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
danger, in which he had been obliged to act mechanically without time to
think; he raised his head as high as he could to look about him and then
swam with all his might to a low bushy point which ran out conveniently
into the stream. There he brought his fair burden to dry land, but he
could find no signs of life in her; he was in despair, when he caught
sight of a trodden path leading among the bushes. Again he caught her up
in his arms, hurried forward, and presently reached a solitary cottage.
There he found kind, good people--a young married couple; the
misfortunes and the dangers explained themselves instantly; every remedy
he could think of was instantly applied; a bright fire blazed up; woolen
blankets were spread on a bed, counterpane, cloaks, skins, whatever
there was at hand which would serve for warmth, were heaped over her as
fast as possible. The desire to save life overpowered, for the present,
every other consideration. Nothing was left undone to bring back to life
the beautiful, half-torpid, naked body. It succeeded; she opened her
eyes! her friend was before her; she threw her heavenly arms about his
neck. In this position she remained for a time; and then a stream of
tears burst out and completed her recovery. 'Will you forsake me,' she
cried, 'now when I find you again thus?' 'Never,' he answered, 'never,'
hardly knowing what he said or did. 'Only consider yourself,' she added;
'take care of yourself, for your sake and for mine.'
"She now began to collect herself, and for the first time recollected
the state in which she was; she could not be ashamed before her darling,
before her preserver; but she gladly allowed him to go, that he might
take care of himself; for the clothes which he still wore were wet and
dripping.
"Their young hosts considered what could be done. The husband offered
the young man, and the wife offered the fair lady, the dresses in which
they had been married, which were hanging up in full perfection, and
sufficient for a complete suit, inside and out, for two people. In a
short time our pair of adventurers were not only equipped, but in full
costume. They looked most charming, gazed at each other, when they met,
with admiration, and then with infinite affection, half laughing at the
same time at the quaintness of their appearance, they fell into each
other's arms.
"The power of youth and the quickening spirit of love in a few moments
completely restored them; and there was nothing wanting but music to
have set them both off dancing.
"To have found themselves brought from the water on dry land, from death
into life, from the circle of their families into a wilderness, from
despair into rapture, from indifference to affection and to love, all in
a moment: the head was not strong enough to bear it; it must either
burst, or go distracted; or if so distressing an alternative were to be
escaped, the heart must put out all its efforts.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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