IexplainedhowIhadbeenemployingmyself,andwhy。
Thenthelandlord\'spartyleft,andtherestofussetaboutourpreparationsforbreakfast,forthedawnwasreadytobreak。Iglancedfurtivelyatmypedometer,andfoundIhadmade47miles。ButIdidnotcare,forI
hadcomeoutforapedestriantouranyway。
CHAPTERXIV
[RaftingDowntheNeckar]
WhenthelandlordlearnedthatIandmyagentswereartists,ourpartyroseperceptiblyinhisesteem;werosestillhigherwhenhelearnedthatweweremakingapedestriantourofEurope。
HetoldusallabouttheHeidelbergroad,andwhichwerethebestplacestoavoidandwhichthebestonestotarryat;hechargedmelessthancostforthethingsIbrokeinthenight;heputupafineluncheonforusandaddedtoitaquantityofgreatlight-greenplums,thepleasantestfruitinGermany;hewassoanxioustodoushonorthathewouldnotallowustowalkoutofHeilbronn,butcalledupGo\"tzvonBerlichingen\'shorseandcabandmadeusride。
Imadeasketchoftheturnout。ItisnotaWork,itisonlywhatartistscalla\"study\"——athingtomakeafinishedpicturefrom。Thissketchhasseveralblemishesinit;
forinstance,thewagonisnottravelingasfastasthehorseis。Thisiswrong。Again,thepersontryingtogetoutofthewayistoosmall;heisoutofperspective,aswesay。Thetwoupperlinesarenotthehorse\'sback,theyarethereigns;thereseemstobeawheelmissing——
thiswouldbecorrectedinafinishedWork,ofcourse。
Thisthingflyingoutbehindisnotaflag,itisacurtain。
Thatotherthingupthereisthesun,butIdidn\'tgetenoughdistanceonit。Idonotremember,now,whatthatthingisthatisinfrontofthemanwhoisrunning,butIthinkitisahaystackorawoman。ThisstudywasexhibitedintheParisSalonof1879,butdidnottakeanymedal;theydonotgivemedalsforstudies。
[Figure3]
Wedischargedthecarriageatthebridge。Theriverwasfulloflogs——long,slender,barklesspinelogs——andweleanedontherailsofthebridge,andwatchedthemenputthemtogetherintorafts。TheseraftswereofashapeandconstructiontosuitthecrookednessandextremenarrownessoftheNeckar。Theywerefromfiftytoonehundredyardslong,andtheygraduallytaperedfromanine-logbreadthattheirsterns,toathree-logbreadthattheirbow-ends。Themainpartofthesteeringisdoneatthebow,withapole;thethree-logbreadththerefurnishesroomforonlythesteersman,fortheselittlelogsarenotlargeraroundthananaverageyounglady\'swaist。
Theconnectionsoftheseveralsectionsoftheraftareslackandpliant,sothattheraftmaybereadilybentintoanysortofcurverequiredbytheshapeoftheriver。
TheNeckarisinmanyplacessonarrowthatapersoncanthrowadogacrossit,ifhehasone;whenitisalsosharplycurvedinsuchplaces,theraftsmanhastodosomeprettynicesnugpilotingtomaketheturns。
Theriverisnotalwaysallowedtospreadoveritswholebed——whichisasmuchasthirty,andsometimesfortyyardswide——butissplitintothreeequalbodiesofwater,bystonedikeswhichthrowthemainvolume,depth,andcurrentintothecentralone。Inlowwatertheseneatnarrow-edgeddikesprojectfourorfiveinchesabovethesurface,likethecombofasubmergedroof,butinhighwatertheyareoverflowed。AhatfulofrainmakeshighwaterintheNeckar,andabasketfulproducesanoverflow。
