Alois Jirásek

“ To listen to that, to gaze at it and yet be unable, without getting into trouble, even to change into a black horse, and with coy freedom swiftly gallop down the meadow, and strike out with my hoofs, dash forth with my waving mane and neigh loudly into the night and storm; why, one cannot even graze calmly and freely or change into a lantern and wander about at night, quietly and slowly, like a little red light along the stream into the dark, beneath the trees. ”

“ One week succeeded another, letters came and went; Lenka visited Miss Elis and Márinka a few times more. When Mrs. Roubínek finally learned of it, and scolding forbade these visits, it was too late; for the autumn had come.
As the fruit ripened, the grass paled, the flowers withered, and the birds were preparing for their long journey, the long desired guests flocked in. From all parts of Bohemia and Moravia the wagons again arrived, piled high with student trunks and many colored featherbeds, and a new, busy life again arose in the town. The students and philosophers were back. ”

“ Love for the native land, reading of Bohemian books, and the Bohemian language are not in style, are not fashionable, and for that reason they neglect them, and even laugh at them! They have, they say, a gentle, tender, womanly heart, but for the deep, mortal wounds, for the misery of long centuries, and tragedy of their nation their heart is insensible and hard!”
Lenka sat perfectly still, hardly breathing. Her shining eyes were upon the philosopher’s face and lips, and every word of his, so ardently uttered, sank into her burning, stirred heart. ”

“ Zajíček.—So the courtier said.
Zima.—I should say and do believe (carefully looks about him) that the Princes does not know a single thing about it, (mysteriously) that the courtier—
Sejtko.—Well then, what is it, Zima?
Zima (Looking about him carefully) .—It’s a delicate matter; One must be careful of one’s speech—however, (knowingly) that courtier, it seems to me from what I observe, is more than a mere courtier. He dictates and wishes to dictate; he is more than a courtier, but less than a friend; he is a distant friend of the Lady Princess. ”

“ He sought solitude. He gazed toward the woods of Nedošín which, wide-spread and mysterious, were rising out of the evening dusk. A white manor house on the hill stood out from the background of the black woods like a silent, abandoned castle. Whenever the long shadow of the sable woods permitted a glimpse into the vale below, one could see the broad bright surface of the Košíř River glimmering there. Behind the woods and all around, the bon-fires and lights were blazing.
The evening, the lights, the fires, the cries—everything recalled home to Vavřena. ”

“ Míchal.—Where to, then?
Ivan.—Where I’ll be all alone, where I shall hardly ever see a human face. (Points toward the forest.) Over there into the little lake in the woods near the old castle, in to that forsaken pool. There peace will reign, there I’ll be able to breathe freely, whether it be in the shade of the woods near the water, or in the sun in the quiet of noon day. To breathe, to breathe, to warm myself, and then in case of rain to sit behind the thick shrubbery of alder, moss, and beechwood ”

“ Hanička.—Don’t you want to go with a lantern?
Grandmother.—Who would go about now with a lantern!
Hanička.—I would, at once. I like the lantern.
Grandmother.—It’s light, it cheers one. It is gloomy in the dark; the night is sad, the mother of all sorts of deeds. It has its own power and its own rights.
Hanička (More quietly) . It is the queen of the spirits and they are its servants. ”

“ Every word—each trembling leaf—an expression of deep emotion which masters the heart, inspires the soul.
The rosy illumination which shined through the tree tops paled and darkness covered the park. Lenka was about to go. They went a few paces further, stopped again, until unrelenting time compelled them to part. Lenka extended her trembling hand to Vavřena; he pressed her to his heart, kissing her fresh lips. ”

“ At other times she looked with pleasure on this handsome student, whom even Lotty and others liked; and to-day that young man, who generally was indifferent to young women, had stood before her inspired, ardent, and bis expressive face seemed to be illumined. If Lotty, or some other maiden, had seen him, and had heard his passionate speech, even though she had not felt so patriotic as Lenka, she could scarcely keep her heart calm, and leave it closed before him. How then Lenka, that Cinderella in the registrar’s home, to whom but few paid notice, and whom no one appreciated! ”

“ Ivan.—It is she! Well, then—then leap after her!
Míchal (Crying) .—To the herb room! And she has motherwort in her belt!
Hanička (Calls) .—Libor! Libor!
Míchal (With enthusiasm) .—Do you hear! Do you hear! Isn’t that a voice for you!
Ivan.—Well, well, it is a voice; but it is better not to hear it. You have human weakness; that is why you are so ludicrous.
Hanička steps off the bench during the foregoing speech and walks toward the right, behind the mill.
Ivan.—And you will suffer even more when you return with a black and blue back. There is no help for you. ”

