Christian Gellert

The Patient Cured

A MAN long plagued with aches in joint and limb

Did all his neighbors recommended him,

But, despite that, could nowise gain

Deliverance from his pain.

An ancient dame, to whom he told his case,

Cut an oracular grimace,

And thus announced a magic remedy:

"You must," said she,

Mysteriously hissing in his ear,

And calling him "My dear,"

"Sit on a good man's grave at early light,

And with the dew fresh-fallen over night

Thrice bathe your hands, your knee-joints thrice:

'Twill cure you in a trice.

Remember her who gave you this advice."

The patient did just as the grandam said. (What will not mortals do to be

Relieved of misery?)

He went right early to the burying-ground,

And on a tombstone-'twas the first he found

These words, delighted, read:

Stranger, what man he was who sleeps below,

This monument and epitaph may show.

The wonder of his time was he,

The pattern of most genuine piety;

And that thou all in a few words may'st learn,

Him church and school and town and country mourn."

Here the poor cripple takes his seat,

And bathes his hands, his joints, his feet;
But all his labor's worse than vain:

It rather aggravates his pain.

With troubled mind he grasps his staff,
Turns from the good man's grave, and creeps
On to the next, where lowly sleeps

One honored by no epitaph.

Scarce had he touched the nameless stone,
When lo! each racking pain had flown;
His useless staff forgotten on the ground,
He leaves this holy grave, erect and sound.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, "is there no line to tell Who was this holy man that makes me well?" Just then the sexton did appear,

Of him he asked, "Pray, who lies buried here?"

The sexton waited long, and seemed quite shy

Of making any sort of a reply.

Well," he began at last with mournful sigh,

"The Lord forgive him, 'twas a man

Placed by all honest circles under ban;

Whom scarcely they allowed a decent grave;

Whose soul naught but a miracle might save;

A heretic, and, what is worse,

Wrote plays and verse!

In short, to speak my full conviction,
And without fear of contradiction,

He was an innovator and a scound-"
"No!" cried the man. No, I'll be bound!

Not so, though all the world the lie repeat!
But that chap there, who sleeps hard by us,
Whom you and all the world call pious,

He was, for sure, a scoundrel and a cheat!"

-"Fables."

Ephraim Lessing

Chevalier Riccaut de la Marlinière

RICCAUT DE LA MARLINIÈRE, MINNA, and FRANZISKA.

Ric. (before he enters). Est-il permis, Monsieur le Major?

Fran. Who is that? Any one for us?

(Going to the door.)

Ric. Parbleu! I am wrong. Mais non-I am not wrong. C'est la chambre

Fran. Without doubt, your Ladyship, this gentleman expects to find Major von Tellheim here still.

Ric. Oui, dat is it! Le Major de Tellheim. Juste, ma belle enfant, c'est lui que je cherche. Où est-il?

Fran. He does not lodge here any longer.

Ric. Comment? Dere is four-and-twenty hour ago he did lodge here, and not lodge here any more? Where lodge he den?

Min. Sir

Ric. Ah! madame, mademoiselle, pardon!

Min. Sir, your mistake is quite excusable, and your astonishment very natural. Major von Tellheim has had the kindness to give up his apartments to me, as a stranger, who was not able to get any elsewhere.

Ric. Ah! voilà de ses politesses! C'est un très-galant homme que ce major!

Min. Where has he gone now? I am ashamed to say that I do not know.

Ric. Madame not know? C'est dommage! j'en suis fâché.

Min. I certainly ought to have inquired. Of course his friends will seek him here.

Ric. I am vary great his friend, madame.

Min. Franziska, do you not know?

Fran. No, your Ladyship.

Ric. It is vary nécessaire dat I speak him. I come and bring him a nouvelle, of which he will be vary much

at ease.

Min. I regret it so much the more. But I hope to see him shortly, perhaps. If it is a matter of indifference from whom he hears this good news, I would offer, sir

Ric. I comprehend. Mademoiselle parle français? Mais sans doute, telle que je la vois! La demande était bien impolie; vous me pardonnerez, mademoiselle.

Min. Sir.

Ric. No! You not speak French, madame? Min. Sir, in France I would endeavor to do so; but why here? I perceive that you understand me, sir; and I, sir, shall doubtless understand you. Speak as you please.

Ric. Good! Good! I can also explain me in your langue. Sachez donc, mademoiselle, you must know, madame, dat I come from de table of de ministre, ministre, ministre- What is le ministre out dere, in de long street, on de broad place?

Min. I am a perfect stranger here.

Ric. Si, le ministre of de War Departement. Dere I have eat my dinner. I ordinary dine dere, and de conversation did fall on Major Tellheim; et le ministre m'a dit en confidence-car son Excellence est de mes amis, et il n'y a point de mystères entre nous-son Excellence, I say, has