Translations from the German (Vol 3 of 3): Tales by Musæus, Tieck, RichterCarlyle, Thomas
General
Translations from the German (Vol 3 of 3): Tales by Musæus, Tieck, Richter
Carlyle, Thomas
German fiction -- Translations into English
am already joined by the indissoluble tie of marriage to a virtuous
wife, and her three tender children lisp their father's name. How could
a heart, torn asunder by sadness and longing, aspire to the Pearl of
Beauty, and offer her a divided love?"
This explanation was distinct; and the Count believed that, as it were
by one stroke, and in the spirit of true knighthood, he had ended this
strife of love. He conceived that the Princess would now see her
over-hasty error, and renounce her plan. But here he was exceedingly
mistaken. The Princess could not bring herself to think that the Count,
a young blooming man, could be without eyes for her; she knew that she
was lovely; and this frank exposition of the state of his heart made no
impression on her whatever. According to the fashion of her country, she
had no thought of appropriating to herself the sole possession of it;
for, in the parabolic sport of the Seraglio, she had often heard, that
man's love is like a thread of silk, which may be split and parted, so
that every filament shall still remain a whole. In truth, a sensible
similitude; which the wit of our Occidental ladies has never yet lighted
on! Her father's Harem, had also, from her earliest years, set before
her numerous instances of sociality in love; the favourites of the
Sultan lived there with one another in the kindest unity.
"Thou namest me the Flower of the World," replied the Princess; "but
behold, in this garden there are many flowers blossoming beside me, to
delight eye and heart by their variety of loveliness; nor do I forbid
thee to partake in this enjoyment along with me. Should I require of
thee, in thy own garden, to plant but a single flower, with the constant
sight of which thy eye would grow weary? Thy wife shall be sharer of the
happiness I am providing for thee; thou shalt bring her into thy Harem;
to me she shall be welcome; for thy sake she shall become my dearest
companion, and for thy sake she will love me in return. Her little
children also shall be mine; I will give them shade, that they bud
pleasantly, and take root in this foreign soil."
The doctrine of Toleration in Love has, in our enlightened century, made
far slower progress than that of Toleration in Religion; otherwise this
declaration of the Princess could not seem to my fair readers so
repulsive, as in all probability it will. But Melechsala was an
Oriental; and under that mild sky, Megaera Jealousy has far less
influence on the lovelier half of the species than on the stronger;
whom, in return, she does indeed rule with an iron sceptre.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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