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Heavy clouds obscured the sky； and the Moon did not make his
appearance at all。 I stood in my little room； more lonely than ever；
and looked up at the sky where he ought to have shown himself。 My
thoughts flew far away； up to my great friend； who every evening
told me such pretty tales； and showed me pictures。 Yes； he has had
an experience indeed。 He glided over the waters of the Deluge； and
smiled on Noah's ark just as he lately glanced down upon me； and
brought comfort and promise of a new world that was to spring forth
from the old。 When the Children of Israel sat weeping by the waters of
Babylon； he glanced mournfully upon the willows where hung the
silent harps。 When Romeo climbed the balcony； and the promise of
true love fluttered like a cherub toward heaven； the round Moon
hung； half hidden among the dark cypresses； in the lucid air。 He saw
the captive giant at St。 Helena； looking from the lonely rock across
the wide ocean； while great thoughts swept through his soul。 Ah！
what tales the Moon can tell。 Human life is like a story to him。
To…night I shall not see thee again； old friend。 Tonight I can draw no
picture of the memories of thy visit。 And； as I looked dreamily
towards the clouds； the sky became bright。 There was a glancing light；
and a beam from the Moon fell upon me。 It vanished again； and dark
clouds flew past： but still it was a greeting； a friendly good…night
offered to me by the Moon。
NINTH EVENING
The air was clear again。 Several evenings had passed； and the Moon
was in the first quarter。 Again he gave me an outline for a sketch。
Listen to what he told me。
〃I have followed the polar bird and the swimming whale to the
eastern coast of Greenland。 Gaunt ice…covered rocks and dark clouds
hung over a valley； where dwarf willows and barberry bushes stood
clothed in green。 The blooming lychnis exhaled sweet odours。 My
light was faint； my face pale as the water lily that； torn from its
stem； has been drifting for weeks with the tide。 The crown…shaped
Northern Light burned fiercely in the sky。 Its ring was broad； and
from its circumference the rays shot like whirling shafts of fire
across the whole sky； flashing in changing radiance from green to red。
The inhabitants of that icy region were assembling for dance and
festivity； but； accustomed to this glorious spectacle； they scarcely
deigned to glance at it。 'Let us leave the soul of the dead to their
ball…play with the heads of the walruses；' they thought in their
superstition； and they turned their whole attention to the song and
dance。 In the midst of the circle； and divested of his furry cloak；
stood a Greenlander； with a small pipe； and he played and sang a
song about catching the seal； and the chorus around chimed in with；
'Eia； Eia； Ah。' And in their white furs they danced about in the
circle； till you might fancy it was a polar bear's ball。
〃And now a Court of Judgment was opened。 Those Greenlanders who
had quarrelled stepped forward； and the offended person chanted
forth the faults of his adversary in an extempore song； turning them
sharply into ridicule； to the sound of the pipe and the measure of the
dance。 The defendant replied with satire as keen； while the audience
laughed； and gave their verdict。 The rocks heaved； the glaciers
melted； and great masses of ice and snow came crashing down； shivering
to fragments as they fall； it was a glorious Greenland summer night。 A
hundred paces away； under the open tent of hides； lay a sick man。 Life
still flowed through his warm blood； but still he was to die… he
himself felt it； and all who stood round him knew it also； therefore
his wife was already sewing round him the shroud of furs； that she
might not afterwards be obliged to touch the dead body。 And she asked；
'Wilt thou be buried on the rock； in the firm snow？ I will deck the
spot with thy kayak； and thy arrows； and the angekokk shall dance over
it。 Or wouldst thou rather be buried in the sea？' 'In the sea；' he
whispered； and nodded with a mournful smile。 'Yes； it is a pleasant
summer tent； the sea；' observed the wife。 'Thousands of seals sport
there； the walrus shall lie at thy feet； and the hunt will be safe and
merry！' And the yelling children tore the outspread hide from the
window…hole； that the dead man might be carried to the ocean； the
billowy ocean； that had given him food in life； and that now； in
death； was to afford him a place of rest。 For his monument； he had the
