ThesuccesswhichattendedthepublicationinthisSeriesofIllustratedWorksofAWoman\'sJourneyroundtheWorld,hasinducedthepublicationofthepresentvolumeonacountrysolittleknownasIceland,andaboutwhichsolittlerecentinformationexists。
Thetranslationhasbeencarefullymade,expresslyforthisSeries,fromtheoriginalworkpublishedatVienna;andtheEditorhasaddedagreatmanynotes,wherevertheyseemednecessarytoelucidatethetext。
Inadditiontothematterwhichappearedintheoriginalwork,thepresentvolumecontainsatranslationofavaluableEssayonIcelandicpoetry,byM。Bergmann;atranslationofanIcelandicpoem,the\'Voluspa;\'abriefsketchofIcelandicHistory;andatranslationofSchiller\'sballad,\'TheDiver,\'whichisprominentlyalludedtobyMadamePfeifferinherdescriptionoftheGeysers。{1}
TheIllustrationshavebeenprintedintints,soastomaketheworkuniformwiththeJourneyroundtheWorld。
London,August1,1852。
AUTHOR\'SPREFACE
\"Anotherjourney——ajourney,moreover,inregionswhicheveryonewouldratheravoidthanseek。Thiswomanonlyundertakesthesejourneystoattractattention。\"
\"Thefirstjourney,forawomanALONE,wascertainlyratheraboldproceeding。Yetinthatinstanceshemightstillhavebeenexcused。
Religiousmotivesmayperhapshaveactuatedher;andwhenthisisthecase,peopleoftengothroughincrediblethings。Atpresent,however,wecanseenojustreasonwhichcouldexcuseanundertakingofthisdescription。\"
Thus,andperhapsmoreharshlystill,willthemajorityjudgeme。
Andyettheywilldomeagrievouswrong。Iamsurelysimpleandharmlessenough,andshouldhavefanciedanythingintheworldratherthanthatitwouldeverbemyfatetodrawuponmyselfinanydegreethenoticeofthepublic。Iwillmerelyindicate,asbrieflyasmaybe,mycharacterandcircumstances,andthenIhavenodoubtmyconductwillloseitsappearanceofeccentricity,andseemperfectlynatural。
WhenIwasbutalittlechild,Ihadalreadyastrongdesiretoseetheworld。WheneverImetatravelling-carriage,Iwouldstopinvoluntarily,andgazeafterituntilithaddisappeared;Iusedeventoenvythepostilion,forIthoughthealsomusthaveaccomplishedthewholelongjourney。
AsIgrewtotheageoffromtentotwelveyears,nothinggavemesomuchpleasureastheperusalofvoyagesandtravels。Iceased,indeed,toenvythepostilions,butenviedthemoreeverynavigatorandnaturalist。
Frequentlymyeyeswouldfillwithtearswhen,havingascendedamountain,Isawotherstoweringbeforeme,andcouldnotgainthesummit。
Imadeseveraljourneyswithmyparents,and,aftermymarriage,withmyhusband;andonlysettleddownwhenitbecamenecessarythatmytwoboysshouldvisitparticularschools。Myhusband\'saffairsdemandedhisentireattention,partlyinLemberg,partlyinVienna。
Hethereforeconfidedtheeducationandcultureofthetwoboysentirelytomycare;forheknewmyfirmnessandperseveranceinallIundertook,anddoubtednotthatIwouldbebothfatherandmothertohischildren。
Whenmysons\'educationhadbeencompleted,andIwaslivinginpeacefulretirement,thedreamsandaspirationsofmyyouthgraduallyawokeoncemore。Ithoughtofstrangemannersandcustoms,ofdistantregions,whereanewskywouldbeaboveme,andnewgroundbeneathmyfeet。IpicturedtomyselfthesupremehappinessoftreadingthelandoncehallowedbythepresenceofourSaviour,andatlengthmadeupmymindtotravelthither。
Asdangersanddifficultiesrosebeforemymind,IendeavouredtoweanmyselffromtheideaIhadformed——butinvain。ForprivationIcaredbutlittle;myhealthwasgoodandmyframehardy:Ididnotfeardeath。Andmoreover,asIwasborninthelastcentury,I
