the door. All was bright around him; his body cast no shadow. Filled with rapture, I ran after him. 'Peter Schlemihl! Peter Schlemihl!"* I exclaimed, overjoyed; but he had thrown off his slippers. I saw him stride over the watch-tower, and disappear in night. When I would fain have returned into the cellar, the host banged the door in my face, exclaiming, 'God preserve me from such guests!' Here Mathieu is my friend, and his porter a wakeful man: he opened the door to me immediately as I rang the bell at the Golden Eagle. I explained in what manner I had slipped away from the company without my hat and cloak; in the latter I had left my key, and to knock up the deaf chambermaid would be impossible. The friendly fellow, (I mean the porter), opened a chamber to me, placed lights, and wished me a good night. The splendid mirror was covered with a curtain; I know not myself how it happened, that I drew the curtain aside, and placed both the candles upon the marble-slab beneath the glass. Looking in it, I found myself so pale and disfigured, that I scarcely knew my own features; it appeared, also, as though a dark figure fluttered in the deepest back-ground of the mirror. As I fixed my gaze and my attention more and more intently upon it, the lineaments of a beautiful female form unfolded themselves more distinctly in the strange magical glitter. I recognised Julia. Inflamed with ardent passion, I sighed aloud, Julia! Julia!' At that momeut I was startled by a groaning and gasping behind the curtain of a bed in the furthermost corner of the room. I listened; the groans grew louder and louder; Julia's image had vanished. Vanquishing a sudden impulse of fear, I seized a light, tore open the curtains, and looked into the bed. How shall I describe to you my sensations on perceiving the little stranger who lay there, with his youthful countenance, although painfully distorted, sighing in his sleep, and crying out, Guilietta! Guilietta!' The sound of that name carried fire into my heart; my terror had left me; I seized him, and, shaking him violently, exclaimed Holloa! my friend, how came you in my chamber? Awake, and be good enough to take yourself off to the devil!' opened his eyes, and regarded me with a melancholy look. frightful dream,' said he,' I thank thee for waking me out of it.' His words were but gentle sighs. I know not how it was that the little man appeared to me quite changed, and the anguish with which he was seized cut me to the heart, so that my anger was turned into deep commiseration. It required but few words to explain that the porter had, by mistake, put me into his room, and to apologize for the intrusion which had disturbed his rest. Sir,' said the little man to me, I must have appeared to you ridiculous and extravagant in the cellar; I cannot deny that, at certain times, a mad demon haunts me, hurrying me beyond all the bounds of politeness and propriety. Does not the same sometimes happen to yourself?' 'O yes,' I replied timidly, only this evening, when I beheld Julia again;' Julia!' shrieked the dwarf, and a sudden convulsion of his features changed them into those of an old man. Oh! let me rest! Cover the mirror, I beseech you.' This he said quite faint, and looking back upon his pillow. The dwarf That was a * Peter Schlemihl's wonderful history, given to the world by Adelbert von Charnisso, and published by the Baron de la Motte Fouqué, having been translated into English by Mr. Bowring, is doubtless known to most of our readers. Sir,' said I, 'the name of my lost mistress seems to awaken singular emotions in your heart; nay, your agreeable features change perceptibly; however, I hope to spend the night peaceably with you, and therefore, I will cover the glass and retire to bed.' He raised himself up, gazed on me with mild and kindly looks in his young face, and, taking my hand, pressed it gently, saying, May you sleep well, sir; I see that we are companions in misfortune. Do you, too?-Julia! Guilietta! Well, no matter, you exercise an irresistible power over me. I cannot help it; I must disclose to you my deepest secret, then hate, then despise me!' With that he rose slowly, shrouded himself in his large white robe-de-chambre, and then slid softly, more like a thing of air than of flesh and blood, to the mirror, before which he placed himself. Alas! clear and distinct were the reflections of the two candles, the furniture in the room, and myself;-but the dwarf's figure was not to be seen in the glass; not a ray reflected his face closely bent towards the surface of the mirror. He hurried round to me with marks of the deepest despair in his countenance, and pressed my hand in his. 