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 the fair down on his cheek, the skin burned brown to the rim of his gray eyes, the harsh and diffident masculinity of him, I found comfort in remembering that there was a physical gallantry about him which would still, even when the worst had happened, leap sometimes to the joy of life. Always, to the very end, when the sun shone on his face or his horse took his fences well, he would screw up his eyes and smile that little stiff-lipped smile. I nursed a feeble glow at that. "We must ride a lot," I planned. And then Kitty's heels tapped on the polished floor, and her skirts swished as she sat down in the arm-chair, and I was distressed by the sense, more tiresome than a flickering light, of some one fretting.

She said:

"I wish she would hurry up. She's got to do it sooner or later."

My spirit was asleep in horror. Out there Margaret was breaking his heart


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 in on us. It was not that she had the slightest intimation of our decision, for she could not have conceived that we could follow any course but that which was obviously to her advantage. It was simply that she hated to see this strange, ugly woman moving about among her things. She swallowed her tears and passed on, to drift, like a dog, about the corridors.

Now, why did Kitty, who was the falsest thing on earth, who was in tune with every kind of falsity, by merely suffering somehow remind us of reality? Why did her tears reveal to me what I had learned long ago, but had forgotten in my frenzied love, that there is a draft that we must drink or not be fully human? I knew that one must know the truth. I knew quite well that when one is adult one must raise to one's lips the wine of the truth, heedless that it is not sweet like milk, but draws the mouth with its strength, and celebrate communion with

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 reality, or else walk forever queer and small like a dwarf. Thirst for this sacrament had made Chris strike away the cup of lies about life that Kitty's white hands held to him and turn to Margaret with this vast trustful gesture of his loss of memory. And helped by me, she had forgotten that it is the first concern of love to safeguard the dignity of the beloved, so that neither God in his skies nor the boy peering through the hedge should find in all time one possibility for contempt, and had handed him the trivial toy of happiness. We had been utterly negligent of his future, blasphemously careless of the divine essential of his soul. For if we left him in his magic circle there would come a time when his delusion turned to a senile idiocy; when his joy at the sight of Margaret disgusted the flesh because his smiling mouth was slack with age; when one's eyes no longer followed him caressingly as he went down to look for


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 resolved upon their immediate liberation. Consequently the slaves were all summoned before the noble woman, and informed that they were no longer bondsmen. "From this hour," said she, "you are free, and all eyes will be fixed upon you. I dare not predict how far your example may affect the welfare of your brethren yet in bondage. If you are temperate, industrious, peaceable, and pious, you will show to the world that slaves can be emancipated without danger. Remember what a singular relation you sustain to society. The necessities of the case require not only that you should behave as well as the whites, but better than the whites; and for this reason: if you behave no better than they, your example will lose a great portion of its influence. Make the Lord Jesus Christ your refuge and exemplar. His is the only standard around which you can successfully rally. If ever there was a people who needed the consolations of religion to sustain them in their grievous afflictions, you are that people. You had better trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Happy is that people whose God is the Lord. Get as much education as possible for yourselves and your children. An ignorant people can never occupy any other than a degraded station in society; they can never be truly free until they are intelligent. In a few days you will start for the state of Ohio, where land will be purchased for some of you who have families, and where I hope you will all prosper. We have been urged to send you to Liberia, but we think it wrong to send you from your native land. We did not wish to encourage the Colonization Society, for it originated in hatred of the free coloured people. Its pretences are false, its doctrines odious, its means contemptible. Now, whatever may be your situation in life, 'Remember those in bonds as

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 the first primroses in the wood, but flitted here and there defensively to see that nobody was noticing the doddering old man. Gamekeepers would chat kindly with him, and tap their foreheads as they passed through the copse; callers would be tactful and dangle bright talk before him. He who was as a flag flying from our tower would become a queer-shaped patch of eccentricity on the country-side, the full-mannered music of his being would become a witless piping in the bushes. He would not be quite a man.

I did not know how I could pierce Margaret's simplicity with this last cruel subtlety, and turned to her, stammering. But she said:

"Give me the jersey and the ball."

The rebellion had gone from her eyes, and they were again the seat of all gentle wisdom.

"The truth's the truth," she said, "and he must know it."


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 no mere personal grievance of mine—were kept, well, to say the least of it, in tutelage. Rather than let authority go definitely out of his hands, he would allow things to drift. Witness that door, witness the business of the nurse."

Mr. Dad, with his lips compressed, nodded his head; each nod like the tap of a hammer.

"I never believed in all this overdoing history in the school," Mr. Dad remarked rather disconnectedly. "If you get rid of Latin and Greek, why bring it all back again in another form? Why, I'm told he taught 'em things about Assyria. Assyria! A modern school ought to be a modern school—business first and business last and business all the time. And teach boys to work. We shall need it, mark my words."

"A certain amount of modern culture," waved Sir Eliphaz.

"Modern," said Mr. Farr softly.

Mr. Dad grunted. "In my opinion that sort of thing gives the boys ideas."

Mr. Farr steered his way discreetly. "Science with a due regard to its technical applications should certainly be the substantial part of a modern education."

They were in the smoking-room and half way through three princely cigars before they got beyond such fragmentary detractions of the fallen headmaster. Then Mr. Dad in the clear-cut style of a business man, brought his companions to action. "Well," said Mr. Dad, turning abruptly upon Sir Eliphaz, "what about it?"


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 was now near his home, and a whisper from the eldest daughter, who was unmarried but marriageable, induced him to extend to "Mr. Johnson" an invitation to stop and spend a week with the young ladies at their family residence. Clotel excused herself upon various grounds, and at last, to cut short the matter, promised that she would pay them a visit on her return. The arrival of the coach at Lynchburgh separated the young ladies from the Italian gent., and the coach again resumed its journey.

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 I looked up at her, gasping, yet not truly amazed; for I had always known she could not leave her throne of righteousness for long, and she repeated, "The truth's the truth," smiling sadly at the strange order of this earth.

We kissed not as women, but as lovers do; I think we each embraced that part of Chris the other had absorbed by her love. She took the jersey and the ball, and clasped them as though they were a child. When she got to the door she stopped and leaned against the lintel. Her head fell back; her eyes closed; her mouth was contorted as though she swallowed bitter drink.

I lay face downward on the ottoman and presently heard her poor boots go creaking down the corridors. Through the feeling of doom that filled the room as tangibly as a scent I stretched out to the thought of Chris. In the deep daze of devotion which followed recollection of


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Get on with you, said the abbess.

Wh - - - -yshyshcried Margarita.

Sh - - - ashu—ushu - - u—sh - - awshaw'd the abbess.

Whu—v—wwhew—w—w—whuv'd Margarita, pursing up her sweet lips betwixt a hoot and a whistle.

Thump—thump—thump—obstreperated the abbess of Andoüillets with the end of her gold-headed cane against the bottom of the calesh

The old mule let a f—


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XXXIII.]

Thereby around the gateways a mighty press arose,

And din of helmets also beneath the broadsword blows.

And thus the gallant Dankwart fell into sore distress:

But that his brother heeded, as bound in faithfulness.

For thereupon to Volker Sir Hagen cried aloud:

“Now look you yonder, comrade, how round my brother crowd

The Hunnish warriors closely, and blows upon him rain:

Friend, go and help my brother, or we shall lose the thane.”

“That will I do full surely,” answer’d the minstrelman;

And straightway through the palace his fiddling he began.

His hand with his stout broadsword full often music made;

To him the Rhenish warriors unbounded thanks repaid.

And soon the gallant Volker to Dankwart came and said:

“To-day no little trouble hath fallen on your head.

Your brother hath enjoin’d me to lend a helping hand:

If you’ll look to the outside, within the door I’ll stand.”

Dankwart the ever-ready without the gateway stood;

Well guarded he the stairway, let any come who would.

One heard the clang of weapons in the bold hero’s hand.

The like, within, did Volker of the Burgundian land.

Loudly the valiant minstrel shouted across the throng:

“The hall is closed, friend Hagen, with bolt and barrier strong.

The door of Etzel’s chamber is safely barr’d as well:

Two heroes’ hands that hold it a thousand bolts excel.”


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are ruin'd and undone, my child, said the abbess to Margarita—we shall be here all night—we shall be plunder'd—we shall be ravish'd

We shall be ravish'd, said Margarita, as sure as a gun.

Sancta Maria! cried the abbess (forgetting the O!)—why was I govern'd by this wicked stiff joint? why did I leave the convent of Andoüillets? and why didst thou not suffer thy servant to go unpolluted to her tomb?

O my finger! my finger! cried the novice, catching fire at the word servant


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338

When Hagen, Lord of Tronjé, knew that the door was fast,

His shield back on his shoulders the goodly chieftain cast.

First fell he to avenging the ills upon him wrought:

Of longer life his foemen had then but little thought.

The Prince of Bern no sooner had seen how matters went,

And how the mighty Hagen so many helmets rent,

Than sprang the Amelung ruler upon a bench: quoth he:

“The liquor Hagen giveth is vile as drink can be!”

The host was full of sorrow— good cause had he to rue:

What friends of him belovéd before his eyes they slew!

And hardly from his foemen unscath’d himself came he;

In grief he sat—what profit was it a king to be?

The mighty Queen Kriemhilda to Dietrich call’d and said:

“With all your manhood give me, O noble knight, your aid,

By all those princes’ merits erewhile of Amelung land:

Should Hagen once have reach’d me, my death were close at hand.”

“And how am I to help you,” Lord Dietrich answering said,

‘Great queen, when I have reason myself to be afraid?

These followers of Gunther with wrath so sorely burn,

That I with no one’s safety can now myself concern.”

“Nay, say not so, Lord Dietrich, thou noble knight and good,

This day make plain to all men thy kind and virtuous mood,

In that thou hence wilt help me: or I am like to die.”

