musical party at Godfrey's lodgings.
*' Music !" cried Thodore, starting as
it were from a delightful dream, and un-
conscious of what he said, '^ music did
you say ?
What beauty tunes her syren voice ?
What angel sweeps the golden strings ?"
This was too much for Frederic's mus-
cles, and he burst into a fit of laughter,
which roused our hero from his visionary
enjoyments. ^^ What in the name of
v/onder, is the matter with you, man ;
for since you returned to dinner, you
c ^2
5^8 THEODORE i OR,
have been in the fifth heaven. Did you
meet a sprite, or fairy, in your walk ?
whose spells have deprived you of your
understanding ; for something extraordi-
nary must have happened, or you could
never have been so strangely metamor-
phosed.'*
Theodore having by this time reco-
vered the powers of combination, felt
conscious of the ridiculous figure which
he made, and not exactly knowing how
to excuse himself, muttered something in
his defence, and then taking up his hat
and cane, set out with his friend for tlir
concert.
Immediately upon their arrival the
music began, but Theodore's thoughts
were otherwise employed, so that he
played with evident marks of distraction,
and almost always out of tune. This cir-
cumstance was the more striking, as he
was remarkable for the nicety of his ear -,
and his companions accordingly were half
out of humour, when they found it im*
THE ENTHUSIAST. 29
possibre to make him attend. Think-
ing that some explanation was requisite,
he complained that his head-ach was
increased^ and resigning his fiddle to
another performer, hurried home as fast
as he could.
Steinfeld, at his return, found him
leaning on a table in a pensive attitude,
and having inquired how he was, received
for answer, that the pain v/as a little
abated, and that he hoped a good night's
rest would perfectly cure him. Frederic
took the hint, and retired immediately,
concluding that his friend would go di-
rectly to bed, and endeavor to fleep off
his illness. But such was not the In-
tention of Theodore. His mind was at
war with itself, and by no means in a
condition to taste repose. The beautiful
incognita still appeared before him in all
her charms, exciting sensations to which
his tranquil bosom had been hitherto a
stranger, and which he could not but re-
gard as being totally inconsistent with the
c 3
30 THEODORE i Ofe>
professional purity of a monk. AJready
he believed himself criminal in cherishing
such forbidden ideas, and poured forth
prayers and petitions to every saint in the
Romish calendar, imploring their suc-
cour to enable him to resist the attacks
of Satan and the flesh. Yet the saints
were deaf to his intreaties ; for no sooner
did he close his eyes, than the lovely
stranger again presented herself, adorned
with all the magic powers of grace in-
effable. With resistless smiles, and thril-
ling kilTes, llie courted him to quit the
thorny path of cold devotion, and to ac-
company her to those elysian bowers
which pleasure decorates ; while he sat,
like the Grecian Hercules, in anxious
suspence, whether to obey her syren
voice, or stedfastly to adhere to the
rugged track he had hitherto pursued.
** Ye patronising saints," he exclaimed,
starting from his pillow, and stretching
out his arms to grasp the seducing phan-
tom i " what fascinating charm over-
TrtE ENTHUSIASM. Jl
powers my senses ! waking, or sleeping,
the same angelic form captivates my ima-
gination; inflaming my blood with illicit
images, and rendering me the slave of
every tumultuous passion. My whole
nature has undergone a change, no less
sudden than fatal."
'^ I tremble to examine my heart, for all
within is turbulent confusion. — Yet is not
beauty, when accompanied by innocence,
and virgin purity, among the choicest
gifts that heaven can bestow ? Were man
enjoined by providence to gaze unmoved
on the feducing sex, why was woman
adorned with such attractive graces ? why
-blest with a bewitching softness against
which stoicism itself is too weak to
combat.''
A print of St. Francis now caught his
attention. What bitter sensations did the
sight occasion, with what contradictory
emotions did it agitate his mind ! " Is it
then, sinful,'* continued he, in an agony
of grief, '^ to admire the Creator in his
c 4
8$ THEODORE ; ORj
most perfect productions ? but alas I for
me (and as he spoke, his voice faul-
tered at the recollection of his own
wretched destiny) the rose of beauty-
blooms not ! I have prepared for myself
the bitter cup of contrition, and must
empty it to the very dregs.*'
In this strain of querulous affliction he
proceeded till the hour arrived for his
attending public lectures. But it was
in vain for him to attempt to recall his
attention to scientific pursuits ; the lovely
vision pursued him still, and he scarce
heard a word that was uttered. Ano-
ther day came, and his mind was equally
disturbed. A third succeeded, without
bringing the balm of repose. Every
morning regularly he repaired to the
chapel, where he first saw the lovely
stranger, but returned to his lodgings with
disappointed hopes, forming plans as
fruitless for the morrow. In company
he was silent, thoughtful, and deje(^ed.
