which he breathed; and inheriting as he did a por- | be said to escape till the end of the work. tion of his father's taste for finery, it had always Nothing, indeed, can be more ludicrously unbeen his care, in boyhood, to furnish up his cham-natural than the luck he has in meeting wit ber, which he regarded as his little kingdom, in the stateliest fashion. He had got himself a carpet for the middle of his chamber, and a finer one for his table. He had also a white cap, which he wore straight up like a turban! and the sleeves of his night-gown he had caused to be cut short, in the mode of the Orientals. As a reason for this, he pretended, that long wide sleeves encumbered him

in writing.

mixture.

nothing but players, and persons connected. with playhouses. On his very first sally, he falls in with a player who had run away with a young lady, whom he had captivated from the stage-and has scarcely had time to admire the mountain scenery among which he has to pass his first evening, when he is sur "In those times, how happy did he think the prised to learn that the work-people in the players, whom he saw possessed of so many splen- adjacent village are about to act a play!-the did garments, trappings, and arms; and in the con- whole process of which is described with as stant practice of a lofty demeanour, the spirit of solemn a tediousness as his own original pupwhich seemed to hold up a mirror of whatever, in pet-show. In the first town to which he the opinions, relations, and passions of men, was stateliest and most magnificent. Of a piece with descends, he meets first with a seducing comthis, thought Wilhelm, is also the player's domes-pany of tumblers and rope-dancers, reinforced tic life; a series of dignified transactions and em- by the valuable addition of a Strong Man; ployments, whereof their appearance on the stage and in half an hour after makes acquaintance is but the outmost portion! Like as a mass of sil-with a gay and bewitching damsel-who ver, long simmering about in the purifying furnace, sends across the street to beg a nosegay she at length gleams with a bright and beautiful tinge in the eye of the refiner, and shows him, at the same sees in his hands-and turns out, by the haptime, that the metal now is cleansed of all foreign piest accident in the world, to be a strolling actress, waiting there for the chance of em"Great, accordingly, was his surprise at first, ployment. To give our readers an idea of when he found himself beside his mistress, and the sort of descriptions with which the great looked down, through the cloud that environed him, on tables, stools, and floor. The wrecks of a writers in Germany now electrify their readtransient, light, and false decoration lay, like the ers, we copy the following simple and impres glittering coat of a skinned fish, dispersed in wild sive account of the procession of the tumbling disorder. The implements of personal cleanliness, party. combs, soap, towels, with the traces of their use! "Preceded by a drum, the manager advanced on were not concealed. Music, portions of plays and horseback; he was followed by a female dancer pairs of shoes, washes and Italian flowers, pin-mounted on a corresponding hack, and holding a cushions, hair-skewers, rouge-pots and ribbons, books, and straw-hats; no article despised the neighbourhood of another; all were united by a common element, powder and dust. Yet as Wilhelm scarcely noticed in her presence aught except herself; nay, as all that had belonged to her, that she had touched, was dear to him, he came at last to feel, in this chaotic housekeeping, a charm which the proud pomp of his own habitation never had communicated. When, on this hand, he lifted aside her boddice, to get at the harpsicord; on that, threw her gown upon the bed, that he might find a seat: when she herself, with careless freedom, did not seek to hide from him many a natural office! which, out of respect for the presence of a second person, is usually concealed; he felt as if by all this he was coming nearer to her every moment, as if the communion betwixt them was fastening by invisible ties!"

In the midst of all these raptures, and just after he had been gallantly serenading her with the trumpets of a travelling showman, he detects his frail fair one in an intrigue with a rival; and falls into the most horrible agonies, the nature and violence of which the ingenious author illustrates by the following very obvious and dignified simile.

child before her, all bedizened with ribbons and spangles. Next came the remainder of the troop shoulders in dangerous postures, yet smoothly and on foot; some of them carrying children on their lightly; among these the young, dark, black-haired figure again attracted Wilhelm's notice.—Pickleherring ran gaily up and down the crowded multitude, distributing his hand-bills with much practical fun; here smacking the lips of a girl, there breeching a boy, and awakening generally among the people an invincible desire to know more of him.On the painted flags, the manifold science of the company was visibly delineated."