“ When Miss Elis with Marin ka reached Nedošín, the grove was already jammed full. In front of the restaurant, a small, tidy building with a covered colonnade, some guests seated themselves on the plain wooden benches, while others spread themselves on the soft grass under the bushy trees. Everywhere was life, bustle and laughter. The main current surged over the path leading from the restaurant past the little chapel of St. Anton and up the slope to the dance hall. ”

“ Míchal.—Not even that?
Ivan.—And to get nothing anywhere but a frown, a snare, and efforts to catch the sprite and tie the rope. That is why I leave these false people. There is no affection among them, each one loves only himself and spies on the other man, scheming how he may stab him or at least prick him and trip him. Their universe is not sufficient for them. They laugh at us and yet despise us. ”

“ Zajíček (Meanwhile enters the meadow, gazes at the sky and around at the forest) .—Well, people say lots of things. But this is true. At night a person has mighty queer feelings, sort of a holy horror; but at any rate, one must admit that it is a beautiful place. Beautiful!
Zima.—This sort of fear overcomes a person, usually in what they call gloomy places. (To Klásek.) One walks and walks and suddenly it seems as if somebody sprang forth out of the shadows, looked into your eyes and immediately disappeared. You see only those eyes—that terrible look. ”

“ Even the maidens and married women, who were formerly to a great degree indifferent in such matters, were carried away by the torrent. The good seed, sown by Dobromila Rettig, bore now an abundant fruit. The spirit of those times was like a rain which revived and refreshed the plant of patriotism. Mis Elis and Lenka especially were rejoicing. While the guardsmen and the students were in training, stood guard, kept night watches, the women were collecting money among themselves for a flag, which was to wave over the heads of the courageous student legionaries. ”

“ Zajíček.—O, dearest Hanička, if you only knew! Think of it! It is going on eight years already that I’ve been a teacher’s assistant, going on eight years, and I do want to be made a master so that my dearest Dornička may not have to wait any longer, so that we may be married. Going on eight years, Hanička, a teacher’s assistant! I can hardly save a thing any year, except what I make by playing and spinning. ”

“ Almost every house contributed someone who hastened toward the Nedošín grove. Here a citizen with his family, there a mother with daughters, here individually, there in a crowd. Everywhere buzzed the talk of the unexpected, and therefore doubly welcome joy.
Miss Elis was quite shocked when at the last minute Frýbort told her of the celebration, and invited her to the grove. She held back, did not want to go; but when Vavřena whispered to her that she would see Lenka there and speak with her, she quickly consented.
The students left and the good old lady began to dress. ”

“ Magistrate.—You are, and what a malicious, obstinate sort! You would like to have a school in the town, to become a choirmaster, and lead a choir—that indeed—to have a goodly amount of earnings and profits, several cords of wood and gifts—that indeed and besides a huge stole thrown in with it—that indeed!
Zajíček (Sheepishly) .—Lord, O Lord!
Magistrate.—But to help the nobility, to tell where the girl is, that you refuse!
Zajíček.—Your Honor, most kind officer, have mercy—
Magistrate.—Have you any mercy! You ought to have mercy on your Dornička. ”

“ Then you understand the pure life of the shooting plant, you understand the flattering murmur of the bubbling creek in the shadows of the revivified alders; then you know why the youthful beech forest on the slope is trembling and why the blackthorn is wrapped in its white blossoms.
Sweet dreams are going through the grove: in the dark heavens above the bright constellations shine. The dreams pass on to the trees in the gardens and into still rooms and chambers. As the dew silently falls on all things growing, new life and flowers awake. ”

“ Zima.—No indeed, nor the assistant here, nor even Klásek.
Sejtko.—Well, of all things, then who is it?
Zima.—The lap. The lap, comrade, is the best friend. We find people almost tearing the food from each other’s mouths, and if it falls, some one immediately grasps it. Only your lap will catch it, that you may keep it.
Sejtko (Taken aback) .—Such brilliancy! And Klásek is missing it.
Hanička (To Zajíček) .—Are you expecting him? Only if Klásek’s wife will let him go. ”

