old fritz and the new era-第46部分

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late　edition　of　the　almanach；　and　the　society　listened　with　earnest
and　kind　attention；　occasionally　interrupted　with　an　enthusiastic
〃Bravo！〃　or　〃Excellent！〃　from　the　duchess；　followed　by　a　murmur　of
assent　around　the　table；　which　caused　the　poet's　face　to　brighten
with　joy　and　satisfaction；　and　him　to　read　on　with　increased　energy。

The　entrance　of　the　duke　and　Goethe　was　unobserved；　as　it　was
understood　that　the　former　wished　no　notice　to　be　taken　of　his　going
or　coming；　and　the　duchess　had　also　waved　her　hand；　not　to　interrupt
Father　Gleim。　The　poet　has　just　finished　the　new　poem　of　melodious
rhythm　of　imprisoned　Shubart。　As　he　paused　to　wipe　the　perspiration
from　his　brow　and　sip　a　little　raspberry　water；　a　tall；　slender
young　man；　in　the　Werther　costume；　approached；　bowing；　and　regarding
the　poet　so　kindly；　that　the　glance　of　his　fine　black　eyes　fell　like
a　sunbeam　on　the　heart　of　the　old　man。　〃You　appear　somewhat
fatigued；　my　good　sir；〃　said　the　unknown；　in　a　sweet；　sonorous
voice。　〃Will　you　not　permit　me　to　relieve　you；　and　read　in　your
stead　from　this　glorious　book　of　yours？〃

〃Do　so；　my　dear　Gleim；〃　said　the　Duchess　Amelia；　smiling；　〃you　seem
really　exhausted；　let　the　young　man　continue　the　agreeable　and
welcome　entertainment。〃

Father　Gleim　was　very　well　pleased；　he　handed　the　book　to　the　young
stranger　with　a　graceful　bow；　as　the　latter　seated　himself　opposite
to　him；　and　next　to　Fraulein　Gochhausen。

He　commenced　in　a　clear；　distinct　voice。　The　verses　flowed　from　his
lips　gracefully；　and　in　a　cultivated　style。　The　company　listened
with　devoted　attention；　and　Father　Gleim；　the　protector　of　all　the
young　poets；　sat　delighted；　nodding　consent；　with　a　pleasant　smile。
It　must　all　be　charmingit　had　come　into　existence　under　his
fostering　care。　What　beautiful　verses　to　listen　to！　〃Die　Zephyre
lauschen；　Die　Balche　rauschen；　Die　Sonus　Verbreitet　ihr　Licht　mit
Wonne！〃

And　how　charmingly　the　young　man　read　them！　Suddenly　Father　Gleim
startled；　and　the　smile　died　upon　his　lips。　What　was　it？　What　was
the　young　man　reading？　Verse　which　were　not　in　the　collection；　and
which　were　more　remarkable　than　he　had　ever　heard　from　his　young
poets。　〃Those　are　not　in　the　Annual；〃　cried　Gleim；　quite　forgetting
decorum；〃that〃

One　glance　from　the　fine　black　eyes　of　the　young　man　so　confounded
Father　Gleim；　that　he　ceased　in　the　midst　of　a　sentence；　and；
staring　in　breathless　astonishment；　listened。　Glorious　thoughts　were
expressed　therein；　and　the　poets　of　the　Muse　Almanach　might　have
thanked　God　if　the　like　had　occurred　to　them。　Love　was　not　the
burden　of　the　song；　neither　hearts；　griefs；　nor　bliss；　but　satire；
lashing　right　and　left　with　graceful　dexterity；　and　dealing　a
harmless　thrust　to　every　one。　All　were　forced　to　laugh；　the　happy
faces　animated　and　inspired　every　thing。　The　brilliant　satirical
verses　rushed　like　rockets　from　the　lips　of　the　readera　real
illumination　of　wit　and　humor；　of　good…natured　jokes　and　biting
sarcasm；　and　it　delighted　the　old　man　that　every　one　had　received
hits　and　thrusts　but　himself；　he　had　been　spared　until　now！　Every
one　regarded　him；　smiling　and　amused；　as　the　reader　exalted　the
merits　of　the　Maecenas；　and　praised　him　highly　for　the　interest　he
took　in　the　poet's　heart；　soul；　and　purse；　and　shouted　victory　when
one　excelled。　But　suddenly　the　good　father　also　changed；　and；
instead　of　the　patron　on　the　right　throne；　there　was　a　turkey…cock
on　the　round　nest；　which　zealously　sought　to　hatch　out　the　many　eggs
that　he　had　to　take　care　of　for　others　besides　his　own；　he　sat
brooding　untiringly；　and　shed　many　a　tear　of　joy　over　the　fine
number　of　eggs；　yet　it　happened　that　a　poetical　viper　had　put　but
under　him　one　of　chalk；　which　he　cared　for　with　the　others。