Her fears had brought Kriemhilda to sore anxiety.


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 —why was I not content to put it here, or there, any where rather than be in this strait?

Strait! said the abbess.

Strait—said the novice; for terrour had struck their understandings—the one knew not what she said—the other what she answer'd.

O my virginity! virginity! cried the abbess.

inity! inity! said the novice, sobbing.


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 These are the 613 commandments that were said to Moses at Sinai; they and their generalities and their particulars and their details. All of those generalities and particularities and details, the explanations of each commandment, comprise the Oral Torah which each court received from the mouth of the previous court. And there are other commandments that were newly developed after the giving of the Torah, and prophets and sages established them and they spread in all of Israel – such as the reading of Scroll of Esther, and Hanukkah candles, and the fast of the Ninth of Av, and Eruvin, and impurity of hands. And each of these commandments have explanations and details. All will be explained in this compilation.

All these commandments that were newly developed – we are obligated to receive them and to keep them, as it says: "You shall not turn aside from the sentence" etc.; and they are not an addition to the commandments of the Torah. And on what did the Torah warn "you shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it"? That a prophet shall not be allowed to invent a law and say that the Holy One, Blessed be He, commanded him with this commandment, to add it to the commandments of the Torah, nor to diminish one of these 613 commandments. But if a court with a prophet that will be in that time added a commandment in a way of an enactment or in a way of an instruction or in a way of a decree – this is not an addition. For they did not say that the Holy One, Blessed be He, commanded to make an Eruv or to read the Scroll in its season. And if they would have said that, they would have been adding to the Torah. But so are we saying, that the prophets with the courts enacted them and commanded to read the Scroll in its season in order to remind the praises of the Holy One, Blessed be He, and the salvations that He did for us and He was close to our cry, in order to bless Him and to praise Him and in order to inform the coming generations that what He promised us in the Torah "And what great nation is there, that has God" etc. is true. And on this way is each and every commandment that is from the words of the Sages, both positive and negative.

I will include in it all the commandments that are the principle of the religion of our teacher, Moses, peace be upon him; and a person needs to know them before everything – for example: The Oneness of the Name, blessed is He, and the prohibitions of foreign worship. And I named this book: The Book of Wisdom.

I will include in it the commandments that are constant, that we were commanded with them in order to love God and to remember Him constantly – for example: Reading the Shema; and prayer; and tefillin; and the priestly blessing; and circumcision is included for it is a sign in our flesh to remind constantly in a time when there are neither tefillin nor fringes, etc. And I named this book: The Book of Love.

I will include in it all the commandments that are in certain seasons – for example: Sabbath and holidays. And I named this book: The Book of Seasons.

I will include in it the commandments of intercourse – for example: Betrothal and divorce and levirate marriage and release. And I named this book: The Book of Women.

I will include in it commandments of forbidden intercourse and commandments of forbidden foods – for in both of these subjects, God sanctified us and separated us from the heathens: With chastity and with forbidden foods. And in both of them it says "and I Have set you apart from the nations", "Who Have set you apart from the nations". And I named this book: The Book of Holiness.

I will include in it commandments that one who prohibited something on himself with words is obligated in them – for example: Oaths and vows. And I named this book: The Book of Pledges.

I will include in it commandments that pertain to the seed of the land – for example: Sabbatical years and jubilees and tithes and heave offerings and the rest of the commandments that are included with them of their subject. And I named this book: The Book of Agriculture.

I will include in it commandments that pertain to the building of the sanctuary and the daily public offerings. And I named this book: The Book of Temple Service.

I will include in it commandments that pertain to offerings of the individual. And I named this book: The Book of Temple Offerings.

I will include in it commandments that pertain to purities and impurities. And I named this book: The Book of Purity.

I will include in it commandments that are between man and his fellow and which start with damage in money or in body. And I named this book: The Book of Damages.

I will include in it commandments of sales and acquisition. And I named this book: The Book of Acquisition.

I will include in it commandments that are between man and his fellow in other laws which do not start with damage – for example: Guardians and creditors and claims and denials. And I named this book: The Book of Judgements.

I will include in it commandments that are given over to the Sanhedrin – for example: Death penalty by the court; and acceptance of testimony; and the judgement of the king and his wars. And I named this book: The Book of Judges. And this is the compilation of laws of this compilation according to the contents of the books and the division of the commandments according to the contents of the laws.

And now, I will begin to explain all the laws of each commandment and all the laws that are included therein from its subject according to the order of the laws with the help of God Almighty.

It contains laws on five topics; and this is their order: Laws of the Foundations of the Torah; Laws of Human Dispositions; Laws of Torah Study; Laws of Foreign Worship and Customs of the Nations; Laws of Repentance.

They comprise ten commandments: Six positive commandments and four negative commandments.1 To know that God exists. 2 Not to bring it on one's mind that any god other than Him exists. 3 To acknowledge that He is one. 4 To love Him. 5 To fear Him. 6 To sanctify His name. 7 Not to desecrate His name. 8 Not to destroy objects which His name was called on. 9 To obey a prophet who speaks in His name. 10 Not to test Him.

They comprise eleven commandments: Five positive commandments and six negative commandments.1 To follow in His ways. 2 To cling to those who know Him. 3 To love fellow men. 4 To love proselytes. 5 Not to hate brothers. 6 To reprove. 7 Not to shame. 8 Not to oppress the weak. 9 Not to bear tales. 10 Not to take vengeance. 11 Not to harbor a grudge.

They comprise two commandments: 1 To study Torah. 2 To respect its teachers and scholars.

They comprise fifty-one commandments: Two positive commandments and forty-nine negative commandments.1 Not to turn to foreign worship. 2 Not to stray after the thoughts of the heart and the sight of the eyes. 3 Not to blasphemize. 4 Not to worship it in its standard way. 5 Not to bow to it. 6 Not to make an idol for oneself. 7 Not to make an idol and even for others. 8 Not to create shapes; and even for beauty. 9 Not to entice others after it. 10 To burn a city that was led astray. 11 Not to rebuild it. 12 Not to derive benefit from any of its money. 13 Not to entice an individual to worship it. 14 Not to love the enticer. 15 Not to abandon his hatred. 16 Not to rescue him. 17 Not to judge him meritoriously. 18 Not to refrain from judging him unmeritoriously. 19 Not to prophesize in its name. 20 Not to listen to one who prophesizes in its name. 21 Not to prophesize falsely; and even in the Name of God. 22 Not to be afraid to execute a false prophet. 23 Not to swear in the name of foreign worship. 24 Not to divine by a ghost. 25 Not to divine by a familiar spirit. 26 Not to set apart to Molech. 27 Not to set up a pillar. 28 Not to bow down unto a figured stone. 29 Not to plant an Asherah. 30 To destroy foreign worship and anything that was made for it. 31 Not to derive benefit from foreign worship and its servants. 32 Not to derive benefit from the coating of something that was worshiped. 33 Not to make a league together with foreign worshippers. 34 Not to have mercy on them. 35 That they should not settle in our land. 36 Not to behave like their customs and like their clothing. 37 Not to use enchantments. 38 Not to practice divination. 39 Not to practice soothsaying. 40 Not to practice sorcery. 41 Not to practice necromancy. 42 Not to consult a ghost. 43 Not to consult a familiar spirit. 44 Not to bewitch. 45 Not to round the corner of the head. 46 Not to mar the corner of the beard. 47 That a man should not deck himself with ornaments of a woman. 48 That a woman should not deck herself with ornaments of a man. 49 Not to write a tattoo. 50 Not to cut oneself. 51 Not to make a baldness for the dead.

One positive commandment; and that is that the sinner should repent from his sin before God and should confess. In conclusion, all the commandments that are included in this book are seventy-five. Sixteen of them, positive commandments; and fifty-nine negative commandments.

It contains laws on six topics; and this is their order: Laws of Reading the Shema; Laws of Prayer and the Priestly Blessing; Laws of Tefillin, Mezuzah and a Torah Scroll; Laws of Fringes; Laws of Blessings; Laws of Circumcision.

One positive commandment; and that is to read the Shema twice daily.

They comprise two positive commandments: 1 To serve God with prayer every day. 2 That the priests should bless the Israelites every day.

They comprise five positive commandments.1 To have tefillin on the head. 2 To bind them on the hand. 3 To fix a mezuzah at the openings of the gateways. 4 That each man should write a Torah scroll for himself. 5 That the king should write a second scroll for himself in order that he should have two Torah scrolls.

One positive commandment; and that is to make fringes on the corners of the clothing.

One positive commandment; and that is to bless His Name after eating.

One positive commandment; and that is to circumcise the males on the eighth day. In conclusion, all the commandments that are included in this book are eleven positive commandments.

It contains laws on ten topics; and this is their order: Laws of the Sabbath; Laws of Eruvin; Laws of Rest on the Tenth; Laws of Rest on a Holiday; Laws of Leavened and Unleavened Bread; Laws of Shofar, Sukkah and Lulav; Laws of Shekalim; Laws of the Sanctification of the New Month; Laws of Fasts; Laws of the Scroll of Esther and Hanukkah.

They comprise five commandments: Two positive commandments and three negative commandments.1 To rest on the seventh day. 2 Not to do work on it. 3 Not to punish on the Sabbath. 4 Not to go out of the border on the Sabbath. 5 To sanctify the day with remembrance.

One positive commandment and that is from the words of the sages; and is not from the count.

They comprise four commandments: Two positive commandments and two negative commandments.1 To rest in it from work. 2 Not to do work on it. 3 To fast in it. 4 Not to eat and drink in it.

They comprise twelve commandments: Six positive commandments and six negative commandments.1 To rest on the First of Passover. 2 Not to do work on it. 3 To rest on the Seventh of Passover. 4 Not to do work on it. 5 To rest on the day of the Holiday of Shavuot. 6 Not to do work on it. 7 To rest on Rosh Hashanah. 8 Not to do work on it. 9 To rest on the First of the Holiday of Sukkoth. 10 Not to do work on it. 11 To rest on the Eighth of the Holiday. 12 Not to do work on it.