The new actress, to whom he is introduced by another of the fraternity whom he finds at his inn, is named Philina; and her character is sketched and sustained throughout the book with far more talent than could be expected from any thing we have hitherto cited. She is gay, forward, graceful, false, and good-natured; with a daring and capricious pleasantry, which, if it often strikes as unnatural, is frequently original and effective. Her debut, however, we must say, is in the author's most characteristic manner.

"She came out from her room in a pair of tight "As when by chance, in the preparation of some little slippers with high heels, to give them welcome. artificial fire-works, any part of the composition She had thrown a black mantle over her, above a kindles before its time, and the skilfully bored and white negligee, not indeed superstitiously clean, loaded barrels,-which, arranged, and burning but which, for that very reason, gave her a more after a settled plan, would have painted in the air a frank and domestic air! Her short dress did not magnificently varying series of flaming images, hide a pair of the prettiest feet and ancles in the now hissing and roaring, promiscuously explode world. You are welcome,' she cried to Wilhelm, with a confused and dangerous crash; so, in our and I thank you for your charming flowers.' She hero's case, did happiness and hope, pleasure and led him into her chamber with the one hand, pressjoys, realities and dreams, clash together with de-ing the nosegay to her breast with the other. structive tumult, all at once in his bosom."

He sets off, however, on his journey, and speedily gets into those more extensive theatrical connections, from which he can scarcely

Be

ing all seated, and got into a pleasant train of general
talk, to which she had the areof giving a delightful
turn, Laertes threw a handful of gingerbread nut.
into her lap, and she immediately began to
them. Look what a child this young gallant is'

ea

1

she said: He wants to persuade you that I am fond of such confectionary; and it is himself that cannot live without licking his lips over something of the kind.'-Let us confess,' replied Laertes, 'that, in this point, as in others, you and I go hand in nand. For example,' he continued, the weather is delightful to-day: what if we should take a drive into the country, and cat our dinner at the Mill?'" -Vol. i. pp. 143, 144.

Even at the mill they are fortunate enough to meet with a dramatic representation-some miners in the neighbourhood having, by great good luck, taken it into their heads to set forth the utility of their craft in a sort of recitative dispute with some unbelieving countrymen, and to sing through a part of Werner's Lectures on Mineralogy-upon which very natural and probable occurrence our apprentice comments, in this incredible manner.

fied this German company to be poetically entertained, according to their own character, on stuff of their own manufacture! In particular, the vaults and caverns, the ruined castles, the moss and hol low trees; but above all the nocturnal Gipsey. scenes, and the Secret Tribunal, produced a quite incredible effect.

"Towards the fifth act the approbation became more impetuous and louder; and at last, when the the tyrant met his doom, the ecstasy increased to hero actually trampled down his oppressor, and such a height, that all averred they had never passed such happy moments. Melina, whom the liquor had inspired, was the noisiest; and when the second bowl was empty, and midnight near, Laertes swore through thick and thin, that no living mortal was worthy ever more to put these glasses to his lips; and, so swearing, he pitched his own right over his head, through a window-pane, out into the street. The rest followed his example; and notwithstanding the protestations of the landlord, who came running in at the noise, the punch-bowl itself, never after this festivity to be polluted by unholy whose exhilaration was the least noticed, the other drink, was dashed into a thousand shreds. Philina, wo girls by that time having laid themselves upon the sofa in no very elegant positions, maliciously encouraged her companions in their tumult.

"In this little dialogue,' said Wilhelm, when seated at table, we have a lively proof how useful the theatre might be to all ranks; what advantage even the State might procure from it, if the occupations, trades, and undertakings of men were all brought upon the stage! and presented on their praiseworthy side, in that point of view in which the State itself should honour and protect them! "Meanwhile the town-guard had arrived, and As matters stand, we exhibit only the ridiculous were demanding admission to the house. Wilhelm, side of men. Might it not be a worthy and pleasing much heated by his reading, though he had drank task for a statesman to survey the natural and rebut little, had enough to do with the landlord's help ciprocal influence of all classes on each other, and to content these people by money and good words, to guide some poet, gifted with sufficient humour, and afterwards to get the various members of his in such labours as these? In this way, I am per-party sent home in that unseemly case." suaded, many very entertaining, both agreeable and useful pieces, might be executed.'"

