\"Prithee，friend，\"criedthequarto，inatestytone，\"howolddo
youthinkme？Youaretalkingofauthorsthatlivedlongbeforemy
time，andwroteeitherinLatinorFrench，sothattheyinamanner
expatriatedthemselves，anddeservedtobeforgotten；*butI，sir，was
usheredintotheworldfromthepressoftherenownedWynkyndeWorde。
Iwaswritteninmyownnativetongue，atatimewhenthelanguagehad
becomefixed；andindeedIwasconsideredamodelofpureand
elegantEnglish。\"
*InLatinandFrenchhathmanysouerainewitteshadgreatdelyteto
endite，andhavemanynoblethingesfulfilde，butcertesthereben
somethatspeakentheirpoisyeinFrench，ofwhichspechethe
Frenchmenhaveasgoodafantasyeaswehaveinhearyingof
Frenchmen’sEnglishe。—Chaucer’sTestamentofLove。
（Ishouldobservethattheseremarkswerecouchedinsuch
intolerablyantiquatedterms，thatIhavehadinfinitedifficultyin
renderingthemintomodernphraseology。）
\"Icryyourmercy，\"saidI，\"formistakingyourage；butit
matterslittle：almostallthewritersofyourtimehavelikewise
passedintoforgetfulness；andDeWorde’spublicationsaremere
literaryraritiesamongbook—collectors。Thepurityandstabilityof
language，too，onwhichyoufoundyourclaimstoperpetuity，havebeen
thefallaciousdependenceofauthorsofeveryage，evenbacktothe
timesoftheworthyRobertofGloucester，whowrotehishistoryin
rhymesofmongrelSaxon。*EvennowmanytalkofSpenser’s’wellof
pureEnglishundefiled，’asifthelanguageeversprangfromawellor
fountain—head，andwasnotratheramereconfluenceofvarious
tongues，perpetuallysubjecttochangesandintermixtures。Itis
thiswhichhasmadeEnglishliteraturesoextremelymutable，andthe
reputationbuiltuponitsofleeting。Unlessthoughtcanbe
committedtosomethingmorepermanentandunchangeablethansucha
medium，eventhoughtmustsharethefateofeverythingelse，andfall
intodecay。Thisshouldserveasacheckuponthevanityand
exultationofthemostpopularwriter。Hefindsthelanguagein
whichhehasembarkedhisfamegraduallyaltering，andsubjectto
thedilapidationsoftimeandthecapriceoffashion。Helooksback
andbeholdstheearlyauthorsofhiscountry，oncethefavoritesof
theirday，supplantedbymodernwriters。Afewshortageshavecovered
themwithobscurity，andtheirmeritscanonlyberelishedbythe
quainttasteofthebookworm。Andsuch，heanticipates，willbethe
fateofhisownwork，which，howeveritmaybeadmiredinitsday，and
heldupasamodelofpurity，willinthecourseofyearsgrow
antiquatedandobsolete；untilitshallbecomealmostas
unintelligibleinitsnativelandasanEgyptianobelisk，oroneof
thoseRunicinscriptionssaidtoexistinthedesertsofTartary。I
declare，\"addedI，withsomeemotion，\"whenIcontemplateamodern
library，filledwithnewworks，inallthebraveryofrichgildingand
binding，Ifeeldisposedtositdownandweep；likethegoodXerxes，
whenhesurveyedhisarmy，prankedoutinallthesplendorofmilitary
array，andreflectedthatinonehundredyearsnotoneofthemwould
beinexistence！\"
*Holinshed，inhisChronicle，observes，\"afterwards，also，by
diligenttravellofGeffryChaucerandofJohnGowre，inthetimeof
RichardtheSecond，andafterthemofJohnScoganandJohnLydgate，
monkeofBerrie，oursaidtoongwasbroughttoanexcellentpasse，
notwithstandingthatitnevercameuntothetypeofperfectionuntil
thetimeofQueenElizabeth，whereinJohnJewell，BishopofSarum，
JohnFox，andsundrielearnedandexcellentwriters，havefully
accomplishedtheornatureofthesame，totheirgreatpraiseand
immortalcommendation。\"
\"Ah，\"saidthelittlequarto，withaheavysigh，\"Iseehowitis；
thesemodernscribblershavesupersededallthegoodoldauthors。I
supposenothingisreadnow—a—daysbutSirPhilipSydney’sArcadia，
