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<h3 class="center" id="paris"> THE NEW PARIS. </h3>
<h4 class="center">
A CHILD’S TALE, BY J. W. GOETHE.
</h4>
<p>[The following fanciful tale occurs in the autobiography of Goethe, to
which he has given the name of “Dichtung und Wahrheit.” He is supposed
to tell it, in his childhood, to a party of juvenile friends, and he
introduces it thus:</p>
<p>“I could afford great amusement to my friend, Pylades, and other
kindly-disposed acquaintance, by telling them stories. They liked
them, especially when I told them in my own person, being much
delighted to hear that such odd things could befall their play-fellow.
As for the question when I could find time and place for such
adventures—that was no matter, indeed they pretty well knew all my
ingoings and outgoings, and how I employed myself. To such events,
localities, taken from another spot, if not from another world, were
absolutely necessary, but nevertheless I made every thing happen on the
very day I told it, or the day before. My hearers, therefore, were
less deluded by me, than deceived by themselves. Had I not, in
conformity to my natural disposition learned to mould these aëriel
nothings into something like an artistical form, such vain-glorious
beginnings, would certainly have turned out badly for me in the end.</p>
<p>“If we duly consider this impulse, we may discover in it that
assumption, with which the poet ventures to utter the greatest
improbabilities in a tone of authority, and requires that every one
shall acknowledge that to be real, which to him, the inventor, may
appear to be true in any manner whatever.</p>
<p>“However, what is said above, in general terms, and in the form of
reflection, may be rendered more agreeable, and at the same time more
perceptible by an example. I therefore add such a tale—one, which as
I used to repeat it often to my playmates, still distinctly floats
before my imagination and in my memory.”]</p>
<p>Lately, on the night before Whit Sunday, I dreamed that I was standing
before a mirror, occupying myself with my new summer suit, which my
parents had had made against the approaching festival. The dress
consisted, as you well know, of shoes of nice leather, with great
silver buckles, fine cotton stockings, breeches of black serge, and a
coat of green barracan, with gold buttons. The waistcoat, of
gold-stuff, had been cut out of the one worn by my father on his
wedding-day. My hair was dressed and powdered, my curls stood upon my
head like little wings,—but I could not finish dressing myself; for I
continually changed the articles of wearing apparel, and the first
always dropped off when I was about to put on the second. While I was
thus embarrassed, a handsome young man came up to me, and greeted me in
the kindest manner. “Welcome,” said I, “it gives me great pleasure to
see you here.”—“Do you know me then?” asked he, smiling. “Why not?” I
replied, smiling in my turn. “You are Mercury, and I have often enough
seen pictures of you.”—“I am, indeed,” said he, “and I have been sent
to you by the gods on an important mission. Do you see these three
apples?” stretching out his hand, he showed me three apples, which from
their size he could scarcely hold, and which were as wonderfully
beautiful as they were large. One was green, another yellow, and the
third red, and they looked like precious stones, to which the shape of
fruit had been given. I wished to take them, but he drew me back,
saying, “You must first know, that they are not for you. You are to
give them to the three handsomest young persons in the town, who will,
every one according to his lot, find wives to their heart’s content.
There, take them and manage the matter well,” he added, as he quitted
me, and placed the apples in my open hand. They seemed to me to have
become even larger than they were before. I held them against the
light, and found they were quite transparent, but soon they grew
taller, and at last became three pretty—very pretty little ladies, of
the height of a moderate-sized doll, with dresses of the colours of the
apples. In this form they glided softly up my fingers, and when I was
about to make a catch at them, that I might secure one at least, they
soared up far away, so that I could do nothing but look after them.
There I stood quite astounded and petrified, with my hands high in the
air, and still staring at my fingers, as if their was something to be
seen upon them. All of a sudden I perceived upon the very tips a
charming little girl, very pretty and lively, though smaller than the
others. As she did not fly away, like them, but remained with me, and
danced about, now on this finger, now on that, I looked at her for some
time, in a state of astonishment. She pleased me so much, that I
fancied I might catch her, and was just on the point of making a
grasp—as I thought very cleverly—when I felt a blow on the head, that
caused me to fall completely stunned, and did not awaken from the
stupor it occasioned till it was time to dress and go to church.</p>
<p>I often recalled the images to my mind during divine service, and at my
grandfather’s table where I dined. In the afternoon I went to visit
some friends, both because such visits were due, and because I wished
to show myself in my new clothes, with my hat under my arm and my sword
by my side. Finding no one at home, and hearing that they were all
gone to the gardens, I resolved to follow them, intending to pass a
pleasant evening. My way led me along the town wall, and I soon came
to the spot which is called the “evil wall,” and rightly enough, for
there is reason to believe it is always haunted. Walking slowly along,
I thought of my three goddesses, and still more of the little nymph,
and often held my fingers up in the air in the hope that she would be
kind enough to balance herself upon them once more. As I proceeded,
occupied with these thoughts, I discerned in the wall, on my left hand,
a little wicket which I did not remember to have perceived before. It
appeared low, but the pointed arch was such as to afford room for the
tallest man to enter. The arch and the wall on either side had been
most richly carved by the mason and the sculptor, but my attention was
most attracted by the door itself. The old brown wood of which it was
made had been but little ornamented, but broad bands of brass were
attached to it, worked both in relief and in <i>intaglio</i>. The foliage
which was represented on this brass, and on which the most natural
birds were sitting, I could not sufficiently admire. I was, however,
most surprised at seeing no keyhole, no latch, no knocker, and from the
absence of these I surmised that the door only opened from within. I
was not mistaken, for when I went close to it, to feel the carved work,
it opened inwards, and a man, whose dress was somewhat long, wide, and
altogether singular, appeared before me. A venerable beard flowed
about his chin, and I was, therefore, inclined to take him for a Jew.
