I Sat up all last night till towards morning,--for I cannot suffer any
strange _déchiffreur_ in the case,--in order to cipher out the Jubilee
to the very last word, so enchained was I by its charms; I hope,
however, as the mere thin leaf-skeleton from Hafenreffer's hand has
already done so much, that now, when I run through its veins with
sap-colors and glossy green, the leaf will do absolute miracles.
With the Count it had been troubled weather since last evening. For the
patient, modest form which he had seen shone, like the purpose of a
great deed, before all the images of his soul; and in his dreams, and
before he sank to slumber, her gentle voice became the Philomela of a
spring-night. Withal, he heard them continually talking about her,
especially the Doctor, who every morning announced further progress of
the ocular cure, and at last placed Liana's setting out for Lilar nearer
and nearer. To hear of a loved one, however, even the most indifferent
thing, is far mightier than to think of her. He heard further, that her
brother, since the murder of her eyes, had withdrawn entirely from the
city, in which he would not again appear except on a so-called
festive-steed at the Prince's funeral;--and around this Eden, or rather
around its creatress, so high a garden-wall had been run, and he went
round the wall and found no gate.
I know nothing more odious than this; but in what residence-city is it
otherwise? If I ever wrote a Romance (of which there is no probability),
one thing I affirm openly, there is nothing which I would so sedulously
shun as a residence-city, and a heroine in it saintly enough for a
canoness. For the conjunction of the upper planets is more easily
brought about than that of the upper class of lovers. Does _he_ wish to
speak alone with _her_ at Court or at tea or in her family, there stands
the Court, the tea-party, the family close by;--will he meet her in the
park, she rides, like the Chinese couriers, double, because we give a
consciousness to maidens, as nature gives all important organs,
duplicate, just as we give good wine double bottom;--will he meet her at
least accidentally in the street, then there stalks along behind her (if
the street lies in Dresden), a sour servant as her plague-vinegar,
soul-keeper, _curator sexus_, _chevalier d'honneur_, genius of Socrates,
contradictor, and Pestilentiary. In the country, on the other hand, the
parson's daughter takes a run (that is all), because the evening is so
heavenly, about the fields of the parsonage, and the candidate needs do
nothing more than put on his boots. Really, among people of rank, the
mantle of (erotic) love seems in the beginning to be a Dr. Faust's
mantle, which swears to soar over everything, whereas it merely covers
over everything; only, at last, there stands a Schreckhorn, a Mount
Pilate, and a Jungfrau, before one's nose.
Blessed hero! On Friday came the Lector, and reported, that on Monday
the illustrious deceased--namely, his empty coffin--is to be buried, and
Roquairol rides the festive-steed,--and Liana is almost well, for she
goes with the Minister's lady to-morrow to Lilar, in all probability to
escape some sad black-bordered notes of condolence,--and, on the
following ascension-day comes the consecration and masquerade....
Blessed hero! I repeat. For hitherto what hast thou possessed of the
blooming vale of Tempe, except the barren heights whereon thou stood'st
looking down into the enchantment?