August Wilhelm von Tieck

“ He came running to me one morning at a very early hour, crying out, 'Help, help, reverend sir!' 'what is the matter now,' said I, 'have the Camisards set fire to your house, as they have always threatened to do, on account of your zeal?' 'Ah, much worse, much worse,' cried the knave, wringing his brown, bony hands. 'Speak out shepherd,' said I, 'Do you know,' he began, 'my son, the tall Michael,--who does not know the lanky looby--he is known to almost all the mountaineers, it is indeed the cross of your house, that the idiot is so useless: he will neither work, nor mind the herds ”

“ The Counsellor of Parliament re-ascended the carriage with his friend, saying: "We are now indeed so far on our road, that the usual precaution becomes superfluous. Let us only be careful, that our friend Vila meets with no misfortune on our account." "Were my son only reasonable," said the latter, "they might do what they liked with me, old, half dead and worn out sinner; to die is almost a diversion to be sought for, to that have the ruling lords pushed affairs."
They drove off, and Edmond and Lacoste followed on horseback, in order to accompany them to Roland’s troop. ”

“ The physician and the Countess, along with the nurse and an elderly servant, were present in the infirmary. Suddenly the patient got up in the bed, sat up straight, looked at the bystanders, and then gazed at the window, where only one of the curtains was drawn.
— Ha! he exclaimed: is my carriage not here yet? Christoph, I fear, will arrive all alone with his bearskin cap and his sheepskin coat; but at the very least be sure to look after the noble stranger back there in his little chamber, — I will gladly reimburse you, whatever the cost, my dear landlady. ”

“ The Counsellor and the servant endeavoured to quiet the provoked friend, but he scarcely even heard their words. "A doctor to go to his patient without a wig!" repeated he angrily, "it would cause an uproar in the whole province, it would be reported in Paris, a scandalous article would be inserted in the Mercure de France, ah the infidel! it would be even better to have no bread, no catechism in the house than to want the necessary headgear, and the Marquis will not suffer himself to be cured by me in this bald-headed condition, and his fever will have still less respect for me." ”

“ The old man trembled violently; he examined his son doubtingly, his face was pale. "Where have you seen all this?" demanded he at length. "Yonder in the mountains of Lozere, fourteen leagues from here." There was a pause. "I must believe you," said the father. "Be it a miracle, delirium, an undiscovered strength of nature; I see, but I understand it not. All is in reality as you have said, but your manner is terrible to me. ”

“ Jemehr der Maler den Affekt hinauftreibt, desto mehr nimmt er zugleich Interesse und Tadel von seinem Helden. Die höchsten Grade des Zorns, der Wuth oder der Verzweifelung bleiben im Gemälde stets unedel; selbst der Wahnsinn muss hier mit einer gewissen Schüchternheit auftreten, und im höchsten Entzücken muss ein sanfter Wiederschein der Melancholie leuchten." The relation of this to Lessing, both in the "Laokoon" and in the "Dramaturgie" is at once apparent.
The dislike for caricature centers around the comic efforts of Smirke for whom Tieck has hardly a good word to say. ”

“ You prevent him now again by your fatherly authority; now, certainly, these indications joined to your indifference would with myself weigh heavier in the scale. Your answer, my Lord Counsellor of Parliament!" "My son," said the father with constrained displeasure, "is free; he may serve the king according to his wish if he sets his happiness upon it."
The Intendant bowed in silence, refused all refreshment and the afflicted father followed the carriage with tearful eyes, as it rolled away.—"Is it then come to this?" exclaimed he, "your have now Edmond, what you wished, I could not say no. ”

“ The evil one is very powerful in the neighbourhood, particularly up yonder in the moun- tains, he is quite at home there; we are much better down here. Papa, the figs are becoming ripe already in the garden."
"Thou chatterer!" said her father, in a tone of displeasure, "I shall take care that you are not so much alone with the old woman."
"It is true enough," interrupted the domestic, "Eustace is up in the mountains with Roland, and has joined the Camisards, his wife and children sit mourning in their desolate home ”