Sackville’sstatelyplays，andMirrorforMagistrates，orthe
fine—spuneuphuismsofthe’unparalleledJohnLyly。’\"
\"Thereyouareagainmistaken，\"saidI；\"thewriterswhomyou
supposeinvogue，becausetheyhappenedtobesowhenyouwerelastin
circulation，havelongsincehadtheirday。SirPhilipSydney’s
Arcadia，theimmortalityofwhichwassofondlypredictedbyhis
admirers，*andwhich，intruth，isfullofnoblethoughts，delicate
images，andgracefulturnsoflanguage，isnowscarcelyever
mentioned。Sackvillehasstruttedintoobscurity；andevenLyly，
thoughhiswritingswereoncethedelightofacourt，andapparently
perpetuatedbyaproverb，isnowscarcelyknownevenbyname。A
wholecrowdofauthorswhowroteandwrangledatthetime，have
likewisegonedown，withalltheirwritingsandtheircontroversies。
Waveafterwaveofsucceedingliteraturehasrolledoverthem，until
theyareburiedsodeep，thatitisonlynowandthenthatsome
industriousdiverafterfragmentsofantiquitybringsupaspecimen
forthegratificationofthecurious。
*Liveeversweetebooke；thesimpleimageofhisgentlewitt，and
thegolden—pillarofhisnoblecourage；andevernotifyuntotheworld
thatthywriterwasthesecretaryofeloquence，thebreathofthe
muses，thehoney—beeofthedaintyestflowersofwittandarte，the
pithofmoraleandintellectualvirtues，thearmeofBellonainthe
field，thetongeofSuadainthechamber，thespriteofPractisein
esse，andtheparagonofexcellencyinprint。—HarveyPierce’s
Supererogation。
\"Formypart，\"Icontinued，\"Iconsiderthismutabilityoflanguage
awiseprecautionofProvidenceforthebenefitoftheworldatlarge，
andofauthorsinparticular。Toreasonfromanalogy，wedailybehold
thevariedandbeautifultribesofvegetablesspringingup，
flourishing，adorningthefieldsforashorttime，andthenfading
intodust，tomakewayfortheirsuccessors。Werenotthisthecase，
thefecundityofnaturewouldbeagrievanceinsteadofablessing。
Theearthwouldgroanwithrankandexcessivevegetation，andits
surfacebecomeatangledwilderness。Inlikemannertheworksof
geniusandlearningdecline，andmakewayforsubsequentproductions。
Languagegraduallyvaries，andwithitfadeawaythewritingsof
authorswhohaveflourishedtheirallottedtime；otherwise，the
creativepowersofgeniuswouldoverstocktheworld，andthemind
wouldbecompletelybewilderedintheendlessmazesofliterature。
Formerlythereweresomerestraintsonthisexcessivemultiplication。
Workshadtobetranscribedbyhand，whichwasaslowandlaborious
operation；theywerewritteneitheronparchment，whichwasexpensive，
sothatoneworkwasoftenerasedtomakewayforanother；oron
papyrus，whichwasfragileandextremelyperishable。Authorshipwasa
limitedandunprofitablecraft，pursuedchieflybymonksinthe
leisureandsolitudeoftheircloisters。Theaccumulationof
manuscriptswasslowandcostly，andconfinedalmostentirelyto
monasteries。Tothesecircumstancesitmay，insomemeasure，be
owingthatwehavenotbeeninundatedbytheintellectofantiquity；
thatthefountainsofthoughthavenotbeenbrokenup，andmodern
geniusdrownedinthedeluge。Buttheinventionsofpaperandthe
presshaveputanendtoalltheserestraints。Theyhavemadeevery
oneawriter，andenabledeverymindtopouritselfintoprint，and
diffuseitselfoverthewholeintellectualworld。Theconsequencesare
alarming。Thestreamofliteraturehasswollenintoatorrent—
augmentedintoariver—expandedintoasea。Afewcenturiessince，
fiveorsixhundredmanuscriptsconstitutedagreatlibrary；but
whatwouldyousaytolibrariessuchasactuallyexist，containing
threeorfourhundredthousandvolumes；legionsofauthorsatthesame
timebusy；andthepressgoingonwithfearfullyincreasing
activity，todoubleandquadruplethenumber？Unlesssomeunforseen
