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another。 Every one uses his own； in his own individual fashion； Each must be happy and good。 I will not have my Hermann found fault with； For he is worthy； I know； of the goods he shall one day inherit； Will be an excellent landlord； a pattern to burghers and builders； Neither in council； as I can foresee； will he be the most backward。 But thou keepest shut up in his breast all the poor fellow's spirit； Finding such fault with him daily； and censuring as thou but now hast。〃 And on the instant she quitted the room； and after him hurried； Hoping she somewhere might find him； and might with her words of affection Cheer him again； her excellent son； for well he deserved it。
Thereupon when she was gone； the father thus smiling continued： 〃What a strange folk； to be sure； are these women； and just like the children； Both of them bent upon living according as suiteth their pleasure； While we others must never do aught but flatter and praise them。 Once for all time holds good the ancients' trustworthy proverb： 'Whoever goes not forward comes backward。' So must it be always。〃
Thereupon answered and said； in a tone of reflection； the doctor： 〃That； sir neighbor； I willingly grant； for myself I am always Casting about for improvement；things new； so they be not too costly。 But what profits a man； who has not abundance of money； Being thus active and stirring； and bettering inside and outside？ Only too much is the citizen cramped： the good； though he know it； Has he no means to acquire because too slender his purse is； While his needs are too great； and thus is he constantly hampered。 Many the things I had done； but then the cost of such changes Who does not fear； especially now in this season of danger？ Long since my house was smiling upon me in modish apparel！ Long since great panes of glass were gleaming in all of the windows！ But who can do as the merchant does； who； with his resources； Knows the methods as well by which the best is arrived at？ Look at that house over yonder；the new one； behold with what splendor 'Gainst the background of green stand out the white spirals of stucco！ Great are the panes in the windows； and how the glass sparkles and glitters； Casting quite into the shade the rest of the market…place houses！ Yet just after the fire were our two houses the finest； This of the Golden Lion； and mine of the sign of the Angel。 So was my garden； too； throughout the whole neighborhood famous： Every traveller stopped and gazed through the red palisadoes； Caught by the beggars there carved in stone and the dwarfs of bright colors。 Then whosoever had coffee served in the beautiful grotto； Standing there now all covered with dust and Partly in ruins； Used to be mightily pleased with the glimmering light of the mussels Spread out in beautiful order； and even the eye of the critic Used by the sight of my corals and potter's ore to be dazzled。 So in my parlor； too； they would always admire the painting； Where in a garden are gaily dressed ladies and gentlemen walking； And with their taper fingers are plucking and holding the flowers。 But who would look at it now！ In sooth； so great my vexation Scarcely I venture abroad。 All now must be other and tasteful； So they call it； and white are the laths and benches of wood…work； Everything simple and smooth； no carving longer or gilding Can be endured； and the woods from abroad are of all the most costly。 Well； I too should be glad could I get for myself something novel； Glad to keep up with the times； and be changing my furniture often； Yet must we all be afraid of touching the veriest trifle。 For who among us has means for paying the work…people's wages Lately I had an idea of giving the Archangel Michael； Making the sign of my shop； another fresh coating of gilding； And to the terrible dragon about his feet that is winding； But I e'en let him stay browned as he is： I dreaded the charges。〃
EUTERPE
MOTHER AND SON
