So soon as the chair was brought, she seated herself is only the inanimate casement of the soul. Without in it, apparently with great comfort. She commanded it, eyes, ears and tongue are like stones. Now, if the me to stand near before her, with the ends of my fingers earthly shell of the sick cannot become healthy by thy towards the pit of her heart. aid, it will be entirely broken and fall to pieces. She will no longer belong to mankind, since she possesses nothing by which she can communicate with them."

"God! of what delight is the man capable!" said she. "Emanuel give her thy word, she entreats thee, not to forsake her till the ruins of her mind have been reestablished-till her recovery is perfect. Shouldst thou forsake her, she must die wretchedly. On thee hangs her life."

She stopped. I listened as if she brought revelations from another world. I understood nothing, and yet divined what she thought. The Count and physician listened to her with equal astonishment. Both assured me

I promised with delight and pride to be the protector afterwards, that Hortensia had never spoken so clearly, and guardian angel of so precious a life.

"Also, regard it not," continued she, "if she, in the state of earthly waking, mistakes thee. Pardon her-she is an unfortunate, that knows not what she does. All faults are the sicknesses of the mortal part, which cripple the power of the spirit."

connectedly, and supernaturally, as at this time; that her communications had been broken and made often under great suffering; she frequently fell into the most frightful convulsions, or would lie for many hours in a torpid state; that she very rarely answered questions, but now the conversation appeared not at all to fatigue her.

She was talkative, and so far from being vexed by my questions, she appeared to hear them with pleasure. I I reminded her of her weakness, and inquired, if talkexpressed my astonishment at her extraordinary situa-ing so much did not exhaust her strength? She declartion. Never had I heard that sickness made a person, as it were, godlike,—that she should, with closed eyes, perceive what she had never seen before, and what was far distant from her, and even know the thoughts of another! I must believe that her state, which, with justice, might be compared to a transfiguration, was the perfection of health.

After a minute's silence, which was always the case before she answered, she said, "She is healthy like a dying person, whose material is breaking asunder. She is healthy as she will be, when her humanity ceases, and the earthly body of this lamp of eternal light falls to pieces."

ed, "Not in the least! She is well. She will always be well, when thou art with her. In seven minutes she will awaken. She will enjoy a quiet night. But tomorrow afternoon about three o'clock her sleep will return. Then fail not, Emanuel. Five minutes before three the cramps will begin; then, blessing her, stretch thy hands towards her, with an earnest desire of healing her. Five minutes before three, and by the clock in thy chamber, not by thy watch, which is three minutes different from the clock. Set thy watch exactly with the clock, that the sick may not suffer by their difference."

She also mentioned several trifling circumstances; or. "The transfiguration,” said I, “makes all dark to dered what they should give her to drink on her awakme!"

ing; what for her supper; at what time she should go "Dark, Emanuel? But thou wilt experience it. She to bed, and gave other similar directions. She was then knows much, and yet cannot express it; she sees much silent. The former death-like stillness reigned. Her clearly, much dimly, and yet cannot name it. See,- face gradually became paler, as it usually was; the man is combined from a variety of beings, which bind animation of her countenance disappeared. She now and arrange themselves together, as around a single first appeared to wish to sleep, or actually to be asleep. point, and thereby he becomes man. So are all the little She no longer held herself upright, but sank down parts of a flower held together, whereby it becomes a carelessly, and nodded, as is usual with a person sleepflower. And as one part holds and binds the other, so ing. She then began to extend her arms and stretch the other restrains it in turn; no one is what it would herself, yawned, rubbed her eyes, opened them, and be by itself, since only ALL can form man, and be other-was almost in the same minute awake and cheerful, as wise nothing. Nature is like an endless ocean of bright- she had announced. ness, in which single solid points are drawn together.

When she saw me, she appeared surprised--she look

"What do you want?" she asked me, in a hard tone.
"Gracious lady, I wait your commands."
"Who are you?"

"Faust, at your service."

"I am obliged to you for your good will, but desire I may be left alone!" said she, somewhat vexed; then bowing proudly towards me, she arose and turned her back on me.

