and delivered her message punctually in the 
 terms in which she had been instructed. The procu- 
 rator was not at all surprised at the invitation. He 
 had known the merchant previously, was aware of his 
 absence at present, and presumed that the lady re- 
 quired the aid of his professional services about some 
 important matter of business. He promised the ser- 
 vant, therefore, that he would wait upon her mistress 
 without delay. The latter heard with unspeakable 
 joy, that she would soon be allowed an opportunity of 
 seeing and speaking to her beloved. She prepared
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGFMNTS 311 
 
 carefully for his receptiou, and had her rooms arranged 
 witli tlie utmost elegance. Orange-leaves and flowers 
 were strewn around in profusion, and the most costly 
 furniture was displayed for the occasion. And thus 
 the hrief intervening time hastened by, which would 
 otherwise have been unbearable. 
 
 " Who can describe the emotion with which she 
 witnessed his arrival, or her agitation upon inviting 
 him to take a seat at her side ? She hesitated how to 
 address him now that he had arrived, and found a 
 difficulty in remembering what she had to say. He 
 sat still and silent. At length she took courage and 
 addressed him, not without some visible perplexity. 
 
 " ' I understand, sir, that you are but lately returned 
 to your native city ; and I learn that you are univer- 
 sally admired as a talented and incomparable man. I 
 am ready to bestow my utmost confidence upon you, 
 in a matter of extraordinary importance, but which, 
 upon reflection, would seem adapted rather for the ear 
 of the confessor than that of the lawyer. I have been 
 for some years married to a husband who is both rich 
 and honourable, and who, as long as we have Hved 
 together, has never ceased to tenderly love me, and 
 of whom I should not have a single word of complaint 
 to utter, if an irresistible desire for travel and trade had 
 not torn liim, for some time, from my arms. 
 
 " ' Being a sensible and just man, he no doubt felt 
 conscious of the injury his absence nmst necessarily 
 inflict upon me. He knew that a young wife cannot 
 be preserved hke jewelry and pearls. He knew that 
 she resembles a garden, full of the choicest fruits, 
 which would be lost, not only to him, but to every 
 one else, if the door were kept locked for years. For 
 this reason, he addressed me in serious but fi-iendly 
 tones before his departure, and assured me, that he 
 knew I should not be able to live without the societv 
 of a friCnd, and therefore not only permitted, but made
 
 312 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 me promise, that I would, in a free and unrestrained 
 manner, follow the inclination which I should soon 
 find springing up within my heart.' 
 
 " She paused for a moment ; but an eloquent look, 
 wliich the young lawyer directed toward her, encouraged 
 her to proceed. 
 
 " ' One only condition was imposed upon me by my 
 indulgent husband. He recommended me to use the 
 most extreme caution, and impressed upon me strongly 
 the necessity of choosing a steady, prudent, silent, and 
 confidential friend. But you will excuse my con- 
 tinuing, — excuse the embarrassment with which I 
 must confess how I have been attracted by your numer- 
 ous accomplishments, and divine from the confidence 
 I have reposed in you the nature of my hopes and 
 wishes.' 
 
 " The worthy young lawyer was silent for a short 
 time, and then replied, in a thoughtful tone, ' I am 
 deeply indebted for the high mark of confidence with 
 which you both honour and dehght me. I wish to 
 convince you that I am not unworthy of your favour. 
 But let me first answer you in a professional capacity : 
 and I must confess my admiration for your husband, 
 who so clearly saw the nature of the injustice he 
 committed against you ; for there can be no doubt of 
 this, — that a husband who leaves his young wife, in 
 order to \dsit distant countries, must be viewed in the 
 light of a man who relinquishes a valuable treasure, 
 to which, by his own conduct, he abandons all manner 
 of claim. And as the first finder may then lawfully 
 take possession, so I hold it to be natural and just, 
 that a young woman, under the circumstances you 
 describe, should bestow her aifections and herself, 
 without scruple, upon any friend who may prove 
 worthy of her confidence. 
 
 " ' But particularly when the husband, as in this 
 case, conscious of the injustice he himself commits,
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 313 
 
 expressly allows his forsaken wife a privilege, of which 
 he could not deprive her, it must be clear that he can 
 suffer 110 wrong from an action Lu wliicli lie has given 
 his own consent. 
 
 " ' Wherefore if you,' continued tlie young lawyer, 
 with quite a different look and the most hvely em- 
 phasis, and the most affectionate pressure of the hand, 
 • if you select me for your servant, you enrich me with 
 a happiness, of which, till now, I could have formed 
 no conception. And be assured,' he added, while at 
 the same time he warmly kissed her hand, ' that you 
 could not have found a more true, loving, prudent, and 
 devoted servant.' 
 
 " Tliis declaration tranquillised the agitated feelings 
 of our tender heroine. She at once expressed her love 
 without reserve. She pressed his hand, drew him 
 nearer to her, and reclined her head upon his shoulder. 
 They had remained but a short time in this position, 
 when he tried to disengage himself gently, and ex- 
 pressed himself thus, not without emotion : ' Did ever 
 happy mortal find himself in such embarrassment ? I 
 am compelled to leave you, and to do violence to 
 myself in the very moment when I might surrender 
 myself to the most divine enchantment. I cannot 
 now partake the bliss which is prepared for me, and I 
 earnestly pray that a temporary postponement may 
 not altogether frustrate my fondest hopes.' 
 
 " She inquired hastily the cause of this strange 
 speech. 
 
 " ' When I was in Bologna,' he rephed, ' and had just 
 completed my studies, preparing to enter upon the 
 practice of my profession, I was seized with a danger- 
 ous illness, from which it appeared, that, even if I 
 should escape with my life, my bodily and mental 
 faculties must sustain irreparable injury. Eeduced to 
 despair, and tortured by the pangs of disease, I made a 
 solemn vow to the Virgin, that, should I recover, I
 
 314 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 would persist for one whole year in practising the 
 strictest fast and abstinence from enjoyment of every 
 description. For ten months I have already adhered 
 to my vow : and, considering the wonderful favour I 
 have enjoyed, the time has not passed wearily ; and I 
 have not found it difficult to abstain from many ac- 
 customed pleasures. But the two months wliich still 
 remaiQ will now seem an eternity ; since, till their ex- 
 piration, I am forbidden to partake a happiness whose 
 delights are inconceivable. And, though you may 
 think the time long, do not, I beseech you, withdraw 
 the favour you have so bountifully bestowed upon me.' 
 
 " Not much consoled by tliis announcement, she felt 
 a little more encouraged when her friend added, after a 
 few minutes' reflection, ' I scarcely dare to make a 
 proposal, and suggest a plan, wliich may, perhaps, 
 release me a little earlier from my vow. If I could 
 only find some one as firm and resolute as myself in 
 keeping a promise, and who would divide with me the 
 time that still remains, I should then be the sooner 
 free; and nothing could impede our enjoyment. Are 
 you willing, my sweet friend, to assist in hastening our 
 happiness by removing one-half of the obstacle which 
 opposes us ? I can only share my vow with one upon 
 whom I can depend with full confidence. And it is 
 severe, — nothing but bread and water twice a day, 
 and at night a few hours' repose on a hard bed : and, 
 notwithstanding my incessant professional occupation, 
 I must devote many hours to prayer. If I am obliged 
 to attend a party, I am not thereby released from my 
 duty ; and I must avoid the enjoyment of every dainty. 
 If you can resolve to pass one month in the observance 
 of these rules, you will find yourself the sooner in pos- 
 session of your friend's society, which you will relish 
 the more from the consciousness of having deserved it 
 by your praiseworthy resolution.' 
 
 "The beautiful lady was sorry to hear of the diffi-
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 3^5 
 
 culty she had to eucouuter ; but the very jji-esence of 
 her beloved so increased her attachment, that no trial 
 which would ensure the possession of so valuable a 
 prize appeared to her too difficult. She therefore 
 assured him, in the most affectionate manner, of her 
 readiness to share the responsibility of his vow, and 
 addressed him thus : 'My sweet friend ! the miracle 
 through which you have recovered your health is to 
 me an event of so much value and importance, that it 
 is not only my duty, Ijut my joy, to partake the vow 
 by which you are still bound. 1 am delighted to oiler 
 so strong a proof of my sincerity. I will imitate your 
 example in the strictest manner ; and, until you dis- 
 charge me from my obhgation, no consideration shall 
 induce me to stray from the path you point out to me.' 
 " The young lawyer once more repeated the condi- 
 tions under which he was \\illing to transfer to her the 
 obhgation of one-half of his vow, and then took his 
 leave, with the assurance that he would soon visit her 
 again, to inquire after her constancy and resolution. 
 And she was then obliged to witness his departure, 
 without receiving so much as one kiss, or pressure of the 
 hand, and scarcely with a look of ordinary recognition. 
 She found some degree of happy rehef in the strange 
 employment which the performance of her new duties 
 imposed upon her, for she had much to do in the prepa- 
 ration for her unaccustomed course of life. In the 
 first place, she removed all the beautiful exotics and 
 flowers which had been procured to gi-ace the reception 
 of her beloved. Then a hard mattress was substituted 
 for her downy bed, to which she retired in the evening, 
 after having scarcely satisfied her hunger with a frugal 
 meal of bread and water. The following morning 
 found her busily employed in plain work, and in mak- 
 ing a certain amount of wearing apparel for the poor 
 inmates of the town hospital. During this new occu- 
 pation she entertained her fancy by dwelling upon the
 
 o 
 
 1 6 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 image of her dear friend, and indulging the hope 
 of future happiness ; and these thoughts reconciled 
 her to the greatest privations and to the humblest 
 fare. 
 
 " At the end of the first week the roses began to 
 fade fi'om her beautiful cheeks, her person to fall away, 
 and her strength to become weak and languid ; but a 
 visit from her friend imparted new animation and 
 fortitude. He encouraged her to persist in her resolu- 
 tion, by the example of his own perseverance, and by 
 showing her the approaching certainty of uninterrupted 
 happiness. His visit was brief, but he promised to 
 return soon. 
 
 "With cheerful resignation she continued her new 
 and strict course of life, but her strength soon declined 
 so much that the most severe illness could scarcely 
 have reduced her to such extreme weakness. Her 
 friend, whose visit was repeated at the end of the week, 
 sympathised with her condition, and comforted her by 
 an assurance that one-half the period of her trial was 
 already over. But the severe fasting, continual pray- 
 ing, and incessant work, became every day more un- 
 bearable ; and her excessive abstemiousness threatened 
 to ruin the health of one who had been accustomed to 
 a hfe of the greatest luxury. At length she found a 
 difficulty in walking, and was compelled, notwithstand- 
 ing the sultriness of the season, to wrap herself up in 
 the warmest clothing, to preserve even an ordinary 
 degree of heat ; till finally she was obliged to take to 
 her bed. 
 
 " It would be difficult to describe the course of her 
 reflections when she reflected on her condition and on 
 this strange occurrence, and it is impossible to imagine 
 her distress when ten tedious days wearily passed 
 without the appearance of the friend for whose sake she 
 had consented to make this unheard-of sacrifice. But 
 those hours of trouble sufficed to recall her to reason.
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 317 
 
 and she formed her resolution. Her friend visited her 
 after the lapse of some few days more ; and seating him- 
 self at her bedside, upon the very sofa which he had 
 occupied when she made her Hrst declaration of love to 
 him, he encouraged and implored her, in the most 
 tender and affectionate tones, to persist for a short time 
 longer: but she interrupted him with a /sweet smile, 
 and assured him that she needed no per^'^.asion to con- 
 tinue, for a few days, the performance of a vow which 
 she knew full well had been appointed for her advan- 
 tage. ' I am, as yet, too feeble,' she said, ' to express 
 my thanks to you as I could wish. You have saved 
 me from myself. You have restored me to myself ; 
 and I confess, that from this moment I am indebted to 
 you for my existence. My husband was, indeed, gifted 
 with prudence and good sense, and well knew the 
 nature of woman's heart. And he was, moreover, just 
 enough not to condemn a passion which he saw might 
 spring up within my bosom, through his own fault ; 
 and he was generous enough to make allowance for the 
 weakness of my nature. But you, sir, are truly \irtu- 
 ous and good. You have taught me that we possess 
 within us an antidote equivalent to the force of our 
 passions ; that we are capable of renouncing luxuries to 
 which we have been accustomed, and of suppressing 
 our strongest inclinations. You have taught me this 
 lesson by means of hope and of delusion. Neither is 
 any longer necessary : you have made me acquainted 
 with the existence of that ever-Uving conscience, which, 
 in peaceful silence, dwells within our souls, and never 
 ceases with gentle admonitions to remind us of its 
 presence, till its sway becomes irresistibly acknowl- 
 edged. And now farewell. May your influence over 
 others be as effective as it has been over me. Do not 
 confine your labours to the task of unravelling legal 
 perplexities, but show mankind, by your own gentle 
 guidance and example, that within every bosom the
 
 3i8 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 germ of hidden virtue lies concealed. Esteem and fame 
 will be 3' our reward ; and, far better than any states- 
 man or hero, you will earn the glorious title of father 
 of your country.' " 
 
 " We must all extol the character of your young 
 lawyer," said the baroness, at the conclusion of the 
 clergyman's tale : " polished, wise, interesting, and in- 
 structive, I wish every preceptor were like him, who 
 undertakes to restrain or recall youth from the path of 
 error. I think such a tale is peculiarly entitled to be 
 styled a moral anecdote. Eelate some more of the 
 same nature, and your audience will have ample reason 
 to be thankful." 
 
 Clergyman. I am dehghted that my tale has earned 
 your approbation, but I am sorry you wish to hear 
 more of such moral anecdotes ; for, to say the truth, 
 this is the first and last of the kind. 
 
 Louisa. It certainly does not do you much credit, 
 to say that your best collection only furnishes a single 
 specimen. 
 
 Clergyman. You have not understood me. It is 
 not the only moral tale I can relate ; but they all bear 
 so close a resemblance, that each would seem only to 
 repeat the original. 
 
 Louisa. Really, you should give up your paradox- 
 ical style, which so much obscures your conversation, 
 and express yourself more clearly. 
 
 Clergyman. With pleasure, then. No anecdote 
 deserves to be called moral which does not prove 
 that man possesses within himself that power to sub- 
 due his inclinations which may be called out by the 
 persuasion of another. My story teaches this doctrine, 
 and no moral tale can teach otherwise. 
 
 Louisa. Then, in order to act morally, I must act 
 contrary to my inclinations ? 
 
 Clergyman. Undoubtedly. 
 
 Louisa. Even when they are good ?
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 319 
 
 Clergyman. No inclinations are abstractedly good, 
 but only so far as they effect good. 
 
 Louifid. Suppose T have an inclination for benevo- 
 lence ? 
 
 Cleryyman. Then, you should subdue your inclina- 
 tion for benevolence if you find that it ruins your 
 domestic happiness. 
 
 Louisa. Suppose I felt an irresistible impulse to 
 gratitude ? 
 
 Cleryyman. It is wisely ordained that gratitude 
 can never be an impulse. But if it were, it would be 
 better to prove ungrateful than to commit a crime 
 in order to oblige your benefactor. 
 
