The Danes Sketched by Themselves Volume I Part 24

A sort of a dog's life the poor thing led, Early he had to rise--get late to bed; Worked hard, and scarce a st.i.tch of clothing had.

His shroud and grave-clothes from the first were bad; They very soon wore out, and now he goes Without a coat, and with bare legs and toes.'

These words went like a dagger to her heart; She shuddered--groaned--then, with a sudden start, She rose, and soon an ample bundle made Of linen, coats, warm woollen socks; and said, Whilst with big tear-drops both her eyes looked dim.

'This package, sir, I pray you take to him.

Tell the poor fellow I shall send him more By the first opportunity--a store I'll surely send. Oh dear! oh dear! 'tis sad His fate in yonder place should be so bad!'

The rogue had stuffed quite to his heart's content, So, taking up the bundle, off he went; But first he thanked her for the food, and vowed The clothes she sent should soon replace the shroud.

Long, long she sits, her eyes still full of tears; The absent husband now at length appears ('Tis to the _second_ one that I allude-- The _first_, as has been shown, was gone for good).

'Well, I have curious tidings for your ear-- A man from Paradise has just been here; He knew poor _Thi--is_ there.' (Such was the name Of him who was first husband to the dame.) And thereupon, with a most serious face, She told him all that had just taken place.

The husband, when he heard her, smelled a rat, But only saying he would have a chat Himself with the great traveller, he sent For his best horse, and after him he went.

'Twas a sweet night, the moon was s.h.i.+ning clearly-- Just such a night as poets love most dearly; The nightingales were pouring forth their notes, The owls were exercising, too, their throats; But, what was better still, he found the track The thief had ta'en, and hoped to bring him back.

Thieves, by the way, like the moon's silver rays Far better than the sun's meridian blaze.

And now, how fared it with the thief himself, Thus making off with his ill-gotten pelf?

He spied a man, who like old Nick was riding, And felt that he was in for a good hiding; Therefore into a neighbouring ditch he flung The burden that across his back had slung, Then casting himself down upon a bank, Quite in a lounging att.i.tude he sank, And gazing on the clear calm skies above, He sang some ditty about ladies' love.

Up comes the rider at a rapid trot-- The pace had made him and his steed both hot-- And asked abruptly, reining in his grey, If he had seen a rascal pa.s.s that way, Who on his shoulders a large bundle bore-- A horrid thief he was, the horseman swore.

'Why, yes,' was the reply. 'I have just seen A fellow with long legs pa.s.s by--I ween It is the same you seek; for he looked round Soon as your horse's footfall on the ground Was heard--and then, as quickly as he could, He fled to hide himself in yonder wood.

If you make haste, you there will catch him soon.'

The horseman thanked him much and craved a boon-- It was to hold his steed, while in pursuit He went himself into the wood on foot.

'Twas granted, and the husband rushed among The bushes tall--while the thief laughing sprung Upon the horse; he took the bundle too, And fast away he rode, or rather flew.

Angry, fatigued, and scratched till he was sore, The husband came, his bootless errand o'er.

Fancy what was his grief, his rage, to find The horse he thought he left so safe behind, Gone too! he cried, 'Hey! hey!' its name he called, But all in vain he shouted and he bawled-- The clever thief the faster rode away.

There was no creature near on whom to lay The blame; so the poor foolish dupe abused The moon, for having thus her light misused.

Home on his weary legs he had to trudge; His steed to the vile thief did he not grudge!

'Well, did you find him?' asked his smiling wife.

He answered, in a tone subdued, 'My life, I did. I found him, and--and--for _your_ sake, Our best, our swiftest horse I let him take, That he with greater speed might find his way.'

The dame smiled on him, and in accents gay Exclaimed, 'O best of husbands! who could find Your equal--one so thoughtful, wise, and kind!'

MORAL.

The moral of this story shows, Though knaves on women oft impose, That men are sometimes quite as _green_, But hold their tongues themselves to screen.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: A Danish t.i.tle, signifying councillor of justice.]

[Footnote 2: Danish mile, equal to about 4 3/4 English miles.]

[Footnote 3: Fourteen and a quarter English miles.]

[Footnote 4: 'To give a basket,' in Danish, signifies a refusal.]

[Footnote 5: A Danish t.i.tle.]

[Footnote 6: 'Aprilsnarrene.' A Danish vaudeville.]

[Footnote 7: The ceremony of Confirmation is deemed of the highest importance in Denmark, and is never neglected in any rank of life, from the prince to the peasant.]

[Footnote 8: For these, and 'Octavia.n.u.s,' see Ludwig Tieck's works.

They have been translated into Danish by Adam Oehlenschlaeger.]

[Footnote 9: A town of Sicily, in the Val di Mazzara, on the site of the ancient Agrigenum, the magnificent ruins of which are still to be seen.]

[Footnote 10: Manden Fra Paradiis. En komisk Fortaelling.]

END OF VOL. I.