WHEREINISRELATEDTHEPLEASANTSTORYOFTHEMULETEER, TOGETHERWITHOTHERSTRANGETHINGSTHATCAMETOPASSINTHEINN
Ahme, Love'smarineramI
OnLove'sdeepoceansailing;
Iknownotwherethehavenlies,
Idarenothopetogainit.
Onesolitarydistantstar
IsallIhavetoguideme,
Abrighterorbthanthoseofold
ThatPalinuruslighted.
AndvaguelydriftingamIborne,
Iknownotwhereitleadsme;
Ifixmygazeonitalone,
Ofallbesideitheedless.
Butover-cautiousprudery,
Andcoynesscoldandcruel,
WhenmostIneedit, these, likeclouds,
Itslonged-forlightrefuseme.
Brightstar, goalofmyyearningeyes
Asthouabovemebeamest,
Whenthoushalthidetheefrommysight
I'llknowthatdeathisnearme.
ThesingerhadgotsofarwhenitstruckDorotheathatitwasnotfairtoletClaramisshearingsuchasweetvoice, so, shakingherfromsidetoside, shewokeher, saying:
"Forgiveme, child, forwakingthee, butIdosothatthoumayesthavethepleasureofhearingthebestvoicethouhasteverheard, perhaps, inallthylife."
Claraawokequitedrowsy, andnotunderstandingatthemomentwhatDorotheasaid, askedherwhatitwas; sherepeatedwhatshehadsaid, andClarabecameattentiveatonce; butshehadhardlyheardtwolines, asthesingercontinued, whenastrangetremblingseizedher, asifsheweresufferingfromasevereattackofquartanague, andthrowingherarmsroundDorotheashesaid:
"Ah, dearladyofmysoulandlife! whydidyouwakeme? Thegreatestkindnessfortunecoulddomenowwouldbetoclosemyeyesandearssoasneithertoseeorhearthatunhappymusician."
"Whatartthoutalkingabout, child?" saidDorothea."Why, theysaythissingerisamuleteer!"
