The Quest: The authorized translation from the Dutch of De kleine JohannesEeden, Frederik van
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The Quest: The authorized translation from the Dutch of De kleine Johannes
Eeden, Frederik van
Dutch fiction -- Translations into English
"You dazzle your bewildered people with a blinding glare, as if they
truly had a king. But it is an idle puppet-show, to comply with a hollow
peace and a defective method. There is none among you who has the wisdom
and the might to lead this people into righteousness; and yet you bear
all the responsibility for their confusion, their ignorance, their
crudeness, and their misery.
"And they are the least guilty, because, in working for your luxury,
they miss the opportunity to learn.
"But you pride yourselves upon your knowledge and your refinement. You
know how the industrious lack food, and the rich have the privilege of
idleness. You know how an over-abundance flows to you from the
deprivations of the neglected. You know the injustice of all this, and
yet permit it. And on these two unfortunates you impose the
responsibility and the lie.
"But you know--and you shall not be justified!
"And you, two unfortunates, corrupted by the burden of your imposed
greatness--poor man, poor, poor little woman! The superhuman power to
break the spell of lies round about you will not be yours. May the Good
Father, who hath not poured out His grace upon you, encompass you with
His compassion."
* * * * *
Just then an excited young adjutant drew out a revolver, and cried, "He
insults the Queen!"
A more moderate diplomat, fearing a panic, held back his hand. The cry
"He insults the Queen!" was repeated at the entrance to the church. And
an uproar was heard outside, for, at the coming of the firemen, the
waiting crowds had overheard something about a murderer, or a madman,
who was in the upper part of the church.
The helmeted men now appeared in the small gallery, and dragged Markus
aside. They immediately bound him with strong cords, fearing he might
throw them down below. Then one of them first made his way over the big
beam, and ordered Markus to come to him. After that, the other
cautiously followed.
The assembly could not see this, because it took place in the dark ridge
of the aisle; but all breathed freely once more, now that the powerful
voice up above was silent. Again the organ pealed forth, and the royal
pair, ceremoniously preceded by the court official, at last proceeded
toward the exit, for the carriages were now ready. The singing by the
children was omitted. Everything else went just as the daily papers have
recorded it for you.
* * * * *
Markus, tightly bound, was led out through a side door, yet not so
secretly but that the crowd became aware thereof, and a riotous mob soon
encircled the firemen and their prisoner.
"The Queen insulted!" they shrieked. "Kill him! Orange forever!" And
they pressed closer and closer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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