Evcjt^ the presence of Frederic gave him
THl ENTHUSIAST. $9
pain. One only idea engrossed His soul,
and exclusively occupied his intellectual
faculties. It was to no purpose that he
scrutinised his heart, for he could not
persuade himself that the tumultuous
feelings which robbed him of tranquihty
were the effect of love. That indeed was
impossible, since nothing could be more
offensive to the institutions of St. Fran-
cis, tiian for a friar to become the slave
of sensual desires ; and although he was
not yet a member of that holy order, he
possessed by anticipation all the conti-
nence of a capuchin. From what other
cause then could the malady arise ? It
was perhaps the consequence of too in-
tense application, and might b^ occa-
sioned by nocturnal study and the want
of necessary sleep.
In this dilemma he consulted his friend j
but without revealing the secret that was
nearest his heart. Being therefore only
partially acquainted with the symptoms
of the disease, the inferences ,which he
c 5
34 THEODORE; O^j
drew could not be accurate, nor the mef
dicines efficacious which he prescribed.
The conclusion, however, proved such
as our hero desired, and coincided ex-
acdy with his own. A relaxation from
study was seriously recommended, ac-
cording to the principles of the learned
Dr. Brown.
This advice perhaps might have proved
of service, had it been strictly adhered
to 3 but Theodore was an enthusiast in
every pursuit, so that the hours which
were stolen from science were uniformly
devoted to love. It was on a Sunday
that he first saw the idol of his affections,
and he now looked forward to the return
of that festival with as much impatience
as he had formerly done to the hour of
his renouncing the world. He rose at
the dawn of day, dressed himself with
greater care than he had ever done be-
fore, and running eagerly to the chapel,
fixed himself on the very spot where the
fair incognita had knelt. The service be-
THE ENTHUSIAST, 5S
gan, yet the lovely stranger did not
appear. At the approach of every fe-
male, ' his bosom beat with tremulous
emotion, though he scarcely ventured to
raise his eyes, lest his expectations should
be nipped in their bud. By degrees,
however, his agitation became so violent,
that it was no longer under the controul
of reason. He quitted his place, and
wandering from aisle to aisle, examined
every separate chapel. Nor did he pass
a confessional without peeping into it, to
see if she, whom he adored, was there. Ac
length he perceived, in a remote corner,
a female figure of fine proportions, kneel-
ing devoutly before an image of the holy
virgin, and covered entirely with a black
veil. His heart palpitated as he ap-
proached the spot : his knees trembled,
and almost sunk under the load which
they bore. With a mingled sentiment of
hope and apprehension, he gazed upon
the stranger, but was unable to discover
who she was, for she reclined against the
c6
86 THEODORE ; OR,
clustering mass of a gothic cohimn, and
was in great measure hidden by its length-
ened shade. In this state of anxiety he
Sieated himself on an adjacent b€nch->from
whence he could command an uninter-
rupted view of all her motions, Mattering
himself that some fortunate chance might
disclose the mystery, which he desired,
yet dreaded, to penetrate^ The earnest-
ness with which he gazed upon, her, and
the vivid fire that darted from his eyesy,
escaped not the lady's notice,, and fromj
the instant that she made this discovery,,
she visibly grew less attentive to her dc-
votions. This Theodore regarded as a^
most favorable omen, and began already
to believe that a secret sympathy, with,
lesisdess force, drew their souls toge-^
ther. Nor was the attraction less ac*
cive with respect to the body, as ke kept
creeping on,, inch by inch^ till he came
nearly in contact with the lady, who, im-
pelled by that pure principle of universal
charity, which commands us to do unto
TH» EKTHirstAST. 57
Others as wc would they should do unto
us, gently raised her veil, and discover*
cd— not that angelic countenance which
the enraptured youth expected to behold,
but a miserable counterfeit of paint and
patches, which operated at once like a
non-conductory by intercepting the elec-
trical impulse*
HBif frantic with despair, Theodore
started up, and rushed out of the church
with a step as precipitate, and a coun-
tenance as wild, as if he had been pur-
sued by the avenging furies, or (to use*
a simile more familiar to many of my
readers) by half a dozen bailiffs. With-
out reflecting that the service must be
already over, he ran to the cathedral,
though situated in a distant part of the
town, and entering it, pale and breathless,
looked more like an assassin who was
flying to a sanctuary, than the pious fre-
quenter, of a christian temple. To his
utter astonishment he found the church
deserted, save by two wrinkled hags, who
3B iTHEDDOREi OR/
were muttering petitions to the ili-sclup-
turcd marble, as they fingered their greasy
beads. A sight so abhorrent to the ex*
pectations of a lover recalled his wander-
ing thoughts, and looking at his watch,
he was convinced, to his inexpressible
regret, that no hope could be any longer
entertained of that day meeting with his
divinity*
CHAP. V.
