Henrik Steffens

“ When the poor man looked around him, the cavern also had disappeared, and he would have believed all that had passed to have been but an illusion had not the piece of gold which he still held in his hand satisfied him of its reality. ”

“ To one person only had he intrusted the secret of that spell which attracted him so frequently to this wild region,—he had told him in an hour of confidence, how his heart was stirred within him while wandering in its lonely ravines, and how there lay concealed for him in its dark rocks the long-worshipped mystery of his life, and treasures inexhaustible. ”

“ This root is of the most costly species, and possesses virtue to heal the most obstinate and inveterate diseases. But Rubezahl allows none but his particular favourites to gather it.
A lady of high birth once lay dangerously ill at Leignitz, and promised a peasant a great reward if he could procure her the spring-root from Rubezahl’s garden. Allured by her tempting promises he undertook the task. When he reached the lonely desert country where the garden lies, he seized his spade, and began to dig up the root, which was not unknown to him. ”

“ IV. THE TREASURE-SEEKER.
At Warmbrun [1] there lived a sober and industrious tradesman, who occupied a lonely house. His appearance bespoke great poverty; it was seldom that he entered into conversation with any person; and report alleged, that he occupied himself in chemical researches, with the hope of discovering the golden essence, and suddenly amassing great treasures. He would often wander forth alone into the wild district behind the Kynast, [2] where he would bury himself for hours together in the dark woods, and only return to his hut in the twilight. ”

“ Then a large rock fell down in a thousand pieces. The son heard the moaning of his father, farther and still farther in the distance, and for a long time lay in deep stupor. At last the hurricane ceased to war, the sky cleared up, and the boy, struck with terror, sought the chapel to recommend himself to God. ”

“ At last the burden became insupportable even to a peasant’s brawny shoulders; for awhile he attempted to drag it behind him, but it seemed to take root in the ground, and required a still greater exercise of strength and patience to drag it forward in this manner. ”

“ At last, after long and toilsome search, he reached a spot from whence he could perceive the latter object;—but then the steeple of Hermsdorf had sunk behind the mountain. The treasure-seeker became feverishly anxious,—he shifted his position,—now he moved lower down, now climbed farther up the ascent,—now he advanced towards the right, now towards the left,—sometimes he got two objects in the right position, but on looking round for the others, they had vanished ”

“ Faithful service has it rendered me for many a year!” He placed the end of it on the ground to vault over a little stream: it slipped in between two large stones, and when the wanderer, confiding in its aid, leaped into the air, the trusty staff snapped in twain, and its master was precipitated into the brook in a very rough and unpleasant manner. ”