Herr　Gleim　could　no　longer　contain　himself；　and；　striking　the　table；
he　cried；　〃That　is　either　Goethe　or　the　devil！〃　The　entire　company
burst　into　uncontrollable　laughter；　and　the　old　man　shouted　the
second　time；　though　inwardly　angry；　〃It　is　either　Goethe　or　the
devil！〃

〃Both；　dear　Father　Gleim；〃　said　Wieland；　who　was　drying　his　tears
from　laughter；　〃it　is　Goethe；　and　he　has　the　devil　in　him　to…day。　He
is　like　a　wild　colt；　which　kicks　out　behind　and　before；　and　it　would
be　well　not　to　approach　him　too　near。〃　＇Footnote：　Wieland's　own
words。See　Lewes'　〃Life　of　Goethe；〃　vol。　i。；　p。　432。＇

Goethe　alone　retained　his　composure；　and　continued　reading　in　a
louder　voice；　which　hushed　all　conversation。　He　lashed　with　bitter
sarcasm　〃him　who　assumed　to　be　a　goda　wise　manand　who　counted
for　nothing　better　than　a　pretentious；　saucy　fellow；　who　made
himself　the　scorn　of　the　poets　by　his　sweet；　Werther…like　sighs；　and
other　worthless　lamentations；　heeding　neither　God　nor　the　devil！〃

And　so　he　stormed　and　thundered；　ridiculed　and　slandered　his　own
flesh　and　blood；　until　Goechhausen；　red　with　anger；　rose　and
snatched　the　book　from　his　hand；　and　closed　his　lips　with　her　hand；
crying：　〃If　you　do　not　cease；　Goethe；　I　will　write　to　your　beloved
mother；　Frau　Aja；　that　a　satirist；　a　calumniator　has　had　the
impudence　to　defame　and　slur　her　beloved　son　in　a　most　sinful　and
shameful　manner！　I　will　write　to　her；　indeed；　if　you　do　not　stop！〃

Goethe　rose；　and　bowing　offered　his　hand　to　Father　Gleim　in　such　a
friendly；　affectionate　manner；　that　the　old　man；　quite　delighted；
thanked　him　heartily　for　the　pleasure　and　surprise　which　he　had
afforded　him。

The　duke；　however；　seated　himself　by　the　little　lady　of　honor。
〃Thusnelda；　you　are　an　incomparable　creature；　and　quite　calculated
to　be　the　ancestress　of　all　the　Germans。　I　declare　myself　your
cavalier　for　the　evening；　and　will　devote　myself　to　you　as　your　most
humble　servant；　and　will　not　quit　your　side　for　a　moment。〃

〃Very　beautiful　it　will　be；　my　dear　duke；　a　most　charming　idyl；　in
true　Watteau　style；　I　will　be　the　sweet　shepherdess；　and　lead　your
highness　by　a　little　ribbon。　But　where　is　my　presentmy　surprise？〃

〃You　must　not　be　impatient；　Thusnelda；　but　wait　what　time　will
produce。　You　will　have　it；　if　not　to…day；　to…morrow。　Every　day
brings　its　own　care　and　sorrow。〃

〃Ah；　duke；　instead　of　giving　me　my　surprise；　you　beat　me　with
doggerels。　That　comes　from　having　a　Goethe　for　companion　and　friend。
Crazy　tricks；　like　chicken…pox；　are　contagious；　and　the　latter　you
have　caught；　duke。　It　is　a　new　kind　of　genius　distemper。　Very
fortunately；　our　dear　Countess　Werther　has　another　malady；　or　she
might　be　infected。　Perhaps　she　has　it　already；　Count　Wertherhow　is
it？'

〃I　do　not　know；　Fraulein；〃　replied　the　count；　startled　from　reverie。
〃I　really　do　not　know！　My　wife　is　quite　ill；　for　that　reason　has
gone　to　our　estate　to　recover　her　peace　and　quiet。　It　is
unfortunately　quite　impossible　for　me　to　visit　her　there；　but　my
dear；　faithful　friend；　Baron　von　Einsiedel；　will　drive　over　to…
morrow　at　my　request；　my　commission〃

