handed me my bundle and left the room. Father accompanied me for a little way. It was already growing dark. [...]

35. Now yet more concerning my sweetheart:



Now I sped once more to my Ännchen, to whom I had discovered my intentions a few evenings earlier. She was powerfully displeased by them, but at first she tried not to show it. "For my part", said she with that inimitable bitter smile of hers, "you may go, for in my opinion he who loves only so much may take himself off wherever he pleases." - "Alas, my dearest!" said I, "truly, you know not how much it hurts me, but you know very well that we could not have continued as we are for long, without losing all respect. And at present I cannot yet think of marrying. I am still too young, you are even younger

27

, and neither of us has a kreutzer of our own. Our parents cannot help us to set up house together, we should be nothing but beggars from the outset. But who knows how his luck will turn? I am always hoping for the best." - "Well, if that's how it is, what can I say?" Ännchen broke in. "But come and see me once again, won't you, before you go?" - "Yes, of course, why not?" I rejoined. "I would have done so in any case!"

So now I went as I had promised to say a last farewell to my beloved. She was standing at the door; when she saw my traveller's bundle she bowed her gentle head, hiding her face in her apron and sobbing without saying a word. My heart was near to breaking. Until I had recovered myself a little, this even made me hesitate in my resolution. Then I thought: in God's name! It must be done, no matter how much it hurts. She led me into her little room, sat down on the bed and clasped me passionately to her bosom, and - ah, I must draw a veil over this scene, innocent though it was, and though its memory is today as sweet to me as honey. He who has never been in love cannot and shall not hear of it, and he who has loved can imagine it for himself. Enough that we did not cease until we were both weary from embracing, bruised with kisses, soaked with tears, and the pious bell of the nearby convent was striking midnight.

Then at last I tore myself from Ännchen's tender loving arms. "Must it be so?" said she, "Is there no help for it in earth or heaven? - No! I will not let you go, I'll go with you, anywhere under the sun. No, never in all eternity will I let you go, you are all I have in the world!" And I: "Be calm, my dear, dear love! Rather think of what is to come - how happy we shall be when we meet again, when I have made my fortune!" And she: "Alas, alas! Then you will forget all about me!" And I: "Ah, no! Never in all eternity, though I should become the highest in the land, and gain money by the sackful, in all eternity I'll keep you in my heart. And even if I must stay away five, six, ten years, yet will I always, always be faithful to you, I swear it!" (By this time we were upon the road towards the village where Laurenz was waiting for me, clasped in a fast embrace and giving one another kiss for kiss.) "I call to witness the blue sky there above us, and all its twinkling stars, this silent midnight, this very road!" And she: "Yes, yes! My hand upon it and my heart, feel how it is throbbing, heaven and earth shall bear witness, that you are mine, that I am yours, that I shall wait for you in silence and solitude, ever steadfast and true to you, even though it should be ten, twenty years, even though our hair grows grey, I swear that no man shall so much as lay a finger on me, my heart shall always be with you, in my dreams my lips shall kiss you, until -" here her tears stifled her speech.

At last we came to Laurenz' house, and I knocked. We sat down on a bench before the house to wait for him to come down. We paid him but little heed. For indeed Ännchen was beginning all over again, but our very shyness at being overheard by another gave us the courage we needed to compose ourselves. We were both as eloquent as cantonal deputies

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, but indeed it is true that my sweetheart outdid me by far in rhetoric, in caresses and pledges of faith. In a little while our road led uphill. Now Laurenz would not let Ännchen come any further. "Enough is enough, young people!" said he. "Uchel, we shall never get off while you are glued together like this.

27

Bräker had been misinformed: Ännchen was born in 1732 and so was three years older.


28

In this context: delegates to a cantonal assembly. See Introduction.



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