TherearedikesabreasttheSchlossHotel,andthecurrentisviolentlyswiftatthatpoint。Iusedtositforhoursinmyglasscage,watchingthelong,narrowraftsslipalongthroughthecentralchannel,grazingtheright-bankdikeandaimingcarefullyforthemiddlearchofthestonebridgebelow;Iwatchedtheminthisway,andlostallthistimehopingtoseeoneofthemhitthebridge-pierandwreckitselfsometimeorother,butwasalwaysdisappointed。
Onewassmashedthereonemorning,butIhadjuststeppedintomyroomamomenttolightapipe,soIlostit。
WhileIwaslookingdownupontheraftsthatmorninginHeilbronn,thedaredevilspiritofadventurecamesuddenlyuponme,andIsaidtomycomrades:
\"_I_amgoingtoHeidelbergonaraft。Willyouventurewithme?\"
Theirfacespaledalittle,buttheyassentedwithasgoodagraceastheycould。Harriswantedtocablehismother——thoughtithisdutytodothat,ashewasallshehadinthisworld——so,whileheattendedtothis,Iwentdowntothelongestandfinestraftandhailedthecaptainwithahearty\"Ahoy,shipmate!\"whichputusuponpleasanttermsatonce,andweentereduponbusiness。
IsaidwewereonapedestriantourtoHeidelberg,andwouldliketotakepassagewithhim。IsaidthispartlythroughyoungZ,whospokeGermanverywell,andpartlythroughMr。X,whospokeitpeculiarly。IcanUNDERSTANDGermanaswellasthemaniacthatinventedit,butITALKitbestthroughaninterpreter。
Thecaptainhitcheduphistrousers,thenshiftedhisquidthoughtfully。PresentlyhesaidjustwhatI
wasexpectinghewouldsay——thathehadnolicensetocarrypassengers,andthereforewasafraidthelawwouldbeafterhimincasethemattergotnoisedaboutoranyaccidenthappened。SoICHARTEREDtheraftandthecrewandtookalltheresponsibilitiesonmyself。
Witharattlingsongthestarboardwatchbenttotheirworkandhovethecableshort,thengottheanchorhome,andourbarkmovedoffwithastatelystride,andsoonwasbowlingalongatabouttwoknotsanhour。
Ourpartyweregroupedamidships。Atfirstthetalkwasalittlegloomy,andranmainlyupontheshortnessoflife,theuncertaintyofit,theperilswhichbesetit,andtheneedandwisdomofbeingalwayspreparedfortheworst;
thisshadedoffintolow-voicedreferencestothedangersofthedeep,andkindredmatters;butasthegrayeastbegantoreddenandthemysterioussolemnityandsilenceofthedawntogiveplacetothejoy-songsofthebirds,thetalktookacheeriertone,andourspiritsbegantorisesteadily。
Germany,inthesummer,istheperfectionofthebeautiful,butnobodyhasunderstood,andrealized,andenjoyedtheutmostpossibilitiesofthissoftandpeacefulbeautyunlesshehasvoyageddowntheNeckaronaraft。
Themotionofaraftistheneedfulmotion;itisgentle,andgliding,andsmooth,andnoiseless;itcalmsdownallfeverishactivities,itsoothestosleepallnervoushurryandimpatience;underitsrestfulinfluenceallthetroublesandvexationsandsorrowsthatharassthemindvanishaway,andexistencebecomesadream,acharm,adeepandtranquilecstasy。Howitcontrastswithhotandperspiringpedestrianism,anddustyanddeafeningrailroadrush,andtediousjoltingbehindtiredhorsesoverblindingwhiteroads!