 Louisa. Then, there may be a thousand moral 
 stories ? 
 
 Clergyman. Yes, in your sense. But none of them 
 would read a lesson different from the one our lawyer 
 taught, and in this sense there can be but one story of 
 the kind : you are right, however, if you mean that the 
 incidents can be various. 
 
 Louisa. If you had expressed your meaning more 
 precisely at first, we should not have disagi-eed. 
 
 Clergyman. And we should have had no conversa- 
 tion. Errors and misunderstandings are the springs of 
 action, of life, and of amusement. 
 
 Louisa. I cannot agree with you. Suppose a brave 
 man saves another at the risk of his own life : is that 
 not a moral action ? 
 
 Clergyman. Not according to my mode of thinking. 
 But, suppose a cowardly man were to overcome his 
 fears and do the same, that would be a moral action. 
 
 Baroness. I wish, my dear friend, you would give 
 us some examples, and convince Louisa of the truth 
 of your theory. Certainly, a mind disposed to good 
 must dehght us when we become acquainted with it. 
 Nothing in the worlil can be more pleasing than 
 a mind under the guidance of reason and conscience.
 
 320 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 If you know a tale upon such a subject, we should 
 like to hear it, I am fond of stories which illustrate 
 a doctrine. They give a better explanation of one's 
 meaning than dry words can do. 
 
 Clergyman. I certainly can relate some anecdotes 
 of that kind, for I have paid some attention to those 
 qualities of the human mind. 
 
 Louisa. I would just make one observation. I 
 must confess I do not Hke stories which oblige us to 
 travel, in imagination, to foreign lands. Why must 
 every adventure take place in Italy, in Sicily, or in 
 the East ? Are Naples, Palermo, and Smyrna, the 
 only places where anythuig interesting can happen ? 
 One may transpose the scene of our fairy-tales to 
 Ormus and Samarcand for the purpose of perplexing 
 the imagination ; but, if you would instruct the under- 
 standing or the heart, do it by means of domestic 
 stories, — family portraits, — in which we shall recog- 
 nise our own likeness ; and our hearts will more 
 readily sympathise with sorrow. 
 
 Clergyman. You shall be gratified. But there is 
 something pecuhar, too, about family stories. They 
 bear a strong resemblance to each other ; and, besides, 
 we daily see every incident and situation of which 
 they are capable fully worked out upon the stage. 
 However, I am willing to make the attempt, and 
 shall relate a story, with some of the incidents of 
 which you are already familar ; and it will only prove 
 interesting so far as it is an exact representation of 
 the picture in your own minds. 
 
 " We may often observe in f amihes, that the 
 children inherit, not only the personal appearance, 
 but even the mental quahties, of their parents; and 
 it sometimes happens that one child combines the dis- 
 positions of both father and mother in a peculiar and 
 remarkable manner. 
 
 " A youth, whom I may name Ferdinand, was a
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 321 
 
 stronjT instance of tliis fact. In his appearance he 
 reseinljlcd Ixilli parents, and one could distinguish 
 in his mind the separate disposition of each. He 
 possessed the gay, thoughtless manner of his father 
 iu his strong desire to enjoy the present moment, 
 and, in most cases, to prefer himself to others ; but he 
 also inherited the tranquil and reflective mind of liis 
 mother, no less than her love for honesty and justice, 
 and a willingness, like her, perpetually to sacrifice 
 himself for the advantage of others. To explain his 
 contradictory conduct upon many occasions, his com- 
 panions were often reduced to the necessity of believing 
 that he had two souls. I must pass by many adven- 
 tures which happened in his youth, and shall content 
 myself with relating one anecdote, which not only 
 explains his character fully, but forms a remarkable 
 epoch in his life. 
 
 " His youth was passed in every species of enjoy- 
 ment. His parents were affluent, and brought up 
 their cliildren extravagantly. If the father indulged 
 in unreasonable expenditure, either in company, at the 
 gaming-table, or in other dissipations, it was the habit 
 of the mother to restrain her own, and the household 
 expenses, so as to supply the deficiency ; though she 
 never allowed an appearance of want to be observed. 
 Her husband was fortunate in his business; he was 
 successful in several hazardous speculations he had 
 undertaken : and, as he was fond of society, he had 
 the happiness to form many pleasant and advanta- 
 geous connections. 
 
 " The children of a family usually copy those mem- 
 bers of the household who seem to enjoy their lives 
 most. They see in the example of a father who 
 follows such a course a model worthy of imitation ; 
 and, as they are seldom slow in obeying their inclina- 
 tions, their wishes and desires often increase very 
 much in disproportion to their means of enjoyment.
 
 322 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 Obstacles to their gratification soou arise : each new 
 addition to the family forms a new claim upon the 
 capabilities of the parents, who frequently surrender 
 their own pleasures for the sake of their children ; 
 and, by common consent, a more simple and less 
 expensive mode of living is adopted. 
 
 " Ferdinand grew up with a consciou.sness of the 
 disagreeable truth, that he was often deprived of many 
 luxuries which his more fortunate companions enjoyed. 
 It distressed him to appear inferior to any of them 
 in the richness of his apparel, or the liberality of his 
 expenditure. He wished to resemble his father, whose 
 example was daily before him, and who appeared to 
 him a twofold model, — first, as a parent, in whose 
 favour a son is usually prejudiced ; and, secondly, as 
 a man who led a pleasant and luxurious life, and was, 
 therefore, apparently loved and esteemed by a numer- 
 ous acquaintance. It is easy to suppose that all this 
 occasioned great vexation to his mother ; but in this 
 way Ferdinand gi-ew up, with his wants daily increas- 
 ing, until at length, when he had attained his eight- 
 eenth year, his requirements and wishes were sadly 
 out of proportion to his condition. 
 
 " He had hitherto avoided contracting debts ; for 
 this vice liis mother had impressed him with the 
 greatest abhorrence : and, in order to win his confi- 
 dence, she had, ui numerous instances, exerted herself 
 to gratify his desires, and relieve him from occasional 
 embarrassments. But it happened, unfortunately, that 
 she was now compelled to practise the most rigid 
 economy in her household expenditure, and this at a 
 time when his wants, from many causes, had increased. 
 He had commenced to enter more generally into society, 
 tried to win the affections of a very attractive girl, and 
 to rival and even surpass his companions in the ele- 
 gance of his attire. His mother, being unable any 
 longer to satisfy his demands, appealed to his duty
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 323 
 
 and filial affection so as to induce him to restrain his 
 expenses. He admitted the justice of her exijostula- 
 tious, but, being unable to follow her advice, was 
 soon reduced to a state of the greatest mental 
 embarrassment. 
 
 " Without forfeiting the object of liis dearest wishes, 
 he found it impossible to change his mode of life. 
 From his bojhood he had been addicted to his pres- 
 ent pursuits, and could alter no iota of his habits or 
 practices without running the risk of losing an old 
 friend, a desirable comptiuion, or, what was worse, 
 abandoning the society of his dearest love. 
 
 " His attachment became stronger ; as the love 
 which was bestowed upon him not only flattered his 
 vanity, but complimented his understanding. 
 
 " It was something to be preferred to a host of 
 suitors by a handsome and agreeable girl, who was 
 acknowledged to be the richest heiress in the city. 
 He boasted of the preference with wliich he was 
 regarded, and she also seemed proud of the dehght- 
 ful bondage in which she was held. It now became 
 indispensable that he should be in constant attendance 
 upon her, that he should devote his time and money 
 to her service, and afford perpetual proofs of the value 
 he set upon her affection. All these ine\dtable results 
 of his attachment occasioned Ferdinand more expense 
 than he would otherwise have incurred. His ladylove 
 (who was named Ottilia) had been entrusted by her 
 parents to the care of an aunt, and no exertions had 
 been spared to introduce her to society under the 
 most favourable circumstances. Ferdinand exhausted 
 every resource to furnish her wdth the enjoyments 
 of society, into all of which she entered with the 
 greatest delight, and of which she herself proved one 
 of the greatest attractions. 
 
 " No situation could certainly be more wretched 
 than that to which Ferdinand was now reduced. His
 
 324 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 mother, whom he sincerely loved and respected, had 
 pointed out to him the necessity of embarking in duties 
 very different from those which he had hitherto prac- 
 tised : she could no longer assist him in a pecuniary 
 way. He felt a horror at the debts which were daily 
 becoming more burdensome to him, and he saw before 
 him the difficult task of reconciling his impoverished 
 condition with his anxiety to appear rich and practise 
 generosity. No mind could be a prey to greater un- 
 happiness. 
 
 " His mind was now forcibly impressed with thoughts 
 which had formerly only indistinctly suggested them- 
 selves to his imagination. Certain unpleasant reflec- 
 tions became to him the source of great unhappiness. 
 He had once looked upon his father as a model : he 
 now began to regard him as a rival. AVhat the son 
 wished to enjoy, the parent actually possessed ; and 
 the latter felt none of the anxieties or grievances 
 wherewith the former was tortured. Ferdinand, how- 
 ever, was in full possession of every comfort of hfe ; 
 but he envied his father the luxuries which he enjoyed, 
 and with which he thought he might very well dis- 
 pense. But the latter was of a different opinion. He 
 was one of those beings whose desires are wholly in- 
 satiable, and who, for then- own gi-atification, subject 
 their family and dependants to the greatest privations. 
 His son received from him a certain pecuniary allow- 
 ance, but a regular account of his expenditure was 
 strictly exacted. 
 
 " The eye of the envious is sharpened by restrictions, 
 and dependants are never more censorious than when 
 the commands of superiors are at variance with their 
 practice. Thus Ferdinand came to watch strictly the 
 conduct of his father, particularly upon points which 
 concerned his expenditure. He listened attentively 
 when it was rumoured that his father had lost heavUy 
 at the gambling-table, and expressed great dissatisfac-
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 325 
 
 tion at any unwonted extravagance which he might 
 indulge. 'Is it not astonishing ? ' he would say to 
 himself, ' that, whilst parents revel in every luxury 
 that can spring from the ])Ossession of a jtroperty which 
 they accidentally enjoy, they can del)ar their children 
 of those reasonable pleasures which their season of 
 youth most urgently requires ? And })y what right 
 do they act thus ? How have they acquired this privi- 
 lege ? Does it not arise from mere chance ? and can 
 that be a riglit wliich is the result of accident ? If my 
 grandfather, who loved me as his own son, were still 
 alive, I should be better provided for. He would not 
 see me in want of common necessaries, those things, I 
 mean, which we have had from our birth. He would 
 no more let me want, than he would approve my 
 father's extravagance. Had he lived longer, had he 
 known how worthy his grandchild would prove to 
 inherit a fortune, he would have provided in his will 
 for my earlier independence. I have heard that his 
 death was unexpected, that he had intended to make 
 a will ; and I am probably indebted to mere chance 
 for the postponement of my enjoying a fortune, wliich, 
 if my father continue his present course, will probably 
 be lost to me for ever.' 
 
 "With such discontented thoughts did Ferdinand 
 often perplex himself in those hours of solitude and 
 unhappiness, in which he was prevented, by the want of 
 money, from joining his companions upon some agree- 
 able party of pleasure. Then it was that he discussed 
 those dangerous questions of right and property, and 
 considered how far individuals are bound by laws to 
 which they have given no consent, or whether they 
 may lawfully burst through the restraints of society. 
 But all these were mere pecuniary sophistries ; for 
 every article of value which he formerly possessed had 
 gradually disappeared, and his daily wants had now 
 far outgrown his allowance.
 
 326 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 " He soon became sileut and reserved ; and, at such 
 times, even his respect for his mother disappeared, as 
 she could afford him no assistance : and he began to 
 entertain a hatred for liis father, who, according to Iris 
 sentiments, was perpetually in his way. 
 
 " Just at this period he made a discovery which. 
 increased his discontent. He learned that his father 
 was not only an irregular, but an improvident, manager 
 of his household. He observed that he often took 
 money hastily from his desk, without entering it in 
 his account-book, and that he was afterward perplexed 
 with private calculations, and annoyed at his inability 
 to balance his accounts. More than once did Ferdinand 
 notice this ; and his father's carelessness was the more 
 galling to him, as it often occun-ed at times when he 
 himself was suffering severely from the want of money. 
 
 "Wliilst he was in tliis state of mind, an unlucky 
 accident happened, which afforded an opportunity for 
 the commission of a crime, to which he had long felt 
 himself impelled by a secret and ungovernable im- 
 pulse. 
 
 " His father had desired him to examine and arrange 
 a collection of old letters. One Sunday, when he was 
 alone, he set to work in a room which contained his 
 father's writing-desk, and in which his money was 
 usually kept. The box of letters was heavy; and, in 
 the act of Hfting it from the ground, he pushed un- 
 intentionally against the desk, when the latter suddenly 
 flew open. The rolls of money lay temptingly dis- 
 played before him. Without allowing time for a mo- 
 ment's reflection, he took a roll of gold from that part 
 of the desk where he thought his father kept a supply 
 of money for his own occasional wants. He shut the 
 desk again, and repeated the experiment of opening it. 
 He once more succeeded, and saw that he could now 
 command the treasure as completely as if he had 
 possessed the key.
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 327 
 
 " He soon plunged once more into all those dissipa- 
 tions which lie had lately heen obliged to renounce. 
 He became more constant than ever in his attentions 
 to Ottilia, and more passionate in the pursuit of pleas- 
 ure. Even his former graceful animation was con- 
 verted into a species of excitement, which, though it 
 was far from unbecoming, was deficient in that kind 
 attention to others wliich is so agreeable. 
 
 " 0])portunity is to passion what a spark is to gun- 
 powder, and those desires which we gratify contrary 
 to the dictates of conscience always rule with the 
 most ungovernable power. Ferdinand's own convic- 
 tions loudly comlomned his conduct, but he endeav- 
 oured to justify himself by specious arguments ; and 
 though his manner became in appearance more free 
 and unrestrained than before, he was in reality a cap- 
 tive to the uiflueuce of his evil inclinations. 
 
 " Just at this time the wearing of extravagant trifles 
 came into fashion. Ottilia was fond of personal orna- 
 ments, and Ferdinand endeavoured to discover a mode 
 of gratifying her taste without apprising her where her 
 supply of presents came from. Her suspicions fell 
 upon an old uncle, and Ferdinand's gratification was 
 indescribable at observing the satisfaction of his mis- 
 tress and the course of her mistaken suspicion^;. But, 
 unfortunately for his peace of mind, he was now obliged 
 to have frequent recourse to his father's desk, in order 
 to gratify Ottilia's fancy and his own inchnations ; and 
 he pursued this course now the more boldly, as he had 
 lately observed that his father gi-ew more and more 
 careless about entering in his account-book the sums 
 he himself required. 
 
 " The time now arrived for Ottilia's return to her 
 parents. The young couple were overpowered with 
 grief at the prospect of their separation, and one cir- 
 cumstance added to their sorrow. Ottilia had acci- 
 dentally learned that the presents we have spoken of
 
 328 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 had come from Ferdiuand : she questioned him, and 
 he confessed the truth with feelings of evident sorrow. 
 She insisted upon returning them, and this occasioned 
 him the bitterest anguish. He declared his determina- 
 tion not to hve without her, prayed that she would 
 preserve him her attachment, and implored that she 
 would not refuse her hand as soon as he should have 
 provided an estabhshment. She loved him, was moved 
 at his entreaties, promised what he wished, and sealed 
 her vow with the warmest embraces and a thousand pas- 
 sionate kisses. 
 
