Henry of Ofterdingen: A Romance Part 12

Fable departed, and hastened to the house. It was entirely in ruins.

Ivy was winding round the walls. Tall bushes shaded the ancient court, and the soft moss enwrapt the old steps. She entered the chamber.

Sophia stood by the altar which had been rebuilt. Eros was lying at her feet in full armor, more grave and n.o.ble than ever. A splendid l.u.s.tre hung from the ceiling. The floor was paved with variegated stones, describing a great circle around the altar, which was graced with n.o.ble and significant figures. Ginnistan bent weeping over a couch, on which the father appeared lying in deep slumber. Her blooming grace was infinitely enhanced by an expression of devotion and love. Fable handed to the holy Sophia, who tenderly embraced her, the urn in which the ashes were gathered.

"Lovely child," said she, "thy faithfulness and a.s.siduity have earned for thee a place among the stars. Thou hast elected the immortal within thee. Ph[oe]nix is thine. Thou wilt be the soul of our life. Now arouse the bridegroom. The herald calls, and Eros shall seek and awaken Freya."

Fable rejoiced unspeakably at these words. She called her companions Gold and Zinc, and approached the couch. Ginnistan awaited full of expectation the issue of her enterprise. Gold melted coin, and filled with a glittering flood the s.p.a.ce in which the father was lying. Zinc wound a chain around Ginnistan's bosom. The body floated upon the trembling waves. "Bow thyself, dear mother," said Fable, "and lay thy hand upon the heart of thy beloved."

Ginnistan bowed. She saw her image many times reflected. The chain touched the flood, her hand his heart; he awoke and drew the enraptured bride to his bosom. The metal became a clear and liquid mirror. The father arose; his eyes flashed lightning; and though his shape was speakingly beautiful, yet his whole frame appeared a highly susceptible fluid, which betrayed every affection in manifold and enchanting undulations.

The happy pair approached Sophia, who p.r.o.nounced the words of consecration upon them, and charged them faithfully to consult the mirror, which reflected everything, in its real shape, destroyed every delusion, and ever retained the primeval type of things. She now took the urn, and shook the ashes into a bowl upon the altar. A soft bubbling announced the dissolution, and a gentle wind waved the garments and locks of the bystanders. Sophia handed the bowl to Eros, who proffered it to the others. All tasted the divine draught, and received with unspeakable joy the Mother's friendly greeting in their soul of souls. She appeared to each one of them, and her mysterious presence seemed to transfigure all.

Their expectations were fulfilled and surpa.s.sed. All perceived what they had wanted, and the chamber became an abode of the blessed.

Sophia said, "the great secret is revealed to all, and remains forever unfathomable. Out of pain is the new world born, and the ashes are dissolved into tears for a draught of eternal life. The heavenly mother dwells in all, that every child may be born immortal. Do you not feel the sweet birth in the beating of your heart?"

She poured from the bowl the remainder upon the altar. The earth trembled to its centre. Sophia said, "Eros, hasten with thy sister to thy beloved. Soon shall ye see me again."

Fable and Eros quickly departed with their train. Then was scattered over, the earth a mighty spring. Everything arose and stirred with life. The earth floated farther beneath the veil. The moon and the clouds were trailing with joyous tumult towards the North. The king's castle beamed with a lordly splendor over the sea, and upon its battlements stood the king in full majesty with all his suite. On every side they saw dust-whirls, in which familiar shapes seemed represented.

Numerous bands of young men and maidens appeared hastening to the castle, whom they welcomed with exaltation. Upon many a hill sat happy couples but just awakened, in long-lost embraces; and they thought the new world was a dream, nor could they cease a.s.suring themselves of its reality.

Flowers and trees sprang up in verdant vigor. All things seemed inspired. All spoke and sang. Fable saluted on all sides her old acquaintances. With friendly greeting animals approached awakened men.

