another world, were
absolutely necessary, but nevertheless I made every thing happen on the
very day I told it, or the day before. My hearers, therefore, were
less deluded by me, than deceived by themselves. Had I not, in
conformity to my natural disposition learned to mould these aeriel
nothings into something like an artistical form, such vain-glorious
beginnings, would certainly have turned out badly for me in the end.

"If we duly consider this impulse, we may discover in it that
assumption, with which the poet ventures to utter the greatest
improbabilities in a tone of authority, and requires that every one
shall acknowledge that to be real, which to him, the inventor, may
appear to be true in any manner whatever.

"However, what is said above, in general terms, and in the form of
reflection, may be rendered more agreeable, and at the same time more
perceptible by an example. I therefore add such a tale--one, which as
I used to repeat it often to my playmates, still distinctly floats
before my imagination and in my memory."]

Lately, on the night before Whit Sunday, I dreamed that I was standing
before a mirror, occupying myself with my new summer suit, which my
parents had had made against the approaching festival. The dress
consisted, as you well know, of shoes of nice leather, with great
silver buckles, fine cotton stockings, breeches of black serge, and a
coat of green barracan, with gold buttons. The waistcoat, of
gold-stuff, had been cut out of the one worn by my father on his
wedding-day. My hair was dressed and powdered, my curls stood upon my
head like little wings,--but I could not finish dressing myself; for I
continually changed the articles of wearing apparel, and the first
always dropped off when I was about to put on the second. While I was
thus embarrassed, a handsome young man came up to me, and greeted me in
the kindest manner. "Welcome," said I, "it gives me great pleasure to
see you here."--"Do you know me then?" asked he, smiling. "Why not?" I
replied, smiling in my turn. "You are Mercury, and I have often enough
seen pictures of you."--"I am, indeed," said he, "and I have been sent
to you by the gods on an important mission. Do you see these three
apples?" stretching out his hand, he showed me three apples, which from
their size he could scarcely hold, and which were as wonderfully
beautiful as they were large. One was green, another yellow, and the
third red, and they looked