 " After her departure Ferdinand was reduced to sad 
 sohtude. The company in which he had found deUght 
 pleased him no more, she being absent. From the 
 mere force of habit he mingled with his former asso- 
 ciates, and had recourse to his father's desk to supply 
 those expenses which in reality he felt but slight 
 inclination to indulge. He was now frequently alone, 
 and his natural good disposition began to obtain the 
 mastery over him. In moments of calm reflection he 
 felt astonished how he could have listened to that 
 deceitful sophistry about justice and right, and his 
 claim to the goods of others ; and he wondered at his 
 approval of those evil arguments by which he had been 
 led to justify his dishonest conduct. But in the mean- 
 time, before these correct ideas of truth and uprightness 
 produced a practical effect upon his conduct, he yielded 
 more- than once to the temptation of supplying his 
 wants, in extreme cases, from his father's treasury. 
 This plan, however, was now adopted with more re- 
 luctance; and he seemed to be under the irresistible 
 impulse of an evil spirit. 
 
 " At length he took courage, and formed the resolu- 
 tion of rendering a repetition of the practice impossible, 
 by informing Ms father of the facility with which his 
 desk could be opened. He took his measures cau- 
 tiously ; and once, in the presence of his father, he car-
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 329 
 
 ried tlie box <jf letters we liave ineiitioued into the 
 room, pretended to stumble accidentally against the 
 desk, and astonished his father by causing it to spring 
 open. They examined the lock without delay, and 
 found that it had become almost useless from age. It 
 was at once repaired, and Ferdinand soon enjoyed a 
 return of his peace of mind when he saw his father's 
 rolls of money once more in safe custody. 
 
 " But he was not content with this. He formed the 
 resolution of restoring the money which he had ab- 
 stracted. He commenced the most economical course 
 of life for this purpose, with a view of saving from Ms 
 allowance all that could possibly be spared from the 
 merest necessities. It is true that this was but httle ; 
 but it appeared much, as it was the commencement of 
 a system of restitution : and there will always be a 
 wonderful difference between the last guinea borrowed 
 and the first guinea saved. He had pursued this up- 
 right course for but a short time, when his father deter- 
 mined to settle him in business. His intention was to 
 form a connection with a manufactory at some distance 
 from his residence. The design was to establish a 
 company in a part of the country where labour and 
 provisions were cheap, to appoint an agent, and extend 
 the business as widely as possible by means of money 
 and credit. It was determined that Ferdinand should 
 inquire into the practicability of the scheme, and for- 
 ward a circumstantial report of his proceedings. His 
 father furnished him with money for his journey, but 
 placed a moderate limit upon his expenditure. The 
 supply was, however, sufficient for his wants ; and 
 Ferdinand had no reason to complain of a deficiency. 
 
 " Ferdinand used the utmost economy also upon his 
 journey, and found upon the closest calculation that he 
 could live upon one-third of his allowance, by practis- 
 ing strict restraint. He was now anxious to find 
 means of gradually saving 9, certain sum, and it soon
 
 33° THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 presented itself; for opportunity comes indifferently to 
 the good and to the bad, and favours all parties alike. 
 In the neighbourhood which he designed to visit, he 
 found things more to his advantage than had been ex- 
 pected. No new habits of expense had as yet been 
 introduced. A moderate capital alone had been invested 
 in business, and the manufacturers were satisfied with 
 small profits. Ferdinand soon saw, that with a large 
 capital, and the advantages of a new system, by pur- 
 chasing the raw material by wholesale, and erecting 
 machinery under the guidance of experienced work- 
 men, large and solid advantages might be secured. 
 
 " The prospect of a life of activity gave him the 
 greatest delight. The image of his beloved Ottilia was 
 ever before him ; and the charming and picturesque 
 character of the country made him anxiously wish that 
 his father might be induced to establish him in this 
 spot, commit the conduct of the new manufactory to 
 him, and thus afford him the means of attaining inde- 
 pendence. His attention to business was secured by 
 the demands of his own personal interests. He now 
 found an opportunity, for the first time in his life, for 
 the exercise of his understanding and judgment, and 
 for exerting his other mental powers. Not only the 
 beautiful neighbourhood, but his business and occupa- 
 tion, were full of attractions for him : they acted as 
 balm and cordial to his wounded heart, whenever he 
 recalled the painful remembrance of his father's house, 
 in which, influenced by a species of insanity, he had 
 acted in a manner which now seemed to him in the 
 highest degree criminal. 
 
 " His constant companion was a friend of his family, 
 — a person of strong mind, but dehcate health, who 
 had first conceived the project of founding this estab- 
 hshment. He instructed Ferdinand in all his own 
 views and projects, and seemed to take great pleasure 
 in the thorough harmony of mind which existed be-
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 331 
 
 tweeu them. This liiLter personage led a simple and 
 retired life, partly from choice, and partly because his 
 health required it. He had no family of his own. His 
 household establishment was conducted by a niece, who 
 he mtended should inherit his fortune ; and it was his 
 wish to see her united to a person of active and enter- 
 prising disposition, who, by means of capital and perse- 
 vering industry, might carry on the business which his 
 infirm health and want of means disqualified him from 
 conducting. His first interview with Ferdinand sug- 
 gested that he had found the man he wanted ; and he 
 was the more strongly confirmed in this opinion, upon 
 observing his fondness for business, and his attachment 
 to the place. His niece became aware of his inten- 
 tions, and seemed to approve of them. She was a 
 young and interesting girl, of sweet and engaging dis- 
 position. Her care of her uncle's establishment had 
 imparted to her mind the valuable qualities of activity 
 and decision, whilst her attention to his health had 
 softened down these traits by a proper union of gentle- 
 ness and affection. It would have been difficult to 
 find a person better calculated to make a husband 
 happy. 
 
 " But Ferdinand's mind was engrossed with the 
 thoughts of Ottiha's love : he saw no attractions in 
 the charms of this country beauty ; or, at least, his 
 admiration was circumscribed by the wish, that, if ever 
 Ottilia settled down as his wife in this part of the 
 country, she might have such a person for her assistant 
 and housekeeper. But he was free and unrestrained 
 in his intercourse with the young lady, he valued her 
 more as he came to know her better, and his conduct 
 became more respectful and attentive ; and both she 
 and her uncle soon put their own interpretations upon 
 his behaviour. 
 
 " Ferdinand had in the meantime made all the 
 requisite inquiries about his father's business. The
 
 332 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 uncle's suggestions had enabled him to form certain 
 projects wliich, mth liis usual thoughtlessness, he 
 made the subject of conversation. He had more than 
 once uttered certain gallant speeches when conversing 
 with the niece, until her uncle and herself fancied that 
 he actually indulged intentions which gave them both 
 unfeigned satisfaction. To Ferdinand's great joy, he 
 had learned that he could not only derive great advan- 
 tage from his father's plan, but that another favourable 
 project would enable him to make restitution of the 
 money he had withdrawn, and the recollection of which 
 pressed hke a heavy burden upon his conscience. He 
 communicated his intentions to his friend, who ten- 
 dered, not only his cordial congratulations, but every 
 possible assistance to carry out his views. He even 
 proposed to furnish his young friend with the necessary 
 merchandise upon credit, a part of which offer was 
 thankfully accepted ; some portion of the goods being 
 paid for with what money Ferdinand had saved from 
 his travelhng expenses, and a short credit being taken 
 for the remainder. 
 
 " It would be difficult to describe the joy with which 
 Ferdinand prepared for his return home. There can 
 be no greater dehght than is experienced by a man 
 who, by liis own unaided resources, frees himself from 
 the consequences of error. Heaven looks down with 
 satisfaction upon such a spectacle ; and we cannot 
 deny the force of the seeming paradox wliich assures 
 us that there is more joy before God over one return- 
 ing sinner, than over ninety-nine just. 
 
 " But, unfortunately, neither the good resolutions 
 nor the repentance and improvement of Ferdinand 
 could remove the evil consequences of his crime, which 
 were destined once more to disturb and agitate his 
 mind with the most painful reflections. The storm 
 had gathered during his absence, and it was destined to 
 burst over his head upon his return.
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 333 
 
 " We have already had occasion to observe, that 
 Ferdiuaud's father was most irregular hi his habits ; 
 but his business was under the supermtendence of 
 a clever manager. He had not himself missed the 
 money which had been aljstracted by his son, with 
 the exception of one roll of foreign money, which he 
 had won from a stranger at play. This he had missed, 
 and the circumstance seemed to him unaccountable. 
 He was afterward somewhat surprised to perceive that 
 several rolls of ducats could not be found, money 
 which he had some time before lent to a friend, but 
 which he knew had been repaid. He was aware of the 
 previous insecurity of his desk, and felt, therefore, con- 
 vinced that he had been robbed. This feeling rendered 
 him extremely unhappy. His suspicions fell upon 
 every one. In anger and exasperation, lie related the 
 circumstance to his wife. The entire household was 
 thereupon strictly examined, and neither servants nor 
 children were allowed to escape. The good wife 
 exerted herself to trauquillise her husband : she repre- 
 sented the discredit which a mere report of this cir- 
 cumstance would bring upon the family ; that no one 
 would sympathise in their misfortune, further than to 
 humiliate them with their compassion ; that neither he 
 nor she could expect to escape the tongue of scandal ; 
 that strange observations would be made if the thief 
 should remain undiscovered ; and she suggested, that 
 perhaps, if they continued silent, they might recover 
 their lost money without reducing the wretched crimi- 
 nal to a state of misery for Ufe. In this manner she 
 prevailed upon her husband to remain quiet, and to 
 investigate the affair in silence. 
 
 " But the discovery was unfortunately soon made. 
 Ottilia's aunt had, of course, been informed of the 
 engagement of the young couple. She had heard of 
 the presents her niece had received. The attachment 
 was not approved by her, and she had only maintained
 
 334 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 silence in consequence of her niece's absence. She 
 would have consented to her manying Ferdinand, but 
 she did not like uncertainty on such a subject ; and as 
 she knew that he was shortly to return, and her niece 
 was expected daily, she determined to inform the 
 parents of the state of things, to inquire their opinion, 
 to ask whether Ferdinand was to have a settlement, 
 and if they would consent to the marriage. 
 
 " The mother was not a little astonished at this 
 information, and she was shocked at hearing of the 
 presents which Ferdinand had made to Ottiha. But 
 she concealed her surprise ; and, requesting the aunt to 
 allow her some time to confer with her husband, she 
 expressed her own concurrence in the intended mar- 
 riage, and her expectation that her son would be 
 advantageously provided for. 
 
 " The aunt took her leave, but Ferdinand's mother 
 did not deem it advisable to communicate the circum- 
 stance to her husband. She now had to undertake 
 the sad duty of discovering whether Ferdinand had 
 purchased Ottilia's presents with the stolen money. 
 She went straight to the shopkeeper who dealt in such 
 goods, made some general inquiries, and said at last, 
 ' that he ought not to overcharge her, particularly 
 as her son, who had bought some similar articles, had 
 procured them from him at a more reasonable charge.' 
 This the tradesman denied, producing the account, and 
 further observing that he had even added something 
 for the exchange ; as Ferdinand had paid for the 
 goods partly in foreign money. He specified the exact 
 nature of the coin ; and, to her inexpressible grief, 
 it was the very same which had been stolen from her 
 husband. She left the shop with sorrowful heart. 
 Ferdinand's crime was but too evident. The sum her 
 husband had lost was large, and she saw in all its force 
 the extent of the crime and its evil results. But she 
 had prudence enough to conceal her discovery. She
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 335 
 
 waited for the return of her sou, with feeliugs of 
 mingled fear and auxiety. Although she wished for 
 an explanation, she dreaded the consequences of a 
 further inquiry. 
 
 "At length he arrived in tlu; liighest spirits, lie 
 expected the greatest praise from the manner in which 
 he transacted his business, and was the bearer of a 
 sum of money sufficient to make compensation for 
 what he had criminally abstracted. His father heard 
 his statement with pleasure, but did not manifest so 
 much delight as the son expected. His late losses had 
 irritated his temper ; and he was the more distressed, 
 because he had some large payments to make at the 
 moment. Ferdinand felt hurt at his father's depression 
 of mind, and liis own peace was further disturbed by 
 the sight of everything around him : the very room in 
 which he was, the furniture, and the sight of the fatal 
 desk, those silent witnesses of his crime, spoke loudly 
 to his guilty conscience. His satisfaction was at an 
 end. He shrunk within himself, and felt like a 
 culprit, 
 
 " After a few days' delay he was about to distract 
 his attention from these thoughts by examining the 
 merchandise he had ordered, when his mother, finding 
 him alone, reproached him with his fault in a tone of 
 affectionate earnestness, which did not allow the small- 
 est opportunity for prevarication. He was overcome 
 with grief. He threw himself at her feet, imploring 
 her forgiveness, acknowledging his crime, and protest- 
 ing that notliing but his affection for Ottilia had mis- 
 led him : he assured her, in conclusion, that it was the 
 only offence of the kind of which he had ever been 
 guilty. He related the circumstances of his bitter 
 repentance, of his having acquainted his father with 
 the insecurity of his desk, and finally informed her 
 how, by personal privations and a fortunate specula- 
 tion, he was in a condition to make restitution.
 
 336 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 " His mother heard him calmly, but insisted on 
 knowing how he had disposed of so much money ; as 
 the presents would account but for a small part of the 
 sum that was missing. She produced, to his dismay, 
 an account of what his father had missed ; but he 
 denied having taken, even so much silver : the missing 
 gold he solenmly protested he had never touched. His 
 mother became exasperated at this denial. She rebuked 
 him his attempting to deceive her, and that at a mo- 
 ment when he laid claim to the virtue of repentance ; 
 asserting that if he could be guilty in one respect, she 
 must doubt his innocence in another. She suggested 
 that he might perhaps have accomplices amongst his 
 dissipated companions, that perhaps the business he 
 had carried on was transacted with the stolen money, 
 and that probably he would have confessed nothing if 
 his crime had not been accidentally discovered. She 
 threatened him with the anger of his father, with 
 judicial punishment, wdth her highest displeasure ; but 
 nothing affected him more than liis learning that his 
 projected marriage with Ottilia had been already spoken 
 of. She left him in the most wretched condition. His 
 real crime had been discovered, and he was suspected 
 of even greater guilt. How could he ever persuade his 
 parents that he had not stolen the gold ? He dreaded 
 the pubhc exposure which was likely to result from his 
 father's ii-ritable temper, and he now had time to com- 
 pare his present wretched condition with the happiness 
 he might have attained. All his prospects of an active 
 life and of a marriage with Ottilia were at an end. He 
 saw his utter wretchedness, abandoned, a fugitive in 
 foreign lands, exposed to every species of misfortune. 
 