These are creatures. Or like an extensive shining hea-ed around on the others. The women hastened to her, ven, in which drops of light run together and form stars. also the Count and Doctor. All that is in the world, has run together from the dissolved chaos, which is everywhere and always imbibing and then dissolving itself again in ALL, since nothing can remain stationary. So is man, out of the manifold substances of the universe, grown around with floating flowers. But in order that man may be, more insignificant beings must place themselves around him, which shall support his divine part. The strange things or beings which are placed around us, form the body. The body is only the shell of a heavenly body. The heavenly body is called the soul. The soul is but the veil of the Eternal. Now is the earthly shell of the sick broken, therefore her light flows out, her soul meets in union with ALL, from which it was formerly separated by a healthy shell, and sees, hears and feels without it and within it. Then it is not the body that feels; the body

I left the room with a singular mixture of feelings. How immeasurably different was the waking from the sleeping person! My gold and silver rays disappeared; also her confidential thou, which penetrated deep into my innermost feelings-even the name of Emanuel, with which she had enriched me, was no longer of value.

Musingly, I entered my chamber, like one who had

been reading fairy tales, and became so absorbed in them that he holds the reality for enchantment. The arm chair before my writing table was wanting. I placed another, and wrote down the wonderful tale, as I had experienced it, and as much of Hortensia's conversation as I recollected, since I feared that I might not hereafter believe it myself, if I had it not written before me. I had promised to pardon all the harshness she might show towards me whilst awake,-willingly did I forgive her. But she was so beautiful! I could not have borne it with indifference.

A SECOND TRANSFIGURATION.

at last scarce dared to mention me in her presence. But I will not anticipate the history and course of events. My watch was regulated. It was really three minutes different from the clock. Five minutes before three in the afternoon, neither sooner nor later, I entered, unannounced, Hortensia's room. The witnesses of the day before, were present. She sat on the sofa in a thoughtful position, but with her own peculiar grace, pale and suffering. As she perceived me, she threw a proud, contemptuous look on me, rose hastily, and cried, "Who gave you permission-without being announced"

A violent shriek and fearful convulsions stopped her voice. She sank into the arms of her women. The chair which she had desired the day before, was brought to her. Scarcely was she seated in it, than she began, in the most frightful manner, and with incredible velocity, to strike herself, both on the body and head, with her clenched fist. I could scarcely support the horrible spectacle. Tremblingly, I took the position which she had prescribed the day before, and directed the finger ends of both my hands towards her. But she, with eyes convulsively distorted and fixed, seized them, and thrust the fingers with violence many times against her person. She soon became more tranquil, closed her

The next day the Count visited me in my room, to inform me of the quiet night Hortensia had enjoyed, and also that she was stronger and more animated than she had been for a long time. "At breakfast I told her," said he, "all that passed yesterday. She shook her head and would not believe me, or otherwise she said she must have paroxysms of delirium, and began to weep. I quieted her. I told her, that, without doubt, her perfect restoration to health was near, since in you, dear Faust, there certainly dwells some divine power, of which hi-eyes, and after she had given some deep sighs, appeared therto you have probably been unconscious. I begged her to receive you into her society during her waking hours, since I promised myself much from your presence; but could not move her to consent. She asserted that your sight was insupportable to her, and that only by degrees could she perhaps accustom herself to your appearance. What can we do? She cannot be forced to any thing, without placing her life in danger."

to sleep. Her countenance betrayed pain. She fretted softly for some time. But soon the pain appeared to subside. She now sighed twice, but gently. Her countenance gradually became clearer, and soon again resumed the expression of internal blessedness, whilst the paleness of her face was overspread by a soft color.

After some minutes, she said, "Thou, true friend! without thee what would become of me?" She spoke these words with a solemn tenderness, with which angels alone might greet each other. Her tones vibrated on all my nerves.

"Are you well, gracious lady?" said I, almost in a whisper-since I yet feared she might show me the door.

"Very, oh! very, Emanuel!" answered she, "as well as yesterday, and even more so. It seems thy will is more decided, and thy power to assist her increased. She breathes-she swims in the shining circle which surrounds thee; her being, penetrated by thine, is in thee dissolved. Could she be ever so !"