The plants welcomed them with fruits and odor, and arrayed themselves most tastefully. No weight lay longer on any human bosom, and all burdens became the solid ground on which men trod. They came to the sea. A s.h.i.+p of polished steel lay fastened to the sh.o.r.e. They stepped aboard, and cast off the rope. The prow turned to the north, and the s.h.i.+p cleaved the amorous waves as if on pinions, The sighing sedge ceased its murmur, as it glides gently to the sh.o.r.e. They hastened up the broad stairs. Love admired the royal city and its opulence. In the court the living fountain was sparkling; the grove swayed to and fro in sweetest tones, and a wondrous life seemed to gush and thrive in its swelling foliage, its twinkling fruits and blossoms. The old hero received them at the door of the palace.

"Venerable man," said Fable, "Eros needs thy sword. Gold has given him a chain, one end of which reaches down to the sea, the other encircles his breast. Take it in thy hand, and lead us to the hall where the princess rests." Eros took the sword from the hand of the old man, pressed the handle to his breast, and pointed the blade before him. The folding doors of the hall flew open, and enraptured Eros approached the slumbering Freya. Suddenly a mighty shock was felt. A bright spark sped from the princess to the sword, the sword and the chain were illumined; the hero supported the little Fable who was almost sinking. The crest of Eros waved on high. "Throw away thy sword," exclaimed Fable, "and awake thy beloved."

Eros dropped the sword, flew to the princess and kissed her sweet lips vehemently. She opened her full, dark eyes, and recognised the loved one. A long kiss sealed their eternal alliance.

The king descended from the dome, hand in hand with Sophia. The stars and the spirits of nature followed in glittering ranks. A day unspeakably serene filled the hall, the palace, the city, and the sky.

An innumerable mult.i.tude poured into the s.p.a.cious, royal hall, and with silent devotion saw the lovers kneel before the king and the queen, who solemnly blessed them. The king took the diadem from his head, and bound it round the golden locks of Eros, The old hero relieved him of his armor, and the king threw his mantle around him. Then he gave him the lily from his left hand, and Sophia fastened a costly bracelet around the clasped hands of the lovers, and placed her crown upon the brown locks of Freya.

"Hail to our ancient rulers!" exclaimed the people. "They have always dwelt among us, and we have not known them! All hail! They will ever rule over us. Bless us also!"

Sophia said to the new queen, "Throw the bracelet of your alliance into the air, that the people and world may remain devoted to you." The bracelet dissolved in the air, and light halos were soon seen around every head; and a s.h.i.+ning band encircled city, sea, and earth, which were celebrating an eternal Spring-festival. Perseus entered, bearing a spindle and a little basket. He carried the latter to the new king.

"Here," said he, "are the remains of thine enemies."

A stone slab chequered with white and black squares lay in the basket, with a number of figures of alabaster and black marble.

"It is the game of chess," said Sophia; "all war is confined to this slab and to these figures. It is a memento of the olden, mournful times."

Perseus turned to Fable and gave her the spindle. "In thy hands shall this spindle make us eternally rejoice, and out of thyself shalt thou spin an indissoluble, golden thread."

Phoenix flew with melodious rustling to her feet, and spread his wings before her; she placed herself upon them, and hovered over the throne, without again descending. She sang a heavenly song and began to spin, whilst the thread seemed to wind forth from her breast. The people fell into new raptures, and all eyes were fastened on the lovely child. New shouts of exultation came from the door.

The old Moon entered with her wonderful court, and behind her the people bore in triumph Ginnistan and her bridegroom. Garlands of flowers were wound around them; The royal family received them with the most hearty tenderness, and the new royal pair proclaimed them their viceregents upon earth.

"Grant me," said the Moon, "the Kingdom of the Fates, whose wondrous mansions have arisen from the earth, even in the court of the palace. I will delight you therein with spectacles, in which the little Fable will a.s.sist me."

