The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 02: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty Volumes
General
The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 02: Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty Volumes
German literature -- 19th century -- Translations into English; German literature -- 20th century -- Translations into English
For a third they had taken the so-called "Father's Admonition" of
Terburg, and who does not know Wille's admirable engraving of this
picture? One foot thrown over the other, sits a noble knightly-looking
father; his daughter stands before him, to whose conscience he seems to
be addressing himself. She, a fine striking figure, in a folding drapery
of white satin, is only to be seen from behind, but her whole bearing
appears to signify that she is collecting herself. That the admonition
is not too severe, that she is not being utterly put to shame, is to be
gathered from the air and attitude of the father, while the mother seems
as if she were trying to conceal some slight embarrassment--she is
looking into a glass of wine, which she is on the point of drinking.
Here was an opportunity for Luciana to appear in her highest splendor.
Her back hair, the form of her head, neck, and shoulders, were beyond
all conception beautiful; and the waist, which in the modern antique of
the ordinary dresses of young ladies is hardly visible, showed to the
greatest advantage in all its graceful, slender elegance in the really
old costume. The Architect had contrived to dispose the rich folds of
the white satin with the most exquisite nature, and, without any
question whatever, this living imitation far exceeded the original
picture, and produced universal delight.
The spectators could never be satisfied with demanding a repetition of
the performance, and the very natural wish to see the face and front of
so lovely a creature, when they had done looking at her from behind, at
last became so decided that a merry impatient young wit cried out aloud
the words one is accustomed to write at the bottom of a page, "Tournez,
s'il vous plait," which was echoed all round the room.
The performers, however, understood their advantage too well, and had
mastered too completely the idea of these works of art to yield to the
most general clamor. The daughter remained standing in her shame,
without favoring the spectators with the expression of her face. The
father continued to sit in his attitude of admonition, and the mother
did not lift nose or eyes out of the transparent glass, in which,
although she seemed to be drinking, the wine did not diminish.
We need not describe the number of smaller after-pieces for which had
been chosen Flemish public-house scenes and fair and market days.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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