couldtravelALONE。Thuseveryobjectionwasovercome;everythinghadbeendulyweighedandconsidered。IcommencedmyjourneytoPalestinewithafeelingofperfectrapture;andbehold,Ireturnedinsafety。InowfeelpersuadedthatIamneithertemptingProvidence,norjustlyincurringtheimputationofwishingtobetalkedabout,infollowingthebentofmyinclinations,andlookingstillfurtheraboutmeintheworldIchoseIcelandformydestination,becauseIhopedtheretofindNatureinagarbsuchasshewearsnowhereelse。Ifeelsocompletelyhappy,sobroughtintocommunionwithmyMaker,whenIcontemplatesublimenaturalphenomena,thatinmyeyesnodegreeoftoilordifficultyistoogreatapriceatwhichtopurchasesuchperfectenjoyment。
Andshoulddeathovertakemesoonerorlaterduringmywanderings,I
shallawaithisapproachinallresignation,andbedeeplygratefultotheAlmightyforthehoursofholybeautyinwhichIhavelivedandgazeduponHiswonders。
Andnow,dearreader,Iwouldbegtheenottobeangrywithmeforspeakingsomuchofmyself;itisonlybecausethisloveoftravellingdoesnot,accordingtoestablishednotions,seemproperforoneofmysex,thatIhaveallowedmyfeelingstospeakinmydefence。
Judgeme,therefore,nottooharshly;butrathergrantmetheenjoymentofapleasurewhichhurtsnoone,whileitmakesmehappy。
THEAUTHOR。
VISITTOICELAND
CHAPTERI
Intheyear1845Iundertookanotherjourney;{2}ajourney,moreover,tothefarNorth。Icelandwasoneofthoseregionstowardswhich,fromtheearliestperiodofmyconsciousness,Ihadfeltmyselfimpelled。Inthiscountry,stampedasitisbyNaturewithfeaturessopeculiar,asprobablytohavenocounterpartonthefaceoftheglobe,Ihopedtoseethingswhichshouldfillmewithnewandinexpressibleastonishment。HowdeeplygratefuldoIfeeltoThee,OThouthathastvouchsafedtometobeholdthefulfilmentofthesemycherisheddreams!
Thepartingfromallmydearoneshadthistimefarlessbitterness;
Ihadfoundbyexperience,thatawomanofanenergeticmindcanfindherwaythroughtheworldaswellasaman,andthatgoodpeoplearetobemetwitheverywhere。Tothiswasaddedthereflection,thatthehardshipsofmypresentvoyagewouldbeofshortduration,andthatfiveorsixmonthsmightseemerestoredtomyfamily。
IleftViennaatfiveo\'clockonthemorningofthetenthofApril。
AstheDanubehadlatelycausedsomedevastations,onwhichoccasiontherailroadhadnotentirelyescaped,werodeforthefirstfourmiles,asfarasFlorisdorf,inanomnibus——notthemostagreeablemodeoftravelling。Ouromnibusesaresosmallandnarrow,thatonewouldsupposetheywerebuiltfortheexclusiveaccommodationofconsumptivesubjects,andnotforhealthy,andinsomecasesportlyindividuals,whosebulkisfurtherincreasedbyagoodlyassemblageofcloaks,furs,andovercoats。
Atthebarriersanewdifficultyarose。Wedeliveredupourpass-
warrants(passirscheine)inturn,withtheexceptionofoneyoungman,whowasquiteastoundedatthedemand。Hehadprovidednothingbuthispassportandtestimonials,beingtotallyunawarethatapass-warrantismoreindispensablethanalltherest。Invaindidhehastenintothebureautoexpostulatewiththeofficials,——wewereforcedtocontinueourjourneywithouthim。
Wewereinformedthathewasastudent,who,attheconclusionofterm,wasabouttomakeholidayforafewweeksathisparents\'
housenearPrague。Alas,pooryouth!hehadstudiedsomuch,andyetknewsolittle。Hehadnotevenanideaoftheoverwhelmingimportanceofthedocumentinquestion。ForthistriflingomissionheforfeitedthefaretoPrague,whichhadbeenpaidinadvance。
Buttoproceedwithmyjourney。
AtFlorisdorfajoyfulsurpriseawaitedme。Imetmybrotherandmyson,whohad,itappears,precededme。WeenteredthetraintoproceedincompanytoStockerau,aplacebetweentwelveandthirteenmilesoff;butwereobligedtoalighthalfway,andwalkashortdistance。TheEmbankmenthadgivenway。Luckilytheweatherwasfavourable,inasmuchaswehadonlyaviolentstormofwind。Haditrained,weshouldhavebeenwettedtotheskin,besidesbeingcompelledtowadeankle-deepinmud。Wewerenextobligedtoremainintheopenair,awaitingthearrivalofthetrainfromStockerau,whichunloadeditsfreight,andreceivedusinexchange。