mortalityshouldbreakoutamongtheprogenyofthemuse，nowthatshe
hasbecomesoprolific，Itrembleforposterity。Ifearthemere
fluctuationoflanguagewillnotbesufficient。Criticismmaydomuch。
Itincreaseswiththeincreaseofliterature，andresemblesoneof
thosesalutarychecksonpopulationspokenofbyeconomists。All
possibleencouragement，therefore，shouldbegiventothegrowthof
critics，goodorbad。ButIfearallwillbeinvain；letcriticismdo
whatitmay，writerswillwrite，printerswillprint，andtheworld
willinevitablybeoverstockedwithgoodbooks。Itwillsoonbethe
employmentofalifetimemerelytolearntheirnames。Manyamanof
passableinformation，atthepresentday，readsscarcelyanythingbut
reviews；andbeforelongamanoferuditionwillbelittlebetterthan
amerewalkingcatalogue。
\"Myverygoodsir，\"saidthelittlequarto，yawningmostdrearilyin
myface，\"excusemyinterruptingyou，butIperceiveyouarerather
giventoprose。Iwouldaskthefateofanauthorwhowasmaking
somenoisejustasIlefttheworld。Hisreputation，however，was
consideredquitetemporary。Thelearnedshooktheirheadsathim，
forhewasapoorhalf—educatedvarlet，thatknewlittleofLatin，and
nothingofGreek，andhadbeenobligedtorunthecountryfor
deer—stealing。IthinkhisnamewasShakspeare。Ipresumehesoonsunk
intooblivion。\"
\"Onthecontrary，\"saidI，\"itisowingtothatverymanthatthe
literatureofhisperiodhasexperiencedadurationbeyondthe
ordinarytermofEnglishliterature。Thereriseauthorsnowand
then，whoseemproofagainstthemutabilityoflanguage，because
theyhaverootedthemselvesintheunchangingprinciplesofhuman
nature。Theyarelikegigantictreesthatwesometimesseeonthe
banksofastream；which，bytheirvastanddeeproots，penetrating
throughthemeresurface，andlayingholdontheveryfoundationsof
theearth，preservethesoilaroundthemfrombeingsweptawayby
theever—flowingcurrent，andholdupmanyaneighboringplant，and，
perhaps，worthlessweed，toperpetuity。Suchisthecasewith
Shakspeare，whomwebeholddefyingtheencroachmentsoftime，
retaininginmodernusethelanguageandliteratureofhisday，and
givingdurationtomanyanindifferentauthor，merelyfromhaving
flourishedinhisvicinity。Butevenhe，Igrievetosay，isgradually
assumingthetintofage，andhiswholeformisoverrunbyaprofusion
ofcommentators，who，likeclamberingvinesandcreepers，almost
burythenobleplantthatupholdsthem。\"
Herethelittlequartobegantoheavehissidesandchuckle，until
atlengthhebrokeoutinaplethoricfitoflaughterthathadwell
nighchokedhim，byreasonofhisexcessivecorpulency。\"Mightywell！\"
criedhe，assoonashecouldrecoverbreath，\"mightywell！andsoyou
wouldpersuademethattheliteratureofanageistobeperpetuated
byavagabonddeer—stealer！byamanwithoutlearning；byapoet，
forsooth—apoet！\"Andherehewheezedforthanotherfitoflaughter。
IconfessthatIfeltsomewhatnettledatthisrudeness，which，
however，Ipardonedonaccountofhishavingflourishedinaless
polishedage。Idetermined，nevertheless，nottogiveupmypoint。
\"Yes，\"resumedI，positively，\"apoet；forofallwritershehasthe
bestchanceforimmortality。Othersmaywritefromthehead，buthe
writesfromtheheart，andtheheartwillalwaysunderstandhim。Heis
thefaithfulportrayerofnature，whosefeaturesarealwaysthe
same，andalwaysinteresting。Prosewritersarevoluminousand
unwieldy；theirpagesarecrowdedwithcommonplaces，andtheir
thoughtsexpandedintotediousness。Butwiththetruepoeteverything
isterse，touching，orbrilliant。Hegivesthechoicestthoughtsin
thechoicestlanguage。Heillustratesthembyeverythingthathesees
moststrikinginnatureandart。Heenrichesthembypicturesofhuman
