he is obliged to take refuge in the house of the ranger. This gives Hoffmann an opportunity of affording us some capital glimpses into that simple and hearty life, which really does even to this day linger amidst the immense woodlands which everywhere intersperse the private domains of the German princes-and the reader will see how well he contrives to blend this source of interest with that arising from the mysterious fortunes of poor Medardus himself. Here again we can still afford to give but a small extract.

"As soon as we had explained to Christian the mischance that we had met with, he directly opened both wings of the gate, and let the carriage pass into the court. The dogs, who were now pacified, came fawning and snuffling about us; and the man above, who was still stationed at the window, cried out incessantly, in a voice by no means of good humour, Who's there ?-who's there?-What for a caravan is that?' to which neither Christian nor I returned a word in answer.

"At last I stepped into the house, and was walking up stairs, when I met a powerful tall man, with a sun-burnt visage, a large hat, with a plume of green feathers, on his head, (which was oddly contrasted with the rest of his figure, for he appeared in his shirt and slippers,) and a drawn stiletto (or hunting dagger) in his hand. In a rough voice, he called out to me"Whence do you come? How dare you disturb people in the dead of night? This is no public-house; no post station. Here no one lives but the Ober-revier-forster, and, for want of a better, I am he. Christian is an ass, for having opened the gates without my permission.'

"In a tone of great humility, I now related the story of my mischance, explaining that nothing but necessity had brought me hither. Hereupon the man was somewhat conciliated. He said, Well, no doubt the storm was very violent; but your postilion must be a stupid rascal, to drive out of the road, and break your carriage in that manner. Such a fellow should have been able to go blindfolded through these woods. He should be at home among them, like any one of us.'

"With these words, he led me up stairs into a large hall, furnished with a long cak table and benches; the walls adorned with stags' antlers, hunting weapons, buglehorns, &c. An enormous stove was at one end, and an open kamin, where there were yet the warm embers of a wood-fire, at the other.

"The Ober-revier-forster now laid aside his hat and dagger, and drawing on his clothes, requested I would not take it ill

that he had received me so roughly; for, in his remote habitation, he must be constantly on his guard. All sorts of bad people were in the habit of haunting these woods, and especially with poachers, he lived almost always in open warfare.

However,' added he, the rogues can gain no advantage over me, for, with the help of God, I fulfil my duty to the prince conscientiously and faithfully. They have more than once attacked my house by night; but, in reliance on Providence, and my trusty dogs and fire-arms, I bid them defiance.

"Involuntarily, and led away by the force of old habits, I here thrust in some common-place words about the power and efficacy of trust in God. However, such expressions were not lost on the forester, but seemed to gain for me his confidence and good opinion. He became always more cheerful, and notwithstanding my earnest entreaties to the contrary, roused up his wife-a matron in years, of a quiet, goodhumoured demeanour, who, though thus disturbed from her sleep, welcomed, in a very friendly manner, her unexpected guest, and began, by her husband's orders, to prepare supper.

"As for the postilion, he, by the forester's decision, was obliged, for a punishment, that night, to drive back (as he best could) to the station from which he had come, and on the following morning I should be carried on by the forester to the place of my destination. I agreed the more readily to this plan, as I found myself now much in want of repose.

"I therefore said to my host that I would gladly stay with him even till the middle of the following day, as, by constant travelling, I had been greatly fatigued, and would be much the better for such refreshment.

"If I might advise you, sir,' said the forester, you had better remain here through the whole of to-morrow-After that, my son, whom I must at any rate send to the residenz, will himself take you forward in my carriage.'

"I was, of course, well contented with this proposal; and by way of conversation, while supper was placed on the table, began to praise the solitude and retirement of his house, by which I professed myself to be greatly attracted.

"It is remote, sir, no doubt,' said the forester; at the same time, our life here is the farthest possible from being dull or gloomy, as a townsman would probably conclude it to be. To such people every situation in the country appears both lonely and stupid; but much depends on the temper and disposition of the party by whom a house like this of ours is inhabited.

