Stories by Foreign Authors: German (V.2)

espair. Like the dragon guarding his treasure, I remained cut off from all human intercourse, and starvin

the same time, I envied; for he possessed a shadow, and could venture to go out in the day-time

ad betrayed the confidence reposed in him by a good master, in failing to recognize the individual in quest of whom he had been sent, and with whom he had been led to b

e town, desiring him to wait upon me. He came; and, dismissing the attendants, I secured the door, placing myself oppo

t unfortunately has lost his sha

k of the nat

isely

awkward negligence can a

unblushing falsehood)-"he was travelling in Russia last winter, and one bitterly cold day it froze so

test movement, particularly in a person who, from your account, cares so little about his shadow

eave, casting so penetr

k back in my chair, and

inquire into its cause-thou who seemest silently and sincerely to sympathize with me-come and share my confidence. The extent of my wealth I have not withheld from thee, neither will I conceal from thee the extent of my grief. Bendel! forsake me not. Bendel, you see me rich, free, beneficent; you fancy all

from his eyes. "Alas! that I am born to serve a master without

d, "you have now my confidence; you ma

ings; at last he threw himself at my feet and

e he has lost his shadow. I will rather do what is right than what may seem prudent. I will remain with yo

nts so unusual; for it was very evident tha

tingency, and in cases of unlooked-for danger, flying to shield me with his own shadow, for he was taller and stouter than myself. Thus I once more ventured among mankind, and began to take a part in worldly affairs. I

the promised visit of the mysterious unkno

too, I recollected my first introduction to Mr. John, and this was by no means a pleasing reminiscence. However, I wished just to make a trial here, that I might with

e, bestowed some notice on me; for wit and understanding were mine in abundance now. When I spoke, I was listened to; and I

hed. After that, I pursued her with infinite pains through every obstacle. My vanity was only intent on exciting hers to

-repeated story which I have

rn-out a part, a catastrophe occurred of quite a peculiar nature

error, and then again on the ground, in search of my shadow. All that was passing in her mind was so strangely depicted in her countenance, that I should have burst into a loud fit of laughter had I not suddenly felt my blood run cold within me. I suffered her to fall from my arm in a fainting-fit; shot with the rapidity of an arrow through the astonished guests, reached the gate, threw myself into the first conveyance I met with, and returned to the town, where this ti

yself into his arms, vowing to avoid such f

had placed this lofty barrier between myself and the before-mentioned unlucky town that I was pe

can give life and animation to the picture, have left no trace within me; and were I now to endeavor to recall the joys, the griefs, the pure and enchanting emotions, which once held such powerful dominion

badly studied; and being a novice on such a stage,

ents to conclude the bargain; and deception put an

y bosom seem now in the retrospect to be p

I lost thee, so do I now weep that I can

could feel one throb, one emotion of former days of enchantment-alas, not one! a solitary bein

le habitation. He spent my gold profusely; and as he expressed himself rather reservedly concerning his disting

out a league from the town, on a sunny plain, we were stopped by a crowd of people, arrayed in holiday attire for

ething respecting majesty, love, honor, etc., which I could not comprehend; but the sweet and silvery magic of her tones intoxicated my senses and my whole soul: it seemed as if some heavenly apparition were hovering over me. The chorus now began to sing the praises of a good sovereign and the happiness of his subjects. All this, dear Chamisso, took place in the sun: she was kneeling two steps from me, and I, without a sha

s and branches of laurel. Salvos of artillery again were heard. The carriage stopped at my gate; I hastened through the crowd which curiosity had attracted to witness my arrival. Enthusiastic shouts resounded under my windows, from whence I showered gold amidst the people; and in the evening the whole town was illuminated. Still all remained a mystery to me, and I could not imagine for whom I had been taken. I sent Rascal out to make inquiry; and he soon obtained intelligence that the good King of Prussia was travelling through the country under the name of some count; that my aide-de-camp had been recognized, and that he had divulged the secret; that on ac