They comprise eight commandments: Three positive commandments and five negative commandments.1 Not to eat leavened bread on the Fourteenth day from midday and further. 2 To cast out leaven on the Fourteenth. 3 Not to eat leavened bread all seven days. 4 Not to eat a mixture of leavened bread all seven days. 5 That no leavened bread shall be seen all seven days. 6 That no leavened bread shall be found all seven days. 7 To eat unleavened bread on the night of Passover. 8 To recount the Exodus from Egypt on that night.

They comprise three positive commandments.1 To hear the sound of a shofar on the First of Tishri. 2 To sit in a sukkah on the seven days of the holiday. 3 To take a lulav at the sanctuary all seven days of the holiday.

One positive commandment; and that is that each man should give half of a shekel every year.

One positive commandment; and that is to calculate and to know and to determine which day is the beginning of each month from the months of the year.

One positive commandment; and that is to fast and to shout before God during every big tragedy that should not come on the public.

They comprise two positive commandments from the words of the sages; and they are not from the count. In conclusion, all the commandments of the Torah that are included in this book are thirty-five. Nineteen of them, positive commandments; and sixteen negative commandments. And it contains three commandments from the words of the sages.

It contains laws on five topics; and this is their order: Laws of Marriage; Laws of Divorce; Laws of Levirate Marriage and Release; Laws of a Virgin Maiden; Laws of a Woman Suspected of Infidelity.

They comprise four commandments: Two positive commandments and two negative commandments.1 To marry a women with a ketubah and kiddushin. 2 That a woman should not be sexually penetrated without a ketubah and kiddushin. 3 That he should not withhold food, raiment, and conjugal rights. 4 To be fruitful and multiply from her.

They comprise two commandments: 1 A positive commandment; and that is that he who divorces should divorce with a document. 2 That he should not retake his divorcée once she remarried.

They comprise three commandments: Two positive commandments and one negative commandment.1 To perform levirate marriage. 2 To release. 3 That a woman in need of levirate marriage should not get married to a stranger until the authority of the husband's brother is removed from her.

They comprise five commandments: Three positive commandments and two negative commandments.1 To fine the tempter. 2 That the rapist should marry his rapee. 3 That the rapist should not divorce. 4 That the wife of one who brings up an evil name should sit under her husband forever. 5 That one who brings up an evil name should not divorce his wife.

They comprise three commandments: One positive commandment and two negative commandments.1 To do to a woman suspected of infidelity as the law of the warnings that are ordered in the Torah. 2 Not to pour oil upon her sacrifice. 3 Not to pour upon it frankincense. In conclusion, all the commandments that are included in this book are seventeen. Nine of them, positive commandments; and eight negative commandments.

It contains laws on three topics; and this is their order: Laws of Forbidden Intercourse; Laws of Forbidden Foods; Laws of Slaughter.

They comprise thirty-seven commandments: One positive commandment and the rest are negative commandments.1 Not to sexually approach one's mother. 2 Not to sexually approach a wife of one's father. 3 Not to have sexual intercourse with a sister. 4 Not to have sexual intercourse with a daughter of a wife of one's father. 5 Not to have sexual intercourse a daughter of one's son. 6 Not to have sexual intercourse with a daughter. 7 Not to have sexual intercourse with a daughter of one's daughter. 8 Not to take a woman and her daughter in marriage. 9 Not to take a woman and her son's daughter in marriage. 10 Not to take a woman and her daughter's daughter in marriage. 11 Not to have sexual intercourse with a sister of one's father. 12 Not to have sexual intercourse with a sister of one's mother. 13 Not to have sexual intercourse with a wife of one's father's brother. 14 Not to have sexual intercourse with a wife of one's son. 15 Not to have sexual intercourse with a wife of one's brother. 16 Not to have sexual intercourse with a sister of one's wife. 17 Not to lie with a beast. 18 That a woman not bring a beast upon herself. 19 Not to lie with a male. 20 Not to reveal the nakedness of one's father. 21 Not to reveal


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XXXIII.]

“Can I do aught to help you, I verily will try;

Since never have I witness’d, for many years gone by,

To such deep wrath enkindled so many a warrior good.

Ay! through the riven helmets I see the surging blood.”

This thane of proven valour with power began to shout;

Like unto horn of bison his voice rang loudly out,

Until its strength re-echoed the wide-wall’d stronghold round.

The mightiness of Dietrich was great beyond all bound.

When Gunther heard the clamour proceeding from this man

Above the noise of battle, to hearken he began.

Said he: “The voice of Dietrich is to my hearing plain;

I trow that our retainers some friend of his have slain.

“I see him on the table, he beckons with his hand.

Ye friends of mine and kinsfolk from the Burgundian land,

Cease fighting for a season, and let one hear and see

What to the thane hath happen’d through them who follow me.”

And when the royal Gunther besought and gave command,

They, in the stress of battle, halted with sword in hand.

So great the power he wielded, not one durst strike a blow

Whilst him of Bern he challenged, with readiness enow.

Said he: “Most noble Dietrich, what hath to you been done

By any of my people? I’m willing, be it known,

Amends and satisfaction right readily to give.

Were any man to wrong you, right deeply should I grieve.”


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Then answer’d the Lord Dietrich: “Naught hath been done to me;

But let me leave the palace with your safe-conduct free,

And get with my retainers from this fell strife away:

For that I’ll owe you service assuredly for aye.”

Then unto him spake Wolfhart: “Why ask ye grace so soon?

That door, I trow, the fiddler hath not so closely done

But we can force it open enough to get away.”

“Now hold thy peace,” cried Dietrich, “the devil thou dost play.”

Then spake the royal Gunther: “That will I let you do.

Out of this place depart ye, many be ye or few,

But not a single foeman— here stay they everyone.

They have anent these Hunsfolk so basely to me done.”

When Dietrich heard that saying, he took beneath his arm

The noble queen, sore stricken with sorrow and alarm.

Upon his other arm he took Etzel with him then;

There also went with Dietrich six hundred goodly men.

Then up and spake the margrave, the noble Rüdeger:

“If any from the palace be yet allowed to fare,

Who still are fain to serve you, to us let it be known:

For thus may peace enduring betwixt good friends be sown.”

Whereto made answer Gis’lher, of the Burgundian land:

“To you shall peace and pardon be granted at our hand,

Since you and your retainers were e’er of faithful heart.

You all shall, unmolested, hence with your friends depart.”


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 "It is manifest that Woldingstanton has to enter on a new phase; what has happened brings us to the parting of the ways," said Sir Eliphaz. "Much as I regret the misfortunes of an old friend."

"That," said Mr. Dad, "spells Farr."

"If he will shoulder the burthen," said Sir Eliphaz, smiling upon Mr. Farr not so much with his mouth as by the most engaging convolutions, curvatures and waving about of his various strands of hair.

"I don't want to see the school go down," said Mr. Farr. "I've given it a good slice of my life."

"Right," said Mr. Dad. "Right. File that. That suits us. And now how do we set about the affair? The next thing, I take it, is to break it to Huss How?"

He paused to give the ideas of his companions a fair chance.

"Well, my idea is this. None of us want to be hard on Mr. Huss. Luck has been hard enough as it is. We want to do this job as gently as we can. It happens that I go and play golf at Sundering on Sea ever and again. Excellent links, well kept up all things considered, and the big hotel close by does you wonderfully, the railway company sees to that; in spite of the war. Well, why shouldn't we all, if Sir Eliphaz's engagements permit, go down there in a sort of casual way, and take the opportunity of a good clear talk with him and settle it all up? The thing's got to be done, and it seems to me altogether more kindly to go there personally and put it to him than do it by correspondence. Very likely we could put it to him in such a way that he himself would


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 suggest the very arrangement we want. You particularly, Sir Eliphaz, being as you say an old friend."

Since there was little likelihood of Mr. Huss going away from Sundering on Sea, it did not appear necessary to Mr. Dad to apprise him of the projected visitation. And so these three gentlemen heard nothing about any operation for cancer until they reached that resort.

Mr. Dad came down early on Friday afternoon to the Golf Hotel, where he had already engaged rooms for the party. He needed the relaxation of the links very badly, the task of accumulating a balance sufficiently large to secure an opulent future for British industry, with which Mr. Dad in his straightforward way identified himself, was one that in a controlled establishment between the Scylla of aggressive labour and the Charybdis of the war-profits tax, strained his mind to the utmost. He was joined by Mr. Farr at dinner-time, and Sir Eliphaz, who was detained in London by some negotiations with the American Government, arrived replete by the dining-car train. Mr. Farr made a preliminary reconnaissance at Sea View, and was the first to hear of the operation.

Sir Alpheus Mengo was due at Sea View by the first train on Saturday. He had arranged to operate before lunch. It was clear therefore that the only time available for a conversation between the three and Mr. Huss was between breakfast and the arrival of Sir Alpheus.


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 Mr. Huss, whose lethargy had now departed, displayed himself feverishly anxious to talk about the school. "There are points I must make clear," he said, "vital points," and so a meeting was arranged for half-past nine. This would give a full hour before the arrival of the doctors.

"He feels that in a way it will be his testament, so to speak," said Mr. Farr. "Naturally he has his own ideas about the future of the school. We all have. I would be the last person to suggest that he could say anything about Woldingstanton that would not be well worth hearing. Some of us may have heard most of it before, and be better able to discount some of his assertions. But that under the present circumstances is neither here nor there."

