The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries novel. A total of 990 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The German Cla.s.sics of The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries.Volume I.by Editor-in-Ch
The German Cla.s.sics of The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries.Volume I.by Editor-in-Chief: Kuno Francke.PREFACE It is surprising how little the English-speaking world knows of German literature of the nineteenth century. Goethe and Schiller found their
- 601 "What's his other name?""Well--he has none, but, wait--yes, n.o.body, John n.o.body is his name. He has no father," he added under his breath.Margaret arose and went into the bedroom. After a while she came out with a harsh, gloom
- 602 Frederick lay down again. "I'll see if I can sleep," he said.Margaret was sitting by the hearth. She was spinning and thinking of rather unpleasant things. The village clock struck half-past eleven; the door opened and the court-clerk, Kapp
- 603 "Not _false_ witness!""No, none at all; you have been badly taught; he who accuses another in his confession is unworthy to receive the Sacrament."Both were silent. "Uncle, what makes you think of this?" Frederick finally ask
- 604 "Well, we do not want it for any ordinary price." They offered two hundred thalers. The deal was made, and all the foresters were strictly forbidden to injure the "Jew's Beech" in any way.Soon after, about sixty Jews with a Rabbi
- 605 Herr von S. felt the deepest sympathy with the poor chap; by the next day he had decided where to lodge him; he should take his meals in the castle and his clothing could, of course, be provided for too. "Sir,"said John, "I can still do som
- 606 Ah! oft have home's cool shady tanks Those pails and pitchers filled for you; By far Missouri's silent banks Shall these the scenes of home renew-- The stone-rimmed fount, in village street, Where oft ye stooped to chat and draw-- The hearth, an
- 607 Oh, land of tents and arrows flying!Oh, desert people brave and wise!Thou Arab on thy steed relying,-- A poem in fantastic guise!Here in the dark I roam so blindly-- How cunning is the North, and cold!Oh, for the East, the warm and kindly, To sing and rid
- 608 Hurrah! Germania!Down sickle then and wreath of wheat Amidst the corn were cast, And, starting fiercely to thy feet, Thy heart beat loud and fast; Then with a shout I heard thee call: "Well, since you will, you may!Up, up, my children, one and all, O
- 609 Across the yellow desert they wound As a s.h.i.+ning river might flow, The sun it pierced through their helmets' round Like an arrow shot from a bow.The desert was still, there breathed no gust, All limply the flags were streaming, When up to the sky
- 610 Then up with the sun, and away where it leads, High over the mountains and down through the meads!The brooks they are singing, the trees hear the call; My heart's like a lark and sings out with them all.And at night, when I come to a cozy old nest, &
- 611 FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 1: Permission Macmillan and Co., New York, and George Bell & Sons, Ltd., London.][Footnote 2: Or in Goethe: "Zuschlagen kann die Ma.s.se, Da ist sie respektabel; Urteilen gelingt ihr miserabel."][Footnote 3: _The Dial_, Vol.
