4800.] 
utter a word; at laft he exclaimed : ‘* May 
you have arrived, dear Thor! atan happy 
moment! and fince have you already 
returned ?’’ His queftions followed each 
other faft, 
_ ‘€ Howis our common father, the king ? 
Does he appear fometimes on the parade? 
Is he pleafed when the foldiers manceuvre 
well? Does he {peak German, and under- 
ftand us better than his grand-father did?” 
A\s foon as I had anfwered thele queftions 
1n the afhrmative, taking off his bonnet, he 
exclaimed: ‘© Thank Heaven, it is all 
well; long live the king! May we not 
ope,”’ continued he, ‘* that the king will 
one day vifit the vales of Norway ?”’ I had 
almoft faid no, which would have vexed 
him—*« Yes,” {aid I, ‘*he wifhes it 
much; but his counfellors objet.” « Ob- 
ferve,”’ replied he with fome warmih, 
*‘obferve well the Jutlander! It is he 
who has moft the ear of the king,” 
In the mean time he pulled out an old 
polifhed key, opened our painted ward- 
robe, and took thence a filver cup, glitter- 
ing like the new-laced brim of my hat ; 
then defcended into the cellar. - On his 

retura, he drank my health, and gave me’ 
the cup: © Take it,” faid he,  fatisfy 
thy thirit, for thir is a fociable appetite.” 
He then embraced me. 
*¢ Although,” faid he, ‘*T fhould have 
been the faviour cf Norway, although I 
fliould have done things which no other 
could have done, I thou'd have been am- 
ply recompenfed by the pleafure I take 
in thus embracing thee.” I beheld him 
a long time, unable to fpeak. There was 
an expreffion in his eye of tendernefs, 
which caufed my heart to palpitate more 
agreeably than it had ever done before. 
My blood was never in fo fweet a fer- 
ment. 
Tt was night; I felt myfelf weary. The 
800d man adviled me to go to rett, telling 
me that Annette had made my bed: he 
retired himfelf to fleep, fatisfied and hap- 
py- I climbed the ftaircafe that I had often 
furmounted at two leaps; but was now 
happy to receive the affiftance o! a rope. 
I promifed myfelf a pleafant night. 
The clean blankets had been jut placed 
on the bed by the maid. I had never feen 
her before; but what new fentiment then 
feized me! © You came fooner than J ex. 
p:cted,” (aid the ; «if I had known of ir, 
your bed fhould have been ready.” It 
was foon finifhed ; as for me, I remained 
like one ftupified and infenfible. 
How fhall I explain myfelf? I have 
travelled , feen many women ; fome fpruce 
ag butterflies, and others like the flowers 
Tranfiated by Mr. Cottle. 
969 
of the field, wild and beauteous: I have 
been at the theatre; frolic’d with them: 
have done I know not what ;— yet with 
none have I been content; never did my 
heart furrender itfslf to any—but this 
maid. 
See me, then, in sn extaly—petrified at 
the fight of a little, naked-footed, country 
girl, ina fimple dreis, and loofe flowing 
Jocks 5 but where could fhe be equalled ? 
She was beautiful as the moon, that on a 
fine evening in 2utusns, fmiles on the val. 
lies, and gilds the fummit of the hills. 
She ftcod and furveyed me from head to 
foot ; the flame of love confumed me. 
Had it been bright as noon-day, or 
dark as mid-night, it were all one to mes 
Annette was prefent, She abforbed all 
my thoughts. Every fentiment-—every 
feeling of exiftence that I poffeffed, lived 
only inmy eyes ¢ fhe faw, without doubt, 
my {cul allon fire. We beheld each other 
for fome time. Se had not the with, I 
had not thé power to fpeak. 
The crafty girl firft broke filence. Our 
eyes met.. ** How are you ? dear Thor? 
are you fick ? Can a guard of the king be 
weary? Cana eirl, ina isofe difhabille, 
make you afraid? My gown is clean— 
I would not boaft; it is fine alfo, anda 
without a flaw. Do you want any thing ? 
Speak ; in two fteps Iwill fetch it; Tam 
not {paring of trouble.” 
“Annette, my fweet Annette! thou 
knoweft only but too well how to extend 
the dominion of beauty ; what thou know. 
eft not is, that thou haft infpired my foul 
with its firft amorous flame. Remain 
here, and I fhall want nothing, no, no» 
thing ; but if thou goett, my heart goes 
with thee. Could I but embrace thee in 
my arms, my joy would be full; I could 
then brave fears and dangers. 
és But tell me, thou masfer-ptece of 
creation! whence art thou? Haft thou 
been long here? Wert thou born free, or 
has fortune condemned fo tranfcendent a 
form as thine to perpetual fervirude? Bue 
why all thefe queltions ? Tell: meionly 
this, art thou, like myfelf, at liberty to | 
difpofe of thy heart ? Without ceremony, 
are you enzaged? But I would not em- 
barrafS you.” 
Wonld you believe ir, the crafty girl 
laughed in my face. I was no more than . 
a moufe in the taions of a cat.—** Thor, 
I believe you have lof your wits. You 
queftion me worfe than even my grand- 
mother or confeffor ever did. But I fre 
you are drowfy. Go to bed, my good 
friend, it is getting Jate.”* 
Pihaw | fie is gone. —~Have -you never 
oblerved 