"If, as in former years in this castle, an old gloomy Baron were the master,-

one who shuts himself up within the four walls of his court, and takes no pleasure in the woods or the chase,-then, indeed, it would be a dull and lonely habitation-But since this old Baron died, and our gracious Prince has been pleased to fit it up as a forst-haus, it has been kept in constant liveliness and mirth.

"Probably you, sir, may be one of those townspeople, who know nothing, unless by report, of our pleasures, and therefore can have no adequate idea, what a joyous pleasant life we hunters lead in the forest As to solitude, I know nothing either of its pains or pleasures-for, along with my huntsmen lads, we live all equally, and make but one family. Indeed, however absurd this may seem to you, I reckon my staunch wise dogs also among the number-And why not? They understand every word that I say to them. They obey even my slightest signals, and are attached, and faithful even to death.

"Mark there, only, how intelligently my Waldmann looks up, because he knows already that I am speaking about him!

"Now, sir, not only is there every day something to be done with the huntsmen and dogs in the forest-but every evening before, there is the pleasure of preparation, and a hospitable well-supplied board, (at which we enjoy ourselves with a zest, that you townsmen never experience ;) then, with the first dawn of day, I am always out of bed, and make my appearance, blowing all the way a cheering réveille upon my hunting-horn.

"At that sound every one directly starts up-The dogs, too, begin to give tongue, and join in one great concert, of barking and rejoicing, from their delight at the anticipation of the coming sport. The huntsmen are quickly dressed; they throw the game-bags and fire-arms on their shoulders, and assemble directly in this room, where my old woman (my wife, I mean) prepares for us a right stout hunter's breakfast, an enormous schüssel of hot ra. gout, with a bottle of vin-ordinaire, a reaming flagon of home-brewed ale, with another of Stettiner beer, sent us from the residenz; then, after a glass of schnaps, we all sally forth in the highest possible spirits, shouting and rejoicing.

"Thereafter we have a long march be fore us (I speak of our employments at this present season)—but at last we arrive at the spot where the game lies in coverThere every one takes his stand apart from the rest; the dogs grope about with their noses on the ground, snuffing the scent, and looking back every now and then to give notice to the huntsman, who, in his turn, stands with his gun cocked, motionless and scarcely daring to breathe, as if rooted to the ground. But when at last the game starts out of the thicket, when

the guns crack, and the dogs rush in after the shot, ah! then, sir, one's heart beats every fibre is trembling with youthful energy; old as I am, I thus feel transformed into a new man.

"Moreover, and above all, there are no two adventures of this kind exactly like each other. In every one is something new, and there is always something to talk over that never happened before. If it were no more than the variety of game at different seasons of the year, this alone renders the pursuit so delightful, that one never can have enough of it.

"But setting aside these diversions, I assure you, sir, that the mere superinten. dance and care of the woods, is an employment which would amply fill up my time from January to December. So far am I from feeling lonely, that every tree of the forest is to me like a companion.

"Absolutely, it appears to me as if every plant which has grown up under my inspection, and stretches up its glossy waving head into the air, should know me and love me, because I have watched over, and protected it. Nay, many times when I hear the whispering and rushing of the leaves in the wind, it seems as if the trees themselves spoke with an intelligible voice, that this was indeed a true praising of God and his omnipotence; a prayer, which, in no articulate words, could so well have been expressed.

"In short, sir, an honest huntsman and forester, who has the fear of God before him, leads, even in these degenerate times, an admirable and happy life. Something is yet left to him of that fine old state of liberty, when the habits of men were ac cording to nature, and they knew nothing of all that conventional artifice, parade, and frippery, wherewith they are now torment ed in their walled-up garrisons and cities. There, indeed, they become totally estranged from all those delightful influences which God, in the midst of his works in this world, is ready to shower upon them, by which, on the contrary, they ought to be edified and rejoiced, as the free sylvan people were in former ages, who lived in love and friendship with nature, as we read in the old histories.'

"All this (though his style was somewhat rambling and methodistic) the old forester uttered with a gusto and emphasis, by which one could not fail to perceive that he felt whatever he had said deeply in his own heart; and I truly envied him in his station in life, together with his deeplygrounded quiet moods of mind, to which my own bore so little resemblance, or rather presented so painful a contrast.