Thus entertaining themselves； the men sat talking。 The mother Went meanwhile to look for her son in front of the dwelling； First on the settle of stone； whereon 'twas his wont to he seated。 When she perceived him not there； she went farther to look in the stable； If he were caring perhaps for his noble horses； the stallions； Which he as colts had bought； and whose care he intrusted to no one。 And by the servant she there was told： He is gone to the garden。 Then with a nimble step she traversed the long； double courtyards； Leaving the stables behind； and the well…builded barns； too； behind her； Entered the garden； that far as the walls of the city extended； Walked through its length； rejoiced as she went in every thing growing； Set upright the supports on which were resting the branches Heavily laden with apples； and burdening boughs of the pear…tree。 Next some caterpillars removed from a stout； swelling cabbage； For an industrious woman allows no step to be wasted。 Thus was she come at last to the end of the far…reaching garden； Where stood the arbor embowered in woodbine； nor there did she find him； More than she had hitherto in all her search through the garden。 But the wicket was standing ajar； which out of the arbor； Once by particular favor； had been through the walls of the city Cut by a grandsire of hers； the worshipful burgomaster。 So the now dried…up moat she next crossed over with comfort； Where； by the side of the road； direct the well…fenc奷 vineyard； Rose with a steep ascent； its slope exposed to the sunshine。 Up this also she went； and with pleasure as she was ascending Marked the wealth of the clusters； that scarce by their leafage were hidden。 Shady and covered the way through the lofty middlemost alley； Which upon steps that were made of unhewn blocks you ascended。 There were the Muscatel； and there were the Chasselas hanging Side by side； of unusual size and colored with purple； All set out with the purpose of decking the visitor's table； While with single vine…stocks the rest of the hillside was covered； Bearing inferior clusters； from which the delicate wine comes。 Thus up the slope she went； enjoying already the vintage； And that festive clay on which the whole country； rejoicing； Picks and tramples the grapes； and gathers the must into vessels： Fireworks； when it is evening； from every direction and corner Crackle and blaze； and so the fairest of harvests is honored。 But more uneasy she went； her son after twice or thrice calling； And no answer receiving； except from the talkative echo； That with many repeats rang back from the towers of the city。
Strange it was for her to seek him； he never had gone to a distance That he told her not first； to spare his affectionate mother Every anxious thought； and fear that aught ill had befallen。 Still did she constantly hope that； if further she went； she should find him； For the two doors of the vineyard； the lower as well as the upper； Both were alike standing open。 So now she entered the cornfield； That with its broad expanse the ridge of the hill covered over。 Still was the ground that she walked on her own； and the crops she rejoiced in； All of them still were hers； and hers was the proud…waving grain； too； Over the whole broad field in golden strength that was stirring。 Keeping the ridgeway； the footpath； between the fields she went onward； Having the lofty pear…tree in view； which stood on the summit； And was the boundary…mark of the fields that belonged to her dwelling。 Who might have planted it； none could know； but visible was it Far and wide through the country； the fruit of the pear…tree was famous。 'Neath it the reapers were wont to enjoy their meal at the noon…day； And the shepherds were used to tend their flocks in its shadow。 Benches of unhewn stones and of turf they found set about it。 And she had not been mistaken； for there sat her Hermann； and rested； Sat with his head on his hand； and seemed to be viewing the landscape That to the mountains lay： his back was turned to his mother。 Towards him softly she crept； and lightly touched on the shoulder； Quick he turned himself round： there were tears in his eyes as he met her。
〃Mother； how hast thou surprised me！〃 he said in confusion； and quickly Wiped the high…spirited youth his tears away。 But the mother； 〃What！ do I find thee weeping； my son？〃 exclaimed in amazement。 〃Nay； that is not like thyself： I never before have so seen thee！ Tell me； what burdens thy heart？ what drives thee here； to be sitting Under the pear…tree alone？ These tears in thine eyes； what has brought them？〃
Then； collecting himself； the excellent youth made her answer： 〃Truly no heart can that man have in his bosom of iron； Who is insensible now to the needs of this emigrant people； He has no brains in his head； who not for his personal safety； Not for his fatherland's weal； in days like the present is anxious。 Deeply my heart had been touched by the sights and sounds of the morning； Then I went forth and beheld the broad and glorious landscape Spreading its fertile slopes in every direction about us； Saw the golden grain inclining itself to the reapers； And the promise of well…filled barns from the plentiful harvest。 But； alas； how near is the foe！ The Rhine with its waters Guards us； indeed； but； ah； what now are rivers and mountains 'Gainst that terrible people that