AtStockerauIoncemoretookleaveofmycompanions,andwassoonsecurelypackedinthepost-carriagefortransmission。
Intravellingthisshortdistance,Ihadthusenteredfourcarriages;athingsufficientlydisagreeabletoanunencumberedperson,butinfinitelymoresotoonewhohasluggagetowatchover。
TheonlyadvantageIcoulddiscoverinallthiswas,thatwehadsavedhalfanhourincomingtheseseventeenmiles。Forthis,insteadof9fl。26kr。fromViennatoPrague,wepaid10fl。10kr。
fromStockerautoPrague,withoutreckoningexpenseofomnibusandrailway。Itwascertainlyadearly-boughthalf-hour。{3}
ThelittletownofZnaim,withitsneighbouringconvent,issituatedonalargeplain,extendingfromViennatoBudwitz,seventeenmilesbeyondZnaim;themonotonyoftheviewisonlybrokenhereandtherebylowhills。
NearSchelletauthescenerybeginstoimprove。Onthelefttheviewisboundedbyarangeofhighhills,witharuinedcastle,suggestiveoftragicaltalesofcenturiesgoneby。Firandpineforestsskirttheroad,andliescatteredinpicturesquegroupsoverhillanddale。
April11th。
Yesterdaytheweatherhadalreadybeguntobeungracioustous。AtZnaimwefoundthevalleysstillpartlycoveredwithsnow,andthefogwasattimessothick,thatwecouldnotseeahundredpacesinadvance;butto-dayitwasincomparablyworse。Themistresolveditselfintoamildrain,which,however,lostsomuchofitsmildnessaswepassedfromstationtostation,thateverythingarounduswassoonunderwater。Butnotonlydidweridethroughwater,wewereobligedtositinitalso。Theroofofourcarriagethreatenedtobecomeaperfectsieve,andtherainpouredsteadilyin。Hadtherebeenroomforsuchaproceeding,weshouldallhaveunfurledourumbrellas。
Onoccasionslikethese,Ialwayssilentlyadmirethepatienceofmyworthycountrymen,whotakeeverythingsogood-humouredly。WereI
aman,Ishouldpursueadifferentplan,andshouldcertainlynotfailtocomplainofsuchcarelessness。Butasawoman,Imustholdmypeace;peoplewouldonlyrailatmysex,andcallitill-
humoured。Besides,Ithankedmyguardian-angelforthesediscomforts,lookinguponthemasapreparationforwhatwastobefallmeinthefarNorth。
Passingseveralsmalltownsandvillages,weatlengthenteredtheBohemianterritory,closebehindIglau。ThefirsttownwhichwesawwasCzaslau,withitslargeopensquare,andafewneathouses;thelatterprovidedwithso-calledarbours(orverandahs),whichenableonetopassroundthesquaredry-footed,eveninthemostrainyweather。
Journeyingonwards,wenoticedthefinecathedralandtownofKuttenberg,oncefamousforitsgoldandsilvermines。{4}Nextcomesthegreattobacco-manufactoryofSedlitz,nearwhichwefirstseetheElbe,butonlyforashorttime,asitsoontakesanotherdirection。PassingthesmalltownofCollin,wearewhirledclosebythebattle-fieldwhere,intheyear1757,thegreatKingFrederickpaidhisscoretotheAustrians。Anobelisk,erectedafewyearssincetothememoryofGeneralDaun,occupiesasmalleminenceontheright。OntheleftistheplainofKlephorcz,wheretheAustrianarmywasdrawnup。{5}
Ateleveno\'clockonthesamenightwereachedPRAGUE。
Asitwasmyintentiontopursuemyjourneyaftertwodays,myfirstwalkonthefollowingmorningwastothepolice-office,toprocureapassportandtheall-importantpass-warrant;mynexttothecustom-
house,totakepossessionofasmallchest,whichIhaddeliveredupfivedaysbeforemydeparture,andwhich,astheexpeditoraffirmed,IshouldfindreadyformeonmyarrivalatPrague。{6}Ah,Mr。
Expeditor!mychestwasnotthere。AfterSaturdaycomesSunday;butonSundaythecustom-houseisclosed。Soherewasadaylost,adayinwhichImighthavegonetoDresden,andevenvisitedtheopera。
OnMondaymorningIoncemorehastenedtotheofficeinanxiousexpectation;theboxwasnotyetthere。Anarrayofloadedwagonshad,however,arrived,andinoneoftheseitmightbe。Ah,howI
longedtoseemydarlinglittlebox,inorderthatImight——NOT
pressittomyheart,butunpackitinpresenceoftheexciseofficer!