 " But these reflections were not the worst evil he 
 had to encounter ; though they bewildered his mind, 
 wounded his pride, and crushed his affections. His 
 most severe pangs arose from the thought, that his 
 honest resolution, his noble intention to repair the past.
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 337 
 
 was suspected, repudiated, and denied. And, even if 
 these thoughts gave birth to a feehng resenililing de- 
 spair, he could not deny that he had deserved liis fate ; 
 and to this conviction must be added his knowledge 
 of the fatal truth, that one crime is suthcient to des- 
 troy the character for ever. Such meditations, and the 
 appreliension that his firmest resolutions of amendment 
 might be looked upon as insincere, made life itself a 
 burden. 
 
 " In this moment of abandonment he appealed to 
 Heaven for assistance. He sank upon his knees, and, 
 moistening the ground with tears of contrition, im- 
 plored help from his divine Maker. His prayer was 
 wortliy of being heard. Man, throwing off his load of 
 crimes, has a claim upon Heaven. He who has ex- 
 hausted every effort of his own may, as a last resource, 
 appeal to God. He was for some time engaged in 
 earnest prayer, when the door opened, and some one 
 entered his apartment. It was his mother, who ap- 
 proached him with a cheerful look, saw his agitation, 
 and addressed him with consoling w^ords. ' How happy 
 I am,' she said, ' to find that I may credit your asser- 
 tions, and regard your sorrow as sincere ! The missing 
 pum of gold has been found: your father, when he 
 received it from his friend, handed it to his secretary, 
 who forgot the circumstance amid the numerous trans- 
 actions of the day. And, with respect to the silver, 
 you are also right ; as the amount taken is less than 
 I had supposed. Unable to conceal my joy, I 
 promised your father to replace the missing sum if 
 he would consent to forbear making any further 
 inquiry.' 
 
 " Ferdinand's joy was indescribable. He completed 
 at once his business arrangements, gave his mother the 
 promised money, and in addition replaced the amount 
 whicli his father had lost through his own irregularity. 
 He became gi-adually more cheerful and liappy, but
 
 33^ THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 the whole circumstance produced a serious impression 
 upon his mind. He became convinced that every man 
 has povi^er to accomphsh good, and that our divine 
 Maker will infallibly extend to him his assistance in 
 the hour of trial, — a truth which he Mmself had 
 learned from late experience. He now unfolded to his 
 father his plan of establisliing himself in the neighbour- 
 hood from which he had lately returned. He fully 
 explained the nature of the intended business. His 
 father consented to his proposals, and his mother at a 
 proper time related to her husband the attachment of 
 Ferdinand to Ottiha. He was delighted at the pros- 
 pect of having so charming a daughter-in-law, and felt 
 additional pleasure at the idea of being able to es- 
 tablish his son without the necessity of incurring much 
 expense." 
 
 " I like this story," said Louisa, when the old clergy- 
 man had finished his tale ; " and though the incidents 
 are taken from low life, yet the tone is sufficiently 
 elevated to prove agreeable. And it seems to me, that 
 if we examine ourselves, or observe others, we shall 
 find that men are seldom influenced by their own re- 
 flections, either to pursue or to abandon a certain 
 course, but are generally impelled by extraneous cir- 
 cumstances." 
 
 " I wish for my part," said Charles, " that we were 
 not obliged to deny ourselves anything, and that we 
 had no knowledge of those blessings which we are not 
 allowed to possess. But unfortunately we walk in an 
 orchard where, though all the trees are loaded with 
 fruit, we are compelled to leave them untouched, to 
 satisfy ourselves with the enjoyment of the shade, 
 and forego the greatest indulgence." 
 
 " Now," said Louisa to the clergyman, " let us hear 
 the rest of the story." 
 
 Clergyman. It is finished.
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 339 
 
 Louisa. The denouement may be finished, but we 
 should like to hear the end. 
 
 Clenji/man. Your distinction is just; and, since 
 you seem interested in the fate of my friend, I will 
 tell you briefly what happened to him. 
 
 " Believed from the oppressive weight of so dreadful 
 a crime, and enjoying some degree of satisfaction at 
 his own conduct, his thoughts were now directed to his 
 future happiness; and he expected with anxiety the 
 return of Ottilia, that he might explain his position, 
 and perform the promise he had given her. She came, 
 accompanied by her parents. He hastened to meet 
 her, and found her more beautifid than ever. He 
 waited with impatience for an opportunity of speaking 
 to her alone, and of unfolding all his future projects. 
 The moment arrived ; and wdth a heart full of tender- 
 ness and love he spoke of his hopes, of his expectations 
 of happiness, and of his wish to share it with her. But 
 what was his surprise and astonishment when he found 
 that she heard his announcement with indifference 
 and even with contempt, and indulged in unpleasant 
 jokes about the hermitage prepared for their reception, 
 and the interest they would excite by enacting the 
 characters of shepherd and shepherdess in a pastoral 
 abode. 
 
 " Her behaviour occasioned bitter reflections. He 
 was hurt and giieved at her indifference. She had 
 been unjust to him, and he now began to observe 
 faults in her conduct which had previously escaped 
 his attention. In addition, it required no very keen 
 perception to remark that a cousin, who had accom- 
 panied her, had made an impression upon her, and won 
 a large portion of her affections. 
 
 " But Ferdinand soon perceived the necessity of 
 struggling with this new source of sorrow; and, as 
 victory had attended his exertions in one instance, 
 he hoped to be successful upon a second occasion. He
 
 34° THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 saw Ottilia frequently, and determined to observe her 
 closely. His couduct toward her was attentive and 
 affectionate, and her deportment was of a similar 
 nature ; but her attractions had become diminished 
 for him : he soon found that her professions were not 
 cordial or sincere, and that she could be afiectionate 
 and cold, attractive and repulsive, charming and disa- 
 greeable, according to the mere whim of the moment. 
 He gradually became indifferent to her, and at length 
 resolved to break the last hnk of their connection. 
 
 " But this was more difficult than he had antici- 
 pated. He found her one day alone, and took courage 
 to remind her of their engagement, and of those happy 
 moments in which, under the influence of the most 
 delightful feelings, they had discoursed with joyful 
 anticipations of their future happiness. She was in a 
 tender mood, and he began to hope that he might per- 
 haps have been deceived in the estimate he had lately 
 formed of her. He thereupon began to describe his 
 worldly prospects, and the probable success of his 
 intended establishment. She expressed her satisfac- 
 tion, accompanied, however, with regret that their 
 union must on this account be postponed still longer. 
 She gave him to understand that she had not the least 
 wish to leave the pleasures of a city hfe, but expressed 
 her hopes that he might be able, after some years' 
 active industry in the country, to return home, and 
 become a citizen of consequence. She gave him, more- 
 over, to understand that she expected he would play 
 a more respectable and honest part in life than his 
 father. 
 
 " Ferdinand saw plainly that he could expect no 
 happiness from such a union, and yet he felt the diffi- 
 culty of wholly disengaging himself. In this state of 
 mind he would probably have parted from her in 
 uncertainty about the future, had he not been finally 
 influenced by the conduct of Ottiha's cousin, toward
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 341 
 
 whom he thought she displayed too much tenderness. 
 Ferdinand, thereupon, wrote a letter assuring her that 
 it was still in lier power to make him happy, but that 
 it could not be advisable to encourage indefinite hopes, 
 or to enter into engagements for an uncertain future. 
 
 " He trusted that this letter would produce a favour- 
 able answer ; but he received a reply which his heart 
 deplored, but which his judgment approved. She 
 released him from his promise, without rejec^ting his 
 love, and adverted to her own feelings in the same 
 ambiguous manner. She was still bound by the sense 
 of her letter, but free by its Hteral meaning. But why 
 should T delay communicating the inevitable result ? 
 Ferdinand hastened back to the peaceful abode he had 
 left, aud formed his determination at once. He be- 
 came attentive and diligent in business, and was 
 encouraged in this course by the affections of the 
 kind being of whom we have already spoken, and the 
 exertions of her uncle to employ every means in his 
 power to render them happy. I knew him afterward, 
 when he was surrounded by a numerous and pros- 
 perous family. He related his own story to me him- 
 self ; and, as it often happens with individuals whose 
 early hfe has been marked ])y some uncommon acci- 
 dent, his own adventures had become so indehbly 
 impressed upon his mind, that they exerted a deep 
 influence on his conduct. Even as a man and as a 
 father, he constantly denied himself the enjoyment of 
 many gratifications in order not to forget the practice 
 of self-restraint ; and the whole course of his children's 
 education was founded upon this principle, that they 
 must accustom themselves to a frequent denial of their 
 most ardent desires. 
 
 " I once had an opportunity of witnessing an in- 
 stance of the system he adopted. One of his children 
 was about to eat something at table, of whicli he was 
 particularly fond. His father forbade it, apparently
 
 342 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 without reason. To my astonishment, the child obeyed 
 with the utmost cheerfuhiess ; and dinner proceeded 
 as if nothing had occurred. And, in this manner, even 
 the eldest members of the family often allowed a 
 tempting dish of fruit or some other dainty to pass 
 them untasted. But, notwithstanding this, a general 
 freedom reigned in his house ; and there was at times 
 a sufficient display, both of good and bad conduct. 
 But Ferdinand was for the most part indifferent to 
 what occurred, and allowed an almost unrestrained 
 license. At times, however, when a certain week 
 came about, orders were given for precise punctuahty, 
 the clocks were regulated to the second, every member 
 of the family received his orders for the day, business 
 and pleasure had their turn, and no one dared to be a 
 single second in arrear. I could detain you for hours 
 in describing his conversation and remarks on this 
 extraordinary system of education. He was accus- 
 tomed to jest with me upon my vows as a Catholic 
 priest, and maintained that every man should make a 
 vow to practise self-restraint, as well as to require 
 obedience from others ; but he observed that the exer- 
 cise of these vows, in place of being perpetually de- 
 manded, was suitable only for certain occasions." 
 
 The baroness observed, that she thought Ferdinand 
 was perfectly right ; and she compared the authority 
 of a parent to the executive power in a kingdom, 
 which being weak, the legislative authority can be of 
 little avail. 
 
 At this moment Louisa rushed hastily to the win- 
 dow, having heard Frederick ride past. She ran to 
 meet him, and accompanied him into the parlour. He 
 seemed cheerful, notwithstanding his just having come 
 from a scene of trouble and distress. In place of 
 entering into a detailed description of the fire which 
 had seized the house of his aunt, he assured the com- 
 pany that he had established beyond doubt the fact
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 343 
 
 that the desk there had been Imrned at the very same 
 time when theirs had been split asunder in so strange 
 a manner. 
 
 He stated, that, when the fire approached the room 
 where the desk was, one of the servants saved a ckjck 
 which stood upon it ; that, in carry hi g it out, some 
 accident had happened to the works, and it had 
 stopped at half-past eleven ; and thus the coincidence 
 of time was placed beyond all question. The baroness 
 smiled ; and the tutor observed, that, although two 
 things might agree in some particulars, we were not 
 therefore justified in inferring their mutual depend- 
 ence. But Louisa took pleasure in believing the con- 
 nection of these two circumstances, particularly as she 
 had received intelhgence that her intended was quite 
 well ; and, as to the rest of the company, they gave 
 full scope to the flight of their imagination. 
 
 Charles inquired of the clergyman whether he knew 
 a fairy tale. " The imagination," he observed, " is a 
 divine gift ; but I do not like to see it employed about 
 the actualities of life. The airy forms to which it 
 gives birth are delightful to contemplate, if we view 
 them as beings of a peculiar order; but, connected 
 with truth, they become prodigies, and are disapproved 
 by our reason and judgment. The imagination," he 
 continued, " should not deal in facts, nor be employed 
 to establish facts. Its proper province is art; and 
 there its influence should be like that of music, which 
 awakens our emotions, and makes us forget the cause 
 by which they are called forth." 
 
 "Continue," said the old clergyman, "and explain 
 still further your view of the proper attributes of 
 imaginative works. Another property is essential to 
 their enjoyment, — that the exercise of imagination 
 should be voluntary. It can effect nothing by com- 
 pulsion : it must wait for the moment of inspiration. 
 Without design, and without any settled course, it
 
 344 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 soars aloft upon its own pinions, and, as it is borne 
 forward, leaves a trace of its wonderful and devious 
 course. But you must allow me to take my accus- 
 tomed walk, that I may awaken in my soul the sweet 
 fancies which, in former years, were accustomed to 
 enchant me. I promise to relate a fairy tale this even- 
 ing that will amuse you all." 
 
 They at once consented, particularly as they all 
 hoped in the meantime to hear the news of which 
 Frederick was the bearer. 
 
 A FAIRY TALE. 
 
 Wearied with the labours of the day, an old Ferry- 
 man lay asleep in his hut, on the bank of a wide river, 
 which the late heavy rains had swollen to an unprec- 
 edented height. In the middle of the night he was 
 awakened by a loud cry : he listened ; it was the call 
 of some travellers who wished to be ferried over. 
 
 Upon opening the door, he was surprised to see two 
 Will-o'-the-wisps dancing round his boat, which was 
 still secured to its moorings. Speaking with human 
 voices, they assured him that they were in the greatest 
 possible hurry, and wished to be carried instantly to 
 the other side of the river. Without losing a moment, 
 the old Ferryman pushed off, and rowed across with 
 his usual dexterity. During the passage the strangers 
 whispered together in an unknown language, and sev- 
 eral times burst into loud laughter ; whilst they amused 
 themselves with dancing upon the sides and seats of 
 the boat, and cutting fantastic capers at the bottom. 
 
 " The boat reels," cried the old man ; " and, if you 
 continue so restless, it may upset. Sit down, you 
 Will-o'-the-wisps." 
 
 They burst into loud laughter at this command, 
 ridiculed the boatman, and became more troublesome
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 345 
 
 than ever. But he bore their annoyance patiently, 
 and they soon reached the opposite bank of the river. 
 
 " Here is souietliing for your trouble," said the pas- 
 sengers, shaking themselves, when a number of glitter- 
 ing gold pieces fell into the boat. " ^\llat are you 
 doing ? " cried the old man : " some misfortune will 
 happen should a single piece of gold fall into the 
 water. The river, wbich has a strong antipathy to 
 gold, would become fearfully agitated, and swallow 
 both me and my boat. Who can say even what 
 might ha])pen to yourselves ? I pray you take back 
 your gold." 
 
 " We can take nothing back which we have once 
 shaken from our persons," answered one of them. 
 
 " Then, I shall be compelled," replied the old boat- 
 man, as he stooped, and collected the gold in his cap, 
 " to take it to the shore and bury it." 
 
 The Will-o'-the-wisps had in the meantime leaped 
 out of the boat, upon which the old man cried, " Pay 
 me my fare." 
 
 " The man who refuses gold must work for nothing," 
 answered the Will-o'-the-wisps. 
 
 " My payment must consist of fruits of the earth," 
 rejoined the Ferryman. 
 
 " Fruits of the earth ? We despise them : they are 
 not food for us." 
 
 "But you shall not depart," replied the Ferryman, 
 " till you have given me three cauliflowers, three arti- 
 chokes, and three large onions." 
 
 The Will-o'-the-wisps were in the act of running 
 away, with a laugh, when they felt themselves in some 
 inexplicable manner fixed to the earth : they had 
 never experienced so strange a sensation. They then 
 promised to pay the demand without delay, upon which 
 the Ferryman released them, and instantly pushed off 
 with his boat. 
 