to be got ready for the following evening, under the trees before my house, and invited the whole town. The mysterio

few hours. Splendor and abundance vied with each other, and the lights were so carefully arra

was addressed as the COUNT. What could I do? I accepted the title, and from that moment I was known as Count Peter. In the midst of all this

parents, and seemed unconscio

s at no loss to make myself agreeable to the parents; but before the daughte

and an expressive glance she entreated to be excused; but, in still greater confusion than herself, I respectfully begged her to accept the homage of the first and most

ir child. As for me, I abandoned myself to all the intoxication of delight: I sent for all the jewels, pearls, and precious stones still left to me-the produce of my fat

, to be showered down without c

he had long entertained of Rascal's honesty were now reduced

y should not he? Yesterday he, and all the newly-engaged servants whom you ha

; he had by this time become accustomed to look upon my wealth as inexhaustible, without seeking to inquire into

vily on me, and yet that I stood in awe of him on whom all my hopes rested. Besides, I felt convinced that he had the means of discovering ME und

ent on the occasion, had but strengthened the

fictitious journey originated in mere idle report. But a king I was, and a king I must remain by all mean

ays; and the good people, who had never yet seen a king, now fancied me to be first one, a

had become a bankrupt in order to enrich himself. He enjoyed the general good op

ed me to leave the poor devil far behind. To save his credit he became bankrupt again, and fled beyond the mo

was permitted, on any pretence whatever, to enter my private apartment. As long as the sun shone I remained shut up with him; and the Count was then said to be deeply occupied in his closet. The numerous couriers, whom I kept in constant attend

atch for me, extended only to the garden of the forest-ranger, t

n her lowly thoughts of herself she could not imagine how she had deserved a single thought from me. She returned love for love with all the full and youthful fervor of an innocent heart; her love was a

m, when after the first mad whirlwind of passion I reflected, with the keenest self-upbraidings, that I, a shadowless man,

for ever; then I broke out into a flood of bitter tears, and consulted

ecause I saw clearly on reflection that they would end in disappointment. I had made a calculation of the day f

T could bestow a thought on their daughter; but such was the case-he loved and was beloved. The pride of the mother might not have led her to consider such an alliance quite impossible, but so extravagant

s just fallen into my hands. Yes, these are the charact

Minna! Oh no! thou art so good, so inexpressibly good! But do not misunderstand me. I will accept no sacrifice at thy

idolized head! Ah! when I think of this, I could chide thee that thou shouldst for one instant forget thy high destiny for the sake of a simple maiden! Go, then; otherwise the reflection

too deeply seated in my heart-I shall

e words pierced m

at this poisoned every hour of my life-that I should plunge her with me into the abyss-she, the light and joy, the very soul of my existence. Then she wept because I was unhappy. Oh! Minna was all love and tenderness. To save me one tear she would

will decide my fate, and perhaps change it for the bette

anged," she said, "I only wish to know that thou art happy; if thy condition

curse-didst thou know who-what-thy lover ... Seest thou not, my Minna, this convulsive shuddering which thrills my whole frame, an

ay of the month after the ensuing one. I fixed that time, I told him, because circumstances might probably oc

ion for his beloved child. I thanked him for having reminded me of all this, and told him it was my wish to remain in a country where I seemed to be beloved, and to lead a life free from anxiety. I then commissioned him to purchase the finest estate in the neighborhood

before; for it must be confessed that he was somewhat tedious. The good mother was rat

is evening. I dared not-I had not a moment to lose. I sa

looked at me, she started involuntarily. The apparition of that dreadful night in which I had been seen without a shadow was now standing distinctly before me-it was she herself. Had

ntful day approached, threatening and heavy, like a thunder-cloud. The evening preceding arrived. I could scarcely breat

e leaden hours passed on-morning-evening-night came. Hope was fast fading away as the hand advanced. It struck eleven-no one appeared-the last minutes-the first and last stroke of the twelft