Thus I likewise with happier thoughts will gratefully turn me Towards the few beautiful deeds of which I preserve the remembrance.
Yes, I will not deny, I have seen old quarrels forgotten, Ill to avert from the state; I also have witnessed how friendship, Love of parent and child, can impossibilities venture;Seen how the stripling at once matured into man; how the aged Grew again young; and even the child into youth was developed, Yea, and the weaker sex too, as we are accustomed to call it, Showed itself brave and strong and ready for every emergence.
Foremost among them all, one beautiful deed let me mention, Bravely performed by the hand of a girl, an excellent maiden;Who, with those younger than she, had been left in charge of a farmhouse, Since there, also, the men had marched against the invader.
Suddenly fell on the house a fugitive band of marauders, Eager for booty, who crowded straightway to the room of the women.
There they beheld the beautiful form of the fully grown maiden, Looked on the charming young girls, who rather might still be called children.
Savage desire possessed them; at once with merciless passion They that trembling band assailed and the high-hearted maiden.
But she had snatched in an instant the sword of one from its scabbard, Felled him with might to the ground, and stretched him bleeding before her.
Then with vigorous strokes she bravely delivered the maidens, Smiting yet four of the robbers; who saved themselves only by flying.
Then she bolted the gates, and, armed, awaited assistance."Now when this praise the minister heard bestowed on the maiden, Rose straightway for his friend a feeling of hope in his bosom, And he had opened his lips to inquire what further befell her, If on this mournful flight she now with her people were present;When with a hasty step the village doctor approached them, Twitched the clergyman's coat, and said in his ear in a whisper:
"I have discovered the maiden at last among several hundreds;By the description I knew her, so come, let thine own eyes behold her!
Bring too the magistrate with thee, that so we may hear him yet further."But as they turned to go, the justice was summoned to leave them, Sent for by some of his people by whom his counsel was needed.
Straightway the preacher, however, the lead of the doctor had followed Up to a gap in the fence where his finger he meaningly pointed.
"Seest thou the maiden?" he said: "she has made some clothes for the baby Out of the well-known chintz,--I distinguish it plainly; and further There are the covers of blue that Hermann gave in his bundle.
Well and quickly, forsooth, she has turned to advantage the presents.
Evident tokens are these, and all else answers well the description.
Mark how the stomacher's scarlet sets off the arch of her bosom, Prettily laced, and the bodice of black fits close to her figure;Neatly the edge of her kerchief is plaited into a ruffle, Which, with a simple grace, her chin's rounded outline encircles;Freely and lightly rises above it the bead's dainty oval, And her luxuriant hair over silver bodkins is braided.
Now she is sitting, yet still we behold her majestical stature, And the blue petticoat's ample plaits, that down from her bosom Hangs in abundant folds about her neatly shaped ankles, She without question it is; come, therefore, and let us discover Whether she honest and virtuous be, a housewifely maiden."Then, as the seated figure he studied, the pastor made answer:
"Truly, I find it no wonder that she so enchanted the stripling, Since, to a man's experienced eye, she seems lacking in nothing.
Happy to whom mother Nature a shape harmonious has given!
Such will always commend him, and he can be nowhere a stranger.
All approach with delight, and all are delighted to linger, If to the outward shape correspond but a courteous spirit.
I can assure thee, in her the youth has found him a maiden, Who, in the days to come, his life shall gloriously brighten, Standing with womanly strength in every necessity by him.
Surely the soul must be pure that inhabits a body so perfect, And of a happy old age such vigorous youth is the promise."Thereupon answered and said the doctor in language of caution:
"Often appearances cheat; I like not to trust to externals.
For I have oft seen put to the test the truth of the proverb:
Till thou a bushel of salt with a new acquaintance hast eaten, Be not too ready to trust him; for time alone renders thee certain How ye shall fare with each other, and how well your friendship shall prosper.
Let us then rather at first make inquiries among the good people By whom the maiden is known, and who can inform us about her.""Much I approve of thy caution," the preacher replied as he followed.
"Not for ourselves is the suit, and 'tis delicate wooing for others."Towards the good magistrate, then, the men directed their footsteps, Who was again ascending the street in discharge of his duties.
Him the judicious pastor at once addressed and with caution.
"Look! we a maiden have here descried in the neighboring garden, Under an apple-tree sitting, and making up garments for children Out of second-hand stuff that somebody doubtless has given;And we were pleased with her aspect: she seems like a girl to be trusted.
Tell us whatever thou knowest: we ask it with honest intentions."Soon as the magistrate nearer had come, and looked into the garden, "Her thou knowest already," he said; "for when I was telling Of the heroic deed performed by the hand of that maiden, When she snatched the man's sword, and delivered herself and her charges, This was the one! she is vigorous born, as thou seest by her stature;Yet she is good as strong, for her aged kinsman she tended Until the day of his death, which was finally hastened by sorrow Over his city's distress, and his own endangered possessions.
