第6章
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  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。

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