floating； ever…changing icebergs； whereon the seal sleeps； while the
storm bird flies round their gleaming summits！〃
TENTH EVENING
〃I knew an old maid；〃 said the Moon。 〃Every winter she wore a
wrapper of yellow satin； and it always remained new； and was the
only fashion she followed。 In summer she always wore the same straw
hat； and I verily believe the very same gray…blue dress。
〃She never went out； except across the street to an old female
friend； and in later years she did not even take this walk； for the
old friend was dead。 In her solitude my old maid was always busy at
the window； which was adorned in summer with pretty flowers； and in
winter with cress； grown upon felt。 During the last months I saw her
no more at the window； but she was still alive。 I knew that； for I had
not yet seen her begin the 'long journey；' of which she often spoke
with her friend。 'Yes； yes；' she was in the habit of saying； when I
come to die I shall take a longer journey than I have made my whole
life long。 Our family vault is six miles from here。 I shall be carried
there； and shall sleep there among my family and relatives。' Last
night a van stopped at the house。 A coffin was carried out； and then I
knew that she was dead。 They placed straw round the coffin； and the
van drove away。 There slept the quiet old lady； who had not gone out
of her house once for the last year。 The van rolled out through the
town…gate as briskly as if it were going for a pleasant excursion。
On the high…road the pace was quicker yet。 The coachman looked
nervously round every now and then… I fancy he half expected to see
her sitting on the coffin； in her yellow satin wrapper。 And because he
was startled； he foolishly lashed his horses； while he held the
reins so tightly that the poor beasts were in a foam： they were
young and fiery。 A hare jumped across the road and startled them；
and they fairly ran away。 The old sober maiden； who had for years
and years moved quietly round and round in a dull circle； was now；
in death； rattled over stock and stone on the public highway。 The
coffin in its covering of straw tumbled out of the van； and was left
on the high…road； while horses； coachman； and carriage flew past in
wild career。 The lark rose up carolling from the field； twittering her
morning lay over the coffin； and presently perched upon it； picking
with her beak at the straw covering； as though she would tear it up。
The lark rose up again； singing gaily； and I withdrew behind the red
morning clouds。〃
ELEVENTH EVENING
〃I will give you a picture of Pompeii；〃 said the Moon。 〃I was in
the suburb in the Street of Tombs； as they call it； where the fair
monuments stand； in the spot where； ages ago； the merry youths；
their temples bound with rosy wreaths； danced with the fair sisters of
Lais。 Now； the stillness of death reigned around。 German
mercenaries； in the Neapolitan service； kept guard； played cards；
and diced； and a troop of strangers from beyond the mountains came
into the town； accompanied by a sentry。 They wanted to see the city
that had risen from the grave illumined by my beams； and I showed them
the wheel…ruts in the streets paved with broad lava slabs； I showed
them the names on the doors； and the signs that hung there yet： they
saw in the little courtyard the basins of the fountains； ornamented
with shells； but no jet of water gushed upwards； no songs sounded
forth from the richly…painted chambers； where the bronze dog kept
the door。
〃It was the City of the Dead； only Vesuvius thundered forth his
everlasting hymn； each separate verse of which is called by men an
eruption。 We went to the temple of Venus； built of snow…white
marble； with its high altar in front of the broad steps； and the
weeping willows sprouting freshly forth among the pillars。 The air was
transparent and blue； and black Vesuvius formed the background； with
fire ever shooting forth from it； like the stem of the pine tree。
Above it stretched the smoky cloud in the silence of the night； like
the crown of the pine； but in a blood…red illumination。 Among the
company was a lady singer； a real and great singer。 I have witnessed
the homage paid to her in the greatest cities of Europe。 When they
came to the tragic theatre； they all sat down on the amphitheatre
steps； and thus a small part of the house was occupied by an audience；
as it had been many centuries ago。 The stage still stood unchanged；
with its walled side…scenes； and the two arches in the background；
through which the beholder