Bluebeard.

but the Gate, as obstinate as its
companions, answers, in a creaking
tone of voice, " Why should I crush

him who oiled me, while you have
3 left me here to rust ?”

During all these extravagances, the
e Count found to bis surprise that the
g Venetian public sat rapt in mute at-
e- tention ;--and the admiration and
- enthusiasm rose to its height when
se- the oranges, on being cut open by

of Traffaldino, exhibited to view three
ate princesses, two of whom immedi-
ith ately died of thirst, while the third,
ani. by the timely application of cold
sen- water, survived to become the happy

to bride of the hereditary Prince of n of Diamonds. Gozzi immediately perser- ceived the firm hold which these

for recollections of infancy maintain over rince children of a larger growth; and how

eems easily, by the aid of graceful versifica-
shing tion and imposing scenery, they may

ima- be turned to dramatic account. A
were cordingly, he adopted the judicious
of the rule of striking out in future every
arica- thing which he had formerly thought
al ap- particularly fine; confined himself to
hard- the simple bona fide exhibitions of
to an his fairy marvels; and being deter-
ingly, mined that the Venetian public

with should be at no loss for a liberal supla
i sur- ply of such sources of amusement,
; that the Blue Monster, the Green Bird,
'nded the Stag King, the Lady Serpent,
Jefor Zobeide, the King of the Genii

, with
sible, a host of others appearing in quick
$ pa succession, and played with all the
hem- talent, humour, and power of ex-
ry he tempore allusion, for which the Sae
mere chi company was so celebrated, for
ingly, a time fascinated the lively inhabi-
trou- tants of the City of the Sea, and
at or even so lately as 1801, still took their
d it turn as stock pieces on the Venetian
nur- boards. But more of the Venetian-
1, for Dalmatian Count anon.
Go

Tieck had read Gozzi's dramas
yes." with much admiration. Their grace-
id I ful ease, the brillianey and fertility of
3 to imagination which they displayed,
ere had captivated his fancy. But it natu-
r.” rally occurred to him, that Gozzi had

taken matters rather too much au
ny pied de la lettre ; had addressed him-
nd self too purely to the imagination,
ng based his plots too exclusively on the
ou marvellous, and that it would be
ar's quite possible to combine the charm
ast of a nursery fable, and all the dreams
the and associations of childhood, with
notes of interest which might find

posom of manhood,

with passions and incidents such as One reason for this, though perhaps this visible diurnal sphere affords ;- Tieck was not aware of it, might and thus,

be, that the story of Bluebeard was “ To clothe the palpable and the familiar after all founded on fact, and that

Bluebeard was, in truth, a FrenchWith golden exhalations of the dawn."

man of the fifteenth century. Tieck In Tieck's view, the marvellous of took the story from Perrault's Fairy the Nursery Tale was to be reduced Tales, most of which are borrowed as nearly as possible to the standard from Straparolas (1550, 1554), and of common life; no longer to remain all of them, we believe, with the exthe moving principle of the story, ception of Bluebeard, either from but only occasionally to manifest it- Straparola, the Pentamerone, or some self in fitful glimpses, sufficient to other Italian source. But the subremind the reader or spectator, that ject of Bluebeard was to be found an invisible agency, like a thread of sil- nearer home. Report ascribes the ver tissue, pervaded and ran through honour of being its original to the the whole web of human existence. famous or rather infamous Gilles de The main interest was to rest on hu. Laval Marechal de Retz, executed man passions, crimes, or follies, and and burnt in 1440 for crimes, of the ever-springing changes which the which the monstrous and almost inordinary course of real life exhibits. credible record slumbers in the arThe difficulty, therefore, was in such chives

of Nantes, and the royal libraa case to find a subject which should ry of Paris. The boundless wealth, possess the airy charm of a Nursery the dealings in magic, the murders Tale, and yet where the human in- of immense numbers of young perterest should not be entirely merged sons of both sexes, his demoniacal in the allegorical or the marvellous; atrocities and debaucheries, and some neutral ground on which in- his terrible end, long rendered him fancy and manhood might shake a source of horror and disgust, till handa ; and where the influence of his name, or rather some features the good and evil passions which of his character, became interwoven sway the heart witbin, should blend even with the nursery legends of the and harmonize naturally with the time. From some of these, aided a agency of spells or spirits from with- little by his own imagination, Perout. Such a subject seemed to be rault appears to have composed the presented by Bluebeard.