ItookmerelyacursoryglanceatPrague,asIhadthoroughlyexaminedeverythingtheresomeyearsbefore。Thebeautiful\"Graben\"andHorse-marketoncemoreexcitedmyadmiration。ItwaswithapeculiarfeelingthatItrodtheoldbridge,fromwhichSt。
JohnofNepomukwascastintotheMoldauforrefusingtopublishtheconfessionofKingWenceslaus\'consort。{7}OntheoppositebankI
mountedtheHradschin,andpaidavisittothecathedral,inwhichalargesarcophagus,surroundedandbornebyangels,andsurmountedbyacanopyofcrimsondamask,isdedicatedtothememoryofthesaint。
Themonumentisofsilver,andtheworthofthemetalaloneisestimatedat80,000florins。Thechurchitselfisnotspacious,butisbuiltinthenobleGothicstyle;thelesseraltars,however,withtheirinnumerablegildedwoodenfigures,lookbycontrastextremelypuny。Inthechapelaremanysarcophagi,onwhichreposebishopsandknightshewninstone,butsomuchdamaged,thatmanyarewithouthandsandfeet,whilesomelackheads。Totheright,attheentranceofthechurch,isthecelebratedchapelofSt。Wenceslaus,withitswallsornamentedwithfrescoes,ofwhichthecoloursanddesignsarenowalmostobliterated。Itisfurtherenrichedwithcostlystones。
NotfarfromthecathedralissituatedthepalaceofCountCzernin,abuildingparticularlyfavouredwithwindows,ofwhichithasoneforeverydayintheyear。Iwasthereinanordinaryyear,andsaw365;howtheymanageinleap-yearIdonotknow。Theviewfromthebelvedereofthispalacewellrepaystheobserver。Ittakesintheoldandnewtown,thenobleriverwithitstwobridges(theancientvenerable-lookingstonestructure,andthegracefulsuspension-
bridge,sixhundredpaceslong),andthehillsroundabout,clothedwithgardens,amongwhichappearneatcountry-houses。
Thestreetsofthe\"Kleinseite\"arenotparticularlyattractive,beingmostlytortuous,steep,andnarrow。Theycontain,however,severalremarkablepalaces,amongwhichthatofWallensteinDukeofFriedlandstandspre-eminent。{8}
AftervisitingSt。Nicholas\'Church,remarkablefortheheightofitsspireanditsbeautifullyarchedcupola,IbetookmyselftoWimmer\'sgardens,andthencetothe\"Bastei,\"aplaceofpublicresortwiththecitizensofPrague。
Icouldnowobservethedevastationcausedbytherisingofthewatershortlybeforemyarrival。TheMoldauhadoversteppeditsbanksinsoturbulentamanner,astocarryalongwithitseveralsmallhouses,andevenalittlevillagenotfarfromPrague,besidesdamagingallthedwellingsuponitsbanks。Thewaterhadindeedalreadyfallen,butthewallsofthehousesweresoakedthroughandthrough;thedoorshadbeencarriedaway,andfromthebrokenwindowsnofaceslookedoutuponthepassers-by。Thewaterhadrisentwofeetmorethanin1784,inwhichyeartheMoldauhadalsoattainedanunusualheight。
Fromthesametowerofobservation,Ilookeddownuponthegreatopenspaceboughtafewyearsago,andintendedtobeoccupiedbytheterminioftheViennaandDresdenrailroads。Althoughseveralhouseswereonlyjustbeingpulleddown,andthefoundationsofbutfewbuildingswerelaid,Iwasassuredthatwithinsixmonthseverythingwouldbecompleted。
Ihavestilltomentionacircumstancewhichstruckmeduringmymorningperegrinations,namely,thecuriousmethodinwhichmilk,vegetables,andotherprovisionsareherebroughttotown。IcouldhavefanciedmyselftransportedtoLaplandorGreenland,onmeetingeverywherecartstowhichtwo,three,orfourdogswereharnessed。
Onepairofdogswilldragthreehundredweightonlevelground;butwhentheyencounterahill,thedrivermustlendahelpinghand。
Thesedogsare,besides,carefulguardians;andIwouldnotadviseanyonetoapproachacarofthiskind,asitstandsbeforetheinn-
door,whiletheproprietorisquenchinghisthirstwithin,onthemoneyhehasjustearned。
Atfiveo\'clockonthemorningofthe15thofAprilIleftPrague,androdeforfourteenmilesinthemail-carriage,asfarasObristwyontheElbe,atwhichplaceIembarkedforDresden,onboardthesteamerBohemia,offifty-horsepower,amiserableoldcraft,apparentlyastrangertobeautyandcomfortfromheryouthup。Thepricechargedforthisshortpassageofeightorninehoursisenormouslydear。Thetravellerswill,however,soonhavetheirrevengeontheextortionateproprietors;arailroadisconstructing,bymeansofwhichthisdistancewillbetraversedinamuchshortertime,andatagreatsavingofexpense。