Wewentslippingsilentlyalong,betweenthegreenandfragrantbanks,withasenseofpleasureandcontentmentthatgrew,andgrew,allthetime。Sometimesthebankswereoverhungwiththickmassesofwillowsthatwhollyhidthegroundbehind;sometimeswehadnoblehillsononehand,clotheddenselywithfoliagetotheirtops,andontheotherhandopenlevelsblazingwithpoppies,orclothedintherichblueofthecorn-flower;
sometimeswedriftedintheshadowofforests,andsometimesalongthemarginoflongstretchesofvelvetygrass,freshandgreenandbright,atirelesscharmtotheeye。
Andthebirds!——theywereeverywhere;theysweptbackandforthacrosstheriverconstantly,andtheirjubilantmusicwasneverstilled。
Itwasadeepandsatisfyingpleasuretoseethesuncreatethenewmorning,andgradually,patiently,lovingly,clotheitonwithsplendoraftersplendor,andgloryafterglory,tillthemiraclewascomplete。
Howdifferentisthismarvelobservedfromaraft,fromwhatitiswhenoneobservesitthroughthedingywindowsofarailway-stationinsomewretchedvillagewhilehemunchesapetrifiedsandwichandwaitsforthetrain。
CHAPTERXV
DowntheRiver[CharmingWatersidePictures]
Menandwomenandcattlewereatworkinthedewyfieldsbythistime。Thepeopleoftensteppedaboardtheraft,asweglidedalongthegrassyshores,andgossipedwithusandwiththecrewforahundredyardsorso,thensteppedashoreagain,refreshedbytheride。
Onlythemendidthis;thewomenweretoobusy。
Thewomendoallkindsofworkonthecontinent。Theydig,theyhoe,theyreap,theysow,theybearmonstrousburdensontheirbacks,theyshovesimilaroneslongdistancesonwheelbarrows,theydragthecartwhenthereisnodogorleancowtodragit——andwhenthereis,theyassistthedogorcow。Ageisnomatter——theolderthewomanthestrongersheis,apparently。Onthefarmawoman\'sdutiesarenotdefined——shedoesalittleofeverything;
butinthetownsitisdifferent,theresheonlydoescertainthings,themendotherest。Forinstance,ahotelchambermaidhasnothingtodobutmakebedsandfiresinfiftyorsixtyrooms,bringtowelsandcandles,andfetchseveraltonsofwaterupseveralflightsofstairs,ahundredpoundsatatime,inprodigiousmetalpitchers。
Shedoesnothavetoworkmorethaneighteenortwentyhoursaday,andshecanalwaysgetdownonherkneesandscrubthefloorsofhallsandclosetswhensheistiredandneedsarest。
Asthemorningadvancedandtheweathergrewhot,wetookoffouroutsideclothingandsatinarowalongtheedgeoftheraftandenjoyedthescenery,withoursun-umbrellasoverourheadsandourlegsdanglinginthewater。
Everynowandthenweplungedinandhadaswim。
Everyprojectinggrassycapehaditsjoyousgroupofnakedchildren,theboystothemselvesandthegirlstothemselves,thelatterusuallyincareofsomemotherlydamewhosatintheshadeofatreewithherknitting。
Thelittleboysswamouttous,sometimes,butthelittlemaidsstoodknee-deepinthewaterandstoppedtheirsplashingandfrolickingtoinspecttheraftwiththeirinnocenteyesasitdriftedby。Onceweturnedacornersuddenlyandsurprisedaslendergirloftwelveyearsorupward,juststeppingintothewater。Shehadnottimetorun,butshedidwhatansweredjustaswell;shepromptlydrewalitheyoungwillowboughathwartherwhitebodywithonehand,andthencontemplateduswithasimpleanduntroubledinterest。Thusshestoodwhileweglidedby。
Shewasaprettycreature,andsheandherwillowboughmadeaveryprettypicture,andonewhichcouldnotoffendthemodestyofthemostfastidiousspectator。
Herwhiteskinhadalowbankoffreshgreenwillowsforbackgroundandeffectivecontrast——forshestoodagainstthem——andaboveandoutofthemprojectedtheeagerfacesandwhiteshouldersoftwosmallergirls。
Towardnoonweheardtheinspiringcry:
\"Sailho!\"
\"Whereaway?\"shoutedthecaptain。
\"Threepointsofftheweatherbow!\"
Weranforwardtoseethevessel。Itprovedtobeasteamboat——fortheyhadbeguntorunasteameruptheNeckar,forthefirsttimeinMay。Shewasatug,andoneofaverypeculiarbuildandaspect。Ihadoftenwatchedherfromthehotel,andwonderedhowshepropelledherself,forapparentlyshehadnopropellerorpaddles。Shecamechurningalong,now,makingadealofnoiseofonekindoranother,andaggravatingiteverynowandthenbyblowingahoarsewhistle。Shehadninekeel-boatshitchedonbehindandfollowingafterherinalong,slenderrank。Wemetherinanarrowplace,betweendikes,andtherewashardlyroomforusbothinthecrampedpassage。Asshewentgrindingandgroaningby,weperceivedthesecretofhermovingimpulse。Shedidnotdriveherselfuptheriverwithpaddlesorpropeller,shepulledherselfbyhaulingonagreatchain。
Thischainislaidinthebedoftheriverandisonlyfastenedatthetwoends。Itisseventymileslong。
Itcomesinovertheboat\'sbow,passesaroundadrum,andispayedoutastern。Shepullsonthatchain,andsodragsherselfuptheriverordownit。Shehasneitherboworstern,strictlyspeaking,forshehasalong-bladedrudderoneachendandsheneverturnsaround。
Sheusesbothruddersallthetime,andtheyarepowerfulenoughtoenablehertoturntotherightortheleftandsteeraroundcurves,inspiteofthestrongresistanceofthechain。Iwouldnothavebelievedthatthatimpossiblethingcouldbedone;butIsawitdone,andthereforeI
knowthatthereisoneimpossiblethingwhichCANbedone。
Whatmiraclewillmanattemptnext?