Such is the true sublime of German speculation! and it is by writing such sheer nonsense as this that men in that country acquire the reputation of great genius-and of uniting with pleasant inventions the most profound suggestions of political wisdom! Can we be wrong in maintaining, after this, that there are diversities of national taste that can never be reconciled, and scarcely ever accounted for?

On another day they go in a boat, and agree, by way of pastime, to "extemporise a Play,' by each taking an ideal character, and attempting to sustain it--and this, "because it forces each to strain his fancy and his wit to the uttermost," is pronounced to be a most "comfortable occupation," and is thus moralized upon by a reverend clergyman who had joined their party, and enacted a country parson with great success.

Most of our readers probably think they have had enough of this goodly matter. But we cannot spare them a taste of the manner of courtship and flirtation that prevailed among these merry people. Philina one day made a garland of flowers for her own hair-and then another, which she placed on the brows of our hero.

"And I, it appears, must go empty!' said Laertes. Not by any means; you shall not have reason to complain,' replied Philina, taking off the garland from her own head, and putting it on his.dispute very warmly which of us stood higher in If we were rivals,' said Laertes, we might now thy favour. And the more fools you,' said she, whilst she bent herself towards him, and offered him her lips to kiss: and then immediately turned round, threw her arm about Wilhelm, and bethem tastes best?' said she archly. Surprisingly!' stowed a kind salute on him also. Which of exclaimed Laertes: 'it seems as if nothing else had ever such a tang of wormwood in it. little wormwood,' she replied, as any gift that a man may enjoy without envy and without conceit. hour's dancing, and after that we must look to our But now,' cried she, 'I should like to have an

***I think this practice very useful among actors, and even in the company of friends and acquaint-vaulters.'" ances. It is the best mode of drawing men out of themselves, and leading them, by a circuitous path, back into themselves again.""

Their evening occupation is not less intellectual and dramatic; though it ends, we mast own, with rather too much animation. They all meet to read a new play; and -"between the third and fourth act, the punch arrived, in an ample bowl; and there being much fighting and drinking in the piece itself, nothing was more natural than that, on every such occurrence, the company should transport themselves into the situation of the heroes, should flourish and strike along with them, and drink long life to their favourites among the dramatis persona.

**Each individual of the party was inflamed with *the most noble fire of national spirit. How it grati

As

Another evening, as Wilhelm was sitting pensively on the bench at the inn door,

"Philina came singing and skipping along through the front door. She sat down by him; nay, we might almost say, on him, so close did she press herself towards him; she leant upon his shoulders, began playing with his hair, patted him, and gave him the best words in the world. She begged of him to stay with them, and not leave her alone in that company, or she must die of ennui: she could not live any longer in the same house with Melina, and had come over to lodge in the other inn for that very reason. He tried in vain to satisfy her with denials; to make her understand that he neither could nor would remain any longer. She did not cease her entreaties; nay, suddenly she threw her arm about his neck, and kissed him

"Know'st thou the land where the lemon-trees bloom?

Where the gold orange glows in the deep thicket's gloom?

Where a wind ever soft from the blue heaven
blows,

And the groves are of laurel and myrtle and rose?
Know'st thou it?

Thither! O thither,
My dearest and kindest, with thee would I go.
Know'st thou the house, with its turreted walls,
Where the chambers are glancing, and vast are
the halls?
Where the figures of marble look on me so mild,
As if thinking: Why thus did they use thee,
poor child?'
Know'st thou it ?

My guide and my guardian, with thee would I go. Know'st thou the mountain, its cloud-cover'd arch,

Where the mules among mist o'er the wild torrent march?

In the clefts of it, dragons lie coil'd with their brood;

The rent crag rushes down, and above it the flood.
Know'st thou it?
Thither! O thither,

Our way leadeth: Father! O come let us go!"
Vol. i. p. 229.