“ Tieck proceeds, "Ein Künstler, der die komischen Scenen des Shakspeare darstellen will, sollte doch von seinem Dichter so viel gelernt haben, dass dieser seine Caricaturen nie ohne eine gewisse Portion von phlegmatischer Laune lässt, die so oft unser Lachen erregt, und aus der blossen Erfahrung sollte er wissen, dass selbst der lächerlichste Zwerg, wenn er schäumt, in eben dem Augenblicke aufhört lächerlich zu sein. Jedes Subject hört auf, komisch zu sein, sobald ich es in einen hohen Grad von Leidenschaft versetze. ”

“ Alfred and the officer were likewise present, and the Baron's young sister, an amiable girl, seemed extremely entertained. Miss Erhard too was in high spirits, and Michael, who was a spectator, could hardly conceive how she could move so nimbly in the Scotch reel. The dance was now over, and the corpulent host tumbled down exhausted upon a sopha.
— If it does not fairly make one young again, he cried; though it is hard work too. The deuce, my dear Miss Erhard, what bounds you can take! I should never have expected along with your piety so much elasticity. ”

“ He took the road to Nismes; the huntsman had already slipped away.
"My Lord Counsellor of Parliament," cried the priest, "you have not seen us today in the most favourable light, now that all has passed off happily; I am a man again; courage revives once more within me, I could now show you that I am no coward, if a few of these villains would but return. Receive my thanks, honoured sir, and you too my young—but what do I see?" ”

“ I must submit to appear ungrateful; but I cannot help it.
— Without speaking to our master? replied Edward; without leave of absence? What are we to think of you? Besides, Herr Balthasar will want you; for there is no one here just now to take your post of secretary.
— My dearest sir, exclaimed the young man uneasily, if you knew my situation, you would not blame or think ill of me.
— Has our master offended you? have you any ground of complaint?
— No, no! quite the contrary! cried the young man impetuously; the old gentleman is kindness itself; I appear to be base and good-for-nothing ”

“ Cf. Arch. für Litteraturgesch., Vol. 15, pp. 316–22: Zu Ludwig Tiecks Nachlass. Von Adolf Hauffen.—The Nachlass also contains the Gesang des Barden Longal, another Ossianic imitation.—Three other Ossianic imitations were written by Tieck in the same year, viz., Ryno, Ullin’s Gesang, and Ullin’s und Linulf’s Gesang. The last two were printed in Die eiserne Maske, 1792, e. g., and are given on pp. 195–204 in the first volume of Ludwig Tieck’s nachgelassene Schriften, ed. Rudolf Köpke, Leipzig, 1855.
Feldblumen, gesammelt zum Besten einer Erziehungsanstalt für arme Kinder. Riga. pp.?–?: Colma. ”

“ Never speak to me of that again."
"You do the girl injustice," said the doctor, "strange she is, indeed, but good, and out of the two excentricities a tolerable understanding would arise." At this moment the garden—gate was closed violently, Edmond entered, and the conversation ended. They saluted one another, and seated themselves in the summerhouse with the little girl. "Brother," cried Eveline, "it is all your fault, that my beautiful house is knocked down. He causes nothing but misfortune." ”

“ I believe too that I look rather pale and sorrowful, and whatever you may ordain, I shall bear my head heavily on my weary shoulders for the future."
"You know then that your son as well as the young Edmond has gone over to the rebels?" said the Intendant sharply with his icy coldness: "and who will assure us that this did not happen by your counsel and suggestions?"
"No man will be security for me," answered, the father with quiet composure, "and of myself, of my many years of probity and an assurance, by my honour, I will not even speak, for that appears to myself absurd. ”

“ It must discover money just as easily as water; indeed, it must guess the thoughts, and thereby ward off future crimes. Every city, every village under a reasonable government should have its priviledged rod-walker."
"Impiety," said Godfred, "sufficient calamity happens already without this superstition. The silly hazel-rod should be applied to the backs of all such fellows."
The musician made a wry face and would have answered angrily, when Eveline uttered a loud joyous "Ah!" an old peasant passed by, followed by a large dog. ”

“ Sulpice, who had pressed forward, helped up the old man with arms and shoulders. "Accustomed, or not accustomed!" cried Vila, vexedly, "he may thank heaven, that I take him with me at all. A knave, who at his years still addicts himself to pugilism, is good for nothing in my peaceable house. Times, indeed, seem, strange enough, so that the rabble will soon, perhaps, assert their pretensions to ride with me in my carriage."
"You would have room enough," said the Colonel, taking leave of the doctor, who had already seated himself at his ease.—
"Now, drive on!" ”

