He held an open breviary, in
which he was reading, looking up from it frequently to admire the
lovely scenery, while the gilt edges of the book and the gay pictures
of saints laid between its leaves shone brilliantly in the sun light.
He was perfectly well aware, too, of what was going on around him,
and soon recognized the birds by their feathers, for before long he
addressed one of the students in Latin, whereupon all three approached
him, took off their hats, and made answer also in Latin.
Meanwhile, I had seated myself at the prow of the boat, where, highly
delighted, I dangled my legs above the water, gazing, while the boat
glided onward and the waves below me leaped and foamed, constantly
into the blue distance, watching towers and castles one after another
emerge from the dim depths of green, grow and grow upon the sight,
and finally recede and vanish behind us. "If I had but wings at this
moment!" I thought; and at last in my impatience I drew forth my dear
violin and played all my oldest pieces, which I had learned at home
and at the castle of the Lady fair.
All at once some one behind me tapped me on the shoulder. It was
the reverend gentleman, who had laid aside his book, and had been
listening to me for a while. "Aha," he said laughing, "aha, my young
_ludi magister_ is forgetting to eat and drink!" Whereupon he bade me
put away my fiddle and take a bit of luncheon with him, and he then
led me to a pleasant little arbor which the boatmen had erected in
the centre of the boat out of young birches and firs.
Pages:
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398