Johann August Apel

“ For my own part, my head and heart were full of the intended journey, and of the agreeable manner in which my time had passed at the count’s château. The images of those happy days crowded on my recollection; my imagination, at that time possessing all the vivacity of youth, was so much agitated, that I could not enjoy the sleep which already overpowered my friend. Emily’s image, so interesting by her sprightly grace, by her pure affection for me, was present to my mind like an amiable phantom shining in beauty. ”

“ A dismal silence of some seconds which followed this speech was suddenly broken by a ghastly laugh from the black knight, which shook the very walls of the castle. “This maiden,” cried he, “is mine; she gave herself to me; she won me by a crime—a midnight crime—for which each midnight she must suffer. She is my bride; and my bride she must remain, and nightly be decked in these burning ornaments, till the jewels shall return to their rightful owner: meddle not then with the matter, Sir Knight, but deign to partake of our cheer.” ”

“ He sat for some time; a crash was then heard, like the fall of a thunderbolt, and the apparition fell suddenly from the throne.
The Queen now seemed violently agitated, and hid her face with her hands. The Master made a sign, and all vanished in an instant. Would you believe it, dear Mother, appalling as the spectacle had been, the Queen had not yet seen enough of horrors: she pressed the fearful man to renew his incantation, for she was determined to see the further destiny of the empire and its kings. ”

“ It was Katharine: smiling and blushing, she stopped for a moment in agitation, and said:—“Have you succeeded, mother? was it yes, dear mother?” Then, bounding into the room, she fell on her mother’s neck for an answer.
“Ah Kate, be not too confident when thou should’st be prepared for the worst: thy father is a good man, as good as ever stepped, but he has his fancies; and he is resolved to give thee to none but a hunter: he has set his heart upon it; and he’ll not go from his word; I know him too well.” ”

“ When little, you were a poor sickly child, and anything but pretty; therefore no one cared much about you, but abandoned you solely to my care, while all petted and caressed your lovely sister Maria. One day, as I was out walking with you, the ‘old woman of the woods’ met us. ‘Gertrude,’ she exclaimed, ‘what an angel that child is!’ and she kissed your little hands and feet, and seemed as if she would never have done admiring you. ‘Good mother,’ I said, ‘my little Viola is a gentle, amiable child; but if you want to see beauty, go and look at her sister Maria. ”

“ CLARA TO MADAME DE LIMEUIL.
My dearest Mother,
I am in the greatest agitation, and scarcely able to write; I will, however, endeavour to compose myself; and indeed, what better means of regaining my wonted peace of mind can I seek, than writing to thee, tenderest of parents?
I promised in my last letter to give you an account of that celebrated beauty, the consort of our young Dauphin, Mary Queen of Scots; but how attempt to describe her charms, when all our famous poets, even Ronsard and Jodelle, confess their incapacity to do them justice ”

“ The wind whistled frostily over the stubbles, and the rain and hail beat (without much difficulty, it must be confessed) through the windows of Sir Baldwin’s castle. The coldness of his home determined him to quit it; and having formed his resolution, he hastened to the knight of Aarburg, to entreat his assistance and approbation of the measure. “Good Sir Thimo,” said he, “I can no longer sit idly down in my dismantled castle; the storms are playing as cruel a game with that as love is doing with my heart. ”

“ The Queen was greatly agitated; the assembly dispersed; but the fame of Master Lucas increased prodigiously.
Now, my dear Mother, before I close this long epistle, I must make a confession to you. I really do not know where to find words to do it; but it is something which I must not conceal, and is the true cause for the agitation in which I began this letter. Dear Mother, I really believe I am in love; or rather I feel it with the utmost certainty; for if what I feel is not love, then I do not know, and hope never to know, what love is. ”

“ The woman took her hand, and led her through a long range of chambers hewn from the solid rock, against which the house was built; and the affrighted girl almost closed her eyes to shut out the view of the skeletons, monsters, and strange forms which seemed to gibber and grin at her as she passed along. They reached a spacious chamber, and she was left alone in utter darkness for some moments. A silence like that of death prevailed; she dared not move, for fancy pictured a deep abyss at her feet, down which one step, nay a single breath, might plunge her. ”

“ No, no, mistress Anne, it’s no use talking. It’s not altogether Robert that I care about. I don’t stand upon trifles: and, if the man is not to your taste or the girl’s, why look out any other active huntsman that may take my office betimes and give us a comfortable fire-side in our old age: Robert, or not Robert, so that it be a lad of the forest: I’ll never stand upon trifles: but for the clerk,—dost hear Anne?—this hero of a crow-quill, never hang about my neck or think to wheedle me again. ”

“ Without doubt one of the balls had been destined for the Count, and the other for Clara. Deceived by Clara’s disguise the murderers had doubtless mistaken her for her consort, and myself for the Countess. Clara recovered but for a few seconds; she took the hand of the despairing Mongomery. “If ever you have loved me, said she, swear to fulfil what I request with my dying breath.” He solemnly pledged his word. “I thank you,” said she, “and shall now die content. What I demand of you, is to seek no vengeance, but instantly to fly!” ”

“ But for your good I have ordered to be committed to paper the cause of my chastisement, in order that you may learn that vengeance belongs to God alone, and not to men; for the most just amongst them knows not how to judge: and again, that you may not in your heart condemn me, but rather that you may pity me; for my misery has nearly equalled my crimes; and my spirit would never have dreamt of evil, if man had not rent my heart.”
“How justly,” exclaimed Ferdinand, “has Emily’s good sense divined thus much!” ”

“ He spoke to us, and taking for a moment, as if by chance, her hand, he gazed at it intently for an instant, but without making any remark; indeed, it was done so instantaneously, that I scarcely think the Dauphiness herself noticed it. In the meantime Roger had arranged his mirror, and invited the Queen of Scots to look at the images of her future life; but Master Lucas preventing her, inquired, “Do you yourself know, Master Roger, what her Majesty is to see?” “No!” replied the other disdainfully, “do you consider me an impostor?” “Not an impostor;” ”

“ Viola, pallid and fainting, stretched out her arms imploringly towards him, and would have thrown herself on his bosom, but he repulsed her; and as he did so the point of the bodkin pierced her heart. “Ah, that pain!” she murmured; all is now accomplished. Forgive me, my lord, my husband! I am no sorceress; I am weak, but not wicked. Gertrude can tell you all. Forgive—forgive!” Her spirit fled with the last accents.
Nadasti shortly fell in battle, and Serini is supposed to have died in the Holy Land, whither he went as a pilgrim. ”

“ Besides, I have, like all rich people, my whims, which all your eloquence will not make me resign: he who wins the hand of my Bertha must be rich in castles and lands, in order that she may not live in less splendour as a wife than she did as a maiden. I can add nothing as a fortune, for all I possess will be spent in the purchase of bridal ornaments, magnificent as those which a spirit once bestowed upon our family, and which, since that period, have unfortunately been lost. For this reason my son-in-law must be a rich man. ”