Thus he spoke, and sought in every way, to excuse Hortensia to me. He showed me, as if in contrast to Hortensia's offensive antipathy, self-will and pride, the most moving confidence; spoke of his family circumstances, of his possessions, law-suits and other disagreeable circumstances; desired my counsel, and promised to lay all his papers before me, in order that my opinion of his affairs might be more precise. He did so, that same day. Initiated in all, even his most secret concerns, I became every day more intimate with him; his friendship appeared to increase in proportion as the antipathy which his daughter had taken to me augmented. At length I conducted all his correspondence-had also To us, prosaical listeners, this manner of speaking the management of his income, and the government of was very unintelligible, though to me in no way unhis household-so that, in short, I became every thing pleasing. I regretted only that Hortensia thought not to him. Convinced of my honesty and good will, he of me, but of an Emanuel, and probably deceived herdepended on me with unlimited confidence, and only self. Yet I received some comfort when I afterwards seemed discontented when he perceived, that with the learnt from the Count, that to his knowledge none of his exception of mere necessaries, I desired nothing for my-relations or acquaintances bore the name of Emanuel. self, and constantly refused all his rich presents. Dr. Her father asked her some questions, but she did not Walter and all the domestics, as well male as female, hear them-as she began, in the midst of one of them, soon remarked what extraordinary influence I had, as to speak to me. He approached nearer to her. When suddenly as unexpectedly, attained. They surrounded he stood by me, she became more attentive. me with attentions and flattery. This unmerited and general good will made me very happy, though I would willingly have exchanged it all for mere friendship from the inimical Countess. She, however, remained unpropitiated. Her antipathy appeared almost to degenerate into hate. She cautioned her father against me, as against a cunning adventurer and impostor. With her women she called me only the vagabond, who had nestled himself into her father's confidence. The old Count

"How, dear father, art thou here ?" said she. She now answered his questions. I asked her why she had not observed him sooner.

She replied, "He stood in the dark-only near thee is it light. Thou also shinest, father, but weaker than Emanuel, and only by reflection from him.”

I then said to her that there were yet more persons in the room; she made a long pause, then named them all, even the places where they were. Her eyes were conVOL. V.-30

stantly closed, yet she could denote what passed behind | sometimes a contented research, astonishment, admiraher. Yes, she even remarked the number of persons tion or delight. She interrupted this deep silence, from who were passing in a gondola in the canal before the time to time, with single exclamations, when she lisped house, and it was correct. "Holy God!"

"But how is it possible that you can know this, since you do not see them ?" said I.

Once she began of herself: "Now is the world changed. It is one great ONE, and that eternal one is a spi"Did she not declare to you yesterday that she was ritual one. There is no difference between body and sick? That it is not the body which discerns the outer spirit, since all is spirit, and all can become body, when world, but the soul? Flesh, blood and the frame of they associate together, so that they may feel as a single bones, is only the shell which surrounds the noble ker-one. The all, (or the component parts,) is as if formed nel. The shell is now torn, and its vital power would from the purest ether; the all, active and moving; transrepair the defects, but cannot without assistance. There-forming itself; since all will unite; and the one counterfore the spirit calls for thee. The soul, flowing out and searching in the universe, finds thee and fulfils its duty with thy power. When her earthly waking comes, she sees, she hears and feels more quickly and acutely, but only that which is external and near-that which approaches her. Now, however, she meets things whe-fire or rain. Seest thou the flower? A spark of life ther she will or not; she touches not, but penetrates; she guesses not, but knows. In dreams thou goest to the objects, not they to thee, and thou knowest them, and wherefore they so act. Even now, it is to her like a dream; nevertheless, she knows well that she is awake, but her body wakes not; the outward senses do not assist her."

She next spoke much of her sickness, of her sleepwalking, of a long fainting fit, in which she once laidwhat had passed within her, and what she had thought whilst those around wept her as dead. The Count heard her with astonishment, since, besides many circumstances of which he was ignorant, she touched upon others which had occurred during her ten hours' stupor, of which no one but himself could have known; for example, how he had in despair, left her, gone into his chamber, fallen on his knees, and prayed in hopeless agony. He had never mentioned this, and no one could have seen him, since not only at the time, had he fastened his door, but it was also night, and his chamber without light. Now that Hortensia spoke of it, he did not deny it. It was incomprehensible how she could have known it in her fainting fit, and yet more so, that she should recollect it at this time, as the incident had occurred in her early childhood. She could scarcely have been more than eight years old at the time.

It was also remarkable that she always spoke of herself in the third person, as of a stranger, when she related her own history, or spoke of herself, as she stood in the civil and social relations. Once she said, explicitly, "I am no Countess, but she is Countess!" Another time, "I am not the daughter of the Count Hormegg, but she is."