 He was already far away, when they called after
 
 346 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 liim, " Old man ! listen : we have forgotten something 
 important ; " but he heard them not, and continued his 
 course. When he had reached a point lower down, on 
 the same side of the river, he came to some rocks 
 which the water was unable to reach, and proceeded to 
 bury the dangerous gold. Observing a deep cleft 
 which opened between two rocks, he threw the gold 
 into it, and returned to his dwelling. This cleft was 
 inhabited by a beautiful green Dragon, who was 
 awakened from her sleep by the sound of the falling 
 money. At the very first appearance of the glittering 
 pieces, she devoured them greedily, then searched 
 about carefully in hopes of finding such other coins as 
 might have fallen accidentally amongst the briers, or 
 between the fissures of the rocks. 
 
 The Dragon immediately felt overpowered with the 
 most delightful sensations, and perceived vdth joy that 
 she became suddenly shining and transpai-ent. She 
 had been long aware that this change was possible ; 
 but, entertaining some doubt whether the brilliance 
 would continue, she felt impelled by curiosity to leave 
 her dwelhng, and ascertain, if possiljle, to whom she 
 was indebted for the beautiful gold. She found no one ; 
 but she became lost in admiration of herself, and of the 
 brdhant Hght which illumined her path through the 
 thick underwood, and shed its rays over the surrounding 
 green. The leaves of the trees glittered like emeralds, 
 and the flowers shone with glorious hues. In vara did 
 she penetrate the solitary wilderness ; but hope dawned 
 when she reached the plains, and observed at a distance 
 a light resembling her own. " Have I at last dis- 
 covered my fellow ? " she exclaimed, and hastened to 
 the spot. She found no obstacle from bog or morass ; 
 for though the dry meadow and the high rock were her 
 dearest habitations, and though she loved to feed upon 
 the spicy root, and to quench her thirst with the crys- 
 tal dew, and with fresh water from the spring, yet, for
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 347 
 
 the sake of her beloved gold and of her glorious hght, 
 she was willing to encounter every privation. 
 
 Wearied and exhausted, she reached at length the 
 confines of a wide morass, where our two Will-o'-the- 
 wisps were amusing themselves in playing fantastic 
 antics. She made toward them, and, saluting them, 
 expressed her delight at being able to claim relation- 
 shij) with such charming personages. The lights 
 played around her, skipped from side to side, and 
 laughed about in their own peculiar fashion. " Dear 
 aunt ! " they exclaimed, " what does it signify, even 
 though you are of horizontal form ? we are related at 
 least through brilliancy. I>ut look how well a tall, 
 slender figure becomes us gentry of the vertical 
 shape ; " and, so saying, both the lights compressed 
 their breadth together, and shot up into a tliin and 
 pointed line. " Do not be offended, dear friend," they 
 continued ; " but what family can boast of a privilege 
 hke ours ? Since the first Will-o'-the-wisp was created, 
 none of our race have ever been obliged to sit down or 
 to take repose." 
 
 But all this time the feelings of the Dragon in the 
 presence of her relations were anything but pleasant : 
 for, exalt her head as high as she would, she was com- 
 pelled to stoop to earth again when she wished to 
 advance ; and, though she was proud of the brilhancy 
 which she shed round her own dark abode, she felt her 
 light gi-adually diminish in the presence of her relatives, 
 and began to fear that it might finally be extinguished. 
 
 In her perplexity she hastily inquired whether the 
 gentlemen could inform her whence the shining gold 
 had come, which had lately fallen into the cleft of the 
 rocks hard by ; as in her opinion it was a precious 
 shower from heaven. The Will-o'-the-wisps immedi- 
 ately shook themselves (at the same time laughing 
 loudly), and a deluge of gold pieces at once flowed 
 around. The Dragon devoured them gi-eedily. " We
 
 348 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 hope you like them, dear aunt," shouted the shining 
 Will-o'-the-wisps ; " we can supply you with any quan- 
 tity : " and they shook themselves with such copious 
 efiect, that the Dragon found it difficult to swallow the 
 bright dainties with sufficient speed. Her brilhancy 
 increased as the gold disappeared, till at length she 
 shone with inconceivable radiance ; while in the same 
 proportion the Will-o'-the-wisps grew thin and taper- 
 ing, without, however, losing the smallest iota of their 
 cheerful humour. 
 
 " I am under eternal obligations to you," said the 
 Dragon, pausing to breathe from her voracious meal : 
 " ask of me what you please ; I will give you anything 
 you demand." 
 
 " A bargain ! " answered the Will-o'-the-wisps : " tell 
 us, then, where the beautiful Lily dwells. Lead us to 
 her palace and gardens without delay : we die of im- 
 patience to cast ourselves at her feet." 
 
 " You ask a favour," repHed the Dragon, with a deep 
 sigh, " which it is not in my power so quickly to be- 
 stow. The beautiful Lily lives, unfortunately, on the 
 opposite bank of the river. We cannot cross over on 
 this stormy night." 
 
 " Cruel river, which separates us from the object of 
 our desires ! But cannot we call back the old Ferry- 
 man ? " said they. 
 
 " Your wish is vain," answered the Dragon : " for, 
 even were you to meet him on this bank, he would 
 refuse to take you ; as, though he can convey passen- 
 gers to this side of the stream, he can carry no one 
 back." 
 
 " Bad news, indeed ! but are there no other means of 
 crossing the river ? " 
 
 " There are, but not at this moment : I myself can 
 take you over at mid-day." 
 
 " That is an hour," rephed the Will-o'-the-wisps, 
 " when we do not usually travel."
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 349 
 
 " Then, you had better postpone your intention till 
 evening, when you nuiy cross in tlie Giant's shadow." 
 
 " How is that managed ? " they inquired. 
 
 " The Giant," replied the Dragon, " who Uves hard 
 by, is powerless with his body : his hands are incapa- 
 ble of raising even a straw, his shoulders can bear no 
 burden ; but his shadow accomplishes all for him. 
 For this reason he is most powerful at sunrise and at 
 sunset. At the hour of evening the Giant will ap- 
 proach the river softly ; and, if you place yourself 
 upon his shadow, it will carry you over. Meet me at 
 mid-day, at the corner of the wood, where the trees 
 hang over the river, when I myself will take you 
 across, and introduce you to the beautiful Lily. 
 Should you, however, shrink from the noonday heat, 
 your only alternative is to apply to the Giant, when 
 evening casts its shadows around ; and he will no 
 doubt prove obliging." 
 
 With a gi-aceful salutation the young gentlemen took 
 their leave ; and the Dragon rejoiced at their depar- 
 ture, partly that she might indulge her feelings of 
 pleasure at her own light, and partly that she might 
 satisfy a curiosity by which she had long been tor- 
 mented. 
 
 In the clefts of the rocks where she dwelt, she had 
 lately made a wonderful discovery ; for, although she 
 had been obliged to crawl through these chasms in 
 darkness, she had learned to distinguish every object 
 by feeUng. The productions of Nature, which she was 
 accustomed everywhere to encounter, were all of an 
 irregular kind. At one time she wound her way 
 amongst the points of enormous crystals, at another she 
 was for a moment impeded by the veins of solid silver, 
 and many were the precious stones which her light 
 discovered to her. But, to her great astonishment, she 
 had encountered in a rock, which was securely closed 
 on all sides, objects which betrayed the plastic hand of
 
 3SO THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 man. Smooth walls, which she was unable to ascend ; 
 sharp, regular angles, tapermg columns ; and, what was 
 even more wonderful, human figures, round which she 
 had often entwined herself, and which appeared to her 
 to be formed of brass or of polished marble. She was 
 now anxious to behold all these objects with her eyes, 
 and to confirm, by her own observation, what she had 
 hitherto but suspected. She now thought herself 
 capable of illumining with her own hght these won- 
 derful subterranean caverns, and indulged the hope of 
 becoming thoroughly acquainted with these astonish- 
 ing mysteries. She delayed not, and quickly found the 
 opening through which she was accustomed to pene- 
 trate into the sanctuary. 
 
 Arrived at the place, she looked round with wonder ; 
 and though her brilliancy was unable to light the 
 entire cavern, yet many of the objects were sufficiently 
 distinct. With astonishment and awe, she raised her 
 eyes to an illumined niche, in which stood the statue 
 of a venerable King, of pure gold. In size the statue 
 was colossal, but the figure was rather that of a little 
 than of a great man. His well-turned limbs were 
 covered with a simple robe, and liis head was encircled 
 by an oaken garland. 
 
 Scarcely had the Dragon beheld this venerable form, 
 when the King found utterance, and said, " How comest 
 thou hither ? " 
 
 "Through the cleft," answered the Dragon, "in 
 which the gold abides." 
 
 " What is nobler than gold ? " asked the King. 
 
 " Light," rephed the Dragon. 
 
 "And what is more vivid than light ? " continued the 
 Monarch. 
 
 " Speech," said the Serpent. 
 
 During this conversation the Dragon had looked 
 stealthily around, and observed another noble statue in 
 an adjoining niche. A silver King sat there en-
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 35 ^ 
 
 throned, of figure tall and slender: his limbs were 
 enveloped in an embroidered mantle ; liis crown and 
 sceptre were adorned witli iirecious stones ; his counte- 
 nance wore the serene dignity of pride ; and he seemed 
 about to speak, when a dark vein, which ran through 
 the marble of the wall, suddenly became brilUant, and 
 cast a soft light through the whole temple. Tliis light 
 discovered a third Khig, whose mighty form was cast 
 in brass: he leaned upon a massive clult, his head was 
 crowned with laurels ; and his proportions resembled a 
 rock rather than a human being. 
 
 The Dragon felt a desire to approach a fourth King, 
 who stood before her at a distance ; Ijut the wall sud- 
 denly opened, the illumined vein flashed like lightning, 
 and became as suddenly extinguished. 
 
 A man of middle stature now approached. He was 
 clad in the garb of a peasant : in liis hand he bore a 
 lamp, the flame of which it was delightful to behold, 
 and which hghtened the entire dwelling, without 
 leaving the trace of a shadow. 
 
 "Why dost thou come, since we have already 
 light?" asked the Golden King. 
 
 " You know that I can shed no ray on what is 
 dark," repUed the old man. 
 
 " Will my kingdom end ? " inquired the Silver 
 Monarch. 
 
 " Late or never," answered the other. 
 
 The Brazen King then asked, with voice of thunder, 
 " When shall I arise ? " 
 
 " Soon," was the reply. 
 
 "With whom shall I be united?" continued the 
 former. 
 
 " With thine elder brother," answered the latter. 
 
 " And what wall become of the youngest ? " 
 
 " He will repose." 
 
 " I am not weary," interrupted the fourth King, with 
 a deep l.)ut faltering voice.
 
 352 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 During this conversation the Dragon had wound her 
 way softly through the temple, surveyed everything 
 which it contained, and approached the niche in which 
 the fourth King stood. He leaned against a pillar, and 
 his handsome countenance bore traces of melancholy. 
 It was difficult to distinguish the metal of which the 
 statue was composed. It resembled a mixture of the 
 three metals of which his brothers were formed, but it 
 seemed as if the materials had not thoroughly blended ; 
 as the veins of gold and silver crossed each other 
 irregularly through the brazen mass, and destroyed the 
 effect of the whole. 
 
 The Golden King now asked, "How many secrets 
 dost thou know ? " 
 
 " Three," was the reply. 
 
 " And which is the most important ? " inquired the 
 Silver King. 
 
 " The revealed," answered the old man. 
 
 "Wilt thou explain it to us?" asked the Brazen 
 
 King. 
 
 « When I have learned the fourth," was the response. 
 
 " I care not," murmured he of the strange compound. 
 
 " I know the fourth," interrupted the Dragon, ap- 
 proaching the old man, and whispering in his ear. 
 
 " The time is come," exclaimed the latter, with 
 tremendous voice. The sounds echoed through the 
 temple; the statues rang again: and in the same 
 instant the old man disappeared toward the west, and 
 the Dragon toward the east ; and both pierced instantly 
 through the impediments of the rock. 
 
 Every passage through which the old man bent his 
 course became immediately filled with gold ; for the 
 lamp which he carried possessed the wonderful prop- 
 erty of converting stones into gold, wood into silver, 
 and dead animals into jewels. But, in order to pro- 
 duce this effect, it was necessary that no other light 
 should be near. In the presence of another light the
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 353 
 
 lamp merely emitted a soft illumiuatiou, which, how- 
 ever, gave joy to every living thing. 
 
 The old man returned to his hut on the brow of the 
 hill, and found liis wife iu the greatest sorrow. She 
 was seated at the fire, her eyes filled with tears ; and 
 she refused all consolation. 
 
 " What a misfortune," she exclaimed, " that I allowed 
 you to leave home to-day ! " 
 
 " What has happened ? " answered the old man, very 
 quietly. 
 
 " You were scarcely gone," replied she with sobs, 
 "before two rude travellers came to the door: un- 
 fortunately I admitted them ; as they seemed good, 
 worthy people. They were attired like flames, and 
 might have passed for Wni-o'-the-wisps ; but they had 
 scarcely entered the house before they commenced 
 their flatteries, and became at length so importunate 
 that I blush to recollect their conduct." 
 
 " Well," said the old man, smiling, " the gentlemen 
 were only amusing themselves ; and, at your age, you 
 should have considered it as the display of ordinary 
 pohteness." 
 
 " My age ! " rejoined the old woman. " Will you 
 for ever remind me of my age ? how old am I, then ? 
 And ordinary pohteness ! But I can tell you some- 
 thing : look round at the walls of our hut : you will 
 now be able to see the old stones, which have been 
 concealed for more than a hundred years. These 
 visitors extracted all the gold more quickly than I can 
 tell you, and they assured me that it was of capital 
 flavour. Wlien they had completely cleared the walls, 
 they grew cheerful ; and, in a few minutes, their persons 
 became tall, broad, and shining. They thereupon again 
 commenced their tricks, and repeated their flatteries, 
 calling me a queen. They shook themselves, and im- 
 mediately a profusion of gold pieces fell on all sides. 
 You may see some of them still glittering on the floor ;
 
 354 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 but a calamity soon occurred. Our dog Mops swallowed 
 some of them ; and, see ! he lies dead in the chimney- 
 corner. Poor animal ! his death afflicts me. I did not 
 observe it till they had departed, otherwise I should 
 not have promised to pay the Ferryman the debt they 
 owed him." 
 
 " How much do they owe ? " inquired the old man. 
 
 " Three cauliflowers," answered his wdfe, " three arti- 
 chokes, and three onions. I have promised to take 
 them to the river at break of day." 
 
 " You had better oblige them," said the old man, 
 "and they may perhaps serve us in time of need." 
 
 " I know not if they will keep their word," said she, 
 " but they promised and vowed to serve us." 
 
 The fire had, in the meantime, died away ; but the 
 old man covered the cinders with ashes, put away the 
 shining gold pieces, and lighted his lamp afresh. In 
 the glorious illumination the walls became covered 
 with gold, and Mops was transformed into the most 
 beautiful onyx that was ever beheld. The variety of 
 colour which glittered through the costly gem produced 
 a splendid effect. 
 