- 612 [Footnote 48: Translator: William G. Howard.] [Footnote 49: Translator: A.I. du P. Coleman.] [Footnote 50: Translator: A.I. du P. Coleman.] [Footnote 51: Translator: A.I. du P. Coleman] [Footnote 52: Translator: A.I. du P. Coleman.] [Footnote 53: Transl
- 613 The German Cla.s.sics of The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries.Vol. VIII.by Various.THE NOVEL OF PROVINCIAL LIFE By EDWIN C. ROEDDER, PH.D. a.s.sociate Professor of German Philology, University of Wisconsin To Rousseau belongs the credit of having given,
- 614 "If she comes to you, you must tell her to go to c.r.a.ppy Zachy too, and tell him to be good to me."Amrei nodded; and then the children parted, and went to the separate houses where they had found shelter.The clouds, which had lifted in the mor
- 615 CHAPTER IV "OPEN, DOOR"All Souls' Day came. It was dull and foggy, and the children stood among a crowd of people a.s.sembled in the churchyard. c.r.a.ppy Zachy had led Damie there by the hand, but Amrei had come alone, without Black Marian
- 616 Amrei, trembling, touched her father's coat and his blue-striped vest.But the uncle lifted up the clothes, pointed to the worn-out elbows, and said to Farmer Rodel: "These are worth very little--I won't have them valued at much. I don'
- 617 "Where's the colt going?" Coaly Mathew called out of his window to a young lad who was leading a fine colt away by a halter."Farmer Rodel has sold it," was the reply; and presently the colt was heard neighing farther down the vall
- 618 [And so Amrei spent day after day at Holderwasen, watching the geese and the pa.s.sers-by, studying the birds and the flowers and the trees, dreaming of her father and mother, and wondering what was in store for Damie and herself. There was a trough of cl
- 619 "Black Marianne must not be told anything about it. It would kill her--it would drive her crazy."For a report, coming from the Amba.s.sador in Paris, had pa.s.sed through a number of higher and lower officers, until it reached the Village Counci
- 620 THE SISTER OF MERCY During the next year there was plenty of life in Farmer Rodel's house."Barefoot," for so Amrei was now called, was handy in every way, and knew how to make herself liked by everybody; she could tell the young farmer'
- 621 They stopped the engine to let Barefoot get off, and with a cry of "G.o.d be praised that nothing has happened to you!" she hurried toward her brother. Damie, however, made no reply, and stood with both hands resting on the neck of one of the ho
- 622 Give up that ax, or I don't know what I may do!"Then Damie, in a frightened tone, replied: "It was only a thought. Believe me I never intended to do it--I can't do anything of that kind. But because they always call me "skittle-bo
- 623 All the brooklets in the wide world, They run their way to the Sea; But there's no one in this wide world, Who can open my heart for me."I wish I were as old as you," she once said to Black Marianne, after dreaming in this way."Be glad
- 624 He pulled up his horse, rested his right hand with the whip in it on his hip, and patting the animal's neck with his left, called out: "Good morning, pretty mistress! Tired of dancing already?""I'm tired of idle questions already,
- 625 The gendarme was glad to have at least got an answer from her, and continued: "And if I were allowed to dance, I would have one with you right now.""I cannot dance," replied Amrei.Just then the music ceased. Amrei pushed against the pe
- 626 "Well, we have been very happy together once, even if we don't see each other again in all our lives, and even though neither of us knows the other's name."The youth nodded and said: "You are right."Amrei held the end of her
- 627 Love, thou art mine, and I am thine, And that doth content me, And shall not repent thee, Love, fare thee well!"At last they came to the village, where one group after another detached itself. Barefoot paused under the tree by her father's house
- 628 Barefoot now stood there, laughing scornfully and, at the same time, sadly over her brother's simplicity."He sends to me and doesn't stay in the place where I can find him; now if I go up that way, why should he expect me to come by the foo
- 629 She now cherished the idea of going with Damie to Alsace, and working in a factory there. It seemed terrible to her that she should have to do this, but she would force herself to it; as soon as the summer was over, she would go. And then, "Farewell
- 630 "Mother, you ought to go about the world preaching, and give lectures for girls only.""Yes, I could do that," replied the mother, also laughing. "But I have brought out the last part first; you must, of course, notice how she beha
- 631 "Yes, but I consider it wrong that she wants to milk the cows just this once; that's deceiving the worthy man, for she can't milk at all.""You and I cannot alter the world," said the mistress. "I think it's hard eno
- 632 "And you shall have a good present, too," added John; and he let a dollar that he already had in his hand, slip back into his pocket."I'll tell you something more," Barefoot resumed, moving on to another cow; "the s.e.xton is
