The carriage stopped. Music, sound
of bells, discharge of cannon, were heard; a loud _vivat_! rent the
air; before the door of the carriage appeared, clad in white, a troop
of damsels of extraordinary beauty, but who were eclipsed by one in
particular, as the stars of night by the sun. She stepped forth
from the midst of her sisters; the tall and delicate figure kneeled
blushing before me, and presented to me on a silken cushion a garland
woven of laurel, olive branches, and roses, while she uttered some
words about majesty, veneration and love, which I did not understand,
but whose bewitching silver tone intoxicated my ear and heart. It
seemed as if the heavenly apparition had some time previously passed
before me. The chorus struck in, and sung the praises of a good king
and the happiness of his people.
And this scene, my dear friend, in the face of the sun! She kneeled
still only two paces from me, and I, without a shadow, could not
spring over the gulf, could not also fall on the knee before the
angel! Oh! what would I then have given for a shadow! I was compelled
to hide my shame, my anguish, my despair, deep in the bottom of my
carriage. At length Bendel recollected himself on my behalf. He leaped
out of the carriage on the other side. I called him back, and gave
him out of my jewel-case, which lay at hand, a splendid diamond crown,
which had been made to adorn the brows of the lovely Fanny! He stepped
forward and spoke in the name of his master, who could not and would
not receive such tokens of homage; there must be some mistake; but the
people of the city should be thanked for their good-will.
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