“ There is as it were a huge chasm yawning in my spirit — confidence, faith — everything — did not I say so? good is the only real evil — Edward! don't look so sad — methinks I am talking quite wildly.
He took the young man's hand.
— Bring me the mayor this evening, and the priest and bailiff as witnesses. You are now my son, and this is the spirit I shall now make my will in. I feel it is high time; for it would be horrible if Helbach were to fling all my fortune to the dogs. O if I could but totally forget this shot and Eleazar! if such wild thoughts did not keep rushing about in my brain! ”

“ He then said, [7] "Did you hear the song of the good mountaineer, my boy?"
"Did I?" repeated the boy: "surely he sang loud enough. And are you, then, still that faithful Eckart whom I was glad to hear so praised?"
"That same duke is now my enemy: he holds my second son in durance,—yea, hath already laid him low, if I must believe all that the people of the country say."
"Then take your great sword, father, and bear it no longer," exclaimed his brave boy: "they will tremble when they see you; the good people will uphold you all the country round, for they say you are their greatest hero." ”

“ When Bertram had died (about 1830) , Melchior joined his brother Sulpize at Bonn, where Melchior, in the prosecution of his favored Art-studies, concluded his life in serene quiet and contentment.
In the death of Christian Tieck, German sculpture has lost one of its most illustrious ornaments, a man of rare intelligence, of long experience, and of profound artistic cultivation. ”

“ The old heathens were certainly quite right to call him, although a boy, the greatest among all the Gods."
"Cease your profitless mockery," said Marion, who had also climbed up to the summit, "our brother has been long since betrothed to her; the poor girl is there exposed to the daily peril of her life, because her connexion is known, here at least she will share the fortunes of her husband, and shall be protected by us ”

“ He laid aside his sword and plumed hat, and with obliging promptitude placed an armchair near the fire-place for the lady Christine; he took a footstool and sat on it at her feet, Edmond leaned over the back of her chair and the rest of the company resumed their play. "At your feet, loveliest of women," began the Marshal, must I find again the peace and tranquillity, which deserted me to-day: yes, this day is one of the most unfortunate of my life!" "Have the Camisards penetrated into Nismes?" asked Christine. ”

“ The tall man paced up and down the hall, examining all present with a scrutinising look: "Two servants, perhaps, moreover a valet and a huntsman," he muttered to himself, but loud enough to be heard, "will not indeed be capable of offering much resistance, the house is by no means fortified in case of an attack, then the young lord here, a sort of sportsman, the black one also in case of necessity to engage the enemy, but that chicken-hearted one, (looking penetratingly at the young miller) that downy-faced fellow is quite useless. ”

“ A year and more had passed, and no tidings had been heard of the stranger: the old man at last gave in to the entreaties of his son; and the money was laid out in land, and other property. The young farmer's riches soon became the talk of the village; and Christian seemed contented and comfortable, and his father felt delighted at beholding him so well and cheerful; all fear had now vanished from his mind. What then must have been his consternation, when Elizabeth one evening took him aside; and told him, with tears, that she could no longer understand her husband ”

“ Edward in the meanwhile had with trembling hands wrapped his picture in its cover again; he gnashed his teeth, stamped, and cried:
— The devil must play me this trick!
So saying he rushed out, and did not observe that the maiden was looking down again from above into the saloon, to which she had been drawn by the vociferation of the quarrellers.
— My worthy sir, said the old man, now addressing the stranger, you have distressed me; you have been loo hasty with the young man; he is heedless and extravagant, but I have never yet heard of his playing a foul trick. ”

“ Permit me now to go, before the old man returns to oppress my heart anew with his lamentations, or to excite my anger."
Father and son long held each other closely embraced; the old Lord seemed overpowered with grief and tears; Edmond gently disengaged himself from his paternal arms, returned once more and kissed his father. With hasty steps he traversed the garden and ascended the vineyard; there he stood still once more, and from thence waved a handkerchief downwards in salutation, while Franz issued from the wood ou the opposite side and held up the letters exultingly in the distance. ”