Wemetmanybigkeel-boatsontheirwayup,usingsails,mulepower,andprofanity——atediousandlaboriousbusiness。
Awireropeledfromtheforetopmasttothefileofmulesonthetow-pathahundredyardsahead,andbydintofmuchbangingandswearingandurging,thedetachmentofdriversmanagedtogetaspeedoftwoorthreemilesanhouroutofthemulesagainstthestiffcurrent。
TheNeckarhasalwaysbeenusedasacanal,andthushasgivenemploymenttoagreatmanymenandanimals;
butnowthatthissteamboatisable,withasmallcrewandabushelorsoofcoal,totakeninekeel-boatsfartheruptheriverinonehourthanthirtymenandthirtymulescandoitintwo,itisbelievedthattheold-fashionedtowingindustryisonitsdeath-bed。AsecondsteamboatbeganworkintheNeckarthreemonthsafterthefirstonewasputinservice。[Figure4]
Atnoonwesteppedashoreandboughtsomebottledbeerandgotsomechickenscooked,whiletheraftwaited;
thenweimmediatelyputtoseaagain,andhadourdinnerwhilethebeerwascoldandthechickenshot。
ThereisnopleasanterplaceforsuchamealthanaraftthatisglidingdownthewindingNeckarpastgreenmeadowsandwoodedhills,andslumberingvillages,andcraggyheightsgracedwithcrumblingtowersandbattlements。
InoneplacewesawanicelydressedGermangentlemanwithoutanyspectacles。BeforeIcouldcometoanchorhehadgotunderway。Itwasagreatpity。Isowantedtomakeasketchofhim。Thecaptaincomfortedmeformyloss,however,bysayingthatthemanwaswithoutanydoubtafraudwhohadspectacles,butkepttheminhispocketinordertomakehimselfconspicuous。
BelowHassmersheimwepassedHornberg,Go\"tzvonBerlichingen\'soldcastle。Itstandsonaboldelevationtwohundredfeetabovethesurfaceoftheriver;ithashighvine-cladwallsenclosingtrees,andapeakedtoweraboutseventy-fivefeethigh。Thesteephillside,fromthecastlecleardowntothewater\'sedge,isterraced,andclothedthickwithgrapevines。Thisislikefarmingamansardroof。
Allthesteepsalongthatpartoftheriverwhichfurnishtheproperexposure,aregivenuptothegrape。ThatregionisagreatproducerofRhinewines。TheGermansareexceedinglyfondofRhinewines;theyareputupintall,slenderbottles,andareconsideredapleasantbeverage。
Onetellsthemfromvinegarbythelabel。
TheHornberghillistobetunneled,andthenewrailwaywillpassunderthecastle。
THECAVEOFTHESPECTER
TwomilesbelowHornbergcastleisacaveinalowcliff,whichthecaptainoftheraftsaidhadoncebeenoccupiedbyabeautifulheiressofHornberg——theLadyGertrude——
intheoldtimes。Itwassevenhundredyearsago。
Shehadanumberofrichandnobleloversandonepoorandobscureone,SirWendelLobenfeld。Withthenativechuckleheadednessoftheheroineofromance,shepreferredthepoorandobscurelover。Withthenativesoundjudgmentofthefatherofaheroineofromance,thevonBerlichingenofthatdayshuthisdaughterupinhisdonjonkeep,orhisoubliette,orhisculverin,orsomesuchplace,andresolvedthatsheshouldstaythereuntilsheselectedahusbandfromamongherrichandnoblelovers。Thelattervisitedherandpersecutedherwiththeirsupplications,butwithouteffect,forherheartwastruetoherpoordespisedCrusader,whowasfightingintheHolyLand。