A second Meeting.
At his return to his lodgings, Theo-
-dore found a letter from Theresa, ac-
quainting him that their father had had
another attack, but was entirely out of
danger when she wrote.
Theodore had now a rational plea for
Y&£ £NTHi:SlASt. SQ
s'orrow ; and Frederic was no longer sur-
prised to see him indulge in all the bit-
terness of grief J for although no fatal
consequences were to be immediately ap-
prehended, it could hardly be expected
that, at his time of life, old Rosenthal
could long resist these frequent and vio-
lent relapses. Of this, indeed, Theodore
seemed fully convinced, and was most
sincerely afflicted at the idea, as we may
collect from the following extract,, which
is copied out of a letter to his sister.
*' Every event of life serves more fully
to demonstrate, that it is folly to.hope for
real felicity on this side the grave. Every
day brings a fresh succession of evils, pro-
gressively increasing, till our . exhausted
frame sinks beneath their weight. It is to
the termination of this cruel struggle that
a wise man should look forward with im-
patience ', for it is in the tomb alone th^t
he can cease to suffer. Would that my
career were already terminated ! that I
might repose among the silent dead, se-
40 THEODORE i OR,
cure against the persecutions of fortune,
and the painful vicissitudes of protracted
existence ! To die is the inevitable doom
of all who are born. It is a law imposed '
by the very nature of qur being i and
happy are they who arc first summoned
from this gloomy scene of varied misery.
But should we not be permitted as yet to
quit our post, it behoves us so far to die
to the world, that our affections being
estranged from all its temptations, wc
may rise superior to the aiTaults of ca-
lamity. — You understand me, dearest
Theresa, a coavent is our living sepul-
chre ; there, and there only, are entombed
the cares, the strifes, and the passions of
the world/'
The agitation of our hero'^ mind seemed
rather to augment, than to diminidi, with
every succeeding day. He grew careless
of his dress, absent in company, negli-
gent in his studies, and equally indif-
ferent to every occupation. Instead of
performing as usual at Godfrey's little
THE ENTHUSIAST. 41
parties, he sat musrng in silence over his
wretched destiny. Godfrey observed him
with regret, though he thought it best
not to take any notice of his dejecdon ;
he tried the powers of music, and per-
ceiving that he was inattentive to the har-
monious cadence of the Italian school, he
endeavoured to rouze him by a bold and
fanciful symphony, composed in the wild-
est spirit of German taste. Scarce had he
began, when Theodore, stardng as it
were from a trance, seized his violin, and
joined in the accompaniments with masterly
execution.
** What exquisite genius !*' cried he,
when the piece was finished, " has the
composer displayed ! what energy ! what
imaginadon ! It is one of the most strik-
ing compositions I ever heard^ and 1 beg
we may play it again."
It is not my intention to occupy the
kader with a minute detail of our hero's
4^ THEODORE; OR,
feelings, as he muse be either a perfecl
stranger to the fraildes of human nature,
or cart need no additional arguments to
shew that every man believes his own
sufferings to be the keenest which provi-
dence can inflict. This was exactly The-
odore*s case, and never did he return
from the chapel without attributing his
disappointment to the enmity of fortune,
and complaining that he v/as selected by
that cruel goddess to become the chosen
victim of her most inveterate perse-
cution.
One day, however, w^hen he began
almost to despair of ever again beholding
the idol of his affections, he saw her enter
the church, accompanied by a middle
aged woman, whose placid countenance
prepossessd him not a little in her favor.
His heart beat quick, when he beheld her
place herself on an opposite bench j she
took out her prayer book, and fixing her
eyes upon it, seemed wholly occupied
with her devotions. With eager rapture
Ttil ENTHUSIAST. 43
het gazed upon hei j and as her veil was
transparent, enjoyed an ur* interrupted view
of her angelic countenance. Sometimes
too he flattered himself that she h: :1 dis-
tinguished him among the croud, '.:^d
looked at him with a mixture of interest
and timidity. Absorbed in the contem-
plation of her transcendent charms, he
was totally insensible to every other object.
