[Footnote 2: The reference is to a passage in the _Chanson de Roland_. Roland was in command of a rear guard and was warned of the approach of a large force of Saracens. His comrade Oliver begged him to sound his horn and summon Charlemagne and his forces. Roland would not blow the horn until nearly all his men were slain. At last, however, the Saracens learned of Charlemagne's approach and fled. Roland then blew his horn once more and died alone on the field as he heard Charlemagne's battle cry.--TRANSLATOR.] [Footnote 3: Balmung is the name of Siegfried's magical sword.] [Footnote 4: The Mandrake is a plant growing in the Mediterranean region and belonging to the potato family. It was early famed for its poisonous and narcotic qualities. Love philtres were also made from its roots, and an old High German story tells of little images made from the root, thus endowed with the power of prophecy and respected as oracles. Probably Hebbel refers to the German tradition, as he is speaking of the dwarfs who are both small and wise. The German name of the plant is _Alraune_.--TRANSLATOR.] [Footnote 5: The translator finds that authorities and versions of the tale differ as to Siegfried's _"Kappe."_ In Maurice Grau's Götterdaemmerung libretto it is called in the English translation "Tarnhelm," and Siegfried hangs it to his belt when not in use. Dippold in his account of the Nibelung tale speaks of the _Tarn kappe_ or magic _cap_ of darkness which _renders the wearer invisible._ But the _Encyclopaedia Britannica_ speaks of the "cape of darkness" and Heath's _Dictionary_ gives cap first, but calls _Tarn kappe_ "hiding cape." In either case invisibility was obtained.--TRANSLATOR.] ANNA (1836) BY FRIEDRICH HEBBEL TRANSLATED BY FRANCES H. KING "Mild the air, and heaven blue, Fragrant flowers full of dew, And at even dance and play, That is quite too much, I say." Anna, the young servant maid, was gaily singing this song one bright Sunday morning, while busily engaged in washing up the kitchen and dairy crockery. At that moment Baron Eichenthal, in whose service she had been for the last six months, passed by, wearing a green damask dressing-gown. He was a decrepit young man, full of spleen and whims. "What's the meaning of this yodelling!" he demanded haughtily, pausing in front of her--"You know that I cannot bear frivolity." Anna blushed violently: she remembered that her severe master would have been very pleased to find her frivolous a few evenings ago in the summerhouse. A sharp retort was on the tip of her tongue, but forcibly suppressing it, she started to take up a white porcelain soup-tureen, and, in a violent struggle with her natural fearlessness, let it fall to the ground. The valuable dish broke and the Baron, who had already taken a few steps forward, turned around, his face flaming with anger.