Butatanyratethejourneybywateristhemoreagreeable;thewayliesthroughverypicturesquescenery,andatlengththrough\"SaxonSwitzerland\"itself。Thecommencementofthejourneyis,however,farfrompleasing。Ontherightarenakedhills,andontheleftlargeplains,overwhich,lastspring,theswollenstreamrolled,partlycoveringthetreesandtheroofsofthecottages。HereI
couldforthefirsttimeseethewholeextentofthecalamity。Manyhouseshadbeencompletelytorndown,andthecrops,andeventheloosealluvialearthsweptaway;asweglidedbyeachdrearysceneofdevastation,anotheryetmoredismalwouldappearinitsplace。
ThiscontinuedtillwereachedMelnick,wherethetreesbecomehigher,andgroupsofhousespeerforthfromamongtheinnumerablevineyards。OppositethislittletowntheMoldaufallsintotheElbe。Ontheleft,inthefardistance,thetravellercandescrySt。George\'sMount,fromwhich,asthestorygoes,CzechtookpossessionofallBohemia。
BelowthelittletownofRaudnitzthehillsgaveplacetomountains,andasmanyenthusiastscanonlyfindthoseregionsromanticwherethemountainsarecrownedwithhalf-ruinedcastlesandstrongholds,goodoldTimehastakencaretoplanttheretwofineruins,HafenbergandSkalt,forthedelectationofsuchsentimentalobservers。
NearLeitmeritz,asmalltownwithahandsomecastle,andachurchandconvent,theEgerflowsintotheElbe,andahigh-archedwoodenbridgeconnectsthetwobanks。Hereourpoorsailorshaddifficultworktolowerthemastandthefunnel。
TheratherprettyvillageofGross-Czernoseckisremarkableforitsgiganticcellars,hewnoutoftherock。Apost-carriagecouldeasilyturnroundinoneofthese。Thevatsareofcourseproportionedtothecellars,particularlythebarrelscalledthe\"twelveapostles,\"eachofwhichholdsbetweenthreeandfourthousandgallons。Itwouldbenomorethanfairtostophereawhile,togiveeveryheroofthebottleanopportunitytoenjoyasightofthesepalace-cellars,andtoofferalibationtothetwelveapostles;butthesteamerpassedon,andwewereobligedtomakethemostofthedescriptionsfurnishedbythosewhoweremoreathomeintheseparts,andhadnodoubtfrequentlyemergedinaninspiredstatefromthedepthsofthecellarsinquestion。
Theviewnowbecomesmoreandmorecharming:themountainsappeartodrawclosertogether,andshutinthebedofthestream;romanticgroupsofrocks,withsummitscrownedbyrainsyetmoreromantic,towerbetween。Theancientbutwell-preservedcastleofSchreckenstein,builtonarockrisingboldlyoutoftheElbe,isparticularlystriking;theapproachestoitarebyserpentinewalkshewnoutoftherock。
NearthesmalltownofAussigwefindthemostconsiderablecoal-
minesinBohemia。IntheirneighbourhoodissituatedthelittlemountainestatePaschkal,whichproducesakindofwinesaidtoresemblechampagne。
Themountainsnowbecomehigherandhigher,butabovethemalltowersthegiganticJungfernsprung(Maiden\'sLeap)。ThebeautyofthisregionisonlysurpassedbythesituationofthetownandcastleofTetschen。Thecastlestandsonarock,betweentwentyandthirtyfeethigh,whichseemstoriseoutoftheElbe;itissurroundedbyhot-housesandcharminggardens,shelvingdownwardsasfarasthetown,whichliesinabloomingvalley,nearalittleharbour。Thevalleyitself,encompassedbyachainofloftymountains,seemsquiteshutoutfromtherestoftheworld。
Theleftbankoftheriverisheresocrowdedwithmassesandwallsofrock,thatthereisonlyroomatintervalsforanisolatedfarmorhut。Suddenlythetopsofmastsappearbetweenthehighrocks,aphenomenonwhichissoonexplained;alargegapinoneoftherockywallsformsabeautifulbasin。
AndnowwecometoSchandau,aplaceconsistingonlyofafewhouses;itisafrontiertownoftheSaxondominions。Custom-houseofficers,araceofbeingseverassociatedwithfrontiertowns,hereboardedourvessel,andrummagedeverything。Mydaguerreotypeapparatus,whichIhadlockedupinasmallbox,waslookeduponwithaneyeofsuspicion;butuponmyassertionthatitwasexclusivelyintendedformyownuse,Iandmyapparatusweregraciouslydismissed。