'You are now acquainted with my boundless misery,' said he, Schlemihl, good soul, is enviable compared with me, reprobate that I am! Thoughtless he sold his shadow; but I-I gave my reflection to HER. Oh! oh! oh!' Then deeply groaning, with his hands pressed upon his eyes, he tottered to the bed, and quickly threw himself into it. I remained transfixed. Suspicion, contempt, terror, compassion, and sympathy, and I know not what sentiments, for and against the hapless dwarf, contended in my breast. He began, however, in a short time, to snore so melodiously, that I could not withstand the narcotic power of his tones. I covered the mirror, extinguished the lights, threw myself into bed, and soon fell into a deep sleep. I It may have been morning when a bright glare of light awoke me. looked out of bed, and perceived my chamber-fellow seated at the table in his white morning robe, with his nightcap on, and his back turned towards me, writing very busily by the light of the two burning candles. He looked exceedingly phantom-like, and inspired me with a secret terror; but, suddenly, I fell into a dream, and I thought I was again at the counsellor's, sitting by Julia's side upon the ottoman. However, it seemed to me, that the whole company was a ludicrous twelfth-night exhibition at some confectioner's, the counsellor himself being a pretty figure of paste and sugar, with a large frill of post-paper. Higher and higher grew the trees and rosebushes. Julia stood up and presented to me the crystal goblet, out of which blue flames flickered up. Then I felt somebody twitching my sleeve. The dwarf stood behind me, with his wrinkled face on, and whispered, ‘Drink not! drink not! observe her narrowly. Have you not seen her in the warning pictures of Breughel, Callot, or Rembrandt ?' I shuddered before Julia; for, truly, to look at her white folding robe and her head-dress, she resembled the enticing damsels surrounded by Stygian monsters, in the works of those masters. 'Why are you afraid?' said Julia, I have you and your reflection too.' I took the goblet, but the dwarf leaped upon my shoulder in the form of a squirrel, waving his tail in the flames and squeaking Drink not! drink not!' Now all the sugared figures became animated, moving their little hands and feet in a pantomimic dance. The counsellor tripped up to me, saying in an affected voice, 'Why all this hubbub, my friend? Why all this hubbub? Do but place yourself upon your own dear feet, for I have for some time remarked, that you are striding in the air over chairs and tables.' The dwarf had disappeared. Julia no longer held the goblet in her hand. Why would you not drink?' said she; was not then the pure brilliant flame that streamed towards you out of the goblet the kiss, as you once received it from me?' I was about to press her to my bosom, when Peter Schlemihl interposed himself, saying, That is mine, who is married to Raskall.' He had trodden upon several Liliputian figures, and they groaned piteously. But soon these fantastic forms multiplied themselves to hundreds and thousands, tripping about me in many-coloured, hateful crowds, and buzzing like a swarm of bees. The counsellor of paste and sugar swung himself up to my cravat, and tugged at it as if he would strangle me. 'Accursed imp!' cried I aloud, and awoke. It was perfect day, about eleven o'clock at noon. Then the whole affair of the dwarf was also a dream,' thought I, just as the servant entering with my breakfast informed me, that the strange gentleman who had shared my room had set off at day-break, leaving his best regards for me. Upon the table at which the phantom-like dwarf had been seated during the night, I found a newly-written manuscript, the contents of which I will impart to thee, as it is, doubtless, his own wonderful history. W. S. S. [The manuscript alluded to by our correspondent will be given in our next number. Ed. Lit. Mag.] LINES ON REVISITING LOUGH TAY. I. Once more, fair lake, my wandering way Along thy peaceful shore I'll bend; Where thy bright waters greet mine eyes. Bright are thy waves,-yet soon the shade No sun to chase my bosom's gloom- E. S. DEATH AND THE DRUNKARDS. THERE was in Flanders, once, a company of foolish gallants who spent their time in taverns and stews, and indulged themselves in gambling and debauchery of all kinds. Night and day they did little else, but dance to the sound of lutes and harps, and play at dice, and eat and drink beyond their might; so that by such abominable superfluity, they, in a cursed manner, made sacrifice to the Devil within his own temple; attended in their orgies by tumblers, and young idle fruit girls, and singers with harps, and old bawds, which be the very Devil's officers, kindling and blowing the lecherous fire that is annexed to gluttony. It was grisly to hear these gallants swear, their oaths were so great and damnable; and, as if the Jews had not done violence enough to our blessed Lord, they, in their imaginations, tore his body, each of them laughing at the daring wickedness of the others. These three rioters were one morning drinking as usual in a tavern, and as they sate they heard a bell clink before a corpse which was being carried to its grave. Then one of them called to his boy and said: Go and ask readily what corpse this is now passing forth by the gate, and look thou report his name well.' He 'Sir,' quoth the boy, I knew it two hours before you came here. was an old companion of yours, and was slain suddenly; for as he sate drunken on his bench, there came a secret thief, men call Death, (that kills all the people in this country) and with his spear he smote his