第1章

类别:其他 作者:John Barrow字数:14737更新时间:18/12/14 11:13:28
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。