Inouronwardjourneywefrequentlyobservedrocksofpeculiarshapes,whichhaveappropriatenames,suchasthe\"Zirkelstein,\"
\"Lilienstein,\"&c。TheKonigsteinisacollectionofjaggedmassesofrock,onwhichisbuiltthefortressofthesamename,usedatpresentasaprisonforgreatcriminals。AtthefootoftherocksliesthelittletownofKonigstein。Notfaroff,ontherightbank,ahugerock,restingonothers,bearsastrikingresemblancetoahumanhead。Themoredistantgroupsofrocksarecalledthoseof\"Rathen,\"butareconsideredasbelongingtoSaxonSwitzerland。The\"Basteien\"(Bastions)ofthisSwitzerland,closebywhichwenowpass,aremostwonderfulsuperpositionsofloftyandfantasticallyshapedrocks。Unfortunately,thesteamerwhirledussorapidlyonourway,thatwhilstwecontemplatedonebank,thebeauteousscenesontheoppositesidehadalreadyglidedfromourview。InmuchtooshortatimewehadpassedthetownofPirna,situateatthecommencementofthisrangeofmountains。Theveryancientgateofthistowntowersfarabovealltheotherbuildings。
LastlyweseethegreatcastleSonnenstein,builtonarock,andnowusedasanasylumforlunatics。
Allthebeautifulandpicturesqueportionofourpassageisnowpast,andtheroyalvillaofPillnitz,withitsmanyChinesegables,looksinsignificantenough,afterthegrandscenesofnature。A
chainofhills,coveredwiththecountry-housesofcitizens,adjoinsit;andontherightextendsalargeplain,atthefarendofwhichwecandimlydescrytheSaxonmetropolis。Butwhatisthatinthedistance?Wehavehardlytimetoarrangeourluggage,whentheanchorisletgonearthefineoldDresdenBridge。
Thisbridgehadnotescapedunscathedbythefuriousriver。Oneofthecentrearcheshadgivenway,andthecrossandwatchboxwhichsurmounteditwereprecipitatedintotheflood。Atfirst,carriagesstillpassedoverthebridge;itwasnotuntilsometimeafterwardsthatthefullextentofthedamagewasascertained,andthepassageofcarriagesoverthebridgediscontinuedformanymonths。
AsIhadseenthetownofDresdenseveralyearsbefore,andtheonlybuildingnewtomewasthesplendidtheatre,Itookadvantageofthefeweveninghoursofmystaytovisitthisstructure。
StandinginthemidstofthebeautifulCathedral-square,itsnoblerotunda-likeformatoncerivetstheattention。Theinnertheatreissurroundedbyasuperbbroadandloftycorridor,withfinebow-
windowsandstraightbroadstaircases,leadingindifferentdirectionstowardsthegalleries。Theinteriorofthetheatreisnotsospaciousas,judgingfromtheexterior,onewouldimagineittobe,butthearchitectureanddecorationsaretrulygorgeousandstriking。Theboxesareallopen,beingseparatedfromeachothermerelybyalowpartition;thewallsandchairsarecoveredwithheavysilkendraperies,andtheseatsofthethirdandfourthgallerieswithamixtureofsilkandcotton。Onesinglecircumstancewasdisagreeabletomeinanacousticpointofview——I
couldheartheslightestwhisperoftheprompterasdistinctlyasthoughsomeonehadbeenbehindmereadingtheplay。Thecurtainhadscarcelyfallenbeforethewholehousewasempty,andyettherewasnocrowdingtogetout。Thisfirstdrewmyattentiontothenumerousandexcellentlycontriveddoors。
April16th。
TheDresdenomnibusesmaybecitedasmodelsofcomfort;oneiscertainofplentyofroom,andthereisnooccasiontodreadeitherthecorpulentpersonsorthefursandcloaksoffellow-passengers。
Abell-pullisfixedintheinteriorofthecarriage,sothateachindividualcangivethecoachmanasignalwhenheorshewishestoalight。Theseomnibusescallattheprincipalinns,andwaitforamoment;butthetravellerwhoisnotreadyinadvanceisleftbehind。
Athalf-pastfiveinthemorningitcalledatourhotel。Iwasreadyandwaiting,anddroveoffcomfortablytotherailway。ThedistancefromDresdentoLeipzigisreckonedatfifty-sixmiles,andthejourneyoccupiedthreehours。
Thefirstfourteenmilesareveryagreeable;gardens,fields,andmeadows,pine-forestsintheplainandonthehills,andbetweenthese,villages,farms,country-houses,andsolitarychapels,combinetoformaveryprettylandscape。Butthescenesoonchanges,andthetownofMeissen(famousforitsporcelainmanufactory),ontherighthand,seemstoshutoutfromourviewallthatispicturesqueandbeautiful。