tale which has stimulated the curioIt was but transferring the scene sity, and shaken the nerves of so from Asia to Europe-exhibiting the many of the rising generation since characters on a back ground of chi- his time. valry--substituting the monastery There was little difficulty on the and the castle for the mosque and whole, therefore, in transplanting the the seraglio; attiring Bluebeard in scene of Bluebeard to the banks of a helmet instead of a turban; ex the Rhine, and changing the threechanging the despotism of the East tailed Bashaw of Colman, into the for the feudal tyranny and oppres- German Ritter; while all the old sion of Germany, and the thing

was

features of the tale, even to the madone to his hand. Daughters were gical practices and secret murders as commonly

brought to sale under of the gloomy feudal chieftain, were the holy Roman Empire, as in Bagdat accurately preserved. The great aim or Cairo; necromancy was as much of Tieck throughout is evidently to the order of the day in the one as keep down the marvellous as much the other; wives now and then dis- as possible, so as even to render it appeared in a German Burg as well doubtful whether there be any maras in a Turkish harem; curiosity was vel in the case after all ; to pitch a failing not confined to Europe ; all every thing on a subdued and natural this, in short, required no alteration; key, and to produce his catastrophes Bluebeard seemed to conform him- by motives and incidents arising naself to the custom of the country as turally out of the contrasted characnaturally as if he had been native, ters of his piece. and to the manner born.

This is peculiarly the case with Tbe very names of the characters are selected on this homely principle: Peter, Simon, Anthony, Anne, Bridget, Agnes, instead of the high sounding and romantic appellatives which distinguish an ordinary German Ritter Roman.

ha

the hero, the German representa- dreams are made of, can find matter tive of Bluebeard, Peter Berner him. for an hour's meditation. But why self. At first we see in him nothing should we try to describe in our dull but an ordinary feudal chief of the prose what Tieck has painted with so time, brief and calm in speech, pru. much more clearness and liveliness dent in council, valiant in war, cruel in his own ? or lenient as suits his purposes; We pass over the first act, which rather an admirer of the fair sex, does little towards the advancement sensitive on the subject of his blue of the piece. It is occupied almost beard, which he feels to be his weak entirely with an expedition underpoint; not without a perception of taken by the brothers of Wallenrod, humour; and, on the whole, a favour. with the view of surprising the terite with his vassals. It is only as we ror of the surrounding country, Peter draw near the close, that by hints and Berner, in which expedition, howglimpses we begin to perceive the se. ever, it turns out, that the conspiracret ferocity of temperament which tors are themselves surprised, deburns under this outward crust of feated without difficulty, and made calmness of deportment. Peter Ber- prisoners by the redoubtable proner indulges in no harangues against prietor of the blue beard. Its chief curiosity and its consequences, he merit, which, however, is entirely makes no boast of his past achieve- episodical, is the humorous contrast ments, he allows the dead to rest of the professional fool of the famibut he is not the less determined, if ly, with the professional wise man necessary, to make short work with or counsellor of the neighbourhood; the living. He is agitated by no pase the wit and good sense turning out, sion, affected by no fears, tormented in the end, to be entirely on the side by no remorse. He has been ac- of the fool, the folly on the side of tuated all his life only by one prin the counsellor; a view of the case, ciple, that of trampling under foot, which, though scouted at first with without hesitation, everything which much contempt, begins to dawn at stands in the way of his will; and last, even on the obtuse intellects of the crimes to which this unalterable Heymon and Conrade von Wallenresolve may have led, he does not rod. regard as crimes, because any other In the second act, however, we line of conduct would have appear- find ourselves at the Castle of Fried. ed to him as folly.