life，suchasitispassingbeforehim。Hiswritings，therefore，
containthespirit，thearoma，ifImayusethephrase，oftheage
inwhichhelives。Theyarecasketswhichinclosewithinasmall
compassthewealthofthelanguage—itsfamilyjewels，whichare
thustransmittedinaportableformtoposterity。Thesettingmay
occasionallybeantiquated，andrequirenowandthentoberenewed，
asinthecaseofChaucer；butthebrilliancyandintrinsicvalueof
thegemscontinueunaltered。Castalookbackoverthelongreachof
literaryhistory。Whatvastvalleysofdulness，filledwithmonkish
legendsandacademicalcontroversies！whatbogsoftheological
speculations！whatdrearywastesofmetaphysics！Hereandthereonly
dowebeholdtheheaven—illuminatedbards，elevatedlikebeaconson
theirwidely—separateheights，totransmitthepurelightof
poeticalintelligencefromagetoage。\"*
*Thorowearthandwatersdeepe，
Thepenbyskilldothpasse：
Andfeatlynypstheworldesabuse，
Andshoesusinaglasse，
Thevertuandthevice
Ofeverywightalyve；
Thehoneycombthatbeedothmake
Isnotsosweetinhyve，
Asarethegoldenleves
Thatdropfrompoet’shead！
Whichdothsurmountourcommontalke
Asfarreasdrossdothlead。
Churchyard。
Iwasjustabouttolaunchforthintoeulogiumsuponthepoetsof
theday，whenthesuddenopeningofthedoorcausedmetoturnmy
head。Itwastheverger，whocametoinformmethatitwastimeto
closethelibrary。Isoughttohaveapartingwordwiththequarto，
buttheworthylittletomewassilent；theclaspswereclosed：and
itlookedperfectlyunconsciousofallthathadpassed。Ihavebeento
thelibrarytwoorthreetimessince，andhaveendeavoredtodrawit
intofurtherconversation，butinvain；andwhetherallthis
ramblingcolloquyactuallytookplace，orwhetheritwasanotherof
thoseoddday—dreamstowhichIamsubject，Ihavenevertothis
momentbeenabletodiscover。
THEEND。
1819—20
THESKETCHBOOK
THESPECTREBRIDEGROOM
ATRAVELLER’STALE*
byWashingtonIrving
*Theeruditereader，wellversedingood—for—nothinglore，will
perceivethattheaboveTalemusthavebeensuggestedtotheoldSwiss
byalittleFrenchanecdote，acircumstancesaidtohavetakenplace
atParis。
Hethatsupperforisdight，
Helyesfullcold，Itrow，thisnight！
YestreentochamberIhimled，
ThisnightGray—Steelhasmadehisbed。
SIREGER，SIRGRAHAME，ANDSIRGRAY—STEEL。
ONTHEsummitofoneoftheheightsoftheOdenwald，awildand
romantictractofUpperGermany，thatliesnotfarfromtheconfluence
oftheMainandtheRhine，therestood，many，manyyearssince，the
CastleoftheBaronVonLandshort。Itisnowquitefallentodecay，
andalmostburiedamongbeechtreesanddarkfirs；aboutwhich，
however，itsoldwatch—towermaystillbeseen，struggling，likethe
formerpossessorIhavementioned，tocarryahighhead，andlookdown
upontheneighboringcountry。
ThebaronwasadrybranchofthegreatfamilyofKatzenellenbogen，*
andinheritedtherelicsoftheproperty，andalltheprideofhis
ancestors。Thoughthewarlikedispositionofhispredecessorshadmuch
impairedthefamilypossessions，yetthebaronstillendeavoredto
keepupsomeshowofformerstate。Thetimeswerepeaceable，andthe
Germannobles，ingeneral，hadabandonedtheirinconvenientold
castles，perchedlikeeagles’nestsamongthemountains，andhadbuilt
moreconvenientresidencesinthevalleys：stillthebaronremained
proudlydrawnupinhislittlefortress，cherishing，withhereditary
inveteracy，alltheoldfamilyfeuds；sothathewasonilltermswith
someofhisnearestneighbors，onaccountofdisputesthathad
happenedbetweentheirgreat—great—grandfathers。
*i。e。，CAT’S—ELBOW。Thenameofafamilyofthosepartsvery
powerfulinformertimes。Theappellation，wearetold，wasgivenin
complimenttoapeerlessdameofthefamily，celebratedforherfine
arm。