Finally,sheresolvedthatshewouldenduretheattentionsoftherichloversnolonger;soonestormynightsheescapedandwentdowntheriverandhidherselfinthecaveontheotherside。Herfatherransackedthecountryforher,butfoundnotatraceofher。Asthedayswentby,andstillnotidingsofhercame,hisconsciencebegantotorturehim,andhecausedproclamationtobemadethatifshewereyetlivingandwouldreturn,hewouldopposehernolonger,shemightmarrywhomshewould。
Themonthsdraggedon,allhopeforsooktheoldman,heceasedfromhiscustomarypursuitsandpleasures,hedevotedhimselftopiousworks,andlongedforthedeliveranceofdeath。
Nowjustatmidnight,everynight,thelostheiressstoodinthemouthofhercave,arrayedinwhiterobes,andsangalittleloveballadwhichherCrusaderhadmadeforher。
Shejudgedthatifhecamehomealivethesuperstitiouspeasantswouldtellhimabouttheghostthatsanginthecave,andthatassoonastheydescribedtheballadhewouldknowthatnonebutheandsheknewthatsong,thereforehewouldsuspectthatshewasalive,andwouldcomeandfindher。
Astimewenton,thepeopleoftheregionbecamesorelydistressedabouttheSpecteroftheHauntedCave。
Itwassaidthatillluckofonekindoranotheralwaysovertookanyonewhohadthemisfortunetohearthatsong。
Eventually,everycalamitythathappenedthereaboutswaslaidatthedoorofthatmusic。Consequently,noboatmenwouldconsenttopassthecaveatnight;thepeasantsshunnedtheplace,eveninthedaytime。
Butthefaithfulgirlsangon,nightafternight,monthaftermonth,andpatientlywaited;herrewardmustcomeatlast。Fiveyearsdraggedby,andstill,everynightatmidnight,theplaintivetonesfloatedoutoverthesilentland,whilethedistantboatmenandpeasantsthrusttheirfingersintotheirearsandshudderedoutaprayer。
AndnowcametheCrusaderhome,bronzedandbattle-scarred,butbringingagreatandsplendidfametolayatthefeetofhisbride。TheoldlordofHornbergreceivedhimashisson,andwantedhimtostaybyhimandbethecomfortandblessingofhisage;butthetaleofthatyounggirl\'sdevotiontohimanditspatheticconsequencesmadeachangedmanoftheknight。Hecouldnotenjoyhiswell-earnedrest。Hesaidhisheartwasbroken,hewouldgivetheremnantofhislifetohighdeedsinthecauseofhumanity,andsofindaworthydeathandablessedreunionwiththebravetrueheartwhoselovehadmorehonoredhimthanallhisvictoriesinwar。
Whenthepeopleheardthisresolveofhis,theycameandtoldhimtherewasapitilessdragoninhumandisguiseintheHauntedCave,adreadcreaturewhichnoknighthadyetbeenboldenoughtoface,andbeggedhimtoridthelandofitsdesolatingpresence。Hesaidhewoulddoit。Theytoldhimaboutthesong,andwhenheaskedwhatsongitwas,theysaidthememoryofitwasgone,fornobodyhadbeenhardyenoughtolistentoitforthepastfouryearsandmore。
TowardmidnighttheCrusadercamefloatingdowntheriverinaboat,withhistrustycross-bowinhishands。
Hedriftedsilentlythroughthedimreflectionsofthecragsandtrees,withhisintenteyesfixeduponthelowcliffwhichhewasapproaching。Ashedrewnearer,hediscernedtheblackmouthofthecave。Now——isthatawhitefigure?Yes。Theplaintivesongbeginstowellforthandfloatawayovermeadowandriver——thecross-bowisslowlyraisedtoposition,asteadyaimistaken,theboltfliesstraighttothemark——thefiguresinksdown,stillsinging,theknighttakesthewooloutofhisears,andrecognizestheoldballad——toolate!Ah,ifhehadonlynotputthewoolinhisears!