- 633 "That is the greatest praise that anybody in the world could give me!"Barefoot declared. "I still have a keepsake from your mother." And then she related the incident of their meeting his mother, and both laughed when Barefoot told how
- 634 "Then I should like to go home this very night," said John."Before I do anything else," replied Barefoot, "I must go to Black Marianne. She has filled a mother's place for me, and I have not seen her today, and have not been
- 635 Presently Amrei got up. Her face was glowing, and when she stood before the gla.s.s, she exclaimed: "Gracious heavens! How can it be? All this seems almost impossible!""Well, there are still some hard planks to pierce; but I am not worrying
- 636 "But to those who can jump like colts one doesn't say such things,"replied Amrei, laughing."You are rich," said the old man. He seemed to like to talk, and smiled as he took a pinch of snuff out of his horn snuff-box."How can
- 637 At any other time I would have been glad to serve in your house, indeed, rather than anywhere else. But now it would have been dishonest; and to people to whom I want to be honest all my life long, I won't come for the first time with a lie in my mou
- 638 It was a happy family--in the parlor, in the yard, in the field. The Farmer often said that his food for years had not tasted so good to him as it did now; and he used to get Amrei to prepare things for him three or four times a day, at quite irregular ho
- 639 "With all these people, whom you now look at with proud indifference, because you know that you are doing right--with all these people you'll have to live, and you'll expect them, not to look at you askance, but to give you due respect. Now
- 640 [Ill.u.s.tration: JEREMIAS GOTTHELF]And when the master is done he is content, and the affair is settled to this extent, that neither the rebuked one nor his fellows can detect the least thing in the conduct of the master--no bitterness, nor vehemence, no
- 641 "See what the cow's doing," said the master. And when Uli came back with the reply that the calf was not coming just yet, the master said, "I shall remember all my life how our pastor explained serving in our religious teaching, and ho
- 642 CHAPTER IX ULI GAINS PRESTIGE AND IMPRESSES GIRLS [Uli's improvement proceeds steadily, and his self-respect with it. The two maids are greatly impressed by him, and both set their caps for him.Stini, the elder, is very ugly and cross-grained, but a
- 643 This put Uli on his feet. He found new courage; but still be could hardly leave the master. A number of things came into his mind, about which he ought to ask; it seemed as if he knew nothing. He asked about the sowing, and how he had best do this or that
- 644 [Uli requests the mistress to be allowed to sit in the house on Sunday afternoons. Freneli, Joggeli, and especially Elsie are put out, the latter because she is wont to spread out her finery on the table and Uli is in her way. But Uli wins her over by adm
- 645 "Why, the girl's pregnant!""That's an accursed lie," cried Uli, "I haven't been near her. I won't say that I couldn't have been; but I'd have been ashamed to. Everybody would have blamed me and though
- 646 Then the mistress laughed heartily again, and said, "There you have it, whether you will or no; that's the way it is; why, everybody says so.""Everywhere they take us for a wedding party," explained Uli, "because we're d
- 647 The order was brought, but Uli was missing. The hostess had been sent out after him, and came back and said she had told him; but still he did not come. Then the mistress said, "Go, Freneli, and tell him to come at once." Freneli hesitated and t
- 648 'A dove-cot would be just as true: It's off with the old love, on with the new.'""But how can you play the fool with him so?" queried her aunt; "you see he's in earnest. If I was in his place I'd turn my back o
- 649 Long before three o'clock they drove out into the cold, frosty morning.Amid question and answer the flickering stars paled and sought their sky-blue beds, and the good mother sun began to weave golden curtains about them out of sparkling rays of ligh
- 650 You're right! In some places the women have a hard time, in others the men; it always depends on where there's understanding and then the belief that there's a G.o.d in Heaven. Where there's no belief, evil is king."Hereupon they
- 651 Young Mrs. Nussler, who must have studied the peculiarities of her mother-in-law with great care, looked to see what was the matter, and found to her horror and dismay that the cap was gone from its stand.Good gracious! what had become of it? She had plai
- 652 "When with tender Silvery light Luna peeps the clouds between, And 'spite of dark disastrous night The radiant sun is also seen When the wavelets murmuring flow When oak and ivy clinging grow, Then, O then, in that witching hour Let us meet _in