The king granted the prayer; the little Fable nodded pleasantly, and the people rejoiced at the novel and entertaining pastime. The Hesperides congratulated them upon the new accession, and prayed that their garden might be protected. The king gave them welcome; and so followed joyful events in rapid succession. In the mean while, the throne had imperceptibly changed to a splendid marriage-bed, over which Ph[oe]nix and the little Fable were hovering in the air. Three Caryatides of dark porphyry supported the head, while its foot rested upon a Sphinx of basalt. The king embraced his blus.h.i.+ng bride. The people followed his example, and kissed each other. Nothing was heard but tender names and a noise of kisses.

At length Sophia said, "The Mother is among us. Her presence will render us eternally happy. Follow us into our dwelling. In the temple will we dwell forever, and treasure up the secret of the world."

Fable spun diligently, and sang with a clear voice:

Established is Eternity's domain, In Love and Gladness melts the strifeful pain; The tedious dream of grief returneth never; Priestess of hearts Sophia is forever.

HENRY OF OFTERDINGEN.

PART SECOND.

THE FULFILMENT.

THE FULFILLMENT.

THE CLOISTER, OR FORE-COURT.

ASTRALIS.

Upon a summer morning was I young; Then felt I for the first my own life-pulse, And while in deeper raptures Love dissolved, My sense of life unfolded; and my longing For more entire and inward dissolution, Was every moment more importunate.

My being's plastic power is delight; I am the central point, the holy source, Whence every longing stormfully outflows, And where again, though broken and dispersed, Each longing calmly mingles into one.

Ye know me not, ye saw me not becoming.-- Who witnessed me upon that happy eve, When, a night-wanderer yet, I found at length For the first time myself? Then flowed there not A shudder of sweet rapture over you?

Entirely hid in honey-cups I lay; I breathed a fragrance, calmly waved the flowers In golden morning air. An inner gus.h.i.+ng Was I, a gentle striving, all things flowed Through me and over me, and light I rose.

Then sank the first dust-seed within the sh.e.l.l,-- That glowing kiss when risen from the feast!

Backward I ebbed upon my inmost life-- It was a flash,--my powers already swell, And move the tender petals and the bell, And swiftly, from beneath my being's spring, To earthly senses thoughts were blossoming.

Yet was I blind, but stars began to sweep In light across my being's wondrous deep; Myself I found as of a distant clime, Echo of olden as of future time.

From sadness, love and hopefulness created, The growth of memory was but a flight, And mid the das.h.i.+ng billows of delight, Then too the deepest sorrow penetrated.-- The world in bloom around the hillock clings,-- The Prophet's words were changed to double wings; Matilde and Henry were alone united Into one form, into one rapture plighted; New-born I rose, to Heaven gladly leaping, For then the earthly destinies were blent In one bright moment of transfigurement; And Time, no more his ancient t.i.tle keeping, Again demanded what it once had lent.

Forth breaks the new creation here, Eclipsing the glow of the brightest sphere.

Behold through ruins ivy-streaming A new and wondrous future gleaming, And what was common hitherto, Appeareth marvellous and new.

Love's realm beginneth to reveal, And busy Fable plies her wheel.

To its olden play each nature returns, And a mighty spell in each one burns; And so the Soul of the world doth hover And move through all, and bloom forever.

For each other all must strive, One through the other must ripen and thrive; Each is shadowed forth in all, While itself with them is blending, And eagerly into their deeps doth fall, Its own peculiar essence mending, And myriad thoughts to life doth call.

The dream is World, the world is Dream, And what already past may seem, Itself is yet in distance moulding; But Fancy first her court is holding, Freely the threads at her pleasure weaving, Much veiling here, much there unfolding, And then in magical vapor leaving.

Life and death, rapture and sadness, Are here in inmost sympathy,-- Who yieldeth himself to love's deep madness, From its wounds is never free.

In pain must every bond be riven That winds around the inner eye, The orphaned heart with woe have striven, Ere it the sullen world can fly.