f flowers, hovered over me, and cheered me
with an affectionate smile. The noble Bendel was there, too, weaving a
flowery wreath, and approaching me with a friendly greeting. Many others
also were there, and among them methought I saw even thee, Chamisso, in
the distant crowd. A bright light shone, but there were no shadows; and,
what was more singular, all appeared happy--flowers and songs, and love
and joy, under groves of palms. I could hardly realize, understand, or
point out the flitting, swiftly dispersed, and lovely forms; but I
enjoyed such visions, I would fain not awake--but I awoke,--though I kept
my eyes closed, that the vanishing dreams might play a little longer
round my soul.

But I opened my eyes at last--the sun was in the heavens, but in the
east; I had slept through the night. I took this for a sign that I ought
not to return to the inn. I willingly abandoned that which I had so
lately left there, and determined to take on foot a by-road, which led
through the forest-girded base of the hill, leaving it to fate to
determine what might be my lot. I looked not back; I thought not even of
applying to Bendel, whom I had left in wealth behind me, which I might so
easily have done. I began to consider what new character I should assume
in the world. My appearance was very unpretending: I wore an old black
coat, which I had formerly worn in Berlin, and which, I know not how, I
had taken for this journey. I had only a travelling-cap on my head, and
a pair of worn-out boots on my feet. I rose up, cut a knobbed stick from
the spot as a sort of memento, and began my wanderings.

I overtook in the wood an old peasant, who greeted me with great
kindness, and with whom I entered into conversation. I first inquired,
like a curious traveller, about the road, then about the neighbourhood
and its inhabitants, the productions of the mountain, and such matters.
He answered my inquiries talkatively and sensibly. We came to the bed of
a mountain-stream, which had spread its devastations over a wide part of
the forest. I shuddered inwardly before the wide sunny place, and let
the countryman precede me. He however stood still in the middle of this
frightful spot, and turned round towards me, in order to give me the
history of the overflow. He soon observed what was wanting to me, and
stopped in the middle of his narrative to say: "But how is this--the
gentleman has got no shadow!" "Alas! alas!" I replied with