Matters in the confined space of Sea View were not nearly so strained as Mr. Huss had feared. The prospect of an operation was not without its agreeable side to Mrs. Croome. Possibly she would have preferred that the subject should have been Mrs. rather than Mr. Huss, but it was clear that she made no claim to dictate upon this point. Her demand for special fees to meet the inconveniences of the occasion had been met quite liberally by Mr. Huss. And there was a genuine appreciation of order and method in Mrs. Croome; she was a furious spring-cleaner, a hurricane tidier-up, her feeling for the discursive state of Mrs. Huss's hair was almost as involuntary as a racial animosity; and the swift dexterous prep-


text: The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman/Volume 7/Chapter 23


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title: User talk:Archaeaoris


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 arations of the nurse who presently came to convert the best bedroom to surgical uses, impressed her deeply. She was allowed to help. Superfluous hangings and furnishings were removed, everything was thoroughly scrubbed, at the last moment clean linen sheets of a wonderful hardness were to be spread over every exposed surface. They were to be brought in sterilised drums. The idea of sterilised drums fascinated her. She had never heard of such things before. She wished she could keep her own linen in a sterilised drum always, and let her lodgers have something else instead.

She felt that she was going to be a sort of assistant priestess at a sacrifice, the sacrifice of Mr. Huss. She had always secretly feared his submissive quiet as a thing unaccountable that might at any time turn upon her; she suspected him of ironies; and he would be helpless, under chloroform, subject to examination with no possibilities of disconcerting repartee. She did her best to persuade Dr. Barrack that she would be useful in the room during the proceedings. Her imagination conjured up a wonderful vision of the Huss interior as a great chest full of strange and interesting viscera with the lid wide open and Sir Alpheus picking thoughtfully, with deprecatory remarks, amid its contents. But that sight was denied her.

She was very helpful and cheerful on the Saturday morning, addressing herself to the consolation of Mr. and the bracing-up of Mrs. Huss. She assisted in the final transformation of the room.

"It might be a real 'ospital," she said. "Nursing


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 {|
 * style="vertical-align:text-top"|I.
 * An Account of the Scarabæus Galeatus Pulator, or the Death Watch, by Mr. Hugh Stackhoue. Communicated by John Harwood, L.L.D. R.S.S.
 * }
 * An Account of the Scarabæus Galeatus Pulator, or the Death Watch, by Mr. Hugh Stackhoue. Communicated by John Harwood, L.L.D. R.S.S.
 * }

S I tood thoughtful in my Study, on the 16th of May, 1724 I happen'd to hear, what is commonly call'd the Death Watch, very near, as I thought, to the Place where I then tood: This brought into my Mind, what I had formerly read in the Philoophical Tranactions, for the Month of October, 1698, of the Scarabæus Galeatus Pulator, found, and describ'd, by Mr. Benjamin Allen. While I was thinking upon the Account there given, I fancied I heard the Beatings omewhat tronger than before, which encourag'd me to earch after it; I thereupon removed my Station to another Part of the Room, and oon dicover'd, that I had pas'd the Place where the Beatings were; upon which, I concluded, that it lay omewhere betwixt my two Stations; I therefore remov'd, and placed myelf about the middle Ditance; where, though the Beatings did not repeat o frequently as before, yet when they did, I found I was till nearer 'em. While I tood in this Place, I fancied 'twas over my Head, toward the Ceiling of the Room; upon this, I got upon a Chair, that had a Sedge Bottom, and tood to the Wall jut before me; but tanding there for ome time, I could hear no Beatings at all. I then tept down from the Chair, and after I had tood till for ome time, the Rh


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 he was constantly with them when he was not with his grandfather, and it did him no harm. He was rather pleased to think that the kalounkar, the musicians, and the others still preserved a kind of predilection for the farm, paying back to the son the hospitality they had enjoyed from the father. Then again he heard about his son that he was with a certain gamekeeper, and that he was happy in the woods and ravines, and when the gamekeeper sent word that Frank behaved well with him, Frank was suffered to remain. Then a forester saw Frank at the gamekeeper’s house, and hearing that he was a son from Loyka’s estate, said, “So you must come and stay with me as well”, and then Frank advanced just like a vagabond, having been a vagabond at the gamekeeper’s, in course of time he became a vagabond at the forester’s.

And here in these woods it seemed as though he had found once more all that he missed at home. When he found himself in some rocky haunt overshadowed by pine-trees, all the fairy stories stood before him, just as if he were seated at home in one of those chambers by the coach-house, until he even felt himself involved in horror, until even a panic seized him in that chilly dusk of the woodland, just as at home when at even they narrated about white women, about black hounds, and about accursed personages.

When a panic seized him, he laid foot to shoulder, sped out of the wood across the fields and to the cemetery, shouted to Staza, and then led her away that she might hear with him what he had heard before alone. On the way he had already prepared her for what she was to expect, that, as he said, she might not be too much startled. And on the way through the fields they visited various hedgerows and their trysting-places, and here they had already lost half their fear and on their way through the wood there was no need to penetrate to its rocky haunts, not at all, they took the path by the outskirts of the wood, or perhaps amused themselves at the keeper’s house, and so lost the other half of their fears.

And this expedition into the wood was for Staza something unutterably charming and wonderful. From Bartos, the gravedigger, she heard how robbers fell upon him in the woods and how he defended himself. From Frank she heard how a panic seized a man when he retired to its rocky wilderness. And when she came thither with Frank, she saw trees like giants, she heard the murmur as of a mighty river, she felt the breath of flowers, Rh


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 Beatings began again; this made me conjecture, that they might be about the Chair, and that my tanding upon it might prevent them. Upon inclining my Head down toward the Chair, I found I was till nearer and nearer to the Sound, and, at lat, placing my Ear cloe to the Sedge Bottom of the Chair, I dicover'd that it was till further towards the Ground: Upon that, I turn'd the Chair's Bottom upwards, but heard no Beatings for a coniderable time after; at length, they began again, and, as I cat a diligent Eye over the Bottom of the Chair, I happen'd, at lat, to hit luckily upon the Place where the Inect was beating; o that it dicover'd itelf to me by its own Pulations. I was very much pleas'd with the Dicovery, and not only tood viewing it beat for ome time, but alo afterwards call'd up others to ee it beat, which they did, and that, not without Admiration. The Manner of its Beating was thus.

It lifted up itelf upon its hinder Legs, and omewhat extending, or rather inclining its Neck, beat down its Face upon the Sedge, with great Force and Agility; the Sedge, upon which I found it, was bared of its outward Coat, for about the Length of half an Inch; the Inect tood upon the inward bulbous Part, and beat upon the outward Coat; as if it had been working it off as it went; the Impreions of its Strokes were very viible, the Coat of the Sedge being depres'd, where it had beaten, for about the Compas of a ilver Penny; whether it beat for Exercie, or Food ake, I cannot certainly ay; but very probably it might be for the latter; and I am rather inclin'd to think o, becaue there were more than one uch Places upon the Sedge, where it had been at work, and where, 'tis likely, it might have been a Sojourner for ome Days. A


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 As to what the ingenious Mr. Derham of Upminter has oberv'd, that the Beatings are a ort of Prelude for Copulation, I could not dicover that this Beetle had any other of the ame Species near it; and therefore I am inclin'd to think, that it beat for the Preparation of it Food, at this time, at leat, whatoever it might do at other times, for Pleaure. The Decription Mr. Allen gives of the Inect, as referr'd to above, foramuch as I can find by this (which I took from the Chair where I found it, into a Box) is very true: 'Tis about a Quarter of an Inch in length, of a dark, dirty Colour, having a broad Galea, or Helmet, over its Head; under which, when quiet, it draws up its Head; o that this Galea is, when this Inect rets, a very notable and providential Defence againt uch Falls, as are frequent in rotten and decay'd Places, in which, it hould eem, this Inect is very much converant. The econd Day after I took it, I open'd the Box wherein it was, and et it in the Sun: The Inect was oon very brisk, and crept backwards and forwards along the Pieces of Sedge, and rotten Wood, that I had put with it into the Box, till at length getting to the End of one of the Pieces, it immediately truck out its Wings, and was jut going to take its Farewell; but having the Lid of the Box ready in my Hand, I haded it over, and it oon drew its Wings, and was very quiet. I could not before perceive, though I had the Ue of a tolerable good Glas, any the leat Sign of a Fiure upon its Back; and, for that Reaon, did greatly quetion, whether it had any Wings or not, till I et it, as above, in the Sun. The Head of the Inect appears to be of a very fine Contexture, as it is een, when it creeps about, and tretcheth it forward; but when 'tis drawn up under its Galea, it eems to be cover'd with a Membrane thick et with fine Hairs. Rh


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XXXIII.]

When Rüdeger the margrave departed from the hall,

Five hundred men went with him or more, belike, in all,

Who came from Bechelaren, liegemen and friends as well;

By whom unto King Gunther great mischief soon befell.

Meanwhile a Hunnish warrior, who saw how Etzel went

By Dietrich’s side, to profit thereby was all intent;

But with his sword the minstrel fetch’d at him such a slice,

That at the feet of Etzel his head lay in a trice.

When that the country’s ruler had got outside the place,

He stopp’d and look’d behind him towards where Volker was:

“Woe’s me for this dread stranger; a cruel destiny

It is that all my warriors must dead before him lie!

“And woe upon this feasting,” the noble sovran cried,

“For one, by name of Volker, is fighting there inside

Like to a savage boar, and yet a minstrel he!

I thank my Lord and Saviour I’m from that devil free!

“Right evil sound his measures, his strokes are bloody red;

Ay, and his tunes have smitten full many a hero dead,

I know not what against us this minstrel doth attest,

For never have I harbour’d so downright ill a guest!”

They’d let from out the palace as many as they chose;

Then from the folk within it a fearful din arose.

The guests for what had happen’d a dire revenge would have.

Ay! Volker the undaunted, what helmets then he clave!


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 she felt the chill of the woodland, her little soul opened and something of the great Unknown entered into it. It was not so smiling nor clear as the white light of day which she saw from the cemetery, but it was just as majestic and inaccessible, so that she sat beside Frank silent and, as it were, full of reverent awe.