For the first time in his life he forgot to
pray, and though every faculty of his soul
was lost in adoration, yet ^he divinity he
worshipped was weak, and mortal like
himself.
Theodore had remained for a consider-
able time in this state of mental felicity,
when a sudden tap on the shoulder caused
him to turn hasdly round, and he beheld
Steinfeld close by his side.
" The morning is so fine," said Frede-
ric, ** that I feel inclined for a ramble,
and want you to accompany me, if you
have nothing better to do."
Theodore knew not how to excuse him.
A4 THEODORE^ OR,
self, without betraying his secret, although
the proposal entirely deranged his plans>
as he hoped by following the fair incog-
nita, to have discovered the place of her
abode.
" Something surely must have hap-
pened to you/* said Steinfeld, as they de-
scended the steps, " for you appear
equally lost to yourself and to the worlds
I am sure I stood by you full a quarter
of an hour, without your ever discovering
that I was there."
.,/^ That is very extraordinary/* replied
the blushing youth. " But the music
was so uncommonly beautiful that I could
attend to nothing else."
Anxious to turn the conversation to a
subject which might be discussed with
greater freedom, Theodore descanted with
rapture on the beauties of nature. The
hazy stillness of an autumnal morning,
the yellow leaves falling in measured ca-
dence from the scarcely agitated boughs,
the solitary inhabitants of the half naked
THE enthusiast; 45
branches lamenting the unexpected change,
together with the drooping flowers which
were grad;ially withering on the russec
bank, retraced a striking image of ap-
proaching dissolution.
Seating themselves on an eminence
which commanded the Danube for many
miles, Theodore contemplated in silence
the majestic stream, till unable any longer
to command his feelings, he thus ex-
c-^aimed :
" This river is an affecting emblem of
all worldly possessions. Every thing in
nature glides away with the same rapidity,
scarce leaving a trace behind. The lan-
guages, the achievements, even the names
of great and warlike nations are no more
remembered -, and the founders of em-
pires, the patrons of science, and the in-
ventors of many useful arts, are to us as if
they had never been. What a source of
humiliation must this afford to those, who
persuade themselves that they are direct-
ing the grand machinery of the worlds
46 THEODORE; OR,
because they are permitted to peep through
a muddy glass, and see something of the
motion of the wheels."
In this strain he was proceeding, when
his attention was caught by a body float-
ing on the surface of the water.
" It may be still possible/' cried he,
'* to rescue a fellow creature from de-
struction," and with these words he ran to
a fisherman's hut, that was situated at the
bottom of the hill. In a moment the fish-
erman was in his boat, and had taken up
the body, which proved to be that of a
beautiful young woman. Her dress was
simple, and suitable to the situation of a
servant, and as her skin was not disco-
loured, nor her limbs stiff, it was pro-
bable she had not remained long in the
water.
*^ Upon my soul," cried the fisher-
man, as he examined the body, *^ this is
no ordinary wench 1 What coral lips !
and how white a bosom she has. No
doubt she has been seduced by some hard-
THE ENTHUSIAST. 4?
hearted wretch, aiid this is the method
she has taken to coi-jceal her shame."
He next emptied her pockets, and
found in them a green worsted purse,
containing a wedding ring, a silver thim-
ble, and a few kreutzers. A chaplet
next appeared, and last of all a breviary,
with copper clasps. Upon opening the
book a letter fell out, which Steinfeld
attempted to read -, but as it was ill spelt,
and badly written, this was far from an
easy task. At length, however, he con-
trived to decypher it, and we shall now
give the original to the reader, with no
alterations whatever, except merely cor-
recting the orthography.
^^ Thou hast a false and cruel heart, O
thou whom I loved so much, or thou
couldest not have forsaken a poor help-
less maid. Alas ! weak fool that I am, I
believed thee true, when thou didst swear
to be faithful to the wretched Mary. I
trusted thee, and was undone. But I can
not survive my disgrace. May Heaver;
4-8 THECfDORE; OR,
pardon the rash action that I am about to
commit ! But I cannot survive my dis-
grace,"
The letter was signed M. S. but the
direction was so much blotted with tears
that it was impossible to make out more
than the two first letters of the name,
which v/ere Bo. Frederic put it into
his pocket, determined to spare no pains,
in order to discover the villain who
had driven this unhappy creature to de-
spair.