heim, wbere Sisters Anne, and AgThe subsidiary characters are nes, are endeavouring to while away grouped about him with much di- a tedious hour by music and converversity of feature and situation. Even sation, now and then enlivened by the character of the sisters ;-Agnes, a little gentle malice towards each the giddy, childish, and thoughtless other. bride and intended victim of Berner, with scarcely any wish beyond that of

" Agnes (with a lute.) Now, listen, dear gay clothes and gilded apartments;

sister, see if I can play this air now. and Anne, more serene, reflecting,

Anne. You have no turn for music. and impassioned, thinking constantly

8. You will never play in life. of her lover, who thinks much more

♡ Agnes. And why not I as well as of tournaments and adventures than

others? Come now, listen. of her, are discriminated by light, yet

In the blasts of winter decided touches. The brothers, too,

Are the sere leaves sighing, are ably drawn, and the peculiarities

And the dreams of love of their character are made to exer

Faded are and dying. cise a natural and important influence

Cloudy shadows flying on the progress of the drama; the one

Over field and plain,

Sad the traveller hieing prudent and farseeing; the second a

Through the blinding rain. light-hearted, light-headed, and thick

Overhead the moon sculled adventurer; the third, a hy

Looks into the vale ; pochondriacal dreamer, 'whom eron

From the twilight forest the rubs and shocks of the world

Comes a song of wail. about him are scarcely sufficient to " Ah! the winds have wasted awaken from his reverie, and who, My faithless love away, out of the hanging of the hinge of a Swift as lightning flashes door, or the stuff that his morning Fled Life's golden ray.

ech's Bluebeard.

(Feb. menta dreams are made of, can find matter

him for an hour's meditation. But why thing should we try to describe in our dull of the

prose what Tieck has painted with so
pru-

much more clearness and liveliness
cruel in his own?
oses;

We pass over the first act, which
- sex, does little towards the advancement
blue-

of the piece. It is occupied almost weak entirely with an expedition underon of taken by the brothers of Wallenrod, vour- with the view of surprising the teras we ror of the surrounding country

, Peter ts and Berner, in which expedition, horthe se

ever, it turns out, that the conspirawhich tors are themselves surprised, deust of feated without difficulty, and made r Ber- prisoners by the redoubtable pro

0, wherefore came the vision,

Agnes. I understand you not. But, Or why so brief its stay!

in truth, I have often thought if I were

to arrive at some strange castle, where Once with pinks and roses

every thing was new to me, how I should Were my temples shaded ; Now the flowers are withered,

hurry from one chamber to another, al

ways impatient, always curious-how I Now the trees are faded;

should make myself acquainted by degrees Now the Spring departed,

with every article of furniture it containYields to winter's sway,

ed! Here I know every nail by heart. And my Love false hearted,

Anne. Give me the lute a moment.
He is far away.”
Life so dark and wilder'd,

(Sings.)
What remains for thee?

O well with him that in the arms
Hope and memory bringing

Of love can sink to rest ;
Joy or grief to me;-

No danger harms, no care alarms,
Ah! for them the bosom

The quiet of his breast.
Open still must be !

No change is here, no doubt or fear,
Anne. Better than I thought.

To mar his tranquil lot;
Agnes. Canst tell me why in all these

The present joy is all too near, ditties there is always so much of love ?

The past is all forgot.
Have these song-makers no other sub-
ject to harp upon ?

With warmer caressing,
Anne. They think it one with which

Lip to lip pressing,
every one must sympathize.

The warmer the longer,
Agnes. Not I. Notbing wearies me

Each moment that flies,
more than these eternal complaints. But,

Draws closer and stronger,
come, explain to me wbat this love is-

Love's gentlest of ties.
I can make nothing of it.
Anne. Nay, prithee, dear sister !

Agnes. That is one of those ditties Agnes. How long has he been gone which are more easily sung than underthree years ?

stood.
Anne. Ah !
Agnes. There you sit and sigh, where

Enter ANTHONY.
you should be telling your story like a
girl of sense.

