O. T., A Danish Romance | Page 4

not
excepted, appeared to rejoice the gift of God. Wilhelm thought upon
the merry evening party, upon his adventure with the poor
hackney-coachman, then took down his violin from the wall and began
to play certain variations.
The last remaining guests from the honorable carousal, merrier than
when Wilhelm left them, now came wandering up the street. One of
them jodeled sweetly, and no watchman showed himself as a disturbing

principle. They heard Wilhelm violin and recognized the musician.
"Play us a Française, thou up there!" cried they.
"But the watchman?" whispered one of the less courageous.
"Zounds, there he sits!" cried a third, and pointed toward a sleeping
object which leaned its head upon a large wooden chest before a closed
booth.
"He is happy!" said the first speaker. "If we had only the strong
Icelander here, he would soon hang him up by his bandelier upon one
of the iron hooks. He has done that before now; he has the strength of a
bear. He seized such a lazy fellow as this right daintily by his girdle on
one of the hooks at the weighing-booth. There hung the watchman and
whistled to the others; the first who hastened to the spot was
immediately hung up beside him, and away ran the Icelander whilst the
two blew a duet."
"Here, take hold!" cried one of the merry brothers, quickly opening the
chest, the lid of which was fastened by a peg. "Let us put the watchman
into the chest; he sleeps indeed like a horse!" In a moment, the four had
seized the sleeper, who certainly awoke during the operation, but he
already lay in the chest. The lid flew down, and two or three of the
friends sprang upon it whilst the peg was stuck in again. The watchman
immediately seized his whistle and drew the most heart-rending tones
from it. Quickly the tormenting spirits withdrew themselves; yet not so
far but that they could still hear the whistle and observe what would
take place.
The watchmen now came up.
"The deuce! where art thou?" cried they, and then discovered the place.
"Ah, God help me!" cried the prisoner. "Let me out, let me out! I must
call!"
"Thou hast drunk more than thy thirst required, comrade!" said the

others. "If thou hast fallen into the chest, remain lying there, thou
swine!" And laughing they left him.
"O, the rascals!" sighed he, and worked in vain at opening the lid.
Through all his powerful exertions the box fell over. The young men
now stepped forth, and, as though they were highly astonished at the
whole history which he related to them, they let themselves be
prevailed upon to open the box, but only upon condition that he should
keep street free from the interference of the other watchmen whilst they
danced a Française to Wilhelm's violin.
The poor man was delivered from his captivity, and must obligingly
play the sentinel whilst they arranged them for the dance. Wilhelm was
called upon to play, and the dance commenced; a partner, however, was
wanting. Just then a quiet citizen passed by. The gentleman who had no
partner approached the citizen with comic respect, and besought him to
take part in the amusement.
"I never dance!" said the man, laughing, and wished to pursue his way.
"Yes," replied the cavalier, "yet you must still do me this pleasure, or
else I shall have no dance." Saying this he took hold of him by the
waist and the dance commenced, whether the good man would or no.
"The watchman should receive a present from every one!" said they,
when the Française was at an end. "He is an excellent man who thus
keeps order in the street, so that one can enjoy a little dance."
"These are honest people's children!" said the watchman to himself,
whilst he with much pleasure thrust the money into his leathern purse.
All was again quiet in the street; the violin was also silent.
CHAPTER III
"Who looks into the shadowy realm of my heart?" A. V. CHAMISSO.
In the former chapter we heard mention made of a young student, Otto

Thostrup, a clever fellow, with nine prae caeteris, as his comrades said,
but also of a proud spirit, of which he must be broken. Not at the
disputations, which have been already mentioned, will we make his
acquaintance, although there we must be filled with respect for the
good Latin scholar; not in large companies, where his handsome
exterior and his speaking, melancholy glance must make him
interesting; as little in the pit of the Opera although his few yet striking
observations there would show him to be a very intellectual young man;
but we will seek him out for the first time at the house of his friend,