Neither the one nor the other knew how to express it all, but they knew so much as this—that in their inmost soul was a sort of language which explained it all. Once Staza said that they would sing; and they began to sing, “Odpocinte v pokoji verne dusicky” [“Rest in peace ye faithful spirits”], but scarcely had they pronounced the words before Staza burst into tears, and when she was quieted it seemed to her as though she heard organ-tones above her; then she said that never in her life, nor for the whole world would she dare to sing in this place again. And it seemed to the two as though she had expressed herself as follows: In the fields there is a presence which inviteth to the dance and singing, but here in the woodland there is a presence which inviteth to silence and attentiveness, because it would fain tell its own story.

That no doubt was the difference for Staza expressed in the most general terms. But otherwise she here entered into a new world, and still it appeared to her as though it was a world akin to the one she knew before. True, when she and Frank came out of the graves or from the graves themselves into the fields, gaiety, potent even to excess, and delight seized upon her spirits, her soul soared aloft with the very sky-larks, and fluttered into the blue of heaven and the clear transparent ether. But when she came hither into the wood she partially felt as though she were in the cemetery among the tombs and at home. Just as though she was actually seated in a spot which might be called a cemetery, a grave. But with all its closeness, it was so magnificent and so beautiful, with all its dusky twilight it was so open and so free, that her soul, although it had them not, yet felt on itself a kind of pinions, so that it fluttered and was carried aloft and even took Frank’s spirit with it, so that both fluttered together.

Again it was otherwise, when they ceased to listen to the murmur of the woodlands, when they ceased to look at all that grandeur, when before their soul the ha-haing of that organ was mute, and trivial things emerged—things easily comprehensible. Here was the call-note of the cuckoo, here a butterfly, a beetle, a fly. Here Staza again found speech, here words came to her,


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 It lived with me about a Fortnight, but I could never perceive that it beat, after it was confin'd in the Box.


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 at sight of these trivial things she again found herself, and here she would in a little time have again given way to dancing and singing.

So then this world was to Staza strange, new, and yet extremely welcome. Although Frank used to go for her, and so ought to have been her guide, she took upon herself the role of cicerone and played her part famously. She led Frank from tree to tree, and every tree was like the resting-place of some pretty conceit. What she and Frank failed to find when roving through the fields, seemed to find a voice among these gnarled trees, as though it called aloud, “Then it is just so.”

Each of our two vagabonds went into the wood with a different object, and only when the mind of one went halves with the other in all that they found in the wood, could the mental picture of the woodland within them be said to be complete. Frank heard every bird, saw every bird, heard every murmur, saw the squirrel and the hare, heard the foot of the wild goat crunching the gravel, and confided to Staza all he perceived. He was like the visible ear of the wood, and in his head the wood was, as it were, depicted down to the very song of the birds and the sound of the wind among the boughs. His eye was constantly in the crowns of the trees, constantly on the watch, constantly following something. All this time Staza was continually exclaiming, “Look at that primrose! Look what a beautiful sweetbrier! Here I still smell close at hand the last violet of the spring! Look what a grey coat of lichen that pine-tree wears, and how silvery is yonder birch! And see here are wild strawberries. Here the whortleberry is in bloom. This place we must remember. And here is a plant which I have planted on maminka’s tomb; it is the tearlets of the Virgin Mary [the wild red pink]. Look how the wild nut-trees are covered with catkins”, and similar things she said.

It is evident that Staza’s mind was attracted to colour, to flowers, to variety. And if the birds skipped and hopped in Frank’s mind, in Staza’s blossomed a whole parterre, the loveliest colours mingled together, rivulets streamed off from blue forget-me-nots, and fringed themselves with blackberries.

And if the soul of Frank was full of sweet sounds, the soul of Staza was garlanded with flowers. And when they paced the woodland, one gave to the other; Staza gave to Frank flowers and colours, and Frank gave to Staza singing and melodious sounds.

But they also penetrated the rocky wilderness and ravines of the woodland, and lingered there a while. Only that Staza Rh


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 especially thought that it would be too much to sit there every day, that it would oppress her too heavily. Because in that ravine there was not any sound to be heard, everything was, as it were, embedded in silence, and if a step rustled it startled you. The rocky walls stood narrowly opposed to one another: if they had had hands they could have stretched them out and shaken them. And these rocky walls rose high into the air: high aloft the merest vestige of blue sky bent above them in a tiny narrow strip; all the rest of the sky was banished from the view. Moreover sometimes a large bird appeared high above it all with a strange whistling note which startled you as much as when a footstep rustled.

What was it at home in the cemetery, compared with this huge grave! If she had ever felt oppressed in a grave (but she never did feel oppressed) she had only to sit upright or stand and she saw in a moment all the surrounding world: all the other graves, the ruddy-painted cross with the white-iron figure of the Christus, the whole sky, and her cheerfulness was at once restored. But here, if you felt oppressed, standing upright was of slight service to you. You must go quite away, and yourself cause a kind of rustling with your own footsteps, a kind of crunching of the gravel, which here was the source of so much trepidation.

And then a little pebble sometimes rolled over the rocky wall, and you could hear above measure distinctly its every tap against the rocky angles of the stone. Or sometimes a lizard, sunning itself, let fall a morsel of earth, and this, crumbling and rolling down, rustled in a quite mysterious manner. Sometimes a puff of wind carried a leaflet hither from the beech-trees which grew yonder above the ravine, and this leaflet quivered and fluttered in the air as if it trembled and dreaded to take the final plunge. Here every feeble whisper became a voice.

Sometimes when they were seated here they had not the least wish to utter a word. A word here was re-echoed from the walls of the ravine, the walls themselves spoke their own language, and it was in a manner cheery enough—but you could not bear it long. Here they generally uttered their thoughts to one another only in whispers, seated side by side, in order that they might not infuriate those walls. But more than once it happened that even those walls themselves began to whisper. For the pellet of earth falling over them and fraying to pieces was also a whispering, and the leaflet falling from above and trembling was also a whispering, and such unexpected whisperings made the children


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 pause abashed, and so many a time they broke off in the middle of their conversation, only listening, looking at one another, and holding one another by the hand.

They oftest trusted themselves to converse aloud when the woodland above them yonder also carried on its own conversation, when the wind unloosed its mouth, and when those organ-pipes which Staza had first heard in the woodland had their bellows full distended. Then a word was easily spoken, even the walls no longer seemed to spy upon them, having too much to occupy them in the hurly-burly of the woods above them, even the pebble ceased to whisper, nor could you hear the rustling of the lizard or the dropping of the morsels of soil. Then only articulate sounds uttered out loud could withstand the din, and thus also Frank and Staza conversed aloud.

Here and there the brambles trailed over the rocky walls in every kind of amicable embrace. In places the mullein’s tall stem shot upwards as if with some definite aim. “I have got so far at all events”, it seemed to say. At one of the corners of the rocky wall clung a single unlucky brier bush—clung in such a way that it could neither ascend or deseend, but hung clinging in mid-air above a perpetual abyss. More fortunately fared a single birch above it which grew symmetrically upwards, and striking its roots into several crevices of the rocky wall maintained itself on its giddy platform.

But one sound was here, which never languished but continually sated the ear with its gentle music. From one end of the rocky glen bubbled to the surface a spring of water pure as silver, and our ravine offered to it its own lowest parts, in which the spring might arrange its watercourses, and here it arranged them most tranquilly, like a good housewife. Where it suited best it had fishes eyes [a plant], where you least at all expected it, it had strawberries stowed away, and where only that was possible it had some bush, in order that it might be a mirror to the bush.

And this streamlet greatly tranquillized the savage wildness of the ravine. This streamlet seemed to make a charming chamber of that rock-bound tomb, a chamber which especially entertained and welcomed Staza. And so when Frank said, “Let us go to the ravine”, Staza at first remembered only its blank walls of rock with their scanty blackberry bushes, the wild sweetbrier, and the long lank birch-tree, and then she felt as though she must try very hard to be brave enough to go. But soon after this she remembered the water sporting with itself and babbling in its


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 channel far below, and how here it lingered by a stone, here frolicked with a bush, and here streamed off from a whole colony of forget-me-nots-and then she needed not to be invited a second time, and after this Frank heard at once the words, “Well, then, let us go to the ravine.”

And this ravine was like another church to these children. As we know, they had their own little chapels first in the fields, by the hedgerows, not far from the nest of the quail. Here in this ravine they had a new church, substantially different from yon other, and yet in many respects not at all dissimilar. The difference was perhaps this that yonder by the hedgerows and in the fields the mind expanded and soared aloft, but here gathered itself into its own depths. The similarity then lay in this, that both there and here the soul gained strength and courage and other qualities of the like nature.

So now the life of these two young souls began to bestir itself. It began in the grave, it leapt forth among the fields, and here in the woodland it paused and listened. There were life ends their life began, there were life unfolds in germinating ears of corn beneath warm summer rays of light their life carolled gaily, and here in the ravine and woodland where life has a couch of quiet dreams their pilgrimage was reminded that it must return again to the graves.

Once Staza said to Frank, “Now that you lead me into the fields and woodlands, I sing but seldom among the graves at home. Do you know why?”

“Why?”

“Because I am thinking how I may be with thee. Often and often I have begun to sing, but then it has occurred to me that I would far sooner be with thee, and that it would be better than singing. Once I wished to sing at maminka’s grave, and just then I heard thy call at the wicket-gate, and I went just as though thou hadst been maminka.” Then said Frank, “And do you know why I so continually run from place to place?”

“I do not know.”

“I am seeking at all times where thou wouldst like to be, and when I have found a place I show it thee, and then I cease to rove abroad. But I know that thou wouldst not be happy at our house, and therefore I do not lead thee thither.”