Anth. A strange household to be sure !
Anne. I am but a poor story-teller.

Singing in every room ; Simon walking Agnes. Well, but — seriously - this about, and gazing at the walls; Leopold

preparing to ride on some mad advenlove must be very sttange affair. Anne. Well for you that you compre- whole together, our establishment would

ture. Faith, if I were not here to keep the hend it not.

be scattered like chaff before the wind. Agnes. I am always gay and cheerful. You are the very picture of melancholy

Agnes. To be sure. As you are the -you have no sympathy with the world eldest of the family, you are bound to have and its events--your very existence is a

understanding enough for us all.

Anth. Do you know what is in Leomere outward shadow of life-but all has long been dead and lifeless within,

pold's head ? Anne. Each has his own way-leave

Agnes. What can it be?

Anne. Something absurd, I am certain. me to follow mine.

Agnes. You call many things absurd
Agnes. But how can any one be so

which are not so.
insensible to joy? To me the world looks
80 kindly, so beautiful, so varied, methinks

Enter LEOPOLD.
we can never see or know too much of it.
I would wish to be always in motion, tra Leo. Now, good-bye for a time; I must
velling through unknown cities, climbing leave you for a day or two.
hills, seeing other dresses, and other man Anth. Where are you going ?

Then I would shut myself up in Leo. I don't exactly know. My nosome palace, with the key of every cham- tion, dear brother, has always been this, ber or Lubinet in my hand. I would open -that a man makes his life a burden them one after the other, take out the when he considers every step he takes beautiful and rare jewels, carry them to too minutely. Begin as we like, it all the window, gaze at them till I was comes to the same thing; it is good luck tired; then fly to the next, and so on, and or mischance that makes our plans wise on, without end.

or foolislı. Anne. And so grow old ? So labour Anth. Brother, such language becomes through a weary unconnected life ? not a man,

gainst prietor of the blue beard. Its chief
es, he merit, which, however, is entirely
hieve- episodical

, is the humorous contrast
rest, of the professional fool of the fami-
red, if ly, with the professional wise man
: with or counsellor of the neighbourhood;
o pas- the wit and good sense turning out,
ented in the end, to be entirely on the side
na ac. of the fool, the follg on the side of
prin- the counsellor; a riew of the case,
foot,

which, though scouted at first with
vhich
much contempt

, begins to dawn at
- and last, even on the obtuse intellects of
rable Heymon and Conrade ron Wallen-
s not rod.
other In the second act, howerer, we
pear- find ourselves at the Castle of Fried.

heim, where Sisters Anne, and Ag

nes, are endeavouring to while away
h di- a tedious hour by music and conver-
Even sation, now and then enlivened by
gnes, a little gentle malice tosards each
tless other.
rner,
at of

"Agnes (with a lute.) Now, listen, dear
sister, see if I can play this air norv.

Anne. You have no turn for music. cing,

You will never play in life.

Agnes. And why not I as well as
ore others? Come now, listen.
han

In the blasts of winter
yet

Are the sere leaves sighing,
c00,

And the dreams of love
Faded are and dying
Cloudy shadows flying
Over field and plain,
Sad the traveller hieing
Through the blinding rain.
Overhead the moon
Looks into the vale ;
From the trvilight forest
Comes a song of wail.

Ah! the winds have wasted
My faithless love away,
Swift as lightning flashes

Enle golden ray:

are

nts;

mtly

ners.

ies erce

e

0

Leo. Not a man, I dare say, according Simon. Ah! how can I explain such to your notion; an old superannuated ani. a thing to you! mal, who has passed over youth as over Anth. Among these half-witted creasoine bridge which was to fall, once for all, tures one might almost turn crazed himbehind him; and who within the precincts self. of age, sits down delighted to put on a Leo. Well, since you can't explain it, grave face, deal in sober counsel, listen

I may go:

When I come back, I'll take when other men speak, and find fault with your advice.