- 653 And there's Brasig coming out of the arbor. He must want to speak to me about something--but it's a very odd thing altogether!"Mrs. Behrens went down the garden path with Brasig feeling ready for anything that might befall. She opened the g
- 654 When dinner was over, Mina whose turn it was to help her mother to clear away the dishes, tidy the room, and prepare the coffee, asked her sister: "Where are you going, Lina?" "I'll get my sewing and go to the arbor," answered Lin
- 655 On the other side of the "neck" there lies a valley by far more beautiful and fertile than that of Gschaid. At its entrance there lies a country-town of considerable size named Millsdorf which has several industrial enterprizes and carries on al
- 656 Also in Sanna's little pockets she put all manner of things. She gave each a piece of bread to eat on the way and in the knapsack, she said, there were two more pieces of wheat bread, in case they should grow too hungry."For mother, I have given
- 657 "Where are we, I wonder, Conrad?" asked the girl."I don't know," he answered. "If I only could see something with my eyes," he continued, "that I could take my direction from."But there was nothing about them b
- 658 But now hunger a.s.serted itself imperiously. Almost at the same time, both took their pieces of bread from their pockets and began to eat.They ate also the other things, such as little pieces of cake, almonds, raisins, and other trifles, which grandmothe
- 659 A gigantic, b.l.o.o.d.y red disk emerged above the white horizon and immediately the snow about the children blushed as if it had been strewn with millions of roses. The k.n.o.bs and pinnacles of the mountain cast very long and greenish shadows along the
- 660 The dyer who since the marriage of his daughter had never been in Gschaid decided to accompany the men to the village.When they approached the red post where the side-road began they saw the sleigh waiting for them which the shoemaker had ordered there, w
- 661 It is a source of great comfort for the social politician that, in Germany, the contrast of forest and field yet remains so generally established that we still have a whole group of regular forest lands. A nation which still holds fast to the forest as a
- 662 It is well known that even the most beautiful region is not in itself a real work of art. Man alone creates artistically; nature does not. A landscape such as meets our gaze out of doors is not beautiful in itself, it only possesses, possibly, the capabil
- 663 which encourages devotion and peace of mind, and, for that matter, may also be employed to express pleasure. On the other hand, since Ch. P.Schubert's theoretical procedure and since the use Gluck and Mozart have made of D-minor in dramatic practice,
- 664 The pleasure which the peasant takes in the Rococo, which has bravely survived so many changes in taste, is easily explained. The peasant himself is an original, rather, 'tis true, as a species than individually, and the brilliant, fantastic, affecte
- 665 The German Cla.s.sics of The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries.Vol. IX.by Various.THE LIFE OF FRIEDRICH HEBBEL By WILLIAM GUILD HOWARD, A.M., a.s.sistant Professor of German, Harvard University The greatest German dramatists of the middle of the ninetee
- 666 SCENE II CARL (_enters_).Good morning, mother! Well, Clara, I suppose you might put up with me, if I were not your brother?CLARA.A gold chain? Where did you get that? CARL.Why do I sweat so? Why do I work two hours longer than the others every evening? Yo
- 667 MOTHER.Have you had a quarrel? Otherwise I think I might like him--he is so steady! If he only amounted to something! In my time he would not have had to wait long. Then gentlemen were eager for a good penman, as lame people are for their crutch, for they
- 668 CLARA.I didn't praise him, did I? You don't need to run him down!LEONARD.You still seem to take a lot of interest in him.CLARA. We used to play together as children, and afterward--you know very well!LEONARD.Oh yes, I know! And that's just
- 669 LEONARD.I suppose not. I took advantage of the time to pay court to the burgomaster's little hump-backed niece, whom the old fellow thinks so much of, and who is his right hand, just as the bailiff is his left.Understand me correctly! I didn't s
- 670 If you didn't care enough about it to give the girl that pleasure yourself, why should I do it? I don't light any candles in my house except those that belong to me. Then I know that n.o.body is going to come and blow them out, just as we are be
- 671 ANTONY.What do you mean by that?LEONARD.You know how to compose yourself.ANTONY. I wear a mill-stone as a cravat sometimes, instead of going to the river with it. That gives one a strong back.LEONARD.Let him who can imitate you.ANTONY.He who has such a ga
- 672 SCENE VI MOTHER (_enters hurriedly_).Do you still know me?ANTONY (_pointing to the wedding dress_).The frame, yes--that is perfectly preserved; but the picture--not so well. It seems to be covered with cobwebs. Oh, well! there has been time enough for it.