“And where hitherto hast thou been happiest?” inquired Staza.

“With you in the cemetery.”

“Then I shall be happy there also”, said Staza.


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 “And also I like to be at our house, but in the pension house where grandfather lived”, said Frank. “And so my parents stay there now.”

“I should like to be there also,” said Staza. “only that thy brother ought not to live there.”

“My brother is there no longer,” said Frank, “he is at the farmhouse, and my parents are at the pension house; they are there just as my grandfather used to be, and I should like to see the place again.”

It was true that Frank began to yearn for home, nevermore to quit it, for he thought that nothing could compare with the delight of dwelling where his grandfather had once been, that is to say, in the pension house or at the cemetery.

And so they went home, and the sun had already set when they came to Frishets. When they set foot upon the village green a large number of people stood there, and all were talking and pointing in the direction of the Loykas’s house. Here Frank involuntarily called to mind the people who came to the farmstead on the day when the funeral bell was tolled for his grandfather, and they were almost all the same people, and Vena was among them.

Frank and Staza halted, concealed themselves behind the trunk of a large linden, and listened. Something said the mayor, something said the sexton Vanek, something said Vena, and the rest of the people filled up the gaps with questions.

“They have driven him out, they have worried him out of the pension house”, said Vena. “Truly they did well: was he not old? Had he not given everything to the young folks? Had he not stinted himself for them? Had he not passed sleepless nights for them? and for them toiled at his estate—and this is his reward!”

“And how could they drive him out of the pension house?” inquired a neighbour.

“How could they drive him out? Thus, look you, they could drive him out. They said to him, ‘Leave the pension house’, and it was so. When do you peasant proprietors say anything else to your vejminkar [pensioner]", sneered Vena.

And now the mayor began to elucidate matters. Sundry relations came to the young Loykas’s to spend the day, then for two days, but after that they did not wish to leave the farm at all. And in order that the young folk need not have them constantly on their hands, Joseph Loyka’s young wife went herself to the old


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 folk and asked them whether they would object to being removed into the two chambers by the coach-house, and allow her relations to occupy the pension house. On this old Loyka asked if she had anything more at heart? and whether she knew what it was to be banished to those two chambers—and by what sort of people they had previously been occupied. On this Barushka said that she did know, and that since the musicians whom he was so fond of had previously dwelt there well enough, perhaps he also would do there well enough, and that if he felt lonely and out of spirits he might invite the musicians to share the rooms with him. On this old Loyka went to his son and asked him whether he knew what the young mistress of the house had just been saying. “I do know”, replied his son, and repeated to his father everything which the father had heard from Barushka, because the young people had agreed between themselves what Barushka should say to the old man.

“Well, and what dost thou think of it all, my son?” inquired old Loyka.

“I think the rooms would suit you admirably”, said the young hospodar. “You see, of course, that I could not put my wife’s relations there.”

“And so I am to dwell there with Vena”, laughed old Loyka.

“As you please. But for my part I think that it would be an excellent opportunity of ridding the house of Vena altogether.”

Just as the neighbours had reached this point, they heard a banging of doors at the Loykas’s house, and from the gate ran old Loyka with dishevelled hair. The moon shone over the village green with its first rays; Loyka ran direct to the neighbours there assembled.

“Neighbours, for the love of Heaven, I implore you, lend me a match”, he shouted. “In all the house I cannot find one little match wherewith to kindle the roof above the head of this son of mine!” shouted old Loyka, and kept constantly feeling in his pockets to see if there was anything like a match in them.

It was quite an awful spectacle to look upon the poor old man, and yet more awful to listen to him.

None of the neighbours answered him.

“What, then, will none of you lend me one little match?” shouted Loyka. “Oh! fie! the shame of it. I lent to each one of you whoever came to me at any time; whithout usury I lent to all. Who of you can say I ever refused to lend him what he wanted? If any one needed stock I lent him live stock. If any one needed


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 a team I lent him a team; if any wanted harvesters I lent him harvesters; and now I want a match from you and ye will not lend it me.” And on this he cursed all his previous neighbourliness.

It was evident to every one without further demonstration that old Loyka’s mind was unstrung. Some in their compassion took one another by the hand, some began to show their pity by shedding tears. The mayor stepped up to him, and said, “Pantata, perhaps if you were to lie down you would get over it in sleep.”

But old Loyka replied instantly, “I thank you for your good counsel, excellent man. Do you think that I could lay me down in the chambers by the coach-house? I might. Why should I not? When the musicians and the tinkers and the kalounkar lay there, why should not I lie there also? But I know why I cannot lie there—because it would break my heart.” And at these words he struck his old breast with his fists as though he would break it in pieces.

Again the mayor seized his opportunity, and said, “You need not sleep there, pantata. Give me your hand; I will lead you to our house, and you can choose for yourself the bed which you like best.”

“True, that might be”, said Loyka, as if he came to himself a little. But immediately after this he added with a bitter laugh, “But think you sleep would visit me, there, either? If Loyka passed a night in the village outside his own estate, could he also sleep? He could not sleep? I thank you respectfully, kind neighbour. But hence I will not stir. If no one is willing to lend me a match, the devil is in it if I do not tarry here until the Lord God sends a fiery brand from heaven upon the farmstead of my son!”

And he raised his hands to heaven and cried, “O Lord God! a little of Thy fiery brimstone and Thy name shall be exalted for ever and ever.” He cried aloud like one of the prophets of the Old Testament, until horror encompassed every one who listened to him.

Then again he spoke, turning his face to his neighbours, “The Lord God heareth not, and that because I equally inflicted wrong upon my own father—only that I never drove him to the dog-kennel. Only when my own father has forgiven me and prayed for me, will the Lord God send down brimstone.” And he sobbed aloud.


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 Again said the mayor, “Take it not so to heart, pantata; perhaps your son will grow wiser, and all will yet be well.”

“Not take it to heart! Already it is late, dear neighbour, already it is quite pitch-dark in those chambers, ay, it is dark there in broad daylight.” And here it seemed again as though he once more came to himself a little.

And not long after this he said, “I know what would do me good for this one day, and where I could sleep. If some one would lead me to the burial-ground to the grave of my father. But where is there any to be found to lead me thither? There is not one.”

“If you wish it, pantata, we will go at once”, said Vena. “I will conduct you thither; I will stay with you there as long as you please.”

“So be it, so be it”, said Loyka, and laughed, and looked from one to another, and in fact allowed himself to be conducted by Vena in the direction of the cemetery. Almost all that group of neighbours followed him at a few paces distance, and accompanied him to the outskirts of the village.

And Loyka went with Vena to the burial-ground.

But close behind them, even to the burial-ground itself, went two small souls in great sorrow and tribulation: they were Frank and Staza.

GAIN the moon shone out, when they came to the cemetery, just as long ago when Frank and Staza first passed the night in his grandfather’s grave. And because the cemetery stood on an eminence there at times stole over it a warm breeze in whose breath the white-iron figure of the Christus rattled upon the ruddy cross, several of the lesser crosses clattered with their arms, and sometimes creaked on its hinges a rusty little door, behind which lay concealed the inscription above some dead man’s bones.

This clattering of the arms of the crosses, the rattling of the Christus, and the creaking of the rusty doorlets was the only unrest which the dead gave to view—how little was it all compared with that with which they had so tormented one another in life!

Besides this, however, a breeze also ran above the graves and stirred the tall grasses and here and there a flower; but this unrest


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 was scarce strong enough to be perceived, ay, rather it resembled the faint breathing of a child or the mere echo of a sigh.

As we know from the beginning of our story that tinsel music in which the Christus indulged was not over-attractive towards nightfall, and people took to flight before it as if an enemy were in full pursuit behind them. But of those who came hither this evening none paid any attention to it; perhaps they did not even hear it, because in their inmost hearts resounded an unrest far more fierce, more discordant, harsh, so that they fled from it into this strange harbour of refuge.

And hereupon old Loyka, as soon as they had set foot in the cemetery, embraced with one hand that ruddy wood of the cross, and raising the other on high and fixing his eyes upon the white-iron figure of the Christus, began to lament his fate, to call aloud, to curse, to pray, and to prostrate himself at the same time. “Thou martyred Head,” he cried, “Thou hast suffered much, but Thou hadst not a son to cut out Thy heart piece by piece—I suffer more. Thou hadst no home, but because Thou never hadst a home, Thou knowest not what it is to be forced to leave a home, a home which I proffered to every one who needed it, and now I have not even so much as I proffered once to others—I suffer more. Thou wert young and vigorous when Thou didst suffer, but Thou hadst not hair streaked with grey and wrinkles on Thy face, Thou hast not suffered when the feet long to faint and flag, and must tramp on—I suffer more! But Thou didst voluntarily undergo Thy torments, mine are the punishment of my sins—yonder in that grave sleeps the witness of my words and of my evil deeds—I suffer more! And I but now entreated Thy Father about some fire that He would send it as He sent it upon Gomorrah, and He heard me not—what is there still left for me to suffer?”

After these words, pronounced with immeasurable anguish, a silence fell on everything in the cemetery, as though it would accentuate Loyka’s bitterness—the white-iron figure of the Christus clanged upon the cross from time to time—perhaps it did not wish without reserve to adapt itself to this train, of thoughts.

On this Vena said, “If you would have allowed yourself, pantata, to be nailed to a cross like the Lord Christ, look you there, you never need have been banished from your home, and for my part I believe that Joseph would have helped you up if you had requested him.”


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 Loyka having bewailed and lamented his fate, now felt relieved, at least those thick clouds broke and dispersed in which till now his thoughts had been enveloped. But it was only for a moment. And in that moment he sank down by the cross, embraced the foot of it, and perhaps he wept. But this did not last long. He looked up to the heavens, ran his eyes through the myriad stars, and seeing the moon in the full splendour of its rays, suddenly laughed aloud, laughed without words, and so continued to laugh.