As her whole exterior appeared to float in a transfiguration, more quiet, more exalted, more beautiful than usual, so was her voice a language in conformity to it. It was, though as soft and clear, yet more solemn than in common life; every expression was chosen, and sometimes even poetical. There was frequently a singular obscurity in her words, often an apparent total want of connection, occasioned partly by her exalted imagination, and partly because she spoke of things, or observed them in a point of view, foreign to us. She, however, spoke willingly and with pleasure, particularly when questioned by me. Sometimes she sank in a long and quiet reflection, during which one might read in her features the expression, sometimes of a discontented,

balances the other. It is an eternal fermentation of life, an eternal vibration between too much and too little. Seest thou how clouds move in the clearest heaven? They float and swell, till the mass is filled; then, attracted by the earth, they penetrate it in the form of

has fallen in the midst of a throng of other powers; it unites itself with all that may be of service to it, forms them, and the germ becomes a plant, until the inferior powers overgrow and dislodge the original power. And as the spark is expelled, they fall asunder, since nothing any longer binds them together. So is the formation and decay of man."

She said yet much more, wholly unintelligible to me. Her transfiguration ended like the first. She again announced the period of her earthly waking, likewise the occurrence of a similar state the next day. She dismissed me, with the same dark looks as on the first day, as soon as she opened her eyes.

SYMPATHY AND ANTIPATHY.

Thus it continued, always in the same way, for some months. I may not and cannot write down all her memorable annunciations. Her extraordinary indisposition experienced only insignificant changes, from which I could neither affirm that they denoted improvement or the contrary. For, if she suffered less from cramps and convulsions-and whilst awake there was not the slightest trace of uncomfortable feeling, except extreme irritability-her unnatural sleep and transfiguration returned more frequently, so that I was often called two or three times in the day.

I became thus completely the slave of the house. I dared not absent myself even for a few hours. Any neglect might cause serious danger. How willingly did I bear the yoke of slavery! I never faltered. My soul trembled with joy when the moment allotted to the beautiful miracle came. Each day adorned her with higher charms. Had I but for one hour seen and heard her, I had sufficient remembrances to banquet on for a long time in my solitude. Oh! the intoxication of first love!

Yes, I deny it not-it was love; but I may truly say not earthly but celestial love. My whole being was in a new manner bound to this Delphic priestess, by an awe in which even the hope died of ever being worthy of her most insignificant looks. Could the Countess have endured me without disgust, even as the most unimportant of her attendants, I should have thought that heaven could offer no higher happiness. But, as in her transfigured state, her kindness towards me seemed to increase, even so did her aversion, as soon as, when wakling, she saw me. This dislike grew at last into the bit

terest abhorrence. She declared this on every occasion, | would also be her last. Thy serenity is her serenityand always in the most irritating manner. She daily en- thy sorrow her sorrow." treated her father, and always more harshly, to send me from the house; she conjured him with tears; she affirmed that I could contribute nothing to her recovery; and were it so, all the good I might effect during her unconscious state, was again destroyed by the vexation my presence caused her. She despised me as a common vagabond, as a man of low origin, who should not be allowed to breathe the same air with her-to say nothing of so intimate a connection with her, or the enjoyment of such great confidence from Count Hormegg.

When I went to her the following morning, as she lay in the slumber which usually preceded her transfi"It is so, also with her," said she. "Deceive not thy-guration-and I never showed myself earlier-I found self, Emanuel, she is very imperfect since she has lost the greater part of her individuality; she has lost it in thee. She is nothing now except through thee. She has her life only in thee. Shouldst thou die to-day, thy last breath

and immediately commenced a friendly conversation. I take care, dear father, I certainly do not deceive myShe assured us that her sickness had almost reached self. You will have cause, one day, bitterly to repent the turning point, when it would gradually diminish; your good nature. He will deceive you and all of us.” this would be known by her having less clear percep- "I entreat you, my child," said the Count, "do not tions in her sleep. I became more embarrassed the be forever vexing and fatiguing yourself with speaking more the Count motioned to me to bring forward my of him. You do not know him; you have only seen experiment. him twice, and but transiently. How can you then In order to divert or to encourage myself, I went pronounce a condemnatory judgment upon him? Wait silently through the room to the window, where Hor-till I surprise him in some false act. In the meanwhile tensia's flowers bloomed, and with my fingers, played do you be tranquil. It is sufficient that he dares not with the branches of a rose bush. Inadvertently I appear in your presence." stuck a thorn rather deep in the end of my middle finger.