As if he had divined my thoughts he made the sign of the holy cross,
thereby giving me to understand that he was a good Catholic Christian.
“Young gentleman, how did you come here, and what are you doing?” said
he, with friendly voice and gesture. “I am admiring the work of this
door,” I replied, “for I have never seen any thing like it, except,
perhaps, in small pieces, in the collection of amateurs.” “I am
delighted,” said he, “that you take pleasure in such work. The door is
still more beautiful on the inner side, pray walk in if you choose.”
This affair made me feel somewhat uncomfortable. I felt embarrassed by
the strange dress of the porter, by the retired situation of the place,
and a certain indescribable something in the air. I paused, therefore,
under the pretext of looking longer at the outside, and at the same
time cast furtive glances at the garden—for a garden it was which had
just been opened to me. Immediately behind the gate I saw a space
completely shaded by the closely entwined branches of some old linden
trees, which had been planted at regular intervals, so that the most
numerous assembly might have rested there during the most intense heat
of the day. I had already set my foot on the threshold, and the old
man was well able to lure me on a step further. Indeed I made no
resistance, for I had always heard that a prince or sultan, in such
cases, must never ask whether there is any danger. Had I not my sword
by my side, and could I not soon get the better of the old man if he
took a hostile position? I therefore walked in with confidence, and
the porter shut the gate so softly that I could hardly hear the sound.
He then showed the work on the inside, which was certainly much
superior to that without, and explained it, giving indications of the
greatest kindness towards me. My mind being completely set at rest I
allowed myself to be led further along the shady space by the wall
which circled the garden, and found much to admire. Niches,
artificially adorned with shells, coral, and pieces of ore, poured from
Tritons’ mouths copious streams of water into marble basins. Between
them were aviaries and other pieces of lattice-work, in which there
were squirrels hopping about, guinea-pigs running backwards and
forwards, and, in short, all the pretty little creatures that one could
desire. The birds cried and sung to us as we went along; the
starlings, in particular, prated after us the most absurd stuff, one
always calling out “Paris, Paris,” and the other “Narcissus,
Narcissus,” as plain as any schoolboy. The old man seemed to look at
me more seriously whenever the birds uttered this, but I pretended not
to mind it, and indeed had no time to attend to him, for I could
clearly perceive that we were walking round and that this shady place
was in fact a large circle, which inclosed another of far more
importance. We had again come to the little door, and it seemed to me
as if the old man wished to dismiss me; but my eyes remained fixed on a
golden railing which seemed to inclose the middle of this wonderful
garden, and which in my walk I had found an opportunity of observing
sufficiently, although the old man always contrived to keep me close to
the wall, and, therefore, pretty far from the centre. As he was going
up to the gate I said to him, with a bow: “You have been so exceedingly
civil to me that I can venture to make another request before I leave
you. May I not look closer at that golden railing, which seems to
encircle the inner part of the garden?” “Certainly,” said he, “but
then you must submit to certain conditions.” “In what do they
consist?” I asked, quickly. “You must leave your hat and sword here,
and must not quit my hand as I accompany you.” “To that I consent
readily enough,” said I, and I laid my hat and sword on the first stone
bench that came in my way. Upon this he at once seized my left hand in
his right, held it fast, and, with some degree of force, led me
straight on. When we came to the railing, my surprise was increased to
overwhelming astonishment; any thing like it I had never seen. On a
high socle of marble countless spears and partisans stood in a row, and
were joined together by their upper ends, which were singularly
ornamented. Peeping through the interstices I saw behind this railing
a piece of water which flowed gently along, with marble on each side of
it, and in the clear depths of which a great number of gold and silver
fish might be discovered, which now slowly, now swiftly, now singly,
now in shoals, were swimming to and fro. I wished much to see the
other side of the canal that I might learn how the interior part of the
garden was fashioned; but, to my great annoyance, on the other side of
the water stood a similar railing, which was so skilfully arranged
that, opposite to every space on the side where I stood was placed a
spear or a partisan on the other, and thus, with the additional
impediment of the other ornaments, it was impossible for one to look
through, whatever position one took. Besides, the old man, who kept a
fast hold of me, hindered me from moving freely. My curiosity—after
all that I had seen—increased more and more, and I plucked up courage
to ask the old man whether it was not possible to cross over. “Why
not?” said he, “only you must conform to new conditions.” When I asked
him what these were, he told me that I must change my dress. I readily
consented; he led me back towards the outer wall and into a neat little
room, against the walls of which hung dresses of several kinds which
seemed to approach the oriental style of costume. I changed my dress
quickly, and he put my powdered locks into a many-coloured net, after
finally dusting out the powder, to my great horror. Standing before a
large mirror I thought I looked prettily enough in my disguise, and
liked myself better than in my stiff Sunday clothes. I made gestures
and leaps, in imitation of the dancers I had seen on the stage erected
at the fair, and while I was doing this I perceived, by chance, the
reflection in the glass of a niche that stood behind me. Against its
white ground hung three green cords, each twined in a manner which was
not very clear to me in the distance. I therefore turned round
somewhat hastily and asked the old man about the niche and these cords
also. Civilly enough he took one down and showed it to me. It was a
cord of green silk of moderate thickness, the ends of which, fastened
together by a piece of green leather, cut through in two places, gave
it the appearance of being an instrument for no very agreeable purpose.
The affair seemed to me somewhat equivocal, and I asked the old man for
an explanation. He answered, very quietly and mildly, that the cord
was intended for those who abused the confidence which was here readily
placed in them. He hung the cord in its place again, and asked me to
follow him at once. This time he did not take hold of me, but I walked
freely by his side.</p>
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