Vena, gazing in the same direction as Loyka, said, “Pantata, that tiresome little moon tickles me, too, under the nose with its rays; for my part, I can hold out no longer, but laugh I must.” And he laughed, too.

“Nay, ’tis not that, lad”, said Loyka. “But I am so glad that I have found a comrade. Look at him, he hath no home either, and never in all my life had I observed it until to-day. To-day a holy spirit has quite illumined me; to-day I know it, just as if I had walked the sky with him. Look! look! every night he must hie up yonder through agues and nipping blights, and that pleases me. Only I should like to know whether he also had an estate, whether he gave it to some Joseph, and so now is pensioned off! Look at him! look at him! It pleases me to think that we are two, I here on earth, and he yonder in the sky—and as it seems to me they are no better off yonder in the sky than we here on earth.”

And he laughed on. Then he stood up, and looking towards the pilgrim moon, said, “Stop and let us take note how fast he gets over the ground, to see if he is good on his feet.” And here he looked up at the moon, just as though he were reckoning its footsteps, and laughed aloud. From this laughter went forth a greater horror than from the clanging Christus or from the clattering branches of those crosses which spread around.

As we know, Frank and Staza followed Loyka at a distance hither to the cemetery. Even now in the cemetery they kept several paces apart, so that Loyka had no notion of their presence. When Frank first heard his father on the village green, he was half bewildered, and knew not what was happening, and understood nothing of it all. When he here heard him pray that strange prayer by the cross his flesh crept and he shivered, for so much he understood of it all as to perceive that his brother Joseph was the cause. But when he heard his father laugh so wildly, he could bear it no longer, but gave way to an uncon-


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 trollable flood of tears. He had never so wept since the death of his grandfather.

This time Staza was beside him, and, feeling ill at ease, might also have given way to tears, because crying is infectious among children. But Staza had hitherto never associated with children, Frank was her single companion, and so what would have equally constrained another child in her place to cry, had on her a different effect. She saw and heard weeping in plenty at the cemetery, but at the same time she saw and heard how the rest of the people mingled singing with the weeping. And thus this sequence of ideas formed itself in her little soul. Old Loyka beside the cross appeared to her like the corpse which Vena had brought to its burial. Frank appeared to her like those who wept over the corpse consequently she must be one of those who song above it. And, indeed, no sooner had Frank begun to cry than she began to sing,

Both Staza’s singing and Frank’s weeping were one and the other, as it were, in tears. But in both was interwoven something which it is impossible to express in words. Any one who had seen and heard it would have shuddered, and been cut to the heart. In the cemetery waved the warm night wind, in the heavens hung the moon, by the clattering cross stood a despairing father, and at a little distance by another trembling cross knelt Frank who wept aloud, and Staza who wept in singing the words of which exhorted all to peace.

Old Loyka, somewhat roused by this from his own sombre fancies, turned and listened. He seemed as though he were on the watch, as though he sought out for himself some new pathway, and now was deliberating whether he should take it.

“Dost hear, Vena? Dost hear?” said he to Vena. “I once heard that melody in the hall of our house; but there were harps with it.”

The reader will recollect that it was during the dance after the funeral of Frank’s grandfather that Frank and Staza suddenly sang the song from the hall to the sound of harps and violins.

“Dost hear, dost hear it?” he again repeated after a pause. “For my part, I had no notion the song was so merry a one when there


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 were harps with it. And it would seem that to-night there are no harps with it.”

There were no harps with it, to be sure, but all the same it was accompanied by the audible weeping of his own son.

“And it pleases me to find that they know it here in the cemetery. Prithee, lead me to those musicians, and let them play on. And if they do not wish to play, tell them that you are from Loyka’s farm and then, of course, they will play, for they will remember Loyka although he rules his home no more.”

And he went with Vena several steps in the direction of the singing and crying, where Frank knelt sobbing and Staza knelt singing. When he came to them, Frank embraced his knees, and eried “Papa! Papa!” Staza was silent.

“Papa!” said Loyka. “I might have known that they would recognize me here. Where they are skilled in singing and playing, there they know old Loyka. So hallo! and play something lively that I may have a dance here.” And this poor old man here in the grave-yard struck an attitude as though he would caper about, and as though he were ready for a fling.

And here Frank, falling upon his knees, continually embraced his father’s feet, and, sobbing piteously, exclaimed, “Papa! Papa!”

“Why dost thou clog my feet like a moist clod of earth when I wish to dance a measure?” said Loyka to Frank, whom he did not recognize. “It is a disgusting habit, and looks as though thou hadst come to me for alms.”

“Papa! Papa!” cried Frank.

“Ah! I know thee now. I recognize thee now. Thou art the ghost of my son Frank, and walkest here in the cemetery. But thou art not Frank. He tramps it with the musicians, whom they chevied from my house—and that pleases me.”

“Papa, it is I”, cried Frank.

“Thou art not he, because thou hast no harp with thee. Look you, there is no harp here, so you will not persuade me. But if thou wert a worthy ghost thou wouldst lead me to my Frank; I would gladly see him and those musicians with whom he tramps the world, and I would tramp it, too.”

“I will lead you home, papa”, cried Frank.

“Thou shalt not lead me thither; for me, I want no home. But I want to leave home far behind, like my son Frank. I want to tramp it with the musicians, that they may compose a song about it, and may point to me on the market-places and say that I am he, I am that old Loyka, who dares no more have music in his


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756-763] clusae of Mont Cenis, and Aistulf again took refuge behind the walls of Pavia. Shut up in this fortress, he again entreated forgiveness and peace of Pepin by the nobles' intervention. The latter granted the rebel life and realm, which he had forfeited. Following the Frankish verdict to which he had appealed, he was obliged to pay as indemnity a third of the great royal hoard and costlier presents than two years before to guarantee his further submission, and engage himself to pay a yearly tribute of 12,000 solidi, as the Lombards had once done in the time of Agilulf. He actually now yielded up the towns whose surrender had been stipulated two years earlier and Comacchio besides, and so the same boundaries were re-established which had parted the two territories before Aistulf s accession to the throne. Liutprand's conquests however remained to the Lombard dominion, so that to the great disappointment of pope and emperor the status of the peace made in 680 was not restored. Nevertheless this was the greatest humiliation the Lombard realm had ever suffered for more than a century and a half, since that first league between the Byzantine Emperor and the Franks had been broken. Aistulf's eager policy of attack was crossed by a new factor which had not entered into his predecessor's calculations. The proud king did not long survive his fall. He died in consequence of an accident while hunting (December 756).

After Aistulf's death a grave crisis broke out in the Lombard State. The monk Ratchis left Monte Cassino and was acknowledged as ruler, "servant of Christ and prince of the Lombard people," especially in the north of the Apennines. But Spoleto as well as Benevento detached itself from the kingdom and set up Alboin as duke of Spoleto, who swore an oath of allegiance to the pope and the Frankish king. The duke Desiderius was raised upon the buckler in Tuscany, and as he engaged himself by document and by oath to surrender the towns belonging to the Empire, and to live in peace and friendship with the pope and the Frankish king, the Frankish plenipotentiary in Rome supported him with great energy and the pope prepared the Roman army for his defence. Ratchis then abdicated for the second time. On the pope's demand, Desiderius actually ceded Faenza and Ferrara, but as soon as he felt himself sure on the throne, he entered Spoleto by force without consideration of the pope's wishes, made Duke Alboin prisoner as a rebel, drove away the duke Liutprand of Benevento, who was obliged to take refuge behind the walls of Otranto, and set up Arichis as duke in his place, and gave him his daughter Adelperga to wife. He made a proposal of co-operation against the pope and the duke of Benevento to an imperial embassy which passed by: at the same time he tried to render the pope's connexion with his former allies as difficult as possible, appeared at St Peter's grave in Rome, pretending friendly intentions, and forced the pope to write a letter to Pepin, interceding for the surrender of the Lombard hostages. To be


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 house, because his son has banished it hence, and so I must follow the musicians even to the market-place, because I have not where to entertain them at my house. Will you lead me to them?”

“I will lead you to them”, said Frank at random, without knowing what he said or why he said it.

“That pleases me,” said Loyka, “and inasmuch as the way will be a long one, we must rest ourselves here yet a little space.”

And they seated themselves on the graves, as if by accident old Loyka and Frank on the grandfather’s grave, Staza on her mother’s grave; Vena stood.

But at this point another character appeared on the scene, and when he had posted himself near them said, “Pray, who at this late hour here disturbs my lodgers? I have guaranteed them rest, and will not have them molested.” He said it heartily, and with a certain humour. It was the grave-digger, Bartos.

“Good man,” said Loyka, “we seek a lodging for the night, and if you will let us be here, you can seat yourself beside us.”

Before Bartos had stepped up to the group he had heard who they were, he recognized Loyka and the children by their voices, and by listening a few moments had soon understood what brought them thither. He therefore wanted no explanation, and at once adapted himself to the situation.

“If that is all your trouble,” said he in the same voice, “you can remain here as long as you please; but it will not please you very long, I fancy.” And he seated himself beside them.

“So, so, so, so”, muttered Loyka, as was his custom when some process in his ideas had to be emphasized.

“What thinkest thou, old friend, who has suffered most, I or Jesus of Nazareth?”

“You, pantata, and because none of us know what you have yet to suffer, although you have already suffered much.”

At these words Loyka started, because it was just as though they had been chosen out of his own soul, and he had rather expected contradiction.

“But I do not want to suffer any more, lad, and, if you know, pray, tell me what I am to do.”

“I know one thing you might do”, said Bartos. “If you were to lie down to rest in these chambers,” and here he pointed to the graves, “all would be over; but you have no right to them yet, nor dare I enclose you in them. However, I will tell you what you should do. You want nothing but to divert yourself a little.”