〃To　set　the　fox　to　keep　the　geese；〃　interrupted　Thusnelda　in　her
lively　manner。

〃No；　not　that；　Fraulein；〃　said　Count　Werther；　quite　confused；　as　the
duke　burst　into　a　merry　laugh；　calling　Thusnelda　a　witty　Kobold；　and
as　her　faithful　Celadon　offered　her　his　arm　to　conduct　her　to　his
mother；　the　Duchess　Amelia。

The　company　were　all　in　a　very　happy　frame　of　mind。　Goethe's
charming　impromptu　had　kindled　wit　and　humor　upon　every　lip。　He
himself　was　the　happiest　of　all；　for　Charlotte　was　by　his　side；
gazing　upon　him　with　her　large；　thoughtful　eyes；　and　permitting　him
to　be　her　cavalier　for　the　evening。

The　duke　also　devoted　himself　to　Fraulein　von　Goechhausen；　who　was
this　evening　unsurpassably　witty　and　caustic；　delighting　him；　and
making　the　Duchess　Amelia　laugh；　and　the　Duchess　Louisa　sometimes　to
slightly　shrug　her　shoulders　and　shake　her　head　with　disapproval。

In　the　midst　of　a　most　interesting　conversation　with　Frau　von　Stein；
Goethe　was　informed　that　some　one　awaited　him　in　the　anteroom。　He
went　out　quickly；　and　upon　returning　he　whispered　to　the　duke；　who
nodded；　and　answered　him　in　a　low　tone；　and　then　Goethe　betook
himself　to　the　Duchess　Amelia。

〃What　is　it？〃　the　latter　asked。　〃Have　important　dispatches　arrived？〃

〃No；　I　come　to　your　highness　as　courier　from　your　son。　The　duke　begs
that　you　will　lock　the　door　of　your　anteroom　when　you　retire；　and
that　you　will　upon　no　condition　open　it；　no　matter　how　much
Thusnelda　may　beg　and　implore。〃

〃Will　you　not　injure　my　poor　Goechhausen；　you　wanton　fellow？〃

〃No！　it　is　not　very　dangerous；　duchess。　It　is　only　a　harmless
surprise；　which　the　duke　promised　Fraulein　von　Goechhausen。〃

〃Very　well；　then；　it　can　take　place；　I　promise　to　be　quite　deaf　to
all　Thusnelda's　knocking　and　thumping；　and　I　shall　be　glad　to　be
informed　to…morrow　what　the　trick　is。　I　prefer　not　to　inquire　to…
day；　as　I　might　feel　obliged　to　veto　it　if　it　were　too　severe。　But
look；　the　Duchess　Louisa　will　break　up；　does　she　know　any　thing
about　the　affair？〃

〃No；　your　highness；　you　know　very　well　that　the　young　duchess〃

〃Is　much　more　sensible　than　the　old　one；　and　shakes　her　head
disapprovingly　when　she　hears　of　your　ingenuous　tricks。　Perhaps　it
would　be　well　if　I　were　equally　sensible；　but　there　is　no　help　for
it。　I　like　bright；　happy　people；　and　I　think　when　youth　vents
itself；　old　age　is　more　sedate　and　reasonable。〃

〃You　are　quite　right；　duchess。　Mankind　resembles　new　wine。　If　the
must　does　not　ferment　and　foam　well；　no　good　wine　will　come　of　it。
But　look　at　our　Charles；　with　the　saucy　jest　upon　his　lip；　and　the
fire　of　inspiration　in　those　bright　brown　eyes。　One　day　a　fine；
strong　wine　will　clear　itself　from　this　glorious　fermenting　must。〃

〃I　hope　so；　Goethe；　and　if　the　gods　grant　it；　the　great　merit　will
belong　to　you；　who　have　proved　yourself　a　good　vintager；　and　we　will
rejoice　together　in　your　glorious　success。〃




CHAPTER　XXIII。

WITCHCRAFT


An　hour　later　the　palace　Belvedere　was　silent　and　deserted；　the
guests　had　taken　their　departure。　The　duchess　had　her　suite　and
commanded　them　to　retire。　Fraulein　von　Gochhausen　alone　remained
with　her　mistress；　chatting　by　the　bedside；　and　recapitulating　in
her　amusing　style　all　important　and　unimportant　events　of　the
soiree；　The　duchess　smiled　at　the　mischievous　remarks