" This is a sorry sight/* said the fish-
erman, '^ and I wish with all my heart
that the man who ruined her was here to
see it. By Heaven, I would not be in
his shoes for all the treasures in the Da-
nube, not even if I was sure to catch a
salmon at every cast."
*^ You are an honest fellow," cried
Frederic, giving him a crown, '^ and I
cannot do better than leave the body under
your care, till the proper officers can
come to examine itj" and with these
THE ENTHUSIAST. 49
words he walked solemnly away, direct-
ing his steps towards the town.
CHAP. VL
Hence, horrible shadow I
Unreal mockery hence !
Though our two friends were equally
affected with this melancholy adventure,
yet they knew not how to excuse them-
selves from accompanying Godfrey to a
neighbouring village, where he- gave a
dinner to some of his fellow students,
among whom were Kromer and Boiling.
The morning passed pleasantly, amid
those innocent diversions in which th)^
country abounds, and during dinner Stein-
feld related the melancholy scene, of
which he and Theodore had so lately been
Vol. III. D
^0 THEODORE 3 OR5
spectators ; he could not, however, pro-
duce the letter, as he had unluckily left it
at home.
" I have often,'* said Godfrey, " re-
flected with astonishment on the incon-
sistency of our laws, which place the
wretched victim of shame and sensibility
upon a level with the criminal who cuts
his throat in order to avoid the gallows, or
with the debtor who defrauds his creditors
by blowing out his brains.**
" This is radically wrong,'* replied
Steinfeld, ** since it is the duty of a wise
legislator to distinguish between misfor-
tunes and crimes.'*
^^ Alas!** exclaimed Theodore, "the
secrets of the heart come not within the
competence of any earthly tribunal. Yet
how excruciating must be his feelings,
whose perfidy drove a too credulous maid
^^'it) such a deed of desperation.**
" Upon my soul, gentlemen," said
Boiling, " I did not come here to be ser-
monised. Morality may do mighty well
THE ENTHUSIAST, 51
in the pulpit, but a bottle of burgundy
is more to my taste at dinner.*'
Kromcr, — *^ I think I have read some-
where or other^ that the ghosts of all those
'who kill themselves, are doomed to wan-
der for a hundred years upon the banks
of a dirty river, which is called by the
poeis the Styx. But I hope, for the sake
of the poor strollers, that the climate is
not quite so cold as ours, for it would
otherwise be d d bad fun."
Boiling, — *' Enough to cool the cou-
rage of the boldest of them, did they
know it beforehand,*' (and he laughed
heartily at his own wit.)
Godfrey, — '^ Very poor indeed.*'
Boiling. — ** You sentimental fcllovv's
Jove nothing but what is grave. For my
part, however, I am for making the best
of every thing, and must say that nothing
can be so foolish as for a handsome wo-
man to kill herself If we could get rid
of the old and ugly that way, why there
would be no great harm done, but for a
D 2
52 THEODORE ; OR,
fine girl to throw herself into a river, in-
stead of into the arms of another lover, is
the height of madness, I think."
Steiiijcld. — " Too much sensibility is
a dangerous companion ; and when a wo-
man has placed all her hopes of happi-
ness on a man, whom she believes inca-
pable of a dishonorable act, and finds
herself betrayed, it is not surprising that
she should fly from a world, where she
has nothing to expect but shame and re-
morse."
Boiling. — ^' Folly in the extreme,
since the loss is easily replaced. As for
me, I will engage never to put an end to
my existence, while I can ^neet with a
mistress, or a bottle, to console me."
Godjreij. —'*''■Thine is a tough heart.
Yet with ail this boasted stoicism^ (for
so I conclude you would call it) I do not
believe that thou wouldest willingly ex-
change situations with the monster, who
drove this poor girl to destruction."
BolUug. — "That depends endrely upon
THE ENTHUSIAST, 63
circumstances ; for if the temptation
were great enough, I cannot answer for
myself"
A general look of disapprobation fol-
lowed these words, which were scarcely out
of his mouth, when a cart passed slowly
by the window, attended by a croud of
people, whose countenances were equally
expressive of compassion and horror.
The waiter being ordered to inquire the
occasion of this extraordinary appearance,
returned with information, that they were
conducting the body of a young woman,
who was drowned in the Danube, to the
next village, to which she was supposed
to belong.
" We shall now see,'* cried Boiling,
running hastily out of the room, '^whe-
ther the mo/u'ler, as Godfrey calls him,
had a good taste, or not/^