(Exit. every thing about him. A man, such as Anth. His wildness is sure to lead you would make, would censure the cat him into some other scrape. for instance, if he did not catch his mice Simon. No doubt. according to his notions, and in the most Anne. How do you feel, brother? approved fashion. I always hated to Simon. Well--I have been thinking hear people say-He acts like a man of many things this morning. There he is a model of a man--for ten to one may be many changes soon. but these heroes were mere overgrown

Anne. How so ? children--creatures that creep through Anth. Do not ask him. It would be the world on all fours, and only meet labour lost. He knows just as little as with more stumblingblocks by trying to you; and observation only keeps his folly avoid them. And yet the bystanders ex alive, which otherwise would have died claim, Lord, what a deal of experience long ago for want of nourishment. he has got !

Agnes. But let him speak, brother! Anth. That portrait, I am to under Anth. As you will, so you don't constand, is intended for me?

demn me to listen to his talk. [Exit. Leo. Oh! no. You have more sense Simon. I can speak with more comabout you, though you won't admit it, fort now that Anthony is gone.

He is even to yourself. But most men, now, always shrugging his shoulders when think your thoroughpaced plodder must things are not according to his own no. be a more sensible fellow than your hop, tions; and yet he has a most limited skip, and jump man, and yet the differ understanding. He is like the mass of ence between them is only in their mo men, who blame without knowing why, tion.

and often merely because the subject is Anth. You will admit, however, that above their comprehension. with the latter many things are constantly Anne. True. going wrong.

Simon. And yet one would think that Leo. Naturally enough! because he the very reason for bestowing a little undertakes a great many things. Your more attention upon it; when we are slow-going fellow cannot go wrong, be- learning nothing new, what we learncause he spends all bis time in calcula ed before begins to fade in us. ting, and thrusting out all his feelers on Agnes. Brother Simon speaks exceedall sides before he ventures a step. Ah, ing wisely to-day. brother, if we could see, for instance, low Simon. It is only that you seldom unall is arranged, and set to rights for us be derstand me.

This appears to you wise, fore hand, would we not be tempted to because you may have thought something laugh, think ye, at our deep-laid plans ? of the same kind yourself. Anth. A pleasant philosoplıy.

Agnes. What is understanding, then ? Leo. But I must break off, and take Simon. Why, that our understandings

I feel so cheerful, I am sure can't very easily comprehend; but it is I shall be fortunate.

certain that, like an onion, it has a num

ber of skins; each of these is called an Enter SIMON.

understanding, and the last, the kernel Simon. So you are going, brother? of the whole, is the true understanding Leo. I am.

itself. They are the truly intelligent Simon. I don't think the circumstances who in their thoughts employ not the are favourable.

mere outer rind, but the kernel itself; Leo. How so?

but with most men, prudent as they Simon. There is such a moving, and think themselves, nothing but the very howling, and scudding among the clouds. outermost skin is ever set in motion

Agnes. How do you mean, brother? and such is brother Anthony.

my leave.

An

cording

Simon. Ah! how can I explain such ted ani- a thing to you! as over Anth. Among these half-witted creae for all, tures one might almost turn crazed himTecincts self. at on & Leo. Well, since you can't explain it, - listen I may go. When I come back, I'll take ult with your advice.

(Erit. such as

Anth. His wildness is sure to lead the cat him into some other scrape. mis mice Simon. No doubt. ne most Anne. How do you feel, brother? ated to Simon. Well. I have been thinking man of many things this morning. There to one may be many changes soon. rgrown Anne How so? hrough Anth. Do not ask him. It would be y meet labour lost. He knows just as little as

you; and observation only keeps his folly

alive, which otherwise would have died erience long ago for want of nourishment.

ying to

ers ex

e sense

er hop,

to support existence, so he talks inces-
santly to supply him with thought. What

“ The Garden.
he has said the one moment he has for-
gotten the next; his thoughts are like

PETER BERNER, AGNES.
vegetables, they are cropped the instant
they show a green leaf above the ground, Agnes. Knight, you are pressing.
and so shoot on till summer, when they

Peter. How otherwise shall I try to
are left to run to seed; and so with gain your love?
Leopold, when his summer is over, and Agnes. You love me, then-as you
he gossips no more, the people will say

tell me?
of him, There! what an excellent fa Peter. From my heart, lady.
ther of a family!