TheCrusaderwentawaytothewarsagain,andpresentlyfellinbattle,fightingfortheCross。Traditionsaysthatduringseveralcenturiesthespiritoftheunfortunategirlsangnightlyfromthecaveatmidnight,butthemusiccarriednocursewithit;andalthoughmanylistenedforthemysterioussounds,fewwerefavored,sinceonlythosecouldhearthemwhohadneverfailedinatrust。
Itisbelievedthatthesingingstillcontinues,butitisknownthatnobodyhashearditduringthepresentcentury。
CHAPTERXVI
AnAncientLegendoftheRhine[TheLorelei]
Thelastlegendremindsoneofthe\"Lorelei\"——alegendoftheRhine。Thereisasongcalled\"TheLorelei。\"
Germanyisrichinfolk-songs,andthewordsandairsofseveralofthemarepeculiarlybeautiful——but\"TheLorelei\"
isthepeople\'sfavorite。Icouldnotendureitatfirst,butbyandbyitbegantotakeholdofme,andnowthereisnotunewhichIlikesowell。
ItisnotpossiblethatitismuchknowninAmerica,elseI
shouldhavehearditthere。ThefactthatIneverhearditthere,isevidencethatthereareothersinmycountrywhohavefaredlikewise;therefore,forthesakeofthese,Imeantoprintthewordsandmusicinthischapter。
AndIwillrefreshthereader\'smemorybyprintingthelegendoftheLorelei,too。IhaveitbymeintheLEGENDSOF
THERHINE,doneintoEnglishbythewildlygiftedGarnham,BachelorofArts。Iprintthelegendpartlytorefreshmyownmemory,too,forIhaveneverreaditbefore。
THELEGEND
LoretwosyllableswasawaternymphwhousedtositonahighrockcalledtheLeyorLeipronouncedlikeourwordLIEintheRhine,andlureboatmentodestructioninafuriousrapidwhichmarredthechannelatthatspot。
Shesobewitchedthemwithherplaintivesongsandherwonderfulbeautythattheyforgoteverythingelsetogazeupather,andsotheypresentlydriftedamongthebrokenreefsandwerelost。
Inthoseold,oldtimes,theCountBrunolivedinagreatcastleneartherewithhisson,theCountHermann,ayouthoftwenty。HermannhadheardagreatdealaboutthebeautifulLore,andhadfinallyfallenverydeeplyinlovewithherwithouthavingseenher。SoheusedtowandertotheneighborhoodoftheLei,evenings,withhisZitherand\"ExpresshisLonginginlowSinging,\"asGarnhamsays。
Ononeoftheseoccasions,\"suddenlytherehoveredaroundthetopoftherockabrightnessofunequaledclearnessandcolor,which,inincreasinglysmallercirclesthickened,wastheenchantingfigureofthebeautifulLore。
\"AnunintentionalcryofJoyescapedtheYouth,helethisZitherfall,andwithextendedarmshecalledoutthenameoftheenigmaticalBeing,whoseemedtostooplovinglytohimandbeckontohiminafriendlymanner;
indeed,ifhiseardidnotdeceivehim,shecalledhisnamewithunutterablesweetWhispers,propertolove。
BesidehimselfwithdelighttheyouthlosthisSensesandsanksenselesstotheearth。\"
Afterthathewasachangedperson。Hewentdreamingabout,thinkingonlyofhisfairyandcaringfornaughtelseintheworld。\"Theoldcountsawwithafflictionthischangementinhisson,\"whosecausehecouldnotdivine,andtriedtodiverthismindintocheerfulchannels,buttonopurpose。Thentheoldcountusedauthority。
Hecommandedtheyouthtobetakehimselftothecamp。
Obediencewaspromised。Garnhamsays:
\"Itwasontheeveningbeforehisdeparture,ashewishedstilloncetovisittheLeiandoffertotheNymphoftheRhinehisSighs,thetonesofhisZither,andhisSongs。Hewent,inhisboat,thistimeaccompaniedbyafaithfulsquire,downthestream。Themoonshedhersilverylightoverthewholecountry;thesteepbankmountainsappearedinthemostfantasticalshapes,andthehighoaksoneithersidebowedtheirBranchesonHermann\'spassing。AssoonasheapproachedtheLei,andwasawareofthesurf-waves,hisattendantwasseizedwithaninexpressibleAnxietyandhebeggedpermissiontoland;buttheKnightsweptthestringsofhisGuitarandsang:
\"OnceIsawtheeindarknight,InsupernaturalBeautybright;
OfLight-rays,wastheFigurewove,Toshareitslight,locked-hairstrove。
\"ThyGarmentcolorwave-doveBythyhandthesignoflove,Thyeyessweetenchantment,Rayingtome,oh!enchantment。