 " Take your basket," said the old man, " and place 
 the onyx in it. Then collect the three cauliflowers, 
 the three artichokes, and the three onions, lay them 
 together, and carry them to the river. The Dragon 
 will bear you across at mid-day : then visit the beauti- 
 ful Lily ; her touch will give life to the onyx, as her 
 touch gives death to every living thing ; and it will be 
 to her an affectionate friend. Tell her not to mourn ; 
 that her deliverance is nigh ; that she must consider a 
 great misfortune as her greatest blessing, for the time 
 is come." 
 
 The old woman prepared her basket, and set forth at 
 break of day. The rising sun shone brightly over the 
 river, which gleamed in the far distance. The old 
 woman journeyed slowly on, for the weight of the
 
 THH GERMAN EMIGRANTS 355 
 
 basket oppressed her; but it did not arise from the 
 onyx. Nothing' lifeless proved a burden; for, when 
 the basket couLained dead things, it rose aloft, and 
 floated over her head. But a fresh vegetable, or the 
 smallest living creature, induced fatigue. She had 
 toiled along for some distance, when she started, and 
 suddenly stood still ; for she had nearly placed her 
 foot upon the shadow of the Giant, wliich was advanc- 
 ing toward her from the plain. Her eye now perceived 
 his monstrous bulk : he had just bathed in the river, 
 and was coming out of the water. She knew not how 
 to avoid him. He saw her, saluted her jestingly, and 
 thrust the hand of his shadow into her basket. With 
 dexterity he stole a cauliflower, an artichoke, and 
 an onion, and raised them to his mouth. He then 
 proceeded on his course up the stream, and left the 
 woman alone. 
 
 She considered whether it would not be better to 
 return, and supply the missing vegetables from her 
 own garden ; and, lost in these reflections, she went 
 on her way until she arrived at the bank of the river 
 She sat down, and awaited for a long time the arrival 
 of the Ferryman. He appeared at length, having in 
 his boat a traveller whose air was mysterious. A 
 handsome youth, of noble aspect, stepped on shore. 
 
 " What have you brought with you ? " said the old 
 man. 
 
 " The vegetables," replied the woman, " wliich the 
 Will-o'-the-wisps owe you ; " pointing to the contents of 
 her basket. 
 
 But when he found that there were but two of each 
 kind, he became angry, and refused to take them. 
 
 The woman implored him to relent, assuring him 
 that she could not then return home ; as she had f oimd 
 her burden heavy, and she had still a long way to go. 
 But he was obstinate, maintaining that the decision did 
 not depend upon him.
 
 356 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 " I am obliged to collect my gains for nine hours," 
 said he, " and I can keep nothing for myself till I have 
 paid a third part to the river." 
 
 At length, after much contention, he told her there 
 was still a remedy. 
 
 " If you give security to the river, and acknowledge 
 your debt, I will take the six articles ; though such a 
 course is not devoid of danger." 
 
 " But, if I keep my word, I incur no risk," she said 
 earnestly. 
 
 " Not the least," he replied. " Thrust your hand into 
 the river, and promise that within four and twenty 
 hours you will pay the debt." 
 
 The old woman comphed, but shuddered as she 
 observed that her hand, on drawing it out of the water, 
 had become as black as a coal. She scolded angrily ; 
 exclaiming that her hands had always been most beau- 
 tiful, and that, notwithstanding her hard work, she had 
 ever kept them white and delicate. She gazed at her 
 hand with the greatest alarm, and exclaimed, " This is 
 still worse : it has shrunk, and is already much smaller 
 than the other ! " 
 
 " It only appears so now," said the Ferryman ; " but, 
 if you break your word, it will be so in reaUty. Your 
 hand will in that case grow smaller, and finally dis- 
 appear ; though you will still preserve the use of it." 
 
 " I would rather," she replied, " lose it altogether, and 
 that my misfortune should be concealed. But no mat- 
 ter, I will keep my word, to escape this black disgrace, 
 and avoid so much anxiety." Whereupon she took her 
 basket, which rose aloft, and floated freely over her 
 head. She hastened after the youth, who was walking 
 thoughtfully along the bank. His noble figure and 
 peculiar attire had made a deep impression upon her 
 mind. 
 
 His breast was covered with a shining cuirass, whose 
 transparency permitted the motions of his graceful
 
 THE GER;\UN EMIGRANTS 357 
 
 form to be seen. From his shoulders hung a purple 
 mantle, and his auburn locks waved in beautiful curls 
 round liis uncovered head. His noble countenance and 
 his well-turned feet were exposed to the burning rays 
 of the sun. Thus did he journey patiently over the 
 hot sand, which, " true to one sorrow, he trod without 
 feeling." 
 
 The garrulous old woman sought to engage him in 
 conversation ; but he heeded her not, or answered 
 briefly, until, notwithstanding his beauty, she became 
 weary, and took leave of him, saying, " You are too 
 slow for me, sir ; and I cannot lose my time, as I am 
 anxious to cross the river, with the assistance of the 
 Green Dragon, and to present the beautiful Lily with 
 my husband's handsome present." So saying, she left 
 him speedily, upon which the youth took heart, and 
 followed her without delay. 
 
 " You are going to the beautiful Lily ! " he ex- 
 claimed : " if so, our way lies together. What present 
 are you taking her ? " 
 
 " Sir," answered the woman, " it is not fair that you 
 should so earnestly inquire after my secrets, when 
 you paid so little attention to my questions. But, if 
 you will relate your history to me, I will tell you all 
 about my present." 
 
 They made the bargain : the woman told her story, 
 including the account of the dog, and allowed him to 
 view the beautiful onyx. 
 
 He hfted the beautiful precious stone from the 
 basket, and took Mops, who seemed to slumber softly, 
 in his arms. 
 
 " Fortunate animal ! " he exclaimed : " you wall be 
 touched by her soft hands, and restored to life, in place 
 of fleeing from her contact, hke all other living things, 
 to escape an evil doom. But, alas ! what words are 
 these ? Is it not a sadder and more fearful fate to be 
 annihilated by her presence than to die by her hand ?
 
 358 THF RECREATIONS OF 
 
 Behold me, thus young, what a melancholy destiny is 
 mine ! This armour, which I have borne with glory in 
 the battle-broil ; this purple, which I have earned by 
 the wisdom of my government, — have been converted 
 by Fate, the one into an unceasing burden, the other 
 into an empty honour. Crown, sceptre, and sword are 
 worthless. I am now as naked and destitute as every 
 other son of clay. For such is the spell of her beauti- 
 ful blue eyes, that they waste the vigour of every liv- 
 ing creature ; and those whom the contact of her hand 
 does not destroy are reduced to the condition of breath- 
 ing shadows." 
 
 Thus he lamented long, but without satisfying the 
 curiosity of the old woman, who sought information 
 respecting both his mental and his bodily sufferings. 
 She learned neither the name of his father nor his 
 kingdom. He stroked the rigid Mops, to whom the 
 beams of the sun and the caresses of the youth had 
 imparted warmth. He inquired earnestly about the 
 man with the lamp, about the effect of the mysterious 
 light, and seemed to expect thence great relief from his 
 deep sorrow. 
 
 So discoursing, they observed at a distance the ma- 
 jestic arch of the bridge, which stretched from one 
 bank of the river to the other, and shone splendidly in 
 the beams of the sun. Both were astonished at the 
 sight, as they had never before seen it so resplendent. 
 
 " What ! " cried the Prince, " was it not sufficiently 
 beautiful before, with its decorations of jasper and opal ? 
 Can we now dare to pass over it, constructed as it is of 
 emerald and chrysohte of varied beauty ? " 
 
 Neither had any idea of the change which the 
 Dragon had undergone ; for in truth it was the Dragon, 
 whose custom it was at mid-day to arch her form 
 across the stream, and assume the appearance of a beau- 
 teous bridge, which travellers crossed with sHent 
 reverence.
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 359 
 
 Scarcely had they reached the opposite bank, when 
 the bridge began to sway from side to side, and gradu- 
 ally sank to the level of the water; while the Green 
 Dragon assumed her accustomed shape, and followed 
 the travellers to the shore. The latter thanked her for 
 her condescension in allowing them a passage across 
 the stream ; observing, at the same time, that there 
 were evidently more persons present than were actually 
 visible. They heard a light whispering, which the 
 Dragon answered with a similar sound. They listened, 
 and heard the following words: "We will first make 
 our observations unperceived in the park of the beauti- 
 ful Lily, and look for you, when the shadows of even- 
 ing fall, to introduce us to such perfect beauty. You 
 will find us on the bank of the great lake." 
 
 "Agreed," answered the Dragon; and a hissing 
 sound died away in the air. 
 
 Our three travellers further consulted with what 
 regard to precedence they should appear before the 
 beautiful Lily ; for, let her visitors be never so numer- 
 ous, they must enter and depart singly if they wished 
 to escape bitter suffering. 
 
 The woman, carrying in the basket the transformed 
 dog, came first to the garden, and sought an interview 
 with her benefactress. She was easily found, as she 
 was then singing to the accompaniment of her harp. 
 The sweet tones showed themselves first in the form of 
 circles upon the bosom of the calm lake ; and then, 
 like a soft breeze, they imparted motion to the grass 
 and to the trennilous leaves. She was seated in a 
 secluded nook beneath the shade of trees, and at the 
 first glance enchanted the eyes, the ear, and the heart 
 of the old woman, who advanced toward her with 
 rapture, and protested that since their last meetmg she 
 had become more beautiful than ever. Even from a 
 distance she saluted the charming maiden in these 
 words : " What joy to be in your presence ! AVhat a
 
 360 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 heaven surrounds you ! Wliat a spell proceeds from 
 your lyre, which, encircled by your soft arms, and in- 
 fluenced by the pressure of your gentle bosom and 
 slender fingers, utters such entrancing melody ! Thrice 
 happy the blessed youth who could claim so great a 
 favour ! " 
 
 So saying, she approached nearer. The beautiful 
 Lily raised her eyes, let her hands drop, and said, " Do 
 not distress me with your untimely praise : it makes 
 me feel even more unhappy. And see ! here is my 
 beautiful canary dead at my feet, which used to accom- 
 pany my songs so sweetly : he was accustomed to sit 
 upon my harp, and was carefully instructed to avoid 
 my touch. This morning, when, refreshed by sleep, I 
 tuned a pleasant melody, the little warbler sang with 
 increased harmony, when suddenly a hawk soared 
 above us. My little bird sought refuge in my bosom, 
 and at that instant I felt the last gasp of his expiring 
 breath. It is true that the hawk, struck by my instan- 
 taneous glance, fell lifeless into the stream ; but what 
 avails this penalty to me ? — my darling is dead, and 
 his grave will but add to the number of the weeping 
 willows in my garden." 
 
 " Take courage, beautiful Lily," interrupted the old 
 woman, whilst at the same moment she wiped away a 
 tear which the narration of the sorrowful maiden had 
 brought to her eye, — " take courage, and learn from 
 my experience to moderate your grief. Great misfor- 
 tune is often the harbinger of intense joy. For the time 
 approaches : but in truth," continued she, " ' the web of 
 Hfe is of a mingled yarn.' See my hand, how black it 
 has grown ; and, in truth, it has become much dimin- 
 ished in size : I must be speedy, before it be reduced 
 to nothing. Why did I promise favours to the Will- 
 o'-the-wisps, or meet the Giant, or dip my hand into the 
 river ? Can you obhge me with a cauliflower, an arti- 
 choke, or an onion ? I shall take them to the river,
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 361 
 
 and then my hand will become so white that it will 
 almost equal the lustre of your own." 
 
 " Cauliflowers and ouious abound, but artichokes 
 cannot be procured. My garden produces neither 
 flowers nor fruit ; but every twig 1 plant upon the 
 grave of anything I love bursts into leaf at once, and 
 grows a goodly tree. Thus, beneath my eye, alas ! have 
 grown these clustering trees and copses. These tall pmes, 
 these shadowing cypresses, these niiglity oaks, these 
 overhanging beeches, were once small twigs planted by 
 my hand, as sad memorials, in an ungenial soil." 
 
 The old woman paid but little attention to this 
 speech, but was employed in watching her hand, which 
 in the presence of the beautiful Lily became every 
 instant of a darker hue, and grew giadually less. She 
 was about to take her basket and depart, when she felt 
 that she had forgotten the most important of her duties. 
 She took the transformed dog in her arms, and laid him 
 upon the grass, not far from the beautiful Lily. " My 
 husband," she said, " sends you this present. You 
 know that your touch can impart life to this precious 
 stone. The good and faithful animal will be a joy to 
 you, and the grief his loss causes me will be alleviated 
 by the thought that he is yours." 
 
 The beautiful Lily looked at the pretty creature with 
 dehght, and rapture beamed from her eyes. " Many 
 things combine to inspire me with hope ; but, alas ! is 
 it not a delusion of our nature to expect that joy is 
 near when grief is at the worst ? 
 
 " Ah I what avail these omens all so fair? 
 My sweet bird's death, my friend's hands blackly dyed, 
 And Mops transformed into a jewel rare, 
 Sent by the Lamp our faltering steps to guide. 
 
 "Far from mankind and every joy T prize. 
 To grief and sorrow I am still allied : 
 When from the river will the temple rise ? 
 When will the bridge span it from side to side?"
 
 362 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 The old woman waited with impatience for the con- 
 clusion of the song, which the beautiful Lily had ac- 
 companied with her harp, entrancing the ears of every 
 listener. She was about to say farewell, when the 
 arrival of the Dragon compelled her to remain. She 
 had heard the last words of the song, and on this ac- 
 count spoke words of encouragement to the beautiful 
 Lily. " The prophecy of the bridge is fulfilled ! " she 
 exclaimed : " this good woman will bear witness how 
 splendidly the arch now appears. Formerly of un- 
 transparent jasper, which only reflected the light upon 
 the sides, it is now converted into precious jewels of 
 transparent hue. No beryl is so bright, and no emer- 
 ald so splendid." 
 
 " I congratulate you thereupon," said the Lily, " but 
 pardon me if I doubt whether the prediction is ful- 
 filled. Only foot-passengers can as yet cross the arch 
 of your bridge : and it has been foretold that horses 
 and carriages, travellers of all descriptions, shall pass 
 and repass in mingled multitudes. Is prediction silent 
 with respect to the mighty pillars which are to ascend 
 from the river ? " 
 
 The old woman, whose eyes were fixed immovably 
 upon her hand, interrupted this speech, and bade 
 farewell. 
 
 "Wait for one moment," said the beautiful Lily, 
 " and take my poor canary-bird with you. Implore 
 the Lamp to convert him into a topaz ; and I will 
 then reanimate him with my touch, and he and your 
 good Mops will then be my greatest consolation. But 
 make what speed you can ; for with sunset decay wiU 
 have commenced its withering influence, marring the 
 beauty of its delicate form." 
 
 The old woman enveloped the little corpse in some 
 soft young leaves, placed it in the basket, and hastened 
 from the spot. 
 
 " Notwithstanding what you say," continued the
 
 THE GERMAN E/MIGRANTS 363 
 
 Dragon, resuming the interrupted conversation, "the 
 temple is built." 
 