- 673 You are right--it was a vile thought!MOTHER.To your son you are only half a father! I must tell you that!ANTONY.Wife! We'll not discuss that today! MOTHER.He is not like you--but is that any reason why he must be bad?ANTONY.Then where is he now? The
- 674 Master Antony, calm yourself! Everybody knows that you are the most honest man in town! ANTONY. So? So? [_Laughs._] Yes, I have used up all the honesty in the family! There, poor boy! There was none left for him! She too [_points to the dead body_] was
- 675 Dear daughter, Carl is only a bungler. He has killed his mother, and what does it mean? His father remains alive! So, come to his aid--you cannot ask him to do everything alone. You must make an end of me! The old trunk still looks rugged, doesn't it
- 676 Father, you ought to lie down and rest for half an hour!ANTONY.To dream that you are about to be confined? And then to fly into a pa.s.sion and seize you, and afterward bethink myself too late and say: "Dear daughter, I did not know what I was doing!
- 677 WOLFRAM (_bursting out_).My G.o.d! My G.o.d! All in vain! Not a single servant that I have ever taken into my house have I allowed to leave me; to each one I have paid double wages and closed my eyes to all remissness, in order to buy their silence! And y
- 678 [_To himself._]How one chatters when one has something in his mind and does not know how to bring it out!CLARA.Everything is bright and cheerful today; that's because it is such beautiful weather.SECRETARY. Yes, in weather like this the owls fall out
- 679 [_Throws LEONARD'S letter to him._]SECRETARY (_reads_).As cas.h.i.+er, I--your brother--thief--very sorry--but out of consideration for my office, I cannot help it--[_To CLARA._] He wrote you that on the very day your mother died? For he adds his con
- 680 LEONARD (_at a table covered with doc.u.ments, writing_).That makes the sixth sheet since dinner! How good a man feels when he is doing his duty! Now anybody that wanted to could come through the door, even the king himself! I should rise, but I should no
- 681 LEANARD.You talk as if you were the first woman and the last to find herself in your predicament! Thousands have gone through it before you and submitted to their fate. Thousands after you will be confronted with the same situation and accept their fate.
- 682 Thank G.o.d, you cannot be a suicide without being an infanticide as well! CLARA. Better both than a parricide! Oh, I know that one cannot atone for one sin with another! But what I now do affects me alone! If I hand the knife to my father the blow strike
- 683 She was here! And has gone away again without having seen you contrite and repentant at her feet? Come! Come!LEONARD.I beg of you! You see before you a man who is ready to do anything that you dictate. This very evening I will betroth myself to her.SECRET
- 684 Now we can start in again--planing, sawing, hammering, and, in between, eating, drinking, and sleeping, so that we can go on planing, sawing, and hammering, and on Sundays do a bit of praying into the bargain! I thank Thee, O Lord, that I may plane, saw,
- 685 [_Exit._]CARL.She acts very strangely![_Sings_]A bold and saucy sea-gull Sweeps round, as if possessed-- CLARA. [_Reenters._]The last thing is done! Father's supper is on the fire! As I closed the kitchen door behind me, I thought to myself: You are
- 686 ANTONY. You are of age, that is true! CARL. And just because I am of age I am not defiant about it! For in my opinion birds and fishes should not quarrel over the question whether it is better in the water or in the air. Just one thing--either you will ne
