"My son, why hidest thy face so shy?" "Come, lovely boy, come, go with me; And my mother has many a gay garment at hand." My father, my father, and dost thou not hear What the Erl King whispers in my ear?" "Come, lovely boy, wilt go with me? My daughters fair shall wait on thee; My daughters their nightly revels keep; They'll sing, and they'll dance, and they'll rock thee to sleep." "My father, my father, and seest thou not The Erl King's daughters in yon dim spot?" 'My son, my son, I see and I know 'Tis the old gray willow that shimmers so." "I love thee; thy beauty has ravished my sense; The father shudders; he hurries on; [Translated from the German.] THE FISHER. THE water rolled, the water swelled; Chilled to his heart was he. A wave hove up, and a damsel stepped, She sung to him, she spoke to him: My sweet brood, by thy human art, Ah! knewest thou how light of heart The little fishes live, Thou wouldst come down, all as thou art, And thy true life receive! "Bathes not the sun with all his skies, And tempt thee not the deep, deep skies, And tempt thee not thine own dark eyes, Down through the eternal blue?” The water rolled, the water swelled; A something through his bosom thrilled; She spoke to him, she sang to him; [From "Wilhelm Meister;" translated from the German, by Carlyle.] MIGNON PERSONATING AN ANGEL. 1 Ir chanced that the birthday of two twin-sisters, whose behavior had been always very good, was near. I promised that, on this occasion, the little present they had so well deserved should be delivered to them by an angel. They were on the stretch of curiosity regarding this phenomenon. I had chosen Mignon for the part; and accordingly, at the appointed day, I had her suitably equipped, in a long, light, snow-white dress. She was, of course, provided with a golden girdle round her waist, and a golden fillet on her hair. I at first proposed to omit the wings; but the young ladies who were decking her insisted on a pair of large golden pinions, in preparing which they meant to show their highest art. Thus did the strange apparition, with a lily in the one hand, and a little basket in the other, glide in among the girls; - she surprised even me. "There comes the angel!" said I. The children all shrunk back; at last they cried, "It is Mignon!" yet they durst not venture to approach the wondrous figure. "Here are your gifts," said she, putting down the basket. They gathered around her, they viewed, they felt, they question her: "Art thou an angel?" asked one of them. "I wish I were," said Mignon. "So pure and so open should my heart be; then were I happy." "What wings are these? Let us see them!" 66 They represent far finer ones, which are not yet unfolded." And thus significantly did she answer all their other childlike, innocent inquiries. The little party having satisfied their curiosity, and the impression of the show beginning to abate, we were for proceeding to undress the little angel. This, however, she resisted. She took her cithern; she seated herself here on this high writing-table, and sung a little song with touching "Such let me seem, till such I be; Up to the glittering lands of day." [From the same.] DEATH AND EXEQUIES OF MIGNON. THEY were about to leave the Hall of the Past, when they heard the children running hastily along the passage, and Felix crying, "No,-I! No, -I!" Mignon rushed in at the open door; she was foremost, but out of breath, and could not speak a word. Felix, still at some distance, shouted out, "Mamma Theresa is come!" The children had run a race, as it seemed, to bring the news. Mignon was lying in Natalia's arms; her heart was beating fiercely. "Naughty child!" said Natalia; "art thou not forbidden violent motions? See how thy heart is beating!" "Let it break!" said Mignon, with a deep sigh; "it has beat too long." They had scarcely composed themselves from this surprise, this sort of consternation, when Theresa entered. She flew to Natalia, clasped her and Mignon in her arms. Then turning round to Wilhelm, she looked at him with her clear eyes, and said, "Well, my friend, how is it with you? You have not let them cheat you?" He made a step towards her; she sprang to him, and hung upon his neck. "O, my Theresa!" cried he. My friend, my love, my husband! Yes, forever thine!" cried she, amid the warmest kisses. Felix pulled her by the gown, and cried, "Mamma Theresa, I am here too!" Natalia stood and looked before her; Mignon, on a sudden, clapped her left hand on her heart; and, stretching out the right arm violently, fell, with a shriek, at Natalia's feet, as dead. The fright was great; no motion of the heart or pulse was to be traced. Wilhelm took her on his arm, and hastily carried her away; the body hung lax over his shoulders. The presence of the doctor was of small avail; he and the young surgeon strove in vain. The dear little creature could not be recalled to life. * "Keep away from this mournful object," said the doctor, "and allow me, so far as I am able, to give some continuance to these remains. On this dear and singular being, I will now display the beautiful art, not only of embalming bodies, but of retaining in them a look of life. As I foresaw her death, the with these helps, I shall preparations are already made; undoubtedly succeed. Give me but a few days, and ask not to see the child again till I have brought her to the Hall of the Past." * The Abbé called them, in the evening, to attend the exequies of Mignon. The company proceeded to the Hall of the Past; they found it magnificently ornamented and illuminated. The walls were hung with azure tapestry almost from ceiling to floor, so that nothing but the friezes and socles above and below were visible. On the four candelabras, in the corners, large wax lights were burning; smaller lights were in the four smaller candelabras, placed by the sarcophagus in the middle. Near this stood four boys, dressed in azure with silver; they had broad fans of ostrich feathers, which they waved above a figure which was resting upon the sarcophagus. The company sat down; two invisible choruses began, in a soft, musical recitative, to ask, "Whom bring ye us to the still dwelling?" The four boys replied, with lovely voices, ""T is a tired playmate whom we bring you; let her rest in your still dwelling, till the songs of her heavenly sisters once more awaken her." Chorus. "Firstling of youth in our circle, we welcome thee! With sadness welcome thee! May no boy, no maiden follow! Let age only, willing and composed, approach the silent Hall, and in the solemn company repose this one dear child!” Boys. "Ah, reluctantly we brought her hither! Ah, and she is to remain here! Let us too remain; let us weep, let us weep upon her bier!" Chorus. "Yet look at the strong wings; look at the light, |