Thebaronhadbutonechild，adaughter；butnature，whenshegrants
butonechild，alwayscompensatesbymakingitaprodigy；andsoit
waswiththedaughterofthebaron。Allthenurses，gossips，and
countrycousins，assuredherfatherthatshehadnotherequalfor
beautyinallGermany；andwhoshouldknowbetterthanthey？She
had，moreover，beenbroughtupwithgreatcareunderthe
superintendenceoftwomaidenaunts，whohadspentsomeyearsoftheir
earlylifeatoneofthelittleGermancourts，andwereskilledinall
thebranchesofknowledgenecessarytotheeducationofafinelady。
Undertheirinstructionsshebecameamiracleofaccomplishments。By
thetimeshewaseighteen，shecouldembroidertoadmiration，and
hadworkedwholehistoriesofthesaintsintapestry，withsuch
strengthofexpressionintheircountenances，thattheylookedlikeso
manysoulsinpurgatory。Shecouldreadwithoutgreatdifficulty，
andhadspelledherwaythroughseveralchurchlegends，andalmostall
thechivalricwondersoftheHeldenbuch。Shehadevenmade
considerableproficiencyinwriting；couldsignherownnamewithout
missingaletter，andsolegibly，thatherauntscouldreaditwithout
spectacles。Sheexcelledinmakinglittleelegantgood—for—nothing
lady—likenicknacksofallkinds；wasversedinthemostabstruse
dancingoftheday；playedanumberofairsontheharpandguitar；
andknewallthetenderballadsoftheMinne—liederbyheart。
Heraunts，too，havingbeengreatflirtsandcoquettesintheir
youngerdays，wereadmirablycalculatedtobevigilantguardiansand
strictcensorsoftheconductoftheirniece；forthereisnoduenna
sorigidlyprudent，andinexorablydecorous，asasuperannuated
coquette。Shewasrarelysufferedoutoftheirsight；neverwent
beyondthedomainsofthecastle，unlesswellattended，orratherwell
watched；hadcontinuallecturesreadtoheraboutstrictdecorumand
implicitobedience；and，astothemen—pah！—shewastaughttohold
thematsuchadistance，andinsuchabsolutedistrust，that，unless
properlyauthorized，shewouldnothavecastaglanceuponthe
handsomestcavalierintheworld—no，notifhewereevendyingather
feet。
Thegoodeffectsofthissystemwerewonderfullyapparent。Theyoung
ladywasapatternofdocilityandcorrectness。Whileotherswere
wastingtheirsweetnessintheglareoftheworld，andliabletobe
pluckedandthrownasidebyeveryhand，shewascoylybloominginto
freshandlovelywomanhoodundertheprotectionofthoseimmaculate
spinsters，likearose—budblushingforthamongguardianthorns。Her
auntslookeduponherwithprideandexultation，andvauntedthat
thoughalltheotheryoungladiesintheworldmightgoastray，yet，
thankHeaven，nothingofthekindcouldhappentotheheiressof
Katzenellenbogen。
But，howeverscantilytheBaronVonLandshortmightbeprovidedwith
children，hishouseholdwasbynomeansasmallone；forProvidence
hadenrichedhimwithabundanceofpoorrelations。They，oneand
all，possessedtheaffectionatedispositioncommontohumble
relatives；werewonderfullyattachedtothebaron，andtookevery
possibleoccasiontocomeinswarmsandenliventhecastle。Allfamily
festivalswerecommemoratedbythesegoodpeopleatthebaron’s
expense；andwhentheywerefilledwithgoodcheer，theywoulddeclare
thattherewasnothingonearthsodelightfulasthesefamily
meetings，thesejubileesoftheheart。
Thebaron，thoughasmallman，hadalargesoul，anditswelledwith
satisfactionattheconsciousnessofbeingthegreatestmaninthe
littleworldabouthim。Helovedtotelllongstoriesaboutthedark
oldwarriorswhoseportraitslookedgrimlydownfromthewallsaround，
andhefoundnolistenersequaltothosewhofedathisexpense。He
wasmuchgiventothemarvellous，andafirmbelieverinallthose
supernaturaltaleswithwhicheverymountainandvalleyinGermany
abounds。Thefaithofhisguestsexceededevenhisown：they