- 687 Clara? [_He grasps the table._] CARL. She went to draw water, and they found her handkerchief! SECRETARY. Scoundrel, I know now why your bullet hit the mark! It is she! ANTONY. Go and find out! [_He, sits down._] I cannot! [_Exit CARL._] And yet-- [_Ris
- 688 GERENOT WULF _Warrior_ TRUCES _Warrior_ RUMOLT SIEGFRIED UTE KRIEMHILD BRUNHILDA, _Queen of Iceland_ FRIGGA, _her nurse_ A CHAPLAIN A CHAMBERLAIN _Warriors, Populace, Maidens, Dwarfs_ SIEGFRIEDS DEATH (1862) TRANSLATED BY KATHARINE ROYCE ACT I _Iceland,
- 689 FRIGGA.Naught know I!-- No syllable he spoke. The little maid Reached forth her hands and grasped the golden crown That glittered brightly o'er the dead Queen's brow.We marveled that it fitted her.BRUNHILDA.The child? FRIGGA.The little maid; and
- 690 A sudden sleep o'erwhelmed us, that was all.FRIGGA.But had it ever happened?BRUNHILDA.Not before. FRIGGA.Then hark! The old man came and tried to speak.It almost seems as if I'd seen him stand And grasp thy shoulder; and he threatened me, But he
- 691 The chance may hap among them there is one Hath tried his strength with thee. There may be one Hath laid thee conquered at his very feet!HAGEN.Ne'er was King Gunther conquered. That I vow!SIEGFRIED.High stands his castle by the Rhine at Worms, And ri
- 692 I swear! SIEGFRIED. Tis well! And Ill prepare the s.h.i.+p! BRUNHILDA (_while going away addresses_ FRIGGA). Go now into the trophy hall and drive The nail that will be needed. (_To the knights_.) Follow me! [_Exeunt omnes_.] ACT II _Worms. Courtyard of
- 693 GISELHER.Why so? Thou hadst no better way to prove What we have gained in winning thy right arm, For truly are the Princes stalwart men!SIEGFRIED.It may be! Yet had I not done the deed, Perhaps some bird had flown and spread abroad The rumor that the Dane
- 694 What is it then? GISELHER. I have myself forgotten. When a mans sister blushes rosy-red, Tis natural a brother is surprised And seeks to know the reason.--Never mind! The secret Ill recall before I die, And then shall Siegfried learn it. SIEGFRIED. Thou
- 695 SCENE VI _Flourish of trumpets_. BRUNHILDA, FRIGGA, GUNTHER, HAGEN, VOLKER, _retainers_, KRIEMHILD _and_ UTE _approach them from the castle_.GUNTHER.And here's the castle!My mother's coming now to welcome thee, Kriemhilda too. VOLKER (_to BRUNHI
- 696 BRUNHILDA. Of precious stones there is with us no lack-- Though never white or black ones; yet my hands Have taught me white, and raven is my hair. KRIEMHILD. Thou canst not know of fragrance! [_She plucks a violet for her_.] BRUNHILDA. Oh how sweet! An
- 697 That was all? FRIGGA. Yes, all! BRUNHILDA. Then all is well! Then all is well! UTE (_to_ GUNTHER, _who has approached_). My son, if shes too bitter toward thee now, But give her time! The clamor of the crows And ravens that she heard could never make He
- 698 GUNTHER. Siegfried is The first of all our warriors. BRUNHILDA. Grant him then The foremost seat beside thy very throne. GUNTHER. In treasure, he is richer far than I. BRUNHILDA. Is that his claim upon thy sister? Shame! GUNTHER. A thousand of my enemie
- 699 And for Brunhild I. TRUCHS. And why, if thou wilt tell me? WULF. Where would be The play of rival lances, if we all Should wear one color? TRUCHS. Why, I grant thee that! The reason is sufficient, otherwise It were mere madness. WULF. Say it not so loud
- 700 SIEGFRIED.Let be till morning, for a minute's worth A year today. I still can count the words That I have spoken to my loving bride; Then let me have one evening with my wife.HAGEN.Without good reason I will ne'er disturb A lover or a drunkard.