The mystery that hangs over the original condition of Fenella in Rushin Castle, is discarded, indeed, as to Mignon, from the first; for she is first exhibited to us as actually tumbling!—and is rescued by our hero from the scourge of the master tumbler, who was dissatisfied with her performance. But the fonds of the character is the same. She is beautiful and dwarfish, unaccountable, and full of sensibility, and is secretly in love with her protector, who feels for her nothing but common kindness and compassion. She comes at last, to be sure, to be rather more mad than Fenel la, and dies the victim of her hopeless passion. The following is the description, something overworked perhaps, and not quite intelligible, but, on the whole, most powerful and impres sive, of this fairy creature's first indication of her love to her youthful deliverer.

"Nothing is more touching than the first disclosure of a love which has been nursed in silence, of a faith grown strong in secret, and which at last comes forth in the hour of need, and reveals itself to him who formerly has reckoned it of small account. The bud, which had been closed so long and firmly, was now ripe, to burst its swathings, and Wilhelm's heart could never have been readier to welcome the impressions of affection.

afraid she would dissolve in his arms, and leave nothing there for him to grasp. He held her faster and faster. My child!' cried he, my child!' Her tears continued flowing. At last she raised her. self; a faint gladness shone upon her face. My father!' cried she, thou wilt not forsake me? Wilt be my father? I am thy child.'"

We cannot better illustrate the strange inconsistency of our author's manner, than by subjoining to this highly passionate and really beautiful scene, his account of the egg dance, which this little creature performs a few days after, for her friend's entertainment.

"She came into his room one evening carrying a ittle carpet below her arm, which she spread out upon the floor. She then brought four candles, and placed one upon each corner of the carpet. A little basket of eggs, which she next carried in, made her purpose clearer. Carefully measuring her steps, she then walked to and fro on the carpet, spreading out the eggs in certain figures and positions; which done, she called in a man that was waiting in the house, and could play on the violin. He retired with his instrument into a corner; she tied a band about her eyes, gave a signal, and, like a piece of wheel-work set a-going, she began moving the same instant as the music, accompanying her beats and the notes of the tune with the strokes of a pair

of castanets.

Lightly, nimbly, quickly, and with hairsbreadth accuracy, she carried on the dance. She skipped so sharply and surely along between the eggs, and trode so closely down beside them, that you would have thought every instant she must trample one of them in pieces, or kick the rest away in her rapid turns. By no means! She touched no one of them, though winding herself through their mazes with all kinds of steps, wide and narrow, nay even with leaps, and at last half kneeling.-Constant as the movement of a clock, she ran her course; and the strange music, at each repetition of the tune gave a new impulse to the dance, recommencing and again rushing off as at first.

"The dance being ended, she rolled the eggs together softly with her foot into a little heap, left none behind, harmed none; then placed herself beside it, taking the bandage from her eyes, and concluding her performance with a little bow."

on stepping into his dressing-room, is so much terrified at seeing himself sitting quietly in an arm-chair by the fire, that he runs out in a great fright, and soon after becomes a visionary, and joins the insane flock of Swedenborg. A critical scene, however, is at last brought on accidentally-and though the transaction recorded is by no means quite correct, we cannot help inserting the account of it, as a very favourable specimen of the author's most animated and most natural style. Wilhelm had been engaged in reading, as usual, to the Countess and her female party, when they are interrupted by the approach of visitors. The Baroness goes out to receive them;

"And the Countess, while about to shut her writing-desk, which was standing open, took up her casket, and put some other rings upon her fin ger. 'We are soon to part,' said she, keeping her friend, who wishes nothing more earnestly, than eyes upon the casket: accept a memorial of a true that you may always prosper.' She then took out a ring, which, underneath a crystal, bore a little plate of woven hair, beautifully set with diamonds. She held it out to Wilhelm, who, on taking it, knew neither what to say nor do, but stood as if rooted to the ground. The Countess shut her desk, and sat down upon the sofa. And I must go empty?' said Philina, kneeling down at the Countess right hand. 'Do but look at the man! he carries such a store of words in his mouth, when no one wants to hear them; and now he cannot sir! Express your services, by way of pantomime stammer out the poorest syllable of thanks. Quick, at least; and if to-day you can invent nothing; then, for Heaven's sake, be my imitator!' Philina seized the right hand of the Countess, and kissed it warmly. Wilhelm sank upon his knee, laid hold of the left, and pressed it to his lips. The Countess seemed embarrassed, yet without displeasure. Ah!' cried Philina; so much splendour of attire I may have seen before; but never one so fit to wear it. What bracelets, but also what a hand! What a neck-dress, but also what a bosom!' Peace, little cozener!' said the Countess. Is this his Lordship then?' said Philina, pointing to a rich medallion, which the Countess wore on her left side, by particular chain. He is painted in his bridal dress,' Was he then so young?'