listenedtoeverytaleofwonderwithopeneyesandmouth，andnever
failedtobeastonished，eventhoughrepeatedforthehundredth
time。ThuslivedtheBaronVonLandshort，theoracleofhistable，the
absolutemonarchofhislittleterritory，andhappy，aboveallthings，
inthepersuasionthathewasthewisestmanoftheage。
Atthetimeofwhichmystorytreats，therewasagreatfamily
gatheringatthecastle，onanaffairoftheutmostimportance：itwas
toreceivethedestinedbridegroomofthebaron’sdaughter。A
negotiationhadbeencarriedonbetweenthefatherandanoldnobleman
ofBavaria，tounitethedignityoftheirhousesbythemarriageof
theirchildren。Thepreliminarieshadbeenconductedwithproper
punctilio。Theyoungpeoplewerebetrothedwithoutseeingeach
other；andthetimewasappointedforthemarriageceremony。Theyoung
CountVonAltenburghadbeenrecalledfromthearmyforthepurpose，
andwasactuallyonhiswaytothebaron’storeceivehisbride。
Missiveshadevenbeenreceivedfromhim，fromWurtzburg，wherehewas
accidentallydetained，mentioningthedayandhourwhenhemightbe
expectedtoarrive。
Thecastlewasinatumultofpreparationtogivehimasuitable
welcome。Thefairbridehadbeendeckedoutwithuncommoncare。The
twoauntshadsuperintendedhertoilet，andquarrelledthewhole
morningabouteveryarticleofherdress。Theyoungladyhadtaken
advantageoftheircontesttofollowthebentofherowntaste；and
fortunatelyitwasagoodone。Shelookedaslovelyasyouthful
bridegroomcoulddesire；andtheflutterofexpectationheightenedthe
lustreofhercharms。
Thesuffusionsthatmantledherfaceandneck，thegentleheavingof
thebosom，theeyenowandthenlostinreverie，allbetrayedthesoft
tumultthatwasgoingoninherlittleheart。Theauntswere
continuallyhoveringaroundher；formaidenauntsareapttotake
greatinterestinaffairsofthisnature。Theyweregivingheraworld
ofstaidcounselhowtodeportherself，whattosay，andinwhat
mannertoreceivetheexpectedlover。
Thebaronwasnolessbusiedinpreparations。Hehad，intruth，
nothingexactlytodo：buthewasnaturallyafumingbustlinglittle
man，andcouldnotremainpassivewhenalltheworldwasinahurry。
Heworriedfromtoptobottomofthecastlewithanairofinfinite
anxiety；hecontinuallycalledtheservantsfromtheirworkto
exhortthemtobediligent；andbuzzedabouteveryhallandchamber，
asidlyrestlessandimportunateasablue—bottleflyonawarm
summer’sday。
Inthemeantimethefattedcalfhadbeenkilled；theforestshad
rungwiththeclamorofthehuntsmen；thekitchenwascrowdedwith
goodcheer；thecellarshadyieldedupwholeoceansofRhein—wein
andFerne—wein；andeventhegreatHeidelbergtunhadbeenlaid
undercontribution。Everythingwasreadytoreceivethedistinguished
guestwithSausundBrausinthetruespiritofGermanhospitality—
buttheguestdelayedtomakehisappearance。Hourrolledafter
hour。Thesun，thathadpouredhisdownwardraysupontherich
forestoftheOdenwald，nowjustgleamedalongthesummitsofthe
mountains。Thebaronmountedthehighesttower，andstrainedhis
eyesinhopeofcatchingadistantsightofthecountandhis
attendants。Oncehethoughthebeheldthem；thesoundofhornscame
floatingfromthevalley，prolongedbythemountainechoes。Anumber
ofhorsemenwereseenfarbelow，slowlyadvancingalongtheroad；
butwhentheyhadnearlyreachedthefootofthemountain，they
suddenlystruckoffinadifferentdirection。Thelastrayofsunshine
departed—thebatsbegantoflitbyinthetwilight—theroadgrew
dimmeranddimmertotheview；andnothingappearedstirringinitbut
nowandthenapeasantlagginghomewardfromhislabor。
WhiletheoldcastleofLandshortwasinthisstateofperplexity，a
veryinterestingscenewastransactinginadifferentpartofthe
Odenwald。