“ Many philosophers would return again; perhaps many a philosopher, leaving the school, might never come back, or, at the University in noisy Prague might forget.
Lenka’s eyes were also filling with tears, but she bravely endeavored to smile. She was forbidden to speak with Vavřena; they threatened her with severe punishment. But what was a threat to her, what was punishment?
She came secretly at twilight to the forbidden spot in the park. She dared much. Alone, at the late hour—but should Vavřena leave without her speaking with him? ”

“ Hanička.—You have returned to me! You have found me!
Miller.—My vision became blurred, I went astray. But I have you back, Hanička, my soul, my strength!
Zajíček (Moved) .—O, the thyme!
Meanwhile a chorus of male voices bursts forth from above:
The spirit of the race is a broad shield
That through the strife of ages works its charms;
The deeds our fathers did, the dreams they dreamed,
Live in this blessed heritage of ancient arms.
Scene VII
Princess, Zan, carrying the Miller’s lantern, Maid, and the preceding with the exception of the servants. ”

“ When all had left, Miss Elis, according to her custom, stepped into the student’s room to put things in order. On the very edge of one of them lay a small book, which she recognized instantly. It was the same one from which Frýbort was studying that morning. What a magical book was it that it enticed for so long a philosopher who ordinarily was not too fond of study? ”

“ Next year, before Lent, Frýbort, with a numerous Hanák suite came for Márinka, to carry her away as his beloved wife. Vavřena also came from Prague to be the best man, while Lenka was the bride’s maid. And when the wedding feast was at the gayest, the bridegroom being the jolliest of all, Vavřena stood up and raised his glass to the honored memory of the former friend and colleague, who died in the fateful struggle on the barricades. The bride cast her eyes down and Miss Elis’ were filled with tears. ”

“ Princess.—Indeed it is! On such a night beautiful dreams enter the soul. (To the Miller.) The solitude!
Miller.—Shall you not be afraid here, Your Grace?
Princess.—Afraid? (Looks at him thoughtfully for a moment, then bursts forth.) Why do you hold the lantern?
Miller.—Not to forget—
Princess.—What?
Miller (Hesitates a moment) .—My duty. (Sets the lantern on the balustrade; remains standing beside it.)
Princess.—You did more than your duty. I am grateful to you. But do rest a while before starting on your return journey. You said you were in no hurry and your people are at home. ”

“ A short time after that the hall of the philosophical college was entirely filled. The professors, students, guardsmen, and citizens, all came to hear the first lecture; no one had so many auditors but Pater German, sometimes, when he lectured on special periods of history. The philosophers, as though they were not the same men who caused that infernal uproar in the room of the professor of theology last year, stood there like lambs, their eyes fastened on the young priest who mounted the cathedra. ”

“ Courtier.—You with an axe in your hand?
Miller.—Perhaps you know the reason, and if not, you will soon understand; if anyone ventures to touch my linden—
Courtier.—Are you insane! (With a smile.) You stand alone, and against you—just count the number against you! If you do not give in willingly, if you do not give up—
Miller.—No! I stand alone, but I can resist all. I will not give up Hanička, that she be humbled; I will defend my rights against everybody and I will not give them up ”

“ Nedošin grove resounded with music, singing. Most of the people thronged round the dance-hall and then in the lower part around the restaurant. But all paths, even the most distant ones, were crowded, mostly by young people. In a quiet nook deep in the grove Špína walked slowly, as is meet for a philosopher, completely lost in thought. ”

“ Miss Elis arose.
Vavřena, turning by chance, looked toward the old tree. Presently he exclaimed:
“I thought a while ago that if a strong wind or a storm came, it could very easily knock the nest down.”
“Look, Miss Lenka, the bird is out!”
“We shall wait and I will tell you after a few days whatever occurs on this beautiful spot.”
“Oh, then you will have such a lot of trouble with me! That “Bridge” which you loaned me. I can not cross very well alone. I do not under stand many things in it. It is hard to be philosopher.” ”

“ Vavřena?”
“Miss Elis, dinner, please!” Frýbort called from the next room. “We are in a hurry!”
The bright May day warmed toward noon. The bishopric bell pealed; then the sound of the noon bell ceased. Registrar Roubínek was in the act of eating his dinner. It was most properly to his liking. Miss Lotty was somewhat silent. Mother led the conversation almost alone to-day, for Lenka never spoke much; besides, she had to get up from the table often and go to the kitchen to superintend the serving. The joy of the morning had not left her face yet. ”