Agnes. But what do you call love ? Agnes. And how do you think, bro Peter. If you feel it not, I cannot dether?

scribe it to you. Simon. 1--that is the difficulty--that Agnes. So I hear from all who call is what vexes me; to conceive how it is themselves in love. we think! Observe, that which was

Peter. Because it is the truth ;-do
thought must itself think; a puzzle you doubt my sincerity?
enough to drive a sensible man mad. Agnes. Oh no! not so; but-

Agnes. How so?
Simon. You do not understand me at

ANTHONY enters.
present, because such ideas never occur.
red to yourself. Endeavour to compre Peter. I speed but indifferently with
hend:-I think, and with the instrument my wooing, knight.
by which I think, I am to think bow Anth. How?
this thinking machine itself is framed. Peter. Your fair sister believes not
The thing is impossible ; for that which my words.
thinks can never be comprehended by Agnes. You are pleased to say so.
itself.

Peter. I am no orator; I am a rough Agnes. It is very true-such notions man, born and brought up amidst arms are enough to drive a man mad.

and tumult; fair speeches are not at my Simon. Well then--and do you ask command; I can only say I love, and why it is that I am melancholy?”

with that my whole stock of oratory is

at an end. Yet those who say little are The conversation is shortly after

more to be trusted than many who deal interrupted by the announcement of once in fine-spun phrases and false the intended visit of Peter Berner, hearts. If I cannot express myself gracewho, having long heard of the famé fully, I have but to learn the art of lying, of the beauties of Friedheim, has and that may count for something. So come in person to judge for himself. believe me, then, when I say I love you Some vague reports, as the sudden from my heart. deaths of his wives, and his own Agnes. And what if I do believe you? gloomy temper, had reached Fried Peter. A strange question! Then you heim; but, in the mind of the giddy must love me in return. Or perhaps it Agnes, these weigh little against the is—how shall 1 express myself-my fi. prospect of a rich establishment, and gure, my appearance is not inviting that of rummaging among the secrets enough—or rather is disagreeable? It is and treasures of Berner's castle.

true, there is something about me which When the new suitor urges his pro

strikes one as singular till they know me; posals, she hesitates for a little,

but that surely could be no reason for

Honesty pleads his beard, the loneliness of rejecting an honourable man.

is better than a fair outside. What if I his castle, the shortness of the time allowed her for decision; but long

have a bluish, aye, or a blue beard, as before the interview in the garden people say.-still that is better than no

beard at all. is over, it is evident her mind is

Anth. Well, sister“ We see how it is,--she

Peter. Perhaps you think though will be the sixteenth Mrs Shuffle

rmo

at

Agnes. But let him speak, brother -under Anth. As you will,--so you don't condemn me to listen to his talk. (Ezit

. Simon. I can speak with more commit it, fort now that Anthony is gone. He is , now, always shrugging his shoulders when e must things are not according to his own no.

tions; and yet he has a most limited differ

understanding. He is like the mass of men, who blame without knowing why,

and often merely because the subject is that above their comprehension. cantly

Anne. True.

Simon. And get one would think that e lie the very reason for bestowing a little Your

more attention upon it; when we are ben learning nothing new, that we learncula- ed before begins to fade in us.

Agnes. Brother Simon speaks exceeds Ah, ing wisely to-day. how

Simon. It is only that you seldom uns be- derstand me. This appears to you wise, d to because you may have thought something $? of the same kind yourself.

Aques

. What is understanding, then ? ake Simon. Why, that our understandings ure

can't very easily comprehend; but it is certain that, like an onion, it has a number of skins; each of these is called an understanding, and the last, the kernel of the whole, is the true understanding itsell. They are the truly intelligent who in their thoughts emplo, not the mere outer rind, but the kernel itself; but with most men, prudent as they think themselves, nothing but the very outermost skin is ever set in motion and such is brother Anthony.

son

made up.