"In another part of the building, which

was of considerable extent, the old man shewed me a small and neatly fitted-up apartment, in which was a bed, and where I found my luggage already deposited. There he left me, with the assurance that the early disturbance in the house would not break my sleep, as I was quite separated from the other inhabitants of the castle, and might rest as long as I chose. My breakfast would not be carried in until I rung the bell, or came down stairs to order it. He added, that I should not see him again till we met at the dinner-table, as he should set out early with his lads to the forest, and would not return before mid-day.

"I gave myself no farther trouble therefore, but being much fatigued, undressed hastily, and threw myself into bed, where I soon fell into a deep sleep. After this, however, I was persecuted by a horrible dream. In a manner the most extraordinary, it began with the consciousness of slumber. I said to myself, Now this is fortunate, that I have fallen asleep so readily; I shall by this means quite recover from my fatigue, and, for fear of awaking, must only take special care to keep my eyes shut.'

"Notwithstanding this resolution, it seemed to me as if I must, of necessity, open my eyes, and yet continued at the same time to sleep. Then the door of my room opened, and a dark form entered, in whom, to my extreme horror and amazement, I recognised myself in the capuchin habit, with the beard and tonsure!

now,

"The monk came nearer and nearer to the bed, till he stood leaning over me, and grinned scornfully. 'Now, then,' said he in a hollow sepulchral voice, and yet with a strange cadence of exultation then, thou shalt come along with me; we shall mount on the altan* on the roof of the house beside the weather-cock, who will sing us a merry bridal-song, because the owl to-night holds his wedding feast-there shall we contend together, and whoever beats the other from the roof of the house is king, and may drink blood!'

6

"I felt now that the figure seized upon me, and tried to lift me up from the bed. Then despair gave me courage, and I exclaimed, Thou art not Medardus !-thou art the devil!' and as if with the claws of a demon, I grappled at the throat and visage of this detestable spectre.

But when I did so, it seemed as if my fingers forced their way into empty skeleton sockets, or held only dry withered joints, and the spectre laughed aloud in shrilling tones of scorn and mockery.

"At that moment, as if forcibly roused by some one violently wrenching me about, I awoke !

room.

"The laughter still continued in the I raised myself up. The morning had broken in bright gleams through the window, and I actually beheld at the table, with his back turned towards me, a figure dressed in the capuchin habit !

"I was petrified with horror. The abominable dream had started into real life! The capuchin tossed and tumbled among the things which lay upon the table, till by accident he turned round, and thereupon I recovered all my courage, for his visage, thank Heaven, was not mine! Certain features, indeed, bore the closest resemblance, but I was in health and vigour; he was, on the contrary, worn and emaciated, disguised too by an overgrown head of hair, and grisly black beard. Moreover, his eyes rolled and glared with the workings of a thoughtless and vacant delirium.

"I resolved not to give any alarm, but remain quietly on the watch for whatever he might do, and not interrupt him unless he attempted something formidably mischievous, for my stiletto lay near me on the bed, and on that account, together with my superior strength, I could soon be completely master of this intruder.

"He appeared to look at, and to play with, the things that lay upon the table, as a child would do with toys; especially, he seemed delighted with the red portefeuille, which he turned over and over towards the light of the window, at the same time making strange grimaces, and jumping up like a patient in the dance of St Vitus.

"At last, he found the bottle with the rest of the Devil's Elixir, which he directly opened and smelt at; then he seemed to tremble convulsively through every limb. He uttered a loud and indescribable cry 'He, he, he !-He, he, he!' which echoed in faltering reverberations through the room, and passages.

"A clear-toned clock in the house just struck three (but the hour must have been much later.) Thereupon, to my great annoyance, he lifted up his voice, and howled as if seized by some horrible torment; then broke out once more into the same shrill laughter that I had heard in my dream. He heaved himself about into the wildest attitudes and caprioles, concluding with a long draught from the bottle with the Devil's Elixir, which (after having exhausted the last drops) he then hurled from him against the wall, and ran out at the door.

"I now instantly rose up and looked after him, but he was already out of sight, and I heard him clamping and clattering down a distant staircase; and, lastly, the violent hollow clank of a door, as he closed it after him.