“ Miss Elis looked with joy on the long columns of philosophers, who proudly marched behind the new flag, and Lenka’s face blushed when a tall officer looked up to her and greeted her with a smile. How soldierly he carried himself and how becoming his uniform was. ***
The stir of public life did not abate but rather increased each day. From Prague, the heart of Bohemia, activity radiated to all parts of the kingdom. Sudden, unexpected changes took place almost overnight, events continually new, domestic and foreign, kept all classes of people in tension and excitement. ”

“ Miss Elis interrupted.
“No time, Miss Elis. When I once become somebody then I also shall indulge,” ansvered the lean student.
“You materialist! Then you will throw the books away, and never look at them,” cried Frýbort scornfully, while he was putting his bouquet of violets into a glass of fresh water.
Frýbort and Vavřena sat long in the parlor with Miss Elis, discussing the events of the day. All were satisfied. Only Miss Elis, in her auxiety, cast a shadow upon the talk: what will happen at the college, and what at the registrar’s? But the young men were not afraid. ”

“ Miss Elis circumspectly inquired about her students, if perhaps someone had not seen them in Prague; but nobody could give her any information. The philosophers were not with them; undoubtedly they were on the barricades, and there either fell or were arrested and arraigned before the court martial.
Lenka seemed not to have a drop of blood in her face; she was sad and always lost in thought. She had no one to whom she could complain or unburden herself. She was not permitted to visit Miss Elis, for since her uncle fell sick, she could hardly leave the house. ”

“ When the lesson was over, the registrar, sitting in his easy chair and looking at king Herod, stopped Vavřena and spoke to him. He told him in his cold, unfeeling way that he, being an official, must observe order and must require that others also be orderly. The instructor, however,—the registrar furthermore observed—was dissipating his energies too much with things which did not concern him, and that some day this would hurt him more than now; that he should apply himself to studies and should not participate in rebellions and superfluous patriotism, thus corrupting others. ”

“ While the registrar, gazing at king Herod, was having a “delightful” conversation with the recorder, and his wife was sitting nearby, and Miss Lottynka was visiting some friend of hers, Lenka ran to the neighboring park, where Márinka was already awaiting her. At that time only a few people visited the park, for everybody went either to Nedošín or to some other out-of-town place. But by a remarkable coincidence the castle garden at that time looked unusually attractive to two young philosophers, who, as if by chance, appeared among the trees, and soon boldly joined the maidens. ”

“ Next morning when the philosophers were leaving for the examinations, she wished them all success, and reminded them to sprinkle themselves with the holy water and to cross themselves with the holy cross. The whole forenoon she was as if on needles, running every little while to the window and peering out. The landlady’s Márinka was in a similar plight, and came to Miss Elis’ kitchen “just for a skip” many times during the forenoon. They spoke of nothing but the students and their examinations. ”

“ He could not, even for a ducat, say a single word that moment, His eyes were intently looking through the opening into Miss Elis’ room, from whence the clear, ringing voice, which so greatly frightened the philosopher, had come.
He saw Miss Márinka there, the daughter of the landlady, a girl of well-rounded, smiling countenance, and as fresh as a dewy blossom. She was dressed “just plain”, for at home: white apron, short skirt and low slippers were charmingly becoming her.
“I came just for a word. The philosophers are not at home—.” ”

“ The philosophers took great care to prepare delightful entertainment. When Lenka was ascending the stairs, her heart trembled in fear and expectation, and a slight tremor shook her when the music started. For the first time she was in such a large company.
Conscious of her all-conquering charms, Lotty stepped boldly into the room, graciously receiving the bows of the students. Her sparkling eye quickly looked over the whole room. Only there at the side-door, where a tall, handsome young man stood ,her glance lingered a little longer. ”

“ Many a maiden wept when the stalwart philosophers dispersed. Lenka and Márinka were satisfied. There were almost two full months before they need say good bye!
But then came the second Sunday after Pentecost, the fatal, unfortunate twelfth of June!
On the thirteenth of June, terrible news reached Litomyšl.
“A revolution has broken out in Prague; the ancient city is at stake. In the terrible disorder the lawless rabble plunder and destroy, all is a hub-bub of confusion, and there is lack of means and force to restore order and discipline.” ”

“ The marching of a few hundred young, nimble feet was sprightly. The students were followed by all who had leisure to go; all over town people ran out of houses to convince themselves as to the truth of what was reported of the philosophers’ daring deed. Many, as soon as they saw the advancing column, hastened back to prepare to join the procession; for formerly almost the whole of Litomyšl was out in the Nedošín grove at the celebration of “majales”.
The columns of students disappeared, and the music grew faint. ”