\"O,wertthoubutmysweetheart,Howwillinglythylovetopart!WithdelightIshouldbeboundTothyrockyhouseindeepground。\"
ThatHermannshouldhavegonetothatplaceatall,wasnotwise;thatheshouldhavegonewithsuchasongasthatinhismouthwasamostseriousmistake。TheLoreleididnot\"callhisnameinunutterablesweetWhispers\"
thistime。No,thatsongnaturallyworkedaninstantandthorough\"changement\"inher;andnotonlythat,butitstirredthebowelsofthewholeafflictedregionaroundaboutthere——for——
\"Scarcelyhadthesetonessounded,everywheretherebegantumultandsound,asifvoicesaboveandbelowthewater。OntheLeiroseflames,theFairystoodabove,atthattime,andbeckonedwithherrighthandclearlyandurgentlytotheinfatuatedKnight,whilewithastaffinherlefthandshecalledthewavestoherservice。
Theybegantomountheavenward;theboatwasupset,mockingeveryexertion;thewavesrosetothegunwale,andsplittingonthehardstones,theBoatbrokeintoPieces。
Theyouthsankintothedepths,butthesquirewasthrownonshorebyapowerfulwave。\"
ThebitterestthingshavebeensaidabouttheLoreleiduringmanycenturies,butsurelyherconductuponthisoccasionentitleshertoourrespect。Onefeelsdrawntenderlytowardherandismovedtoforgethermanycrimesandrememberonlythegooddeedthatcrownedandclosedhercareer。
\"TheFairywasnevermoreseen;butherenchantingtoneshaveoftenbeenheard。Inthebeautiful,refreshing,stillnightsofspring,whenthemoonpourshersilverlightovertheCountry,thelisteningshipperhearsfromtherushingofthewaves,theechoingClangofawonderfullycharmingvoice,whichsingsasongfromthecrystalcastle,andwithsorrowandfearhethinksontheyoungCountHermann,seducedbytheNymph。\"
Hereisthemusic,andtheGermanwordsbyHeinrichHeine。
ThissonghasbeenafavoriteinGermanyforfortyyears,andwillremainafavoritealways,maybe。[Figure5]
Ihaveaprejudiceagainstpeoplewhoprintthingsinaforeignlanguageandaddnotranslation。
WhenIamthereader,andtheauthorconsidersmeabletodothetranslatingmyself,hepaysmequiteanicecompliment——butifhewoulddothetranslatingformeIwouldtrytogetalongwithoutthecompliment。
IfIwereathome,nodoubtIcouldgetatranslationofthispoem,butIamabroadandcan\'t;thereforeIwillmakeatranslationmyself。Itmaynotbeagoodone,forpoetryisoutofmyline,butitwillservemypurpose——whichis,togivetheunGermanyounggirlajingleofwordstohangthetuneonuntilshecangetholdofagoodversion,madebysomeonewhoisapoetandknowshowtoconveyapoeticalthoughtfromonelanguagetoanother。
THELORELEI
Icannotdivinewhatitmeaneth,Thishauntingnamelesspain:AtaleofthebygoneagesKeepsbroodingthroughmybrain:
Thefaintaircoolsintheglooming,AndpeacefulflowstheRhine,ThethirstysummitsaredrinkingThesunset\'sfloodingwine;
TheloveliestmaidenissittingHigh-thronedinyonblueair,Hergoldenjewelsareshining,Shecombshergoldenhair;
Shecombswithacombthatisgolden,AndsingsaweirdrefrainThatsteepsinadeadlyenchantmentThelist\'ner\'sravishedbrain:
Thedoomedinhisdriftingshallop,Istrancedwiththesadsweettone,Heseesnottheyawningbreakers,Heseesbutthemaidalone:
Thepitilessbillowsengulfhim!——Soperishsailorandbark;
Andthis,withherbalefulsinging,IstheLorelei\'sgruesomework。
IhaveatranslationbyGarnham,BachelorofArts,intheLEGENDSOFTHERHINE,butitwouldnotanswerthepurposeImentionedabove,becausethemeasureistoonoblyirregular;itdon\'tfitthetunesnuglyenough;
inplacesithangsoverattheendstoofar,andinotherplacesonerunsoutofwordsbeforehegetstotheendofabar。Still,Garnham\'stranslationhashighmerits,andIamnotdreamingofleavingitoutofmybook。
IbelievethispoetiswhollyunknowninAmericaandEngland;
ItakepeculiarpleasureinbringinghimforwardbecauseI
considerthatIdiscoveredhim:
THELORELEI
TranslatedbyL。W。Garnham,B。A。
Idonotknowwhatitsignifies。ThatIamsosorrowful?