inquired Philina; I know it is but a year or two since you were married.' 'His youth must be placed to the artist's account,' replied the lady. He is a handsome man,' observed Philina.But was there never,' she continued, placing her hand upon the Countess' heart, 'never any other image that found its way in secret hither? Thou art thee. Let me never hear such another speech. very bold, Philina!' cried she; I have spoiled If you are angry, then am I unhappy,' said Phi lina, springing up, and hastening from the room.

Soon after this, the whole player party are taken to the castle of a wealthy Count, to as-replied the Countess. sist him in entertaining a great Prince and his numerous attendants, from whom he was expecting a visit. Our hero is prevailed on to go also, and takes Mignon along with himand though treated with some indignity, and very ill lodged and attended, condescends to compose a complimentary piece in honour of the illustrious stranger, and to superintend, as well as to take a part in, all the private theatricals. By degrees, however, he steals into "Wilhelm still held that lovely hand in both the favour of the more distinguished guests he noticed, with extreme surprise, that his initia. his. His eyes were fixed upon the bracelet-clasp. is employed to read to the Countess, and at were traced on it, in lines of brilliants. Have i last is completely fascinated with her elegance then,' he modestly inquired, you own hair in th. and beauty-while, as it turns out, he has un-precious ring? Yes, replied she in a faint voice consciously made some impression on her innocent heart. He is not a little assisted in his designs, whatever they may have been, by certain intriguing Baroness, who dresses him out, on one occasion, in the Count's clothes, when that worthy person was from home, intending to send the Countess in upon him, by telling her that her lord was suddenly returned. But this scheme is broken up by the unexpected verification of her fable; for the Count actually returns at the moment; and,

a

then suddenly collecting herself, she said, and pressed his hand: Arise, and fare you well!" chance!' He pointed to the bracelet-clasp. How?" Here is my name,' cried he, by the most curious cried the Countess; it is the cipher of a female friend!" They are the initials of my name. Forget me not. Your image is engraven on my heart, and will never be effaced. Farewell! I must be gone.' He kissed her hand, and meant to rise; but as in dreams, some strange thing fades and changes into something stranger, and the succeeding wonder takes us by surprise; so, without knowing how it happened, he found the Countess in his arms! Her

lips were resting upon his, and their warm mutual kisses were yielding then that blessedness, which mortals sip from the topmost sparkling foam on the freshly poured cup of love!

The second stroke that came upon bm wounded deeper, bowed still more. I was :he marriage of his mother. The faithful tender son had yet a mother, when his father passed away. He hoped, in the company of his surviving and noble-minded parent, to reverence the heroic form of the departed; but his mother too he loses! and it is something worse than death that robs him of her. The trustful image, which a good child loves to form of his parents, is gone. With the dead there is no help-on the living no hold! She also is a woman, and her name is Frailty, like that of all her sex.

666

"Her head lay upon his shoulder; the disordered ringlets and ruffles were forgotten. She had thrown her arm around him; he clasped her with vivacity; and pressed her again and again to his breast. O that such a moment could but last forever! And wo to envious fate that shortened even this brief moment to our friends! How terrified was Wilhelm, how astounded did he start from this happy dream, when the Countess, with a shriek, on a sudden tore herself away, and hastily pressed Figure to yourselves this youth,' cried he, her hand against her heart. He stood confounded this son of princes; conceive him vividly, bring before her; she held the other hand upon her eyes, his state before your eyes, and then observe him and, after a moment's pause, exclaimed: 'Away! when he learns that his father's spirit walks! leave me delay not! He continued standing. Stand by him in the terrors of the night, when the Leave me!' she cried; and taking off her hand venerable ghost itself appears before him. A horfrom her eyes, she looked at him with an indescrib-rid shudder passes over him; he speaks to the mysable expression of countenance; and added, in the most tender and affecting voice: Fly, if you love me.' Wilhelm was out of the chamber, and again in his room, before he knew what he was doing. Unhappy creatures! What singular warning of chance or of destiny tore them asunder ?'"'