FromheretoLeipzigwetravelthroughawearisomemonotonousplain,enlivenedatlongintervalsbyvillagesandscatteredfarms。Thereisnothingtoseebutagreattunnel,andtheriverPleisse——thelatter,orrathertheElster,isrenderedfamousbythedeathofPrincePoniatowski。{9}
ThetownofLeipzig,celebratedfarandwideforitsfairs,andmoreforitsimmensepublishingtrade,presentsanappearanceofnoiseandbustleproportionatetoitscommercialimportance。Ifoundstreets,squares,andinnsalikecrowded。{10}
Perhapstheredoesnotexistatownwithitshouses,andconsequentlyitsstreets,sodisfiguredwithannouncements,inallsizesandshapes,coveringitswalls,andsometimesprojectingseveralfeet,asLeipzig。
Amongthepublicbuildings,thosewhichpleasedmemostweretheAugusteumandtheBurgerschule。TheBucherhalle(book-hall)I
shouldsupposeindebtedforitscelebrityrathertoitsliterarycontentsthantoitsarchitecturalbeautyoritsexterior。Thehallitselfisindeedlarge,andoccupiesthewholelengthofthebuilding,whilethelowerstoryconsistsofseveralrooms。Thehall,thechambers,andtheexteriorareallplain,andwithoutparticulardecoration。TheTuchhalle(cloth-hall)issimplyalargehouse,withspaciouschambers,containingsuppliesofcloth。TheTheatrestandsonaverylargesquare,anddoesnotpresentaverysplendidappearance,whetherviewedfromwithinorfromwithout。
Theplanofhavingstallsinfrontoftheboxesinthesecondandthirdgallerieswasanoveltytome。TheorchestraIcouldonlyhear,butcouldnotdiscoveritswhereabouts;mostprobablyitwaspostedbehindthescenes。Oninquiry,Iwastoldthatthiswasonlydoneonextraordinaryoccasions,whentheseatsintheorchestrawereconvertedintostalls,aswasthecaseonthenightofmyvisit。Theplaygivenwas\"theoriginalTartuffe,\"apopularpiecebyGutzkow。Itwascapitallyperformed。
IntheLeipzigtheatreIhadasecondopportunityofobserving,thatasregardstheloveofeatingourgoodSaxonsarenotawhitbehindthemuch-censuredViennese。IntheDresdentheatreIhadadmiredacoupleofladieswhosatnextme。Theycameprovidedwithaneatbag,containingaverysufficientsupplyofconfectionery,towhichtheyperseveringlyappliedthemselvesbetweentheacts。ButatLeipzigIfoundadelicate-lookingmotherandherson,aladoffifteenorsixteenyears,regalingthemselveswithmoresolidprovisions——whitebreadandsmallsausages。Icouldnotbelievemyeyes,andhadmadeupmymindthatthesausageswereartificiallyformedoutofsomekindofconfectionery——butalas!mynosecameforwardbuttoosoon,asapotentwitness,tocorroboratewhatIwassounwillingtobelieve!
NeitherdidthesetwoepisodestakeplaceintheloftiestregionsofThalia\'stemple,butinthestallsofthesecondtier。
BeautifulalleysareplantedroundLeipzig。ItookawalkintotheRosenthal(ValleyofRoses),whichalsoconsistsofsplendidavenuesandlawns。Aprettycoffee-house,withaveryhandsomealcove,builtinasemicircularform,invitesthewearytravellertorestandrefreshment,whileabandofagreeablemusicdiffusesmirthandgoodhumouraround。
TherestofthesceneryaroundLeipzigpresentstheappearanceofavastandmonotonousplain。
April17th。
IhadintendedtocontinuemyjourneytoHamburghviaBerlin,buttheweatherwassocoldandstormy,andtherainpoureddownsoheavily,thatIpreferredtheshorterway,andproceededbyrailtoMagdeburg。FlyingthroughthedismalplainpastHalle,Kothen,andothertowns,ofwhichIcouldonlydiscerngroupsofhouses,wehurriedlyrecognisedtheSaaleandtheElbe;andtowards10o\'clockinthemorningarrivedatMagdeburg,havingtravelledseventymilesinthreehoursandaquarter。
AsthesteamerforHamburghwasnottostartuntil3o\'clock,Ihadampletimetolookatthetown。
Magdeburgisamixedpatternofhousesofancient,mediaeval,andmoderndates。Particularlyremarkableinthisrespectistheprincipalstreet,the\"Broadway,\"whichrunsthroughthewholeofthetown。Herewecanseehousesdatingtheiroriginfromthemostancienttimes;housesthathavestoodproofagainstsiegesandsackings;housesofallcoloursandforms;somesportingpeakedgables,onwhichstonefiguresmaystillbeseen;otherscoveredfromrooftobasementwitharabesques;andinoneinstanceIcouldevendetecttheremainsoffrescoes。Intheverymidstoftheserelicsofantiquitywouldappearahousebuiltintheneweststyle。