 " But it does not yet stand upon the river," replied 
 the beautiful Lily. 
 
 " Tt rests still in the bowels of the earth," continued 
 the Dragon. " I have seen the Kings, and spoken to 
 them." 
 
 " And when will they awake ? " inquired the 
 Lily. 
 
 The Dragon answered, " I heard the mighty voice 
 resound through the temple, announcing that the hour 
 was come." 
 
 A ray of joy beamed from the countenance of the 
 beautiful Lily as she exclaimed, " Do I hear those 
 words for the second time to-day ? Wlien will the 
 hour arrive in which I shall hear them for the third 
 time ? " 
 
 She rose, and immediately a beautiful maiden came 
 from the wood, and relieved her of her harp. She was 
 followed by another, who took the ivory chair upon 
 which the beautiful Lily had been seated, folded it 
 together, and carried it away, together with the silver- 
 tissued cushion. The third maiden, who bore in her 
 hand a fan inlaid with pearls, approached to tender 
 her services if they should be needed. These three 
 maidens were lovely beyond description, though they 
 were compelled to acknowledge that their charms fell 
 far short of those of their beautiful mistress. 
 
 The beautiful Lily had, in the meantime, surveyed 
 the marvellous Mops with a look of pleasure. She 
 leaned over him, and touched him. He instantly 
 leaped up, looked round joyously, bounded with de- 
 Hght, hastened to his benefactress, and caressed her 
 tenderly. She took him in her arms, and pressed him 
 to her bosom. " Cold though thou art," she said, " and 
 endued with only half a life, yet art thou welcome to 
 me. I will love thee fondly, play with thee sportively,
 
 364 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 kiss thee softly, and press thee to my heart." She let 
 him go a httle from her, called him back, chased him 
 away again, and played with him so joyously and 
 innocently, that no one could help sympathising in 
 her delight and taking part in her pleasure, as they 
 had before shared her sorrow and her woe. 
 
 But this happiness and this pleasant pastime were 
 interrupted by the arrival of the melancholy youth. 
 His walk and appearance were as we have before 
 described ; but he seemed overcome by the heat of 
 the day, and the presence of his beloved had rendered 
 him perceptibly paler. He bore the hawk upon his 
 wrist, where it sat with drooping wing as tranquil as 
 a dove. 
 
 " It is not well," exclaimed the Lily, " that you 
 should vex my eyes with that odious bird, which has 
 only this day murdered my httle favourite." 
 
 " Blame not the luckless bird," exclaimed the youth : 
 " rather condemn yourself and fate, and let me find an 
 associate in this companion of my grief." 
 
 Mops, in the meantime, was incessant in his caresses ; 
 and the Lily responded to his affection with the most 
 gentle tokens of love. She clapped her hands to drive 
 him away, and then sportively pursued to win him 
 back. She caught him in her arms as he tried to 
 escape, and chased him from her when he sought to 
 nestle in her lap. The youth looked on in silence and 
 in sorrow ; but when at length she took liim in her 
 arms, and pressed him to her snowy breast, and kissed 
 him with her heavenly lips, he lost all patience, and 
 exclaimed in the depth of his despair, "And must I, 
 whom a sad destiny compels to live in your presence, 
 and yet to be separated from you, perhaps for ever, — 
 must I, who for you have forfeited everything, even 
 my own being, — must I look on and behold this 
 * defect of nature ' gain your notice, win your love, 
 and enjoy the paradise of your embrace? Must I
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 3^S 
 
 continue to wander and measure my solitary way 
 along the banks oi this stream ? No ! a spark of my 
 former spirit still hums within my bosom. Oh that it 
 would for the last time mount into a flame ! If stones 
 may repose within your bosom, then let me be con- 
 verted to a stone; and, if your touch can kill, I am 
 content to receive my death at your hands." 
 
 He became violently excited; the hawk flew from 
 his wrist ; he rushed toward the beautiful Lily ; she 
 extended her arms to forbid his approach, and touched 
 him undesignedly. His consciousness immediately 
 forsook him, and with dismay she felt the beautiful 
 burden lean for support upon her breast. She started 
 back with a scream, and the fail' youth sank lifeless 
 from her arms to the earth. 
 
 The deed was done. The sweet Lily stood motion- 
 less, and gazed intently on the breathless corpse. Her 
 heart ceased to beat, and her eyes were bedewed with 
 tears. In vain did Mops seek to wm her attention: 
 the whole world had died out with her lost friend. 
 Her dumb despair sought no help, for help was now 
 in vain. 
 
 But the Dragon became immediately more active. 
 Her mind seemed occupied with thoughts of rescue; 
 and, in truth, her mysterious movements prevented the 
 immediate consequence of this dire misfortune. She 
 wound her serpentine form in a wide circle round the 
 spot where the body lay, seized the end of her tail 
 between her teeth, and remained motionless. 
 
 In a few moments one of the servants of the beauti- 
 ful Lily approached, carrying the ivory chair, and with 
 friendly entreaties compelled her mistress to be seated. 
 Then came a second, bearing a flame-coloured veil, with 
 which she rather adorned than covered the head of 
 the Lily. A third maiden offered her the harp; and 
 scarcely had she struck the chords, and awakened their 
 delicious tones, when the first maiden returned, having
 
 ( 
 
 366 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 in her hands a circular mirror of lustrous brightness, 
 placed herself opposite the Lily, intercepted her looks, 
 and reflected the most enchanting countenance which 
 nature could fashion. Her sorrow added lustre to her 
 beauty, the veil heightened her charms, the harp lent 
 her a new grace ; and, though it was impossible not to 
 hope that her sad fate might soon undergo a change, 
 one could almost wish that that lovely and enchanting 
 vision might last for ever. 
 
 Silently gazing upon the mirror, she drew melting 
 tones of music from her harp ; but her sorrow 
 appeared to increase, and the chords responded to 
 her melancholy mood. Once or twice she opened 
 her lips to sing, but her voice refused utterance; 
 whereupon her grief found refuge in tears. Her two 
 attendants supported her in their arms, and the harp 
 fell from her hands ; but the watchful attention of her 
 handmaid caught it, and laid it aside. 
 
 " Who will fetch the man with the lamp ? " whis- 
 pered the Dragon in low but audible voice. The 
 maidens looked at each other, and the Lily's tears fell 
 faster. 
 
 At this instant the old woman with the basket 
 returned breathless with agitation. " I am lost and 
 crippled for life ! " she exclaimed. " Look ! my hand is 
 nearly withered. Neither the Ferryman nor the Giant 
 would set me across the river, because I am indebted 
 to the stream. In vain did I tempt them with a 
 hundred cauliflowers and a hundred onions : they 
 insist upon the stipulated three, and not an artichoke 
 can be found in this neighbourhood." 
 
 " Forget your distress," said the Dragon, " and give 
 your assistance here : perhaps you will be relieved at 
 the same time. Hasten, and find out the Will-o'-the- 
 wisps ; for, though you cannot see them by daylight, 
 you may, perhaps, hear their laughter and their 
 motions. If you make good speed, the Giant may
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 367 
 
 yet transport you across the river, aud you may find 
 the man with the lamp aud seud liim hither." 
 
 The old woman made as much haste as possible, 
 and the Dragon showed as much impatience for her 
 return as the Lily, liut, sad to say, the golden rays 
 of the setting sun were shedding their last beams upon 
 the highest tops of the trees, aud lengthening the 
 mountain shadows over lake and meadow. The 
 motions of the Dragon showed increased impatience, 
 and the Lily was dissolved in tears. 
 
 In this moment of distress the Dragon looked 
 anxiously round : she feared every instant that the 
 sun would set, aud that decay would penetrate within 
 the magic circle, and exert its fell influence upon the 
 corpse of the beautiful youth. She looked into the 
 heavens, aud caught sight of the purple wings and 
 breast of the hawk, w^hich were illumined by the last 
 rays of the sun. Her restlessness betrayed her joy 
 at the good omen ; and she was not deceived, for 
 instantly afterward she saw the man with the lamp 
 shding across the lake as if he had skates on his 
 feet. 
 
 The Dragon did not alter her position ; but the lily, 
 rising from her seat, exclaimed, " What good spirit has 
 sent you thus opportunely when you are so much 
 longed for and required ? " 
 
 " The Spirit of my Lamp impels me," replied the old 
 man, " and the hawk conducts me hither. The lamp 
 flickers when I am needed ; and I immediately look 
 to the heavens for a sign, when some bird or meteor 
 points the way I should go. Be tranquil, beautiful 
 maiden : I know not if I can help you ; one alone can 
 do but little, but he can avail who in the proper hour 
 unites his strength with others. We must wait and 
 hope." Then turning to the Dragon, he said, " Keep 
 your circle closed ; " and, seating himself upon a 
 hillock at his side, he shed a light upou the corpse
 
 368 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 of the youth. "Now bring the little canary-bird" 
 he continued, " and lay it also within the circle." 
 
 The maiden took the httle creature from the basket, 
 and followed the directions of the old man. 
 
 The sun had set in the meantime ; and, as the 
 shades of evening closed around, not only the Dragon 
 and the Lamp cast their customary light, but the veil 
 of the Lily was illumined with a soft brilliancy, and 
 caused her pale cheeks and her white robe to beam 
 like the dawn of morning, and clothed her with inex- 
 pressible grace. They gazed at each other with silent 
 emotions: anxiety and sorrow were softened by hope 
 of approacliing happiness. 
 
 To the dehght of all, the old woman appeared with 
 the lively Will-o'-the-wisps, who must have led a 
 prodigal life of late, for they looked wonderfully thin, 
 but behaved all the more politely to the princess and 
 the other young ladies. With an air of confidence, 
 and much force of expression, they discoursed upon 
 ordinary topics, and were much struck by the charm 
 which the shining veil shed over the beautiful Lily 
 and her companions. The young ladies cast down 
 their eyes with modest looks, and the^r beauty was 
 heightened by the praise it called forth. Every one 
 was happy and contented, not excepting even the old 
 woman. Notwithstanding the assurance of her hus- 
 band that her hand would not continue to wither 
 whilst the Lamp shone upon it, she continued to 
 assert, that, if things went on thus, it would disappear 
 entirely before midnight. 
 
 The old man with the lamp had hstened attentively 
 to the speech of the Will-o'-the-msps, and was charmed 
 to observe that the beautiful Lily was pleased and 
 flattered with their comphments. Midnight had act- 
 ually come before they were aware. The old man 
 looked up to the stars, and spoke thus : " We are met 
 at a fortunate hour : let each fulfil his office, let each
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 369 
 
 discharge his duty ; and a general happiness will alle- 
 viate one individual trouble, as a universal sorrow 
 destroys particular joys." 
 
 After tliese observations a mysterious murmur arose ; 
 for every one present spoke for himself, and mentioned 
 what he had to do: the three maidens alone were 
 silent. One had fallen asleep near the harp, the other 
 beside the fan, and the third leaning against the ivory- 
 chair : and no one could blame them ; for, in truth, it 
 was late. The Will-o'-the-wisps, after paying some 
 trivial compliments to the other ladies, including 
 even the attendants, attached themselves finally to 
 the Lily, by whose beauty they were attracted. 
 
 " Take the mirror," said the old man to the hawk, 
 " and illumine the fair sleepers with the first beams of 
 the sun, and rouse them from their slumbers by the 
 light reflected from heaven." 
 
 The Dragon now began to move : she broke up the 
 circle, and in long windings moved slowly to the river. 
 The Will-o'-the-wisps followed her in solemn proces- 
 sion, and they might have been mistaken for the most 
 serious personages. The old woman and her husband 
 took up the basket, the soft light of which had hitherto 
 been scarcely observed ; but it now l)ecame clearer and 
 more brilHant. They laid the body of the youth within 
 it, with the canary-bird reposing upon his breast, upon 
 which the basket raised itself into the air, and floated 
 over the head of the old woman ; and she followed the 
 steps of the Will-o'-the-wisps. The beautiful Lily, tak- 
 ing Mops in her arms, walked after the old woman ; 
 and the man with tlie lamp closed the procession. 
 
 The whole neighbourhood was brilliantly illumi- 
 nated with all these various hghts. They all observed 
 with astonishment, on approaching the river, that it 
 was spanned by a majestic arch, whereby the benevo- 
 lent Dragon had prepared them a lustrous passage 
 across. The transparent jewels of which the bridge
 
 37° THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 was composed were objects of no less astonishment 
 by day than was their wondrous brilhancy by night. 
 The clear arch above cut sharply against the dark sky ; 
 whilst vivid rays of hght beneath shone against the 
 key-stone, revealing the firm pliabihty of the structure. 
 The procession moved slowly over ; and the Ferryman, 
 who witnessed the proceeding from his hut, surveyed 
 the brilliant arch with awe, no less than the won- 
 drous lights as they journeyed across it. 
 
 As soon as they had reached the opposite bank, the 
 bridge began to contract as usual, and sink to the sur- 
 face of the water. The Dragon made her way to the 
 shore, and the basket descended to the ground. The 
 Dragon now once more assumed a circular shape ; and 
 the old man, bowing before her, asked what she had 
 determined to do. 
 
 " To sacrifice myself before I am made a sacrifice : 
 only promise me that you will leave no stone on the 
 land." 
 
 The old man promised, and then addressed the 
 beautiful Lily thus : " Touch the Dragon with your 
 left hand, and your lover with your right." 
 
 The beautiful Lily knelt down, and laid her hands 
 upon the Dragon and the corpse. In an instant the 
 latter became endued with life : he moved, and then 
 sat upright. The Lily wished to embrace him ; but 
 the old man held her back, and assisted the youth 
 whilst he led him beyond the limits of the circle. 
 
 The youth stood erect, the little canary fluttered 
 upon his shoulder, but his mind was not yet restored. 
 His eyes were open ; but he saw, at least he appeared 
 to look on, everything with indifference. Scarcely was 
 the wonder at tliis circumstance appeased, when the 
 change which the Dragon had undergone excited 
 attention. Her beautiful and slender form was con- 
 verted into thousands and thousands of precious stones. 
 The old woman, in the effort to seize her basket, had
 
 THE GERMAN EAUGRANTS 371 
 
 struck unintentionally against her, after which nothing 
 more was seen of the figure of the Dragon. f)nly a 
 heap of brilliant jewels lay in the giass. The old 
 man immediately set to work to collect them into his 
 basket, a task in which he was assisted by his wife. 
 They both then carried the basket to an elevated spot 
 on the bank, when he cast the entire contents into 
 the stream, not, however, without the opposition of 
 his wife and of the beautiful Lily, who would willingly 
 have appropriated a portion of the treasure to them- 
 selves. The jewels gleamed in the rippling waters like 
 brilliant stars, and were carried away by the stream ; 
 and none can say whether they disappeared in the 
 distance or sank to the bottom. 
 
 "Young gentlemen," then said the old man respect- 
 fully to the Will-o'-the-wisps, " 1 wilf now point out 
 your path, and lead the way ; and you will render us 
 the greatest service by opening the doors of the tem- 
 ple through which we must enter, and which you alone 
 can unlock." 
 