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218 sure the pope recalled this letter by means of the very messenger who brought it, but still Desiderius succeeded in averting a new Frankish intervention, greatly desired by the pope, by making certain concessions, especially in relation to the patrimonies. At his next visit to Rome, Desiderius framed a compact on the Frankish embassies' advice about 763 on the basis of mutual acknowledgment of the status quo; and Desiderius promised to come to the pope's aid with all his forces in case of an attack from the Emperor. It was only after Pope Paul's death (767) that new difficulties with Rome arose when a party, hostile to the late government, had raised Constantine to the papal throne, and the defeated party's leader, the primicerius Christophorus, claimed the Lombards' help. The defeated party entered Rome by force, led by Lombard troops and the Lombard priest Waldipert, but the Lombard candidate Philip was not able to maintain himself on the papal throne in place of Constantine; Stephen III was elected and Waldipert himself slain by his former adherents (768). Shortly after this failure Desiderius tried to procure the archbishopric of Ravenna for Michael, one of his confidants (769); but Frankish commissioners dismissed him at the pope's wish.

A new combination in foreign politics seemed to change the present situation to the disadvantage of the pope and in favour of Desiderius. Desiderius and Tassilo of Bavaria, both menaced by the Frankish preponderance, had entered into friendly relations, and Tassilo had married Liutperga, daughter of Desiderius. Pepin's widow Bertrada conceived the plan of securing peace by bringing one of her sons into relationship with the Lombard royal family. Notwithstanding the pope's amazement, she crossed the Alps and asked one of Desiderius' daughters in marriage for her son Charles. The betrothal took place under the guarantee of the Frankish nobles and the marriage was accomplished. Meanwhile Bertrada had endeavoured to reassure the pope about her transactions with Desiderius. The latter had evidently renewed his promise to respect the territorial status quo and restore the patrimonies which were the private property of the Roman Church. Of course the next consequence was the fall of the anti-Lombard party prevailing in Rome. This was approved of by the pope, who wanted to escape his minister's predominant influence. Desiderius appeared before Rome with military forces, but under pretence of praying at the Apostle's grave and arranging disputed questions. The pope came out to him and received his promise by oath. But a papal chamberlain named Paulus Afiarta, the leader of the Lombard party, raised up within the town a revolt against Christophorus, whereupon the pope maintained that Christophorus and his party conspired against his life. The accused offered resistance within the town, but were betrayed by the Romans, abandoned by the pope, and cruelly killed by Paulus Afiarta and his accomplices. Desiderius did not now want to hear anything more


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 “Exactly what I thought myself”, said Loyka. “You speak like a true doctor, and if I should listen to you yet a while, I know not whether good might not come of it.”

“And we will manage it thus. To-morrow I lead you into a neighbouring village to the house where Frank is living. There are the fiddlers and the harpers, and we can fling up our heels in a hornpipe.”

Even this idea was one which seemed to have been borrowed from Loyka’s own mind, and Bartos did indeed borrow it from Loyka; because, as we know, a moment before Loyka had expressed his desire to have a dance before this unseen witness.

“The further I listen to thee, the more convinced I am that thou art a mighty sage”, said Loyka with evident satisfaction. And it was plain that the grave-digger had struck exactly the right chord.

“But inasmuch as we shall have a debauch there, we must rest ourselves before we set out on our journey. We must sleep, for we have not slept at all for several nights”, continued the gravedigger.

“Thou mightest stand and preach in the pulpit, good man”, said Loyka, highly delighted at what the grave-digger had said.

By this vague discourse the grave-digger had in reality probed Loyka to the quick. And Loyka hearing that repeated from another’s mouth which a moment before he had been the only one to long for, and thus having the object of his own wishes freshly paraded before his mind, felt relieved. His words and expression were deprived of that sickeningly painful cast which a short time before had driven Frank to weeping and Staza to song.

The two children now nestled close together, and looked on like birdies from a nest at what was passing before them. They did not understand, but it had not any longer so much horror for them.

“If thou thinkest that we ought to sleep,” said Loyka, as though he were still replying to the recommendation of the grave-digger, “it will be best to lay us down and sleep”, and hereupon he immediately made as though he would lie down.

“When you were married, pantata, I was at your wedding”, said the grave-digger. “And when the deceased, your father, quitted you for the pension house, he said, ‘If at any time you are too much harassed to sleep at home, come to me, you will sleep beside your father.’ And to-day, you have come to him, pantata, and will sheep soundly.”


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216 the pope's resolution, he was obliged to dismiss him, not daring to detain him by force and expose himself to immediate conflict with the Franks. The pope left Pavia on 5 November. The new Frankish king Pepin was clearly resolved upon interfering in Italy, and Aistulf saw himself face to face with a new situation immediately before reaching the aim he had longed for so fervently.

But all links had not yet been broken off. Pepin sent embassies over the Alps three times in order to induce Aistulf to yield, but in vain. The public feeling among the Frankish nobles was by no means favourable to war, and Aistulf, wishing to profit thereby, sent to Gaul Pepin's brother and former co-regent Carloman, who was now monk in Monte Cassino. While the Frankish army was already advancing, the pope once more sent a letter full of entreaties to Aistulf, and Pepin offered 12,000 solidi as recompense for the disputed territories; Aistulf refused with threats and brought the whole of his forces, and the military material he had stored up for his enterprise against Rome, to Susa at the foot of Mont Cenis, awaiting the Franks' attack. He was too impatient however to hold out behind the fortified clusae, and attacked the Frankish vanguard by surprise; but not being able to deploy his superior forces in the narrow vale, he was thrown back and was himself very nearly killed; then he concentrated the rest of his army in the fortified city of Pavia, where the main army of the Franks appeared after a few days. But as the Franks shrank from a long siege and the Frankish nobles, who had kept up friendly relations with the Lombards dating perhaps from the time of Charles Martel, tried to mediate, peace was made, Aistulf confirmed the treaty by oath, promising to surrender those territories of Italy he had occupied illegally and to acknowledge formally the Frankish king's sovereignty. He sent forty hostages and made lavish presents to the king and the nobles as recompense for the expenses of war (autumn 754). The pope returned to Rome, accompanied by the Frankish ambassador Fulrad, and Pepin retired over the Alps. But Aistulf did not think of keeping his oath. Of all the towns he only surrendered Narni, and seeing that Pepin did not interfere again, he resolved to put an end to the quarrel by a master stroke. On 1 Jan. 756 a Lombard army again encamped before Rome on the right bank of the Tiber, Aistulf rapidly approached from Spoleto, and the Beneventans from the south. With terrible threats, he required the pope's surrender while his bands plundered the Campagna. Pepin's envoy, the abbot Warnehar, fought against the Lombards in full harness and then informed his prince of what he had seen. But Rome's strong walls saved her again; Aistulf gave up the siege after five months and returned to Pavia (5 April) to await a new attack from Pepin when winter was over and the melting snow rendered the passage possible.

The Lombards were once more dispersed by the Franks near the


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 His father had in reality said this on that long-passed wedding-day, and now the son came for the first time to sleep beside him. A son already grey-headed, to sleep beside a father who was no more among the living.

“Only go on, go on, and tell me about it”, entreated old Loyka, and fitful dreams were already weighing down his eyelids. Yet a few words he pronounced as if in assent, for Bartos began to narrate to him the story of his own young days, and how he had performed such and such feats, but after a while the grave-digger observed that he was speaking to Loyka, who already had fallen asleep.

Vena remained beside the sleeping Loyka. Bartos took Frank with him into his house, and told him to speed early next morning to the village about which he had spoken correctly enough, then he himself, like a night-watcher, went out from time to time into the cemetery to see how Loyka fared.

The next day they followed Frank to the abode of the musicians. We must here say without concealment that Bartos had devised a kind of popular remedy for Loyka’s sick spirit. Whether it was destined to succeed or not we cannot, however, state at present.

In the village they found Frank already arrived. There also they found the musicians whose loss Loyka had so much deplored. The whole party collected at the ale-house, and the musicians played and sang, Bartos taking special care that everything should be gay and lively. A rumour of what had occurred at the farmstead had already outrun them, and consequently every one knew it was the afflicted Loyka who in this manner compensated himself for the loss of his home.

It was a piteous spectacle to look on the old man, and to see how his mind, restless enough without this soothing medicine, gloated over the well-known strains of the harps and violins. He sat and listened. The expression of his face was serious as if he were lost in thought, and not a word escaped his lips. The whole time he did not move a muscle, his eyelids never winked, his lips appeared as though they could not open. One would have thought that the music of his old friends would have stimulated him to mirth or tumultuous grief. But it was not so. Excitement seemed to hold the spiritual part of him in equipoise—and he was completely tranquil through it all.

Frank stood the whole time by the side of his father, who was seated. Old Loyka held him round the waist with one hand, and Rh


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Gunther, the noble ruler, turn’d at that noise around:

“Hear’st thou yon music, Hagen, which Volker there doth sound

Amid the Hunfolk fiddling, who through the door would go?

He hath a blood-red straker upon his fiddle-bow!”

“Tt grieves me beyond measure,” Hagen in answer spake,

“That I before that warrior a seat in hall should take.

I have been his companion, as he was likewise mine,

And we shall aye be faithful if hence we ever win.

“Now mark, great king, how Volker doth thee and thine uphold

Right willingly he earneth thy silver and thy gold.

Through steel of hardest temper his fiddle-bow will smite;

He breaks from off the helmets their shining crests and bright.

“I never saw a fiddler so nobly hold his own

As this same warrior Volker throughout the day hath done.

On helmet and on buckler his music ringeth clear:

A gallant horse deserves he and raiment rich to wear.”

Of those of Hunnish kindred who had been in that hall,

Not one was left within it alive amongst them all.

Now silenced was the uproar; for none there were to fight:

Aside was laid the weapon of every gallant knight.


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title: Page:Dick Sands by Jules Verne.djvu/70