Idonotremembereverhavingseenastreetwhichproducedsoremarkableanimpressiononme。Thefinestbuildingisunquestionablythevenerablecathedral。InItalyIhadalreadyseennumbersofthemostbeautifulchurches;yetIremainedstandinginmuteadmirationbeforethismasterpieceofGothicarchitecture。
ThemonumentwiththetwelveApostlesinthischurchisaworthymemorialofthecelebratedsculptorVischer。Inordertoviewit,itisnecessarytoobtainthespecialpermissionofthecommandant。
Thecathedralsquareislarge,symmetrical,anddecoratedwithtwoalleysoftrees;itisalsousedasadrilling-groundforthesoldiers\'minormanoeuvres。Iwasparticularlystruckwiththenumberofmilitarymentobeseenhere。GowhereIwould,Iwassuretomeetsoldiersandofficers,frequentlyinlargecompanies;
intimeofwaritcouldscarcelyhavebeenworse。ThiswasanunmistakeabletokenthatIwasonPrussianterritory。
Theopencanals,whichcomefromallthehouses,andmeanderthroughthestreets,areagreatdisfigurementtothetown。
Half-pastthreeo\'clockcameonlytooquickly,andIbetookmyselfonboardthesteamerMagdeburg,ofsixty-horsepower,toproceedtoHamburgh。OfthepassageitselfIcansaynothing,exceptthatajourneyonariverthroughexecrablesceneryisoneofthemostmiserablethingsthatcanwellbeimagined。When,inadditiontothis,theweatherisbad,theshipdirty,andoneisobligedtopassanightonboard,thediscomfortisincreased。Itwasmylottoendureallthis:theweatherwasbad,theshipwasdirty,thedistancemorethan100miles,sothatwehadthepleasantprospectofadelightfulnightonboardtheship。Therewere,moreover,somanypassengers,thatwewereforcedtositcrowdedtogether;sotherewesatwithexemplarypatience,staredateachother,andsighedbitterly。Orderwasentirelyoutofthequestion;noonehadtimetothinkofsuchathing。Smokingandcard-playingwereperseveringlycarriedonalldayandallnight;itcaneasilybeimaginedthatthingsdidnotgosoquietlyasatanEnglishwhist-
party。Theincessantrainrendereditimpossibletoleavethecabinevenforashorttime。TheonlyconsolationIhadwas,thatImadetheacquaintanceoftheamiablecomposerLorzing,acircumstancewhichdelightedmethemore,asIhadalwaysbeenanadmirerofhisbeautifuloriginalmusic。
CHAPTERII
Morningdawnedatlength,andinashorttimeafterwardswereachedthegreatcommercialcity,which,halfdestroyedbythedreadfulconflagrationof1842,hadrisengranderandmoremajesticfromitsashes。{11}Itookupmyquarterswithacousin,whoismarriedtotheWurtemburgconsul,themerchantSchmidt,inwhosehouseIspentamostagreeableandhappyweek。Mycousin-in-lawwaspoliteenoughtoescortmeeverywherehimself,andtoshewmethelionsofHamburgh。
FirstofallwevisitedtheExchangebetweenthehoursofoneandtwo,whenitisatthefullest,andthereforebestcalculatedtoimpressastrangerwithanideaoftheextentandimportanceofthebusinesstransactedthere。Thebuildingcontainsahallofgreatsize,witharcadesandgalleries,besidesmanylargerooms,whicharepartlyusedforconsultations,partlyforthesaleofrefreshments。Themostinterestingthingofallis,however,tositinthegallery,andlookingdownwards,toobservethecontinuallyincreasingcrowdpassingandrepassingeachotherintheimmensehallandthroughthegalleriesandchambers,andtolistentothehubbubandnoiseofthethousandsofeagervoicestalkingatonce。
Athalf-pastoneo\'clockthehallisatitsfullest,andthenoisebecomesabsolutelydeafening;fornowtheyaremarkinguptheratesofexchange,bywhichthemerchantsregulatetheirmonetarytransactions。
LeavingtheExchange,webentourstepstowardsthegreatharbour,andenteringasmallboat,cruisedinandaboutitinalldirections。Ihadresolvedtocountonlythethree-mastedships;
butsoongaveitup,fortheirnumberseemedoverwhelming,evenwithoutreckoningthesplendidsteamers,brigs,sloops,andcraft。
Inshort,Icouldonlygazeandwonder,foratleast900shipslaybeforeme。