 The Will-o'-the-wisps bowed politely, and took their 
 post in the rear. The man with the lamp advanced 
 first into the rocks, which opened of their own accord ; 
 the youth followed with apparent indifference ; with 
 silent uncertainty the beautiful Lily lingered slowly 
 behind ; the old woman, unwilling to be left alone, 
 followed after, stretching out her hand that it might 
 receive the rays of her husband's lamp ; the procession 
 was closed by the Will-o'-the-w4sps, and their bright 
 flames nodded and blended with each other as if they 
 were engaged in active conversation. They had not 
 gone far before they came to a large brazen gate which 
 was fastened by a golden lock. The old man there- 
 upon sought the assistance of the Will-o'-the-wisps, 
 who did not want to be entreated, but at once intro- 
 duced their pointed flames into the lock, when the 
 wards yielded to their influence. The brass resounded
 
 372 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 as the doors flew wide asunder, and displayed the 
 venerable statues of the kings illuminated by the ad- 
 vancing lights. Each individual in turn bowed to 
 the reverend potentates with respect, and the Will-o'- 
 the-wisps were prodigal of their lambent salutations. 
 
 After a short pause the Golden King asked, " Whence 
 do you come ? " 
 
 " From the world," answered the old man. 
 
 " And whither are you going ? " inquired the Silver 
 King. 
 
 " Back to the world," was the answer. 
 
 " And what do you wish with us ? " asked the 
 Brazen King. 
 
 " To accompany you," responded the old man. 
 
 The fourth king was about to speak, when the 
 golden statue thus addressed the Will-o'-the-wisps, who 
 had advanced toward him : " Depart from me. My 
 gold is not for you." 
 
 They then turned toward the Silver King, and his 
 apparel assumed the golden hue of their yellow flames. 
 " You are welcome," he said, " but I cannot feed you. 
 Satisfy yourselves elsewhere, and then bring me your 
 Hght." 
 
 They departed ; and, stealing unobserved past the 
 Brazen King, they attached themselves to the King 
 composed of various metals. 
 
 " Who will rule the world ? " inquired the latter 
 in inarticulate tones. 
 
 "He who stands erect," answered the old man. 
 
 " That is I," replied the King. 
 
 " Then it will be revealed," said the old man, " for the 
 time is come." 
 
 The beautiful Lily fell upon his neck, and kissed 
 Viim tenderly. " Kind father," she said, " a thousand 
 thanks for allowing me to hear this comforting word 
 for the tliird time : " and, so saying, she felt compelled 
 to grasp the old man's arm ; for the earth began to
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 373 
 
 tremble beneath them: the old woman and the youth 
 clung to each other, whilst the pliant Will-o'-the- 
 wisps felt not the slightest inconvenience. 
 
 It was evident that the whole temple was in motion ; 
 and, like a ship which pursues its quiet way from the 
 harbour when the anchor is raised, the depths of 
 the earth seemed to open before it, whilst it clove its 
 way through. It encountered no obstacle, no rock 
 opposed its progress. Presently a very line rain pene- 
 trated through the cupola. The old man continued to 
 support the beautiful Lily, and whispered, " We are now 
 under the river, and shall soon attain the goal." Pres- 
 ently they thouglit the motion ceased ; but they were 
 deceived, the temple still moved onwards. A strange 
 sound was now heard above them : beams and broken 
 rafters burst in disjointed fragments through the open- 
 ing of the cupola. The Lily and the old woman 
 retreated in alarm : the man with the lamp stood by 
 the youth, and encouraged liim to remain. The Ferry- 
 man's little hut had been ploughed from the ground by 
 the advance of the temple, and, in its gradual fall, 
 buried the youth and the old man. 
 
 Tlie women screamed in alarm, and the temple shook 
 like a vessel which strikes upon a hidden rock. Anx- 
 iously the women wandered round the hut in darkness : 
 the doors were shut, and no one answered their knock- 
 ing. They continued to knock more loudly, when at 
 last the wood began to ring with sounds : the magic 
 power of the lamp, which was enclosed within the hut, 
 changed it into silver, and presently its very form was 
 altered ; for the noble metal, refusing to assume the 
 form of planks, posts, and rafters, was converted into a 
 glorious building of artistic workmanship : it seemed as 
 if a smaller temple had grown up within the large one 
 or at least an altar worthy of its beauty. 
 
 The noble youth ascended a staircase in the interior, 
 whilst the man with the lamp shed light upon his way ;
 
 374 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 and another figure lent him support, clad in a short 
 white garment, and holding in his hand a silver rudder : 
 it was easy to recognise the Ferryman, the former 
 inhabitant of the transformed hut. 
 
 The beautiful Lily ascended the outward steps which 
 led from the temple to the altar, but was compelled to 
 remain separated from her lover. The old woman, 
 whose hand continued to grow smaller whilst the light 
 of the lamp was obscured, exclaimed, " Am I still 
 doomed to be unhappy amid so many miracles? will 
 no miracle restore my hand ? " 
 
 Her husband pointed to the open door, exclaiming, 
 " See, the day dawns ! hasten, and bathe in the 
 river ! " 
 
 " What advice ! " she answered : " shall I not become 
 wholly black, and dissolve into nothing ? for I have not 
 yet discharged my debt." 
 
 " Be silent," said the old man, " and follow me : all 
 debts are wiped away." 
 
 The old woman obeyed, and in the same instant 
 the light of the rising sun shone upon the circle 
 of the cupola. Then the old man, advancing between 
 the youth and the maiden, exclaimed with a loud voice, 
 " Three things have sway upon the earth, — Wisdom, 
 Appearance, and Power." 
 
 At the sound of the first word the Golden King 
 arose ; at the sound of the second, the Silver King ; 
 and the Brazen King had risen at the sound of the 
 third, when the fourth suddenly sunk awkwardly 
 to the earth. The Will-o'-the-wisps, who had been 
 busily employed upon him till this moment, now 
 retreated : though paled by the light of the morning, 
 they seemed in good condition, and suflSciently bril- 
 liant ; for they had with much dexterity extracted the 
 gold from the veins of the colossal statue with their 
 sharp-pointed tongues. The irregular spaces which 
 were thus displayed remained for some time exposed,
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 375 
 
 and the figure preserved its previous form ; but when 
 at length the most secret veins of gold had been 
 extracted, the statue suddenly fell with a crash, and 
 formed a mass of shapeless ruins. 
 
 The man with the lamp conducted the yijuth, whose 
 eye was still fixed upon vacancy, from the altar 
 toward the Brazen King. At the foot of the mighty 
 monarch lay a sword in a brazen sheath. The youth 
 bound it to his side. " Take the weapon in your left 
 hand, and keep the right hand free," exclaimed the 
 King. 
 
 They then advanced to the Silver Monarch, who 
 bent his sceptre toward the youth ; the latter seized it 
 with his left hand: and the King addressed him in 
 soft accents, " Feed my sheep." 
 
 When they reached the statue of the Golden King, 
 with paternal benediction the latter pressed the oaken 
 garland on the head of the youth, and said, " Acknowl- 
 edge the highest." 
 
 The old man had, during this proceeding, watched 
 the youth attentively. After he had girded on the 
 sword, his breast heaved, his arm was firmer, and his 
 step more erect ; and, after he had touched the sceptre, 
 his sense of power appeared to soften, and at the same 
 time, by an inexpressible charm, to become more 
 mighty; but, when his waving locks were adorned 
 with the oaken garland, his countenance became ani- 
 mated, his soul beamed from his eye; and the first 
 word he uttered was " Lily ! " 
 
 " Dear Lily ! " he exclaimed, as he hastened to 
 ascend the silver stairs, for she had observed his prog- 
 ress from the altar where she stood, — "dear Lily, 
 what can man desire more blessed than the innocence 
 and the sweet affection which your love brings me? 
 my friend ! " he continued, turning to the old man, 
 and pointing to the three sacred statues, " secure and 
 glorious is the kingdom of our fathers ; but you have
 
 376 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 forgotten to enumerate that fourth power, which exer- 
 cises an earlier, more universal, and certain rule over 
 the world, — the power of love." 
 
 With these words he flung his arms round the neck 
 of the beautiful maiden : she had cast aside her veil, 
 and her cheeks were tinged with a blush of the sweet- 
 est and most inexpressible beauty. 
 
 The old man now observed, with a smile, " Love 
 does not rule, but controls ; and that is better." 
 
 During all this dehght and enchantment, no one had 
 observed that the sun was now high in heaven; and 
 through the open gates of the temple most unexpected 
 objects were perceived. An empty space, of large 
 dimensions, was surrounded by pillars, and terminated 
 by a long and splendid bridge, whose many arches 
 stretched across the river. On each side was a foot- 
 path, wide and convenient for passengers, of whom 
 many thousands were busily employed in crossing 
 over : the wide road in the centre was crowded with 
 flocks and herds, and horsemen and carriages ; and all 
 streamed over without impeding each other's progress. 
 All were iu raptures at the union of convenience and 
 beauty ; and the new king and his spouse were as 
 much charmed with the animation and activity of 
 this great concourse as they were with their own 
 reciprocal love. 
 
 " Honour the Dragon," said the man with the lamp : 
 " to her you are indebted for life, and your people for 
 the bridge whereby these neighbouring shores are ani- 
 mated and connected. Those shining precious stones 
 which still float by are the remains of her self-sacrifice, 
 and form the foundation-stones of this glorious bridge, 
 upon which she has erected herself to subsist for 
 ever." 
 
 The approach of four beautiful maidens, who ad- 
 vanced to the door of the temple, prevented any 
 inquiry into this wonderful mystery. Three of them
 
 THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 377 
 
 were recognised as the attendants of the beautiful Lily, 
 by the harp, the fau, and the ivory chair ; but the 
 fourth, though more beautiful than the other three, 
 was a stranger. She, however, played with the others 
 with sisterly sportiveness, ran with them through the 
 temple, and ascended the silver stairs. 
 
 " Thou dearest of creatures," said the man with the 
 lamp, addressing the beautiful Lily, " you will surely 
 believe me for the future. Happy for thee, and every 
 other creature, who shall bathe this morning in the 
 waters of the river!" 
 
 The old woman, who had been transformed into a 
 beautiful young girl, and of whose former appearance 
 no trace remained, embraced the man with the lamp 
 with tender caresses, which he returned with affection. 
 
 "If I am too old for you," he said with a smile, 
 "you may select another bridegroom; for no tie can 
 henceforth be considered binding which is not this day 
 renewed." 
 
 " But are you not aware that you also have become 
 young ? " she inquired. 
 
 "I am delighted to hear it," he replied. "If I 
 appear to you to be a gallant youth, I take your 
 hand anew, and hope for a thousand years of happi- 
 ness." 
 
 The Queen welcomed her new friend, and advanced 
 v^th her and the rest of her companions to the altar : 
 whilst the King, supported by the two men, pointed 
 to the bridge, and surveyed with wonder the crowd of 
 passengers; but his joy was soon overshadowed by 
 observing an object which gave him pain. The Giant, 
 who had just awakened from his morning sleep, stum- 
 bled over the bridge, and gave rise to the greatest con- 
 fusion. He was, as usual, but half awake, and had 
 risen with the intention of bathing in the neighbouring 
 cove; but he stumbled instead upon firm land, and 
 found himself feeling his way upon the broad highway
 
 378 THE RECREATIONS OF 
 
 of the bridge. And, whilst he went clumsily along in 
 the midst of men and animals, his presence, though a 
 matter of astonishment to all, was felt by none; but 
 when the sun shone in his eyes, and he raised his hand 
 to shade them, the shadow of his enormous fist fell 
 amongst the crowd with such careless violence, that 
 both men and animals huddled together in promiscu- 
 ous confusion, and either sustained personal injury, or 
 ran the risk of being driven into the water. 
 
 The King, obser^dng this calamity, with an involun- 
 tary movement placed his hand upon his sword, but, 
 upon reflection, turned his eyes on his sceptre, and 
 then on the lamp and the rudder of his companions. 
 
 "I guess your thought," said the man with the 
 lamp, " but we are powerless against this monster : be 
 tranquil ; he injures for the last time, and happily his 
 shadow is turned from us." 
 
 In the meantime the Giant had approached, and, 
 overpowered with astoaishment at what he saw, let his 
 hands sink down: he became powerless for injury, 
 and, gazing with surprise, entered the courtyard. 
 
 He was moving straight toward the door of the 
 temple, when he felt himself suddenly held fast to the 
 earth. He stood like a colossal pillar constructed of 
 red, shining stones; and his shadow indicated the 
 hours, which were marked in a circle on the ground, 
 not, however, in figures, but in noble and significant 
 effigies. 
 
 The King was not a little delighted to see the 
 shadow of the monster rendered harmless; and the 
 Queen was not less astonished, as she advanced from 
 the altar with her maidens, all adorned with the 
 greatest magnificence, to observ^e the strange wonder 
 which almost covered the whole prospect from the 
 temple to the bridge. 
 
 In the meantime the people had crowded after the 
 Giant, and, surrounding him as he stood still, had
 
 THE GERAUN EMIGRANTS 379 
 
 observed his tranHfonnation witii the utmost awe. 
 They thence beut their steps toward the temple, of 
 the existence of which they now seemed to be for the 
 first time aware, and thronged the doorways. 
 
 The hawk was now observed aloft, towering over 
 the building, and carrying the miiTor, with which he 
 caught the light of the sun, and turned the rays upon 
 the multifarious group which stood around tlie altar. 
 The King, the Queen, and their attendants, illumined 
 by heavenly light, appeared beneath the dim arches of 
 the temple: their subjects fell prostrate before them. 
 When they had recovered, and risen again, the King 
 and his attendants had descended to the altar, in order 
 to reach his palace by a less obstructed path ; and the 
 people dispersed through the temple to satisfy their 
 curiosity. They beheld with astonishment the three 
 kinffs. who stood erect, and were all the more anxious 
 to know what could be concealed behind the curtain 
 in the fourth niche ; since, whatever kindness might 
 have prompted the deed, a thoughtful discretion had 
 extended a costly covering over the ruins of the fallen 
 king, which no eye cared to penetrate, and no profane 
 hand dared to uplift. 
 
 There was no end to the astonishment and wonder 
 of the people, and the dense throng would have been 
 crushed in the temple if their attention had not been 
 attracted once more to the court without. 
 
 To their great surprise, a shower of gold pieces fell 
 as if from the air, resounding upon the marble pave- 
 ment, and caused a contest and commotion amongst 
 the passers-by. Several times this wonder was re- 
 peated in different places, at some distance from each 
 other. It is not difficult to infer that this feat was 
 the work of the retreating Will-o'-the-wisps, who, 
 having extracted the gold from the limbs of the muti- 
 lated king, dispersed it abroad in this joyous manner. 
 The covetous crowd continued their contentions for
 
 380 RECREATIONS OF THE GERMAN EMIGRANTS 
 
 some time longer, pressing hither and thither, and 
 inflicting wounds upon each other, till the shower 
 of gold pieces ceased to fall. The multitude at length 
 dispersed gradually, each one pursuing his own course ; 
 and the bridge, to this day, continues to swarm with 
 travellers; and the temple is the most frequented 
 in the world. 
 
 THE END.