These questionable doings are followed up by long speculations on the art of playing, and the proper studies and exercises of actors. But in the end of these, which are mystical and prosing enough, we come suddenly upon what we do not hesitate to pronounce the most able, eloquent, and profound exposition of the character of Hamlet, as conceived by our great dramatist, that has ever been given to the world. In justice to the author, we shall give a part of this admirable critique. He first delineates him as he was before the calamities of his family.

terious form; he sees it beckon him; he follows it, and hears. The fearful accusation of his uncle rings in his ears; the summons to revenge, and the piercing oft-repeated prayer, Remember me!

"And when the ghost has vanished, who is it that stands before us? A young hero panting for vengeance? A prince by birth, rejoicing to be called to punish the usurper of his crown? No! Trouble and astonishment take hold of the solitary young man: he grows bitter against smiling vil lains, swears that he will not forget the spirit, and concludes with the expressive ejaculation:

The time is out of joint: O! cursed spite, That ever I was born to set them right! key to Hamlet's whole procedure. To me it is "In these words, I imagine, will be found the clear that Shakespeare meant, in the present case, to represent the effects of a great action laid upon a soul unfit for the performance of it. In this view the whole piece seems to me to be composed. An oak-tree is planted in a costly jar, which should have borne only pleasant flowers in its bosom; the "Soft, and from a noble stem, this royal flower roots expand, the jar is shivered! A lovely, pure, had sprung up under the immediate influences of noble, and most moral nature, without the strength majesty the idea of moral rectitude with that of of nerve which forms a hero, sinks beneath a bur. princely elevation, the feeling of the good and dig-den which it cannot bear, and must not cast away. nified with the consciousness of high birth, had in All duties are holy for him; the present is too hard. him been unfolded simultaneously. He was a Impossibilities have been required of him; not in prince, by birth a prince; and he wished to reign, themselves impossibilities, but such for him. He only that good men might be good without obstruc- winds, and turns, and torments himself; he advances tion. Pleasing in form, polished by nature, cour- and recoils; is ever put in mind, ever puts himself teous from the heart, he was meant to be the pat-in mind; at last does all but lose his purpose from tern of youth and the joy of the world. his thoughts; yet still without recovering his peace of mind.""

"Without any prominent passion, his love for Ophelia was a still presentiment of sweet wants. His zeal in knightly accomplishments was not entirely his own; it needed to be quickened and inflamed by praise bestowed on others for excelling in them. He was calm in his temper, artless in his conduct, neither pleased with idleness, nor too violently eager for employment. The routine of a university he seemed to continue when at court. le possessed more mirth of humour than of heart; ne was a good companion, pliant, courteous, dis creet, and able to forget and forgive an injury; yet never able to unite himself with those who overstept the limits of the right, the good, and the becoming.'"

He then considers the effects of the misfortunes of his house on such a disposition. The first is the death of his father, by which his fair hopes of succession are disappointed. "He is now poor in goods and favour, and a stranger in the scene which from youth he had looked upon as his inheritance. His temper here assumes its first mournful tinge. He feels that now he is not more, that he is less, than a private nobleman; he offers himself as the servant of every one; he is not courteous and condescending, he is needy and degraded.

There is nothing so good as this in any of our own commentators-nothing at once so poetical, so feeling, and so just. It is inconceivable that it should have been written by the chronicler of puppet-shows and gluttonous vulgarities.

The players, with our hero at their head, now travel across the country, rehearsing, lecturing, squabbling, and kissing as usual. There is war however on their track; and when seated pleasantly at dinner in a wood on their journey, they are attacked by some armed marauders, robbed of their goods, and poor Wilhelm left wounded and senseless on the field. What follows, though not very original in conception, is described with effect and vivacity.

"On again opening his eyes, he found himself in the strangest posture. The first thing that pierced the dimness which yet swam before his vision, was Philina's face bent down over his. He felt himself weak; and making a movement to rise, he discovered that he was in Philina's lap; into which, indeed, he again sank down. She was sitting on