Hortensia gave a loud cry. I hurried to her; the Count likewise. She complained of a violent prick in the point of the middle finger of her right hand. The appearance of her finger belonged to the witchcrafts, to which, since my intercourse with her, I had become accustomed. In fact, I thought I could remark a scarcely visible blue spot; the next day, however, a small sore developed itself, and likewise on my finger-only mine was sooner healed.

"It is thy fault, Emanuel," said she, after the lapse of a few minutes; "thou hast wounded thyself with the rose bush. Take care of thyself-what befalls thee, happens also to her."

She was silent. I also. My thoughts were how I should bring forward my proposition. The wounding appeared to offer the fittest occasion. The Count motioned me to take courage.

Hortensia was silent. She spoke with the women on other subjects. Her disquiet increased. They asked her if she was not well. She knew not what to answer. She began to weep. They endeavored in vain to discover the cause of her grief or melancholy. She concealed her face in the cushions of the sofa, and begged her father as well as her women to leave her alone.

A quarter before twelve they heard her ring. She directed the woman who answered her summons, to say to me, that I should come there as soon as the clock struck twelve.

Notwithstanding I anxiously expected this invitation, it caused me great surprise. In part from the extraordinary fact itself and in part from fright, I was as much perplexed as embarrassed. I went many times before my glass, in order to see if I really had a face made to awaken horror. But-it struck twelve. With a beating heart I went and heard myself an

"Wherefore dost thou not speak out?" said Horten-nounced to Hortensia. I was admitted. sia; "ask that she should have you called at twelve o'clock to-day, before she goes to eat, and present you with a new blown rose."

With amazement, I heard my wish from her lips. "I feared to offend you by my boldness!" said I. "O, Emanuel, she well knows that her father himself suggested the wish!" replied she, smiling.

"It is likewise, my ardent wish!" stammered I. "But will you at twelve, when awake, remember it ?" "Can she do otherwise ?" she replied, with a good humored smile.

As the conversation on that subject ended, the Count went and brought in the women and the Doctor, who were waiting without. After about half an hour, I, as usual, so soon as the transfigured was lost into a real sleep, absented myself. It might have been about ten o'clock.

Upon waking, Hortensia showed the Doctor her painful finger. She believed that she had wounded herself by the point of a needle, and was astonished not to find some outward injury.

About eleven she became restless, walked up and down her room, sought out all sorts of things, began to speak of me to the women, or rather, after her usual habit, to pour on me the fulness of her anger, and to attack her father with reproaches, that he had not yet dismissed me.

"This obtrusive man is not worth my spending so many tears and words about. I know not what forces me to think of him, and to embitter every hour with the hated thought. It is already too much that I know him to be under the same roof, and that I know how much you esteem him, dear father. I could swear the wicked man has bewitched me. Therefore,

She sat negligently on the sofa; her beautiful head, shaded with her raven locks, rested on her soft white She reluctantly arose as I entered. With a weak, uncertain voice, and a look which implored her mercy, I declared myself there to hear her commands.

arm.

Hortensia did not answer. She came slowly and thoughtfully towards me, as if she sought for words. At last she remained standing before me, threw a contemptuous side look on me, and said:

"Mr. Faust, it seems to me that it is I that should entreat, in order to induce you to leave the house and train of my father."

"Countess," said I, and the manly pride was a little roused in me, "I have forced myself neither on you nor the Count. You yourself know on what grounds your father entreated me to remain in his company. I did so unwillingly; but the heartfelt kindness of the Count, and the hope of being useful to you, prevents my obeying your expressed command, however it may distress me to displease you."

She turned her back on me, and played with a little pair of scissors near a rose bush at the window. Suddenly she cut the last blown rose off-it was beautiful, although simple-she reached it to me and said,— "Take the best which I have now at hand: I give it to you, as a reward for having hitherto avoided me. Never come again!"

She spoke this so quickly and with such visible embarrassment, that I scarcely understood it; she then threw herself again on the sofa, and as I wished to answer, she motioned to me hastily, with her face turned, to go away. I obeyed.

Even at the moment I left her I had already forgotten all injuries. I flew to my room. Not the angry,