"I then carefully locked and bolted

that of my own room, that I might be secured against any second intrusion, and threw myself once more into bed. I had been too much excited to be able for some time to sleep again; but at last slumber fell heavily upon me, and I did not awake till a late hour, when, refreshed and strengthened, I found the bright warm sun beating into my apartment.'

One more specimen we must give. In order to have some notion of the subject, the reader must understand that Medardus, while living at a small German court, in considerable style, under the alias of Leonard, and enjoying much favour with the prince, (who, by the way, is evidently meant for the Duke of Saxe-Weimar,) is unexpectedly recognized by a person who had some knowledge of a very dark part of his career. The consequence is, that he is thrown into prison-examined, &c. &c.; and that he would have been executed, had not a sudden discovery taken place, that another Medardus was the tenant of the cell immediately below his.-But we totally despair of making the thing intelligible. Try what the fragment will do by itself.

The

66 Many days passed over in dreary captivity, without any farther examination, and without the slightest variety. time of a prisoner is seldom or never a blank; it is filled up by horrible phantoms and distorted reveries, such as have often been described, though mine probably were of a new character. The detail of them, however, is not within the limits of my present undertaking; I record only simple facts, in the manner of an obtuse old chronicler; and if there be a colouring of imagination, it is not only unsought, but unwelcome and involuntary.

"During these three days, I did not behold the features of any living being, except the peevish face of an old sub-janitor, who brought my food, and in the evening lighted my lamp. Hitherto, I had felt like a warrior, who, in a mood of martial excitement, was determined, at all risks, to meet danger and fight his way to the last; but such passion had now time enough to decline entirely away.

"I fell into a dark melancholy trance, during which all things became indifferent. Even the cherished vision of Aurelia had faded, or floated in dim colours before me. But unless I had been in body as much disordered as in mind, this state of apathy could not, of necessity, continue long. In a short time my spirit was again roused, only to feel in all its force the horrid influence of nausea and oppression, which the dense atmosphere of the prison had

produced, and against which I vainly endeavoured to contend.

"In the night I could no longer sleep. In the strange flickering shadows which the lamp-light threw upon the walls, myriads of distorted visages, one after another, or hundreds at a time, seemed to be grinning out upon me. To avoid this annoyance, I extinguished my lamp, and drew the upper mattress over my head-but in vain! It was now dark, indeed, but the spectres were visible by their own light, like portraits painted on a dark ground, and I and rattling chains of the prisoners, through heard more frightfully the hollow moans the horrid stillness of the night.

"Often did it seem to me as if I heard the dying groans of Hermogen and Eu phemia. Am I then guilty of your destruction? Was it not your own iniquity that brought you under the wrath of my avenging arm?' One night I had broken out furiously with these words, when, on the silence that for a moment succeeded, there distinctly and unequivocally arose a long deep-drawn sigh or groan, differing

from the noises which had disturbed me before. The latter might have been imaginary this was assuredly real, and the sound was reverberated through the vault. Driven to distraction, I howled out is thou, Hermogen !-the hour of thy vengeance is come-there is for me no hope of

rescue!'

It

"It might be on the tenth night of my confinement, when, half-fainting with terror, I lay stretched out on the cold floor of my prison. I distinctly heard on the ground directly under me a light, but very audible knocking, which was repeated at measured intervals. I listened attentively. The noise was continued, as if with the determination to attract attention, and occasionally I could distinguish a strange sound of laughter, that also seemed to come out of the earth.

"I started from the floor, and threw myself on the straw couch; but the beating continued, with the same detestable variety of laughter and groans. At last I heard a low, stammering, hoarse voice syllabically pronounce my name Me-dar-dus !____ Me-dar-dus !'-My blood ran ice-cold through every vein; but with a vehement effort I gained courage enough to call out, "Who's there?'-The laughter now became louder the beating and groaning were renewed; again the stammering demon addressed me Me-dar-dus !-Medar-dus!'

"I rose from bed, and stamped on the floor. Whoever thou art,' cried I, man or devil, who art thus adding to the torments of an already miserable captive, step forth visibly before mine eyes, that I may look on thee, or desist from this unmeaning persecution!' The beating was

now right under my feet. He-he-he! he-he-he!-Broth-er, broth-er! Open. the door! I am here-am here! Let us go hence to the wood-to the wood !'