heart in two, and then went his way without speaking. He hath slain a thousand this pestilence; and, master, ere you come into his presence, methinks it were full necessary to beware of him, and to be evermore ready to meet him. Thus taught me my dame.' By Saint Mary,' said the host of the tavern, the child says truly; for this fearful thing hath slain this year, within a village about a mile hence, both men, women, and children, so that I trow he has his habitation there. It were great wisdom to be well advised about him. Then up spake one of the rioters and said: 'God's arms! is it such peril to meet with him? I vow by Christ's bones that I'll seek him by stile and street. Hearken, my boys, we three are one : let each hold up his hand, and become brothers, and we will kill this false traitor Death. Before night he shall be slain,—he that so many slayeth.' And so saying, he shouted a terrible oath. Then these three having plighted their troths to live and die by each other, started up all drunken in their rage, and went towards the hamlet of which the taverner had spoken; and as they went reeling along the way, they roared out with their thick voices, Death shall be dead if we can catch him.' They had not gone half a mile, when lo! just as they were crossing a gate, they saw a poor old man, who greeted them full meekly and said, 'Now, God save you, lords!' The proudest of these three rioters answered, 'What, thou sorry churl, why art thou wrapped so closely over save thy face? Why dost continue to live in such great age ?' At this the old man looked him in the visage, and said, 'Because I cannot meet a man, neither in city nor in village, even though I walked into the Indies, who would change his youth for my age; and therefore I must 6 still keep my age, as long as God pleases. Death will not have my life, alas! And thus walk I, like a restless caitiff; and on the ground which is my mother's gate, I knock night and morning with my staff, crying, dear mother, let me in. Lo! how I vanish flesh and blood. When shall my weary bones be still? Mother, with you would I change the chest that has been so long a time in my chamber, yea, for a hair shroud to wrap me in.' But she will not do me such kindness, for which full pale and welked is my face. Yet, sirs, it is not courteous in you to speak roughly to an old man, except he trespass in word or deed; for it is said in holy writ, as you may yourselves see, that ye should not rise against a hoary head; therefore do no more harm now to an old man, than ye would a man should do to you in age, if that ye abide so long; and so God be with you ever! I must go my ways.' Nay, old churl, by St. John thou partest not so lightly,' swore one of these rioters.Thou spakest right now of that traitor Death, that slayeth all our friends in this country. Thou art his spy; and believe me thou shalt either tell where he is, or by the holy sacrament, thou shalt rue it; for, truly, thou art one of his accomplices to kill us young folk, thou false thief.' 'Now sirs,' then quoth this old man, if you truly wish to find Death, turn up this crooked way, for by my faith, I left him in that grove under a tree, and there he will stay nothing hiding himself for all your boasting. See ye that oak? right there shall ye meet him; and Christ that bought again mankind save and amend you!' Thus spake the old man; and away ran these three rioters till they came to the tree, under which behold they found well nigh eight bushels of fine gold florins. They were so glad of this sight, that they sought no longer after Death; but looking round them, they sate down on the hard roots of the tree, nothing heeding the uneasiness of the seat, so eager were they to be near the precious hoard. 'Brethren,' said the worst of the three, take heed what I shall say. Fortune hath given us this treasure to the end we may live all our lives in mirth and jollity. As it came lightly, lightly let us spend it. Who would have thought,' continued he, swearing a great oath, that we should have met such luck to-day? If this gold could but be carried out of this grove home to my house, then were we in high felicity; but it may not be done by day, for men would say we were strong thieves, and hang us for possessing our own treasure; no: it must be carried by night, wisely and slily; therefore I am of opinion that we draw lots, and he who draws the lowest shall run to the town with blithe heart, and bring us bread and wine; while the other two shall subtly keep the treasure, and when it is night, we will take it by one assent where we may think best.' Then he brought the lots in his hand, and bade them draw, and the lowest fell on the young one; and anon he went forth toward the town. Now all as soon as he was departed, the rioter who spake before said thus unto his fellow : 'Thou knowest well thou art my sworn brother; therefore will I tell thee thy profit. Our fellow is gone and here is gold, and that full great store, which is to be shared among us three; but if I can shape it so, that it may be parted among us two, had I not done a friend's turn to thee?' I cannot think how that may be he knows well |