AfableofoldTimessoterrifies,Leavesmyheartsothoughtful。
Theairiscoolanditdarkens,AndcalmlyflowstheRhine;
ThesummitofthemountainhearkensIneveningsunshineline。
ThemostbeautifulMaidenentrancesAbovewonderfullythere,Herbeautifulgoldenattireglances,Shecombshergoldenhair。
Withgoldencombsolustrous,Andtherebyasongsings,Ithasatonesowondrous,Thatpowerfulmelodyrings。
TheshipperinthelittleshipIteffectswithwoesadmight;
Hedoesnotseetherockyslip,Heonlyregardsdreadedheight。
IbelievetheturbulentwavesSwallowthelastshipperandboat;ShewithhersingingcravesAlltovisithermagicmoat。
Notranslationcouldbecloser。Hehasgotinallthefacts;andintheirregularorder,too。Thereisnotastatisticwanting。Itisassuccinctasaninvoice。
Thatiswhatatranslationoughttobe;itshouldexactlyreflectthethoughtoftheoriginal。Youcan\'tSING\"Abovewonderfullythere,\"becauseitsimplywon\'tgotothetune,withoutdamagingthesinger;butitisamostclinginglyexacttranslationofDORTOBENWUNDERBAR——fitsitlikeablister。
Mr。Garnham\'sreproductionhasothermerits——ahundredofthem——butitisnotnecessarytopointthemout。
Theywillbedetected。
Noonewithaspecialtycanhopetohaveamonopolyofit。
EvenGarnhamhasarival。Mr。XhadasmallpamphletwithhimwhichhehadboughtwhileonavisittoMunich。
ItwasentitledACATALOGUEOFPICTURESINTHEOLDPINACOTEK,andwaswritteninapeculiarkindofEnglish。Hereareafewextracts:
\"Itisnotpermittedtomakeuseoftheworkinquestiontoapublicationofthesamecontentsaswellastothepiratededitionofit。\"
\"Aneveninglandscape。Intheforegroundnearapondandagroupofwhitebeechesisleadingafootpathanimatedbytravelers。\"
\"Alearnedmaninacynicalandtorndressholdinganopenbookinhishand。\"
\"St。BartholomewandtheExecutionerwiththeknifetofulfilthemartyr。\"
\"Portraitofayoungman。AlongwhilethispicturewasthoughttobeBindiAltoviti\'sportrait;nowsomebodywillagainhaveittobetheself-portraitofRaphael。\"
\"Susanbathing,surprisedbythetwooldman。
Inthebackgroundthelapidationofthecondemned。\"
\"Lapidation\"isgood;itismuchmoreelegantthan\"stoning。\"
\"St。Rochussittinginalandscapewithanangelwholooksathisplague-sore,whilstthedogthebreadinhismouthattentshim。\"
\"Spring。TheGoddessFlora,sitting。Behindherafertilevalleyperfusedbyariver。\"
\"AbeautifulbouquetanimatedbyMay-bugs,etc。\"
\"Awarriorinarmorwithagypseouspipeinhishandleansagainstatableandblowsthesmokefarawayofhimself。\"
\"ADutchlandscapealonganavigableriverwhichperfusesittilltothebackground。\"
\"Somepeasantssinginginacottage。Awomanletsdrinkachildoutofacup。\"
\"St。John\'sheadasaboy——paintedinfrescoonabrick。\"
Meaningatile。