"Now, methought I recognized the voice as one that I had known before, but it was not then so broken and so stammering. Nay, with a chill shivering of horror, I almost began to think there was something in the accents that I now heard, resembling the tones of my own voice, and involuntarily, as if I wished to try whether this were really so, I stammered, in imitation,

Me-dar-dus!-Me-dar-dus!' "Hereupon the laughter was renewed, but it now sounded scornful amd malicious. "Broth-er,-Broth-er,' said the voice, do you know me again ?-Open the door -the-the door!-We shall go hence, to the wood-to the wood!' 'Poor insane wretch!' said I; I cannot open the door for thee-I cannot enable thee to go forth into the pleasant woods, to hear the fresh rustling of the leaves, or breathe the fragrance of Heaven's pure atmosphere. I am, as thou art, shut up, hopeless and abandoned, within the gloomy walls of a prison.'

"To this address I was answered only by sobs and moans, as if from the bitterness of despairing grief; and the knocking became always more faint and indistinct, till at last it ceased altogether; and from exhaustion, I sunk into troubled slumber.

"At length the morning light had broke in slanting gleams through the window; the locks and keys rattled, and the gaoler, whom I had not seen for many days, entered my room.

"Through the last night,' said he, ⚫ we have heard all sorts of strange noises in your apartment, and loud speaking.

What means this?'

of

"I am in the habit,' answered I, talking loudly in my sleep, and even when awake I indulge in soliloquy. May not this much of liberty be granted me?'

666 Probably,' said the gaoler, it is known to you, that every endeavour to escape, or to keep up conversation with any of your fellow-prisoners, will be interpreted to your disadvantage?' I declared that I never had formed any intentions of that kind; and after a few more surly remarks, he withdrew."

became louder. There were again, at measured intervals, the saine divertisements of knocking, laughing, and groaning. I struck my hand with vehemence on the table-Be quiet!' cried I- Silence below there!' Thus I thought that I should banish my persecutor, and recover my composure, but in vain! On the contrary, there arose instantly a sound of shrill discordant laughter, and once more the same detestable voice- Brü-der-lein !-Brüder-lein! Up to thee! Open the door! Open the door!'

"Then right under me commenced a vehement rasping and scratching in the floor, accompanied by continuous groans and cachinnation. In vain did I try to write, and persuading myself that these were but illusions of the arch enemy, determined to hold them in contempt. The noise always became more intolerable, and was diversified occasionally by ponderous blows, so that I momentarily expected the gaolers to enter in alarm.

"I had risen up, and was walking with the lamp in my hand, when suddenly I felt the floor shake beneath my tread. I stepped aside, and then saw, on the spot whereon I had stood, a stone lift itself out of the pavement, and sink again. The phenomenon was repeated, but at the second time I seized hold of the stone, and easily removed it from the flooring.

"The aperture beneath was but narrow, and little or no light rose from the gulf. Suddenly, however, as I was gazing on it, a naked arm, emaciated, but muscular, with a knife, or dagger, in the hand, was stretched up towards me. Struck with the utmost horror, I recoiled from the sight. Then the stammering voice spoke from below- Broth-er-broth-er Med-ar-dus is

there is there !-Take-take !-Break

break!-To the wood! To the wood!' "Instantly all my fear and apprehension were lost. I repeated to myself, Take -take!-Break-break!' for I thought only of the assistance thus offered me, and of flight! Accordingly I seized the weapon, which the hand willingly fesigned to me, and began zealously to clear away the mortar and rubbish from the opening that had been made.

"The spectral prisoner below laboured also with might and main, till we had dis

"The prison-clock had struck twelve, when I again heard softly, and as if from a distance, the knocking which, on the preceding day, so much disturbed me. I had resolved that I would pay no attention to this noise; but it approached nearer, and

vault, and laid them aside. I had been occupied in this latter purpose, that is, in placing the large stones in a corner of my room, that they might not interrupt my work; when, on turning round, I perceived that my horrible assistant had raised his naked body as far as the middle, through the aperture that we had made. The full